Changed: Deep

Chapter 20: Cognizant Awakening

[Scott's Pov]

I looked at the battery, and noticed the fourth bar now filled up. A phrase appeared above the glowing battery. "Thank you. Put me to sleep." I immediately woke up from the dream, and I sat up right to look around the room. The garden is merely empty, and the Prototype is the only one left behind. The Prototype is watering the Blue Apple trees like nothing has ever happened, or is happening. I closed my eyes and I held my right paw to my visor, collecting what I have gathered in my dream.

There is an entity, something similar to a software virus that lives in the head of Prima. This Malware is helping Prima awaken himself as a Primagen. Is a Primagen the other species that is being compared to a Protogen in that one notepad Prima typed in? Is a Primagen a predecessor species of Protogen? The Malware knows me, and is using me as the key to unlock the padlocks in Prima's software through this bridge connection between Protogen and Primagen. The Protogen is the key, and the Primagen is the lock, but an exception if Primagen is connected to another Primagen in which both are the key and padlock to themselves. The Malware mentioned about the Protogen betraying their Predecessor.

It also mentioned about the bridge only being accessible through a Primagen. The Primagen must first make contact with the Protogen to open the bridge, but not on Prima's case. The Malware is able to make the bridge itself without contact. The Malware mentioned itself being present within the minds of Primagen, but what it said after claims that it is only present within one Primagen, and that the Primagen who it injected itself into is unlucky. With the release of Prima's true identity, the Malware might be feeding on him now.

I slowly stood up from the grass and approached the Prototype standing by the Blue Apple tree. I tapped the right shoulder of the Prototype, and it turned around to look at me. The Prototype jumped in surprise and gave me a warm smile. "Hello Scott! I am glad you are finally awake. I removed the bandages strapped around you as a scheduled command from Doctor K, and I can say that your wound is healed! A scar remained though." I looked down at my abdomen and noticed the scar from Prima kicking me off him.

"Where is everybody?" I asked and the Prototype turned to face the tree to water the Blue Apple tree with the watering can on it's paws. "Doctor K and the rest ran after the Protogen in the hallway. I heard them mention the elevator to the tunnels." That's right! In my dream, Doctor K is being strangled by Prima! I quickly turned and ran to the window. I hopped across and I sprint as fast as I can towards the elevator down the hallway. Every step I make echoes into the hallway.

I soon made my stop to an awful sight. Puro is flung into the air and crashes at the wall, hitting his back on the wall. Puro lied on the floor, groaning in pain. I quickly ran towards Puro and tried to pull him up. The black wolf noticed me as I held both of his paws, but he shook his head. "I'll be fine. You have to stop Prima from entering the tunnels, or else he will consume the black latex nest and kill the elder one." Puro gave me a reassuring smile before falling unconscious. I leaned close and noticed him still breathing.

I let out a sigh of relief and turned to the sound of commotion. I see Doctor K being strangled by Prima, and the elevator doors are just behind them. "Prima! Put him down." I shouted at them, and the rogue Primagen noticed my presence. Prima let go of Doctor K from his grasp, and Doctor K lied on the floor. Doctor K is panting, and his gasmask is missing. The Primagen casually approached me, and I looked up at him. Prima somehow grew larger and taller, and is now a foot taller than me.

"You are the Protogen that tried to engineer me into becoming one of your kind, but I am different. I am with the predecessors, Primagen. You are not supposed to live, but I can spare your life in one condition. Let's work together to take over the tower from the black latex." I shook my head and took a step back. "No! I am not joining you to eat the black latex, nor I am letting you get in the elevator to eat the black latex. The black latex deserves peace." Prima then vomited a red latex goo on my visor, blocking my vision.

I tried taking the red latex off, but the Primagen tackled me to the floor of white latex. I successfully took the red latex goo off my visor and threw it away towards the elevator doors. The Primagen tried to scratch my visor with his now sharper raptor like claws, but I dodged it quickly enough. I need to do something to take this giant down. I wrapped my hind legs around his neck, locking the Primagen's neck. I pulled my right paw back, forming a fist before punching the visor of the Primagen.

The Primagen slowly stood up from the floor, carrying me with my hind legs wrapped around his neck. Prima is too strong! I accidentally hit my head on the ceiling as I try to adjust on what Prima is up to. I pull my right paw back again, preparing myself for a punch. Out of nowhere, an error message popped up on my visor just as I punched the Primagen's visor. "Malware detected.". The punch I unleashed is beyond my strength, and it hit the visor enough for it to crack. The error message quickly disappeared and the Primagen fell on his back. I pinned down the Primagen against the floor.

The Primagen projected an exclamation mark on his visor before changing to his angered Primagen face. Instinctively, I quickly placed both of my paws on my abdomen before feeling a sudden kick on my paws. The kick sent me flying towards the wall. I lied on the floor, groaning in pain. I coughed up green blood as I watch the red latex goo press the elevator button. The Primagen turned around as the elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside before turning around to look at me. The red latex goo hopped on the shoulder of the Primagen.

The Primagen opened his muzzle, and the red latex goo hopped inside his mouth. The kick did a good one on me. My vision slowly blurs as I felt a tug on my shoulders.

Prima, what are you?