Creatures of God

An Unlocked State

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"Well, Elliot, as usual, you've completely failed to mention the obvious."

Dr. Berman stood close to Alessandro, his nose mere centimeters away from the boy's left shoulder; so close that one might've thought the exam included an exploration of one's scents and smells. The old scientist leaned, straining his eyes, stretching his jaw and angling his face to facilitate the inspection, head-to-toe. He circled about the boy's back, then moved to the other side.

"What do you mean, Doc?" Elliot asked. The pathology apprentice straightened himself from a counter in the lab.

"You said the boy was covered in glass, didn't you? Were you exaggerating, or did he not sustain any injuries whatsoever?"

"What? No, he did! But, uh, he didn't, uh... "

"Well, which one was it? Did he, or didn't he?" the Professor grumbled. He grabbed Alessandro by the jaw and turned the boy's face aside to examine it.

Meanwhile, Alessandro said nothing despite being manhandled. The boy from the human time capsule sat with his legs crossed and his back pulled straight. His head was held high, and his arms were stretched out over his legs, his hands resting on bedrock knees.

"Why are you sitting like that?" Dr. Berman snorted, not waiting for a response. He shook his head and returned to his exam.

It was the same as it ever was; the scientists appeased in their own regard, speaking without cognizance of Alessandro's being. The boy from Earth's past squinted at the scene.

"Beyond a lack of cuts and scrapes," the Professor continued, "there is something rather peculiar about the boy."

"What's that?" Elliot responded.

The old man gave Elliot a frown. "Look at his facial hair and acne. Look at his size, he's growing! He appears to be going through puberty! Have you measured him at all? Or had you even noticed?"

Elliot's eyes widened.

"Well yeah, I-I did notice, but he's also b-been exercising... "

"Exercising? What do you mean, like push-ups and jumping jacks?"

"N-no, like stretching and, and... "

"Pfff! Stretching, my ass," Dr. Berman scoffed. "What's he been eating?"

"Cafeteria food, Sir. The usual stuff here."

Dr. Berman shook his head. "Well, it's obvious you're feeding him more than what you're reporting, Elliot. More protein, I gather."

"I am not!"

The Professor rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Fine! Perhaps it's the result of some delayed hormonal change, manifesting after emergence from his hyper sleep -- I don't know! I'm not the one monitoring his diet!" The old man threw a hand through the air to dismiss the conflict.

The two scientists were quiet for a moment.

"At least he's in good health," Elliot half-spoke.

"For now," Dr. Berman responded. "We'll have to keep observing."

Elliot looked at Alessandro.

The senior doctor turned and began to walk toward the exit.

"Is he ready to come out of quarantine, Sir?" Elliot called out.

The Professor grimaced out of view. Another last-second arrow.

"No, Elliot, not yet... " Dr. Berman's voice rose and faded as he left the lab.