Summary: The thoughts of those Alex has consumed swirls in his mind, their memories of everything they'd done. He knows exactly what they think of him.

Compassion

By Dark Ice Dragon

The thoughts of those Alex has consumed swirls in his mind, their memories of everything they'd done. He knows exactly what they think of him.

Alex has been called a lot of things. A monster. A terrorist. A murderer. And he is.

Some people have kept their sense of self instead of joining the morass of others. While some scream at being aware of being trapped and being unable to escape, others observe Alex as he goes about his daily life, like they're watching some reality tv show.

He doesn't bother to block their view — they're less annoying than the screams ringing in his head, quieter, and they're helpful sometimes. They tell him about something new he'd come across instead of him digging around the collective's memories for an explanation.

He's an eldritch abomination to some, something that shouldn't have ever existed, something that couldn't ever be human, no matter how much he looks like one most of the time.

That's why he can feel confusion from some when he visits Dana. When he holds her hand and tells her about the new research he's found, the plans he and Ragland have that might help reverse what had been done to her.

Something like that shouldn't care, they think. Something like him shouldn't be able to care, to be able to do something so human.

The ones who watch him laugh at the disbelieving ones. If you'd actually paid attention, you'd know he's more human than the actual human who used to have this body.

It eats people!

And we eat animals, birds and fish.

I didn't.

Alex ignores the bickering in his mind as he steps back. That's a long enough break; now he has to do everything he can to make sure Dana wakes up again.

Written for Dogmatix's prompt, 'Alex Mercer, compassion.'