Chapter Text
The person in the tube was like Coomer... well... Coomer was like them. The great green tube held the result of project code name BUBBY. They were an experiment, poked and prodded by Dr. Coomer's coworkers. Dr. Coomer wondered if he would ever get to talk to them. For now he would just check into the Biological Research lab and see if the life form was still alive.
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The first time Dr. Coomer saw Bubby awake it nearly broke his heart. There was pure fear in those eyes as Bubby stared down at him. Coomer knew that feeling, the feeling of waking up in a strange place, probably in pain... who knows what Black Mesa had done to the poor thing.
All he could do is put his hand to the glass gently and smile... ah... that wasn't the right choice... Bubby got as far away from where his hand was as the tubes and wires attached to him would allow. That made his face fall. He had hoped to make friends with his fellow experiment. Oh well... he could still be their guardian...
He left the clone to do the routine maintenance he was assigned.
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After awhile Bubby got used to Dr. Coomer's presence. He was the only one that just watched them. Occationally Coomer would touch the tube or smile at them. It was a nicer expression than the critcal stares of the other scientists, the fear in the eyes of interns, or that cruel grins of the men in charge. And it was definitely better then the way some of them poked and prodded and injected Bubby with shit that he doesn't recognize.
Sometimes Bubby wonders what it would be like to talk to the man that watched him. But... concidering that they were "unruly, disobedient, and a general danger" Bubby wasn't going to be let out of the tube again anytime soon
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The first time that they actually talked to each other was a mess.
Dr. Coomer had visited earlier than usual, during a routine "examination."
Bubby was strapped down to a table, a muzzle on him, and was nearly wailing with distress and pain. Coomer saw red.
When things settled most of the scientists were knocked out... and he was a little concerned one of them was dead. But, no matter, he had a friend to help. First he undid the muzzle, and smiled at them.
"You're that weirdo who comes to look at me sometimes, why the fuck do you do that?"
Coomer smiles, starting to undo the straps.
"Because I, like you, am an experiment."
Bubby blinks in confusion, and Coomer notices that he's squinting, probably has bad eye sight...
"Bullshit you are. You get to walk around and leave."
Coomer's shoulders drop.
"You are only half correct, they allow me to wander, mostly unattended at this point, but they would kill one of me if I attempted escape."
Bubby sits up, struggling a little, his muscles not used to movement and weak as hell for it.
"One of you? What the fuck does that mean?"
"Its quite complicated, but there are many of me, and I am in all of me."
"Sounds pretty fucking simple to me."
Bubby stretches as he says it, his joints popping.
"There are lots of you, and you're in control of all of them, right?"
Coomer nods.
"I'm quite glad you understand, Bubby."
"Dr. Bubby, they pumped so much fucking information into me and I earned those 7 degrees."
Coomer nods.
"Dr. Bubby... I am Dr. Coo-"
The door to the chamber is kicked in, and several security guards come in.
"Oh, I suppose our little get together is cancelled. Shoot me, I let project BUBBY free."
Coomer says it cheerfully, smiling at the guards.
"And bring a medic before our friend over there stops breathing."
That is the moment that, to Dr. Coomer's shock and dismay, one of the security guards bursts into flames. Every gun that's aimed at Coomer, turns to Bubby.
"Now Dr. Bubby, I would prefer if you let me take all of the heat for this one. As killing this body won't result in my death."
Coomer's voice is stern, and as he turns he can see that Bubby has already backed down. Its the last thing he sees in the room before he's forcibly ejected from that body.
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Dr. Coomer wasn't let into the Biological Research lab for a long while. In fact he wasn't let anywhere for a long while. But containment might mean that they hadn't punished Dr. Bubby, and a month alone with all of himself was worth it. It just meant he could work out, make sure all his bodies are strong. It wouldn't be his first or last time in containment.