Soulless: Catalyst - Chapter Three
Title: Soulless: Catalyst
Chapter: 3/11
Fandom: SS501, cameos of Super Junior, BEAST, U-KISS and SHINee
Pairing: KyuMinSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: AU, Dystopia, Angst, character death in certain chapters
Summary: Arc II. Their mission failed. The identity of the Soulless was discovered, but it wasn’t who any of them expected it to be, not even the Soulless himself. Every question answered brings ten in its place, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets. Who can you trust? The search for the truth has become a ticking time bomb, and they may not all survive its detonation.
A/N: Please refer to my master fic list for past chapters. Do not own the characters, but the plot is all mine. Please comment <3
A/N 2: Added a 'character death' warning to the warning list, because there will be some character death in some chapters. Just so everyone's warned ^^;;
It had felt like everything collapsed around him. One of his own cell was the Soulless. KyuJong was the Soulless. They’d had such great hope for him, saw how quickly he picked up on the idea of having free thought…knew what he could bring them, not just the organization, but what he could bring YoungSaeng and JungMin.
HyunJoong had several false starts before he finally broke the news to HyungJoon. The younger android thought he was lying. He kept denying the truth with every fiber of his being, until HeeChul shoved the papers under his nose. Once he’d seen there was no shadow of a doubt, HyungJoon had locked himself in his room and refused to come out.
At a loss for what to do himself, HyunJoong gave up trying to get HyungJoon to listen after a while and wandered. JinKi tried to say something to him, maybe apologize for the discovery, but the younger cell leader didn’t know how to talk to the quiet Model 4. YeSung offered him a hug, but other than that, the other Soulfuls left him be.
The sun had rose and set again before he found himself standing outside the vault. HyunJoong looked up at the closed door, resting one hand against the metal before deactivating the security and stepping inside.
The room was untouched still, something he was thankful for. Sooner or later they would have to behind transferring everything to a safer location, but he didn’t think about that now.
Walking slowly along the rows and rows of human artifacts, he noted the lack of dust on the shelves, testimony to YoungSaeng’s hard work in keeping the room clean. Everyone who had access to this room treated it with reverence, taking great care with every single piece it contained.
His fingers brushed along the base to a small clay statue. It was a teddy bear, and he could still make out the imprint of tiny fingerprints, the way the shape was molded suggesting small hands and a lack of coordination. One leg was too short, the bear’s head slightly caved in the back like a clumsy thumb had pressed too hard.
But to him, it was perfect in every aspect. Some child, centuries ago, had made this with an innocent care. He knew this small bear had seen many things, and he wished he could have seen the child’s expression as he or she worked.
Such things like this small bear couldn’t vanish from the world. Each piece in this room told a story, and everyone needed to appreciate that, and listen to what they had to say.
He hoped the child who made this bear so lovingly had met a peaceful end, perhaps fast asleep in his or her bed, so that there was no pain in that young life’s final moments.
“Ah, here you are.”
He looked up, his attention taken away from the bear to the door. YeSung slipped into the room, smiling widely at him. “Was wondering where you took off to.”
YeSung’s cheery attitude was appreciated often, but not right now when HyunJoong just wanted to be alone. Greeting the other android with a nod of his head, HyunJoong turned back to the shelves, hoping the Model 5 would take the hint and leave.
Unfortunately, YeSung had never been particularly intuitive. “It’s nice in here, I’m going to miss this room,” the Model 5 sighed, walking along the rows. “We’ll need to wrap the glass pieces in bubble wrap, if JungMin hasn’t popped every single bubble in the sheet yet.”
HyunJoong’s hand twitched at the mention of the redhead, quickly withdrawing his hand from the bear statue and shoving his hands in his pockets.
“I know, YoungSaeng usually stops him from touching anything, but when he’s in one of those musically-induced comas of his, he doesn’t see much.” YeSung laughed quietly. “I think he was trying to compose something of his own, it’s a real pity the piano here doesn’t work anymore. Maybe if we could exchange a few of the broken pieces and fit it back together…”
Managing not to snap, HyunJoong did his best to tune the other android out. YeSung wasn’t cruel, so why did he keep bringing up the two members of his cell that were lost to them? HyunJoong knew YeSung was close to YoungSaeng as well…surely he wasn’t able to stand the reminder either.
YeSung found a pencil sitting to one side, playing with it between his fingers. “It would be nice to see what he comes up with; he’s got a voice to match those human singers. If he could compose a full song, he would be the first non-Model 8 with a creative streak.”
“He’s not going to compose a full song,” HyunJoong said finally, struggling to keep his voice even. “They’re never getting out of there, and he’s lucky if he’s not a pile of scrap metal right now.”
A sigh left the other android. “…Man, KiBum really beat you down. Don’t tell me you’re actually letting his ‘words of wisdom’ stop you from trying to get them back.”
“…” HyunJoong turned to YeSung and raised an eyebrow. Everyone knew YeSung was infatuated with KiBum, and always went along with whatever he did. “Who are you, and what did you do to YeSung?”
YeSung laughed quietly, crouching to look at something on a bottom shelf. “Don’t get me wrong. I adore him and all, but nothing would ever get done if we waited for him to make up his mind in a bad situation. We went against his orders to stay put when we got KyuHyun out, and it turned out for the better.”
Frowning, HyunJoong leaned against a blank wall. “That was a different situation. The odds are completely against us now.”
“They were against us before too.” YeSung grinned up at him. “No one wants to leave those two there…even if KyuJong was found out as a Soulless, YoungSaeng and JungMin are still part of us, and we want them back. We’d help you do it too, you just need to say the word.”
HyunJoong felt a prickle of something he hadn’t expected: hope. “Is it possible? Could we actually bring them back?”
“Everything’s possible.” YeSung stood and walked over, offering a hand. “The only reason they say you can’t do it is because you haven’t tried yet.”
Looking at him for a moment, HyunJoong felt his lips curl into a small smile as he reached out and took the offered hand. “I can’t believe I’d ever say this, but let’s prove KiBum wrong.”
YeSung grinned at him as he tugged the other android out of the room, reactivating the security before heading down the hallway. “It happens more often than you’d think. KiBum’s awesome, but being centuries old has made him a little out-of-date with the rest of the world.”
HyunJoong looked at the other android for a long moment as they walked. This was a little too much rebellion from someone who usually was at KiBum’s beck and call…and he thought he knew why. “He called you JongWoon again, didn’t he?”
The older android’s smile dimmed, and he looked away.
Sighing, HyunJoong dropped the subject when it was clear YeSung wasn’t going to answer, instead wondering just where the Model 5 was bringing him.
He was guided down to the new, recently developed section of the tunnels and to a room he’d never been in before. HyunJoong assumed it was a storage room for materials they didn’t need at the moment.
When YeSung opened the door and stood out of the way, HyunJoong stepped into the doorway and stopped.
The room was full of androids, suited up for a stealth mission. RyeoWook was giving HyukJae a last-minute upgrade, the latter leaning against the wall with his chest panel open. SungMin was talking quietly with YoungWoon and HanKyung, shifting from one foot to the other. On the other side of the room, TaeMin was perched on a desk and swinging his legs back and forth, MinHo and JongHyun beside him.
“What-“ HyunJoong started, then heard footsteps stop behind him. Turning around, he saw HyungJoon blinking at him in confusion, DongHae standing beside the younger android with a nervous smile.
YeSung grinned. “Good job Hae, we were wondering if you’d be able to get him out of his room.”
“What’s going on?” HyungJoon asked, eyes widening when he saw the people in the room beyond HyunJoong.
“We’re forming a rescue team,” YeSung beamed. “You didn’t think we’d just leave you guys high and dry, did you?”
HyunJoong looked from person to person, shocked. “You all realize this could destroy us all?” he asked, wondering if they realized just what they were walking into.
“We know,” HyukJae gave a pained smile. Turning to him, HyunJoong’s gaze was drawn down to his open chest panel and for the first time he realized just what RyeoWook was doing.
The Model 9 was slipping a small black box in among HyukJae’s wires, a black box with only an antenna, and a little red button.
“…No,” HyunJoong said firmly, throat closing. “You all can’t be prepared for this. We’re not losing more people to the facility.”
“We won’t,” SungMin said, unlocking his own chest panel and opening it for HyunJoong to see he had a similar black box inside him as well. “It’s just a precaution.”
“They’re not getting us so easily,” TaeMin smiled. HyunJoong glanced at the fourth cell members, biting on his lower lip. They weren’t ready for something like this.
“Relax,” DongHae said quietly from behind him. “They’ve done this before, remember? They’re the team that got KyuHyun out. With a few additions,” he amended, looking to the fourth cell members.
“DongHae and RyeoWook are staying here to maintain connections,” YeSung said. “I’m on KiBum-distracting duty, before he realizes how quiet HQ is suddenly, and you’re all going to march over there and get your friends out.”
HyungJoon’s lips quivered. “You’re really going to help us…even with KyuJong…”
“KyuJong wasn’t any of your faults,” DongHae said quietly, hugging the younger android around the shoulders. “We’re going to do what we can to help you get through this, okay?”
“Done, next,” RyeoWook said, closing HyukJae’s chest panel and locking it, the self-destruct box securely hidden inside him.
“Finish suiting up,” YeSung grinned, pushing HyunJoong and HyungJoon into the room. “It’s just about show time. We’ll prove to those Model 2 morons they can’t take some of our own away and get away with it.”
**********************************************************************
Two hours later, HyunJoong found himself back outside the facility he had just left the night before. This time though, he and HyungJoon weren’t alone, and they weren’t staying outside.
They had all received new comm implants; KyuHyun was still sore after being falsely labeled as a Soulless, and has such had refused to come along, but he’d agreed to do one thing for them. There was a new comm line, one YeSung called the ‘avoiding KiBum line’, but the rest of them dubbed the ‘rescue hotline’.
“How goes?” DongHae asked, his voice reaching HyunJoong loud and clear.
We’re just about in place, SungMin replied from elsewhere. Some of the group were sneaking in ahead to take care of the cameras so that those who were a little more clumsy when it came to staying hidden could follow. ”Give us ten minutes, and then we’ll give you the go, HyunJoong.”
“Got it,” HyunJoong murmured. Beside him crouched HyungJoon, TaeMin and MinHo. He’d joked that the only cell leader involved should keep an eye on their newest recruits. The truth was, he’d liked the teamwork they’d seemed to developed, and wasn’t that worried about them, knowing they could take care of themselves.
HyungJoon was shuffling nervously in place, and HyunJoong could feel the fear radiating from him. So much could go wrong, they both knew that…and HyunJoong was acutely aware of the self-destruct boxes hidden in both their chests.
They could only pray they wouldn’t have to use them.
”Okay, we’ve got the layout of the facility,” HyukJae reported in seven minutes later. ”YoungSaeng and JungMin are currently being held in the basement holding cells, the way there’s blocked by a few guards and security cameras. We’re going to take care of the cameras, and give you a ten-minute window to get down there, get rid of the guards, find those two and get out.”
”YoungWoon and HanKyung will meet you down there, in case,” SungMin continued. ”We have to be ready for the fact that neither of them may be powered on, so they might need to be carried out. As soon as you’re back aboveground, HyukJae, JongHyun and I are on standby to make sure you have a clear shot out.”
Ten minutes. HyunJoong looked at HyungJoon beside him, the younger android wringing his hands as they listened. Was that enough? It would have to be. As long as the cameras were out, SungMin, HyukJae and JongHyun were in the most danger. They wouldn’t be able to afford longer than ten minutes, not when the guards in the building became aware something was wrong with the cameras.
“Got it,” was all he said, throwing HyungJoon what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
”Great. We’re just clearing the hallway cameras now…time to move. Stop before going into the basement and wait for our okay.”
“Understood.” HyunJoong looked to HyungJoon, TaeMin and MinHo, nodded. “Let’s go.”
Their approach was silent, tension in the air between them. HyunJoong led the ground, following SungMin’s directions towards the hallway they had cleared. It was simple enough to climb into one of the air ducts around the building’s perimeter when the guards were looking the other way. He could hear the sound of typing in his ear as someone, presumably JongHyun, hacked into security cameras.
A few minutes later they dropped out of an overhead duct and into an empty hallway. The cameras couldn’t see them, not now that they were on an infinite loop of the five seconds prior to their arrival.
HyukJae took over the directions then, explaining carefully where to turn and what hallways to avoid. Several times they had to stop to wait for a guard to clear a hallway up ahead, adrenaline running through HyunJoong’s body as he listened.
It took a long fifteen minutes to reach the basement door, but they had no choice but to proceed slowly. None of them wanted to put the others in unnecessary danger by rushing, especially when they haven’t been found out yet. SungMin reported none of the facility staff had noticed anything amiss with the cameras yet, so they still had time.
That would change when they reached the basement, but it was a good start.
Finally, HyunJong stopped and leaned against the wall, breathing unevenly. “Okay, we’re here,” he whispered.
”Great,” HyukJae replied. ”Give us a sec, JongHyun’s fixing this cameras now. There’s only two guards in the hallways…YoungWoon and HanKyung are opening a way for you to get out and they’ll be there in a few. Remember, exactly ten minutes.”
“Got it.” HyunJoong nodded to the others, watching as HyungJoon pulled out a gun, TaeMin a knife. MinHo had the metal saw to get rid of any restraints, as well as a handgun of his own.
”Okay, good luck. Go!”
They ran. HyunJoong flipped his switchblade open as he slid down the railing beside the stairs, landing without a sound as he turned down the hallway. The guard standing just around the corner didn’t have a chance to realize what was going on before HyunJoong’s hand covered his mouth and he stabbed his switchblade into the android’s power core.
The other guard turned around, and HyungJoon came up beside his cell leader, gun raised. The shot was muffled as the guard jerked and fell, a hole square between his eyes.
“Go,” HyunJoong whispered, and MinHo and TaeMin ran on ahead, checking each room they went by. HyunJoong motioned at HyungJoon to stay and guard the stairs, before hurrying on with the other two.
Their friends were down here somewhere, and they weren’t leaving without them.
The first three rooms were empty cells, the fourth resembling an interrogation room. HyunJoong swallowed back the burst of anger when he saw a splash of clear fluid on the ground, fluid that came from inside an android like blood came from a human. So they were doing more than just extracting information from CPUs to the captives.
“Here!” TaeMin whispered down the hallway. He’d found a locked door. MinHo nudged TaeMin out of the way before taking the metal saw to the door, cutting out the lock. HyunJoong winced at the grating noise as it echoed down the hallway, but there was nothing they could do about that.
It was a painstaking moment before the door gave, and MinHo pushed it open, getting out of the way for HyunJoong to enter first.
The room was completely dark except for the light they’d brought with them from the hallway, and HyunJoong couldn’t see a light switch. Thankfully they all had night-vision implants, so he quickly stepped in further, looking around.
His throat closed at what he could see. Androids strapped to the walls, rows and rows of them, all powered off. The machines that kept them monitored were silent, the noise muffled by foam barriers. In the far corner of the room he could see a pile of circuits and synthetic skin lying on the floor. Staring at it for a moment, HyunJoong had to turn his head away from what remained of what once was an android, and now looked like it had been exploded from the inside and left there.
“Hyun!”
HyunJoong’s head jerked back to one side at the frantic yell. “Saeng?!” Scanning the rows of androids again, his eyes widened when he saw the missing Model 3 staring back at him, powered on and unable to move in his restraints.
YoungSaeng was all right. HyunJoong turned to MinHo and took the metal saw from him, hurrying to his friend. “Thank God you’re all right, hold still.” He put the saw carefully to the metal strap holding one arm in place.
“What are you doing here?” YoungSaeng stared at him. “They’re going to catch you too!”
“Not today,” HyunJoong said firmly. “We’re getting you and JungMin out. Where is he?” He finished with that strap and started on the ones over YoungSaeng’s feet. The Model 3 wrenched his arm free and started tugging on the metal strap over his other arm.
“They put him over there,” YoungSaeng pointed before returning to his task of freeing his arm, pleased when he felt the metal starting to give. “He’s been powered off the entire time.”
HyunJoong freed YoungSaeng’s feet before passing the metal saw to MinHo, pointing in the direction YoungSaeng had indicated. “Get JungMin out.”
MinHo nodded and ran to the other end of the room. TaeMin was looking around at all the other motionless androids with wide eyes.
“Are they all like us?” He asked quietly.
“The vast majority of them, yeah,” HyunJoong said quietly. “We don’t have the time to get them all out though. Suck in your stomach, Saeng.” He wrapped his fingers around the metal surrounding YoungSaeng’s waist and braced himself before pulling as hard as he could. It gave, stretching out and away from its captive.
Slipping his second arm out of the metal restraints, YoungSaeng was able to slide out of the one around his waist and land in a crouch on the floor. He straightened and hugged HyunJoong tightly before running to where MinHo was freeing JungMin.
“Can we turn him back on?” He asked, eyes wide with worry.
“I wouldn’t,” YoungWoon said as he and HanKyung finally came into the room. “We don’t know what they did to him; it’s easier to deal with that back in HQ.”
“I’ll carry him,” HanKyung said, and moved to catch JungMin when the last restraint was removed and the redhead fell away from the wall.
YoungSaeng looked around the room at the other captives, biting his lower lip. He wanted to do something for them, but they had no time…
Even so…his eyes landed on the three with names. Kevin, KiBum and Eli.
“We need to get these ones out too,” he said, walking over to them and starting to pull on their restraints. The metal had held him efficiently before, but now that he was free and had leverage, it bent easily for the Model 3.
HyunJoong watched him, eyes wide. “YoungSaeng, we don’t have time. Our window’s just about up,” he said, consulting his internal clock. They had four minutes left, nowhere near enough to free three others.
HanKyung had JungMin on his back. “Let’s go, they can’t hold those cameras steady forever.”
YoungSaeng shook his head, working on freeing Kevin. “HyunJoong, these three have names.”
“They…what?” HyunJoong blinked at him.
“This one’s Kevin, the one that looks like HyungJoon is KiBum, and the third is Eli. They named themselves, without any Soulful ever talking to them.” YoungSaeng looked back at HyunJoong. “Genuine inspiration. We can’t leave these ones here.”
“We don’t have time though,” TaeMin said nervously, but he was looking up at the three against the wall with wide, curious eyes. Even the new recruits understood what genuine inspiration meant.
“Then we’ll make time.” YoungSaeng turned to HyunJoong. “Please. These three…they’re the next step.”
HyunJoong chewed his lower lip, then drew in a shaky breath. “SungMin, HyukJae, I know you both can hear us. Can we have more time?”
”It’ll be tight,” HyukJae said, and his voice was nervous. ”Five extra minutes, is that enough?”
“More than enough.” HyunJoong went to work on the metal holding KiBum in place, motioning at MinHo with the metal saw to get Eli out. “We’ll need to wake these ones up though, we have no choice. We can’t carry them all out.”
YoungSaeng gave a sigh of relief, just about done loosening Kevin’s restraints. Pulling the younger android’s tattered shirt up, he unlocked Kevin’s chest plate and found the switch to turn him back on.
Kevin’s eyes snapped open and he drew in a shaky breath, looking around in the near-darkness. When his eyes focused on YoungSaeng, they went wide. “YoungSaeng sshi?”
The Model 3 smiled up at him, locking his chest plate again and tugging his shirt back down. “Time to move. Here, slide out.” He loosened the metal strap around Kevin’s waist more and stepped back while the confused Model 4 wiggled out of his restraints and dropped to the floor.
Beside him, HyunJoong was freeing KiBum, the other android’s eyes opening when he was powered back on. The second KiBum had dropped out of his restraints, Kevin pulled him into a hug, the disorientated Model 7 returning it after a moment.
“Reunion later, we need to get out now,” HyunJoong said, pulling them both to their feet. There was a surprised shout from one side as Eli was woken up, TaeMin holding him from falling at that point. Eli pushed away and nearly fell, MinHo quickly dropping the metal saw to hold him steady.
“Eli, they’re here to help us, they’re not guards,” Kevin said hurriedly, and Eli blinked at them in confusion, calming down.
”Guys, we need to move now,” SungMin said, voice shaking. ”They found out something’s wrong with the cameras.”
“Let’s go then.” HyunJoong ran out of the room, YoungSaeng squeezing Kevin’s shoulder and looking back at the motionless JungMin on HanKyung’s back before following. The others hurried after them, MinHo grabbing the metal saw from the floor on his way out.
They were just reaching HyungJoon back at the staircase when suddenly shouts erupted from the other end of the comm line, then gunshots. “…Shit.” HyunJoong tapped the volume on his wrist. “SungMin, HyukJae! JongHyun!”
There was nothing but the sound of a struggle from the other end of the line. YoungWoon swore. “I’ll get them, you two are with me,” he said, pointing to TaeMin and MinHo. “The rest of you, out.”
YoungSaeng patted down the two dead guards in the hallway and tossed Kevin a gun, the younger android fumbling a little when he caught it. “Look after yourself and your friends, we’ll be fine.” He tossed a knife to Eli, keeping the other knife he found for himself. “HyungJoon, KiBum needs a weapon.”
“Ki - who?” HyungJoon turned around and jumped to see someone who looked almost identical to him, both androids staring at each other. “…Woah.”
“HyungJoon, not the time,” YoungSaeng snapped, and the Model 7 snapped out of it, pulling out his spare knife and tossing it to KiBum, who quickly caught it. YoungWoon, TaeMin and MinHo were already gone, running to help the other Soulfuls.
“Let’s move,” HyunJoong ordered, running up the stairs. The others hurriedly followed him, the three captives staggering a little after being powered off for a while. YoungSaeng had recovered quickly, racing on ahead of HyunJoong.
The second they stepped out into the hallway, guards slammed into them from the side. YoungSaeng pushed back and sent one guard crashing into the ground, slitting the man’s throat in a shower of sparks.
HyunJoong took on the second guard, freeing the way for HanKyung to run ahead with JungMin. HyungJoon kept pace with him to make sure no one attacked the only Soulful who couldn’t fight back, not while carrying someone.
“Hurry!” YougnSaeng snapped at the three who looked unsure what to do. KiBum jumped before running on as well, skidding to a stop with a yell when a guard took the corner in front of him.
Ducking, he barely avoided a bullet to the head, Kevin aiming with his gun from beside him. The shot tore into the guard’s shoulder, hardly a lethal blow, but it distracted the guard long enough for Eli to run up and slam his blade into the android’s forehead.
“Not bad,” HyunJoong panted, straightening from where he’d torn off his own guard’s head. “Kevin, is it? Aim for the forehead, or the power core.”
Kevin nodded with a shaky smile before hurrying on ahead. HyungJoon was yelling; they’d been ambushed.
YoungSaeng ran on to slam into the guard trying to force HyungJoon against a wall. HanKyung was doing his best to avoid the second guard wielding a knife, but cuts littered his arms. Clear fluid dripped down his skin as he dodged around lethal blows while keeping a secure hold on JungMin.
Following behind YoungSaeng, HyunJoong shot the guard attacking HanKyung in the head and watched as he fell. “Just about there,” he said, pushing HanKyung on ahead and looking behind him to make sure the other three were following.
The fighting on the other end of the line was over, but all HyunJoong could hear was a shaky, dry sob and HyukJae whispering “No, no, oh God no,” the sound making HyunJoong’s throat close in fear.
And then they were out, running for the safety of the city. Alarms were going off, the wailing of sirens following them as they took cover.
The group got a few alleys away before HyunJoong stopped, panting as he turned to face them. “Keep running back to HQ. HyungJoon, show them the way. YoungSaeng, you and I need to go back and make sure the others got out.”
YoungSaeng nodded, but the two of them had barely turned around and started back the way they’d came when figures turned the corner ahead.
TaeMin was stumbling a little, needing MinHo’s help to stay upright after his leg had been shot. JongHyun was walking beside them, face ashen.
Behind them, HyukJae was helping SungMin carry a limp YoungWoon on his back, the android not moving with closed eyes.
“We need to move, they’re after us,” MinHo said quietly, the normally calm android’s voice unusually strained, and his hands shook as he helped TaeMin stay standing.
Without the time to ask, HyunJoong just nodded as they started moving again. The sound of the sirens gradually faded as they hurried to the nearest HQ entrance. HyungJoon and YoungSaeng ran through the alleys and rooftops around them to make sure they weren’t being followed, but apparently the facility was too taken by surprise to chase them.
Finally they reached the trap door in one of the warehouses, HyunJoong holding it open for them as the other androids dropped down. Kevin, KiBum and Eli looked more than a little lost, but they seemed to have decided to just follow without argument for now.
Only once they were all in and safe in one of the tunnels did SungMin stop, panting from the exertion of carrying the heavy android.
“Here, I can take him,” HyunJoong said quietly, looking at YoungWoon. “Did they shut him down?”
A choked sob tore from SungMin’s lips suddenly, startling the other androids into silence. HyukJae stepped forward with shaking hands to help SungMin ease YoungWoon off his back, and leaning against the tunnel wall.
As YoungWoon was settled against the wall, a gasp tore from HyungJoon, everyone staring. HyunJoong’s stomach plummeted as his eyes found the large hole in the middle of YoungWoon’s chest that had ceased to shoot off sparks. It was blasted straight through his chest and back…straight through his power core.
“Oh no,” YoungSaeng whispered, and SungMin sank to his knees, shoulders shaking. Androids couldn’t cry, but grief twisting both his and HyukJae’s expressions as they stayed next to their fallen cellmate, holding YoungWoon’s cold hands.
“Guys!” The sound of running footsteps made HyunJoong look up, and he saw DongHae slow as he took in the situation. Seeing the hole that had taken YoungWoon’s life, he stopped and staggered backwards, staring.
“He was always with us,” HyukJae sniffled, starring at the motionless hand he held in both of his. “He was the first person I saw, when I woke up for the first time.”
DongHae sank to his knees, just staring.
They stayed there for a long while, grieving quietly for their friend. Finally, HyunJoong drew in a shaky breath and stood.
“We need to move…some of us need the infirmary.” He looked to TaeMin, whose expression was pained.
YoungSaeng nodded and slowly stood as well, helping HanKyung to his feet. His eyes went to JungMin, gently brushing locks of red hair out of the younger android’s face.
“Let’s go,” he whispered, and they slowly picked themselves up again and started to move.
******************************************************************
Nothing but the quiet hum of the machines was heard in the white room, despite the amount of people occupying it. Model 2, 6 and 7 scientists stood at attention besides the machines, watching the code that flashed across the monitors.
Each machine was hooked up to one individual. 6575 lay unmoving on the bed in the center of the room, eyes closed with his wrist panels and chest panel wide open, wires entering and leaving his body. They were feeds designed to take all the information he had to offer, everything he had learned in his time in the Soulful HQ.
Only, it wasn’t going according to plan.
“Still nothing, sir,” one of the 6’s reported, looking up to the Head 2 standing at the foot of the bed. “He has some sort of firewall in place…we can’t get past it.”
“Then break it,” the Head 2 replied calmly. “Or are you telling me you can be outdone by one line of Soulful code in his system?”
The 6 shook his head, turning back to the monitor.
A Model 9 stepped into the room, head bowed so that he couldn’t see the faces of those inside. “Excuse me…the intruders have escaped, and taken five Souful prisoners with them.”
The Head 2 turned to look at the Model 9 calmly. “Very well. Summon all 2’s to a meeting in the East Wing in ten minutes,” he ordered, and the 9 bowed before leaving.
“Keep working on extracting our information,” he told those in the room. Turning, he walked out of the room, the sounds of his footsteps fading.
A Model 6 working at one of the monitors paused to glance in the direction of the door, and tapped his wrist twice before resuming his work.
Chapter: 3/11
Fandom: SS501, cameos of Super Junior, BEAST, U-KISS and SHINee
Pairing: KyuMinSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: AU, Dystopia, Angst, character death in certain chapters
Summary: Arc II. Their mission failed. The identity of the Soulless was discovered, but it wasn’t who any of them expected it to be, not even the Soulless himself. Every question answered brings ten in its place, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets. Who can you trust? The search for the truth has become a ticking time bomb, and they may not all survive its detonation.
A/N: Please refer to my master fic list for past chapters. Do not own the characters, but the plot is all mine. Please comment <3
A/N 2: Added a 'character death' warning to the warning list, because there will be some character death in some chapters. Just so everyone's warned ^^;;
It had felt like everything collapsed around him. One of his own cell was the Soulless. KyuJong was the Soulless. They’d had such great hope for him, saw how quickly he picked up on the idea of having free thought…knew what he could bring them, not just the organization, but what he could bring YoungSaeng and JungMin.
HyunJoong had several false starts before he finally broke the news to HyungJoon. The younger android thought he was lying. He kept denying the truth with every fiber of his being, until HeeChul shoved the papers under his nose. Once he’d seen there was no shadow of a doubt, HyungJoon had locked himself in his room and refused to come out.
At a loss for what to do himself, HyunJoong gave up trying to get HyungJoon to listen after a while and wandered. JinKi tried to say something to him, maybe apologize for the discovery, but the younger cell leader didn’t know how to talk to the quiet Model 4. YeSung offered him a hug, but other than that, the other Soulfuls left him be.
The sun had rose and set again before he found himself standing outside the vault. HyunJoong looked up at the closed door, resting one hand against the metal before deactivating the security and stepping inside.
The room was untouched still, something he was thankful for. Sooner or later they would have to behind transferring everything to a safer location, but he didn’t think about that now.
Walking slowly along the rows and rows of human artifacts, he noted the lack of dust on the shelves, testimony to YoungSaeng’s hard work in keeping the room clean. Everyone who had access to this room treated it with reverence, taking great care with every single piece it contained.
His fingers brushed along the base to a small clay statue. It was a teddy bear, and he could still make out the imprint of tiny fingerprints, the way the shape was molded suggesting small hands and a lack of coordination. One leg was too short, the bear’s head slightly caved in the back like a clumsy thumb had pressed too hard.
But to him, it was perfect in every aspect. Some child, centuries ago, had made this with an innocent care. He knew this small bear had seen many things, and he wished he could have seen the child’s expression as he or she worked.
Such things like this small bear couldn’t vanish from the world. Each piece in this room told a story, and everyone needed to appreciate that, and listen to what they had to say.
He hoped the child who made this bear so lovingly had met a peaceful end, perhaps fast asleep in his or her bed, so that there was no pain in that young life’s final moments.
“Ah, here you are.”
He looked up, his attention taken away from the bear to the door. YeSung slipped into the room, smiling widely at him. “Was wondering where you took off to.”
YeSung’s cheery attitude was appreciated often, but not right now when HyunJoong just wanted to be alone. Greeting the other android with a nod of his head, HyunJoong turned back to the shelves, hoping the Model 5 would take the hint and leave.
Unfortunately, YeSung had never been particularly intuitive. “It’s nice in here, I’m going to miss this room,” the Model 5 sighed, walking along the rows. “We’ll need to wrap the glass pieces in bubble wrap, if JungMin hasn’t popped every single bubble in the sheet yet.”
HyunJoong’s hand twitched at the mention of the redhead, quickly withdrawing his hand from the bear statue and shoving his hands in his pockets.
“I know, YoungSaeng usually stops him from touching anything, but when he’s in one of those musically-induced comas of his, he doesn’t see much.” YeSung laughed quietly. “I think he was trying to compose something of his own, it’s a real pity the piano here doesn’t work anymore. Maybe if we could exchange a few of the broken pieces and fit it back together…”
Managing not to snap, HyunJoong did his best to tune the other android out. YeSung wasn’t cruel, so why did he keep bringing up the two members of his cell that were lost to them? HyunJoong knew YeSung was close to YoungSaeng as well…surely he wasn’t able to stand the reminder either.
YeSung found a pencil sitting to one side, playing with it between his fingers. “It would be nice to see what he comes up with; he’s got a voice to match those human singers. If he could compose a full song, he would be the first non-Model 8 with a creative streak.”
“He’s not going to compose a full song,” HyunJoong said finally, struggling to keep his voice even. “They’re never getting out of there, and he’s lucky if he’s not a pile of scrap metal right now.”
A sigh left the other android. “…Man, KiBum really beat you down. Don’t tell me you’re actually letting his ‘words of wisdom’ stop you from trying to get them back.”
“…” HyunJoong turned to YeSung and raised an eyebrow. Everyone knew YeSung was infatuated with KiBum, and always went along with whatever he did. “Who are you, and what did you do to YeSung?”
YeSung laughed quietly, crouching to look at something on a bottom shelf. “Don’t get me wrong. I adore him and all, but nothing would ever get done if we waited for him to make up his mind in a bad situation. We went against his orders to stay put when we got KyuHyun out, and it turned out for the better.”
Frowning, HyunJoong leaned against a blank wall. “That was a different situation. The odds are completely against us now.”
“They were against us before too.” YeSung grinned up at him. “No one wants to leave those two there…even if KyuJong was found out as a Soulless, YoungSaeng and JungMin are still part of us, and we want them back. We’d help you do it too, you just need to say the word.”
HyunJoong felt a prickle of something he hadn’t expected: hope. “Is it possible? Could we actually bring them back?”
“Everything’s possible.” YeSung stood and walked over, offering a hand. “The only reason they say you can’t do it is because you haven’t tried yet.”
Looking at him for a moment, HyunJoong felt his lips curl into a small smile as he reached out and took the offered hand. “I can’t believe I’d ever say this, but let’s prove KiBum wrong.”
YeSung grinned at him as he tugged the other android out of the room, reactivating the security before heading down the hallway. “It happens more often than you’d think. KiBum’s awesome, but being centuries old has made him a little out-of-date with the rest of the world.”
HyunJoong looked at the other android for a long moment as they walked. This was a little too much rebellion from someone who usually was at KiBum’s beck and call…and he thought he knew why. “He called you JongWoon again, didn’t he?”
The older android’s smile dimmed, and he looked away.
Sighing, HyunJoong dropped the subject when it was clear YeSung wasn’t going to answer, instead wondering just where the Model 5 was bringing him.
He was guided down to the new, recently developed section of the tunnels and to a room he’d never been in before. HyunJoong assumed it was a storage room for materials they didn’t need at the moment.
When YeSung opened the door and stood out of the way, HyunJoong stepped into the doorway and stopped.
The room was full of androids, suited up for a stealth mission. RyeoWook was giving HyukJae a last-minute upgrade, the latter leaning against the wall with his chest panel open. SungMin was talking quietly with YoungWoon and HanKyung, shifting from one foot to the other. On the other side of the room, TaeMin was perched on a desk and swinging his legs back and forth, MinHo and JongHyun beside him.
“What-“ HyunJoong started, then heard footsteps stop behind him. Turning around, he saw HyungJoon blinking at him in confusion, DongHae standing beside the younger android with a nervous smile.
YeSung grinned. “Good job Hae, we were wondering if you’d be able to get him out of his room.”
“What’s going on?” HyungJoon asked, eyes widening when he saw the people in the room beyond HyunJoong.
“We’re forming a rescue team,” YeSung beamed. “You didn’t think we’d just leave you guys high and dry, did you?”
HyunJoong looked from person to person, shocked. “You all realize this could destroy us all?” he asked, wondering if they realized just what they were walking into.
“We know,” HyukJae gave a pained smile. Turning to him, HyunJoong’s gaze was drawn down to his open chest panel and for the first time he realized just what RyeoWook was doing.
The Model 9 was slipping a small black box in among HyukJae’s wires, a black box with only an antenna, and a little red button.
“…No,” HyunJoong said firmly, throat closing. “You all can’t be prepared for this. We’re not losing more people to the facility.”
“We won’t,” SungMin said, unlocking his own chest panel and opening it for HyunJoong to see he had a similar black box inside him as well. “It’s just a precaution.”
“They’re not getting us so easily,” TaeMin smiled. HyunJoong glanced at the fourth cell members, biting on his lower lip. They weren’t ready for something like this.
“Relax,” DongHae said quietly from behind him. “They’ve done this before, remember? They’re the team that got KyuHyun out. With a few additions,” he amended, looking to the fourth cell members.
“DongHae and RyeoWook are staying here to maintain connections,” YeSung said. “I’m on KiBum-distracting duty, before he realizes how quiet HQ is suddenly, and you’re all going to march over there and get your friends out.”
HyungJoon’s lips quivered. “You’re really going to help us…even with KyuJong…”
“KyuJong wasn’t any of your faults,” DongHae said quietly, hugging the younger android around the shoulders. “We’re going to do what we can to help you get through this, okay?”
“Done, next,” RyeoWook said, closing HyukJae’s chest panel and locking it, the self-destruct box securely hidden inside him.
“Finish suiting up,” YeSung grinned, pushing HyunJoong and HyungJoon into the room. “It’s just about show time. We’ll prove to those Model 2 morons they can’t take some of our own away and get away with it.”
**********************************************************************
Two hours later, HyunJoong found himself back outside the facility he had just left the night before. This time though, he and HyungJoon weren’t alone, and they weren’t staying outside.
They had all received new comm implants; KyuHyun was still sore after being falsely labeled as a Soulless, and has such had refused to come along, but he’d agreed to do one thing for them. There was a new comm line, one YeSung called the ‘avoiding KiBum line’, but the rest of them dubbed the ‘rescue hotline’.
“How goes?” DongHae asked, his voice reaching HyunJoong loud and clear.
We’re just about in place, SungMin replied from elsewhere. Some of the group were sneaking in ahead to take care of the cameras so that those who were a little more clumsy when it came to staying hidden could follow. ”Give us ten minutes, and then we’ll give you the go, HyunJoong.”
“Got it,” HyunJoong murmured. Beside him crouched HyungJoon, TaeMin and MinHo. He’d joked that the only cell leader involved should keep an eye on their newest recruits. The truth was, he’d liked the teamwork they’d seemed to developed, and wasn’t that worried about them, knowing they could take care of themselves.
HyungJoon was shuffling nervously in place, and HyunJoong could feel the fear radiating from him. So much could go wrong, they both knew that…and HyunJoong was acutely aware of the self-destruct boxes hidden in both their chests.
They could only pray they wouldn’t have to use them.
”Okay, we’ve got the layout of the facility,” HyukJae reported in seven minutes later. ”YoungSaeng and JungMin are currently being held in the basement holding cells, the way there’s blocked by a few guards and security cameras. We’re going to take care of the cameras, and give you a ten-minute window to get down there, get rid of the guards, find those two and get out.”
”YoungWoon and HanKyung will meet you down there, in case,” SungMin continued. ”We have to be ready for the fact that neither of them may be powered on, so they might need to be carried out. As soon as you’re back aboveground, HyukJae, JongHyun and I are on standby to make sure you have a clear shot out.”
Ten minutes. HyunJoong looked at HyungJoon beside him, the younger android wringing his hands as they listened. Was that enough? It would have to be. As long as the cameras were out, SungMin, HyukJae and JongHyun were in the most danger. They wouldn’t be able to afford longer than ten minutes, not when the guards in the building became aware something was wrong with the cameras.
“Got it,” was all he said, throwing HyungJoon what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
”Great. We’re just clearing the hallway cameras now…time to move. Stop before going into the basement and wait for our okay.”
“Understood.” HyunJoong looked to HyungJoon, TaeMin and MinHo, nodded. “Let’s go.”
Their approach was silent, tension in the air between them. HyunJoong led the ground, following SungMin’s directions towards the hallway they had cleared. It was simple enough to climb into one of the air ducts around the building’s perimeter when the guards were looking the other way. He could hear the sound of typing in his ear as someone, presumably JongHyun, hacked into security cameras.
A few minutes later they dropped out of an overhead duct and into an empty hallway. The cameras couldn’t see them, not now that they were on an infinite loop of the five seconds prior to their arrival.
HyukJae took over the directions then, explaining carefully where to turn and what hallways to avoid. Several times they had to stop to wait for a guard to clear a hallway up ahead, adrenaline running through HyunJoong’s body as he listened.
It took a long fifteen minutes to reach the basement door, but they had no choice but to proceed slowly. None of them wanted to put the others in unnecessary danger by rushing, especially when they haven’t been found out yet. SungMin reported none of the facility staff had noticed anything amiss with the cameras yet, so they still had time.
That would change when they reached the basement, but it was a good start.
Finally, HyunJong stopped and leaned against the wall, breathing unevenly. “Okay, we’re here,” he whispered.
”Great,” HyukJae replied. ”Give us a sec, JongHyun’s fixing this cameras now. There’s only two guards in the hallways…YoungWoon and HanKyung are opening a way for you to get out and they’ll be there in a few. Remember, exactly ten minutes.”
“Got it.” HyunJoong nodded to the others, watching as HyungJoon pulled out a gun, TaeMin a knife. MinHo had the metal saw to get rid of any restraints, as well as a handgun of his own.
”Okay, good luck. Go!”
They ran. HyunJoong flipped his switchblade open as he slid down the railing beside the stairs, landing without a sound as he turned down the hallway. The guard standing just around the corner didn’t have a chance to realize what was going on before HyunJoong’s hand covered his mouth and he stabbed his switchblade into the android’s power core.
The other guard turned around, and HyungJoon came up beside his cell leader, gun raised. The shot was muffled as the guard jerked and fell, a hole square between his eyes.
“Go,” HyunJoong whispered, and MinHo and TaeMin ran on ahead, checking each room they went by. HyunJoong motioned at HyungJoon to stay and guard the stairs, before hurrying on with the other two.
Their friends were down here somewhere, and they weren’t leaving without them.
The first three rooms were empty cells, the fourth resembling an interrogation room. HyunJoong swallowed back the burst of anger when he saw a splash of clear fluid on the ground, fluid that came from inside an android like blood came from a human. So they were doing more than just extracting information from CPUs to the captives.
“Here!” TaeMin whispered down the hallway. He’d found a locked door. MinHo nudged TaeMin out of the way before taking the metal saw to the door, cutting out the lock. HyunJoong winced at the grating noise as it echoed down the hallway, but there was nothing they could do about that.
It was a painstaking moment before the door gave, and MinHo pushed it open, getting out of the way for HyunJoong to enter first.
The room was completely dark except for the light they’d brought with them from the hallway, and HyunJoong couldn’t see a light switch. Thankfully they all had night-vision implants, so he quickly stepped in further, looking around.
His throat closed at what he could see. Androids strapped to the walls, rows and rows of them, all powered off. The machines that kept them monitored were silent, the noise muffled by foam barriers. In the far corner of the room he could see a pile of circuits and synthetic skin lying on the floor. Staring at it for a moment, HyunJoong had to turn his head away from what remained of what once was an android, and now looked like it had been exploded from the inside and left there.
“Hyun!”
HyunJoong’s head jerked back to one side at the frantic yell. “Saeng?!” Scanning the rows of androids again, his eyes widened when he saw the missing Model 3 staring back at him, powered on and unable to move in his restraints.
YoungSaeng was all right. HyunJoong turned to MinHo and took the metal saw from him, hurrying to his friend. “Thank God you’re all right, hold still.” He put the saw carefully to the metal strap holding one arm in place.
“What are you doing here?” YoungSaeng stared at him. “They’re going to catch you too!”
“Not today,” HyunJoong said firmly. “We’re getting you and JungMin out. Where is he?” He finished with that strap and started on the ones over YoungSaeng’s feet. The Model 3 wrenched his arm free and started tugging on the metal strap over his other arm.
“They put him over there,” YoungSaeng pointed before returning to his task of freeing his arm, pleased when he felt the metal starting to give. “He’s been powered off the entire time.”
HyunJoong freed YoungSaeng’s feet before passing the metal saw to MinHo, pointing in the direction YoungSaeng had indicated. “Get JungMin out.”
MinHo nodded and ran to the other end of the room. TaeMin was looking around at all the other motionless androids with wide eyes.
“Are they all like us?” He asked quietly.
“The vast majority of them, yeah,” HyunJoong said quietly. “We don’t have the time to get them all out though. Suck in your stomach, Saeng.” He wrapped his fingers around the metal surrounding YoungSaeng’s waist and braced himself before pulling as hard as he could. It gave, stretching out and away from its captive.
Slipping his second arm out of the metal restraints, YoungSaeng was able to slide out of the one around his waist and land in a crouch on the floor. He straightened and hugged HyunJoong tightly before running to where MinHo was freeing JungMin.
“Can we turn him back on?” He asked, eyes wide with worry.
“I wouldn’t,” YoungWoon said as he and HanKyung finally came into the room. “We don’t know what they did to him; it’s easier to deal with that back in HQ.”
“I’ll carry him,” HanKyung said, and moved to catch JungMin when the last restraint was removed and the redhead fell away from the wall.
YoungSaeng looked around the room at the other captives, biting his lower lip. He wanted to do something for them, but they had no time…
Even so…his eyes landed on the three with names. Kevin, KiBum and Eli.
“We need to get these ones out too,” he said, walking over to them and starting to pull on their restraints. The metal had held him efficiently before, but now that he was free and had leverage, it bent easily for the Model 3.
HyunJoong watched him, eyes wide. “YoungSaeng, we don’t have time. Our window’s just about up,” he said, consulting his internal clock. They had four minutes left, nowhere near enough to free three others.
HanKyung had JungMin on his back. “Let’s go, they can’t hold those cameras steady forever.”
YoungSaeng shook his head, working on freeing Kevin. “HyunJoong, these three have names.”
“They…what?” HyunJoong blinked at him.
“This one’s Kevin, the one that looks like HyungJoon is KiBum, and the third is Eli. They named themselves, without any Soulful ever talking to them.” YoungSaeng looked back at HyunJoong. “Genuine inspiration. We can’t leave these ones here.”
“We don’t have time though,” TaeMin said nervously, but he was looking up at the three against the wall with wide, curious eyes. Even the new recruits understood what genuine inspiration meant.
“Then we’ll make time.” YoungSaeng turned to HyunJoong. “Please. These three…they’re the next step.”
HyunJoong chewed his lower lip, then drew in a shaky breath. “SungMin, HyukJae, I know you both can hear us. Can we have more time?”
”It’ll be tight,” HyukJae said, and his voice was nervous. ”Five extra minutes, is that enough?”
“More than enough.” HyunJoong went to work on the metal holding KiBum in place, motioning at MinHo with the metal saw to get Eli out. “We’ll need to wake these ones up though, we have no choice. We can’t carry them all out.”
YoungSaeng gave a sigh of relief, just about done loosening Kevin’s restraints. Pulling the younger android’s tattered shirt up, he unlocked Kevin’s chest plate and found the switch to turn him back on.
Kevin’s eyes snapped open and he drew in a shaky breath, looking around in the near-darkness. When his eyes focused on YoungSaeng, they went wide. “YoungSaeng sshi?”
The Model 3 smiled up at him, locking his chest plate again and tugging his shirt back down. “Time to move. Here, slide out.” He loosened the metal strap around Kevin’s waist more and stepped back while the confused Model 4 wiggled out of his restraints and dropped to the floor.
Beside him, HyunJoong was freeing KiBum, the other android’s eyes opening when he was powered back on. The second KiBum had dropped out of his restraints, Kevin pulled him into a hug, the disorientated Model 7 returning it after a moment.
“Reunion later, we need to get out now,” HyunJoong said, pulling them both to their feet. There was a surprised shout from one side as Eli was woken up, TaeMin holding him from falling at that point. Eli pushed away and nearly fell, MinHo quickly dropping the metal saw to hold him steady.
“Eli, they’re here to help us, they’re not guards,” Kevin said hurriedly, and Eli blinked at them in confusion, calming down.
”Guys, we need to move now,” SungMin said, voice shaking. ”They found out something’s wrong with the cameras.”
“Let’s go then.” HyunJoong ran out of the room, YoungSaeng squeezing Kevin’s shoulder and looking back at the motionless JungMin on HanKyung’s back before following. The others hurried after them, MinHo grabbing the metal saw from the floor on his way out.
They were just reaching HyungJoon back at the staircase when suddenly shouts erupted from the other end of the comm line, then gunshots. “…Shit.” HyunJoong tapped the volume on his wrist. “SungMin, HyukJae! JongHyun!”
There was nothing but the sound of a struggle from the other end of the line. YoungWoon swore. “I’ll get them, you two are with me,” he said, pointing to TaeMin and MinHo. “The rest of you, out.”
YoungSaeng patted down the two dead guards in the hallway and tossed Kevin a gun, the younger android fumbling a little when he caught it. “Look after yourself and your friends, we’ll be fine.” He tossed a knife to Eli, keeping the other knife he found for himself. “HyungJoon, KiBum needs a weapon.”
“Ki - who?” HyungJoon turned around and jumped to see someone who looked almost identical to him, both androids staring at each other. “…Woah.”
“HyungJoon, not the time,” YoungSaeng snapped, and the Model 7 snapped out of it, pulling out his spare knife and tossing it to KiBum, who quickly caught it. YoungWoon, TaeMin and MinHo were already gone, running to help the other Soulfuls.
“Let’s move,” HyunJoong ordered, running up the stairs. The others hurriedly followed him, the three captives staggering a little after being powered off for a while. YoungSaeng had recovered quickly, racing on ahead of HyunJoong.
The second they stepped out into the hallway, guards slammed into them from the side. YoungSaeng pushed back and sent one guard crashing into the ground, slitting the man’s throat in a shower of sparks.
HyunJoong took on the second guard, freeing the way for HanKyung to run ahead with JungMin. HyungJoon kept pace with him to make sure no one attacked the only Soulful who couldn’t fight back, not while carrying someone.
“Hurry!” YougnSaeng snapped at the three who looked unsure what to do. KiBum jumped before running on as well, skidding to a stop with a yell when a guard took the corner in front of him.
Ducking, he barely avoided a bullet to the head, Kevin aiming with his gun from beside him. The shot tore into the guard’s shoulder, hardly a lethal blow, but it distracted the guard long enough for Eli to run up and slam his blade into the android’s forehead.
“Not bad,” HyunJoong panted, straightening from where he’d torn off his own guard’s head. “Kevin, is it? Aim for the forehead, or the power core.”
Kevin nodded with a shaky smile before hurrying on ahead. HyungJoon was yelling; they’d been ambushed.
YoungSaeng ran on to slam into the guard trying to force HyungJoon against a wall. HanKyung was doing his best to avoid the second guard wielding a knife, but cuts littered his arms. Clear fluid dripped down his skin as he dodged around lethal blows while keeping a secure hold on JungMin.
Following behind YoungSaeng, HyunJoong shot the guard attacking HanKyung in the head and watched as he fell. “Just about there,” he said, pushing HanKyung on ahead and looking behind him to make sure the other three were following.
The fighting on the other end of the line was over, but all HyunJoong could hear was a shaky, dry sob and HyukJae whispering “No, no, oh God no,” the sound making HyunJoong’s throat close in fear.
And then they were out, running for the safety of the city. Alarms were going off, the wailing of sirens following them as they took cover.
The group got a few alleys away before HyunJoong stopped, panting as he turned to face them. “Keep running back to HQ. HyungJoon, show them the way. YoungSaeng, you and I need to go back and make sure the others got out.”
YoungSaeng nodded, but the two of them had barely turned around and started back the way they’d came when figures turned the corner ahead.
TaeMin was stumbling a little, needing MinHo’s help to stay upright after his leg had been shot. JongHyun was walking beside them, face ashen.
Behind them, HyukJae was helping SungMin carry a limp YoungWoon on his back, the android not moving with closed eyes.
“We need to move, they’re after us,” MinHo said quietly, the normally calm android’s voice unusually strained, and his hands shook as he helped TaeMin stay standing.
Without the time to ask, HyunJoong just nodded as they started moving again. The sound of the sirens gradually faded as they hurried to the nearest HQ entrance. HyungJoon and YoungSaeng ran through the alleys and rooftops around them to make sure they weren’t being followed, but apparently the facility was too taken by surprise to chase them.
Finally they reached the trap door in one of the warehouses, HyunJoong holding it open for them as the other androids dropped down. Kevin, KiBum and Eli looked more than a little lost, but they seemed to have decided to just follow without argument for now.
Only once they were all in and safe in one of the tunnels did SungMin stop, panting from the exertion of carrying the heavy android.
“Here, I can take him,” HyunJoong said quietly, looking at YoungWoon. “Did they shut him down?”
A choked sob tore from SungMin’s lips suddenly, startling the other androids into silence. HyukJae stepped forward with shaking hands to help SungMin ease YoungWoon off his back, and leaning against the tunnel wall.
As YoungWoon was settled against the wall, a gasp tore from HyungJoon, everyone staring. HyunJoong’s stomach plummeted as his eyes found the large hole in the middle of YoungWoon’s chest that had ceased to shoot off sparks. It was blasted straight through his chest and back…straight through his power core.
“Oh no,” YoungSaeng whispered, and SungMin sank to his knees, shoulders shaking. Androids couldn’t cry, but grief twisting both his and HyukJae’s expressions as they stayed next to their fallen cellmate, holding YoungWoon’s cold hands.
“Guys!” The sound of running footsteps made HyunJoong look up, and he saw DongHae slow as he took in the situation. Seeing the hole that had taken YoungWoon’s life, he stopped and staggered backwards, staring.
“He was always with us,” HyukJae sniffled, starring at the motionless hand he held in both of his. “He was the first person I saw, when I woke up for the first time.”
DongHae sank to his knees, just staring.
They stayed there for a long while, grieving quietly for their friend. Finally, HyunJoong drew in a shaky breath and stood.
“We need to move…some of us need the infirmary.” He looked to TaeMin, whose expression was pained.
YoungSaeng nodded and slowly stood as well, helping HanKyung to his feet. His eyes went to JungMin, gently brushing locks of red hair out of the younger android’s face.
“Let’s go,” he whispered, and they slowly picked themselves up again and started to move.
******************************************************************
Nothing but the quiet hum of the machines was heard in the white room, despite the amount of people occupying it. Model 2, 6 and 7 scientists stood at attention besides the machines, watching the code that flashed across the monitors.
Each machine was hooked up to one individual. 6575 lay unmoving on the bed in the center of the room, eyes closed with his wrist panels and chest panel wide open, wires entering and leaving his body. They were feeds designed to take all the information he had to offer, everything he had learned in his time in the Soulful HQ.
Only, it wasn’t going according to plan.
“Still nothing, sir,” one of the 6’s reported, looking up to the Head 2 standing at the foot of the bed. “He has some sort of firewall in place…we can’t get past it.”
“Then break it,” the Head 2 replied calmly. “Or are you telling me you can be outdone by one line of Soulful code in his system?”
The 6 shook his head, turning back to the monitor.
A Model 9 stepped into the room, head bowed so that he couldn’t see the faces of those inside. “Excuse me…the intruders have escaped, and taken five Souful prisoners with them.”
The Head 2 turned to look at the Model 9 calmly. “Very well. Summon all 2’s to a meeting in the East Wing in ten minutes,” he ordered, and the 9 bowed before leaving.
“Keep working on extracting our information,” he told those in the room. Turning, he walked out of the room, the sounds of his footsteps fading.
A Model 6 working at one of the monitors paused to glance in the direction of the door, and tapped his wrist twice before resuming his work.