Chapter Text
Nymeria has been here almost eight years. Eight years of pain, of training, of following instructions and not daring to get close to the other people, children, we are children, here with her. Except for ZoZo. He’s the only exception. She doesn’t even pay attention to any of the other kids around her in fear of getting attached. Eight years of routines that repeat over and over and over. Except things changed slightly three years ago.
Three years ago, Sensei, her father, picked up a five year old kid and decided, this one, I will pick him to be my successor. Three years ago Sensei stopped being around so much, and so the routine changed from seeing him every evening to seeing the doctor every evening. The doctor, who made attempts every night to “better” her quirk and ZoZo’s quirk.
Nothing much has come from these attempts besides some improved functionality of their quirks and pain. Pain so much pain so many different liquids and tests and wrong no Nonono stop please no.
They’ve talked about their time with the doctor together. Hushed words and gestures at a table while eating. Small short conversations using Nymeria’s quirk to speak in their heads with their instructors none the wiser. Both have agreed that they don’t remember too much about their time with the doctor, despite Nymeria’s almost perfect memory, and ZoZo’s attention to small details. They’ve both agreed, it’s probably a good thing they don’t remember.
They still see Sensei every other week or so. He tells them during these visits that he has grand plans. That there are people looking for him, mentions of a blonde oaf are usually muttered during this, and they will attempt to interrupt these grand plans. That he has put plans in action to prevent these interruptions. The glint in his eyes he gets when he discusses these plans and looks at both of them has them standing straighter and holding back tremors.
Nymeria is almost thirteen now. ZoZo just turned thirteen not too long ago. They are both growing and changing as young teens tend to do, but it’s hard to say that they are becoming their own people when every moment of their days is controlled by someone else.
A week before Nymeria turns thirteen, she goes to bed after another round of visiting the doctor. Instead of waking to someone or something in her room though, she wakes strapped to the metal table she’s unfortunately familiar with. Looking around, she notes that ZoZo is on a table as well and also awake. “What the hell is going on?” He looks over at her question. “Not sure. I thought maybe I dreamed of going to bed last night and we’ve just been here the whole time?” She shook her head at that. “No, no we left last night.”
He hummed in response and it grew quiet. There was no one else in the lab with them, which was unusual. They stayed in silence for another ten minutes before a low rumble filled the room. With wide eyes, Nymeria watched the beakers and tools rattle on tables and shelves. “Wha-” ZoZo was cut off by the doctor rushing into the room looking frantic. “Clear, wipe, leave. Clear, wipe, leave.” Nymeria raised a brow at the doctors muttering and cleared her throat. He glanced up at her and nodded before going to the computer placed against the wall and beginning to type.
As this is happening, more rumbles can be heard and they are progressively getting louder. Before either can ask anything, the doctor gives a quiet cheer before grabbing a small metal case and shuffled over to them. “Heroes are here. Strong ones. We could fight them, but it’s not worth the risk. I just cleared the computers here so they can’t get any of my research, and most of the experiments have either been moved or, exterminated.”
Nymeria felt her face pale as he spoke. Heroes? Here. Would they know who she was? Did they know how her father stole her away from her mom? She wasn’t stolen she was given. Before she could ask any questions, the doctor continued speaking.
“The master has decided on an experiment. We are going to leave you two to be found by the heroes. It’s going to be a good base to determine their reactions to certain situations. I’ve been working on a serum of sorts. Paired with certain conditioning, this serum should alter your hippocampus and allow for your memories to be altered. You won’t remember details or plans you were exposed to. In fact, much of the last eight to nine years should be relatively blank after this.” He sounded way to happy to be talking about physically altering someone’s memories by playing with brain chemistry.
Nymeria could see ZoZo beginning to tremble on the table next to hers. “N-no you can’t do this.” “Ah I can and I will. I was given permission after all. And this has been an option the Master has been pursuing for a while now. Nothing new.”
With that, the doctor pulled two syringes filled with a murky gray liquid and turned to them. “Now this won’t be pleasant I imagine. Do try not to make too much noise. I need to get out of here before the heroes arrive.”
Before Nymeria could come up with a reply, she felt a needle pierce her neck, and with a plunge, all rational thought left her brain. All she knew was pain. An agonizing burn rushing through her body was made worse by waves of stabbing sharp pain to her head. She could vaguely hear someone screaming. Whether it was her or Kenzo, she wasn’t sure. What probably was only a minute felt like it was hours, before the pain became too much and Nymeria accepted the comforting darkness of sleep.