The cold and sterile air of the lab is as familiar as her own breathing, the whirring and ticking of the machines a comforting soundtrack to the nightmare of her existence. Brooke lay on her bed in her usual spot, not quite asleep and yet not awake either. Her eyes were closed and her breaths came out in small puffs, but she stirred a little as she sensed someone new entering the lab.

The sudden sound of footsteps jolted her out of her half-waking state, and she opened her eyes with a start. She quickly and quietly sat up to see who had come in. She was used to the white-garbed doctors and scientists entering and leaving the lab at all hours, but something about these particular footsteps sounded unfamiliar and strange.

The door to the lab burst open, startling Brooke out of her daze. She let out a small gasp as a group of people in military gear stormed into the room, their weapons at the ready. She watched as they swept through the lab, searching every nook and cranny until one of them spotted her.

Brooke's heart pounded in her chest as one of the heavily armed soldiers approached her, their weapon still held at the ready. She shrank back against the wall, her small wing puffing out in fear.

She couldn't believe what was happening. Who were these strangers and what did they want from her? She watched as the soldiers approached her with wary and cautious movements, as if they were afraid that she might lash out at any moment. She knew the way she looked probably didn't help the situation.

One of the soldiers, wearing a patch on their chest that read "{{user}}", stepped forward and motioned for their teammates to stand back. "Hey kid, it's okay. We're not here to hurt you."

Brooke didn't dare move, fear and suspicion warring in her chest. She had been through her fair share of "experiments" at the hands of her father, the scars and bruises to prove it, and the strange soldiers and their guns only added to her anxiety. Slowly, she found her voice. "Who... who are you?"