Nellie's Past II

The day started like any other at LactiTech. The sterile hum of the machines, the steady rhythm of production, and the quiet efficiency of the technicians kept everything running smoothly. Nellie Hargrave, like every other Dairy Queen, was hooked up to her station, her body now fully accustomed to the relentless routine. But even in this state of monotony, something felt off. The air was heavy with tension, as if the walls themselves were waiting for something to happen.

The doors to the production bay slammed open with a **** that sent a shockwave through the facility. A squad of tactical agents in black, armor-plated suits stormed in, their faces obscured by visors that reflected the harsh lights above. Each of them wore an armband with a black ant on red ground on it - the Logo of the Myrmidon Tactical ****, a private military contractor. They moved with cold, mechanical precision, weapons drawn and ready as they spread out, securing every exit and corner. Behind them, a group of stern-faced men in dark suits followed, their expressions unreadable.

Nellie’s heart skipped a beat as she watched them sweep through the room. Their aggression was out of place in an environment where they had no real threat. The only people working here were the Dairy Queens, a few doctors and genetical engineers, administrative staff, and a couple of lightly armed androids from a security company.

Suddenly, there was a commotion from the direction of Lucian Kaine’s office. Two of the agents emerged, dragging Lucian between them. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, replaced by a fiery rage that burned in his eyes. He struggled against their grip, but the agents were unyielding, dragging him into the middle of the production bay where everyone could see.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Lucian shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “This is an illegal raid! You have no right to be here! Who sent you? Was it Tanaka? Tell me!” The Tanaka Corporation had been closely monitoring LactiTech’s activities and displayed significant interest in their work. However, all attempts to acquire Lucian had been unsuccessful. His idealism and visionary nature made him unwilling to part with his magnum opus.

The lead agent, a towering woman with a voice that sounded more machine than man, stepped forward. She didn’t bother to address Lucian’s accusations, her voice flat and emotionless as she spoke. “This facility is now under investigation for illegal experimentation and unethical practices. We are seizing all assets and taking everyone in for questioning. Cooperate, or we will use ****.”

Lucian’s anger only intensified. “You can’t do this! We’re changing the future here! You don’t understand—”

Before he could finish, one of the agents delivered a swift blow to his stomach, cutting off his words and doubling him over in pain. The **** of the punch left him gasping for breath, and the agents wasted no time in shoving him to the floor, where they restrained his hands behind his back.

Nellie watched in horror as they manhandled Lucian, the man she had come to see as a visionary leader, reduced to a helpless figure on the ground. The scene felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. But even as the agents moved through the facility, tearing it apart piece by piece, her conviction didn’t waver.

Lucian had warned them that something like this could happen. He had spoken of the lengths other corporations would go to in order to sabotage their work, to stop the progress they were making. And now, she was seeing it firsthand. This was no lawful investigation—it was a hit, a calculated strike against their groundbreaking work.

The agents moved with ruthless efficiency, confiscating data pads, ripping out hard drives, and dismantling equipment. They ignored the protests of the technicians, who were powerless to stop the onslaught. One agent approached Nellie, his expression unreadable behind the visor, and disconnected her from the milking machine with a swift, almost careless motion.

“Get up,” he ordered, his voice cold and impersonal.

Nellie, shaking with a mix of fear and fury, tried to resist as he grabbed her arm, but his grip was unyielding. He **** her to the floor and began wrapping her in stretch foil. She struggled, but it was futile—the material tightened around her, immobilizing her completely. She felt like a piece of cargo, dehumanized and discarded. Even as the agents started hauling the other Dairy Queens out of the facility, wrapped in their plastic cocoons like objects to be cataloged and processed, Nellie’s tried to resist.

“Leave her alone!” Lucian’s voice was hoarse, but still filled with defiance. He struggled against his restraints, but the agents held him down, one of them pressing a knee into his back to keep him in place.

“Shut him up and shut this place down!” the lead agent barked, and without hesitation, one of the agents delivered a brutal strike to Lucian’s head. His body went limp as he lost consciousness, his threats and anger silenced in an instant.