Gijinka Rainbowcy: December 2020

So, what happens when you are basically a gloried lab experiment that's spent most of their life in a tiny box with only 3 other people? You kinda go a little, nuts when you go outside.

Didn't realize how SCARY it was feeling wind, when I look up it feels like I'm gonna fall into the sky. Honestly? Its freaking cool.

Being able to search and find new things, feeling the sand stuck under my clothing and wind blowing against my skin.

It was really nice, but there had to be more right? I couldn't stay here for long though, they would find me. So, I searched until I found my way out.

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Hoping on a boat and hiding in a box was not one of my better moves, but I was running out of options. I spent what felt like weeks in that damn box,

The boat docked at a place called Shang Simla, and when night fell, I made my escape and spent the next year or so in this strange new world.

I had nothing to my name but my clothes and a few veggies I found in the desert, so I found work where I could.

Most of the locals just had me doing various errands in exchange for money, food or other supplies.

I always hated the pool cleaning tasks the most, but they paid the best.

Going for a nice relaxing bike ride through the beautiful country side always made it worth it though.

What few friends I did have though, were understanding and helpful with my rough situation.

I always had a warm bed to sleep,

Or some space produce for their garden I could eat.

I got really good at finding lost pets after a while,

Jingwei over here likes to run away at least once a week or so.

It took at least three months before I was finally able to save up for this bad boy, not having to sleep in the cold or rain is a GOD send.

It wasn't much, but it finally felt like I had a little home of my own.

Course, I wasn't just mucking around finding birds and cleaning pools, I found a new passion of mine that I committed most of my free time to.

I really got into martial arts while I was living here, it helped that pretty much EVERYONE in town knew how to fight. While words cannot cross the barriers of language, fists can.

My buddy Shen Su and I got really close, we would spare pretty much everyday after my tasks.

It helped that he spoke English, said he learned from watching old cop shows.

He saw potential in me, and I was grateful to have a friend.

"You know, I kind of got an offer for you if you're interested. You got talent with martial arts, you've been here a year but you already fight better then some of my friends. But, you're American, I don't think you would be able to compete here in tournements."

"What are you getting at, Shen?"

"I own a plot of land out in Twinbrook, its a little city out in the middle of no where in America, but there's a big city nearby that does lots of MMA work. If you can get the money for a boat ticket. I'll let you have it."

"Shen, you've got to be kidding, that can't be cheap!"

"You are someone in need, why wouldn't I help? Besides, it was a drunk purchase, I don't really have any plans of visiting there anytime soon."

"That... That means the moon and stars to me Shen, I don't know how I could ever thank you!"

"Then thank me by living a good life, the best life you possibly can. That's all I can ask."

And so, after a year or so of living in Shang Simla, I found myself in a little nowhere town called Twinbrook.

"The time is: 7:00 am, Subjects, #160, #154, and #157, please wake up and report for breakfast." The intercom screeches as the sun begins to rise.

"Five more minutes..." #157 groans,

Testing day was always a mixed bag, on one hand, having freshly baked food rather then M.R.E.'s was nice. The tests themselves always left a feeling of exhaustion and stress though. Still, no use in delaying the inevitable. #157 pulls herself out of bed, along with her other two "sisters," #160 and #154.

#160 was always a grumpy monster in the morning, she'd rather spend her mornings going for a nice swim, or pulling a daredevil stunt . Most of the time she'd like to be a bit rebellious and spend sometime away from everyone else. She's a real loner but can be great company for messing around and having some good hearted fun at the professors expense.

#154 always had a rough time waking up in the morning, she tends to be absent-minded and is very sloby. We always have to clean up after her messes... Still, she's a goodhearted lady, she has an irresistible personality so its hard to stay mad at her. She's shockingly good at tending plants and has a real green thumb, she can't stomach meat though, the professor calls her a vegetarian? #160 loves to tease her about it though. I can't imagine not being able to enjoy a good steak or two.

And then there's me, good old #157, I'm nothing too special. I got a real bad fear of water after #160 tried drowning me when I was little, it was a prank that went too far, so I forgive her, but I can't stand the feeling of water on my skin. I got a real hot head but I keep it balanced with lots of self control and discipline. I absolutely LOVE the heat, the cold drives me nuts though, who likes the feeling of frozen toes and lips? #160 does, but she's weird, professor calls her a water type or something.

"You sleep okay #154?"

"It was okay, had another dream about a tauros chasing me, seemed real upset about that one time I tried eating a steak or something."

"That sounds kinda scary honestly, those things basically have knifes for horns, you sure you're-"

" BLARGH!"

"Mew dammit #160! Don't scare me like that you asshole!"

"You know we aren't supposed to swear."

"I know I know, I'm just really jumpy this morning."

"Any reason why?"

"Just test day jitters, I'll be fine."

"Hey sorry, just wanted to wake you up real good."

"There's other ways of doing that you know... Screw it, lets just get some food, #154 is already downstairs and I don't want her eating all the good stuff."

"Oh god what IS that smell?"

"I'm sorry..." The professor whimpers from the kitchen. "I burnt half of the waffles, and I tried using sweet potatos instead of normal batter cause its supposed to be better for you."

"Don't worry! I ate a lot of the burnt ones already! They tasted real crunchy."

"God she has no sense of taste does she?" I wondered to myself

The waffles tasted strangely okay, despite the batter choice. Was a nice change of pace from the normal premade batter stuff the professor brings. The routinely quiet settled in as their breakfast began

"So uh... sorry to break the quiet a bit, but are we going outdoors for tests today? It looks really nice outside and I haven't seen it this sunny for a while."

The choking noise from #154 was worth the awkward tension flaring in the room.

"Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get that approved by the higher ups, still waiting for it to get processed. You know how the company can be." Prof. Elm sighs out.

"I guess..." #157 sighs.

"Now then, #157, would you mind joining me downstairs?"

I always hate when he says it like that, it makes me feel like I'm in trouble or something. Its not my fault that I just want some answers on what's going on with my life.

#160 takes any chance she can get to enjoy water, she's obsessed with it. We used to have a bathtub, but she would just lay in the water for days on end, staring at the ceiling, so they took it away. Fine by me, bath's feel like I'm drowning all over again.

#154 used to have more flowers growing from her hair, but they've been wilting. I keep finding petals hidden away in little spots around the lab. I've tried asking her about it, but she just pretends like everything's okay, when it doesn't really feel like it.

Honestly, nothing's felt okay lately.

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Tests are pretty routine at this point, we always start with intense physical workouts to see muscle growth and a whole bunch of other medical jargon that he prattles on about. I don't mind working out, but it always is so boring. I feel like I just find new ways to disappoint him.

I always hate these machines the most though, he always asks me dumb questions while this thing whizzes and burrs in my ears. Gives me a hell of a headache.

"Hmm... That's interesting."

"Your body seems resting at a higher temperature then normal humans. The readings are around 300 degrees or so... are you feeling okay? You should be dead from THAT much heat inside your body."

"I mean I feel fine? Inside I've been feeling a lot better, but mentally not so good."

"Well, this requires further examination, mind if a take a sample?"

"Do I really have any free will in this?"

"Well then," he chuckles. "When you put it like that, I sound like a monster."

"Takes one to know one pal," I whisper, half hoping he hears, half hoping he doesn't.

"Alright, this won't take too long, just a quick examination and a sample."

It doesn't hurt getting scanned like this, but it feels so weird, like when your arm falls asleep but its your entire body. Its hard to stand up half the time.

"These readings are really good! At this rate, I think you'll be able to use fire in no time!"

"Think fast-what?" his jaw drops a little, without even thinking my hand moves to catch the ducky. He does this a lot to test if I have 'fire powers', something about being surprised might trigger them.

I personally think its a dumb theory, but it makes him happy enough to leave me alone. Maybe I can ask him that question now.

"Hey so um... I've been meaning to ask you this for a while but. When are we going to leave the lab?"

"We aren't scheduled for another transfer for at least 2 years,"

"No I mean like, when can we leave the lab, permanently?"

A sharp gasp of surprise escapes his lips "I... should have known this question would come. You and your sisters, they are different from normal humans. Humans can't breathe underwater, or cause dead plants to spring back to life. You three are different, so you have to stay here for your own protection."

"But, being protected and safe like this, its not really a good way to live. It feels like my entire life is just nothing but dumb tests and arguing with #160 about who ate the last bagel. I want more out of life!"

"Please understand I come from a place of love and concern, you three are the closest things I have to daughters, even if none of you are even remotely close to being biologically related. But monsters like you, Gijinka's, you'll die out there. The real world isn't ready for your kind."

"Dying sure as hell sounds a lot better then whatever awaits me living here." the words slip out of my mouth before I realized that I said them out loud.

The already cold basement of this lab suddenly feels ice cold, Elm's face contorts into an expression I've never seen on his face before, disappointment.

"Do you have no brain? No concept of self preservation? I expected better from you, #157."

"I just don't think its fair, thats all!" Mentally, I try to calm myself, mew, he's never looked so angry before.

"Let me explain this to you very VERY clearly. You will stay here, and you will obey me, you are a medical marvel that needs to be studied!"

"Now then, tell #160 that its her turn for testing, you are going to go shower and go right to your bedroom. Not a word of this to the other two, alright?"

"... Yes Professor."

"Asshole..."

"Hey, professor wants to talk to you downstairs."

"Oh, figures, talk to you in a bit? You look pretty pissed."

"Yeah, I need to go cool off. Have fun."

Showers have always been my worst nightmare, it feels like my skin is about to peel off the moment I feel any water on me.

The water feels different this time though, my mind is full of the professors words from earlier. I really cared for him a lot, he always was so kind to us but, was that only a mask? One to hide what we really are?

I tried not to dwell on it for too long.

#160 talks to me, but honestly, I don't hear a thing, she looks really concerned about me though. I hope her flowers don't wilt more then they already have.