Beginnings Have An End
Chapter Four: Interdependence
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Six and 29, after discovering that the other side of the wall was covered in ivy, had climbed out of the facility and ran through the wild fields of South America many times. They stayed close, however, and mostly dared each other to climb higher into the crooked old tree.
On one of these occasions, the two sat on opposite branches, both swaying in the cool wind. Six brushed her hair from her eyes and leaned back against the branch, sighing in contentment. It's a nice day, innit?
29 looked out over the cliff. You ever wonder what's out there, Six?
She opened one eye. Sometimes. But I'm happy here.
Well sure, me too, but just once wouldn't ya like to see something new?
She sat up. I saw a bird once. I think I might want to fly everywhere someday.
In a plane, you mean?
No, I mean like flying. You know. Six spread her arms. Like this.
29 laughed and stuck out his own arms. Like this!
Uh huh! The two dissolved into giggles.
Laurie turned to Eva, who had just come into the medical room. It's here, she said quietly.
Eva sat down and held her head for a moment. Call the children...we have to do this sooner or later.
Yes ma'am.
The crackle of the loudspeakers echoed throughout the mansion and surrounding land. All Cybers report to the medical lab, all Cybers report to the medical lab.
29 looked at his sister. Another check up? We just had one.
Six shook her head. No...it's something else. It's a bad thing, I can tell. Really bad. She followed 29 out of the tree.
Oh, you're probably overreacting, Six. Come on, I'll race you there.
But he was already climbing over the wall, and she had no choice but to give chase.
They were last to get to the lab, and had to split up to reach their positions in the lines. 29 gave her a jaunty wink before they separated, and the Cybers fell silent, waiting to find out the cause of the emergency call.
Eva entered the room, gloves on. Laurie, and another maid named Julia, followed, pushing a tray of syringes along. Six noted the fear in Cyber Two's eyes, and gathered that the older girl wasn't fond of needles. Two suddenly looked at her, and with a sharp glare drove her back into line.
Eva picked up a syringe, showing each Cyber the glowing green substance inside. Your father, Von Reichter, tells me that it's time for you to receive this, and... She motioned at Julia, who held an odd looking laser pen. ...that. I didn't want to have to do this so soon, my children...but I can't stop your father. You won't feel well after this; I won't lie to you, but please, be strong.
Six shivered, looking at the syringe and at the pen in Julia's hand. I'm scared, she realized, this IS a bad thing. Why would Father do something that would make us feel bad? Doesn't he love us still?
As if reading her mind, Cyber 5 smiled at her and squeezed her hand. We'll be okay, he whispered, because we're Cybers, and we're strong. So don't worry.
she whispered back, and watched as Cyber One was taken into the back room.
Six let out a painful breath. She'd been the only one so far to honestly and truthfully collapse. The other girls hadn't looked too well, and the boys handled it well enough, but it seemed the younger the Cyber, the worse the system dealt with the strange new She was worried about 29, but only at the back of her head. Eva had given her a small pill to aleviate the pain, and she was thinking through a fuzzy haze. Yet, she remembered what had happened. Right down to the first hint of pain-a pain she'd never felt before in her life.
Eva had tried to make things easy on her. Her mother's hand was in hers, through the whole thing. Julia had given her a reassuring smile, and then the pain had started. The laser pen had burned directly into the flesh of the inside of her lower left arm, tracing letters. Six bit her lip, determined not to cry out and alarm the others.
The searing heat burned nearly into her muscle, or so it felt. When Julia had finished penning the 6 designation, a cold, wet cloth had been strapped over the tattoo, relieving the pain-for the moment. Eva had gently tightened her hold on Six's hand, calming her down - and at the same time, preparing her for the worst.
Laurie had brought out the syringe, which caused Six to start to tremble. The needle had been cleaned, and Six wasn't worried about infection-after all, Cybers were naturally resistant against that sort of thing. But the thought of that...glowing liquid flowing into her body....that was terrifying. What would it do to her?
At first, it was just cold. Like the gel in an ice pack. Only it spread throughout her entire small body, then doubled back on itself. That's when it started to get uncomfortable. Six felt as though every system of her body was being ripped apart and put back together, all jumbled. She was having trouble catching her breath, and must have passed out.
Now, resting on one of the medical lab's cots, Six was exhausted, and cramped. She was compressed, almost, like there was something she needed to do. An adrenaline rush, maybe. Or...
The door creaked open and 29 peeked in, holding a vial in his hand.
'm here, she called weakly.
He climbed up onto the bed and sat down. Momma said for you to drink this. He held out the vial, which contained more of that green sustenance.
Please? If Momma says so.....
Six was too weak to argue with her favorite brother, and simply swallowed the contents of the vial, shuddering. The cold and hot flashes weren't as bad, but she cried out a little.
Geez, we were all really scared, Six. Nobody else passed out, even.
That makes me feel good.
Well...Sorry. But you always were kinda delicate.
Shh. I don't want you to hurt yourself.
I won't, 29, really I won't, I promise. She sat up; the green liquid had somehow made her stronger.
Momma told us that we're gonna start training for atlectics tomorrow. I dunno why. Father maybe told her to work it out.
Athletics, you mean.
One of them.
Can we still go to the tree?
Okay. Just so long as we've got the tree.
We'll always have the tree.