[one-shot] identities
[one-shot] identities
daehyun/youngjae
pg-13 | 3107 w
"Until when do you want to be in chains? Until when do you want to live like the others?" - Fight For Freedom, B.A.P
"Identity 0628," the voice called out, resounding through the thick walls of the jail cell. "Your daily rations," it dictated, slithering its metal arms through the thinly spaced iron bars. From the opposite side of the cell, a boy hung his head heavily, taking this moment as an opportunity to spit onto the dusty floors.
"Bring it back. I don't need filth like that," the boy hissed, kicking the meal tablet back at the android. Tilting its head at a perfect angle of ninety degrees, the android picked up the tablet and slid it back towards the boy.
"I'm sorry. Computing your choice of words proves to be difficult. Please refer to the Mato guidelines, and rephrase your question," it replied.
"Robotic piece of shit," the boy spat out. He picked up the tablet once again, and tightly gripped it before flinging it harshly towards the robot. "Can't compute that, can you?" 0628 taunted, slightly smirking. Unable to recognize the boy's actions any further, the android wheeled away through the halls, ignoring the moans and pleas from the other identities. The boy bit his lips at the helpless cellmates, grasping onto patches of hair. Inching towards the corner, he swallowed back a harsh wave of tears, and wrapped his arms around his legs.
"It'll end soon. We'll win the war, and this will all end soon," he whispered, unsure whether or not he was confidently stating the facts or unsuccessfully attempting to reassure himself. Rocking himself back and forth, the boy continued till his eyelids grew heavy.
"Rise and shine, identities!" A cheerful voice shrilled through the hallways, followed by a trail of groans. "Another bright day for us all! There's no reason to be spending it in such discontent," the android sang, wheeling around on his freshly greased tracks. "As you may or may not know, we've reached another end to the week. Despite having to give up a couple extra identities last week, we'll still another batch this week. It's not our fault that a couple of your fellow identities decided to misbehave," he chuckled. "Anyways, like I repeat every time, you are not just helping yourself by serving as a specimen, you're helping all of Mato," the android pronounced, dripping with pride for his nation in each and every word. 0628 lifted his hands and cupped them over his ears, tired of repetitively hearing the speech.
"Okay, since identities 0601 to 0610 were called down last week, and we had to give up 0611 to 0620 as well, we'll be starting today's batch at 0621 to 0630. If your number correspond to these, please stand up," the voice continued. The boy's hands slowly slid off his ears as he stood up, and walked towards the cell entrance. The other identities looked at him with pitiful stares, and he could feel a constricting suffocation rise through his body. The result was inevitable; the androids were precise with order, so he knew it was his turn. There was no reason to deny it, because the bots would find you anyways.
"Alright, we've unlocked your doors. Push through them, and follow me in an orderly fashion," it directed, wheeling towards the hallway gate. "And remember, don't think of escaping. The cyborgs are watching," the android chuckled, gesturing towards the bulkier robots lined up on the side.
"Identity 0628, this is where you will be staying," the droid stated, motioning towards the empty, white room. "Since you're one of the special specimens, another identity will be joining you shortly," it continued before locking him in the room, and exiting.
The boy moved a hand across the pristine bed sheets and perfectly angled picture frames. Even if the new room was a higher quality than his cell, the boy felt suffocated from the pressuring ideal of conformity that emitted from it. At least in his cell, he was given the opportunity to ruin it as much as he wanted. Knocking one of the frames down as a small gesture of breaking from the norm, 0628 moved towards one of the corners, and slid down. Before he could place his head in between his knees, the boy was interrupted by a sharp rapping on the door.
"Identity 0628? We have another identity joining you," an android informed, shoving in another boy through the door. "Now that the both of you are here, let me just go over a few simple rules," it added. "One, don't try to rebel. As you may have been informed from stories of past identities, going against our orders will result in an immediate memory wipe out, which may also be lethal. Two, make sure that you are dressed in the proper fashion each day when you come to the experimentation lab at noon. We don't want you to be standing out, now do we?" the android joked, causing 0628 to hold back a wave of rage.
"Lastly, don't try to kill yourselves," the android paused, waiting for a suspenseful reaction from the two before continuing, "that's our job." With that, the bot wheeled out of the room, leaving the two boys to face each other with expressions of confusion. The stranger looked up at 0628 for a few minutes before opening his mouth.
"I'm identity 0124, but my Earth name's Youngjae," he stated, waiting for the other boy's introduction.
"I'm 0628," he replied, racking his brain to remember his Earth title. "And I think my name was Daehyun, or at least something along the lines of that," the boy murmured. Youngjae creased his eyes into small crescents, before they faltered at the sight of the room.
"I'm guessing the droids forgot to add a pop of color to the room, huh?" he joked, drawing out a quick snort from Daehyun. Daehyun felt an odd feeling run through his body, something that he had learned to forget over the couple of years that he was imprisoned on Mato.
Trust.
"Welcome to the experimentation lab, lovely identities. Here you are not only improving the life conditions for our Mato citizens, but you are also giving your fellow identities the chance to live for a few more days," the robot preached. "Our hospice androids will be taking good care of you today, so ease up, and don't be too tense," it continued with a monotone voice. Finished with its speech, the bot rode out of the laboratory. Daehyun stared with an emotionless expression as the hospice androids began filing in one by one.
"What do you think they'll do?" A voice murmured, earning the attention of a few androids. A quick line of laser was fired directly at the voice behind Daehyun, almost slicing off his ear. A few silent screams resounded through the facility, and Daehyun could feel Youngjae tense up next to him.
"Did the boarding android not go over all the rules? Another slip-up just in this month," one of the hospice androids mused. "One of the rules is that you don't do anything unless given further direction. I don't think any of us gave directions for that identity to speak, so he received a punishment," the droid added on. Youngjae slowly moved his head to glance at the body behind him, and felt a faint taste of bile run up his throat as he saw the eyeballs bulging from their sockets. Noticing how Youngjae's body was trembling, Daehyun inched closer, and wrapped his hand around the other boy's hand. As if silently telling Youngjae to calm down, Daehyun squeezed the other's hand a few times. Once he felt Youngjae return to a normal heart rate, Daehyun faced the hospice android.
"Each day will be a new experiment, and as previously mentioned, you are not allowed to decline any of our directions," it stated. "Without further ado, we'll be splitting you into groups to test out various things," the android spoke as he motioned towards the two individual doors. As the droids began to place the identities into groups, Daehyun faced Youngjae as subtly as possible.
"No matter what either of us has to go through behind those doors, our sanctum will be the room. Just get through whatever obstacles they have laid out for you here and I'll be waiting for you," he directed, receiving a hesitant nod from Youngjae. Although the two had only met a moment before they were called down to the lab, Daehyun felt that he could only justify himself by protecting Youngjae. By showing that he still had some ideals of humanity, Daehyun could protect himself from the conformist styles of Mato. Also, he felt a strange feeling of warmth when he was around Youngjae.
Daehyun stirred in his sleep at the sound of his room door clicking, and he lifted his torso from the bed. Blinking a few times to adjust his eyes, he looked towards the door, and saw Youngjae sprawled across the floor. Alarmed at the motionless body, he threw the comforters aside, and jumped down towards Youngjae.
"Youngjae, what happened?" Daehyun questioned, pulling the boy's head onto his lap. Youngjae opened his mouth to respond, but only a hoarse whisper came out.
"They were testing out something called benzodiazepine. I think it's a type of tranquilizer. Nothing that bad, but I feel really tired," he coughed out, finding comfort in Daehyun's lap. "Can I just sleep here for tonight? The bed's not really all that welcoming," Youngjae whispered. Running his fingers through Youngjae's hair, Daehyun silently nodded, and watched the other quietly lull himself to sleep. He needed to find a way to escape, not just for himself, but for Youngjae's sake as well.
"Another day, another test!" The boarding android sang through the hallways, waking up the identities. "You know the drill, file your merry way towards the testing facility," it chimed before wheeling through a door.
"Youngjae, let's go," Daehyun lifted the boy off his lap, and threw on his laboratory gown. Youngjae felt his face heat up at Daehyun's naked torso, and quickly shifted his gaze towards the floor. Noting Youngjae's reddish tint, Daehyun smiled, and walked towards him. Slipping his hand right into Youngjae's, Daehyun flashed another smile towards the boy, and motioned towards the door.
"Another day, another test."
"Youngjae, wake up," Daehyun quietly demanded as he shook the other boy. "We don't have much time, the droids are going to be back soon," he warned. Rubbing his half-closed lids, Youngjae lifted his torso from the mattress, and gripped his forehead. Feeling a sharp pang jolt through his shoulder, Youngjae let out a quick gasp, and groaned at the pain.
"Fucking hell, what was yesterday's experiment? I can't remember a thing," he asked, silently screaming at the intense pain.
"Your group had lethal injections. The same kind shot out from a cnidocyst," Daehyun replied, rubbing a murky colored ointment onto Youngjae's afflicted area. "But if we're going to go through with the plan, I need you to try and ignore the pain," he continued, wrapping a piece of his torn shirt around the other boy's wound. Youngjae looked back at Daehyun with a confused expression.
"What plan are you talking about?" he questioned. Daehyun grinned towards the other, and drew out an imaginary circle with his fingertips.
"We're going back to Earth," he proclaimed, catching the shocked look on Youngjae's face. "It sounds impossible, trust me, I know. But I've been planning this for the past few days," he assured. Feeling Youngjae tense up, Daehyun bit his lip. "Was this a bad decision? Do you not want to leave?" Daehyun asked. Youngjae gave out a short chuckle before turning to face Daehyun.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting to leave this hell? Not even a severed limb could hold me back," he joked, receiving a small smile from the other. "How are we even going to leave though? There's a guard cyborg at every sector entrance," Youngjae stated with an underlying tone of doubt.
"I thought you said nothing would be able to hold you back? We're risking it all to escape. Whether we make it out alive or not, it's still better to have died trying than to be wiped out by these experiments," Daehyun mused, looking directly into Youngjae's eyes. "And you're forgetting that I'll be there right next to you," he continued on, sliding his hand into the other boy's. Watching Youngjae's eyes shake in worry, Daehyun reassuringly squeezed his hand. Daehyun lifted his other hand onto Youngjae's cheek, and slowly placed his lips over the other's. Even with the tough front Youngjae gave off, Daehyun felt the boy tremble through his lips. Pulling back, Daehyun looked at the other boy with a determined stare.
"Nothing will happen to you, I promise."
"Identities 0628 and 0124 have gone missing. Repeat. Identities 0628 and 0124 have gone missing. If seen anywhere throughout the building or on laboratory grounds, please usher them back to testing room B," a voice rang through the speakers. The androids halted for a second before giving each other confused looks, and wheeling to testing room B. As he watched the androids disappear, Daehyun lifted himself off his knees.
"Do you see the cyborg down there? It's a bit dysfunctional. I overheard one of the hospice droids prescribing a test run for it. If I aim correctly, I think I can throw it off balance for a few minutes while we escape," Daehyun murmured, eyes closing onto his target. He pulled out a few chunks of iron that he managed to slice off from the bed in his cell. As he was about to throw the piece of metal towards the cyborg, Daehyun felt a quick tug on his wrist. He turned back, and gave a questioning glance towards Youngjae.
"I'm worried," the other boy whispered, shifting his gaze towards the ground. Daehyun's mouth formed into a small smile before he ruffled Youngjae's hair.
"Are you really going to have doubtful thoughts now? I told you, we've got nothing to lose," he reassured. Youngjae lifted his head up, revealing a stern expression.
"No, I have something to lose," he whispered, "You." An expression of shock flashed across Daehyun's face before it was replaced with a widespread smile.
"That's not something that Youngjae needs to worry about. I'm capable enough to protect you for me, and me for you," he grinned. "Just trust me," he added on, turning his back to face the cyborg. Gripping onto the piece of metal, Daehyun swiftly threw it onto the cyborg's switch, momentarily knocking it out.
"Monitor cyborg down in sector A, east wing. Please give assistance," an announcement rang through the halls.
"Hurry, leave now. No hesitations," Daehyun ordered, pushing Youngjae ahead of him. After checking for any straggling androids, Daehyun followed shortly after.
"Intruders in sector A, mid-west wing. All units towards sector A, mid-west wing."
"Shit," Daehyun breathed, grabbing onto Youngjae's wrist and increasing their pace. "More monitor cyborgs are going to be here any second, we need to speed it up," he stated, receiving Youngjae's nod in reply.
"Identities 0628 and 0124 have been spotted." A voice beeped behind the two, causing Youngjae to trip in shock.
"Don't look back, Youngjae. Just keep running forward," Daehyun instructed as he turned around, and threw one of the tranquilizing darts saved from earlier experiments. Using one hand to push Youngjae on and the other to attack swarming androids, Daehyun quietly cursed once he ran out of darts. At that moment, a small laser was pointed towards Youngjae's back.
"Target achieved," one of the bots beeped, facing its laser towards Youngjae. Opening his eyes in alarm, Daehyun blocked the shot with his body, wincing in pain as the laser shot his shoulder. Despite Daehyun's previous warning, Youngjae turned back to face Daehyun, and widened his eyes at the wound.
"Dae-," Youngjae began to speak, but was cut off by Daehyun shoving him forward.
"I said to not look back, didn't I? I'm fine, just keep going through," he instructed, reassuring the other while gripping a hand on his wound. They were near the entrance, and Daehyun wasn't going to lose this opportunity when he was so close. Turning his head left and right, the boy looked for any possible weapons when he noticed the termination button on one of the walls. Although a key was needed to activate it, if shot at properly, Daehyun could easily explode sector A. He took out one of the pieces of metal from before, and aimed it directly at the middle. A burst of flame began to rise through the sector, and explode all of the androids in its path. Daehyun grabbed onto Youngjae's collar, and pulled the two out of the experimentation facility. Feeling lightheaded from the loss of blood, Daehyun slowly closed his eyelids. As long as Youngjae was saved, he was saved as well.
Youngjae blinked his eyes a few times, and pulled himself off of the ground. He looked around, and felt a smile grow widely on his face when he realized his surroundings.
"Daehyun? Daehyun, get up! We made it," Youngjae beamed, shaking the motionless boy on the ground. "Daehyun?" he questioned with pretense. A strange feeling of being choked was forming in Youngjae's throat, and he breathed heavily to gasp for air. "Daehyun, wake up," he beckoned, trying to swallow back a harsh upcoming of tears. Feeling the other's body gradually weighing less, cold tears rolled down Youngjae's warm cheeks.
"You're safe," Daehyun whispered, reaching an arm up to wipe off the other's tears. "You're safe, and that's all that matters," he murmured.
"Next time, I get to choose what we watch," Daehyun muttered, listing critiques about the movie. Youngjae only chuckled in response before slipping his arm into Daehyun's.
"Or maybe next time, someone won't be so stubborn, and will just agree on going to a restaurant. I never agreed on watching a movie, you know. Someone was just too lazy to drive an extra mile," Youngjae chimed, grinning at the other's look of defeat. Laughing at Daehyun's sour expression, Youngjae leaned over, and pecked the other on the lips before running towards the car. Shaking his head at the other's cute antics, Daehyun quickly followed behind.
Ten years had passed since the two identities escaped the planet, Mato. Although they were forced to live hidden lives in order to protect themselves, the fact alone that they were able to escape being a life of endless suffering was enough. The only possible thing they could offer now was to believe that the two entities would be able to reach equilibrium, and find peace.