Chapter 7

She went home from time to time to keep up with the family. She would check and ensure everyone was doing okay. For a while she has seen her father in such a thin state, it was scaring not just her, but the family. Half the time when she was home she heard her mother arguing with her father to go out and eat, but he flat out refused.

This time around, Alley just saw Amai leaving the house. When she walked through the door, her father had put on weight! It was a strange sight to say the least, but a more comforting one in her mind. The family appeared to have disbursed for the evening. Her father and mother retreating to their room, Hunter and Pac went out to patrol the cities. The twins were off on their own, what they were doing, no one knew for certain. Suiryu and Max were out as well. She almost felt she had the house to herself!

She could hear a small snoring sound coming from Snek's room. But she could only assume it was Drax. Probably out cold from a nice full meal. Her hunch was right as she just saw him when Snek came out from his room. "He's defiantly your son!" she snickered.

"Yeah, yeah" muttered Snek as he closed the door behind him to his room. He began staring at her oddly. He looked about the house, but appeared satisfied that they were the only two within the room. His glare only got stronger, he pointed at her firmly and stated. "You're hiding something."

Alley froze. Just like that, he goes for blood. Snek doesn't sugar coat or tip toe around a subject to say the least. He just outright says it. "Snek… I can't really talk about this right now…"

"You got to," he said. "Because I could taste the blood on the bottom of your shoes ever since I came through the doors. Next time, clean them if you don't want me to notice. So, what's going on?"

She shook her head, she didn't want to say anything, at least not yet. "I… I don't know how to explain myself right now, I got a lot on my plate here and I am trying to find the balance to say the least…"

He appeared interested, but then smirked. "Okay, if you ain't going to tell me. I'm going to guess it out of you." He leaned in and used his forked tongue, one quick lash of it and he paused. "Let's see, the blood is old, but I am picking up distinct taste of takoyaki." He took another taste. "I smell a gorilla of all things, machinery fluid, and the blood on your shoes, has come from the man you have been working with at the lab… he reeks of blood too… same kind on your shoes…" he glared down at her. "Last I heard, I am aware of this Dr. Genus, who runs a takoyaki shop in city W that mysteriously closed for some time, only to announce it will reopen very soon. Which makes me wonder… why are you working with him?"

She couldn't believe it.

Snek got all of that out of tasting the air around her? Was that even possible?! His arms crossed, he coiled himself up and stared. "Spill it. Now!" he demanded.

There was no choice.

She told him everything, and after that, she said she was fulfilling Dr. Genus's last request in cloning three samples for him. His way of making amends in a sense for those he wronged. As she turned to Snek after the explanation, his face didn't change. He kept staring at her oddly. "So, you're telling me this asshole who cloned himself and let them run free after his whole idea of the house of evolution fell apart… only to let some continue on his work… target us, turned us into this… and he went around killing them so it wouldn't happen again?"

She nodded. "Dr. Genus never wanted to come after the family. Yet, when his clones we were determined to continue his research did… he stepped in. He never wanted to see us get harmed, he never intended for that to happen to you, Max and Suiryu. After learning of 78's plan. He had enough, and went off to kill the rest of the clones. He was stopped by one, and now, he's dying because of it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" he asked.

Alley blushed. "I was worried… if this isn't true… if Dr. Genus is using me, I wanted to be sure that only I would be the one trapped, not the family!" she said. "The less people involved, the lower the risk!"

Snek however shook his head. "That's not going to fly. You want to know if he is telling the truth, you take me along! Got it? You don't risk your own life to be safe than sorry Alley, besides, if no one knows, how can we possibly help you?"

He had a point. As much as she wanted to keep it low key, if everything she feared was true, then why hide it? "How long will Drax be asleep for?"

"A few hours."

"Let's go to the lab then."

#

Alley had to make it quick. She didn't need anyone else in the family knowing about this unless absolutely necessary. When she arrived with Snek, they entered and found Dr. Genus back at work, going over the redesigned cell and trying to crack it. He paused when he saw Alley, but he turned a whole different shade of white when he saw Snek. "My God…" he whispered.

Coming out from behind the table he stared at the former A Class hero. His stronger arm was about to reach out and touch him, but he pulled back. "I'm sorry, I should ask first… and I am so sorry this happened to you."

Snek's face remained stern. "Yeah, well it happened. So, what's the deal here?" he questioned. "You really here to help? You think you can do anything to assist Alley with her research?"

"I'm trying, this is very tricky to try and contain a self destructive mitochondria as a failsafe. That is in my blood as we speak… I can feel it spreading…"

Alley watched as the one stiff posture Snek possessed began to suddenly relax, he turned to Alley and nodded. He was telling the truth. "Doc, question. If your clones are doing this, how come you never kept tabs on them?"

Genus sighed as he leaned on the table. "I regret that action each and every day. Their motives, what they did, I must claim responsibility of them as well, for they are me."

"So… what happens if you die?"

"If? Oh no, there is no if here. It is certain. Unless we can discover a way of eradicating this cell without activating the self-destruct aspect of it, death is certain for me. But more importantly, I wish to help ensure that this never affect you or Miss Brawler's family. If I can prevent that, I will gladly die a happy man!"

"Damn," Snek muttered.

Alley turned to him oddly. "Well?" she asked.

"You're telling the truth, or you have been lying your ass off for years!"

Genus smiled. "I see, he insisted on coming here didn't he? Never would I have imagined one in such a state as him could be a living lie detector."

"He wanted to be sure I was safe," Alley explained.

"You are" said Snek, but he then turned to Dr. Genus. "But you ain't. Your heart isn't going to hold out much longer."

"I am more than aware."

Snek turned to Alley and gave but a nod to her. "You may want to get back to work. I'll take the drone home."

With that, he slithered off. With a sigh Alley knew she had to get back at it, time is against her, and she rather have Genus here to help her than to go at it alone.