And, here's the fourth and last Prologue. In case you were wondering the chronological order of them, Aster's prologue is first, then Reyna's, then Leandra's, then Fell's. Also, I realize that I neglected to mention Team FRAL's symbols. Fell's symbol is three silver clawmarks going diagonally across a black surface. Reyna's is a narrowed black eye on a russet background. Aster's is a golden ring on a black surface. Leandra's is a half-eclipsed black sun on a brown surface. Just some info for you. You'll see everyone's weapons eventually. Enjoy!
Languor
For thirteen year old Leandra Griffin, everything was a haze. That was the only way she could survive. It was the only way she could retain what small amount of sanity was left.
Her black hair stuck to her neck, which was slick with sweat and blood. Thin lacerations covered her arms. Old scars sat beneath her drenched shirt. A black cat tail twitched slightly, as if aware that it would not be a part of her body for much longer.
The Lieutenant looked down at her, though that was not what she called him. To her, he was "Master". That had been one of the first lessons. That had been etched into her pale skin years ago, when her disobedience toward Adam had required extreme measures to be taken.
She was the best fit for the project. She was the perfect age. She had the right physical qualities for what would happen to her.
"Are you going to behave, now?" The deep voice of her master caused her to curl into a ball and cringe.
"Y-Yes, Master," she whimpered. She was aware of her assigned partner next to her. His brows were furrowed with concern and a trace of anger, but he made no move to stop the Lieutenant.
"It's for the greater good, Leandra," he would tell her when she curled up on her bed, skin burning from the Master's obedience-inducing methods. "We're going to be heroes. The world will be a better place because of us. Just learn to trust them, and it'll be okay." He would then wrap her in his leathery bat wings and hold her while she cried.
Those wings… Leandra chanced a glance at those beautiful wings on Aster's arms. They would be gone soon, just like her tail. She trembled at the thought.
She had been good for the past few weeks. The Master had been pleased. Adam had also been pleased. He stopped by the room she shared with Aster and gave her some cookies as a reward. Things had been better, just as her partner had promised.
However, news of what was about to happen to her had caused her to regress. She felt that old fear and rebelliousness from her first days, from when her mother had willingly handed her over to "Project Feral". "Avenge your father!" she had said. Leandra hadn't seen her since.
The Master beat her harshly for returning to her "old bad habits". She had almost forgotten how painful that whip was. At least he never used the chainsaw… Staring up at him, Leandra barely kept a tear from escaping her eye.
"Good," the Master nodded. It was impossible to see his expression behind his mask. "It's good that we understand each other. Now, Aster."
Aster stood up straight, his fists clenched at his sides. "Yes, sir?"
"Lie down on the table to the right." The Lieutenant pointed to one of two surgical tables. There were medical supplies, Dust vials, and metal capsules containing who knows what scattered around them. The tables had strong, leather straps on them.
Obediently, Aster moved to the table and stretched out on it, his muscles completely relaxed. Leandra stared wide-eyed as the straps were fastened to her partner's arms, legs, and torso. A mask connected to a large machine was put to his face and his eyes closed.
"Leandra."
Leandra flinched and started to move back before forcing herself to stop. Trying to run would only make things worse. "Yes, Master?" she whispered, proud that she was at least able to keep from stuttering.
Her master pointed toward the other table. "Get on."
Trembling all over, she stood and started to slowly walk toward it. The crack of a familiar whip caused her to jump and quickly run over, lying down as Aster had done. She bit her lip as the straps were fastened. She wanted to ask if she'd be okay, but knew that she would get no reassuring words. So, instead, she kept silent as the mask was put to her face. She breathed in a strange-tasting gas and everything went black.
…..
Leandra stood in front of a full-length mirror. Her eyes were orange and slit-pupiled, with barely any white in them. She blinked experimentally, watching the clear membrane go across them. She ran a tongue across her sharp teeth and flexed her new claws. A long, black lizard's tail curled behind her. The scales touched the back of her neck as she flexed it.
Aster lay on his bed, groaning. He was on his stomach, his back bare and covered with scars. Large, brown, feathery wings flopped over the edge of the bed. His new, golden hawk eyes reflected the overhead lights. His brown hair was sticky with sweat. There were scars on his arms now, scars where his old bat wings had once been attached.
They both had scars. For some reason, that made Leandra very happy.
She looked at her arm and narrowed her eyes, focusing intently on it as Adam had told her. After a moment, her skin changed until it seemed as if she was looking through her arm and to the ground. She knew it wasn't true, that her skin was simply changing color to make itself seem invisible. Still, the sight made her smile. It made the scars vanish.
The Master and White Fang were kind, after all. They had given her a way to hide the ugly scars she had gained through her ungratefulness and disobedience. They were so merciful, so good. Why had she ever tried to fight them?
"We'll be meeting the other two today," Aster called from his bed.
Leandra turned from her reflection and tilted her head. "What will happen next?"
Aster shrugged, then winced as the action clearly caused his back to hurt. "We'll start training together, I'd imagine. Then, maybe we can finally start fighting the humans."
"I hope so." The newly-changed Faunus girl smiled. "I am eager to serve our masters."
"You've changed since the surgery," her partner noted with a strange combination of approval and worry.
"Hm…" Leandra tilted her head. "I suppose so. Now that it's over, I'm not so afraid."
The small amount of worry on Aster's face faded. "See? I told you it would get better." He winced and glanced at his back. "Hopefully, these will as well."
"They will." The lizard girl's voice was confident. "We must trust the masters."
For a moment, she felt a flicker of doubt in her mind, a slight flash of her mental state before the surgery. She remembered the vials of dust, the syringes that had been everywhere. She thought of a new scar she had found on the back of her head, which was surrounded by shaved skin, as if something had injected her there.
The door opened, jolting her from her thoughts, which faded immediately into oblivion. Adam walked in and she bowed her head.
Adam nodded in acknowledgement before beckoning for them to follow. "Come. The other half of your team is waiting. It is time for Project Feral to take its next step."
Aster let out a pained groan as he stood up, but had an eager look on his face as he approached the doorway. "I'm ready, Adam!"
Leandra nodded in agreement, curling her tail submissively as she followed her partner and faced Adam. "Lead on, sir."
Leandra is based off of the Invisible Man. Surprised by me making these two into a lizard and a bird Faunus? This actually provided the base inspiration for this story. I had originally come up with a team including a chameleon and hawk Faunus, but realized that in canon, Faunus are likely all mammals. That's what first spawned the idea of having a genetically-modified team. The next chapter will be with the canon characters and the story will be chronological unless I state that a flashback is happening. Hope to see you guys there! Review, but don't flame.
Praise Monty and peace out!
