When I awoke the room was still a bright white. The octopus-like machine seemed to be roving over my chest. From a few of its smaller snake-like limbs, little beams of light scanned over small portions of my chest.

I had no idea if it was just scanning or doing something else. I didn't feel anything odd due to the lights.

My body felt weak, but the sick feeling had abated. I had an uncontrollable twitch in my left foot. My skin felt like it didn't fit right. Almost foreign. The feeling was awful. I had the uncontrollable urge to itch. Of course, bound as I was it was wishful thinking.

The spider-like robot "Toby" immediately approached and hovered close by while watching me.

In my still groggy state, I started to ask questions immediately.

"What did you do to me? What are you going to do to me?! Why are you doing this to me!?"

I asked the questions in a feverish rush. I was panicking again. I could feel it.

The robot gave a chirp that cut off the octopuses movement and answered with creepy, honey filled, and synthetic sounding words.

"You're doing so good buddy! I know you can do this! You are already so energetic! You're the best candidate yet!"

It was only spouting more feel-good programmed social responses. I cut the robot short.

"Answer me!"

I screamed at the robot with rage while it jerked to a halt and observed me. A few seconds later it's cheerful voice spoke.

"Candidate 782 has been injected with Icarus project nanite solution #256.

Candidate has bonded well within an acceptable range with the nanites to proceed with phase three. The nanites within Candidate 782 have also shown high success rate bonding with Alpha embryo cells.

As to Candidate 782 second and third question, your rank does not allow access to classified information. You have already been informed of this. Candidates will receive only semi-classified information pertaining to their own project advancement status."

It was the most the robot had ever spoken and the rapid-fire way it happily went on made me almost miss parts of its speech. I also had trouble comprehending the vast majority of it.

I did, however, catch a few choice parts that seemed important. I had already heard the word nanite during the earlier procedure. I had also heard the word alpha embryo cell before. Those two things scared me the most.

"What are these nanites? What is an alpha embryo cell?"

I was in information gathering mode again. I needed more info. It would help me gain even a little more control over my situation. Anything would make me a little less panicky. Asking questions didn't seem to get punished and sometimes I got answers. It was worth asking.

"The Nanites are multipurpose nanorobots. They have altered candidate 782's body and genetic structure to facilitate awakened alpha embryo cells. Icarus project nanites also enhance the host's abilities. Any further information will be taught to you by a commanding officer during training and testing.

Any information pertaining to alpha cells besides their existence is marked highly classified. Candidate 782's rank does not qualify for such information. Candidate 782 must receive authorization from a superior officer ranked colonel or higher within Icarus project staff to receive the requested information."

Fuck me... so basically they are turning me into a monster?!!

I heard a lot I didn't like. Altered body, genetics, facilitate awakened alpha embryo. I could only picture images of a Frankenstein like monster, or ghouls in my head.

The words altered genetics and embryo circled in my head. I had a flashback to the poor scavenger with a belly full of parasites. I felt sick for a moment.

I told myself that you don't give monsters rank. That was my thread of hope. Even now I didn't fully understand why I was given rank. It made sense that there was a reason. I hoped it wasn't just a quirk in this robot's program.

Maybe the robot could only operate on-base personnel. I wasn't base personnel so the robot found a loophole. Assign me rank and, presto problem solved! I have no idea what programming errors may have popped up in a 600-year-old mechanical "mind".

As I started formulating new questions the robot spoke again.

"Phase three required the base main fusion reactor to be started. Fuel reserves are extremely low. Time is of paramount consideration. Candidate 782 is asked to hold all questions until the end of phase three."

I was stunned. I felt angry. I was basically told to shut the hell up...

The robot Toby chirped and the octopus-like machine snaked an arm out and stabbed at my arm. I felt it inject something.

"What was that?"

I ignored the robot's request to hold my question and asked anyway. The robot didn't even attempt to answer my question. It just stared at me.

Seconds later a slithering scrape and a whoosh, as well as a few clicks, could be heard from my right. I looked over to see a pedestal rise from the ground.

On the pedestal, an odd device rested. It seemed fixed to the pedestal or even a part of it. The pedestal ended in a large bright yellow crystal. There was an inner light to the crystal. Even in the well-lit room, it showed it's inner brilliance.

I almost panicked again at the thought this thing might be put inside me. It was much too large for that though. It was as big as a watermelon.

I soon realized it was very familiar. It had the same color as the cores we had dug out of core beasts, though the ones we dug out of them were much smaller and did not have this bright a glowing inner shine.

Sound soon started resonating from the large crystal. The sound seemed very odd. Like a frequency or deep vibration. It made me uncomfortable.

I felt sick as the sound grew in intensity. I could FEEL the sound with my body. The experience was very uncomfortable. I felt hot and extremely itchy.

The sound started pulsing as the light from the large core crystal grew in intensity. The light seemed to pulse in unison with the sound.

As the light from the crystal grew I noticed the lights from the room actually dimmed with each pulse!

My discomfort grew and every cell in my body began to vibrate. I felt heat like fire inside my chest that seemed to radiate out to my limbs with each pulse. My head felt like my skull could vibrate out of it at any moment.

When the sound started decreasing instead of increasing I felt immediate relief. The crystal that was now glaring and sun like also began to grow more and more dim.

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I heaved and took gasping breaths while my body slowly stopped shaking apart at the cellular level. I praised a God I was pretty sure didn't exist and drank in the sweet absence of pain.

The heat in my chest radiating into my limbs however did not abate in the least. It only seemed to slowly grow in intensity over time.

I began to squirm as much as I could but secured to the table as I was, it didn't accomplish much.

It was one particular area that burned the most. I felt like there was a red hot piece of steel directly under my breast bone.

After an unknown but torturously long time, the heat started to dissipate. It was a good thing because I had begun to grow delirious with the heat.

When my body began to feel like it was almost back to normal temperature Toby began speaking.

"Amazing! Buddy that was amazing!!! You have officially made it further than any other candidate!! You're so amazing!"

I watched in my peripheral view as the robot danced around creepily. I really hated this damn robot. It stopped suddenly.

"We have to begin phase four immediately! Fuel reserves are already approaching danger levels."

I felt horror. I was hoping this was the end. I began thinking up demands and questions to fire at the robot but before I could say anything more it clicked a few time and the octopus machine whirled into action again.

I whimpered and flinched at its movements. I had an ingrained fear of this machine now. One of its limbs snaked out and I felt another injection. This time it was on my inner thigh.

A numbing sensation spread and my body went limp. I could not move a single muscle. I couldn't even speak. I wanted to beg for a reprieve, but I couldn't.

The straps that held my limbs in place seemed to lift me and turn me over. I realized the straps were not actually straps, but more snake-like appendages that seemed to grow from the very table.

After turning me over they released me for a few seconds before returning to their side of the table and securing my limbs again. A depression for my face seemed to form in the chair allowing me to breathe.

"Begin cerebral implantation procedure."

I wanted to scream at the robot.

A brain implant. Not just my body. This machine was going to fuck around in my head as well?

I felt violated worse than any other time during my horrific stay in this bunker from hell. I wished I had the ability to bite my own tongue off, but I could not move to do it. Even that was beyond me. I let out the faintest of moans only.

Even through the numbness, I could feel something happening on my head neck and large portions of my spine. The sounds coming from behind me spoke of slicing and stabbing. A burst of light lit the room from behind me from time to time and the smell of cauterized flesh invaded my nose.

I felt no pain, but only discomfort from the procedure. The implications were enough to absolutely send me into fits of inner hysteria.

The inability to keep track of time was one of the worst parts of this entire process. I had been unconscious, conscious, half-conscious, and in many other states of minds recently. Pain and suffering also seemed to warp the perception of time.

Every once in a while the robot named Toby would speak a word of encouragement.

"You're doing so good buddy!!" And "You can do it."

The words did not encourage me at all. I swore inwardly and hated this damn robot all the more.

The procedure eventually came to an end. Toby let loose a few chirps and clicks and I heard the machine operating on me move away. The tables limbs flipped me over again.

"Activating nanite integration cerebral implant, code-named Prometheus System."

My entire body jerked and went rigid. A familiar popping electric bubbles feeling spread throughout my body. In addition, it felt like a constant current of electricity swarmed around my spine and neck.

My vision went in and out of focus and I lost my hearing for seconds at a time before it returned, only to cut out again.

My senses continued going wild and chaotic as Toby spoke.

"Prometheus system activated and powered."

"Beginning Prometheus operating system upload."

I felt a headache began to form and heat also started to radiate from below my breast bone.

Just before the heat and headache began to get truly unbearable the heat started to recede and the pain in my head abated.

"Upload complete. Sending boot command to Prometheus implant operating system."

A trickle of current seemed to travel up and down my spine again as well and possibly parts of my brain. It wasn't painful at all. I only felt a tingle that quickly became unnoticeable.

Letters began to appear in my vision. Green words formed instantly and scrawled the upper portion of my view.

Initializing... Initializing complete.

Loading default user configuration... default configuration loaded.

Activating neuron mapping subsystem... mapping complete.

Cerebral synchronization initiated... cerebral synchronization rate - 93%.

My senses began returning to normal. To my judgment, they seemed even better than before. My eyesight definitely felt more clear. I could also hear my own heartbeat clearly. It sounded very loud.

More word scrolled across my vision.

Starting user interface subsystem...

Green light seemed to explode in my vision and quickly form into line and curves. I realized the green line outlined the edges of the room and objects inside of it.

The medical robot hovering close by was outlined in green with the word AUTOMATIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT and a string of number labeling it with a green line connecting the words to the machine.

Just next to the descriptive words another text box came into existence.

AUTOMATIC SURGICAL ASSISTANT SCANNING HOST...

BLOCK SCANS? ACCEPT - DENY

Further below that text box, another box opened. This text box seemed dim though.

HACK

I was shocked. I realized I basically had a computer in my head. The realization shook me.

I didn't know exactly what would happen or how it would help me, but this new... ability?... I had to test it.

When I thought of hacking the robot the button marked hacking seemed to flash and pulse before another test box opened.

HOST MUST BE IN CONTACT WITH MACHINE TO HACK IT.

I felt sad at the prompt. I looked back to the text box marked BLOCK SCAN and wanted to accept that instead. Instantly text began scrolling.

BLOCKING SCANS

The surgical robot gave a large twitch. More text followed.

WOULD THE USER LIKE TO SET SCAN BLOCKING AS THE DEFAULT? ACCEPT - DENY

I thought for a split second and decided I didn't like being scanned without my permission. I "clicked" accept.

It couldn't even be called clicking. The program seemed to instantly respond to my desires and act accordingly. All of the prompts and selection happened extremely quickly.

"Are you blocking scans? That is against base regulations. Please cease blocking scans or your regulation breaking will be reported to your superiors."

I thought about Toby's request. Telling him to shove it up his ass probably wouldn't do me any good currently, no matter how much I desired to do it.

When I thought about allowing scans again the texts prompts flickered in view for a split second and the words scanning appeared beside the surgical robot again. I was amazed at the speed and responsiveness of the system.

For a moment I thought about what I was now. I didn't even know what I really WAS! What was I some sort of cyborg? Half man half machine?

The implication of my situation threatened to overwhelm my brain. While I thought about what this all meant to me I scratched my face and frowned.

When I began to work my way through my beard stubble to the other side of my chin I finally realized my hands were free.

I bolted upright and stared at my hands. I was free. Well... My limbs were at least. I looked over at the robot named Toby and realized he had been speaking.

"I knew you could do it, buddy! You have passed candidate selection. Congratulations!!"

It paused then continued.

"Project Icarus completion parameters met. Deactivating cold storage protocol. Base returning to full operation."

It went through a machine like list of subsystems and technical jargon before turning to me and saying.

"Sergeant 782 added to active duty roster and promoted to captain as required by standing order #1634. Captain 782 please report to a superior officer for orders."

As it said that a door whooshed open on one side of the room.

I wondered at the reason for calling me by my rank and my candidate number now. I guessed I wasn't a candidate anymore so my rank took precedent now. I also assumed because the robot never asked my name it simply automatically named me 782.

I threw the useless thought away and began thinking about my next move. I REALLY wanted to start smashing this robot Toby to pieces, but I wasn't sure it would end well for me. I felt amazing in comparison to before or during this whole procedure, but I still felt weak. And even at my best could I beat this intelligent metal spider?

I eyed the door. It screamed freedom to me. I knew there was no superior officer waiting for me outside that door. Could I simply find the elevator and leave? I felt the urge to boot as far away from this room as possible.

The base was fully powered now. Were there security systems in place, now fully powered and capable of stopping me?

I suffered the agony of indecision for a few moments before an idea struck me. I looked at Toby. He had an outline of light around him as well. Same as The surgical robot. Of course he did! The prompt for blocking scanning hovered next to him as well. Below that prompt another sat.

I slowly walked up to Toby and touched him with calm nonchalance. Toby seemed to recoil slightly in confusion at my invasion of his personal space. He did not understand a human's ability to be devious.

"What are you doing Captain 782? Physically damaging base property is.."

Before he could speak any further I looked at the now brightly lit hacking prompt and thought ACCEPT. Pinprick like pain jabbed at the tips of my fingers and a network of fine lines spread from my touch like worms digging their way into the machines surface. Toby went absolutely still.

A progress bar jumped onto existence and began to fill. Next to the progress bar were the words HACKING... 1% ETA 3 MINUTES.

As I watched the progress bar fill slowly and rested my hand on Toby's frame I smiled. I imagined what I would do with this robot.

I couldn't help a chuckle from breaking out. Things were looking up!