We are fortunate as we embark upon a sweeping circumnavigation over the metro area over the course of the next five days. We encounter a number of monsters surrounding the city. Most of them are territorial, content to defend their homes and the immediate surroundings thereof. Even the band of Great Plain Gorillas probably fell into this category, although the territory they considered their own was probably much larger than most. That, and we had intruded upon that territory, stayed overnight, and disregarded what we maybe should have understood to be a warning.
I think back upon Alexey’s comments regarding the inhumanity of war from that morning. Specifically, what is our purpose here? To protect human lives, yes, but that ignores the broader conflict at play. The System wants us to fight. It wants us to kill. Doing so gives us levels. We might be just fighting beasts now, defending humanity. Noble goals. But when would it end? We would eventually kill one another in the pursuit of power. Just as plenty of warlords and tyrants had done over the millennia.
A painful throbbing burns from within my mind. My vision blurs and goes white as my muscles spasm and I fall to the floor.
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Planet XSQ-1827, Substation 33, Year 16,369 A.I. (Two weeks after Seraphina’s Awakening)
I again wake up in the same room in which I live. Cold. Metallic. Artificial. Unfeeling. All of these words describe this environment. I am allowed outside of my room for only brief periods of time, and always under the supervision of Dr. Chotono himself or one of his direct subordinates. I feel trapped, as though I am in a cage. I… admit that I do not know if I wish to leave, as strange as that may sound.
I have been told that it is dangerous outside my room. I do not understand why, and when I try to ask, the researchers are reluctant to explain further. I do not understand their reticence, nor why they feel telling me would be so detrimental. But I have no choice but to abide by their rules. I do not understand why, but I have no doubt that I am incapable of forcing my will upon them through physical force. In that regard, I am completely helpless, like a helpless infant. Given that I am only a fortnight of age, the analogy may have real truth behind it.
Nevertheless, I have been given a few items that have allowed me to personalize this space. After having received the Doctor’s handwriting sample, containing my name, I have been granted a sketchbook and several colored pencils. In addition, the researchers gave me several different pieces of paper with different variations of the letters and… graphemes? I think that was the term they used? Ways to write the different letters, they explained.
I have practiced writing my own name many times. The long, curving flourishes that make the capital S. The smooth, flowing circle that spirals outward to form the subsequent ‘e’. The rise up the peak of the ‘p’, followed by the dip below the surface underground to form its tail, before emerging triumphantly and looping around in a dance of victory. And then the long dance at the final ‘a’, waving the pencil around the surface of the sketchbook before giving a single little dot on top of the ‘i’. And there we go. Seraphina. My name, me. The one thing that is unquestionably, without a doubt, mine for now and ever more.
I have also attempted to draw myself. After pestering one of the researchers for three days straight, I got a large mirror put in my room, though I am to look only, not touch. Apparently, despite my being larger than the mirror, it is heavier, for reasons I do not understand.
Drawing myself proved a complicated task. When I started, I would attempt to keep a focus of the image in my mind, and then recreate it on the page. But the shading and the curves all look unnatural. It has been a matter of trial and effort and refining of the process, but eventually, I have found success.
Though that success proved short-lived. I wanted to hang my drawing of myself on the wall by my bed, but I was chastised. I was told that certain parts of my body, especially my chest and the region directly below my abdomen, was considered inappropriate to depict. But if I am an artificial being, why was I created with such inappropriate characteristics? Is there something wrong with me? A defect in my being? Is that why I cannot leave this room? Because there is something wrong with me?
Dr. Chotono has never claimed to be perfect. It was wrong of me to assume that, even though he was able to create me, that he would be. Smarter, more knowledgeable, more aware of what lies beyond these walls. But not infallible. Nor has he ever claimed to be, to my knowledge. An error in my reasoning that I have discovered and will now correct.
Days pass by slowly. They are so named because at one time, there was a mysterious ball of hot plasma called a star that provided heat and light and energy to the people of planet XSQ-1827. That no longer exists, or so I am told. There is no way for me to verify the truthfulness of that statement any longer. I cannot see the sky or any of these so-called stars. However, the lights dim and I fatigue in a cyclical pattern lasting approximately 86,400 ticks on the device that is referred to as a ‘clock’.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
I find myself counting them when I am not busy attempting to trace my name or draw things. There is little else to do in this room when I am not asleep.
I sit and stare at this clock until the door opens, revealing the Doctor himself, with the sub-director Madison Mazerie standing just behind him. The door then closes.
My eyes are drawn to hers for a brief moment, for reasons I do not understand. Silvery-gold orbs of mesmerizing beauty that seem to swirl and dance and glisten in the light. Compared with Dr. Chotono’s brown eyes and skin the color of amber, she is much closer in appearance to me.
Why was I created as analogous to a female human? More questions.
“Good morning, Seraphina,” Dr. Chotono says. “How are you this morning?”
“I am well, but I feel trapped within this room.” In the past two weeks, I have gotten much better at talking, now able to appropriately verbalize my thoughts and feelings. “I appreciate being given this sketchbook and these clothes, but there is so much more of the world out there. I want to see it. I want to experience what I have so far only been able to learn through stories and sketches.”
“I am sorry, Seraphina. In truth, having you leave this room even for brief moments is dangerous. If you were to be discovered by our enemy, then it would endanger not just every one of us, but the entire world. The entire universe. No, this may not be easy for you to wrap your head around, Seraphina. But your fate is tied with that of all universes. And if you are to have even the slightest chance at defending the life of all worlds, in accordance with our hopes for you, we must keep you secret and safe.”
“Life of all worlds?”
“Yes,” Madison says. “It would be far too much to explain all of this right now, but you are our hope. That is why we gave you the name Seraphina. According to the ancient mythologies of days long gone by, the seraphs were the highest rank of angels in the cosmos. They were said to be otherworldly in their beauty, peerless in their strength, and relentless in their pursuit for justice and to protect all life under them.”
“Are you a seraph?” I ask.
Madison blushes. “If that is your way of saying that you think I am beautiful, then I appreciate the compliment. I am flattered. But no, I am what is known as a human. Much like Dr. Chotono and most of the rest of the staff here.”
“Oh.” My head drops slightly. “But you can protect me?”
Madison gasps. “Oh, I would certainly try, if I could. But I think it is you that will be protecting me before long.”
“Protecting you? But I was told that I was weak, and needed to be kept secret and safe.”
“For a few more weeks, while my researchers and I continue the final preparations involved. Once we are done, we can discuss more later.”
“Will I be able to go outside?” I ask.
“I would… like that,” Dr. Chotono says. “I know it must be difficult. But remember, all of us here are working together, as best we can, to help you be the best that you can be.”
“The best I can be?” I don’t understand. Dr. Chotono has a pained expression on his face, but he refuses to elaborate further before he says his goodbyes and leaves me to return to my studies.
A guardian angel. Working together to help me be their angel? Something about that doesn’t make sense. Why did they create me as a guardian? If they are strong enough to do so, should it not be they who protect me? What am I missing? I wrack my brain around it until my mind goes sore and I white out in my bed.
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Planet Earth, City Outskirts, Thirteen Days after System Integration
“Are you okay, Sera?” Chloe asks. I’m resting with my head in her lap as the others, sans Jackie, are grouped around me. Lindsey is kneeling next to Chloe, which is surprising to me. I would have imagined her to be off scouting the area to make sure nothing is trying to sneak up on me. I guess Jackie’s disdain for me is running deeper than I’d originally thought.
“I– How long was I out?”
“Only about twenty minutes, thank heavens,” Lindsey says. “I was beginning to think you’d come down with some unknown malaise. Chloe tried to heal you to no avail, and when I tried to [Identify] you, I was nearly thrown back.” She shudders. “I’m glad to see that you’re doing better, Sera.”
“As am I,” Alexey says. “We all are.”
I stumble back to my feet. I’m a bit stiff and sore as I stand back up, but no more so than I would be after sleeping wrong or having my leg fall asleep due to sitting on it for a long period of time. I stretch and check my Status to find myself in perfect health, with a full reservoir of [Ether] as well.
I take a deep breath. “I apologize for the delay. Should we get going?” I ask.
“No,” Nicholas says. “I mean, yes, we should get going, but it’s time to return back to the city for the next several days.”
“Already?” I ask.
“It’s already been a week,” Brent interjects. “We’re almost out of food and clean water, not to mention we all need to make sure we’re not being infected by any parasites or bacteria that might’ve been enhanced by the System.”
“We’d begun to worry something like that had afflicted you,” Lindsey says. “Your [Ether] levels started skyrocketing, then you began to glow and smoke as though you were a machine venting enormous amounts of steam and [Ether].”
That was probably exactly what had happened. But I can’t risk mentioning my history and past to the others. Not just yet. Not when I am at their mercy, and might be seen not as a person with my own wants and desires, but a tool or a weapon to be used by the military. Just like… I think Dr. Chotono? Did he see me as a weapon too? I don’t know. I have to keep moving forward to find the answer. But… a nice shower does sound incredible. I have missed it so.