Chapter 54: NoFace
(A special chapter~ dedicated to NoFace!)
He didn't really see her, the first time they met.
He saw only Van Kleiss. The rest were just his followers. All else, he saw only vengeance towards *The Before, and the *Grower of machines, Rex, who had trapped him and his brethren within the wall of electric light that they could not pass.
*The days were fretful before then. And long. Too long. He had waited for help. For the wall to be lifted. But it never happened. As he waited, Weeks turned into months into years. He had lost count. He passed the days fighting plenty in the beginning, against the others like him, wrought with confusion, anxiety pouring out in the form of violence and battle.
There was plenty of blood and torn flesh, or bones breaking. Fighting, seemed endless.
But despite their monstrous form, and senseless violence, they were gentle beneath.
As he gradually realized the rampant emotions bombarding his head, were not just his own. They belonged to the others, none of which spoke the human tongue, cords having mutated too much.
Only him. He retained his speech. And somehow, he could understand them. Their thoughts seeped into his head.
So he spoke to them. His thoughts entering their heads. Like mind-speak. He calmed them. The fighting was pointless. They were already alone against the rest of the world who had forgotten them, abandoned them. He did not want to them to be killing off each other anymore.
They only had each other. Companions akin to each other. They saw his point. And thereafter, slowly but surely, the fighting ceased – mostly. They rarely fought one another. If they did, it was to test their abilities. He passed the time testing his as well, since there was nothing much else to do. He pushed himself, over and over. And learnt how to master this form cursed upon him. Other times, the other EVOs drew him into games, learning that there was more to passing the time than trying to rip each other to shreds. They bounded through the expanse of the ruin, their own playground. They were simple games. But it afforded him some fun. Some distraction to pass the time.
But under the glow of idyllic peace, there was restlessness and a tired dream that refused to leave him. *Then a window came, a narrow shiver of a chance to escape. Somehow or other, the others had deferred to him. They saw him as the one who would lead them out of their cage. With their hopeful eyes on him, he fought to make all their wishes come true.
However, the opportunity for freedom, flitted away, leaving him despondent. *Other chances came, but always slipped away, a cruel fate mocking him. *The Betrayer – Van Kleiss – gave him an equally false hope. And there was Rex – oh how fire wrought his chest. The decrepit buildings became his punching bag. Over and over he drove this fists into them, breaking chunks, smashing the cement. He rampaged on, even when his tough armored skin split and bled. His brethren sought to calm him, and gradually, they lulled the angry beat inside, into a dull ache. They did not even blame him for failing. Their kindness made him more wretched. But he let them console him. At least, he still had them.
Until *Alpha appeared, and coldly robbed many of his brethren's lives. He just barely managed to escape in time, along with several others. But amidst the chaos and confusion, *Providence caught him, so he was separated from his brethren. Alone and angry, detained in insolation. He agonized at the thought of living the days locked in the cold, heartless cell.
*Until he was afforded another chance at escape, and at revenge, against Rex. In seemingly repeated failure, he was unable to wound Rex. Despite that disappointment, he was free from Providence. So, he returned to the only place he could. Elsewise, he was Providence would not let him walk free amongst the Before. It was Bittersweet, finding a quarter of his brethren still alive. And they welcomed his return. He still pinned for the world closed off to him, to the him that once was, in human skin. But the warm arms of his familiars, were comforting, for the moment. So he let them soothe him. And the days went on.
*Then came light – all engulfing, all changing. His wish, came true. He was returned, miraculously, but not to the same pint-sized body. He had suddenly grown, still a boy, but taller, with ungainly limbs, and an awkward walk. He would take a while, to get used to his new form. His father found him soon after, and took him back. At long last, he could walk amongst The Before – as a human, proud, and without shame. If only it were that simple. But the reality was less than rosy. He became lost in the world he thought he remembered.
He had to learn everything from scratch. Like an infant. In these things called 'etiquette' that Father said was important. Even things as simple as using a dinner fork. He had forgotten it. Since in the wild, he foraged for fruits and nuts with his bare hands. In school, he daydreamed, staring at the treetops across the hills. He eventually cut classes, dangling from the trees. Till Father finally pulled him out from school. And gave him his own backyard. He spent almost every waking hour digging his toes and fingers into dirt. Still, he had no joy. Loneliness companied him. He ached seeing other human folk. For though he looked the same as them, he knew inside, he was different.
He thought returning home, he would be free at last, from the griping ache wrecking him. Yet once there, peace still refused to be his friend. He realized at last, that his home was there, back in the wild, sprawling ruins, and the ones who lived with him, all those years as fellow EVOs. They were friend and family. And he needed them, so he found them. Bounded to each other through a connection, reading the area in search for them. All thanks to the Insides. They were dormant, yet whispers remained, soft, but lurking. He felt some happiness, drawing comfort from their companionship, reminiscing about the home they had left behind.
*Never did he expect to be hit again, seemingly plagued with misfortune. But then again, maybe not. When the Deceiver – Cain came, he forcibly woke the Insides, transforming him once more. Into NoFace, the EVO. There was panic and chaos, as one after the other, his pals returned to their faimilar EVO Forms, alongside new faces. All, were hit by Cain, who snatched them away, one by one. NoFace couldn't bear to lose another kin. So he led them to safe grounds, to the old, familiar ruins, where there was plenty of ground to run and hide. He guarded them, kept them safe for as long as he could. Picking up on Cain's Insides and guiding his brethren. It was still difficult, since Cain was always on the move.
When Rex appeared, it became easier. He no longer had cause to hate him, since Rex provided the Cure. And Rex was nothing like Van Kleiss, who had previously sought partnership, out of selfishness. Rex, was selfless, and noble, and helped him with a touching ferocity. On hindsight, Rex had always wanted to help. Had tried to, before he pushed him away with his stubbornness and blind anger.
He felt lighter than air, befriending Rex. Like he had come full circle. There were equally happy progressions. Cain was finally arrested, and Rex left with a promise to recover the EVO kin Cain had stolen away.
*NoFace believed in his friend. Never doubted for one moment, that Rex would free his fellow kin, locked up somewhere. However, life had a funny way of dealing its hand. *He found them first, brought there against his will. Immobilized within a liquid cell in the depths of hell.
They treated him roughly, searching desperately for the Insides. It was the only explanation for them drawing his blood day in and out. And stabbing him with rods and wires, running currents and tests, trying to find out what made him tick. There was unimaginable pain everywhere. So much that he screamed soundless wails, or fell unconscious for undetermined lengths of time. Though ruthless, they were careful, and calculating, never too violent with him. They needed him alive, so treated him like a prized lab rat. He rather they killed him though. Since being alive and constantly tormented with footages of his fellow EVOs, was worse than death.
His kin were experimented on like a pack of meat. The atrocities done were too unspeakable, and too painful to recollect. Yet he was trapped, too weak to fight his way out. Too helpless to rescue his kin. The days were endless, dark and wretched. He flitted in and out of consciousness, growing weaker by the day...
*Imagine his shock. When he felt softness on his back. He was lying down on a bed, in a room that was all white and pristine. Was this heaven? He wondered then, thinking he had died.
But next to him was a few staff in Providence labcoat. *He knew at once, that Rex had fulfilled his promise. He felt himself well up. But no tears fell, already dried from the numbness in his imprisonment.
It was a strange sensation. Trying to pick himself up in his human form that was already alien to him. He agonized, wanting to quickly regain his other form. But his Insides were too weak. He desired strength, so he may look for his brethren. But as he was, he was too weak to support even himself.
It was Godsend, that Rex was by his side. Along with many other good people. They bade him to be patient. To take it slow. And consoled him how his friends were safely returned to their nest at Kiev. They wanted to stay with him, but Providence was overcrowded. There was no more housing space. Those who wished to return as human and could be cured, were returned to the town near Kiev. Those uncured, and needing further study, were given a place to stay. The rest of the uncured, were too 'dangerous' to be set free. So they remained detained, and Rex was cautious, when he informed this. Rex's eyes though, gleamed a determined, firm gaze. So he did not contest, recognizing it was for the best. He had no desire to endanger his brethren with other EVOs with ill intentions.
His father had flown over too. It made him blessed and happy, receiving Father's concern. Father who had never once turned away from him despite his monstrous form. Father stayed for a few days, before town matters demanded him back. He did not protest. He was content and grateful. He promised Father he would recover his strength, and return. His brethren were after all, still waiting for him.
But his strength did not return quickly enough. The insides were too weak. He had no way to draw them out. His spirit, was still in wanting of something. That something found him. Through the Solemn One – Six. He was always sulky. And so demanding. Pushing him for something. Taunting him. It angered him, since he was prideful. He was badly wounded. But he was not broken. So he proved it to Six. And finally, found himself invigorated in the EVO form he saw himself as.
There was still yet more to recover. His stance was still shaky. Form rusty. Body still healing. So he continued his days in Providence, never imagining he'd find himself at peace. Rex trained with him. Helped him become stronger. Despite the glowing, fulfilling days, he did not forget where his heart truly laid. Soon, he told himself. He would be strong enough to return to the Nest.
Many times, Noah joined him and Rex. They were usually together, but sometimes they split missions, or tasks, so one would be missing. Bobo joined too, occasionally. Whenever all three of them were together, he noticed a lot more snickering. And bad jokes. He found them amusing, like a tag team of impious younglings. He appreciated the sideshow nonetheless. At least they had successfully made him laugh, on a few occasions.
Once, they headed far out, beyond the sprawling canyons. The three of them seemed to be at urgency. Something to do with robots. Though he was not sure why. He somehow winded up going along. It was quite nerve wrecking, unfamilar from the small town near the Nest. Still, he did not mind so much since it was nice to experience something new.
Then there was a big fuss over some ring. He supposed it was important. He knew what it meant. But it felt distant and unnecessary to him. He could see it made sense for a couple like Six and Holiday. But an EVO would never have a white chapel wedding. Would they? Would he?
He felt a little odd, when Noah asked if he had anyone he had special feelings for. He supposed Noah meant 'special' like how Noah and Rex were to each other. As he knew they were more than friends. He spied them kissing more times than he could count, when they thought he wasn't looking. Their lip lock always drew a hot feeling inside his chest, and made his tummy churn abit. And he always felt a little breathless. He felt that same discomfort when Noah asked that question. He wasn't quite sure how to reply. He didn't differentiate, or measure the feelings he had across each kin. He cared for all his EVO brethren in the Nest equally. But if he had to name someone... perhaps it was *the one with the thousand all-seeing eyes.
He noticed her windows first, not knowing yet who it belonged too. Shapeless spheres hiding amongst shadows in the trees, under bushes – they appeared surreptitiously and out from nowhere. He noticed because he sensed the air was different, humming with a faint tinge of energy.
It always made him wary and cautious. Someone was watching him and his brethren, and that did not bode well. However the days passed, and nothing seemed to happened. He relaxed alittle, and thought he might just be paranoid. He thought he must be imagining when he saw shadows move. Could have been the wind. Or a small animal.
And then came the wretched scream of his kin. Two tiny fledglings – twins, and human-like, chased one another in a game of tag, burst through the thick thistles without care. But it was a cliff edge with a sheer drop fifty feet down into more woods below. One caught a tree trunk in time, the one teetered off the edge of the cliff, their mother's catching arms just missing him by inches. He was at the opposite side of a fork along the plateau, so he caught sight of this. But he was too far to rescue the young one.
His heart leapt to his mouth. Horrified as the youngling fell.
Then a dark flat sphere appeared and swallowed the young one. Nary two seconds later, it reappeared above the mother. The young one fell into her arms, safe and unhurt. Like it travelled through space. She cried tears of relief, hugging her children to her chest. She quickly retreated inwards, where it was safer.
There was no denying now. That someone was indeed watching them. Spying them through its powers of drawing windows in the blink of an eye. He guessed who it was, but wanted confirmation.
"Show yourself. I know you have spied on us for a long time. There is no use hiding now."
Only the faint rustle of leaves, stirred by a gentle wind, answered him. For the longest time, there was no reply.
"Let me see the one who saved my kinsmen. Or I cannot thank you properly."
Still no reply. But he sensed windows still around, watching him.
"Show yourself, I know you are near."
"I am not. I am far from you."
Finally, a reply, abit scratchy, thin yet echoing, sounding afar. But it was clear enough to sound undoubtedly female. He was sure he knew who it was.
"Distance is not of a concern for you," he stated, then added as an afterthought, "Breach."
When he revealed her by name, she finally showed herself, refreshing his last memory of her. Back then she followed the Betrayer –Van Kleiss – but he did not really notice her, only knowing she had powers to rip through space and open portals that shortened distances to how she desired.
He studied her carefully now, noting she still had two pairs of arms – like he used to, until his second transformation that turn the extra pair of limbs into legs instead. Her skin was ashen grey, but more chalk-white. Her jet black hair, longer, spilling past her shoulders, over a white blouse and blood red skirt. He mused how odd it was that she remained clothed, which was what he had been tickled by before too. Bio-wulf and Skalamander both didn't wear clothing. He too didn't see the need for clothes in his full EVO form. He only wore clothes whenever he visited his father, in his human form, since it was customary. So he supposed she felt the need to wear them only because her form was more human than EVO.
"Are you spying on us because of Van Kleiss?" he asked, keeping his face locked onto her.
She wrangled her four hands abit. Nervous. Head shaking lightly.
"You have no need to fear. Though he knows you have come back here, *he thinks I am unable to track you."
He crooks his head, surprised, but no less suspicious.
"You would lie to him? Why?"
She bit her lip, refusing to explain.
"I have to go. He will be suspicious if I step away for too long," she said instead, then stepped backward into a portal she drew at her back, and disappeared.
Her spying did not end. He became more acutely aware of her dozens of tiny portals opened all round the Nest. He pointedly pretends not to notice. Since it didn't seem like she was intending to harm them. If she did, she wouldn't have saved the young one, and Van Kleiss would be ravaging his place by now.
Sometimes his Insides detect her presence being physically around. He would hence leave fruits he had gathered, discreetly leaving a couple lying on the ground whilst he carried an armful back to his other kin. Sometimes he caught fish and wild birds, and cooked a few too many, leaving one or two by the died-out camp fire. He was always careful not to acknowledge her presence directly. For it seemed it would turn her away before he could learn her reasons for spying on them.
"Why do you always leave me food?" she finally asked one day, appearing before him, choosing the time when no other kin was nearby.
He faced up from his squatting position where he was helping to make bedding out of leaves for the young ones.
He shrugged. "You look like you needed food."
It was true. Though her EVO arms were packed with solid flesh and muscle, her human cheeks looked hollow, shoulders gaunt, legs too skinny like twigs. There was fragility in her petite, gaunt form, and terrified corners of her eyes, that just made him unable to leave her alone.
Her lips curled one side into a twisted smile.
"You are just like him – wanting to take care of everyone."
He sensed she still had more to say, so he waited for her to finish.
"But you are also different. Rex is tied to strong bonds with his Providence family. And you, to the EVOs here."
He felt an envy. And a mix of loneliness ghosting her voice and the downward droop of her brows.
"You have family too. Don't you? With the Van Kleiss and the Pack – "
"We are not!" she hissed, almost vehemently, then caught herself, and wore a guilty look for her outburst.
"Only Bio-wulf and Skalamander – I don't mind them. But not Van Kleiss."
"Yet you served him, and you made Abysus your home, did you not?"
She paled further than her already ash-white skin.
"It was never our home. It was just a place for us because we have no where else to go."
"It was the same for us then, when *the shield was up."
"Maybe so, but even though that has been taken down, you and your EVO pals still chose to stay here. You preferred each other's company. I have seen you, you are like family. You are peaceful, and content."
He nodded, since what she said was true.
"But it was not so for us. We were never as close as your group here," she continued soberly, "We stuck together doing Van Kleiss's bidding and... he was demanding, and cruel. He petrified any EVO who didn't satisfy him. He also hurt me, *forcing his amplifier on me. We are... terrified of him. Restless and uneasy, and painful, that was how my days were."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he sympathized, by then, he had already straightened, and had closed the distance between them.
"You could stay here, if you wished," he offered and he meant that genuinely.
She flinched, and he thought it was because of his words, but realized it was because he'd stroked her cheek with his fingers. He retracted his hand quickly, not realizing he had done that at first, and not sure why he even did that. He just felt the need to console her. Such a poor thing. She was emanating this desperate want of easing the ache inside her. He must have moved in response to her plea.
But she seemed frightened off instead, staring at him with large stunned eyes and backing away faintly.
He panicked abit, worrying that he had done something wrong. But did not get the chance to talk further, because her portal appeared, and swallowed over her from head down.
To his relief, she returned a few days later. And he carefully drew her into small, light conversations. She left not before long. And thereafter, she came back frequently, never speaking much, and never staying too long. Sometimes the both of them don't talk, and sort of just fell into companionable silence, with him working at his tasks while she watched him.
Then she warmed up more, talking more freely, and even joined him with what he was doing. Be it hacking wood for fire, or weaving thin, flexible reeds into baskets to hold water. Just simple tasks they needed for their livelihood. She even joined him in tending to his vegetables. They had many plots of greens scattered around the Nest, depending on which soil was suited for the crops.
By then, his fellow brethren had noticed her, and seeing that they treated her warmly, she relaxed, and stopped trying to hide. His EVO kin couldn't speak, save for a few new ones whom Cain turned, and who chose to stay with them. But they conversed with her well enough, inviting her along with their tasks, or their games. She was always quite hesitant, but followed anyway. And ended up smiling all the time. He was relieved to see her lightened up, for sadness always seemed to be lurking at the corners of her lips and eyes. He could not help but feel compelled to ease her suffering, in whatever ways he could.
There were still many moments where it was just the two of them. And at one such occasion, he asked something he had noticed for quite some time.
"You seem interested in the younglings," he noted aloud, "Are you thinking of having one of your own?"
She flinched at his words. And looked a little sad.
"Yes, actually…. But I can't."
NoFace looked at her with pity. That would explain the longing in her eyes. But he was also puzzled why she said she couldn't. When he asked her this, she hugged herself with four arms, looking away.
"I'm not exactly human, if you noticed."
He shook his head.
"I don't think that mattered." He went on to point out how his EVO family looked remotely far less human than she does, but yet they were still able. And most surprisingly, their children looked so closely human, more human than their parents were.
She then did this thing where she cracked her shoulders and neck half an inch, a behaviour he learnt portrayed her bitter helplessness.
"Well, then, guess I'm just unlucky. I'm always the unlucky one."
"…Why you wish for children?"
She wrangled her human hands together, looking forlorn.
"…Don't you?"
NoFace faced down abit. "I don't know."
"But, can you… well, make children?"
NoFace mused at her curiosity, then shifted into his human form, bones cracking, flesh shifting easily. Pain raked through him, but he'd done this often enough so he barely felt it.
"I think …I can," he announced.
She drew her gaze over him, lingered a little at his crotch and turned away, redness dusting her pale cheeks. NoFace then realized, in his eagerness to transform and show proof of his sexual organ, he hadn't given a second thought about propriety. He was pretty sure folks – humans that is – don't go around exposing themselves. Even if societal rules no longer applied for the likes of him, he felt his face warm to the feeling of a blush, rather mortified over what he'd done.
He shifted back quickly and felt a need to explain his improper behaviour.
"Sorry, clothes…I have them…. When I visit my father…" he trailed off, feeling more embarrassed and awkward trying to explain his nudity. When he was in his EVO-form, he didn't wear clothes, so of course switching back, he would be naked.
"It's okay, I don't mind," she dismissed his apology, while tucking her hair behind an ear.
She suddenly looked nervous, EVO hands wrangling behind her back. She licked her lips, and NoFace suddenly thought she had the prettiest lips, and he felt his pulse speed up, faster than whenever Rex was around.
"I should go. I have dallied too long," she informed.
He nodded and didn't know why he felt the need to ask. "When will you be back again?"
"I'm not sure," she said slowly and crooked her head, surprised at his question, "Won't be too long, I suppose."
"While you're gone, every hour feels long," he blurted. Then became shocked himself. He hadn't meant to say that. He didn't even know why he did.
Her eyes grew wide, lips agape. She too, was surprised at his words. She wrangled her hands again. And bit her lower lips that inched into a small, shy smile.
"I'll be back soon," she just said, "I promise."
He stared at her with his heart muscle thudding a thousand beats per minute. Even long after she was gone, he could not calm down. He marvelled to himself, what he was feeling. Something light, and spritely, was singing inside his chest, unlike anything he felt before.
Excitedly, he waited. Looking forward to her next visit. But she never came. Long he waited, for days, weeks, months, becoming anxious. He doesn't even sense her portals anymore. So he grew worried. And wrought with helplessness, for he had no way to find her.
When finally, she next appeared, he felt his chest would burst out his rip cage like a thousand butterflies set free all at once. However, she wore a grave look that warned him, and sunk his soring spirits to a heavy crash.
Other EVOs who were not any he knew, suddenly bounded towards him from behind her, entering the grounds via her portal. *He knew at once. He was hunted, and would be caught.
He could barely hold out on his own. It was one against too many, and his brethren were too far away to reach him in time even if he called them.
He stared at her, aghast, and pleading. He wanted to understand why they wanted to catch him. And wanted to know why she baited him, even though she had promised not to bring harm. However, she explained nothing.
Forgive me, she simply mouthed silently from where she stood, tears streaming down her eyes...
He felt his eyes prickle on remembering, a sharp pain raking his chest. He quickly shook those unneeded tears away before they were wasted on her. In the first place, they were barely friends, even if the naïve part of him wished it to be so. The pain he suffered during his imprisonment was nothing compared to the agony he felt over her betrayal.
Strangely, even after being betrayed, even now, he could still recall the loneliness he saw in her eyes. And in between his rage, he still held sympathy. He still believed that what he saw of her longing, her agony, her pain, was real.
There was a purity, in her envy towards him and his kin. And a believable sincerity to her hesitance, her words, her expressions. Of someone who did not want to hurt. Of someone aching to feel warmth and family. Of someone who desired to be loved.
He had hated his conflicting thoughts. He should not be letting kindness cloud his judgement again. She betrayed him, and led to his capture. Which should be proof enough that she was as cruel and cold as the master she followed. Yet he could not hate her. Could not even be completely angry at her.
Seeing the happy couples around him in the exhibition, he could not help but wonder. The reason for his conflicted feelings. Had she somehow crawled so deep into his heart? That made him unable to think ill of her? How many times had the thought of wanting to bring her happiness, crossed his mind?
END OF CHAPTER
Footnotes/ Remarks:
I apologise, as my story is TOOOOO bloody long and I take forever to write, I will be making plot reminders/ references below so that everyone can be refreshed and clarified. Thanks for patience and understanding!
*The Before: I picked this word from the original cartoon. In the cartoon, NoFace referred to the humans and Providence as 'The Before', I think because they were still lucky to retain their human forms even after the nanite event took place.
*Grower of machines: Also from the cartoon. NoFace referred to Rex as this.
*The days were fretful then: Basically I'm referring to NoFace's tumultuous past. I imagine it must not be easy to be stuck in an area caged full of restless EVOs.
*Then a window came, a narrow shiver of a chance to escape.:
Referring to the original cartoon in season 1. When he shot down Captain Callan's ship and attempted to leave the Bug Jar by hijacking it. Rex however, was sent by Providence to intervene, preventing NoFace from escaping.
*Other chances came, but always slipped away, a cruel fate mocking him. *The Betrayer:
I'm getting NoFace here to call Van Kleiss as 'Betrayer'. Since in the cartoon, Van Kleiss double crossed him in season 2, preventing him from escaping yet again.
*Alpha appeared/ *Providence caught him, so he was separated from his brethren./*Until he was afforded another chance at escape :
In Summary, remember the Ben-10 crossover movie? About the Alpha nanite saga? Yea, so basically, NoFace barely escaped from the damage of Alpha, but Providence managed to catch him, and locked him in a prison. But a prison-break occurred in season 3. He went out for Rex's blood, still being pissy and blaming Rex for the cause of his EVO cause, but obviously he lost. Tired of all his mis-adventures and being away from home, he returned to reunite with his remaining brethren in the Big Jar.
*Then came light – all engulfing, all changing. His wish, came true.
Ok….Everyone knows how this happens. The worldwide cure. I decided to do abit of self-reflection and healing on NoFace's return to human form, and introduce briefly, on his struggles to reintegrate into human population.
*the Deceiver : in my story, this refers to Hunter Cain. Now deceased. He was in chapters 6 to 8.
*Never did he expect to be hit again:
Refers to chpt 6 to 8 Arc when NoFace releasped into EVO form because of Hunter Cain. Cain was blackmailed to do dirty work for The Rise using nanite bombs in his head. He infiltrated the town at Kiev that was near the old Bug Jar, pretending to be the town Sheriff of sorts, protecting the townsfolk from EVOs that were suddenly and steadily reverting.
Little did they know, he was the one who instigated it with the Remote EVO Activation Serum (REAS), secretly injecting them into the townspeople. NoFace was one of the early ones who was unlucky to be shot with the injection pellet. Luckily, he managed keep out of Cain's grasps, and led many of the relapsed to safety, hiding amongst the vast concrete jungle ruins and mountain areas of the old Bug Jar area. Cain was in the middle of his charade, secretly hunting down and creating more EVOs and using his status as appointed Bailiff as a front, when Rex and Six went to the town for investigation.
Rex and Six was able to sound out Cain and bring to light his treachery and lies. Those EVOs they rescued were cured, since the REAS was no longer affected by any controller. Note some EVOs could not be cured, and some chose to remain as EVOs, as was NoFace's choice as well.
Also, not all were lucky to escape, and those who were caught by Cain, were secretly shipped off to a facility in an island, where Providence later tracked down in chapters 24 to 26.
*NoFace believed in his friend. Never doubted for one moment, that Rex would free his fellow kin, locked up somewhere. However, life had a funny way of dealing its hand. *He found them first, brought there against his will.
So here, this refers to the promise Rex made to him, that Providence will track down the brethren Cain had kidnapped. Before Providence found the Dome facility however, NoFace was kidnapped first, by minions in The Rise. He was brought to the Dome where his other brethren were held, where they were cruelly experimented on. (This happened in between chpt 8 and 23, whilst Rex was embroiled in other missions, mishaps and stumbling through other discoveries and facets in life).
*Imagine his shock. When he felt softness on his back. He was lying down on a bed/
But next to him was a few staff in Providence labcoat. *He knew at once, that Rex had fulfilled his promise.. :
So most recently (in chpt 50), NoFace finally woke up from his coma. Basically he had been rescued from the Dome, in Providence mission covered in chapter 24 to 26. Storyline goes in a linear fashion at this point, where he recaps his road to recovery with Rex and Providence, until the Robot exhibition and the discussion of wedding rings came up.
Sorry if it gets confusing at this point, so let me be clear here, that when NoFace thought about the person he referred to as *the one with the thousand all-seeing eyes, he was basically going back into recap of his days after the Hunter Cain saga, where he lived blissful days with those of his EVO brethren who relapsed because of the REAS, yet preferred to remain as EVOs with him. They were folks who became at the fringes of society, awkward and uncomfortable, unable to assimilate with human society after being EVOs for so long. So they remained as EVOs and went into the old ruins of the Bug Jar with NoFace, at which, they now referred to as The Nest.
He befriended the *the one with the thousand all-seeing eyes, who is Breach, who secretly watches him and his EVO pals in the Nest. He didn't know what her motives were, but made no move to hurt her since she didn't have any bad intent.
*He knew at once. He was hunted, and would be caught. : Sadly, Breach eventually betrayed and hurt him, and is the one who led to his kidnap and capture by the rest of the Rise members, whereby they imprisoned him in the Dome. As mentioned in above notes, this happened in between chpt 8 and 23, whilst Rex embroiled in other missions, mishaps and stumbling through other discoveries and facets in life.
*he thinks I am unable to track you." : I think this was a not so obvious element. Only mentioned briefly in chapt 7, in the Hunter-Cain/ Kiev arc. The Rise were watching Cain's performance, and Van Kleiss was disappointed that they did not secure NoFace, or Rex. The Master wanted to utilize Breach's abilities to locate Rex, but she lied that the inference of remnants of old energy shield (made by Providence in the original cartoon) prevented her from opening window portals that let her search for their prey. At that point, her Master believed her words.
*the shield was up : NoFace meant to say back in the days when the energy shield caged them and the area was named the Bug Jar, as per the original cartoon.
*forcing his amplifier on me : Refers to history in the original cartoon, in final episode in season 2 where Van Kleiss made her to wear a tech that amplified her powers, ignoring that it caused her a lot of physical pain.
