Chapter 1

April 20, 9:30 P.M:

It has been seven months since the start of the project and all is running very smoothly. The child grows rapidly, both physically and mentally. Even while still in the containment tank, the child's powers are already evident. It's quite amazing, if I do say so myself. Giovanni is very pleased with our progress as well. I can only hope that this isn't the best that it's going to get. Death during and shortly after "birth" is not an uncommon occourance. All we can do for now is simply sit back, continue monitoring, and hope for the best.

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Doctor Halloway yawned widely as he finished his journal entry, and shut down the computer. Tonight he would get some sleep. His understudies were more than capable to monitor the child without him looming over them every second. Of course he would still have to stay in the lab, just in case something did happen, which was not a pleasant thought for him. They had worked far too long and far too hard to lose this one so close to birth. Halloway yawned again and tired to dismiss these troubling thoughts as he walked sluggishly over to the cot layed out next to the far wall of his office, and sat down. "I'm sure everything will be fine," he sighed. "Everything's been running smoothly thusfar, I don't see why that wouldn't continue." He layed back on the cot, folding his arms behind his head, and gazed up at the ceiling. "But...What if our luck's finally run out?"

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Halloway woke with a start. He gazed over at the flashing, red numbers on his alarm clock. 3:30. "what in the hell woke me?"

He sat up on the cot, looking around his dark office for any sign of what may have woken him. "gah...probably some damn nightmare..." He growled, and layed back on the cot once more.

"maybe I should've taken those sleeping pills..." He began to doze off once more when he heard a violent crashing coming from the main lab.

He shot up from the cot, and ran into the lab.

Everything looked to be normal, but a second look revealed this to be wrong.

About a ten foot area around the cointainment tank, where the child drifted quietly, was cleared of anything and everything.

Desks, chairs, even heavy, metal file cabinets looked as if they had been forcefully shoved away from the tank. Halloway couldn't believe his eyes. Maybe someone broke in?

But no. That wasn't possible. None of Giovanni's lackeys knew about the lab, and only He and Halloway had the passcode for the door anyhow. Not to mention nothing looked stolen.

Halloway turned his eyes slowly to gaze upon the containment chamber and the sleeping infant inside. The child seemed to have a faint, blue aura around it, just barely visible enough to see. Halloway almost laughed aloud when he saw this. "So, he likes his space does he?" He chuckled and walked over to the tank. The aura around the child seemed to dissapate, and his body looked to relax as Dr. Halloway approached. "hm...A dream, maybe?" He gazed at the slumbering child, and then glanced at the room. "All that energy...because of a dream?" Halloway looked upon the infant for a while longer, and then returned to his office, his mind racing from waht he had just seen. He sat down on his cot, buried his face in his hands and sighed.

"Now I'm definitely not getting any sleep..."

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The next day, Halloway relayed to Giovanni what he had witnessed the night before.

"This is good news. It can only mean that this child is as strong as we had hoped, correct?"

"Yes, Mr. Giovanni, sir. Maybe even stronger. It could also mean that he is ready for birthing. But I wouldn't take that chance so early."

"Early? Halloway, if this child is as strong as you predict, it should survive the birthing process. And if not? Well...We all know what that means..."

Halloway, gulped quietly. The child was of no real conection to him, but if it didn't survive, that wouldn't bode well for the doctor, and his funding...

"I understand sir, but I still think it's too early. Just to be safe, we might want to wait at least a few more weeks..."

Halloway could hear the aggitation in Giovanni's voice as he spoke. "I am tired of waiting Halloway. You get one more week, that's all."

Halloway hung up the video phone, and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as if all his answers were written upon it.

He sighed. "The sooner I get this all over and done with...the better..."

"Doctor Halloway!" The doctor sat up in his chair with a start and turned his head to look at the lab asistant who had burst through his office door. "what is it?"

"Doctor, I think the baby's coming!"

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Well, that's chapter numero uno for you! I think the ending coulda been a bit better, but I couldn't really find the right words. Oh well, Chapter two will be better! We'll finally get to meet the kid! So, keep reading!