“ LORD, GIVE ME SALVATION. ”

I am not entierly sure about what this mean, forgive my ignorance, but I would say the same things I tell everyone who is legally a minor : I can rp and interact with you, I just choose to restrain certain subjects and will heavily adapt my characts and writing to avoid the darkest subjetcts. I prefer for people to be honnest with me so I avoid traumatising someone... (THIS APPLY TO ADULTS WITH TRIGGERS TOO ! Everyone with a discomfort is welcomed to talk to me about it.)

Ilya, this person is saying they are 16 physically, but mentally different ages (due to a dissociative disorder) and asking to interact that way.

To the anon; your answer is likely going to be no, but like they said they will just not interact with serious topics when interacting with you.

I'm plural too. I understand. But adult fictives and alters do not allow you to enter 18+ spaces, so this will be the same jist. Just because you are mentally older my friend, does not mean you have reached that level of physical seniority. Do not use your alters as a way to bypass people's boundaries.

“ Present. In the storage closet upstairs. Didn't like the taste. - 🐻‍❄️ ”

The handwriting and language itself was evidently from Arseni, who wasn't very educated in writing. But it knew enough to get a point across.

What it had left, however, was a comical sight. Behind the closet door was the soft sound of a hazmat suit squirming, and a man grunting. Arseni had been ordered to eat all FEMA officers; seems this one was different. He was FEMA, evident by the emblem he wore, but he had this distant look to him. When the light of the hallway flooded the small closet, the officer bound at his wrists and ankles looked up with wide eyes. He gritted his teeth.]

“ You have a terrible host. ”

[He grimaced.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

*Opening a weary eye at the sound of the floor trembling and something being slipped under the door, Ilya regretfully separated from Lasha's arms and let them to rest, gently nuddging them aside to get up.

They took the letter and instantly recognised it's author.*

- ... Pfft...

*Reading the note made Ilya blow air by their nose in amusement. A little laugh at the drawing, before they realized what the "present" could be. Uh oh. Cleaning duty... Again. Thank you, Arseni.*

- ... I'll be right back. Stay asleep my little star.

*Storage closest, upstairs...

Ilya took with them some trashbags, and the axe they used to cut limbs from the body trunk. Such a task so early in their day...

They opened the door in one large, sudden movement.

So sure they were going to retrieve the corpse of a poor F.E.M.A agent, Ilya jumped in the air when it mooved.*

- GWAH ! What the ! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ?

*Why was he so GREY ? And what was it with those marks ? Was it tattooes ? Or... Oh, no no no no, it looked just like Mr.FEMA ! ... Or not. Who the hell...*

[Victor bit back, grumbling. He squirmed against his restraints, glaring daggers at Ilya as he sat up. He crossed his legs to one side, gesturing with his lip to the symbol on his shoulder.]

“ Victor Petrov. Investigator for FEMA. And I WAS investigating the fact that so many workers went missing here. I don't suppose you have anything to do with it? ”

[He flicked his head to brush hair out of his eyes. He then kicked a bucket aside; the best threat he could make restrained.]

“ Now let me the hell outta this! That thing could come back and eat me any minute! It already took a crazy bite outta me! ”

[He rolled on his hip to show his arm. His suit was torn through, and his skin aswell. With blood, there seemed to be some exposed copper and silver.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR

*Instincts kicked in. Not to relieve poor Victor from his restraints, no, but to stop the bleeding at least.

Reaching for a random large scrap of fabric, not the cleanest as it was used to wash the floors, Ilya attempted something. They used the handle of the axe as the solid base for a twisted bandage around what was left of his arm, and held it tight.

And of course they could not miss it. The wires. The cogs. The machine was... Bleeding.

Ilya was good at keeping the human machine alive. They were also very great with machines as a whole. But a humanish machine ? This was a first !!!

They were verifing the bandage was neatly done when Victor continued. And the former-FEMA... Laughed ? Just a little, shocked at his audacity !*

- Me ? Having anything to do with it ?Well take a look, "investigator". You don't even have a team and you expect me to blindly trust you ?

*Ilya pulled out their old F.E.M.A card. They looked stupid and happy on the grainy picture. So sure they were going to save the world. So much for a "demon". They lost their glasses. But it was undoubtibly them.

They frowned at the accusation, tho. They had surely played a part, yes... Three killed in the moove. Two fed to Arseni. Some "hunts" here and there... But so few. Surely not enough to send an investigator, right ? Who cared about ten good for nothing !*

- Besides, I am not the only yellow-suit here. Rook and Sasha are two F.E.M.A agents who are in... Medical care here. They cannot come back with you yet. See ? Three missing cases solved. Congratulations.

*They hoped presenting themselves as an humble nurse and a F.E.M.A friendly face could ease his supsicions a bit... They did not need an army swarming at the door !!!*

- Listen here, Victor.

*Their voice went a bit quieter. Like a secret between them.*

- I do not wish to harm you. And if it let you go, then you are mostly safe. BUT. The eco-system of this school is very fragile. It's peace and quiet too. I don't want F.E.M.A poking their nose in my business. You get me ?

*Nothing to see here. Forget about your arm and leave us be... Or, better yet, never leave.*

- And I knew of MR. FEMA. It's not another Android who is going to scare me.

[He complained, twisting and contorting in pain. He finally relaxed as he was released, squirming in his restraints. When he looked at their ID, his eyes widened a little. For a second, they glowed.]

“You. You have been missing for a while. And the others-- you all need to go BACK! There's medicine there, an infirmary there what are you DOING? ”

[Victor sat up on his knees, sucking in a pained breath. His eyes flashed again, and he kicked one of his legs out. He stared at Ilya with wide eyes, like a scared prey animal. He sat up on his knees, but the ankle restraints stopped him from standing.]

“ Android? What the HELL are you saying to me I'm not-- I'm a person! Did you not hear me the first time I'm NOTHING like that robot freak-- I am Victor Petrov. I have a wife, Arina..and a daughter named Sofiya. And...and an infant son. He was just born. Peter.”

[Poor Victor. He didn't know these memories were implanted...they happened years ago. His wife and children were much older by now. They had given up looking for him, and he had became FEMA's pawn. He lived every day as if it was the one before he died in the car crash. On his way home to his family.]

“ Can a robot make CHILDREN? I didn't think so. ”

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

And that was very wrong, right ?

Mr. FEMA didnt feel any pain or any "normal" human emotions. And it did not bleed either. It leaked oil at best. This thing right here behaved and thought like a human, and it bled like one.

And he was scared like one. Eyes wide and heart racing. It made nurse Ilya soften, a natural reaction toward a fellow human in need of care. Something deeply rooted in Humanity's very essence. Wasnt the first ever sign of civilisation a healed femur, proving empathy pre-dated even the simplest of tools ?*

- We have enough material here and the road toward the nearest base was too dangerous for our wounded. We managed without F.E.M.A. But Rook will surely be happy to see you. His uncle must have been worried.

*A high ranking officer, as Ilya understood. Sasha, tho, would not be happy with this...*

- I am doing my best and I am too useful here to go back. Those people need me.

*Despite all the troubles Ilya can bring with them, well, the list of their patients grew longer each day and with pride they noticed the emergency care truly became a skill of theirs.

When "Victor" spoke of his family, Ilya felt a twitch of pain in their heart. A shared sorrow. Maybe empathy. Something like pity, most surely.

If it was play pretend, this programm was very well done.

Wich was terrifying.*

- Shit. F.E.M.A made you MUCH more advanced. But you cannot deny it, Victor. Look at your arm... Do you see it... ?

*The Beatles incarnated still had visible copper and silver into the missing chunck of his arm, and the tourniquet wich prevented blood from flowing out made it even more appearant.*

- You are not a human.

*They tried to make the news a tiny bit sweeter... But it was not an easy task at all, and they werent that sweet of a person either.*

- You just look and act and think like a person.

*Wich made him, truly, a person.

And by the look on Ilya's face as they spoke, they just came to that same conclusion too.

They sighted, eyes closed.*

[Victor repeated, dumbfounded. He turned and looked at his arm, eyes squinting. Then he looked back at Ilya, as if he was just asked the stupidest question ever by a living human. He scooted backwards out of their grip, glaring.]

“ It's PROSTHETICS you psycho! I got into an accident when I was younger, made my arm weaker. FEMA helped strengthen it. Look, the scar is on my elbow! ”

[With a painstaken yelp he pulled down more of his suit, showing the scar through bloodied skin to Ilya. Then he bit back a another cry of pain as he let go. God, it was amazing he could even stay AWAKE with an injury like this! Though, it was just slight tearing. Nothing fatal.]

“ You are-- what gives you the right to look at me and say I'm not human. Are you-- are you implying I'm a visitor now?? Those scumbags never even got CLOSE to me. Now-- now how about you stop playing OPERATION with my LIVING BODY and UNTIE ME! ”

[He got so angry his cheeks were flushed, words pounding out like venom right from a snake's fangs. In his head, he was just on another job. After this he had a family to get home to. No time to waste with kidnappings...oh man, what time was it? Was it time to go home yet?? What if his poor Arina was sitting up for him, waiting with worry in her poor eyes?]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

*Or thrice. They were powerless against mr.FEMA, but this guy -they couldnt help but think of it as a real guy instead of a machine, dammit- seemed way weaker than that, if Arseni could knock him down... And if he could be restrained so easilly. The way he moved like a worm trying to escape was somewhat comical...*

- Stop moving, idiot ! You wont loose blood but you could loose that arm again. If you are telling me the truth, wich I highly doubt. But I don't feel like killing you or leaving you die slowly like a pig in this closet.

*The very closet Mr.FEMA used to recharge, once he bypassed Ilya. All the threats of the machine, all Ilya saw on the T.V, it made them terrified of having another situation like this on their hands. They barely survived the first one !*

- So, I will help you. You will live, see your family again, and it will all be alright.

*They spoke a lot gentler. Almost reassuring. Empathy was one hell of a quality. Ilya usually did not possess it, but after all, didnt they have a wife and kid too, now ? Werent they able to understand the fear of never seeing them again ? Wouldnt they act just like Victor if the roles were reversed ?

This FEMA agent could be a danger for everyone here. He also could be just a lost and terrified soul. And he surely acted like the later. So, Ilya softened, quite involontuary, but by that pure and human reaction to someone in distress.*

- BUT. I need you to be cooperative with me. No screaming, running away, attacking me, seeking revenge on Arseni or anything, okay ?

*The former-FEMA went behind poor Victor, acting a bit more gentle. They couldnt use their axe anymore, so they had to untie the knots manually. They removed their gloves for this specific task... And grimaced at their own small, leathered hands. It was going to be a struggle.*

- Okay. Untiying you now. Don't try anything stupid.

[Victor hissed back with a roll of his eyes. He winced as they began to untie the loose, but strong holding knots tied by Arseni. He hissed out a cry of pain and shook his head around. When his arms were free he brought his gloved hands to his view, wiggling his fingers and feeling the excruciating pain in the left. He grumbled and helped kick his legs out of the restraints, then made the effort to stand.]

“ I don't know why you don't expect someone not to run away in a case like this. But alright. I'll bite. ”

[Victor complained idly, leaning his bad arm away so he didn't feel the pain as much. He looked Ilya up and down...getting awfully cozy for a FEMA agent. He scowled and glared.]

“ I don't suppose you feel like sharing some of those resources to fix my arm? I ain't exactly in any condition to wander the fields bleeding out. I think visitors can smell that. May as well throw me in an ocean o' starving sharks. ”

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

- Oh I do expect you to run away. But that would be stupid. Not a lot of friends for you, here. Except me. If you behave.

*Whao Ilya that sounded very friendly and not at all threatening, thank you so much...*

- I will heal you best I can. But I don't really do prosthetics... The tourniquet already stoped the bleeding and I have some painkillers to offer, I can sew you back shut too but... "Repearing the mechanics" would surely ask for specific parts I do not have. I'll do what I can do.

*The former-FEMA answered with worry in their voice. And Victor should be worried too. Because, as far as the FEMA sheet must say, Ilya was a humble fridge factory worker, and a war veteran, with no real mentions of being capable of such medical feats...*

- Infirmary's this way. Lean on me if you feel wobbly.

*Small but very sturdy, Ilya leaded the poor FEMA officier around the school, looking for faces around, worried... The uniforme was not very liked around here. Ilya, Rook, poor Ivan, mr.FEMA... All catastrophic people with catastrophic relationships with other residents !

“ It's fine. Just sew me shut and I'll let it heal. I'm sure someone around here knows. ”

[He said, commenting on the vast overpopulation of the school. What a joke. It seemed as though whatever system they had set up for guarding was just letting anyone in...and attacking poor folks like Victor just trying to do justice. This train of thought made the officer wonder what the world had come to.]

“ So you just expect to stay here forever? Play around as some savior of the weak and those who die on your behalf just...oh well? Are you truly that stupid? FEMA took you in. Cared for you and gave you responsibilities. Who are you to abandon your mission? ”

[He hissed scornfully.]

-🌼 FEMA PAWN

[Lasha looked emptied by the time they got to Arseni’s door, knocking on it softly like they’d barge out and swallow them whole if they made too much noise. Inside their pocket is enough money to pay for ForRest deliveries for an entire week.

Lasha doesn’t want to talk about how they got the money. Inflations wrecked the economy, the cataclysm has caused the inflation. Lasha just wants someone dependable to fall into. They want to scream and cry and be permitted to sit in silence. They want to shower the filth out of their body.

They stand outside, unsure if they should knock again. It’s late. Maybe they’re sleeping. They shouldn’t wake them. They work so hard to care for Faina and Nadya and the rest of them. They work so hard to scavenge meals, they work so hard.

Lasha clutches their cane tighter.]

..Arseni—

[They cough. Their voice is hoarse. They’ll say it’s the cigarettes because they hope that’s why. They hope the sinking dread in their stomach is because of anxiety and not because they know how they got this money and they wish they didn’t have to resort to their old methods of survival.]

Can I sleep here tonight?

[Arseni, unfortunately, didn't get much sleep in the night. It had, within the hour, finished picking off of a FEMA corpse and took a shower. Despite this, it still had that lingering iron smell since it preferred scentless soaps. Just cheap bars that got the job done.

It sat in front of its VCR t.v. Recently in the rubble of an abandoned home one of their patrols had found VCR for a series called 'Little Bear'. Arseni watched it with Faina, but also just one it's own. The noise kept it sane. When it heard the knock it's head shot to the door. It stood and with a few heavy steps, came to the door. Craning its head down it opened the door and faced Lasha. When hit with the question, it blinked a few times and nodded.]

“ ...yes. You okay? ”

[It asked, but nowadays that was always a loaded question. It leaned down and sniffed the air around Lasha, eyes narrowing. It was like a dangerous predator, trying to assess if it's longtime mate was in any danger. A stark contrast to their first meeting. When Lasha stepped in its room, it nearly bent in half to seek out affection by leaning towards them. Like a big old dog still wanting belly rubs.]

“ Show is on. ”

[It commented quietly, pointing to the glowing tv in the room . Really the only source of light in there.]

-🐻‍❄️ Polar Bear ..

[They tugged their jacket tighter around their torso, sinking into Arseni’s arms like a stone. They knew they smelled odd. Like sweat. Like an unknown man. Like sex. Like desperation.

And they were so deeply ashamed, but they handed the money to Arseni.]

..there’s fresh meat in the freezer. If we need to order anything from ForRest we can now.

[They bit the inside of their cheek to keep from crying, looking down because meeting its eyes would only make this harder than it needs to be. They simply walked over to Arseni’s mattress and laid down, clutching themself— they might fall apart if they unfurled.

They taste iron in their mouth, and grind their teeth. Their body is taut and rigid and they try to remain low and out of sight because if they are seen they will be stripped and have their mouth stuffed with cotton.

The flesh will have its way. They cannot betray who they were made into. He was the root of the suffering they go through today— but they don’t see it like that. They can’t unlearn the idea that his love was an exploitation, or they don’t want to. It’d be too painful. It’d hurt them more than He ever did.

Their heart belongs to those they love— it will always be. But they can’t ignore their gut. Their hungry. And they knew how to solve the hunger, and they knew how to be useful.

They can have their morals and principles when they have their belly full.]

Im so sorry— I’m so sorry—

[They cover their head, as though expecting a blow, a bite, a yell or a shove to the ground. A pin, a mount. They cover their body as though any eyes will burn their skin clean off, revealing rot. Rot and pus, there is no division of deoxygenated and oxygenated blood in their body, there is just white pus and rot and mold in a decaying corpse that continues to pass as a living human.

They are a bloated, leaking, maggot infested corpse that walks on two legs and digs up the ghosts of their past because their time is badly spent. A Mother Mary in Magdalenes skin.

A hollowed out shell that can’t find the person inside. They don’t feel like much of a person right now.

“ What...what happened? It's okay. It's okay. I'm here. I'll protect you. Bunnnyyy... Little rabbit. I got you. ”

[Arseni purred softly. It wasn't smiling...it knew what happened. It whimpered and nuzzled against their hair. It hated when Lasha felt bad .. it could feed off humans all it wanted to relieve the stress. No amount of meat would relax them now.]

“ Use money for yourself. Don't worry. Stuff for Faina all stocked. Just you. ”

[It assured quietly, closing Lasha's hand around the money. It tilted its head down and took a taste of their tears. It ran its tongue across their cheek and whimpered. Once again, it was looking for something to soothe its own worry. And Lasha's.]

“ Present. In the storage closet upstairs. Didn't like the taste. - 🐻‍❄️ ”

The handwriting and language itself was evidently from Arseni, who wasn't very educated in writing. But it knew enough to get a point across.

What it had left, however, was a comical sight. Behind the closet door was the soft sound of a hazmat suit squirming, and a man grunting. Arseni had been ordered to eat all FEMA officers; seems this one was different. He was FEMA, evident by the emblem he wore, but he had this distant look to him. When the light of the hallway flooded the small closet, the officer bound at his wrists and ankles looked up with wide eyes. He gritted his teeth.]

“ You have a terrible host. ”

[He grimaced.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

*Opening a weary eye at the sound of the floor trembling and something being slipped under the door, Ilya regretfully separated from Lasha's arms and let them to rest, gently nuddging them aside to get up.

They took the letter and instantly recognised it's author.*

- ... Pfft...

*Reading the note made Ilya blow air by their nose in amusement. A little laugh at the drawing, before they realized what the "present" could be. Uh oh. Cleaning duty... Again. Thank you, Arseni.*

- ... I'll be right back. Stay asleep my little star.

*Storage closest, upstairs...

Ilya took with them some trashbags, and the axe they used to cut limbs from the body trunk. Such a task so early in their day...

They opened the door in one large, sudden movement.

So sure they were going to retrieve the corpse of a poor F.E.M.A agent, Ilya jumped in the air when it mooved.*

- GWAH ! What the ! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ?

*Why was he so GREY ? And what was it with those marks ? Was it tattooes ? Or... Oh, no no no no, it looked just like Mr.FEMA ! ... Or not. Who the hell...*

[Victor bit back, grumbling. He squirmed against his restraints, glaring daggers at Ilya as he sat up. He crossed his legs to one side, gesturing with his lip to the symbol on his shoulder.]

“ Victor Petrov. Investigator for FEMA. And I WAS investigating the fact that so many workers went missing here. I don't suppose you have anything to do with it? ”

[He flicked his head to brush hair out of his eyes. He then kicked a bucket aside; the best threat he could make restrained.]

“ Now let me the hell outta this! That thing could come back and eat me any minute! It already took a crazy bite outta me! ”

[He rolled on his hip to show his arm. His suit was torn through, and his skin aswell. With blood, there seemed to be some exposed copper and silver.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR

*Instincts kicked in. Not to relieve poor Victor from his restraints, no, but to stop the bleeding at least.

Reaching for a random large scrap of fabric, not the cleanest as it was used to wash the floors, Ilya attempted something. They used the handle of the axe as the solid base for a twisted bandage around what was left of his arm, and held it tight.

And of course they could not miss it. The wires. The cogs. The machine was... Bleeding.

Ilya was good at keeping the human machine alive. They were also very great with machines as a whole. But a humanish machine ? This was a first !!!

They were verifing the bandage was neatly done when Victor continued. And the former-FEMA... Laughed ? Just a little, shocked at his audacity !*

- Me ? Having anything to do with it ?Well take a look, "investigator". You don't even have a team and you expect me to blindly trust you ?

*Ilya pulled out their old F.E.M.A card. They looked stupid and happy on the grainy picture. So sure they were going to save the world. So much for a "demon". They lost their glasses. But it was undoubtibly them.

They frowned at the accusation, tho. They had surely played a part, yes... Three killed in the moove. Two fed to Arseni. Some "hunts" here and there... But so few. Surely not enough to send an investigator, right ? Who cared about ten good for nothing !*

- Besides, I am not the only yellow-suit here. Rook and Sasha are two F.E.M.A agents who are in... Medical care here. They cannot come back with you yet. See ? Three missing cases solved. Congratulations.

*They hoped presenting themselves as an humble nurse and a F.E.M.A friendly face could ease his supsicions a bit... They did not need an army swarming at the door !!!*

- Listen here, Victor.

*Their voice went a bit quieter. Like a secret between them.*

- I do not wish to harm you. And if it let you go, then you are mostly safe. BUT. The eco-system of this school is very fragile. It's peace and quiet too. I don't want F.E.M.A poking their nose in my business. You get me ?

*Nothing to see here. Forget about your arm and leave us be... Or, better yet, never leave.*

- And I knew of MR. FEMA. It's not another Android who is going to scare me.

[He complained, twisting and contorting in pain. He finally relaxed as he was released, squirming in his restraints. When he looked at their ID, his eyes widened a little. For a second, they glowed.]

“You. You have been missing for a while. And the others-- you all need to go BACK! There's medicine there, an infirmary there what are you DOING? ”

[Victor sat up on his knees, sucking in a pained breath. His eyes flashed again, and he kicked one of his legs out. He stared at Ilya with wide eyes, like a scared prey animal. He sat up on his knees, but the ankle restraints stopped him from standing.]

“ Android? What the HELL are you saying to me I'm not-- I'm a person! Did you not hear me the first time I'm NOTHING like that robot freak-- I am Victor Petrov. I have a wife, Arina..and a daughter named Sofiya. And...and an infant son. He was just born. Peter.”

[Poor Victor. He didn't know these memories were implanted...they happened years ago. His wife and children were much older by now. They had given up looking for him, and he had became FEMA's pawn. He lived every day as if it was the one before he died in the car crash. On his way home to his family.]

“ Can a robot make CHILDREN? I didn't think so. ”

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

And that was very wrong, right ?

Mr. FEMA didnt feel any pain or any "normal" human emotions. And it did not bleed either. It leaked oil at best. This thing right here behaved and thought like a human, and it bled like one.

And he was scared like one. Eyes wide and heart racing. It made nurse Ilya soften, a natural reaction toward a fellow human in need of care. Something deeply rooted in Humanity's very essence. Wasnt the first ever sign of civilisation a healed femur, proving empathy pre-dated even the simplest of tools ?*

- We have enough material here and the road toward the nearest base was too dangerous for our wounded. We managed without F.E.M.A. But Rook will surely be happy to see you. His uncle must have been worried.

*A high ranking officer, as Ilya understood. Sasha, tho, would not be happy with this...*

- I am doing my best and I am too useful here to go back. Those people need me.

*Despite all the troubles Ilya can bring with them, well, the list of their patients grew longer each day and with pride they noticed the emergency care truly became a skill of theirs.

When "Victor" spoke of his family, Ilya felt a twitch of pain in their heart. A shared sorrow. Maybe empathy. Something like pity, most surely.

If it was play pretend, this programm was very well done.

Wich was terrifying.*

- Shit. F.E.M.A made you MUCH more advanced. But you cannot deny it, Victor. Look at your arm... Do you see it... ?

*The Beatles incarnated still had visible copper and silver into the missing chunck of his arm, and the tourniquet wich prevented blood from flowing out made it even more appearant.*

- You are not a human.

*They tried to make the news a tiny bit sweeter... But it was not an easy task at all, and they werent that sweet of a person either.*

- You just look and act and think like a person.

*Wich made him, truly, a person.

And by the look on Ilya's face as they spoke, they just came to that same conclusion too.

They sighted, eyes closed.*

[Victor repeated, dumbfounded. He turned and looked at his arm, eyes squinting. Then he looked back at Ilya, as if he was just asked the stupidest question ever by a living human. He scooted backwards out of their grip, glaring.]

“ It's PROSTHETICS you psycho! I got into an accident when I was younger, made my arm weaker. FEMA helped strengthen it. Look, the scar is on my elbow! ”

[With a painstaken yelp he pulled down more of his suit, showing the scar through bloodied skin to Ilya. Then he bit back a another cry of pain as he let go. God, it was amazing he could even stay AWAKE with an injury like this! Though, it was just slight tearing. Nothing fatal.]

“ You are-- what gives you the right to look at me and say I'm not human. Are you-- are you implying I'm a visitor now?? Those scumbags never even got CLOSE to me. Now-- now how about you stop playing OPERATION with my LIVING BODY and UNTIE ME! ”

[He got so angry his cheeks were flushed, words pounding out like venom right from a snake's fangs. In his head, he was just on another job. After this he had a family to get home to. No time to waste with kidnappings...oh man, what time was it? Was it time to go home yet?? What if his poor Arina was sitting up for him, waiting with worry in her poor eyes?]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

*Or thrice. They were powerless against mr.FEMA, but this guy -they couldnt help but think of it as a real guy instead of a machine, dammit- seemed way weaker than that, if Arseni could knock him down... And if he could be restrained so easilly. The way he moved like a worm trying to escape was somewhat comical...*

- Stop moving, idiot ! You wont loose blood but you could loose that arm again. If you are telling me the truth, wich I highly doubt. But I don't feel like killing you or leaving you die slowly like a pig in this closet.

*The very closet Mr.FEMA used to recharge, once he bypassed Ilya. All the threats of the machine, all Ilya saw on the T.V, it made them terrified of having another situation like this on their hands. They barely survived the first one !*

- So, I will help you. You will live, see your family again, and it will all be alright.

*They spoke a lot gentler. Almost reassuring. Empathy was one hell of a quality. Ilya usually did not possess it, but after all, didnt they have a wife and kid too, now ? Werent they able to understand the fear of never seeing them again ? Wouldnt they act just like Victor if the roles were reversed ?

This FEMA agent could be a danger for everyone here. He also could be just a lost and terrified soul. And he surely acted like the later. So, Ilya softened, quite involontuary, but by that pure and human reaction to someone in distress.*

- BUT. I need you to be cooperative with me. No screaming, running away, attacking me, seeking revenge on Arseni or anything, okay ?

*The former-FEMA went behind poor Victor, acting a bit more gentle. They couldnt use their axe anymore, so they had to untie the knots manually. They removed their gloves for this specific task... And grimaced at their own small, leathered hands. It was going to be a struggle.*

- Okay. Untiying you now. Don't try anything stupid.

[Victor hissed back with a roll of his eyes. He winced as they began to untie the loose, but strong holding knots tied by Arseni. He hissed out a cry of pain and shook his head around. When his arms were free he brought his gloved hands to his view, wiggling his fingers and feeling the excruciating pain in the left. He grumbled and helped kick his legs out of the restraints, then made the effort to stand.]

“ I don't know why you don't expect someone not to run away in a case like this. But alright. I'll bite. ”

[Victor complained idly, leaning his bad arm away so he didn't feel the pain as much. He looked Ilya up and down...getting awfully cozy for a FEMA agent. He scowled and glared.]

“ I don't suppose you feel like sharing some of those resources to fix my arm? I ain't exactly in any condition to wander the fields bleeding out. I think visitors can smell that. May as well throw me in an ocean o' starving sharks. ”

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

“ Present. In the storage closet upstairs. Didn't like the taste. - 🐻‍❄️ ”

The handwriting and language itself was evidently from Arseni, who wasn't very educated in writing. But it knew enough to get a point across.

What it had left, however, was a comical sight. Behind the closet door was the soft sound of a hazmat suit squirming, and a man grunting. Arseni had been ordered to eat all FEMA officers; seems this one was different. He was FEMA, evident by the emblem he wore, but he had this distant look to him. When the light of the hallway flooded the small closet, the officer bound at his wrists and ankles looked up with wide eyes. He gritted his teeth.]

“ You have a terrible host. ”

[He grimaced.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

*Opening a weary eye at the sound of the floor trembling and something being slipped under the door, Ilya regretfully separated from Lasha's arms and let them to rest, gently nuddging them aside to get up.

They took the letter and instantly recognised it's author.*

- ... Pfft...

*Reading the note made Ilya blow air by their nose in amusement. A little laugh at the drawing, before they realized what the "present" could be. Uh oh. Cleaning duty... Again. Thank you, Arseni.*

- ... I'll be right back. Stay asleep my little star.

*Storage closest, upstairs...

Ilya took with them some trashbags, and the axe they used to cut limbs from the body trunk. Such a task so early in their day...

They opened the door in one large, sudden movement.

So sure they were going to retrieve the corpse of a poor F.E.M.A agent, Ilya jumped in the air when it mooved.*

- GWAH ! What the ! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ?

*Why was he so GREY ? And what was it with those marks ? Was it tattooes ? Or... Oh, no no no no, it looked just like Mr.FEMA ! ... Or not. Who the hell...*

[Victor bit back, grumbling. He squirmed against his restraints, glaring daggers at Ilya as he sat up. He crossed his legs to one side, gesturing with his lip to the symbol on his shoulder.]

“ Victor Petrov. Investigator for FEMA. And I WAS investigating the fact that so many workers went missing here. I don't suppose you have anything to do with it? ”

[He flicked his head to brush hair out of his eyes. He then kicked a bucket aside; the best threat he could make restrained.]

“ Now let me the hell outta this! That thing could come back and eat me any minute! It already took a crazy bite outta me! ”

[He rolled on his hip to show his arm. His suit was torn through, and his skin aswell. With blood, there seemed to be some exposed copper and silver.]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR

*Instincts kicked in. Not to relieve poor Victor from his restraints, no, but to stop the bleeding at least.

Reaching for a random large scrap of fabric, not the cleanest as it was used to wash the floors, Ilya attempted something. They used the handle of the axe as the solid base for a twisted bandage around what was left of his arm, and held it tight.

And of course they could not miss it. The wires. The cogs. The machine was... Bleeding.

Ilya was good at keeping the human machine alive. They were also very great with machines as a whole. But a humanish machine ? This was a first !!!

They were verifing the bandage was neatly done when Victor continued. And the former-FEMA... Laughed ? Just a little, shocked at his audacity !*

- Me ? Having anything to do with it ?Well take a look, "investigator". You don't even have a team and you expect me to blindly trust you ?

*Ilya pulled out their old F.E.M.A card. They looked stupid and happy on the grainy picture. So sure they were going to save the world. So much for a "demon". They lost their glasses. But it was undoubtibly them.

They frowned at the accusation, tho. They had surely played a part, yes... Three killed in the moove. Two fed to Arseni. Some "hunts" here and there... But so few. Surely not enough to send an investigator, right ? Who cared about ten good for nothing !*

- Besides, I am not the only yellow-suit here. Rook and Sasha are two F.E.M.A agents who are in... Medical care here. They cannot come back with you yet. See ? Three missing cases solved. Congratulations.

*They hoped presenting themselves as an humble nurse and a F.E.M.A friendly face could ease his supsicions a bit... They did not need an army swarming at the door !!!*

- Listen here, Victor.

*Their voice went a bit quieter. Like a secret between them.*

- I do not wish to harm you. And if it let you go, then you are mostly safe. BUT. The eco-system of this school is very fragile. It's peace and quiet too. I don't want F.E.M.A poking their nose in my business. You get me ?

*Nothing to see here. Forget about your arm and leave us be... Or, better yet, never leave.*

- And I knew of MR. FEMA. It's not another Android who is going to scare me.

[He complained, twisting and contorting in pain. He finally relaxed as he was released, squirming in his restraints. When he looked at their ID, his eyes widened a little. For a second, they glowed.]

“You. You have been missing for a while. And the others-- you all need to go BACK! There's medicine there, an infirmary there what are you DOING? ”

[Victor sat up on his knees, sucking in a pained breath. His eyes flashed again, and he kicked one of his legs out. He stared at Ilya with wide eyes, like a scared prey animal. He sat up on his knees, but the ankle restraints stopped him from standing.]

“ Android? What the HELL are you saying to me I'm not-- I'm a person! Did you not hear me the first time I'm NOTHING like that robot freak-- I am Victor Petrov. I have a wife, Arina..and a daughter named Sofiya. And...and an infant son. He was just born. Peter.”

[Poor Victor. He didn't know these memories were implanted...they happened years ago. His wife and children were much older by now. They had given up looking for him, and he had became FEMA's pawn. He lived every day as if it was the one before he died in the car crash. On his way home to his family.]

“ Can a robot make CHILDREN? I didn't think so. ”

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..

And that was very wrong, right ?

Mr. FEMA didnt feel any pain or any "normal" human emotions. And it did not bleed either. It leaked oil at best. This thing right here behaved and thought like a human, and it bled like one.

And he was scared like one. Eyes wide and heart racing. It made nurse Ilya soften, a natural reaction toward a fellow human in need of care. Something deeply rooted in Humanity's very essence. Wasnt the first ever sign of civilisation a healed femur, proving empathy pre-dated even the simplest of tools ?*

- We have enough material here and the road toward the nearest base was too dangerous for our wounded. We managed without F.E.M.A. But Rook will surely be happy to see you. His uncle must have been worried.

*A high ranking officer, as Ilya understood. Sasha, tho, would not be happy with this...*

- I am doing my best and I am too useful here to go back. Those people need me.

*Despite all the troubles Ilya can bring with them, well, the list of their patients grew longer each day and with pride they noticed the emergency care truly became a skill of theirs.

When "Victor" spoke of his family, Ilya felt a twitch of pain in their heart. A shared sorrow. Maybe empathy. Something like pity, most surely.

If it was play pretend, this programm was very well done.

Wich was terrifying.*

- Shit. F.E.M.A made you MUCH more advanced. But you cannot deny it, Victor. Look at your arm... Do you see it... ?

*The Beatles incarnated still had visible copper and silver into the missing chunck of his arm, and the tourniquet wich prevented blood from flowing out made it even more appearant.*

- You are not a human.

*They tried to make the news a tiny bit sweeter... But it was not an easy task at all, and they werent that sweet of a person either.*

- You just look and act and think like a person.

*Wich made him, truly, a person.

And by the look on Ilya's face as they spoke, they just came to that same conclusion too.

They sighted, eyes closed.*

[Victor repeated, dumbfounded. He turned and looked at his arm, eyes squinting. Then he looked back at Ilya, as if he was just asked the stupidest question ever by a living human. He scooted backwards out of their grip, glaring.]

“ It's PROSTHETICS you psycho! I got into an accident when I was younger, made my arm weaker. FEMA helped strengthen it. Look, the scar is on my elbow! ”

[With a painstaken yelp he pulled down more of his suit, showing the scar through bloodied skin to Ilya. Then he bit back a another cry of pain as he let go. God, it was amazing he could even stay AWAKE with an injury like this! Though, it was just slight tearing. Nothing fatal.]

“ You are-- what gives you the right to look at me and say I'm not human. Are you-- are you implying I'm a visitor now?? Those scumbags never even got CLOSE to me. Now-- now how about you stop playing OPERATION with my LIVING BODY and UNTIE ME! ”

[He got so angry his cheeks were flushed, words pounding out like venom right from a snake's fangs. In his head, he was just on another job. After this he had a family to get home to. No time to waste with kidnappings...oh man, what time was it? Was it time to go home yet?? What if his poor Arina was sitting up for him, waiting with worry in her poor eyes?]

-⚠️ FEMA INVESTIGATOR ..