//------------------------------// // Subject 7 // Story: If Freedom is a State of Mind // by Ripcord //------------------------------// I awoke in my cell, It is a daft, meaningless thing but it's were I live. Everything in the place was bland and the same, white floor, white walls, white bed and white desk and toilet/sink. The most interesting parts of the room was the blue magic barrier, the blue pin striping on the walls, and my glass. I sat up in my bed and stretched my joints, my shoulder popped and I winced at the feeling. Soon I rose from my bed to continue my morning routine, I walked over to the sink and filled my glass. I inspected the water before drinking it, the doctors have a habit of spiking the water with a drug or two. After a good minute of inspection I figured the water was safe enough to drink, and I wet my lips and throat. I finished and set the glass back on the side of the sink, I looked at the sink for a little before something caught my eye. A bright flash appeared above my desk, a letter floated down and opened when it hit. I walked over to examine it, I don't normally get letters unless to reschedule testing, so I didn't get my hopes up. The letter was slightly burnt from the heat of the magic, the letters were bold so they would stand out. It was titled "Blood test S/7 schedule change" it was a schedule change like I thought. I decided to read the rest of the letter so I would know the times. **This message is to inform S/7 of a change with his blood testing. Dr. Marrow has scheduled you for testing today, at 6pm we will be there to sedate you and take you to testing. Enjoy your day and prepare for your testing** I set the letter back down on the table, it burst into flames as I did. I walked over and grabbed a rag, I took the rag to the sink and dampened it. Soon I returned to the table, the rag left little drops of water speckling the area of where I cleaned. When I finished I walked over to the barrier and sat down, I placed my hoof on the barrier and watched a wave ripple from it. I looked around and saw nothing but another cell down the hall, I couldn't see who was inside but there cell was labeled "S/6". I soon noticed that some workers came over the their cell, workers are large ponies and they always wear a type of gas mask. The masks always covered their faces and the suits they wear cover their body so you could never differentiate between them. I decided to keep watching this time instead of look away like I'm told. The doctors don't like us to see the other subjects, and if we did we would get punished. I didn't care, I wanted to see someone new, someone who isn't a doctor or a worker. I waited and the workers hauled out a small mare, she was a unicorn with blue hair and a violet stripe in the middle. Her mane was gray and her eyes were purple, after this quick observation I looked down before the workers noticed. I smiled because she wasn't a doctor, she was another normal pony. Unlike me though, I am told I'm "different" that the fact I exist is interesting. After a few seconds I looked back up and the workers were gone, I got up and walked over to my bed. I couldn't help myself but smile, maybe she was nice, maybe she was evil. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what kind of pony she might be, but soon an inevitable thought found it's way back. Testing, I don't understand why they do it, and I feel I get the worst of it from all the other ponies. "Testing, testing, testing, you know what would be nice. A movie, or a cake, hell maybe some clop," I said to myself. I laid down in my bed and waited for the workers to get me. It gets lonely having no pony to talk to for the past three years. Three years in this daft little cell, alone and pained by this fact. I eventually fell asleep while waiting for the workers, I dreamed of that pony, in my dreams she was nice and wanted to be, something. She wanted to be around me and do stuff together, I don't know the word for that kind of pony. I awoke to the startling sound of the barrier shutting down, my dream was cut short. I saw two worker come in and one had a syringe in his hoof, he looked at me and placed it back in his bag. They motioned me to get up and I did so, they walked out and I followed them to the testing area. I looked at cell "S/6" hoping I could see her again, but the barrier prevented me from seeing in there. I followed them down a large white corridor, the blue pin stripping on the side had a symbol of a cross and an arrow. The two looked back to see if I was still there, I smiled and they turned around quickly. "So much for a conversation." I whispered to myself. The lead me into a large room, this room was different from the rest. I had machines and cords running along the floor. The machines flashed a multitude of colors and there was a table specifically designed to hold ponies. I walked in and the workers went to the door behind me to prevent my escape, if I chose to. Still I walked in and Dr.Marrow came out from behind a tank of green liquids. "Ah Subject 7, glad to see your still holding up after the last test," He said sarcastically. "Kinda hurts when you start to weave different DNA together doc," I replied. "Yes, yes but all for sake of making you "better" then you already are," "Are you saying I'm flawed doc, that I've never been good or something," "We're all flawed Subject 7, but thats what us doctors are here to fix. With the help of you and the other subjects," Dr. Marrow said enthusiastically. I got worried when he said that the way he did, how could you be happy doing this to others. Still I walked forward and hopped into the machine, the clamps slammed tightly around my hoofs and neck. The doctor walked behind his desk and grabbed a scalpel and came back over. He placed it strategically on my right arm and sliced it open and without anesthetic it wasn't very pleasant. When he finished he walked over and brought a few tubes with syringes on the ends, He carefully place them into each individual vein. He put gauze and taped the rest of the area off, he went over to one of the machines with the tanks next to it. He turned on one machine and my blood was taken from my body, soon he flipped another and the green liquid was pumped into my body. The process was painful because the green liquid was adapting to my blood type, it was adapting inside my body and soon my heart raced. The liquid was a natural adrenal gland stimulant. I felt the world begin to slow, my mind racing and my heart began to beat faster and faster. The doctor shut the machine off and came back over, to me he was moving slowly. He pulled the tape off my arm and then removed the tubing, my wounds instantly began to heal, not very quick though. It should take about two days for it to fully close. "Ah, looks like the DNA skin weave worked perfectly, it also looks like your cell wall reproduction has increased to an extrodinary rate," Dr. Marrow said happily. "W-why are you, why are you moving so slow?" I asked in a dazed state. "That is the changeling blood in your system, your body will adapt in a few hours," Dr.Marrow said as he unstrapped me and I collapsed to the floor. My body was tingling as my muscles and mind began to adapt to the changeling blood, I looked around and saw the workers coming to grab me. They grabbed me by my arms and carried me off, I watched as everything was bright and blurry. When the new blood reached my kidneys my body ached and I began to grunt, My heart raced with the pain and soon I passed out. I awoke in my cell again, my chest aching from the experiment done yesterday. Again I greeted a daft little cell, nothing to do, no pony to talk to. I was surprised at the fact my mind hasn't escaped from the years of loneliness I've endured, but its all I know, to befriend myself. Eventually Dr.Marrow came by my cell, he unlocked the cell and the barrier dissipated. He walked in and pulled me up from my bed, he put my arm around him and hauled me out. He laid me on the outside of my cell and knelt down to speak to me. "Subject 7, I've been informed that the only way for the adrenaline to take effect was for you to get some fresh air," Dr.Marrow said. "What do you mean fresh air, isn't the building on a air rejuvenation cycle," I asked confused. "Ha no Subject 7, your going outside," "W-what, outside, you mean I get to..." I asked excitedly as he put his arm around me. He smiled and nodded as he pointed the way to the door, I walked carefully toward the door. My heart racing as I approached it, the handle had a cured arrow showing which direction to pull. I followed the instructions and the door flew open, the air was cool and nipped my face. My eyes gleamed in excitement as I walked out the door, the feel of the grass underneath my hoofs brought a sensation like no other. I continued out and the sun hit my mane, it was warm and it calmed my aching muscles. I took in a deep breath and the cool are calmed my body further and slowed my heart and my muscles relaxed. I continued further and walked to the barrier, It was small but signified that there was a drop. I climbed on top of it, resting on my arms letting the wind blow threw my hair. The sound of birds flying below me was sweet music to my ears as I looked down to try and see the bottom of the mountain. "I had no idea we were on a mountain, or how big the facility was," I gasped in my excitement. Five minutes into my experience the workers came out and motioned me back in. Although my bliss was short lived at was worth it, it brought a new feeling to me. Hope, hope that I will get out, that I will be free one day to live my life. I walked back to my cell with a skip in my trot, the workers thought about chasing me but noticed it was my cell I went to. I jumped high into the air and soared into my bed, the workers came to the outside of it and activated the barrier. The sound of the barriers hum made me feel relaxed as I imagined the birds were singing with it. I was happy for once, this feeling is so new that its impact was immense one my attitude. I started to snuggle up in my bed and waited for the rest of the day to pass, my imagination running wild. Soon workers came back to my cell, they were holding a clip board and examining it closely. These workers must be new because they didn't recognize me, after a few minutes they left and went down the stairs. I waited for them to come back but they never did, my excitement slowly faded away. The blood began to settle and I became dizzy, I wobbled around and hit my desk. I couldn't stand and collapsed on the floor, there was a green gas running from my vents. I realized the doctors knew that I was happy and they stripped the feeling away, I couldn't keep my eyes open and soon I fell asleep. When my eyes shut, a tear ran down my face. I was sad, they took away my happiness, the only bit I ever truly felt. *BANG* "WARNING-INTRUDER ALERT-INTRUDER ALERT" a pony frantically screamed over the speaker system. I jumped from the floor to see my lights were off and the barrier was down. I ran out and saw flames spreading my way, pegasus ponied blew through the roof and flew into the complex. They vengefully met the workers and a bloody battle started before my eyes. The pegasus's swords met the workers tough suit, the swords deflect and they countered the peguasus rebels. They fought brutally as the few workers in this area were killed and the rebels left to liberate the other areas. I heard a whistling, I looked up to see a magic bomb flying at me. I tried to get out of the way but it was to late, the ball blew up next to me and blew me into S/6's cell. The impact was harsh and brutal on my body, I fell the floor a little dazed. I looked around to see that the that mare from before, I crawled over to the body to see if she was unconscious. I got up and moved some rubble off the body and and grabbed her arm, it was covered in blood. I pulled her over and saw a broken off spear in her chest. "Fuck," I said under my breath. Soon a pony rebel came into the cell, he grabbed my shoulder and yanked me up. "You, Subject 7 take this and get the hell out son, were freeing you ponies. Well, sorry almost all of you," The rebel pony ran off as quickly as he came. I didn't move from my spot, instead I looked at the clip board. It was about me, and it said. **Bio Report-S/7 Date: December 14/2009 Name: Unknown Race : Earth Pony Sex : Male Birth Date : Unknown Age : Unknown Parents : Unknown Siblings : Unknown Mane : White Hair : Red w/orange tint. Eligibility : Approved, level 5 testing cleared for Subject 7 Tests : DNA and Blood testing Other notes : Subject 7 is an interesting subject, how he has remained unseen and the fact there are no records about him is remarkable. Because of all these unknowns we cannot confidently say how he even exists. He is educated, yet doesn't understand emotional ties or knows they exist. He has been alone all his life, never seeing other ponies or being outside except when we found him. He was an adult colt when we found him over seas, trapped in a old library. The walls were collapsed around him and only light and air could get through. We took him in and approved him immediately for testing, and will remain with us until his usefulness runs out.** "I-I have nothing, am nothing, I shouldn't exist or be alive," I said softly. I dropped the clip board, shocked at the news. My eyes began to water, the fact that I've always been alone crushed me. I looked down and dropped to the floor. Fire and parts were crashing around me and outside the cell, I didn't care, yet something inside me urged me to move, to live. I got up, a spark of hope twinkled in my eyes and I ran, ran as fast as I could to my freedom.