I regain feeling, it's a warm feeling and I feel wetness all around me. There are muffled voices speaking and I cant tell what they are saying. Both are female, but every now and then a male voice interjects. There is also the sound of a heart rate monitor steadily beeping away. I feel as if I am in zero gravity, floating without a care in the world. This is nice, but I have work to do.

I feel a sharp pain on my back as something traces across my back. It moves in very purposeful arcs before going away just as quickly as it arrives. The voices are now talking in a hushed tone as they move behind me. I hear one of the women laugh suddenly before they both move in front of me again. I feel as if it is time to wake up.

I use all the willpower I have to open my mouth and reality comes to me in the form of harsh artificial light. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light but my sense of touch comes back in full. I have a mask over my nose and mouth pumping cold air into my lungs. I am in some kind of fluid that feels much denser than water but is comfortably warm and its heaviness feels like a very gentle compress all over. The fluid is tinted slightly blue and as my eyes continue to adjust I can see the glass wall in front of me and slowly beyond comes into focus.

In front of me is Kassandra, who has a black eye, and Seraphina standing next to her, clear signs of running makeup on her face. Holstein has a metal beam wrapped around him like bindings and is staring at me intensely, not in anger or fear, but in pure wonderment and almost... joy. I look around and see I am in the butchers' shop that is the cloning room. Seraphina smiles at me as I lock eyes with her and looking at Kassandra she is also beaming up at me.

[Ah! The transfer is complete, welcome to the land of the living again. Notice, you have no cables in your neck or back, instead I have a cool wireless chip in your head, of course, you still have attachment ports for AMS piloting, but I can talk with you whenever!}

(Yeah, no shit. Alright, I'm ready to be free from this... place. I am slowly starting to feel a little like I'm drowning.)

[HAHA! Alrighty. Starting release, take it slowly at first, you aren't exactly used to this new hot bod.]

I nod, knowing he can see me. There is a loud hiss and a bubbling noise and slowly the fluid starts draining. The air is cold when it hits my skin and I blink out the fluid from my eyes. As the fluid drains, I feel a little bit chilly, but when it can no longer support me I put weight on my feet and instantly fall to my knees. It felt so unstable when I put my feet down when my toes hit the metal below...

Wait, toes?

I look down to see two full fleshy legs. I wiggle my toes slowly and can't help but laugh out of joy and I smile widely at having normal legs back. This will make walking less of a chore, and going up a flight of stairs shouldn't make me suck wind anymore.

With the fluid, all drained the tank opens and I remove the oxygen mask. I slowly begin supporting my weight on my legs. It feels so strange to support my own weight, no certainty in steel beneath me, I feel my calf flex for the first time since I can remember. My foot supporting my weight rather than a metal brick. My body acts on instinct and within a minute I am standing upright, it feels amazing to stand on feet that are my own. Then I notice something as well. I feel powerful, like extremely so. I look at my arms, they look skinnier than they were prior, but the muscles beneath are clearly better toned. Same with my thighs, skinnier and lankier, but clearly just as strong. What did Wendigo create here?

I take my first step out and at first, I am wobbly, but quickly I am able to take more steps with a more sure and sturdy gait. When removed from the tank I thank Wendigo for at least giving me a pair of underpants rather than having me be in front of people naked. I raise my arms above my head and stretch myself out which feels awesome and I groan happily as every joint pops.

I look over at the surprised, but happy Seraphina and joke,

"Man! You have no idea how much rigor mortis really makes you stiff!"

I laugh at the bad joke as a towel is thrown at me from behind. Kassandra speaks,

"Welcome back Mike. It was very surprising that you are back, even more, so that... the original you managed to take over our entire system. I wouldn't have known if your AMS hadn't come alive and wrapped Holstein in a steel beam, I guess you beat us... even though we weren't against you."

I sigh and turn around disappointed and start drying off,

"Well excuse me for not wanting to be a living science experiment. My bad for rebelling against being used as a pawn."

She looks away embarrassed, she knows what she did was wrong. I finish drying off and I am hugged from behind. Seraphina has me wrapped tightly and says to me softly,

"When I had come across your AMS carrying your body I was scared, I hit Kassandra until she took me to where you were and I came across... the truth... I had no idea... but from what I've learned neither did you... Please, Mike. Don't die again."

I place my hand on top of hers and reply,

"I can't protect you if I am dead, I'll do my best to stay alive."

She releases me and I put my hands on my hips and say,

"Well... I'm going to find some clothes, and then go and see what my new body can do... any objections?"

Kassandra continues to look down in shame, and Holstein seems to be in a blissful state. Seraphina simply nods at me and then I begin walking to where my room was when I first woke up to see if I left anything behind.

The hike to the converted office is a little awkward, but I keep my head high. Walking around while in nothing but my underpants is a new experience, but the halls are mostly empty in the office wing as it is a Saturday and most of the office workers are off. The room still has a bed in it, but I find no clothes until I look underneath the bed. Under the bed is a small cardboard box and inside are some plastic-wrapped clothes. A pair of cargo pants in a dull gray color, and a white t-shirt which is a medium, even in my more sleek body I am still large so the medium fits tightly. There are also a pair of cheap sneakers and white socks which slip on just fine. The shoes are size 14 which is about what I expected to need. I don't know who put the box here but I thank them under my breath happy I don't have to be naked.

I move to a bathroom to take a look at myself in the mirror.

My figure is slimmer than I was before dying, but my shoulders are a little wider, through the tight shirt I can see that my body is incredibly muscular but not bulky, it's lean and powerful, similar to that of a big cat. My face is honestly much better looking but at the same time the last I looked at myself I had a shitty little neckbeard going on because I was too lazy to shave on a regular basis. Feeling my chin I notice a strange lack of hair follicles, maybe I can't grow a beard. My hair is in a military cut and still dark brown, but my eyes catch my attention. They seem to slightly reflect the light reflecting off the mirror and their blue color is a little lighter than my original slightly dull gray colored eyes.

I remove the tight shirt and whistle at myself, no matter how hard I tried could never get visible abs, while my core was incredibly strong due to the work I put into it. Now, this new body has vaguely visible abs showing through the small layer of healthy fat. The toning of my arms and shoulders is far beyond what I had when I was thicker, it's clear the density of my musculature has been increased considerably. I feel really strong, and after some testing, I am also quite flexible, able to rotate my shoulders in strange directions.

I turn around and look at my back muscles and nearly fold-over laughing. While my back is quite well defined as expected, over top of it is a tattoo, the tattoo is over the horned and fanged skull that was painted on the faceplate of Wendigo. I can't believe that robot fuck actually did that!

[Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. An artist has to sign his work somehow. So now that you're alone and we can talk time for a meeting about features since you are now checking yourself out.]

(Alright, what's new, aside from being built like a romance novel's male character?)

[HAHA. I was planning originally to make you a twelve-foot tall demigod so stop making fun of my work making you normal looking. I of course made what I would define as a perfected or at least greatly improved version of ourselves. Although it's not perfect, give me a year and I'll make a truly perfect version of you, but that's not what I want to explain.]

(Okay, so you just made me a fanfiction version of yourself?)

[SHUT THE FUCK UP! I HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET FOR OVER A DAY, THE FUCKING FANFICS I HAVE COME ACROSS ON HERE THAT WERE IN PLACES THEY SHOULDN'T IS DISTURBING. THE ONLY THING MORE DISTURBING IS THE CONTENT! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HORRIBLE IT IS TO HAVE EVERY SHITTY PIECE OF FETISH ART CROSS YOUR MIND AND YOU CANT PURGE IT NO MATTER WHAT SO YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT IN YOUR HEAD AT ALL TIMES, CONSTANTLY AND ALWAYS!]

(Okay! I'm sorry I don't know, calm down!)

[Yeah, I was mostly joking, but God damn man... people are fucked. But now for the featured program.

First, the most obvious feature, your musculature has been upgraded, you aren't superhumanly strong but you are far stronger than what your build allows, and you can theoretically become exponentially stronger than a normal human, but I don't recommend that because I have you at a perfect equilibrium for great muscle mass and strengths, combined with speed and flexibility. A perfect soldier, of course, you'll need to work on your stamina some, but your baseline is far better than a normal human.

Metabolically you are both incredibly efficient in gaining as many nutrients as possible, and also faster. Trust me your immune system is basically a nuclear power in the level of strength, you'll not get sick for longer than a day, and wounds will heal even quicker than before. It's pretty good.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Your heart and lungs are better than before so you have that great stamina and can hold your breath for a long time. The liver has been upgraded so you gain immunity to quite a few different toxins, but not all of course. Finally is your senses, I upgraded them a little, but most importantly is vision. Your vision was already 20/20 so nothing changed there but I added that reflective thing wolves have to your eyes, which allows for the ability to see in low light, and in some cases even in the dark, so long as it isn't pitch black.

So yeah, overall you are a badass, but not some super-duper soldier.]

(Well... That's pretty fucking cool. So tell me this. Why didn't Seraphina freak out at my new body? I mean it's been at most a few hours right?)

[HAHA, yeah, more like two days. Biology is kinda hard and I had to make some major assumptions about what does what and what goes where.

But overall she did freak out, but I've done my damnedest to calm her down, Dusty clocked Kassandra, and Liberty just laughed and left to her room, all while I kept things... somewhat civil.

I recommend now since you are dressed to go and talk to the ladies, at the end of the day, they are your friends or the closest thing to them you have.]

(Yeah, good idea. Man... time is really fucky when you don't have a body.)

[Yup... alright I have work to do, go and talk. I'll give you a guide.]

I watch as a blue line appears on the floor leading me out the door and into the hall. I guess this feature is useful. I check over my bare torso one more time noticing my lack of scars and then put my shirt on and follow the line.

The path is direct and to the point, the fastest route through the building, during my walk I start to realize how different things feel. I haven't been able to let loose and try out the physical capabilities of my new body, but just walking I can feel the spring-loaded power of my new legs, it might be just because I got used to carrying around my heavy metal legs but each step I have to consciously not skip around due to using way to much force to lift my foot. I also notice the smallest of things in the halls, from dents in the walls, paint scrapes, and distant conversations. I can comprehend these things all at once and it's truly surprising how much you normally miss when just walking down a hall, especially noticing this all while still being focused on one task, it feels strange but oddly satisfying.

The line goes into a seemingly random office door and I knock lightly before entering. It's another office room converted into a simple bedroom like the one I stay in. Sitting at the desk shoved into the corner is Liberty who is working hard on a computer with heavy bags under her eyes.

She looks up at me from her work and it takes a few moments for her to comprehend my presence before she stands up and asks,

"I haven't slept for a day and a half now, so much administration bullshit after the shit at the academy... am I finally at the point where I have full-on visual hallucinations?"

I shake my head and reply with a laugh,

"Nope, just got a fresh new body. The newest model, it even has cupholders."

She laughs and says to me,

"Alright... I'm happy to hear that. I was worried after I learned you finally had gotten yourself killed. I'd probably be much happier to see you if I wasn't so tired and swamped with work.

Anyways I'll be heading out soon, I have business to attend to and my help won't be too... well helpful with what you're planning to do moving forward."

I nod and leave her to her work. I can't fault her for wanting to keep what she had built up over the years since the war. As soon as I leave a new line appears and I begin following the pale blue light. It leads me to a nearby room and when I knock and enter I am greeted by both Dusty and Eloise. They at first just stare at me wide-eyed and very surprised at what they assume is a walking corpse. I smile awkwardly and say,

"Well... I guess I'm back?"

Dusty approaches me slowly before touching my arm seemingly trying to make sure I even exist and when she feels flesh she wraps me in a brutal bear-hug. She pleads to me,

"Don't make me worry Like that. It makes it hard to act tough."

I laugh and Eloise seems elated to see me as well but she remains a few meters away beaming happily and congratulating me on not being dead. It feels good to be worried about, it means someone cares deeply about you. I bask in the good feelings as I am lectured on how being dead was really a bad thing for me to be before I break away and say to them,

"I have to go get something done... something I should have done a while ago."

I am released and begin walking away from the converted office spaces following the blue line. It leads me to a conference room, the smallest one in the building. and I wait at the door building the courage for the talk I am about to have and preparing for anything negative to come.

[She's inside. I called her in a while ago. Good luck. Call if you need information or help]

(Will do... I think I am ready.)

I push through the door and into the small room. It resembles a very decorative interrogation room with a small table that holds only a couple of people. Across from me is Seraphina who smiles beautifully at me as I enter. She is about to stand to greet me until she sees my neutral yet determined expression. She remains seated but keeps a happy, but reduced smile on her face.

I sit across from her with a long exhale and say,

"Damn. I come back from the dead and I already feel tired and drained."

I laugh lightly at my attempt at humor but then lock eyes with Seraphina and say,

"I have something to tell you... and I want you to listen to all I have to say before forming your opinion and feelings. What I have to say may upset you but avoid lashing out or leaving until I finish. I have to say everything I need to say. I have avoided this for too long."

Her face grows concerned but she nods and says,

"I will hear you out fully, it's the least I can do."

I smile emptily and begin after clearing my throat,

"Alright, what you already know, I am not who I say I am, just to get this out of the way, I had no idea that I am not the original me until recently either, so we both are in the same boat there.

But it does go further. Well... I... the original, and by extension me, are much older than what we look.

I'll just say I from now on. It is me, and this shit did happen to Mike Richardson and he did these things, it's just me and not me at the same time. Kinda a weird situation..."

She nods and I continue,

"I actually served as a soldier in the war nineteen, almost twenty years ago. I fought for the United States during the early days of the war in search of revenge for my father who died during the initial AMS engagements. To put it lightly I was good at what I did. I killed many Solar Empire soldiers during my service and during my service, I was gravely wounded and I guess turned into the AI that talks to us sometimes, and then fragments of the original memory were uploaded to the minds of many clones, the me you knew being the most successful one, and now in the weird perfect clone thing you see in front of you now.

It's a strange situation but I am me, and the person you knew is right in front of you. Just technically not physically, but... well you get the point."

She remains listening intently processing the information but is seemingly understanding of what happened. The idea of it being a war that I was fighting in justifying any and all killings of those past Imperial soldiers. Plus that was nineteen years ago and people she never met. A tragedy but nothing I am to be blamed for. Now I turn to the worst topic,

"During my service, I managed to kill... multiple high ranking officials of the Solar Empire, if I remember correctly at least one Knight Captain and some other such things. Then there was my last fight...

...Seraphina... I am the one who killed your father. The first Solar Emperor. It was me... or him... It was fair and no tricks, but I came out on top... I am not sorry for doing it, but I am sorry that I took your father from you.

I am the one who was blamed for the mass destruction of St.Louis, I am the one who was posthumously declared a war criminal, a martyred pariah who took the horrors of the war to the grave with me..."

I go quiet having said all that was needed. No reason to explain in detail unless she asks. It's better if I leave it as is, explained simply and to the point, it's the least I can do.

Seraphina stares at me incredulously for a time before realizing I was being completely honest. I watch her go through many emotions quickly. Sadness, betrayal, anger, mindnumbing fury, confusion, denial, and finally a cold and emotionless aceptance. She then speaks slowly,

"I promised I wouldn't lose my temper until you are finished. Tell me. Is that all? Did you hear his last words?"

I pause realizing I only vaguely remember the whole fight and situation, just the major points. I heard his last words but can only remember content, not specifics.

(Wendigo. What were the emperor's last words?)

[Oh shit, yeah here they are.]

My mouth seems to move on its own as I recite the words which were never mine,

"You got me... hell of a good fight young man, shame my time ends here, I would've loved to have you in my empire... you could've brought us such victory... no... that's not important, victory and glory were the golden lights we climbed towards, like moths to a flame we marched forward, not thinking of consequences while blinded by honor and pride. Victory and the glory it would bring, but no thought of the consequences, the millions dead, and even more displaced or left destitute by this waste of life and time. Why did I allow this? I am to lead my people to prosperity, not into the fire which we flew oh so blindly towards... I... I...

...Enough words of glory... that doesn't matter anymore. A long-lost cause. Useless and hopefully forgotten. I'll tell you. I regret many things. I regret allowing my people to deify me, to make me a god. That allowance led to the destruction that we find ourselves surrounded by. I am no god, I am hardly a man... I regret starting this war, if I am a god to them why couldn't I say no to the prospect of invading earth? Why couldn't I say no?

But my biggest regret, one I never realized I had until now, lying here on the lap of the man who struck the final blow. I will never be able to raise my daughter. She was born just as I left to come and join the fight. I couldn't let hundreds of thousands of my people die while I sit on a throne. I just couldn't... I-It is what makes me fear death the most, the thought of my daughter growing up without a father to guide and protect her. Without me... I hope she will grow up right...

Thank you young man for listening... it's nice my last words are being heard... Thank you..."

The stream of information quickly cuts off and I abruptly stop to my dismay as I feel there was more.

(What gives? )

[Trust me. It's better we show her the actual last bit. I can probably upload it on a screen, but she'll think you're lying if you say the last part. It's way to... well it's unrealistic for the situation we find ourselves in now. He kinda praises you highly and asks you, after the empire is conquered by the US to pretty much adopt Seraphina or something like that. Just let her know we can give her the full thing, and you're done talking now. Anything more will be digging a deep hole.]

(okay.)

I say calmly,

"I am finished with what I have to say. Feel free to do as you wish..."

She had started to cry somewhere during the last words and is now wiping her eyes, she keeps her eyes facing downward as she stands up and approaches me and then hits me full force, not some little punch, but a closed fist slug to the face. I take it and straighten up again right into another one. I almost fall over but before I right myself again she throws another and I fall off the chair and onto the ground where she follows and begins hitting me over and over. Her punches start hard enough to give me concern for the possibility she is going to try and beat me to death, but quickly they weaken and become more sloppy as her body heaves with sobs.

The force she used to punch me was enough to daze me on the fist blow but overall not hard enough to be of concern, she isn't a boxer by any means so I don't worry about a broken nose or cheekbone, I just took the punches with no attempt to defend myself, just enough to protect myself from injury. I don't deserve this, but she needs to vent and let off some steam. I understand that. I'd rather her get it out here and on me than on someone who doesn't deserve it even more than me.

She eventually breaks down completely and her punches lose all power and her arms fall to her side as she then begins berating me while crying profusely,

"HOW DARE YOU HIDE THIS FROM ME! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN COLLUDING WITH THE MAN WHO KILLED MY FATHER. THE ONE WHO IS THE REASON I COULDN'T GROW UP LIKE A THE REST OF THE GIRLS! THE REASON I WASN'T KEPT SAFE FROM GREEDY NOBILITY WHO TRIED TO GROOM ME CONSTANTLY TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES!

HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO LIVE LIKE THAT. I DON'T THINK I LIVED A SINGLE DAY IN MY LIFE UNTIL YOU FREED ME FROM IT AND NOW TO FIND OUT IT WAS YOUR FAULT FROM THE BEGINNING!."

She continues like this for a minute or so but tuckers out and gains some composure. While I understand her anger and how I really am not deserving of this, I understand full well what it's like to lose your father and I would most likely act the same if I met the person who killed mine, I never got that chance as the one who did died a week later in some of the heavy fighting in Mexico City.