Chapter Text
The sound of a bell jolts test subject 023 out of bed. He quickly and calmly retrieves and puts on his clothes for the day as the speaker on the wall begins counting down from 30. By the time it reaches 5 seconds left; he's dressed and ready, standing at the mechanical door to his bedroom. The countdown hits zero and the light on the door switches from red to green before opening. On the other side is a guard and one of the researchers, cranky old Dr. Fink.
“023, are you on track for the day?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Your schedule is as normal for a Tuesday, except you’ll have your donor visiting at lunch.”
Does that mean what he thinks it means? That he's going to meet his DNA donor? 023 has often wondered about meeting the man he was made from; plenty of the other subjects had met theirs. Some hadn't however, as theirs had been anonymous, or didn't care enough to visit. 023 isn't exactly excited to meet him, just curious really. How similar will they look? Obviously 023's bright blonde hair is a result of the cloning procedure, every test subject has that. But they'll have the same face, same build, same voice (although his will be a little higher on account of being younger), all that. 023 wonders if they'll think the same too. Maybe they'll be able to hear each other's thoughts or something cool like that. Who knows.
023 accompanies the guard to the mess hall with the other test subjects. He looks around for his best friend 019, and spots him being served his breakfast tray. Each personalised tray is passed over the counter through a slot in the wall separating the test subjects from the kitchen staff. 023 runs up and grabs his own tray.
"G'mornin' 19!" 023 bounds cheerfully up to the other boy and beams up at him. " 'morning 23." 019 turns to go sit down and 023 nearly drops his tray as he zips over to their usual spot: a corner with a decidedly empty bean bag chair. 019 strolls calmly over and takes a seat next to his buddy. Both look down at their trays to inspect their breakfasts. 023 is delighted to find his favourite: two room temperature pieces of toast with overly poached eggs sitting on them, accompanied by some bruised fruit and an unidentifiable grey smoothie. 019 is not so lucky; mushy carrots and potatoes, leafy salad, a couple of chewy meatballs and an orange juice. One thing both trays have in common is a shot glass of water and another of little colourful pills. 023 digs in greedily, shovelling food into his mouth like a dog. 019 sighs and picks up his fork, only to herd a meatball around the plate.
The two boys have little in common physically; 023 is only 10 years old, small, lean, and quick on his feet, with angular features. 019 is 12, taller, not quite as skinny, and has large round eyes. Like all the subjects, both have blonde-white hair. The pair play a game where they pick characters from one of the 4 DVD movies they have in the rec room, and adopt their likeness and personality. 023's favourite is 26 year old Jeremy Martinez, a jumpy and loud mouthed runner for the Boston Italian mafia, and Jeremy is who 023 wants to be today. He likes Jeremy's funny Boston accent, and he likes the way it feels in his mouth when he speaks. He has learned to be careful when using it however, since whenever mean old Dr. Fink hears it he gets mad at 023 for 'messing around' and gives him a clip around the ear. 019's favourite is sweet but deadly killer Sofia Snake. A badass female outlaw who is always two steps ahead of the sheriff and rides off into the distance on her horse Bucky, the fastest horse in the west. Today however, 019 is going to be his second favourite character; the no-nonsense war-torn Colonel Sam.
023 finishes the last sip of his smoothie and looks hungrily over at 019's tray. "So boss, what're we doin' today? Need me ta' send any messages?"
019 takes a carrot between two fingers and holds it up as a mock cigarette. He takes a long imaginary puff, and looks off contemplatively into the distance as he replies: "Today soldier, we'll be going on a secret mission. While the front line troops invade the enemy, our troop will sneak around and kill them all from the side. They'll never suspect a thing."
"Man, that sounds real important. We'd get a medal for 'dat for sure."
"Darn right we'll get a medal, soldier. Maybe two if we shoot 'em all."
"Two medals?? Wow boss, this must be a really REALLY important mission!"
"The General is relying on us."
The pair continue on talking, and eventually Doctor Marie Jacobs comes over and kneels down next to them. Dr. Jacobs is the head researcher at the institute, and oversees each subject's upbringing. She's a middle aged woman, with tall dark hair and a blue hair band. Her white lab coat covers a plain blue dress that matches her hair band. Dr. Jacobs is one of the nicer doctors in 023's opinion; she doesn’t hit him for putting on an accent, doesn't grab 023 when she wants him to go somewhere, askes him and 019 questions, things like that.
"Hey there boys, good to see you're having fun. Are you both on track? Okay. 023, I need to speak with you for a second. 19, you can take a break from talking so you can finish your breakfast. You have a big day today."
“Yes miss.”
“23, your donor has requested to meet you today, did you know that?”
“Yes miss.”
“Good. I'll warn you, he isn't particularly pleasant. You'll be guarded, and under surveillance in case he tries anything. Not that I think he'd hurt you, no. I'm more worried about him trying to smuggle you out with him. *sigh* Look, I don't want to worry you. It'll be fine."
"Okay."
“Alright. 19, make sure to finish your breakfast.”
The head researcher stands back up and walks away and through a door out of the mess hall. 023 turns to 019, who looks up from his tray and starts talking with his mouth full, spraying tiny bits of potato over the floor.
"Good day soldier, report back what you saw scouting out the enemy lines."
"Geez boss, say it don't spray it. I saw the enemy troops, dere's heaps of 'em. If we take 'em all out, the general will give us three medals each!"
After breakfast, the subjects are herded into a classroom to learn about American history, and once that finishes they move to a grassy court outside for obstacle course racing. Following the obstacle course, they go back inside to the classroom to learn how to disassemble and reassemble a radio using makeshift tools in under an hour. Then they go back outside to practice setting up and using the radios without any help. Finally, it's lunchtime and the subjects are taken back inside to the mess hall.
023 eats his lunch quickly and is taken by guards to a private visiting room, with nothing but a table and two chairs. He sits down at one of the chairs and looks around the room while he waits for someone to show up. There are three cameras up in the top corners of the room, each with a little flashing red light. There are two doors, one on either side of the room; both being guarded by the people that brought 023 in. One of the walls has a giant mirror that touches the roof and both corners but not the floor. 023 stares at his reflection, wondering why on earth they'd put a mirror in a room like this.
After a few minutes, the far door opens and a man walks in, the man who 023 guesses to be his donor. The man sits down opposite, and 023 is hit by a wave of foul smokey smell as he does. He tries not to react, but it doesn't seem to matter. The man is skinny like him, angular like him, but 023 can't see his face under a black balaclava. Suit is the same colour but slightly lighter, dark with subtle vertical stripes. He wears black gloves and a very straight tie. When the man finally brings his gaze to the curious young boy, he looks unhappy. Guilty, even.
"Bonjour."
023 just stares at him, not comprehending that the funny sound made by the strange man was a word. He will have to remember that sound so he can recreate it for 019. His donor's voice is much lower and far more gravelly than 023's.
The man glares at the guard standing behind 023, the other still behind him. He clears his throat conspicuously and raises an eyebrow.
"Dr. Jacobs’ orders are to stay put, sir."
The man sighs. "Of course. Can I talk to her please?"
"Negative. She doesn't want to see you."
"Can't we get a moment alone? I'm sure three cameras and a one way mirror are enough surveillance for a simple meeting between a man and his son, for goodness sake!"
The guard gets a message through his ear piece, and nods. The two both exit out of the door they had been guarding, probably still waiting on the other side. The man sighs again, and whispers "Finally." before turning back to 023.
"Hey there kid. What's your name?"
"My name is 023."
"Not your number, what's your name?"
023 thinks for a second. This man seems alright so far, and 023 wonders if he would get in trouble for playing his game with him.
"My name is Jeremy. What's yours, boss?"
"I can't tell you my name. It's a secret. You can call me dad."
"Alright dad, what're ya here for?"
"I'm here for you of course." 'Dad' leans in close to whisper something to 023: "I'm here to get you out of here."
"I know."
"Good, that'll make things easier. Listen closely: tonight at dinner time, you need to sneak out to the court. I'll be there and we can escape." as he whispers, he taps 023's foot with his shoe, and discretely pushes a slip of paper into his hand under the table. 023 understands a secret message when he gets one, and takes it without drawing attention. The man must be joining in on the game.
"Alright boss, I'll be dere. Hush hush, yeah?"
"Don't call me boss. I'm your father."
"Oh. Sorry."
Dad leans back in his chair, and glances over at the mirror. "What's it like in here? I imagine that it's a real horror story."
"I ain't heard no horror stories Dad, on account of 'em being too scary for the others. Not me though."
"...Right. Have you learned about human rights yet?"
"Sorta. I know dat dere good, an' everyone wants 'em."
Dad narrows his eyes at 023. "Do you always have a Boston accent?"
"Yes sir, I'm a born Bostonian, Jeremy Martinez. I live with my Ma and older brothers in New York city, and I work at the local pizza-"
"Stop it. Don't lie to me, and don't fool around like that. You're not from Boston, you're French, like me."
"I'm not French, I'm American!"
"You may have been born in America, and you may live in America, but you are of French blood, like me."
023 sinks into his chair, upset. He doesn't understand this rude, smelly man. He's not very good at the game, either. 023 is supposed to get to choose his own character, and he doesn't think it's very fair that the man gets to choose both their characters. He doesn't want to be French, and he doesn't want to be this 'Dad' character's son. What kind of name is Dad anyway? Must have been a weird movie.
"...I'm sorry to upset you, but you ought to take this seriously. ...What do they make you do in there?"
023 tries to come up with an answer that will satisfy this man.
"Well, we're learning all about the French revolution."
Dad raises both eyebrows. "Really?"
"Yeah, and how to make baguettes, and fancy cheese-"
"Stop it! I told you, don't lie to me!"
023 shrinks back from the outburst, flinching in anticipation of a smack. But instead of hitting him, Dad pinches his nose and leans back again in his seat. The pair sit in awkward silence for a moment. Dad makes a final attempt at conversation: "...Do you have any friends in here Jeremy? Are you even allowed to see other children?"
"I do, his name is 019."
"Right. Does he have a real name?
"Colonel Sam."
"...Right. And where did Sam's get his name?"
"He picked it."
"And did you pick Jeremy?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Well, do you want to know what name I had picked out for a son?"
"Okay."
"Philip."
023 rolls the name around in his mouth. 'Philip'. It sounds funny, like 'Dad', but 023 kind of likes it. Still not as good as Jeremy though. Maybe he'll have a go at being Philip tomorrow.
"Dad, do you have any other kids?"
"No. I wanted to have a child with your mother, but she had other ideas."
"My mother??"
"Well. I suppose Dr. Jacobs isn't technically your mother. My mistake."
That explains a lot. To be honest the idea of this Dr Jacobs being 023’s ‘mother’ is a little weird, and the idea that she and this terrible man ‘liked’ each other made him uncomfortable. He crosses his legs and stares over at the mirror. Another moment of silence passes.
“Sorry Jeremy, I suppose that was a little awkward of me. We still have a little bit of time left here, is there anything you wanted to ask me before I go?”
“Can I see your face?”
Dad doesn’t seem surprised by this request. He shakes his head and drops his gaze, smiling a little sadly.
“No can do sorry, too many cameras in here. Maybe one day when you're older we can meet up, and I’ll show you.”
“Okay.”
The guards walk back into the room, and gesture for the pair to leave. Both stand in unison, and Dad walks over to 023 with his arms outstretched. 023 isn’t sure what this means, so he just stays still as Dad kneels down and wraps his arms around the boy. Dad takes hold of the back of 023’s head and gently whispers in his ear: “Don’t let them see the note.” He gives the boy a kiss on the forehead, before getting up to leave. 023 just stands there, unsure of what just happened. He feels… warm, like when he hangs out with 019 after dinner, or when Dr. Jacobs pats him on the head whenever he beats his record time getting through an obstacle course. He’s pretty sure he’ll stink now too the same as Dad, but it doesn’t smell quite as bad that he’s gotten used to it a bit. He holds the tiny slip of paper tightly between his fingers, not having any pockets to put it into. The guard grabs his other arm and walks him out through the door, back to his home.
Dr. Jacobs is standing on the other side of the door, arms folded. “23, we heard what he said to you. You’re not to go out to the court, okay? Did he give you anything? Did you decipher any secret messages?”
023 keeps the piece of paper hidden between his fingers. He’s not going to spoil the game now, that would be no fun.
“No miss.”
“Are you sure? If any of our guards find out that you’re lying, you’ll be in big trouble young man.”
This scares 023 a little, but excites him too. A game’s no fun without stakes.
“I’m sure miss.”
Dr. Jacobs puts a hand on 023’s shoulder and maintains eye contact as she speaks: “23, I need you to know that that man is a liar and trickster. That’s his job. He might make you think that he wants the best for you, but he only ever thinks about himself. He’s dangerous, okay? Dangerous to be around, and dangerous to trust. You’ll be best off here where we can protect and nurture you, Okay?”
023 thinks hard about this. He’s starting to feel guilty for lying, even if it is just a game, and he’s afraid of whatever punishment there will be for disobeying. He wants to tell the truth, but it’s too late now; he’s already lied twice and owning up now might bring on a punishment anyway. He nods his head at Dr Jacobs, trying not to break eye contact.
“...Alright then.” She turns to the guard still holding 023’s arm. “Take him back please. Lunch will almost be over by now.”
Back in the mess hall, 023 can hardly wait to read the note. He zips over to his corner where he and 019 usually sit (019 currently doing some drawing elsewhere) and plonks down. He looks around to make sure he’s not being watched but of course; a security camera sits right above him. 023 tries to think where he’d be safe (the bathroom? Nope, cameras in there. He won’t be allowed back in his room at this time, and there are cameras there too), when he has an idea. The camera above him in the corner can only go so far down; if he stands directly under it, it won’t be able to see him. He looks around the room to make sure that nobody’s watching him, before standing up and stuffing his little body and tightly into the corner as he can. He removes the piece of paper from between his fingers and carefully unfolds it to read the message delicately written in tiny font. 023 can barely read it, but after a few minutes he manages to recognise enough of the words to understand what it means.
‘Don’t go to the courtyard. Wait in the mess hall, by the door nearest to the kitchen counter.’
023 excitedly looks around to make sure it’s still safe, before crumpling up the piece of paper and stuffing it under the bean bag. He trots excitedly over to see his friend, but as he’s stopped short by a guard. The guard towers over him, fixing him with an unimpressed glare. The guard walks 023 back over to the corner, where another has already lifted up the bean bag and taken the piece of paper. 023’s heart beats fast and frightened like a small bird, and he watches in absolute horror as Dr. Jacobs appears out of nowhere.
“I’m very disappointed in you, 023. Not just that you lied, but that you didn’t notice the two other cameras on the opposite wall!”
“I’m sorry for lying! It’s just a game, I’m not actually going to escape!”
The head researcher slaps him hard across the face, and he stumbles back a step. “You really think that’s all it is?? You think that a man who you’ve never met before today came all the way here and went through all the trouble of getting to see you just to ‘pretend’ to kidnap you? And what would you have done if he had come and taken you away? Would you have tried to stay with him, hidden in a basement or in the back of a car?”
023 feels his throat clench up, and his eyes prick with guilty, mortified tears. His face stings, but he keeps his hands by his sides how he’s been taught. Everyone is looking at him now, watching him get yelled at.
”This is serious, 023! Imagine if you had fallen into the hands of an enemy spy and been tortured for information, or dissected so they could use my science to make their own version of this institute? You could have been hurt, and most importantly you could have compromised our entire operation!”
The two just stand there for a second; Dr. Jacobs breathing heavily after yelling and 023 trying not to sob.
“Take him to his room. He is not to leave until morning.”