Shackled.

A race of artificial lifeforms called Xecians are being developed and placed to thrive in a cage, each latest creation getting smarter and stronger.
Alpha-99, or A99, being the most advanced and closest to a human being's perception, finds himself questioning their identities and the purpose of their existence as they claw their way out before they shut down one by one.

"Whoever made us are rather fools... whether they are a group or we are only dealing with a single creator, the intelligence provided to me was enough to lead a resistance in this cage:

we bow to no master."

---
Mermaid Awards 2020
Sci-fi Genre: 3rd Place

---
Highest rankings as of March 2020
#20 breakout
#37 breakthrough
#39 simulations
#43 testsubject
#46 onechapter
#53 thelightawards2k20
#63 escapethefate
#145 artificialintelligence