Jaxmire stood excitedly in front of the green bubbling tank. He watched as the small outline of the toddler bob up and down in its little world. He smiled a large smile to himself. Tomorrow would be the day he would see the child he and his lab mate worked on for so long.

Jax was a small sixteen year old when the Platinum Labs noticed his brilliance in his classes and subjects. Choosing him and nineteen other students under the age of twenty, the Platinum labs brought them to study and work. It was the job of a life time. Fantastic pay, great living, and being un bored for ages upon ages. Every nerdy child or kid who planned a good future wanted to work at one of the labs. Six year later Jax found him in this exact place, about to start the experiment he and his partner worked on for four whole years.

Jax gasped happily when he saw the tiny shape press a tiny hand to the glass window. Jax grinned and placed his own hand to the glass. He liked the feeling and sometimes pretended his baby was excited to see him and John, his lab partner. He had to pretend because the child was actually dead asleep, not to be awoken until tomorrow.

Jax sighed in happiness and contemptmen at he laid against the cool, glass window. His partner John walked in on the scene and sighed in annoyance and maybe just a tinge of disappointment. He expected his loud and bubbly partner to start calming down and getting more serious by the time he was eighteen or nineteen but nope. Still as freaking crazy today.

"Oi! Aren't you supposed to be doing something important?? We're supposed to make sure all his coding is correct before we take him out tomorrow you goon!" He sharply prodded the half asleep Jax in the ribs with his toe. Jax sat up with a strangled yelp and rubbed his side.

Jax sat up and gave John a questioning stare. "Aren't you excited for our little Aren? We've waited a whole four years for this day!" He gave and excited grin to the very irritated scientist. "He's not ours. After we finish coding everything in him he's owned by the Platinum Labs. He's basically our final so I don't want you screwing this up!" John cast a glare in Jax's direction. He didn't like to be so cruel to him but he didn't want him to get too attached to the little guy. He would only be used as a tool.

Jax's expression was full of hurt. He turned his back and stared at the glass. For years he tried to act oblivious to the caged animals and children he passed in the halls but now it was getting hard. He didn't want Aren to be used that way. He didn't want his creation and child to be used as a tool. He sighed and looked back into the bubbly midst of the test tube where his child floated.

*  *  *

John woke up early along with Jax. Unspeaking to each other they got dressed in the lab uniforms. It was quite simple and un distracting. It consisted of a hip length lab coat, a strict blue silvery tie, and simple black pants. Sometimes if he was lucky he could pass with wearing dark black jeans. He sighed a shaky breath. He was excited. But he was scared as well.'I can't screw this up...' He stayed wrapped deep in his own thoughts.

Jax let out a bit of a strangled cough as he tugged the tie a bit too tight. He was nervous and excited at the same time. His heart was thudding like it was trying to rip free of his ribs. His stomach was turning and bubbling so violently he thought he would be sick. He could barely pull on the blue uniform socks because his hands were shaking so hard. After six years of study and practice he'd finally get to see his work. His little Aren.

The two partners headed out of their room pod to head down to the breakfast. It was a bit too early for John's liking but he knew he couldn't sleep anyways.

Breakfast was quiet. There was three other teams that were also awake. Eight people in total. Breakfast was usually quiet besides yawns and students exchanging good mornings with each other, but, today was an exception. Out of the twenty students there were ten teams of two. After the first two years of studying and learning they were given the project of life. They were all given four years to create a synthetic human who would be useful to life and the Lab.

The students all looked as bad as they felt. Two girls barley groomed themselves that morning. Their bright multicolored hair was frizzy against the battle of humility. Knots could be clearly seen in their hair and one, with the disapproval of her partner forgot to put on any type of make up to hide the fact she was exhausted.

Other groups were similar but the worst was a man and woman who accidentally swapped uniforms and haven't seemed to notice yet.

Every one was tired from staying up later than usual, being too nervous to get proper rest, and waking up a bit too early. John glanced at the clock on the wall. 6:43. Three hours until the inspectors and top scientists come...

* * *

Jax watched as the green fluids drained through the bottom of the test tube. To him it was taking and excruciatingly long time. He grinned in excitement. He could see the top of little Aren's head. He had soft looking, faded brown hair so far. He decided to give him hair like the other scientists did. Even if he didn't he would grow some in time.

After fifteen excruciating minutes all the fluid was drained and little Aren could be seen. He had pale white skin that seemed to glow almost. He had energy strips that went up his arm and neck to his cheeks where there were two small glowing green circles. He was small and kind of thin. Looking like a small two year old he reached nearly two feet. Although he was a bit small and kind of weak looking you could tell he had strong nice bones.

John couldn't help but smile. All their work seemed to pay off so far. He pressed a button on his computers advanced key board and a small panel opened in the test tube. Jax stepped in and lifted up his little one, wrapping him in a blanket because he did not have any clothing on.

John walked over with a small computer chip. This held the intelligence A-3 would need to understand what was happening. He was already programmed and given the correct parts to do his job but he would be very confused so this chip would give him the ability to understand what's going on and what he's seeing and how to do what he was made for. Carefully opening a small panel on the back of his neck he exposed an area of of different slots.

He slid the chip into one and used tool that looked a bit like a screw driver to wield the skin and chemical offer the chip locking it there forever. He pressed a small button in the panel and closed it up again. Jax's heart started thudding again. The green energy in Aren's arms and cheeks started to flow and get slightly warm before cooling again. He blinked open his eyes as if he woke up from a nap.

*  *  *

It had been six months since Aren first woke up and he was never seen without Jax by his side. He was a shy and cute little boy. Jax mothered him fussing about him wearing a jacket in the cold halls, giving him treats, and holding him until he fell asleep at night. Today that was all forced to end.

John sighed as the sweet little child looked up at him with curious green eyes. If you looked close nought you could see the endless code running in them. The small child could definitely speak but most the time he was quite as he silently observed the world around him. He gave John a small smile and hugged his legs.

John froze up. He never knew what to do when the kid decided to show him love and affection. In fact later that day they'd be forced to give him to the Platinum Labs. He desperately hopes that he gets promoted from a student to one of the scientists. They all could become scientist if they do well enough.

Later that day each group stood in a bright, modern styled room with the children in front of them. Each child's age ranged from the youngest looking to be a one year old baby to the oldest looking to be seven. The room was quite regular and expected for a high scientists living quarters.

Expensive looking black couches, a glass screen for the television, shiny, metal coffee tables, and lots of other fancy and expensive items. That wasn't what surprised most the students. What surprised them and some of the children. Was the window covering one side of the wall. Outside was the spectacular view of frosted mountains in the background, the icy sun hanging in the sky, and flurries of snow coming from the grey clouds that were eating away the sky. You could even see a fir tree forest in the background.

Aren seemed to like, as his eyes lighted up and he happily pointed to the window and looked up to Jax. "Outdoors! I can see the outdoors!" He smiled proudly. He's never seen this. The other children were happily babbling to  their creators about the trees and snow. Each talked about something different.

The young scientists made gentle attempts to hush the little ones. They all couldn't stop looking though. Windows were a rarity at the Platinum Labs. The window darkened and turned black. Some of the children complained and tried to pull away from their creator but were firmly held in place and silenced.

A tall man walked in wearing the Lab uniform. He was strong and intelligent looking. He was clearly someone you didn't want to anger.

He led the first group forward and sat on a couch. They sat across from him. The two girls started to explain their little creations files and what she was meant to do. Some groups half heartedly listened but mainly held their little one close. They knew what was coming. Jax was slightly trembling as he held Aren close. Over the six months he became surprisingly mellow and quiet.

He spent the time seeing how their creations would be treated and got a quite horrific response. They wouldn't be treated like the sweet children they were. They would be forced to the extent of their abilities, tortured, beaten, forced to be enhanced and upgraded. They would be caged up like animals and forced to do things that could hurt and potentially kill them. He wanted different for Aren.

John rested a hand on Jax's shoulder. He was quite nervous as well. He had grown surprisingly attached to the little one. He didn't want to see him go to a place that he knew would be bad.

A small wail came from the small girl as she was taken by two rough men into a different room. She was created to be a doctor. She already had loads of medical information in her head. The girls had passed the exam and were given high promotions as they did a fantastic job of studying medical research and implanting it in the little girls head.

The little girl reached out her small hand. She wasn't much older than Aren. " Mommy?!"  Her wails were cut off by a sound proof door. The young ladies who spent years making her watched as their little one was taken away. One looked at the floor to hide her upcoming tears. The other laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and they walked out of the door. They gotten better what they expected but felt hollow inside.

The children picked up what was happening after the third child, a small girl designed to make the perfect assassin, was dragged away kicking and screaming. She was more resistant than the other two and managed to bite one of the men with her sharp metallic teeth but did not manage to escape. She did draw a hell load of blood though.

Aren was shaking like a leaf as he watched a tiny cook being dragged off. This one hyperventilated and passed out. Everyone had passed so far. Not all got a high promotion but they all got a bit of a higher status.

Jax was pale as they were called up. They were seventh in line. John shakily described that Aren was an inventor. A high engineer who could learn to make anything easily. He described with a small laugh that he already tinkered a small music box after listening to his music player.

The top scientist was pleased with little Aren. Not many people made someone of his likes. He mentally started making plans for the little brat. He promised them a high promotion. John was happy that he was going to pass but he was sad. He looked at his little Aren. The small child understood what was happening and tears streamed down his cheeks. His tear system was a bit off mixing some of his energy in his tear glands making crying tire him somewhat and dye his tears a light blue.

Right as the men began to reach for the tiny child Jax stood up snatching his little Aren with him. "No. I can't let you take him to torture him." John stood up his eyes ablaze. "Jax. What are you doing?! Let him go!" He reached for Aren, only to be punched in the jaw by Jax. He turned and sprinted for the exit. Unfortunately a twenty two year old scientist isn't as strong as two ultra soldiers.

He fell to the ground with a screech and and his vision blurred and his body was racked with spasms of pain. He was shot in the leg with a bullet that spread some sort of acid trough his veins. He started to limp upwards but was smacked to the ground by a large hand. His head hitting the ground, his vision went dark and he went as limp as a rag doll.

John rushed up and pulled Aren away from Jax and the chaos. He made the crying boy face him. "I'm sorry but we have to do this. We really like you. Jax loves you but you have to go. I'm sorry." His voice went dry as he watched the little boy be dragged away, limp and defeated.

Jax was picked up by two android and was laid on a stretcher and was taken away. The scientist hovered over him with a cruel smile on his face. "Well, John. It seems your partner won't be getting that promotion. We can't have emotionally disabled in labs. I'll give you the promotion. But I don't think you partner will meet as nice of a fate." He thumped John's back and walked him to the door.

The other students were against the window, eyes widened in fear. They all held their little ones close.

As John started to exit he looked up in slight panic. "Wh-what about Jax?..." He was annoyed by his partner but he did learn to like him. After a while it seemed Jax was the only one he could call a friend. Seeing him bloodied on the floor really upset him.

The scary man seemed to look sympathetic for one second. "It's a shame that he's so smart. The only place we can use failed scientist is on the other side of the glass. I'm sorry that he had to learn too much before giving us Aren. Go rest." He left back into the room.

'Other side of the glass? Huh?.. Wait...' Realization dawned on John. His friend would be turned into a tormented experiment. He dropped to his knees and help his head in his hands. He lost his best friend and someone he was starting to see as his child. He lost all precious to him to him because he couldn't help them.

Sobs racked his body. He screwed up. Not in the way he imagined. He got better than he dreamed of but in exchange he lost his child and best friend to a cruel fate.

Sometimes the world is a cruel and unforgiving place.