"214," my head perked from the computer as I glared at the disgusting face of Recorder Theel, who was looking down on me. "You're neglecting your duties again, 214." He scolds accusingly.
I lift an eyebrow. "Pardon me?"
He huffs. "Experiment 89P13 was been completed and you did not come to collect it."
Still confused, I looked at my schedule on the computer then back at Theel. "I'm terribly sorry, I was not informed that there any new experiments today. I was-"
"It is your responsibility to stay informed on all up coming procedures. If you cannot keep up with simple tasks such as collecting a new subject then you know what will happen. Understood?" He threatens.
Anger boils inside of me but I force it down and swallow my hatred. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Here's its' file and expectations." He says rudely then throws the file and a broom towards me. "Get to it." He turns on his heel then stomps away.
I glare holes in the back of his chunky no good self as I snatch up my broom and head towards the test subject room.
My name is Mya but for the past six years, I have been known as MA214. I have been a slave to the High Evolutionary since I was nine years old after being taken away from my parents on earth. Raised in a dark room with harrowing lights and bars of cages, I was viewed no higher than the other animals and was reminded often so. Despite having a brilliant mind and an expert in the flight simulator, I was never good enough for Sire. Always just one hair short of perfection but never enough to see beyond these walls.
Why Sire kept me around? I don't know. I was told I was only good for taking care of the animals and assisting in fundamental teachings but never enough to see beyond these walls. It never made sense to me but I relented to the fact that this was my home and duty. I was never treated like anything special so you can't really miss what you never had. I didn't know the comfort of luxury beds or fancy rooms. I didn't know what I'd ever look like in fancy clothes or jewelry. I barely remembered how old I was. All I had was the animals I was in charge of and I learned very quickly that I preferred their company over humans any day.
As I walked down the long corridors down to the dark hallways that would lead to my room, I stood on the outside of the door hearing the faints sounds of animal chatter. I smiled to myself and opened the door. The room instantly went silent but they realized it was me, many of the animals erupted in excited chatter which made me laugh as it had every time. I made my rounds saying hello to all of them, making sure I checked and made note of every cage that needed to be cleaned. When I came to the raccoons, I realized that there weren't any.
"Where'd they go?" I said aloud.
The possums on the right looked away, their ears down. The birds grew silent and less chatter was heard. I sigh heavily as I knew instantly what had happened. My chest felt that familiar heaviness as I looked through the file Theel had thrown at me. It confirmed what I already knew. I forced back a few stray tears as I flipped through the file and found a picture of one single raccoon. Subject 89P13.
I gasped in horror as I read through all of the procedures done. No wonder the others didn't make it. This one must have been a fighter. I slam the folder shut and make my way around, searching the cages for our new guest.
"214" I whip my head around to see the happy face of a walrus who's subject name was 89A95 but I lovingly called, Big Boy or Big Brother. He rocked back and forth happily in his wheelchair, earning a happy smile from me.
"Hey Big Brother." I reached through the bars and shook the flipper he offered.
Beside him, a female otter turned around, 89Q12, and smiled but I could see concern written on her face. "Hey Sweet Friend." I greeted as I reached down and stroked her cheek, which she leaned into and responded with happy squeaks and chatters.
"Friend! Friend!" a happy robotic voice sounded from the cage next to them. It came from 89L06, a bunny with robotic limbs and two antenna's that were spider like. She was huddled in the corner which wasn't like her.
"Hey Little One, what are you doing all the way in the corner?" I ask as I reach out to her.
She quickly comes to me and places her paws on my hands. "That's my girl." I say encouragingly as I scratch behind her ears, earning happy noises in response.
"New friend." She says.
"What?" I ask slightly confused.
"We have a new friend." The otter says then looks into the corner on the bunny's cage.
In the corner, a small raccoon, no more than a month old, cowered in the corner. Pieces of metal protruded through his skin on his paw. His head had been shaved and a deep circular incision with staples. This was the experiment I'd been looking for.
But when I got closer, I realized I remembered him from before. He was the runt that I'd bottled fed when we first got them in. This made me even more sad and angry than I usually was. This was wrong. "Hey buddy, it's okay." I say softly. The little raccoon cowered away from my voice. "Remember me?" I ask as I slowly hold a hand towards him.
At first, he growls and snaps at me. "Take that as a 'no'." I say calmly as I put my hand down. He growls but quickly regrets his decision when it causes more pain.
"It's okay." Q12 encourages. "214 is a friend." She looks at me lovingly then back to the raccoon. "The bestest of friends. She won't hurt you." She reaches out to me with her metal arm and takes my hand. "See? She's good."
"214 good. 214 play games!" L06 says happily as she comes over to sniff and rub her head on my arm with a giggle.
"And she gives the best treats." A95 chimes in with a chuckle.
"Yay treat treats!" The bunny says happily, making us laugh.
My laughter ceases quickly as I hear P13 whimper. I see the blood starting to ooze out of the incisions. "I'll be right back. Look after our friend." I say softly to Q12, which she responds with a nod then encouraging smile to P13.
I go to a supply closet where I find some medical supplies and a bottle of healing medicine that I made myself, thanks to my handy thieving skills. I put the supplies in a blanket but before I leave, I make sure to grab some treats for the rest of the crew. It wasn't much. Two fish each for Q12 and A95. Half of my banana for L06. With everything in tow, I go back to my friend's cages.
"Okay. Some treats for my friends." I announce which they all respond excitedly and gratefully as they take them through the bars. I turn to the happy bunny who is practically jumping with excitement. "Let me help you, sweet girl." I say gently as I open the mechanical mouth partially and give her the banana. I smile watching her eat, not a care in the world.
I look at the scared and tired raccoon. He showed interest but was still in so much pain. My heart ached. I open their cage wider and sit down with a blanket in my lap. The same one I used to nurse him in. He looks at me shaking but I just smile. "Hi friend. I got some goodies for you too."
I take out a small dish with an egg, fish, and milk puree in it. He slowly comes forward and sniffs the liquid. He takes a couple of licks but then whimpers and backs away but then he gets a whiff of the blanket and something flickers in his eyes. He comes closer to me and sniffs. Looking at me, still shaking, I offer a small smile then hold out the palms of my hands. He slowly puts one paw on one palm then the other paw on the other palm. He stays there sniffing then making eye contact. To my surprise, he settles down then lays his head on my hand. "Hurts." The little voice says weakly.
"Ohhh." I whisper heart broken as I stroke his fur gently. "It's okay. I'm gonna get you fixed up."
Giving my otter friend a sad look, I set to work on cleaning the little raccoon who had surrendered to being taking care of. I made sure to be very delicate and talked softly to him the entire time. By the time we were done, he'd fallen asleep in my lap. I sigh heavily as I lean against their cage and stroke his fur.
L06 slowly pitter pattered her way over to me. "Sleeping?" she asks curiously.
"Yeah, he's sleeping." I answer quietly. I look up at the otter and walrus next to me. "We're gonna have to take special care of this one."
They both nod and I see their saddened expressions. "With you fixing him up, he will be playing in no time." Big boy says encouragingly.
"He's right." My otter friend says. "He's gonna be just fine. Just like we were."
"Thank you both." I whisper gratefully as look back down at the sleeping raccoon in my arms. "Fight, little one. It's all up to you."