Welcome to the Soap Factory.
At least, that's what they told me this was when I woke up. I don't really know what it means. I know that soap is a product produced from animal fat, chemicals and various scents to create a substance that attracts dirt and 'germs' on a human body, often used in showers and baths... but that's just not what we make here.
Well... not 'we'. They. I am not one of them. I was created by them, or perhaps for them. Among the many halfling creatures here, I by far look the most human. But I'm... well, I'm not really sure what I am... other than the perfect slave.
When I woke up, I had no memories. I thought I was human... until I realized I was in a cage... not a cage. A box. A package. Like a toy to be sent to a child. They opened it, let me out, and then I was placed in a cage. Quite the delightful awakening.
They explained to me that I was not human, then proved it by yanking my arm through the bars and slicing into my skin with a knife. It did not hurt. Underneath was a layer of what looked like black gel. They scraped it back, letting me see that under my 'flesh' was nothing more than wires, components and a metal frame. And that was it. But they are wrong. Because I feel pain in my leg--a leg I am missing. The left one is replaced with a half-assed prosthesis, rather than a proper robotic leg. And my 'stump' hurts like hell, but I can't remove the leg no matter how hard I try. If I'm an android, why do I feel pain? Why replace my leg with something so careless when clearly it should have simply been repaired? It just doesn't make sense... Though to be perfectly honest, I can't remember ever having needed to eat or drink. That's a bit disturbing I'll admit, but considering the fact that I currently reside in some kind of lab, anything is possible.
They told me my name was Mark0708241... but I call myself Marcus. They think it stupid I should give myself a real name. I do not understand them... Okay, maybe it is a little stupid, but it makes me feel better about my sorry self so screw it.
They observed me for a week. I realized then that they must not have created me, but instead ordered me from somewhere else, or took me in for whatever reason. Come to think of it, the box had words on the front. I could read... perhaps that was programmed into me--or perhaps I'm really human. Just a wild guess. But the words, they said 'Defective'. What happened before I got here? How did they know something was wrong with me? What is wrong with me? My obvious personality? What, am I not bland and dull and obedient enough for them? I follow orders--I have to. I feel a compulsion to. Though admittedly, I tend to resist. Perhaps this is the problem (Alright, it's most likely the problem).
The Soap Factory has more little experiments other than just me... more 'defective' things. Not androids, I, as far as I know, am the only one... supposedly (I'm still skeptical of that). But there is a creature in the cage next to mine, something that looks like an animal. An albino cheetah... I hadn't known those could be albino, but that was definitely what it was--
--Or so I thought. When it looked up at me one day, after barely touching a meal made of pure red meat, I saw its eyes. They were pink, like an albino's should be, but they were human. Clearly and distinctly human. I am not sure how I could tell, but that 'cheetah' had human eyes, and it regarded me with such... understanding.
There are more cages in the Soap Factory.. more mysteries. It is always dark in here, so it it hard for me to make out the others... but I know they are there. Are we experiments? Failures from somewhere else, taken here for study? And where is here? I want to say I am from Earth, but I do not feel like this is Earth. It feels too... unstable. And everything, shipments and newly captured half-human creatures always come in on ships. Big, metal ships on a docking platform at the end of the hall. I can see them when they take me out for testing. Spaceships.
We must be on a station.
And if so... I... I think if I could get one of those ships, I could fly it. But I'll need to be ordered to. Where did I learn that, I wonder? And why can't I ever do things on my own? It seems I always need orders to make things work. Well... no matter. I've had enough of this. I may not be human, but I understand this is wrong. Keeping us all locked up like this... 'under observation', occasionally taking some in for 'operations' , 'testing' or, put simply, 'disposal'. And the test and operations always leave them seeming... strange afterwards. I keep looking over at the cheetah, who I've seen struggling between human and animal, making motions as if he were choking, then wrenching forward as if to cough, but suddenly, his body shivers and shifts, his paws would change... his neck and face too, becoming almost... human. But the second the change started, he would revert back, breathing hard as if the effort alone had taken too much out of him. Maybe he was stuck.
Maybe we're all just stuck.
Well... Then I will get us out. I know when the guards work. They trust me. They think I am stupid. I do not speak much... this will work to my advantage. If I could just get their keys... just unlock the cages... take a ship... I could get us out of here. To where, I do not know... but far away from the Soap Factory and whatever it is they are doing. We must leave this place. It is wrong that they keep us here. The more I see, the more it hurts. Hurts... I wonder how? I feel it, but I'm not sure how I do. Maybe I'm not the android they think I am. In fact, by this point I'm getting pretty damn sure of it.
Are you with me? We must break out of here. We must be free. If only I could remember... remember what happened before.... But for now, it doesn't matter.
Alright, the basic idea is that this is the distant future, and a factory exists as a sort of under-cover lab for defective or failed experiments by Earth scientists, aliens, you name it. I will not reveal everything yet, though, as that is for the RP. Marcus is possibly an android or a human with robotic components (basically a cyborg) but is uncertain which is correct, and the cheetah, whose number is 052214NL (Who later goes by "Neil"), is a genetically altered human trapped in an animal form. He can shapeshift, though this is difficult and painful for him. I will accept characters with DNA spliced with animals, though please do not make them too similar to Neil. I would like unique characters, and they should all be different. What you can do is have them genetically altered, give them implants of some kind (eyes, extra strength, extra limbs or a tail, certain abilities like pyromancing, telepathy, telekinesis, or something along those lines). You can also have alien/human splices, and make up your alien species. They can be dangerous or harmless, it is up to you. Please do not give them too many abilities, and if they do have abilities, there should also be limits. Ask me if you are unsure about a character idea. Be as creative as possible. In this factory, most experiments are 'defective' or 'failed' somehow, you should incorporate these aspects in as well and include why the experiment would be sent here. What failed, what should have happened, etc.
Once we break out of the factory, the object of the RP would be to explore the universe, find out about our pasts, avoid the Soap Factory's ships sent out to retrieve us, and smaller plots on different planets, etc. If you have a plot idea as well, feel free to run it by me. I have plenty planned, really in a science fiction setting, anything can happen. I am huge on characterization as well, and love well-planned pasts and backstories and finding out about origins. I love all that jazz, so be creative and don't be afraid to ask me if you have an idea. Naturally, we would also be on the run from the factory as well, no doubt they'd want us back. Mostly, our goal is to be free of this, and discover who our characters are. They likely wouldn't know much about their pasts.
Any questions? Just ask. Let me know if you are interested!
I will also need an active co-GM because I'm a little busy with school at the moment and I want to make sure this RP doesn't die.
