ATRG #2: Akatsuki Research Team(+ Gray)

Submitted into Contest #90 in response to: Set your story in a world living with the consequences of a climate apocalypse.... view prompt

223 comments

Friendship Science Fiction

A few weeks ago:

What? I glance at the woman already holding her hand out to me.

The job is safe. Let me explain: we are not going to hurt you. We are just going to see how well you can adapt. You wonโ€™t have any lasting changes, and youโ€™ll have a lot of good college applications waiting for you.

Itโ€™s going to last that long?! I shout, raising up my arms.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do not waste it.ย 

The woman glares at me and I feel a shiver up my spine.

Is it really that worth it?

Fine. But at least tell my family and friends.

I reach up to shake her hand. She grins, showing sharp teeth.

I will.

Present day:

Tubes.

Tubes were connected to me.

Rain. Droughts. Floods. Ice melting.

Scientists. Scientists shouting words I canโ€™t hear.

Slime. Evacuation. Test subjects.

What were they doing to my body? Why was the weather so important? Slime? Will I ever see my friends, sister, and mom again?

These thoughts swirl in my foggy brain, and I wish that I could sit up and scream. I donโ€™t feel any different, and these experiments arenโ€™t doing nothing to me.

Why had I accepted the offer?

Suddenly, a siren woops.

Glass shatters. I hear a part of the roof caving in.

โ€œSave the test subject!โ€

Me?

โ€œThe slime is here!โ€

I get pushed off the bed Iโ€™m strapped to, and my head starts to clear. I look at all the scientists screaming and running around.

The slime is coming.

โ€œWhatโ€™s going on? Why are you guys all freaking out? Can someone please explain?!โ€

โ€œNo time to, just go!โ€

I whirl around to ask go where? When the instructions suddenly appear in my head.

Oh. Maple Ave, down a tunnel to the right of Line Park.

I take off running, not noticing how I manage to leap across the collapsed building.

Then I see why everyone was so scared.

This huge, red blob of rainwater, dirt, and ice is smashing everything in its way, and water spins around it, engulfing everything.

I start down the tunnel.ย 

Crap.

I was too loud. The slime heard me.

โ€œSTAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU MONSTER!โ€

Muck dripped from the walls as I ran for my lifeโ€”literally. Sliding down the damp underground tunnel, I finally reach the place I was told to go to. I internally scream as I look behind me; THE SLIME WAS A FEW YARDS AWAY. I grip the giant door and push it into place with all my strength. Then, as the slime inches closer, the door bangs shut and Iโ€™m safeโ€”for now. Slumping on the floor, I take a moment to catch my breath and look in front of me. A seemingly endless hall was stretching across the bunker, hopefully to the one place that was safe. I took a deep breath, and started walking.

โ€œHello?โ€

My voice bangs around the bunker, and I wince at how loud it was.

โ€œAh, you finally came.โ€

I jump and look behind me.

A boy with blackish-gray hair and a t-shirt with ripped pants is floating above the ground. Heโ€™s toying around with a metallic thing, and looks ten years old, but speaks like a twenty year old.

โ€œUm- H-hi?โ€ I squeak.

โ€œYou were obviously sent by the scientists. Iโ€™m Gray, nice to meet you.โ€

I nod, afraid to speak.ย 

โ€œLet me show you the safest spot in the world. Or, at least that I know of.โ€

He grabs my arms and rockets off with me.

A high pitched scream echoes around the walls.

Later:

โ€œNext time, please go slower.โ€

โ€œEh, Youโ€™ll get used to it.โ€

Gray phases through a yellow door.

I follow, but end up smacking my head against the wall.

Gray covers his face and I hear him laughing.

โ€œOh come on. Gray! THIS IS NOT FUNNY!โ€

โ€œSorry, sorry! Lemme get Konan, sheโ€™ll fix this-โ€

Before I can ask who the heck is Konan, a girl with blue hair steps out of the stinking yellow door/wall.

She has this rose made out of paper on her head, and is wearing a robe with red clouds on it. She points a sharp finger at me.

โ€œPut your hand on the wall.โ€

I do as she says, and I watch the door swirl and then become still again.

Alright, now enter the code that the scientists gave you.โ€

I look at my palm.

78391.

Alright.

The door flashes and then turns transparent.

Konan struts through, and I follow her.

โ€œGray, another member? What are those scientistโ€™s thinking? As if we have enough room!โ€

โ€œHey, be glad sheโ€™s a girl.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s the only good part. And why do you always forget how to let a new member come in?โ€

โ€œNot all of us are smart like you.โ€

Konan flicks her hair into Grayโ€™s face.

โ€œUm, sorry to interrupt, but how far is the room we are going to?โ€

Konan stares at me.

โ€œIt should be right here.โ€

She wretches open a door titled โ€œMeeting room.โ€

We walk in.

โ€œEVERYONE SHUT UP AND CALM DOWN.โ€ Was the first thing Konan said. I could see that she was the leader, the way that everyone else (all boys) snapped their mouths shut.

โ€œAlright, we have another new member, and her name isโ€ฆ?โ€

Konan raises her eyebrows at me, and I grimace.

โ€œK-kama.โ€ I choke out.

โ€œHer name is Kama. Now, I want you guys to introduce yourselves nicely.โ€

She points to the person on the far left, and he brushes his long blond hair back and starts.

โ€œMy name is Deidara. Explosive art master, hm. Nice to meet ya!โ€ Deidara grins at me.

Well, he kinda looks like a girl, but seems alright!

I grin shakily back.

The next person is a bored looking redhead, playing with a puppet.

โ€œMy name is Sasori, puppet master.โ€

He doesnโ€™t even bother looking at me, but flicks his hand dismissively.

Konan shakes her head at him, then motions for a masked person to start.

โ€œMy name is Kakuzu. Not the master of anything, but I do have five hearts.โ€

Five? Ugh, what did he do to get those five hearts? Ew.

A silver haired boy started talking immediately after Kakuzu.

โ€œMy name is Hidan, and Iโ€™m freaking immortal! I also am a follower of Jashinism!โ€

He laughs and bounces on the couch, earning him a glare from Konan and Kakuzu.

I grin. He is very energetic.

A plant person waves at me.

โ€œIโ€™m Zetsu, and I love plants.โ€

Konan coughs and turns to me.

โ€œAnd Iโ€™m Konan, origami master.โ€

โ€œHey hey heyyyy. Donโ€™t forget me! Iโ€™m Gray! Trickster god!โ€

โ€œKama, this is my team, the Akatsuki and Gray. We are researching why the slime has formed out of the various climate changes and how we can stop it. Any questions?โ€

I shake my head.

โ€œGood. Then letโ€™s start your first mission.โ€

Sorry for not posting in soooo long!

I do not own any of the Naruto characters, I only own Gray and Kama.

(ATRG Means: Akatsuki, Friendship, Romance, and Gray in Japanese lol)

April 20, 2021 21:14
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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