I'm sorry this took so long to get out. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just sort of did. But I am glad you're enjoying the story everyone!
Anon Reviews:
Rawrzii-Yay! I'm glad you're liking it and that White was good. He can be a bit hard to portray realistically. Thanks!
Yes. I loved all your reviews last chapter(s). I'm going to just reply to them through pms if that's all right though. There were so many and there was a lot of text here at first. I hope this is all right and that you'll enjoy the next installment. Onward we go!
De profundis.
Rex leaned back in the clean white bed and watched Noah out of the corner of his eyes, his throat throbbing from all the talking he just did. His eyes were feeling heavy but he blinked hard and forced them open, determined to see Noah's reaction. Noah sat still on the edge of the bed, looking over at the machines with clouded eyes. Finally Noah shifted, looking down at Rex and trying to give him a smile. It fell flat, his lips twitching oddly before forming a straight line, and he shrugged.
"Well...that sucks."
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Rex said, sighing out the last few words. Rex leaned further into the pillows and brought the blankets up, forcing Noah to stand. Rex held back a snicker which quickly turned into a yawn he had to swallow.
"And it can happen anytime then?" Noah asked, looking toward the floor.
Rex blinked and nodded, titled his head toward the ceiling, "That's what Doc thinks anyway. Something traumatic triggers it...and this might be it." Rex tried to shrug but all his muscles felt stiff. There was an odd prickling in his eyes and he gritted his teeth against it. What am I, a girl?
"Can we do anything?" Noah asked, eyes looking at Rex once more. Rex closed his eyes and felt his throat swell shut, almost making him choke. He forced his eyes open and looked at Noah, shaking his head.
"I don't know. It doesn't look like we can really stop it. But hey-" Rex smiled this time, managing that shrug, "That doesn't mean anything right? I've gotten out of worse situations before." Rex continued to smile but Noah shook his head, running a hand through his blond locks.
"I really don't think so Rex." Rex's smile fell for a moment and he raised an eyebrow, but a smirk soon took its place.
"What do you mean Noah? I mean, this is me we're talking about and-"
Noah shook his head once more, his blue eyes hardening as he took a step toward the bed. Rex let the smile fall this time, narrowing his own eyes as he pushed himself back into a sitting position. Rex opened his mouth to speak but Noah cut across him, "Quit pretending that you're fine when you're not. This is serious Rex and you-you did sound afraid back there so..."
"Shut it Noah." Rex said, clenching his hands on the sheets, making them wrinkle between his fingers. Noah glared but turned his head away, looking toward the door. Rex swallowed and leaned forward, closing his eyes to rest his aching head, "It's not like this is the first time it's happened. I supposedly have had these black outs before. So, just in case, I started this journal."
"A diary?" Noah asked, eyebrows shooting up.
"No! A journal! Journal!" Rex shook his head, face flushing, "Not some diary. Don't make it sound all girly."
"Whatever." Noah said, barely containing a small smirk.
"Anyway," Rex said, glaring at Noah, "I've been writing everything I need to know down. Like, about Providence and Van Kleiss. Bobo, Holiday, Agent Six, you. And how annoying White is and how awesome I am, along with all the powers and stuff. And ways to get out of Providence and-"
"Rex..." Noah interrupted.
"Right. Well, things like that. I'm supposed to look it over if anything like this happened so...yeah." Rex rolled his eyes but his body seemed tense, every movement stiff. "I guess I'll just have to rely on it if that is what's going on." Silence fell between the two boys and neither looked at each other. Rex's skin was burning from embarrassment and making him itch, yet he was still cold from the chills. His stomach churned at the conflicting sensation and he looked at his pillow longingly. Noah was staring at the floor, eyes hidden by his bangs as he tried to sort through everything Rex had told him. So...he might really be losing it huh? I might be...well, come on! What am I supposed to do! Noah glared at the ground, his chest swelling, but he swallowed hard.
"So...you talked about me huh? Did you write down everything?" Noah eventually asked, looking up at Rex. Rex started, falling straight into the pillows he had been lowering himself toward, but nodded at Noah.
"Everything." Rex blinked when Noah's eyes darkened, but smiled and shook his head, "Idiot, I said we were friends again too. And don't worry, I didn't say I still needed to punch you out or anything. But no promises if I decide to do it anyway." Rex said, smile turning into a grin. "I mean, come on, probably the first thing I'd think to do."
Noah snorted and rolled his eyes, but his chest still squeezed, "Yeah, like you could."
"Is that a challenge?" Rex yawned from his bed, clenching his eyes as they watered, "I'll take you on." he slurred.
"Maybe." Noah walked toward the bed and pushed Rex down, smirking at him as Rex sputtered. "How about you get better first. Otherwise it'll be even less of a challenge than it already is." Rex's eyes widened and he almost shot back up.
"Oh, you better believe it's on! Just you wait Noah, the moment I'm outta of this place I'll be kicking your butt at the basketball court! You won't know what hit you! You'll be sorry you ever tried to make a fool of the great and almighty Rex!" Rex pumped his fist for good measure, but his arm fall back to the bed with a soft thud, eyes fluttering close. "But sleep first."
Noah snorted, watching as Rex slowly breathed in and out, the Evo curling in on himself as he started to snooze. Snores started to float away from Rex and Noah turned and started out toward the connecting room, his chest unusually tight. "So he'll forget everyone and everything huh?" Noah blinked and glanced at Rex before looking away. He bit his lip, "That really does suck..." Noah swallowed the lump in his throat and started toward the door again, "But I guess I'll just have to stick around and make sure he remembers everything." Noah nodded to himself and waited as the sliding door slipped open, Doctor Holiday waiting for him on the other side.
"Hello Noah." She said, smiling at him. Noah glanced at her and saw some dark lines under her eyes, her shoulders dropping as she held a clipboard to her chest. "I'm guessing he told you?" She asked, leaning against the wall.
"Yeah..." Noah shook his head and hardened his voice, "Can you do anything for him?" Holiday let out a silent sigh, rolling her head against the wall.
"I am trying. This is a unique case so it will take more time. Not that we have it." Holiday mumbled to herself, glaring at the floor.
"Leave it to Rex to make things difficult." Holiday smiled, nodding and walking with Noah toward the exit, when the door slid open. Agent Six stood in the doorway, his mouth drawn in the smallest of scowls and his body strangely stiff. Noah backed away from the man, feeling an aura of sheer anger coming from the dangerous man, and he glanced at Doctor Holiday. She raised an eyebrow at the agent but glanced down and saw Bobo just behind Six. The monkey shrugged at her and Holiday looked back at the agent. What's wrong then? Holiday glanced at Noah, noting the kid's wide eyes and sudden...quiver. Six...
"Bobo, I want you to escort Noah out. He needs to get home soon, it's almost dark." Noah jumped and shook his head, not wanting to go past the scary agent. Bobo grunted and moved forward, grabbing Noah by the jacket and hauling him out of the room. Noah almost yelped, clutching his own collar as he was bent at an odd angle so that Bobo could "lead" him out.
"Whatever you say Doc. Anything to get away from tall, dark and scary over there."
Noah glanced at the Agent when he finally yanked himself out of Bobo's clutches and leaned toward the monkey as much as he could without having to worry about being shoved into the agent. Six did nothing to help, his scowl becoming more prominent and his hands clenching further. Noah gulped, wishing he could merge the wall as Six took a step forward.
"L-Let me know if anything happens Doc." Noah managed, eyes roving the room as if he were noting all the exits, "I promise to be in tomorrow. B-Bye." And with a sharp prod in the back by Bobo, Noah was out of the room and sighing in relief.
Holiday watched as the door slid close before turning back to Six, "Care to tell me what that was about or was it just an unusual way of getting them to leave?" Holiday looked down at her clipboard, noting a strange fluctuation in Rex's nanites during his nap earlier. It was unlike the others. The numbers were unusually high, but also stable.
"Doctor." Holiday's eyes snapped up to Six and she raised an eyebrow. He had almost sounded...concerned. But he is tense. Did something happen? "I need to talk to you. It's about Rex." Holiday's eyes widened and she nodded, setting the clipboard down on a small metal table near one of the monitor's in the small observation room.
"Come on then, we'll sit down for this." She said, motioning for several chairs by the computer. Six said nothing, taking a seat opposite Holiday and watching her behind his shades. "Well Six?" She prompted when he didn't immediately begin. Her eyes were clouded with concern and her forehead had worry lines running along the surface. Six nodded, feeling an odd...tightness in his chest at the sight.
He chalked that worry under White Knight too, feeling his anger for the man surge in his chest. Six took a deep breath, being sure to keep his eyes on Holiday even if she couldn't see his gaze, and began.
The skies were painted varying hues of gray, leaving a dark overcast over the street. Buildings stretched for miles by the seemingly endless road, each structure tall and stretching toward the sky. The windows were all blacked out, impossible for anyone to see through, and there was a bright glare on each of them despite the lack of light. The street was slicked with rain, glistening under a nonexistent sun and leaving them slippery and wet.
And Rex stood alone.
He looked to each side of the street, bringing his bright jacket closer to his body as his fingers trembled. "Hey!" Rex called into the street, clenching his mouth when his teeth started to chatter, "H-Hey! Anybody out there?" His voice echoed strangely in the air, carrying into the streets and leaving Rex chilled. There was no call back, no shift in the air...not even a breeze. Only a deadness that left Rex feeling heavy, his head looking to his sides. His eyes narrowed at the buildings, waiting for something to come out. Perhaps the building wall would explode, sending debris in all directions as a monstrous Evo clawed its way out and charged at him? Maybe there would be a red portal, dark and eerie, a tell tale sign of Breach. Had she captured him again? But how-he didn't remember-
"Rex." Rex froze, his heat hammering loudly in his chest and climbing up his throat. He tried to swallow the lump down and looked around, eyes roving the still and empty street. "Rex." The voice said again, louder this time. Rex blinked. The voice was low and deep, but there was a hint of playfulness in the tone. A boy's voice sure…But who? Who is it?
"Oh, that's right Rex. You wouldn't remember would you?" Rex's body tensed as the voice blew by his ears. His shoulders hunched up and he whipped his head to the side, eyes searching the air for the source of the voice. Yet only buildings and cold, wet streets met his eyes.
"What is-"
"I thought you'd be more excited Rex. I mean, really, when was the last time you saw me? I hardly ever bother, so why so formal? I know your spiffy powers make you seem invincible, but still." The voice continued chatting away and Rex narrowed his eyes. I'll show you then…just you wait creepy voice.But even as he thought it, his chest clenched. He bit back the odd pain, swallowing as he lifted his hand. Blue veins crept up his arms and the familiar metal encased his limb before a large fist sprouted in his arm's place. Rex stiffened and lifted the fist, prepared to strike once the voice spoke again. If I can find it…then this is over. No way can this guy stand up to-
"Still using your powers at the drop of a hat huh?" Rex's eyes widened and he swung his fist to the side, feeling a rush of air as his strike met with nothing. Rex took a step back, glancing at his sides and forming another large fist. "You should know better by now, but again, it goes into the whole you don't remember thing." Rex whipped around and swung again, only to lose his balance when he struck nothing, His fists slammed into the ground, sending chunks of the street into the air, debris skidding away from him. Rex growled, his machines falling apart as scrap on the ground so he could stand back up.
"Whatever this is, I'm done playing!" Rex shouted, ignoring the way his voice still echoed. Like he was really alone there… "Come out and fight me instead of hiding in the shadows! Or I'm really that intimidating?" Rex smirked, lowering his giggles over his eyes before swinging his arm out. An orange sword quickly formed, the blade trailing on the ground. "I mean, I guess I can't blame you. Just surrender!"
Rex froze when he felt something warm lean into his back. He strained his eyes to look behind him, just barely catching the shadow of another person. He was taller than Rex with hair going in all directions. His back was firm and familiar, and Rex almost closed his eyes at the gesture. But something inside him was still, his heart was beating louder and louder and the blood rushed in his head.
"Hmph…you really haven't changed too much. I mean, you have changed, but…you're still all rash. You never thought things through when you got emotional, but this is probably closest you've come to a real thing. If there is a real thing." Rex said nothing as the figure shrugged, his throat closing as sweat beaded down his temple. The figure chuckled, "Wow. Nothing to say little brother?"
What?
…
WHAT?
Rex forced himself forward and turned to look at the figure, the person who claimed to be brother, but the world was disappearing. The sky was melting into itself, dripping lie paint onto the buildings below, and a large drop of gray splashed in front of Rex. "No! NO! I have to see! Let me see!" Rex shouted, running where the figured had gone, coughing as a rush of gray streamed into his mouth. He wiped away the mess that was smearing on his goggles, only to have the gray goop dribble into his mouth. Rex pooled saliva in his mouth and tired to spit the stuff out, shuddering as a metal, coppery taste filled his mouth. He worked in vain against the still rushing gray, the stream never-ending. If anything, Rex was being pushed back.
"No! Get back here! Get back here you jerk! I have questions! You're not-leaving-me!" Rex screamed, forcing his legs through the thick goop. But his legs stuck and he fell forward, head smashing into the muck. Rex gasped and lifted his head away, goop flying into the air as he coughed up the gray that had entered his mouth.
"Don't leave me here!" Rex shouted, slamming his hands into the slime. He stiffened when he felt something warm around him. Someone rested by his head, blew air by his ear with each breath.
"You need to take care of yourself first brother. I can't have you dying on me. Think of it as a game. If you make it, I'll give you a clue. How about that?" Rex shook his head, shouting at himself as he felt his eyes sting. "Sorry Rex…but sometimes…you gotta do what you gotta do."
"But."
"Stay alive brother. Believe it or not, I don't want you dead."
"Why would I think you wanted me-" Rex stopped as he felt the figure shrug against him. Rex closed his eyes, h is shoulders dropping as his bones and muscles started to ache. He felt so tired…
"Little brother…you'll understand later." Rex sighed as he felt a hand press into his chest, jerking slightly when he felt himself being lifted into the air. He wanted to yell, to curse at his brother for leaving him again before telling him anything. Yet all he could do was close his eyes.
He was so tired.
…
…
"Rex."
Wha? The area was wide and open again, only this time Rex could only see a vast stretch of white. He blinked, bringing a shaking hand to his chest and pressing it against his heart. The organ beat wildly underneath his fingers, the steady and rapid thrum reminding him all to well of the strange encounter. All the questions it brought up without ever giving him a single answer. And then a voice, sounding more like a collective bunch of voices speaking together, cut across his strange thoughts and lingering feelings of...loss.
"Internal scan complete. A threat has been detected, Level 1." Rex growled but didn't reprimand the voice. Instead he shrugged, looking away from the direction it seemed to come from.
"Well...that's no so bad is it? I mean...lower levels, easier to handle right? Unless..."
"Infected nanites have been quarantined. However, as long as the threat remains within the system, all nanites, with the exception of nanite Coded: Everything, risk infection. Viral nanites must be expunged from the system or system shutdown is imminent. Awaiting protocol."
"Protocol? How am I supposed to know that? You guys are the machines aren't you! I want to know what the heck that was about! Was that really-really my brother or-"
Rex stopped speaking and reached for his chest again as it tightened, leaving him gasping. He looked around, waiting for something to pop up and explain, but the voice was talking again. "Vitals are crashing."
"My-My what?" Rex clenched his jaw and hunched over, letting out several short gasps as he tried to catch his breath. "Am-Am I dying or something? Huh? Come on, what's going o-" Rex inhaled and clutched his stomach, closing his eyes as it clenched and clenched. His stomach lurched then before tightening further, sending Rex into a coughing fit as he struggled down the hot acid climbing up his throat.
"Protocol found. Host in immediate danger. Known drop off point: Abyssus."
"Pr-Protocol?" Rex choked, looking into the nothingness, "What kind of protocol tells you to take me to Abyssus!"
"Everything."
"Everything? What is with these-these-dreams! All they ever come out as are cryptic or weird or just plain-" Rex choked again, bitter liquid flying from his mouth and dribbling down his chin. His heart, which had been beating so quickly only moments ago, felt oddly...slow. Rex pressed his hand to his chest again and felt his heart as it gave a few weak pumps, before falling to his knees as his stomach lurched again.
"Stupid dreams..." Rex tried to keep his eyes open, but something warm and strangely...safe wrapped around him. He felt it tug at his already muddled mind, sent a soothing sort of calm through him. He felt something warm on his cheek, a tickling sensation as if he were being caressed.
And he surrendered himself to peaceful, wholesome, dreamless sleep.
"I won't let him." Six watched as Holiday stood from the chair, the wheeled seat gliding away as she began to pace. Her eyes were narrowed and flashing, and she glared at one of the monitors as if White's head would appear for her to bite into. She clenched her hands repeatedly, taking several breaths before turning to Six. "I will not let White make him into some kind of weapon. I don't care what his orders are, Rex does not deserve this." She shook her head and looked out into the room where Rex rested, a large and wide window allowing her to see into the room. "I won't let it happen...I won't let anyone do this." She glared at him as the words left her, taking a step toward him.
Six felt his chest tighten again as something hot seared through his body. He stood as well, although now he felt much calmer. As Holiday spoke he felt it burn inside him, the accusation. It made his skin tingle and his mouth oddly dry. He knew she was looking out for Rex but-
No...now is not the time for fights. "I know. That's why I told you." He watched as Holiday jumped, the doctor turning to look at him, "I won't follow these orders."
Holiday's face brightened, her first real smile in hours blooming on her face, and Six felt all the more uncomfortable. She smirked at him, her bright green eyes boring into his shades, and nodded. "I know that now Six." She paused, glancing at Rex again, "...Thank you."
Six said nothing but turned to look out toward Rex as well, noting the way the kid's chest rose and fell with each breath. It was odd for the agent to see the kid down this long, but then again, the whole thing didn't sit well with him. If I had pulled him off. If I had finished the Evo sooner.
"We'll need to figure something out if Rex does lose his memory. A way to keep it hidden from White." Holiday said, breaking through his thoughts.
"That will mean keeping it from most of Providence." Six said.
Holidays' shoulders drooped but almost immediately perked back up, a new vigor in her voice "There are a few soldiers that know Rex and want to help him. Maybe they-"
"Most of those soldiers also know that orders are orders. Even if some of them agree with our stance, a few soldiers won't make that much of a difference."
Holiday closed her mouth and turned away, glaring ahead of her as her mind whirred. When she spoke again she was slow and careful with her words, "Then maybe we don't need to hide it long. Rex has been keeping that journal hasn't he? If we get it to him before White can do anything, then Rex will at least know he was someone else before. He can resist."
Six considered her for a moment before giving a slow nod, "It could work. We'll still have to be careful though." Six paused, focusing on Rex again, "Knowing who he was won't make him who he is. White could still crush that part of him."
Holiday smiled but her eyes were dark, her forehead wrinkled with worry lines, "Rex is strong. He'll show White. He's done it before. Something tells me that...it's just a part of him. Part of him to-"
"Constantly go against authority figures?"
Holiday rolled her eyes but her smiled widened, "Something like that." Holiday looked back out at Rex, her eyes straying toward the machines monitoring Rex's condition. Her smile fell and she bit her lip, moving around Agent Six and heading out the door. Six raised an eyebrow as the door slid closed, moving toward the door himself and following her as she hurried toward Rex's bed. "Something's odd…" Holiday trailed off as she reached Rex's bed, watching the displays as the machines hummed and beeped.
"Did I imagine it?" Holiday whispered, pressing some buttons on one of the monitors. Six watched her for a moment before his attention turned to Rex. The kid's face was scrunched up and Rex was biting his lip in his sleep, a small trail of blood sliding down his mouth.
"Holiday-" Alarms began to blare, the loud screeching sounds startling Holiday and Six. Six held back a grunt as Holiday elbowed him out of the way, her face flushing as she started to pull at the wires attached to the machines. She hurried over to Rex, eyes constantly glancing up at the vitals as they screamed red at her, flashing as numbers dropped or skyrocketed. Six took a step forward but almost immediately went back as Holiday hurried by him again, almost knocking him away. "Holiday what do you-"
"Get the others." Holiday snapped at him, her eyes narrowing as she leaned over Rex, inserting tubes into his mouth. She titled Rex's head and started to slide the tube in, quick but careful as she started looking at the machines again. "I don't care who as long as they're a doctor. Rex is-" Holiday's eyes widened when she heard a long, dull beep that left her ears ringing. "He's crashing!"
Six's own eyes widened, hidden by his glasses, and he turned on his heel and ran for the door. It was just sliding open when eh heard Holiday yell. He glanced back at her, opening his mouth, but the lights in the room flickered before dying all at once, bathing the room in darkness. Several of the bulbs even sparked as they blew out, the little orange flashes dying before they reached the floor. Six tensed, his hand clenching at his side, and he hurried over to Holiday and Rex, their figures odd, lumpy shapes in the darkness.
"S-Six?" Holiday watched as the man made his way back to the, but she gasped and turned back toward Rex, her shaky hands feeling for a pulse. "Be okay Rex. Be okay." Yet as Holiday reached for Rex's neck, Six's warmth pressing close to her as she leaned toward Rex, a hand snatched her wrist. Holiday winced and tugged at the bruising grip, but her mouth went slack as a pale blue glow came from the bed. Her eyes widened despite the burning blue light, and she felt Six tense beside her.
Rex only stared at them with pupil-less, pale, glowing blue eyes.