The cold, metallic hum of the station’s underbelly echoed through the narrow passage as Ajax and Lyra sprinted down the dimly lit corridor. The sounds of alarms had faded behind them, replaced by the distant thrum of engines vibrating through the station’s structure. They hadn’t been caught—yet. But the weight of what they had uncovered still sat heavily on Ajax’s mind. Every step forward felt like they were plunging deeper into a labyrinth of secrets that threatened to consume them.
The corridor narrowed, the walls slick with condensation, and a sharp, rusted smell filled the air. This part of the station felt forgotten—abandoned by time and the people who lived above it. The lights overhead flickered, casting uneven shadows on the floor, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. This section had been left to decay, far from the pristine, sterile halls Ajax was used to.
As they rounded a corner, Ajax held up a hand, signaling Lyra to stop. Voices echoed from further down the passage, two guards on their patrol, unaware of their presence. Ajax crouched behind a stack of discarded crates, motioning for Lyra to follow his lead. The two of them pressed against the cold metal, their breathing shallow as they listened.
“Damn system’s bugging out again,” one of the guards muttered, his voice gruff with frustration. “I don’t know why they don’t just jettison this whole wing and scrap it for parts. It’s been a dead zone for years. Hell, even the cameras are glitching down here.”
His companion let out a snort. “I heard they’ve been considering it. This section’s not worth the energy it drains. No one comes down here anyway.”
The first guard grumbled something unintelligible, and their footsteps receded into the distance. Ajax exhaled slowly, relief flooding his system. For now, they were safe.
Lyra turned to him, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Dead zone, huh? Sounds like we picked the perfect place.”
Ajax nodded, glancing around. The guards were right—this part of the station was practically falling apart. If the monitoring systems were as faulty as they claimed, it would give them the perfect cover for what they were about to do. Still, the risk loomed large in his mind. One wrong move, one small mistake, and the station’s security systems could kick back in, sending a swarm of enforcement drones their way.
“We should head back,” Ajax whispered, standing and motioning toward the narrow duct they had slipped through earlier. “We’ll be safer in my condo. We can test the OLA there.”
Lyra didn’t argue. She followed him without a word as they wound their way back through the labyrinth of forgotten corridors, dodging patrols and slipping past malfunctioning cameras. The further they moved from the abandoned wing, the more the station seemed to wake around them. The sleek, reflective walls returned, the lights overhead grew brighter, and the hum of the station’s systems became more pronounced, more alive.
They finally reached Ajax’s condominium, tucked away in the high-class district of the station, overlooking the sprawling gas nebula. As they entered, the door sealed behind them with a soft hiss, the noise and tension of the outside world fading into silence.
Ajax crossed the room, his gaze briefly flicking to the panoramic view of the nebula outside. Normally, the sight would calm him—the swirling clouds of violet and crimson offering a sense of vastness, of possibility—but tonight, his mind was elsewhere. He turned back to Lyra, who was already pulling a small handheld device from her satchel.
“I’ll monitor the system,” she said, her voice all business now. “I can track any anomalies while you run your tests. If anything spikes, I’ll know.”
Ajax nodded, already feeling the subtle hum of the OLA beneath his skin. He had felt the energy earlier during the integration, the strange, heightened awareness that seemed to come naturally now. But this was different. This time, he needed to control it, to figure out exactly what his OLA could do. The station had strict categories for its OLA users—each person was classified into one of the four factions, their powers shaped by that specialization. But Ajax didn’t fit any of those molds.
He had already felt it during the integration—his body responding to abilities from all factions, not just one. It was time to see how far that went.
“Let’s start with combat,” he said, his voice low but steady. The OLA rippled beneath his skin, responding to his thoughts before he even moved. A faint pulse of energy flowed through his muscles as the armor thickened across his chest and arms, the once-smooth surface shifting into sleek, segmented plates. The transformation was seamless, like slipping into a second skin.
Ajax took a deep breath and moved. His body felt lighter, faster than it ever had before. He lashed out with a series of punches and kicks, his movements precise, almost mechanical in their efficiency. The air seemed to bend around him, his fists moving faster than his mind could fully register.
“Your reflexes,” Lyra muttered, her eyes glued to the display on her handheld. “They’re beyond Warrior Class levels. You’re faster than most veterans.”
Ajax frowned but didn’t stop. He felt the power building inside him, the OLA amplifying his strength, his speed, his senses. It was effortless. Every punch landed with perfect accuracy, his muscles moving in perfect synchronization with his mind. And yet, even as the energy surged through him, he knew he was holding back.
He stopped, his fists still clenched as the OLA receded back into his skin, the plates sliding seamlessly beneath the surface like liquid metal.
“I’m still not pushing myself,” Ajax muttered, shaking his head. “There’s more, but I don’t want to show it. Not yet.”
Lyra’s eyes flicked up from her screen, curiosity burning in their depths. “Then let’s test the Engineering abilities. See if you can control nanites.”
Ajax shifted his focus, drawing on the mental energy required for the Engineering Class abilities. He concentrated on the small console across the room, willing the station’s nanites to react to his command. The response was immediate. The nanites swarmed toward the console, their movements precise as they began disassembling the device, piece by piece.
Lyra’s eyes widened. “You’re controlling them with ease... as if you’ve been doing it for years.”
Ajax felt the subtle connection between his mind and the nanites, as though they were extensions of his own body. He moved them with a thought, deconstructing the console into its core components before carefully reassembling it. The process was seamless, natural.
“It’s like breathing,” Ajax said softly. “Like they’re a part of me.”
Lyra stared at him for a moment, then back at her screen. “This is beyond anything I’ve seen before. You’re accessing different factions’ abilities... almost simultaneously.”
Ajax nodded, though the thought disturbed him. This level of control—it shouldn’t be possible. The station’s system was designed to classify people into specific roles. Warriors could fight. Engineers could manipulate machines. But no one could do both. And yet, here he was, crossing boundaries that no one else had crossed.
“We need to see what else I can do,” Ajax said, his voice tight with determination.
Lyra nodded, her fingers flying over her handheld as she pulled up more data. “Let’s try Bio Class abilities next. Can you interact with living organisms?”
Ajax stepped toward one of the small, potted plants near the window, focusing on the biological energy within it. He reached out, feeling the life force pulsing through the plant’s cells. With a thought, he altered its growth pattern, willing the stem to twist and elongate. The plant responded instantly, its leaves stretching toward the ceiling as new buds formed along its branches.
“This shouldn’t be happening,” Lyra whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re not just adapting... you’re mastering each ability.”
Ajax clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through his veins, humming beneath his skin. This level of control—it was exhilarating, but terrifying at the same time. He had barely scratched the surface of what he was capable of, and yet, he knew he had to be careful. The more he tested his limits, the more attention they would draw.
“I need to know why I’m different,” Ajax said, his voice low. “Why can I do this? Why now?”
Lyra met his gaze, her expression serious. “There’s only one way to find out. We need to go through the archives.”
Ajax nodded, and with a flick of his wrist, he activated the holographic display in the center of the room. Screens appeared around them, casting a soft, bluish glow as rows of encrypted files began to scroll across the room. The data they had stolen from the restricted section was all here, waiting to be uncovered.
But as they began to sift through the files, Ajax felt a growing sense of dread. The truth they were about to uncover would change everything.
Ajax stood in the center of the room, surrounded by a web of floating holographic screens. The files they had stolen from the restricted section filled the space, casting a soft glow that reflected in the cold, glassy walls of his condominium. His fingers moved through the air, swiping between rows of encrypted data, each line of code hiding the secrets of the station—secrets that had been buried for centuries.
Across the room, Lyra was seated on the edge of a low, sleek couch, her handheld device connected to the holograms. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked, her fingers flying over the controls with practiced precision. Ajax had never seen anyone work with the station’s systems as easily as Lyra did. It was like watching an artist at work, her movements fluid and confident.
“These files are ancient,” Lyra muttered, more to herself than to Ajax. “Some of this data goes back to the very first OLA experiments during the Great Change. The encryption is primitive, but it’s layered in a way that’s... complex. They didn’t want anyone finding this.”
Ajax nodded, his attention split between the lines of code and the sensations pulsing beneath his skin. The OLA hummed, a low, constant vibration that never seemed to fade. He could feel it—every cell in his body, every strand of muscle and fiber infused with the strange, organic material. It was alive, more than just armor. It was a part of him now, a living, breathing extension of his own flesh.
“I can feel it,” Ajax said quietly, glancing down at his hands. His skin looked normal, but beneath the surface, the OLA coiled like a serpent, waiting to be called upon. “It’s always there. It’s not just armor. It’s something more.”
Lyra glanced up, her hazel eyes sharp with curiosity. “Have you tried to communicate with it? The OLA in the Bio Class can interact with the living organisms it bonds to. Maybe yours can do the same.”
Ajax frowned. The idea hadn’t crossed his mind, but it made sense. If the OLA was as advanced as it felt, there had to be a way to control it on a deeper level. He closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythmic pulse beneath his skin, the faint thrumming of energy that coursed through him.
He reached out with his mind, willing the OLA to respond.
At first, there was nothing—just the steady hum of the station, the distant flicker of the nebula outside the glass. But then, slowly, he felt it. A presence. Not a voice, but a sensation, like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness. It wasn’t sentient, not in the way a person was, but it was aware of him. It recognized him as its host, its source.
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Without opening his eyes, Ajax flexed his fingers, and the OLA responded. The material surged up his arms, coiling into sleek, segmented plates that rippled across his skin like a living exoskeleton. The armor was denser now, heavier, but it didn’t feel cumbersome. Instead, it felt powerful, like wearing a layer of muscle on top of his own.
“Ajax...” Lyra’s voice was soft, almost awed. “Your OLA... it’s not just armor. It’s reacting to your thoughts.”
Ajax opened his eyes and looked down at himself. The OLA covered his entire upper body now, the sleek, dark material glinting faintly in the light of the holograms. His arms were encased in smooth, segmented plates that moved seamlessly with his muscles, and his chest was covered in a dense, protective layer that felt as natural as his own skin.
“It’s like... it’s listening to me,” Ajax muttered, flexing his arm again. The OLA shifted, tightening around his muscles before retracting back into his skin. The transformation was seamless, effortless.
Lyra stood and crossed the room, her eyes wide with fascination. “This is different from anything I’ve ever seen. Most people’s OLA takes weeks—sometimes months—to fully integrate with their body, and even then, it’s limited to the faction’s abilities. But you...” She trailed off, her gaze flicking to the holographic screens around them. “You’re crossing all the boundaries.”
Ajax nodded, feeling the weight of her words. The station had spent centuries perfecting the OLA integration process, dividing people into factions based on their abilities. But here he was, standing in defiance of everything the system had built. His OLA wasn’t bound by the same rules. It was something else entirely.
“We need to know more,” Ajax said, turning back to the screens. “If I’m an anomaly, there must be a reason. Why me? Why now?”
Lyra nodded, her fingers flying over the controls as she brought up more files. The holograms flickered, shifting to display rows of video footage, old and grainy, but still intact. It was footage from the early OLA experiments, taken during the Great Change when humanity had first developed the technology.
The first video showed a group of scientists standing in a sterile lab, their faces obscured by masks as they prepared a subject for integration. The subject—a man in his early twenties—was strapped to a table, his body hooked up to dozens of wires and tubes. The scientists injected him with a serum, and within seconds, his body began to convulse.
“They were the first,” Lyra said quietly, her eyes fixed on the screen. “The original test subjects. The first generation of OLA users.”
The video played on, showing the man’s body transforming before their eyes. The OLA began to form across his skin, at first slow, then faster as the material spread. But something went wrong. The man’s body seized violently, his muscles contorting as the OLA twisted and hardened. The scientists scrambled to intervene, but it was too late. The man’s body collapsed, his skin covered in dark, jagged plates of OLA that had solidified like stone.
“They didn’t survive,” Ajax whispered, watching the footage with a sinking feeling in his chest.
Lyra shook her head. “No. Most of the early subjects didn’t. The integration process wasn’t stable. The OLA consumed them, turned them into... something else. It took years before they could refine the technology.”
The next video showed another test, this time with a different subject. A woman, her face pale and drawn as she lay on the table. The integration process began, and at first, everything seemed normal. The OLA spread across her skin, forming the sleek, segmented plates that Ajax now wore himself. But then, her eyes snapped open, wide and wild with fear.
Before the scientists could react, the woman tore free from her restraints, her body moving with inhuman speed and strength. She lashed out, destroying the equipment around her, her OLA-covered arms slicing through metal like it was paper. The footage cut out abruptly as the lab descended into chaos, the camera shaking as the woman’s rampage continued.
“They lost control,” Lyra said softly. “The subjects became unstable, uncontrollable. Some of them went berserk. Others just... died.”
Ajax stared at the screen, his mind racing. These people—these anomalies—had been like him. Their OLA had defied classification, crossing boundaries that the system couldn’t contain. And the system had responded by shutting them down, by erasing them from history.
“They’ve been trying to perfect the process for centuries,” Lyra continued, her voice tight with frustration. “Every few years, they tweak the formula, make small genetic alterations, hoping to create the perfect OLA. But it always fails. Every subject becomes a liability.”
Ajax turned to her, his jaw clenched. “And now it’s happening again. They’re trying to do the same thing with me.”
Lyra nodded. “But you’re different, Ajax. You’re surviving. You’re controlling it.”
Ajax’s heart pounded in his chest. The weight of what they had uncovered was immense, but it wasn’t just the knowledge of the failed experiments that haunted him. It was the realization that he was at the center of it all. He was the next step in a long line of failed attempts, and the system was watching him, waiting to see if he would succeed—or if he would fall apart like the others.
“We need to be careful,” Lyra said, her voice low and urgent. “The more you push your abilities, the more attention we’ll draw. If they find out what you can really do...”
Ajax nodded, his mind spinning with the possibilities. He was walking a fine line, testing the limits of his power while trying to stay hidden. But how long could he keep this up? How long before the system realized that he was more than just another OLA user?
As the last video flickered off the screen, Ajax felt a cold resolve settle in his chest. He wasn’t like the others. He wouldn’t be another failed experiment, another body discarded in the name of progress.
“I’ll find a way,” Ajax said quietly, his voice filled with determination. “I won’t let them control me.”
Lyra nodded, her eyes hard. “We’ll do it together.”
The two of them stood in the center of the room, the weight of the past and the future pressing down on them.
The quiet hum of the station seemed louder in the stillness of Ajax’s condo as he and Lyra sifted through more files. After hours of discovery, there was a heavier silence between them—a shared understanding of the depth of their actions, the intensity of what they had uncovered. But in that silence, a quiet strength emerged.
Ajax stood by the frameless window, staring out into the vast expanse of the nebula beyond. Streams of pink, purple, and blue gas swirled slowly in the distance, beautiful and unknowable. It was a reminder of the mysteries that lay just beyond the reach of his home, the walls that had kept him in his place for so long. Now, he was beginning to feel the edges of a power within himself that had been hidden, buried beneath layers of control, conditioning, and societal expectations.
Lyra watched him for a moment, reading the tension in his stance. She knew that his thoughts were miles away, running through every piece of the puzzle they’d uncovered. She could see the questions brewing, the weight of his newfound identity sinking in.
“You’re not just another anomaly, Ajax,” she said finally, breaking the silence. “You’re something... more. Something they weren’t prepared for.”
Ajax turned to her, the lines of worry etched into his face fading slightly. “They’ve been trying for so long to create someone like me, to push the boundaries of what the OLA can do. And every time, they failed. Every time, they killed the subjects who couldn’t adapt.”
Lyra nodded, crossing her arms. “Which means you’re already beyond anything they’ve seen before. But we need to understand how far it goes. If we’re going to stay ahead of them, we need to know exactly what you’re capable of.”
“Then let’s find out,” Ajax said, feeling a strange surge of excitement. It was a daring thought, almost reckless, but the idea of pushing his boundaries, testing the limits of his power—it was exhilarating.
He stretched out his arms, willing the OLA to respond. In an instant, the sleek, segmented plates formed over his skin, extending out from his shoulders, down his arms, across his torso. The armor felt as natural as breathing, like a muscle he was just learning to flex. He could feel its weight, its power, the strange energy that pulsed through it.
Lyra walked around him slowly, studying the armor, her gaze sharp and analytical. “You’ve shown signs of all four faction abilities,” she murmured. “Warrior, Engineering, Bio, Knowledge. But let’s start with combat. That’s the most visible one.”
Ajax nodded, feeling a surge of energy rise within him. He clenched his fists, watching as the OLA responded, hardening around his knuckles, reinforcing his hands. He imagined himself lifting heavy machinery, sprinting across the station with ease, breaking through barriers that would stop even the strongest of Warriors.
“Okay,” he said, taking a breath. “Combat test.”
Lyra moved back, giving him space. “Focus on a single point,” she instructed, her tone calm and steady. “Visualize yourself striking it. Let the OLA guide your movements. It’s not just armor—it’s an extension of your intent.”
Ajax took a step forward, his gaze fixed on an empty, reinforced metal crate in the corner. He could feel the OLA’s power flowing through him, amplifying his strength, his speed, his precision. He swung his fist, and as his arm extended, the armor hardened, becoming as dense as a steel hammer. His fist connected with the crate with a thunderous crash, metal buckling beneath his strike as if it were made of cardboard.
The crate shattered, pieces of metal scattering across the floor.
Ajax stared at his fist, half in awe, half in shock. “I didn’t realize… it’s like the armor knew what I wanted it to do.”
Lyra nodded, her eyes gleaming. “That’s part of it. The OLA reads your intent, adjusts its density and structure in real-time to maximize the force of your movements. You’re not just wearing it—you’re actively controlling it.”
He flexed his hand, feeling the armor shift and mold around his movements, like a living, reactive organism. He could sense the strength within him, the potential he had barely begun to tap.
“All right, next test,” Lyra said, moving to a console near the wall. She tapped a few controls, and the floor shifted, revealing a small compartment. A stack of parts lay inside—metal rods, screws, bolts, and an assortment of mechanical components.
“Let’s try engineering,” she said, glancing at him. “See if your OLA can interact with the nanobots. Engineers use their OLA to manipulate and construct with nanobots, shaping materials at will. It’s an extension of their thought processes, like an extra set of hands.”
Ajax stepped forward, feeling a bit of apprehension. Manipulating nanobots wasn’t something he’d ever tried before, and he wasn’t sure if his OLA was even capable of it. But as he focused on the parts before him, a strange sensation washed over him, as though he could feel the individual components—the weight, the structure, the texture of each one.
He reached out, extending his hand toward the pile of parts, willing the OLA to respond.
The nanobots seemed to recognize him. They swarmed over his hand, gathering around his fingers like tiny, metallic insects. He could feel them responding to his thoughts, his intentions, as if they were an extension of his will. With a thought, he directed them to pick up a metal rod, and they did, lifting it smoothly into the air.
“Good,” Lyra murmured, her voice low with encouragement. “Now, try connecting it with the other parts. Visualize the structure you want to create. The nanobots will follow your instructions.”
Ajax closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of the nanobots, the feel of the parts in his mind. He could picture the structure—a simple frame, a combination of rods and screws. He visualized each piece coming together, forming a solid framework, and slowly, methodically, the nanobots responded.
Piece by piece, the structure took shape, each component connecting seamlessly with the next. The frame stood before him, solid and complete, a tangible result of his mental effort.
When he opened his eyes, he felt a surge of pride. The frame stood before him, held together by the nanobots and the power of his OLA.
“That’s incredible,” Lyra said, her voice filled with awe. “You’re not just using it—you’re mastering it. This isn’t something a new user should be able to do.”
Ajax took a breath, feeling the rush of energy within him, the sense of accomplishment and control. But there was more—he could feel it, a deeper power, a potential he hadn’t yet unlocked.
“All right,” Lyra said, glancing back at the files, “there’s one more test I want you to try.”
He nodded, ready for anything. The sense of power, the thrill of discovery—it was intoxicating. He was ready to push further, to see how far he could go.
“Let’s try something from the Bio Class,” she said, her tone steady. “They have the ability to interact with organic matter, to sense and even influence living organisms. See if you can connect with something... living.”
Ajax hesitated, his mind racing. Interacting with organic matter—that was something he hadn’t even considered. He glanced down at his hand, flexing his fingers as he tried to imagine what it would feel like, to reach out and touch another living being with his mind.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, glancing at her.
Lyra moved to a small plant near the edge of the room, a slender vine with delicate leaves trailing down its stem. “Try to sense it,” she said, her voice soft. “Close your eyes, focus on its energy. See if you can feel its life force, its growth, its vitality.”
Ajax nodded, taking a breath as he closed his eyes. He reached out, extending his senses, trying to connect with the small plant in front of him. At first, there was nothing—just silence, a void where the plant should be.
But then, slowly, he felt it—a faint pulse, a soft rhythm, the heartbeat of life. He could sense the plant’s growth, the way its leaves absorbed light, the way its roots drew water from the soil. It was fragile, delicate, but alive in a way that was both familiar and foreign.
He opened his eyes, feeling a strange connection to the plant, as though he were a part of its growth, its cycle of life. The OLA hummed in response, a soft, comforting warmth that pulsed in time with the plant’s rhythm.
“You did it,” Lyra said, her voice a whisper. “You connected with it.”
Ajax looked at her, a mixture of wonder and disbelief in his eyes. “I... felt it. I could sense its life, its growth. It was like... like I was a part of it.”
Lyra smiled, her gaze warm. “That’s the Bio Class ability. The power to understand, to connect, to nurture life. And you’ve just unlocked it.”
Ajax felt a surge of pride, a thrill of accomplishment. He was crossing boundaries, breaking down walls that had stood for centuries. He was becoming something new, something beyond the factions that had controlled society for so long.
But as the excitement faded, a darker thought crept into his mind. If he could do this, if he could master these abilities, then the system would see him as a threat—a force they couldn’t control.
And they wouldn’t let him exist.