[Muted whispering. Vulpine whining can be heard.]

Subject 1: Is someone there? [Subject presses face against wall.] I can see someone there. Who are you?

Subject 2: [Subject looks up, tenses modified hands. Subject stands slowly, moves face inch away from wall, modified ears twitch.] I don't know anymore. [Subject restrains from crying. Tears drench Subject's cheeks. Subject folds self against wall.]

[Prolonged silence.]

Subject 1: Well, that's depressing.

Subject 2: [Subject opens mouth, closes mouth again. Teeth are progressing nicely, frontal canines are sufficiently overdeveloped.] Who are you?

Subject 1: I asked first.

Subject 2: You're another test, aren't you? They don't know my name yet. They couldn't torture it out of me.

Subject 1: [Subject laughs dryly. This collapses into coughing.] I'm being tested on. If this is a test, that's news to me.

Subject 2: And you're a realistic test too, aren't you?

Subject 1: What?

Subject 2: I'm not falling for it.

Subject 1: You have trust issues in... real life... don't you?

Subject 2: This is real life. We are really being experimented on by mad scientists. Right now. What type of painkillers do they have you on?

Subject 1: Not enough. [Muffled, dry laughter.]

Subject 2: [Subject cracks a smile.] Stop.

Subject 1: I suppose I've been thinking of this all in the broader context of our lives. You know, a year of unending physical torment, a daring rescue, then we make pretty decent Extras. I can't wait to fly in the real sky. I've been having dreams about it for weeks.

Subject 2: You have wings?!
Subject 1: Oh yeah. What's your splice? Wait, let me guess... wolf.

Subject 2: Fox.

Subject 1: Edgy.

Subject 2: [Subject looks vaguely offended.] Is it?

Subject 1: Foxes are just wolves for hipsters. I'm a dove.

Subject 2: Well, that's pretty generic too.

Subject 1: This is ridiculous.

Subject 2: Really.

Subject 1: I think that makes it less awful. The absurdity of all of this is going to help me weather it all out. It's hard to take anyone seriously when their master plan is giving teenagers superpowers and shoving them in generic cells in a generic laboratory. It's like a parody of the scientific method.

Subject 2: You're crazy.

Subject 1: Like a fox.

Subject 2: [slyly] You're stealing my lines.

Subject 1: Well, it is nice to meet you, er... foxboy?

Subject 2: Please don't call me that. I will die if you call me that for the next who-knows-how-long.

Subject 1: Ah. Well, you didn't want to give me your real name... I'm probably an automaton.

Subject 2: That was stupid, wasn't it?
Subject 1: A little stupid. I don't blame you for being paranoid.

Subject 2: You don't?
Subject 1: I'm giving you an out here. Take it.

Subject 2: Ah hah... well, you can't use my last name out loud, but I could... I guess... well this is embarrassing. [Subject hesitates.]

Subject 1: What's so bad about it?

Subject 2: Irony.

Subject 1: Just tell me already.

Subject 2: [Subject leans back into wall, eyes narrowed. Subject whispers to other subject through wall crack. Socialization is progressing nicely.]

Subject 1: You're kidding.

Subject 2: I wish. I always thought it was cool before this happened.

Subject 1: Ha ha. It suits you. Here, I'm-- [Subject leans into the wall again. Eyes are bright. Visible rings around eyes from sleep deprivation, however, birdlike depressions also forming. Will have to review targeting of DNA splicing.]

Subject 2: Thank you.

Subject 1: Hold onto it. It's a weapon.

[Noise fills room. The subtle clip of footsteps against the ground grows louder, compounding, and both subjects show signs of panic.]

Subject 2: They're back already.

[SURVEILLANCE ENDS.]