Radioactive: Chapter Nine

Radioactive

Chapter Nine

~Glitch-Ing~

A black and white stripped beanie bounced up and down as it walked through the Tower. Its wearer wandered around aimlessly and stopped momentarily to look over the glass railing to the lobby far below. A child around fourteen years of age looked around. On the child’s left hand was a black glove the length of the forearm. On the other arm was a black fingerless glove that only covered the hand and the wrist. The discoloration on his arm was easily visible. His forearm was metallic grey in color unlike the rest of his normal skin color. The child smiled with a carefree look. His green eyes were wide with childish curiosity.

The child spun around and ran down the hall. His white polo shirt and an unbuttoned black vest stirred in the wind as he ran. He grabbed onto the rail and jumped over the edge. His forearm changed and as he fell his arm broke apart into segments. Between the segments was a faint string of light keeping the segments connected to each other. The boy fell several floors and stopped in midair a few floors down.

“Hey Kaiba!” the kid smiled.

Kaiba sighed, “Go away.”

“Hello, Ing,” Kiri nodded toward Ing.

Ing used his other hand to swing into the balcony. His arm assumed its normal form. He danced and skipped to catch up to Kaiba, “Hey! I hear that you have a big case! Can I help?”

“No,” Kaiba stated.

“Why?” Ing wined.

“Because,” Kaiba said, “Go away.”

“But I want to help! I never get to do anything!” Ing pouted.

Kaiba barely gave him notice, “Go annoy someone else.”

Ing stopped, “Fine!”

Kiri turned and mouthed the words “I’m sorry” as she followed Kaiba. Ing’s shoulders fell in disappointment. He walked slowly to the lower levels where his only friend resided. The room was dark and full of computer screens. Ing looked up and saw an android floating in the air.

His natural form was a glowing nebulous blue. Upon seeing that he had company he descended to the ground and assumed his human appearance. His blond hair was disorganized but somehow it seemed to fit his personality. He walked up to Ing and rubbed the younger boys head.

“Hey, there, squirt! What brings you to my neck of the woods?” the android smiled.

Ing sighed, his shoulders were slumped, “Miwa~~! I’m so bored! Why won’t they let me do anything?”

Miwa just looked at the disappointed little android, “I’m sure you’ll get your chance.”

Ing looked up and scowled, “Don’t lie. It’s because I’m a glitch, isn’t it.”

Miwa sighed. In all honestly it was partly true. The little android was full with little quirks and glitches. Even though one could be programed with the best programing, the hardiest hardware and the sturdiest frame but when it came to downloading it into an android there were bound to be a few glitches. An android’s own personality was a glitch. Their preferences and sometimes their abilities were glitches. In Ing’s case however, he was to childish than originally programed to be. His skin color varied on his arms, giving away that he wasn’t human, a big problem on missions. Also his green colored eyes gave him an almost sickly look against his light colored skin.

Personally, Miwa had a few glitches himself like his slight obsession of causing trouble. Look where he was now: world surveillance. It wasn’t a bad task but he would rather be out on missions of some kind.

Miwa patted Ing on the head, “Hey, Ing, you’ll have your chance. If I see anything on surveillance I’ll let you know. Who knows, maybe you and I could break a big case together or something?”

Ing smiled, “That sounds great!” Ing jumped up into the air before running toward the door. He stopped and ran back and hugged Miwa before running back out of the room, “Thank’s Miwa!”

“Yeah, just don’t go telling everyone about our plan, alright!” Miwa smiled and shook his head.

Ing walked around the Tower. An idea started to form in his head. A smile stretched across his and he ran to Kiri’s location. Androids could always track and contact each other and Ing used this method to locate where she was. They were in the basement labs possible even talking to Jekyll. Ing shivered. He didn’t very much like the doctor.

The elevator opened and Ing walked around with a carefree attitude. No one paid him much mind. They all seemed engrossed in their work. Kiri looked to be in one of the lab rooms. He found their room and he peered around the edge. The doctor sat at one of the tables while Kaiba and Kiri stood nearby.

“So are you sure about this location?” Kaiba asked.

Jekyll glared at Kaiba for several moments before continuing, “There are many ways to tell including bone structure, hair follicles, sometimes even stomach contents. All of that says that the lizard originally came from the States. Where exactly, is up to you to figure out.”

Ing zoomed in his vision and saw the possible locations on the computer screen.

“I think I already have an idea,” Kaiba said, “I searched through all of the reports of our oversee investigation Agents.”

“Basically volunteer Others who report any suspicious activity,” Jekyll nodded, “You read all those reports.”

Kaiba shrugged, “Just the ones originating from the states.”

“That’s about 700 reports if all of then submit one,” Jekyll stated.

“739 to be exact,” Kiri volunteered the actual number.

“I don’t remember asking,” Jekyll muttered to himself.

“I have a location that is on the top of my list. I have notified the agent that we well be on our way. We’ll be leaving in a few hours.”

“We?” Jekyll raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Kaiba stated, “You and a few others are joining me to look for this person that is turning relatively normal human beings into mutants.”

“What about the heart surgery on Tuesday?” Jekyll asked.

Kaiba shrugged, “Sorry, hate me if you want but I need you especially.”

Jekyll sighed, “You make me miss everything that makes the mundane life at the hospital remotely interesting.”

Kaiba turned to the door, “Make sure to get your things. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

Ing saw Kaiba and Kiri walking toward the door. He looked up for a way to avoid being seen. He raised his hands above his head. His arms extended and he gripped onto a small ledge. He then climbed up the wall so that he was above the doorway and out of sight.

Kaiba walked out of the room and headed down the hallway. Kiri followed after saying goodbye to Jekyll. She followed after him quickly, not wanting to be left behind by the elevator. Thinking it was safe; Ing dropped down and slapped his hands together with victory.

“Oh, hello there,” Jekyll said behind the little android.

Ing turned and smiled sheepishly, “Oh hello!”

“And what might you be doing here?” Jekyll asked.

“I was…I was…looking for…for…for ka-ron…Carroll! You know the engineer…in the labs…” Ing smiled.

“Mmhmm,” Jekyll was understandably unconvinced, “You know, you aren’t very good at lying. In some ways, that’s a good thing. In this occupation, it’s not. Eavesdropping is also more effective if you don’t get caught. But I’m going to walk away without any memory of this conversation therefore, forgetting to report your behavior to Kaiba.”

Ing sighed, “Thanks.”

“Thanks? For what?” Jekyll said with a straight face before walking away.

Exited and ecstatic, Ing ran to the elevator to tell Miwa the great news and his new super-duper plan. Thanks to Jekyll’s ‘forgetful’ memory the plan would work out swimmingly. Sure Jekyll was a bit scary but Ing ended up walking away from the encounter liking the man a lot more than before. This was going to be an exciting first mission!