Children of the Gemstones

Chapter 4 Part 1 : HealthGem

"I'm sooo tired!!" Eli, who didn't realize she's snuggling against Matrix, whines loudly. Matrix patiently hugs back. "Please don't tell me we're doing this shit often."

"Sure. I can do that." Says Matrix
"Really?"
"I can shut my mouth but you gotta accept the fact,"
Eli frowns "Well, that's the best you can do."
Nathan lays his head on his table as Carlos sleeps peacefully on Nathan's bed. "I can't stop imagining that brain, Williams."
Matrix shrugs, gently pulling away from Eli "Well, like it or not, we're stuck here together." Says Matrix "I can do this all day, but you gotta keep up."
Nathan sighs, "Fine." Before he shot his eyes wide open "Oh shit, how long did we...?" Nathan's hologram pops out of his gem "As soon as you enter the other dimension, you will most likely to finish your mission for one day. So we've been out there like, for 24 hours!?" Nathan yells, causing Carlos to woke up.
"Yes, Mr. Brown. Apparently." Matrix says, checking the clock "It is 7 AM. You have around 2 hours to prepare for class."
"You guys are a bunch of kids in University but you still need to study more about fucking chemistry. Prepare for Bio class." Nathan yawns "I'm not going to teach you."
Val's eyes went wide "Really!? Then who will?"
"I sent the greatest doctor in the whole city here. His name is Dr. Maximus Peterson." Says Nathan
"Are you serious!?" Matrix yells in excitement, yet her emotion doesn't show.
"You sounded excited. A big fan?" Nathan raises an eyebrow
"He's the coolest doctor I've ever seen. He has a book! Like a very good book! It tells about how cirrhosis develops in around 20 to 30 years which leads to liver failure and liver cancer and eventually death!" Matrix says, excitedly
"Whoa, you know a lot. I'm guessing you wanna be a doctor." Carlos smiles
"I'm flexible. If someone needs a doc, I can help." Matrix replies "I need to be hurry then!" Matrix rushes away out of the office.
"But the class won't start until 2 hours! You still have some--"
Nathan's words were cut as soon as Matrix shut the door close
"...Well, there goes our future healer."

Matrix teleports towards her house, have a quick shower, drinks coffee as her breakfast and teleports back towards the hall, running until she bumps into a man. The man brings a bunch of documents and unfortunately, all of the documents fell to the ground.

"Ah, forgive me, sir. I am in a--" Matrix shots her eyes open "--Hurry."
The man, who seems to have a very strict face glances at her "Watch where you were going, kid." He says. Matrix bows "Forgive me." as she glances at the gem. "...Sir, that gem is..." Matrix's eyes went wide.

Glancing around, he summoned a staff with spikes, aiming it to her "Don't touch it." He says "Touch it or not I still need to banish you anyways."

"No, sir." Matrix says, taking the gem anyways "You are Dr. Peterson, yes?" Matrix asks, before showing her gloves which has a gem on it. "I am also, a gem holder."

Maximus glances at the gem as his eyes went wide "You are the last...." Maximus' eyes then went teary "...Matrix?"
Matrix stares at him "...You... You know me?"
"I don't know if you know but... I'm your half brother."

"WHAT!?"

Matrix yells demonically.

Matrix pulls Maximus' hand towards the office and slams the door open "You're early, doc." Says Nathan "..Mr. Brown, you as well?" Maximus asks "As well? What do you--"
Before Nathan could continue, Maximus shows his gem towards everyone
Carlos gasps "It's the Healthgem!!" Carlos smiles
"I didn't know we have another hottie in the group." Eli smirks.
Maximus glares at her
"...And angry." Val adds.
"You have to explain everything to us, 'big-brother.' why didn't you told me? Why didn't anyone told me?" Matrix asks
"Wait, that's your big brother!?" Nathan stands up from his chair "Damn, you lucky."
"Half." Maximus corrects.
"Still." Nathan shrugs

"Listen, Matrix. I know you have been through a lot. Our mother told me a lot about you. You are cheerful and happy," says Maximus "...Or should I say 'were' cheerful and happy."
"Mom died, dad died, every family I had died and here you are magically appear." Matrix explains "...And what do you mean by 'our mother'?"

Maximus takes a deep breath and says "Your mother was a cheater, Matrix."
"..." Clenching her fist, Eli and Val frowns as they realized how Matrix lost her emotion because of the death of her family. Before both of them could apologise, Matrix glances at Maximus
"She deserves to die. My family's death was caused by her." Says Matrix "Tell me more."

Before Maximus could complain, he sighs

"I was... An accident." Says Maximus "I mean it. Don't you dare change my mind." He says as he stoically glances at Karima, who shuts her mouth completely.

"Your mother and my dad made love in the age of... Believe or not, 12." Says Maximus "Both my dad and her decided to keep me instead of doing an abortion. They left each of their families and find a cheap or even abandoned house to stay. They manage though. Hardly." He continues

"Damn, your family got some depressing relationship there, Trix." Val says
"It is NOT THE TIME!" Yells Matrix demonically.
All of them stays quite before Matrix motions Maximus to continue.

"When I was 10, my father decided to find a job as our mother continued to study. She was so diligent, she reached the highest rank in biology and any kind of medical tests. And then I found this.." Maximus shows his glowing green and bright gem "...This thing. It was resting on top of our mother's text book." He says "So I took it, treasure it and learn more about... Science."

He puts it back in his pocket "when I was at the age of 12, our mother never showed up. My father thought she lost feelings for him and prioritize work than her family. Our mother kept on assuring him, telling him he was wrong and she said she always loves us." He says, clenching his fist "I should have known she was having you in her belly. With another man. And at the age of 34, my father died before the news showed up."

"...as well as mine and our mother. Alongside with my father's siblings... And my grandpa. Grandma, aunt, uncle..." Matrix mumbles, causing Maximus to frown "You don't deserve to suffer too! You're still by your father's side and faced the whole last moment together. My mother cheated with your father and I will never forgive her. I will let her burn in the tub of blazing fire, torturing her letting her suffer and--"

Maximus let a hearty laugh "You really are worthy of the gem, are you not?"
Matrix blushes not because he's her brother, but because he's the doctor she appreciates and sure she's a big fan of him.
"It's biology class in one hour and 30 minutes! We must hurry!" Matrix says excitedly
"True, we can't be late." Maximus smiles at Matrix
"I still can not believe you are my brother, how can I act normally? I-I..." Matrix clears his throat "Mr. Peterson, I am a huge fan of your book and you yourself." Matrix says, before she squeals softly, of course, with no emotion shown.

Maximus laughs "It's Mr. Max for you, Matrix." He smiles
"Alright!" Carlos jumps out of the bed "Let's prepare our next subject! All hail Mr. Max!"
"As for you and the rest, it is Dr. Peterson." Max glares at them.
"...Am I allowed to..." Nathan asks
"No, of course not. Dr. Maximus will do, Mr. Brown." Max glances at Nathan
"Well, I mean, it's not that bad, but acceptable." Nathan shrugs
"Geez, you don't have to be that angry, Mr. Pete." Eli walks out of the office, passing Max. Max glares at Eli, sending shivers down to her spine "...G-Geez." Eli mumbles.
Not wanting to get her ass kicked, Val rushes out of the office, rushing towards the class.
"I'm lookin' forward to see you again, Doc." Carlos smiles
"God, I hope not." Maximus glares at Carlos
"...Right, sorry." Carlos then walks out.
"Peace be with you, Dr. Maximus Peterson." Karima bows at him, walking away

"...The last one is pretty weird." Max whispers to Matrix
"Huh? O-Oh! K-Karima is a... Peace bringer. She spread peace towards everyone." Says Matrix
"Ah, I see." Maximus eyes lands on Karima "... Then, shall we go, Matrix?" Max smiles
"Y-Yes! Of course!" Matrix walks out of the office after him.