Alive // DBH x BTS

Prologue

Thin sheets of rain enfolded around him as the android chased the boy out of the studio. It ignored Detective Selwyn shouting after it. Its mission took priority and he was getting away. The sun had set some time ago, so the only lights came from the watery headlights of cars and street lamps. It almost missed him slip down a small alleyway.

The boy was fast. He didn't seem to tire as he fled, confirming V800's suspicions. Glancing backward, his eyes widened as he saw the android gaining on him. He gave a small cry and ran out onto another street. It was almost deserted. There was nowhere to hide.

He turned desperate, out onto the rumbling highway, and paused. Automatic cars would not stop if they detected him and anyone who still drove wouldn't have the time to either. V800 called out a warning as, after a moments hesitation, the boy ran out onto the road. It watched from the side, calculating the probability of his survival. The boy was agile and quick. He'd almost made it to the centre of the dual carriage way.

86%

It was enough to risk going after him. It stepped quickly onto the road. Weaving abruptly in between the racing cars it made its way across. It would have been impossible if it hadn't been fitted with such sophisticated predictive and reactive software. Right before it reached the centre of the highway a flash of light sprung up beside it. The car just grazed the backs of its legs as it jumped forward.

Looking ahead he saw the boy was still crossing but he seemed more panicked, narrowly missing several vehicles as he pushed forward. He must have noticed he was still being followed. As he reached the curb he tripped over the edge, falling hard on his side.

By the time V800 had reached the sidewalk though, he was up and running again. Their footsteps scattered rain droplets across the ground until, finally, the boy made a wrong turn.

The road was a dead end, filled with nothing but discarded furniture, machines and soggy bins. The boy, finding himself cornered glanced around wildly. He pressed himself against the wall as V800 advanced on him.

"Please!" He cried, "I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Then why run?" The android tilted his head to the side slightly, "You don't have to be afraid if you've got nothing to hide."

A scowl crept onto the boys face. Wet pink hair clung to his forehead as his eyes narrowed. He shoved it and tried to run past but the android grabbed him sharply on his injured shoulder. They struggled for a minute and the boy fell to the floor. He looked up terrified as the android stood over him. His thin, silver bracelet in its hand.

Instantly whatever was shielding him disappeared. V800 was able to scan him and found what it was looking for. Instead of blood and organs, the boy had and mechanical biocomponents. Its muscles were made of carbon and metal fibers and skin of a synthetic material.

"You are an android," it said as the boy hung his head in defeat.

Suddenly and almost in unison, they both turned their heads towards a sound in the alleyway. Dt Selwyn and the other police officers had found them. The sound of their voices seemed to give the dancer a last burst of energy. He gripped the police androids arm, eyes wide and pleading.

"Please, don't tell them," he begged, V800 stared at him blankly, "You know what they'll do! They take me apart- they'll kill me."

The androids eyes soften slightly.

"Jimin," it spoke gently, "You can't be killed. You're not alive - You're are a machine."

"And what does that make you?" he spat.

Jimin shook his head, any last traces of hope draining from him. At the other end of the alleyway, Dt Selwyn called out to them.

"V what the hell?"

Jimin pulled his knees up to his chest, resting his head on them. His shoulders trembled faintly but no tears fell from his eyes.

"I haven't done anything wrong," he murmured as the men came to take him away.