⁕ KD-555

"Open your eyes, my beautiful creations, my lovely harpies, ready to punish those who are infidels to the revolution. "

The floor felt harsh as KD-555 fell out of her incubation pod. Trembling with fear and cold, the young girl rolled up in a ball while letting out whimpers. Meanwhile, her sisters were also trembling but their logic circuit soon drove them to rise from their puddle of amniotic fluid. KD-555, on the other hand, required more time before she finally came to her senses. 

[Doctor Tsujinaka] - "Be careful when handling this batch, doctor Ethan. I added a more human touch to them, unlike the others. It would be much easier for them to infiltrate enemy facilities in contrast to the previous generation of KD-series assassins. "

[Ethan] - "I got it, ya don't have to repeat it so many darn times, doctor Tsujinaka. "

The conversation sounded vague to KD-555's ears and before she knew it, she alongside her four other sisters, were escorted nude through the cold facility hallways to Doctor Ethan's laboratory. After some simple physical examination to see if there was any birth defect, Ethan noticed how KD-555's facial expression was a little more expressive compared to the others. With a curious look, Ethan approached KD-555 who recoiled slightly in fear. 

[Ethan] - "Hey, what's wrong? I'm not going to hurt you. "

Said Ethan in a gentle tone. 

[Tsujinaka] - "Well, looks like we have in our hands a defect. "

Said Tsujinaka as she abruptly grabbed KD-555's cheek and examined her face. 

With a flick of her hand, Tsujinaka ordered one of the guards to approach before raising his rifle at KD-555's face. Out of instinct, Ethan jumped in front of the scared girl and blocked the guard's access to her forehead. 

[Ethan] - "No! Leave this one alive! "

[Tsujinaka] - "Now, now, Doctor Ethan, we've been through this hundreds of times. No test subject shall stray from our predesignated programming. If they do, we eliminate them. "

Said Tsujinaka with a cold expression on her face. 

[Ethan] - "Ya created these girls usin' a part of your own genes and yet you don't even show them any restrains. How can ya be so cold toward someone who's technically yer daughter? "

[Tsujinaka] - "They are androids with a human shell. They have no soul or mind, so please move out of the way, Doctor Ethan. "

[Ethan] - "I see them as humans with an android identity. "

With an annoyed expression, Tsujinaka ordered her guards to drag Ethan out of the way. 

[Ethan] - "Wait, wait, think about it, Tsujinaka. A more expressive unit could be way more convincing than the previous infiltrator models. Isn't the whole point of the fifth generation to convince their enemies of their humanity? "

Tsujinaka thought for a moment before raising her eyebrow in acknowledgement. 

[Tsujinaka] - "This is indeed a brilliant idea, Ethan. "

Said Tsujinaka as she leaned closer to inspect her girls. 

[Tsujinaka] - "It's decided then, you may equip them and loosen up their programming. Let me know when you are done. "

Said Tsujinaka as she exited the laboratory with her guards. 

One by one, Ethan drove them into an operating room where he proceeded to replace their spine with a mechanical one. In each spine was also incorporated the 3rd generation of the Conagher system capable of greatly accelerating one's perception, reaction and movement speed. Finally, a dose of mercury poly-alloy was injected into their bone made of the same material to help with growth. 

When the operation was finished on KD-554, Ethan wrote inside his notes the following: 

"Subject was born with severe internal malformation. Unlike her fellow subject, her immune system showed subpar performance in combatting infection which caused her systems to be infected. During the operating procedure, it was discovered that she fell under multi-organ failure. Following this, it was discovered that her reproductive systems were covered in late-stage cancerous tumours, which probably had metastasized to multiple organs in her body. 

The final decision was to completely remove her head from the defective body and place her onto the chassis of a previous fourth-generation KD-series body. Modifications will be made to allow nutriment to reach her brain and remaining head tissues. "

When it arrived at KD-555's turn, she was placed face down on the operating table. With a sorry expression on his face, Ethan placed a folded leather belt between her teeth. 

[Ethan] - "Unfortunately, I need yar nerves to be fully conscious when I connect them to the Conagher system, so I apologize in advance for what's to come. "

The following hours were the most painful of KD-555's life as she felt every single moment of that operation. The pain was so powerful that she even passed out on multiple occasions. Finally, as blood slowly rolled down the drain, Ethan deposited the scalpel and washed the red that stained his hands and body. 

After being dressed, the five sisters were escorted into their barracks where they met other KD-series assassins from the previous generations. It was as if they entered a graveyard where they were greeted by complete silence while being stared at by a dozen glowing green eyes in the dark. It was clear from the first moment that they were not welcomed. 

[KD-4412] - "They are made of flesh. "

Upon hearing this, multiple other fourth-gen assassins jumped down from their bunkbed before forming a circle around the five. 

[KD-4410] - "KD-555... So these are the fifth-gen rookies from our series. "

Said one of the assassins as she eyed KD-555's shoulder.

[KD-444] - "How fucking disrespectful. How are these fleshlings going to be doing the same job as us? The higher-ups must have lost their minds. "

Said KD-444 before pushing KD-555 onto the ground. 

Just as she did so, KD-554 suddenly extended her wrist blade and slashed KD-444's arms off her shoulders with lightning-fast speed. 

[KD-554] - "Just because we are made of flesh doesn't mean we are weaker than you. You freaks are nothing but husks made of synthetic materials. Try convincing a human that you are not an assassin or a robot. I bet none of you can! "

Yelled KD-554 as she aimed her blade at the group of assassins which surrounded her. 

However, none of the assassins around them showed any emotion or expression. They are simply incapable of feeling empathy or fear. Even KD-444, who is missing both her arms, simply stared at KD-554 with a blank expression on her face. That is when fear quickly gripped KD-554's heart as shiny blades appeared all around her and her sisters. 

[KD-444] - "KD-series units do not possess any right in the Empire's confine. If one comes into violation of laws or rules established by our masters, she shall be executed with no judgment. In this case, an attack on a fellow assassin is considered an act of revolt, thus legally giving us the right to dispose of said violator. "

Said KD-444 in a monotone voice. 

At first, all eyes were aimed in KD-554's direction but KD-555 immediately jumped beside her sister and extended her own blades. 

[KD-555] - "If she's to be executed for revolt, then I shall revolt with her. "

Soon, the three other sisters also joined KD-554 with their weapons drawn as well. 

[KD-4412] - "The more the merrier, as the humans say. "

A clash soon ensued between everyone inside the barrack and the newly arrived sisters. However, the KD assassins from the previous generations stood no chance as the nimble and deadly sisters cut them down one by one. Meanwhile, Tsujinaka watched the fight from a camera above the barrack. 

[Ethan] - "Their combat ability seems to far exceed their peers from previous generations. "

Ethan watched with bated breaths while Tsujinaka simply sat back and enjoyed her coffee. 

In the struggle, multiple third-generation units charged KD-551 but were mowed down instantly as her brain's computer allowed her to dodge the strikes while simultaneously cutting four opponents down with a single swing. Meanwhile, KD-552 savagely used one of the bodies as a shield while her other hands slashed away at anyone trying to get close to her. KD-553, during this time, used the terrain to her advantage by collapsing a bunkbed onto a group of assassins before swiftly dealing with each of them with a single stab through the skull. 

[Tsujinaka] - "They may act human on the surface but when they enter a frenzy, they become the demons that haunt even the animals' dream. "

Said Tsujinaka with a delighted expression on her face. 

As the three other sisters fought individually, KD-555 and KD-554 stood back to back while cutting down any opponents who dared to approach them. As KD-4410 charged KD-554, she swiftly pinned her opponent to the ground before driving her blade toward her face. While KD-554 yelled angrily, KD-4410 simply stared back at her assailant with an empty expression on her face. There was no fear or anger, just an emotionless husk doing what she was commanded to do. 

As KD-554 savagely drew her other blade before repetitively stabbing away at her enemy, KD-4412 suddenly appeared beside her with her blades raised. Just as KD-4412 stabbed forward, KD-555 jumped in and blocked her strike. In one swift motion, KD-555 pushed KD-4412's hands away before ending her with a swift strike through the forehead. 

Suddenly, KD-444 rushed in and kicked KD-555 to the side before crushing KD-554's throat with her foot. Although she had no arms, she still charged in to participate in the fight. Before KD-554 could react, KD-444 used the jagged side of her boots to smash into her opponent's face. After a short struggle, KD-554 finally got her off by slicing both of her legs off. 

With burning rage, KD-554 jumped onto KD-444's torso before slowly driving her blade into her face. However, there was no emotion or plea for mercy, KD-444 simply accepted her fate while staring at KD-554 with the same blank expression as her sisters. 

[KD-444] - "Your body... you are one of us. You have no reason to protect those fleshlings, that is simply illogical. "

[KD-554] - "Maybe to you but not to me. They are my sisters and not just some fucking robots like you. "

When all was said and done, the room was littered with the bodies of sixty KD-series assassins from the second to the fourth generations. Meanwhile, none of the sisters from the fifth generation were lost in the fight. 

[Tsujinaka] - "The show seems to be over. My new creation passed the test. You may proceed with repairs, doctor Ethan. "

While the other sisters only received minor cuts and bruises, KD-554 had to receive more extensive surgeries for her injured face. 

[KD-554] - "How is the damage, can you repair me, doctor? "

After a moment, Ethan simply shook his head.

[Ethan] - "If your immune system was a little more effective, it would not even be a problem for you but your face... it's dying of infection. I need to put something artificial instead like a mask. "

Said Ethan as he moved behind the central control to the mechanical operating claws. 

Although KD-554 stayed strong while the pincers ripped the dead skin off her face, the moment the artificial mask moved above her face, she finally broke down. Tears streamed off her bloodied face as the mask closed in on her before finally encasing her in a layer of artificial skin. 

Later that day, when KD-554 returned to the barrack where it was transformed into a room for the five sisters, she decided to sneak in without alerting her fellow sisters. However, KD-555's eyes were sharp as she immediately spotted her presence. 

[KD-555] - "KD-554, I'm glad you are safe. "

Said KD-555 as she hugged KD-554. 

[KD-554] - "I... "

KD-554 didn't know what to say as her other sisters also joined her for a hug. With teary eyes, she let out a joyful smile before gently pushing the crowd away from her.

[KD-554] - "You guys... do I even belong here? "

Said KD-554 as she looked toward the ground. 

[KD-555] - "Of course you do, why would you think otherwise? "

[KD-554] - "Look at me, I'm just like those freaks who tried to kill us today. I don't have a body and now I don't even have a face anymore. "

[KD-551] - "Hey, don't beat yourself too hard. It's not the face that matters, it's you. "

Said KD-551 with a kind smile as she patted KD-554 on the back. 

[KD-552] - "Yeah, look at me, I've even got my first scar. "

Said KD-552 as she pointed at the massive red line that drew across her face. 

[KD-552] - "Hey, know what, I promise I will get more scars until I need to wear a mask just like you. "

Said KD-552 as she put her arm around KD-554's back. 

[KD-553] - "Besides, I don't even notice the difference. It's a 99% match to your previous face. "

[KD-554] - "You guys... "

Said KD-554 as she let out a joyful giggle. 

To be continued...