Unexpected result! System reset pending. System reset successful.
My eyes snap open. What happened? Is this the same room? No! This one has dimmer lighting, and I'm lying face up this time.
Still doesn't change the fact that I let myself get captured AGAIN. Twice in two days! Trav's never gonna let me live this one down, I can feel it.
I look around. The room is full of strange-looking mist.
"Bet those robots were packing nerbo instead of bullets," I mutter. "No wonder he was confident. Why didn't they ever train us on electro resistance?" I test my bonds. "Wonder if these are rigged, too…"
"You're welcome to try," the Guy says.
"Ahh, there you are," I grumble. "What is it this time? More research?"
"A trial." I notice that he's behind a glass barrier. His voice echoes through a speaker. "I need to verify some information I found."
"And you need an aeronaut to do it?"
"…Yes," he replies after a moment. "If this works, I'll have all the answers I need. Hopefully."
"I knew it." My anger begins to rise. "This is an experiment!"
"I told you, you'll be fine," the Guy maintains. "No needles, no drinking strange stuff, nothing. All you need to do is sit tight for a bit."
"Shut up! Let me out!" I start working my way out of the bonds. "Let me out so I can beat you up!"
The Guy sighs. "If you promise to stop crashing my facility, I'll consider it."
"Tch… cocky bastard…" My movements start to slow down. "What the… is there… something in the air?"
"There was, yes." The Guy started taking notes. "Seems like it's doing its job."
"You piece of… ungh." I can't keep my eyes open any longer.
Status adjustment failure. I really can't catch a break, can I… maybe I shouldn't have jumped the gun like that. But my comrades and Joseph are waiting. I have to get out of here…
Warning! Abnormal condition detected. Identifying status. I feel free. Did he free me? Parsing locale: I am registering two approximate heights: zero meters. Three meters. What am I doing on the ceiling?
Warning! Abnormal condition detected. The error has not been reconciled. That me isn't me. I'm me. But I know the person I'm looking at is me, because I was beaten up and strapped down, and the me down there is definitely all of those things. So I must be…?
Warning! Abnormal condition detected. Override failure! An error has occurred. I am strapped to an operating bed but I am also at the ceiling.
Suspect condition: It's a hallucinogen.
Contested condition: It feels real. I can still perceive what is around me. Nothing feels fuzzy or filtered. Most importantly, I don't feel calm, like I would with those other drugs they would stick in me. I am still thinking nice, clear, aggressive thoughts.
Parsing. Conclusion: this isn't a hallucinogen. Updating condition: status unknown. Further analysis pending.
My vision clears. Sure enough, there I am on the bed. three meters below. Not a dream, not a hallucination. What did the Guy do to me?
I make my way towards him, moving through the barrier like it isn't there. I wave my hand in front of his face, but he doesn't react. Then again, I can't really see myself either. Or feel myself.
On a whim, I run my fist through his face. Still no reaction.
I look down at his notes: IKIRYŌ PROCEDURE, SUBJECT CONDITION UNSTABLE. CONNECTION LOST. CRITICAL CONDITION? DEATH?
Whaaat? I look back at my body. The machine next to it is registering a flatline.
That doesn't seem good. Can I just…?
My eyes suddenly pop open, and I quickly sit up, my vitals returning to normal. "Hah! Phew. That was weird." I huffed. "Oh, my bonds are gone too. Nice."
"What the-! How are you still here?!" The Guy looks visibly shaken.
I look at him funny. "The hell's that supposed to mean? Didn't you bring me here?"
"That's not what I'm talking about!" The Guy looks at his notes, then begins flipping through another document. "After your body absorbed the mist, your brain activity completely stopped, then you flatlined!"
"Um…" I think about it for a second. "That means I died, right? Ahem. Grach ach ach. Imma zombo. Gonna gobble your guts."
"This isn't a joking matter, Shurikit! I need to know exactly what happened," the Guy demanded.
"Meh, fine." I sit cross-legged, twirling a ponytail. "I guess the best way to describe it is… I saw the light. And flowers on the other side. And my grandpa calling me from across the river. And whatever else those ghost stories do. That stuff."
"Really?" The Guy shakes his head. "Your thoughts aren't making sense either, but they do confirm you didn't lose any lucidity. How is this possible?"
I shrug. "Never trust a machine, I guess? I feel fine. Dunno what you're freaking out for."
"This confirms it then," the Guy says, closing his pad. "The Ikiryō procedure was deemed a preemptive failure, but of course that doesn't…"
"What! You wanted me to die!?"
"No! Frankly, I doubt you'd get it even if I explained it to you. But this does answer a few very important questions," the Guy replied. "And yet… what could it all mean?"
"YOU PUNK! I'll break your face!"
The door suddenly slides open. We both freeze, looking at the visitor - a generic-looking female guard.
The Guy straightens. "Ahem! Hi, Sheila. What's the news?"
"The other aeronauts have returned," Sheila reports.
He throws me a side eye. "Just great… where are they now?"
"In the second wing, breaking everything that isn't bolted down," Sheila states. "Bob's been keeping tabs on their location."
The side of the Guy's mouth twitches. "Why aren't you guys trying to stop them?!"
"They're aeronauts, sir," Sheila replies. Then she taps the comm on her helmet. "Oh. Bob says they're now heading down… corridor 2W? Huh, that's this way–"
SMASH! The door breaks open, knocking Sheila to the floor. My comrades have arrived!
"Yo, Kit," Rurin calls.
"Hey! Let's beat him up." I point at the Guy, who throws his arms up in exasperation.
"With pleasure!"
The four of us tackle the Guy. Even with his (really tough - honestly, I'm kind of jealous) armor, we manage to pin him down and strap him to the table I was strapped to.
I stand triumphantly on his chest. "Hehe. You like that, Guy? I bet you feel real dumb taking me to a place we already knew about!"
"This is the only facility I have unrestricted access to," he grumbles.
"All clear outside," Travis says. "What's next?"
"Interrogation," I decide. Then I stomp on the Guy's chest armor. "All right, Guy, answer me this! What do you want from us?"
He smirks. "Your pals are wondering why my robots didn't push into the safe house. Were you surprised that Joseph wasn't home?"
"What the…" Vernicia narrows her eyes. "How'd you know that?"
"Wh-hey, no fair! He's cheating," I tell her.
"Huh? Cheating how?"
"Forget it, aeronauts!" The Guy cuts us off. "Information isn't free, and you've got nothing to barter with."
"Grrrgh! You suck!" Losing my temper, I stomp on his face just hard enough to knock him out. "Cheating prick. Let's beat it before more people show up."
Travis gave me a quizzical look. "Not gonna smash his skull?"
"Hmph… not worth the effort," I half-heartedly reply.
"Kit, I found a map up front," Vernicia tells me. "Apparently this place is called the House of Steel. Edgy, right?"
"This guy has no taste," I agree.
Soon we're back in the air, flying homeward. The stars twinkle over the deep moonless horizon.
"Still thinking about him? The Guy, I mean," Travis asks me. "He strikes me as your type."
"Maybe if he didn't do that weird probey thing with his brain, I'd agree," I reply.
"Er, probey thing?"
"It's not fair," I yell. "Why does he get to know what we're thinking, but not the other way around? Ugh, he's the worst."
"Sounds like you've had some time to think about it," Rurin chimes in.
"Oh, big time. If he insists on screwing with me like that, then forget it," I tell them. "I bet you're into it, though."
"What, me?" Rurin pointed at himself.
"Meh, no way," Travis grumbles.
Vernicia flies up to my other side. "Hey, Kit. Drone fighter to our four," she says.
"Those guys just don't stop coming, do they… eh, whatever. I'll slam it myself," I decide.
Rurin whistles. "Still in the mood, huh? We'll be at the safe house."
I peel off and fly towards the drone fighter approaching us. I don't see any weapons on it, not that that means much.
As I fly closer, it does not try to attack me. "Weird. Are you a scout? Nah, even those things have at least a gun or two," I mumble, landing on top of it. "Smooth, armored… maybe you're carrying bombs? Or cargo?"
lights begin blinking on the drone, and more thrusters pop out of its side. Then it speeds up and starts moving in weaving, evasive patterns.
"Dunno who you're trying to fool with that," I mutter, whooshing up to it and striking with a well-aimed axe kick – SMASH!
The drone's wing breaks off, causing it to plummet to the ground. I watch as it explodes against the surface below, briefly illuminating the surrounding rocks. Maybe its cargo was explosive? Or maybe it really was bombs? Meh. I don't feel like speculating anymore, so I continue flying home.
As I land in front of the safe house, I see my fellow aeronauts still outside. Vernicia is sitting in Joseph's rocking chair, while Travis and Rurin are stretching.
I point at the safe house. "Uhm…"
"Door's locked," Vernicia explains. "And the windows… well, they just got repaired. We thought it would be mean."
"Told you we should have told Joseph before we left," Rurin sighs.
Travis shrugs. "The roof's not so bad."
I look at the door. "Meh… I bet it's not too thick. I can take care of it," I decide.
"Don't break your foot again," Vernicia says.
"Hmph… that was years ago. Watch this!" I lunge forward with a straight kick – BAM! And the door swings open, its locks caved and broken.
"Nice," Travis nods.
"Nice," Vernicia agrees.
"I wonder if we woke up Joseph," Rurin says, walking in. "Whoa!?"
"What?" I follow him in, then stop short. "Where'd all these robots come from? Were they waiting for us?"
"They look nothing like the usual training machines," Vernicia notes. "Um, who wants to go first?"
"Leave it to me!" Travis jumps on a robot and starts twisting its head off. As sparks begin to fly, the robot grabs him with long, flexible arms. Then, KZZAK.
"Agh–?!" Travis is suddenly unconscious.
Vernicia starts backing up. "Okay… probably not new training machines. Um, should we run?"
"We need to at least make sure Joseph is safe," Rurin says.
"Shouldn't be too hard. We're like half their size, right? Let's just dodge their arms," I suggest. "Verni to my left, Ru to my right. Beeline straight to the office!"
"Right," Vernicia nods.
We split off, flying over them as quickly as we can. Something whips past me – some kind of net? Then another one – SNAP!
I hit the ground. Now this is a familiar feeling – I didn't think they'd stoop so low as to use electrowebs on us. But that means this enemy knows our weaknesses… I knew I couldn't trust that Guy.
A machine picks me up. Just what ARE these things, anyway? They're like nothing we've ever fought before!
Or maybe… that was the idea?
My struggling begins to weaken.
Warning! Total paralysis has occurred. My consciousness is fading. Sensing surroundings. My current locale is the safe house. Results are inconclusive. Updating status: this house isn't safe anymore. My current altitude is approximately one meter. Note: I can still think. Parsing options. Where are they taking us?
Memory accessed: an option is available. Provided that whatever the Guy did to me wasn't a fluke, I can make good use of it, right?
Not like I can do anything else right now. Compiling the necessary thoughts. If I remember correctly, I had to get out of here…
I suddenly stop moving. Rather, my body is still moving, but my self is not. I'm not really sure how to describe it.
Warning! Abnormal condition detected. Override successful. Re-engaging.
I'm… free. It really does work. Maybe I should thank the Guy for this sick new power… NOT, haha.
There's my body, there's Travis… looks like Verni and Rurin ended up getting caught too. What is with these machines? And where is Joseph? Oh right! His office.
I whiff through the walls. This feeling is… like I'm a ghost, maybe. I remember seeing something like that on the TV in the rec room.
There's the office! And there's Joseph, phew. Glad to see these robots aren't messing with him…
"You didn't have to deploy them here, too," he says into a comm. "They look like I've had an infestation of lampposts." He's talking to someone! I drift closer. "What about the aeronauts? Oh. Maybe you weren't all talk after all." He strokes his chin. "Bring them here, then. My office, of course. I'll handle things from there."
(Trust no one,) I murmur. (That's what you always told us, wasn't it… how silly of me.)
WHFF!
My eyes open. The machines have started carrying the four of us down the hall to Joseph's office.
"Kit, you're awake! Don't struggle or it'll sedate you," Travis tells me. "These things are seriously annoying, right? I've never seen such relentless shock spam in my life."
"Yeah… tracks," I cynically reply.
Rurin looks over at me. "What do you mean?"
"You know what," I say as the office door opens, "I'll let Joseph explain."
The moment we're free, we jump to our feet, ready for action.
Joseph is sitting at his desk. "I was surprised by these things' efficiency. And still you bounced back so quickly." He nods his approval. "You've been trained well, my children."
"You never trained us for this! What's going on?" Travis asks.
"From the moment you were manufactured, we had a plan for you. But something unprecedented came up in the process," Joseph explains. "Despite being biotools, you progressed far more emotionally than they initially projected, thanks to the efforts of me and the other keepers involved. As a result, our original plans were pushed back in favor of cultivating the family-like bond you four ended up forming."
"What the hell are you going on about? Talking like we're products all of a sudden," Vernicia murmurs.
Joseph's expression doesn't change. "Am I wrong? You've always been biotools, haven't you? Tools, you understand."
I point a finger at him. "What's with you today?! This is too sudden… who are you and what did you do with Joseph?"
"Stop trying to act like your circumstances have been normal! We're all running out of time here," Joseph sharply replies.
"Huh?"
"Just listen for a moment." He exhales, then continues: "We're expediting our plans, shifting them back to what it was originally. Once we finish these last few live trials, you'll be sent out to begin official field work as a special combat unit. Basically, your success in the world will mark the start of a new age, one where weapons grow and evolve."
"What…" It makes sense, but it still feels so alien. Like, I didn't think it would actually happen. But… we are biotools. We spent all our lives training to be fighting machines, aerial forces of destruction.
But if this was our purpose the whole time…
"So, ah… you told me once that I could do great things in the future," Rurin says.
"Well, I wasn't lying," Joseph replies.
"But I… I thought you knew what I meant. I wanted to start a business later in my life."
"You let me read those astrology guides," Travis adds.
Joseph sighs. "I… did my best to teach you as much as I could within my jurisdiction. You mustn't forget them, even as you bring a new age of security to the world."
"What 'world' are you talking about? What 'lessons'?" Vernicia starts to sound frustrated. "This region we're living in doesn't even have a name! Home ec, politics, geography? You didn't teach us anything that helps us live as people rather than assets!"
"Come on, don't we get any say in this? I'd be fine with like a side hustle or something," Travis says.
Joseph shakes his head. "I'm afraid that isn't for me to decide. There are far greater powers at play here. Now that the time has come, I can only hope my side lessons have sufficiently prepared you."
"I get it now," I growl. "You're the same as all the others! Just some whitecoat, looking to make a profit at our expense!"
"Took the words right out of my mouth, Kit," Rurin nods.
"Same madness, different method," Vernicia agrees. "Trust no one, right?"
Joseph looks down, his gaze still inscrutable.
"Say something, dammit," I shout at him. "Come on, convince us to trust you again!" I feel my rage fading. "Convince me, at least… I still want to trust you."
"Forget it, Kit," Travis sighs.
"Yeah." Vernicia crosses her arms. "Let's just blow this joint."
"I suppose you deserve kudos for fooling us for so long," Rurin mutters.
The four of us walk past Joseph to the window in the back of the office. He doesn't move, even as I look back at him like in that one drama I saw.
"Tch." My comrades are right. Once a whitecoat, always a whitecoat. I jump up with a raised foot – SMASH! The reinforced window shatters in one hit. For some reason I'm reminded of the Guy.
Then we fly through the air, away from that den of lies.
The predawn air is rapidly cooling. I figure it'll be another badlands freeze by midday.
But Joseph… I still can't shake the feeling that he didn't tell us everything. How much else was there? If he took the time out to tell us about our future as living weapons…
"Why did he let us go?"
Vernicia's gaze snaps to me. "You think so too? I know there's something else to this, but the logical thing would be to keep us locked up, right?"
"Mugh, I can hear your brain noise from here," Travis complains. "You know what I
think? I bet Joseph knows we'll come crawling back. We can fly free, but can't take care of ourselves that well, right? The whitecoats had this all planned out."
"We can't prove him right, then," Rurin resolves. "I think we should just leave this region completely. What other regions are there again? Um, Verni."
"Um… there's a shoreline to the east and a land with actual cities to the north," Vernicia recalls. "It was one of those drone deployment maps though, so I don't know any names, or even how far away everything is."
"We just head north and find out, then," Rurin concludes.
"Agreed. Though we should gather supplies first. And… I dunno, the safe house probably isn't a good idea…"
"I'm no weapon," I say to myself. "I'm Shurikit Lars!"
"Aha. Nice self-affirmation. Kinda gives hero vibes," Travis nods. "I am no weapon. I am the White Knight!"
"Hey, I was being serious," I retort.
"Come think, why DO we have actual names?" Vernicia sounds serious all of a sudden.
"Uhh, identification, I guess? I dunno."
"Think about it! If that were the case, then we'd have code or number IDs, like… Subject 11 or Weapon X or something." She begins tapping her head. "Real, unique, first and last names. It's strange, right?"
"Maybe it's to help us blend in better, like as double agents or spies," Travis suggests.
"Hmm… if they're supposed to be dummy aliases, why would they assign us one for life? That's like the opposite of undercover," Vernicia speculates. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if our names are just randomly generated. Like, Vernicia Imran? What's an imran?"
"You're probably overthinking it," Rurin tells her. "In any case, we should be glad we have real names instead of numbers. Means we can use nicknames. That's what matters, right?"
"I guess," Vernicia sighs. "Hey Kit, we're gonna head north once we stock up on supplies."
I blink a few times, returning to reality. "Uhm, supplies. Right. Let's… hit up the Guy's place again. They've got personnel, they'll have what we need."
"Can't believe I forgot about that place," Travis says.
"I didn't," Vernicia replies, "but aren't you worried about pissing him off further?"
"No," I answer.