[Subject 2 and Subject 1 are proceeding down Greenhouse Gamma. There are trees on either side, large and twisted, from which robots are harvesting leaves and bark. Blue light filters in from above, but one panel of ceiling has been punctured by something sharp. Said panel flickers, its blue light darting in and out of functionality. When it goes out, only the silver reality of the unlit rectangle remains.]

Subject 2: We should be a little quieter. They could be anywhere right now.

Subject 1: [Subject's left hand is bloodied. Subject's fingernails have extended into something resembling talons, with extra segmentation on the skin of the fingers, akin to the rumpled texture of a bird's feet. Pinkie has withdrawn slightly. Subject holds hand in her other.] Oh, it won't trip them up. They know what we're doing. Lab footage, remember?

Subject 2: [Subject's darkened eyes rove over the other subject. Subject's hands are also altered slightly, now possessing claws and an equally shortened pinkie finger.] Then what's the point?

Subject 1: [Determined.] Because we feel like it.

Subject 2: Aren't you worried about being caught?

Subject 1: Absolutely mortified.

Subject 2: [Tensely.] How are we going to communicate secretly if they can hear everything we say?

Subject 1: Animal instinct. Obviously.

Subject 2: Ha ha. Even for us, that's bullshit.

Subject 1: Try it.

Subject 2: Fine. [Subject closes eyes, disfigured hands curl into fists.] What am I thinking of?

Subject 1: [Subject blushes violently. The feathers in the subject's hair flutter.] I can guess.

Subject 2: [Subject's hand finds Subject 1's shoulder. The two draw close to each other.] You caught me.

Subject 1:What now?

Subject 2: [Subject leans in further, but upon seeing Subject's glossy eyes and dilated pupils, draws back as if stricken.] The sky.

Subject 1: I want wings.

Subject 2: Calm down. Please.

Subject 1: I need to see the sky. [Subject coughs violently.] These woods are fake.

Subject 2: I know, but it's okay. We're going to get out of here. Soon. There's a map around here somewhere. We'll use that. We'll keep turning corners until we find the exit, we'll tell the world, and all of this will be a nightmare hidden far in our past.

Subject 1: It's going to haunt us forever.

Subject 2: Sure, but it's okay. It'll haunt us. We'll help each other through.

Subject 1: You can't just accept that.

Subject 2: I can accept any future I get to share with you, outside of here.

Subject 1: I can't accept that. I'm going to live my whole life without wings, wanting something I can't have, needing it so far in my body that it hurts. I'm going to-- [Subject begins coughing again.]

[Subject 2 moves to assist Subject 1 as she falls to the ground, coughing. Subject 1 kicks out and Subject 2 collapses to the ground alongside her. The lips of Subject 2 and Subject 1 meet and Subject 2 puts his hands around her. Subject 1 breaks away, lacrimation occurring at the edge of facial area and collecting under chin.]

Subject 1: When did you become the optimist?
Subject 2: When you needed me to, I guess.

Subject 1: This is ridiculous.

Subject 2: It's all ridiculous! That's what you said, once, but it's the best part. It's so silly we can't take it seriously. [Subject forces a smile. Canines have progressed to fullest extent. Other teeth are withdrawing to proper positions.]

Subject 1: You're scared.

Subject 2: Everyone would be.

Subject 1: [Subject puts hand on heart of Subject 2.] Your heart is beating so fast...

Subject 2: I think foxes have a faster resting heart rate. Small animals have higher ones. Yours is like... a pair of big, powerful wings. I can feel them beating.

Subject 1: I know. I can always sense them there.

Subject 2: When we get out we should go skydiving. We can live up on a big hill, out in the country. I won't get lonely, promise-- I'm used to it. I bet my parents would know a good place. They've lived all over.

Subject 1: I'll miss it more if I'm close to it.

Subject 2: [Subject's face falls.]I think I'll go crazy if I don't live near the forest. I've always been there, but now I miss it more than anything. Sometimes even my parents. I'm only this happy because I'm near trees. Real trees! Isn't that stupid? All I can think is, wow, I'm home, and in reality I'm more trapped than ever.

Subject 1: We're going to set up here for the night, anyways. It might as well be home.

Subject 2: [Subject pretends to open a door.] Honey, I'm home.

Subject 1: [Subject giggles, birdlike.] How was work?

Subject 2: I don't know, how was yours?

Subject 1: I'm the breadwinner.
Subject 2: Geez, probably. Doves are a lot more approachable than foxes.

Subject 1: Is that all we are now?

Subject 2: Think so. Pretty hard to get around it.

Subject 1: [Subject leans against tree, eyes narrowed.] I don't like that. We've got to find some other way to make a name for ourselves. Something that no one would expect, maybe, or some way to prove we are who we once were. No matter what it is, it has to be our choice, and everyone else will have to respect it any time they interact with us. There has to be a statement.

Subject 2: Like what? Should I wear a trenchcoat to school everyday? That would be pretty hard to ignore.

Subject 1: It would be awful.

Subject 2: I would do it.

Subject 1: Would you want to?

Subject 2: I would do it.

Subject 1: [Subject looks up at the sky and then begins climbing the tree, jumping naturally from branch to branch.] I'm going to keep practicing music and my oratory skills. I want to be a celebrity one day, out advocating for a cause. I want people to flock to me.

Subject 2: Hey, hold up! [Subject grabs the lowest branch and hoists body up into the lowest bough. The tree shakes with the weight.] That's a great dream. I just want... I guess I'd like friends, a little. I'm homeschooled, so my social skills got neutered when I was a kid. We're talking no meet ups level of socializing. I learned everything off of the Disney channel and YouTube videos where people would snark about video games.

Subject 1: I am so sorry. [Subject holds self against one of highest branches, staring into the gray area of the sky. A deep sound reverberates in the subject's throat, akin to the noise doves and pigeons make when they are curious about some object.]

Subject 2: It's fine. Got my folks, [Subject lifts self higher in to tree.] got you. Hey, you okay?

Subject 1: [Subject covers mouth with free hand.] I lied. Let's go live near the sky.

Subject 2: This is an inefficient set up, isn't it? If you wanted to care for plants, why wouldn't you just set up regular lights? It's almost like they expected us to come through... here.

Subject 1: They did.

Subject 2: Is this some kind of trap?

Subject 1: This entire place is a trap.

[Subjects watch the 'sky' roll overhead. Subject 2's face grits into a snarl, while Subject 1's eyes grow glassier in their sockets. Below, several Subjects lurk, some of which are on all fours. Several shark-human hybrids as well as snake-human hybrids watch the tree hungrily. A single hand drops and they let out a rallying cry.]

Subject 1: Time to move.

[A loud static is heard. In the distance, something roars in a voice that is not animal, is not man, and is not mortal.]

(Surveillance lost.)