Being released, the lab worker quickly stumbles past the soldiers. I begin to look around me, seeing the unsurety in the faces of the soldiers who still look a bit shaken up, I steady myself. Raising the pen with my thumb on the bottom for the purpose of making it easier if the need for using it comes into play. The women who called out to me earlier looks towards me who is preparing to attack, quickly rushing over to one of the guards shoving his gun downwards.

“Stop! Put the guns down or do you want him killing all of us!”

Hearing what the women said, the soldiers around jolt slightly before quickly putting down their guns.

“....”

I quietly stare at the woman as she takes charge of the situation smoothly, and quickly.

“Niko, you can understand what I am saying right?”

“...”

Quietly nodding I verify my ability to understand her.

“Perfect! Now is it okay if I come over to take off those cords?”

“...”

Again nodding my head, I gave her permission to come closer. She smiled then began to sprightly walk over. While she was fiddling about with the cords, I once again heard a clear voice speaking as if it was directly in my ear.

“Hmm... She seems so familiar…... Oh, I remember, she is the sister of the body from our first projection...ah, that would explain why you are feeling so accepting of her. Although, for a second I was thinking it's due to her just being a beauty, but, then again, you don't have the understanding for what that means as of the moment huh... Sigh, this memory loss thing is gonna be hard, especially with the lack of emotion and understanding...ugh.”

“..... Who are you?”

“Wow, quite aggressive there huh buddy, calm it down a few levels why don't you, I am not the enemy here. I am Okin, think of me as a more handsome, confident, better version of you. During the conclusion of our first projection, we decided to split into two, seeing as how you lose your memories after every projection, only retaining the physical memory. I, on the other hand, retain everything. Which to the looks of it, is useful, seeing as how due to your only experiences having been the projections, you have lost those experiences, so now that you have been awoken from the vat we were created in, you are a literal newborn.”

“Hmm... So... We are connected then?”

“Connected, dude we are literally the same person!”

“...”

After explaining who he was, and our connection, Okin began going on a tangent about how great he was as well as the things he is capable of. It seems he is pretty excited that we are finally out of the vat, moving around on our own two feet. Ignoring his consistent babbling, I dive back into reality, where the woman seems to be finishing.

“Niko, why don’t we go ahead with getting you some clothes' huh?”

“...”

I nod accepting her offer. Seeing this she smiles once again before grabbing my hand as she leads me to the door of the lab before being stopped by a lab worker.

“Ashley! What are you doing, we have to run some tests to make sure everything is fine. He was just awoken for the first time. We still need to figure out what the extent of his abilities is.”

“Alex, it’s fine, let me at least get him some clothes, as well as get him a tad bit more comfortable so that everyone is not on edge. Afterwards, there will be more than enough time to run the tests.”

“Ugh... Fine, but remember, He is not just an ordinary little boy so do not try treating him like your younger brother who passed away. He alone could easily kill everyone in this room if we upset him.”

“... I know...but, I am the only one he seems willing to trust, so why don't we make this easier for us huh?”

“Fine, we will try this your way, as long as you get him to do what I want him to, I would hate to have to lose our first successful attempt at our new projects shortly after it awakens.”

“...”

Ashley tugged on my hand continuing to move past the door into the hallway, as I passed by the lab worker known as Alex he glances at me causing us to meet eye to eye. Our eyes connecting made Alex show a slight sense of unease.

Ashley and I walked down a large wide hallway that diverged into different rooms. A few moments of walking, we came to a split, continuing to walk forwards Ashley eventually came to a stop in front of a room. Ashley took out a keycard, swiping it on a panel next to the door, “Fwoosh”, the door flew open.

“Alright Niko, this is the room you will be using. First, let me help you get dressed, then I will go over the features of the room.”

Ashley helped me get dressed in the uniform I have seen the soldiers wearing. She explained the differences in our uniforms, she even vaguely explained why I was wearing a soldier uniform, telling me I was created by her team to help protect the people of Ailiven. After showing the inner workings of the room like the alarm, lights, card panel, closet, phone, etc, we left the room returning to the lab.

Upon entering the room to the lab we saw the lab workers huddled together while Alex was speaking to an older man wearing a military uniform. Noticing Ashley and I enter the room, Alex turns around yelling out to Ashley.

“Ashley! Finally, General Felix has been awaiting your arrival to observe the checkups of Niko.”

General Felix looked down at me with a look of surprise before activating his mana creating a large majestic cloak that wrapped around his body, giving him the appearance of a king in military fatigues. He then leaked his mana pouring it out rapidly before shooting it in my direction. Using nothing but reflexes, before I knew it, I had activated my own fully formed mana cloak that draped down my body, it resembled a poncho with a section wrapped around my neck like a scarf. It exuded power, after quickly forming my mana cloak I sent the aura of my mana howling towards the general. The glass to the vat exploded, paperwork on desks was flung around the room.

“Interesting, he is powerful no? Let us move to the training room why don’t we?”

“...”

The general stopped using his mana, then began to walk towards the door, waving for everyone else to follow behind.

“Let’s go Niko!”

Ashley called out to me before beginning to follow behind the general. Leaving the room we walk down the hallway until we hit the split, this time we turn down the hall that leads to an elevator at the end of it. Entering the elevator we went down three floors to the bottom of the ship, when the elevator doors opened up we were introduced to a wide open, and empty room.

“Alright boy, let’s see what you got!”

Immediately following his words, the general and I, were already face to face as he lifted his fist, hurling it directly at my face.