Bionica: The War

On The Inside

He didn't know where he'd come from or why he was there. All this boy knew was that he'd been raised by wolves... or rather, with wolves. The endless cages lining the hall he called home were constantly whining in a variety of voices. Some barked, some meowed, others oinked. He was the only one who used words, language. And he didn't even know what his name was until some workers in white coats came to repair a high-security cage. One of them had said, "Well, there's your problem. This sprocket's broken," then looked up at the boy, making eye contact for a fraction of a second.

And that's what he called himself.

Sprocket.

That day seemed as normal as any other. He woke up, went through some tests, and was then rewarded with a meager breakfast. But later in the afternoon a door opened and a man in a white coat walked in. He was wheeling a gurney in front of him. Strapped to it was a girl not much younger than himself. Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders as she lay peacefully. The white-coated man transferred her to a cage two doors down from Sprocket.

Soon enough she began to wake up. Sprocket looked out his small window and saw her stirring. As she regained consciousness she began to freak out. She whimpered and smashed against the cage, looking frantically for a way to get out. Sprocket held out his hand.

"It's okay," he said. "You'll be safe here. What's your name?"

The girl didn't calm down, but stared at him with wild green eyes. "R-Rose..."

He looked at her. What a weird name. "You sure?" he said. "If you don't like it, you could pick another one."

Rose seemed to calm down a bit at that. "Let me think about it."

Sprocket smiled. "Okay."

_______

A day went by. Sprocket told Rose about what it was like in here and what she might have to endure. Rose countered with stories of the outside world. Of sunshine and green grass and things that were all gone now because of the government's negligence of its citizens. She told of her sister, who was evidently somewhere in the building. Rose had no clue where, and was worried sick for her. Sprocket put his hand out to her and she grabbed it. He thought of the grim fate her sister must have had if they were separated on their first day here.

Suddenly the door was flung open and another worker walked in, wheeling an empty gurney. "You're up, VJ-35712," he said, walking to Sprocket's cage. When the locks were undone Sprocket stepped out and laid himself down, letting the worker strap him to the table. When they were done he was wheeled out and down a long hallway. Still a long way away from their destination, they passed another gurney with a girl lying on it. Her red hair stood out to Sprocket the most, followed by her slender figure and short stature. But he didn't think much of it, because he was taken through a set of double doors and into an operating theatre. A throng of doctors stood in powder blue garments, waiting for him. A bright light shone in Sprocket's eyes and he felt a needle go through the skin of his neck.

Then there was blackness and peace.

_______

When Sprocket woke up, he saw the girl from before staring from the cage between him and Rose. Her short red hair was easily identifiable. She was now missing a leg, cut at the knee, and her face was one of shock and terror. She stared at Sprocket, tears in her eyes.

He looked at the girl. "What's wrong?" he asked.

The girl couldn't answer, only point. And she pointed at him.

Sprocket was terrified. What had they done to him? He craned his neck over to look at his back and saw nothing natural.

Nothing but a plate of metal.