#z-257

[Notes from the author//artist]: so it took me just now, as i was abt to work on uni stuff, that i never posted this. embarrassingly took me a long time to work on smth simple only to forget to post it after the first two fics. but yeah !!!!!! nacho sona real !!!!!!!! here’s a speedpaint to compensate my dumb idiot moment erm !

They all remembered the first time that one of them got their heads munched off by Z-283 — the Angler — due to the lack of a hiding space. Not enough lockers, nor were there any cubicles for them to hide either. Many of them, obviously enough, were shocked to see their fellow expendable’s head missing — blood seeping through the cold cracks of the Blacksite from the neck. A few were unbothered, likely having seen and desensitized to the gore before them, and shrugged it off as another loss…only for glowing, yellow particles emitting from the corpse itself did they all freeze in place.

It didn’t take long for their teammate’s head to appear once more. The particles mimicked and morphed into the original head, and each layer began to unravel; from the brain, to the skull, to the muscles, and soon, the skin and hair. And after blinking for a bit, they woke up once more as if they just took a quick nap of sorts. Naturally, everyone else was confused — not to mention how…unnerving it was to watch a friend return from the dead.

But soon enough (thanks to trial and error), everyone learned that they all possessed this, not just one. However, even with this newfound information, they were still cautious. After all, they haven’t learned the full extent of their abilities. Who’s to say that it wouldn’t betray them after reaching this far?

The Blacksite still had dangers lurking in every dark corner. They could not stop; they must keep pushing forward.

After reaching the end of the Ridge and fixing the External Repellent Cannon (while subsequently avoiding the Searchlights present in the area), the Yore Expendables would soon board the submarine waiting by the dock — a testament to everyone and their soon-to-be pardoned sentences. It was an understatement that the team was tired, but at the very least, the Crystal was safe in their possessions.

The star could only wonder what they’d expect to see once they reach the surface. After all, they all had come a long way; what once were foes turned into allies, all helping one another to reach the same goal. The fennec fox next to him reacted enthusiastically, clasping their hands together as they shared ideas, with the space pilot and the toymaker soon joining alongside them. It was surprising to see these people, despite the troubles that they have faced, react with high spirits as they all awaited for what was to come up on the surface. The rot could only stay silent as his hands fidgeted with a coin — far from the rest of the team as he contemplated on what to do once they all got out of this whole ordeal.

Meanwhile, the researcher and the biologist just kept only to themselves; quietly discussing what they’d realistically expect from Urbanshade. They’ve both worked under the company, albeit in different divisions and sites — they know about their inner workings. But with how almost everyone seemed so excited to return to their somewhat normal lives, it seemed to be best if they’d keep their theories to themselves. After all, none of them had heard the familiar bell chime.

With a surprising thud as the submarine emerges from the water, the backdoor opens and in comes the guardsmen, detaining everyone and confiscating the Crystal. The Yore Expendable would soon be familiar with the cold metal around their wrists (and the muzzle on the fennec’s mouth) as they awaited for…whatever honestly happens next.

Two guards, a worker in blue with a folder in their hands, a caretaker, and an old man on a wheelchair arrived at the scene. The man in the wheelchair was…interesting — wheels made out of tank treads, with an inbuilt chamber for whiskey and scotch like it was the only thing keeping him alive. It’s a miracle, really, if you could say it as such. The guard, who had held onto the container, made his way over to the old man, showing him the Crystal. And after the quick inspection, the old man nodded in approval — a smile etching onto his wrinkled lips — before muttering a thank you to the team, and soon introducing as Mr. Shade himself.

As the team was about to be escorted out of the bay and into one of the company’s military vehicles, the worker on his left knelt down and whispered something into Mr. Shade’s ear. Information that was given to him not too long ago, but now things began to click as his tired eyes recognised one of his colleague’s children among the crowd. That’s right; HQ had already provided him with information about this…set of Expendables. Their inability to die due to golden, floating orbs that seem to regenerate any and every missing limb in each death, before passing it off as nothing.

If Urbanshade got their hands on this regenerating property, who knows how much money they’d be able to profit from this. Maybe even revolutionize and perhaps weaponise this ability — a starfish and an axolotl could grow out new limbs, what is stopping humans from doing the same?

With a click of a tongue, Mr. Shade then changed his direction: ordering this group of Expendables to be transferred into a nearby Blacksite. This was then met with an angry call from the prisoners before him, protesting against being relocated to a new prison and that they instead earned their right to be free. Their cries were loud, but did the old man listen?

No. Not when there was a potential profit involved.

They were soon shipped off to a new home. One that could not bring comfort, and one where they will be treated like rats in an experiment. Like how the Saboteur was once treated, despite his innocence.

Welcome to Urbanshade, Yore Expendables — now officially signed as Z-257.

[Notes from the author//artist]: OH MY GOODDD I FINALLY FINISHED THE INTRO-ISH POST !!!!!!!! SPECIAL THANKS TO @trojanhorseleftbackhoove AND @windthescorpionfanatic FOR PROOFREADING THIS MWAH /pos !!!!!!!!! credits to @windthescorpionfanatic for the original document and concept, and with several others who had contributed to this ily all mwah .:}

During the expedition observed by HQ, Z-257-2 is usually seen and/or heard by the site CCTV to lead the way for the rest of the team to follow. The only instances of Z-257-2 trailing behind are whenever the subject is in search of a hiding place or rummaging through for any files or data left by the staff. Similar to the rest of Z-257, Z-257-2 shares regenerative properties upon death by emitting yellow particles of light to scatter all over the corpse, clumping together to inhabit the heart (and missing limbs, if any). Despite this, the subject’s eyes are still not affected nor changed afterwards.

Prior to her arrest, Z-257-2 had previously worked as a junior researcher in the University of ██████████, Sweden, before being referred to the company by her late-father and one of Mr. Shade’s business partners, Dr. H████ Jekyll. By then, she was hired as one of Urbanshade’s junior researchers within the Botanical Division located in ████, ████████ and had worked for the company for about an approximate of 2 to 3 years — being later promoted as Assistant Senior Researcher.

In mid-2024 to early 2025, Z-257-2 was soon arrested for the murder of Junior Researcher, Dr. Verena Calyx, as the subject was found in her office with blood on the floor, surrounding the victim. The guards had also stated that the subject was also found kneeling next to the deceased victim’s body with chunks of flesh and blood on her hands and lips, signifying that the subject was in the middle of eating the victim due to guilt. A small trial was held and Z-257-2 was soon promptly jailed. It wasn’t until months later that the Hadal Blacksite had initiated lockdown due to the events caused by Z-13, resulting in the “Expendable” protocol taking place. The subject was then offered a second chance by retrieving Z-1, promising cash and a pardon on their criminal sentence, which was enough for her to sign up for the program.

Upon reaching the surface with Z-1 in the team’s possession, Urbanshade guards directly confiscated and detained the team of Z-257 before presenting the Crystal to Mr. Shade himself. But after recognising the members of the team from the numerous comments from one of the Headquarters’ Team Overseer, Mr. Shade had immediately requested for all members to be sent to a nearby Site for further testing.

[Notes from the author//artist]: OH MY GOD PRESSURE SONA REVEAL does it even count if it’s you LMAO. uh anyways YEAH !!! BRAINROT !!!!!! you guys would probably see me make more of these with some of my moots and pookies. if it’s not obvious, this is only an additional document detailing a member of z-257 >.:} – my end, at least (no i’m not actually jekyll irl i wish i was/j). also, the reason why this post and the previous were sent back to back for a day was bc this has been sitting on my drafts for so long LMAO i’ve been itching to post this but i wanted a proper introduction to our au/z-entity (in a sense, it is a z-entity; think of smth like the imaginary friend or the mindscape)