Chapter Text
Jack
Chapter One - Abduction
Helios Medical Facility
Eden Prime, 2165 C.E
“ I’m so sorry,” the doctor said as he entered the small examination room, “These things… there’s so much about prenatal Element Zero exposure that we don’t understand.”
His words hung heavy in the air as they reached the pale woman. Her brown hair was up in a bun, copper strands tumbling onto her face, framing her widening brown eyes. Her hands clutched together tightly.
“But...no!” her whole body trembled as her voice broke, “ No, she was fine! She was fine and happy! You just told me she needed a checkup!”
Confusion and anger hit her simultaneously as her eyes clenched shut. Echoes of a child’s laughter taunted her mind as her red nails gripped the black rails of the chair.
“It happened quickly,” the doctor spoke gently, “ we were unable to bring her back.”
Her eyes shot up at him, brimming with tears, “ You just said she needed a checkup! How did this happen?” she yelled, crying out questions she knew the doctor couldn't answer.
Nothing he said would make the situation better.
“I’m very sorry.” he placed his arm on her shoulder in an effort to comfort the mother.
She grabbed his arm, deep red nails clawing into the white coat, and stood up tossing her hair to the side. The room turned to ice as she spoke,imploring action with darkening pupils, “ I want to see her.”
“ No ma’am.” his words came quickly, “ Believe me. After what the seizures did to the poor child's body, you don’t.”
The truth of the situation was hitting her now. Her grip loosened as dark lashes covered her eyes, sobbing into her hands.
"I don't... How did this happen?”
“ We don't know,” he rubbed his arm and looked towards the door in the back. “I'll be honest. This isn't the first infant we've lost this way.”
The woman sunk down, weak and sobbing, mascara flowing down her cheeks like ink on parchment. She could still feel the warmth on her forearms, her bouncing baby girl in the hands of her mother, not ten minutes ago. Tight brown curls held back in yellow ribbon, springing to be free. Not a care in the world. Her beautiful baby girl. She clawed at her arms as black tears hit the sterile floor.
"Why? God. Why?”
“We're working on treatments,”the doctor grabbed a chart and returned to a professional demeanor, “The government doesn't put much effort into it, though. Don't want to interfere with their biotic recruitments,”he scoffed.
"Sons of bitches. Those sons of bitches!" She could barely get the words out. Someone was to blame, anyone. She didn't care. Her precious Jacqueline was dead.
"Listen…” The doctor glanced back at the door and adjusted his coat,“this may not be the right time, but if you'd be willing to let us study your baby's body, we can do some tests.”
The mother turned her head slowly to look up at the doctor. Her eyebrows crinkled in disbelief as her gaze burned into his. He did not just ask her that.
“ You want to keep her?”
He spoke gently bending down to her level, “ I don't want another family to go through what you went through.”
Her head dropped back down as she inhaled deeply. She tried to think clearly, be rational. Maybe her daughter could help. Her poor princess.
"I... Okay. Yes. Whatever helps." she spoke with faint resolve.
"Thank you so much.” the doctor helped the broken mother out the door, her hair had completely fallen out and her face was painted black, “The nurse will have you sign a few forms. I'm so sorry, ma’am." He truly meant it.
He closed the door gently behind her and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. He released his head and closed his eyes, taking a moment before moving on. This job never gets easier. He reasserted himself and headed into the door in the back of the room. The room was filled with all manor of laboratory equipment. Orange glows emulated from various terminals along the walls. The doctor scanned his hand, unlocking the Virtual Intelligence system.
" Open a secure channel, authorization 3362…”
He looked over at a metal table where a young girl was sleeping. Brown curls tumbling over her glass features, the yellow ribbon tied neatly in a bow. He turned his attention to the control panel that was bathing the girl in orange light.
“Yes. It’s me. I’ve got a candidate…” Doctor Castor spoke into the terminal, “ Yes, highest potential I’ve seen in years…”
The girl had been sedated, her head full on simple dreams. The wires attached to her skin fed into the system where the doctor was reviewing the readings.
“ No, the family has been dealt with.” he glanced at the little girl, as pretty as a porcelain doll in her yellow dress. Doctor Castor sighed as he terminated his call.
“ Send a team from Pragia ASAP.”