.... *cough*
Characters owned by Mark Walden.
It only ever really sunk in when the baby gurgled happily at the looks of utter shock on every face at the table.
The lowest regions of H.I.V.E. were not as pleasant as the facilities above, reserved for students and staff. The tamed volcano, no matter how calmed, caused the heat to be nearly unbearable. Pike flapped his coat uncomfortably as guards led the way to the holding cells.
After three steel doors and a number of coolants spraying along with each check-up point, the professor, trailed by the Colonel and Ms. Leon, found themselves standing before a reinforced glass door separating them from the person sitting in his large cell.
A large cell, which was, at that moment, covered with designs of who-knows-what sketched on paper or carved directly into the walls, which were a layer of cement before the twelve inches of titanium.
Machinery of every kind was referenced and crafted in the papers, and Pike's eyes glanced at all that they could, wide as could be with awe.
Ms. Leon 'mrowed' as she moved closer to the glass, spotting the person on the far end of the room, posting another paper on a spare section of the wall.
"Ah... Cypher?"
The man turned, finally noticing them.
Even with the injuries of nearly a year prior lining his face with healing scars, the man was still handsome, and oddly familiar, now that they looked at him.
In truth, this was the first time any of them had come down to the lowest reaches of H.I.V.E. to see Cypher of all people. Until half a year ago, Pike didn't even know he was still alive, under Nero's protection, no less.
The other two only found out fifteen minutes ago, and weren't any more pleased about the situation than they were fifteen minutes prior.
"I didn't expect anyone... else... to come down here. What is it this time? Another giant plant rampaging the school?" Cypher said sarcastically, wiping his face on a towel.
"Not quite so life-threatening, but perhaps more... damaging. We need your help." Pike said seriously.
"Really now."
"I don't even know why we should even be talking to this psychopath." The Colonel said angrily from behind Pike.
"Because he's the only one in the immediate area that can help us with this situation, as sad as that is to say." Ms. Leon said.
"The only one with the experience." Pike added.
Cypher approached the glass. "All right, now you're beginning to pique my interest. What could it possibly be that has Nero sending you three to ask of me something that only I can do? From what I heard, H.I.V.E. has a number of perfectly intelligent and capable scientists."
"It's not science we need in this department." Said the Colonel begrudgingly. "It's what got us into trouble in the first place."
"I said I'll have it fixed as soon as possible!" Pike argued. "But in the meantime, we need him."
"For what?"
Cypher looked at them curiously as the Colonel removed something from a large, bag-like object on his back. Bundled up in pristine white cotton sheets...
"A... baby?" Cypher stared incredulously.
"Not just any baby." Ms. Leon sighed.
Pike turned back to the man behind the glass. "You've had experience taking care of a baby, am I correct?"
"... Yes, but..."
"So you can take care of one right now?"
"I suppose, but..."
"A male baby?"
"Yes. But what is that baby even—"
"Then that settles it." Pike said with finality.
"Wait, wait. What makes you think we can even trust him?" The Colonel demanded. "We have no choice, unless you know how to take care of a child. You don't exactly have the most appealing track record when it comes to children." Ms. Leon responded.
"And he does? He almost destroyed H.I.V.E. last year."
"He had his reasons; the headmaster cleared it up for me a while back. Believe me, we can trust him." Said Pike calmly.
Cypher waited patiently across the glass for them to conclude their argument before beginning again.
"What is this? How can NO ONE know how to care for a baby in this school, and why is there even a baby in the first place?"
"Well, someone did. But she.... died." Said Ms. Leon.
"Contessa. Ah. But what of the baby?"
"Well... you see..." Pike held the baby up to the glass. "Does he look familiar to you?"
Cypher examined the little face warily.
"What... did Nero and Raven finally have a love child?"
"Wha—No! This IS Nero, you fool!" Pike said, flustered.
Cypher's indifference seemed to crumble as he looked at the child again. With wide eyes and dropping jaw, he looked up at the three. "This.... BABY? What in the hell happened?"
"Another accident." Ms. Leon said pointedly, swishing her tail in Pike's direction.
"I can FIX IT. Won't take more than a week. But in the meantime, none of us have any experience taking care of an infant. Dr. Nero said we can trust you and now's a good time to test his theory."
Cypher frowned. "Keeping me trapped in here for almost a year and he says he TRUSTS me?"
Pike knit his brows together.
"Well, he trusts you enough to keep your son safe." He said carefully. It was a dangerous gamble, but it seemed to work. Pike knew at least one more thing, and knew that he had to use this information at some point.
Especially in such a dire situation.
Cypher was silent for a moment. Ms. Leon and the Colonel looked as though they wanted to know what Pike was talking about, but they, too, were silent.
"So to be clear, you need me to take care of the ba— take care of Nero while you try to return him to his original age—whatever it is?" Cypher said after about a minute.
"Yes."
"So what's in it for me?" The man asked, sitting on his cell bed.
The Colonel looked at Leon, then at Pike. Leon did the same to the men.
".... a certain amount of freedom. And access to equipment. Many of your designs can be put to good use." Pike said after a moment's thought.
The Colonel and Leon seemed to agree to this, though grudgingly.
"You cannot leave the facility, but perhaps you can go around H.I.V.E., with proper cover. We can have a synthetic mask fixed for you in a day. You can have access to the labs, although we'll still keep a close eye on you."
Cypher nodded slowly.
"You cannot allow anyone to know who you really are."
"... Can I see my son?" Asked Cypher.
"Who?" The Colonel couldn't help ask.
"Yes, you may see him. But as per the agreement, you cannot allow him to know who you are." Said Pike.
"Understandable. All right then. When do I start?" Cypher asked.
Pike signaled to the guards, and the glass door between them rose. Cypher was searched for a minute before Pike finally handed him the little body of the baby.
He seemed unsure for a moment, although Cypher held him as naturally as a father would.
They nodded in silent agreement.
….
"What is that smell?"
"... good luck with that."
a/n: Just when it was getting serious, huh? xD
Review. That is all. :3
