Chapter Text
From his first memory all subject 833 knew was the white walls of the laboratory. His small four by six bedroom, a small twin sized bed with white sheets. Even a small green blanket a nurse gave him for his fifth birthday. It was all he owned.
The lights in his room turned on at 5am everyday, today was no different.
He turned away from the light and groaned. “Can I sleep in pleeeease?” He asked as he sat up, looking in the corner of his room at the camera watching him.
Today was his birthday- his eighth to be exact. He was hoping he’d get to sleep in a little due to it being that special day… maybe he’d even get to skip out on his experimentations?
“Get up 833 there’s no reason you should sleep in, up before I have to-“ The scientists voice cut off before a much nicer- female voice spoke. “Yes dear, happy birthday baby. I’ll be by in an hour to wake you up.” The lights in his small room dimmed again. “Thank you nurse Kristin!” He was so happy to get even a little more sleep, desperately trying to hide his fear of his situation with happiness and smiles.
One hour later his lights in his room turned back on, without needing to be prompted he sat up- swinging his legs over the side of his bed and standing. Today he would wear what he wore every other day; plain white scrubs with a sizable hole in the back of the shirt for his wings.
Tubbo- or rather subject 833 (BEE) was a winged hybrid. A lab created hybrid at that- made when the scientists injected an embryo with a mixture of bird dna. Most of the times it created a creature that looked more bird than human but subject 833 was an exception.
He had a small pair of white wings that were speckled with the slightest hint of gold, his wings were small- even given the fact that he was a hybrid. They could not even keep him airborne for more than a few minutes.
A mop of brown curls sat atop his head, his hair so long that most of the time it sat over his eyes whenever he looked up. His favorite nurse; Kristin would tell him he needed a haircut but… they weren’t allowed such things unless the head scientist Dream gave his okay.
“Subject 833! You have 60 seconds to be up and-!” The scientist on the other side of Tubbos small room was surprised when the sliding metal door opened and Tubbo was not only dressed, but had his chart in hand for the day’s experiments. “Oh- well good thing you’re ready! I would not want to have to punish you on your eight birthday.”
Tubbo broke a major rule by keeping eye contact- it was generally a rule that subjects never meet the staffs eyes unless given permission. “Subject 833, you are breaking rule two- section three.”
“No I’m not, Doctor Dream wrote me an exception- here’s my chart sir.” He pushed the chart in his hands over to the man. “Well- we’ll see about that.”
He flipped through the pages to the exception pages, this section was generally blank unless there were allergies for a subject that would leave them exempt for certain experiments. On the last page was the page he was looking for.
Subject 833 is exempt from rule two, section three that states:
-Subjects are not allowed to make eye contact at any point to staff. The only exception is if the test requires it.
- Subject 833 has been punished, several several times and nothing helps. His personality seems to be too warm to not look at other people.
-Head scientist, Dream
The man stood there- staring at the paperwork before slamming the chart closed. “Whatever. Follow me for your first test of the day.” He lead little Tubbo through the corridors, Tubbo basically was skipping behind him. With each skip he’d flutter his wings and be airborne for a few seconds. Each time they passed someone- anyone really Tubbo would yell to them that it was his birthday. Some would smile- some would simply ignore him.
“ Halt !” Someone was stopping them in the hallway. Immediately Tubbo’s happy demeanor faded. He stopped skipping and stood with his arms at his sides, folding his wings neatly at his back. “Subject 833 I’ll be the one to escort you to your tests today. And you? You’re excused.” He bit back a whimper as he felt a hand in his hair, then traveling to the base of his wings. “Head scientist Dream, it’s an honor to meet you sir, have a great day.”
“Yeah. So- I hear you got to sleep in?” Dream walked around to Tubbos front, his hands behind his back as he leaned down slightly- looking right into his face. Tubbos voice was weak and cracked as he looked to the floor- “Y-yes sir… nurse Kristin said I could sleep in… I-it’s my birthday sir…”
“You don’t have to remind me. I got you something-“ That statement made Tubbo look up excitedly, making eye contact finally. “You did?” Dream only laughed. “Sure did kiddo. Let’s go to your tests.”
His first set of tests were nothing out of the ordinary. They connected him to a bunch of equipment and made him run on a treadmill until he could not anymore. “Five minuets- you’re getting slower 833.” Dream scolded and handed him a cold bottle of water. “I’m sorry sir. I’ll be better tomorrow I promise.”
The next thing they did was draw his blood. Apparently the blood of man made hybrids such as him were used in anti aging products for humans. “Take a little more today. I want him exhausted for his final test.” Dream whispered to the nurse over his care. “Sir! We’re already taking more than we should- I can’t recommend we do that, according to his chart his last test is flight endurance! H-he can hardly fly as it is.”
“Did I ask your opinion nurse Kristin? Is there an emotional attachment with the subject? Do I have to-“ “No!” She interrupted him. “It’s just I worry. He’s weaker than the other subjects in the foundations care- he’s susceptible to getting sick. He almost died when he was four from pneumonia because of the cold tests you were running!”
Dream laughed, bringing up a hand to his face as he shook his head. “You’re dismissed as soon as his blood is collected. That will be all.” With that he returned to his chair at the top of the room, watching them through a set of monitors.
“Hey baby…” Kristin whispered, leaning down to his level and brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Tubbo was crying, he feared needles- and the blood draw at the end of the week was his least favorite thing they did to him. He even preferred his swimming training better- the training that he fails every time and has to be pulled from the water and resuscitated because he always drowns.
“Hey- I know you’re scared. I’m sorry I’ll make it as painless as I can, okay?” The boy only nodded, sniffling loudly. “O-okay nurse K-Kristin…” His sniffles faded for a few minuets while she got ready, handing him a chocolate chip cookie and a small bottle of apple juice. When she turned around with the containers and needles he begun to wail. Even thrashing when she tried to stick him. “Calm down! You’re okay- you’re okay baby! Breathe- please!” He was crying so hard he began to wheeze, clawing at the fabric of his scrubs by his neck.
All and all they had to bring in several doctors who held Tubbo against the chair for the whole duration of the draw. “I’m almost done-“ Kristin tried to be calm- she tried to keep her composure but she cried the whole way through. Not wanting to lose the sterilization of her gloves she let her tears fall freely until the draw was finally done. It was at that point she sealed her fate.
Once all of the people holding him down left she picked him up, cradling the crying child to her chest while she paced the room.
“Nurse. I believe I told you to leave once the draw was over. Leave.” Dreams voice was cold as ever as he looked at her with dead eyes. “N-no… he’s crying! Just let me calm him down- he needs to sit for a little afterwards and have his juice anyway. It’s not hurting anything me holding him for a few minutes.”
Subject 833’s arms were around her neck, he kept peeping. Something younger birds (or in this case bird hybrids) do to call out for their parents. But he had no parents- being lab created meant that he had no mother, nor father. Even worse was the fact that because everyone in the facility wore some sort of face covering so he could not even imprint on anyone. Well- maybe that was for the best. Better to have no parents then have one that your brain thinks are your parents and have them hate you or to be taken away.
“Fine. You get five minutes. I don’t want to be late to his flight training.”
“His- sir that’s for the end of the day! His body can’t take that!” Dream had honestly had enough. Rolling his eyes he waved a hand towards the door. “Your becoming bothersome. Guards- show her the door. Better yet… take her down to the lower levels and have her processed.”
Tubbo was torn from her by Dream, he was exhausted from the blood draw but still cried for her, screaming for her to come back- he was scared- he was in pain. He even yelled that he loved her, hoping that would make her return. His naive mind not putting together that she was leaving not of her own volition- but because none other than Dream was taking her away.
“Oh be quiet 833. Drink your juice and eat your cookie so we can move on with our day.” He placed Tubbo back down in a chair but all he would do was cry. “N-nurse K-Kristin…” He cried, watching the door. “I-is she coming back? I want her to come back! I-I’ll be good! I’m sorry nurse Kristin I’ll be still for the next blood draw! Please!”
“She’s gone- she won’t be coming back, now you need to calm down. You have one more test for the day and I can skip the rest. How does that sound?” Dream was gathering up a few small snacks and another small bottle of apple juice for him. “Hey- c’mon I asked you a question. How does playing hooky for the rest of the day sound? Just one more test.” He handed the bottle over after breaking the seal. “Kid?”
Tubbo took the bottle with shaky hands, looking up with tear filled eyes. “C-can I color afterwards?” How simple. All he wanted was to relax and color on his birthday. To be with nurse Kristin too but- it seemed that was out of the question.
“You wanna color?” Dream asked with a chuckle. “Yeah sure. After your flight training we’ll go to my office- get you some coloring supplies and also~ give you your birthday gift. From me.” The promise of a cheap coloring book and some broken crayons was enough to calm him down, enough to get him to eat his cookie and to finish his juice. “Perfect, let’s head to the flight range.”
The flight range had to be adjusted just for subject 833, his weak wings meant that flight was basically impossible unless they aided him with the use of high powered fans. All he had to do was stretch his wings and the wind created by the fans would propel him into the sky. As long as the fans stayed on he would remain airborne. When they did shut off they ran in with a tarp to catch him.
Today was different. Dream wanted him to try and catch himself for once. He fell to the ground time and time again before Dream ordered all of the people in charge of catching him to step back. “He’s warmed up, he can do it this time by himself.” The other workers gave no arguments- because none of them knew him or cared enough to realize that he haden’t been able to catch himself when he flew. Not once in the last four years of his flight training had he been able to catch himself- so why would today be any different?
“833! The fans are going to shut off in ten seconds! It is imperative you catch yourself correctly this time! Just remember, fold in them a few feet from the bottom spread your wings again- you should be able to slowly descend like that!”
Tubbo gave a tired smile and thumbs up, flapping his wings twice before the fans powered down. The loud humming coming from the large fan beneath him ceased. He tired to keep his height by flapping his wings harder- it only worked for a few seconds before he was falling. He lost his balance midair and was spinning uncontrollably. His body kept flipping from being face down- to being face up. “I can’t catch myself!” He screamed, arms flailing in sync with his wings.
“Do something 833! You’re approaching the ground!” Dream yelled, not even bothering to look up from the monitors. “I can’t! Help! Help !”
Dream only sighed and pulled out a clipboard. Writing down that subject 833 had failed yet again- another flight test. He continued to scribble when he heard a loud crash. People scrambled around him, rushing out to the flight ranges floor. “What is everyone doing! Back to your sta-!” His eyes went wide as the monitors showed what everyone was panicking over.
“-tions…”
Tubbo was laying on the ground face up. His right wing was bent at an odd angle, so clearly broken. The boys cries being heard throughout the flight range and observation decks.
“Shit- shit! Someone call for a med crew!” Dream was on his feet and ran down the set of stairs, through the set of double doors and onto the flight range floor. “833! I told you to catch yourself! And why did no one step in to catch him!!”
“Sir…” One masked employee started. “You said no one was to stop him from falling. We did as you asked.”
“Not good enough! You should have known !!!” His voice was cracking as he spoke, his tone sounding like a screeching child. “Guards! Take all members of the crew of catchers to the lower levels! They are to become food for Scp-1999! And you!” He pointed out a taller guard at the other end of the room. “How far away is the med crew?” “At least ten minutes out sir.”
Dream had had enough. “Get over here! Just carry him for me, it would be quicker this way-“
Tubbo continued to scream, there were far too many hands on him. They kept rolling him over to look at his wing before someone else would roll him back to check the rest of him for injuries.
“Stop-! I! It hurts let- l-let go please! Help! N-nurse Kristin help me!” He wailed, hands up- covering his eyes as he cried. “Everyone back up-!” Dream yelled and the crowd dispersed, allowing the guard to scoop him up. He had a hand under his knees and the other has under his back, uncomfortably pinning both his good and bad wing to his back.
“Ow! Owie! It hurts! L-let go! Let!” He was trying to punch at the others chest until the pain- the movement of being picked up and his fear all accumulated. He threw up on the guard, who had to keep ahold of him despite being covered in bile.
“Shit- we have to hurry boss.” The guard said, already walking to door without him. He even went as far as to kick the door to the flight range open.
Tubbo was so sick, he was in so much pain and he kept throwing up, eventually he had nothing left and he kept dry heaving. “Sir we have to hurry up, I’m struggling not to throw up myself- and the brat has to be incredibly sick- he’s bleeding and the color is drained completely from his face.”
“It’s on the next floor. I’m going as fast as these doors will open.” He was incredibly annoyed that Tubbo kept crying, having to literally bite his tongue to keep from insulting the child.
“We’re here-“ He stated as they stepped off of an elevator, the hallways were a bright- ungodly white color and the whole area reeked of bleach. “Now I hope you know that since I’ve had to break several rules by allowing someone of your clearance level down here you’ll have to receive a memory wipe yeah? Only for the last 24 hours or so.” “Honestly I figured sir.”
The doctoral staff burst from a set of double doors with a stretcher. “Put him down! Oh how disgusting! Look at all that puke…” A nurse with long black hair commented. Tubbo was sure he recognized her, her face sure- but her tone and how harshly she spoke was foreign to him. “Nur…se K-Kri…stin?” Was the last thing he said before passing out.