*Beep... *Beep... *Beep... *beep...
"Subject No.93 vital signs are normal, stable for testing."
"Good, continue monitoring the test subject."
"Understood, doc."
In an underground laboratory, concealed beneath the earth's surface, hidden from the scorched eyes of survivors of the nuclear war that caused unparalleled casualties and lethal mutations, a secretive experiment was underway. The facility was sterile, dimly lit by harsh fluorescent lights, with cold metallic walls lined with complex equipment. Many tests had been conducted, and the grim results often included death and madness among the test subjects.
One such subject was No.93, who was strapped tightly to a mechanical bed with reinforced restraints to prevent escape. Though restrained, he made no effort to fight, having long since lost his will and sense of purpose. Each testing cycle inflicted agonizing pain upon his body and mental state, wearing down what little remained of his conscious self. Over time, his memories began to fade, eroding into a hollow shell of his former identity.
Only he remembered his name was Lucasth—a homeless man in his late twenties, with unkempt brown hair and piercing amber eyes. All other memories had vanished as the relentless experiments continued.
"Proceed with the test!" commanded a scientist in a lab coat, standing behind a glass chamber.
Within the chamber, two glowing, azure spheres floated inside a transparent glass case, radiating intense, pulsating light. They moved apart, pushing against the chamber's walls, as they prepared to activate their purpose. Simultaneously, they injected Lucasth with an unknown crimson liquid through syringes inserted into the veins in both his forearms.
"Ugh—
Pain shot through his limbs as veins reddened visibly under his skin, trembling from the torturous sensation. The spheres pressed against his palms, merging slowly, unleashing a blinding burst of light that illuminated the entire chamber.
Abruptly, after years of relentless experimentation, a memory surfaced—a shadowy figure from his past.
(Ashley...)
Melancholic and wistful, memories flicker like fragile flames. A girl he once vowed to be with forever. He had run away from his abusive parents during childhood, disappearing from her life without explanation. A tingling sense of sadness washed over him, and opened a flood of mixed emotions.
(Why now...)
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, a loud alarm echoed throughout the chamber. The monitor flashed a warning; Lucasth's heart rate was surging uncontrollably, filling the room with dread.
"Grahhh! Ah! Ahhh—"
"Doc! Subject's heart rate is rising at an unprecedented rate!"
"Wha! Retreat! The test has now failed!"
Scientists and medics scrambled toward an emergency steel door, as if summoned by an unseen force. Miraculously, Lucasth's restrained form convulsed violently. His restraints snapped, crimson veins bulging across his body as if alive with blood itself.
"Aaaahhh! Why did I forget her!? Ugh! —It's all their fault!"
Chaos unfolded, and adding to it, the armed guards rushed into the chamber, and they had their guns drawn.
"All personnel, escape now!"
"Fire!"
Ratatatatat!
Bullets rained down—four found their mark, piercing his torso. Yet many others deflected off his skin, sparks flying. Overwhelmed by fury, he attacked like a beast—tearing limbs from guards, smashing through heads, punching holes in their bodies. His battered, bloody form staggered, embodying the destruction he displayed.
"Ugh! It's Cooldown...hah...ah...hah... another modification of those bastards..." he muttered, exhaustion creeping in but no time for a few rest
He couldn't tell how many years had passed, but scars covered his tall frame; a long, unkempt beard cloaked his face. Tall and broad-shouldered, with relentless amber eyes, he looked like a warrior forged in hell.
Suddenly, a voice echoed a warning throughout the chamber.
"Warning! A test subject has escaped. All personnel must evacuate immediately. The guards will handle the situation."
"Repeating! A test subject has escaped. All personnel, please evacuate immediately..."
Hearing this, He swiftly seized an armored vest, reinforced pants, a rifle, a handgun, and a generous supply of ammunition from the fallen guard. Without hesitation, he sprinted down the hallways, evading incoming patrols with practiced agility, returning fire when necessary. Despite the fog of amnesia, his body responded instinctively—skills honed through an unknown lifetime of combat from the past, now resurfacing with a dangerous intent.
Eventually, he reached a prison cell chamber, but memories flooded back, a painful rush of recovery, his time of confinement. A teenage neighbor, a girl he was close to.
"Emily!"
Rushing to her cell door and pounding relentlessly on the sturdy metal door until it buckled and flung open. Inside was a striking silver-haired girl with eyes that matched her beautiful hair. She looked at him with shock and terror from her bed.
"Emily!"
Noticing who he is, she quickly rose, tears streaming down her face as she ran toward him and threw her arms around his waist, clutching him tightly, crying into his stomach, overwhelmed by emotions.
"Big brother Lu!"
"I thought... I thought I'd never see you again..."
"I'm sorry. I was just awake certainly..."
Letting her cry while he hugged her, reassuring her with his silent presence.
After a few seconds of crying, she gradually calmed down and realized she hadn't been able to before. Her tears had subsided, leaving her with a shaky breath and trembling hands.
"Big brother Lu, why are you here? Did you escape?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Yeah, now I recall something fragmentarily, giving me a reason to escape now," he said, his voice strained but determined.
"Of course, you're coming with me," he added firmly.
"But... what about the others?" she asked hesitantly, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Lucasth understood her concern but shook his head with a pained expression, his jaw clenched.
"We can't. Others have already given up on living, and I can only protect—ugh!"
Suddenly, his arms trembled violently. Veins bulged and glowed with a crimson hue, pulsating beneath his skin. Unbeknownst to him, his arms had not yet subdued the effects of the modifications he had undergone, and too much time had passed.
"Big brother!" she exclaimed, her voice desperate.
"I'm okay, but we need to do something about these arms," he said calmly, attempting to hide his pain, though his body was clearly strained.
"First, we go to the armory before heading to the control room," he instructed.
"Why?" she asked, her brow furrowing.
"Because we're going to blow up this facility," he replied, his tone resolute.
"But..." she started, hesitant.
She understood if only they could escape from the facility. Destroying it felt wrong, especially knowing innocent people might be affected. Seeing her hesitation, Lucasth sighed softly and explained with gentle urgency.
"We don't have mercy in a situation like this. I know it's hard, but it's the only way to erase our existence from this lab."
"I hope you understand... but if it's too much, blame me for it, okay?" he added softly, offering a reassuring smile.
Her heart clenched at his sincerity and kindness. Slowly, she nodded, recognizing that his concern stemmed from desperation.
"I understand," she whispered.
"Thank you—let's go," he said, extending his hand toward hers.
He guided her with a steady grip, but before they could move, a loud shout shattered the tense silence.
"He's here!"
"Tch, hide behind me," he ordered, pushing her behind him.
Drawing his rifle, he prepared for confrontation. Armed guards stormed into the corridor, but before they could react, Lucasth launched a barrage of bullets at their heads. The guards fell instantly, their bodies hitting the ground as lifeless corpses.
Without hesitation, he ran, making her speed manageable behind him. They blindly navigated the labyrinthine halls, constantly changing direction to avoid detection. Occasionally, they encountered guards, and other times, they diverted to avoid wasting time. He knew that this wasn't the full extent of the facility's defenses.
Eventually, they reached a chamber filled with an array of weapons—guns, ammunition, and tactical equipment stacked haphazardly, creating a chaotic but usable arsenal.
"Big brother, what do you need here?" She asked, confusion evident in her voice, but he kept silent, choosing to focus on the task.
He moved towards the equipment area with calm determination.
"These arms are not normal—too dangerous to ignore. We don't have time to identify what they are. They've been modified with something, and I lack confidence that I can subdue them safely."
Stopping in front of a glass case housing an exoskeleton arm component, he regarded it thoughtfully.
"This might be the only solution I remember."
"Exoskeleton arms?" she asked, her voice mixed with curiosity and concern.
"This isn't just any exoskeleton. It was designed for implantation in subjects with crippled arms, linking directly to nerves and muscles to enable movement," he replied, breaking the glass to retrieve the part.
He equipped the exoskeleton on both arms and activated it. A thin thread-like sensation prickled through his skin as cables connected the device to his nervous system. The spine component of the exoskeleton pierced deeply with a needle blade, causing a sharp pain.
The process was excruciating. He felt the artificial veins and neural interface intertwining with his body's own tissues.
"This subject lost sensation in his arms, and from research, his arms weren't connected to his body—only moved via artificial veins from his spine. It didn't restore senses, making the project a failure."
"You mean..."
Hearing this, terror gripped her heart, realizing he was facing the same terrible reality.
"If my arms are like this, I can't escape," Lucasth admitted.
"So, I'll make sure I'm safe, in case something happens to my arms."
"But big brother, are you sure about this? We could explore other options," she pleaded, fear evident.
He shook his head, convinced he saw no alternative.
"We don't have time—ugh!" he groaned, collapsing to his knees as overwhelming pain washed over him. A new sensation invaded, covering his arms with a set of artificial limbs.
"Big brother—
"Don't... hah... worry... hah..." he managed, forcing himself upright as the pain subsided and he adjusted to his new arms, now fully integrated.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, offering reassurance.
They loot everything they need from Amory, Lucasth hands over guns, an armored vest, and a bag full of ammunition for Emily's safety. She carefully slings the weapons over her shoulders and presses the vest securely against her torso.