High Score, Higher Brutality
Another one for @zoanluen's Dead Can Dance AU, now V1's turn to take the stage for this one. I had been thinking what to do with their backstory in this but I think I had to write down and what goes to flow with it. Enjoy!
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+CHAOTIC
+BRUTAL
+ANARCHIC
Coins flipped into the air as they dashed away from the approaching group of streetcleaners, with one finally leap with the speed and agility they have so far displayed as they carefully aimed their pistol towards one of the coins before opening fire on it.
The laser made contact with the shiny surface of small rounded metal as it bounced off it it, and then onto another one, and another, and another and another-
BOOOM!!!
+ULTRAKILL
The laser went through all seven canisters the Streetcleaners had on their backs exposed, leaving all of them completely vulnerable to attacks from behind the streetcleaners.
They had ranged the coins perfectly to be somewhere between these robots as they all explode in a splatter and rain of red from where they were all standing. Braided hair flowed through the air as they pushed their legs outward, bracing themself for a landing back on the ground, all eight wing-like appendages fan out on balance.
The metal caps at the end of which braid clacked together as they land, two of the braids wavered and drooped to cover one of their glowing, searing yellow eyes as they lifted their head up to survey the damage they wrought, covered in more blood than usual but they didn't mind.
The grid-like battleground was covered in torn and popped bodies as their crimson red decorating the walls and floor.
They saw nothing but another day of cybergrinding for points.
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"So far, they are showing great promise," one scientist commented, mesmerized by the vivid images flickering on the screens. The simulated battle area came alive with bursts of vibrant colors and intense flashes of light.
"I guess they had improved a lot over the week after the previous test, won't you agree?" He turned to face the lead scientist, an older but cold man who emitted an air of indifference, his face revealing no trace of emotion, only a faint hint of boredom.
"It was quite… Efficient," the lead doctor spoke after a minute, his voice tinged with a hint of detachment. The scent of sterile equipment and antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the metallic tang of anticipation. "But despite that display of brutality, it still needs more work."
The man's brows furrowed, a mix of disappointment and frustration etched on his face, as he grappled with the disregard of the Prototype's performance, another setback in the pursuit of perfection.
"Please, you had them doing this for over three months now-" he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.
"It's not a 'they', Doctor Carlson, it's an 'it' to our research," the lead scientist coldly corrected, his words resonating with clinical detachment.
"At least it was trying so hard to meet your standards." Doctor Carlson interjected. "Trying so hard to the point of mental and physical exhaustion just to meet the standards of the council on dealing with this virus from the middle ages and the war coming to our doorstep!"
"Oh please." the lead doctor rolled his eyes at this. "You are making my criticisms look like it was the end of the world. It's not like that I would approve of this."
Taking a deep breath, Carlson spoke up finally after calming down. "It- They were just pushing themselves just please you out of all people."
Carlson then looked at the tempered glass, seeing where V1 was hooked up too; their braided hair was loose hanging off either side of their head with strange type of portable headset over their eyes and ears, black breathing mask over their mouth and nose as all of their limbs were bind into the large, metallic cuffs to took up their forearms and calves with their legs clamped together under a steel brace while a metal belt-like brace had also fasten across their waist, leaving them pinned to a rack, completely immobilized in place to prevent escape.
"I know they do but they-" The lead doctor mockingly used the word in his sentence, "-are holding it back; the instinct to survive, the knowledge that a perfect soldier would use to it's disposal with only its hands, show no emotion when it comes to slaughtering the infected monsters and machines."
The lead doctor pointed at the sight before Carlson as if to prove his point. "Let's not forget that you willingly used your own DNA to create a clone of yourself artificially for this project, quite surprising even for me to know this fact. Don't forget who will have your life destroyed with just one ace up my sleeve."
Carlson flinched a little, squirmed in his seat. This did not help matters when the older man had placed his hands on the arm rests at either side of him, leaned in close in his face, face bore a scrawl.
"Tomorrow around this time of day," The lead doctor spoke in a threatening manner, "Try again, and this time, have THEM..." pointing at V1. "Do it right with better results. Understand?"
Silence fell over them with a fog of uncertainty, out of options to win the fight, Carlson had no other choice but to nod to his demands.
The lead doctor said nothing but nodded, content with the younger man's answer as he shifted his body back to standing upright once again as he adjusts the wrist cuffs with closed eyes. Without no more word being said, he turned and then walked out of the red-lit room, door lifting upwards and then downs, closing behind him.
Doctor Carlson, remain silent for a long moment, staying still as he took in what had happened today. Exhaling the breath from his nose as he turned towards the computer, inputting a code before standing up and then headed for the door that leads into the room V1 was in.
The headset on V1 shifted; split down the middle and the pieces slid to either side of their head, opening their sight after a while in them as they shut their eyes tight, trying to keep the light out but sensed someone in front of them as they opened them, looking at Carlson once more.
The prototype, a carbon copy of Doctor Carlson but with defect; the braids of their hair was blue and black compared to his natural one.
"He had failed you again." Carlson delivered, his head hung low in disappointment, V1 couldn't say anything, ether they can't due to not know how to or the mask they are breathing in had prevented them from doing so.
"We wants us to try again." Carlson then at last looked at V1, anger but determined expression on his features. "And we will try again tomorrow, and this time; we'll show him, V1."
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Train, rip, tear, gun range, simulation, results, repeat.
It goes on for hours that bleeds into days for V1.
Are they allowed for breaks after results?
No.
No they don't...
Train, rip, tear, gun range, simulation, results, repeat.
They were allowed to sleep upon the day's other failure as they once again did not match the lead researcher's expectations. They were granted only a few hours of sleep before being woke up by the guards, ordered to drag them back on their feet and then prepare them for the day.
It would usually be Dr. Carlson to wake them up but on the days when he's not, the lead doctor would demand that they will be literally pulled out of their cot just so there won't be any absentness.
Train, rip, tear, gun range, simulation, results, repeat...
It seem to be getting to them with a few things they will admit: they HATED the head doctor so much. They hated to see the same results of their blood, sweat, and tears they poured their best into but only to be meet with "Not good enough," "That's not what we were hoping for," "Is that what you got?" "Good work but it felt meaningless," "Are you trying to make me angry?!" and "This project will be all for nothing. Try again."
The words and sentences swirled and twisted in their mind, days of minimal sleep and mental turmoil taken its toll on them as they were thrown back into their room, windowless and dark safe with a cot and a few drawings etched into the floor and wall with one pencil.
They are giving it all they are worth into these tests.
Train, rip, tear, gun range, simulation, results.... REPEAT
An enraged fist was thrown into a wall, the pavement cracked under their strength and pain was the second to introduce them. Breathing heavily, they pulled back their hand from the dent they made and inspect their knuckles and sure enough, they are bleeding with fingers twitching as if they were forced to run a marathon.
They snarled from the pain and anger at this, only encouraging them to punch the wall once again but retched back with a strangled yell of agony once the pain had hit them once again twice as much as punching a wall again.
Holding their hand to see the damage with little light they have from their wings. Yep... It was too much.
Hunger nagged on their mind and no one's going to get them blood any time soon if it wasn't limited to training so as a result, they brought their bleeding knuckles to their mouth and began to lick.
Licking their own blood to sedate the hunger, they are being watched but in that moment, they just don't care anymore.
Train, rip, tear, gun range, simulation, results, repeat...
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For the first time in almost several years, they were granted some sleep. Just sleep at last.
They had been told that they will be performing one last test before the project is cancelled. They do recalled being placed in the simulation, recalled being delirious during that time but they do find odd that they were not forced to go to training and gun range as usual. In fact, they can't seem to see Dr. Carlson anyway.
The lead doctor stated to his researchers that Dr. Carlson had been 'retired' from the project from what they heard but... The way he said 'retired' is concerning.
They were slipped into the rack one more time as a mask was put over their nose and more with the headset over their eyes and ears, robbed of both sight and sound before they smelled a sweet smell invading their senses and before they knew it, they had fallen into a peaceful slumber.
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Eyes are fluttering open; the smell is gone, their throat dried up but still working oddly as their mind had registered it. The headset had also vanished, fully freeing their eyes and ears as the sounds of sirens blaring as their vision was blurred but red and white flashing before hearing voices saying over their regaining senses.
"V.... restaints.... what hav.... they are.... waking up....!!"
Brain was a strangest organ to have but trying to process the sudden urge and thoughts clashing together at once as they felt the metal relinquish its grip on their limbs. Their eyes shot wide open as the instint took over and soon, they were let loose onto the world they were reintroduced to.
