Viktor stood before Ren's door, rationalizing his decision, just as he did at his desk and the walk over.
Subject's behavior hindering work. Decision should resolve situation. Following procedure is least invasive and should produce quickest results. Will have least reliable long term success though. Short sighted action on my part? Perhaps. Will still attempt. Long term results may exceed projected results. Skeptical though.
At last, Viktor knocked on the door; two short knocks that echoed down the empty hallway.
"If your name isn't Mary or Percy," Ren's voice shot back instantly, "then go away."
Viktor knocked again. This time there was silence. Another knock. Now a groan was heard from behind Ren's metal barrier.
"Fine, fine, I get it. Still not responding to your names. Hold on."
Steps approached and, with a click, the door opened. Ren looked up and a scowl crawled onto his face.
"Oh, it's you," he said as he began to close the door.
Viktor's third hand reached and held onto it, holding it open.
"I am coming in," Viktor stated matter-of-factly, "and you should know that locking me out isn't an option. I hold all the keys to this complex."
Ren's scowl deepened. He released his grip on the door and stomped back over to his cot. Viktor strode in after him. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Ren's sketchpad left open to its most recent addition; an unappealing sketch titled "Robo-jerk" that depicted a caricature that vaguely resembled Viktor with frayed wires protruding from his nostrils as though they were unkempt nose hairs. Viktor inhaled sharply, but did no more to acknowledge the offending image.
Ren sat down on his cot and pushed his sketch pad to the side.
"What do you want," he demanded.
"I have come to ensure that our earlier confrontation does not endanger the success of the project."
Ren quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh," he said with a huff, "you think I will tamper with my own leg to spite you?"
"I know you aren't foolish enough to attempt that. I know you would never wish to return to crawling through filth."
"So what then? Did you come here to say backhanded compliments or threaten me?"
"Neither."
"Drug me then? Keep me under control? Can't handle a little human emotion?"
"That isn't it either."
"Then what?"
Viktor made no response.
Remain calm. Subject does not know intentions. Behavior will return to acceptable soon. Outlast. Do not act like the insolent child.
"Just get out of here," Ren continued, "let me draw in peace."
Ren shot up from his cot so suddenly and with such force and conviction that his mechanical leg let out a burst of light and propelled itself up an extra inch.
"What do you want?"
Viktor took a deep breath.
"I have come to talk," he said steadily, "firstly, you are incorrect, I can manage interacting with human emotion."
Ren was about cut in but Viktor cut him off first and with increased volume.
"But, I am out of practice with it."
Ren shook his head quickly, dumbfounded and not fully believing what he had just heard.
"We were both behaving unacceptably," continued Viktor, "and I should not have lashed out physically. It was unprofessional and I do not wish to endanger our working relationship."
"So, what you're saying is," Ren said, urging Viktor to continue,
"I apologize," finished Viktor.
Ren took a deep, long sigh. His eyes closed for a moment or two, before snapping back open, twice as bright as before.
"Okay," he said, cheerful demeanor having returned, "apology accepted, Viktor."
He was back on his feet in an instant.
"But if you shoot that laser at me again, I'm going to want an apology with my name, the whole name. Every beautiful syllable of Renatus."
For a moment Viktor found himself without words, a void which Ren quickly filled with his own voice.
"I know you're staring under that mask," he chattered on, "probably thinking how horribly unpredictable and rapid human emotions are," he dropped his voice into a horrendous imitation of Viktor's tone as he spoke those last few words, "I get it. You're confusion is crystal, but, as someone who is an expert on human emotion, I understand. People get mad and, more importantly, people forgive and people should accept it and move on."
Ren looked so invigorated that it would not be difficult to imagine that he could have continued to speak had Viktor not interrupted while he was taking a breath.
"You speak an unnecessarily large amount," Viktor stated neutrality.
"Hey," Ren responded, "you've got your few big sciencey words and I've got my lot of little ones. So, are we going to get back to training today?"
"No," Viktor replied, "you should take the rest of the day to recuperate. I have other matters to attend to."
Later that evening, Viktor again began to write in his journal for project N subject 12.
Procedure appears successful. Ren Subject's positivity overwhelming. Displayed immediate forgiveness. Unexpected.
He paused and looked long and hard at what he had just wrote before adding three more words.
But not unwelcome.
