Summary: If they hadn't escaped in '09 would Ben still have been crazy. I think so. The blue lady still has plans for him and for Max…whether she's willing or not.
Warning: Mature themes and character death.
No Escape
Chapter 3: Growing Pains
Ben walked in late to martial arts training knowing there was going to be hell to pay. He didn't care though. His discovery in the woods made him feel light and anxious. That is until he saw who he had to spar with. The bomb shelter was quickly forgotten and all his anger and frustration at seeing Max so happy with Zack came crashing back. It wasn't fair. How come everything came so easy to Zack? Why was he so favored in her eyes?
The instructor called Ben to the front where he suffered a humiliating verbal strip down for being late. Training resumed and Ben made his way over to Zack.
The two circled each other. Zack's demeanor was relaxed and confident even while in a fighting stance. Ben followed Zack's movement with feral eyes. He wasn't going to lose this time. He was going to make Zack eat the mat. Ben lunged. His anger made his blow to Zack's face more powerful but it also made him sloppy. Sloppy enough for Zack to dodge the blow and use Ben's own force and momentum against him. Ben hit the mat hard and Zack had him pinned quicker than usual.
"Gee Ben; you usually last a few more seconds than this. Forget to pray this morning?"
Ben growled and tried to throw Zack off of him.
"Give it up, 493. You lost." Zack's knee was pressed in the middle of Ben's back. One of his hands was pinned to his backside by Zack's. Zack had Ben's other hand straight up behind him and twisted at the wrist.
Ben refused to stop struggling and with Zack holding firm it wasn't long before there was a small pop as Ben's shoulder became dislocated.
ARGH! Ben grunted. Zack sprang off of him knowing immediately what he had done. He went to help Ben up but Ben refused his outstretched hand and stood on his own.
"Ben, are you…" The glare Ben gave Zack stopped him from continuing. Instead Zack straightened. "Report to medical now, 493."
"Yes sir." Ben hissed before walking off.
Zack shook his head. He was used to Ben's mood swings, so he didn't dwell on them.
**
Ben walked into the infirmary and was happy to see that Dr. Shorn was the attending physician today. She smiled at him and pointed to a seat silently telling him that she would be with him shortly. Ben watched as she bandaged the arm of an X6. It reminded him of the first time he met Dr. Shorn.
"You wear a cross."
"Hold out your arm."
"The blue lady's son died on that."
This wasn't the first prototype to try to engage her in conversation while she administered treatment. She usually ignored it, only regarding them about whatever injury until they took the hint and remained silent. But this boy's statement made her pause.
"The blue lady?"
"Yes…the…blessed lady." He finished excitedly as he recalled what the janitor had called her.
Dr. Shorn knew religion wasn't something in which they instructed the transgenics. She found it intriguing that this boy came to adapt religious beliefs on his own. He had so many questions. And the doctor didn't see any harm in answering some of them. It's not like she was the one initiating the conversations.
"Good as new." Dr. Shorn said after snapping Ben's shoulder back in its socket.
Ben just nodded.
"You okay?" Ben shrugged and then reached towards her neck. Had it been any other soldier, the doctor would have jumped back. But it was something Ben did often. He grasped the cross and stared at it mesmerized.
"Why'd he do it?" Ben whispered.
"Who?" Dr. Shorn said in a soft voice.
"Bart told me that a thief was supposed to die but the blue lady's son took his place. Why did he do that?"
Dr. Shorn sighed.
"Well, it was his destiny. See by him dying, he took all the sins of everyone with him. In doing that, he saved the human race."
"The savior" Ben whispered, remembering what Bart, the janitor, had once called the blue lady's son. "His destiny." Ben smiled and let the cross fall from his hands.
**