Subject 0-1

Chapter 6: Gadgets & Gizmos

*Timeskip to next day*

Clipboard's POV:

Man, I'm so excited to see that blue guy today! I just realized that I never got his name. I'll just ask him when I get to his room. I finished the call, and went on my lunch break. I headed to the elevator and pressed the second-floor button. I walked down the hallways to the door, making sure nobody saw me enter the laboratory. I try to remember the pathway I took to get to his living quarters, moving as quickly and quietly as I could. Once again, I walked into the room full of inventions, this time stopping to look at the odd inventions that surround me. I pick up a random bracelet and put it on. It was a light blue color with a small gray button. "I wonder what this does" I thought. I pressed the button and a small holographic screen popped up. "What the.." I muttered. A bunch of customization options appeared on the screen. I swiped through the options, reading them off one by one. "Strength, levitation, water manipulation... Acid barf? What? Why would you want to barf acid?" I wondered. I turned the bracelet off, but decided to keep it just in case I need it.

*Timeskip cuz' I'm lazy*

After looking at a few more gadgets, I started going down the hallway towards the door to his room, until I heard footsteps. "Really? Every time!" I started panicking until I remembered the bracelet that I grabbed. I pressed the button and quickly scrolled through the options until I found what I needed. I pressed the option, and as soon as I did, a scientist walked right past me. "Man, invisibility is the coolest!" I thought. I made it to the door just in time, because as soon as I opened it, I was no longer invisible. Apparently, there's a time limit to the powers, as well as a cooldown time. "Darn, well that sucks." I said.

"Clipboard! You came back!" The blue object said.

"Ah!" I yelped, remembering the reason I was here in the first place. "You gotta stop scaring me like that. But of course I came back!"

"I still don't know why you did..." He said.

"Uh, because you're cool, and I want to know more about you and this place? Did you not hear what I said yesterday?" I questioned.

"Yes, I heard what you said. But why would you come and see me even when you know you could get caught and possibly killed?" He questioned back.

"Because some things are worth taking risks," I answered. "Like you."

He smiled widely. "Gee, thanks! Nobody really cares the way you do..."

I smiled back "By the way, you never really told me your name."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. I don't really have a name, but the scientists call me Subject 0-1!" He said.

"Wow, really? They didn't even try to come up with a name?" I asked.

"No, they said there was no point in naming me, so they just decided to call me 0-1." He answered.

"Well, how about we come up with one?" I said with excitement.

"Really? We can just do that?"

"Yeah, of course! There are no rules against it." I said.

"Cool, so what should my name be?" He asked.

"Well, most objects are called by their object name." I responded.

"Well, I'm a ball, so how about Ball?" He said.

"Nah, too bland." I answered. "Ooh, what about Rubber Ball? Y'know, because you're made of rubber, and you're a ball. Plus, it's better than just Ball."

"Hmm. I like it! It suits me!" He said, smiling brightly.

"Then it's official! Your name is now Rubber Ball!" I exclaimed.

"Cool! Say, what's that thing on your arm?" Rubber Ball asked.

I look down at my arm confused, until I realized that he was talking about the bracelet. "Oh, right." I said. "This is a bracelet. But it's not just any normal bracelet. It's a bracelet that gives an object special abilities. Like the ability you have, Rubber Ball!"

"If they already had a bracelet that gives them powers, why did they create me?" He pondered.

"Well, the bracelet has a time limit, so you only get a few minutes to use the powers, as well as there being a cooldown." I responded. "They probably made you because you have no time limit on your powers."

"I guess that makes sense. But, you wanna see something cool?" He said excitedly.

"Uh, sure, I guess." I answered, confused.

"Ok, watch this!" Rubber Ball moved his tail up into the air and waved it around. I was really confused until his tail started to grow longer and longer, eventually reaching the ceiling. I stared in awe at how high up it was.

"Woah..." I said speechlessly.

"I know, right? I can do that with any part of my body!" He said, bringing his tail back down to normal length.

"That's so cool!" I said amazed at what I had just seen.

"Told ya. I can't wait to see what the other subject can do!" He said.

"What?" I said. "What do you mean 'other subject'?"

"Well, Screw said that every 2 months, a new subject will arrive. I mean, they can't make an army of super objects with just one super object." He answered.

"True, but why are they making an army anyway?"

"Like I know. They barely tell me anything! I don't even know what a month is!"

"Hm, I guess there's more to this project than I thought." I look at the clock on the wall. "Geez, it's almost 1:00 already?" I guess I'll have to investigate later. "Rubber Ball, I need to go. My break's almost over." I said.

"Oh, ok." He said glumly.

"Don't worry, I'll be back later after I'm done with work." I said, trying to cheer my new friend up.

"Oh, great! It's kinda lonely down here by myself."

"Well, eventually, you'll have a new friend right across from you!" I said.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll see you later!"

"See, ya!" I waved goodbye to Rubber Ball, exited the room, and swiftly made my way back to the entrance of the lab. I definitely need to figure out more about this project.

For now, I just need to get through the rest of the day.