Helix Operatives: Creation

Popper

It was in the early evening as Rex was in a dark warehouse with a number of other Anthros as FAR soldiers surrounded the area. The ground was a cold concrete and the walls were a worn and rusted metal siding with a few light bulbs hanging above them. The Anthros were all standing around or sitting or lying on the ground. Rex was wearing a black leather jacket and black shirt with blue jeans and black sneakers.

Okay, nothing unexpected so far, thought Rex to himself. Anthros gathered up, soldiers watching the areas to make sure nothing comes around, and waiting on pick up... Nothing surprising... Just gotta keep my eyes open for someone else. Rex's stomach started to rumble, making his clutch at it.

Damn it, I ate as much as I could without my bosses finding out at my job and now... I'm still starving, thought Rex.

"Hey," said a voice. Rex looked over to see a FAR soldier standing next to him with some food wrapped in tin foil and a sniper rifle on his back.

"Here, we have some reserves for Anthros like you," said the soldier as he handed the food to Rex.

"Oh, um, thanks," said Rex as he took it. He quickly ate it, only realizing halfway through it could be drugged. He took a second to swallow and looked up at the soldier, who was now leaning against the wall. Even under the mask of his it was clear that he was deep in troubled thought.

"Are you okay?" Asked Rex to the soldier, taking the time to see if he felt the effects of the drugs.

"Hun? Oh yeah, I will be... It's just that my spotter came down with some stomach bug or something. I just want to make sure he's okay but I'm here and all. Sorry, it's just that I'm worried about him," said the soldier.

"Oh, okay... Is it common there?" Asked Rex.

"No, no. That's the weird thing. He just randomly came down with it. He just started slimming down a lot and then got a lot bulkier and... I don't know..."

"You think he's doing it to himself?"

"Maybe but, I don't know... So, you're on the way by yourself?"

"Yeah. I'm hoping to eventually get my mom there but she's in the hospital for now. I feel bad about leaving her but there's no other option. I'll find a job there, get the money for her treatment, and I'm hoping to get her back," said Rex. "I... I just feel crappy about all of this."

"Hey, don't feel so bad about that. Everyone's taking a big risk doing this... Well, those from the towns and cities," said the soldier. "I was from a slave camp."

"Slave camp?" Asked Rex as he looked at the soldier, forgetting about his hunger for a sec.

"Yeah, basically they enslave Anthros from the cities, have them breed constantly, and that makes more slaves... Got some bad memories about all of that," said the soldier, somewhat shaking from his memories. "Sorry, it's just a little sensitive still."

"I... I can imagine... Rex by the way. Rex Percros," said Rex.

"Broken One-Two... That's what I gotta say when outside of the border," said the soldier. "Stupid rule but whatever. Not the worst ever."

"Yeah, that does sound dumb," said Rex.

"Yep, so what about your dad?" Asked Broken 1-2.

"That dirt bag? He walked out on my mom when she was pregnant with me," said Rex, his shoulders dropping and his eyes going towards the floor. "It was just us for a while until my mom got sick. I wound up working a couple dozen jobs to try and take care of her and well...it didn't get any better."