Dyson Pierce watched him carefully. His dark eyes boring into the young man only but ten feet away seated on the examination table. The silver haired human held a youthful, fresh air about him, and almost an innocent face one could gaze at for eternity- at least it appeared for his wife and partner Lisa who hadn't parted from the clone upon his introduction to the world. Her eyes were like a child's, warm and wide and filled with this curiosity. As if she'd never seen anything like their experiment before. Cloning wasn't anything extravagant, it had been perfomed numerous times on test animals. Some successful, others not so much. However this clone was human, not a four-legged-animal. A complete being that was fully functional. All the tests had been run on this one and save for his profile (all of the scientists had been given a heads-up of each fragments individualized specifications on how they should be treated) Dyson felt that his wife was being a little too careless.
He'd remained busy typing up a status report behind the desk. Meanwhile casting quick glances toward the subject and Lisa; he decided for himself he had to be more careful, and when they'd been ordered to gather the fragments he'd somehow knew that things were going to get much more crazier around here. He momentarily hesitated his typing at noting that the clone wasn't actually reacting much to the woman, rather he kept staring at him.
Lowering a hand to the deep pocket of his crisp white lab coat, the scientist made sure that the injection needles he'd picked up (about two) around the same time their experiment was awakening were still there. They weren't lethal, just something to knock the kid out instantly if things took a downwards turn. Given the nature of their special experiment. Finalizing the report as quickly as possible to get it over with he couldn't help but furrow his brows irritatedly at over hearing Lisa's having to explain it all to the lab-rat. He was going to be informed on his purpose later on by the head of this field. It wasn't their business to get involved and start having little chit-chats with the clone anyways. But it was for those little things he adored his wife.
"So basically I'm alive only to solve a problem you poor excuses for scientists have made? This is just stupid- there is a reson people weren't meant to know so much. It screws you over." The clone expressed, his tone smooth, yet toneless and steady. His ocean blue eyes were watching her. And if Dyson hadn't yet noticed he should have, their subject seemed to have found something out of interest in her suddenly.
Zero noticed something thin and reflecting at the light strung around her neck. He wondered what it was, but as his brilliant eyes lowered from her collar bone to the little opening of her blouse he couldn't exactly make out what it could be, save for the circular edge of the object that stuck out. Like a crescent moon. For all he knew, whatever it was had to be something special for her to keep so close to her heart.
"Mhmm, we're just making sure you're prepared for the task before we take you to the-"
The abrubt slamming of a manilla folder against the table made her slightly flinch, and she whirled her head around to see her husband stand, the fierce glare that set his rouged face made her smile uneasily and the clone saw it all there.
Dyson tried vainly to remain calm, but it had been a long hell of a week and he wasn't in the mood for her being so caring and gentle and slow with this case. They just might have already been called and no one had noticed.
"Lisa we need to go now, you don't have to talk him into doing something he's created to do. He'll do as told wether he likes it or not. We're leaving." Dyson commanded, his tone sounding a bit tired but forceful.
Lisa sighed but attempted to look cheerful as she returned her gaze to their subject and told him to follow them.
Zero found himself in just a rough spot as the man in white. Who was this idiot to tell him what he should or shouldn't do? Talk him into what? He was never questioned on his choice anyways and for the moment he decided he didn't want to go anywhere. Especially with that man wearing the unflattering scowl on his face. He did not trust him and he had every right not to. Although seemingly looking distant, Zero had been noticed the man's constant staring and only now did he wonder at the possibility if he served as a threat to them. The curiosity even expanded to whatever that folder contained about him. He could remember when Lisa, the nicer woman had been scribbling in notes in between examinations. He had grown a suspicion about them, they were treating him as if he were something foreign, something you'd see that was so strange yet alluring that all you could do was poke at it with a stick to see what happened.
And he hated that feeling.
Lisa tapped the boy's shoulder, liking the feel of the black, soft oxford the young man never had the bother to button up. She smiled at him but it never truly reached her hazel eyes as she motioned for him to follow their lead. Her husband was already pulling at the ID key card he wore on his lapel to the black square shaped instrument on the wall, which beeped upon sensing the recognized digits of the ID. The door to their exit slid open smoothly like elevator doors.
So it seemed that all was known about everyone he was sure of it but his own.
"I'm not going anywhere, I think I like it here." Zero said his expression calm, certain, as he simply crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged at the unbelievable stares both scientists shot him.
"You have to come with us. Now." Dyson sounded more angry, probably made worse by the fact that he was paired with a clone that not only did he expect would be difficult to handle but lived up to its standards.
Zero turned away from them as his eyes swept across the lab, eying all the fragile glass tubes some empty, others containing liquids of varying colors of reds, blues, yellows and the likes. Along with so many other things he could draw attention to. He only wanted his way after all and even though a small part of him suggested that he should just stay quiet and follow them out, self awareness was one thing, yet being ordered to do something was entirely different. That was which he adamantly refused to accept.
He squinted as he nonchalantly picked up a glass mixing cup with its little mixing stick, examining it as if fascinated, "I have a better idea, see... I can stay here and explore all this crap and you guys can go screw yourselves," he looked up at them with a half crooked smile, "how's that?"
Dyson slipped his hand into his pocket, his mind racing after a quicker and much simpler approach to ending this charade. It was pointless now trying to make him cooperate and he could see that in trying to force him would only give them more of a mess. Sighing he slowly uncapped the needle as he relaxed his features and just as cautiously made his way toward the kid.
"You're right, we could stay a little while..." he told him almost gently, trying to conjure up an image of a cute puppy or child in his head, something he could relate to and feign mild concern for the other, anything at most to seem sincere to the clone. He flickered his black eyes at his wife as she moved toward him, it was all there in his eyes to stay back and try not to make any sudden movement.
Zero wasn't sure how he had realized something was different. Maybe it was the alarming he bells he felt going off, racing with the fierce pounding of his heart at the sound of that glaring man's voice lowering. He pictured a panther in his mind or a lion edging closer and dangerously closer to its prey. Waiting to pounce. A frown tipped his brows and the smile that had alit his features faded as consequently everything suddenly fell silent. Only the faint humming of the overhead bright lights above interrupted the growing silence that weaved around the three, as if pulling them into a scene. In which he was the star, but for all the wrong reasons.
Suddenly Dyson swung his arm up and attempted to strike like a cobra toward the clone's neck.
Zero eyed the sharp needle, its tip catching at the light with whatever drug it contained dripping. All he knew was that it could harm him and that he needed to avoid getting pricked by it. Reaching swiftly for the scientist's wrist he pushed with all his force that arm away, twisting it even to have the man double-over in pain, then thinking quickly, Zero reached with his other hand over the man's back and yanked at the long lab coat, pulling it up and over his head. Using that to cover his line of vision, he bought his knee into the man's gut and finally shoved him into the table. The glass objects there shattered noisily as he fell against them before slumping with a groan to the floor. The injection had slid across the room, a little before Lisa. She was in easier reach of it.
Grabbing a shard of glass from the table, Zero latched his hand onto the man's coat, pulling him up, he placed the sharpest edge to his throat, threatening to slit it if he dared to take another move.
"Zero don't, please!" Lisa begged, her tone high pitched and alarming as she glanced toward the exit, the doors had automatically slid closed.
"Or what huh? What are you going to do to stop me? Obviously if you hadn't noticed I take demands from no one. You can give that thought up." Zero was quite serious as he met her gaze directly.
Lisa watched him carefully, almost afraid to breathe, she didn't move, but her body trembled despite her wanting to remain still. Would he actually kill him? She panicked thinking about that possibility and decided to try everything she could to avoid that outcome.
"What is it that you want? Just tell me and I'll give it to you but please don't do it."
Zero considered, he turned away from her to glare at the man she seemed to care deeply about, now that she was finally asking him what he wanted, maybe he wouldn't kill the dick after all. There would be no need to. But that still didn't stop him from knocking the man out with an angry punch in the face. He'd caught Dyson's hand sliding subtly back into the pocket, about to probably pull another injection out.
"Fine. But if I were you, I wouldn't try it."
Lisa froze, she was already bending over to pick up the injection that Dyson had dropped, she too would have done the same given the chance, but Zero was a step ahead.
He shook his finger, a smile playing at his lips as he clicked his tongue, "Ah-ah. If you want to end up like him I suggest you play it smart and be a little more nicer to me. Not that you haven't been," He glanced back at her, scrutinizing her with wary eyes.
Lisa straightened almost too fast, then wordlessly glared at him, and he tilted his head to the side studying her carefully.
"There is only one thing that I want, and also something that you want as well of all of this. I think we can come to an accordance of some kind, don't you think?"
She exhaled quickly and bit her lip, feeling tears well up in her eyes. This could not be happening, but it clearly was and the frustration of having no other choice but to go along with it was beginning to piss her off.
Somehow he knew she'd be a bit more cooperative than her partner and that was enough for him. He told her that he would like to see her in a much private place so that they could discuss for a bit and finalize his plan. He was aware of the recording eyes around the room watching their every move.
A few minutes later an announcement was made that all staff proceed to the assigned room with their experiments and files that the meeting was about to start.
Dyson was given the medical help needed but nothing would ever heal the dreaded scar of his defeated pride.
.
.
.
"I can't believe I'm being subjected to this crap." Lisa muttered as she walked stiffly, case file in hand, leading her experiment down the hall.
Zero gave her a sideways glance as he deliberately walked one step behind her, "I think it's a pretty good deal. And don't worry, I'm a man of my word, I have no reason to lie. And remember," there was more light in his eyes than the circumstances warranted, clearly disarmingly gleeful that she was complying with him. That they had actually done this when something told him that this wasn't the usual norm. He placed a finger to his lips, "shh."
She hated how he was able to act as if nothing had happened back there, and she hated her inability to calm her beating heart. Was she actually afraid of him? And why did it feel so wrong? He was just a kid, not even twenty yet, or a day old technically. So why such trepidation plaguing her soul?
"Yeah, because I would love for you to throw my ring away," her usually soft voice acquired a note of irritation in its sarcasm. But she tried to keep her anger off her face as they neared the double doors leading to the room. Her gaze flickered repeatedly between his face and the silver chain now around his own neck, she wondered if she could truly confide in him.
The clone snorted dryly, "Hey, it's like I said, this is an agreement of mutual interests," he answered with a ghost of a smirk flitting across his face, but right about now he wanted her to stop talking about it, "now about your husband..." he began, changing the subject abruptly, shrugging and averting her eyes as where they were entering was an even bigger place than were they had been previously.
"I want you to stay far away from him." She hissed, nudging her elbow against him to stress the point.
His smirk deepened, recalling that incident, it was thrilling, although he didn't think he'd admit that to her at the moment. "I can't make you any promises, if he comes looking for me, he'll find me. And if he pulls another trick like that on me I can't tell you how much I would enjoy beating the hell out of him. This time without holding back." There was a level of permanence in his voice, and that hint of expectation. Both already aware of that fact, but not exchanging anything more they fell into a mutual silence as they neared a group of other men and woman in lab coats all gathered around in hushed conversation as they watched the other scientists and their assigned clones walking in.
