The Algorithm

Chapter nine - Killzone

"I can't use my powers, they don't work here." Adrien looked at her puzzled but her attention was on the padlock securing her bounds.

"Weren't you able to use them in the refuge?" He asked. Marinette answered his question without bothering to glance his way.

"Yes but as soon as they open the door something happens and I can't seem to control things anymore." She stated while examining the lock. "I'm not sure how they do it but they were the ones who gave me my powers. It makes sense that they would know how to take them away."

Adrien's mind flooded with dozens of questions and figured they were stuck here, this was a good time to ask. "How did they give you your powers?" He questioned.

"Not entirely sure. I was rescued from the refuge by Plagg and Tikki, two government agents who were working on taking down Akuma. When they saved me they founded GUARD and used my abilities to help destroy this horrid group of murderers. One of the conditions of them training me was that no one could perform experiments or study my anatomy. They had figured we had been through enough." Adrien wanted to ask about the 'we' part but she continued talking before the words had a chance to escape his lips.

"All we know is that they stuffed me full of advanced technology. Most of it is connected to my nervous system leading up to my brainstem. A few metal plates in my head and steel lining my rib cage. Somehow all that gave me my powers but the only test we ever performed on them was whether or not they were reversible."

Adrien felt like he already knew the answer but felt the need to ask. "Is it reversible?" Marinette shook her head.

"They fused the circuits to my brain. If they were to remove them I would go into a vegetable state and never recover."

"I'm sorry." Was all Adrien was able to come up with. Marinette chuckled lightly to herself.

"Don't be, after all I'm stuck like this and have learned to expect it, I'm just trying to save you from the same fate." Bells went off in Adrien's mind as if the pieces of a puzzle were finally fitting together.

"Akuma is going to make me like you?" He asked.

"In a way." Marinette answered. "There is no telling what kind of abilities they will give you. Maybe you can control the weather or walk through walls. That would be fun." Adrien chuckled but still didn't see the harm in superpowers. Like she said, it could be fun.

"Honestly I don't understand why me getting powers is such a bad thing. I could help you." He stated. Marinette sighed at his reasoning.

"I applaud your selflessness but the cost of these powers is heavy. I spent months on a surgery table having copper wires stitched into my skin while being able to feel everything. Soldiers would beat me until I learned to defend myself. Years in the refuge nearly drove me insane. Starvation was always an issue. The nights were long and without sleep because our stomachs growling would keep us up. It's not worth it Adrien, believe me."

Adrien felt a wave of guilt fall over him for implying that he would enjoy going though what had scared her. "I'm sorry." He said again, this time he made sure to add as much feeling into the words as possible so she knew he meant it.

"You didn't know. It's alright." She said, giving him a smile to show she didn't take offence. But he could see that distant look in her eye he noticed in the car ride when he mentioned her family. He had hurt her again and he couldn't feel worse about it.

"Besides," She stated, refocusing her attention on the padlock. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I was supposed to keep you from being abducted but instead I managed to get us both captured." Marinette was fiddling with the lock as she spoke.