And thus I finally answer questions while we quickly approach the end. I'm sorry guys, I meant to post this chapter last week, but then it kept getting longer and longer... VK is just a really wordy guy. And what's kind of sad is that this only have a small portion of the things I wanted to add. What's even sadder is that this is the only update this week. I'm sorry again.
Warnings: Mentions of domestic violence, suicidal tendencies, and drugs.
The Nanite Project is salvation.
Or at least it is supposed to be. All of them agree on that. All of them speak the same language (figuratively speaking, of course. They are from all over the world, after all, and even though they "speak science," there are always disputes). There aren't any miscommunication about that one thing, though. They all believe in it. The Nanite Project is salvation. And therefore, it is power.
Thinking back on it, Van Kleiss can't help but to marvel at their naivety.
When Consortium cut funding, they don't worry too much. Sometimes, you lose money, often because of miscommunication. But in the end, it's really not a big deal. You just find someone else with bigger pockets and even bigger ambition.
What they don't realize until after Violeta has her second baby is the reason why the funding got cut. It isn't disagreements over principles. It isn't due to lack of research on their parts. It is because the bodies of some of the Consortium members are found brutally murdered. It is no wonder then that they end up being eschewed. It is no wonder then that they are considered the "cursed" project. It is no wonder then, how easily things fall apart after that.
"It'll be for the best," Violeta tells them all. "We should just shut this project down."
Peter Meechum stands by her side, looking nervous but at the same confident in their decision. He just doesn't want to stand up to the rest of the scientists as always. "There's no point in pursing it," he adds unhelpfully.
"But Vi," Salazar begins. Then he closes his mouth as if he doesn't know what else to say and Van Kleiss rolls his eyes. This is exactly why Van Kleiss has never even considered the notion of romance. It cuts you at your stems and leave you bleeding without any hope of reprieve.
"If it bothers you then what's stopping you from leaving?" Van Kleiss points out. "If you don't like it, Vi, then return to your sons."
She purses her lips and crosses her arms. "Van, it's not just my family that I'm worried about. You've all heard the rumors. They think we're cursed. If we continue this-"
"We're scientists, Vi," Rylander speaks up. "We can't be cowed by rumors. Yes, people have died-"
"Everyone who has tried to fund us since have ended up dead. I don't think it's a coincidence." Violeta takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "What good is working on this research if we're all going to end up dead before we can even complete it?"
The rest, as they say, is history.
Van Kleiss never actually questions the reason why Salazar sometimes bring Rex over to their small, barely funded labs. He figures it is one of those deals that Salazar made with Violeta so he can keep working on the project. You know, take care of the newborn half of the time. Besides, usually César is there to watch over his little brother, so Van Kleiss doesn't have to worry too much about two brats running around in the labs (or so he tells himself until he realizes that César's too busy talking to Rylander about the latest research and whatnot to actually care about his little brother).
What does bother him is how much time the little kid spends chasing after him.
It just makes no sense. Rylander has a family. Salazar has a family. Van Kleiss is the only single man amongst them and yet he's always the one that Rex stops crying for. It's pretty easy to ignore the babe for the most part. If he ignores the baby long enough, Rex just falls asleep in the corner until César or Salazar comes to take him home. But there are few times when Rex just stares at Van Kleiss, his bright brown eyes shining with awe and wonder, and Van Kleiss finds himself caving in.
He lifts the little babe up in the air. He coos at the kid when no one's watching. He takes care of the baby because there's only so much that César can do. And before he knows it, Rex is a coherent, if not a rambunctious little child, with too much energy and way too much enthusiasm. And before he knows it, Rex tugs at his pant legs and demand to be told of the science behind the Nanite Project.
Before he knows it, he ends up half-raising the kid, always reinforcing the one belief he stubbornly refused to let go.
The Nanite Project is salvation.
"Uncle Van!" Rex shouts whenever he gets to the labs. "Uncle Van! You'll never believe what I learned in school today!"
Van Kleiss always finds it kind of odd that Rex never gets this excited when talking to Salazar or César. It's always whenever Rex spots Van Kleiss that his eyes will light up and he'll come running, waving his arms like a lunatic. And when Van Kleiss is sure that no one else can see it, he'll spare the little kid a rare smile that doesn't feel so rare now that Rex is in his life.
All they need is a test subject.
Rex, being the stupid brat he is, volunteers.
So why is it that the blame always falls on Van Kleiss?
The machinery whirls and cracks, and Van Kleiss realizes too belatedly that some of the calculations must be off. But it's not until Rex screams that he a fear dawns upon him that maybe, just maybe, he's going to kill Rex. And surprisingly, that's the thought that spurs him into action.
He remembers the panic. He remembers trying to stop the machine. He remembers the small explosion and being enveloped in that feeling of power. And it becomes reiterated once again. Power. The Nanite Project, after all, is all about salvation, and what is more powerful in the world than salvation?
The next thing he remembers is Salazar's and Rylander's ashen faces and the loud rings of sirens. He doesn't remember much in between. All he knows is that by the end of it all, the duo's left him behind the local hamburger joint, and Rex is in the ambulance, but who the hell cares about any of that? He's drunk on power that's promised by the Nanites. He laughs because this is wonderful. They've done it. They've figured it all out.
And then things go wrong.
Or perhaps it's more correct to say he realizes exactly what he's sacrificed in order to achieve it. Except that can't be true, because he is Van Kleiss. He doesn't do regret. So it has to be that the power that's humming through him that mutates and changes. Because suddenly, there's an acrid taste in his mouth. Suddenly, there's a sickening sensation inside of him, clawing at his insides. It churns and laughs at him for being so damned naïve, and Van Kleiss feels like he's swallowed a gallon of muck.
In the dark alley behind the local hamburger joint, Van Kleiss leans against the wall and heaves. The aftertaste of power still resonates within him, but it's no longer pure. It's tainted and changed, and it's not what he's been aiming for at all.
That's when it first occurs to him. Power isn't the answer. Salvation doesn't mean squat. And he just almost sacrificed little Rex for the sake of what, exactly?
Van Kleiss rushes to the hospital to see Rex.
Salazar punches him. Rylander gives him a disappointed look. Then they both give him a rather well-rehearsed speech about the importance of human life and how as scientists they can't afford to think otherwise. Van Kleiss finds it ironic, because when is the last time these two talked to their family?
"Do you understand?" Rylander finishes.
"We need to stop this project," Van Kleiss concludes.
"No," Salazar says, slowly as if he's speaking to an invalid. "You are going to stop working on this project."
"You don't understand, Rafael. The Nanite Project has to be stopped."
"And I don't think you understand, Van. The Nanite Project is salvation."
"That salvation is nothing but an illusion. I understand that now. You're going to rip your family apart. You're going to destroy everyone. You have to stop this project."
But they don't want to hear it. By the time Violeta arrives with César and Meechum, Van Kleiss understands that they're all going to shift all the blame to him. So before they forbid him from seeing Rex one last time, he sneaks away.
"Uncle Van!" Rex exclaims when he sees him. His arm is in a make-shift sling, and he looks like he's been pulled out of a burning building. His face darkens and his eyes water. "I'm sorry," the kid says, voice shaking. "I'm so sorry. I know how important this experiment was. I'm sorry that I messed it all up!"
And how screwed up is it that Rex blames himself for this? When in reality, it's the fault of his parents, fault of the adults around him, that put him here. Van Kleiss puts his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Listen carefully to me, Rex," he says. "I was wrong. We were all wrong. The Nanite Project isn't the answer. Science isn't the answer."
"But you said...?"
"I know what I said, Rex. And I'm sorry, because I was wrong. And I'm sorry that you're here now. But... I think it'd be for the best that you just... forget what happened."
Rex gives him a blank look like he doesn't quite understand. Van Kleiss wishes that he had more time to explain to the kid. That this isn't Rex's fault. And it'll never be Rex's fault. And that he loves him and that Rex needs to be strong for a while, because Van Kleiss doesn't think they'll be able to see each other for a while. But then the doors open and César is there, his lips drawn back in a sneer at the sight of Van Kleiss.
And with a simple, "Just forget, Rex," Van Kleiss makes his way out of the building.
His life falls into a disarray afterwards. With simple words from the Salazar family, the science community turns their back to Van Kleiss. The very people that has accepted him and backed him no longer believe his motives pure. And it's all so damned funny because they're all going to end up alone, even Salazar (or perhaps he should say especially Salazar). And it burns him to the bone, because in the end, Rex is the one who's going to be hurt by it all. Rex is going to be the one who'll pay the price for his parents' mistakes.
Oddly enough, it's Peter Meechum that reaches out to him. He gives Van Kleiss a knowing look and says, "My daughter's school has an opening."
Van Kleiss surprises himself by agreeing. And they don't look back.
Being a biology teacher of the local high school is not the goal that he dreamed of when he was a child. He believed in power. He believed in science. He believed that he will achieve power as long as he focused on science. But he knows that that's not the truth anymore. But he stands in front of the class, talking about science that he knows is no longer salvation.
And before he knows it, students gather around him. At first, it's those who just want to avoid their home for private reasons. They're vague about it, but Van Kleiss doesn't mind. He understand what it means when they're pulling down the sweater sleeves, trying to hide the bruises and cuts. Then it's those who have trouble fitting in. And before he knows it, he's the most loved teacher in the school.
Rex is a middle schooler when they meet again. Van Kleiss doesn't realize that it's him until Rex yells, "Uncle Van!"
There's a friend by his side. A blonde who looks a little confused and terrified of being surrounded by high schoolers. But there's a confident grin on Rex's face. And he just rushes over laughing. "Uncle Van! Uncle Van! I haven't seen you in forever!"
It's a good feeling to see Rex again. It's even a better feeling to see that he has been growing well. And for a while, Van Kleiss tricks himself into believing that things will return to the way they were. That Rex will be the bright-eyed child following him through the labs, asking questions.
He doesn't see the next part coming.
Van Kleiss stays late that night, grading papers. With a stretch, he gets up and walks into his classroom and...
"... Rex?"
There are people that he's never seen before with strange masks on their faces. They're working with the lab equipments and Van Kleiss has a sinking feeling in his stomach. Rex looks up at the sound of his name and spots Van Kleiss.
"Oh, Uncle Van, did you stay late?" He rubs the back of his neck, sighing a little. Van Kleiss notices that the blonde friend is no where in sight.
"Rex... What's going on here? Who are these people? What are you doing?"
There's a serene smile on Rex's face that sends chills down Van Kleiss's back. And with a small shrug, Rex motions to the people around him. "Isn't it obvious? I'm making quick bucks."
"Are those...?"
Rex doesn't let him finish. He just nods, chuckling lightly. "Why do you look so surprised, Uncle? Isn't it only obvious that I do this?"
"No. It really isn't. Why are you-?"
"That's a boring question. You said so yourself, Uncle. Science is not the answer. So I thought about it long and hard. Then what can be the salvation? And I arrived on a simple conclusion. It's money. With money, you can do anything. With money, you can get away with everything."
"Don't be an idiot! You can't just use school equipment for things like this!"
"Why not? I have you, don't I?"
And it's not until then that Van Kleiss realizes his mistake. He has been too damned happy to see Rex back in his life. He didn't realize that the little Rex who followed him in the lab is no longer here. The Rex before him now is just like the power that he's felt after the Nanite Experiment went wrong. Tainted and wrong.
"There are video cameras set all around this school-"
"Oh please, like technology can stop me!" Rex laughs at that. Bright and happy, almost like he's a small kid again. "I command them."
"What are you talking about?"
"You should know more about it, Uncle. You're the one who gave it to me."
"... Are you saying the Nanite Project...?"
"Correct! In exchange for few memories here and there, I can command technology to do whatever I want. And don't even get me started on my healing abilities."
Van Kleiss goes quiet, taking this into consideration. All he remembers is that night behind the hamburger joint, and he wonders if the same taint he felt then has completely swallowed his little nephew. In exchange for the power that Van Kleiss has craved, Rex lost all sight of reality.
"Rex, you do realize I have to stop you, right?"
"But you won't," Rex says delightedly. "Under whose name do you think I'm doing all of this? The minute you even think about stopping me, I'll send an anonymous tip to the police. They're going to see your record, Uncle Van. And they're going to think that you're the one running the drug ring. After all, I'm just a little eighth grader and you are the failure scientist."
"What happened to you for you to be like this? What do you need power for?"
There's a small pause as Rex looks honestly taken back by the questions. He tilts his head, considering. There's a dark look in his eyes and Van Kleiss just wonders what has happened in that small gap of time they haven't seen each other for Rex to change this much.
"I have the power, Uncle. What I need is money."
"But why?"
Rex doesn't answer. He just goes quiet and thoughtful. He doesn't address Van Kleiss for the rest of the night.
After that night, Van Kleiss keeps an extra eye out for Rex. He hates doing this, but he asks some of his students for help. And the things he hear frightens him.
"Hey Uncle Van!" Rex greets, waving when he spots the teacher. "Lend me the room tonight."
Van Kleiss feels a part of himself freeze. There's dread in the pit of his stomach, but he turns to greet Rex. Because another part of him still remembers the innocent eyes and the bright smile. He just wishes that this becomes easier.
"Why are you doing this?" Van Kleiss asks one night as he watches the masked strangers work. Rex is by his side, looking bored.
There's no answer as usual. Van Kleiss sighs a little and asks a different question. "Rex, how much more money can you possibly need?"
This time, Rex turns to face him. "Until it's enough to save her."
And that's all he'll say on the topic.
"... Sir?"
It's the blonde friend of Rex's. He's standing by the door to the class, biting his lips.
"... Yes...?"
"I'm Noah," he says. "I'm... I'm Rex's friend. It's just... Can I talk to you about Rex?"
"I mean... I always knew that he was a little weird. But... Recently, he's been... He's been kind of distant. He's always hanging out with this Asian and I've never heard anything good about him. And it's just... I know that people move on and that you need more than just one friend. But... I thought I was his best friend."
Van Kleiss listens to the complaints with a small frown. Because if Rex kept everything a secret from this guy, then doesn't that mean that there's hope? Because if Rex valued Noah's friendship enough to keep quiet about the drug ring... Then surely, surely, if Noah asked, Rex will turn back? Surely, there's a chance to save his little nephew?
"Come with me," he tells Noah. "Please, I think you might be the only one who can save Rex."
Van Kleiss wishes that there's an easier way. He really does. But Rex has taken a step in a strange direction and he just doesn't know how else to handle this. And now that everything's exploded in their faces, Van Kleiss feels a small twinge of regret. Because there should have been a better way to do this. There should have been a better way to confront Rex than to show up in the middle of his dealing.
And Rex stares at the two of them, betrayal bright in his eyes. "You called the cops?" he whispers, voice hoarse. Then more viciously aimed at Van Kleiss, "You brought him here?"
"I'm right here, Rex. Don't talk like I'm not," Noah snaps. He walks forward, hesitating only by a fraction of a second. "What the hell? You're selling drugs? You're... making them? Why would you ever need to do this? You're Rex Salazar!"
"This is why I didn't say anything. You wouldn't get it."
"Then explain it to me! Rex, I'm your friend! I just-"
"Rex, we need to run!" And the Asian's there. It's the first time Van Kleiss meets him, and right away, he has a bad feeling about this guy. There's something off about him. Like he's a wild beast that cannot be tamed, and Rex is too close, much too close, and Van Kleiss just wants to protect him. The Asian glances at the two of them in a dismissive manner and turns to Rex, loyalty shining in his eyes (Van Kleiss is a little taken back by that. It's not something he expects from a wild beast). "The cops are everywhere. If we don't get out now, we're going to get caught."
Van Kleiss really believes that if they had more time, Noah would have gotten to Rex. But Rex takes a look at the Asian, and there's a sort of decision there. Like he's choosing something more important than running from the cops. He barely spares Van Kleiss and Noah another look before following after the Asian. There's only a small pause before he finally says (again, still not looking at them), "I want both of you out of my life."
And Rex Salazar leaves. Both physically and from their lives.
That's exactly why the table tennis tournament means so much to him. That's exactly why he felt so relieved when Rex tensed and admitted to having lost his memories. That's exactly why when he sees Rex and Noah laugh together, playing table tennis, he lets out the breath he's been holding.
Because it means that there's another chance. As long as the Rex now doesn't lose any more memories than what he has thus far (or regains his old ones), there's a chance.
And when the man in the green suit throws him down, looking down at him under the shades, Van Kleiss understands then. Rex is going to be fine. He's not too sure what's happened since that night of betrayal, but Rex has changed again. And he's not too sure what the man in green represents, but Van Kleiss thinks for sure that the taint won't harm his nephew again. This time, he's going to make sure of it.
"... Thanks, Uncle Van."
Van Kleiss feels like weeping with joy. Because maybe, just maybe, everything will finally be alright.