There had been multiple results with the waves on the previous experiments implemented with nation's cells. But what happened when 'I' woke up was quite surprising for him and the scientist crew, especially on how fast the little boy's body started to react.
It was only the day after his 'enhancement', 'I' had slept all day and night in his room alongside 'P' who stayed with him, his grip on his brother's arm trying to comfort him.
Sleeping this time wasn't relaxing, and the boy seemed to suffer from a fever, a plaintive cry escaping his lips as he was rolling in the bed.
But the doctors had checked many times, it was part of the process and nothing worrisome, that's at least what they had told the little albinos whose trust on adults was going down hill. After all, they were hurting his beloved brother!
But powerless as he was, he could only support the brunette with all his might, and accept that new version of him.
Because some changes were already noticeable, and as time passed, it became confusing.
The sleeping beauty only woke up several hours after him, and god, he was still in pain. It felt like all his body was stiff, from head to toe. It was the second time in a row that they had made him sleep restless and it was impacting his well-being.
This time though, he only felt something was strange when he tried to move and talk.
"'P'..? I'm back again….What?!"
Half-asleep 'I' suddenly froze on the spot, touching his throat and gulping. He hadn't recognized his voice when he had opened his mouth.
Sitting up, he also noticed he had difficulty to appreciate the length of his members and when he looked at his hand, he backed away so abruptly that he fell from the couch on his back.
The other boy immediately walked his way on the couch to look from height at his fallen brother.
"Big Brother, are you ok? You've gone aaaaall weird tonight! When I woke up, you looked like a grown up!"
And indeed, what 'I' discovered in the mirror was the same face he had seen in the wood, the one of the young man, the only difference being his was transfixed, eyes all opened.
He touched his face, and his hair, that had regrown to fit perfectly the image of the nation he was representing.
Was it what they wanted to do? Making him look like his original? But what was the point?
'I' couldn't think straight, and just stayed against the white and cold wall besides him.
"I...I don't know..….what did they do? I feel not like myself anymore!"
At this, 'P' walked before him, and with a determined face, put both his hands on the newly adult.
"It's okay! For me you're my brother! I don't care if you are like an adult now! And like that you can even reach the higher conduits and ...And we can go in the outside!"
"No 'P' that's not the problem! What if I also lose my memories like 'R' told us? I don't want to forget about you or Father ..." the italian copy started to cry. If the scientists were able to even do this to him, he feared they could do anything including erasing his memories of here.
And this fear wasn't completely unfounded. Now that he remembered, his dreams were about sceneries on the outside, like battles, some looking too familiar. Furthermore, when he was thinking of the men in the woods, their names just popped in his mind spontaneously.
He could even tell who's clone was 'P', 'R' and 'C', but for now, it was mostly some awaken knowledge that wasn't impacting his personality. For now.
'P' put his fingers in his mouth and stood still, looking at him. It was his way to contain his frustration. He hated when his brother was sick or unhappy. It has been too long now, almost 2 months since he had seen his brother smile.
"No! I don't want that! I will make sure you remember me!"
The little albinos managed despite the size difference to hug his brother tightly, and they both cuddled again, exchanging their warmth and hopes. Together, if they could stay together….
The relative quiet ambiance was disrupted with announcement in the corridors, and both shot their heads up again.
What was it this time? It didn't look like an alarm, more like a series of orders shot by the microphones.
The ground seemed to start trembling as people walked hurriedly. It's true that since the day before, the activity of the facility had become livelier than usual.
Standing with relative balance, 'I' took his brother's arm and grip on it, even when the door opened and agents came to separate them again, this time for good he believed.
He released it at the last time, screaming his brother's name, struggling with more strength now than he could before, but eventually, his brother disappeared from his side, and the last words he heard from him was :
"Brother 'I'! I will find you! And we will see the outside together!"
xxxxxxx
The newly adult was put in another room, for the check up apparently. He hated even more the way he was looked at like a rabbit in a cage, the way whispers were surrounding him, or the way Professor Eiling was inspecting his appearance with amazement.
"I knew from past experiments that you might have an accelerated growth, but I didn't expect it to happen in only one night….This is not on point though, since we have to evacuate so soon..." he murmured, seemingly annoyed by the last part, while continuing his neurologic examination, although the boy wasn't really cooperating.
A voice rang behind him, interrupting the man with glasses, then quietly exchanging information with him and the nurses. After that, for whatever reason, 'I' was escorted toward a new room from the medical wing of the 2nd floor.
The exercises they wanted him to have in that room were disrupted by another announcement from the black phones all employees had, more urgent.
This seemed to make all the initial ambient agitation increase, escalating when the alarm broadcast in the facility and the red light flashed in the corridors.
'I' saw, when the door opened to let the doctor leave in a hurry, men and women emptying rooms and taking away medical devices, or papers.
Him was consigned indefinitely in an adjacent tiny room he was in, sitting on the chair with a guard at his side, not leaving even one seconds his prey away.
The door finally opened after a dozen of minutes, and 'I' gasped when he recognized Father opening the door. Despite all that had happened, he was so happy to retrieve a familiar face, and one that wasn't dissecting him with his look!
Kästner didn't respond to the silent call immediately, and after gazing at 'I's condition, turned his head to the guardian.
"Hi soldier. Professor Travasco asked me to bring Number 3 with me for the evacuation."
The guardian didn't seem to understand as it wasn't exactly his orders, and Kästner repeated.
"Are you daydreaming? Didn't you listen to the code and the alarm? I need to bring Number 3 RIGHT NOW." growled the spiky haired man with authority.
The other man complied, but was still confused about why he couldn't come with them.
"I'm sorry, but you're not qualified. The place is a secret...for americans. It would be a shame for you to reveal the emplacement of the hideout if you were asked to, but don't worry, one of your colleagues will come protecting us."
Quite the explanation, but it was right that Kästner had qualifications and that the soldier didn't, so eventually, he let 'I' follow his Father.
The brunette had been of course handcuffed so he wouldn't try something crazy, and the scientist pushed him forward to follow a corridor.
They walked silently, or more like 'I's questions weren't finding responses at all.
The man used his badge to open a restricted corridor, then another, in what seemed to be a maze.
"Don't try to remember, you've never been on this side of the facility. It is a restricted area to lose any strangers that try to enter here"
Ok then…'I' wasn't even trying to, lost as he was.
"Father….what is happening?"
They opened another door and suddenly, Father turned back and put both his hands on his shoulders with strength, his eyes diving inside his.
"'I'. You will do as I say for now on. There are cameras here but they can't listen to what I say. You will hit me against the wall and start running at your left.
I've heard the intruder is around there. I want you to find him and escape with him."
Astounded, the clone felt his jaw drop a bit. It was so sudden, and so...unreal.
"B..but Father...you want me to...To escape? I don't….but what about y..."
"That's why you will try knocking me out, so they don't suspect I helped you. I'm pretty sure it will not work but, it will take them longer to find evidence of that. Now, let's go for the act 'I'."
Father had changed expression, like if he was furious, and had grabbed the frail form of his collar, shaking his 'son'.
It took some time, but 'I' understood that it was part of the act, and, taking his breath, he turned around and threw his shoulder at his Father, punching him against the wall with all his strength about three times until the man released him.
They both exchanged one look before 'I' started to run.
