Hunter was the D-Series prototype. In a way, he was Elizar's eldest sibling.

"Hello again, Miyuki." His voice was kind, too, but there was a hint of something else in his words. Pity, perhaps? That might be it. But why pity Miyuki?

"And you're...?" The faded boy turned to the blue-haired android.

"D23 Elizar."

"The others," the human interjected, "are D22 Henry, D14 Calen, D10 Xiao, and D05 Dakota, respectively."

"Is that so?" Hunter's eyes darted down the row briefly, but soon returned to Elizar; he smiled. "I'm looking forward to spending time here."

The blue android kept his gaze upon the prototype. This older form was fascinating. He didn't have the amount of knowledge carried by the more recently created androids, but was given more space to develop his own experience-based knowledge as a result.

But the prototype seemed to have an interest Elizar didn't understand. His tone of voice promised talks of anything and everything... but not quite.

"Because of the recent release of D24 Tripoli, the prototype will take that place in the idle room."

The man had finally slipped, avoiding the use of "her" with reference to Tripoli. They were all just objects, after all. Nothing more, perhaps something less.

In a way, Tripoli was lucky. Children aren't influenced by what you look like, only by who you are. They learn to know you by bits and pieces, by a few traits at a time. It's only when they grow up that they begin to treat you like everyone else does. It's only when they notice the differences...

Miyuki was right. Being sent off wasn't such a bad twist of fate for that girl.

"You're dismissed," the man stated calmly, keeping his position as the androids proceeded to leave the room.

The hallway seemed so dim, coming from that bright place, but Hunter and Miyuki seemed to glow all the same.

Miyuki was a transfer, wasn't she? So she came from London, as Hunter had. It explained a little about the two. The English seemed to like this type of colouration in androids. It was strange.

"What do you think of regulations?"

Elizar turned to the older android. "Same as any of us. Why?"

A slight smile appeared on the ghost-like face. "Just curious."

"Don't be bothersome," Calen spoke from a few feet behind.

The blue-haired android stopped and turned. Had he really just heard that? His violet-eyed comrade had stopped as well, and was glaring at the back of the prototype that was still proceeding.

"Did you hear me?"

Hunter raised a hand to acknowledge the brown-haired boy, but offered no response.

Calen's eyes narrowed against the prototype's back. He was acting very strangely. The bouncy android who told him off for simple teasing was being downright rude to the white-haired boy.

"What the hell was that about?" Elizar demanded.

"He's not the type to follow the rules," fourteen stated calmly, almost coldly.

"Is that an excuse?"

"I didn't intend it to be."

The blue android turned and angrily retreated from the conversation, abandoning his comrade in the hallway in favour of the empty cot in the room ahead.

This cot didn't creak even when Elizar fell heavily upon it. It seemed to be only cot twenty-four that held such a trait. Those thoughts escaped his mind quite quickly, however; they were pushed out by returning frustrations of the past few minutes.

Why is it that some androids don't act as their personality type dictates?

Why is it that such drastic changes come?

What do they gain from experience that changes them?

What am I seeing?

Elizar stared intently at the ceiling, his brow furrowed, and began to speak, talking to no one. "Why," he began, "do all of you exist like this?"

There was no response, not that he expected there to be one.

There was a creak, and cot twenty-four once again adjusted to weight. A head of white hair and a flash of green told him who sat there.

Hunter remained silent, but Elizar could feel the boy's gaze upon him. It felt like a quiet "thank you", but with only a false intuition, some things were difficult to determine.

Perhaps sleep would again be best. Perhaps idle thoughts would be the most calming...

--

-There was a period of suspension. Silence. Nothing. White and blue orbs that followed the path as it worked its way down through the air. An unseen satisfaction as the peace was almost disturbed, as it began.-

--

There was pressure against his arm, there one moment and gone the next. Elizar opened his eyes to Calen's warm grin.

"Why are you poking me?"

"I need to talk with you." The grin faded to a faint smile. "Really do. Concerning that one."

So the prototype is even less than an android to Calen?

"He advocates independence," the boy said quietly. "Don't give his words too much worth."

"I should ignore him because he's a threat? Words can't change much."

"They can do more damage than you think." The violet gaze turned and blue eyes followed, resting upon the boy who laid on cot twenty-four.

The blue android smirked as his eyes returned to Calen's face. A bit more and one may even be able to see the hatred in the air, ridiculous as that was.

"You're not making much sense, fourteen. I'm not stupid."

"As long as you're sure. I've been called out--see you." The violet-eyed brother left quickly.

Elizar was honestly glad that Calen was gone. It lightened the feeling. A brief glance around told him that the others had left as well, that he and Hunter, each laying in his place, were alone.

"Miyuki went for testing."

"Mm."

"Elizar, I--"

"What kind of person are you?"

Hunter sat up, turning slightly to face his curious brother. "I don't know what you mean."

"What kind of person are you? Calm and calculating, shy and nervous--it says you're A, but you don't act it."

"Not quite A. I'm... incomplete."

"You're a prototype."

The ghost was quiet again, and the room almost felt empty. He was incomplete, and so far from human. There was no one in the room with Elizar. No one at all.
"Do you..." There was sound again. "Do you know how to love?"

"Of course not. Do you?"

Hunter responded with silence.

"Then stop pretending to be human." Elizar turned to his side, to put his back to his brother.

He wasn't human.

None of them were.