#atom eins

Memory of You

Chapter One

There was an undeniable sense of tension in the air after the Hybrids and Kirsh had been sent off to explore the recent crash site in New Siam. The mission was labelled as a ‘trial run’ by Atom and Kavalier, and the Hybrids seemed enthusiastic enough to take on the task of traversing the crash site of the Maginot, though you and your colleagues – namely Arthur and Dame – were somewhat less encouraged by the notion of sending the youths out into the world, little less the chaotic landscape of a crash site.

The whole operation had been kept under wraps, very little was being communicated to you or the others in the facility to explain Kavalier's laid back attitude to an otherwise dangerous task for the Hybrids to undertake. Even Kirsh seemed reluctant to encourage the idea, but ever the dutiful synthetic, he did as asked to chaperone the Hybrid's on their mission.

“This isn’t right.” You overheard Arthur as he grunted to Dame to his side as you all stood outside the facility, onlooking as the Prodigy heli-carriers took off and soared above and beyond the island facility.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine, they have Kirsh at the very least.” Dame reasoned, but you could hear the doubt in her tone.

“Their first experience of the world, outside the facility in their new bodies, and it’s to an active crash site?” Arthur scoffed and shook his head.

“Kirsh will keep them right, he always does.” Dame said, rubbing Arthur’s arm, trying to calm his worries.

“Sorry, but I’m not as hopeful.” Arthur grumbled. “Even with Kirsh babysitting them.” He added before turning around to mutter his frustrations all the way back into the facility.

“Arthur” Dame implored, “It’s not that I don’t share the same concerns.” Dame said, but Arthur was already too far a distance to continue the conversation.

“Let him go and calm down.” You sighed to Dame; the recognisable look of concern etched on her face as she hesitated to run after her husband.

“He didn’t mean anything towards Kirsh.” Dame said to you, apologetic as ever. She knew you took your position as chief synthetics technician to heart, and indeed any criticism of the artificial persons. You, Arthur and Dame all shared a commonality that way, the Hybrids meant the world to them, as did your synthetics.

Kirsh – as well as the other synthetics that occupied the facility – had been bumped in favour of the hybrids in regards to Kavalier’s affections. Though now it seemed that something inside the wreck of the Maginot had captivated Kavalier’s attention, otherwise you couldn’t fathom as to why he would green light a mission as dangerous as this.

“He’s just worried, as we all are.” You reassured Dame, though she only offered you a watery smile.

"Did Kirsh perhaps mention anything to you about the mission?" Dame asked, though you could see the reluctance in her question as she knew nobody was in the loop about why this mission was green lit.

"No, and that's what's bothering me." You admitted. It was odd that even yourself and the Sylvia's weren't briefed on the details of the mission, despite your life's work being sent off in a heli-carriers.

"I'm sure Kavalier has his reasons." Dame said, though she didn't sound too convinced.

"You should go see Arthur, get yourselves some coffee and a moment." You changed the subject to try and distract Dame, and focus her energy onto her equally distressed husband.

Dame rubbed the bridge on her nose wearily and nodded, turning around to saunter with her hands heavy in her pockets, back up to the facility. You stood outside for a moment or two longer, looking up once more at the direction the aircrafts had disappeared in, off and towards the mainland.

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Mission Report: Time 2200 hours

-Hybrid’s -under the supervision of chief science officer Kirsh- have located specimens within the wreckage of the Maginot.

Mission Report: Time 2230 hours

-Hybrid ‘Wendy’ has located a singular medical search and rescue party, identified by Prodigy Records, is noted as one Joe D. Hermit, former biological sibling to Hybrid ‘Wendy’.

Mission Report: Time 2245 hours

-Hybrid ‘Wendy’ (as well as ‘Hermit’) have encountered unknown lifeform within cargo bay, both parties have sustained damage.

-Hybrid ‘Wendy’ is offline, though stable. Physical unit is in-tact, though internal processing units will require systems analysis (refer to A. Sylvia).

-Human identified as ‘Hermit’ is in a critical condition, will require medical treatment upon arrival to island facility (suspected punctured lung, potential cross contamination with unknown lifeform).

-'Hermit' has been authorised to receive medical care administered by Prodigy Medical Units, but must not be privy to sensitive information (debrief meeting pending Atom Ein's authorisation).

Mission Report: Time 2330 hours

-Incoming reports of structural damage to section C, unit 2 of the Maginot – Research Facility.

-Recovered specimens are secure.

-Hybrid units 'Curly', 'Smee', 'Tootle's, 'Nibs', 'Slightly' are secure (zero physical damage, but will require systems analysis).

-Synthetic unit and science officer Kirsh has been damaged in the process, will require synthetics technicians upon arrival to island facility. (Extensive damage report TBD).

Concluding Mission Report: 0000 hours (Midnight)

-Specimens have been secured and are in transit to island research facility via heli-carrier B.

-Hybrid units ‘Curly’, ‘Smee’, ‘Tootles’, ‘Nibs’, 'Slightly', have been transferred securely back to heli-carrier A.

-All hybrid units will require a ‘debriefing’ via lead technician A. Sylvia, and science officer D. Sylvia.

-Hybrid unit ‘Wendy’ has been recovered and transferred securely back to heli-carrier A.

-Hybrid unit 'Wendy' in stable condition, internal processors remain offline.

-Search and Rescue medic, Joe D. Hermit remains in critical condition. Immediate transfer to island facility medical unit is strongly advised.

-Science officer Kirsh remains offline, physical unit has sustained critical damage. Will required chief synthetics technician for repairs, status of recovery – TBD.

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Your heart sank as the live reports were submitted in real time, with each new piece of information about the mission, more and more faith was lost. Despite Kavalier’s elation at discovering the ‘bio weapons’ within the wreckage, you as well as Dame and Arthur, couldn’t help the gnawing anxiety within over the fate of your artificial colleagues.

The moment the report had been filed that Wendy had been severely damaged, you felt a hand on your shoulder. Looking up, you saw Arthur, his face grim with concern as he kept his sights trained on the large monitor in front of you all, silently praying no more casualties would befall the crew.

"This was why he wanted to send them." Arthur said incredulously as photos and recordings from the various hybrids began to upload to the hub's data bank. Organisms you had never seen before or could hardly identify, flashed rapidly on the screens of every terminal in the room now occupied by staff, the Sylvia's and yourself. This was what Kavalier wanted, this was why he didn't mind risking the Hybrid's and Kirsh on such a dangerous mission.

The next, exciting object of Kavalier's desire, to get his greedy hands on and claim as his. What sweetened the deal was obviously that the specimens were previously in Yutani's possession.

It was only when you read of Kirsh’s fate, that you stood up from your chair, reading and re-reading the report to try and deny it.

physical unit has sustained critical damage

physical unit has sustained critical damage

physical unit has sustained critical damage

The lab began to bristle with movement as the staff panicked whilst receiving the information pretraining to the crew's fate, but more curiously the specimens. You, Arthur and Dame however remained still, locked in a state of catatonia as you processed the information about the Hybrids and Kirsh.

The moment the heli-carrier had arrived back, you three as well as the bulk of the lab technicians, sprinted down to the lower loading docks to receive the passengers and casualties. The hybrids sheepishly sauntered out, a mixture of stern and shell-shocked expressions plastered across their features. All previous excitement before leaving the island, now gone, melted away and replaced with heavy minds. Most noticeably you saw how Curly had wrapped her arms protectively around Nibs, whom was visibly shaking as they made their way down the ramp and towards Dame whom embraced them tightly, whispering apologies and reassurances like a frightened parent.

“Jesus fucking christ.” Arthur’s breathy expletive drew your attention to the capsule that held Wendy inside, her lifeless form surrounded by the glass shield of the capsule as it monitored her.

As Arthur and other scientists crowded Wendy’s capsule, you saw towing behind and surrounded by medical staff, ‘Joe’, Wendy’s brother, his clothes caked in blood and grime, complexion pale and pallid as various wires and tubes stuck out of him to keep him alive long enough for further care.

The hangar was a hive of noise and exclamations, various staff members running around trying to smoothly receive the returning crew, as well as begin the transfer of the specimens from heli-carrier B. Gasps and vibrant discussions had already begun as the specimens were extracted from the aircraft next to the one you had approached; flatbeds with cylinders containing the unknown species, as well larger transfer pods for the bigger specimens emerged.

Whilst the commotion continued, you focused on the remaining member of heli-carrier A. Your priority as chief synthetics technician. Your main concern.

Kirsh.

There were several members of your synthetics lab already surrounding Kirsh, from the neck down he had been covered in a greyish, plastic tarp, already displaying splattered signs of white circulatory fluid. Your staff members noticed your approach and began to talk at you from every angle about Kirsh’s physical condition, though you processed it as a dull muffled noise, as if your ears were blocking everything out as you looked down at Kirsh.

His eyes were closed thankfully, though his face was messed with splatters of his internal fluids. Kirsh’s hair was grimy, and patched with dirt, specks of debris and dust. You reached down to grasp the top of the tarp covering him.

“Careful with that one! It’s secreting some sort of acidic plasma! Melted right through one of the other officer’s fingers!” You and the staff turned and watched as a security officer warned loudly whilst another flatbed emerged from the mouth of heli-carrier B, along with a distinct aroma of vinegar and something akin to gasoline or deeply chemical in nature.

You, as well as your team, watched in horror as the remains of a large humanoid-like creature, black and glistening in neon yellow liquid and membrane, was wheeled out of the second heli-carrier, and through the hangar. It was then that your eyes scanned past Dame as she practically fell to pieces at the sight of Wendy as she followed Arthur, landing on Kavalier, high above the hangar behind a glass observation room, grinning from ear to ear like a child at Christmas.

This is all your fault. You thought as you watched him clap his hands together with joy, as if oblivious to the chaos surrounding you on the lower floor.

You looked back at Kirsh, and wordlessly motioned for your staff to move him to your facility to begin immediate repairs.

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“Are you sure you don’t require us?” One of your lab staff asked cautiously as they inserted a processing cable into the port behind Kirsh’s ear, connecting him to the terminal beside the observation bench he had been placed upon.

“No, I need you to go help Arthur and Dame with Wendy and the Hybrids.” You instructed as you began setting up your stations to start Kirsh’s repairs, eyeing the terminal carefully that your staff had set up.

“But there’s so much to do here with Kirsh, what if some of us remained with you and-“

“I said I will be fine.” You cut off the staff, but your tone wasn’t harsh, it was eerily soft.

You knew truthfully that you didn’t want anyone to see you vulnerable, you didn’t want them to witness how you were going to react when the tarp was removed and you would see for the first time the extent of Kirsh’s damages. And your staff could sense it. They understood that you had a closer relationship to Kirsh than anyone on the island, a connection built on fondness but also a mutual respect you had for one another. Kirsh didn’t outwardly pine to be treated as an equal by his human colleagues, he knew the order in which the world worked, that humans would come before artificial persons. Never the less, it didn’t stop you from treating Kirsh as a familiar, an equal, you didn’t patronise nor try to control him, you listened and respected him.

Perhaps it was because, as chief synthetics technician, you were fond of your work, of your research and indeed of your artificial counterparts. But a part of you connected with Kirsh that was undoubtedly deeper than a love for the science, it was an affection for Kirsh’s company.

Quickly, and with reassurance should you need them they would return, your staff left the central synthetics lab, leaving you in the suffocating silence with Kirsh’s body. You looked him over, the harsh lighting only intensifying Kirsh’s pallid complexion as all the circulatory fluid had been drained from him. With a wobbly exhale, you shrugged off your jacket, the cold lab air making your exposed arms prickle. You walked over to the terminal that your staff had connected to Kirsh, typing on the keyboard to pull up an anatomical lay out of his body.

Immediately your stomach dropped as three quarters of the digital layout went red, indicating severe damage…or loss of mass. You looked from the layout, over your shoulder to Kirsh, and bristled with fear as to what lay under the grey tarp.

You managed to pull yourself together with a controlled inhale and exhale, put on a pair of nitrile gloves, tapped on your data pad to record, and began your work to vocally annotate the damages.

“Lab Report submission, subject Kirsh.” You said, clear and concise. “Physical unit has been compromised – See Mission Report code name ‘Maginot Mission’.” You turned away from your terminal and approached Kirsh, looking down at his gaunt face.

“Internal processors are confirmed offline yet in-tact and will be analysed by myself post physical examination.” You said for the recording, though you could feel your resolve beginning to wither as you contemplated your next move.

You reached up, and took a hold of the tarp before peeling it back. The sight of Kirsh’s mangled torso made your throat tighten; all that remained of your friend, was his head, neck, upper torso, and his right arm. You swallowed thickly, fighting back your emotions as you willed yourself to continue your job.

“U-Unit has sustained critical loss of…anatomy.” You said, with every word, every glance across Kirsh’s damaged body, you felt your tears threaten to spill over. You wiped your eyes briefly on your forearm before continuing.

Damn you Kavalier...look at what you've done...Your thoughts seethed at what Kavalier's selfish greed had resulted in.

“Unit has from the right latissimus dorsi, diagonally to the left thoracolumbar aponeurosis, been severed.” You said, now removing the tarp entirely from Kirsh’s half form. “Internal artificial organs are compromised…severe loss of circulatory fluid…” your voice trailed off as you began to list the various damages, each one chipping at your stoicism.

Various wires, tubes, as well as silicone hardware used to keep Kirsh ‘alive’, now stuck out at angles from where Kirsh’s abdomen once was. The bed that Kirsh had been placed onto when retrieved from the hangar, now leaked droplets of his white circulatory fluid onto your lab floor, the echoing drip felt like torture as you gathered yourself once more.

“Unit will require an entire lower anatomy replacement, including sub-processing units, electro sensors, re-attachment of synthetic muscle fibres as well as liquid skin grafting, amongst other numeral repairs needed.” You said, blinking more tears as you kept yourself in check as best as you could.

“Total repair time…unknown.” You muttered into the conditioned air, finally slumping down onto the desk beside Kirsh, your body deflated as your eyes roamed over the synth, lingering on the grizzly damage he had sustained.

What if he's too far gone?

“State of internal processing units…unknown.” You added, your vision clouded by tears as you looked down at the floor, specks of white peppering the sanitised surface.

What if I can't do it?

“Chance of recovery…unknown.” Your words trembled as you uttered them, and you could no longer contain your emotions as you broke down beside Kirsh.

Kirsh...I...I can't lose you...