Chapter 72:
Destroy the reality.
For all those who thought that the Experiments being complete was a good thing (which was the majority)… umm… think again. This arc isn't that short.
"Oh wow you guys, that's really good. That means no more ouchie needles right?" Tsunayoshi congratulates. "And no more plasters or bandages, or that bad tasting germ-defence cream." Antiseptic cream didn't taste nice, believe him. He runs over and hugs Chrome tightly. "See Chrome! I told you everything would get better." He lets her go before running over to the open door where Verde and some other of those scary people (luckily without their gasmasks on this time) had just appeared.
He clings tightly to Verde's leg, beaming up at him. "Because Verde is the best!" Verde had fixed them just like he promised. Verde had said that he'd make sure his friends didn't die and they didn't! Verde doesn't smile back, or even look happy at the compliment. In fact he didn't seem to be paying Tsunayoshi much attention at all. Instead he just places his hand on top of Tsunayoshi's hair. Viper too doesn't look happy- hard for most people to tell unless you were Tsunayoshi - as she stands up solemnly.
Verde steps into the room and to the side, effectively blocking Tsunayoshi's view of the room. Peering around Verde's legs, Tsunayoshi can tell that something is going on, so decides that staying where he is would be best. The Estraneo members walk into the room and stare down at the four children. Mukuro and the two boys stare back up defiantly whilst pushing Chrome up behind them. She too glares at her Keepers.
"The Boss wants to see them." One man states to Viper. "Your lessons can wait." Viper has no choice but to stand to the side, walking over to stand infront of Tsunayoshi too. This wasn't her territory, she couldn't order them otherwise.
The quartet are harshly pulled in the direction of the door. All four glare back at their Keepers, with their lips tightly shut to stop them retorting back. It would only lead to a beating if they did.
"Hey! You should be nicer to them!" Tsunayoshi shouts, pushing against Verde's legs to try and run over to his friends. "They can- umn!" Tsunayoshi's shouts are halted when Viper places her hand over his mouth. He looks up at her, betrayed. When he looks back at the other four, they smile at his attempt before walking onwards out the door. They liked the fact that Tsunayoshi had defended them, but there was nothing any of them could do. This was just how the Estraneo treated them.
The trip down the hallway was rather unnerving for the four children. Word had gotten around that they were complete. The corridors and doorways were filled with Estraneo members watching and looking at their finished soldiers. The looks in their eyes were scary, as if the children were a box of gold walking past. There were so many whispers too, far too many for the children to understand what was actually being said. Chikusa kept on walking, doing his best to ignore the greedy adults, but Ken couldn't do the same. Each look and whisper felt like a personal insult. Ken just wanted to put in his lion channel and roar, scaring them all away. He wasn't an object to stare at! His hands clench and unclench at his sides as a low growl escapes his lips. Maybe jumping on one adult wouldn't hurt. A couple of scratches on their perfect face would make them stop- it would be worth the punishment afterwards.
He blinks when a hand pulls on his arm. He looks backwards and finds it's Chrome. She wanted nothing more than to run back to the cell and hide behind her owl plushie, but she knew she couldn't. Mukuro had told her to always seem strong infront of them or else they'd kick her out and she'd be left to die. She didn't want to die, even if she hated the way these people treated her and the others. She could glare back at their Keepers because of the harsh way these mean people were treating her brothers. It just wasn't right. Ken gives a harsh sigh before pulling on her arm bringing her instep with him and away from those watching eyes.
Mukuro walks at the front with his chest out and shoulders back, chin held high. He wasn't going to be scared infront of these people. All he had to do to not be scared was remember how much like fools these people were. They thought that he and the others were going to help and save them, oh how wrong they were. Mukuro had seen more things than anyone else had, he'd seen heaven and hell and the world in-between. These silly people weren't going to scare him.
Eventually they are pushed into a room where there is a big table and lots of posh looking people sat around it. This must be the Boss and his most trusted men then.
"Ah and here they are now. As you can see, the Professor Verde has been keeping them in good health, which apparently helps the body to accept the changes. I couldn't be bothered to argue with him so I let him do as he wished. It seems that this was the right choice, the Professor has done a wonderful job." States a black haired man, the Boss of the Estraneo, with a creepy smile on his face.
A different man steps forwards, this one blond with an acid burn running down his cheek. "The first is Experiment number 14- Ken Joshima. The aim of this experiment was to see if animal genes could be injected into the body in such a way as to transfer the desired animal traits. This has been done through especially encoded teeth, called Channels, which have all the necessary information embedded within them. Further modifications were made to the subject's body to read and accept the code, allowing for multiple transformations. The Experiment had been branded a success and a range of animalistic traits have been encoded ranging from cheetahs to monkeys. All Channels are of mammal species since it was discovered that any other class was incompatible. As such the desired snake transformation was not viable if we wished to retain the multi-transformational property."
Ken crosses his arms and gives the adults a dirty look as they all stare at him. He didn't like being talked about in such a way. The blond flips the page on his clipboard that he was reading from before continuing with the debriefing.
"Next is Experiment number 49- Chikusa Kakimoto. This experiment aimed to make the best assassin, removing any unwanted human traits that caused problems. The majority of emotions have been removed. Feelings are often what causes a mission to go wrong, such as the feeling that the mission is unneeded, immoral or the wrong choice. In addition reflexes have been heightened and the ability to feel pain lowered. All three desirable traits have been obtained."
Chikusa stared back at the adults with an apathetic face. They could stare all they liked, it wasn't going to get them anywhere though. The adults seem to prove, nodding their heads before turning back to the man with the clipboard.
"Experiment 69, Mukuro Rokudo, is the most recent to be completed, finished just a few days ago. The aim of this experiment was for the subject to relive their past lives and to gain relevant skills and knowledge. This was the most dangerous experiment, involving the most work, but it all seems to have gone according to plan. The fact that the Experiment is also an illusionist seems to have helped, the mind is naturally more flexible and creative, meaning the changes were easier to assimilate with. Further lessons by Esper Mammon are needed to cultivate this skill."
Mukuro couldn't wait to restart the illusionist lessons again, it was so much fun to be able to mess with someone else. The adults seemed very interested in Mukuro, all leaning forwards in their seats to get a better look. The number of smiles and pleased expressions grew too. He would be a very useful soldier.
"Finally is our most recent experiment, number 96, Nagi Moriyama. Rather than being an experiment she is more of a test subject or guinea pig. No alterations to her have been made other than those to reduce the damage to her internal organs. The mere fact that she is standing before us after nearly two years is proof of this experiment's success. It is possible for an illusionist to act as a medical squad and reinforce a body to keep it living and moving. Any problems seem to have been caused by changes in Experiment 69's condition rather than incompatibility. Judging by the duration of this experiment it seems that these illusions can be kept up indefinitely. There have been no signs of rejection like in physical transplants."
Chrome wanted to shiver when those eyes went up and down her body, examining every part of her. She hated the way they said her name. No, her old name. Her name was Chrome Dokuro now, a name given to her by Mukuro. Not that she would ever tell the Estraneo that. She never wanted to hear them calling her that. Nagi was the name for her Keepers, for her parents to use, for those who hated her and had never loved her. Only those she wanted to could call her Chrome, like her three brothers, like Tsunayoshi, like Teacher and Science Man. No one else could.
This time a new man stepped forwards, one with long blue hair and dark blue eyes. Mukuro seethed at seeing this man, a man he hated with all his being. His father. Never once had his father checked up on him, never once asked if he was okay or showed any interest in his wellbeing. His father had just tossed him in the room with all the other experiments and left him there. But now Mukuro felt slightly different about him now. Oh he hated the man, but he also imagined going over there and thanking him. If his father had never let him become an experiment then he never would have gained these powers.
"All four experiments will be ready by the end of the week to start their training. At first their overall fitness will need to be improved before we move on to anything of actual use. The girl especially I am concerned about. It may be best if we leave her with only the basics and let her have more lessons with Esper Mammon." The man reports to his boss, not once looking at the children.
"Hmm, no. Train her too. If she does not adapt after 6 weeks, then we shall consider a change." Says the Boss with a wave of his hand. "Now we should discuss the time frame. What needs to be done that the children will be of use?" He speaks to the rest of the adults this time.
"There is a charity event happening in Valencia in three months' time. We were hoping to assassinate the Mayor during that event, so we could make our spy Mayor instead. This would give us more freedom in that area of Spain. They could be used for that. There will be lots of children at this event so they will blend in with the crowd." Explains a red haired female, clicking away on a laptop.
"We also need body guards for the slave trade we're doing in 7 weeks' time. The majority of these slaves will be children or females. They should be able to handle any trouble by then."
"Stealing those documents from the Dante Family. We've tried a few times, but having two illusionists might help."
"There's that eradication of the Chiodo Family too. The other two boys could lead the front line that whilst we send more men as back up."
On and on the suggestions came, but never once were the four consulted. Never once was their opinion asked. The adults continued to talk as if they weren't even in the room. And that annoyed Mukuro. He could feel his rage building as they continued to be treated as nothing more than weapons. He wasn't going to risk his life for people who didn't treat him fairly, no matter the promise of fame and glory afterwards. He wasn't going to let the others risk their lives like that either.
"Hey! You can't send her there to do that by herself!" Mukuro breaks out of his anger when he hears Ken shout out. He had missed whatever comment had caused the outburst, but it must have been bad for Ken to shout out and for even Chikusa to look mad.
A woman with short black hair strides over and slaps Ken around the face, long sharp nails causing scratches. "Shut up lowlife! How dare you defy the Boss's orders. You are in no position to answer back."
Another man walks over and picks Ken up by the back of his shirt. "You should learn some respect." He mutters before taking Ken out of the room. The woman makes a snooty sound before walking back to her seat. A few minutes later, the man and Ken return, Ken now sporting a split eyebrow, a few bruises and what seems to be a sore stomach if the hand held there meant anything.
The Boss looks up, as if finally remembering that they are still in the room. "Take them back to their cells. Let Esper Mammon do her lessons. Tell her that she can restart full time with them."
The four are pushed out of the room and down the corridors, all wondering what their lives from now on will be like. Mukuro smiles; with these new powers, their lives were about to become a whole lot better.
Phantom Hitman 1412
First Published 20 January 2012.