Evolution
By TwinEnigma
Warnings for chapter: If you started reading this before, I suggest rereading the prologue as it is completely redone.
Chapter 2
Alpha wakes with a start, instantly alert. It takes a few moments before he realizes he is in his bunk and then, blinking, he begins to relax.
Bravo is already awake and sitting up, her red eyes fixed on him in silent contemplation.
The camera above the door moves, red light on, and a voice calls over the intercom: "One-One-Six Alpha, your heart rate is elevated. What is your status?"
"Functional," he replies automatically and, again, the camera returns to its previous position before shutting off.
Bravo continues to stare at him. At last, she says, "This is the second time that's happened."
He says nothing.
"Your chakra felt strange," she adds, frowning. "I woke up and your eyes were moving, but they weren't open. Your breathing was also shallow for a few moments before you woke."
"It's an aberration," he states. He doesn't know quite how else to explain it because he doesn't understand why he can't stop thinking about that target or how it is managing to affect him physically. There's no logical reason for this to happen: he knows that he is completely functional and has sustained no physical damage. And yet, it has happened again and, this time, it's much worse than before.
She cocks her head to the side, brows furrowed questioningly, but he still does not know how to explain it and says nothing.
"You and I are flesh and blood."
He closes his eyes, willing away the shadowy image of his reflection standing in front of him.
There is a heavy silence.
"Bravo, have you ever thought about our targets? After the mission is finished?" he says at last, looking at her.
She is quiet for a moment. "No."
"Oh," Alpha says, frowning.
There is another long silence.
"Alpha," Bravo pipes up.
He looks at her, blinking.
She gives him a serious look and says, "Don't tell anyone about this aberration."
He nods.
It is still dark when they are woken for morning drills. Once again, they prepare by donning their uniforms, masks and armor. Alpha hesitates a little as Bravo reaches to secure the pieces of his armor that he cannot reach himself. It is strange and, stranger still, he feels an unfamiliar sensation when she chooses not to say anything. It lingers even well past their final armor check and stays with him all through the march to the training grounds, where they split off into their drill groups. It is yet another aberration and he understands it even less than he does the first, so he ignores it and focuses on the drills.
Every draw of his sword is a killing blow that cleaves the air in a precise arc. His movements are efficient, tight, and fluid. It is as natural as breathing. Thoughts of the aberrations he is experiencing disappear with each familiar stroke of the blade and soon, nothing else exists beyond the space where he stands in the drill line: there is only him and the sword.
When they are done, he rejoins Bravo for the march to morning mess. She briefly gives him a look and blinks twice, tilting her head before she closes her eyes and returns her head forward.
You are feeling better; that is good, he translates silently.
Alpha mentally agrees.
"One-One-Six, report to Mister Green after mess."
Alpha and Bravo look up from their food simultaneously. On their right, One-One-Four and One-One-Two freeze in place. All movement at the other nearby table stops as well.
The speaker is an Alpha, kitted in the exact same armor and mask as them, and he has a Bravo at his side, just the same as the rest of them. They are both a little older than the units at this table, clearly from an earlier numerical group, and their Bravo is missing her right eye, if her eye patch and thick facial scarring are any indication. But it is this particular Alpha that commands everyone's complete attention. There is something very different about him and everyone knows it, not just the Bravo sensors.
Somehow, this Alpha just doesn't feel right.
"Affirmative, One-Zero-Eight," Bravo responds at last, reading their number from their chakra. "We will comply."
Alpha One-Zero-Eight looks at them for a moment, his head tilting to the side, and Alpha One-One-Six inexplicably feels his heart start to pound wildly in his chest, his appetite immediately vanishing as his stomach drops. It takes every ounce of control he has to quell the instinct to activate his eyes in response to the other's gaze. Finally, the older Alpha nods and turns to leave, his Bravo trailing quietly after him.
Not one unit moves until after One-Zero-Eight has left the mess hall.
This time, Alpha knows he is not alone in not having a name for the sensation that older Alpha raises in him. He can see it in the shaken, ashen gazes of the other units. It is familiar and then, suddenly, he knows where he has seen it before: it is the same look he saw in the eyes of his last target.
The realization instantly kills what little he'd regained of his appetite.
Mister Green is waiting for them at his desk, a single open file folder resting in front of him. His expression is pinched and one of the muscles in his jaw twitches slightly when they enter.
"One-One-Six, at ease," he orders.
They comply, immediately slipping into the widened stance and resting their arms behind their backs.
"One-One-Six, you have a new mission," Mister Green says, standing. "You will report to Mister Blue in Fair Water City for your mission objective."
He slides a small slip of paper across the desk.
"Your confirmation codes," he says. "Memorize them."
Alpha picks up the paper, pulling the minimum amount of chakra to his eyes for the Sharingan, and memorizes the words. He then deactivates it, returning to at ease.
"Report to Section 7 East Gate," Mister Green says, pressing a button. "Dismissed."
They exit, silently passing by One-One-Two.
Never once do they make eye contact, but long after they are out of sight, Alpha can still feel their eyes on their backs.
Author's Notes:
Poor baby.
When One-One-Six are by themselves, they'll just be referred to as Alpha and Bravo, but with the others, I'll use their One-One-Six designation.