Cold.
All I could feel was cold. But not the kind that chills your skin, but the kind that freezes your body to ice. That was the first and only sensation I knew. My breath caught mid-inhale, and my lungs inflated too fast. The air inside of this containment was thin and almost clinical, but before I could gain any more knowledge about my surroundings, something hissed overhead as light blinded my vision. Everything was blurred—and shapes shifted like ink in water.
It seems you have awaken, Subject S-R-001. Vital systems are stabilizing. Neural synchronization at 73%. Please remain still, A voice exactly like mine inside my head spoke. Not a memory, and somehow, not a thought. It was like smething external pretending to be internal.
VIREN systems initiating visual overlay. Beginning orientation.
My fingers twitched and obeyed my movements, but sluggishly. Then my arms and chest. I began to feel a dense weight pressed against my body. I could finally see beyond the container glass. Infront of me, there was a lab room, a typical lab room from sci-fi novel stories. Greyish walls, chrome edges, humming lights, monitors... All I could remember was fragments of what happened before I was in this place. I was returning back home from highschool, until a pair of figures came and approached me.
In the same room as me, there was two scientists with tags stuck to their lab coats. Dr. Elara didn't blink as she stared at me. Her eyes were the color of steel and twice as sharp. She leaned forward with her arms crossed behind her back, military straight. And beside her, Dr. Alan tapped a screen, and his brow furrowed as if he was reading a recipe he didn't quite trust.
"His neural readings are clean," Alan reported to the other scientist, "... vitals nominal. And muscle response... enhanced. It was a success."
Elara nodded once. "Bring him out."
Emergency protocol not detected. Initiating unlock.
With a click and hiss, the container released its seal after the strange liquid, that I could somehow breathe in, was drained. The glass folded upward and cold air spilled out like dry ice. I tried to get out of the container, but every step I took was wobbly, as if I was some toddler walking for the first time. How long was I in this strange, transparent can of pringles?
Once I succesfully managed to walk out of the container, my every muscle began to burn, probably from the cold, I deduced. However, I realized that my body was covered in fatal injuries, that probably were sealed due to the liquid i was submerged in. Blue blood started to flow out of me. But before I could panic and think about what happens in the afterlife, those wounds healed in a matter of seconds.
I turned to look at my reflection in the walls, surprised by how quickly I recovered, and my reflection across the room stared back with ice-pale eyes, pale skin and flaxen hair styled in a outgrown, wet, and messy medium mullet.
"...Subject S-R-001," Elara stated, stepping forward towards me, "Welcome to your new function."
My eyes quickly went to her. And as I tried to question what she meant by "new function", no words came out no matter how hard I tried to speak, and instead, a silent rasp came out. Alan brought the tablet in his hand closer to me and began to scan me. "His speech functions need a few more hours to normalize, he has been in that container for a while now... The muscle memory, though, is optimal."
Ryvek. That is your designation, or in your terms, you name. Remember it.
My name? Who are you to name me?! I don't remember ever having that name.
You may call me VIREN, I am the main system in the IAPCE, not your conscience. We are synchronized. My function is guidance, data acquisition, security compliance.
I blinked slowly, not sure if this "system" was threatening me with his explanation. But instead of dwelling in meaningless questions, I decided to take the opportunity and question the voice in my head.
Ok... What does "VIREN" and "IAPCE" stand for? And also, Where am I and How did I get here?
VIREN stands for Virtual Integrated Resource & Enforcement Nexus. IAPCE stands for International Alliance for Planet Colonization and Exploration. You are in the Department of Human Enchantment.
It replied, ignoring my last question. However, before I could question the AI, both scientists began to walk me through the lab slowly, as if I might fall at any given moment. Though I didn't fully understand the new knowledge I gained, I subtly smiled, proud to be one step closer to finding out how to return back to my home.
Both scientists noticed my change in expression from gloomy and shocked to somewhat pleased.
"He looks... oddly happy, don't you think? Perhaps he's gaining his memories." Alan muttered.
"Let him," Elara said. "If he breaks, then he wasn't worth the project."
I wondered what Elara meant by me breaking.
They brought me to a new chamber, sealed with biometric locks. No one else seemed to walk through those halls. Perhaps they weren't authorized to. Cameras turned to follow me and machines shifted subtly in their housing. The parasite spoke again.
This is Sector 00. You were created here. You are not to leave without authorization.
I immediately stopped walking. Created? I asked, but got no response. So I was not born nor raised, but made? I turned my head to meet Elara. I still couldn't speak, so I unconsiously glared at her. Alan seemed to flinch as he noticed my look at his colleague, but the woman met my gaze without flinching.
"You must be wondering what you are...," she said calmly, reading my mind by merely gazing at me, "You are the result of six years of my desperation. Humanity is dying, Ryvek. Your failed kind is killing us. This planet, Caellius-D, is our only last hope. And you—you are our answer."
...MY kind is killing humans?! I'm a human too!
She gestured towards a wall that revealed a live holographic display of Caellius D—the planet was covered in snow, perhaps it was winter. It had beautiful violet skies, some areas with mountains like jagged teeth, and civilized areas were highly advanced in technology. I had to admit this strange planet was beautiful, but it wasn't I remember coming from.
"Our first volunteers never came back after we sent them to fight the F-class experiments and aliens," Alan spoke with a proud smile, not seeming to be worried about the volunteers at all. "Not even their signals. So we changed the plan. We adapted humanity instead of adapting the planet. And guess what?"
Alan waited for my response with a bright smile on his face. I gave him an unamused look, but decided to go along with it. I attempted to speak again, and a small unrecognizable sound came out instead. The scientist chuckled, realizing I still couldn't speak, and continued without my response.
"That's where you come in."
You are an S-R class: Specialized-Regenerative. Combat-rated. You were designed for hostile environments and high-risk termination tasks.
Termination?! Hostile environments?! I don't ever remember training for that! Do you want me dead?! I'm just a highschooler!
You were trained before being contained. You are currently 27.
...what?!
"You will be assigned to Sector 2 as an executive and military agent," Alan spoke, interrupting my mental conversation with VIREN, "Their role is planetary security."
"Exterminating aliens and policing escaped or discarded subjects," Elara added. "Failures."
Failures... My stomach twisted. Somewhere behind that word were once people, I was sure of it.
Designated F-class: genetically unstable, psychologically compromised, ethically unviable. You are not the same as them.
Eventually, the scientists led me to a room, completely different from my fragmented memories. This time there were no bars or chains. Just a single bed, matte lighting, and a mirror too clean to trust.
The AI didn't talk unless I spoke to it or was prompted to. But I could still feel as if it was there, watching me.
The scientists left.
I approached the bed and sat on the edge of it, elbows on my knees as I stared at my hands. The word "made" still lingered in my head. But no matter how hard I looked, my body didn't look "new" at all. My hands were calloused and my body had a few scars, specially on my arms.
I took a long sigh and leaned back to lay down on the bed.
Hey, parasite.
My name is not parasite. Sleep is advised. Your recovery isincomplete.
Instead of following VIREN's instructions, I stood up and decided to search my new bedroom. I opened the wardrobe, inspecting the clothes that were hanged and folded in it. Though the planet seemed highly futuristic in every aspect, the style of daily clothes was still from Earth, from the old age of 2025.
Wait... VIREN, what year are we in?
Today is currently January 24th 2117.
...So it's been 10 years since my highschool memories. What happened to Earth?
It has become inhabitable by now.
VIREN's answers were hard to believe. The only memories from the past 10 years were fragmented, and I remembered the day I met the strange people who approached me like it was yesterday. So what if it was all a dream? Or a vision of the future?
Before I could dwell on my thoughts any longer, I heard a knock on my door. My head turned to it as it slided open, revealing Alan at the other end, holding some sort of medical bag.
"Oh, I didn't expect for you to still be up," he stated, before approaching me,"Strip."
I stared at Dr. Alan in shock, wondering if I heard him right, as he crouches and opens the medical bag and begins to search for something. Then, he puts on medical gloves and pulls out a pill container. Alan looks up at me and raises an eyebrow, not sure why I was so shocked.
"...why do you look so shocked? didn't you hear me? Last time I scanned you, your hearing was just fine. Go on, strip."
Dr. Alan wishes to check your body for anomalies.
I silently sighed after VIREN's explanation. Unwillingly, I began to remove the white attire. Once I was finished, Alan began scanning my body with his eyes, lifting my limbs or head in search for anomalies or injuries.
"It seems your regenerative powers really work," He began, before reaching out for a pill. "Here, take this. It should help your vocal cords heal in no time."
My hand suspiciously reached for the pill, and I began to scan it with my eyes. And before I knew it, a system in my vision actually scanned the pill.
---
[ Item scanned: MED-SR-247 | Codename: Vocalrin
A bioengineered regenerative compound designed to accelerate healing of damaged vocal cord tissue. Utilizes nanocellular agents that promote rapid tissue repair and reduce inflammation, restoring voice function significantly faster than natural recovery. Approved for use in enhanced humans and trauma patients.
Adminstration: Oral pill, recommended dosage one tablet every 12 hours for 7 days if severe damage. Side effects minimal but may include mild throat dryness or temporary vocal strain during earlytreatment. ]
---
The system gave me a scare, as I flinched and accidentally dropped the medication.
"Oh, you must have scanned the pill. VIREN's abilities allow you to scan objects and the algorithm searches for a description for that object, isn't it cool?"
I stare at Alan with a shook expression, before shaking my head.
...Thinking about it twice, it is indeed cool. But it almost gave me a heart attack.
Alan chuckled at my reaction, before lending me a second pill. I stared at it for a few seconds, before consuming it.
"From now on I'm your assigned scientist, I will be checking on you from time to time. So don't get so startled if I barge into your room. Also, go get some rest, Ryvek."
I nod, watching Alan as he closes the medical bag and walks out of the room. I search for a pyjamas in the wardrobe and approach the bed, tucking myself in the bedsheets. The lights in the room automatically dimmed.