hmm I had a Little more time today so I'll be posting one more chapter today.

Enjoy guys ^^

One Thing though. I kinda messed up and called Alex two different names [Alexis and Alexandra]

I'm not sure which one to use honestly.

I'll fix it at some Point.

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The first thing I noticed when opening my eyes was a burning sensation in every single one of my limbs. Wait. It hurts. I open my eyes and look at my newly acquired arms.

Dark grey just like the ones Ithild has. But I can barely move them sadly. But they solved my own problem for me. I could have recreated my legs and arms without problems really, it just would have taken a lot of time and I probably would have a hard time explaining how I regrew my limbs in the first place.

Then I started laughing, well I tried to at least. Since my mouth was still covered by some kind of breathing device I was merely making muffled sounds.

I felt quite tired though. Probably just a side effect of the different painkillers and anesthetics.

Quickly after waking up somebody steps in front of me and removes the device from my face.

It is one of the different doctors that seemed to have operated on me. Looking at me he checks my eyes and removes other different devices that where plugged into my limbs.

"The operations were a success. The limbs have connected just fine with the destroyed nerves. It was quite hard to regenerate the different tissues but everything should work now. If you would please move your fingers now. Just the fingers."

Following his orders I work my way through different tests and small workouts, ranging from simply moving my fingers/toes to making small jumping jacks.

At first my reactions seemed kind of delayed but the doctor told me that it was to be expected.

I enjoyed the feeling of the limbs. It was quite interesting to not be able to alter the flow of signals in my legs.

"You're adapting well to the changes. Captain Ithild will show you how exactly everything works. Until then please refrain from stressing them too much."

With that he motions me to follow him. Only then did I notice that I was only wearing a simple white operational shirt. Ah well, they'll give me clothes when I get further... I hope.

After walking through multiple hallways he shows me into a room that looks like some kind of cantina. Nobody is here except two people, one of them being Captain Ithild. The other one is one of the other members in her team I do not know... Well, I pretty much know none of them.

Ithild smiles at me and shoos the doctor away.

"I'm glad you're doing good. It seems everything went along smoothly. I have some clothes you can put on. I'll explain the details of your new gear when we're in the car. Just change here, Liam will turn around while you're changing."

She sends a small glare at the other man who just rolls his eyes and turns around.

Simply smiling afterwards she hands me a normal set of military garments consisting of cargo pants and a green t-shirt... Luckily she brought me some underwear... I would've been pissed if I had to walk around without.

After taking off the op shirt I can see the changes as a whole for the first time. They had not simply connected the bones that had remained of my limbs with the gear. They had completely removed everything of the limbs and replaced it with metal. The dark grey almost went up to my hips. My arms where the same, interestingly enough there was no clear border between flesh and metal. A quite smooth transition that even went up my neck onto my cheeks just like it was with captain Ithild.

After I had finished putting my clothes on Ithild passed me a pair of boots and some gloves.

"Put those on we'll be leaving now."

Liam turns around again and shortly after we leave the station.

Walking out of the main door the sun shortly blinds me but my new eyes adjust quickly. It seems I had gotten another upgrade on those too.

Surprisingly enough around us is not some kind of military base. But simply what seems to be a normal city.

"Ithild? Is this a normal hospital?"

"Kind of but not really. There is a whole separated part of the building that is used for military purposes. They put everything on you in that part."

Together with the silent Liam we walk onto a parking lot and into a waiting HMMWV [Humvee].

Inside Liam gets onto the driver's seat while I get into the back.

"Well, this could take a bit. The doctors told me that they pretty much put everything onto you that my entire squad has. Right now we'll be driving to a small training facility to show you the limits of the gear.

First of all. These things are insanely durable. The only problem with them is a pain threshold. They are directly connected to your nerves, to be able to react quicker the electric signals coming from your brain are boosted by an accelerator. And the only one in control of that is the operator him or herself. Meaning you.

If you force yourself to move faster you will feel as if you had molten metal in your veins."

I start laughing. I was already in constant pain. I already felt like I was on fire.

"That will not be a problem for me. I will manage." I simply tell her.

Liam sneers but doesn't say anything.

"We will see about that. Anyways. Even I do not know what exactly this stuff is made of. Fact is that you probably will not be able to break them... but if you somehow manage to do that... Well, let's just say it will hurt a lot and you will have to go through another operation.

That's pretty much everything about theory. I'll need to show you the rest while training or it won't make any sense to you, trust me. Do you have any questions about the limbs?

Other questions will have to wait. I won't take you in if you have not at least passed the normal tests with the new limbs, just so you know."

No I didn't. The only thing I was interested in was putting my cells into and maybe onto my limbs to make them seem more normal but that would have to wait a bit until I had some time for myself.

"No I don't really have any questions concerning that. I think it will be easier to learn by experience..." then I remembered the main point of what I used to do.

"Well, I do have one question I think. What is the highest amount of weight that the legs can hold?" With my gravity it could get dangerous if I force my body to be heavy again.

Ithild turns back and faces me from the passenger's seat.

"Couple tons probably, we can't really test that because the human tissue would get crushed if we put that much pressure on it. The arms can definitely hold multiple tons, I've tried that personally. Is it because of you gravity control?"

"Yea, I'm just worried that my power will affect the artificial parts."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that honestly. the limbs are durable enough to withstand enough. We were just limited by the weak tissue in between."

"Good enough, I will try it later on after you've taught me the basics I guess. How long will it take us to get to the training grounds?"

"Maybe one or two hours. They had to be made way off from the city since out training sometimes goes overboard. Well, pretty much everything in the south gets tested there. We're just a small part of the equipment I guess."

Hmm? That's interesting.

"Why is the hospital so far off then? I mean would it not make more sense to have both in the same place?" I questioned her.

"Well, this building is a special case. Because of the massacre on our old base the higher ups decided that it would be better to have the unusable equipment in a separate location. In this case artificial limbs. It would be a pain to have to recover them from something like New Hampshire. This hospital was a research facility for the military.

They worked... on espers and . Well, that's in the past anyways."

I didn't press the matter. I did not really want to know what had happened in the labs during first appearances of espers.

Feeling tired all of the sudden I rested my head on the window and closed my eyes.

I looked down on my hands.

Why are they pink? Where did my grey limbs go? Why are they so small?

A dream maybe?

I want to laugh, this was the first dream in ages I had. But my laugher was quenched instantly when I looked around.

It was my old home, not the house I lived in in Jamestown.

A female voice resounded through the room.

"Alex sweetie where are you? Food is ready."

Tears roll down my cheeks as I hear a voice I thought I would ever here again.

"M...Mom?"

I don't care about anything and rush towards our old kitchen.

Inside I can spot a person wearing an apron standing in front of the stove.

"Oh no, sweetie, why are you crying? Did you hurt yourself?"

I can't hold it anymore and hug her legs, tears of joy now flooding out of my eyes.

Sobbing into her trousers I refrain from moving.

My mother crouches down and pats my head.

"What is it Alex? Please don't cry. Daddy is going to be here soon and then we can eat together as always. He'll be back in a minute I'm sure of it."

Haa.aahaa.

"I love you mom." I simply tell her and keep holding onto her leg.

"Now now I know that, I love you too sweetie. But you need to let mommy's leg go so I can get the food to the table, why don't you sit down already? I made some stew you two liked so much. I think you're a big lady now that you've turned six, you don't need us to carry you to the table now do you?"

Now crying and laughing at the same time I rush to our family table and jump onto the seat.

Quickly after my mom follows me and bots a big pot onto the table. Since the lid is closed I can't smell anything but I'm sure it'll be awesome.

I instantly pick up one of the bowls on the table and move to take the ladle to serve myself but my mother stops me.

"Now now. Your father will be here any minute now. How about waiting once in a while little monster."

Smiling and poking at my belly she takes the ladle away from me and puts it back into the pot.

"But mooooooooom! I wanna eaaat"

I feel reverted into my six year old self and start acting appropriately.

"Noooo, the stew-monster has come to eat all my precious steeew!!"

With a surprised laugh my mother picks up a spoon.

"I must defend it."

I can't keep my stuff together anymore and stumble onto the floor laughing.

I had already forgotten about me being insatiable and my parents making fun of it.

I cried again, again out of happiness.

"Now now, come on, you don't know what was on that floor now do you? Come on Alex, get up we don't want your clothes to get dirty."

A male voice interrupts me rolling on the floor laughing. [ROFL O_O]

"DAAAAAAAD" instantly jumping up I run towards the dark figure waiting in the door.

I rush into his arms and hug hum like I did with my mother. He also seems taken aback by my aggressive love.

"Woa, little one is your mother's love not enough for a day? I was only away for work."

haaa, I didn't care.

"I'm not letting go." because of my crying I smeared snot all over his pants... didn't care though.

Now my mom steps in.

"So we have successfully defended my stew? The Insatiable has been defeated!"

Lifting up her spoon in a victory pose and with one foot on a chair she looks like somebody who just defeated a grand beast... Minus the sword but nonetheless epic.

"NOoooooOOooOo!" I shout and rush back to my chair.

"I wanna eaaat, you're late dad!" I accuse him and again reach for the ladle but again my mom stops me.

"Jeesh Alex you're hungry today, what's up with you? Now at least let your dad get home ok?"

"Fineee." grumbling in my chair I wait for my dad to put his work related stuff away.

He then moves to my mother, hugs her and gives her a kiss.

"Hi honey, was she hard to control? She seems very active today."

"I don't know, she suddenly started crying. Not sure what happened."

hey, I can understand you, you know.

"She looks happy. Let's not make the Insatiable angry now. Let's eat!"

With that he takes a seat and my mother fills our bowls up with a meaty stew.

I love it.

haaaaaaa

I quickly shove a lot of it into my mouth and regret it instantly.

"Haawt" spitting out the how piece of meat I hold my tongue.

"Wow, you really are hungry. You know you have to blow on it. Look like this."

She blows on her spoon and points it at me. Without long thinking I snap forwards and gobble it down in one go.

"Yum!"

While I eat my food my parents start a conversation.

"Marcus? My car has problems with the gearing, do you think you can take a look at it later today? I need to drive little Alex to school... I don't feel comfortable doing that with a non functioning car."

My dad sighs.

"Just take mine. I'll take a look at it tomorrow, I feel quite exhausted. A truck didn't deliver in time and we had to organize three flights. And guess who will be responsible. Yea, me and the others."

she glares at him.

"Marcus, I don't feel comfortable if the car is not working appropriately. Please just quickly take a look at it after dinner."

He'll give in like always, even if he really doesn't want to do it. My mom is quite unforgiving.

"Fine Sophie, I'll do it for you. Just let me rest a bit ok?"

"Fine. But don't you dare to overlook it. I want to at least know what's up with the car by tomorrow."

"Mom come on let's just eeaaaat!"

I interrupt the two and extend my bowl for seconds.

Both of my parents faces turn gentle.

"Of course Alex let's eat. Maybe we'll invite Zoe to come over next time, how about it?

Zoe!

"YEEEEEEES!"

On the ride two people watched the young woman's peaceful sleep.

The woman on the passenger's seat turns around to the driver.

"Liam? What exactly did you do to her? She looks way too happy, and she cried not too long ago."

The man only sends her a slight smile.

"I just unlocked some of her memories. She had quite the mental blockade. I simply took down the walls."

"It shouldn't do damage to be happy once in a while, she seemed quite stressed. I'm glad we could take her in after what had happened."

He turns his head towards her.

"Karen.... She's not your sister."

In a flash various emotions run through Captain Ithild's face, so fast that it could only have been an illusion.

"I know."

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Muahahahahahaha

I bet you all expected some tragic shit to happen

I hope you enjoyed the small insight into her past, pre-esper Family life. ^^