First Moments

He worked so hard for many weeks on this project. He spent many long nights going over his notes, trying to figure out what went wrong. And just when he thought he had gotten it right...it became a failure. But now, as he held his creation in his arms, the Medic could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He did it...he finally achieved what was deemed impossible: he created a new life form.

The creature was a human-octopus hybrid. It was truly a sight to behold. The small child-like being had dark blue octopus arms instead of human legs. They wriggled and flexed as it slept. His tiny claw-like hands where perfectly formed, as well as his mouth of semi-sharp teeth. The hybrid's dark blue markings on his forearms where just as vibrant as his tentacles.

The Medic as ecstatic, but kept his excitement in check as he proceeded to wake his creation. "Wake up, my hybrid." he told the oddity in a gentle voice.

It stirred and then opened his yellow eyes. The creature blinked, then yawned and stretched his arms. The mercenary chuckled at the sight.

"Just like a human child. Guten Morgen, Kleiner."

The science experiment just stared at the strange man, confused.

"Today is the start of something amazing; you were born and will grow up to do great things." the German smiled. "Ah, I must give you a proper name! Let's see...Oh! Alpha. Yes; your name is Alpha, for you are the first in an all new species."

The hybrid had been quietly listening to the former doctor address him.

"A...A…"he began to speak, to which the Medic's eyes widened with great interest. The Medic didn't think his science project would be able to communicate this quickly (or at all).

"Al...Al...Alpha." the creature said.

"Yes. Yes! That's right! You are Alpha!" the Medic cheered, lifting his creation up into the air like a proud father.

Seeing the man's face filled with joy and hearing how happy he was made Alpha happy as well. He let out a jovial coo, smiling. The German was so busy being caught up in the moment when a hard fact presented itself: what was he going to do with his creation now?

Surely he couldn't take it out onto the battlefield when the German ultimately returned to his normal duties. Perhaps she could...no! Miss Pauling would immediately report this to her superior. But that can wait. Right now, Alpha was the most important thing.

The next morning, the Medic was busy watching his new creation eating his breakfast. After trying various different foods, the hybrid had taken a liking to toast with butter. A glass of milk was also another food Alpha liked, but the former doctor wondered if his creature's stomach could handle any other normal human foods. While writing down his thoughts and observations, the former doctor still had to figure out what to do with Alpha.

He managed to call out from today's battle, but the Administrator wouldn't be so lenient the next time. She was already annoyed by the German's satisfactory performance as of late and had started sending her assistant to check up on him.

"Mein kleiner, what am I going to do with you?" the Medic told his creation.

The creature looked at his creator as he was in the middle of eating. He then broke off a piece of toast and handed it to the Medic, who happily accepted it.

"You have retained what I've taught you about sharing earlier. Wunderbar!"

Alpha smiled and went back to eating his toast. The German then nibbled on his piece, still pondering his predicament.

"Alpha, there is someone I would like you to meet, but she might be frightened of you. In fact, I think most people would find you frightening. So, before you meet her, I need to teach you a few things. Are you ready?"

Alpha nodded. "Excellent." the Medic replied.

Over the next week, the Medic had begun to teach his creation basic social skills and improve his speech. Just like before, the German was impressed just how quickly the hybrid was retaining information. Despite he was only a newborn; Alpha had the physical and mental capacity of a normal human toddler. And yet, Alpha also exhibited animalistic traits. He was territorial and would often react in anger by hissing and biting. The Medic eagerly documented all of this, scribbling furiously on any scrap of paper. Alpha would watch with great interest, but didn't quite understand why it was necessary; the hybrid would quickly move onto the next interest that peaked him.

Finally it was time for Alpha to meet Miss Pauling. The night before, the Medic reassured his creation that there was nothing to worry about.

"Miss Pauling is a nice lady who is a lot braver that she appears. She may be startled by you at first, but once she sees that you are proper and intelligent, the fräulein will like you in no time."

"Are you sure, Papa?" Alpha said with slight worry in his voice.

"Positive, my little one." the German gave the creature a comforting smile.

The following day, the Medic was once again greeted by the Administrator's assistant after the day's battle against the BLU team.

"You did an excellent today, Medic. But that's not why I'm here." Miss Pauling said to him.

"Yes. At least this time I can finally give you a more concrete answer instead of one that is dodgy and cryptic."

"Really?" the young woman was surprised by the how corporative the German was being.

"But before I go any further, I need you to promise me that you must be open minded to what you are about to see."

"Well...I must admit, I am skeptical. But if this is important to you, I'll keep an open mind."

"Alright, fräulein. If you just follow me."

The Medic then led Miss Pauling to the rear of his lab. Inside the adjacent room, she saw a large tank filled with water. And inside the tank was a creature unlike anything she had ever seen. Half human, half octopus.

"What in the hell is this?!" Miss Pauling questioned the Medic.

"This is the reason for my poor performance recently. I've created life, a new species." the Medic explained.

Miss Pauling just stared at the creature in the tank before her. Dumbfounded, all she could do was try and comprehend the oddity before her.

"I...I don't know what to say." the assistant muttered.

The Medic watched as Miss Pauling took a small, cautious step forward to examine Alpha more closely. Alpha, meanwhile, was looking at the assistant with great interest. The woman and hybrid stared at each other in silence, drinking in the other's presence. Miss Pauling raised her hand and was about to touch the glass, but forced herself to stop. Turning toward the Medic, her face grew serious once more.

"I have to let the Administrator know about this." she bluntly told the former doctor.

"I know, but please consider this: this creature before you; he is such a scientific achievement that it would be a shame to let something like him be destroyed so soon. Perhaps if I had more time with him, he can be useful to her."

The assistant looked over at Alpha once more. He was staring at the two adults as if he understood what they were talking about. Miss Pauling sighed in defeat.

"Medic, may we go someplace more private to discuss this matter."

"As you wish."

Alpha wasn't sure how long the Medic and Miss Pauling had left the room. But after what seemed like forever, the German reappeared once more. He motioned for Alpha to go to the surface as he waited for the hybrid. Once he appeared, the creature eyed his creator with a quizzical look.

"Did the lady like me?"

"She did. And I think you'll be seeing her a lot more often too."