004 | Day 123 | Video

[monticora]

[ He likes the basement. It reminds him of Manticore. Everything about this place reminds him of Manticore though. The bad lighting and the stale air. This place is almost like home to Alec which is the saddest part of all this. These people seem like fish out of water being plucked from the town, but Alec finds this more up his alley. Broken down facilities mixed with whatever this was isn't that hard for him to deal with. It's a bitter pill, but he's more eager to swallow it than the crap he was in before. Plus the scenery change means he doesn't have to think about Allison going back home. He's been avoiding that for some time now. It's stupid and it makes his stomach tightening just at the thought of how childish he was being. Anita would say it was only human, but Alec doesn't want to be human. Human is less than what he is and he can't be that. He won't.

When the feed comes on he holds the phone up to get a clear shot of his face and the background behind him. He stretches out his arms and smiles. ] I gotta say I dig the new home we got. It reminds me of home. Add in some drill instructors and a lot of socially challenged young adults and you got my childhood. [ That sounds vague and he's done being vague. Balthazar had a point prior to all this crap. He's a smart dude and hiding this from people isn't going to save him any face. Things are changing and with all these new arrivals he'd rather them keep their distance. Especially when half of them would confuse him for Dean. ]

I've been pretty vague about my life since I showed up, but I guess I can fill in some holes. I'm from 2020. In my world genetic manipulation is possible. Possible times about a million. I was made for a program the government ran entitled Manticore. They wanted to make the perfect super soldier and then crank us out onto the frontlines to fight their war. They spliced our DNA with a bunch of animal DNA. The only DNA I'm sure of is feline and shark. The rest? I dunno. That info went up in flames when Manticore did. I don't know a lot, but what I do know is that I'm not Dean.

[ He clears his throat and sits forward. ] I was made to kill. I'm damn good at it. There was a time that I could look you in the eyes and put one between your eyes. I probably still could, but I'd feel a little bad about it later. I'm not homicidal, but I'll defend myself. It was how I was taught to be.

We were born for a purpose and none of that included a regular childhood. [ He shifts uncomfortably on the edge of the half empty pool. He rubs the back of his neck before settling once more. ] I lived in a facility my entire life. I don't even know my own mother. Technically I'm a clone of my original. His name was Ben. Manticore made backups when they perfected the X5 formula. I was a backup. We were raised by guards and assholes who were only interested in training us and pushing us to the limit. They got what was coming to them though. [ The way he talks about killing is probably a little off putting considering how happy-go-lucky he's been since he arrived. ] I'm a science experiment and in my world humans--they hate us. Wanna kill us. They beat a friend of mine to death because of what he was. So--you'll excuse my reluctance to share with the class sooner. This place though just--I honestly don't know. I think I feel more at home here. Manticore was hell for a little boy growing up, but as a man it was home. I guess this place reminds me of it.

But if any of you wanna step to me because of what I am then I suggest you turn yourself around. I won't hesitate to snap your neck. I'll maybe feel bad about it, but you won't be breathing. We cool?

Comments

[monticora]

[ Alec has a million questions he could ask about that girl, but he chooses to avoid all the serious ones. When he gets too serious he has the tendency to back out of the situation extremely quickly. ]

Was she hot?

[noblexcompanion]

She was pretty much my best mate's daughter so uh... no comment.

[ Really, Alec? Really? ]

[monticora]

[ That is an important question, Donna. Alec has this bad habit of pulling up too hard when he feels awkward about emotions. Sometimes it's catastrophic. ] Bummer. We weren't fully grown or ready for war. They still shoved guns in our hands and yelled at us to break them down.

[noblexcompanion]

It must've been hard. I'm sorry you got shoved into a war with no choice in the matter.

[ What's that, Alec? You're not good about talking about emotions? Oops. Sorry. ]

[monticora]

When you're growing up in it you don't think anything's wrong. We were so isolated from the world and people that it was just second nature. We thought all people grew up like that. Why would we think any differently?

[ Max's group were the ones to realize that life could be softer and easier. The reigns were pulled tighter around Alec's group when they left. They were the ones they took their frustration out on. ]

[noblexcompanion]

Well, I suppose that's true. If it's all you've known and you've been cut off from the world I suppose there is no reason to question it.

So how are you adjusting to life here? Well, before the creepy tunnel of doom and the hallways that move.

[monticora]

This--this is familiar. All this science crap and sterile environments is something I'm used to. I can live with this. It feels more like Manticore than that other place ever did. I kind of felt weird before when we weren't here. I've never been good at living a quiet life. I don't think I know how.

[ Even when he was living in Seattle he didn't have a quiet life. He was constantly getting into trouble helping Max, Joshua or even Logan. Always something pulling at Alec. ] Like it or not being closed off is what I know.

[noblexcompanion]

I miss looking out the window and being able to see the sea - don't miss the sea monster though - or the monsters in the woods that wanted to eat us.

This place is a little too clinical for my liking. Reminds me too much of hospitals - not a fan.

[monticora]

Yeah. He wasn't that fun. Didn't like being kidnapped all that much either. Manticore and there crap actually made it easier for me to survive.

[ All the breath training they did with them growing up and as adults helped when he pulled under water. ]

Of hospitals? How come? [ Alec's never had an aversion to hospitals like most humans. They suck and remind him of the procedures they performed, but they're just hospitals. ]

[noblexcompanion]

I've been poked and prodded by doctors more times in the last year or so to last me a lifetime. So yeah, hospitals kinda freak me out. I'll be happy if I never have to see one again!

[monticora]

You talking like with the weird scientist kidnappings or was this before you even showed up here?

[ He's curious and trying to take an actual interest in another person's life. This is growth. Sorta. ]

[noblexcompanion]

No, luckily I've avoided that party so far.

Back home. I had these headaches. Doctors couldn't figure out why. Turns out my best mate erased a chunk of my life to save my life because I got a dormant Time Lord consciousness up there that could kill me any time.

[monticora]

Lucky, lady. I wasn't so fortunate. When I woke up after being with them most of my housemates were gone. Which sucked, but I got new ones.

[ That's a lot of weird crap she just threw at him. Alec is inclined to believe most anything though. Balthazar is an angel so why can't she have a Time Lord consciousness hanging out in her head. ]

That sucks. Still have the headaches? [ He smiles. ]

[noblexcompanion]

Not so much. Rarely, now, actually. So, this place isn't all bad - mad pervy scientists aside. But funny no one's seen 'em since we got here. Maybe they buggered off. In which case, it's great here.