Tainted

Chapter 8 - The Test

             "Well, what are you two talking about so early in the morning?"  Fox asked as me and Father stepped into the kitchen. There was a table set up to the side.

                "Oh, you know my dear, men stuff," Father replied.

               Fox brought mine and his plates over. The smell they gave off was amazing.

               "Funny. I only see an old man, and  a loose cannon in here," she said.

               "It's not healthy for a young lady like you to talk about herself like that." I said, as I took my first bite.

               I was in a trance. This was so much better than the food I had been fed while I was still in the Vault. As I brought the food to my mouth, Father spoke up.

               "Fox, why don't you take Wolf on a tour of the base today?"

               We both looked at him, then at each other, then back at him.

               "And why would I want to spend the day with him?"

               Father lowered the newspaper he was reading.

               "Because he is a lesser subject who needs to learn his way around the base, and I picked you for the job."

               "And why do I have to be drug around by her?"

               "Because you should repay her for fixing you a delicious breakfast."

               "No argument there," I said.

               Fox was still against it.

               "Did you forget that I have a mission today," Fox asked.

               "Not anymore, my dear." Father replied, and went back to his paper. "Besides, I want you to go in case some other subject tries to start a fight."

               Fox looked hurt for some reason.

               "It's not my fault every other subject is afraid of me...." she said, with a sad expression.

               "Not every," I said, which even surprised me when I said it.

               "That's because-"

               "I've just been Tainted, so I don't know anything. But, what I do know is that whatever it is, I don't care."

               Father rolled up his newspaper, and slapped me on the back of the head.

               "Now, my boy, being "just Tainted" does not give you the right to talk about stuff you don't kn-"

               As Father went on in this long explanation, I got just a slight chill. I glance to see that Fox was staring at me, and had a look of fear. Then, her expression changed to a look of deep thought.

               She shrugged, and then smiled.

               "Father, it's alright," Fox said, as she collected the empty plates, and took them to the sink. She turned around and continued, "Give me a few moments to get dressed, and I'll give you the tour."

               As Fox left, me and Father sat there, staring at each other. Then, as if we had been thinking the same thing, we got up, and looked out the kitchen door, and watched her step into her room. We sat back down, and after a long pause, he spoke up.