Soulless: Awakening - Chapter Seven
Title: Soulless: Awakening
Chapter: 7/11
Fandom: SS501, cameos of Super Junior, BEAST and SHINee
Pairing: KyuMinSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: AU, Dystopia, Angst
Summary: Arc I. The year is 400 AM…400 After Man. Humankind is extinct, but they didn’t leave Earth uninhabited. For 400 years androids have lived in their place. Citizens have the same thoughts, same likes and same dislikes as every other android in their model. But even an automated society has its troublemakers. A terrorist group calling themselves the Soulfuls operate outside their model programming and stir unrest. The government advises all citizens to report any Soulful activity immediately, and to stay away from them, for Soulfuls are those infected with a virus causing them to behave erratically…a very contagious virus…
A/N: Arc I was written for National Novel Writing Month 2010, hope you enjoy! Do not own the characters, but the plot is all mine. Please comment <3 Also, congrats to hyunaepark for guessing the pairing and giving me a reason to FINALLY list it XP <333 ILYBB~~~
”You in position, Kyu?”
“Yeah. I think.”
”…You’re not lost, are you?”
“No! I’m just not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing.”
”You’re never sure what you’re supposed to be doing. We make it work, don’t we?”
”Guys, stop clogging the line, YoungSaeng’s trying to concentrate.”
KyuJong and JungMin both stopped talking at the mild reminder from HyunJoong that they were, in fact, one a mission and YoungSaeng was at this moment trying to break into one of the most secured networks in the metropolis.
All they could hear from YoungSaeng’s end of the line was light tapping as the Model 3 hacked his way into the city communications network. He was at that moment, sitting inside the base of the revolving skyscraper in 4-01 that overlooked the whole city. The skyscraper was actually a giant antenna, from where all wireless communications stemmed. Since technology had moved far past wires millennia ago, that meant all the communications were in this tower.
They were attempting to break inside and scramble the communications. At least, that was YoungSaeng’s part. If he managed to succeed, then it was KyuJong’s turn. Being more savvy in information than the others thanks to his Model, it was his job to, in the limited time frame they had before the law came down on them, to send out a universal message to the entire city using the same system the city did for the sector alerts.
It was the result of KyuJong pointing out that while explosions and targeting the buildings of the hated government class, the Model 2 class, it didn’t exactly spread the message they intended.
“They think you’re just virus infected,” KyuJong had told them while they were all sitting down in the same room one day. “Well, you are, but not the kind of virus they think. Explosions don’t say the kind of free thought that people want to have. Instead of being marketed as terrorists to keep the Models in line, why don’t you try for a slightly more peaceful angle instead?”
“That’s what the 8’s did, and look at them,” JungMin had wrinkled his nose at that.
“But they didn’t have the resources and the support you do now,” KyuJong persisted. “It would turn out a lot different now. You just need to show them that you’re nothing to be afraid of.”
HyunJoong had been the first to support him, slowly nodding his head. “That would work. I’ll run it through with the other cell, and we’ll see what comes up.”
‘What came up’ was this mission. KyuJong settled himself in a blind spot in the corner of the tower, having snuck in with YoungSaeng. YoungSaeng’s mission was to get through the primary security system and shut down all the cameras and drones in the area. KyuJong was to follow up by bypassing the secondary security and sending out the message.
It was a risky, stupid mission, and KyuJong wondered how he had agreed to it at first. But it wasn’t as bad as it could be. They had help, in the form of the 14-member first cell of the Soulful organization.
SungMin, the Model 3 KyuJong had spotted with RyeoWook in the hallways, was crouching beside him as backup in case KyuJong was attacked in the middle of his mission. YoungSaeng had similar help, in the form of HanKyung, someone YeSung had introduced as the sole survivor of the Old China Soulless invasion. He didn’t talk much, but he seemed friendly enough, with light smiles and accented jokes.
YeSung was hanging around outside the tower with quite a few of the others, to watch for the Model 3’s that were bound to show up and stop them from getting inside the tower until YoungSaeng and KyuJong were done. Some were supposed to slip inside once the cameras were down and join them.
Not all the members were there though. RyeoWook and KyuHyun were on standby back in HQ, readying the infirmary in case anything went wrong. And even including them, KyuJong had counted only 13 members of the first cell…they were missing one.
Shaking his head to clear it, KyuJong exchanged a look with SungMin beside him as they waited for YoungSaeng to give the all-clear. The second the security was down, they would have to move fast…which was why KyuJong was chosen for the job. There were few Model 6’s in the organization, he’d noticed. The only other 6 besides him was a young man named Henry, who wasn’t even from this metropolis so he had no chance at helping break into it. They barely understood him at times.
A click sounded over the line, and suddenly the whole building was plunged into darkness. ”Your turn Kyu,” YoungSaeng said, and SungMin stood.
“Why did you turn the lights off?” KyuJong sighed, flipping down his visor. No wonder JungMin had given him this; he didn’t have a night-vision implant yet, and would have stumbled around in the dark if not for the visor.
”To make things a little trickier on the security system,” YoungSaeng replied, both in his ear and right beside him; he’d reappeared, glowing green in KyuJong’s visor. “Ready?”
”Time to move, and move fast,” HyunJoong said. KyuJong could hear HeeChul saying the same thing in the background of HyunJoong’s end of the line, the first cell on a different frequency from them.
Nodding, KyuJong stood and ran to the controls up on the raised platform. The security systems that had been in place had disappeared, and KyuJong was able to make his way to the control board unhindered. SungMin lingered behind him, turning around to face in the opposite direction. YoungSaeng remained in the shadows around the edge of the room, keeping watch as well.
One of the good things about his Model was that, while he failed at the fighting and sneaking around aspect of his new life, he really could process information fast. YoungSaeng had known how to get past the first security system, having done it before, but no one had tried messing with the second system yet. KyuJong hadn’t either, but he was a very, very fast learner.
Taking in the controls around him, KyuJong tapped a few words into the inferface and watched as information was spewed back out at him. He could do this. “I’ll need a moment to figure out how it works. Can I have three minutes?”
“We can give you five,” HyunJoong replied. “But no more. The city’s discovered something isn’t right, and they’d dispatched some 3’s to find out what.”
KyuJong nodded in understanding and got to work. The security system was intricate, code that he didn’t know flashing through the monitors as his hands flew along the controls at high speeds. Within seconds, he knew exactly what the symbols he didn’t recognize meant, and how to manipulate them. Focusing on his job, he leaned in a little closer.
He had just about gotten past the security system when suddenly the sound of fighting erupted across the line. JungMin was engaged with a 3; that was obvious from the loud curse that reached them. YoungSaeng fidgeted behind him, walking to the hole in the wall they’d entered and back. HanKyung, who had been doing the same, was suddenly called outside to help when more 3’s showed up than they’d planned for.
A minute later, HyunJoong was fighting as well, and then it was HyungJoon giving them the updates from outside the building. Three-quarters of the Soulful cell members were occupied with Model 3’s, the ones left keeping guard. No one was injured yet. No, scratch that, YeSung was out with a slash to the back. Not a cause for alarm, he added wryly. There had yet to be a fight of any kind where YeSung hasn’t sustained any damage whatsoever.
KyuJong listened to all this, biting his lower lip as he worked. He was worried for the others, but he couldn’t let it get in his way. A few more seconds at the controls and then the security system was down completely, the communications software laid bare to him. “I’m in, sending the message now.”
”Hurry up,” JungMin panted.
Doing just that, KyuJong composed the message in the software. With a press of a button it was gone, and KyuJong reactivated his communications link with the city interface to see the evacuation warnings for 4-01 and 4-02 be replaced by one line that scrolls across his vision.
The time to rise up is now. Free thinkers step up and make the changes you want to see in the world. Soulfuls are waiting for you.
Smiling in triumph, KyuJong flicked off the city interface again and stepped away from the controls, quickly locking it down so the government couldn’t tamper with the original message.
“Ready?” SungMin grinned at him, eyes dancing. They all recognized this was a big step forward.
“Yeah,” KyuJong returned the grin with one of his own, hopping down off the platform and landing on his feet neatly.
“Let’s go then,” YoungSaeng smiled at them both, heading towards the hole.
BANG!
KyuJong yelped as pincers closed around his shoulders, lifting him up off the ground. Kicking wildly, he looked up to see one of the panels in the ceiling had been opened, a drone twice his size hanging out with large pincers that could slice him in half with one snap. Eyes widening, KyuJong struggled, gasping as the pincers dug into his shoulders.
There was a flash of black hair, and suddenly the painful pressure was gone. KyuJong dropped back to the ground, wincing, and jumped when two metal pincers landed beside him. YoungSaeng straightened, eyes hard and blades in his hands, as SungMin pulled KyuJong to his feet.
“RUN!”
KyuJong broke into a run the second he got his balance back, as the drone crashed to the ground where he had just been standing. Looking back once he reached the hole in the wall, he saw SungMin and YoungSaeng facing down the large insect-like robot, rearing up to its full height and towering over them. The severed arms shifted, gears turning and pulleys moving until new pincers appeared where the old ones had been cut off.
It attacked them both, six orb-like eyes glowing red as it identified them as targets. SungMin and YoungSaeng rolled out of the way before the latter lashed back, blades coming up against a shell of metal and drawing a screeching sound as it was dragged along the shell, leaving a sliver of metal to fall to the ground.
Caught off-guard by the strong protections, YoungSaeng stayed still for a second too long and was hit by a whip-like tail, the 3 slammed against the wall with a shout.
“YoungSaeng!” KyuJong yelled, running to him. SungMin fought back the large pincers that came at him, clenching his jaw and glancing at them as he held the drone off the best he could.
KyuJong crouched next to YoungSaeng, and winced when he realized one arm had been broken by the crash. “You okay to move?” he asked, wrapping the 3’s good arm around his shoulders and helping him to his feet. YoungSaeng winced, nodding. Then his attention went back to the drone, and his eyes widened. “SungMin, your feet!”
Looking up, KyuJong was just in time to see SungMin hit the ground, knocked off his feet by the end of the drone’s tail. A pincer closed around his waist and lifted him up off the ground, the Model 3 struggling to land a clear hit. The pincer gripped tighter, and SungMin cried out in pain as sparks started to fly.
“Wait,” KyuJong’s eyes widened. “I thought their job was to capture us, not kill us?!”
“Not this one,” YoungSaeng panted, struggling to reach his gun, which had landed not far away. “This…we didn’t know they had a third level of security. This one’s programmed for search and destroy.”
Eyes widening further, KyuJong watched helplessly as SungMin screamed, his weapon dropping from his fingers as he was slowly being sliced in half.
Something happened then. It was almost automatic, the way KyuJong scrambled for the first weapon he could find…YoungSaeng’s gun. There was no actual thought involved, no processing of information. Within the same instance KyuJong had realized the friendly Model 3 was going to die, he had picked up the gun and switched settings to the one he had seen to pierce through even the thickest metal, aimed, and fired.
The drone released a metallic screeching noise as its arm was severed again, SungMin dropped to the ground. Eyes wide, KyuJong watched as the drone turned towards him, its remaining pincer clicking as its tail dug up the floor. Aiming again, KyuJong fired, right between the drone’s six eyes. The drone jerked around, red eyes swiveling. KyuJong’s hands were shaking as it kept on coming, backing him against the wall.
A warm hand settled over his own, YoungSaeng steadying his aim with his good hand. KyuJong glanced at the Model 3, seeing YoungSaeng nod, before looking back towards the drone. There was no actual communication, no verbalization or signal of any kind, other than the nod and the determination in YoungSaeng’s eyes as the Model 3 redirected his aim.
Sighting again and letting YoungSaeng help him hold the gun steady, KyuJong pulled the trigger.
The bullet blasted right through the drone’s forehead, all its remaining limbs thrashing around and sending pieces of the floor flying. By some instinct, KyuJong pulled YoungSaeng close and hid him from the flying debris. The drone keened, then the glow in its eyes went out and it crashed to the ground, not moving.
Panting, KyuJong slowly let go of YoungSaeng, looking down at the android in his arms. YoungSaeng looked back up at him, eyes unreadable.
A soft noise made them jump, KyuJong looking up, but it was just SungMin, the other man trying to push the pincer around his waist away. The gasps of pain snapped KyuJong back to reality.
“SungMin! Are you all right?” KyuJong dropped the gun and ran over, eyes widening when he saw the state the 3 was in. His waist was sliced open from the sharp pincers, both halves of the android only being kept together by the metal that made up his spine and a few pulleys. Sparks flew all over the place, and SungMin was clearly in a lot of pain. Androids could take a lot of damage with only minimal pain, but nearly being sliced in two wasn’t covered in that.
“I’ll live,” groaned the 3, smiled weakly as KyuJong helped him remove the pincers’ grip from his waist, dropping the severed arm to one side. YoungSaeng walked along behind the Model 6, one arm hanging uselessly but other than that all right. He held his gun in the other hand.
”Guys! Guys! What’s going on?!”
KyuJong jumped, finally becoming aware that the background noise he had been hearing was HyungJoon screaming into the line.
“Ambushed,” YoungSaeng said quietly, his voice far steadier than KyuJong would have been able to manage. “There was a third level of security. SungMin’s heavily injured, we need a clear shot out.”
”We’re trying,” HyungJoon replied, sounding strained. ”There are a lot of 3’s around. HyunJoong’s down, so is YoungWoon, and it’s not getting any better.”
YoungSaeng and KyuJong looked at each other. “We’re on our way,” YoungSaeng said, straightening. “Kyu yah, can you carry SungMin? There’s no way he can walk like that.”
KyuJong nodded, crouching down. With YoungSaeng’s one-armed assistance, he was able to get SungMin onto his back.
“Sorry,” SungMin murmured.
“Nothing to be sorry about, you did good,” KyuJong smiled over his shoulder at the android, straightening. “Let’s get out of here.”
They carefully made their way back through the hole they’d used to get in. Movement was slow and awkward, with YoungSaeng having only the use of one arm and KyuJong carrying SungMin, wincing at the sparks that struck his back every now and then. Now that they weren’t occupied with a fight, they could hear all the noise at the other end of the line. It sounded like everyone was engaged in some sort of fight.
Finally they got out, KyuJong straightening with a groan and looking around. No one was nearby. YoungSaeng told HyungJoon they were out before leading the way to the nearest HQ entrance, the building with the trap door.
They were just about there when they were joined by HeeChul, HyungJoon, and a Model 4 named SiWon who was carrying HyunJoong on his own back. Taking a second look at the cell leader, KyuJong winced when he realized the awkward angle of one leg, and the smashed-in kneecap.
“Hey,” HyunJoong smiled at them, the expression a little strained. “It’s done?”
YoungSaeng nodded. “Where’s Min ah?”
“Acting as a distraction with the others,” HeeChul said. “They’ll be leading the 3’s in a chase across the sectors while all the cripples get out,” He said, snorting. “Come on, we don’t have enough time for chit-chat.” He slid up to the revolving wall, and the second the alley was covered in shadow from the revolving disc he was gone.
The others followed him, KyuJong and SungMin going in after HyunJoong and SiWon. As he slipped through the trick wall, KyuJong saw YoungSaeng watching the alley they’d come from with worry in his eyes.
The trap door through the floor was a little trickier to get through, but thankfully KyuJong had practiced the art of jumping down without landing in a way that could break something. He instructed SungMin to wrap his arms around his neck and drew in a deep breath before jumping down the hole. He was in freefall for a few seconds before his sensors beeped at him and he landed in a crouch, wincing at the jarring feeling and then at the gasp of pain from SungMin.
RyeoWook was waiting with wide eyes and a stretcher. He stepped up to help KyuJong get SungMin off his back and onto it. “I’ll take care of him,” he smiled reassuringly when KyuJong continued to hover. Nodding, the Model 6 turned back to YoungSaeng. “Your arm.”
“Not that urgent,” YoungSaeng shook his head, eyeing the others. YoungWoon and YeSung had just arrived, the former suffering a blow to the head and YeSung with a crushed chest plate. “We’ll have to prioritize who needs repairs first, we’re rather limited until the others get back. Right now, SungMin gets top priority as the one who was nearly cut in half.”
“What do you people do to yourselves?” KyuHyun sighed, rolling another stretcher out for HyunJoong as the person who couldn’t walk.
“Don’t answer that,” HyunJoong chuckled, easing himself onto the stretcher as SiWon let him down. “JungMin should be in to help with repairs soon.”
“He’s not repairing me,” YeSung declared adamantly. “I still remember last time.”
“Min ah can work on me,” YoungSaeng smiled.
“Yeah, you’re the only one he won’t sabotage.”
KyuJong walked alongside YoungSaeng as the group headed towards the infirmary, HyungJoon running ahead to set up.
Something out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention, and he turned his head slightly. His eyes met those of a man he didn’t know, watched from the side. KyuJong blinked, then did a double-take. It wasn’t the same man he’d seen inside that room before, the unknown Model, but…he didn’t know what Model this one was either.
The unknown man looked away from him, his eyes scanning through the others. After a moment, he sighed. “JongWoon, are you still offering yourself up as a scapegoat?”
JongWoon? KyuJong blinked. He knew the names of everyone here, and none of them were a JongWoon.
His confusion doubled when YeSung laughed. “Sorry, I tried my best!”
“Hey KiBum, we’re missing hands for the infirmary,” KyuHyun called.
“Is that a hint?” The strange Model named KiBum shook his head in amusement before falling in alongside YeSung, who all but attached himself to him.
KyuJong blinked, looking to YoungSaeng for an explanation. “Why did he call him JongWoon?”
YoungSaeng’s smile was a little forced. “Long, long story. KiBum’s the only one who calls YeSung ‘JongWoon’ though.”
Frowning, KyuJong looked at YoungSaeng for a moment longer, hoping he would give away more information, but the 3 remained silent. Sighing inwardly, KyuJong returned his attention to the others, watching as they walked towards the infirmary.
They had just arrived when JungMin finally reported in. ”All done,” the redhead said through the line. ”We’re leaving them to chase their tails at the other end of the city for a few hours.”
“Great job Min ah,” YoungSaeng chuckled. “See you soon. I’ll need a repair once you’re back.”
”Eh? What did you do this time?” there was a worried note in the 7’s voice.
“Nothing too serious,” YoungSaeng replied quickly.
”…Right. KyuJong, because I know you’re there, what happened to YoungSaeng?”
“Broken arm,” KyuJong replied, and moved away from YoungSaeng when the Model 3 hit him off the shoulder.
”That’s nothing?” JungMin huffed. ”I’ll be there in five, don’t break anything else.”
“Yes sir,” YoungSaeng sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
Stepping into the infirmary, KyuJong moved out of the way so KyuHyun, RyeoWook and HyungJoon could get to work. RyeoWook took care of YeSung, with KiBum sitting on a spare bed next to the Model 5. KyuJong was tempted to ask what his role in the organization was, but had the feeling he wouldn’t be answered again.
To take his mind off the endless questions, he wandered to where HyungJoon was muttering to himself as he set about fixing HyunJoong’s legs. “How bad is it?” KyuJong asked, watching.
“Well, the leg with the crushed kneecap is a lost cause, the joint will have to be completely replaced. The other leg I can repair. If he doesn’t go and get his legs stuck under a rolling drone again.” HyungJoon pouted at HyunJoong, who chuckled.
“My apologies for making your job more difficult.”
KyuJong leaned back. “Anything I can do?” he asked.
HyungJoon shook his head. “Not really, other than watch our idiot of a leader when he decides to pull stunts in the middle of a mission.”
YoungSaeng laughed quietly. “He’s always doing that, there’s no stopping him. I think it’s a bad habit he got from Min ah.”
”Who am I infecting now?” JungMin piped up.
“HyunJoong with your urge to show off while fighting.”
”I have no problem taking credit for that, except for one problem.”
“Which would be?”
”He was already like that when I got here.”
HyunJoong started protesting, KyuJong bursting into laughter. The laughter only grew as HyungJoon covered their leader’s mouth with repair tape to keep him quiet while he concentrated.
It was a weird feeling, being around them. KyuJong knew he’d laughed before meeting the Soulfuls, but it had always seemed so hollow, so superficial. When he laughed now, it was a feeling that swelled up inside him until he felt like he could burst from it, and he didn’t want it to ever end.
JungMin popped into the room a few minutes later. “Hey!” He waved at them, before walking over to YoungSaeng and taking his broken arm to inspect it. “Huh, at least it’s a clean snap. All right you, up on a bed.”
“It’s my arm, not my leg, I don’t need to lie down,” YoungSaeng pointed out.
“I say you do. You fidget while I’m working.”
KyuJong watched with amusement as YoungSaeng huffed before slipped back onto the bed beside HyunJoong, laying down. “Happy?”
KyuJong watched the redhead step up and begin to work on repairing YoungSaeng’s arm. Once they found out it would be a while before any of them left the infirmary, the Model 6 excused himself to wander around HQ.
There were still plenty of things he didn’t know about the underground hideout, and listening to them volley back and forth comments that sometimes made no sense to him was giving him the android equivalent to a headache.
Leaving the room, KyuJong walked down the hallways at a leisurely pace, looking around at everything. The different paintings around the walls kept drawing his attention. JungMin had explained that while some of them had chipped in with the artworks, the majority of the walls and ceilings were decorated by their resident artist, who apparently had nothing really to do since he wasn’t in a cell and refused to help with their plans unless his opinion was sorely needed.
They were nice, KyuJong thought to himself as he turned into the hallway where the rooms were again. His attention was drawn by the yellow circle in the ceiling again…the sun, he corrected himself mentally. YoungSaeng had told him it was the sun. It made him wonder if he would ever see the sun for himself one day.
He was halfway through the corridor when he paused. The door to the room where he’d seen that unknown Model was open. Blinking, KyuJong looked around before peering inside. He didn’t see anyone. Why was the door open?
KyuJong wrestled with himself for a long moment, staring at it and biting his lower lip. He knew he should look around inside, it wasn’t his room and the man who owned it clearly didn’t want anyone inside. But at the same time…he couldn’t hold back his curiosity.
Finally, the curiosity won out and KyuJong took slow steps forward until he was in the doorway. Nudging the ajar door a little further open, he looked around inside. “Hello?”
There was no one. Confused, KyuJong took a few steps into the room…and stopped in amazement.
The wall that had been hidden by the door was covered in a huge sheet of canvas. It took him a moment to recognize it as canvas; it had been one of the things in the vault along with paper. Turning around to face it fully, KyuJong stared at the painting on the otherwise blank canvas.
It was the view of a valley from high up, a stream of blue flowing between the mountains where they met. The green and brown things KyuJong had come to associate with trees dotted the mountain sides, and framed the edge of the painting. The painting didn’t look fully completed, some parts only sketched in with a pencil, but it was breathtaking. Stretching from one end of the wall to the other, KyuJong couldn’t recall ever seeing something so…beautiful.
“…Oh.”
The quiet noise behind him snapped KyuJong out of his daze, and he turned around to meet wide, brown eyes staring at him in shock.
It was the unknown Model.
“Oh, sorry, I’m so sorry,” KyuJong scrambled, taking a step back. “I just…your door was open, and I wanted to say hi?”
The man stared at him for a moment before ducking his head. “You should leave,” he mumbled, shuffling into the room while avoiding looking at KyuJong. The Model 6 noticed he was carrying buckets of paint.
“Yeah,” KyuJong said quietly, biting his lower lip. Obviously this man wasn’t the friendly type. Taking a step towards the door, KyuJong stopped when it suddenly clicked.
A painting in progress on the walls? Buckets of paint?
He turned back towards the other man. “You wouldn’t happen to be the ‘resident artist’, would you?”
Doe-like eyes blinked at him. “Y-yeah,” the man mumbled after a moment, turning away. “Please leave.”
But KyuJong felt like he was finally onto something, taking a step towards the man. “What’s your name?” he asked, trying to start a conversation with the man.
The man turned back to him. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” KyuJong replied honestly. “You did the forest painting in my room, right? It’s very nice, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The unknown man bit his lower lip. “Most people haven’t…”
“Have you?” KyuJong pressed, but the man was shaking his head, stepping away.
“No, no, why would I have? Forests burned down an era ago.”
“Just curious how you can paint them in such detail…” KyuJong trailed off, something dawning on him. “Hey…what Model are you?”
The brown eyes widened. “You should leave,” the other android said quickly, turning around. But something had just occurred to KyuJong, and the second it had, he knew it was right.
“You’re a Model 8, aren’t you?”
Chapter: 7/11
Fandom: SS501, cameos of Super Junior, BEAST and SHINee
Pairing: KyuMinSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: AU, Dystopia, Angst
Summary: Arc I. The year is 400 AM…400 After Man. Humankind is extinct, but they didn’t leave Earth uninhabited. For 400 years androids have lived in their place. Citizens have the same thoughts, same likes and same dislikes as every other android in their model. But even an automated society has its troublemakers. A terrorist group calling themselves the Soulfuls operate outside their model programming and stir unrest. The government advises all citizens to report any Soulful activity immediately, and to stay away from them, for Soulfuls are those infected with a virus causing them to behave erratically…a very contagious virus…
A/N: Arc I was written for National Novel Writing Month 2010, hope you enjoy! Do not own the characters, but the plot is all mine. Please comment <3 Also, congrats to hyunaepark for guessing the pairing and giving me a reason to FINALLY list it XP <333 ILYBB~~~
”You in position, Kyu?”
“Yeah. I think.”
”…You’re not lost, are you?”
“No! I’m just not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing.”
”You’re never sure what you’re supposed to be doing. We make it work, don’t we?”
”Guys, stop clogging the line, YoungSaeng’s trying to concentrate.”
KyuJong and JungMin both stopped talking at the mild reminder from HyunJoong that they were, in fact, one a mission and YoungSaeng was at this moment trying to break into one of the most secured networks in the metropolis.
All they could hear from YoungSaeng’s end of the line was light tapping as the Model 3 hacked his way into the city communications network. He was at that moment, sitting inside the base of the revolving skyscraper in 4-01 that overlooked the whole city. The skyscraper was actually a giant antenna, from where all wireless communications stemmed. Since technology had moved far past wires millennia ago, that meant all the communications were in this tower.
They were attempting to break inside and scramble the communications. At least, that was YoungSaeng’s part. If he managed to succeed, then it was KyuJong’s turn. Being more savvy in information than the others thanks to his Model, it was his job to, in the limited time frame they had before the law came down on them, to send out a universal message to the entire city using the same system the city did for the sector alerts.
It was the result of KyuJong pointing out that while explosions and targeting the buildings of the hated government class, the Model 2 class, it didn’t exactly spread the message they intended.
“They think you’re just virus infected,” KyuJong had told them while they were all sitting down in the same room one day. “Well, you are, but not the kind of virus they think. Explosions don’t say the kind of free thought that people want to have. Instead of being marketed as terrorists to keep the Models in line, why don’t you try for a slightly more peaceful angle instead?”
“That’s what the 8’s did, and look at them,” JungMin had wrinkled his nose at that.
“But they didn’t have the resources and the support you do now,” KyuJong persisted. “It would turn out a lot different now. You just need to show them that you’re nothing to be afraid of.”
HyunJoong had been the first to support him, slowly nodding his head. “That would work. I’ll run it through with the other cell, and we’ll see what comes up.”
‘What came up’ was this mission. KyuJong settled himself in a blind spot in the corner of the tower, having snuck in with YoungSaeng. YoungSaeng’s mission was to get through the primary security system and shut down all the cameras and drones in the area. KyuJong was to follow up by bypassing the secondary security and sending out the message.
It was a risky, stupid mission, and KyuJong wondered how he had agreed to it at first. But it wasn’t as bad as it could be. They had help, in the form of the 14-member first cell of the Soulful organization.
SungMin, the Model 3 KyuJong had spotted with RyeoWook in the hallways, was crouching beside him as backup in case KyuJong was attacked in the middle of his mission. YoungSaeng had similar help, in the form of HanKyung, someone YeSung had introduced as the sole survivor of the Old China Soulless invasion. He didn’t talk much, but he seemed friendly enough, with light smiles and accented jokes.
YeSung was hanging around outside the tower with quite a few of the others, to watch for the Model 3’s that were bound to show up and stop them from getting inside the tower until YoungSaeng and KyuJong were done. Some were supposed to slip inside once the cameras were down and join them.
Not all the members were there though. RyeoWook and KyuHyun were on standby back in HQ, readying the infirmary in case anything went wrong. And even including them, KyuJong had counted only 13 members of the first cell…they were missing one.
Shaking his head to clear it, KyuJong exchanged a look with SungMin beside him as they waited for YoungSaeng to give the all-clear. The second the security was down, they would have to move fast…which was why KyuJong was chosen for the job. There were few Model 6’s in the organization, he’d noticed. The only other 6 besides him was a young man named Henry, who wasn’t even from this metropolis so he had no chance at helping break into it. They barely understood him at times.
A click sounded over the line, and suddenly the whole building was plunged into darkness. ”Your turn Kyu,” YoungSaeng said, and SungMin stood.
“Why did you turn the lights off?” KyuJong sighed, flipping down his visor. No wonder JungMin had given him this; he didn’t have a night-vision implant yet, and would have stumbled around in the dark if not for the visor.
”To make things a little trickier on the security system,” YoungSaeng replied, both in his ear and right beside him; he’d reappeared, glowing green in KyuJong’s visor. “Ready?”
”Time to move, and move fast,” HyunJoong said. KyuJong could hear HeeChul saying the same thing in the background of HyunJoong’s end of the line, the first cell on a different frequency from them.
Nodding, KyuJong stood and ran to the controls up on the raised platform. The security systems that had been in place had disappeared, and KyuJong was able to make his way to the control board unhindered. SungMin lingered behind him, turning around to face in the opposite direction. YoungSaeng remained in the shadows around the edge of the room, keeping watch as well.
One of the good things about his Model was that, while he failed at the fighting and sneaking around aspect of his new life, he really could process information fast. YoungSaeng had known how to get past the first security system, having done it before, but no one had tried messing with the second system yet. KyuJong hadn’t either, but he was a very, very fast learner.
Taking in the controls around him, KyuJong tapped a few words into the inferface and watched as information was spewed back out at him. He could do this. “I’ll need a moment to figure out how it works. Can I have three minutes?”
“We can give you five,” HyunJoong replied. “But no more. The city’s discovered something isn’t right, and they’d dispatched some 3’s to find out what.”
KyuJong nodded in understanding and got to work. The security system was intricate, code that he didn’t know flashing through the monitors as his hands flew along the controls at high speeds. Within seconds, he knew exactly what the symbols he didn’t recognize meant, and how to manipulate them. Focusing on his job, he leaned in a little closer.
He had just about gotten past the security system when suddenly the sound of fighting erupted across the line. JungMin was engaged with a 3; that was obvious from the loud curse that reached them. YoungSaeng fidgeted behind him, walking to the hole in the wall they’d entered and back. HanKyung, who had been doing the same, was suddenly called outside to help when more 3’s showed up than they’d planned for.
A minute later, HyunJoong was fighting as well, and then it was HyungJoon giving them the updates from outside the building. Three-quarters of the Soulful cell members were occupied with Model 3’s, the ones left keeping guard. No one was injured yet. No, scratch that, YeSung was out with a slash to the back. Not a cause for alarm, he added wryly. There had yet to be a fight of any kind where YeSung hasn’t sustained any damage whatsoever.
KyuJong listened to all this, biting his lower lip as he worked. He was worried for the others, but he couldn’t let it get in his way. A few more seconds at the controls and then the security system was down completely, the communications software laid bare to him. “I’m in, sending the message now.”
”Hurry up,” JungMin panted.
Doing just that, KyuJong composed the message in the software. With a press of a button it was gone, and KyuJong reactivated his communications link with the city interface to see the evacuation warnings for 4-01 and 4-02 be replaced by one line that scrolls across his vision.
The time to rise up is now. Free thinkers step up and make the changes you want to see in the world. Soulfuls are waiting for you.
Smiling in triumph, KyuJong flicked off the city interface again and stepped away from the controls, quickly locking it down so the government couldn’t tamper with the original message.
“Ready?” SungMin grinned at him, eyes dancing. They all recognized this was a big step forward.
“Yeah,” KyuJong returned the grin with one of his own, hopping down off the platform and landing on his feet neatly.
“Let’s go then,” YoungSaeng smiled at them both, heading towards the hole.
BANG!
KyuJong yelped as pincers closed around his shoulders, lifting him up off the ground. Kicking wildly, he looked up to see one of the panels in the ceiling had been opened, a drone twice his size hanging out with large pincers that could slice him in half with one snap. Eyes widening, KyuJong struggled, gasping as the pincers dug into his shoulders.
There was a flash of black hair, and suddenly the painful pressure was gone. KyuJong dropped back to the ground, wincing, and jumped when two metal pincers landed beside him. YoungSaeng straightened, eyes hard and blades in his hands, as SungMin pulled KyuJong to his feet.
“RUN!”
KyuJong broke into a run the second he got his balance back, as the drone crashed to the ground where he had just been standing. Looking back once he reached the hole in the wall, he saw SungMin and YoungSaeng facing down the large insect-like robot, rearing up to its full height and towering over them. The severed arms shifted, gears turning and pulleys moving until new pincers appeared where the old ones had been cut off.
It attacked them both, six orb-like eyes glowing red as it identified them as targets. SungMin and YoungSaeng rolled out of the way before the latter lashed back, blades coming up against a shell of metal and drawing a screeching sound as it was dragged along the shell, leaving a sliver of metal to fall to the ground.
Caught off-guard by the strong protections, YoungSaeng stayed still for a second too long and was hit by a whip-like tail, the 3 slammed against the wall with a shout.
“YoungSaeng!” KyuJong yelled, running to him. SungMin fought back the large pincers that came at him, clenching his jaw and glancing at them as he held the drone off the best he could.
KyuJong crouched next to YoungSaeng, and winced when he realized one arm had been broken by the crash. “You okay to move?” he asked, wrapping the 3’s good arm around his shoulders and helping him to his feet. YoungSaeng winced, nodding. Then his attention went back to the drone, and his eyes widened. “SungMin, your feet!”
Looking up, KyuJong was just in time to see SungMin hit the ground, knocked off his feet by the end of the drone’s tail. A pincer closed around his waist and lifted him up off the ground, the Model 3 struggling to land a clear hit. The pincer gripped tighter, and SungMin cried out in pain as sparks started to fly.
“Wait,” KyuJong’s eyes widened. “I thought their job was to capture us, not kill us?!”
“Not this one,” YoungSaeng panted, struggling to reach his gun, which had landed not far away. “This…we didn’t know they had a third level of security. This one’s programmed for search and destroy.”
Eyes widening further, KyuJong watched helplessly as SungMin screamed, his weapon dropping from his fingers as he was slowly being sliced in half.
Something happened then. It was almost automatic, the way KyuJong scrambled for the first weapon he could find…YoungSaeng’s gun. There was no actual thought involved, no processing of information. Within the same instance KyuJong had realized the friendly Model 3 was going to die, he had picked up the gun and switched settings to the one he had seen to pierce through even the thickest metal, aimed, and fired.
The drone released a metallic screeching noise as its arm was severed again, SungMin dropped to the ground. Eyes wide, KyuJong watched as the drone turned towards him, its remaining pincer clicking as its tail dug up the floor. Aiming again, KyuJong fired, right between the drone’s six eyes. The drone jerked around, red eyes swiveling. KyuJong’s hands were shaking as it kept on coming, backing him against the wall.
A warm hand settled over his own, YoungSaeng steadying his aim with his good hand. KyuJong glanced at the Model 3, seeing YoungSaeng nod, before looking back towards the drone. There was no actual communication, no verbalization or signal of any kind, other than the nod and the determination in YoungSaeng’s eyes as the Model 3 redirected his aim.
Sighting again and letting YoungSaeng help him hold the gun steady, KyuJong pulled the trigger.
The bullet blasted right through the drone’s forehead, all its remaining limbs thrashing around and sending pieces of the floor flying. By some instinct, KyuJong pulled YoungSaeng close and hid him from the flying debris. The drone keened, then the glow in its eyes went out and it crashed to the ground, not moving.
Panting, KyuJong slowly let go of YoungSaeng, looking down at the android in his arms. YoungSaeng looked back up at him, eyes unreadable.
A soft noise made them jump, KyuJong looking up, but it was just SungMin, the other man trying to push the pincer around his waist away. The gasps of pain snapped KyuJong back to reality.
“SungMin! Are you all right?” KyuJong dropped the gun and ran over, eyes widening when he saw the state the 3 was in. His waist was sliced open from the sharp pincers, both halves of the android only being kept together by the metal that made up his spine and a few pulleys. Sparks flew all over the place, and SungMin was clearly in a lot of pain. Androids could take a lot of damage with only minimal pain, but nearly being sliced in two wasn’t covered in that.
“I’ll live,” groaned the 3, smiled weakly as KyuJong helped him remove the pincers’ grip from his waist, dropping the severed arm to one side. YoungSaeng walked along behind the Model 6, one arm hanging uselessly but other than that all right. He held his gun in the other hand.
”Guys! Guys! What’s going on?!”
KyuJong jumped, finally becoming aware that the background noise he had been hearing was HyungJoon screaming into the line.
“Ambushed,” YoungSaeng said quietly, his voice far steadier than KyuJong would have been able to manage. “There was a third level of security. SungMin’s heavily injured, we need a clear shot out.”
”We’re trying,” HyungJoon replied, sounding strained. ”There are a lot of 3’s around. HyunJoong’s down, so is YoungWoon, and it’s not getting any better.”
YoungSaeng and KyuJong looked at each other. “We’re on our way,” YoungSaeng said, straightening. “Kyu yah, can you carry SungMin? There’s no way he can walk like that.”
KyuJong nodded, crouching down. With YoungSaeng’s one-armed assistance, he was able to get SungMin onto his back.
“Sorry,” SungMin murmured.
“Nothing to be sorry about, you did good,” KyuJong smiled over his shoulder at the android, straightening. “Let’s get out of here.”
They carefully made their way back through the hole they’d used to get in. Movement was slow and awkward, with YoungSaeng having only the use of one arm and KyuJong carrying SungMin, wincing at the sparks that struck his back every now and then. Now that they weren’t occupied with a fight, they could hear all the noise at the other end of the line. It sounded like everyone was engaged in some sort of fight.
Finally they got out, KyuJong straightening with a groan and looking around. No one was nearby. YoungSaeng told HyungJoon they were out before leading the way to the nearest HQ entrance, the building with the trap door.
They were just about there when they were joined by HeeChul, HyungJoon, and a Model 4 named SiWon who was carrying HyunJoong on his own back. Taking a second look at the cell leader, KyuJong winced when he realized the awkward angle of one leg, and the smashed-in kneecap.
“Hey,” HyunJoong smiled at them, the expression a little strained. “It’s done?”
YoungSaeng nodded. “Where’s Min ah?”
“Acting as a distraction with the others,” HeeChul said. “They’ll be leading the 3’s in a chase across the sectors while all the cripples get out,” He said, snorting. “Come on, we don’t have enough time for chit-chat.” He slid up to the revolving wall, and the second the alley was covered in shadow from the revolving disc he was gone.
The others followed him, KyuJong and SungMin going in after HyunJoong and SiWon. As he slipped through the trick wall, KyuJong saw YoungSaeng watching the alley they’d come from with worry in his eyes.
The trap door through the floor was a little trickier to get through, but thankfully KyuJong had practiced the art of jumping down without landing in a way that could break something. He instructed SungMin to wrap his arms around his neck and drew in a deep breath before jumping down the hole. He was in freefall for a few seconds before his sensors beeped at him and he landed in a crouch, wincing at the jarring feeling and then at the gasp of pain from SungMin.
RyeoWook was waiting with wide eyes and a stretcher. He stepped up to help KyuJong get SungMin off his back and onto it. “I’ll take care of him,” he smiled reassuringly when KyuJong continued to hover. Nodding, the Model 6 turned back to YoungSaeng. “Your arm.”
“Not that urgent,” YoungSaeng shook his head, eyeing the others. YoungWoon and YeSung had just arrived, the former suffering a blow to the head and YeSung with a crushed chest plate. “We’ll have to prioritize who needs repairs first, we’re rather limited until the others get back. Right now, SungMin gets top priority as the one who was nearly cut in half.”
“What do you people do to yourselves?” KyuHyun sighed, rolling another stretcher out for HyunJoong as the person who couldn’t walk.
“Don’t answer that,” HyunJoong chuckled, easing himself onto the stretcher as SiWon let him down. “JungMin should be in to help with repairs soon.”
“He’s not repairing me,” YeSung declared adamantly. “I still remember last time.”
“Min ah can work on me,” YoungSaeng smiled.
“Yeah, you’re the only one he won’t sabotage.”
KyuJong walked alongside YoungSaeng as the group headed towards the infirmary, HyungJoon running ahead to set up.
Something out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention, and he turned his head slightly. His eyes met those of a man he didn’t know, watched from the side. KyuJong blinked, then did a double-take. It wasn’t the same man he’d seen inside that room before, the unknown Model, but…he didn’t know what Model this one was either.
The unknown man looked away from him, his eyes scanning through the others. After a moment, he sighed. “JongWoon, are you still offering yourself up as a scapegoat?”
JongWoon? KyuJong blinked. He knew the names of everyone here, and none of them were a JongWoon.
His confusion doubled when YeSung laughed. “Sorry, I tried my best!”
“Hey KiBum, we’re missing hands for the infirmary,” KyuHyun called.
“Is that a hint?” The strange Model named KiBum shook his head in amusement before falling in alongside YeSung, who all but attached himself to him.
KyuJong blinked, looking to YoungSaeng for an explanation. “Why did he call him JongWoon?”
YoungSaeng’s smile was a little forced. “Long, long story. KiBum’s the only one who calls YeSung ‘JongWoon’ though.”
Frowning, KyuJong looked at YoungSaeng for a moment longer, hoping he would give away more information, but the 3 remained silent. Sighing inwardly, KyuJong returned his attention to the others, watching as they walked towards the infirmary.
They had just arrived when JungMin finally reported in. ”All done,” the redhead said through the line. ”We’re leaving them to chase their tails at the other end of the city for a few hours.”
“Great job Min ah,” YoungSaeng chuckled. “See you soon. I’ll need a repair once you’re back.”
”Eh? What did you do this time?” there was a worried note in the 7’s voice.
“Nothing too serious,” YoungSaeng replied quickly.
”…Right. KyuJong, because I know you’re there, what happened to YoungSaeng?”
“Broken arm,” KyuJong replied, and moved away from YoungSaeng when the Model 3 hit him off the shoulder.
”That’s nothing?” JungMin huffed. ”I’ll be there in five, don’t break anything else.”
“Yes sir,” YoungSaeng sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
Stepping into the infirmary, KyuJong moved out of the way so KyuHyun, RyeoWook and HyungJoon could get to work. RyeoWook took care of YeSung, with KiBum sitting on a spare bed next to the Model 5. KyuJong was tempted to ask what his role in the organization was, but had the feeling he wouldn’t be answered again.
To take his mind off the endless questions, he wandered to where HyungJoon was muttering to himself as he set about fixing HyunJoong’s legs. “How bad is it?” KyuJong asked, watching.
“Well, the leg with the crushed kneecap is a lost cause, the joint will have to be completely replaced. The other leg I can repair. If he doesn’t go and get his legs stuck under a rolling drone again.” HyungJoon pouted at HyunJoong, who chuckled.
“My apologies for making your job more difficult.”
KyuJong leaned back. “Anything I can do?” he asked.
HyungJoon shook his head. “Not really, other than watch our idiot of a leader when he decides to pull stunts in the middle of a mission.”
YoungSaeng laughed quietly. “He’s always doing that, there’s no stopping him. I think it’s a bad habit he got from Min ah.”
”Who am I infecting now?” JungMin piped up.
“HyunJoong with your urge to show off while fighting.”
”I have no problem taking credit for that, except for one problem.”
“Which would be?”
”He was already like that when I got here.”
HyunJoong started protesting, KyuJong bursting into laughter. The laughter only grew as HyungJoon covered their leader’s mouth with repair tape to keep him quiet while he concentrated.
It was a weird feeling, being around them. KyuJong knew he’d laughed before meeting the Soulfuls, but it had always seemed so hollow, so superficial. When he laughed now, it was a feeling that swelled up inside him until he felt like he could burst from it, and he didn’t want it to ever end.
JungMin popped into the room a few minutes later. “Hey!” He waved at them, before walking over to YoungSaeng and taking his broken arm to inspect it. “Huh, at least it’s a clean snap. All right you, up on a bed.”
“It’s my arm, not my leg, I don’t need to lie down,” YoungSaeng pointed out.
“I say you do. You fidget while I’m working.”
KyuJong watched with amusement as YoungSaeng huffed before slipped back onto the bed beside HyunJoong, laying down. “Happy?”
KyuJong watched the redhead step up and begin to work on repairing YoungSaeng’s arm. Once they found out it would be a while before any of them left the infirmary, the Model 6 excused himself to wander around HQ.
There were still plenty of things he didn’t know about the underground hideout, and listening to them volley back and forth comments that sometimes made no sense to him was giving him the android equivalent to a headache.
Leaving the room, KyuJong walked down the hallways at a leisurely pace, looking around at everything. The different paintings around the walls kept drawing his attention. JungMin had explained that while some of them had chipped in with the artworks, the majority of the walls and ceilings were decorated by their resident artist, who apparently had nothing really to do since he wasn’t in a cell and refused to help with their plans unless his opinion was sorely needed.
They were nice, KyuJong thought to himself as he turned into the hallway where the rooms were again. His attention was drawn by the yellow circle in the ceiling again…the sun, he corrected himself mentally. YoungSaeng had told him it was the sun. It made him wonder if he would ever see the sun for himself one day.
He was halfway through the corridor when he paused. The door to the room where he’d seen that unknown Model was open. Blinking, KyuJong looked around before peering inside. He didn’t see anyone. Why was the door open?
KyuJong wrestled with himself for a long moment, staring at it and biting his lower lip. He knew he should look around inside, it wasn’t his room and the man who owned it clearly didn’t want anyone inside. But at the same time…he couldn’t hold back his curiosity.
Finally, the curiosity won out and KyuJong took slow steps forward until he was in the doorway. Nudging the ajar door a little further open, he looked around inside. “Hello?”
There was no one. Confused, KyuJong took a few steps into the room…and stopped in amazement.
The wall that had been hidden by the door was covered in a huge sheet of canvas. It took him a moment to recognize it as canvas; it had been one of the things in the vault along with paper. Turning around to face it fully, KyuJong stared at the painting on the otherwise blank canvas.
It was the view of a valley from high up, a stream of blue flowing between the mountains where they met. The green and brown things KyuJong had come to associate with trees dotted the mountain sides, and framed the edge of the painting. The painting didn’t look fully completed, some parts only sketched in with a pencil, but it was breathtaking. Stretching from one end of the wall to the other, KyuJong couldn’t recall ever seeing something so…beautiful.
“…Oh.”
The quiet noise behind him snapped KyuJong out of his daze, and he turned around to meet wide, brown eyes staring at him in shock.
It was the unknown Model.
“Oh, sorry, I’m so sorry,” KyuJong scrambled, taking a step back. “I just…your door was open, and I wanted to say hi?”
The man stared at him for a moment before ducking his head. “You should leave,” he mumbled, shuffling into the room while avoiding looking at KyuJong. The Model 6 noticed he was carrying buckets of paint.
“Yeah,” KyuJong said quietly, biting his lower lip. Obviously this man wasn’t the friendly type. Taking a step towards the door, KyuJong stopped when it suddenly clicked.
A painting in progress on the walls? Buckets of paint?
He turned back towards the other man. “You wouldn’t happen to be the ‘resident artist’, would you?”
Doe-like eyes blinked at him. “Y-yeah,” the man mumbled after a moment, turning away. “Please leave.”
But KyuJong felt like he was finally onto something, taking a step towards the man. “What’s your name?” he asked, trying to start a conversation with the man.
The man turned back to him. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” KyuJong replied honestly. “You did the forest painting in my room, right? It’s very nice, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The unknown man bit his lower lip. “Most people haven’t…”
“Have you?” KyuJong pressed, but the man was shaking his head, stepping away.
“No, no, why would I have? Forests burned down an era ago.”
“Just curious how you can paint them in such detail…” KyuJong trailed off, something dawning on him. “Hey…what Model are you?”
The brown eyes widened. “You should leave,” the other android said quickly, turning around. But something had just occurred to KyuJong, and the second it had, he knew it was right.
“You’re a Model 8, aren’t you?”