Repliwolves

Part One: The Laboratory

Heart tossed and turned in his capsule. It was a hot summer night, and the inside of the capsule was drafty and just as hot, maybe hotter. He would never get any sleep at this rate. From what he could hear of the muffled, nearly muted noises outside, his brothers were having a hard time sleeping to. Spear was growling with displeasure and though Quick wasn't saying anything, Heart could sense his feet fidgeting with every shift.

He sat up in his capsule and look at the door to the room where they were being kept. He wondered how Poison was doing. How the other Repliwolves were. He didn't know all their names. Heck, he didn't even know all their numbers. All he knew was that he was first one of his kind. He also knew that he'd never see the outside world. He blinked once, twice then laid his head back down and closed his eyes.

"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!!" Quick screamed in a playful manner from the outside of Heart's capsule. Heart woke up with such momentum, he catapulted himself out of his opened capsule and into the doorway. Spear was right outside, deep in conversation with Poison. He was tense and his claws were slid out to the max. Heart and Quick crept closer to the two, hoping to get in on the conversation discreetly.

"I'm not going to attack harmless reploids, Poison!" Spear snarled through clenched teeth. Heart could hear something inaudible and defensive come from Poison and flinched as Spear drew himself to full height.

"No! I do agree that mavericks are problems and I am sick of fighting them. But, killing our caretakers in order to escape is wrong!" Spear continued. "What your thinking of doing is going to get YOU labeled as a maverick idiot!"

"Oh of course you'd be the one to stay! But one day, I will escape! I'm done being a pawn for our captors' games!" Poison retaliated, then stared at the spot where Heart and Quick were watching. His brow furrowed and he stalked over. Heart turned to look at Quick, whose fur tuft which was usually gold with enthusiasm, was turning to acid green with fear. No, no no no! Heart's thoughts screamed. All Repliwolves had a special marking or tuft of fur that changed color depending on their current emotion. For Heart, it was the whirls of medium blue, concern. Spear, red angry marking resembling war paint. Nothing compared to Poison's skull marking on his face, which was absolutely terrifying at the moment.

Poison stared down at Heart and Quick. "Oh uh...hi?" Heart stammered. "Were you eavesdropping on us?!" Poison whispered in a menacing voice. Heart didn't know what to say. He never knew why Poison called himself his name and he didn't want to find out the hard way.

"Poison, leave them alone," piped up a new voice. Heart looked to his right. He sighed silently with relief. It was Fidget. One of Poison's closest acquaintances.

Poison never grew close enough to anyone for fear of losing them. From what Heart had heard, he was created before them, a prototype. He had four siblings, all lost to the tests and experiments that were ran on them. No Repliwolves trusted Poison, no one wanted to be with him. Until Fidget came along.

Fidget, a rather nervous, friendly Repliwolf, was the closest thing Poison had to a friend. Poison manned him up and Fidget softened Poison slightly.

Poison relaxed slightly as Fidget laid a paw on his back. The two stared at each other. Then tails held high, they walked off, chatting incessantly. Heart approached Spear, hoping to do the same thing, but his brother shouldered him off and stalked away.

Heart watched sadly as Spear disappeared around a corner. He felt Quick's tail tip touch his shoulder before the Repliwolf sprinted ahead. Heart nodded and went left, to where he was told he'd be today.

Inside the chamber, was something Heart had never seen before. A strapping young reploid with spiky hair stood on the other side. Unlike most Mavericks Heart fought, he was not scruffy, not battle-worn or banged up. In fact, except for a massive X shaped scar over his face, this reploid look rather healthy and great. He stared at his opponent, then looked at the security camera in the corner.