When I woke, it was to a world both familiar and utterly alien. My eyes stung... A relentless throbbing in my head that had reminded me of my early days with the HGMP treatments as I rubbed my temples. The weight of my own skull felt strangely amplified but oddly sore. Sitting up, I realized the sterile testing lab had vanished and was now confined within a transparent box with a white solitary bed as its only furnishing.
I rose slowly and approached the glass, pressing my fingertips against it gently. The only thing I remembered was Grey's face- his fear painted vividly in my mind as I stood trying to withhold my grogginess. I took a moment to lean against the thick glass... I felt dizzy, my vision fluctuating between an unkind darkness and a sickening reality as my eyes began to focus and sharpen at an accelerating rate.
It made me pause and hold my breath, "Wha-" I widened in disbelief when a computer interface flickered to life in my vision, overlaying the reality of my glass prison with a digital grid and highlighting the rooms dimensions with vivid detail. My eyes... Sprung to life, revealing the unnerving truth: I was suspended in a glass box against an inky void.
"Night vision would've been helpful," I muttered in a whisper and as if in response, my vision shifted again, highlighting the shadowy figures of the scientists observing me from beyond the darkness. 'So, they are keeping us in the dark...' I thought, a bitter taste rising in my throat. The golden highlighted silhouettes now bore names hovering above them, a cruel reminder of the voyeuristic nature of my existence- being a lab rat, a spectacle.
I strained my eyes, trying to focus and with a jolt, my vision sharpened, their highlighted silhouettes now presenting them in a new light. It was like having X-ray vision - I could see the scientist's major arteries pulsing, their heart beating- their vulnerable areas highlighted in an eerie red. It was 'Incredible.' I thought, glancing at another glass box beside my own, where Grey lay motionless.
I was bewildered that he hadn't woken up as I turned my attention back to the scientist in the darkened room. "I see you-" I declared... and as if on cue, the lights flickered on, illuminating the room outside the glass box. I scanned the area and it was completely empty. Only 2 glass boxes containing Grey and I and the energy barrier separating the scientists between us. I couldn't help but feel offended, but the emotion suddenly vanished when I flexed my fist in frustration and became hyper-aware of my body.
My muscles, tendons, blood, everything working in perfect harmony. I instantly felt my senses were heightened and could identify at least fourteen chemicals in the lab air with a single deep breath as I peered at the scientist, my parents, frozen silent. I rapped on the glass, "Hey-" but my touch was unexpectedly forceful. The simple knock reverberated through the box like a thunderclap, humming the inside with an instantly that made me cover my ears and pause.
When the vibrating stopped I stared at my hand in disbelief. 'What...' My strength had clearly increased, flexing my fingers one by one into a fist and felt my body respond with this enhanced power. "Unnatural." I muttered, turning towards the scientists with a malicious glare. But upon looking at them.. I saw my own reflection- I looked closer and noticed my genetically altered purple eyes now had a mesmerizing golden rim encircling the pupil- shimmering against my white hair.
I felt a surge of conflicting emotions - defeated, yet strangely empowered. But all I wanted was to be back in my quarters. "You gunna let me out?" I asked, but the scientist remained unmoved, their fingers tapping away at their devices in awe at the spectacle. Me. "This isn't a zoo." I reiterated, my hands trembling with rising anger when a voice echoed through the lab that snapped me out of my rage. "Hello, Atlas." I stopped and looked around frantically, bewildered. Has the experiment gone wrong? Was I losing my mind?
"The procedure went well and you are not crazy, Commander. I am Helix, an Integrative AI."
My jaw dropped and I looked down at my hands, "You're in my head?" I asked, searching the room for speakers or devices, but found nothing. "I am here - within the cortex of your brain." the AI declared. I paused, recalling my last debriefing though Helix didn't wait long to respond to my thoughts, projecting images of the files, and mentions of his development scattered across my vision.
"Stop." I commanded, and the images vanished, replaced by a pulsating golden circle. "My apologies, as you can see, I am the future of humanity-" The AI paused and corrected himself, "We- are the future of humanity." I tilted my head, considering his words. "The future, huh?" I echoed, turning back to my parents with a menacing resolve. "Commander, your cortisol and adrenaline levels are rising. I advise you to -"
"You should stop advising..." I interrupted, balling my fist to test my newfound strength. My hand shot out in an earth shattering punch, rupturing the thick glass into shards that rained down on me as Helix reappeared in my vision. "That is one strategy- proved effective and noted for the future." Helix remarked as I strode towards my parents.
"Explain." I ordered, watching my mother lower her pad. "We did not raise you to be a brute, Atlas. Control yourself." She exclaimed as I scoffed and gritted, "You didn't raise me at all..." Under my teeth. I shrugged and turned to leave, but realized... Grey had finally stirred. I stopped mid-journey and saw him stand before the shattered glass, his gaze locked on his reflection. I watched as he pulled down his eyelid and inspected his pupil, before looking at the state of my own boxed cell.
Though we shared the same purple striking eye color due to HGMP, his hair was the polar opposite to my own. His neck length and black as night while mine was long and white as snow. Two distinct opposites, both raised in this sterile, controlled, militaristic environment as such... for all the commonalities we do have, we knew each other so very little as I started to wonder what the rest of our differences may be.
Although I did find myself grinning when I watched him mimicking my earlier action by punching through the glass of his box almost instantly and without hesitation. The sounds of raining shards filled the room as I turned to my parents with a raised brow. "Looks like brutes are all over the place." I remarked with a smirk before turning away to leave that wretched lab behind- against orders but for better judgment as I found myself in my private quarters.
The first order of business? Shedding my clothes. I stripped down in the middle of my bathroom and started the shower as I waited for the water to heat up. I couldn't help but notice my physical changes looking at myself in the mirror. My muscles were broader, but still subtle as I leaned in to examine myself closely, checking areas I typically wouldn't - my back, my thighs, my backside...
There wasn't a dramatic transformation, but a definite difference seeing in the circled scars at the back of my neck and my forehead. They were small indents from the 'experiment' as I sighed and looked back at myself before entering the shower, "Helix..." I sighed out
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
He appeared in my vision. "Yes, Commander Atlas?" I stood there, water droplets glistening on my skin, still trying to process the implications of this AI residing within my mind as I felt a slight tinge on my neck and forehead. "Tell me about yourself, Helix." I said, turning to face the pulsating shower head as warm water cascaded over me, washing away the tension, confusion, and pain.
"I am an Integrative AI designed to form bonds with humans. Our partnership has mutual benefits. Would you like me to elaborate?" Its voice resonated within my thoughts and began wondering about the endless paperwork and protocols that were probably associated with this groundbreaking creation. "Enlighten me." I replied as my curiosity piqued.
"Very well. My capabilities include enhancing the human body, monitoring your health in real-time, tracking life forms, and adapting to your combat needs-" He started listing a seemingly endless stream of benefits for me, but none for himself as I paused. Hearing the rhythmic sound of the shower momentarily drowning out my own thoughts .
"And what about you, Helix?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. There was a momentary silence, then he reappeared in my vision, superimposed over the steamy shower door right in the middle of my hair washing. "I get to experience what you humans call 'life,' through yours and Commander Beckett's eyes."
I looked down, soap suds swirling around my feet while thinking about my counterpart. I wondered how he was handling all this - the AI, the newfound abilities, the isolation of being one of five and now, one of two. I readjusted my stance under the warm spray and looked forward again, continuing to rinse my hair. "How is that beneficial to you?" I asked, washing my body as the realization dawned on me once again that Grey and I are now pioneers, the first to undergo this extraordinary treatment.
"It helps me... help you."
Helix responded, his voice echoing in the confines of my mind. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of intrigue as a small and genuine smile grew on my lips. Though the process was unconventional, to say the least, the gift I had received was already proving fruitful as Helix continued announcing his and my parents' intentions. I turned off the shower and its voice amplified against the quiet hum of the bathroom's ventilation system as I reached for a plush towel and wrapped it around my chest, seeing as my mind couldn't help but wander from discussion yet again.'Maybe I should check on him.' I thought, my mind drifting back to Grey again.
After all, we were in this together. For someone who didn't know my parents as well as I did, this could be a terrifying and isolating experience. I thought of Helix, and as if on cue, he materialized fully in my vision. "Shall I contact him for you?" Helix asked as my calming smile turned into a cold dissent.
"It's weird that you can hear my thoughts." I said out loud, the words hanging in the air of my still-steamy bathroom as the soft glow of the overhead lights reflected off the damp tiles, highlighting me in the process. I stood there, towel-clad and contemplative while awaiting its answer.
"My apologies, Atlas. I don't want to cause you discomfort. Thus, I will come when you ask me to." He vanished from my sight, and I closed my eyes in frustration... thats not what I meant. "No, Helix-" It reappeared instantly, his familiar golden glow filling my vision yet again. "Yes, Atlas?" It hummed patiently as I sighed out. 'It was like training a dog', my thoughts purely charged by my new counterpart. "Can Grey and I... speak to each other, privately?" As Helix processed the request.
"Of course. Another benefit that comes with HELIX is private radio channels. Because you and Grey are the only humans I am a part of, I can create a secure channel for your discussion." I thought about this for a moment, considering the implications and wondering who else might be listening in like my parents or his own. I looked down at the tiles in deep thought, deciding that it was best to err on the side of caution as I asked Helix to send a private message to Grey's HUD instead, suggesting a meeting place: a corporate tower outside of X HQ.
It was time to get to know my counterpart on a personal level.
-
The crisp, cold air felt exhilarating against my skin. Despite the glass dome enclosing us, they'd managed to perfect the ventilation system. It was almost as if I were breathing in the open air of a clear night as I gazed up at the black velvet sky through our cage and saw a breathtaking expanse of stars twinkling endlessly. How I'd always dreamed of charting those stars, making discoveries, being... well, me. A scientist at heart, but not in the way my parents were. Their work was driven by pure speculation - nothing less, nothing more.
Not that I was bitter. I'd been guided by countless mentors within X, leading me to where I stand now. Or at least, that's what I liked to believe as I found myself outside the corporate towers, in the courtyard. A vast green lawn stretched out before me with six majestic oaks – specifically brought from Earth that were anchored around the building. Our, "Little slice of Earth." I mused, a genuine smile curving my lips.
I chose a tree closest to the entryway and settled at its base, taking in my surroundings. 'What did Earth truly look like?' I often wondered peering in the direction of the path we were supposed to chart. Was it anything like this place? With its mesmerizing hues of purple and pink, flecks of gold and accents of white scattered throughout this tranquil haven? We were fortunate to even have grass here on Titan as I ran my fingertips over the springy, almost rubbery blades feeling my gaze drift back to the sky and my curiosity deepening. 'If only...' I trailed off, wishing to explore the universe as I heard footsteps approach from behind.
Though Helix had already alerted me; It was Grey.
He joined me, hands tucked in his pockets as he leaned against the trunk of the tree. It had seemed he also bathed, his hair still wet from the cleansing as the black strands fell loosely around his neck. His purple eyes were facing forward when I heard him take a deep breath. "You look a bit worse for wear." I commented as we both absorbed the cool night air and the vastness above in silence.
We savored the solitude of the peaceful night, the only sound being the rhythmic hum of the streetlights and the few fleeting footsteps of civilians and soldiers... maybe a hover car or two and with a resolute chime- the courtyard lights shut off, plunging us into darkness with only the stars and surrounding city lights to illuminate us.
X was nearing its public closure, but for now...It was just me and my co-captain as I heard another sigh escape Grey's lips, sinking down beside me. "Are you ready for this, Number One?" He asked, his voice a low rumble but a calming presence amidst the storm we knew was coming. "We have to be." I replied, resting my arm on my knee. I felt my braid cascade over my chest as I looked over at him.
He offered a faint, almost lifeless smile. Though I couldn't fathom how he was truly feeling about all of this. Considering his parents' strict military background, this sudden transformation after the final HGMP treatment and the AI integration must have been a jarring experience as I followed his gaze towards Earth, hanging like a luminous jewel in the sky. "You know your star maps?" I asked.
He grinned at me and point upwards. "Venus and Mercury are in this constellation here." And as if on cue, a HUD materialized in my vision, highlighting the exact celestial bodies he was indicating. At first, I was taken aback. But then I realized he was just screen-sharing with me. I couldn't help but chuckle, "What's so funny?" Grey inquired as I leaned back against the tree with a playful smile on my face.
"Science." I replied with another chuckle. I raised my brow, waving my hand in encouragement for him to continue and saw him chuckle in response as I settled against the rough bark of the tree, glancing at him here and there through his lecture when something suddenly dawned on me. It turns out,
Grey loved space as much as I did.