AN: This is a Gen Rex AU I've been writing for a while. I'll probably update it once a week until I run out of chapters, and then updates will be more sporadic. :) There are 6 chapters done so far. Thanks for reading and please review! I read and cherish every one of them!

Chapter 1: Rex

Four years after the Event, they found the cure.

Huddled in a pile of debris, glowing lines of circuitry illuminating his dark skin, the cure was found in the form of a thirteen year old sentient class EVO, who was soon given the designation: Rex.

Agent Six, only a mercenary at the time, was the one who pulled him from the broken remains of the building he had, only moments before, single-handedly destroyed. The boy, frightened and confused, had shown no signs of being a threat, and followed Six back to Providence HQ, where he had demonstrated that he could build weapons using the nanites in his body. The scientist put in charge of his case, one Dr. Rebecca Holiday, spoke in hushed tones about the possibility of him being able to communicate with his nanites. Six dismissed her theories as hopeful ramblings...until the day an EVO got loose in the compound, and Rex, backed into a corner by the beast, had effectively beaten it away, knocking it unconscious with his giant metal fists...before resting his hands on its flank, and reverting it to the mongrel dog it had once been. The move was swift, born of instinct, and when the dog had awoken seconds later, it licked the boy's face, and allowed him to scratch it between the ears.

And that was when Six had known...

Rex was their only hope.

Two Years Later...

Every day after school, Noah Nixon would make his way to the local park, basketball in tow, and shoot some hoops. Sometimes he'd bring friends, but mostly it was just him, the ball, and that unreachable hoop hanging over his head.

Throwing his jacket on the sidelines, the boy started dribbling the ball, passing it between his hands, eyes focussed on the hoop above. Bracing his body, Noah tensed, drawing the ball to his chest, ready to uncoil like a spring–

That was when he noticed someone watching him from the sidelines, a boy in a strange red jacket and black jeans, his dark hair held back by a pair of orange-lensed goggles. Noah shifted out of his stance, returning the boy's unnerving stare.

"Hey." Noah said. "Did you want to use the court?"

The boy didn't reply right away, simply continued to watch him, but then, he took a few steps forward, almost cautiously, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket.

"I don't really know how to play." He said with a shrug. "Looked interesting though. You throw the ball into that thing up there?"

Noah frowned as the stranger pointed to the hoop with a gloved hand.

"Do you really not know what basketball is?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Another shrug.

"Guess I was kind of sheltered. D'you mind teaching me?"

"Sure..." Noah replied, hesitantly. "And you are..."

"Rex."

"Noah."

Noah proceeded to teach the boy how to dribble and pass, noting how quickly he seemed to pick up all the moves. Rex was obviously some kind of athlete, judging by the physical control he had over his body. And he was quick on his feet, continuously snatching the ball from under Noah's nose, and stealing away to the other side of the court before the other boy could even react.

However, whenever he tried to make a basket, the ball either fell short, or it hit the backboard too hard, careening out of control. Rex growled with frustration as he missed yet another throw, gloved hands held in fists at his sides.

"Don't sweat it." Noah said, flashing the boy a smile. "It takes practice."

"It shouldn't be this hard."

"Let's take a break." The other boy suggested. "We can get a soda."

Noah picked up his things, and the two of them crossed the street, coming to a stop at a vending machine. However, when the boy went to reach for his wallet, it wasn't there. Frowning, he began to rummage around in the pockets of his jacket, then his backpack, grumbling to himself the entire time.

"Augh, I think I forgot my money."

And then, there was Rex, holding out a can of cola, while gulping down his own.

"Here." He said.

"Thanks. You didn't have to do that."

Rex shrugged off-handedly.

"We're friends now, right? That's what friends do."

Friends? Noah had just met the guy, and already they were 'friends'? It seemed a bit soon to be so familiar with each other, but maybe Rex didn't know any better? He had said that he'd been a bit sheltered-to the extreme, it seemed-so maybe that could explain his strange behavior. He seemed harmless enough, so Noah popped open the top of his soda, and took a long swig.

They stood in silence a few moments, drinking their sodas and staring at the cars going by. When Rex was done with his can, he crushed it in his hands, and tried to throw it into a nearby trash bin...only to have the can bounce off the rim. Noah snickered as the boy stomped off to pick it up.

"It looks like you're not any better off the court."

Rex turned back to him, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Just you wait. I'm going to get better."

Suddenly, a shrill beeping erupted from Noah's pocket, and the boy groaned, pulling out his cellphone.

"I gotta take this." He said. It was his mom.

After a few minuets of idle chatter, Noah hung up, and turned to his newfound...friend-quaintence.

"My mom says I gotta go home, so, see ya tomorrow?"

Rex frowned, his eyes falling to the pavement as he thrust his hands into his pockets.

"Oh, yeah. Sure. I'll see ya around."

Halfway home, a Providence envoy roared past, and Noah felt fear bloom in the pit of his stomach. There was an EVO somewhere nearby. Those massive white vans only appeared when another poor soul had mutated into a mindless beast. It could be anyone...a classmate, a teacher...even someone's pet. The boy took solace in the fact that it wasn't his mother. She was safe at home, and those vans had been headed in the other direction.

Still, Noah ran the rest of the way.