Christy woke up to the hum of machinery being turned on. Several fluorescent tubes lit up at the same time on the ceiling, temporarily blinding her. She blinked hard and tried to move her numb body but found that to be an impossible task. She gasped as she realized she was bound to a metallic surface. After her eyes adjusted she noticed what it really was.
She was strapped to an operating table.
"What the!?" she said, widening her eyes. "Where am I? Who did this to me? Let me go!"
Christy shouted, squirming against her bonds but only managing to exhaust her energy.
"Mmph..."
"Huh?" Christy turned to the side to see her friend Alina also bound on a table facing hers. "Ali! Ali, are you okay?"
"Shut up, Chrissy... I'm trying to sleep..." Alina mumbled, eyes closed, with a drowsy voice. She seemed to still be unconscious.
"Wake up, dummy! This is bad!"
"Five more minutes... c'mon, let me sleep..."
"Ugh... wake up! We need to get out of here!"
But even though she was trying to sound encouraging Christy had no idea how they would get out of this. Alina wouldn't budge. Because she had been seated so near the source of the sleeping gas that had knocked them out, the effect hit her friend extremely hard.
It was then that the doors to their confined room slid open and three figures entered from outside. Christy had to blink to adjust to the light after being flashed by the fluorescents, but she quickly made out the two figures to be a man and a woman in lab coats being led by a hunched over old man with glasses.
"Hey, let us out!" Christy demanded immediately.
The old man gave her a soft smile and then nodded his head to the side without taking his eyes off Christy. His two custodians walked off to check up on the equipment surrounding them.
"No can do, young lady."
The old man adjusted his glasses, moving his decrepit old body over to the girl's side. Christy struggled more the closer he got.
"Hmm, you're quite the energetic one. I think you'll do nicely."
"Do nicely for what? Ugh, you're not some old pervert sicko, are you?"
Christy frowned, staring daggers at the old man.
"Hm? Oh no. You've the wrong idea, dear. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ivan Standinoff," he said softly, bowing slightly while holding a palm over his chest. "I'm the lead scientist in the foundation's Shadow Division."
"Shadow Division? What kind of corny name is that?" Christy snarled, making Ivan chuckle.
"Yes, a very corny name. But all the same, allow me to explain its purposes..."
"Save me the lecture and let us go!"
"Ah ah ah... young ladies these days," Ivan chuckled, holding his forehead in a disappointed manner. "So impatient. But I'll let that slide, I suppose. Ahem, where was I? Oh yes. Our foundation carries out many operations, some less... nice than others. The Shadow Division takes care of the operations society doesn't wish to learn about, and I..."
He placed his hand on his chest for emphasis, a proud grin on his face.
"...am the director and prime researcher for its projects."
"So you're a bad guy. I get it. Soooo scared right now. Mmph! Why are you telling me this anyway?"
"It's only a pleasantry. A small introduction of my person to you, if you will."
"Well, genius, now I know all your dirty secrets! How about that?"
"Please... you have no way out. Even if you did escape, our agents would very happily bring you back to my lab. And then I'd be angry at your insubordination."
A wicked smile appeared over Ivan's face as he stared wide-eyed at Christy, making her shudder.
"I don't like being angry."
"Hmph... you're not scaring anyone."
Christy glared right back at the scientist, who smiled normally again.
"Not my intention. But now that you know a bit about me, let me tell you a bit about yourself... and your friend."