Editing Interlude 10.y II

{{DISPLAYTITLE:10.y (Interlude; Chris)}}
{{Infobox Ward chapter
| work       = Ward
| book       = [[Interlude]]
| number     = 10.y
| dateposted = 11 December 2018
| link       = https://www.parahumans.net/2018/12/11/interlude-10-y/ 
| previous   = [[Polarize 10.13]]
| next       = [[Interlude 10.z II|Interlude 10.z]]
}}'''10.y (Interlude; Chris)''' is the fifteenth chapter and second interlude of [[Polarize]]. Flashbacks to Chris’ past as Lab Rat’s replicant, forcibly reminding himself of his trigger and of Gold Morning, talking with Yamada and the therapy group, and pitching the [[Earth Shin]] takeover to Amy.

==Plot==
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In a pile of detritus trawled from the remains of the [[Oil-rig battle]], the opening battle of Gold Morning,<ref>The memories were overwriting and overshadowing the creature he’d been, that had fought so fiercely and wrapped itself in the shell of one of Breed’s spawn.  He’d been dredged up along with them while, presumably, people had been looking for heroes in the wreckage after everything had gone wrong at the oil rig. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/12/11 Excerpt] from '''10.y (Interlude; Chris)'''</ref> a small ratlike homunculus emerges and has to fight for its life among [[Breed|carnivorous "insects"]]. It wins and hides in the body of one of them, waiting for its chance to flee. The child is driven to survive, as soon as he reaches the mainland he scrounges for food and makes his way inland.

Sliding forward, at the first meeting of the Therapy Group Chris is asked about his trigger. He evades and prevaricates about what happened claiming that a tinker experimented on him(true), after having abducted him(false).

Backsliding, The Homunculus becomes a boy and makes his way across the united states following his secondary function to migrate, to travel to an unspecified area. A large amount of time passes on this journey but the boy has no way of keeping track. He crosses paths with some refugees who mistaking him for a wild child, lock him in a car while they debate what to do with him. Eventually a couple decides to take him in the direction he wants to go. they arrive in the chamber and the automated systems kill the couple and allow the little boy in. A screen lights up and his predecessor, Lab Rat, greets him.

Forward, Chris has an extended back and forth with Yamada sometime after the first session. They cover his state of mind, including his individual identity and distinctiveness. Chris defends his lies to the team and his mindset for being a parahuman. He cites several examples of what's happened with other birdcage inmates.

Back again, The boy is trapped in the room with the sharp pointy things, injecting chemicals into him. He becomes more of who he was meant to be, a replicant of Lab Rat. At set intervals he is 'tortured' and the boy learns. He is caged and driven to be caged, memories become clear as the shard connects.

Back Further, the original Lab Rat works in the animal shelter that he was sent to.<ref>[[Extinction 27.4]]</ref> He his visited by String Theory and they have one of their discussions they always seem to have, going back to their time in the Birdcage. Among other thins they discuss their different approaches to Gold Morning and make a bet to see who has the biggest impact. Spurred on Chris asks to be sent to the confiscated tinker tach the PRT has.

Forward a bit, the boy is tortured again.

Back to the original Lab Rat. The mature tinker collects himself and steps through another portal, distributing the fruits of his labour. He drops off a huge crate of dispensers with Rachel and Aisha. Returning to the oil rig platform he comes face to face with Taylor and decides to hand her a specific dispenser.

Returning for the last time to the bunker. Chris has becomes himself, having intentionally been tortured by himself to become himself. Now fully in possession of his faculties, plans for the future well in hand, Chris is able to break the torturous cycle and escape. He comes under another drive to be big and brilliant.

Now, having already completed his task for Goddess Chris makes his way to Amy. Leaving aside the threatening imp, Amy assists Chris transform back to his regular self and helpfully removes Goddess' 'alignment' of him as well. Chris has a productive discussion with Amy about their prospective futures and hit upon an alliance.

==Major Events==
*A homunculus hatches.
*A boy rebels against his future.
*Chris and Amy make a connection.

==Characters==
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed- wikitable"
! scope="col" |
|-
|
===[[Breakthrough|Therapy Group]]===
*[[Chris Elman]]
*[[Rain O'Fire Frazier]]
*[[Ashley Stillons II]]
*[[Kenzie Martin]]
*[[Sveta Karelia]]
*[[Jessica Yamada]]
*[[Victoria Dallon]] (mentioned)

===[[The Birdcage]]===
*[[Lab Rat]]
**Older sister (flashback)
**Younger brother (flashback)
*[[String Theory]]
*[[Lustrum]] (mentioned)
*[[Marquis]] (mentioned)

===[[The Undersiders]]===
*[[Imp|gray horned demon girl]]
*[[Bitch|Butch girl with dogs]]
**[[Bitch's Dogs|Her "dogs"]]
*[[Taylor|Bug themed cape]]

===[[Goddess]]'s Army===
*[[Panacea|Amelia Claire Lavere]]
*[[Dot]]
*[[Goddess]] (mentioned)

===Mentioned===
*The [[PRT]]
*[[Dragon]]
*[[Breed]]
*[[Riley Grace Davis]]
*[[Acidbath|Tom Moss]]
*[[Galvanate|Ricario D'Alleva]]
*[[Black Kaze|Akemi]]
*[[Jamie Rinke]]
*[[Hookwolf|Meadows]]
*[[Ingenue|Ms. Webb]]
*[[Teacher|Benjamin Terrell]]
*[[Valkyrie]]
*[[Nursery]]
*[[The Fallen]]
|}

==Trivia==
*The people Chis claims to have involuntarily killed,<ref name="I4cII">Ashley shook her head.  She looked the way Victoria had gone.  “She hasn’t killed anyone before, if I had to guess.”<br/><br/>“Just Victoria and the kids, then.”<br/><br/>“Just Victoria and Kenzie,” Chris said.<br/><br/>Rain looked at Chris.  Chris shrugged.  “Accidental.” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2018/02/22/shade-interlude-4c/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 4c II]]</ref> may have been the couple that helped him get to the sealed laboratory here.
*[https://www.reddit.com/u/GingerAndTime/ One Redditor] correctly prognosticated on the connection between Cryptid and Lab Rat.<ref>[https://redd.it/9nhvkd Post in question.]</ref>
*Ward's official table of contents lists this chapter's PoV character as "Boy in the shell".<ref>[https://www.parahumans.net/table-of-contents/ Ward Table of Contents]</ref>
*While the [[Oil-rig battle|Pier]] was on an alternate earth,<ref>''“Tattletale,”'' I whispered.  ''“He’s here.”''<br/><br/>''“No.  Can’t be.'' [...] ''We put you on the opposite side of the planet, on a different earth.  He wasn’t supposed to be able to access you.”'' - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/08/22  Excerpt] from [[Extinction 27.4]]</ref> the dredging of the remnants are explicitly said to be brought to Earth Bet.

{{Reflist}}

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