Chapter Text
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Everything is the same.
Wake up, get up, eat, work, come back; repeat.
To only be born to just repeat never sounded right. To do just one thing; that doesn't sound right. I always felt like I could do so much more than this. It feels like an endless loop and nobody gives a shit.
Take, scan, examine, report.
Repeat.
The repetition gets on Ao'nung's nerves as he gets the next bottle of contaminated DNA to his hands. The lights are bright and cold like snow. It isn't meant to make you comfortable. It is meant to pressure you to continue. He stands with the others on a line as he rolls the dice of DNA and just looks at it floating inside of it.
At least you get to go places little dude, he thinks. Feeling a push now from his side and he looks at her. He isn't meant to stop at any point of the shift. Ao'nung sighs and puts the bottle back in the contaminator and scans it to be reported forward.
Repeat.
"Round up!"
The alarm rings at it is a sign to finally stop and go home. Ao'nung gets his belongings and goes in line to the locker rooms. He promises to meet with her after they go apart for a minute. He sits down as he scans the people in the locker rooms. Everyone just seems so down and melancholy . It frustrates him. Somehow, he's become more and more frustrated these past few months and it doesn't stop growing.
He gets changed and finally rushes out the changing rooms, seeing a hand waving at him in the exit.
"Took you long enough."
"I got distracted."
She hums and they go wait for the trains.
"What were you thinking about?"
Ao'nung snickers.
"In the locker rooms?"
"No. At the laboratory? You were somewhere else, again."
He rolls his eyes at the repeated topic and puts his eyes to look out the window.
She groans because this is what Ao'nung always does. It's not like she didn't even ask, and he dismisses it completely. If there's nothing more that could make her more angry than that.
"You'll get a strike if you keep continuing it."
"By looking at the ceiling? Tsireya be serious."
"I am serious! That is why I'm worried for you!"
Ao'nung scoffs as he turns back to her.
"Not even about me but about my position?"
She holds her tongue.
"No I didn't mean it like that you know that."
He shakes his head and bumps it the second time against the window.
The shiny glass of towers reach for lengths with no end. The metal is cold and everything is either oversaturated or dull. Depending which part you live in the city, of course. The train goes fast but it never makes Ao'nung miss the scenery before their departure. The buildings are tall and he feels small.
"We're here." Tsireya pokes Ao'nung's arm as the train stops. They get off and walk up to the escalator. Ao'nung feels a buzz in his back pocket and gets his phone out. He freezes and recognizes the caller. Tsireya turns to him to remind him of something but stops as well as she sees him look at the screen.
"Don't answer it." She reminds him. Not even the thing she wanted to remind him about but this was even more important. He squeezes the phone in his hands and breathes out just as the escalator hits the street level. He puts it back in his back pocket and puts it on silent mode.
"We need more orange juice."
"Ugh, we're always out of orange juice."
"Exactly, that's why we need more!"
"No I meant you drink too much orange juice. Too much vitamin isn't good for you."
"Well thank you Mr. Scientist." She rolls her eyes as they stroll the aisles.
Ao'nung turns around as he mentioned to get some gum for himself. His sister dismisses it nonchalantly. He scans the different options. Why do we need so many options of gum? He looks at all the shelves trying to find the one he liked as a kid. It had the most fresh taste of mint he's ever tasted and it was perfect for his dental health.
"We don't have that one anymore."
He flinched as a staff stood behind him. He steps back a bit and adjusts the bag on his shoulder.
"Oh. You don't?"
The staff smiles kindly.
"No, the company had to sell the product so they're now a part of the mainstream ones. These ones are though close to it?"
He, the staff, points at the similar minty plastic bag. Ao'nung looks at the shiny new package and immediately lost his need to buy gum anymore.
"Nah, I'm good. Shame though I really liked that brand." He chuckles to himself.
"Well I'm no Dr. Shiny Teeth but I could do well as a compensation." The man stretches his hands as a way to offer and Ao'nung is taken aback.
"Oh um–"
"There you are!" His sister yells from the end of the hall.
"Come I got the rest of the food. Let's go!" As she waves her hand to gesture come with her. The perfect scapegoat which Ao'nung happily obliged and tries not so, but also a bit awkwardly reject the advances of the kind stranger. Assumingly no hard feelings as he strides with her to pack and so they were out and on their way.
"He was kinda cute? Did I interrupt anything?"
"What? No– no no no. (Chuckles) No you didn't."
She shrugs as she hands the last packages of the orange juice to Ao'nung as he puts them on the shelves of the fridge.
"Let's eat omelette!"
Ao'nung groans.
"So I have to cook?'
"But you do it so well! C'mon pleaseee I still have a few undone reports to be sent from today."
The plea of her sister's hands convinced him enough as he grabbed the pan and the eggs. She thanks and offers to clean afterwards. That is how it always goes for them. Repeat.
The window is open as the filtered air enters the apartment to chill. Tsireya sitting on the beanbag chair next to the window as Ao'nung fried the omelette perfectly in a brown-ish shade. He decorates it with the grown herbs from their window and puts it on top. He gives the half slice of an omelette to her, grabbing it in gratitude as both eat and recall their reported data from today. The darker it comes, the more saturated the city becomes. Ao'nung glances to look at the flashing lights of the night as he closes the lid of his own work. He stretches and goes to get ready for bed. His sister is already reading a book. She adjusts her reading glasses as Ao'nung returns from the shower.
Their apartment is… comfy packed. It's spacey, but only if there lived one person. It's considerably high, but low enough to still remember what kind of class they were. The rent is good enough for two but too much for one. Separating their space by a bookshelf, with each side having their own interests on them. It worked.
"I saw the chairman walk more at our section today."
"How many?"
"Four times."
"Maybe it's a valuation of somesort?" As she dries Ao'nung's hair.
"That's two. And he had someone with him."
"A new worker?"
"No, it was like– his attire was more military."
"Maybe it's something about collaboration. I mean… wouldn't be the first?" Tsireyas voice wavers.
Ao'nung stops his fidgeting with his fingers and turns to Tsireya.
"We promised to not talk about that."
"Ao'nung! They were our pa–"
"It doesn't matter. We're here and they're not. We need to focus."
He hears an angry grunt and a slight pull to his hair. He puts his palm onto it. Seething by the small pain.
"Ow–"
Slam.
And just like that she locked herself to the bathroom, again.
Repeat.
Ao'nung sighs. He didn't mean to lash out.
He knocks on the bathroom door as he picked his fingers.
"Go away."
"I didn't mean to lash out at you, I'm sorry 'Reya but you know spec–"
"I know. I was just…" She sniffles, "Just because you can shut your emotions out doesn't mean I can't! I'm not like you… I still miss them."
"You think I don't?" Ao'nung sighs, "Please open the door. I need to pee anyways."
A second later the door becomes unlocked and Tsireya wipes her tears.
"You're gross." She mumbles past him.
"I'm going to bed. Night."
He looks at her as she covers herself in the duvets.
"Night."
Repeat.
Rustling comes around the kitchen and the hallway. Ao'nung rubs his eyes as he opens them slightly. No lights were on. His heart beat catches as he thinks of the worst. He tiptoes around the door of his bedroom and touches the handle quietly. The rustling doesn't stop and nor does the whispering of something Ao'nung couldn't catch. If it wa s a thief how can he alarm his parents. It was in the middle of the night.
He takes a breath and opens the handle slowly. He peaks outside his bedroom door and sees the dark hallway. They were now in the kitchen? He gulps and starts walking beside the wall so the floor wouldn't creak behind him. He finally reaches the end corner of the hallway. He peaks again and one dim light was on as two figures were searching the cabinets. He took a shoe in his hand and stepped closer.
He stepped out, ready to hit and–
"Ao?"
He stops.
"Mama?" He whispers confused. But his mother had even worse of a confusion and shock on his face. Ao'nung pans his eyes to his father next to her. They were searching the food?
"Why are you awake sweety?" His mother walks and reaches down to his sleepy face.
"I heard sounds." He answers back. The eyes of his mother pan to her husband.
"Ronal we're already late." He says.
They share moments of agreement and she turns back to Ao'nung.
"Ao, sweety, there's been an incident. And me and your father need to go." Ao'nung watches as her mother tears up. So he does too. He doesn't understand.
"Go– go where, mama what–"
"Shh, shh, it's okay." She caresses her sons cheek.
"Don't wake up Tsireya. Tell her once we are gone."
He nods slowly and his mother smiles sweetly at him. His father walks to him as Ronal stands up to finish their packing.
"Ao'nung, my son, listen to me carefully."
Tears already form in Ao'nung's face.
"Keep your sister safe, don't go look for trouble. Please, stay together and look out for eachother." He says in the gentlest way as he hugs Ao'nung's body. Ao'nung feels the tears of his father sting his shoulder as he lets go of him. All of them startle as a knock is heard from their front door.
"Tonowari, they're here." She whispers.
With full two backbags they stand up, together hugging Ao'nung tight and kissing his forehead. They wave and as the door closes Ao'nung hitched his breath. His screams stuck to his throat as he tries to run at the door. A white fog covers it and himself as well.
And he wakes up.
Opening his eyes of the white fog coming through the blinds of their living room window. He blinks and rubs them as he stands to sit on the bed. He feels the back of his neck, full of sweat. He exhales.
He looks through the shelf at his still asleep sister. Another day. He should cook some breakfast.
He gets dressed as he flashes cold water to his face. Lifting himself to look at himself on the mirror. He scans at his complextion and curly hair. His light melanin skin with his mothers moles across his face.
He flinches out of his thoughts as the door becomes opened.
"Oh you're awake?"
It was Tsireya.
"Yeah… there's breakfast on the pan. I cooked us some sandwiches."
He hears a thank you as he puts his hair up.
"I heard you mumble in your sleep."
"Oh, what did I mumble about?"
They sat again on the train. But now, on their way to work.
"I couldn't tell. But you sounded worried."
"Don't worry about it 'Reya." He tries to reassure.
They walk in the huge skyskraper of a building. It shined with ovee hundreds of floors. As you walk closer to the main doors, you form lines. Four huge lines as people enter in and a handful enter out. With their identification cards you scan your code to the register as you enter in through the metal gates.
Ao'nung looks up as on the second floor of the main hall was their supervisor. Again, with the military dressed individual. He looks back at his sister as she was behind him. He pokes her with his elbow and points unnoticed at the two. She looks up as well and lifts her eyebrows. It was unusual she nods with her head. They enter onto the elevator and start to go down.
There are multiple levels to the science divison and its department. Ecology, botany, zoology, cell, and marine biology. All in that order from highest to lowest floors.
The elevator doors open and the group walks out. As he steps out a shorter worker, maybe same age bumps into him. He almost trips but the worker catches him.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" As more people enter out the elevators Ao'nung couldn't see his face. No matter, he dusts himself a bit.
"Don't worry about it I'm good."
"Ao! Let's go! We're already late!" His sister yells and he looks at her curly hair swaying as she moves her hand.
"Sorry I gotta go– no hard feelings." He answers to the stranger. He heard him answer something back but it was probably something the lines of "Okay."
The department consists of different stations, one whom collect the DNA from the higher ups, people who scan and test it, report its condition, and people who stamp it to be sented out. Ao'nung always wondered where it would be sent but they were never clarified of that information.
That frustrated him.
They form in line and the work starts. Lights are on as everyone wore their pure white labcoats. His sister next to him.
As a bottle of DNA comes forward you first insert it to your level testing prototype. It scans and tells a certain percentage of the DNA (unclarified) and you write it up. After that its being moved on the line to the other side of the department and being sent out.
The shifts are 9 hours through and through. No breaks in between, reason to have a full breakfast.
The alarm rings.
"On your stations!" The supervisor yells and the work begins, again.
The air always smelled wierdly clean. Not like the filtered fresh air outside of their apartment. More synthetic than that.
He gets the first bottle in front of him. He scans the insides of the small container bottle and puts it on to be scanned. The laser goes up and down on it until it beeps. Ao'nung grabs it and sees the end result. Getting his red marker to write it down and putting it next in line. He watched as the bottle emerges to the other side. Hearing few beeps and next it was already being shipped out.
He exhales as another bottle comes in.
It was all blood. Never nothing else.
He takes it into his hand as he looks at the liquid inside it.
Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.
"Hey."
He turns.
"Keep working." A guard told him. Holding a gun. Ao'nung swallows as he puts it on the machine. But the guard stays to keep watch. His heart starts beating harder. Why does the scanning take suddenly so long?
"I said keep working."
"I'm waiting for it to be scanned properly. Geez…" Ao'nung lashes out. The guard keeps standing.
The machine beeps and Ao'nung takes the bottle out. He gets the sticker as he writes the number up.
"Wait." The guard stops him, grabbing his hand as he was almost putting the bottle back in line. Few other people working across him quietly side eye the situation.
Ao'nung rolls his eyes, "What?" He was becoming more frustrated with this dude. The guard grabs the bottle out of his hands, scanning it suddenly. Ao'nung furrows his brows.
"What is the problem? Give it back." He says annoyed. The guard lifts his masked face and shows the bottle to him again. Accusively.
"What the hell is this?"
At first Ao'nung didn't know what he meant, the bottle swinging in the guards hands made his eyes unfocused. He looks closer and sees the tiniest but still most visible crack on the surface of the bottle.
"Vandalizing with active DNA research is an act of insubordination."
"What?" Ao'nung laughed in disbelief.
"I didn't do anything to it. I didn't even know it was cracked–"
"Vandalizing the content is an illegal act."
"But I didn't do anything to it!"
"Are you disobeying the labour law?"
Ao'nung shuts his mouth. He looks as eyes were on him. He grits his teeth as the eyes of their suoervisor were glued on him. This is so not fair.
"I told you I didn't see it was broken or did I cause that–"
The guards ganging up on him in a millisecond later. Grabbing his arms and body. Trying to handcuff him.
"No stop! What are you doing?" Tsireya yelled but another guard stops her. Holding his hand out.
"Let go of me! I didn't fucking do it! Stop! Let go!" As the rest of the people lift their heads. More guards are called out the doors. As others tell the rest of the staff to go back to work. The situation de-escalated and Ao'nung was escorted out of the doors.