Six's Magnablades, jutting out of the concrete in the middle of Providence's long bridge, glinting in the sunlight, occasionally moved to lure the conflicted Rex toward their sharp blades. Rex's heart raced as he watched the Nanites morph uncontrollably, despite his desperation as he begged to regain control. His skin rippled and twisted as the Nanites within him morphed into deformed shapes, causing him to cry out in desperation.
"I'm sorry, dude!" Rex gazed at his hands, which transformed into a grotesque mixture of pulsating flesh, glistening blood, and sharp metal shards, causing Six's Magnablades to quiver excitedly, trying to use their magnetic attraction abilities to the pieces of metal that were falling off of each creation that morphed the teen he used to know, into a monstrosity that he wasn't sure he would be able to control without the use of brute force.
Taking his combined Magnablades, Six struggled, doing everything he could to prevent his blades from vibrating, attempting to draw their 'opponent' towards their sharp edges. Blood covered him, too, and Six suspected that Rex's spiraling rage was due to the horrifying realization of whose blood it was —something he had never seen before.
Holiday.
The silence was only broken by the teenager's cries of pain.
"I'm sorry!" Rex's eyes were now empty sockets of whiteness, glinting as Six could see the Nanites taking control of his body. Despite the situation, his hands remained steady, refusing to use any force against Rex as he had grown to care for and respect him too much even to consider harming him.
And Holiday would never forgive him for it, no matter how volatile and unpredictable the kid could become.
Shards of his shattered sunglasses were scattered around his feet. Blood droplets from Six's hands splashed onto the broken pieces. His brown eyes bored into the now empty expression of Rex, refusing to look away and hoping that the teen could perceive that he was more than just his inner demons and he wouldn't judge him differently.
"Rex..." He hesitated, unsure of how to continue in order to have a meaningful conversation instead of just giving him a pat on the back. Six averted his gaze and squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the tapping sound of the blood falling from his fingers. "You couldn't have known. He... is your brother. Part of your family."
"Van Kleiss said it! He warned me not to trust him. And yet... I should have held onto the belief that Doc, Bobo, and even you were more of a family to me than he could ever be." Rex's ragged breathing interrupted his words, his hoarse voice resonating in the man's chest like never before.
How could he talk about something he didn't know, and Rex couldn't even remember?
"What happened with Holiday, Black Knight, and Caesar is not your fault." These words were difficult for Six to say, as they reminded him of how White Knight and Holiday had been drawn to Caesar's experiments and knowledge of the Nanites. Despite any personal feelings he may have had towards Rex's brother, how could he add to the pain that was already breaking Rex's heart and soul? "We won't lose Holiday," Six affirmed confidently, trying to sound as reassuring as he thought Holiday would want him to, as much as he didn't even know how serious her wounds were and how close he could be to losing her for real. "You can always count on us, even though we are not blood-related. We will do everything we can to keep Holiday safe from Black Knight and her pursuit of control over Providence." These words. He knew that he was not just speaking for himself, but for Holiday, and Bobo.
His hand throbbed with an intense, searing heat that he had never experienced before as Rex's shoulder kept shifting from the mangled mess of skin and mechanical parts once he tried to place a reassuring hand in him. The pain shot through his entire body, causing Six to clench his jaw and grit his teeth. A pain he imagined once White Knight embraced with delight. A pain his mentor, One, combated as much as his state of mind allowed him to, watching his ultimate demise and resenting that it could be stronger than what his mentor used to be.
A pain Rex was familiar and always tried to make peace with.
However, he had never felt that intense, throbbing sensation before, while holding hands with Holiday as corrupted Nanites once left their bodies. It was even stronger this time, of course, causing his hand to tighten its grip on the teen's shoulder for leverage. He grunted in pain as a powerful surge of electricity jolted through his veins.
As blood splashed onto the floor at his feet, memories flooded Rex's mind, now connected inextricably with his. His machines were becoming increasingly unstable, his thoughts consumed by the argument with Caesar and the recollections Six had of the events that had transpired.
In the heart of Providence, a fierce clash erupted between the forces of Black Knight and the Providence defects, Six and Holiday. The tension in the air was palpable as blades clashed and gunfire echoed through the corridors. Explosions rocked the facility, sending shockwaves through the structure. Six's Magnablades sliced through the air with precision as he engaged in relentless combat against Black Knight's forces. Six and Rebecca's main concern was rescuing Rex from the evil plans of Black Knight and the enigmatic schemes of Caesar. They knew that failure would mean the end of everything they held dear in Providence.
His memories, soon collided with Rex's memories.
Rex exclaimed, "I can't believe you're siding with Black Knight!" And Caesar's eyes blazed with determination as he insisted, "You don't understand, Rex. I have my reasons. I'm doing what I believe is best for all of us."
Frustration laced Rex's voice as he countered, "It's not just about us, Caesar! It's about the innocent civilians who rely on us to defend them from the dangerous EVOs! We can't let Black Knight control Providence!"
Caesar's expression hardened as he responded, "This is bigger than you realize."
The rhythmic pattern of blood falling to the ground, now fading away as it was starting to dry on their bodies, reminded Six, again, of the screams and chaos of that day that changed everything, which he thought would not aid in the teen's regaining control of his Nanites.
Black Knight's usually serene expression contorted into a ferocious scowl, her lips pulled back in a snarl and her eyes blazing with an intensity that rivaled Six's. The man's knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on his Magnablades, his fingers digging into the handle.
Six strode forward, his Magnablades flashing in the dim light of the office that formerly belonged to White Knight.
But there was a damn bullet, just one bullet. He desperately tried to slice through it with his blades, narrowly avoiding its sharp edges by mere inches. But it was too late; the bullet had already pierced through Holiday's abdomen, drenching his body in her blood.
The sound of Black Knight's cold laughter echoed in Six's mind, just as it did in Rex's. It was a stark contrast to the warmth of the teen's laughter.
Holiday's eyes drooped, and her movements were slow and labored, a clear sign of her exhaustion and pain as the teen caught her in between his mechanical arms. Rex's urgent voice pierced through the haze, urging Holiday to stay awake. "Doc, Just hold on a little longer!"
"Holiday would never hold that against you, as your only intention was to protect her, despite being related to Caesar..." Six's voice trembled as the Nanites surged through Six's body, seizing control just as they had done with Rex. Uncontrollable vibrations shook his blades and clattered to the ground, breaking free from the confines of his belt. "It might run Caesar's blood in your veins, but not the same traits and values. There are so many things you don't remember, and whatever you may or may not discover, thanks to your brother, it does not define you in any way. You aren't responsible for what they made you go through."
The searing pain in his chest made him wonder if he would face another battle against Black Knight's forces as Rex refused to leave Providence behind. "We successfully transported Holiday to our new hideout. You have to leave everything behind, including your brother, for now. Soon we will be back... you need to trust me." Six said. "Rex, please listen to me," he pleaded again, though he doubted it would be helpful. His hands shook as he resisted the urge to summon his blades. In their family, they didn't hurt each other. Six took a deep breath, hoping to calm his racing heart as Rex's Nanites proved more of what he could handle. Something that made him think that sure matched Black Knight's Nanites, as much as she called herself: 'An evolved version of Rex.' "I just want to talk," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I understand that you have strong feelings about this situation, but they will not change the fact that Holiday is hurt, White Knight has lost his position at Providence, and your brother has chosen to side with her."
"Why does it hurt so much!?" Rex's voice felt like daggers to his ears as the Nanites they now shared vibrated with each collision of their emotions - his desperate need to know about Holiday's health and the overwhelming guilt of the teen.
"Because you now know part of the truth, and the truth is always scary and painful to face. But you don't have to face it alone. I will face it with you. We won't lose Holiday, Rex," Six asserted, his voice unwavering. "We'll find a way to stop Black Knight. But we need you with us, not falling apart."
He was determined to support Rex in any way he could, as he remembered the meditation techniques One had taught him, using them to focus his thoughts on the teen—all the memories of the good times that were memorable for Rex.
Giving him the Tanto blade for his birthday, which had been a special moment of bonding. The countless hours chatting with him about his worries, often using the excuse of needing to bring him back to Providence. How his jokes always made him raise an eyebrow, but they also made the teen laugh anyway, even if it was at his expense, taking pictures of these moments without even asking for his consent.
"Let's go to our second home. With your family..."
The sadness would gradually fade away.
Soon, the pain would stop, even if it left a permanent mark on Six's body.
He clenched Rex's hand tightly with the other hand, determined to help him regain control of his Nanites as much as his body trembled violently and felt like it was going to fall apart.
"Come with me, and I will take you to where you belong."
"How is she doing, man?" Rex asked with concern, approaching the man who was still covered in the woman's blood and had visible scars from his Nanites, sitting next to the capsule monitoring her vital signs, while Bobo played solitary in a corner, occasionally glancing at the beeping machines.
"She'll make it," Six responded shortly, his gaze fixed on Rebecca's body. "How are you holding up?"
Occasionally, small mechanical parts would protrude from his skin, a constant reminder of his feelings, so asking about his condition seemed redundant. But families always took care of each other.
"We must stop Black Knight before any more innocent people are harmed," Rex declared. His words brought a sense of relief to Bobo and Six, who had spent six agonizing months searching for the missing teenager.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Bobo muttered, adjusting his laser gun. "I don't like seeing our lady laid up like this. It ain't right." The chimp attempted to break the tension with a lighthearted joke. "You're lucky The Green Man is taking care of you, lovely. He's not exactly known for his nurturing side."
A smile rarely graced Six's lips, but in that moment, he couldn't help it.
"I am capable of being gentle."
Rex finally laughed.
"How are things going at The Plant?" Circe inquired, her voice soft as Rex pushed her on a rusty merry-go-round in one of the city parks.
"We're managing," he replied. "Doc still hasn't regained consciousness, and Six is putting on a brave face. But I can tell he's struggling with the fact that Doc got hurt."
"And what about you? Your brother tried to erase your memories."
"Six told me he's still my family despite his actions. But maybe it's because I have no recollection of him or our parents, but I feel like I already have the people I need in my life."
Circe's lips curled into a small smile, and she let out a soft sigh, her gaze fixed on the gravel floor beneath her feet. "I think that I can understand how you feel, but he is right. Caesar is still your brother, and his true intentions might be revealed soon to you."
Memories of The Plant and Providence filled the teenager's mind as he smiled, feeling that it felt like home no matter where he went while his family was there.
"I suppose you're right,"
Circe chuckled.
"So, you're willing to trust me that your brother may not be willingly working with Black Knight, but instead has another motive, and not trust Agent Six's words?"
Rebecca's soft moan drew Six's attention rushing to her side.
"Rebecca?" Six asked, his voice was uncharacteristically gentle.
"Six..." She winced and let out a pained groan, clutching her side. "What happened...?"
"Black Knight ambushed us, and you got injured during the confrontation." Six calmly explained.
As she gazed at the still vivid scars on his hands, neck, and cheeks, the woman's expression turned to one of concern. 'What on earth happened, Six?' she asked, her voice filled with worry.
"It's a long story," Six said, his hand gently caressing her cheek. "But now may not be the right time for it." He let out a deep sigh, raising one eyebrow. "Rex has been with Circe for a while, so your awakening seems like a good reason to bring him back."
Rebecca's warm smile was all he needed to see and hear Rex's laughter again. "Is Rex finally back?" she asked.
"And it seems he's still infatuated with that girl."
"Let him be," she replied. "It's been difficult for him already, I'm sure."
As he leaned in to kiss her softly, Six couldn't help but think about the hell of a ride it had been.
The family was finally reunited.