The Exception, The Guardian, and The Monster

Plat

Having put Alise to rest for now, Esredes returns to the island to continue attending to business in the aftermath of the battle. Of all things to check up upon, one is particularly concerning to his mind as he comes upon the cavernous entrance to the island’s dungeon, making his way inside. He’s searching for one particular pit, aiming to talk to its guard if they were still the one at the post.

Astroray

YUP Cypress is still situated at the front of the cell, their head between their paws, waiting for something to happen. When Esredes comes, they stand up and formally greet him. "Welcome back. How was your trip?"

Plat

“It went well. All its business is taken care of. How is the child doing? Is he still refusing to eat?”

Astroray

"No improvement. Still refuses to speak or eat. All he does is sit in the corner. Quite pathetic honestly. Any ideas on how to break this.......hrm...quiet streak?"

Plat

Ugh, what a stubborn thing. “He can’t possibly keep up this self starvation forever. His primal instincts are going to kick in sooner or later. I’m just trying to figure out who or what can say anything to him to make him crack. Trying to deal with a child’s mind is difficult.”

Astroray

A low hiss can be heard from within the cage and Jack finally speaks up. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here."

Plat

“Or perhaps that will at least get him to say something,” Esredes says as he looks towards him. “How does it feel to use your voice again?”

Astroray

Jack switches his voice to Alise's. "I'm. Fine."

Plat

He keeps his expression even, trying to pretend he doesn’t recognize the voice. “You won’t be fine for much longer if you don’t eat.”

Astroray

Jack goes silent again and shuffles further into the cell, putting his head to the corner. Silent tears trickle down his cheeks, but his slight gasps for air are echoed through the chamber.

Plat

Esredes sighs, looking back to Cypress. The thing was torturing himself beyond what was necessary. “As I meant to say, it has only been two days. I think we still have more than a few things to try.”

Astroray

Cypress watches silently, turning to Esredes as he speaks. "What do you suggest?"

Plat

“Since we’ve held onto the experiments that claim they want to be on our side... We can see if they want to talk to him. Prove themselves.” He still wasn’t sure about keeping them around or not, but to hear them try to justify themselves would be helpful.

Astroray

"Hm, not a bad option. An easy way for them to prove themselves as well. And...correct me if I am mistaken, but that voice sounded much like the uncanny woman I encountered at the lab, the one with the white feathers."

Plat

“Oh, really? I thought he was just using other voices to be irritating. Give him time and he might run through all the experiments if he ever speaks again.”

Astroray

That last little quip makes Jack particularly pissed off. He lunges from the corner and onto the bars of his cell. You can see and hear him prepping for a banshee scream.

Plat

Esredes sticks a hand through the bars and grips his face with it. “Don’t you dare.” He says harshly.

Astroray

Jack breathes out harshly, giving Esredes a fierce look.

Plat

Esredes keeps his grip on his face a long moment, then finally releases it, staring him down.

Astroray

Jack clings to the bars for a moment longer, staring daggers right back before jumping down and scurrying back into his corner.

Plat

He looks back to Cypress. “Lets try it.”

Astroray

"Right then. Shall I go fetch them? Or shall I watch this one?"

Plat

“You must’ve been sitting here a while. Why don’t you take the opportunity to stretch your legs a bit. I can stay here.”

Astroray

"Thank you, sir. I'll see to it then." And with that, Cypress strides off, making their way to the part of the island where the experiments are huddled together.

Momo

The experiments are all together, chatting it up since they were never truly allowed to talk to one another. A lot of them are nervous around the knochen, but they all agree this situation is far better than being with Thiessen. 342 is among them, not chatting quite as much, but rather looking over the group.

Astroray

Cypress approaches them with ease in their step, trying to startle them as little as possible. "You lot, I need some volunteers to help us interrogate a knochen we captured at the compound you all came from. He's skinny and grey, looks a bit young. Any of you know him?"

Momo

Most of them go wide eyed and shake their heads. It seems he's not well liked amongst them. 342 stands up despite this and raises her hand. "I'll go talk to the kid."

Astroray

"We appreciate your cooperation. What should I call you?"

Momo

"I'm experiment 342... but I got the nickname Fortuna. Pick whichever is easier." She has a neutral expression over her face. Even though the group has freed themselves from Thiessen, she still carries herself as if she's about to receive orders.

Astroray

"Hm, you're all numbered....this woman you came from sounds truly horrible. Now I must ask you, how do you know the child?" They turn away from the group, seeming to want to walk towards the dungeon.

Momo

She obediently follows him. "I had to take over going on missions with him after his usual partner, 305, escaped. He mostly keeps to himself."

Astroray

"I see. We saw mention of this 305 on files left in an office in the compound's basement. I have assumptions about these missions, but mind filling me in a bit more?"

Momo

"Scouting for places that we can potentially use for bases or experimentation. A lot of it has to do with tracking the Nochmal's movements as well. Your raids on villages make opportune locations to set up a base. The same with gathering the survivors from the rubble and experimenting on them."

Astroray

Cypress's eyes widen at this revelation. She had been tracking us as well. "I see. This is rather disturbing news."

Momo

"She started to get more careful once she found out you all were more aware of her existence. I'm surprised you even found her. Did someone you know get taken?"

Astroray

"No, but we had an informant. Her experiments threaten us just as much as she threatens humans. So her extermination just happens to work for the both of us."

Momo

"I see... I can't argue with that.." She stretches her limbs a bit. "What I wouldn't give for a crack at that psychotic bitch."

Astroray

"If we can get the child to talk, you might get your chance." With that, the two of them arrive at the mouth of the dungeon, a large hole in the side of a low, rocky formation.

Plat

Esredes waits, now in a sitting position near the cell. He moves back to all fours as he sees the two approach. "Got one for us?"

Astroray

"Only one that volunteered. It seems he's not well liked." Cypress looks over at Fortuna as a cue for her to speak.

Momo

She approaches the dungeon and knocks on one of the bars. "Kid? Kid, come out here."

Astroray

Jack's ears perk up when they hear 342's voice. He looks back to her for a moment, gauging the situation. For a moment, Jack was hopeful that someone had come to help him, but that hope was crushed when he saw her on the same side of the bars as the two that put him in the cell in the first place.

Momo

"Don't give me that face." She replies. "Do you honestly think I'm gonna fight these guys?"

Astroray

"You're betraying her. You want to hurt Mama, too!"

Cypress looks to Esredes when Jack says 'Mama' with a confused and somewhat worried expression.

Plat

Had he still had eyebrows, he'd definitely be raising one right now. Don't tell me he thinks that horrible abomination is his mother. He says nothing out loud though, simply listening.

Momo

"You know how you're feeling right now? All alone in there? Does it feel good?"

Astroray

"NO! SHUT UP!" He crawls further into the corner.

Momo

"It doesn't feel good! And that's how your "mama" has made every single one of her experiments feel. But you already know that, don't you."

Astroray

"But she loves ME. That's all I NEED." Jack's shouts become erratic, changing pitch, tone, and voice. "I could care less what you think...."

Momo

"Does she love you? She left you behind! She left all of us behind in the attack..."

Astroray

Jack's head swivels back. Hot tears dribble down his grill and onto the ground. "You.....you...." And in an instant he is running full speed at the bars, launching his body to them and clinging to them like a wild animal. The force makes the bars shake and hum slightly. "TAKE. THAT. BACK."

Momo

Fortuna keeps a straight expression, but her eyes soften. "Jack... have you ever thought that you could be treated better from someone other than her...?"

Astroray

"Like you suddenly care about me." He spits the words out, full of bile. He looks up from her and to the other two in the hall. He inhales deeply, smelling the room and who ever is inside. "....No one else came. No one else cares. Who would care except for Mama."

Momo

Fortuna' expression starts to grow dark. "... excuse me...?"

She slams her hand against a bar and a sharp sound rings off from it. "I DARE YOU to say that again! I'm standing right here, aren't I?! I haven't left your side since Thiessen assigned me to you! Since 305 asked me to look after you!!"

Astroray

Upon hearing 305 mentioned, Jack looks down, the sharpness in his glare dulling, shame creeping upon him. He jumps down from the bars and turns his back to the bars, tucking his legs to his chest.

Momo

"So you do remember him." She replies. "He wanted you to escape with him, you know!! More than anything! But he knew you never would willingly... He wanted more for you, Jack! And I do too! That's why I agreed to stay behind."

Astroray

Jack has gone completely silent, back still towards the bars.

Cypress watches the end of the exchange, brows furrowed at the disturbing scene.

Momo

"... eat something, Jack. If not for me, not even for 305, then for your ungrateful mother in the hopes you'll see her sorry ass again." Fortuna starts to walk away from the bars.

Plat

I like that one, Esredes thinks. He too, though, is shocked at the scene that unfolded. That got... heated. At the very least, that one's proven herself to be useful. She got something out of him.

Astroray

Jack doesn't move a muscle. But Cypress walks up to her. "We should talk outside. Esredes?"

Plat

"Would you like me to join you outside?"

Astroray

"Yes, I doubt he's going much of anywhere."

Plat

"I agree. Let's go." He follows them.

Momo

Fortuna quietly follows them, slowly calming herself down.

Astroray

Cypress stops just at the maw of the dungeon and turns to the two of them. "Collected yourself?"

Momo

"I apologize." She replies, quickly wiping her eyes. "It felt good to be... expressive. Despite how unprofessional that was."

Astroray

"Remember, you aren't a soldier anymore. Or at least, you don't have to be. We got something out of him at least."

Plat

"Tell her I said thanks, Cypress. We definitely got a few useful things from that."

Astroray

"My superior says thank you, he appreciates your effort and the same goes for me. I'd like to ask you a few more things as well."

Momo

"You don't need to thank me. I'm happy to help if it means you can help him. What else do you want to ask about?"

Astroray

"He called the scientist his mother, do you know anything behind that? Has she been raising knochen as well?"

Momo

"Jack is the only knochen to have ever called her that. I don't know where she found him, or how young he was, but he's been with her for as long as I can remember. Mind you, I can't remember much. Any other knochen she's found, she's used for parts. It's very rare that she's able to tame one to obey her, and the one she did tame eventually betrayed her."

Astroray

"So its likely she got him at an incredibly young age. He's likely developed such an odd exterior due to the environment he was consistenly exposed to. Hrmmm."

Momo

"No sunlight will do that to you." She replies.

Plat

"Ask her if she knows what the lady feeds him, or how frequently."

Astroray

"My superior would like to know how often he is fed and what he is fed. Do you know this?"

Momo

"He's fed when he does whatever mission he is given well. Usually it's scraps of whatever Thiessen had, sometimes it's just raw meat... recently though, she cooked for him practically a banquet. He had brought in a certain escaped experiment of interest."

Astroray

"I see...conditional feeding. Do you think this is why he is hesitant to eat? And do you know the experiment he brought with him?"

Momo

"He's probably hesitant because he's only ever fed himself or have been fed by Thiessen. Occasionally, he'd accept extra food that 305 would sneak him. As for the experiment, it's a woman named Annalise. I... don't actually know her numbers. She's probably around 460 or 490, but Thiessen referred to her by her name."

Plat

"Interesting," Esredes says. He knows this already, but hearing what number range Alise was in is new. "But gods, she'd really keep a child malnourished just so he obeys her. I wonder, if we set a small, live animal in the cell, do you think he'd try to kill and eat it, or let it run around?"

Astroray

Cypress looks to Esredes as he speaks and listens intently, considering the idea. They speak in common so Fortuna can listen in as well.  "If we are to let a live animal in, it should be small and unintentional looking. Perhaps we start with rodents. Its not ideal for a growing knochen, but we shouldn't let him starve himself."

Momo

"He'd probably go after it... especially if he thinks he's hunting for himself. Otherwise, do either of you know how to cook?"

Astroray 

"I do not, unfortunatly."

Momo

"He'd probably want human food since that's sort of a comfort to him. I don't know how to cook either."

Plat

"Does she know if any of the experiments know how to cook?"

Astroray

" He has asked if any of the other experiments know how to cook." Cypress decides to sit down. That's it.

Momo

"You'd have to ask them... and not mention that it's for Jack. He's probably responsible for over half of them being here."

Plat

"You're right, she said the others don't like him. Well, rodent it is then. We can find a squirrel or something and figure out how to lead it into the child's cell."

Astroray

"He agrees with me in finding a small animal." Cypress looks to Esredes and nods, speaking in Knochen. "Consider it done."

Momo

"I wish you guys luck... and please don't give up on him. I think it might be good to spend time with his own kind. Or, at least, a nicer human to work his way up."

Astroray

"We'll try our best. Thank you for your cooperation. We'd be happy to give you updates on his progress later down the road."

Momo

"Thank you." She smiles a bit. "If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I'll inform the others that they can talk to you all as well."

Plat

"We'll have to make a more dedicated effort to ask them all later. We can probably get more out of all of them than we can get out of this child."

Astroray

Cypress nods. "We'd like to ask the group more at a later time, but for now you're free to go. Thank you again."

Momo

She nods, slightly bowing to the two, and starts to walk back to her group.

Plat

"Well, we may as well try this little experiment now," Esredes said, walking off towards the less inhabited part of the island.

Astroray

Cypress follows close behind.

======================

A little while later Cypress returns to the maw of the dungeon, three large rats writhing in their grasp. They release one at the entrance and the other two in a cell window, forcing them to navigate the dungeon.

Plat

Near to them, Esredes watches the rats carefully. He strategically makes the ground rumble a bit in certain spots to scare them towards their target.

Astroray

Jack has returned to his spot, however, the lack of food and water has  him in a weak state. His outburst earlier cost him a lot of energy and he is feeling the effects. Laying on his side on the tear soaked earth, he can clearly hear the rumbles and the cries of the rats. He isn't sure where the rumbling is coming from, but he is sure where the rats are.

He knows he will die soon if he doesn't eat and 342's words cut him deep. Thiessen left him there in the basement. Did she intend on coming back for him? Of course she did...right? Mama loved him, that's why she gave him a name, that's why she cooked for him, that's why she only hurt him a little. It was normal to hurt a little right?

Plat

"It sounds like he's taking the bait," Esredes whispered to Cypress. Come on child, eat the rats.

Astroray

He holds the two ends of the rat and looks at them for a moment before sinking his teeth into the soft fuzz, gently picking pieces of flesh from the body. As he delicately finishes the rat, he begins to weep. Softly at first for the relief it brings him and then harder for the shame that washes over him in waves. He dared to eat while he had failed so miserably. He didn't feel as though he deserved it. He didn't.

And so he continued to cry between bites of supple rat flesh.

Plat

Esredes listened, hearing the noises of the rats' flesh being ripped open, followed by him wincing as he heard the sobbing that accompanied it. "Well, one way or another, I think it worked."

Astroray

Cypress sighs after listening in and leans away. "Hope he keeps this up though."

Plat

"Me too. Maybe we need to just release a bunch of rats in there and let them run around. Make him think this is occurring naturally."

Astroray

"Mhm, I agree. I'll continue to watch his progress."

And for the next two days that is exactly what Cypress did. As the days went on, Jack ate fewer rats and his body continued on its decline, now laying more and speaking just as little as before.

Cypress inspected the boy one last time before deciding to go on their own secret mission. They appoint another knochen from the lab raid as Jack's guard and set out for the small village.