E.C.H.O.

Stage 14 "Friend or Foe"

Lucas stood, one hand holding the threaded needle inches from the bullet wound oozing blood from his side. His eyes were on the threat that stood before him; a gawking Nathan.

Eliminate, the rule of ECHO pounded into his head. Lucas didn't move.

"Whoa...man, is that...?" Nathan lifted a shaking hand to point at the wound. "Dude...I thought we were using paint...did...did you get shot? For real?!"

The words snapped Lucas out of it. He reacted upon instinct. Nathan didn't even know what hit him. Lucas pulled him in, slammed the door, and had him pinned to the wall in seconds, his forearm cutting off Nathan's breath and the needle in his other hand coming right towards Nathan's eye; through which he could deliver the fatal blow.

A centimeter before stabbing him his hand froze, needle poised. Nathan was staring at the needle, eyes wide.

Eliminate! Lucas' mind screamed. Yet he could not...his body would not. He's a friend... the thought drained whatever energy he had left. Lucas' arm dropped and he lowered the needle.

Nathan stayed where he was, frozen. Lucas opened his mouth to say something...yet nothing came out. In the next moment, a wave of dizziness washed over him. He stumbled back, and reaching out to steady himself on the closet thing; the wall. He left behind a bloody handprint.

"Whoa!"

Hands grabbed him, helping him over to the toilet seat where Lucas slumped down. He lifted his eyes in surprise to see that Nathan had helped him. Concern was written all over the boy's face.

"Why?" Lucas murmured, his speech slurred.

"I'm going to get the doctor," Nathan began. He turned to go, yet Lucas' reached out and grabbed his arm, not letting him take a step to the door.

"No...no doctor," Lucas told him. He shook his head, the action making the room spin. "I'll take care of this myself." He felt the pain ebb away even as he said it and his mind became somewhat clearer. Painkillers. He realized they had kicked in.

Nathan turned to stare at him just as Lucas stood again. Ignoring his roommate, Lucas stumbled towards the mirror. He took a deep breath before moving the needle to the wound. He needed to get it stitched up.

He was aware Nathan was watching him, wincing as he realized what he was doing. Lucas was just waiting for the moment he was sure Nathan would rush for the door and raise the alarm. Yet, his roommate surprised him by not making a move.

Lucas was almost done stitching the front wound up when Nathan spoke. "Who are you?"

Lucas' eyes darted to Nathan for only a second before returning to the wound. Done. He reached for the book. Grabbing a pair of scissors, he cut the thread.

"I mean..." he saw Nathan's eyes wander along the scars that covered his body. "You're not just a transfer, are you?"

Why is he so calm? Suspicion coursed through Lucas. Usually, a normal citizen's pulse would elevate in such a situation. Their blood pressure would increase, they would lose the sense to think rationally...he seems surprised...even concerned, but no more. He showed none of these questions on his face as he turned around to stare at the back of the wound. This was going to be more difficult. He couldn't explain how he himself felt so calm at having been discovered either.

"Perhaps..." Nathan began.

Whatever is up...I can turn this around. Lucas made the decision in an instant. I'll tell him the truth...or part of it anyway.

"Are you perhaps..."

"I'm from an agency," Lucas had paused, needle almost at the wound. "I was sent here for reasons I cannot disclose."