Synth

TO got dressed as soon as they woke and swung over into GiDi’s pod to speak to them. DH wasn’t there, and TO had already seen that they weren’t in their own pod.

“Where’s DH?” TO asked. They cursed themself for not taking the time to ask GiDi how they were first.

“Oh, they decided to get up early and rush off right away.” GiDi grumbled as their ears pinned back, “Wouldn’t take my advice and stick around.”

“Ah... I see” TO said as their own ears drooped down. They had really hoped to talk to DH before they ate. “Well, things are alright between the two of you?”

GiDi gave a sigh as they finished putting their uniform on, adjusting one of the sleeves that had twisted up in the process, “We’re fine.” they said, “I know DH didn’t mean anything by what they said; they just have a tendency to be a bit of an idiot at times.”

“I don’t know if I’d say they’re an idiot-“

“Oh yes they are; they told me what happened with Avery yesterday. And sure, I get that DH is frustrated; Avery was upset that DH didn't seem to understand how they felt despite the fact that they didn’t tell us what happened. Still, that doesn’t mean that DH should have just been so flippant about it, and I get Avery getting angry about that.” GiDi shook their head, “DH needs to apologize; to Avery, and to you.”

“Did they tell you why they ran off?” TO asked, “I told DH-“

“You called them out.” GiDi said firmly, “And that’s good! I’ve done that more than once.”

“I know.” TO said with a sigh, “But they never got angry at you for doing that. They listened to you.”

GiDi was just reaching for the ladder, but they stopped. “Well...” they said, speaking slowly and carefully, “I suppose that’s a little different.”

“I suppose DH figured that I’d take their side no matter what.” TO muttered, “I guess they feel betrayed-“

“Is that really what you think?” GiDi asked as they turned to face TO, “Is that really why you think they’re upset?”

“...Yes?”

GiDi sighed, “The both of you are morons.” they grumbled. They reached out for the ladder again but this time TO stopped them, grabbing them by the sleeve and pulling them back.

“So I’m wrong.” TO said, “Tell me how I’m wrong then”

GiDi shook their head, “You just are. Maybe it’s not your fault. I know you don’t mean-”

“No, I mean, if I’m wrong then tell me why they’re actually upset! If I’m such a moron, then explain it to me as clearly and as carefully as you can.”

GiDi’s ears flicked down as they glanced away, “I want to” they said, “I really do! But I promised that I wouldn’t tell-“

“Then you can blame me for forcing you to tell me.” TO said, “Because I will! DH is upset for some reason that they’re not telling me. If I can’t see how I’m upsetting them, then I think it’s more important that I know what’s actually wrong so that I can fix the problem than it is for DH to try to keep it to themself for whatever reason!”

“I agree!” GiDi said, “I know that! I’ve been telling DH that they should just be honest with you.”

“Then tell me what’s wrong!”

GiDi’s ears twitched, consideration and worry flicking through them as they looked around. After a moment, they checked the time on their chip “Look.” they said, “We don’t have a lot of time before we have to get to our training and if I’m going to tell you then at the very least this isn't a conversation for right here and right now.” Gidi gestured to the chip in the back of their hand, “Do you understand?”

TO frowned, wanting GiDi to tell them what the problem was right now. Still, they didn’t want their chips to pick up on anything that might cause DH or GiDi some harm.

“...Fine.” TO grumbled, “We’ll take our second meal in the observation deck, and you’ll tell me then. “

“Second? Couldn’t it wait until-“

“You’re lucky I’m not saying first meal!” TO said, “The only reason I’m not is because you’re right about us being short on time right now.” they looked at GiDi intensely, paying special attention to the movement of their ears, “Promise me now; during the second meal you’ll tell me what happened.”

“You realize that if I make that promise to you then I’m breaking a promise I made to DH.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea to keep that promise if it’s hurting DH? Or if I’m hurting them without knowing what’s going on?”

GiDi was silent for a few minutes before they shook their head, “No… No, you’re probably right. I probably should have told you before, but I hoped that DH would stop being an idiot and tell you themself.”

“You promise then?”

“I promise; second meal in the observation deck… I’ll tell you everything.”

======

TO regretted that they didn’t insist on learning what the issue was during the first meal. All they could think about on the way to their combat training was that there was some unknown problem that was upsetting DH. The possibility of all the different things that it could be raced through TO’s head and distracted them.

They were walking among a bunch of different synths with GiDi at their side when a thought crossed their mind.

Maybe C12 is right.

C12 thought that DH could have romantic feelings. DH had gotten angry when TO had stood up for Avery. They cast their mind back and they were certain that DH had seemed a little more morose when they had finished spending time with Avery too. Could that be the issue? Was DH simply… jealous?

Could DH actually have feelings for them? Real, romantic feelings like Flit and Snout? Maybe DH thought about TO in the same way that TO thought about them! They were certain that they were wrong though; they were just looking for evidence to support the conclusion that they wanted. Besides that, they were picking through their own memory and they knew that memory was unreliable and easily altered depending on mood or feelings.

Still, thinking about it make TO’s chest feel like it might burst and while they wanted to drag GiDi away and figure out what was happening right away, they were also glad that they had to wait for a little while; there was no harm allowing themself to indulge in a small, happy fantasy until they found out the real reason DH was so upset and angry.

“Ready for your training?” C12 asked them as they approached the door. Their words drew TO out of their daydreams; they hadn’t even realized that they were already at the training room!

“Yes, Retiree!” TO said, feeling lighter than they had in a while thanks to the tiny flicker of hope that was still glowing in their mind.

C12 nodded, pointing to their chip, “70H67 is already in and ready.” They said, “I was surprised that they came so early.”

The use of DH’s actual call number rather than their nickname threw TO off for a moment, but then they realized that C12 must be under observation; there was no other reason they would be so formal, and the way they gestured to their chip made it too obvious. TO suddenly recalled the other day, how the Commander had slapped them, and -

They sequenced the DNA. They believed they knew how King Decon made the synths.

It came back to them; they had been so thrown by the slap, then by GiDi and DH’s fight, then by Avery, then by DH’s anger towards them that they hadn’t really had a chance to think about that! The answer to a question that had been bugging them for periods was standing before them, waving them into the simulation room.

They nearly asked if they could take their second meal with C12, but then remembered that they had to have it with GiDi; they had to find out what was wrong. Still, when they finally took note of C12’s ears they could see them twitching with concern.

“70H67 is anxious to be tested and prove themself.” TO finally said; if someone was listening to them then that was a perfectly acceptable response. Still, TO could feel their ears droop and they were certain that C12 noticed that.

“I see.” they said, “Well, I’m sure it’ll work out. And I hope that you’ll recall your training when you do end up being tested.”

“Yes, Retiree.” TO said, but they weren’t entirely focused on C12; TO was lost deep in their own thoughts, thinking about DH, about GiDi, about what they hoped they’d be told during their second meal and what they might actually be told. They were thinking about Snout sequencing the DNA of the synths. They replayed that scene of C12 getting slapped over and over. There was too much going on in their head to focus on any one thing and make sense of it.

TO and GiDi choose seats close together so that they could help one another attach the wires, a process that took longer than normal just because TO couldn’t focus.

“Good luck today.” GiDi said once they were all hooked up.

“You too.” TO said as they put their helmet on. They didn’t want to do training today; they wanted to go right to their second meal so that they could get some answers to the questions that were racing about in their head. Still, they knew that they had to do their training.

They had to wait. They had to be patient.

They sat in their chair for a few moments before they started to sync. They had that odd feeling like they were dissolving into nothing as the real world fell away around them. They prepared to enter a simulation right away, but for some reason they didn’t. They floated, formless, in the black nothingness that existed between the real world and the simulations. Normally this only lasted a few moments but now it seemed to drag on and on.

Finally. Something was happening. They thought at first that they were finally syncing up to the simulation, but that wasn’t what was happening. Glowing words formed before them, hanging in the void.

Please prepare for examination.

You will be under live observation during your examination.

Depending on duration, time dilation technology may be utilized.

It never occured to TO how much even a fleeting moment of panic affected their body until it rushed through their brain without a body to react to it; it felt like all that panic, all that worry was now trapped in their head with no outlet.

It was time. They were being tested.