The journey away from Facility 89 had been a long one. He didn't know how many hours the military convoy had been on the road, only that it was longer than they'd ever traveled before. If the sun had been visible through the dust and smog and the cluttered shells of rotting skyscrapers, he may have guessed it was a half day at least.
Dr. Smith was tense. It was unlike the aging scientist to feel much of anything, but today she was... agitated. The two soldiers riding with them were strung as tight as anyone he'd ever met, but whether that was because of him or something else, 057 didn't know. They rarely worked with outsiders, but he knew how humans felt about
things like him. Even in civilian clothes, the sight of him had stirred a reflexive fear, some primal knee-jerk reaction that even their military conditioning couldn't bury. When they left the convoy and he paused a moment to stretch the stiff muscles in his shoulders, he could feel them catch their breath. Dr. Smith rolled her eyes and motioned him onward.
This was Facility 12, judging by the faded lettering on the old metal walls. As a Corporal began shouting instructions and briefing the gathered humans on their mission, he stared at the light leaking through the bunker doors. Nothing was visible of the city now, but he could feel them already - Altered humans, like himself, scattered throughout the ruins.
Something big was going on. In this small space, the gathering of scientists and heavily-armed soldiers were teeming with emotion, and it was starting to suffocate him. A quiet, warning hum from the collar around his neck told him he must have been fidgeting; Dr.Smith's sharp gaze was boring into him. 057 took in a slow breath and straightened up.
When it was her turn to speak, he listened with the rest. "This is new ground for us," she began grudgingly. "Tracking a specific Alt has never been a necessity until this incident. We don't know how long it will take, but I assure you, it
can be done. When the target is found, 89-057 will activate the signal.
We need to move in quickly," the scientist asserted, sweeping her gaze over the gathered soldiers. "As most of the data was destroyed with Facility 74, we aren't sure what the target is capable of. 89-057 may not be able to hold him for long. Let me reiterate," she paused, her voice frigid, a flicker of rage through her usual composure. "He is to be taken alive
at all costs."
When she turned to address 057 directly, it was still loud enough for the gathered crowd to hear. "There are many Alts in this city. You will need to pinpoint the strongest one," she instructed. "His anxiety levels will be high. He has never been exposed to the outside world and is likely to be isolated, which will work to our advantage. Take your time with him. If he becomes agitated,
fall back immediately. You cannot be compromised."
-- Esper/empath and government labrat
-- Uses his telepathic abilities to hunt down others of his kind
-- Has limited control of his powers, as he is usually kept drugged to suppress them
-- Functionally mute, as he and his fellow captives were subject to
ventriculocordectomy-- Capable of communicating telepathically and knows sign language
-- While he could probably escape, he's as terrified of the outside world as he is of his captors, and... well, better the devil you know
-- Always has headphones on or hanging around his neck; music creates enough white noise to help block out the thoughts of other people if his guard is down
Monsters - Sick Puppies
The Kill - Thirty Seconds to Mars
Phoenix - Cailin Russo
Riftborn Kumos
Cass
