Yesterday was...odd to say the least, Walden apologizing

Hence you thought to yourself that not mentioning it would be the best move

You make your way back to the factory, the familiar cold and sterile environment doing little to ease your nerves. Walden approaches, his eyes briefly scanning you for any signs of weakness.

"Have you recovered?" he asks, his tone neutral but the something evident in the way he looks at you.

You nod, still feeling the ache from your injuries but determined to push through. Walden holds your gaze for a moment longer before looking away, a hint of relief passing over his features

"Good," he says, turning back to the task at hand.

"We have work to do," he says, his tone brooking no argument. "We need to ensure we have complete control over the rabbit...Aqua like you said. You will perform an experiment to achieve this, Sunfire should assist you, he needs more experience."

Solaria steps forward, his usual confidence replaced by a flicker of doubt. You can see the tension in his posture, the way he takes a shaky breath, guilt gnawing at him.

Walden continues, outlining the methods used to train and control animals, specifically rabbits. You feel a chill run down your spine as he talks about conditioning, restraints, and behavioral experiments. The clinical detachment in his voice makes it all the more unsettling.

"Make sure it is thorough," Walden finishes. "I want no room for error."

Solaria takes a deep breath, the usual calm and composed demeanor wavering for just a second. He seems to struggle internally, a rare display of doubt crossing his features. "Understood," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Y/N," Walden says, directing your attention back to him. "Make sure to teach Sunfire well, a first for everything like I said and again, It's crucial that we maintain control over our subject."

Reluctantly, Solaria follows you to the lab. The atmosphere is thick with unease as the two of you prepare for the experiment. You explained the tactics, drawing from animal experiments used to control and condition behavior.

"We'll use techniques similar to those used in training rabbits...?" Solaria asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... necessary." You murmured

He followed you to the containment area where Aqua is kept. Aqua, with his long, colorless hair and aquamarine eyes, looks up at you, his expression one of innocent curiosity. He seems oblivious to the gravity of the situation, a stark contrast to the heaviness you feel inside.

Solaria  looked at You with a mixture of concern and determination, sensing the inner turmoil he was trying to hide.

"Aqua, lie down on the table," Solaria commanded, his voice steady but lacking its usual cold detachment. Aqua obeyed without hesitation, his movements fluid and graceful.

As You prepared the equipment, You saw the very heavy hesitancy of your friend  "Are you sure about this?" You asked softly, voice barely audible over the hum of the machines.

Solaria paused, his usually sharp eyes momentarily clouded. "Do we have a choice? " he sharply said, though his words sounded hollow even to himself. He meticulously attached the electrodes to Aqua's temples, his fingers trembling slightly.

Aqua remained still, his eyes closing as if in resignation. There was a sense of vulnerability in his posture that made Solaria's heart clench, a rare moment of emotional conflict in his otherwise calculated existence.

You adjusted the settings on the control panel, their hands steady through the underlying tension. "Ready, secure the restraints, We must proceed."

Your friend nodded, his hands moving quickly and efficiently. Aqua's struggles were minimal, more out of confusion than resistance. His glowing eyes followed every movement,

Solaria set up the apparatus, a complex array of wires and electrodes designed to interface directly with Aqua's nervous system. He glanced at you, who was monitoring the vital signs. The assistant's face was pale, but he maintained his composure.

"Alright-" you said for confirmation

And paused when you saw how he was slightly caressing a finger over the albino's temple

"Aqua," Solaria spoke softly, as if addressing a frightened child. "This will be over soon. Try to stay calm."

Solaria took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on Aqua's serene face. "Ready..."

"Begin the procedure," you said, voice almost a whisper. As the machine whirred to life, Solaria felt an unfamiliar emptiness settling in his chest, a gnawing void that threatened to consume him
With precise movements, Solaria began attaching the electrodes to Aqua's temples and chest. Aqua's breathing quickened, and his body tensed. The hybrid's instincts screamed danger, but his conditioned obedience kept him from thrashing.

"Initiate the sequence," You instructed,  voice steady despite the unease gnawing at you.

Solaria injects a serum into Aqua's arm, and almost immediately, Aqua's body convulses

You activated the machine, and a low hum filled the room. Aqua's body convulsed as the electrical impulses surged through him. His eyes widened in terror, his eye twitches as the slight fur he has stands, a low sound in his throat as he pulls at the restraints, eyes dilating and then not, ears hunched back to his head as he threw his head forward

You were okay, it's okay, watch his brain activity, you've done bmthis before, less than thrice but it's okay, get used to it,

And then he screamed

The sound was haunting, a raw expression of pain that reverberated in the small lab.

It was a raw, primal sound that cuts through the air with an intensity that feels almost tangible.

The sound tears at your soul, and you fight to keep your hands steady, forcing yourself to focus on the task.

The scream became a high-pitched cry beneath the bandages around his mouth

Solaria’s hands are trembling as well, a shaky breath escaping him as he struggles with his own guilt.

It now quickly escalates into a full-throated wail.

You both avoided looking at Aqua, focusing instead on the instruments and readings, knowing well if you do, you'd cry.

The scream is ragged and unrestrained, vibrating with the sheer force of agony and desperation.

The bandages around his mouth stifle his screams, but the sound is still gut-wrenching

The scream wavered and crack, as if the vocal cords are straining under the immense pressure,

And then blood,

You were monitoring the screen at the side when the clean white garment solaria had on, had a droplet of red and instinctively looked up

The sides of where Aqua's mouth would be, begin to bleed, dark lines of blood seeping through the bandages and dripping down his chin as he threw his head forward to avoid choking, momentarily hiding his face with his hair

You were greatful not to have seen his eyes

His screams become more desperate, each one more haunting than the last. You can't help but glance at Solaria, who is clearly struggling to keep his composure.

Solaria's hands tremble as he works, his own guilt evident. He tries to remain composed, but you can see the toll it's taking on him. He glances at you occasionally, seeking some sort of reassurance or absolution, but you have none to give.

Each muffled cry sends a pang of guilt through you, but you force yourself to continue, knowing that stopping now could be even worse

The clinical process is interspersed with Aqua’s muffled cries, each one a reminder of the cruelty of your actions.

Solaria's voice broke through your reverie. "Y/N, Aqua's vitals are stable, but his brain activity is fluctuating."

You nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Increase the voltage by 0.5," You instructed, though you're sure your voice lacked conviction. Hearing the sound of solaria adjusting the machine's settings .

The emptiness inside You seemed to expand, threatening to engulf Everything entirely. You had always prided Yourself on your ability to make difficult decisions, to prioritize the greater good over personal feelings.

But now, faced with the reality of Aqua's gentle nature and the knowledge of what you were doing again and again, You felt a profound sense of loss.

You experimented on people, deranged people who had done wrong

But why Aqua? Why him?

What had he done wrong?

Minutes felt like hours as the procedure dragged on. The screams had ended you didn't know when,

Finally, the machine signaled the end of the experiment. Solaria quickly detached the electrodes, his hands uncharacteristically shaky

The experiment concludes with an air of tension lingering in the lab. You had finished carefully disconnecting Aqua from the wires, your hands trembling with a mix of relief and lingering fear.

Just then, the door to the lab opens, and Walden strides in. His usual air of authority softened slightly as he takes in the scene before him. He offers a brief nod of acknowledgment to You before turning his attention to Solaria and Aqua.

"Is the experiment completed?" Walden's tone is clipped, his gaze shifts between them.

"Yes, it is," Solaria replies, his demeanor returning to its usual impassive state. "We have the control we need."

Walden nods, his gaze lingering on Aqua for a moment longer before turning back to You. "Ensure he's stable and then get him back to his room," he instructs, his tone softer than usual.

As Walden leaves the lab, he instructs your friend for the job of putting The rabbit back to where he's kept, and... To replace the bandages before you followed him out

Alone, immediately, Solaria moves to Aqua's side, his usual stoic demeanor breaking. He holds Aqua's bloodied face gently, his eyes scanning for any signs of severe harm

He holds the other's face, getting blood onto his hands as he breathes softly "how did you even bleed from the sides of your face? " He murmured as he carefully pulled the bandages away

His eyes widened in shock