Chapter 9
P13 slowly improves over the course of several weeks. You notice its eyes get clearer, less glossy. Someone has been sneaking it extra food, you can tell as much by its weight gain. Finaly you determine it is ready for the final test in this stage of development. In the testing room you press the intercom.
“This is a simple test P13, shoot the target.” P13 stands in large testing room. It is posed upright, quelian M8A19 over its shoulder. It looks at its target who is currently on its knees, tears in its eyes.
“Please,” the orthopedic surgeon begs, hands cuffed before them. “I never wanted to do any of those things to you!” P13 stands before it, right at level with their face. It blinks. “I tried to help you remember?” They continue hysterical. You watch behind the glass and purse your lips. So, it true. You knew it, that stupid sentimental human. You glance at P13’s brain scans as it stands there seemingly indifferent. “I…I helped you escape remember? Gave you the security codes!” P13 looks through the scope of the gun. “I fed you when you were sick!” The surgeon yells, voice breaking.
P13’s brain scans glow different colors over the images of its brain. Red, yellow, blue each lighting up different areas. You wonder if P13 has discovered emotions, another troublesome side effect but they have been tempered thus far by the phycological conditioning. Or so you assumed. “Please, I’m so sorry.” The surgeon wails, holding out its hands to P13 helplessly. “I never agreed to what was being done to you, to any of you!” Sweat beads down their brow. “I’m so sorry, I know that’s no excuse. Please…please just…just don’t shoot,” they body shakes as P13 bares its teeth and narrows its eyes, moving one clawed paw around the trigger. “I…I can still help you!” They resort to fantasies. “I can get you out of here P13! I can help you! I can…” You lean in closer to the glass, P13 has the trigger pulled but has not released. You see it’s raccoon face grimace. The gun in its grip shakes.
“P13,” you sing song through the intercom.
“PLEASE! I’M SO SOSORRYIDIDNTMEANTOHURTYOU! I JUST WANT TO HELP! P13 YOU CAN…” there is a bang and the orthopedic surgeons head snaps backward, there body crumbling. Blood smatters across the white wall behind them. P13 lowers its weapon starring at the body.
“D….dddnt waaant to….to…to…no…noo….n..no,” it shakes, you can see nerves pulsing under its taunt ashen flesh. It drops the gun clattering to the floor. “D…don’t…..w…w…wan…pl….pleeees.”
“Very good P13. Just one more test for today.”
13 looks through the glass at you, its eyes wide, whiskers twitching. From the far end of the room a small door opens, and you watch a raccoon crawl through. P13’s head snaps around to see the animal and it sniffs. 13’s sow sniffs back, it can still recognize its offspring and it patters closer, crouching on its hind legs to stand up. 13 straightens, looking with apprehension but picks up its gun. 13’s sow leans in closer to its offspring, reaching up with an incredulous paw to feel at 13’s arm. 13 springs backward, gun ready.
“Shoot the target P13,” you command. P13 looks at its sow with an odd affinity. It creeps closer, looking at 13 with its dark eyes and sniffing. It chitters, P13’s ears twitch but it hefts its gun reloading and takes aim. Its sow squeaks, cocking its head and pawing at the barrel of the weapon. “Shoot the target P13. Do not make me ask again.” 13 curls its lips in a snarl and feels its little fingers around the trigger. The raccoon stretches upward its arms reaching for 13’s face. You suck in a breath as 13 looks at it, the gun slipping just a little. Its body relaxes when its sows’ little paws go through its fur clinging to it. It licks 13’s face and nuzzles it. 13 stands still, heart rate and breathing slowing, slowing…BAM! The raccoon is obliterated so strikingly similar to the orthopedic surgeon, falling with a dull thud and this time the spray of blood and brain tissue and fur is smaller. 13
“Well done P13,” you allow two grapes to be dispensed. “Did you like that test?” P13 looks at you through the glass, its eyes shifting for a moment before looking up at you.
“Yees….t…hankkk…y…y…y..ou.”