HUMAN

Chapter 45 - Ash

Vincent had recognized where that quiet whip above his head came from. His mind replayed back to a few hours ago when he fought against Sinclair. The black ooze - nanotechnology - or nanotech, he calls them, stirred the air the same way when it was being flailed around by Sinclair to attack Vincent.

The realization only brought worry. While Frank felt a bit more relieved, and confident that he landed a solid hit to his target, Vincent knew better.

Only difference this time. . .it felt more refined, purposeful. . .as if the wielder knew the limits of what destructive power they held and are more careful to not step over it.

But speaking of destructive power, Vincent turned to Frank. "What the hell. . ." He muttered to himself. He properly analyzed Frank's physique - from his larger forearms, to his stiff but composed stance, and to his snarl that stretched further back than it usually would.

The veins he'd seen on Frank's forehead popped up to the surface, pulsating, and carrying that purple color hue to it.

And the crazed, wild eyes. He'd seen them before. But there was a sense of better control that came from Frank. It was like. . .

Vincent's eyes widened, and he struggled to confront the truth of his realization.

Shera. . .

For a moment, he thought he saw her within Frank's eyes. Their faces overlapped for a quick second until it merged to Frank's features.

Pennie wasn't concerned of the blood vial because she lost it. But it had been taken from her. . .

Vincent's mind recalled to that moment where he crouched down beside her as he took over to provide first aid support for Leo, while he kept the opposing side busy and buying them time to patch the wound.

Pennie was internally crying out to Vincent. Not for her wound, but for who had taken the serum. But she was simply too weak to gasp out a coherent sentence.

"Frank. . ."

Frank's ears popped up and he gave a side-glance to Vincent, but kept his face turned towards the forest while the human boy's eyes were filled with terror and shock.

"FRAAANNNNKKKK!!!"

- - -

"They will die. Your father's age and state of health cannot manage the effects of the serum, and will corrode his body over time."

"Meanwhile, Max will be killed by the serum; although there is not much evidence to back this up, the chances are too high since the cryo-pod is only a prototype."

"We do not know enough about the serum. We weren't given enough time to know its ins and outs."

"It's a risk that your father took. One that neither you, him, Max, or I, will figure out what the true outcome will be if they were to replace you."

"By my calculations, you had a 34% probability of survival, in comparison to Max; who had an 18% probability, and your father; 2.3% probability. Should anyone else that possesses these qualities of old age, or having anthropomorphic genetics or features. . .will not survive."

Those words said by Anna echoed in Vincent's mind. Frank checked those boxes; aging, and an Anthro.

Frank coughed out blood, but was quick to wipe it away. The silver shield slipped out of Vincent's hand and onto the ground. Frank took deep breaths before retaining his posture. "I had no choice." He said.

"When we were coming to fetch Pennie, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by them."

"We didn't even know where they came from after we got her. They just appeared, it was like they were expecting us to come to this very route. Then they tried to drive us off the cliff face, the same petty trick that's been used on my wife, and other Anthros that fell victim to the SIU's ploy."