"Omega is known for his temper tantrums," Anne told me, "Since he's taken a liking to you, the Board has decided to use you as leverage to make him keep doing what we want. You are very lucky that we've found you useful."

"First," she said as she snapped a metal band around my wrist, "We put this on you. It will send a shock wave through you if your behavior is displeasing."

The other experiments were usually made to wear these. They were like shock collars for dogs, except they were in the forms of bracelets. There wasn't much difference other than that.

"Why am I being given a second chance?" I asked submissively, "I should be dead by now."

"I had hoped you would be," Anne chuckled darkly, "But the Director commanded that you must be kept alive and in good shape for Omega."

Good shape, I suppose that meant 'not dead or terribly maimed'. I would prefer being in good shape, if that were the case.

"Why does he care so much?" I asked quietly, "I'm a failed experiment."

"Once Experiments reach a certain level of maturity, then they seek our others to bond with. It's a natural instinct," Anne told me crossly, "Now stop asking questions. It's bothersome."

"Omega has decided that he doesn't want to do his tests today," Anne told me next, "Your job is to get him to do them."

How was I supposed to convince him of that? I wasn't even supposed to interact with him in the first place.

"Yes ma'am," I answered. Inside, I felt a smolder of confusion. I had never been introduced to a mutant that I wasn't supposed to kill in the end. Would that make him my first friend? It would be a one sided friendship, but still a friendship. Or would we just be acquaintances?

Anne led me to corridor O, room M. I've never been in this part of the School before. It was reserved for top level mutants, namely Omega. Though, I think that some jaguar girls were contained here sometimes.

In room M, I spotted Omega laying in a hammock casually. He wasn't asleep, so when I slowly opened the door, he saw me.

"Max II," he smiled as he greeted me, "What are you doing here?"

I walked into Omega's room and Anne shut the door behind me. Omega was staring at me with veiled interest. I wondered if they were all playing with me, and he was supposed to kill me after all.

"So what are you doing here? I don't normally get visitors," he laughed, "Well, not visitors I like anyway."

"Please just do your tests," I commanded him, like it would be that easy. It wasn't of course. He didn't respond and a shot of electricity poured through my system from the wrist cuff on my arm.

"What's that?" Omega asked me as he pointed at the band of metal on my wrist, "I want to know."

If a level A wanted to know something, someone will tell him. I followed that rule.

"If my behavior is displeasing, a jolt of electricity will be emitted through this metal band." I said, quoting Anne.

Omega's handsome features twisted in irritation. He started to stare at me with such intensity that I was forced to instead gaze at his light brown hair.

"Max II, I've been wondering what your life is like," he informed me, "Tell me."

"What do you want to know?" I asked dutifully. My life wasn't that interesting or important, but I let him ask.

"Where do you sleep?" he interrogated, "What kind of tests do you do? How are you treated? Why were you almost dead when you came to the infirmary?"

Why does he care? I silently added that to the list of questions, but didn't dare ask.

"I sleep in cage M2910382A," I answered, "I'll go through the shock mazes, the temperature chambers, I'll battle about seven Erasers at a time though the amount may change, and then I go to Max lessons."
"A cage!" he asked, his nose scrunching up, "You're not an animal! And what are temperature chambers and Max lessons?"

"Temperature chambers are rooms where the scientists completely control how hot or cold it is. They put me in there to see what I can last through before I'm seriously injured or almost dead. Max tests are lessons on Maximum's life and how she acts so that I'll be able to dispose of her and take her place naturally. I failed that subject, so I suspect that those lessons will stop."

"They try to kill you," Omega said quietly. I couldn't see his emotions now. He was a Level A, so why should he care? He should know that all the mutants B and under go through those tests.

"So will you please do your tests?" I pleaded. I still didn't expect that tactic to work, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Omega nodded, "Yes, but I'll need to speak to the scientist in charge of you before I do anything else."

"I'll go get Anne." I nodded and started to leave the room. Before I did, however, Omega grabbed my arm.

"Max II, if you're no longer able to overthrow Max, then you need a new name. Think about one." He commanded me. His request startled me, but I nodded. His wish is my command.

I again tried to walk out of the room but this time met no resistance. Right outside, I found Anne and Omega's caretaker. The Director.

"Has he agreed to do his tests?" The Director said loftily. Her light blond hair was curled and her face was covered in makeup, as if she just got out of an important meeting. Knowing her, she just did.

I nodded, "He said that he would he got to talk to both of you first and…"

"And what?" Anne snapped at me. I flinched and answered immediately.

I gulped, "And if I thought of giving myself a new name."

"Absolutely not," Anne snorted at Omega's request. I shrank back at the sound.

At the exact same time, The Director agreed, "That isn't too much of a price to pay for Omega's cooperation."

Anne instantly changed her view to agree with her boss, "Yes! Of course!"

"Now Mrs. Walker, let's go see what Omega wants to talk to us about," The Director commanded.

"You stay here." Anne directed me. I planted myself right beside the door and listened in to what was going on, even though I knew that I shouldn't.

"Hello Marian. And hello, you must be Anne." Omega said blankly. He was getting his putting on his poker face, I bet. I had seen him enough to know that he usually didn't have it on unless the situation was very serious.

"What did you need to talk to us about, Omega?" the Director greeted him with a question.
"Max II sleeps in a cage." Omega stated.

"Yes, and?" Anne sneered snootily.

"Walker! Show respect for your superiors!" The Director snapped. I'd never heard it said so clearly that Omega was more important than most.

"Yes, Mrs. Jansen." Anne said obediently.

"Now Omega, what do you want to do about Max II's living arrangements?" The Director said haughtily.

"She doesn't belong in a cage. She's a person." Omega growled.
"I'm afraid that all experiments except for you live in cages. There is not anything we can do about that." Anne said meekly.
"But Max II isn't an experiment anymore. She has, on several occasions, made it clear that she failed her intended purpose. She was to be retired." Omega pointed out. Had I stated it that many times? I hoped that I didn't sound like a whining brat.

"Where are you going with this, Omega?" The Director wasn't sure what exactly he wanted, but we all knew that it had something to do with me.

"She is of no more use to you except to control me. I know this and do not argue with it. I'm just setting conditions. If she lives with me, then I will go through all of my tests." Omega said. This seemed to turn some wheels in the other two's heads.

"It sounds like we're giving more than getting, dear Omega." Anne scorned.

"Well, I have one more ace up my sleeve." Omega smirked. He said that like he knew it would make the Director do what he wanted.

There was some whispering that I could not make out before I heard The Director say smugly, "You have yourself a deal."