In a top secret facility hidden under a military base in a special conference room, a group of people were currently watching a girl with various expressions on their faces. The room’s projector hummed lowly as it showed the girl from numerous different angles.
The girl in question looked around 18 years old, her skin was like snow and complemented her long white hair that flowed freely down her back. She wore a custom lab coat with the top half being black and the bottom half white from the hips down. Her shirt was white and pants black and she had no shoes on, her black eyes were currently staring at a microwave.
“What is she doing?” a man dressed in a suit asked. “Making popcorn sir!” a young soldier reported, “I can see that, I want to know why?” the man retorted. There was round of mummers but no one answered. The sound of the microwave beeping caught the attention of the room again, and everyone watched as the girl took out the bag and opened it pouring the popcorn into a bowl to the side. She then placed another bag into the microwave, set it and watched.
“How long until the execution?” the same man asked, “Under an hour sir! The special program has just started now.” The same young soldier reported.
“I don’t believe the natural reaction to the execution of your foster father is to make popcorn. Has she done anything this past week?” the man asked in an annoyed tone.
“No suspicious movements reported sir!” said the young soldier. Before the man could continue his one-man show a woman adjusted her glasses “It’s pointless to try and explain these kinds of things, from what I’ve observed she likes to imagine us arguing over everything she does.”
“You are?” the man asked. “Dr Seraphina Wolf, I was privately hired to review Angelica’s mental state and I plan on recommending her immediate removal from this facility.”
Before the man dressed in a suit could respond a gruff voice spoke: “Hahaha you want to let that monster out into the world are you crazy?” Straightening his uniform the old general continued “Did you even watch the recordings of her strength?”
“As a matter of fact I did and I’m well aware that she can’t be taken lightly, but staying locked up here has a far greater risk of mental instability than on the outside.”
“Dr I think you’re misunderstanding something she volunteered to stay here and hasn’t complained about it once, what makes you think she even wants to leave?”
“Volunteered to stay here you say! She originally asked to be treated like a human but was treated as less than such, all her life she has been confined to a cage. The most original recordings of her show that she was more expressive and open even after growing up with the mad scientist, and now she’s completely closed herself off!”
Beep! The microwave again brought back attention to Angelica, if they had been watching closer before they would’ve noticed her tightly clenched hands. Repeating the same process as before Angelica discarded the popcorn bags and grabbed the bowl of popcorn and headed for the lounge.
The screen flickered flowing her every move as she sat down on the couch and turned on the TV to watch the special program.
The general turned back to Seraphina and said: “Doctor you sure are passionate about your work but now isn’t the time for debate Mr Nash will get your report and will take your findings into full consideration.” The general looked at the man in the suit for confirmation.
“The general is right; Angelica’s status can be debated another time, right now we need to watch for any unforeseen events occurring.” Compared to his earlier tone he was much more polite, his attitude screamed hypocrisy but Seraphina just huffed continued to watch Angelica.
She knew it was pointless to argue any further they cared more about the inventions Angelica made than what was right. More importantly, she had a hunch that Angelica was far more terrifying than either of them believed.
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Meanwhile, Angelica sat on the couch slowly eating the popcorn from the bowl on her lap. She wasn’t really paying attention to the program (A homage to all the hard work the allied nations had done) she already knew more than it would show. No, she was currently contemplating what she had heard from her hidden earpiece.
Specifically, should she leave or not. Currently, her escape plan had an estimated 95% chance of success, but she didn’t want to have to look over her back for the foreseeable future. It was more comfortable to be ‘securely’ watched than running all the time and she already experienced it once before.
Over the years she had spent in here not only had her body not aged but as she completed more inventions she would request more amenities be added so it was quite comfortable down here now. As for safety, she had long ago already gained full control over the facility, heck it was probably safer than going outside.
What pissed her off was that she was still not seen as human. Which is technically correct but she didn’t like being treated like a monster. Even if the allied nations let her out the public opinion on mutants wasn’t very high, she would face a pointless uphill battle to fit in.
Because of her vaccine mutants that retained their sanity weren’t as strong as ones that turned into true monsters, even their mutations were less severe, generally just changes in physical and mental strength. The more interesting ones changed to what people are calling Demi-humans. There have been reports of Elves, Dwarves and many different kinds of Beast-kin.
Angelica found it funny how the easiest way she found to deal with the mutation virus the mad scientist had released was to make sure it worked properly. Not that she would tell anyone that.
Thinking back to the doctor's words she truly has been in a cage all her life. When she thought that she had broken one another replaced it, but compared to life with the mad scientist this was heaven or more precisely a cage she had built herself. Oh well, I think I’ll just laze around until I get told off.
Shifting focus back to the real world Angelica noticed that the execution was reaching the high point as the mad scientist was currently restrained in a chair. The mad scientist looked like a typical old wizard with long grey beard and all. His current expression had a self-satisfied smirk as they read his long list of crimes for the world to hear, but Angelica wasn’t listening to that as she realised the execution method he had chosen.
“Pfft....” She couldn’t hold it together and exploded in a fit of giggling, the popcorn bowl thrown to the side making a huge mess. Lethal injection! Thinking of all the lives he ruined with an injection she couldn’t help but laugh at his decision on how to end his own.
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Taking deep breaths and calm herself down Angelica couldn’t help but smile; it truly was a great idea to take the time out her day to watch his execution she thought.
Ignoring the noisy voices in her ear, she quickly sat back up after her laughing fit it seemed that they were allowing the mad scientist his last words? No matter how think about it doesn’t that sound like a recipe for disaster? Well, they would have to release his statement anyway, wouldn’t they?
Ignorant of his foster daughter’s thoughts the mad scientist just looked straight at the camera and laughed heartily “The only regret in life is that I am unable to see it my greatest creation fully blossom.” The mad scientist continued to laugh as they administered the drugs and he quickly fell asleep with a crazy smile plastered on his face.
From the outside, it looked as Angelica calmly turned off the TV and quietly sat back down on the couch but on the inside she was fuming. Didn’t this just drop a whole bunch of problems on her! Damn it! I just planned on taking it easy!
As if to confirm her suspicions a bunch of nonsense could be heard coming from her earpiece. Sighing powerlessly, she laid down on the couch and stared at the ceiling. I guess I’ll enjoy this last moment of peace she thought.
As if mocking her, a blue screen appeared in the centre of Angelica’s vision. Ding!
Congratulations on your world reaching critical mass!
As the inhabitant with the most karma responsible for this feat, you have been selected to be the First Angel of Earth!
As a future Angel, you will be granted access to the Angel System!
Good luck guiding your world towards prosperity!
The World System will now begin with your ascension please stand by.
Angelica was astounded at the blue screens that floated in front of her. This was a joke right... had she finally snapped? Who the hell wants to be responsible for the prosperity of Earth she screamed internally.
Unaware or ignoring Angelica’s thoughts the World System loyally continued to operate only...
Error Subject is Suffering from a Critical Condition: Death
Activating Recovery Module.....
Checking Location for Potential Danger..... Isolating Space.....
Angelica somehow felt the world shift around her but there was no visible change. A blast of static came from her ear she quickly bolted upright discarding the earpiece. It seems this is really happening she thought as reached towards the TV remote.
Beginning Recovery Sequence.....
Angelica felt a tingling feeling throughout her body.
Error Subject still Suffers from Critical Condition: Death
No Shit I’m a Ghoul Angelica complained as she turned on the TV but it quickly shut down along with the rest of the lights. The room was replaced with eerie silence but luckily she had excellent night vision.
Activating Backup Recovery Module.....
Checking Soul Integrity..... No Degradation Found.....
Conditions Met Activating Ascension Module.....
Help! Angelica screamed in her mind having gotten used to not speaking in a long time. I think your Angel System has a serious bug she thought hoping for a response.
Error Subject is Suffering from a Critical Condition: Death
Activating Recovery Module.....
Checking Location for Potential Danger..... Conditions Met.....
This pattern! Don’t tell me...
Beginning Recovery Sequence.....
She felt the same sensation run through her body again.
Error Subject still Suffers from Critical Condition: Death
Activating Backup Recovery Module.....
Checking Soul Integrity..... No Degradation Found.....
Conditions Met Activating Ascension Module.....
Angelica watched in horror as the blue screens kept coming and going. She could only hope that whatever made this system knew how to program if that’s even how it worked.
Error Fatal Loop Found.....
Angelica almost jumped for joy when she saw this.
Activating Backup Ascension Module.....
Error Subject is Suffering from a Critical Condition: Death
#@$%#@! Angelica had the growing urge to punch whoever made this stupid system! Did they have a prejudice against the Undead or something? Sighing to herself Angelica realised she hadn’t felt like this in a long time, not since she was forced to work with the mad scientist. Clenching her fists tightly she promised to herself however things turned out she wouldn’t let herself be as vulnerable as this again.
Error Fatal Loop Found.....
Activating Experimental Emergency Backup Module.....
Lol Hello there! This is a pre-recorded message so don’t get your panties in a twist. I just thought it would be funny to sneak this in here because it’s impossible for a soul to last this long in a dead body without outside influence. Congratulations on meeting these conditions! Clap! Clap! Clap! Well, why bothering to say all this? Well, it’s simple the higher-ups want triple redundancy because it sounds good on reports without worrying about the practical implications of such a system. So here I am planning on getting hammered as fuck tonight and this message is before I half arse my way through this shit fest for the third time. Don’t worry future self I’ve already marked this part done and pre-programmed the experience to be filed away never to be seen again and all you will remember is that you did a damn fine job if I do say so myself. Anyway if by any chance this comes back to haunt me well... fuck me right! HAHAHA NOT POSSIBLE! – Sincerely Sam
As Angelica read the message her already pale face became white as white can be.
Activating Experimental Forced Ascension..... Let’s get this party started baby!
Before Angelica could retort she was assaulted with soul tearing pain, her vision went white and she quickly fainted.