The Disparate One

Chapter 22 - Black

Oxford left the penthouse, he didn't say where he was going, he just told the two that the will return after four hours. The robot and Ray were left alone in the penthouse before Oxford left, he told the robot that he should continue giving Ray some tests, like chores, arts, martial arts or something that will distract them from getting bored. The robot brought Ray to another room, it is a small chemistry laboratory located on the right side of the hallway that connects to the living room. Ray was given a lab coat, gloves, and safety goggle when they entered the room. The robot doesn't need to wear any of those pieces of equipment since he is just a robot, plus he has a protective coating throughout his body that prevents all external fluids that might deteriorate the body. All kinds of robots have that protective coating.

"I will not answer any questions that are related to the task unless you have finished it correctly.", said the robot. "Take a seat.", he told Ray when he handed him a stool and also gave him a piece of paper which is the task.

It only took Ray for an hour to complete the task that was given. The robot even checked it if it is really that fast and easy for him. Ray is outperforming every test subject in the entire three facilities. The robot wrote what he witnessed on a piece of paper during that one hour, watching the man do the task without any error and complaint, and placed it in the red folder. Then, he told Ray to leave the laboratory equipment behind before he walked out of the small laboratory.

The robot walked into another room, it is just next to the laboratory but it is on its right. The lights turned on automatically when the robot walked in. Ray was standing in the doorway, looking at the objects in the room. Inside the room are canvas, picture frames, paint cans, spray paints, and more art materials. He was told to wear a plastic jacket so that his uniform won't get covered with paint, but Ray refused and the robot understood. He was given a stool by the robot and also another paper, which is his next task.

His task is simple, it is to paint his vision. The man grabbed a black paint bucket, a brush and then sat down in front of a canvas that has been prepared for him by the robot, who is now standing behind him, observing carefully. He heard Ray let out a sigh when he dipped the brush into the bucket and gently pressed the brush on the surface. The robot was curious at first when he was watching Ray paint, he expected a lot from the man but when he finished, the result is not even close to one of his expectations.

Ray just painted the entire canvas black in just under half an hour. He turned around and saw the robot behind him with his arms crossed and his head slightly tilted to his right, he looked so confused. The robot looked down at him with his arms still crossed.

"Can you explain it to me?", said the robot.

"It's black, meaning it is not written yet.", Ray replied.

"Why's that?", questioned the robot.

"It's what I see. Heck, I don't even know if I would make it to the green results.", Ray answered when he stared at his black painting.

"I see...", murmured the robot before walking out of the room.

Ray placed the brush and closed the bucket before leaving the room to follow the robot who just left him without saying anything.

The robot entered another room, just next to the laboratory. Inside the room is a rug, which is placed in the middle of the floor, and dozens of sharp and deadly melee weapons that are resting on their racks and cabinets. Ray was curious about what he is seeing at the moment, but he soon was able to figure his next task, a duel. The robot, equipped with two melee weapons and standing on the rug, told the man to choose one weapon that suits him. Ray tested each weapon on the spot and soon he has chosen his weapon, a lance. He then stepped on the rug, stood straight and pointed the lance at the robot meters in front of him.

"Don't even try to blink.", said the robot in a low tone but not enough for Ray to not hear it.

"I only blink on certain occasions.", said Ray.

Oxford went back to the facility when he received a text out of nowhere from his friend, Chap, when the three of them were having a conversation on the sofa. He was walking to his office when he took the small glass memory card from his right breast pocket and stared at it. He still couldn't open it, he tried to access it with his computer back in his penthouse and the result is the same, couldn't read its files. He then hid it when the door of his office opened automatically when its sensor detected him from two feet away. He was greeted by Chap who was sitting on his desk.

"What did you find?", Oxford questioned as he sat down on his chair behind the desk.

"I've tested his blood sample and the results are unforgettable.", answered Chap when he placed a medium glass memory card in the middle of the desk.

"It sounds important.", uttered Oxford when his desk automatically displayed the contents of the memory card.

Inside the memory card are ten videos that were taken with the built-in camera fixed in the microscope. He started to watch the first one since he was told by Chap.

"See this? This is Ebola, see what happens to it when it made contact with his white and red blood cells.", Chap began to explain the video that he recorded.

Oxford's eyes grew slightly when he watched the Ebola got eliminated quickly by the white blood cells. Then the second video is played.

"This is Marburg virus.", Chap spoke.

After all of the videos have been watched, Oxford looked at the man who just placed a blue folder on the desk. Oxford and Chap couldn't believe that Ray's blood might be the cure for everything from common cold to deadly viruses and cancers. Oxford reached for the folder and opened it. It contains photos, documents, and pieces of information about each experiment that Chap conducted with the use of Ray's blood, at this point he thought that Chap has finished.

"That's just his blood, my friend.", Chap announced when he pulled out another memory card and placed it on the desk, next to the first memory card that he placed.