Ishin Denshin
Chapter One: Acciaccato
"Agh-stop it!" Clone-132 snapped, kicking away an officer's hand as it grasped at the spines on their back. This was partially out of care-they were frighteningly sharp, but it was mostly out of fury at being caught. They were being dragged down the hallway of their former prison, one Federation officer per arm and an extra set for their legs holding them tightly in place as the group of seven traversed the corridor.
132 had stopped struggling a while ago. As a matter of fact, they'd been caught off guard-the police had busted down their door just as the group of experiments they'd been watching had turned their conversation to Earthly happenings…right before they'd been caught by the Original and sent to them for destruction.
Destruction had never come for the group of experiments, or as Hamsterviel had called them, Doomsdays. They were apparently so powerful that their destruction required specific means 132 would've carried out. But their plans had been derailed on Earth, and they'd gotten distracted up on Turo by none other than these Doomsdays-who'd started trying to convince them to break away from Hamsterviel at that.
Of course, they hadn't believed them. At least, not at first. But five of the same story in a row was…odd, to say the least. Hamsterviel had told them they were taught to rehearse lies, but 132 wasn't so sure. Each story was different, and they highly doubted each experiment would have their own personalized lie to tell separately, from a different cell.
Too many differences and one constant.
132 had narrowed their eyes in suspicion as the words of the Doomsdays came back to them, but they were abruptly shattered into wisps upon the feel of cold metal. 132's face had been unceremoniously introduced to the floor, and 132 could tell they wouldn't be enjoying each other for the time being.
They waited for a moment before raising their face and attempting to stand…only to be encircled by an army of Federation officers-each brandishing a well-charged plasma gun.
132 froze, flattening their ears and giving the room a quick scan. Of course, they were surrounded, guards packed into the room so tightly they were practically fusing with the gold and white walls leading to Turo's central prison. 132's action was answered by innumerable clicking noises as every last plasma cannon fixed itself to them.
"Stay in place, warden. You and your leader are under arrest." The growl came from somewhere in the black and white-suited ocean, and something parted the waves to stand in front of 132.
Turo's former…now reinstated prison warden, they presumed.
The saurian alien was faceless, 132's reflection staring into the darkness of his visor. His only distinguishing feature among the guards was a gold badge on his chest, Turian lettering emblazoned at the bottom. 132 gulped and nodded in acknowledgement, watching him as closely as possible in case he made a move.
They waited in silence, both 132 and the warden staring each other down. They couldn't see his face, but they could feel his eyes burning straight into theirs, and they were sure theirs were doing the same to him.
The staredown was suddenly crashed-the doors flinging open to reveal a fresh squadron of officers rushing into the room. Their leader had his visor up, and was fumbling with…
Was that a tape recorder?
132 stared at the device in confusion; why would they be bringing something like this into the prison? It seemed innocuous enough, so they couldn't see what the problem was-
"STOP! GIVE THAT BACK!"
The high, unfamiliar voice screamed its way out from behind the new procession of guards, and it certainly didn't sound like any of them. In fact, it sounded more like one of the Doomsdays still locked inside their cell. 132's eyes widened when the voice's owner revealed themselves, their mouth falling open in shock at their appearance.
They looked like them. The Original. Their clones. Similar reddish fur-except this newcomer's was more on the orange side.
The similarities ended there.
A massive eye? Stone? Something…else? was wedged into their forehead, the experiment's small eyes darting wildly towards the tape recorder still clutched in the officer's hand. They were pudgy and fluffy, though 132's latter observation was likely because the experiment was so desperate, jumping and swiping up at the recorder in the officer's hand. "Stop it! He's not even doing anything!"
The experiment was quickly rebuffed by the officer, one of his colleagues yanking them back by the arm. They snagged an antenna in the process, causing the experiment to yelp and slap at the guard apprehending him, "Don't touch me!"
The lead guard nodded to the experiment, "Calm yourself; this is only if they decide to attack."
"I don't care! They have what I have!" The experiment snapped, and 132 narrowed their eyes at his tone; they'd expected anger, but instead, all they could detect was fear and…despair? Sadness?
Something like that.
The warden irritably watched the struggle before throwing up a hand, "Let him go."
"But-" The lead newcomer stammered, but the warden shook his head. "You already caught one of those antenna, and I don't want his creator getting on my case for damages. Besides, that's one of the captured ones."
His colleague huffed and released the experiment, who grimaced and gingerly placed his hand over a small, peach-tipped antenna protruding from his forearm. His gaze remained fixed on the tape recorder, and this time, it drew that of the warden.
"Mind explaining what's on there?" He asked, the the lead officer nodded, "A copy of the Earth song Aloha 'Oe from Ambassador Pelekai's island chain. It'll induce a failsafe in them." He pointed to 132 and opened his mouth to continue, but was suddenly cut off by the experiment, who'd lunged forward and snatched at the tape recorder yet again, "You're gonna make him seize if you play that!"
This got the warden's attention. A chill ran up 132's spine as his shielded head bowed in the direction of his colleague…right as the experiment finally managed to get his hands on the recorder.
"Hey-don't-!"
The lead guard's words fell on deaf ears as the experiment giddily cracked the recorder in two, a crazed look creeping into their eyes as they kicked its components across the room. The warden simply crossed his arms, unmoving to the experiment's low giggle as the temperature began to rise.
"Well," He mused, "it seems 609 wants an even playing field. I'm inclined to agree, seeing as we already have this one surrounded."
The lead newcomer growled in upset, but the warden shook his head and turned to 609, "And why have you come here?"
The experiment glanced up from the shriveled remains of the tape recorder, his humor fading into what 132 was starting to suspect was his usual-worry.
"My twin-and the others." He explained, "They were all taken here by the original, so I'm here to take them back home."
"Do you know where they are?" He asked, and although the warden shook his head, 132 timidly held up a finger. 609's gaze settled on them, and they instinctively averted their eyes to the floor upon seeing the bulb in their forehead.
"They uh…they're in my quarters. I mean, the very central chamber in individual cells."
"We may have repurposed your office." 132 added, shrugging at the warden's audible sigh.
The warden nodded, "Ah, okay; I know what you're talking about. But you'll be taking us there, alright?"
132 nodded, feeling strangely calm despite the hostility surrounding them; there was a singular exception in the form of this new experiment, and as they walked, 132's eyebrows raised as they realized who one of the Doomsdays-610-had been referring to when she'd mentioned a twin.
It must be this 609…
The Doomsdays were still in their cells when they found them, lined up in a neat row inside 132's now former quarters. 609 ran to his twin's side as the warden flipped the switch holding the experiments in their cells, wrapping her in a tight embrace as the rest of the Doomsdays crowded around them. 132 almost instinctive stepped back, but 610-they believed her name was Witch, craned her neck from 609's shoulder to see them. "Hey-132!"
132 froze and flattened their ears, once again fixing their gaze to the floor; while they weren't keen on smacking their face against it like last time, it was a comforting thing to stare at right now.
610's deep voice distracted them from the sight, gently coaxing their gaze back to her and the others, "132, it's okay…you know that, right? We're not upset with you."
132 shrugged, "You should be."
"Well, we're not." A higher pitch came from their lower left, and 132 turned to see 628 crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at them, "Trust me, Witch and I have seen this before, and Heat over there's lived it."
132 blinked at Heat in surprise, and he flushed and nodded, "Warden um…"
"What's your…" He asked, and the warden nodded, "Officer Ladon; just so you're aware, we have other operations to attend to, so you should make this quick."
Heat nodded, "Thanks-I'll keep that in mind."
"But- anyways," He gestured towards 132, "What she means is that I got caught and lied to by someone working for Hamsterviel, so I get what's happened here."
132 raised their eyebrows, "Wait, really?"
"Yup; so, not as direct, but I did have a similar experience. Well, me and…" Heat counted his fingers before finishing, "...Five others-no wait-six, actually."
"Seven." 607 corrected, causing Heat to slap a hand to the bulb on his head, "Man, even I lose track sometimes."
132 watched this in awe…and suspicion. Heat was a sixth story, one they could neatly place next to the five others. They glanced confusedly at Officer Ladon before carefully raising a finger to get his attention, "Um…"
"What is it?"
"Am…am I still under arrest?" 132 asked, and the warden immediately nodded, crossing his arms, "The only reason you're not cuffed is because you're being cooperative, and you're outgunned. Once they leave, I and the others will be taking you to a cell."
"That and we're cuffing you when we escort you out." He added, "Speaking of, 609, Heat; are you and the others ready to leave?"
Heat exchanged a glance with the Doomsdays; it seemed as though he was searching for a consensus, but 132 briefly saw his gaze flash back to them-and when it did, it was filled with worry once again.
"Well…I guess." He said, "But…after what I saw tonight, I'll say this isn't very fair to them."
Ladon sighed, "That's not for me to decide Heat; you know that. Unless you can get your Ambassador to make exceptions, they're going to have to go through our legal system. Usurping the Grand Council is a pretty serious crime, and from your record, you've never done something that severe."
132 watched as Heat's brows raised-the beginnings of an idea very clearly forming in his mind. He said nothing besides a nod, but Ladon caught the change regardless, "...I'll await any future transmissions."
"Thanks; we'll contact if there are any updates." Heat nodded to the warden as he began to herd the rest of the Doomsdays out of the room. Each one paused to give 132 a wave in goodbye, their expressions ranging from worried to a cautious smile. 610 and 628 were the exceptions, giving 132 a hug and squeezing their arm respectively as they filed out. Heat was the last to leave with the group of officers that had previously rushed him into base, giving 132 a worried frown as he surveyed them.
It was then they noticed he was injured, his fur marred by maroon gashes and bite marks. Red fur was scattered around his arms and hands, and his nose stunk of blood-accompanied by visible splotches in his right ear and just above his lip. He caught them looking and sheepishly covered it, "Did…you didn't hear the fight, did you?"
132 shook their head, "I heard it was going on, but communication got cut just before it started."
"That's good." Heat gazed out at the doorway, "You're uh…you're a lot calmer than the clones I fought. Or who bulldozed me."
132 snorted, "Thanks for the compliment. We do have separate personalities."
"Oh I know. Funnily enough I was also cloned a whole bunch. Only now I have health issues since they all got stuffed back into me." Heat said, giving them a wry smile, "We're more similar than we are different."
"I'll see what I can the others can do, okay? This wasn't fair. Besides, nothing much happened in here." He added, nodding to a shocked 132. 132 could only muster a short bob of their head in turn.
Heat smiled and waved as he opened the door. 132 returned it, but as soon as it closed, they felt Officer Ladon's hand grip their wrist, "Alright, thanks for cooperating. Now off to your cell."
132 kept their eyes on the floor as they were escorted to their cell, the grimy floor of the prison making the pads on the bottoms of their feet itch. They paused and shook one out in irritation, and to his credit, Ladon paused alongside them to wait.
"We'll sweep those later on." He said, 132 looking up at him and nodding in thanks, "I can feel every dust particle."
"Been a lot of activity in the past few hours." The warden countered, "Now, move."
132 turned back to the hallway…and then froze in shock.
Clones. Everywhere, and not out in the open, inside the cells lining the walls.
Some were her own grunts; she recognized the twins and 1061-each backed into the corner of a cell, but others…
They'd clearly been the Earth backup force. And it clearly hadn't gone well for them.
132 had to force themself to take steps forward, barely aware of their knees, much less the dust on their feet.
Burn marks, red fur splotched in black, bloody bandages, withered antenna, bits of volcanic rock and lava, frostbite, waterlogged, windswept fur and ruffled fur from bruising, crystalline crusting…so many injuries greeted 132 and worse, each member on the Earth force was unconscious; all they could see was the damage and 132 knew they wouldn't even have an explanation until they started to wake up.
The scenes started to blend into each other and 132 lurched forward, only slightly aware of Ladon rushing to steady them, "Uugh…"
"We don't have much longer to go. You can make it."
"I can't. I-I think…" 132 felt something start to rise in their throat, "Drag me there."
"Agh, no, I'm carrying you, fine." 132 felt themselves picked up under their upper set of arms and carried to a platform. They closed their eyes and covered them with their cuffed arms for good measure, a resigned sigh from the warden being their only acknowledgment as the platform rose several stories.
"Alright, if you need to vomit, the toilet's in the left corner." Ladon's voice said as 132 was plopped into the cell, "Wasn't expecting them to arrive that early, but it is what it is."
132 gulped and placed their hands over their eyes as the cuffs were taken off, shuddering in horror at the memories of the Earth force, "What…happened…?"
"They lost. So did you. All that you saw? It was in self-defense, so those experiments ain't gettin' charged."
132 nodded, their eyes starting to sting, "Where's…"
"Where's who?"
"The Original. And…Hamsterviel."
"Ah, funny you ask. Wanna take your hands off your eyes a moment?" Ladon asked, and 132 timidly obeyed to find him giving them a knowing smirk and pointing to his right, "You're adjacent to the former."
132 blinked at them incredulously, but didn't get a chance to question him further. Ladon stepped back out of their cell and onto the platform, pressing the switch to close their cell. 132 watched as he descended back down to ground level, casting a curious glance to the wall of the direction he'd pointed in.
This was on purpose. It had to be.
Was…were they being helped by these two? Ladon and Heat? 132 narrowed their eyes, curiosity slowly replacing their initial horror.
The hours passed. 132 spent the first few sleeping on the bed in the cell, only waking up when they heard a groan from the cell to their right. Ladon was right-this was, indeed, the Original. Leroy-001 snarled and bashed his body against the cell door, causing 132 to jolt up and rush to the wall of theirs, "001-wait! Stop!"
"STOP?! WHICH ONE OF ME ARE YOU?! ONE OF THOSE LOSERS HAMSTERVIEL KEPT HERE? IS THAT IT?!" The Original's voice roared so loudly in 132's ears they pulled them down in pain, "What happened down there?!"
"WE LOST! WE ALL LOST! THANKS TO THOSE PIECE OF BLITZNAK FAILURE PRIOR EXPERIMENTS-" The Original's rant was cut off by 132 slapping a hand against their cell wall, "SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME!"
"NO YOU FREAKIN' FAILURE, I ONLY LISTEN TO HAMSTERVIEL!" The Original snarled back, returning the hit to the wall. 132 roared back, "WELL, HE'S NOT HERE, SO NOW WHAT?!"
"I-I DON'T KNOW!"
"THEN QUIT YELLING AND LET ME TALK!" 132 snarled, "I think we've been had Leroy! And not by the prior experiments!"
"What would you know about that?!"
"A lot! I'm 132-I was supposed to destroy the Doomsdays you sent up. Never got around to it-"
"And why didn't you do that-"
"Shut it! I'm getting there!" 132 snapped, clearing their throat, "They started talking to me. Communication to Turo got cut, and they had some weird things to say about Hamsterviel. All five of them. The experiment who picked 'em up backed their stories up."
"I think something's off about him." They finished, crossing their arms and letting out a small cough from the earlier screaming match, "I don't think we've been told everything."
There was a pause from the cell.
"...Who picked them up?" The Original's voice was suspicious. 132 narrowed their eyes, "And you ask me this why?"
"I just wanna know."
"Nah. You want to dismiss 'em. I can tell."
The Original growled, "Don't tell me it was one of those…what did they call themselves? Gantu's Army or something?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Who came for them?" The Original repeated, and 132 sighed in indignation, "609. Heat."
"I knew it. Don't trust him especially. He's one of the members of that Army, and they really know how to lie." The Original said, but 132 shook their head, "Don't think so. He had no reason to as far as I could tell."
"Did he give you any indication he was a liar?" They asked, and there was a short pause from the adjacent cell before…
"...Not…really."
"So why'd you assume?"
132 could sense the Original's embarrassment through the cell wall. They sighed, casting a weary glance outside their cell. "Look. I know you're the closest of us to Hamsterviel, but…something's going on under the surface here. And I get the feeling he doesn't want us to know what that might be."
The Original sighed, "What are you getting at?"
"I'm getting at wanting to look into him. And that experiment you called a liar? I think he knows something about him we don't." 132 said.
Silence from the cell wall.
"...We likely can't see him anyways." The Original said, "Besides, what if he did lie?"
"Why do you think Hamsterviel told you he specifically was one?"
"…Good point."
"By the way, answering your first point? I think there's something he's doing in the background." 132 said, " We might see him again."
Another few moments of silence passed before the Original spoke again, "...We're going to have to wait and see."
"That we will." 132 said, "And if they do, I want you know I'm taking my chance to find information."
The Original snorted, "Have at it."
"Fine." 132 said, glaring at the wall before marching back to their bed. They curled up in its pillow and closed their eyes, trying to calm themselves; the day had been long, and the fight they'd just had had quickly drained the rest of their energy. Despite their resolve, 132 couldn't help but feel…alone. At least, among the Leroys.
They'd have to do this regardless. That was, if they got the opportunity Heat had hinted at…