Per 
“Before I say anything, I’m going to say this- you are free.”
The walls of the train car rattled, and D-J- 165421 shivered as a draft came through the open window. The person speaking- AJ, they had said- couldn’t be more than a year older than him.
And yet, somehow, they had entered that damn place and escaped with not just their own life, but his too.
“Even if you’re not completely safe, you’re free. And we will fight tooth and nail to get you where you want to go, wherever that is.” At this AJ bounced the bundle in their arms a bit, but it didn’t stop them from looking any less determined.
D-J- 16542 looked around at the other D-class. Seven of them, including himself, were sitting in a circle on the cold wood floor, watching AJ’s every movement. Some had gotten injured in the escape, but even so, there was something in their eyes. He had never seen a group of D-class so… alert? Intrigued?
He didn’t know the right word for it, but it was different.
“We won’t stop you from leaving. We know what it’s like to be a D-Class- most of us were at one point in our lives- and we know what that hunger for freedom feels like. But before you go, I know you have a lot of questions, and I’ll try my best to answer them all.”
AJ took a deep breath, and as they shifted their blonde hair seemed to almost glow in the moonlight. It brought out something in their eyes, a glint that D-J-16542 had never seen before.
“We call ourselves the Extras. Don’t take it too seriously- it's just a name, and we wanted to call ourselves something before the Foundation could.” AJ paused for a moment as they chose their next words.
“Think of us as a… system, I guess, to get from place to place. We rescue kids of all ages from the Foundation and get them where they want to go. If they’re little, like this bundle of joy-“ they wiggled their fingers at the baby in their arms, who giggled. “-then we get them to a safe house. Usually churches and foster homes who happen to know what we really are. They bring the proper paperwork, and we bring the babies.”
They looked back up at the circle around them. “For bigger kids, like you, we’ll take you anywhere you want.”
To D-J-16542’s confusion, AJ grinned at the group’s response- or rather lack of it.
“It’ll be a bit harder to get your paperwork, but we can do it. There’s anomalous places too- places that the Foundation can’t reach. We recommend that, but we understand if you want a normal life.”
“And then there’s the last option.” AJ sighed, and the grin fell from their face. Even with the baby’s cooing, a somber cloud enveloped the space.
“Listen, I know a lot of you are going to be eager to do this, but it’s dangerous. It’s going to make your life a lot harder. And you’ll see a lot of things you’d rather forget.”
Considering he had already seen a lot of things he’d rather forget, D-J-16542 didn’t think it would make that much of a difference. Even so, he leaned forward in anticipation.
“You can work for us.”
Well, he’d be lying if he said he was expecting that.
“You won’t be paid- not in money, at least- but you’ll be fed, clothed, and we’ll teach you all we know. You’ll live the rest of your life on the run from Foundation, either on a train or bandaging our people in a temporary safe house.”
AJ paused and looked over the D-class with searching eyes. Then, apparently seeing something, they went back to their usual unrecognizable glint.
“So, what will it be? Safe house?”
Not a single hand went up.
“Some sort of pocket dimension?”
Again, nobody responded.
“Anything else in the entire world. Like, I dunno, living on a bus or something.”
Even though D-J-16542 had so many questions he felt he was about to burst, he kept silent and waited for what was coming.
“…becoming an Extra?”
All seven hands went up.
AJ frowned at the group, but then they smiled, and D-J-16542 finally recognized that rare glimmer in their eye.
“Get some rest- or don’t, it’s your choice. We’ll drop you off at the next base, and they’ll teach you the basics. There’s some clothes in that bag over there if you want to change.”
D-J-16542 felt something shift- maybe it was the train, maybe it was his stomach, or maybe it was the universe, he didn’t know. But that glimmer had crept into his mind, and for a second he found himself daring to think beyond the walls of the Foundation.
For a second he felt…
Hope.
“Welcome to the Extras.” AJ said with a laugh. “Do whatever the hell you want.”
