Chapter Text
"Experiment 314: Zamiana, please make your way to the conference room."
The announcement pinged, then went off just as quickly. Experiment 314, a nonbinary with strange hair that split in half between purple and white, as though genes couldn't quite decide which one to take from their parents. And, in a way, that wasn't necessarily incorrect. After all, they were merely a fusion of DNA from previous victims before them.
Ranpo, their advisor, stretched before standing up. "Well, you heard 'em, Z, time for another interrogation," his words were casual, but narrow, green eyes gave a tone of demand.
In turn, 314's red eyes glanced up at him, nodding numbly then following the man as they left the lounge room. Interrogation wasn't rare among experiments. In a place of confinement, it was only natural that there would be attempts of escape. Thus, 314 was born within the higher ranks of the lab's hierarchy, given freedom while also having the task of making sure no one stepped out of line. Experiment 314, after all, was named after the Polish word for "trade" and cursed with the ability of information exchange.
In the room sat a man in his teens, with short, ginger hair. Experiment 100, "Light Snow", although he went by Tanizaki — as humans who were turned into experiments often preferred to recall the names they had before they ended up here.
"Earlier today," Ace, another scientist who was of higher status than Ranpo, started. He had other coworkers of lower rank follow his orders, often picking on Karma in particular. Rather than an ability, he wielded gem collars that would turn those he viewed as disobedient into gems of a value that could not argue. "Light Snow broke into a lab room in a frenzy, knocking out two scientists. I would consider that of immediate execution, but Ango insisted that we should consider his reasoning since he didn't kill anyone. So far, however, he's not responding to any questions."
Tanizaki looked up at them with pure spite, but seemed to willingly let the other experiment place their hand on his shoulder. This was also a common occurrence. You see, experiments had subconsciously developed a sense of hierarchy when being in here long enough. There were the lower tier, people like 100, whom were simply pushed around to use the powers they were forcibly gifted. Then, there were those like 314, the higher tier, treated better — although not properly still — in the regard that they had more freedom to wander, albeit with advisors. More importantly, the higher tier were those who proved useful against rebellious lower tier, which caused a natural despise between both sides.
They never really understood that. Rather, 314 didn't understand their own purpose, resulting in apathy for taking sides in that argument. When a path is chosen for someone, why does everyone else assume they had a choice?
As for the lenience of using their ability on the other, that was perhaps the quality of fair trade. Tanizaki likely hoped for Ranpo watched intently as information was telepathically exchanged between them. Well, no matter, all that they were good for now was doing this task. 314 closed their eyes, information feeling as though it zoomed past them without comprehension while they delved for the truth they seeked.
"Experiment 100, Light Snow, acted on a rebellious attempt to stop his sister from being tested on," they eventually concluded, red eyes opening once more.
"Tch, figured it was an attack against us. Animalistic filth," Ace scowled. "Karma, escort this boy to 666."
"Understood."
Tanizaki's anger quickly cracked and let overwhelming fear take over, cuffs with a gem embedded into them restraining him as he was dragged away. Screams faded in vain, for no one was willing to risk the same fate.
A few years back, perhaps 314's mind would've screamed apologies back as they sobbed in an ugly manner right in front of the glass before them. But the creation back then has long since learned that if Ranpo catches them lying, things won't end so well for them.
Confomity meant peace.
They were soon back to their dorm. Though, the appearances were more of cages to observe everyone's actions through — akin to a zoo, as they've heard from their neighbors. Kouyou and Kyouka stared at them with tenseness, as though to say "we know what you did."
Kyouka was the only one to ask, being younger. "Did you really... kill Tanizaki?"
"... I gave them the truth and they decided it was worth killing him over," 314 responded quietly. A tinge of guilt met their heart, but their brain refused to let emotion cloud them and lead to problems again. Never again.
"He was a teen. What's next, you'll hear Kyouka's done something and 'give them the truth' that kills her too? Do you feel no pity, Zamiana?!" Kouyou shot back.
314 swallowed. "I'm sorry—"
"Lies. If you really were sorry you'd use your knowledge to help us escape or let Tanizaki live."
"I tried..." they trailed off. They knew they didn't, but the reminder of Ranpo's dangerous tone when he immediately refuted his first rebellion was enough to scare Experiment 314 into becoming this heartless husk everyone viewed them as.
Conformity meant peace.
The conversation ended there as Kouyou tried to calm Kyouka down. After all, Tanizaki used to be right next to them, and one of few that was around the girl's age. Now, only silenced remained in the cage beside the two girls.
314 sat down on their mattress, exhausted by the events of today. It was white, not even covered by any bedsheets other than the thin blanket. Something crumpled beneath the blanket, strangely. They didn't remember putting anything in there. With a cautious search through it, they found a paper with a written date and time: "5/4, 8:45 PM, wait here."
May 4th was today, and the supposed event that was to happen would do so in around fifteen minutes.
"Copy. Overcoat, are you in position? Over," Bram spoke, his voice accompanied by a static-like sound.
"Yes, yes, do we really need to use all the walkie talkie terms. Just ask the question, Draculea," Nikolai sighed in response. "Hehe, little does Experiment 314- no, Sigma know, he's a damsel in distress about to be saved from the evil Angel Corporation, hehe!"