Holmcross Project (Year 1)

Chapter 6: Separations

Springfield walked over and brought Colt his food. "Here. Eat up. You need strength to heal." He said softly, setting it on Colt's hands, which were folded on his lap as he sat by the window. "Colt, please. You're still alive. You can recover. Don't do this to yourself."

Colt looked up at him. "...I said that being kept in one room was the worst punishment? I take that back. Being confined to one chair for months is the worst punishment ever."

"Colt..." Springfield gently brushed Colt's hair out of his face and smiled. "You have to try to think of other things. Being like this isn't good for you. Please, eat."

Colt looked down at his food. "...Not so sure I can, right now."

"You have working arms, and a working digestive system." Springfield said, sighing. "I'm not spoon-feeding you, so stop acting like an infant and feed yourself."

The door opened and Springfield looked up and saluted, straightening up. "General Lennox, sir!"

"At ease, H-05." General Lennox said, walking in. "I have good news for you. As of today, H-05: Springfield, you're being taken off suspension."

"But, sir, it's only been four days." Springfield looked confused. "I was told we'd be in here for two months. Why are you letting us out early?"

"Not both of you, just you. We need you for a mission." General Lennox said calmly. "Colt will remain here until otherwise ordered. We have your ARM, so gear up and let's go." He nodded to a guard, who brought Springfield his gear.

Springfield took his gear and began to pull on his jacket and strap on his holster, holstering his gun for the finishing touch. "Where am I going, sir?"

Colt looked up in alarm, and General Lennox shook his head. "That's classified, H-05. H-06 isn't to know of it. We'll tell you when you've left this room."

"Wait—you're taking Springfield?!" Colt set his plate to the side and wheeled his chair over. "Why?!"

"We have something that requires one of his particular skills." General Lennox said calmly. "That's all you'll hear on the matter. Good day." He turned and led Springfield out. Springfield gave an apologetic smile before walking out after him, the door shutting in Colt's face.

Springfield looked over his shoulder as they walked. "Sir...Colt really does try his best. He just can't seem to control himself."

"Well, he needs to learn to. This might teach him." General Lennox said firmly, walking down the hall.

They rode a military truck to the Adlehyde Castle throne room until they approached the King and an Elw scientist, who they both saluted to.

King William Clive Adelhyde was a man of noble stature, who wore a blue and white suit with a short steel-blue cape that complimented his straight light-brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a silver circlet in place of a more formal crown. He was accompanied by two guards who stood at a distance.

The Elw Scientist with him was Dr. Alana Sylvestre, referred to by many as the "father" of the Holmcross Project since it was he who shared the alchemic knowledge needed to create Living Metal. He often corrected them, saying he is merely the lead scientist in charge of their production after the passing of his partner, Dr. Albert Tiggs.

Dr. Sylvestre had brown skin, dark-brown hair and gray eyes. He wore a white lab-coat over a grass-green turtleneck and navy-blue jeans and wore black work-boots on his feet. The most distinctive thing about him, though, was the trait he shared with the rest of his species: long, furred ears like rabbits that stuck out to the sides and drooped a little.

The Elw are an ancient race. They looked much like humans except for their ears and most have a proclivity for old style hand-crafted fashions which are no longer common in their human neighbors. It's said they were the original inhabitants of Filgaia long before the humans arrived from the sea of stars and that they welcomed their new brothers with open arms. Though their relations are amicable, they live separate from humans for the most part. They welcome those who want to live closely with nature as stewards of the land like they do. And yet they possess advanced technologies far beyond their human companions that they're reluctant to share for fear it would be abused.