Alder awoke inside of a clean, sterile hospital room, the kind that was used pre-Collapse for intensive surgery. His head was bandaged, and an IV was attached to his arm. He started when a door opened to his left, revealing a short medical officer dressed in all white. "Whoa there, son. It's alright. We ain't gonna hurt ya, we just wanna talk," the doctor spoke quickly when he saw Alder's hand reach for his holster.
Alder relaxed slightly, though his guard remained up as an aide came to the officer's side and whispered in his ear. The stubby man nodded and then addressed Alder. "It seems some visitors have arrived to explain in more common terms what's happening."
The doctor left, and in filed Ember and Vanessa, along with an armed man Alder didn't recognize. Vanessa sat directly to the left of Alder's bed, and Ember stood at the foot of the bed. The unfamiliar man sat in a chair on the far wall, giving Alder a strange look.
Ember looked Alder in the eyes and spoke directly. "It's no secret to us what you are -- an Enigma clone. We've come across a few of your ilk in the past, and we found something out that only the highest pre-Collapse government officials and generals knew."
She paused for a moment, staring into space, before regaining focus and continuing. "After those clones were K.I.A., we took their bodies to labs that had been restored to working order. Our bio-techs located some hidden files showing that the clones could be enhanced with new, synthetically constructed organ implants. It would make them -- you -- bigger, faster, stronger. Able to withstand wounds that would kill a regular man several times over. Have reflexes that would make the quickest man in this army weep with shame at his own skill."
At this point, Vanessa cut in. "And there's a bonus to all of that. Get the modifications, you can use a suit of pre-Collapse powered armor. And not the shitty kind they gave to grunts in the army. These specialized suits connect right to your neural system so you can use them like your own skin."
Her face fell as the male officer began to speak. "But this change doesn't come without its prices. Our bio-tech surgeons have to perform twenty lengthy surgeries on you -- without anesthetic. And there's always a chance the stress fries your brain and kills you." He grinned after this, his voice growing excited. "But if you do survive and recuperate, you'll be a practical demigod, almost invincible."
Ember leaned towards Alder. "So, what do ya say?"
Alder looked at her, and smiled grimly. "When can we start?"
YOU ARE READING
The Collapse
Science FictionLong ago, humanity ruined its home world of Gaia with quantum weapon fire and synthetic production of soldiers. High-ranking officials were able to board battleships and disappear into the stars, but the rest of the population were left to fend for...
