Children Of Gaia

Chapter 19

Felix opened the door before him and crept slowly into a dark room. He could only make out vague shapes in the low light until the door slid shut and he lost all light. Once the door closed he took a few more steps then he paused, Felix could sense Lloyd was there with him. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, a moment went by as Felix attempted to gain a lock.

Felix darted to his side just as Lloyd had pounced. Coming in from 7:30 on a 45, Lloyd landed on his feet where Felix had been. Felix spun around just as the lights came on. There standing before him was Lloyd, for he knew it was him despite the stranger's face staring back at him.

"Ah, so you can still sense me," Lloyd chuckled with a hearty grin.

"Still got it," Felix smirked still pulling a face from the adjusted lighting, "so how are you feeling?"

"Fantastic! I feel bloody amazing. This body feels like I'm still alive, it's absolutely surreal." Lloyd announced with the youthful fieriness Felix had first found so inspiring about him.

"The Tarrax continue to amaze," he added.

"That they do," nodded Felix, "and well, you are still alive technically anyway. So why do you look like this guy? Did Erranos pluck a model at random from someone on-board?"

Lloyd snickered. He touched his face, caressing his chin, "this is no human copy," Lloyd chuckled. Felix narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips trying to work it out. "You're looking at an original Tarrax. Erranos, to be specific. Before they all went to using the drone bodies."

"What?" Felix choked, nearly falling over, "how is that possible?" he demanded with shock all over his face.

"Well, actually I'm hoping you and Maddie can tell us. Erranos can give you access to the Tarraxen genetic code for a comparison if you'd like. I'm no scientist but they must be bloody close," surmised Lloyd.

"Yeah I bet, pretty remarkable," agreed Felix. He appeared absent minded as he mumbled something about convergent evolution before his face then turned serious. He looked Lloyd dead in the eye, "so why am I here and not Eva?" asked Felix but Lloyd froze, shocked, he didn't think Felix would be so impetuous. With his new found ability to peer into the minds of others Felix saw little need for pretence, in fact he found it tedious now more so than ever.

"I can't let her see me like this," Lloyd attempted to rationalise, he whimpered as he shook his head slowly.

"Cut the crap!" snapped Felix, "like what exactly? Alive? Happy? Huh?" he barked. Lloyd chose not to respond. "Sure you look different, but who fucking cares? Everything that makes you who you are is still there, your courage, your integrity, even your confidence which seems rather lacking at present. All the things that made me respect you and cherish our friendship have nothing to do with what you look like!" Felix panted from his rant. After a moment of waiting on Lloyd to respond he had his breath back.

"This may sound silly but I was going to tell her I loved her after we got back from rescuing Gaia. After what happened I guess I just lost my nerve," Lloyd explained, "I just don't know how she could look a stranger in the eyes and say it back."

"Look buddy," Felix had calmed himself and now spoke more casually. "I can't say how she would react or what she might say but all I know is she wants to see you. So what are you going to do?"

"I want to see her too," he stated intrepidly, "will you ask her to come by?" Lloyd requested. Felix remained silent, instead he slowly crept backward towards the door and banged on it loudly three times.

"Sure I can do that," he snickered, so proud of his cunning plan.

Lloyd looked mortified, having been put on the spot. The door opened and Felix ran out without another word. Lloyd's synthetic body trembled in response to his overrun mind. He was unable to speak as he tried to grasp what Felix had done. His anxiety turned to relief when he at last saw her.