Prologue - Birth of a Champion

The birth had been quick, or so the doctors kept telling her. To Nina, two hours was anything but "quick." But a glance down at the blond-haired little boy feeding on his mother's breast allowed all of that to simply melt away.

The mother allowed herself a sigh as she combed her fingers through the infant's hair, still damp. All this, she thought. All this was just for you.

"What will you name him?"

The nurse looked on in expectation, but to her, it looked as if the mother was actually contemplating the question. In truth, she'd had a name for him from nearly the moment of conception.

Not that it really mattered. She knew that the researchers would be in soon. They had to be. This little boy was the end result of two entire years of research and development. How they could have resisted simply snatching the boy direct from her womb was beyond her. They had to know that leaving her with him was a drastically bad idea.

Moments passed as the mother let the silence increase the suspense. Why not let the nurse squirm in anticipation a little?

"Nurse Jensen," said a woman's voice. "May I speak with the mother privately for a moment?"

Nurse Jensen walked away, obviously disappointed at having her question left unanswered as she nodded and stepped from the room. The mother needed no introductions here. You just didn't forget people who invaded your life as thoroughly as Melinda Carmine had invaded hers.

She was a beautiful woman, with long, dark hair, and a pair of thin reading glasses perched on a perfectly upturned nose. She was dressed in a lab coat, with a name tag, but carried herself with such grace that her outfit might as well have been a royal gown. This was a person who commanded a room.

Dr. Carmine sat beside the bed, watching both the mother and the child. The mother couldn't tell from her expression, but Carmine's face seemed to be a mix of both anticipation, as well as regret. It was a flurry of conflicting emotions that the mother had never seen on this face before. Something must be wrong.

"If you're just going to stare," said the mother without looking. "Could you at least pretend to blush?"

Carmine smirked slightly. "If I had actually thought you capable of embarrassment at this point, perhaps I would. But this is hardly the most compromising state that I've seen you in."

The mother smiled, and then finally looked up, her deep blue eyes hopeful for news that she knew wasn't about to come. Dr. Carmine was quick to put those hopes aside. She shook her head.

"So," she said. "How do you feel, Nina?"

The mother glanced down again at the little boy in her arms, still greedily suckling at her breast. She brushed a damp strand of blonde hair from her own eyes, and responded with a sigh. "As well as I can, I suppose," she said calmly. "How long are they going to give me?"

"One month," replied Carmine. "It was the most I could negotiate. After that, they expect you to bring him in for testing."

"What are the tests going to consist of?"

"I'm not at liberty to say. But if the boy is found to carry the gene…"

"I know." Nina cut her off. "But are the tests going to hurt him?"

Carmine was quiet for a moment. Then she removed her glasses, cleaning them on the hem of her lab coat. "They might."

Nina thought this over. It wasn't as if she'd had any choice in the matter from the beginning. Dr. Bosconovich had explained to her what the Mishima was trying to achieve, and since she was already in cryosleep, this brief respite of one month would be all that she was allowed.

"Where are we to be housed?" Asked Nina.

"Arrangements have been made," replied Dr. Carmine, replacing her glasses.

"Through whom?"

"My sister, Vivian," said Carmine. "She and her husband Dean live in Camden."

"London?" Nina said thoughtfully. "But don't you worry that the Mishima will…"

"Vivian and I are mostly estranged," said Dr. Carmine quickly. "I had to distance myself when I began working here. For her sake. But I know that she and Dean have been trying to adopt a child for quite some time."

"You will keep him safe, then?"

"I will," said Carmine reassuringly. "But you're not going to remember him."

Nina again looked down at the boy. He was finished eating, having nestled himself into her arms, slowly falling asleep. So peaceful… You may be the key to all of this.

"I'll remember."

"Then let us begin." Dr. Carmine produced a syringe from beneath her coat. She slowly walked around to the other side of the bed, and inserted the needle into the boy's left arm.

Young Steven wailed.