Chapter Text
{<Avian splicing center, Crane’s Office- August 23, 2084 - 4th iteration>}
{<Begin recording playback>}
It would be perfect. It had to be perfect. Professor Crane stood now, Head bowed over her desk, making the final calculations when she realised something was wrong. Her calculations were off and… The genomes would not match, not function with each other. As she ran the simulation again with the upgraded software, unlike last time, this time- this time, instead of showing a success, genomes mixing properly and creating the perfect creature, a perfect workforce, with wings, and fins and- her mind trailed off as the simulation continued. The genetic code of each species was too different from each other.
The simulation continued. The simulated figure went from perfect mixing to, within a few days, the simulation suggested, whatever poor thing still surprised would become a shambling mess, feathers and claws and mouths, and blood, so much blood, as the thing screamed in pain, for help, its voice so distorted no one could tell what it was saying. Crane shut the program down quickly and got up from her desk. She began to pace and think, before sitting back down and getting back to work on her second attempt.
{<Avian splicing center, Subject quarters 057- August 30, 2084>}
Briar stared at his hands. At least, he called them hands. Over the last week they had become less recognisable, becoming more like talons, like that of a bird. Apparently, the rest of him had as well, although he had no way of truly knowing besides what the researchers called him- “harpy” because he had not been given a mirror. He stood up and looked out the window, but all he could see was clouds. Whatever this building was, it had been built inside the cloud layer, for some reason. Briar assumed his talons were related. Briar began to pace, thinking over what to do, or at least what he would have to do. And then someone knocked on the door.
“Briar, can I come in?” It was Professor Crane, the doctor who had been assigned to him. She was the only one who gave him any space, and was the one who gave him his name. In truth, Briar couldn’t remember his name, so Crane gave him one, had said it was from someone special. He sighed.
“Yes Crane, you can come in..” He sat down on his cot as Crane entered the room holding a tray and her tablet. She sat next to him and passed him the tray.
“Thank you..” he said as he looked over the tray, which had fresh fruits and vegetables, which were quite rare, and Briar became quite happy, before noticing the needle laid next to them.
“Shot day, huh?” Briar looked at Crane and frowned.
Crane nodded.
“Yeah, sorry Briar.” Crane grabbed The needle and began preparing it. “I’ll make it quick though.
“Thank you.” Briar extended his arm to Crane and braced himself. Crane removed the tray from his lap and pressed the needle into Briar’s skin, pulling it out as quickly as possible.
He sighed and straightened his back, smiling a tiny bit as he looked to crane, the shot not having hurt as much this time until…
Pain Shot through Briar. First his arm as feathers sprouted on his arm, reaching his back as his back felt to burst open. He screamed. His entire body began to writhe as he collapsed onto the floor. Crane was quick to grab him, calmly holding him as he began to cry from the pain.
“Calm down Briar. It’ll be over soon…” After a few minutes, Briar began to calm down, as Crane set him on the bed. She smiled a little bit, and Briar glared at her.
“What? What are you so happy about?” Crane held up a mirror, which Briar had not noticed her bring in. He could finally see himself for the first time in what- 5 years maybe? He was a bit shocked, his face was much more narrow than he remembered, although granted he didn’t remember much about himself before. His hair was very messy, and much longer than he would’ve liked. Feathers dotted the outline of his face, and covered most of his neck. As he continued to inspect, he realised that wings sprouted from his back. He looked in shock, and before he could say anything, Crane jumped in.
“So, how do you like them..? We’re lucky it worked… Try to retract them…” Crane watched carefully as Briar focused and his wings retracted, which hurt a bit. He looked away from Crane.
“Briar… are you okay..?” Crane asked, sounding worried. “I’m… sorry… truly, for everything we’ve put you through, really.” She lifted a piece of melon, which Briar ate quickly.
“I know you are, but I don’t think any of your colleagues do. I mean, you gave me a name. They just call me…” Briar took a pause. “Harpy. I don’t think they’re sorry.” Crane sighed.
“I know Briar. They’re so stuck in their research and tests, and they forget all of the subjects are still at least partially human. But I’m sorry Briar, I really am.” Crane stood up. “I have to go Briar, I’m sorry. I have a lot of work to do, sorry.”
She rushed out of the room quickly, taking the mirror with her. Briar stood up as she left, extending and stretching his wings before hearing a small dinging noise. It was Crane’s tablet. She left it in his room. Briar carefully checked the tablet to find a message left for crane. It read:
“Professor Crane.
Here at the splicing center, we expect results. We do not care whether you are partial to the subject or not, we expect more follow through on your part. Subject 57 is yours, and we expect you to use them to further your research, as is expected of you.
-Avian Director Smith”
Briar wasn’t sure whether to be mad that Crane had considered using him, or happy that she hadn’t. He wasn’t even entirely sure if she was backing down from whatever her plans were. He decided to be both, and next time he saw her, he’d get his answers.