I slowly opened my eyes, finding myself in a sterile surgical room. The room was unnervingly silent. As I attempted to get up, metal cuffs restrained me.

A door on the far side of the room opened, and a group of doctors entered, their faces devoid of expression.

"Good morning, John," one of the doctors said. "I'm Dr. Li, and these are my colleagues. You've been selected for a crucial mission."

My voice was hoarse when I tried to speak, but I managed to rasp out a single word: "Mission?"

"Yes," Dr. Li affirmed. "With your consent, we will implant a Cognitron chip into your brain. This is a standard and safe procedure all pilots undergo."

A wave of panic washed over me. "What do you mean? Where am I?"

Dr. Li offered a reassuring smile. "You're on a spaceship called the Noah. We've brought you and several others here from Earth. Our mission is to establish a new civilization on a habitable planet."

My mind raced. I couldn't remember ever agreeing to this or being informed about it. What options did I have? If I declined, I knew they would return me to the state I'd just awoken from, or worse, kill me.

"You have my permission," I said, my voice still weak.

Dr. Li gestured to the other doctors, who began to unlock the handcuffs.

I had numerous questions but knew I wouldn't receive answers at that moment. So, I lay back on the cold metal table as someone's cool hands guided me onto my side. Suddenly, I felt a sharp prick at the base of my neck, and everything faded to black.

When I awoke, I found myself on a bunk in a dimly lit room surrounded by military personnel. It became apparent that this mission was larger than anything I could have imagined. I couldn't comprehend why they would choose me.

A gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. "You're John, right? I'm Sergeant Rodriguez. I'll be your commanding officer for this mission." I saw a calloused hand outstretched toward me. I hesitated before shaking it.

"Not feeling well?" asked Sergeant Rodriguez. "It's the chip. Well, you've also been in cryo for a while now."

I nodded and glanced to my right, where a towering figure appeared. I couldn't help but feel intimidated, considering my current state.

"John, I'd like you to meet someone," he said, gesturing to a tall figure standing nearby. "This is Private First Class Jackson. He's a seasoned war veteran with over six years of experience here. He'll be your partner."

Jackson's eyes bore into mine as he stood with his arms crossed, his tone laced with a hint of skepticism. "How's it going?"

Sergeant Rodriguez cast a concerned glance at me, noticing my weary expression and slumped shoulders. "It looks like you're in need of some rest, John," he said in a reassuring tone. "We're going to excuse ourselves for now but will talk more soon."

I let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the opportunity to regroup.

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"Take it easy, John," Rodriguez said before closing the door.

I slowly awoke as the artificial light cycle aboard The Noah transitioned. The dim glow of the overhead lights illuminated the sterile metal walls around me. Sitting up in my bunk, I couldn't help but wonder about my life before the Cognitron. I sensed there was much to remember, but I couldn't recall any specific moments from my past. The only constant was the soft humming of the spaceship's engines.

Sergeant Rodriguez, one of the senior officers on the ship, seemed amiable, but his partner, Private First Class Jackson, was less so.

After putting on my uniform, I decided to explore the area outside my room. The walls were dark and lined with bright strips of blue light.

I made my way toward what looked like the mess hall when I saw another private. Her name was Maria. She was struggling to understand our new reality, just as I was. Our shared confusion provided a basis for conversation and friendship, allowing us to let our guard down as we individually sorted things out. Maria's warm voice calmed me, and I wished I could do the same for her.

Suddenly, Sergeant Rodriguez's voice boomed through the ship's intercom, interrupting our conversation. "All units report to their respective briefing rooms."

"It's this way. Follow me," yelled Maria as she took off sprinting.

The rush of recycled air hit my face as I sprinted after Maria. I could feel the hum of the ship's engines and the warm air that accompanied it beneath our feet as we moved through the dark metal corridors.

Ten other soldiers gathered around a large table when we arrived at the briefing room. The room was filled with the beeps of monitoring equipment, the hiss of air vents, and the low rumble of the ship's engines.

As we crossed the threshold, I noticed a faded Latin phrase spray-painted onto the wall: Audaces Fortuna Juvat - Fortune Favors the Bold. It was a reminder that we were fighting not just for our survival but for the survival of humanity as a whole.

"Alright, the time some of you have been waiting for," Sergeant Rodriguez said.

My palms beaded with sweat as I realized that the former soldier's tactical pod I would be using likely belonged to Private Jackson's previous partner. I felt an intense rush pulsing through my veins and panicked, wondering what this meant.

"Oh no, what if Private Jackson isn't a good partner? He doesn't even seem to care that his partner died. I wish I could work with Maria," I thought.

"It's not a matter of the quality of the soldier. It has never been," Rodriguez continued. "If we want to save humanity, our mentality must be that the soldiers we have will suffice."

"Now, it's crucial that you new privates understand our mission. I'm going to keep this short. You cannot recall your past if you haven't realized it yet. And you all are under the impression that you were soldiers."

"I have a question," said Maria, her tone softer than I had heard from her before. "We must have families. Where are they? Are my parents okay?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Sergeant Rodriguez's expression softened as he looked at the disoriented young woman. "I'm sorry, Maria," he replied gently. "Your parents didn't make it. They passed away before we left Earth."

Maria's eyes widened slightly, but her expression remained strangely indifferent. I could see the confusion etched on her face as she struggled to process this information, her memory still hazy from the cryosleep.

"You're not alone," Rodriguez continued, his voice comforting. "Many of us lost family members who couldn't make it on the Noah or earlier ships. Our enemy is ruthless."

I could see the sadness and pain in Rodriguez's eyes as he spoke. As for Maria, she seemed to be slowly coming to terms with her loss, even if she couldn't quite remember it.

"It's never been easy to break the news, but I've grown used to it. You've been in cryo for over 200 years," Rodriguez added.

"Jackson and I boarded the Noah in 2076. Throughout the years, we've been awakened to confront incoming threats and engage in battle. In space, we have accumulated over six years of combat experience while reinforcements like yourself, Maria, and Luke have remained in cryosleep."

My eyes scanned the faces of my fellow soldiers gathered around the conference table, and I couldn't help but notice a young man among them. He was small and looked no more than seventeen, but his sharp eyes and focused expression revealed a depth of experience beyond his years.

"Luke?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. He glanced up at me with surprise and caution, and I realized I had been staring. I quickly averted my gaze.