Disclaimer: Noblesse isn't mine.

I Am Tao (Part 14)

"Jameson, what is the current status?"

He grabbed a paper from his desk and quickly scanned the information. One of the researchers should be giving this report. Someone that could comprehend what the status meant. Even so, his superior wouldn't understand it either. Neither of them belonged in this level of authority, and the researchers realized this. Their reports were always written simply as if for children, but even then, he found it difficult to explain. "Several experiments are showing independent variables. Ah, that is, changes in the specimens because the controlled variables were not held constant do to releasing the specimens."

He nodded slowly, listening to each detail with patience. "Even if released, shouldn't the experiments remain dormant?"

"Yes, sir, but these are awakening nonetheless." Jameson inserted the report into the paper shredder and allowed the only copy of this information to disappear. The researchers' personal notes still remained, but those were highly guarded. "The researchers request to have the specimens captured and returned to the lab. They were against releasing the experiments from the start. Sir, I agree with this. Allowing unstable experiments this much freedom is hazardous."

"That command came directly from the boss."

"Sir?"

"I will put in a request to recapture the experiments. Continue to track them."

"Yes, sir."

"Jameson, have the next twenty of the series been selected yet?"

"No, sir. They are currently being prescreened for compatibility. The new subjects will arrive shortly after the process has been completed."

[-] [-] [-]

Such a piercing expression. Lips parted and pulled back as a fierce scream tore from his lungs. His chest curved away from the table, and his tendons and muscles stretched taunt as he strained against the restraints. And then, his eyes. They brimmed with such unimaginable fear. Regis couldn't look away. Even as he felt the book lift from his hand, the eyes held him locked in their gaze as strongly as the binds that held the man down. Was that level of fear possible? Even when facing death, he had never seen such desperation in M-21's eyes. Takeo was right. It wasn't him. M-21 was stronger than that. More defiant. He could never make that expression, could he? The picture disappeared and broke him from his thoughts. When had Frankenstein taken the comic away from him?

"My book!" The shout echoed through the office, and Regis snapped his mouth shut at Frankenstein's glare. "I mean, may I please have that back?"

"Are you aware what this is?"

"O course." Regis blushed. Was his ignorance of super heroes that obvious? "It's a comic book."

"Yes, I suppose you could merely call it as that. From what I have heard, it is quite an extensive game, but I am not well informed on such activities." Frankenstein slipped the bookmark from the comic and kept the page with his finger. "I see you are interested in the character competition. I suppose I will allow you to attend, but I hope you understand that you cannot participate."

"Ah, yes, the children gave me the parental consent form this morning."

Frankenstein signed it and placed it between the pages once again. "Has M-21 seen the cover?"

"Yes."

"Don't let him catch you reading it."

"Do you…" Regis hesitated as the question hung on the tip of his tongue. Should he ask about the infected? Maybe a different question. "Have you read it?"

"No, I haven't, but I have run across it while doing some research recent-" He suddenly dropped the book on the table as his master's voice hummed through his mind and grabbed his phone from his desk without an explanation to Regis. A voice mail from Tao? Frankenstein played it immediately.

"You choose now to not answer your phone?!"

"Mmemmeem!"

"Not now!"

Click.

What happened? Who was with him? Why had Master ordered him to call Tao?

[-] [-] [-]

"Memme-memeee-meee-mee." The child moaned softly as he shuttered inside the blanket.

"Hold on a little longer." Tao patted the blanket comfortingly as he ran. The boy had been quieter than he expected. Did the motion soothe him like rocking would calm a baby? He rolled the boy off his shoulder and into his arms. Carrying the bundle like this looked less suspicious, and he could watch the child more closely this way.

Looking behind him, he checked for any signs that he was being followed, but there was nothing. He forced himself to walk. If the police didn't pursue him, they must have been fooled by his simple trick. Now that the boy was safe from them, he needed shelter. A building. The sewer. Anything. "Don't worry. I'll find somewhere nice and dark for you. I'm going to protect you. So don't worry."

"Memem-mommem-mom-mem."

Mom? Was that an accident? Was it just a sound? If the boy was an infected, he shouldn't be able to respond with words. Was it a sign that the infection had not finalized? Could it be stopped? Was there hope? Tao swung in a circle happily. The boy memmed in a higher pitch. He didn't sound frightened or in pain. Did he like that? Tao spun again and again.

Buzz. Buzz.

Tao snapped his phone to his ear. "Boss!"

"Yes, now, what is so important that Master would tell me to contact you?"

Frankenstein's voice sounded irritable already. Tao stopped the game and immediately looked for shelter. It was a residential area, and he couldn't risk breaking into a home. If someone was inside, it would have grave consequences. The sewer would be the best option. Frankenstein might not let them into the house afterward. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

"I'm waiting."

"Ah, boss!" He glanced around. Nowhere looked promising. The boy lived in a nice neighborhood. There would be no abandoned buildings or foreboding corridors to hide in. Wait! A for sale sign! Perhaps there was an abandoned building after all. "I think I might have found an infected being. I don't know what to do with him."

"Kill him, of course."

"Kill him?" His heart sank, and Tao protectively held the boy close. "I can't do that."

The kid panicked and struggled against the blanket.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're alright." Tao swung in a circle again, but the game no longer had an effect.

The boy's hand shot through the fabric, and it sizzled in the sunlight as his flesh burned. He jerked it back with a screech.

"Don't do that!" Tao covered the hole with his hand, but light still seeped through his fingers and penetrated the boy's skin. He trapped the boy against his chest, using his own body to shield the hole, but the boy wouldn't understand. He'd feel afraid. Threatened. Power rumbled within the blanket and centered at his ribs. Tao frantically clung to him. He could easily absorb the shock, but it would destroy the blanket. The boy wouldn't last long without cover.

There was no choice. Tao sprinted toward the house that was for sale and kicked in the door. It flung against the wall and ricocheted back at him. He caught it with his hand. Stacks of boxes piled at the entrance as if waiting for someone to return, but the coating of dust lead him too believe no one ever would. This looked safe. Should he take him to the basement? That would be dark.

"Boss?" Tao lifted his phone to his ear again as he ran down the stairs. The basement was empty and dark except where steaks of light peered through slits in the curtains. It would have to work until nightfall if they could wait that long. He lowered the boy to the floor and backed away. The kid must be terrified. It'd be best to let him come out on his own. "I want to take him home."

"No."

"He's not dangerous. He's just scared right now. Give him a little while to calm down. If you saw him, I think-"

"If what you have is really an infected being, he will likely cause harm to humans if he hasn't done so already. You should know this. He isn't some animal you can drag home and keep as a pet. Why are you reluctant?"

"I thought that maybe you could do something. Make him human again."

"An infected being cannot return to being human any more than you can. What is this about, Tao?"

"He's just a kid. One of our students." Tao pressed his lips into a thin line as his confidence wavered. He had hoped the boss would understand. "It's the student you wanted the health records for. I know you didn't ask, but I was doing a little research on him for you. I found him like this. I thought, if it was you, then maybe… Maybe you could do something?"

There's nothing that can be done. Frankenstein sighed. "I'll try."