"The Vulture Mutant's Check-up"

The bright, full moon had risen, reflecting light to the parametric, curved skyscrapers of Eulim City. In a dimmed bedroom in Newton Grand Tower, all monitors were open and were mirrored in Sanno's pupil. While staring simultaneously at each monitor, his father suddenly called him over the phone. Sanno glanced at his vibrating smartphone, displaying the contact name "Dad".

"Hello, dad," he said politely.

"Sanno, good job that you got a lot of classified files," Dexter said in a domineering voice, "It made me remember why I wanted D.M. Cadre gone."

"I understand better now, too… It made me more motivated to help you, dad." Sanno said with conviction. He looked seriously at one of the computers which displayed a secret report about a mutant. "The next plan's been arranged. I've talked to your friend at Sambridge University. We'll meet on Friday."

"Good. It's all up to you, then."

"Yes," Sanno replied. "You can count on me, dad."

The next day, a doctor and a veterinarian visited Aesop. Lia assisted them as they slipped into indoor shoes and led them to the sofa.

"Please sit down," she said, and they slowly sat down, looking around. "Please wait, I'll just wake him up… Mr. Aesop! They're here!"

Aesop, who was in the second loft, peeked down and saw the two individuals in their laboratory coats. At first, he hesitated, but when he saw that Lia was walking briskly towards the stairs, he immediately flapped his big wings and flew down. He grabbed Lia's arm, glaring at her with worry, "I told you not to climb up."

"I thought you were asleep," Lia scratched the back of her head. "I was going to wake you up…"

When Aesop let go of her arm, Lia pulled his hand, and they walked near the sofa. She made him face the two. "I'll just get a chair," She then ran to the kitchen and took one of the lower bar stools. "Please sit, Mr. Aesop,"

Aesop sighed, obviously not wanting to get a check-up. Distressed, he sat, then glanced at the smiling Lia.

The two doctors stood up from the sofa and went towards Aesop's back.

"Mr...Aesop?" the doctor named Luke spoke, before touching his wings. "You can call me Dr. Luke."

"And I'm Rick, a veterinarian," Dr. Rick said, "We're going to start the check-up." He took out the apparatus from their boxed medical kit, like surgical forceps and gauze sponge.

While the two of them examined Aesop's wings, Lia stood in front of him. From time to time, she was giving Aesop a comforting smile. She wanted him to trust the two because the check-up was for his own good. Besides, the doctors and veterinarians in D.M. Cadre had experienced dealing with different mutant illnesses and injuries. She's sure that they can help solve his problem.

Every time the doctors touched his bleeding skin, Aesop instinctively flapped his wings, which made them a bit afraid. Lia, whenever this happens, always gently pats Aesop's shoulders, saying, "It's okay, Mr. Aesop, everything will be fine…" and this calms the vulture mutant.

Aesop guarded Lia in his gaze. He wanted to make sure that Lia would fulfill her promise to him, that she would accompany him in check-ups. For him, it was weird that he felt comfort just seeing her standing there, but it was so long since he wanted to trust someone. He wanted to give it a shot.

"We have cleaned his wounds for now, but we need to take his blood sample to the lab," said Dr. Luke. "Dr. Rick and I agreed that this happened because you were not cleaning your wings properly."

"Therefore, we recommend that you have someone help you clean your wings," Dr. Rick explained, then looked at Lia. "Miss caretaker, can you make sure that his wings are properly washed regularly with clean water?"

Lia glanced at Aesop first, then to the two doctors, and nodded.

"Great," Dr. Rick said while typing their findings on the tablet. "I will send a report to Ms. Mayheart about this. We might also recommend that your diet plan be changed, but it depends on the blood test."

"Do you feel anything else?" Dr. Luke asked.

Aesop hesitated to answer, but since they got his blood sample already, it seemed too late to back out. "I feel dizzy at times."

"Okay, noted… Anything else?"

Aesop shook his head.

Dr. Rick finished packing up their medical kits, "I will give the updates directly to your caretaker, as soon as the results come out. Thank you for cooperating with us."

Aesop and Lia accompanied them to the shoe-changing shelves. Before leaving, Dr. Luke commented, facing the vulture mutant, "There were rumors that you were rude and rebellious, but I guess they were wrong." They gave him a friendly smile. Lia waved goodbye to them, while Aesop just stood there and stared at them.

He wasn't sure if having a check-up was a good idea. The next thing that would happen; rumors about him would spread to the research facility that he became obedient, and those nasty scientists might do some devious tests and experiments again. As he remembered being fed rotten meat, a grim expression appeared on his face.

Lia turned her head to look at Aesop and saw his expression. Her countenance changed from being delighted to feeling troubled. Isn't he supposed to be happy that the check-up was successful?

"Mr. Aesop? Are you okay?" Lia asked as she approached him. "If you're sick, I might not go home tomorrow night."

As if a good idea had appeared in his mind, he asked, "Go...home? Where do you live?"

"In Makylee City."

"I see…" he then turned his back against Lia.

"Why? Do you need anything?"

"Can I ask you a favor?"

Lia moved forward, in front of him. She looked into his sad, golden eyes, "Sure, as long as it doesn't break the rules-"

"It will break the rules," Aesop said, seriously gazing into her deep blue eyes. "But it will make me feel at ease. Can you help me?"