When it became midday, Ben's mind finally became clear enough to think about something other than Lalius again. In the morning, all he had done was think about a way to convince the boy to get him to a doctor, but nothing would change his mind. He still didn't know whether the boy had parents or someone who could take care of him and when his work alarm rung a few hours later, reality kicked him in the guts again. He couldn't help the boy even if he wanted to if he didn't immediately find something to get him enough money to keep the apartment. He had been fired not even 24 hours prior. It was a bike shop and he had no knowledge about bikes. No wonder he got fired. He wasn't good at anything, at least nothing useful where he lived. Noone wanted a dude who could tell them anything about botany, wildlife or the specific biochemistry of a human without a single useful diploma to go along with it. The only job he had been hired for and was actually good at was when he had worked alone, in the Lab, disposing of beings, dissecting and analysing them. Destroying was easy for him, fixing on the other hand, impossible. He opened his old and badly fixed up laptop That was only held together by hope and a big amount of duct tape. Another testemony to his abilities. It took long for the thing to start up with a buzzing noise. Maybe because he was remembering his old job, he started looking up his coworkers. He wasn't good at remembering faces but he still had one very vividly in front of his inner eye. Vivian. She was a researcher who he’d worked with multiple times. Maybe he could ask her for a favour to get a job somewhere she worked now? She had always trusted him and his abilities, even without the proof of a certificate or diploma. They hadn't talked in ages, was it eight years? Still, he pulled out his phone. He still had her contact info.
“Hello?” A raspy voice answered the phone after a long time. She definitely wasn't a morning person, Ben remembered.
“Uh, hey Vivian.” He grumbled back into the phone. “It's been - a while.”
“Benjamin?” Her voice had picked up in volume, she sounded surprised.
“Yeah, that's me.” It felt weird to be called that, she had always been the only one who called him that, who knows why.
“It really has been a while.”, she said softly now. There was rustling in the background, like that of a blanket. She had sat up in bed, he mused to himself. “What do you need?” She was always straight to the point. And so was he.
“A job.” She started to laugh.
“Okay.” There was silence for a while, but Ben patiently waited. “I didn't think you'd ever ask me that Benjamin. You don't like the Jobs I can give you.” She was being sarcastic; she knew he liked the job. He just didn't want to like them.
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
“I found something that I need to take care of but I don't think I could do it if I don't find a Job quickly.” “Something?” “Someone.” Again, there was silence. “Alright, I can get you in my team again, but we are working on something different right now, you think you can do It?"
“What do I need to do?” “We are working with half transformed Mimicks, the hospital is being paid for the bodies, so it's not illegal.” “Mimicks?” She hummed a half-hearted Yes back. “The bodies are from patients who didn't make it through their respective treatments.” He looked towards his bedroom. “I'm guessing it comes down to my previous job then.” Another hum reached his ear. “I can do it.” He heard some more clicking before Vivian began to talk again. "You should be good to go on Wednesday, as always, no deposits, cash only and place is the “doctors”.” Without another word she hung up.
Fully legal huh, he thought. She was probably treading another grey area, but didn't want to admit it. Maybe that's why she continued to use the same abandoned Lab for these past eight years. She was a good person and always tried to do what was best for those around her so she sometimes did stuff that no one but her could understand. When he had been part of her team before he knew that and he never forgot. Ben sighed in relief. He had been far more tense than he thought. Now there was one worry less than before. No, - maybe two?
He stood up from the Livingroom table and knocked on the doorframe to his bedroom. Lalius was laying on top of the blanket in a big pair of pants he had given the boy the evening before and kept his eyes focused on the ceiling. He looked comfortably cozy if one ignored the crease between his brows. “Are you selling me out to someone?” Lalius whispered, more jokingly that seriously. Ben laughed “Maybe i should.” The boys eyes wandered towards him, his bows still furrowed. “Did you talk about me with the woman?” He asked, this time looking genuine. Ben shook his head. “She works with your kind, that's all.” This time Lalius laughed, it sounded more like ridicule, but Ben didn't mind, he probably had a reason, albeit one he didn't yet understand. "I have an ultimatum for you.” He said more coldly than he had intended to be, but the boy didn't seem to mind. “We won't go to a hospital but the woman I just talked to will have to at least look at your bones and see what can be done here to be sure everything heals at least as well as we can manage here.” He could see irritation on Lalius’ face. He wasn't as angry as he had been the night before for some reason but Ben had no doubt the boy wasn't any less determined to disagree with his idea as he had in the night. “Or what?” “Or you will have to live with me constantly bitching about it until you eventually leave ‘cause I'm that annoying” Ben said bluntly. The anger on Lalius face turned into confusion. “How the fuck is that an Ultimatum?” Ben scratched his head. “You’re probably right, I don't even really know what that even is.” The boy laughed, not loudly or strongly, but he had definitely caught him off guard. Bingo. Ben grabbed the opportunity by its tail: "Vivian is a good person, Lalius, she is a researcher to help people, it would be the last thing on her mind to betray someone in need.” The boys’ laughter quieted down as his eyes wandered off. He was considering it. “What do I need to do to let her help you.” Ben eventually said. Lalius eyes darted upwards and met his own. “Give me one of her secrets.”