Why Would You Do That?

Alex was wearing Five down already. This was going much better than he expected!

"I can help you with that," he persuaded. "I know people who can help you get an identity and teach you what you need to know to assimilate in the outside world. Do you remember One? He's alive! 

"He ran away from headquarters and built a real life for himself; he helped me get Claire away to safety when I was captured for retraining. He is happy on the outside and so am I. You can be too."

Five looked up at him blankly. "Happy? What does that mean?"

"It is a feeling of pleasure or contentment. I know such things have been dismissed as unnecessary all our lives but they were wrong, Five. Happiness is important," Alex insisted. 

"I don't understand…but I wish to. I wish to have all of my questions answered. I am tired of being wiped clean every time I ask too many. I am not as mindless as they think I am; I have noticed a pattern.