Chapter 8

NICOLAI TESTING FACILITY- SECTOR 7: RESTRICTED LEVEL—LIMITED PERSONNEL ACCESS.

The stubborn creature observed Ladon with impish yellow eyes and flicked a slick purple tongue, registering his thermal signature. It cocked its head and bared miniature jagged teeth in a semblance of a smile, emitting a chirping sound of amusement as it shifted to a more comfortable position and waited. Adhesive toe pads allowed the thing to remain attached to the ceiling and out of his reach.

For now.

"Do not test my patience," Ladon warned, slapping his tail to the cement floor. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the ground in front of him. "Down."

It chirped again, the foolish creature unperturbed by his master's command as it twisted its head and used the dexterity of its tongue to moisten an eye.

Mother hadn't been impressed with Ladon's most recent creation during the last evaluation of his work. She'd deemed GC-4 a failure, incapable of retaining a scrap of decorum during training exercises, and had expected him to discard the animal at once. At the moment, euthanizing the little beast was a tempting notion. Ladon never imagined incorporating the Terrier breed into the fourth Gekko-Canisbatch would result in spending additional hours within the training room. Yet, despite the behavioral flaw of the creature, he couldn't help but admire the end result of its design.

GC-4 was larger than his mammalian counterpart, weighing in at an impressive bulk of one hundred and fifteen pounds. Of course, it was still a runt compared to the other subjects—the purpose of its design made primarily for stealth, rather than combat— but its development had progressed with pleasing results. The formation of its hind legs, quadruped motion, and triangular shape of its head, not to mention the tenacious personality, denoted the canine traits in its blood.

And notwithstanding its foolish antics, it was a clever little thing.

EEG scans revealed high levels of brain activity since the moment of its birth. It was capable of complex thoughts, and during aptitude trials it demonstrated the ability to problem solve systematically in a short timeframe to achieve the most efficient result.

Ladon surmised GC-4's intelligence originated from its cold-blooded nature.

The playful demeanor was all dog.

With the addition of its ridged tail and pointed snout, splicing GC-4 with reptilian DNA had given it a streamline silhouette which measured it at a formidable four and a half meters in length. Sharp, curved claws protruded from bow-legged forearms and the alteration to its elongated fingers allowed it to grasp objects with precision. Its scales had hardened like the dermal bone plates of an armadillo as it matured, a defense mechanism Ladon thought essential for his project. The skin had darkened from a smoky gray to black over the past month, allowing it to blend in the dark and remain undetected, but it was the shifting surface modification in its genetic makeup that made GC-4… special.

If only the insolent beast would cooperate.

"I see you haven't put that thing out of its misery," Mother's voice echoed within the room. The sound projected from the intercom above the reinforced door, her tone laced with reproach.

Movement from beyond the thick glass panel drew GC-4's attention, as Dr. Meredith Malcolm stepped into view. She crossed her arms over her chest, likely tapping her foot with impatience while she regarded them with pursed lips. The creature peered at her with interest, flicked its tongue once, and then turned hopeful yellow eyes back to Ladon as it tilted its head to the side and chirped.

Food?

Ladon chuckled and shook his head.

No.

"How could you possibly find that thing amusing, darling," Mother chided, oblivious to the pair's silent exchange. She stared at GC-4 with a critical eye. "Its design lacks elegance. Perhaps you should consider introducing feline DNA into your next batch. They would be a far better alternative than canine."

"I disagree," Ladon said and strode closer to GC-4. "While I concede nature designed felines to be more pleasing to the eye, their disposition is far too independent and they have no regard for authority." He smiled. "In other words, we are too similar in character. I have no desire to perfect a strenuous relationship, when a more suitable alternative is at my disposal."

Mother stepped closer to the glass panel and frowned, displeased with his response—or perhaps by the dismissive tone in his voice. He could sense his gradual change in behavior unsettled her. As an infant, his need to seek her approval when a goal was accomplished filled him with purpose, but as he matured this was no longer the case. Ladon's inclination for privacy was beginning to worry Mother, as though she were unwilling to accept the gangly hybrid she'd spliced with her DNA and reared from the moment he imprinted on her face years ago, had grown into the striking male before her.

Ladon's human side could tolerate the maternal aspect of Mother's behavior.

The cold-blooded animal lurking beneath him—did not.

As if unfurling from the depths of his subconscious, Ladon felt his frame relax while the predator in him took over. His powerful tail swept the concrete floor as he circled GC-4 in silence, keeping a five meter distance between himself and the creature. Ladon was acutely aware of his mother's gaze on him while he stalked his prey. He paused beneath an overhead lamp, allowing her to appreciate every contour of his design.

Ladon's skin was bone white, like alabaster, and the near-translucent pattern of his scales were visible in the harsh lighting. The coloration was a startling contrast to his jet black hair and the shade of green of his reptilian eyes. Hard ridges lined the back of his neck, down his spine to the tip of his tail. Bronze colored dermal plates curved along the shape of his broad shoulders, his collarbone, and the defined pectorals of his chest as one of his defense mechanisms. This same organic armor grew beneath his arms and calves, which during a training exercise it was discovered they reacted to a threat by lifting to expose their sharp edges. Because of this, the technicians often remained at a safe distance in his presence.

A wise decision.

As of late, the male had discarded the habit of filing down his nails and allowed them to grow their natural course. Mother had objected, insisting they would interfere with his work or cause unnecessary injury to the staff during his medical examinations. He didn't care, nor would he subject any restraint on his body to assuage the technicians.

Ladon was a predator.

Perhaps Mother needed to be reminded of that.

GC-4 tracked his movements until the male stopped and emitted a rumbling sound from his chest that was a mixture of a growl and a hiss. A warning. The creature growled back, no longer amused by the game but unwilling to submit. Stubborn thing. Ladon's pale grey lips curled to reveal sharp fangs. He straightened to his full, nearly seven-foot height and let out a deafening roar. The partition shuddered with the sound, but did not break. From the corner of his eye, he saw his mother's hands pressed to her ears while she stared back in horror.

Excellent.

Ladon's voice was rich and melodic, almost formal in its presentation when addressing an audience, but he'd never given into this primal urge until now. At once, GC-4 dropped from the ceiling and crouched before him. Ladon snarled at it once more, and the test subject presented his neck in the universal offering of a subordinate to its alpha. Ladon approached the creature with confidence, and then he kneeled to the ground and caressed the tender flesh of it neck with his claws.

"Good boy," Ladon purred.

GC-4 remained docile on the floor.

Mother cleared her throat, drawing his attention back to the partition. Her face had paled, though she attempted to conceal her discomfort by settling her eyes to the palmpilot in her hand as she spoke to him.

"I have another conference call with Mr. Nicolai tonight, darling, I may not be able to accompany you at dinner."

"I understand, Mother." Ladon smiled at her bravado and stood, placing his hands behind his back. "Perhaps another time?"

"Of course," she replied. When she stared back at him, her eyes were guarded but she managed to keep her expression politely detached. "I love you, darling."

Ladon inclined his head. "I know."

Mother parted her lips, but she hesitated and settled for offering him an imperceptible smile before she fled the observation room.

Play?

Ladon glanced down at GC-4. The creature swept its black tail and tilted its large head to the side, awaiting his response. The male smiled, a sense of kinship cementing as he accepted the creature's connection to his mind as though it were an extension of himself. With this bond, sectors that were once beyond his reach would be available to him through his test subject's keen perception. Theoretically, anyway. This would be their first trial outside the confines of their controlled space, but if their link was strong it was possible he could observe through the creature's perspective. Ladon kneeled and stared into GC-4's yellow eyes.

Play?

"Yes," Ladon replied. His thoughts centered on the exposed air vent above his tank, and the soft voice that haunted him. The female's scent still lingered on his tongue. "Let us play a game of hide and seek."

X-013's attention drifted back to the small female once again as he patrolled his territory for the third time, unable to ignore her presence nor his decision to spare her life. He'd hoped his time alone in the cleansing room would clear his mind as he washed the filth from his skin and clothing, but by the time the task was complete and he'd dried off he felt even more confused and frustrated than before.

Thus, he surveyed every inch of the basement and remained at a distance though he made certain to keep her scent close by. Given his heightened sense of smell, this was easy to accomplish while perched atop a horizontal pipe near the ceiling. His vantage point allowed him a clear view of the basement, but his eyes settled on the huddled form near his den.

Hours had passed since he'd threatened her into obedience, and his hand clenched as he remembered how his fingers had easily wrapped around her neck. He wondered if his rough hand had left more purple bruises on her skin, or if the wound he'd inflicted with his sharp nail had stopped bleeding. Had she tended to her injuries? What of her leg? His kind were immune to disease, and Mercile had designed them to heal at an accelerated pace, but humans were frail and weak.

Perhaps an infection would claim her life.

The male felt his brows draw together, the thought pushing him off the pipe to fall thirty feet onto the concrete floor. He landed with a grunt and stalked towards the female, approaching her space with quiet footsteps. The deep, even sound of her breathing made him pause. She was asleep, still curled up with her face tucked beneath her arms, while her body trembled as though unable to settle even in her unconscious state. He walked behind the metal beam and unfastened the knot, then he unwound the net from its base. The male tugged it once to alert her of his presence. She mumbled in her sleep, but didn't stir. He crouched and brought his lips inches from her ear.

"Wake up," X-013 rumbled, his voice just above a whisper.

A crease formed over her forehead, but it was the sudden altered rhythm of her heartbeat that indicated she was finally aware of him. The male leaned back and grabbed the net without warning, pulling the thing from beneath her. Unprepared for this, the female yelped as she rolled with the motion until he untangled her completely from the net. He tossed it to the floor and tensed, prepared to give chase if she fled from him. The female shook her head and pressed an unsteady hand to her temple, but she remained curled on the floor.

"Stand," X-013 growled. He rose to his feet and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at her.

The female nodded and pushed herself to her feet, keeping her eyes averted as she struggled to do as commanded. Her legs wobbled with the effort to stand, but she didn't allow herself to fall despite her injury. She rubbed her arms in a nervous gesture, and darted her frightened eyes to him before casting them to the ground.

X-013 grunted and thrust his chin in the direction of the cleansing room. The female glanced in that direction, but didn't move. He curled his lip to reveal his canines and took a step forward, his hand lifting with the intent to grab her arm. At once, she flinched and covered her head as if to brace herself for an attack. The male frowned and pulled his hand back. Instead, he stepped into her space which caused the female to gasp and stumble back while he used his massive frame to herd her towards the back of the basement. A snarl or the snap of his teeth kept her from straying from the direct path to the cleansing room. More than once, the female almost lost her footing as she limped backwards but he advanced at a slow pace allowing her time to adjust and keep her balance. Her eyes never left him during the silent journey, and he found himself committing their soft blue color to memory.

He'd seen the sky once in his entire existence, a stolen glimpse while he'd been drugged and locked in a transporter cage as a cub, but that small revelation of a world outside of Mercile and their cruelty had remained with him for years.

Approaching the threshold to the cleansing room, X-013 stopped and thrust his chin once more, narrowing his eyes down at the female.

"Tend to your needs," he said in a gruff tone. "You may use the soap and rag to cleanse yourself."

The female blinked in apparent confusion and looked over her shoulder at the darkened entrance to the cleansing room before turning her attention back to him. She took a hesitant step back, and then another while keeping wary eyes to his feet. The male observed in silence as she retreated further into the room and lost sight of her when she rounded a corner, but he remained in place to allow her privacy. Besides, where would she go? Only cement walls encompassed the cleansing room; the door before him was her only means of escape.

He grunted with approval when he heard the toilet flush, followed by the sound of rushing water from the shower pipe. While he paced the length of the entrance, he kept vigilant eyes to the space around him. It wouldn't be long before the humans brought him his meal, and the prospect made his stomach clench with hunger. Engrossed by the thought of seared meat, he almost missed the female's presence as she attempted to slink away from him while his eyes were averted. The cloth covering her small feet muffled her footsteps, but not the sound of her erratic heartbeat. The male pretended not to notice her, though he commended her determination to flee from him.

The female was small, but had courage.

Still, it was a foolish thing to do.

The moment she turned and hobbled off at a quick pace, X-013 lunged after her before she could get too far. The female squawked and hopped back as he jumped in her path. He snarled as he circled her and spread his arms wide, impeding her escape in any direction. She tracked his movements with wide eyes, and though her face had paled and her bruising was noticeable, her skin was no longer covered in blood and filth. Her heavy breathing and the scent of her pain assured him the female's strength was waning. He needed to assert his dominance now if he expected her to obey his commands. Advancing with purpose, he bent to grab her by the waist but was caught by surprise when the female yelled and struck him on the nose with her fist.

Stunned, he reared back and pressed his hand to the tender flesh. A heavy silence settled between them. She cradled her hand and tears slid down her cheeks, but it was her eyes that held back his temper—barely. The female glared at him, and for a moment even the scent of her fear was masked by her quiet rage.

"Coward." The word quavered as it left her lips. "Go ahead, then. Bite me. Beat me. Do what you want, I don't care anymore! You have no honor, and you're behaving like the animal Mercile says you are!"

X-013 roared, enraged by the female's insult. He grabbed her by the arm, ignoring the sound of her pained cry as he dragged her back to her space. He tossed her roughly to the floor and secured the net around her frame, though the temptation to teach the runt a lesson increased the longer he glowered down at her.

"Adjust to this space, human," he snarled. "I will not release you again, even if you beg me to."

"What if I need to—"

"Then you will lie in your own filth." His tone broke no argument. "I am an animal, yes? A feral creature with no honor, and as such your welfare is not my concern. Do not speak to me again, or I will bite, beat, and do as I please. You are the enemy, and it is my right to seek vengeance." He curled his lip in disgust. "Sparing your life was a mistake, but perhaps my hand will not falter the next time it is wrapped around your neck."

The female cringed from his unforgiving words, and X-013 felt a twisted sense of pleasure as the scent of her fear returned. He turned his back on the retch and walked away, the urge to drive his fist though another crate growing stronger as her biting words plagued him.

Animal.

It was the first word he'd learned to resent as a cub.

The air around him gradually soured while he patrolled his territory, unable to find solace in the task. Not even the frigid air within the basement cooled his temper, and the female's continued presence made it almost unbearable. She'd curled back once more on the floor, and on occasion his ears picked up a peculiar humming sound from her lips.

She did not attempt to speak to him again.

To his relief, the small glass partition located in the center of the basement ceiling whirred and slid back heralding the arrival of his meal. He jumped from his favorite perch atop the metal pipe near the roof and stalked towards the drop point. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the female had sat up and lifted her eyes to the gap in the ceiling. The hoist rope lowered at a snail's pace, and attached to the hook was a large metal dish, placed over a wooden compartment and held aloft by the netting around it. His stomach growled, but he was patient. The male once attempted to attack the thing and had been punished for it, locked and chained in a small cage without a scrap of meat for three days.

Once the compartment touched the floor, the hook detached with a snap and the wire ascended. X-013 waited until the partition closed before he approached his meal. He crouched and withdrew the dish from the netting, but holding the thing in his hand made him frown. Feeling his temper flare, he lifted the dish cover and snarled. Three thin cuts of seared meat rested pathetically on the dish—nothing else. He was accustomed to eating at least eight pounds of meat per meal, and the scraps he held in his hand would only stir his hunger more.

This was his punishment for attacking the young technician, he concluded.

The male would've rather endured another beating from Dougal than have them lessen his ration of meat, though he supposed it was fortunate the humans hadn't decided to withhold his meals entirely. He made his way back to his den, but came to an abrupt halt when he passed by the female. She was in the midst of settling back down on the floor to rest, her arms tucked inside her shirt as she curled into a ball. When her stomach grumbled, she sighed and pressed her forehead to her knees.

"Have at it, big guy," the female mumbled, sparing him a glance through bleary eyes. She shivered and tucked her chin beneath the collar of her shirt. "I'm not hungry..."

"You lie," he accused. "Even now I can hear your stomach protest from lack of food—" Hearing the note of concern in his words, he shook his head and scowled. "I will not share my meal with you, human"

"Mm," was her whispered reply. Within seconds, she was asleep.

X-013 growled and strode to his den. An uncomfortable pressure gnawed in the pit of his own stomach, but he refused to acknowledge it. He wouldn't. She was the enemy and thought him no better than an animal; starvation was a suitable punishment for her insolence.

He parted a section of the canvas tarp to reveal the entrance of his den, and settled himself on the floor with his back to the bars of the cage. As he stripped the meat with his sharp teeth, he relished the subtle taste of blood and felt himself begin to calm. His next meal wouldn't be for hours, so he refrained from wolfing it down though he was well tempted to. With two strips left on his plate, he set them aside for later.

Not for the female, he thought with annoyance.

The male glanced back at his burden through a slit of the canvas, drawn by her muffled sigh as she shifted on the floor. Another twinge in his gut forced him to stand and slide the tarp closed, cocooning him inside the warmth of his den. He wouldn't allow the female's scent to penetrate his home. Determined to sleep and ignore her existence, he strode to the mattress that was placed on the farthest corner of the cage. The soft, woolen blanket was familiar and eased his troubled mind, for exhaustion claimed him the moment he settled over it and plunged into oblivion…

9:42 P.M. –

The moment his eyes opened to the darkened ceiling of his den, X-013 sensed there was something wrong. He knew the temperature had dropped a fraction more as the hours shifted, and the lights had been turned off until morning. This allowed him to keep track of time while confined in a place with no windows, but neither the chill in the air nor the absence of light were the source of his disrupted sleep.

A peculiar sound could be heard outside his den.

He crept to the entrance and paused behind the closed tarp, allowing his ears to identify the noise. It was incessant and rough, as though something shuffled across the floor.

Or someone.

The female!

X-013 pushed the tarp aside, prepared to punish her for attempting to escape—again—but the moment he stepped out, the air rushed out of his lungs and he froze. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and picked up her location in a single sweep of the room. No longer bound to the foot of the metal beam, he found her lying nearly forty paces from where he'd secured the net.

And she was still inside it.

Before he could take a step to bring her back, the net moved of its own accord in a jerky motion. The act was unnatural, for he could see she remained immobile within while it continued to drag her deeper into the basement. Then, a section of the netting suddenly jutted upward and lifted the female two feet off the ground. The male's heart leapt, and for a fleeting moment he wondered if this was a dream. She hung, suspended in mid air and only stepping closer was he able to pick up the faint scent of an intruder.

A pair of yellow eyes materialized out of thin air, gleaming in the darkness as they bobbed and wove, unable to remain still for the space of a breath. When X-013 emitted a low growl, they stopped and blinked once.

Then, the creature revealed its jagged teeth and smiled.

Author's Note:

Okay, kiddies. The "creature" from CH.4 (the one in the tank, if you want to save yourself a re-read, lol) has finally revealed his name! He's another new breed of New Species, but definitely one that's a lot more sinister in personality. And I guess he's cookin' up some nasty little hybrids of his own. Mommy dearest is not very thrilled with her baby, huh? :P Look forward to the next installment. X-013 will at last show that tender side we've all been waiting for. Poor Paige. I just want to hug the girl, she's such a trooper.