Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
WHAT'S THIS?! Two Chapter upload? Damn right!
The Cataylst
Act V
Chapter 67: Numbers
Lazuli: Age 763
This place was awful.
That was the first thing that entered her mind as her eyes looked around the dank looking office they'd been sent to from the hospital. This whole thing felt like a scam to her, in actuality. They'd been orphaned only two months earlier when that freakish alien monster blew up their city. Then as they're going through the medical screening along with some of their friends, they find that her brother had the advanced stages of a muscle syndrome that would kill him, that he'd not even noticed for the last four years. Something the doctor called "Gero Syndrome".
There wasn't a receptionist even. The place looked like someone visited it maybe once every year. So, they'd come all the way to North City, because her brother was sick and given three months to live, and now they were in an office no one seemed to use.
Turning her head to her brother, who'd only gotten sicker over the last few weeks, she felt herself become tense. There wasn't anyone else for them, at all. When her brother was gone, she'd be it. Half of their friends… the gang they ran in if she was to be honest, were dead and the other half scattered around the world. Then there were their parents dying in the attack as well. Starting off all on her own again, alone, was not her idea of great. The other thing on her mind was that her brother was sick, and just wanted to get better. The only problem was she knew the odds of that were… low. She came here with him to give him hope, but she had little hope for him.
"How're you doing?"
"About as well as I was ten minutes ago," Lapis admitted, giving her the cold look that they had learned to give each other in jest over the years. "I still feel like I'm dying. You know, trouble walking, trouble breathing, trouble talking. The full gambit list of problems is longer if you want more details."
"I think I'll be fine without them," Lazuli responded, giving him the same cold glance in turn, but smiling at the end of it. "Still, doesn't this place seem a bit strange? Where is the reception?"
"Are you afraid? Is it too spooky?" Lapis joked. "Maybe they gave us the wrong address."
A door opened finally a few moments later as a single figure walked out. The first thing Lazuli thought to herself was that she looked totally lifeless. It wasn't that she didn't look like she had a pulse, it was the eyes. It was unmistakable. The red-haired, older in appearance woman looked over the two of them before smiling slowly. She must have been in her mid or late 40's Lazuli as guessing.
"You were referred to us?" she asked after a moment. "I'll need your identification to make sure that you're on the list."
Reluctantly, Lazuli reached for her brother's hand, taking him up and over to the counter carefully as the woman in a doctor's coat examined the two of them.
"He's in the advanced stages of the disease," she observed. "I'll be sure to make note of that once we get this processed."
Taking Lapis's ID, she looked over it carefully before handing it back to him, taking record of several numbers on her computer before handing it back.
"And who are you, Miss? Wife? Family?"
"I'm his sister," she deadpanned in response. "We're from East City."
"That's tragic, barely anyone got out of that place alive I heard. Almost the entire city was destroyed," she said. "Normally we don't allow family to go to the facility with the patients-"
Wait, facility?
It all seemed odd. They came here first to get their notes taken down, and then they were forwarded to some facility? Just how did this all work? The young adult looked at the woman suspiciously before looking at her brother, who just seemed to want to get this all over with. They were going to be separated soon then?
"How long until I hear from him again?" Lazuli asked quickly. "And where is the address?"
Behind the woman, 18 noticed the large R & R symbol of the Red Ribbon Army, a mostly defunct organization from when she was a kid. How many rumours had gone around that they were now mostly just some charity fund for veterans of the army? There were also the rumours that it was all just some scam used to take people's money?
"Actually, in this instance, I think it's very probable that we'll be able to move you to the facility with your brother if you want."
"So, still believe in the cause?" Lazuli asked, gesturing to the Red Ribbon symbol.
Turning the woman examined it for a moment before smiling as she turned back.
"That old thing? We keep it up for sentimental value. I think there has always been a soft spot for the cause of the Red Ribbon Army," she said honestly. "But, things die, and we all need to go forward and try our best. And for us here, that means trying to help people with Gero Syndrome get well."
There was a pause before Lapis looked at her honestly, and just looked tired as he held onto her. They looked like idiots, she realized, decked out in punk clothing with her brother looking like an emaciated wreck.
"How long's the trip?" he asked.
"Only a day, the facility is on North Mountain. It was built as a refuge for people undergoing their treatments," she explained. "Doctor Gero has worked tirelessly to help those who've suffered from Gero Syndrome. It's been his life's work, and the successes he's performed… one could almost say they are miracles."
Reluctantly, she looked at Lapis, her eyes seeing the hope he seemed to have for once. Suspiciously she looked around them, even if trying to not be as… objective, as she usually was. There was a moment where she just wanted to say to Hell with it and let him sort it out himself. But she didn't have anyone else.
"I could use the company," Lapis said, his tone nervous. "If you wanna go, that is."
"Yea, fine," Lazuli lamented. "Sure, it's not like I have anything better to do."
"Wonderful, the next shuttle we have going leaves tonight," the woman behind the counter remarked.
"Hey," Lazuli spoke after a moment, before the woman could turn to leave. "You didn't give us your name."
"Oh? Oh yes, I'm sorry. My name is Rossa," she said a moment later. "I've been working with Doctor Gero for many years. Your brother will be in the best of hands."
The only thing that was left in her mind was one strange thing that hadn't come up. How were they going to pay for these treatments?
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Lazuli:
When they'd started out in the evening, it'd taken all night to get there. The bus climbed several almost terrifying routes up what could best be described as a very backwards road. The only advantage behind all of it was Lapis seemed to enjoy the scenery as he looked out towards where they're come from. North City was in view with a vast forest surrounding it. It was much different than the rocky or barren lands that surrounded East City itself. There were no other patients on the shuttle, only Rossa was coming with them, and a driver who looked like he'd tried to emulate too many action movies.
The bus almost slipped again and she gave Rossa a serious look, only to see a very calm, and collected look from the woman in return.
"Don't worry," she said simply. "This path has been in use for over seven years. It's well worn and there hasn't been a single accident."
Something told Lazuli that was a lie. In fact, there was a sense that more than just the safety measures of this bus trip were a lie. Brushing some of her blonde hair out of the way of her face, Lazuli gave the woman a dangerous look, who just seemed unmoved by her response. Lazuli had assaulted several people for their goods, and engaged in more than one gang fight. She knew she could have the look of a hard person. And this soft woman in the guise of a doctor didn't seem to care at all.
Looking over the side of the ledge they were seemingly driving up, she looked for any sign of a previous accident. It was only another minute however before the bus veered to the right, taking them off the ledge and up towards something ahead.
"We're almost there," Rossa commented.
Looking towards Lapis, her brother smiled as he gripped the seat in front of him, wanting to pull himself up for a better look, but just seemed to sit there. He might not have been able to, but she could. When she looked out the window, Lazuli saw two structures that immediately caught her eye. One was a beautiful structure, she'd ever say. Modern architecture mixed with an almost cabin-like look. The buildings that made up this one hole seemed to span across several areas, and had walkways and people outside of it.
Whoever built it, clearly had resources. This was a retreat in the way that going to West City's high-end district and going to the Brief's estate was a 'vacation'. Beyond the buildings there was another noteworthy structure. It looked to have a base made of metal and concrete, at least she thought… and a huge collection dish hanging above it. It pulsed with energy as a reflective orb seemingly held above it. It was almost mesmerizing to look at.
The bus came to a stop and she took several steps to get to the front of the bus, as she got off, she again brushed some of her hair aside before flicking it back, looking at several people who clearly worked there, and seemed to ignore their arrival. One man was dressed as a patient, his slicked back platinum-grey hair being the first thing she noticed. He gave her a smile that was genuinely uncomfortable for a moment as he pulled himself off the bench he'd been sitting on.
Rossa came down after her on the bus, smiling at the subject as he approached.
"Well Doctor Rossa," the man said, his thick accent seemingly coming through. "You didn't tell me that you'd bring a beautiful woman back with you, oh, other than yourself of course."
There was something about this one that made Lazuli uncomfortable. His "charm", if you could call it that, was that of a frat boy from the outback regions of South City. The other thing was he clearly had a dispassionate view of the world, would be the polite way she'd have of putting it. Scumbag would be the next word she used on the list. As Lapis came off the bus behind her, he grabbed her arm for support. Even with the patient in front of them, as well as the doctor, at least Lazuli could say she appreciated the fresh mountain air, and she was sure Lapis did as well.
"Yes, very clever observation, Argent, but if you'd be so kind, we really do need to get our new guests to their rooms. Just because your feeling better today, doesn't mean you get to spring on our guests like this. Everyone will get to meet and greet them once they're settled in," Rossa commented, fixing her glasses a moment later before turning her head towards them.
For some reason, Lazuli didn't feel much like a guest, at the moment.
"Please, follow Nine to your rooms," Rossa then added as their massive bus driver stepped off. He was gigantic. The bald headed, dark skinned man turned towards them with a dispassionate set of eyes before gesturing for them to follow. "Please, this way."
Walking into the structure, Lazuli helped her brother along as they moved through the beautiful reception and into the clear elevator. It took them up several stories before the doors opened. Nine, which was a weird name as far as she was concerned, walked out of the elevator briskly before marching through the very open space. She wasn't sure why, but the way the rooms were designed even leading to guest rooms, seemed to be very opened spaces, without much in-between. The kitchen looked like an open kitchen, just apart of a general living area. There were a few couches and some areas for just looking out over the peaceful vistas beyond.
There was one person she noticed, a tall, pale looking man with a black pony tail. He looked… withered, in the same way that her brother did. At least this place had actual patients, she thought to herself. Walking past several doors with room numbers on them, they came by one which was listed as "17".
The door hissed open on its own as a blue light washed over them, tracing over them from top to bottom.
"Welcome to your room, subject 17," the computerized voice said as she prepared to move in with her brother.
An error sound followed a second later, leaving her baffled.
"This room is for subject 17. Subject 18, please remove yourself from this room."
Looking at nine, she felt strange. Subject 18? She wasn't a patient here.
"The rooms are assigned to different patients. Even though you are our guest, we had to assign a room to you. Each room is designed to monitor the life signs and symptoms of the patients at all times," he remarked.
"I'm not a patient though, is my room going to look at my health?" Lazuli asked coolly.
"No, your room has had this feature disabled, as its presumed that you are a healthy adult with no relating illness to Gero Syndrome."
Her own door was across the hall, it slid open.
"Welcome to the Gero Institute, Subject 18," the computerized voice stated.
It felt like she was approaching her coffin, somehow, as she looked at it.
"I'll be fine," Lapis told her as he carefully sat down on his bed. "This room's pretty nice even."
Looking over at the Nine, she looked back at the room cautiously before walking into it. The door shut after her as she looked over it. It had a wardrobe with some clothes in it with multiple sizes, all of them bearing the Red Ribbon symbol. Then there were several screens, some of them listing information, or a panel for requests. Appointment books and schedules popped up, listing what it called "applicable appointments and events".
Pressing her finger on the panel, it responded to her as she clicked on the closest event, which was just listed as "introduction event for subjects 17 and 18", listed for six hours from then.
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Lazuli:
Standing at one of the huge glass walls overseeing the city that was almost a lifetime away by foot, Lazuli felt the cold air through the window itself, seemingly. Sure, she was in a heated space, but it was cold in here, even if not literally.
Five weeks.
It'd been five weeks and things for her brother… actually seemed to be getting better. They had regimented meals, group activities, and pills distributed to the actual patients. Everything that happened here she treated with suspicion. The staff were all lobotomized as far as she could tell. Lapis himself, despite his improving conditions, seemed to be nervous at times. No one ever saw Doctor Gero. They saw Doctor Rossa perhaps once every two days, and it was often at a simple group meeting.
Patients 13, 14, and 15 were terrifying people. Argent, number 13, continuously seemed to think she was interested in him, though that wasn't his worst flaw. The worst flaw he possessed was being someone who it turns out, had been a hired killer for years until he got sick. Subject 14 barely said a word… ever. He seemed to be lost in a world all his own, but as he'd been getting healthier, he seemed to be someone who was just… dangerous. She never wanted to be anywhere remotely alone with him, in fact, no one wanted to be alone with him. And Android 15, the low brow criminal who caught Gero Syndrome at some point.
One thing she had caught though, was that all of them had no one. Subject 13 had no family, no history at all. Subject 14, she was guessing was the same. Subject 15 also had no one, his family having put him up for adoption apparently when he was a kid, if she believed that. All of them had no occupations, or occupations relating to criminal activity. Lapis and herself had been in a gang. 13 had been a hired killer and 15 was West City organized criminal.
That was one of the biggest factors that was off-putting about all of this. What even caused Gero-Syndrome, the illness they were now all getting better from, beyond herself, someone who'd never been sick with it in the first place.
When her brother approached her under his own power, she did feel a strange relief. Not just that he was there, but he could walk himself now. Even if this place scared the Hell out of her, at least he was getting better.
"Hey," he said, his old strength appearing in his voice. "Notice anything weird today?"
Looking around for a second and crossing her arms, Lazuli told him what she really thought almost immediately.
"When is something here not weird? Everything about this place seems wrong," she told him. "… But you're feeling better, right?"
"Yea," he answered. "I've still got some breathing problems, but outside of that I'm almost back to where I was. No, the weirdness is that Nine, Ten, and Eleven are all missing. I've looked around all day for them and they just aren't here. I tried to message Doctor Rossa about it, I got nothing."
That was a first. The numbered servants who walked around this place were always around. They seemingly never slept, as far as Lazuli could tell. The other thing that was beginning to creep her out, was how everyone here referred to one another by their subject number.
In fact…
I've been doing that for days now, haven't I?
"That's really weird," she remarked. "Do you think your well enough to leave now?"
The remark left her brother in an awkward stance. He'd only become better after coming here.
"I'm not sure," he admitted to her. "I mean, I'm worried it'll come back if I go. You have no idea what it was like. I could barely lift a glass of water. Walking was painful, everything felt like it was beyond me. I don't know how to…"
"Subjects, please come to the main lobby for a meeting with Doctor Gero."
Now this was something she'd not expected. Clearly, when the announcement came, neither had 17- Lapis. Her heart skipped a beat at the realization of what she'd just done, feeling almost lightheaded a second later. When they walked towards the stairs leading down a half story, she traced her fingers along the wooden railing as she looked for signs of the others. A circle of couch-chairs had been arranged, and Doctor Rossa was standing in the middle of it, a smile as wide as the ocean seemingly on her lips, the only thing not showing was her teeth. That was, until she saw them coming from upstairs. When her teeth broke through the smile, clearly from all of the subjects coming to attend, she felt something curl in her stomach with disgust.
"Welcome everyone, please, sit down, you don't want to be late!" Rossa announced, gesturing to the two empty seats.
17 took his seat first, before she sat down next to him.
"First, I want to thank everyone for being here, and I just wanted to say that this group of patience has been our best yet. The results from the drug therapy and digestive supplements has been incredible. Doctor Gero himself has been surprised and overjoyed at the results. Using your medical data even, we've composed a new treatment plan," she's declared. "Which we believe will cure your conditions."
"Hot damn," 13 announced, slapping his knee as he heard it. "I don't know about you, but I was gettin' tired of all this sterilized livin' and clean eatin'. Hell, I ain't done a job in months either, so I'm itchin' to get myself back into my life."
The others remained silent before Doctor Rossa raised her hand.
"Everyone, this is Doctor Gero."
Oh my god he's old.
Bald at the top of his head, with long hair trailing behind him, 18 looked at a man with a massive bushy mustache and wrinkles that made the canyons in the badlands look shallow. This was the doctor for all of them?
"Greetings everyone," he said in a deep, but almost chilling tone. "I am, as you have been informed, Doctor Gero. I have been the one working on finding a cure for the syndrome you have all begun to suffer from. It has been my pleasure to see all of you returning to good health these last months. Your contributions to the field of medicine have been tremendous, and it is pleasing to see that science can work to improve the lives of those here."
Looking around the room, everyone seemed to be listening, but Lazuli was more nervous than ever. This was the doctor? He looked crazy as far as she could tell. What was more insane was the almost reverence Rossa seemed to stare at the figure with, her eyes were full of life while staring at him, which was a definite first.
"There will be a one-week project, starting today, that will involve this new procedure. The first subjects to be utilized for this will be subjects 13, 14, and 15," he said. "You will be cured, and free to walk the earth again without the fear of a resurfacing of your symptoms. Report to gateway 2 near the medical level, and we will be able to being the process."
"What if I don't wanna go through this process?" 15 asked bluntly. "I mean, I'm a short man, I've not got the stature to necessarily wanna go through something like this."
A small joke that almost everyone laughed at, except her.
17 leaned towards her, whispering.
"He's short, give him a pity laugh," he advised.
She didn't oblige at all.
"I can assure you, there will be no room for failure of this procedure, it is very simple, if only time consuming," he informed them. "Now, we look forward to seeing you at the gateway at 18:00 hours. Please do not be late."
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Lazuli:
The week had come and gone and it was uncomfortable. It was just the two of them now. 17 took his pills and she tried her best to stay calm. No Rossa, no Doctor Gero, no 13, 14, or 15. They were alone here. When she'd gone outside earlier, there were no staff. Everything felt distant and the only way she knew anyone was even here anymore was the updates they got on their schedules. The week that had passed was supposedly how long the others were going to be in surgery.
"I think we should leave," she finally commented. "We're all that's left. There aren't any new patients. There aren't any staff anymore. We're completely alone here."
Even 17… Lapis was clearly worried.
When they looked out the window together, he looked back at her with an honest expression.
"I'm not even sure I could make it all the way back there on foot, 18," he remarked.
"Don't call me that," she was quick to say, her chest breathing almost raggedly at the realization. "We're not numbers, we're people."
This place had been changing them. Everyone was a number. Everything was always phrased in such a way to try and remove parts about them. Everything was always for a universal good and the betterment of them, and somehow everyone else. This place was a complete fucking madhouse. They were all called subjects.
The words hit something in Lapis as he looked back at her, his blue eyes matching her own where they both knew this was wrong, whatever this place was.
"Subject 17, please report to the main lobby."
The two of them were left frozen at the announcement. It was like waiting for them both to wake up. But this wasn't a nightmare, this was real. Quickly, Lapis moved to the stairs and she followed him, rushing down towards the lobby not for the meeting, but because that was where the main exit was.
As soon as they finished rushing down the steps however, Doctor Rossa and someone else were waiting for her. A man, a chubby man with pale skin was standing next to her. Another doctor, from what she could tell. And then there were the staff. The staff were back, seemingly going about their business, but they were now staring at the two of them.
"Oh! Hello 17 and 18, great news. 17's appointment has been moved up."
"Where are the others?" 18 demanded immediately.
"What do you mean? They were discharged yesterday. The procedures were a success."
Her heart started racing the moment Rossa lied to her, again. She'd never been so afraid in her life. Taking her brother's hand, her fingers press into his, looking for a sign of reassurance. When he turned and looked at her with the same fear she was experiencing, she knew what this meant. Leaning towards her, he whispered something which made her blood run cold.
"Find a way out," he whispered to her quietly, before letting go of her hand and falsely smiling. "Great, I can't wait to be well finally."
No. No don't leave me alone like this.
Buying her time. That was what he was doing. It was probably the most horrifying thing she'd ever realized. The other subjects were all dead, weren't they? They were gone and now her brother was going to be to. They were doing something to them on the lower level. Because 13, 14, and 15 definitely never left, at least not physically. The bus, the only vehicle up here, the thing that shuttled people back and forth, hadn't been turned on since they'd arrived.
"Hey, I'll see you soon sis. I'll finally be well and we can go."
Fear more than anything else, pumped through her veins as she watched her brother, her twin, the only person left in her life, walked slowly towards the gateway with Rossa and the other doctor, and just disappear.
When he vanished, her heart felt like it'd been pulled out of her chest. The staff went back about their business around her, her eyes looking around the room before she rushed back upstairs. Looking over the rooms on the level, her eyes looked towards 13's room first. Walking over to the door, she waited to see if it'd open. Anyone else's room but her's or 17's.
"I am sorry, Subject 18, but this is Subject 13's space."
"He forgot something, I just need to grab it for him," she offered.
A denial noise followed before she turned, heading back to her own space. So, the plan to find something in someone else's room of any use was gone. What was she going to do? Making a break through the front door at night seemed to be her best option, and just follow the path down the mountain until she got to a main road. And then she'd leave… Lapis… here to die. It made her feel hollow and sick.
She'd not realized it, but her eyes were stinging. The pain of loss had already struck her of how alone she was. Worse, her brother had just given himself up for her. He'd given up everything for her to have a chance to get out of here.
Reaching out, she touched the console again, looking over her schedule for the week coming up. It was completely blank beyond scheduled meals.
Tonight. Tonight, was when she'd make the run for it. Looking over her options for clothing, the best she could find was a sweater and jeans. They never provided winter clothing despite how cold it could get at night, outside.
For a reason.
Her own chest tried to sob but she suppressed it. What was anything going to be like after this? What was her future going to be like?
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Lazuli:
Her feet stepped outside, the cold wind blowing past her as she shivered even with the sweatshirt over her normal clothing. The door hadn't opened at first until she'd stuck one of the staff's brooms in it and wedged it open. Outside it was too dark to see. It was a clouded night. The only light was coming from the city itself. She had no supplies, no water, no real food beyond a few pieces of bread she snuck from the kitchen… and she had no way of defending herself other than a knife she'd pocketed.
Beyond the light of the building, and the lights in the city, she could barely see. The world was cold and dark and it was in the middle of the night. Wolves, mountain lions, bears… anything could be out there. Swallowing her fear down, she took her first steps towards freedom, moving past the shuttle-bus and towards the worn road leading up to the facility. It only took a dozen metres before he tripped on a rock, hitting the ground in front of her. It was hard to even tell when she'd land given that the ground was almost invisible to her as well.
Scrambling to her feet, 18 felt herself grab a hold of a nearby rock to steady herself, her breathing ragged.
I can't do this, not at this time.
That meant there wasn't any options. She could wait until morning. And where was she going to wait? This close to the building? She had no idea. How much further could she go when she couldn't see anything.
A trembling hand traced up to higher ground, helping her pull herself all the way back up to her feet. There was one other option she had. If she went back to the facility, she could try and save her brother. The same way he'd just tried to save her. What else did she have waiting for her without him anyway? What kind of life was waiting for her out there in the world alone? No money, no family, no friends… nothing. She'd seen enough grim examples of people who had nothing and no one in her times running with the East City Gangs.
Pulling the knife out of her sweater, she stared at it for a moment before looking back towards the light of the building. Taking her first steps back, Lazuli knew what she was walking towards. But it was better to try and do this on her terms, rather than dying alone having fallen off the side of a mountain, or being ambushed by a cougar… or dying in the cold.
Making her way back towards the entrance, she peered around for any signs of the staff, only to find none of them, again. Walking towards the Gateway entrance, she saw the door left ajar. Carefully, she pushed the doorway open gently to see total darkness. It wasn't lit at all. Pulling back from the doorway she walked to a utility closet she'd spied nearby, opening it and finding a flashlight a second later, she reopened the gateway and hit the light, seeing a standard hallway in front of her leading up to another doorway at the end. It was an elevator.
Walking ahead cautiously, she passed by several other hallways along the way as she peered in, flashing the light, only to see the staff. They were… they weren't moving. They were all seated together like they were robots almost. She couldn't help it. Walking in, she moved past them all. All their eyes were open. Her heartrate and lungs became more erratic as she realized what she was looking at. These weren't people at all. They never were. She almost dropped the light as she staggered back for a moment, trying to process just what…
What… what the Hell is this?
Reaching up with her hand, she pressed her finger against the warm skin of one of them, and there was no response. It didn't even blink.
She was almost too terrified to do anything else as she slipped out of the room, moving back into the hallway with the grace of a cat… a scared cat. The elevator doors slid open as she hit the button to summon the lift, only to find it was an empty shaft. Looking down, she saw the lift near the bottom, not coming up at all for her summons. Looking inside the shaft, there was a ladder on the right side.
It took her almost a half hour, but she'd slowly made her way down the cold corridor. The entire time she pressed forward, facing the fear that was now burrowing through her chest and stomach, she couldn't help but admit something…
Maybe I'd have been better off outside.
There were no doors to the bottom of the elevator's level. And there were still no lights. Pulling up her flashlight again, each step she took was cautious. The concrete floor beneath her feet even felt cold through her shoes. The walls were covered in cabling and other equipment, dimly passing their shadows along the walls as her small light guided her on her path. It was like walking into the centre of the Earth. Her breathing still stuttered, Lazuli felt her hand trembling as she walked.
And she walked.
And she walked.
It felt like an eternity. There was a hum of active machines she noticed around her. Whirling fans circulating air came in from above, and finally, finally at the end of the tunnel she saw what she knew was the dim lights of monitor displays, barely illuminating the end. Her eyes stared at the open entrance to the room, her nostrils flaring open as she found the strength to press ahead. The tremble in her hand got worse as she stepped into the fading light of the lcd displays.
Turning off the flashlight, she listened for anything. The whirling sounds of fans and rotating equipment was all she could hear at first as she took steps into… into whatever this place was. Looking at the displays, they all showed flashing images of what she could only think were designs? Or were these readouts? What… what were their building down here.
The lack of even a proper education genuinely left her in complete ignorance as to what was happening. All she knew was that the kitchen knife had become part of her hand now, she'd never let it go.
Turning around the corner to the next display, she was met by a clear tank, there was nothing in it, but it clearly had pipes and tubes leading into it, as well as other equipment dangling inside it. Above and below the chamber she could just see the number "24". The dimly lit hall, only lit by several panels next to the tanks… revealed something as she moved past them. Inside tank number 22, it was filled with fluid. The greenish liquid had bubbles moving through it, and it had…
It had a body in it.
Panic.
Panic immediately set in as she looked over what was inside, feeling herself beginning to realize a larger idea she'd not put together until now. Tubes ran into the body's arms and legs, pushed in with metal spines. The tubes had red running through all of them. Inside the tank itself, she realized it was… it was pulsing, pulsing and pumping like a heartbeat. She couldn't see the woman's face, it was covered by a mask and a thick set of goggles that were gigantic, almost as if there was a screen in them.
What… what are they doing to her?
Pulling up her flashlight for the first time since entering the space, she turned it on for only a second to look inside. The body… was it alive? What… what was the point? What were they doing?
I need to find 17.
Turning quickly, her feet picked up pace, no longer slinking along the floor trying to be as quiet as possible, but instead pushing for speed. 21, 19, 18-
She stopped in front of the chamber as her heart stopped. It responded to her. Lights came on beneath it for a moment as several green indicators lit up on the panel next to it. Her heart felt like it was going to explode as everything was confirmed. All of these chambers. They… they were the patients. Nine, Ten, and Eleven had come here as patients. Turning to look rapidly at the tank numbered 17, it was empty, and she felt relief wash over her. But as she walked past tank's numbered 15… 14… 13… They were filled.
And the naked bodies of the people she'd been living with for weeks were inside of them. The red fluid pumping into their bodies. They wore the same helmets.
They weren't moving. Rushing past them to the end of the hall, 18 stepped through a doorway, leading to a well lit… lab? It was sterile. Everything looked clean and almost all the materials were white. Her eyes panicked as she looked for any sign of anything. There was a clear room, it looked sealed. Laying on the table… laying on the table was her brother.
LAPIS!
Relief gave way to immediate terror as she saw what they'd… what they'd done to him. Machines were hooked up to him, half in his body. He looked… he looked dead. He wasn't moving, and she wasn't sure he was breathing. There was a clear door with an access panel next to it, but she didn't have any idea of what credentials she'd need to get past it. Pressing her hand against the clear wall, she felt the plastic beneath her fingers as she stared at her brother desperately looking for any signs of life. When his eyes… only his eyes turned to her, she felt terror run through her.
Oh… oh god.
Doors opened to he left as a single figure walked through. The fat man from before walked towards a desk, sitting down as he began to write out something.
"Subject is displaying normal conditions in the implantation proce…"
They both froze as the fat man slowly turned his eyes towards her. His pale skin immediately became clammy with sweat as he realized what was happening.
"You can't be in here!"
All of her fear, all of her anger, and hate, bled into her motions as she rushed him, throwing her elbow into his face as she tackled him out of the chair. He screamed in terror as his body hit the ground. A frail, terrified man looked back at her as the knife grazed the skin on his neck.
"Wait! WAIT!" he screamed. "No please, please don't do this!"
"Get me in the room," she responded immediately. "Or I swear I'll gut you with this."
His eyes panicked, the same way she'd seen a half dozen times. The first time she'd panicked as well, and right now she was panicked, but not from the violence.
"I said open the fucking door!"
Nodding finally, the fat man desperately looked around before she stood up. Holding his hand to his throat, he was trembling as he started to pull himself up. Walking nervously towards the entrance to the room, he looked around several times, trying to take his time. She kicked him in the back, as he stumbled forward. Turning his head to her, he pressed a sequence of numbers on the panel before the door slid open.
"Go," she ordered. "Get in the room."
"Subject 18, you don't understand-"
Shoving him forward, she almost stabbed him with the knife.
"My name is Lazuli! Don't you dare call me that fucking number again!"
Raising his hands defensively, he nodded again, his head looking around for anything, and that made her nervous. Walking forward, she pushed the knife against his stomach.
"Get that shit, out of my brother. Now."
"Please, listen, what we've started cannot be undone. Your brother is beginning his journey to ascension. Yes, his body and mind may not survive the process… But it is the greatest gift he can give humanity… the future."
All 18 knew was that this fat piece of garbage had just told her, her brother was dead, or was going to die.
"So, you won't fix him?" her voice sounded almost like a desperate animal.
"We already are… please, put down the knife 18."
As soon as the words left his mouth, she stabbed him. The blade entered his stomach as a terrified look crossed his face. Crimson streamed down his stomach as he tried to scream as she stabbed him again, this time hitting his lung. Blood splashed onto her clothes as she stabbed him again, blood soaking through his labcoat and shirt and soaking her sweater at the same time. He flailed, and tried to scream, but she'd already punctured his lung and diaphragm. Instead, a weak hiss was all he could make his energy started to deplete from his body. All she could do was plunge the knife into him. It was nearly impossible to stop until her arm became so weak; she could barely hold the knife. Stabbing through his neck, she finally cut out his throat in a display of carnage she didn't think she was capable of. The body had already stopped moving, and his heart having stopped beaten as she was drenched in blood from head to toe.
Her hand was trembling from the adrenaline and exertion as she pulled herself up to her feet. With a quickened pace, she rushed to Lapis's side, looking down at the body that lay on the slab. Mechanical 'arms' were pushed into his body from above., the places of entry looking almost like they'd pushed in from open wounds.
"Lapis," she breathed. "Lapis say something."
He didn't move. His lungs were still breathing, his head tilted to one side… and she saw his eyes moving, they followed her, they stared at her. They were full of a fear and pain she couldn't understand and it finally dawned on her. Even if she stopped this, he was gone. What was left of him was laying here on this slab.
It finally was too much. Everything she'd kept bottled inside since his 'diagnosis', everything since their parents died, and their hard lives on the streets of East City. Everything in this slow nightmare of a place. Everything down here, all of the horror this place had in store for her and him… it all came out.
A sob left her as she started to look over him again, taking his hand with hers as she looked into his eyes. Tears flowed down her own cheeks as she felt it mixed with the cooling blood on her face. Red stained tears fell onto her hand as her soaked through sweater started to feel cold against her skin. Without another word, she cut her brother's throat, holding his head as she waited for him to stop… being.
With the last, slow, painful beats of his heart, his body sent still as she felt herself trembling. She was racked with pained noises as she heard the last of him slip away.
The white tiles and sterilized environment were marred with the carnage of the bloodletting. Her hands were strained, her body could barely stand, and she couldn't stop crying. Whatever this place was… whatever these people were, they'd not take her alive. When she pulled the knife up, she aimed it at her own chest, before two pricks impacted her in the back. A surge of electricity rolled through her body as she dropped the knife, a scream exiting her lungs before the world went dark.
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Lazuli:
The world was alive with light. What had happened? Was it all just some kind of dream? She half expected to wake up in her room, honestly. Maybe it'd all just been some kind of nightmare. Maybe Lapis would walk out and start bothering her any moment. Trying to get up, she found she couldn't move… At all.
There was no sensation. The only thing she could experience is the sounds around her. There was no taste, no touch, no smell. She couldn't even feel herself breathing, but she knew she was. The sensation of her own heartbeat had stopped in her chest. For a moment, even if it only tingled, she swore she could feel lips on her forehead.
"It's alright now," a voice, deliberately delicate whispered. "We're taking care of you, 18. You won't need to worry anymore. Just go back to sleep."
No. No not this.
She fought to feel anything, to move, to reach out, to bite. Even biting through her own tongue if she could, but nothing moved. Everything was still. Her eyes tried moving around until she saw hovering above her, clad in her red and blue one-piece dress and with her lab coat over it, was Rossa. Beyond her, she saw the old man from before, the supposed expert, Doctor Gero.
"Cease with your platitudes towards the subject, she has made a series of errors which will push our development back by years. Album was an important part of this project and she did extensive damage to his body. It may not be entirely possible to retrieve a significant enough portion of him to restore his intellect to our project."
Turning away from her, the red-brown haired woman walked after the doctor.
"I understand, but implantation has been a success in the twin. I was just being kind. They all give so much for the world that we're going to build."
There was a pause from the old man before he reached out, stroking the woman's cheek for a moment. The only thing even hinting at emotion that Lazuli had ever seen from this bushy mustached psychopath was on display.
"We all will be giving a great deal towards this. We have worked very hard, and soon it will finally be at an end."
The silence between the two that followed was one filled with a sick kind of affection. The woman took the hand from the doctor, holding it closing to her before turning back around towards her. When Rossa arrived back at her side, a smile that crossed her face was unnerving.
"I wish I'd had a daughter so beautiful," she said to herself, sitting down next to her and pulling up several sharp instruments.
When she saw her lean over her, she saw her moving her arm, and heard the sound of flesh slowly tearing.
No, no please don't do this to me!
"I know its frightening," she said as she worked away, the whole time looking at her "work", instead of looking at her. "But there is so much more here than your fears. Inside of you is a hope for the future. A better world for mankind. And to right the wrongs of the past."
The last words were bitter as they were spoken. Something sharp suddenly entered her from inside, her body coming alive for less than a blink. She wanted to scream, it was hot, like someone was welding her insides. As the sensation faded, the fear did not, the heat had been the last thing she could think she felt, and it was like someone was burning a hole through her slowly, even after her body had long lost its feeling. She was screaming behind her eyes, flailing, wanting to reach out and stop what was happening…
"I thought what you did, coming to save your brother, was very brave," Rossa admitted. "The way we found you, cradling him after you'd opened his neck, was almost beautiful. I knew then that you were going to be a perfect daughter for us."
The world went dark again before she felt the heat rise again, this time through her entire body. The last thing she could sense was her body seemingly catching fire. The sensation was too much before she simply felt her consciousness black out.
But when her mind reawakened, she was left cold. Her body could feel, but it couldn't move. Her eyes were dry, they were almost too painful to move, but she could see in front of her. Doctor Gero was standing there in front of her as she was left standing. He was going over several things on a tablet in his hand before looking her over again.
"Good, the last stages before the next stage of the advancement process are prepared. I will prepare the AI interface for implantation."
Stepping away, she saw the way he was looking at her. It was cold, lifeless… but obsessive.
Everywhere on her body hurt. She could feel her scalp was without any hair. Stepping into the void of where he'd been, Doctor Rossa was the only thing she could see. The doctor walked up the several small steps towards the enclosure she knew she was in. Hooking up several things to her arms, Lazuli's heart started to race in a panic at what was happening. Her insides felt off. It felt like they'd put something inside her. Her head itched and was sore at the back. Everything was… everything was pain.
The woman looked at her with a kind of affection that made her uncomfortable. It looked like a woman who was in love, but mixed with the affection of proud mother. Almost numb even in her mind at this point, knowing her own fate was sealed, the look Rossa was giving her was enough to reignite her fears and terrors. She tried to pull away as the woman stepped up, cupping her chin and looking into her eyes.
"Your awake again, aren't you?" she whispered. "I can usually tell."
Fucking kill yourself.
"We spent a week on you. Of everyone we worked on, of everyone we've helped… you're the one I'll remember most, subject 18. You're the only one who ever came down here. And you're the only one to fight. But it was exhilarating. There was so much life inside of you."
Grasping her head to let her head peak down, Rossa allowed her to see the patchwork of scars that moved down her body before tilting her head back up.
They had been inside of her. They'd done things inside of her. That was what these sensations were inside of her body. She cried, on the inside. She couldn't take this anymore, she just wanted this nightmare to be over.
Please, just let me die.
"You are very special to me, 18," Rossa remarked, hooking several things around her arms. She felt something sharp brushing her skin at the end of each arm, making her want to wince. Then it hooked up to her legs, and finally her back.
When she looked at her again, this time meeting her at eye level, 18 felt as the woman leaned in, kissing her. It was enough to make her want to gag as she felt the woman's lips on hers. Another violation of everything she was, perpetrated by these freaks. When the woman stepped back, she simply walked away.
Across from her, 18 could see a body floating in liquid. That was the tank for 17…
I failed. Lapis… I'm sorry.
The doctor returned, Doctor Gero, he walked into view holding a helmet. The same one' she'd seen placed on all the other people in the tanks. The last thing she saw, unimpeded by the helmet, was him standing over, fixing it to her head. She felt several bindings fasten, locking it in place. Inside the goggles she could see a series of code, all dialing into place.
"Virtual reality augment tool, activated. Accessing subject memories. Awaiting AI reconstruction process."
She felt her chest heaving as she tried to forget that this had all happened to her. The sharpened metal slowly brushing against the edges of her skin suddenly sunk into her. She screamed, or she tried to. Each tendril burrowed into her flesh. It made it feel like there were just holes in her.
Warm liquid began to fill the chamber as she felt it seal. Her feet became wet, before it slid up the rest of her body inch by inch. As it made it half way up her form, she started to tremble, her body reflexively responding to the cooled liquid. It felt strange on her skin, she couldn't describe how it was almost like being covered in… wax, but it still flowed like water.
Suddenly, something started pumping. Her insides felt like they were being inflated. Her body didn't respond with her cries of horror and agony, but it did start relaxing as a second… mechanical heart… the pumps built into the chamber itself, started pumping something warm into her body. Her body tingled for several seconds before the most intense pain she'd ever felt in her life started. It was filling her, oozing into every inch of her muscles and organs, almost as if it was casting her from the inside with fire.
She wanted to throw her head back and scream, but she was just trapped inside herself. When the ooze touched her heart and lungs, she could feel their functions stop immediately. Blood stopped flowing through her body as the liquid in the tank reached her jaw. The cool substance made it all the worse as her body cried out for oxygen as the new heart above her processed and filtered this fluid into her body. Brain function started to end as the mind was deprived of oxygen. The pain in her chest and lungs was explosive, electric. Panic naturally set in as she desperately wished her body would restart. The last desperate moments of her mind before unconsciousness finally overtook her, were those of someone trapped inside their own body.
Trapped. And screaming.
For a brief second, she swore she saw a light at the end of a tunnel as her vision started to darken. She wanted to reach out for it, walk towards it. As her hand finally took it…
Her eyes opened, and she found herself in a strange place. There was a sea of yellow clouds around her as she floated above a snake's tail. Somehow, ahead of her, there were thousands of clouds, all of them moving in order ahead of her. One cloud looked to not be moving in the lineup as she moved ahead, and for a brief second, she could 'see' Lapis. Unknowingly, she reached out her 'hand', taking his.
When he took hers in turn, a familiar, calm smile crossed his face.
"Hey," he whispered. "What took you so long?"
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Author's Notes:
Bit of a different approach to Dr. Gero and the Androids. I really wanted to delve into a different genre, focusing kind of on horror, body horror, and a fear of the unknown. I'd originally done an "androids special" years ago when working on this story, but most of its content didn't apply, but a big factor behind it was the downtrodden being taken advantage of by Dr. Gero. This was before Dragon Ball Z Fighter came out, and I really decided I not only wanted to include Android 21, but other elements of the story as its evolved from my original writings of these moments.
I also really wanted to give a depraved nature to Doctor Gero and "Doctor Rossa" (Android 21). I decided to stick with 17 and 18's canon names of course. Or rather, the things that became 17 and 18 in some respect. It was important for me to make Gero and Rossa different in their depravity.
Gero is cold, and has zero concern for his subjects. They're bodies are meat to be processed into his instruments of revenge, and the 'future' he's been dreaming of. He has no attachment to them, but he derives satisfaction from this in his own sick way as well.
Rossa herself, is more emotional, the 'caring' mother, seeing the Androids constructed so far as her 'children', but is depraved enough (clearly) to see them as things which she perhaps cares for more than just her children.
There will be at two more Android Specials before their Saga really gets going. I've got one already planned (though not written), and the last one I really want to make special. The next Special will focus on Gero and Rossa themselves, and their perspectives.
For Music, I listened to a lot of fucked up shit to write this. Lol. I actually lost sleep writing this as a result. It was really uncomfortable to write, which is the point I'm guessing. The two pieces that stuck out to me most htough, was Android 17 & 18 by Bruce Faluconer, as well as the Ambiant soundtrack from Alien Covenant. The experience of writing this, though fun, really did have a price to pay for me, getting into the heads of the desperate and the depraved. I really wanted almost a horror theme to these chapters. I hope I've succeeded so far, lol.
I also really wanted to give the Androids more identity than just being people who were augmented by Gero. What is the machine itself? This will be a question in the store. I promise. :)
I normally hate asking for reviews, but given that this is a drastically different tone, and all the sleep I lost writing it, I'd appreciate Reviews and Feedback for it.
Reviewers:
Blades of Fury: I actually am posting this chapter because of this review. Namely because I thought it was ironic. Lol
Thomas-The-TMC: There is no evidence for that! Clearly he just wants to sit down and talk with her. In the language Saiyans understand most. :P
Perfect Carnage: SoL? Forgive me. Lol
Super Mystic Gohan: I really enjoy it too. I can't wait for the next four chapters to move through, distributed in July, August, September, and October. They'll be a wonderful thing to behold for you guys, I think.
Luke: I'm really proud of Raditz and Vegeta's storyline over the next four chapters. Really proud of it. I hope you guys enjoy it, however.
OuterSpaceHooker: Well, be even happier, for it has been updated again! Lol. I actually think the Saiyans were just as evil, if not moreso than Frieza, just due to their nature. Raditz himself even understands this to a point, but he's still one of them. Ironic, the last Saiyan to truly experience their lifestyle, sees it for what it is… but can't escape it.
DarkFalconZ: It's gonna be amazing.
Guest1: Of course! An Eye for an Eye and a Tail for a Tail was something I planned for five years, lmao. Work on The Catalyst was non existent for a while, but I've had this in my head for literally years, playing out over and over in different ways. I think one of the better versions will make it to print. 😊
I'm also currently working on Janemba Part II for TLR, it's got about 10 pages done in what I expect to be a 50-page chapter, maybe 60. I'm hoping to get it done for July. My wrists have been bugging me lately, and work's been really busy. Then, I'm going to start working on a ton of smaller updates for TLR and The Catalyst. I'm hoping to get 10 chapters done for each before the end of fall, though not necessarily posted in that timeframe.
Guest2: Hey, that's great! Get your masters! Keep that up! This is just a hobby; real life always takes priority.
AquarianKing: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't answer that.
J: Things will play out very differently, but I think it's gonna be very satisfying.
Team Soda: Raditz's hatred for Vegeta is the most powerful emotion and force in his life. Even when he's tried to fill that void with other things, it always bubbles to the surface. Vegeta wounded Raditz and betrayed him in the most profound way. I think he's the most wounded of all of the Cast, but conceals it well. I actually feel terrible for Raditz.
Spades231: The Long Road and The Catalyst are connected, but not in ways you'd expect. I follow the same rules for both stories in how power works, the Dragon, time travel and different dimensions and ect.