For an underground laboratory, it's served me well and provided me comfortable housing, even through all the failures. From a bustling centre of genius minds to a dimly-lit and near-abandoned shelter. I feel a little bad knowing I'm going to have to leave but I'm not risking my life for some misplaced feelings of nostalgia. Right now, I need to craft a strong enough serum before the final dropship's scheduled to leave.

In the lounge area of my room, standing, rather than sitting in front of a monitor is a waifish girl wearing a shoulderless shirt, short pants, and brown boots. If it weren't for the horns portruding off the top of her head, you'd think she was human, but no; those horns are a symbol of my single success as a hybrid researcher. 

Batch 10, Subject 63. I was assigned to the Bakunawa splicing project, and she's the one surviving specimen out of a hundred. 

The news didn't come as a surprise to me. The first public case of a Hybrid Destabilization in the aboveground city. Whoever that hybrid was, his school's student council is working overtime to assure the rest of the population that it was a one-off accident. Really, it's only a matter of time. Not everyone can afford third-party Monopyriacs, and now that the corporation is pulling out every staff member worth their salt, there's no one to take care of their basic needs. Kind of like pets without an owner in that sense. Or a children in a vacant orphanage.

That's why before I go, I'm going to make sure Ten Sixty Three has a fighting chance.

"Take a break from that screen and come over here, will you?"

I ready the syringe as she paces over to my desk. 

"I can't stay with you," I start, "in the coming weeks and months, life in this city is going to become very difficult. We've already been given evacuation orders, and every minute I stay here is another exponentially higher chance of me getting infected by whatever's been released in the air. I have some inklings of what it might be, but it'll take some time before we can develop countermeasures."

She nods and tries to keep her blank expression still, but I've known her long enough to know that she clenches her fists when she's afraid. 

"It won't be forever. We just need some time to contain the contaminants. And... I'm giving you access to the surface. You might finally make new friends up there."

Her eyes light up, just a little. I take her arm and look at her face for confirmation if she's ready. Her aversion to needles reminds me of one of my counterparts in the city. 

"Relax, it's just an injection. The hard part comes later."

She gasps and bites her lips as I inject the serum. I assume it's more out of fear than pain. You've got to be stronger than this, I think to myself. 

"I know it's funny coming from me, but avoid using your Current for as long as you can. With the way things are going, we can't assure the city a constant supply of Monopyriacs nor do I trust the other producers to not gouge the prices sky high. This will keep you going for a good while, but there might come a time where you need to expend it."

She nods in agreement.

With a deep breath I pick up a two piece choker from my desk. Something I've been developing for the past few months. I reach my hands around her neck, brushing my fingers against her emerald hair, as I put the black chokerpiece on. The second piece, a monitoring device containing a needle attached through a hole in the back.

"I won't lie. This is going to hurt, but it's important."

It's a dangerous procedure, and I hate the idea of exposing her to yet another life threatening experiment, but this might be her best chance at surviving on her own. I slide the needle in carefully, making sure it hurts as little as possible as the needle pierces her flesh and reaches into her cervical spine. 

She puts her hands over her mouth, covering it as a wave of expected nausea comes over her.

"This is a prototype limiter. It's going to keep your body from destabilizing but it's also going to be hard to use any form of Current."

I guide her to the sofa, letting her lie down on my lap as her body readjusts to having its Current blocked from circulating. It's essentially akin to losing one of your senses. 

I sigh.

"...you know, I learnt early on not to get attached to any of the test subjects that were brought into the lab. The failure rate is so high that anyone could just disappear the very next day. But seeing you grow up into an adult, it's hard not to care."

My communicator starts to beep as I talk. It's time to go. 

I reach for the gas mask on the coffee table, putting it on and sliding out of my coat. Before I go, I hand her one last thing, an ID card. I reprogrammed mine to have her details. 

"This'll get you into my apartment, and leave you with some money. It's your proof as a citizen of the city, so don't lose it."

Getting up, I pick up my backpack, and I'm all set and ready to go. Ten Sixty Three follows me all the way to the door before stopping. I... can't help but to embrace her.

"...that limiter is going to keep you grounded to this world. And it's the only way I can stay hopeful."