Wasurenaikara: Glad you liked it, there should be a few more scenes like that... Thank you... :)

Frosticdranzergal: Shh... Don't tell everyone... Really? Thank you... Eh... I haven't seen them, otherwise I would have worked them into the story... I have noticed that too... When is it coming? -big innocent puppy dog eyes-

she-devil-16: Thanks for the reveiw...

DrawFire: Not completely... He's not heartless, but he is stubborn and will show cruelty... You know? I'll explain it to you later... -swewatdrop- Eh... Don't choke my muse... Even though I have two more...

Disclaimer: Read the Prologue…

Chapter 9

They watched as the door was flung open, a doctor with long, red hair sprinting down the corridor. They sent and received confused stares as the door stopped, still ajar.

This was their sixth door, and they hoped it to be the one. They needed to see if Ian was alright, they needed to know that he was alive.

The youngest smirked, staring down the hallway, "I'll have a look." He received a nod as he crept to the wooden door, scanning the hallway several times, attentive to all. He slowly reached for the door, his hand shaking.

He looked back at the others for a second, their heads the only thing showing from around the corner. Tala nodded in support, while Spencer waved, giving him a thumbs up to show they were on the lookout. It made him feel a bit better.

He swallowed dryly, the lump of nervousness in his throat growing as he pulled the door open slowly, the loud creak making him cringe.

The room was of medium size, the walls were dull and grey and were decorated with several cameras, but Bryan wasn't too worried; It was the guards' break, they still had half an hour. Silver computers and monitors were on the left side of the room, their bleeping and blinking already annoying the boy. Bryan's eyes scanned the floor, stopping momentarily as he noticed what looked to be water on it. Someone was here, someone who wasn't a doctor.

Bryan motioned for Spencer and Tala, their footsteps a soft 'pat-pat-pat' as they ran. They peered into the room too. Bryan stood up straight, his eyes scanning the room again. This couldn't be all there was?

Spencer pushed past his shorter friends, carefully stepping through the water to the computer monitors. His eyes widened drastically at the sight.

A bed was tucked neatly behind them, obvious that the doctor/scientist that was worked here wanted to hide it. The white sheets were a mess, some wet in places, but that wasn't what had shocked the blonde.

When they'd decided to sneak into the forbidden facilities, they hadn't thought they'd find Ian in such a state.

His face was red, mouth open slightly, his hair wet at the front and the back. He reeked of sweat and vomit and was making a cringe-worthy sound as he breathed, a cross between a wheeze and a gasp.

The blonde ran around the equipment, his hand touching the younger boy's forehead gently, pulling it back a moment later: He was burning up. He heard the other two boys' steps towards the bed, before hearing Tala gasp as he ran around to join him, lifting Ian up into his arms before he sat on the bed.

He held him close, "Ian, are you alright?" No response, "Ian?" His voice was panicked, choked with sadness as he hugged the boy. Ian shivered and Tala held him closer. What had happened? He had been so healthy a week ago.

Spencer looked up at Bryan, the teen's eyes were wide his hands gripping the top of the metal computer desk, "Is he going to be alright?" He whispered.

Tala shook his head sadly, "I don't know."

The door slammed, making their heads jolt up, eyes wide.

"What are you kids doing in here?" Their stoney faces returned as they sent hard, icy glares at the doctor.

"What did you do to Ian?" Tala's voice was cold, harsh as he spoke, holding Ian tighter against his chest.

He cringed, "Nothing," he walked hurriedly over to them, Spencer standing as he moved closer, ready to fight if needed. He highly doubted it.

It was the man that had left in such a rush, but he was a lot smaller than what they'd thought. He had a mellow voice, and a cool temper from what they'd seen so far.

The blonde frowned, "What happened to Ian? Is he going to be alright?"

The red headed man placed the bags on the floor, hurriedly rummaging through it. He threw a bottle of soda on the bed, rising to his feet from his kneeling position, "He needs sugar, anything that might give him energy." He tipped half the bottle into the beaker on the floor, motioning for Tala to let him hold Ian.

Tala's glare intensified, "No."

The doctor blinked, his own blue eyes narrowing, "We need to feed him. Sugar will do, I haven't exactly got anything nutritional here and I'm not running to the market, he might get worse." He tried to take Ian, but Tala hung on tight.

"No."

"Tala, let him take him." He looked up at the blonde with surprise, "He wants to help." The teen looked back down at Ian, his protectiveness of the boy making him not let go, but his insides were churning, his mind confused and worried.

But he couldn't let him go. This doctor had made him sick, how did he know that this one wasn't going to make him worse. He couldn't take that chance, not with his brother.

The doctor smiled sadly, "I know you're worried, and it is my fault he's in this condition," The confession made the teen's glare harden further. The doctor gulped, "I'm Doctor Jamie Greenaway, I was assigned to your friend. Let me help him."

"No."

Spencer placed a hand on Tala's shoulder, slowly pulling him off the bed. Tala brought Ian with him, "Let him go." And he did, tears welling in the corners of his eyes, still glaring at the doctor. Spencer rubbed his back gently, hoping to soothe him a bit.

He couldn't make him any worse. Tala resoned with himself, sniffing slightly, being directed to a box of tissues. Spencer's hand rubbing his back in long circular motions.

Jamie got straight to work, taking the position Tala had had just a few seconds ago. He curled his arm around the boy, rubbing the boy's cheek with his thumb as he tilted his head back a bit, "Ian, come on, you need to drink this." He was unresponsive, his breathing relaxing, "Ian…"

o0o0o

"You will call to tell me of your progress."

Boris nodded and bowed before he boarded the plane. It was one of Voltaire's own, small in size, but faster than most others. He eyed the box as he took a seat, the leather covering shining dully.

Voltaire had lectured him on what the other bit-beasts symbolised; Voltaire wanted him to explain what they meant to the students that received them.

He had a good idea of who would too.

"Would you like a drink sir?" The man looked up to find a pretty woman offering him a drink.

He nodded and took one, "Thank you." She nodded and wandered back to the cock pit.

He sighed and took a sip of the tea, sighing contently as he laid back in his chair.

He let his mind wander, first to the abbey, then to his experiments. Ian in particular. It was a risk to use him as a test subject; he was one of the more experienced and skilful bladers he had, despite his age and tendencies to be very immature. He didn't want to lose him; him and his friends were in his top ten picks for Voltaire's team.

It was ironic that they were all friends and he knew about their closeness. But he didn't mind; he could use it to his advantage if times called for it. And he guessed that with how physically strong Spencer was becoming, he'd need to use it soon.

He chuckled as he took another sip of his tea.

This was going to be fun.

o0o0o

"What's wrong with him?"

They were sitting in a circle, Jamie having made them grab a seat and sit down in front of him. He was still sitting on the bed, Ian in his lap. Spencer had spoken, being the calmest out of them all, even Jamie.

Tala had calmed down, but was still glaring darkly at Jamie, his fists clenched in his lap. Tala growled, but quietened down when Spencer sent a glare his way.

"He's sick."

"With what?" Spencer asked, knowing that unless he got answers quickly, he'd have to try and hide the remains of the doctor in front of them; Tala and Bryan were looking murderous.

The two teens were, both wearing glares and frowns, both were tense and unmoving. Unless this man said something wrong.

Jamie was silent for a moment, his hand absently running through Ian's hair, "I don't know." He jumped when both Tala and Bryan let out a growl and shifted irritably in their chairs, "I mean… It could be a reaction to the shot we gave him. I don't actually know what's supposed to happen when you do give it to a person," He was sweating, slowly shattering in front of the teenagers, "But, he's a lot better than what he was yesterday."

"The water on the floor, what's it doing there?" Bryan asked. No doctor would allow their workplace to be filthy in anyway, it was a matter of health.

Jamie pointed to the bench on the other side of the room, at the shard of delicate glass that laid in a neat pile, "I shocked him and he knocked it out of my hand. I haven't had time to clean it up yet."

Spencer's glare was gone; this Dr Greenaway was taking good care of Ian from what he'd heard and seen. He knew Boris, he hadn't given him a choice in giving the boy that shot he'd spoken of. He didn't seem so bad, much more trustworthy than most others in the Abbey doctors.

Bryan seemed torn between hating and being neutral to the man. Sure he was helping Ian now, but later he'd be experimenting on him again. He didn't want that, Ian didn't deserve it.

Tala, however, was still glaring. All he saw was a doctor making excuses, trying to clean the mess he'd made. There was nothing about the way he was behaving that suggested otherwise, and he hadn't suggested anything that made him trustworthy.

But that was his anger talking, and Tala knew that. Until his head was clear and he could think over what was happening properly, he'd hate this man: Jamie Greenaway. His gaze shifted to the doctor who was studying him with a steady gaze.

"If you want you can visit him whenever you like during the night." They glanced up at the cameras, "I've asked for them to be turned off, Boris knows I can't work when I know I'm being watched." They nodded.

"What did you give Ian?" Both red heads were staring at each other now, Tala's question ringing through the room.

Jamie sighed, "It's an enhancer: it strengthens your senses, makes you think quicker, heightens your stamina to the pinnacle." He paused, "It's very painful at the worst of times."

The silence was deafening as the news sunk in. "Is he the only one to have this done to him?"

The man shook his head as he placed Ian on the bed, placing a wet rag on his forehead, hoping to break the fever, "You all are supposed to receive the same treatment. So," He took a sip of the soda, "You'll have to look forward to this," He motioned to Ian, "If it's the enhancer working." They cringed visibly.

"Why are we being enhanced?"

This made Jamie chuckle, "You're supposed to be the perfect warriors." He offered the bottle to Bryan, who shook his head quickly, "And you can't be perfect if people can beat you."

o0o0o

Spencer glanced over at Bryan, watching the boy's eyes close and open irregularly. He was thinking, confused probably. The blonde reasoned, his own mind like that.

Jamie had talked to them until seven o'clock that night. Explaining things like the reason they were treated the way they were treated, where Boris had gone, why they were being enhanced. It amazed him how many reasons there were for each, and struck a nerve whenever Jamie had mentioned Voltaire. He knew the man couldn't be trusted, even when he first saw him three years ago.

They weren't machines, they weren't part machine, so why were they expected to be perfect? Was Voltaire crazy? Did he get a kick out of torturing kids and teenagers? He sighed gently, they'd all have to go through what Ian was if it turned out to be the enhancer.

He jumped slightly when he felt Bryan hold his hand gently, curling two fingers around his own, peering down to find the teen smiling slightly up at him. "We'll be alright."

The blonde nodded, "Can't help but worry."

They weren't worried about the cameras. Boris was the only one in the abbey besides the doctors that cared if they'd or would show emotions. The guards didn't care as long as they were paid.

Spencer had decided to walk Bryan to his room, having to go that way himself anyway. They'd left Tala alone, "Do you think he'll be ok?"

"Tala or Ian?"

"Both."

Spencer thought on it for a moment, his hand moving to envelope Bryan's completely, an act that caused the younger teen's face to redden slightly. "Tala will be fine, a bit shaken and probably more protective of Ian than ever. But he'll be fine." He paused as he thought of Ian, "Ian's going to be fine." He couldn't think of anything else to say.

"At times I wish Boris would drop dead."

Spencer chuckled, "Yeah, but imagine how boring our lives would be." He got a snicker in reply. He glanced over at the youth, "You know, I've sort of missed this." He swung their hands slightly.

Bryan looked up at him, "I did too." He paused, letting a silence settle over them, a frown digging into his face, "It was my fault that we stopped talking." Spencer stayed silent, listening intently, "I ignored and baited you, you only reacted in the way we were taught. I was being stupid, trying to protect myself from Boris, though all I did was hurt myself by forgetting you." He gazed up at Spencer, "I know, weird time to confess, but it seems to fit, today's events were all out of the ordinary."

They noticed Bryan's door, coming to a slow stop in front of it. Staying silent and still until Spencer leant down, Bryan's hand still clasped in his. He let his lips brush Bryan's cheek, feeling Bryan's peck his own.

"You can't take all the blame." He whispered, pulling away slowly.

Bryan nodded, releasing the blonde's hand and opening the door, "Night."

"Good night."

Fire: Well I... Can't remember what I wanted to say... Oh! I know...

Ages: So far Spencer is 15, Bryan, Tala and Kai are 14 and Ian is 13...

Also sorry for any stray spelling or grammatical mistakes... My comp doesn't have a spell check or anything...

Thank you for the reveiews! Reveiw again please?