Hisashi carefully made his way through his workplace, a bundle far too small in his arms. His silent companion walked beside him. Hisashi's eyes darted left and right, constantly on the lookout for anyone approaching, but there was none. His eyes briefly landed on a camera in the corner of the hallway, its lens pointing there way. If he just looked natural...
"Don't worry," his companion muttered softly. "There's only one here, and no experiments are scheduled today because the cameras are down for maintenance." While his tone was reassuring, his eyes were hard.
Hisashi nodded in understanding as they continued their way through the metal halls. "R-right," he stammered softly as he picked up the pace, trying to reach the destination as fast as he could without appearing to be unduly hurried. If they were caught making this attempt before they got there, he could expect to lose his job, or worse. If they managed the attempt but something went wrong, there was no telling what could happen, and he might end up guilty of far worse. But if he succeeded...
Don't think that yet, he told himself as they continued on their way in. First get there. Then begin the...experiment. Then figure out what to do about the result. Trying not to let his anxiety show on his face - for his own sake as much as anyone watching - he followed his companion through the unfamiliar facility. While it was one of many and much like Hisashi's own workplace, he'd never worked at this one before.
Before long, they reached the door in question. It was locked tight, and there were guards, but they paid them no mind. Hisashi's companion waved an ID card over the scanner, and the door opened to allow them in. The guards turned towards them briefly, but one look at what the scanner stated had both guards turning away, pretending to see nothing. Whether they saw the readout and wanted nothing to do with whatever security clearance it entailed or some memetic effect, they would not interfere. When the door closed behind them, Hisashi spoke up quietly. "How did you get clearance?" he asked softly.
"Called in a favor," his companion whispered, barely speaking, his tone now harsh.
Hisashi winced. He'd asked a great deal to make this happen...and it seemed like his 'friend' wasn't entirely happy about it. Moving quickly, he went to the booth marked 'Intake' within the room. Setting the bundle in his arms down, he slowly unzipped the black bag to reveal its contents.
His companion let out a startled oath. "Is...is that your boy?" he asked as dawning horror entered his tone.
"It...it was..." Hisashi whispered, gently touching the small face, trying to avoid the scorched, blackened, blistered areas around the holes. "And...might be again..." He looked hopefully at the machine.
"There's no telling what it might do," his companion pointed out. "Are you sure this is the one you want to try?"
"Could you get access to any of the others this easily?" Hisashi pointed out bluntly. "Or as discreetly? Or get him back out afterwards if this works?" There was no response. Moving as quickly and as clinically as he could manage, he placed the limp form within the 'Intake' booth before sealing the door. Moving over, he turned the dial. Between the damage and everything else...only 'Very Fine' had any chance of a positive result. Some experiments on that setting had animated the inanimate, after all...
He heard his companion gasp as he turned the dial, and knew he had to act. Taking the key, he paused in almost silent prayer. "Please..." he whispered, not knowing if it would be good or bad if the machine could somehow hear. "...give me back my boy..." He turned the key, winding the spring.
The machine sat in silence for several moments, something it had never done before once initiated. Then, just as Hisashi began to think something had gone wrong, the gears began to turn. Stepping back, he could only wait...and hope.
Ten minutes later, the machine came to a halt...and a slight banging could be heard in the 'Output' booth. Desperately, Hisashi raced to it and pulled it open...and his eyes widened in shock. There inside was a green eyed, green haired, freckled boy staring up at him, that oh so familiar face looking...ever so slightly unfamiliar. "D-dad?" he asked uncertainly.
Hisashi knelt and pulled his son into his arms. "It's going to be okay, Izuku," he promised fervently. "It's going to be okay..."
Izuku blinked uncertainly for a few moments, then returned the embrace.
"Best to come out the way you came in," the other man instructed firmly, though with more than a little awe in his voice as he stared up at the anomalous machine. "And we'd better hurry."
"R-right," Hisashi agreed, though unhappily. Grabbing the body bag, he pulled it over. "Izuku, I...I need you to curl up in here until we're outside," he instructed firmly. "I promise everything will be okay..."
Izuku stared at him disconcertingly for a time before turning to the other man, and then to the bag. After a time, he nodded and slipped into the bag, closing his eyes as he did.
Despite great upset, Hisashi zipped the bag closed and picked it back up in his arms. He then blinked as he felt a hand shoved into the pocket of his lab coat, leaving something behind. "Amnestics," his companion stated calmly. "You'll need them when you get back. You know how to administer them properly?"
Hisashi nodded firmly. "I-I do..."
"Some for your boy, too?" the question came curiously.
Hisashi hesitated. On the one hand, his boy had experienced something probably no one else ever would. The scientist in him desperately wanted to know the answers...but the father in him wanted what was best for his son, and that was stronger. That's why he researched what he did, after all. "Yes," he stated firmly. "I don't want him becoming a test subject."
Nodding, his companion deposited another vial into his pocket. "When we leave the room, I'll go one way and you go the other," he stated firmly. "I'll draw some attention, and you go as calmly and normally as you can back to the car and drive out."
Hisashi nodded warmly. "T...thank you, Watch..."
"Don't," the man stated firmly. "Just...don't."
Nodding, Hisashi followed the man back to the door.
