sci fi psl

[anenemies]

[Kagami is escorted into the recreation space hissing. This proves to do little other than result in his captors transcribe their observations in a language he doesn’t understand, and he doesn't even feel better after the fact! But he can be stupid stubborn when he puts his mind to something. More importantly, he runs on spite and being petty.]

I hope all your data gets corrupted~!

[He waves at them in what would usually be a cheerful gesture, and ego bruised and no closer to escaping, he turns his attention to the most interesting person here. To be fair, they're the only other person here. Surprisingly humanoid, at that, but ephemeral and frail. They’re pretty, and in another life and in a better mood maybe he’d flirt with them. It takes one look for Kagami to conclude that they won't be of much physical help in an escape. He fears they'd collapse if he nudged them too hard.

But they’re someone other than their shared captors, and he’s not one to turn down the opportunity to needle at people he dislikes— usually those who abuse their power and boy do the researchers who abducted him fit the bill. Their translators informed him of the goal of the study. Not that he has any reason to trust they’ll keep their word!

He’ll start by moving close to Nen. Get in their personal bubble and ooh and ahh like he’s never seen a person before. His eyes sweep up and down, appraising. He bats his lashes and plasters on his sweetest, most infuriating smile.]

Goodness, I have no idea what made them think this was wise. But I have an idea. Instead of becoming best friends, why don’t we speedrun their little experiment into the ground?

Comments

[anenemies]

A. Brisk walk. [Doctor Koskinen?] You know their names.

[He's no longer trying to sound cheerful. Every word uttered seems to press down on Kagami and make him closer to sinking in defeat.]

Three...?! I don't have a few months. [...] I know! If you get tired, tell me and I can carry you.

[essenceborn]

You want to carry me??

[ Nen here, not at all having realized that they're on an impromptu escape mission-- ]

Is this test that important Kagami?

[anenemies]

[For his part, Kagami sits curled up and nods pathetically. Is he playing it up? Maybe a little. He can't even get mad at Nen. It's not their fault they got kidnapped and that the researchers are using them.]

It's very important. It's important to me.

[essenceborn]

[ It does appear to matter to him a great deal. Not knowing what's going on won't stop them from picking that up...so after a moment to consider it all, they nod. Start pushing themself back up to their feet--carefully. One hand on the wall at all times in case their feel light-headed. ]

Then we should see this through to its culmination. Do not be disheartened. I will do my best not to hold you back.

[anenemies]

You won't?

[He claps his hands together and springs up.]

How could I be disheartened when I hear that? We'll gather so much valuable data, Nenonen!

[It really is getting under his skin that no one has intervened yet. He feels like they're on display, and he hates that.]

I don't think we need to rush right now, but that might change. I won't let you get hurt!

[essenceborn]

[ He's not entirely wrong about that. There's cameras everywhere and doubtless they've noticed the door malfunction...but I mean. He's so handicapped by Nen right now that for the moment, they're letting things play out. This is the most 'cooperative' Kagami's been with anyone so far.

It's worth observing. ]

I can keep going. We can complete the dataset.

[anenemies]

[How did this become his life]

Yeah! You should hold my hand in case you teleport again.

[And in case Nen looks in danger of collapsing again. As much as he wants to escape, he doesn't want it to be at the expense of harming Nen. They had no control over him being here.]

We might as well get to know eachother in the meantime. How long have you been here?

[essenceborn]

[ A thoughtful (pleased) noise escapes them as he asks (takes their hand again). ]

Almost two years now. I was much weaker and temporally unstable when I first arrived--my time would rewind on its own. I didn't need to interfere with other time to make it happen.

...Some of that two years is rewound time, though. It had only been a year and a half for the researchers here.

What about you?

[anenemies]

[Don't mind him and how he holds Nen's hand tight.]

Two years?! Holy shit.

[...But Nen mentioned they were comfortable here! Of course they'd stay as long as they could! He doesn't need to panic (yet).]

A couple of months. You're the first person I've talked to outside of the researchers because I'm [Combative. Uncooperative. Hissing and pushing what he can off the counters] because they thought we'd work well together~

[essenceborn]

It has not been a negative experience. I can experience and exist within the normal flow of time thanks to the researchers here. Although they don't remember all of it, I have a very good memory.

[ Nen looks ahead to the end of the hall, where another locked door rests. It has the same keypad and card reader combo as before. ]

We have made great progress together. I will help you with your work, too. You must be very important to receive such a task so soon after arriving.

[anenemies]

Does the anomaly normally affect you worse than this?

[Heh. This is so easy. Nen is probably their ideal subject to study. Cooperative, someone who wants to be here, and too weak to run.]

Maybe you’re important to be trusted to work with me. [He still smiles at the praise. Praise is praise.]

[essenceborn]

Before the Foundation found me, I was trapped in a thirteen-day time loop. Things were much...worse, then. I am happy to be living in linear time.

[ Enjoy that lil drop of heavy information Kagami oops. But also, how sweet of him to compliment them, they think! ]

...Thank-you. I hope that is the case.

[anenemies]

Wha— was it the anomaly? How long did you live there?

[Oh no now he’s starting to feel concerned. Could it be contained the way it seemed to be here if they escaped?

…He plasters on a smile before he can look too worried]

I think it is! You’re important, Nenonen~

[essenceborn]

I am not sure. I do not know much about the anomaly or what created it. I have been told the Foundation is still looking into it. I have given them my best recollection of the events though.

[ Mostly they're glad to be free of it and don't spent additional time thinking about it if they can help it. ]

I will do my best to help.

[anenemies]

Hm.

[Probably so they can use it themselves. Nen is too trusting, they've been through too much to recognize this for what it is. Kagami will be doing them a favor in finding an escape.]

Okay! Can you do that thing you did before?

[essenceborn]

The door...? Yes, but.

[ They pause, looking down at his hand in theirs. ]

I do not know if it is safe for you to be touching me when I do...

[anenemies]

Hmmm. I have no idea! But it's for science. And I have a feeling it's not that dangerous.

[If it was, the researchers would have stepped in. And if it was but Kagami wasn't a valuable subject, at least he'd get to break a door.]

[essenceborn]

Oh. If...if you are sure.

[ They don't sound so sure about this, but the air of confidence Kagami puts off is convincing enough for someone who was isolated from other people for so long. The moment of hesitation if brief and fleeting; Nenonen reaches out towards the panel. ]

[anenemies]

I'm sure! I trust y--

[Weird! His hand and head feel kind of fuzzy. Kagami slumps and flops to the floor and next to him is a weird cat.]

[essenceborn]

[ Well that's not expected--and neither is the way that while the control panel glitches out again and breaks, Nen themself doesn't move anywhere--Kagami seems to have taken the brunt of...that.

And also turned into a cat. ]

Kagami...!

[anenemies]

[Kagami blinks his large yellow eyes up at Nen.

Up...at Nen.

Nen is taller than him, but not by that much...!]

Mrow? [He opens his mouth to speak, looks mortified by what comes out. Panicking, he floats and trying to climb Nen's arm, his tail twitching in agitation. Oh no!?! Did this have something to do with the temporal anomaly?!]

MROWWW MROW MR

[essenceborn]

[ Kagami is a cat.

Kagami is a cat and that's never happened before with their temporal anomalies and Nen doesn't know what to do with this. For a brief moment they're stuck, frozen with panic--and then he's floating and clinging to their arm and they're doing their best to keep him balanced. ]

I am sorry, I do not know what happened--no one has ever turned into a cat before! Are you okay??

[anenemies]

[Kagami yowls as if to ask does he look okay?! Nen is panicking and doesn't know what to do and Kagami certainly doesn't either!!! Is it going to wear off!?

He can't think like this when he's clinging onto Nen's arm and panicking. He slowly unlatches, drops down on his feet, and like the composed and rational person he is, he darts through the doorway in embarrassment.]

[essenceborn]

[ Leaving them behind. That little rugrat-- ]

Kagami??? Wait for me...!

[ They can't chase after him as a human so there's no way they'll be able to keep up with a cat, but as it turns out? That doesn't matter. All the doors and halls ahead are closed. And staffed. Facility guards are waiting for him and not too much longer after that a pair of researchers approach Nenonen and tell them it's time to return to their room for a check-up and not to worry; they'll look after Kagami. ]

[anenemies]

[Kagami looks over his shoulder at Nen, mews impatiently, but his escape doesn’t last. His ears flatten and he backs away as soon as the researchers appear. At first he hides behind them but he jumps out in front of Nen and starts hissing when the researchers imply they’ll be separated.]