Sanctuary [Red]

Lights blinked across the computer screen as fingers danced along the keys producing long strings of code. One of those typical days for Alpha and in a sense you would be right aside from a few headaches that had required his attention. Hunting down someone competent enough to build prosthetic arms was something that he spent a good few days on, but then again it was something that he had no issue with doing really. Zeta appeared to have wanted to either bother him or just wanted something because they were continually saying his name in his ear over the past few minutes. For a few minutes he could tune him out but eventually the volume of their voice grew loud enough that it actually began to hurt his ears. Absently one hand whipped backwards, closed into a fist as it appeared to collide with something and caused someone to let out a pained yelp. "ow, what the hell was that for?" They whined as Alpha turned in his seat, taking notice of a small amount of crimson liquid slipping between their fingers.

"Giving you an example of how annoying it is to have someone yell in your ear." He stated rather simply, though he couldn't really control the small smirk that formed form that. "Don't give me that look. Come here." The male seemed to give him a wary look before doing just that, Alpha removing the hands covering their nose which seemed to go slightly crooked from the blow. placing his fingers in certain positions, he put enough pressure on those points to force the nose into a more suitable position causing Zeta to wince in pain.

"Well it sounds like my assumption wasn't all too wrong. I mean fuck, usually you just flick me on the nose. Something bothering you?" Thinking about it, that wasn't his usual response but he hadn't quite expected Zeta to bring something like that up. Maybe he had underestimated their deductive skills after all. His attention turned towards the male sitting in the corner, curled up in their chair while focused intensely on a rather thick book. Ryan had seemed to take an interest within fantasy ever since discovering it, reading the largest books he could find with seemingly no stop. Save for of course when he needed to sleep, eat or deal with personal needs such as hygiene.

"It's...nothing." Hesitation, well that was a new one. That small thing seemed to be only more fuel for whatever Zeta was thinking, but then again he was used to Omega doing something like this.

"I really do not believe that. It's not about the....you know...thing is it?" He asked tapping his temple as if that would give away what he was hinting at without having to talk about it around the little one in the room.

"No, it's not that." Alpha said brushing Zeta off with a shrug. "Just thinking over a few things. Sorry about the nose."

"Saying sorry now? Aww shit this is good. Don't worry about it, don't have myself any permanent damage." All Alpha did in response was roll his eyes, looking to Ryan who had looked at them only for a few seconds before returning to his reading.

"And we appear to have a guest. No sudden teleportation, so that eliminates one person."

The Sanctuary had become a sort of hub for metahumans in the last few months, and of course one for Lucius' allies as well. It was needed in this day and age.  Metahumans seemed to always be on the run, or at least persecuted enough to where they felt the need to hide it. Here, they didn't have to. They could show who they truly were, they could progress. Soon the whole country of Belarus would be that way, under Lucius' leadership. And after that.....hopefully the world. No control was sought after really, just the freedom to search for improvement without being hounded on by people like the Agency.

Through the use of many teleportation pads, Lucius and Alpha's facilities had sort of become one in the same. An interconnected sci fi city safe for any and all who wanted to be there, even humans. Lucius himself had been working none stop, setting all his pieces up for another major move. This however deprived his son, Lucas. The boy was in need of support right now, with all that had been happening....and all the secrets revealed. He wasn't going to say anything to anyone.....but he did need someone to talk to, about anything really. And since Lucius wasn't available.......well he went to talk to someone else.

He knocked firmly on the high tech sliding door, it was always hard to get any sound through but he managed. Now all he had to do was wait. He ran the words through his head, thinking about what to say and what not to, or if he should even be doing this. But before he could pull away, someone would answer. No turning back now.

"...Um.. Hey Travis....... Can i come in?" Lucas said once the slightly older looking male answered and the door openned. It was rather odd having a parant that looked only a few years older then you, but then again Travis wasn't entirely his father.......and there was plenty of other odd things about his existence.

Travis truthfully had not been expecting Lucas to be visiting him today but then again surprises tended to abound when they involved Lucius, granted he was partially expecting some manner of strangulation to happen. Being referred to as Travis was a slight annoyance but one that he didn't let show on his face. It appeared respect flew out the window along with any pride he had, hurtling and falling apart much like this metaphor. "Yeah, you can come in." He said as the door opened and Lucas could come in from there. Zeta was busy shooting him this look before looking to Lucas who was likely feeling a little nervous for one reason or another. Travis could never really read that kid, which made him somewhat curious as to what they were thinking at times.

In fact he found himself just wondering what they wanted with him, not that he would push them away. While Ryan was close to him, the others were rather distant from him. Not that he wasn't used to emotional distance, but he did find himself wondering if perhaps they were not so fond of him. However the rooms pyrokinetic seemed to have some idea of what was going on, so they sort of just picked Ryan up before settling them on their shoulders with a surprising ease considering the small difference in size. This annoyed the shorter male but then again Aaron had his ways really. "Well we're going to do stuff." That sort of ended with both of them walking out and leaving Travis alone with Lucas.

"Do you need me for something?"

As expected this was awkward. Travis was correct in his assumption that Lucas was nervous, not that it was difficult to tell. Lucas was just sort of like that. He walked in without another word, mostly because he drew a blank. He thought about what to say as long as he could, even as he walked to sit down. He always seemed to be hiding behind that mop of black hair, but eventually he would brush it out of his face and speak up. He hesitated for a second, not sure if he should get into this, but he had no choice now.

"....Well, sorta. I just.........i don't know, i need someone to talk to." Lucas admitted with a brush of his hair, better revealing his pale grey eyes. They looked just like Lucius'. Generally that wasn't supposed to happen, they were supposed to be slightly different based on the eye color of both parents. But no, these were exact.


".......Do you think life has a purpose? I could have anything i want......Lucius could fulfill his goals, evolution could win. But....then what? I can't help but feel all this is for nothing, that I'm for nothing. That i go through this pain and suffering....all for nothing." Lucas said. There was clearly something on his mind more then this, he was just avoiding the details because....well that would get Lucius into trouble. He didn't know why he was protecting him.....he just was.

Every move Lucas made spoke of hesitation, though he didn't really know why that was the case. Perhaps they were expecting him to do something against them, which didn't make sense really, but then again at this age the children could occasionally be erratic. This was perhaps one of the downsides of rapid aging, something that he planned to fix soon enough when the time came to do so through a more natural means of doing so. They after a bit of stuttering managed to admit why they were here, which had something to do with needing someone to talk to. Why they didn't go to Lucius was something that made him wonder, but then again he would not turn aside a chance to actually talk with Lucas. Looking into those eyes of Lucas' more than anything reminded him of Lucius, which was strange considering that normally the children would exhibit eyes closer to his own.

The thing they wanted to talk about, sounded strangely like something he wondered once before. If life itself was meaningless and at times the answer seemed to be obvious, that there was no meaning but then again things were never so clear cut. "Do I think life has a purpose?" He mused outloud, seeming to go pensive for a moment before answering. "That question sounds rather familiar, it's something I asked myself not so long ago. The answer, well purpose and meaning are all subjective really. In the end nothing really has a meaning beyond what you give it, purpose is something you give something yourself. It's similar to the question why killing is considered such a taboo among humanity and the answer is because they place value on life." It may have sounded rather logical but then again in the end that was the language he best spoke in.  

"Life only means something if you give it meaning. Am I making any sense?" As always he took a more patient tone with him, even though he was more than aware they could likely comprehend most of what he was saying.

What was said to Lucas was indeed understood.....and sort of what he expected. He didn't know why he came here and asked his co-creator what the meaning of existence was if he already knew the answer, but things went as they did and he was here. Even though the answer made sense Lucas couldn't shake the uncertainty within him, but after all......he himself was a big uncertainty. He didn't know what the future held for him, what Lucius or Alpha expected from him....or if he was just a part of some larger re-population plan. He understood what his parents' goals were......but the means seemed rather selfish to him. Did they stop for a moment and wonder what the lives of these test tube children would be like? Did they wonder about the pressure put on them? Lucas especelly, considering the fact he was obviously supposed to be a lil' Lucius. That didn't exactly go to well for his father, though.

"Is that what you're doing? Making a purpose for yourself? Is that why you continue to make more of us? Is that why you're trying to kick start evolution? Is that your purpose?" Lucas said, the questions were genuine and his tone soft, but you could feel a familiar aura in the air......... It was one of intimidation and violence, hate and guilt, arrogance and evil, calculation and skill. It felt like Lucius was sitting where Lucas was. The boy could try his hardest to keep the river of rage from breaking through the dam of his will, he could build it as high as he wanted, but in some cases it was just to much to bare. He had to let go.

"Did you ever stop and think for a moment about what they wanted? Did you ever think about their purposes?
No, all you and Lucius care about is yourselves, your purposes. You don't care that these people have no meaning besides being a part of your own. How much of them are you willing to give up for your ends? HOW MUCH!? My whole body!? My mind!? My soul.........?" Lucas said, anger was on his face, he looked like he might pounce at any moment, his eyes flashing a brilliant red for a moment before they were closed. Directly following that, the room seemed to go back to normal, the tension gone, Lucas won.

"....I...I'm sorry, i didn't mean to shout." Lucas said, his eyes more sorrowful then anything. He seemed to have made a 360 in less then a minute. The innocent and shy look had returned.

"That would be the purpose I've given myself, yes." Something about their tone was something that sent a strange shudder through his spine, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It was a rather familiar sensation really, one that reminded him of a certain slightly annoying metahuman. That feeling alone was enough to put him on edge, though he didn't show that beyond adjusting his sitting position. Alpha had not been around Lucas enough to gauge his personality, and yet such a sudden change within how they spoke was something that caught his interest. With their manner of speech, he as even expecting them to leap at him with the intent to kill and then all within a moment that was gone. However it was the wording that made him suspicious of something, especially when they brought something as metaphysical as the soul into this.

Considering how often the hung around Lucius, it made sense to a degree that perhaps he had something to do with this sudden change but then again that made him wonder what they had done. One could say his gaze grew critical for a moment, examining Lucas before nodding to himself. "How much of them am I willing to give up? None at all If I can help it." He answered truthfully, though as always he did not expect to be believed one way or another. The fact that Lucas believed he only cared for himself hurt in some small fashion, however he couldn't quite hide that. It wasn't anything beyond a change within his gaze for a second but likely an observant individual would have noticed it. In a fashion it made sense, considering he was not known for his charity. "You probably hate me for creating you, though you would not be the first and I can hardly blame you for it. However that outburst did bring up an interesting question, or a couple of them. " His brow furrowed slightly, a low huffed blowing through his nostrils as he tapped a finger against his temple. "More questions for later actually."

Alpha paused before stroking his chin before turning to Lucas once again. "Speaking of Lucius....has he done anything to you. Genetic tampering or the like that I should know of?"

Travis seemed to take the outburst with a little less anger then expected, in fact he seemed a bit upset. It was hard to pick up on but with someone as stoic as Travis even the smallest glint of emotion stood out. The outburst also seemed to bring up a few questions, though as Travis said they would be asked later. For now.......well he asked the most obvious one. Lucas should have hid it better. With someone as intellectual as Alpha you had to or he would end up finding out one way or another.

Now Lucas had a choice.....he could lie, Travis potentially not believing him, or he could tell the truth and throw Lucius under the bus. Either seemed rather unpleasant, so he started rapidly thinking of some third option.

"Probably. But I'm not sure that it matters, all I am is one big genetic tampering anyway." Lucas said, thinking quickly enough to make it believable. At this point he didn't really know where the conversation was going, but he would continue on none the less.

"Look......I don't hate you. I don't hate Lucius either... But I think you both could learn something if you looked at it from my point of view. I'm less then six months old.....somehow aged to 15 physically and at least 30 mentally. I don't know what I am, not meta, nor human.....and clearly not the regular when it comes to your race. So I am this.......emotional wreck with enough power to level city blocks, and I have no purpose besides being a weapon." Lucas said sincerely. This wasn't even the half of it, and it still sounded bad. It was clear Lucas needed some help understanding......or who knew where his mind would take him.

A big genetic tampering, well that was something that could be placed upon many of the people he had under him. It was a fair enough response really, though something within their tone suggested that they were just giving it. It was something that reminded him more of his own thoughts, but then again these were things he didn't bother talking about to anyone save for maybe Omega. The fact they thought themselves a weapon was something that brought about a sort of understanding, maybe even empathy. Stepping out of his chair, Travis draped his arms around Lucas in the approximation of a hug. It wasn't really a tight hug but one nonetheless. "You're not a weapon." These were words he had to be told personally, though not by himself at the time. of course he may have not has the same problems as Lucas but measuring to see who's problems were greater was a waste of time.

Pulling back from the hug, he rested his hands on the younger males shoulders. "I did not create you to be a weapon, or any manner of tool for some greater end. I won't ever force a purpose on you, nor will I ever attempt to. I understand what you're feeling, I was going through that very scenario myself and I still am in a sense. Humans my age are still learning how to talk, and yet here I am running one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. At times I don't even know what I'm doing." Removing his hands from the youths shoulders he buried them into his pockets. "You're my son and should anyone try to use you like a weapon....well i'll just kill them." Travis noted with a shrug.

Lucas didn't know how to feel right now...... Alpha had somewhere within the span of a few seconds leaned in for a hug, not exactly a major one......but a hug none the less. It seemed Alpha could at least understand some of what Lucas was going through.....not all of course considering how unique he truly was, but still, he could relate to the boy it would seem.

Now what was next? Lucas didn't really know. Did he come here to bitch his co-creator out? Or did he just want to be told first hand he wasn't some tool? Maybe it was a little of both. Lucas hated being uncertain, and hated being left in the dark even more. But now that he got that off his chest, what was next?

"....I'm sorry i was mean, i shouldn't have laid blame." Lucas said once they pulled apart. A few seconds of silence would happen, Lucas thinking of what to say next. He still didn't want to expose everything that happened, but he could still ask this he supposed.

"Have you ever heard of Nicolas Flamel?"

An apology, something pretty expected considering Lucas' personality but then again Alpha didn't really see it needed. Once the hug broke apart, Alpha took his seat once again before hearing out the next question. His first thought was of course to wonder what Nicholas Flamel had to do with anything. unless of course he was planning to delve into Alchemy or it had something to do with...well anything. His mind ran over the subject until he remembered what he thought would be pertinent information. "Not much. All I know is that he was a man of little importance, purported to have dabbled in alchemy but there isn't any proof in that. Though he's famously known for his alchemical research and connections to the philosophers stone." Alpha rattled off before shrugging.

"Do you have a sudden interest in the subject of Alchemy Lucas?"

Did he have an interest in Alchemy? Well, one could say that. Mostly because he was practically made of the stuff, but telling Alpha that was a little rocky. Lucas just wanted to know if Alpha believed in that sort of thing, or if he felt it was just another 'magic' that had no roots in science. Even as young as he was, Lucas had seen things that made it impossible for him to deny the existence of the supernatural. Either way, he got some useful info on the stance his other father had on the subject.

"You could say that." Lucas said with a slight smile, after which the familiar sound of Lucius' teleporter could be heard. He was never far away it seemed.

"Lucas, Travis." Lucius nodded to the two after appearing in a flash of red.

"Do you know where Ryan went off to, i have a few things i want to discuss with him, if that's alright." Lucius said looking at Alpha. He was wearing what he normally did when he wasn't geared up, a very formal black suit with a red tie. Lucas decided it probably wasn't best to continue the alchemy conversation with Lucius here, so at the sight of him he erased any thought of doing so.

A rather interesting way of answering his question. Either Lucas was trying to skirt around something or perhaps they didn't want to tell him too much about something, which only made him wonder even more. Travis wanted to ask more but suddenly a certain metahuman made their appearance within the room in a flash of red light. "Lucius." He said with a single raised brow while considering the question about Ryan's whereabouts. "He was here not so long ago, but I think he went off with Aaron. So if you find him I'm sure you'll find Ryan too. As for where that is...well I don't know." Travis admitted with a shrug, granted he could never really guess where someone like Aaron would go.

With the answer given, Lucius was off looking for Ryan. Why exactly he was, well that was yet to be seen. He walked through the place with a familiarity that made it seem like this was his facility, but then again Lucius always looked like that. The unyielding confidence and entitlement was an underlining trait of his. Lucas would also leave the room shortly after Lucius, not following him but making it seem as so due to the fact he really didn't want to get too far into the subject of Nicolas Flamel.

After quite awhile Lucius finally found Zeta and Ryan in one of the halls, doing whatever it was the children did here all day. It must have been a shock to them both considering they didn't know Lucius was here or that he would be anytime soon, but he had a way of popping in whenever, so perhaps they wouldn't be so surprised after all.

"Hello Zeta, could you leave us for a moment?" Lucius asked politely, looking to the older male and then down to Ryan.

Meanwhile in the lab, Alpha would find things were about to get rather.....interesting. It would be a good ten minutes after Lucius and Lucas left, but none the less it would happen. Tables broke down into flames in an instant, in fact practically everything in a good ten foot radius of the rooms center did. Yet no burning came, instead the flames forming a human shape, and then revealing a white haired and bearded older man, looking directly at Travis with those eyes that constantly looked as if they were looking upon a child.

"Ah, Alpha is it? You're a difficult person to track down, even for me... But I knew it wouldn't take long before Lucas said my name, after that it was only a matter of coming here."The man said in a slow and strong tone, but one you wouldn't dare interrupt out of the sheer attention it garnered. He stood there, wearing some manner of formal garment that seemed to be outdated a hundred years ago, and holding a cane between his two relaxed hands.

Alpha
--
Not too long after Lucius left his lab did Lucas follow, though as for the why he could only hazard a guess it. Maybe they had been thwarted before they could ask anything of value but as soon as he was done thinking over that did Travis get back to work. Ten minutes passed, but it appeared that Lucas was not the only one that had an interest within his company as a sudden fire came to life within the room. Whirling rapidly around in his chair, his eyes focused upon this flame that seemed to spring up from nowhere as it shifted within shape. What ended up appearing from the flames was an unknown person, Alpha already prepared to do something about them should they prove....troublesome. Granted, people normally did not make such a show of their appearance, so he would save violent responses until absolutely necessary.

They had mentioned Lucas saying their name and that came down to a quick process of elimination.  Nicholas Flame? Perhaps they could just be someone claiming that name, it isn't too far fetched. Alpha thought to himself, meeting the gaze of the male that appeared to be looking down upon a child more than anything else. An annoying prospect but then again he could think what he wanted, not as If it mattered to him. Something about their tone carried authority, something that was more than anything not one to be interrupted and so he allowed them to talk. "Track me down? Well that is interesting indeed. What would the legendary Nicholas Flamel want with me?"

Zeta and Ryan
--
What were Zeta and Ryan doing? Well that mostly consisted of Zeta talking continuously while Ryan politely listened while nodding his head occasionally, though he may have only caught half of the words coming out of the older male. Well at this moment Aaron was giving Ryan a small lesson on his pyrokinesis worked, which he seemed to have a greater interest in than how one kills a dragon in whatever game he was talking about. That may have explained why Ryan was carefully controlling a small fireball via telekinesis, though that was more Zeta wondering how advanced their telekinesis was than anything else. Playing around with the small fireball, Ryan was the first to take notice of Lucius before anyone else did and turned to look at him with unspoken curiosity.

For one reason or another they wanted to talk with him, which seemed to put Zeta on edge for a moment. However, as protective as he may have been he knew better than to try and do anything against Lucius. "Um...alright then." He responded before looking to Ryan and then walking away, personally extinguishing the small amount of fire within the hall before going about their business, leaving the two alone.

"Do...you want me for something?" He asked, looking up to his supposed parent.