I am now 2 months of 10.

Almost a decade old but with more knowledge and skills than a normal 10 year old should ever need.

It's funny when you think about it. With all the technology at their disposal my handlers could have started making clones of me immediately after I hit the age of 9.

Almost all major implants were now done and I was undergoing the final stages of my ... 'Youth'.

It was only the fear that stopped them. Past mistakes still fresh in mind.

My two predecessors inadvertently increased my period of ... relevance.

They did not dare to push their luck. So I had gotten myself a few extra years. I smiled to myself as I thought about my elder sister and brother. They've given me almost 2 full years to plan and grow. I would be forever grateful to people whose names I've only heard in passing.

But it was enough. I had once again earned the right to go outside. However this time it would be in an urban environment. This mission would verify how well I could blend in and adapt with civilians.

When told I appeared ecstatic on the outside. As much as I was during my last 'outing'.

Inside however I was simply calculating escape routes and estimating the risk involved. The plan was rather well done.

I would be accompanying a bus full of kids on their field trip. Over 3 government-run orphanages were involved. This would prevent kids asking about me as they would assume I was part of another group. I would be just another face in the crowd.

Grandfather would be acting as a chaperon. Apparently he had already spent a month as a teacher at one the orphanages so he could oversee the mission.

I'll skip over the specifics and take us to the good parts.

The bus ride was actually enjoyable. Though I refrained from talking to the other kids too much, lest I be undone, I reveled in their excitement. More than 80 excited kids talking animatedly about anime and books and comics and movies and songs and videos and performances and ... so many other things that I knew next to nothing about.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

But I was happy. It was then ... I think ... that I realized that a bus was meant to be full. Full of people going places and doing things. Loading time before the 'act' in the game of life.

...

Making my current situation very uncomfortable but lets resume shall we?

I got off the bus with the other kids and we were herded around the city. I decided to wait for the opportune moment. Amazing as my grandfather was he was still human. He could not wear a mech suit so he had to settle for enhanced body armor instead.

My moment came sooner that I could have thought. At the front one the clumsier kids fell over. It was so abrupt that like dominoes almost 10 children lost balance before the rest came to a halt. Luckily grandfather was as the head of the line at the time so he had to help out. I decided then to make a break for it.

Bending down to 'tie my shoelaces', I barreled into a nearby alley way. I ran through unknown streets till I felt that I was far enough to relax.

Big mistake. I realized as soon as I was calmed down a noise in the distance. I quickly flung a nearby rock and watched as an agent hidden in the shadows recoiled in shock.

I had been followed! I swore profusely as I ran. Realizing that they had been made over 10 agents ran after me. With nowhere else to go I decided to enter the sewers.

A good half an hour later I had lost them so I quickly exited the sewers and broke into a nearby house. Luckily it was empty so i took a quick shower and stole some money and ill-fitting clothes. Nothing a belt couldn't fix though.

I had stayed undiscovered for an impressive 15 days. Once I restocked on supplies at a nearby store I was on my way that night to my 'new' home I heard a familiar noise. The sound of footsteps that had signaled me to a state of attention for so many years.

Heavier still due to his fully decked out mech suit.

He looked at me with the same solemn face as always, only a bit more aged in my opinion.

"Hello ... Markus" he said.

...

"Goodbye ... Grandfather" I replied.