Work Text:
Subject 001: Also known colloquially as "Maeve". She appears to be a young female Jackal, in quite healthy condition when I had first found her, floating on in outer space. Initially, I was going to ignore her and move on. It wasn't my problem to pick up such foreign species, that was the problem of whatever black hole would inevitably consume them.
However… I then noticed something that made me freeze. In all my years of science, I had never witnessed such power. Resistance. Other than from that blue rat and cohorts when they went into their more powerful "Super" forms. The being known as "Maeve" not only managed to disappear from my line of sight in no time at all, but then managed to pick up an asteroid and throw it. As if gravity weren't affecting her at all. Her eyes were glowing red and she appeared to be quite frustrated.
More research had to be conducted on her and her kind. What sort of powers does she hold? Where do they come from? How could they potentially be used in my aid? I used my technology to keep her trapped in a containment unit for a short while, then she collapsed. I presume that this was due to her straining herself in the process. But now she was mine, so that didn't matter anymore.
Since that day, about 3 months prior, I had been keeping her locked away in a separate room. Maeve winces when she sees me approaching her, with our daily routine. Asking her questions, testing her powers, feeding her the food rations, then bed time.
So, Maeve. Where do you come from exactly?
I come from a planet several light years away from anything that’s super notable in the solar system. It’s a small and relatively cooler planet, Braxytl. It’s not known to those who do these sorts of planetary expeditions, probably because they’re looking for the main ones out there. Mars, Earth, Mercury and the like.
Braxytl, huh? Tell me more about it.
Subject 001 has broken eye contact with me upon me asking said question. Although matter seems sensitive, I require information. I give her a slight nudge with my clipboard, re-informing her of our protocol when it comes to giving information. Subject sighs softly, then looks me in the eyes.
Braxytl is a planet that is known for doing things quite… Differently. One would maybe describe it as “Utopian".” But it’s just what we know. Rather than currency or relying on jobs to give us currency, for example, we rely on a system known as “Credits.” You earn credits by doing small, good deeds, or something larger, like volunteering for the community. The more “Credits” you earn, the more things you’re allowed to get. For example, I had to earn a bunch of them in order to open my business.
… That’s all I’m willing to disclose to you, old man.
Subject seems adamant about revealing more information. She’s giving me quite an attitude in regard to telling me more, so I abandon this question for now. I move onto one of the many others I have.
Aside from that, can you tell me about those gloves you’re wearing? Do all of your denizens wear them? Do they do anything special?
Subject 001 hesitates once more. A few lashings are given, across her knees and her shoulders. Her body shakes and recoils, as per usual. She normally submits to my will as soon as I do this, but lately, she’s grown to going silent. Subject refers to behavior as “Shutting down.” I urge her against this, saying that more lashings will be given if no additional information is given. She thinks for a moment, sighs loudly, then tells me to get my clipboard.
Fine, I’ll tell you. These gloves help assist me with my powers. People on Braxytl all have powers that run purely on emotions, through the chemicals in food that we eat. We replenish our energy from the previous night, in through our bloodstreams. We really only need two meals a day in order to do this, but some of us, like myself, may require smaller snacks for sustenance throughout the day. Because I am on the Autistic spectrum. Assuming you’re aware of what that is, Doctor?
I am aware, yes. So, you have trouble with emotional regulation? How does that affect your body’s ability to produce these chemicals?
When my mind gets overstimulated, it produces too much of the chemicals. Hence the gloves I wear. My gloves are embedded with these microneedles which redistribute them back into my bloodstream. If I didn’t have these, the chemicals would literally leak out of my body, and cause me to pass out from overexertion. But because my body produces so much, a lot goes back out. Sometimes, the gloves can’t absorb every bit that comes out. The chemicals probably just look like sweat to a regular bystander. If you look closely, though, it resembles a very pale blue fluid leaking out of us.
Subject 001 has elaborated on a curiosity I had when it came to testing her power abilities. I had noticed the pale blue fluid that came out of her pores, but refused to elaborate, as she seemed embarrassed to discuss the matter.
Others on my planet who have Autism also wear something similar. However, mine are specially made by a former friend of mine. There’s small lights on mine that help to indicate my feelings. Almost like… What are those things called-
Mood rings?
Yes. Those things. My gloves are a better indicator, though, as they run on my brain activity rather than blind intuition. So, basically, these things keep me from being on the verge of passing out constantly.
Fascinating. Now, to one of the main questions. When I had found you, you were floating aimlessly around in space. How did you end up in that position?
Once again, Subject 001 hesitates. Though, I detect the faintest hint of tears in her eyes, as if the story is too intense for her to tell. Hyperventilation has been noted, her heart rate increasing slightly. Although she is in a clear moment of panic, I do not find this behavior acceptable for relaying information. I leave the room momentarily and turn off the lights. Then back on. I do this repeatedly to make her “shut down” again, as well as play loud sounds over the intercom. She is aptly more useful when she “shuts down,” if she doesn't outright quiet down and refuse to talk (which only happens about 20% of the time, as she is aware of consequences) as she becomes emotionally numb enough to spill whatever I want to know.
Subject 001 continues to cry for a while, rocking back and forth and repeatedly asking me to make this stop. I walk back into the room and deliver some “Punishment.” By the end of it, there are more bruises along her small and fragile body. She eventually stops weeping, looking at me with what can be described as “glazed over” eyes. This is exactly as intended. I set her back down on the chair across from me, as she appears too weak to stand.
I’ve been depriving her of food for quite some time, as I noticed certain foods I have make her perspirate even more, not wanting to make her pass out before I can do more testing on her. I place her more upright, making her look at me. Her eyes appear glassy, her body shaking all over.
Will you cooperate now, Subject 001?
Subject remains quiet, but she nods. Her voice comes out sounding rather broken. Like she’s dead inside.
If you have to know, I was torn away from my home suddenly. One of my friends made an invention that was supposed to help me and my business. (A slight pause, as tears resurface. Clear emotional attachment indicated). He was just trying to help me get more clients to reach out to. I used to be a Baker. I wanted to get more outreach, as other planets across our solar system had heard of my feats. They wanted to try my baked goods without having to travel so far, or pay an insane amount for delivery fees. Converting their currencies to "Credits" on our planet apparently takes a lot. So, my friend Axel created this device for me. A watch that with the press of a button, could teleport me across any and all regions. I would just need to input proper coordinates into it.
Unfortunately, Axel made a miscalculation. The coordinates he gave me sent me into space itself. I was stranded and had no clue how to get back to my planet. I figured that if I remained still and waited for him, he would eventually come find me somehow. I pinged my new coordinates over to him, telling him to come get me.
But alas, I found you first, Subject. No need to reminisce on such trivial matters. It’s likely that Axel and any of your other cohorts have forgotten about you and moved on by now. It’s been almost 4 months, after all. We all move on and things change.
Subject 001 looks up at me with teary eyes, but a face that says it all. She’s more docile now, willing to just go along with whatever I say. She looks down at the bruises and whip marks on her body, then just tries to quiet herself. Good, I don’t want a subject who’s too emotional. Dealing with that fragility is quite annoying. Though I hear her mutter something, full of vitriol. “Screw off. They care.”
Do they? If they did, don’t you think they would’ve done everything in their power to try and find you? I don’t believe they would have taken this long. They’re going to move on, with or without you. They’ll forget you. I need you to understand that, and we’ll have a better understanding of each other. The less emotional attachments you have, the better.
The whole “Do it for them” mentality is rather foolish. Especially if you have no one in your life to “do it” for.
Subject 001 at this point is crying hysterically, so I leave her alone in the dark and cold room. I don’t bother with trying to help her collect herself, as she usually does so on her own eventually, anyway. So, I just write down all that I have from this session. If she’s not exhausted herself by the end of tonight, I will perform another test on her abilities. I want to test out her anger, as it would seem to me that people develop a heightened sense of adrenaline and strength when angered. I want to see if this is true in her case.
Later on in the evening, I do just that. I place the subject in a closed off environment. She already seems irritated upon entry, so all I really need to do is push her buttons a bit more, to create that sense of agitation. I urge her to remove her gloves during this test, as I want to capture her raw emotion. She initially refuses, of course. But after a vague threat of giving her more whippings, she agrees to step into the testing ground.
Subject 001, I need you to think of something that makes you angry. Perhaps the fact that your friend, Axel, hasn’t come to save you. Why? If he cares for you like he insists he does-
The subject did not need much prompting. As soon as I said this, her eyes started glowing a furious, ruby red. In the room, I had placed a large boulder and an old plant I had been meaning to cut down. Its trunk was rather large and thick in its exterior. But she was easily able to kick through it in a matter of 4 kicks. Though, not without much irritation to her previously existing wounds. She noted this, trying to stop the bleeding by tearing off a piece of her gown as a tourniquet. I had to admire her resilience in this moment, but she went ahead and tried to punch the rock. Surprisingly, she got a decent sized dent in it. Noted. Her strength increases to about that red echidna’s levels without the gloves on. Perhaps with them, it’s more contained.
Though, it appears that after 10 more minutes of testing, Subject 001 is on the verge of passing out. She holds her head and has to stand against the wall to regain her balance. When she does eventually pass out, I carry her back to her bed and place her back down on it.
I go to check on the subject hours later, going to give her the food rations I felt like supplying. However, when I turned a corner… I heard giggling. From her and another voice that sounded all too familiar. Not the blue rat, but his edgier counterpart. It sounded like the two were mildly entertained. Just what the hell was going on? I had to find out.