"This is not what I signed up for White!" Noah hissed into the cell phone.
"Well, maybe if you had done exactly what you were suppose to do, none of this would of happen. If you had been watching Rex, then maybe he wouldn't have gotten into Dr. Holiday's lab and maybe you wouldn't be in the condition your in now." Noah glared at White whose visage occupied the screen of his touch phone. He opened his mouth to say something else when the door to the infirmary buzzed open revealing a disheveled and huffing Rex. Noah moved to hide the phone but then notice the screen was now blank, indicating that White had hung up on him. Noah barely contained his growl before sighing as Rex ran straight to his bed.
"ARE YOU OKAY? I'm so sorry. I totally didn't know my nanites would react to anything in Doc Holiday's lab. How do you feel? Did they tell you what that machine did to you?" Noah laughed as Rex didn't leave anytime between his questions to answer.
"I feel fine, but Dr. Holiday hasn't come back with the results yet." Just as he uttered the sentence the door buzzed open again and Dr. Holiday walked in. Noah did not like the look on her face, it was one stuck between shock and worry, as she gazed at what he presumed was his lab results. As she approach his bed she finally glanced up and seeing Rex, immediately steered the conversation in that direction.
"Rex! I hadn't expected you to be release from training with Six so soon." It must be really bad, Noah thought as he noticed her smooth diversion.
Rex scoffed. "You mean my punishment with Six." And that of course was when Six walked in.
He stopped beside Dr. Holiday, turning to face her, saying, " I let him have a break. He was too worried about Noah to concentrate on anything productive." Rex shrugged sheepishly as Noah turned to look at him. " Have you gotten back the results?" Noah could tell Dr. Holiday tried not to look too disappointed at being brought back to a subject she was trying to delay discussing. She sighed and looked down at the folder in her hand.
"Well, the good news is that you don't have anything wrong with you that's seriously life threatening." Noah felt his shoulders relax. " However, it seems that the machine has changed you in some manner." Rex, Six, and Noah looked at her to continue. " We think ... we know how you've change so we're working on changing you back but..."
"Yeah, okay, but what's wrong with me?" Noah was getting restless.
"Well, Noah...for lack of a better term, it seems that you're pregnant."
Noah isn't really sure how he ended up walking around the Providence ship, but he's almost certain it started with him freaking out in the infirmary. Then there was some scrambling to get away from the guards (he vaguely remembers punching a few people) until finally he was free. He hadn't run into any guards since and he's not sure if that's just plain luck or because of someone's interference. Maybe someone thought he should have some time to think.
After all, he had just found out he was pregnant.
Noah's hand wavered in front of his stomach before it was clenched at his side. Why did this happen to him? The only thing he had wanted to do was help win the war against evos; to stop the creatures who randomly took over people's lives and ruined them. He was just trying to be patriotic, and maybe even get paid for doing it. So far, despite everything he had been through, had done, it had felt like the right decision. He had lied to a guy who was quickly becoming his best friend, manipulated him into thinking their relationship was based on true friendship rather than deception. He had tricked him into obeying orders even when it wasn't always clear if those orders were the right ones. And while he felt immensely guilty for his actions, he never felt like what he was doing was completely wrong and hurtful to his goals.
But now, for the first time, it felt like his contract with White was something he shouldn't have agreed to.
"Having regrets?" Noah froze, surprised to hear Rex's voice behind him. He grew cold as he realized what Rex was talking about. " Bet you wish you weren't friends with me now." Noah held in his sigh of relief. He didn't answer as Rex sped up to walk next to him and chose to ignore him in the hopes of continued silence. His hopes were dashed, however, as Rex moved to block his path, hands reaching up to grip Noah's arms. "Look Noah, I know you probably want to be alone right now to think and sort things out but, I wanted to make sure you knew, before you came to any big decisions that you won't be doing any of this alone. Whatever you decide to do with the baby, I'll back you up." He had the sincerest look on his face and Noah could tell that he was honestly trying to provide reassurance. But, that didn't stop Noah from pushing him away roughly, so that Rex fell slightly against the wall, before continuing on his trek.
"You're really unbelievable," Noah muttered to himself. Rex overheard him and jogged to catch up with him.
"I'm serious Noah. Dr. Holiday explained to me what's happen after you left and I can totally understand how you feel-"
"Really? Maybe you can enlighten me then because I'm clueless to how I feel!" Noah was having difficulty controlling his anger, which had suddenly flared with Rex's appearance, and he couldn't help the biting sarcasm that flowed out of his mouth. "I just came up here for a friendly visit and suddenly I'm knocked up with some freak's baby. You're right, Rex I didn't sign up for this! I came up here to figure it all out. You," Noah got right in Rex's face, poking a finger into his chest, " may already have all the answers you need but I need some time to figure them out myself." Noah turned away from Rex and tried to continue walking but Rex grabbed his arm again.
"Noah, wait, I know you want to be alone but I can tell you from personal experience its not as good idea as you think. We're friends and I think we should stick together on this..." But, Noah had snatched his hand away as if burned
"God! I'm not your stupid friend. They're p-" Whatever Noah was about to say was halted however as a big picture of White Knight seemingly appeared on a screen out of nowhere. White glared at Noah and Noah was tempted to continue just to spite him but chose not to when Providence soldiers came running down the hall to surround them.
There very presence seemed to annoy Rex, who assumed an attack pose. However, he was forced to relax as Six approached the group, and Noah found himself feeling betrayed that Rex wouldn't be fighting on his behalf. But then he remembered what he had just yelled and how much truth was in the statement and the feelings of betrayal turned into guilt.
" Rex! Noah! There you are!" Both teens watched as Dr. Holiday approached. "You two really shouldn't have run off, though I understand how troubling everything has been." She looked at Noah when she said this. " I have a few test to do that really can't wait-"
"I'm afraid Dr. Holiday, that they will have to. I need to have a word with Noah before we continue anything." Everyone turned to look at the screen in surprise, before Dr. Holiday opened her mouth to protest. "This isn't up for discussion." At his nod, several guards rushed between Rex and Noah and began moving him down the hall.
Rex tried to intercept them but was stopped by Six who told him, "Noah will be fine." Rex watched as Noah was led away and it wasn't until the group turned a corner that he realized that Noah seemed unafraid.
Six watched as Rex's expression shifted from worried to curious as the doors leading to the next corridor closed behind the group leading Noah away.
"What the hell do you mean I'm keeping it!" For Noah, life was going too fast for him to keep up. He had just learned that he was pregnant, and before he could even fully process that thought, White was telling him what was going to happen. "No way, this is my body and I didn't sign up for this." Noah walked around the room frustrated and slightly embarrassed because he was yelling at a man on a screen while another watched the whole scene impassively. Six had arrived shortly after Noah, presumably after he had set Rex with a task difficult enough to distract him from today's events.
"Unfortunately, Noah, you don't have very many options to choose from. You're under our jurisdiction, which means that you need to do whatever we tell you to do." White looked down at Noah without sympathy. Noah glared at him, unfazed.
"Jurisdiction? What the hell are you talking about?" Noah threw a glance Six's way, inviting him to explain.
However, Six didn't provide any explanation as White answered Noah's question immediately. " You're condition was caused by nanites which means that you're technically an evo." White smirked at Noah's incredulous expression, " If we wanted to, we could lock you up and throw away the key. You should be thankful that you have another choice." Anger flared up in Noah immediately.
"You can't keep me here! If there are nanites in my body then you should be working to get rid of them, not blackmailing me into becoming some type of science experiment. You're job is to protect us from turning into evos, and I don't see how keeping unwanted nanites in my body helps you."
"Actually, it helps us a lot. Studying the nanites in your body will provide us with information on nanite control and perhaps unlock the secret to the true purpose of nanite function-" Noah interrupted him
"I am not going to let you turn me into some type of freaky science experiment. Either you help me or I'm going to someone else." Noah turned as if to leave, but immediately found his way blocked by Six. He heard White laughing behind him on screen and clenched his fist tightly.
"You seem to be suffering from some type of delusion," White smiled evilly at Noah's back, " You are no longer an American citizen. You are classifiably an evo which means that anyone who aids you instead of reporting you to the authorities will become complicit in a felony punishable by life in prison. Your only option to reverse your status is to cooperate with this organization." White could see Noah's whole frame shaking with rage but since the youth didn't utter a response, he took his silence as complacency. "Your life now belongs to me. If you ever want to get back to it you will comply with every order and do your best to make sure this experiment is a success. Now get back to Holiday so she can finish your preliminary tests." White issued a final order for Six to accompany Noah before his screen went black.
Seeing Noah struggling with his fury, Six decided to remain in the room for awhile until the teen could compose himself. After ten minutes, the angry flush that had consumed his face receded to his ears, and Six observed Noah take several deep breaths, releasing each one slowly, before Noah turned to address him. "I'm going to need somewhere to sleep," was all he said before he walked out into the corridor, heading, Six suspected, for Holiday's lab.
Six followed him silently, allowing Noah more time to clear his thoughts and to prepare himself for the tests that lay a head. Once they reach Holiday's office Six went in with Noah briefly before excusing himself. He needed to talk to the head of security about the new arrangements to be made and also needed to check that Rex hadn't gotten into trouble somewhere.
As soon as Six left, Dr. Holiday got right down to business. She had several test she needed to finish before she could even think about processing the results and her lab technicians, who would normally help her, hadn't received security clearance yet to be on the case. This meant she was left to do all the work herself.
However, as she finished taking his blood, Dr. Holiday finally noticed that Noah had been unnaturally silent since he got here. She had considered that he might be quiet, if not yelling in fury, but had thought he would speak a little if only to ask about the procedures he was undergoing.
"Do you have any questions Noah?" Dr. Holiday asked in attempt to open him up. Noah looked at her blankly, before a flare of hostility crossed his face.
"No." Apparently, he did not respond well to friendliness, though suspected that after today's events he was probably feeling betrayed. When Dr. Holiday didn't move from where she was he asked bitterly, "Are we done here?" Dr. Holiday looked at pad holding all of her information. She had a few tests that she could put off for tomorrow, but she needed to conduct a physical today if she wanted to decipher any data tonight.
"Actually, I need to do a physical but after that, we'll be done," Dr. Holiday smiled reassuringly. Noah just rolled his eyes in response and began to take of his jacket and shoes in order to weigh himself. After taking his measurements, however, Dr. Holiday didn't allow him to leave but instead ask him to take off the rest of his clothes. At Noah's immediate cry of outrage, Dr. Holiday began to wonder why she ever wanted him to lure him out of his apathy.
"Look Noah, this has to get done, which means you can either do it under your own will or I can call in security to help." This was apparently the wrong thing to say as Noah glared at her before turning to collect his stuff and leave.
"Fuck you," was all he uttered before walking through the door. He immediately halted at the sight of Six in front of him. But, Noah had had enough of being pushed around by the whole organization and had decided that he rather rot in jail than be blackmailed into doing things with his body that he didn't want to. "You can go ahead and take me to jail, Six. I'm not going to be Providence's effing lab rat for this sick experiment. I don't care what you do with me." He moved as if to pass Six, and was surprised when Six actually let him. Then Noah felt an intense pain in the back of his neck and before he could react, the world suddenly blurred before his eyes as the floor rushed up to meet him.
Six easily caught Noah's limp body, placing a hand behind his back and under his knees to bring him back into Dr. Holiday's lab. "Finish whatever tests you need," was all he said before pulling up a chair beside the door and taking out a palm pilot to tinker around with. Dr. Holiday opened her mouth to berate Six, but then noticed his tight grip on his phone and instead chose to pay attention to Noah. After rechecking his vitals, she sighed and began the tests she had put off for tomorrow. It was going to be a difficult night.