Chapter Text
Subspace was known to test out his Biografts he made in Phights. And for some strange reason no cared to come up with, the Biografts were allowed to participate. Despite not being real Phighters. Just some cheap copies of what a true Phighter was. Nobody truly liked Biografts, unless you were as deranged as their creator. They were fragile, easy to break and even easier to beat.
Though most inphernals disliked them, Phighters saw them as an opportunity gain free points during Annihilation. They weren't exactly smart inventions. For the most part, them being actually functional was smart, but Biografts themselves weren't. They rushed into battle and were quite frankly, hotheaded. Almost like rabid dogs that can no longer be saved and sole purpose being to spread the virus.
Biografts didn't rush out of battle, they stayed, they fought and came back each time they died. They didn't do anything unless commanded to by Subspace and SFOTH knows who else. The only time Biograft was a problem was when they were tasked with targeting the supports. Even then—they were useless to the team.
A buzzkill to the team spirit.
Genuinely, why did Subspace even bring them here? For the sole purpose of training them? What for?
Medkit sighed, muttering under his breath as their team icons flickered up in the big screen. Checking out their teammates, it was Vinestaff, Katana, Sword, him, and.. a Biograft. He narrowed his eyes at the Biografts icon with a frown, another one of Subspace's annoying machines. On his team as well. The other team had Banhammer, Rocket, Hyperlaser, Slingshot, and Scythe. Subspace wasn't there. Maybe he was watching the Phight from his own comfort.
It couldn't get any worse, yet it did as the gamemode this time was Annihilation. It really did seem like the world was against him and him only. If this Biograft knew anything of self preservation, they probably might've had a chance. But no. It didn't, no Biograft did. They were disposable and thus, had little to no use. They could always be replaced.
Valk and Dom appeared on the big screen next. Rambling on as they showed the maps available to the Phighters. "And make sure to stream our--" Valk was cut off by Dom, the older one, with a stern, "Valk." Working like a miracle the other one went quiet.
"Sorry, force of a habit." He looked away embarrassed, rubbing a hand behind his neck. The two looked up to see which map the Phighters had picked. Although undesirable to Medkit for the rather cramped space, it was mostly alright. Roblox HQ. "Woah! Hope no one is afraid of heights!" Valk laughed, bringing the mic closer to his face.
"What if they fall?" Dom asked, no concern in his voice in the slightest however.
"Then they fall! It's part of the game!" The smaller answered.
Then the Phight began. Valk and Dom stepped away from their stage as the screen went black. It flickered back to their icons and under them showed the points gained. The timer began counting down from 10, their spawnpoints appearing and spinning wildly.
9..
Medkit could only hope to be able to perfectly aim to heal the Biograft enough so it wouldn't die instantly.
8..
Or maybe Vinestaff's healing with her plants would do the trick, that is, putting into consideration the Biograft is near the plant when she places them down.
7.. 6.. 5..
It was a gamble basically. Not that Medkit really cared if they won, but he wasn't too happy if they lost. These Phights made them bux, the winning team getting the most bux.
He looked back at the timer.
4..
3..
2..
Reminds him of the one time he tried having small talk with a Biograft. What crazy days he lived in.
1—READY?
They all spawned in so suddenly, scrambling out of their small clearing. Medkit glanced up at the windows above, seeing the Biograft make it's way into the roof of the building.
"Okay guys, let's give it our all!" Sword began, throwing his sword up for all to see. Medkit smiled slightly at the youngster before looking back, "Katana can tank up front but beware of Banhammer, Vinestaff and I will do our best to heal you. Sword, you try to get those supports like Hyperlaser. And Biograft.." Medkit muttered the last sentence, the others looking around to find their robotic teammate.
Medkit waved his hand while getting a move on. "Biograft will do his own thing." No one argued against his plan, not that they had one themselves anyways. Neither could they think to give commands to a Biograft that wouldn't listen.
The battle began, it was hard to see through all the abilities being used, especially with Banhammer smashing everything around. That was put to an end when Sword and Katana were able to land in a lucky shot, Banhammer vaporized as his HP reached zero. An X being shown over his icon as he respawned. Medkit glanced for a second to spot 2 more Xs over the other teams Phighters.
He couldn't tell who they were. But he had a hunch at who had done it.
Vinestaff's plants bloomed and healed the team, bringing everyone back up to decent HP before the next wave came. Sword being able to eliminate Rocket before being eliminated himself.
So far so good, Katana was able to hold up the frontlines for now. Only a few deaths occuring here and there. Medkit looked down, realizing his ult was finished setting up. He frowned at the sudden realization. If his was finished, then so were the other teams. That was not good.
Before any of them had the chance to use their ults. Medkit heard the charge of a very familiar ult that made his heart drop, it was basically a death sentence. Medkit turned to Katana a second before a burning heat went right through him. He watched with dread as another shot rang out, this time eliminating Sword just as he was in the process of using his ult.
Hyperlaser's phinisher was an instant death if you got in the way of it. Medkit heard the charge of one last shot, immediately thinking the worse. Medkit whipped his head around to find the source of the sound, continuously shooting his gun towards the enemy team. Who for now retreated as they were all mostly low.
He spotted something along the window. Hyperlaser. Pointing his gun towards Medkit, he froze. 100% thinking he was done for and accepting what was to come. Shuting his eyes he looked away and waited.
And waited.
Except. Nothing came.
What? That wasn't right, Hyperlaser was pointing his gun at him. Why hasn't he..
Medkit glanced up at the big screen, it showed all the opposing team with Xs covering their icon. Which should have been impossible, almost all their fighters had been eliminated and Vinestaff couldn't have been able to. His mouth was agape as he came to the realization. Only one person could have been able to do this. It was obvious who but—Biograft shouldn't have been able to do that.
He wasn't saying it was impossible, it just didn't seem possible. Especially for a Biograft. Medkit saw two flashes of orange light heading straight for him, he took a few steps back cautiously. Still a bit in shock.
"MAY I RECEIVE A BIT OF HEALING, DOCTOR?"
Medkit spooked, tensing up as he moved away from the Biograft. Right, they could do that weird thing where they teleport.
"I—don't call me doctor." He snapped. Medkit made space between him and the Biograft. The robot blinked, not daring to invade his boundaries. "I APOLOGIZE THEN. SHALL I CALL YOU MEDKIT INSTEAD?" What. What was this? A Biograft willingly conversing with Him? Apologizing —to him? That was really weird. Usually they all called him a traitor or something along those lines.
Medkit raised his gun up at the robot, "Yes, just call me Medkit.." He responded stoically. Although his healing wasn't as much as Vinestaffs, he assumed it was enough. Better than nothing too. He stopped healing the Biograft once he concluded their HP was at a good amount.
"Huh, suprised Subspace's inventions can actually be useful." Medkit eyed the killing machine, who momentarily glanced over at him. Almost as if it felt offended over his comment. "I AM NOT JUST SUBSPACE'S INVENTION. I'M MYSELF, AND I CAN BE USEFUL." There was no expression or emotion in Biograft's voice. It was quite hard to tell what it was feeling.
Actually, these were robots. They shouldn't be feeling. Why was he humanizing them now.
"Right.." Medkit mumbled. This time the Biograft didn't bother responding.
With all their combined effort, they surprisingly won the match. The losing team having only lost by 6 points. As soon as the round was over most Phighters stopped battling, huffing as they catched their breath. A tiring round, just like every other one. But atleast he gets payed, it's enough mostly.
The map digitalized out of existence around them, everyone making their way to either Zuka's truck or their own vehicles. Some standing around to chat with others.
"'Onna head home now. Tired." Medkit groaned. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache start up. Though not before he took a quick peek at the Biograft, it stood there waiting patiently, probably for Subspace to come pick it up. He narrowed his eyes at it, trying to find any defects it might've had, defects that might have caused it to act nice to him.
Was Subspace purposely doing this?
Medkit didn't think he'd be so invested as he was now into what Subspace may have been trying to do—but this particular Biograft, it just, made him feel strange. Not in the lovey dovey way no, that'd be disgusting. More in the "I know what you are I just don't have evidence for it" way. Except Medkit didn't know what they were, not exactly. But what he did know was that were was something off about it.
Medkit kept his eyes on it until another Phighter came into his vision. Medkit ignored them until he made a double check, coming to realize who it was. Him, he could ask him about Subspace and his Biografts. He's always with Subspace at Blackrock.
"Hyperlaser!"
He watched the mercenary pause before turning around to find the source of the voice. Hyperlaser watched as Medkit rushed over, seemingly confused at what he may need. Medkit never talked with the other much. He might have always come off as rude to the him, ignoring his attempts at small talk, and dryly responding to all his questions. Medkit didn't have much of an excuse for it besides being because Hyperlaser was within Blackrock's faction. A faction he despised.
Hyperlaser didn't want to be afflicted with Blackrock, he never did, Medkit still found it hard to understand why he did what he did. Personal reasons he's stated. Everyone has their reasons for something.
And so did Medkit in actually conversing with him for once. "Might be weird that I'm talking to you. Like right now–"
"You need something from me, do I stand corrected?"
Medkit paused, stiffening up a bit. "..Yes, I do." he admitted. "But trust me, it's nothing personal, nothing much I need in general." He quickly added. (nothing personal about Hyperlaser anyways)
"Just a question."
Hyperlaser tilted his head. "A question?"
"Yes. It's about Subspace, and his Biografts. If I could just ask about what he's been planning with them."
There was silence from the other end. Medkit took this as an opportunity to explain himself.
"That one Biograft today, wasn't like the others y'know? It killed you. It knew what you were doing. It actually understood it's situation. Not only did it take out your whole team, it came to me for healing. It talked like as if.." Medkit gestured his hands weirdly, unable to find his words for it.
"I AM NOT JUST SUBSPACE'S INVENTION. I'M MYSELF, AND I CAN BE USEFUL."
"Right.."
The words replayed again in his head. "As if it were aware ."
Hyperlaser interjected, "Biografts are not aware, they only talk as if they are. Subspace would have scrapped them if he knew they were sentient. Even less would he have involved them into a Phight."
"I know. It was besides the point—but that's why I'm here to ask if he's done any tweaks to them to have them spy on me. This one acted suspiciously nice to me in this round." Medkit shifted the conversation around, he'd rather not delve too deep into the topic of sentience surrounding robots.
The other made a thinking motion. "Not that I know of. It is not my business in what Subspace does with his Biografts, even if he'd done tweaks here and there, he wouldn't tell me. I am simply a mercenary working under him. Nothing more nothing less." Hyperlaser stated, all of which was true.
Subspace didn't have to tell Hyperlaser what he did and didn't do. However, there were times when the other felt like heightening his ego—by yapping nonstop to Hyperlaser about his newest creation, or the newest update in the Biograft he's made. Being the lowly worker that he was, he fed into Subspace's delusions. He couldn't be bothered to argue with him.
Of course. Subspace didn't tell anyone much of anything. Unless he really felt proud of what'd he done.
"I see then. I don't want to ask any favors, but if you could just keep any eye out—then that would be great. I just hope that isn't much to ask for."
Medkit didn't feel up to having to owe someone something. Especially for such a simple task.
Hyperlaser looked away, "I'll think about it."
Before completely turning around and walking away. Medkit watched from a distance, before he glanced away to check up on the Biograft. As expected it was no longer there. Subspace must've picked it up by now. And right now it was getting quite late, he huffed, hurrying himself to Zuka's truck before it took off.
Sword and some others were already there, luckily nobody nearly quite as undesirable as Subspace was there. He didn't mind most of them that much. Medkit climbed onto Zuka's truck, offered a hand by Vinestaff which he gladly accepted after whispering a small thanks.
Medkit shuffled himself through before sitting at the very end next to Sword. The youngester smiling happily at him, Medkit giving a small smile before going to his stoic expression again. The truck started up, engines simultaneously roaring to life as the truck shook. The Phighters held on for dear life.
"Mm.. Vinestaff, if I may ask, where is Shuriken? Usually you two would be in the round together." Katana spoke up, whipping his head around to spot Vinestaff's younger brother. "Oh! He's out sick today, unfortunate really.. I told him to wear a jacket and he refused!" Vinestaff crossed her arms, flicking one of her legs over her other one.
Quite annoyed at her younger brothers stubbornness.
"I betcha he's never gonna doubt you again after that one." Slingshot remarked, chuckling softly.
"Well you know him." She laughed along with the other. The rest of the Phighters joined along with them, except for a small few.
Medkit slumped back into his seat, eyes shut as he blocked out the sound of laughter. He didn't know how to feel about the situation, maybe unease? Uncertainty? Fear?
..
..
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...
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Curiosity?
And yes, he's heard the phrase. The phrase that many still continue to tell him whenever he trys to learn what Blackrock may be doing. Curiosity kills the cat. That's all they've ever told him, curiosity—kills—the cat. But that's not the only line in the phrase, inphernals always seemed to forget that there's more to it than just that.
Curiosity kills the cat.
But satisfaction brings it back .
And it would. That was only if, Medkit would meet that same Biograft in another round. Which seemed practically impossible. There was a new Biograt every round, new things added to it, stuff that Subspace wished to test in the form of a Phighting round. Nothing was ever the same.
Maybe he was just making a big deal out of it. Yea, that was it. Medkit was overthinking again. He didn't even like Biografts.
Subspace probably wanted nothing to do with him anymore.
And Medkit was fine with that.
"Hey Gramps! You did well that round, great job."
Medkit startled awake, looking around. "G-gramps? What, are my horns turning grey already? What gives?" He frowned feeling around and caressing his horns. They didn't feel grey. That was stupid. Medkit watched as the Phighters laughed, at that, he started chuckling softly too.
"Sorry, not yet. They're still aqua green!" Sword confirmed, examining the others horns deeply. Albeit a bit dull in color—it was expected considering just how old Medkit was. Sword never actually asked how old he was, but he had a guess. "And they'll stay that way." Medkit added.
Sword playfully rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say."
"And also, sure Medkit was great. But you shoulda seen that Biograft! It eliminated my whole team.." Slingshots voice got low at the end. Huffing in defeat. "It appeared out of nowhere."
"This technology is fascinating." Katana mumbled, more to himself than to the rest of the Phighters. Rightfully so–the guy didn't have this back in his childhood.
Medkit perked up at the mention of the Biograft. Maybe he could add his own in input, "Hey.. I also noticed something about that Biograft, it acted strange. Not like regular Biograft shenanigans strange—but did any of you notice anything off?" Medkit put on a serious expression, finally lifting himself up from his slumped posture.
The rest of the Phighters exchanged glances, it made Medkit feel crazy, maybe he already was, "Not that I took note of no.." Sword began first. He thought deeply about it, was there something off about it that he noticed? Not that he really payed attention but..
"I guess it talked to you a little too nicely?"
"Exactly." Medkit deadpanned, at least someone actually noticed. "I feel as if it's trying to gain my trust so that Subspace could finally end my life."
"I think that's called paranoia!" One of the Phighters that had been quiet till now—Scythe commented.
"No—it's not paranoia—!" Medkit was briefly cut off.
"Y'know, she may be right, as much as I hate to admit."
"You aren't getting it—"
"Med."
Medkit when quiet at that. Turning to Sword, cautiously for some reason. The young one had a frown on them. "I get it." He began, setting down his sword on his lap, sitting up straight. "You're afraid Subspace will try and do something again." Sword continued. He didn't look directly into Medkit's direction, it felt like the other was already tired of discussing this.
The rest of the inphernals on the truck went quiet. Minding their own business. The hum of the engine was quieter than ever, Medkit wished it wasn't.
"I won't let anything happen, please, Medkit. I promised you something. And I take my promises seriously." This time he finally turned his head. A dejected expression on his face, Medkit's frown deeped, he cast his gaze away.
Silence from both of them. It was nerve-wracking—just how did such a lively conversation come to this?
Medkit sighed deeply, "I know. It's just sometimes that.." He gestured his gun around, maybe for emphasis, or a hope to be understood by someone other than Sword.
"It's okay Medkit, we all have our days. Nobody can blame you for that." Sword comforted the other, although not using physical touch to do so. He knew Medkit was not a hugger—nor a fan of touch in general.
Medkit nodded, "I know."
//———————————————//
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"CREATOR?"
"Gah, what is it this time?!" Subspace complained, very opposed to the idea of having to answer yet another one of his machines many questions. Since when did he program curiosity into them? Maybe when he didn't program them to know all the world's answer to their problems.
The machine's system whirred, contemplating whether it should ask it's question. "What is it?!" Subspace demanded after a long moment of silence.
"WHY IS MY SYSTEM CALLING MEDKIT A TRAITOR? WHO IS MEDKIT?" It finally asked glaring over at Subspace, it's orange optics shining brightly. Biograft could detect a few emotions in Subspace's expressio. Confusion, disgust, weirdness, and annoyance. Subspace rolled his eyes—not answering his Biograft's question.
"Did I forget to program something in you? Make sure to remind me to check for any errors in you, we'll continue testing next Phight." Subspace commanded. Biograft let out a puff of steam, smoke exiting the open shafts in it's armor. "..AFFIRMATIVE, CREATOR." Sometimes it wished that it's voice had some form of expression.
Just what was it's purpose exactly? Who was Medkit? Did Subspace have history with him?
Biograft would find out soon enough.