Rex's facial expression didn't change. "I fixed you." He said, emotionlessly.
The final Experiment he had gunned down was was was w̴̞̙̣̪̪͈͎̼̰̳̲̯̕͜͜a̴̴̵̰̱̺̭̬̬̝̦̙͕̘͙ş̶̨̛̯̠̯͙̝͚͇͘
ERROR: Simulation stopped. Thank you for staying with Phoenix, Subject 18445 You'll be back online in approximately 10 minutes.
(March 18th) 14:51:32 [C]: He's decided to show himself.
(March 18th) 14:51:35 [J]: He's interfered with us before.
(March 18th) 14:51:42 [C]: Yes, but only directly twice. The other times we thought it was him, SET was confirmed on scene. And I don't need to mention that this time She was there.
(March 18th) 14:51:43 [J]: What would you have me do?
(March 18th) 14:51:46 [C]: I say we go in and decommission the Experiment for good. He's been little more than a hindrance. Besides, a memory trigger could be dangerous- You know the consequences.
(March 18th) 14:52:02 [J]: Decommission is out of the question, C. You should know that better than anyone.
(March 18th) 14:52:05 [C]: I'm not about to let some super-powered punk with a vendetta and some insight completely ruin everything we've worked for. Everything I've worked for.
(March 18th) 14:52:10 [J]: You don't know what you're asking for.
(March 18th) 14:52:20 [C]: Oh? Perhaps I've forgotten my goal. Our goal. It must have just slipped my mind that our goal was the ultimate soldier, right? Even though I've been on this ride a helluva lot longer than you. What I'm asking for, J, is for us to decommission a potential threat before Edit:he it gets out of hand. You and I both know how difficult it was to get 00013 under control. And he was twice the soldier Edit:Rex 17465 will ever be.
(March 18th) 14:52:25 [J]: You're misunderstanding. Decommission is not possible.
(March 18th) 14:52:30 [C]: Oh like hell is isn't. It's simple, we have one of our Control guys hit a switch. He's down, and the birds peck at his liver.
(March 18th) 14:52:25 [J]: He's made contact with 17389. They've assisted each other in going off-grid.
(March 18th) 14:52:30 [C]: Right, right. So we send in a higher-ranking Operative and take him out.
(March 18th) 15:02:45 [J]: Then it's settled. I'll handle it myself. We'll continue discussing this in person. Resume the simulation.
Welcome back, Subject18445. The simulation will resume in 3... 2...
Rex looked at Claire, a puzzled expression now present upon his face. His arms were crossed. "Are you serious?" It was impossible to tell whether his surprise was a happy or annoyed one. "You want to... To follow me? After hearing me tell you my plan?"
Unbelievable. She must know something he didn't. "Fine. But don't expect a guarantee of safety."
The final Experiment he had gunned down was was was w̴̞̙̣̪̪͈͎̼̰̳̲̯̕͜͜a̴̴̵̰̱̺̭̬̬̝̦̙͕̘͙ş̶̨̛̯̠̯͙̝͚͇͘
ERROR: Simulation stopped. Thank you for staying with Phoenix, Subject 18445 You'll be back online in approximately 10 minutes.
(March 18th) 14:51:32 [C]: He's decided to show himself.
(March 18th) 14:51:35 [J]: He's interfered with us before.
(March 18th) 14:51:42 [C]: Yes, but only directly twice. The other times we thought it was him, SET was confirmed on scene. And I don't need to mention that this time She was there.
(March 18th) 14:51:43 [J]: What would you have me do?
(March 18th) 14:51:46 [C]: I say we go in and decommission the Experiment for good. He's been little more than a hindrance. Besides, a memory trigger could be dangerous- You know the consequences.
(March 18th) 14:52:02 [J]: Decommission is out of the question, C. You should know that better than anyone.
(March 18th) 14:52:05 [C]: I'm not about to let some super-powered punk with a vendetta and some insight completely ruin everything we've worked for. Everything I've worked for.
(March 18th) 14:52:10 [J]: You don't know what you're asking for.
(March 18th) 14:52:20 [C]: Oh? Perhaps I've forgotten my goal. Our goal. It must have just slipped my mind that our goal was the ultimate soldier, right? Even though I've been on this ride a helluva lot longer than you. What I'm asking for, J, is for us to decommission a potential threat before Edit:
(March 18th) 14:52:25 [J]: You're misunderstanding. Decommission is not possible.
(March 18th) 14:52:30 [C]: Oh like hell is isn't. It's simple, we have one of our Control guys hit a switch. He's down, and the birds peck at his liver.
(March 18th) 14:52:25 [J]: He's made contact with 17389. They've assisted each other in going off-grid.
(March 18th) 14:52:30 [C]: Right, right. So we send in a higher-ranking Operative and take him out.
~~~~
(March 18th) 15:02:45 [J]: Then it's settled. I'll handle it myself. We'll continue discussing this in person. Resume the simulation.
Welcome back, Subject18445. The simulation will resume in 3... 2...
Rex looked at Claire, a puzzled expression now present upon his face. His arms were crossed. "Are you serious?" It was impossible to tell whether his surprise was a happy or annoyed one. "You want to... To follow me? After hearing me tell you my plan?"
Unbelievable. She must know something he didn't. "Fine. But don't expect a guarantee of safety."
Claire felt like her mind was spinning.
"I don't need your guarantee of safety. I see this every day." She gestured to the destruction and chaos around them, leaning on thw ambulance shakily. Her head was still pounding, and she just didn't feel quite right yet after he'd 'fixed her'.
"SET isn't really doing a damn thing about this mess, you're the only one that I can actually see accomplishing what you say you're going to. Someone has to keep you in one piece, and just maybe, we'll have a chance to keep this from happening in the future."
She was a smooth liar. Truthfully, he reminded her of someone. Someone she hadn't really thought of in..years not. At least not this vividly.
She could still remember the last time she saw him. He had just dropped her off after driving her to and from a school baseball game. He had been her friend for as long as she could remember, the only one who had ever really cared about her in her life, the only one that bothered to get to know her. She had been so sure of what they had; friendship had blossomed into something wonderful, and just days after she had agreed to go to prom with him, he just..vanished. His whole family, gone without a trace.
She hadn't thought about Rex so much in so long, it caught her off guard.
"I don't need your guarantee of safety. I see this every day." She gestured to the destruction and chaos around them, leaning on thw ambulance shakily. Her head was still pounding, and she just didn't feel quite right yet after he'd 'fixed her'.
"SET isn't really doing a damn thing about this mess, you're the only one that I can actually see accomplishing what you say you're going to. Someone has to keep you in one piece, and just maybe, we'll have a chance to keep this from happening in the future."
She was a smooth liar. Truthfully, he reminded her of someone. Someone she hadn't really thought of in..years not. At least not this vividly.
She could still remember the last time she saw him. He had just dropped her off after driving her to and from a school baseball game. He had been her friend for as long as she could remember, the only one who had ever really cared about her in her life, the only one that bothered to get to know her. She had been so sure of what they had; friendship had blossomed into something wonderful, and just days after she had agreed to go to prom with him, he just..vanished. His whole family, gone without a trace.
She hadn't thought about Rex so much in so long, it caught her off guard.
That uneasiness, the discomfort that Claire felt was normal. Someone else had been in her head, after all, and on top of that had been manipulating her muscles, and expelling all of the electricity.
Had Austin been there, he'd have explained (rather heatedly) that SET was working to the best of its ability, and that a majority of the attacks that Phoenix initiated didn't even see the light of day. She was just ignorant and unfair for assuming that they didn't care enough about their one, single objective to do much about it. Of course, he wasn't there, and so he couldn't explain. The point remained without counter.
Rex shrugged. If she wanted to risk life and limb to act as his own personal hospital, he wasn't going to complain. "I've heard that there's an Operation being run out of the city of Dallas, in Texas. It's right under SET's nose, but it's a likely candidate." He jumped into explaining his next goal. If his thoughts were allowed to wander, he might realize that she seemed familiar. Someone he knew, but... Where from? She wasn't an Experiment or an Operative, as far as he could tell. She wasn't a scientist, and he was pretty sure he hadn't encountered her at any time in his life.
But then again, They'd wiped his memories of everything from birth to age seventeen. It was an odd feeling. He hated not knowing.
"I don't have a car." He suggested subtly.
Had Austin been there, he'd have explained (rather heatedly) that SET was working to the best of its ability, and that a majority of the attacks that Phoenix initiated didn't even see the light of day. She was just ignorant and unfair for assuming that they didn't care enough about their one, single objective to do much about it. Of course, he wasn't there, and so he couldn't explain. The point remained without counter.
Rex shrugged. If she wanted to risk life and limb to act as his own personal hospital, he wasn't going to complain. "I've heard that there's an Operation being run out of the city of Dallas, in Texas. It's right under SET's nose, but it's a likely candidate." He jumped into explaining his next goal. If his thoughts were allowed to wander, he might realize that she seemed familiar. Someone he knew, but... Where from? She wasn't an Experiment or an Operative, as far as he could tell. She wasn't a scientist, and he was pretty sure he hadn't encountered her at any time in his life.
But then again, They'd wiped his memories of everything from birth to age seventeen. It was an odd feeling. He hated not knowing.
"I don't have a car." He suggested subtly.
Claire rolled her eyes at his suggestion. "Because I walk everywhere, you know. Uphill, both ways, in the snow.. I take the ambulance to the grocery store." She shook her head. Of course she had a car.
Sighing, she rubbed her forehead briefly before straightening up. "Alright. Let me let my boss know. I'm..going to take some time off." She shrugged. She'd figure out what to say when she had to.
An hour or so later, she was throwing a bag with all the medical supplies from her house, and a few changes of clothes into the back of her Jeep Wrangler, sighing. She still felt shady as all hell, but she hadn't been dead and revived like he had, so she'd drive for now. She had told her boss and partner that she needed some time off after what happened, and they didn't ask many questions, thankfully.
As she climbed into the driver's seat, she glanced out the passenger side where he was doing something or other. "You ready?"
Sighing, she rubbed her forehead briefly before straightening up. "Alright. Let me let my boss know. I'm..going to take some time off." She shrugged. She'd figure out what to say when she had to.
An hour or so later, she was throwing a bag with all the medical supplies from her house, and a few changes of clothes into the back of her Jeep Wrangler, sighing. She still felt shady as all hell, but she hadn't been dead and revived like he had, so she'd drive for now. She had told her boss and partner that she needed some time off after what happened, and they didn't ask many questions, thankfully.
As she climbed into the driver's seat, she glanced out the passenger side where he was doing something or other. "You ready?"
Rex smirked. "Glad to know you can help."
~~~~
He was in the passenger seat, looking out the window at the house across the street. A glance over and a slight nod would be an indication of his answer.
These houses were reminiscent of the houses that Rex's childhood neighborhood had. Simple, two-story red stone buildings with long concrete steps leading up to the front. The entryways of every house were different; Some had tall, arching entrances as if they were the entrance to a castle or some extravagant fort, ironically lacking in much horizontal space; While others had long porches with couches or tables or gnomes.
Windows on the front from both the garage and the front entrance of the house were present at nearly every house. The street that ran through it all was wide enough for two cars to pass each other, but only one car at a time ever passed through. It was more of a playground than a road, really.
And speaking of playgrounds- The neighborhood kids did play. All sorts of games. From Nerf battles to football in the street to adventuring across the vast sandy wasteland of the empty lot.
Rex knew this was that kind of place, but he didn't know why. Or how. It made him sad and just the tiniest bit more bitter against the people who made him who he was for robbing him of that.
"Let's go."
~~~~
He was in the passenger seat, looking out the window at the house across the street. A glance over and a slight nod would be an indication of his answer.
These houses were reminiscent of the houses that Rex's childhood neighborhood had. Simple, two-story red stone buildings with long concrete steps leading up to the front. The entryways of every house were different; Some had tall, arching entrances as if they were the entrance to a castle or some extravagant fort, ironically lacking in much horizontal space; While others had long porches with couches or tables or gnomes.
Windows on the front from both the garage and the front entrance of the house were present at nearly every house. The street that ran through it all was wide enough for two cars to pass each other, but only one car at a time ever passed through. It was more of a playground than a road, really.
And speaking of playgrounds- The neighborhood kids did play. All sorts of games. From Nerf battles to football in the street to adventuring across the vast sandy wasteland of the empty lot.
Rex knew this was that kind of place, but he didn't know why. Or how. It made him sad and just the tiniest bit more bitter against the people who made him who he was for robbing him of that.
"Let's go."
At his nod, she pulled out of the drive, and started off down the street. She pulled to a stop at the intersection, and shot him a glance. "Which way?" She asked, waiting expectantly. Whenever he finally answered her, she nodded once, and pulled away again. For a while, she was silent, and the only noise was the rumble of the jeep's engine.
Finally, her eyes glanced back towards him. "Well..since we're really doing this..might as well know your name.." She looked back to the road, though continued to speak. "I'm Claire." She offered. In truth, she didn't really expect him to answer her, and certainly not tell her his name. He seemed to be quite antisocial, not that she blamed him. And not that she herself was a social butterfly! But, they were going to be working together, so she would rather be on at least polite terms. The silence she could deal with , but was his name too much to ask?
Finally, her eyes glanced back towards him. "Well..since we're really doing this..might as well know your name.." She looked back to the road, though continued to speak. "I'm Claire." She offered. In truth, she didn't really expect him to answer her, and certainly not tell her his name. He seemed to be quite antisocial, not that she blamed him. And not that she herself was a social butterfly! But, they were going to be working together, so she would rather be on at least polite terms. The silence she could deal with , but was his name too much to ask?
"South." Short. Curt. Hitch-hiking and cab-calling were his main modes of transportation. All he knew was that he needed to get to Dallas. "Do you have a GPS?"
He didn't answer for a few seconds when Claire asked him his name- It'd been a long time since he had to give it to someone. He'd given out so many fake names in his life that he didn't even know if he had a real name. Something, though, something in his subconscious mind gave him an instinct. A very usual, ordinary name popped out in his mind as if it were on a jumbo-tron surrounded by balloons and confetti.
"My name's Rex," he began, leaving his sentence open for a second or two more. He hung on the end of that sentence like it was a step down a staircase he was unsure of going down.
His face was bunched up in a frown of uncertainty and confusion. Why the hesitancy? It was just another name. He finally looked her in the eye. "My name's Rex Ross." Rex ended the sentence certainly, trying to reassure himself. Whatever it was, his instincts were contradicting themselves. Say this name! Oh, wait! Why would you say that name? There's something wrong with that name! They seemed to say.
Nonetheless, he looked down at his watch to avoid eye contact for too much longer.
He didn't answer for a few seconds when Claire asked him his name- It'd been a long time since he had to give it to someone. He'd given out so many fake names in his life that he didn't even know if he had a real name. Something, though, something in his subconscious mind gave him an instinct. A very usual, ordinary name popped out in his mind as if it were on a jumbo-tron surrounded by balloons and confetti.
"My name's Rex," he began, leaving his sentence open for a second or two more. He hung on the end of that sentence like it was a step down a staircase he was unsure of going down.
His face was bunched up in a frown of uncertainty and confusion. Why the hesitancy? It was just another name. He finally looked her in the eye. "My name's Rex Ross." Rex ended the sentence certainly, trying to reassure himself. Whatever it was, his instincts were contradicting themselves. Say this name! Oh, wait! Why would you say that name? There's something wrong with that name! They seemed to say.
Nonetheless, he looked down at his watch to avoid eye contact for too much longer.