... Underwhelming. Disappointment. I was not outside. I was in yet another confined space. Another cage. I ...

*Thwack* Grandpa smacked the back of my head when he saw my expression. He told me that this was the basement and we had to go further up before we could exit the building.

We had to go though multiple gates where we were stopped and frisked. At each gate they confirmed Grandpa's ID and let us pass. However they seemed to give me wide berth. Odd. I guess they were aware of who I am ... what I am.

Or maybe their training and experiences informed them that there was something wrong with me.

I didn't care. I would finally be able to go outside!

I wanted to run up the flights of stairs but I knew that that would be unwise at best. I waited for this day all my life ... what is a few more minutes?

One last corner and I could see it. The last barrier between me and the world was a glass door. In a way I was grateful for that. I felt that being exposed to all of it in a single moment might overpower my senses.

I could see a clean shaven ... lawn. Due still clinging to it's leafy blades. I beheld larger trees that seemed to hold the ground and sky together and at the same time apart.

I then noticed the insects ... working my way up the food chain. I heard the birds as I opened the door. A small blue bird fly past at a blistering pace. I ... I felt something happen to me. All this stimulation to my senses brought me to tears.

I carefully glanced at grandpa. Usually he would scold me when I did this. Today though he just stayed solemn and let me be.

I slowly took a step. My first step on what I considered Earth. Like an alien visiting a planet for the first time. I decided to remove my shoes. My second step was accompanied by the scrunch of dry leaves and light squelch of wet grass. So many new textures hit me making me feel like a child once more.

I bent born and ran my hand through the dirt and grass. Slowly caressing it like one would a lover.

I then walked up to the nearest tree. As I placed my hand on it's thick bark I felt like I was looking at some ancient sentient monument to ... life. Which it was.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

And I stood there. An hour later I felt a hand on my shoulder. My grandpa looked at me and for the first time since I knew him he told me that he was proud of what I had achieved. He told me many things in the next few moments. He spoke about his life. Not as a soldier. But as a boy. He spoke of Japan and the Sakura trees. Their culture and history. Of the warriors code.

He looked at me and said that he too was bound by such a code and so was I. He had given up all he was for the sake of this program. His past and future sacrificed in the line of duty.

I would carry on this burden. I was at a loss. I knew nothing of national pride other than the idea behind it. My home and country had been a lab for all my life. And I would certainly not die for it. I told this to him and for a moment I saw rage on his face but it was quickly replaced with sad look.

What he said next would stay with me for the rest of my life.

He held my shoulders and looked into my eyes,"You don't have a choice." And then an intense jolt hit me. I had some resistance to it but I was only an enhanced human. The amount of power coursing through me might kill a normal man. It just left my nerves in shambles. Muscles no longer under my command.

He then dragged me away. I tried to fight back. Dig my now useless hands into the dirt. Trying to hold on and not let go. I begged him to stop. Just a moment more! I hadn't even seen a lake yet. A mountain. The ocean!

"I did everything that was asked of me!" I screamed.

I felt like my heart was being stretched apart. I was now at the door and I couldn't feel the earth anymore. Like a fleeting dream I felt great loss as I took one last glance at the world I longed to know.

I swore many things as I was taken down the elevator.

I would escape. I would never again be a captive. I would live a normal peaceful life once I was free.

As they put me in my room and closed the door I swore one more thing.

I would kill my grandfather.