[center][h2][color=7ea7d8][b]Subject 133[/b][/color][/h2][/center]

Alex was taken aback by this girl's actions.  Everyone else, well with the exception of the largest of the girls, was eyeing up the other gender and trying to match up what they saw with the information in their heads; trying to sort it all out before their minds gave out under the weight of all this new knowledge.  He wondered how many before them had gone that way, clearly they weren't the first.  He'd have to ask Doc some time.

He was not offended.  No, he checked, in fact he was intrigued by her attention as it showed a markedly different character to anyone else.  He had caught a glance of his face in some of the shinier pieces of metal in the previous room, although it had been somewhat distorted, he had still noticed the most remarkable feature which was the red tattoo around his eye.  At least he assumed it was a tattoo.  [color=6ecff6][i]Maybe it's some defect in the growing process - it surely can't be a usual tattoo.  Assuming what I have in my head is the 'normal' way to get one.[/i][/color]  In any case, he found himself not minding the girl's attention in the slightest; he would have to examine his feelings later but he put the initial thoughts down to some paternal or fraternal complex.

He smiled, a warm but quiet smile that showed no teeth and was more an expression of comfort than one of joy, certainly it was not a wide-mouthed grin.  [color=6ecff6]"You may.  They've called me Alexander but I do not acknowledge that, so you may call me whatever you wish.  Maybe the shortened version though, you might get bored of saying it otherwise."[/color]

As he and the girl spoke he observed in his peripheral vision the interaction between Red and Doc with interest.  They were the most developed of them, having spent more time 'alive' than they had so Alex saw them as the best examples of how to navigate this world.  Concepts flashed through his mind as he observed Doc's actions in particular as they were more guarded, making them more interesting to him.  [color=6ecff6][i]I suppose this is what you would call a relationship forged in strife?[/i][/color]

The others began to follow their leaders out so Alex gestured to them.  "Shall we go, Sony?"  He suggested, having picked up her name from the loud girl's speech.

---------------

The events in the room beyond them were so quick it took Alex time to process it all, his initial instinct being to stop the beating upon Red but he took his cue from Doc who had not moved to intervene.  [color=6ecff6][i]He must know not to.[/i][/color]  In hindsight, Alex judged him to be right; although it was a terrible experience to watch and do nothing voluntarily.  He kept his face blank but there was a hardness in his eyes as he began to truly understand how it was here, no matter how anyone dressed it up they weren't merely prisoners.  They were as slaves.  Replaceable slaves.

Red soon got her payback and then they were all free to go.  It seemed there was more to their situation than was obvious.  Alex logged it all; there was just too much to process right now but he had determined that getting out of wherever they were was a priority, assuming there was an outside of course.

[color=6ecff6]"I wouldn't be over-confident though.  I don't think any of us would last long in here like that."[/color]  Alex said quietly to loud, large woman.  He had little attachment to any of those around him but the thought of not saying something and the result being more death left a bad taste in his mouth.  Apparently he had a conscience.  How inconvenient.  

He walked forwards, staying a comfortable distance away from Doc and Red so as not to intrude on their intimacy.  In a neutral tone so as not to patronise or imply he expected help to be needed, he asked: [color=6ecff6]"Do you need any help, Doc, Red?"[/color]