10/3/19
Unlike Subject HB, Subject HB-V seemed eager to communicate, and user JX277 successfully had a full conversation with it. The subject introduced itself by the name "Stephanus", or "Steve", which some believe ties in with where we suspect Subject HB's origin to be. Subject HB-V expressed curiosity about the researcher and its environment, but said little else. The researcher described its demeanor as "friendly, but guarded".
JX277 continued to observe as Subject HB found its way to the chamber its counterpart was in, breaking through the locked door to get inside. They reunited with great enthusiasm, and spent the next hour or so sitting on the floor together. Nothing noteworthy occurred during this time, and HB was eventually returned to its room.
10/4/19
In order to compare Subject HB-V's reaction to Subject HB, the former was shown the same array of images as its counterpart. Unlike HB, HB-V showed great interest in each image, moving through and examining each one in turn.
HB-V was also pitted against the same AI in a game of chess. It showed no signs of knowing how to play, examining the pieces but not playing the game. Mild reinforcement caused no difference in its actions.
10/5/19
Subject HB-V was isolated in a holding chamber for 24 hours. Near the beginning, it began to speak aloud, presumably to those observing, requesting food and water. Such was not provided, and the subject appeared to weaken over the duration of the test, eventually curling up in a corner and ceasing to move altogether. A representation of food and water was provided for it once the duration of the test had been completed.
So far, our research has shown that Subject HB-V seems to be a far more accurate representation of a standard human male. It remains to be seen whether or not it has the durability of its predecessor, but researchers have been advised to be cautious of the risk of destroying it by mistake.
He'd been moved again.
Steve tapped his foot, more from anxiety than impatience, as he gazed around the small room. It was maybe two blocks by two blocks, barely enough room for him to take a step. There was no door, either, and he was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic.
Herobrine had disappeared, been taken away when they were both sleeping. He clung to the hope that they were leaving him be, now that they had another toy to play with. The odds seemed to be in his favor, since, at the very least, Herobrine hadn't seemed to be injured worse when he found him a couple of days ago.
Steve fiddled with his collar, trying to keep his mind off his situation. The shock collar became more and more uncomfortable every day. He wondered if it was getting tighter, or maybe he was just getting more paranoid. Either way, he was growing to hate it, even when he wasn't being electrocuted.
"Is anyone listening?" He spoke aloud, his hand not straying from his neck. Though, after the initial attack, he hadn't been shocked for speaking up, the worry nagged at his mind every time he spoke. "Why am I in here? Is this 'round two' of isolation?" As usual, he got no response. Ever since his conversation with 'Joseph', his captors had been silent. He was starting to worry, a little bit, that maybe he'd told them everything they needed to know.
He hoped he hadn't. If they figured they were done with him, they would go back to tormenting Herobrine.
Tapping his fingers on his arm, he glanced around the room once more. He was starting to feel a little off, almost sick. He hoped it was just a response to not having been able to speak to anyone for what must've been a couple days.
The floor disappeared underneath him, and the next thing he knew he was completely submerged in water.
He cried out, then tried to gasp for air, mind not quite registering yet that there's no air. I'm drowning. His hands grasped for freedom, reaching up above his head, but he was yanked down by a firm grip that held him by both his ankles.. He was trapped. He was trapped.
Choking on the heavy liquid in his lungs, Steve blinked around at his surroundings, last instinct fighting to find some escape, but there was no escape. He was surrounded by light, and white, and water. Fingers grasping at the neck of his shirt, Steve kept struggling, trying to free himself from his restraints until his entire world went black.
When Herobrine awoke, it was to an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach.
His next clue was the darkness, broken only by the weak light from his eye. Except for the rare occasions in which he was intentionally impeded by darkness, there were always lights. Blinding, burning lights, illuminating every inch of him for the watching eyes to see. Now, though, it was dark. Unless this was another test, something was wrong.
Reaching out one aching limb, he dragged his fingers across the wall. From what he could understand, he was still in his prison cell. There was no growling, no voices, no shocks.
If the eyes were not on him, then where were they?
Bracing bruised fingers against the wall, he shifted his other arm underneath him, pushing himself up. An increasing ache was building in his chest, but it seemed somehow detached from any of his numerous injuries. Blinking in the darkness, he managed to get a knee underneath him, rocking upright and searching the room. There was nothing visibly out of the ordinary, but the feeling of apprehension remained.
Something was happening, but it wasn't to him.
Head snapping from side to side, he searched the room, but it contained no door. He could feel Stephan's signal, even from past the smooth walls, and he refused to let them stand in his way. Hesitantly at first, then firmly, he reached out and pressed a hand against the wall, fingers ever-so-slowly curling into a fist. Binary began to emerge from the solid surface, then it was no longer solid, just a writhing mass of ones and zeros. Without hesitation, he stepped through.
He was outside now, in the hallway. He could still feel his brother's signal, but the awful pressure in his chest continued to grow. Rather than turning down the hall, trying to find his way through the maze of chambers, he stepped straight forward, dissolving the next wall into binary and continuing through the black abyss between empty rooms.
Somehow, he almost couldn't feel the aches in his body, not anymore. The pain in his chest outshone them all. His feet were moving quickly, silently in the empty space between renders, each barrier before him falling away in his path. He wasn't sure if they just hadn't noticed him yet, or were intentionally letting him roam, but he had met no resistance from his captors. At this point, though, they couldn't stop him if they tried.
And then he had arrived, and he had found the source of the pain.
Bright, sterile light illuminated a glass tank in the center of the room that was filled to the brim with water. Suspended in the middle was a limp body, ankles locked to the bottom by chains as lifeless hands reached out for air. Eyes flickering from beneath half-closed lids was his only clue that he might be still alive.
And then the glass was shattering under his fingertips, water rushing over him as Steve's limp body slammed into his form. Shards of glass bit into his skin as he held the younger man up, chains disintegrating where they clung to his ankles as Herobrine stumbled back. Sinking to his knees, he dragged his brother into his embrace, slamming a fist into the center of his back in an attempt to force the water out of his lungs. Once, then twice.
On his third try, Stephan's body began to convulse with hacking coughs, water spilling from his mouth and onto the cold floor. His chest rose, then fell, then rose again, his lungs filling with precious oxygen as Herobrine hugged him tighter with shaking arms. He was alive. He was alright.
Trembling fingers lifted to his shoulders, weak hands gripping at the hems of his sleeves. Each breath was shallow, almost faint, and a sound came from his mouth that almost sounded like speech. One hand made its way around his neck, and he returned the hug, burying his eyes in his shoulder.
"I know." Herobrine ground out, gaze lifting up towards the invisible sources of the blinding light. "You're watching." The observers gave no response, but that was well enough of an answer. "You… cannot do to him what you've done to me. He is not like me. You'll kill him." For a moment, there was no reply, nothing but the quiet gasps from the man hidden in his arms.
And then there was a click in the chat.
[Will you take his place?]
Herobrine blinked. It had been a long time since they spoke with him. "Yes."
[Then get up.]
He obeyed, amid Steve's mumbled protests as he lowered him to the floor. The tank reset, glass and water disappearing and returning to the enclosure. Placing a hand on the wall of the tank, Herobrine opened it into binary, stepping through and into the heavy liquid. He held his breath as the shackles clicked around his ankles, and caught a glimpse of Stephan's wide, blue eyes through the churning water.
And then he started to drown.
