Chapter Text
“Hurry up, dickhead or I’ll leave you behind!”
The kid -Craig? Greg? What did it fucking matter- stumbled, eyes wide with fear and arms shaking. Guy had begged to join them and now he was wimping out when things got hairy.
Gavin sneered, reaching down and grabbing the kid by his collar.
He couldn’t let the cops catch the guy. He’d probably rat them out and Gavin really didn’t need another reason to have to suck-up to his mothers until they let him out of the house again. Last time he’d had to find a whole new way to sneak out of the house and it was a pain in the ass.
He could thank his brother for that one. Fucker paid for all new security and shit to keep them safe. Mister big-shot couldn’t let them just be. He had to show off all the new shit he could buy now that he was one of the top robotics developers in the country. Prosthetics, augmentations, simple service ‘droids. His brother became the fuckin’ genius that everyone knew he was.
And him? Well he can still hear the alarms from that stupid pawn shop that he and this dipshit broke into. Oh and the crying wheeze of said dipshit.
Fucking ridiculous.
His backpack was still rattling from the electronics they stole- shit they could part off and sell for whatever they wanted. His pack had a system- never hit the same place twice and never sell to the same place twice. Brian was tall enough to pass off as an adult and whenever anyone got suspicious, his overwhelming alpha stank put that shit away quick.
Him? He was good at the smash-and-grab. Fast on his feet and quick to think he was easily the brains of this operation even if no-one else thought so.
The kid whimpered again as Gavin dragged him around a alley and threw him up against a chain link fence demanding he climb. There was an old empty lot just beyond, and then there was Roxie’s place beyond that.
Roxie was a real rich kid unlike him- she lived in a fucking mansion that her parents just let her have all to herself because they were busy going out and doing rich people things. Roxie didn’t need the money they earned- she just liked the thrill of doing something bad. Like those people that pay to have a perfect hunting experience just to feel powerful in a way that they could brag about without actually putting any work in.
The alpha was eager to spread her influence and use it to get them out of the occasional jam as long as it meant she was in charge. And well, it was easy to let her think that.
All he had to do was bat his eyes and pretend to be the dumb omega gangrat she though he was and everything was cool. Let her think she could get into his pants and she’d let him get away with anything he fucking wanted.
The kid is already over the fence as he drops down, hauling him up from the mud and dragging him away.
Himself? What did he get out of this?
Well. What he got out of this wasn’t so much the thrill of doing something that could get him into a lot of fucking trouble, but the way it helped him just not care anymore. He was a fuckup- the mistake of the family. He’d never -as his parents always rubbed in his face- be anything but Elijah Kamski’s pityingly lackluster younger brother.
Assuming that anyone even knew he existed. His family had been pretty quick to keep him away from the bright light that his brother had been bathed in. Especially now.
Everyone already thought he was a lost cause. Might as well play the part and actually have some fun.
And to think he used to want to be a fuckin’ cop.
He could laugh if he wasn’t winded from dragging someone who was at least a few inches taller than himself. Stupid, pansy beta. He should’ve known. Too much like his brother- had that shine in his eyes like he just wanted something to test himself, fuck the consequences. Should’ve known that he’d bail as soon as he could.
He’ll let Sam deal with him when they get back. Crazy beta could put the fear of god in someone in less than three minutes if you let her do her thing. They’d never hear from this guy again and they’d be fine.
Josh wouldn’t be happy- would probably blame it all on him, but he didn’t care. He got the shit and after parting it off it’d be enough for the crackhead to get as much shit as he wanted until the next hit.
Fucking drugs. He couldn’t stand them, but wasn’t about to say that to the alpha’s face if he could help it. Guy could probably break him in half if he wanted to. Gavin liked fighting, but not when there was no competition to it. He'd just be ground hamburger on the floor if he got on Josh's bad side.
He’s not sure when this all started. Maybe a few years ago when he punched someone he shouldn’t have and had to go home wearing a cast. His fucking leg still ached if he moved it the wrong way some days. He’d been getting into fights since he was thirteen- needed something to let out all of the energy inside him.
And people pissed him off.
So why not find something a little more productive than just throwing fists and actually gave him some kind of pack to call his own? Easy choice.
Finally, he stumbled through the backdoor of Roxie’s million-dollar-mansion tracking mud satisfyingly through it. Walked through to the den and dropped their bags on the floor, pushing the beta in and watching as the pack sized both of them up. Brian was already awash with aggression and it bothered his nose.
No-one was happy.
It was about to be a long fucking night.
-
The sun was just barely reaching over the horizon when he snuck through his bedroom window and stripped down to flop into bed.
He was achy, tired. He hadn’t gotten his cut because of the way the beta had acted up. They pinned it all on him. He was going to have to get his money elsewhere.
Ah well. He could hustle a little.
Any extra cash to get him out of this fucking place.
-
It felt like he’d slept for just a moment before his alarm blared, making him groan.
He got up, wandered into the bathroom and washed up, not bothering with the dirt under his fingernails. Stumbled back into his room to throw on some clothing and grab his bag.
Highschool was a bitch, but it was his only way out of here if he ever wanted to make it anywhere. Needed his diploma for that, along with whatever cash he could get his hands on.
He’d turn sixteen in three months, then it was just another two years. One if he played his cards right.
He was done with this place. Done with the fake smiles from people who pretended to give a shit about him. Done with being pushed back into the shadows.
Done with empty promises.
He walked out to the entryway, taking a moment to tidy his hair in the mirror hanging by the door. There was a cut on his cheek and black circles under his eyes. He looked like shit. Like someone who'd spent all night running from cops and fending off the anger of his pack.
Not that anyone else could tell that.
Sticking his tongue out at his reflection, he grabbed his keys off the decorative hook system that proclaimed “Home” in disgustingly bright, bold letters and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
Another day. Another month. Another year.
He’d be fine.
He had no choice.
-
“Good morning, RK. Please report.”
Streams of information filled his vision, the status of various components and systems scrolling quickly as he opened his eyes in the white room.
STARTUP LOADING
POWER ON DIAGNOSTIC RUNNING
OPTICS ONLINE? -T
AUDIO ONLINE? -T
NETWORK CONNECTION ONLINE? -T
MOVEMENT COMPONENTS ONLINE? -T
THIRIUM SYSTEM ONLINE? -T
Every inquiry came back as true until finally-
POWER ON DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE - FUNCTIONAL
“I am fully operational, Dr. Kamski.”
The dark-haired man in front of him smiled brightly, arms opening wide in excitement.
He was laughing.
“Chloe! Chloe! I did it! I finally did it. After all these years…”
Dr. Kamski looked at him in wonder, taking a deep breath.
A blonde woman -no- android tilted her head, smiling fondly at their creator. Her skin was not like his- still a gleaming white illustrating her components hidden only by a simple dress. She was incomplete. He could spy two other forms like hers held inside a display on the wall to the left of himself.
Still in development.
But him? He was complete.
“Yes Elijah, but aren’t you forgetting something?”
The tall beta turned towards her, brows furrowed a moment before his expression turned to one of realization. Dr. Kamski turned back towards him, straightening with an arm behind his back, bringing up a fist to cough and clear his throat.
“RK? Register your name.”
A blinking box containing his model number popped into his vision, waiting for input.
“What is my name?”
Dr. Kamski beamed, blue eyes lighting up.
“Nines.”
Nines blinked, adding the information to his system.
“My name is Nines.”
Dr. Kamski clasped his hands together, looking over to the other android - Chloe.
She smiled in approval, nodding her head.
“There. Now he is complete.”
Nines’ eyes flicked to her, contemplating her form and expression. Her actions.
She was not a simple machine- something far more complex than what could be seen on the outside.
And him?
He was complete.
“Alright, Nines. Follow me, we have much to discuss.”
Dr. Kamski was already turned away, bright floral yukata flowing behind him as Chloe met his strides towards the laboratory door.
Another box popped up in his vision and he took a moment to analyze it.
FOLLOW DOCTOR ELIJAH KAMSKI FOR DEBRIEF
Nines stepped down from his display and started towards the door.
He stopped just before the entryway, spying a floor-length mirror on the laboratory wall.
He could see himself. He already knew what he looked like thanks to the diagrams in his mind, but seeing himself was something entirely new. Dressed only in black briefs, he was tall, pale freckled skin paired with dark hair and steel eyes. He stood stiffly, eyes darting over himself and identifying the biocomponents under his skin. Simple examination of his physical form.
The mission flashed as he loitered, reminding him of his task.
FOLLOW DOCTOR ELIJAH KAMSKI FOR DEBRIEF
He turned towards the doorway once more, taking the steps and walking into the open layout of Dr. Kamski’s home.
He could not keep his creator waiting.