It was morning again, at least that’s what it felt like. For once I wasn’t in the White Room. Yet the walls were made of that same glossy material as my old prison. I awoke in a bed within some kind of hospital. It was a welcome change compared to the hard wooden seat I called home. As I awoke, my head felt lighter. I must have blacked out while I aided Terra in escaping the fire.

As I awoke I noticed Genesis sitting across from my bed. He looked at me with unwavering eyes as I rose from my slumber.

"Glad to see you’re awake," Genesis said kindly as I rubbed my eyes.

"Wh-where am I?"

"The same place you spent several days in after your rebirth. Welcome to the Cocoon. A place some of us like to call home."

Genesis then arose from his seat and aided me in standing up from my bed. After helping me up he walked over to the door of the room.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked.

"Not me. Us. I think you deserve some answers. I am taking you to see Lockhart."

Lockhart. I heard Genesis mention that name before. Based on the way he would refer to him, I assumed he was some kind of superior. Genesis said he was taking me to see him and that I deserved answers. I had no idea who Lockhart was, but something told me he had to be important. For once I wouldn’t be left in the dark again.

Genesis led me through familiar halls of pristine white gloss. I was brought to a higher level in the Cocoon. Before I realized where I was going I faced an elegantly carved set of mahogany doors. The doors contrasted the Cocoon’s shining white halls with their hand carved designs. Genesis opened the doors and led me into a rather luxurious office. Various pieces of wooden furniture littered the space. An emerald carpet cushioned our steps as we entered. Everything was old fashioned and made from wood. It was a brave and stark contrast to a facility that looked like it had leapt from the pages of science fiction.

A single man sat at a desk of mahogany. He propped up his feet, which were clad in shining leather shoes, upon the table without care. The cost of the desk’s material didn't seem to bother him as much as whether or not he could rest his feet. The man was rather lithe and young looking. He was much older than me, but he still showed a great effort in maintaining a youthful appearance. His most noticeable feature was his long golden blond hair. Golden locks spiraled downward toward the small of his back. Despite such a pampered look, the scientist’s hair was the one thing unkempt. It was as if his hair was the price he paid for youthful beauty.

The moment I saw this man and his glaring eyes of jade, I knew who Lockhart was. This was the man I saw the day I died. The man responsible for my rebirth. The man who created Genesis, Terra, and maybe even Nina. This man’s choices were the reason my life renewed. I wasn’t sure how to feel as he beckoned me with a gesture of his palm to take a seat. This was the man pulling the strings in this city. This was the man responsible for the deaths of many. This was the man named Lockhart.

Despite Lockhart's intimidating look, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I owed him a great debt. I was not wrong. This man did save my life. I just assumed in my youthful age that people saved others out of kindness. I thought keeping a person alive wasn’t something you could just slap a motive onto. That opinion was soon scattered among the ashes of discarded dreams as I learned more about my savior.

Lockhart took his feet off his priceless desk and glared at me. I watched as he folded his hands and pressed his pointer fingers against his mouth. He looked into my eyes for a few short moments before lowering his hands onto his desk and speaking to me with a warm tone.

"Welcome. I am Professor Lockhart."

"I remember you. You were there with Genesis that day," I remarked.

Lockhart smiled and nodded.

"I accompanied him and aided in your rescue. I was also responsible for your rebirth. I heard you've come to call yourself Heaven."

"I don't remember my name... But Father always called me his slice of Heaven."

"I see. I suppose you want to know exactly why I saved you."

"No one can ever do anything out of good will can they," I muttered.

Lockhart must have had excellent hearing. Somehow he was able to distinguish the words from my intangible babble.

"That is not necessarily true. We would have tried to prevent this, but Nina is... Unpredictable."

Lockhart took a minute to think up his next sentences. He knew more than anyone that the recent events of my life were not exactly a light topic of conversation. He was careful to choose his next words.

"So, your rebirth. I suppose it’s best to start at the beginning. As I have stated, I am a professor, a man of Science. My field of study is in human biology, more specifically the field of genetics. I used to work for an American research team experimenting with things such as stem cell research. But, this was not the work that brought me here. It was my theories on genetic modification that gained the attention of a certain man. A man we call 'The Director'," Lockhart began.

"Who is The Director?" I asked, interrupting Lockhart’s exposition.

"I have wondered that myself. He is a very mysterious man. There is only so much I know and even then there is only so much I can tell you."

I remained silent so that Lockhart would continue his exposition. Any amount of information would be helpful to me. I had fumbled around in the dark for far too long since I was reborn.

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"The Director is a man who has lived a very long life. Apparently, he once was a captive scientist working for the Nazi empire. Unfortunately, his scientific breakthroughs burned with Hitler's regime. That being said, he is the man who employed my services. He paid me up front to begin pursuing genetic modification. The Director wanted an army of soldiers with special powers. Though he didn't give me a straight reason."

"What does The Director need a bunch of super soldiers for?"

"The evolution of mankind. ‘We must observe the worst possible circumstances in order to develop the necessary precautions.’ His words, not mine."

"He wants to evolve humanity?"

"Indeed. That is why you are here. You are a part of us. You are now a part of the Demon Project."

"Demon Project?"

"You are what I have code named a Demon. A human with supernatural abilities and fighting strength. Each Demon can fight with the strength of ten men and regenerate even the most fatal of wounds in minutes, sometimes even seconds. On top of that, they have a unique ability granted to them through gene modification. If I am not mistaken, yours is the manipulation of light and dark matter."

Lockhart scratched the back of his head before continuing on with his monologue.

"Demons are also granted a Second Personality. The Second Personality is a digitized consciousness injected into the Demon’s mind upon creation. Each personality is taken from a sample individual. Before injection, the Second Personality is paired up with their host via compatibility score. The Second Personality is meant to function as an omniscient presence in your mind. It is able to keep an eye on your surroundings as well as help to manage your powers. Should a fight require a bit more strength, the Second Personality can seize control of its host. This puts the host's consciousness in a metaphorical back seat. The Second Personality is meant to be much stronger and more vicious in battle than the host. As such they are meant as a last resort in the event of a possible death or worse."

"What could be worse than dying?" I thought out loud as I let the words of Lockhart’s revelation sink into my mind.

Lockhart’s tone immediately shifted upon my asking of that simple question. Something about it made him feel uneasy and rather irritated.

"Exposure. Unlike most scientists, I allow you my test subjects to live as they wish. Granted this city was built specifically for you to live in. But, if your existence is exposed to the world, you would become the most wanted guinea pig on the planet."

Lockhart glared into my eyes with unwavering determination. This was the strength of a military leader, not a scientist.

"It is for that reason that I protect all my children. I will not stand by and let you all be poked and prodded before being executed."

"Children?"

"Don't get me wrong Heaven. I am not so heartless to give you this rather complicated life and not be there to listen to your gripes. Adjusting to something like this must be difficult, hence why I make sure I do all I can to ease that transition. You don't need to call me father, but I make it my goal to act as one. Should you need something, you only need to ask."

"Thanks for that," I said with bizarre warmth swelling in my body. It was strange. I felt comforted by those words.

"That being said. I only have one rule I ask you to follow. Your existence must remain a secret. There can be no witnesses."

Those words immediately sucked away the warmth that had enveloped my heart. I knew exactly what those words meant. My existence could not be revealed to the world. No witnesses. I would be forced to take the lives of innocents, should they discover who I am. I clenched my fist in frustration. Just what kind of hypocrisy was this? Lockhart was asking a sixteen-year-old child who lost his father to become the thing he despised. Lockhart wanted me to become like "her", to perform the same acts she did. I spoke my next words between clenched teeth.

"You… You want me to kill people. You are asking me to take people’s lives."

Lockhart’s gaze lowered. He took a deep sigh while avoiding eye contact with me. Yet again he had to pick and choose his words.

"I am not asking you to kill people outright like Nina did to your father. But if it comes to it…"

I slammed my fists on the table as I immediately rose up from my seat.

"Yet she is doing one hell of a job remaining hidden!"

"That is another topic I would like to discuss with you. Nina; the Demon of Graceful Embers."

"Graceful is one way to put it," I said through clenched teeth as I returned to my seat.

"She and two other Demons have gone rouge. Katelyn; the Demon of the Gale’s Edge, and Reaver; the Demon of One Thousand Bullets. While Reaver serves as Nina's guardian, I know that he won’t give into what she has become. Katelyn on the other hand shares a sort of affection towards Nina. Her affection makes her quite naive and willing to follow her down any road."

"But I cut Nina in half! Are you telling me she is still alive!?"

Lockhart grinned with a slight hint of malice in the corners of his face.

"If you think that is enough to kill her then you are sorely mistaken."

I sighed in annoyance as I realized what was asked of me.

"Let me guess. You want me to find them."

"Yes. I would appreciate it greatly."

"I only care about finding Nina. Have one of your other Demons worry about Katelyn and Reaver."

Lockhart grew rather annoyed as he spoke his next sentence. It seemed that things in Evo were worse than I imagined.

"I cannot. They have their hands full keeping CAPRA off our backs."

"CAPRA?"

"Yes, CAPRA. That Agent you saw the other night worked for them. They are an American agency specializing in the suppression of supernatural phenomena. We have had a few run-ins with them before. I urge you to avoid them if possible."

"That’s a valid excuse and all, but why me? Why should I be the one to do your dirty work?"

Lockhart simply smiled. My reaction must have brought him some amusement. Lockhart did have a flair for the dramatic.

"You were already planning to fight her. Your eyes say it all. Despite such protest over killing someone, you seem to have no qualms with tearing her in half. We are spread too thin as is and you are the only one I can spare. Not only that but you have grown accustomed to how she fights. You are the best option I have currently."

"Fine," I spoke with aggravation.

"But I am doing this for my father, not for you."

Lockhart nodded and watched as I prepared to exit the office. He uttered one final sentence as I took my first steps away from the desk.

"Funny. You looked so tense earlier when I asked you kill, yet when I mention her name you flip, like sides of a coin."

I ignored the insulting observation Lockhart made. It was completely baseless. My fight against Nina was different. She was far from innocent. The moment one takes a life, their own life becomes that much riper for the taking. I was ready to reap Nina of her essence. I would destroy her existence if it meant my father could rest easy.

That was when I took my leave. I felt a huge weight on my shoulders again. The weight of the promise I made. The promise I made to put my father’s soul to rest. I flashed back to the Black Shore. I remember what the image of my father said to me. He said to stand and fight. Now I was finally prepared to truly fulfill that request.

I walked, with power in my steps, through the doors of Lockhart’s office. I passed Genesis as I took my leave. He didn't even look at me as I exited the office into the hallways of the Cocoon. Something about my frustrations made him uneasy, yet I hardly knew it was unsettling.

*****

Genesis stepped into the office as I left and saw Lockhart smiling. Lockhart’s smile was like that of a mischievous child. Definitely not something fitting his age. Something from that conversation brought him great pleasure. Genesis sighed as he stopped in front of Lockhart’s luxurious writing desk.

"He is going to surpass you someday," said Lockhart in a quiet, yet cheerful sort of voice.

"I don’t doubt it. He is his son after all."