A/N- there is one thing that has always bugged me about mutant X. If the mutants are all because of genic alterations when was this done? When they were babies or after they had been born? And why would a parent do this to their kid? Anyways I decided to write my own spin of events back in the days when Adam and Eckhart worked together at Genomex.
***
They believed at the time that children couldn't feel pain
They gave me children's Tylenol, when adults going through the same thing got morphine.
They would drag me in screaming and my dad said I would come out comatose.
Rich
***
It was cold here but he was use to the cold by now. The thin blue paper outfit he wore offered him no protection. His young mind couldn't remember life before the cold, before the gray walls, unfeeling hands, and paper clothes. No there was no life outside of these walls as far as he knew.
The men would come and he would stand up straight without moving as they asked him the same questions, "How do you feel today 313?" He would say find and they would ask him "Any changes?" And he would say no. If he answered any differently the tests came. They would have him play games uses his gifts. After he got good at the games he had to show off his gift to "important people." This was the life he knew, the life of subject 313. If there was life outside these walls he knew nothing of it. But then try describing the sky to a blind man. If he has never seen the sun, how do you show him what he has never known?
Subject 313 was curled up in a corner that day. He heard one of the men entered the room in his white lab coat with a clipboard like always. The little boy didn't even look up. He was too tired and cold to play any games today. Even though he wasn't looking at the man he knew that he was now standing next to him, towering over his small frame. He knew he was supposed to stand up at attention but he didn't want to move. He was curled up so tight keeping the cold out. If he moved it would come back and he wanted to stay were he was.
It was then that he felt the man breath. He must have knelt down next to him the boy thought. He figured that it would for punishment, but the boy didn't care today. He tensed up as he felt the man put his hand on his shoulder. He prepared himself for the incoming pain. He felt the hand leave his shoulder; he squeezed his shut eyes and tried to shut off his brain. And then there was nothing. No hits, no kicks, the man just continued to kneel next to him.
"Oh my you're shaking." There was a pause and the boy could hear the shuffling of papers. "Don't you have a name little one?"
It was a question and the little boy knew he must always answer a question or be punished. The new man was gentle and had not made him move, maybe he would just ask some questions and leave. Maybe if he answered the questions the man wouldn't make him move. "My name is subject 313" He replied.
"A number isn't a name," The boy tensed he had given the wrong answer and he would be punished. But again the man just softly touched the boys shoulder. The boy slowly opened his eyes for the first time that day. "Well there's an improvement, what beautiful eyes you have little one." The boy continued to stare at this man. This new doctors had a different look to him. He wore the same clothes but his eyes and face where gentle. "Can you stand for me little one?"
The boy tried to hide the look on his face but disappointment and sadness filled it before he could stuff them down into his secret place. "Yes sir."
"You don't need to little one if it hurts. Are you in pain little one?"
"No sir."
"What's wrong then?"
"Nothing Sir."
"Then why don't you want to stand?" The boy bit his lip debating his next words. Debating if he would get punished if he told how he really felt. "Can you tell me what is wrong?" Another question to answer, the new man must be getting impatient which meant punishment would soon follow.
"Yes Sir, I am cold Sir."
"You're cold, I would imagine so this room is very cold and the outfit not very warm." The man then placed the back of his hand on the boy's forehead. The boy flinched when he saw the hand coming at his face and didn't relax until it left. "I need you to open you mouth for me now. I am going to place a thermometer in your mouth. Do you know what that is?"
"No Sir."
"It is a device that tells me how hot or cold you are," the boy got a puzzled look on his face. No one had ever explained what was going to happen to him before. The new doctor seemed to study his face for a moment, "you alright little one."
"Yes Sir." Although the look on his face grew, no one had ever asked if he was alright, it was how are you feeling today, never are you alright.
"Alright, now I want to hold it under your tongue till I tell you to. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir," He was use to doing what he was told and the first time. Otherwise he got punished but this man didn't seem to want to punish him. He was different but the little boy couldn't figure out how. The man looked at his watch and then nodded at the boy.
"Alright little one I am going to take the thermometer out of your mouth." He looked down at the thermometer and then wrote something on the clipboard. "Well little one you're running a high fever. You want to come with me and I think I can have you feeling better very soon." The boy just stared at the man. What did he mean 'if you want to come with me' he was never given an opinion? It was come here now, go there now, no ifs, no wants. He had no opinions, he was subject 313. "Now little one if I am going to help you I need you to stand." The boy slowly stood up and shivered in the cold air of the room. "Here." He looked up as the doctor took off his coat and placed it on his shoulders. The boy again just stared at this strange new doctor. "Think you can walk."
The boy was about to give his normal yes sir when his head suddenly felt too heavy to hold up. But instead of hitting the ground he felt the new doctors strong hands wrap around him. He tensed again but somewhere inside of him he knew this arms where not here to harm him. He passed out in those arms as he felt himself being lifted. He didn't know where he was being carried but somehow, for the first time, in a long time, he knew he was safe.
***
The young boy felt himself slowing waking. He was in that middle ground between dreams and reality when he heard the new doctor's voice. He didn't move and quietly listened to the doctor.
"Subject 312 was obtained after a car accident when she was three that killed both of his parents and injured her younger brother. Brother was 10 months old and recovered quickly from minor injuries. Subject 312 remained in a coma for two weeks but awoke defying medical odds. She remembers nothing of her life before the accident or that she has a younger brother. Unable to find any living relative both children where brought here. Subject 312 shows some possibility. Her brother on the other hand (313) has shown remarkable healing and stamina. Only being ten months old at the time of the accident he has no memory and can be perfectly conditioned and trained. Genomex remains the siblings' guardians until their 18th birthday. Along by this point we feel they should be condition to want to remain with their adopted family."
The little boy slowly opened his eyes and looked closely at the new doctor. His head was in his hands and his whole body was slumped. He had a stack of folders next to him and one in his lap.
"So you're finally awake little one. I was wondering if you would make it for a while. How do you feel?"
"Fine Sir," the little boy replied without thinking.
"How do you really feel?" A puzzled look came over the boys face and he stared at the doctor unsure of how to answer.
"Do you ache, are you tired, cold, want some water, how do you feel?"
"Tired Sir, but I'm not cold anymore."
"I'm glad to hear that little one. Now rest, you've been very sick." The little boy wasn't sure what to do with the doctors words. He had spent his whole life getting commands, conversation was something new. But slowly he felt his eyes close and he fell back asleep.
***
When the boy awoke again all the lights in the room where off but in the darkness he could see the new doctor standing there with a strange look on his face. "Hey little one," the man whispered to the boy. "I need you to put on these clothes for me, I'll be back really soon."
The boy took the clothes in his hands and slowly changed into them. They were heavy and warm. They were so much softer then the blue paper clothes he had always worn. He sat on the bed in his new clothes waiting for the new doctor to return. He came back and smiled at the boy. "Alright now little one I am going to wrap you up in this blanket and I need you to stay really quiet. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes Sir." The man gently placed the blanket over the boy and picked him up carrying him through the complex. The little boy stayed quiet wondering what was going on and where he was going. The man then placed him in the back seat of a car. "I need you to stay still now little one." The man whispered. The boy didn't even give his standard reply knowing that something new and different and dangerous was happening. Soon the car started moving and the boy fought to keep himself from rolling off the seat. He dung his hands into the seat and remained as still and quiet as he could. He stayed like that till the man stopped the car.
"Ok little one you can come out." The boy sat up the blanket falling down around him. "Buckle up, little one." The boy sat there looking for what to do. The man reached back and the boy didn't wince or tense up. The man buckled the young boy into the car and then pulled back on to the road. He looked in his rearview mirror as the boy stared at the sights all around him. Everything festinated him; the whole view was full of color.
After darkness had fallen the man stopped the car. He got out and opened the boy's door. He bent down and picked up the sleeping child. He walked up to the door of the house he had stopped at a quietly knocked. The man who came to the door just stood aside and let the man in with his sleeping bundle. The man sat on the couch and gently shook the boy awake.
"Little one I need you to listen closely ok?"
"Yes Sir."
"You're not going back to Genomex anymore. These people are going to take care of you. No one is going to hurt you anymore. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Listen little one I am going to give you a name now, do you know what a name is."
"What do you mean Sir?"
"Well it's what you call someone, but it's specific to that person. Like this is Carol and that's what people call her. Like you call me sir and I call you little one. But my name isn't sir, its Adam and that is what people and you can call me. And your name little one is Brennan. Do you understand?"
"I think so Sir, Adam."
"Well little one, Brennan, I have to go now, but Carol and Greg are going to look after you. Goodbye little one. I will miss you Brennan."
"Goodbye Adam." And with that the man left the house and the little boy.
******
Genomex-Securing a better tomorrow for mankind
Weakness of character, such as compassion, guilt and generosity towards the unhuman are the sole chinks in Adam's armor
~Eckhart
Genomex bulletin online
Genomex-Securing a better tomorrow for mankind
***********
Not my best piece but my 1st mutant x fan fic. I was thinking of going on from here but I am not sure how or if I should. Thanks for reading and please drop me a review.