Project Eden Zero

The Storm Returns Part- 2

When I realize that Eve had taken over my body and moved me out of the way, she starts to speak while I gather my balance, “At points of immediate danger I can take over your body and help you from getting hurt, or killed. Right now you are cloaked and unless the assassin has...watch out!” I come into focus and see the assassin driving a sword right at me, I catch it with my left hand and rip it to the side. My grip tightens with fear and anger and the sword breaks into. I swing a right hook and the assassin grabs my arm and tosses me to the floor. Without hesitation I grab one of the assassins legs with mine and sweep them to the floor. Still having the top half of the blade in my hand, I stab at the assassins head. It throws its arms up to block and we force each other into a stalemate. I try with all my weight and strength to force the blade into the assassins head, “I need a distraction or at least know his weakness....argh!” Struggling with the assassin is wearing me down at this point and just when my luck couldn’t get any better a nurse walks in and shrieks. The assassin looks over in surprise and I feel a break in its strength, “got you!” I force all my weight and strength on top of the blade but the assassin moves the blade to the side and it cuts into the side of its face. I quickly jab my elbow into its neck and pin it down, causing it to lower its cloak. I suddenly lose my grip and release without thinking... “Leila...?” I say it aloud without thinking and the assassin kicks me off of it, reactivates it’s cloak and disappears down the hall. “What the hell just happened?”

“It seems your stalemate has come to end, but no victor to the strife. I’m curious, who is Leila? There are no records in my database for anyone named Leila in relation to you.” I stand up slowly still in a daze and look over to the nurse who is froze in fear and glued to the wall.

“I’ll tell you later.” Aloud I offer my hand to the nurse, “are you alright? I know that was probably scary but whatever that was is gone now...” she blushes a bright red as I walk around the bed towards her.

“I....um....yeah I’m ok, thanks for asking. But.....you’re....umm....” she lowers to a whisper and cups her mouth with one hand, “naked.” I look down and realize in that scuffle and in my dazed confusion I lost my gown. Oops. I turn around and then turn my head to see her looking down and giggling.

“Well I guess you must’ve liked the show, or else you would’ve already gotten the doctor. Probably wants to know when I woke up to do some preliminary tests and quiz me.” I grab the ripped gown off the floor and give investigate it. “Hmm, wonder what X8 means?” Studying the symbol on the gown I notice my name on the rip, “of course it would rip my name into...” Eve interrupts me and I continue the rip, put the top part back on, and tie the bottom part around my waist to keep from anymore embarrassing moments happening.

“My research of the intranet has concluded to classified sections of the GME. X8 is an elite team of highly trained and exceptional people who explore the galaxy. Further details are beyond my capabilities to obtain without help though.”

“Thanks Eve, thats ok. I’ll just ask the doctor whenever he gets in here.” I walk back around the bed and over to the sink. I flick the light switch and look into the mirror. “Damn! I look like s**t!” I start feeling around on my face at all the scars and the replacement of my left eye.

“I do not think that you look like feces Viper. You most certainly look like a human being that has been through what you would call the metaphorical hell though.”

I start laughing and then cringe at the pain. “Ow s**t! Don’t make me laugh...it was just a figure of speech Glytch, but I appreciate the attempted uplift.”

“My pleasure Viper. My health is your health.” Her pleasant and soothing voice was enough to keep me calm and focused. I liked it. I took a cup from the dispenser and poured myself some water. I walked back over to the bed and took a sip.

“Ugh!” I spit it out. “This s**t tastes like metal and poison!” I threw the cup at the waste and it thuds against the side missing.

“I forgot to inform you, you are no longer able to consume normal human food or drinks.”

“I guess that means no more Dr Pepper for me, but why?”

“That is correct. You lost a lot of blood, along with your liver, one of your kidneys, part of your stomach, and half of your intestines. They replaced what they could with some synthetic alternatives. But there were complications and a lack of viable materials. There was a Vystern that volunteered to donate her body to help rebuild you. Her dna and blood were almost a perfect match to yours as much of a match that there could be. She gave up her life to make sure that you were able to live, and they used her voice and brain to help program me but used a human female body to represent me on screen.”

“So they used all of her body to help rebuild me? Brain included? And I guess that explains why it looks like you’re walking around the room but you’re not actually holographic huh?”

“You would be correct, I do not have access to a holographic form yet. And you are correct about the Vystern female as well. Her legs and arm were melded with edenium to create your arm and legs, so that your body would accept them and be useful to you. You will notice your left arm and both legs are comparatively stronger, and you are several inches taller. Her organs were done the same way. Before she gave her body to the project, she went through extensive psych examinations and brain scans to create a central Virtual intelligence as close to an artificial intelligence as they could get. Her blood and skin were used to help you as well. They created the nanomechs by using what was left of her blood and the edenium left over. It was a massive project with many people working simultaneously to preserve time.”

“Why me though?”

“That information is Classified”

“Ok well...hold on I see some Stars and Stripes coming down the hall.” I look through the window and see one familiar face along with two I’ve never seen. They seem pretty important being they were walking in front of the man I thought to be as high up as you could get in the human military. They turn the corner in front the nurse station in front of my room and the sliding doors split open with no delay. Without hesitation the 3 men walk through the door and stand alongside each other. The president of the UNSS, United Nations of the Sol System, actually an old friend of mine that I served under in the Unity Wars. Back then he was just a Major in the United States Mairinavy. Yeah I know it sounds weird. But the marines, Air Force, and navy all decided to combine in one ultimate force when we started moving through space. We and a few other countries wanted to unite the world in peace so we could all go together. But Russia, China, North Korea, and the Middle Eastern Countries wanted to do their own. So they waged a war against us by assassinating the president, Vice President, and all but 3 of our highest ranking generals. The next in line General Victoria Gladden took over as high command along with Generals Hyde and Gunther. Victoria died at the battle of Appalachia and that sent our troops into overdrive, we drove the enemy back so fast after that moment that there really wasn’t a war anymore, it was g******e. We killed so many of the enemies men that they really didn’t have anything to throw at us. So Hyde and Gunther took over as joint command until they surrendered, and when their ship crashed on Jupiter due to a stray asteroid it was Major Bill Jobs who was elected to take their place. Ever since then things have been ultimately peaceful. Until now with the void coming into play.

“Commander Viper, we are here to brief you and offer you a job. We can’t talk here...what is that?” President Jobs looks down at the broken blade laying on the floor. The rest of us look down and I laugh and scratch the back of my head.

“Haha, that was a sword. An assassin made its way into my room and tried to kill me, synthetic I believe. But I wounded it and it got away. Still not completely used to this new body yet.” They look back at me.

“Glad to know you’re still alive and kicking commander. Now when the doctors come to give you your stuff and check you out and dismiss you, meet us outside at the lounge square. We will be waiting with some information and like I said, a job offer. Thank you for your time.” He turns around and I can see his nervous sweats impeding him. I finally recognized one of the men being his secondary Major Steve Gates, but I still don’t know the other one. They walk out and not a moment later Dr. Alex walks in with 2 nurses pushing a hover cart behind him.

“Mr. Mark....umm no last name?” I look up at him and notice he’s reading off of a datapad with a confused look on his face. He looks up at me and smiles.

“I was born in Alabama and had great amazing parents. But the battle of Appalachia was centered around Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. My parents were living peacefully in Bama and now they’re resting peacefully. I buried my last name with them but kept my first two. Only three people know my middle name, you can call me Viper though.” A tear falls out of my right eye.

“Very well, Mr....”

“No Mister...just call me Viper or Commander Viper, please...what do you need for me to leave? I’m getting anxious in this tiny room.”

(To me) “Sir I see no indication of mood changes or high levels of stress, why are you lying to the doctor?”

(To Eve) “So he will hurry the hell up, I’m tired of sitting here. I appreciate them bringing me back to full health but I don’t wanna sit around singing Kumbayah with them.”

(To me) “I’m curious about this Kumbayah. Oh. Never mind.” I smile and look up the doctor.

“Well I just have a few questions to make sure you’re recovering correctly. We had to replace half of your body with that of a female Vystern who was only known by her V-name, supposedly she had never acquired an English version.”

“What was her name?” My curiosity was growing in such a wild way that I wanted to be able to thank her, Hell even hug and kiss her. What she did for me was not repayable.

“Raining winter days when snow is ought and left behind.”

“That’s her name? I mean it’s beautiful but, seems odd to be someone’s name...”

“The Vysterns have a deep cultural tie to their beliefs of souls. They believe their body is a vessel and that the soul is ones true self. According to the records.” Eve speaks out through the auxiliary outputs.

“Ah! I see your virtual intelligence is working properly as well. Now lastly I need you to stand up and walk to the hover cart. Please.”

“Thank you doctor, I’m settling in very well within Commander Vipers body. He has even grew to call me, Eve.” I stand up slowly and walk carefully over to the cart while they converse with each other.

“Interesting, would you say you ‘like’ that name, Eve?”

“You would be correct Doctor, I do believe I enjoy having a name. And the name, Eve, seems to be well suited and beautiful.”

“Well it seems both of you are lucky to have each other. Now Commander I need you to put on those clothes that are there and also grab the bag I have prepared for you with your left arm and carry it with you when you leave.” I put on the black tee shirt that has X8(omega symbol) on it, then I grab the long black, white, grey, and blue camouflaged pants and put them on, carefully one leg at a time trying to keep my balance. I then sit down on the cart and put on both slipper like shoes...

“No...I don’t think I can wear these doc.”

He looks over to me and then walks over to investigate. “Why not? They are your size and are very comfortable.”

“It’s not that, my feet feel weird putting shoes on them for some reason....”

Surprise and curiosity fills Dr. Alex’s face to the brim, “you can feel your feet? What about your arm all the way down to your fingers? What about your toes?” He starts poking everywhere with his pen.

“Yes I can feel every inch of my body aside from a few places on my abdomen and face...oh! Stop that tickles...”

“Tickles!!! That’s amazing!! This is better than I could even hope for!” He stands back up and starts typing away on his pad.

“I thought that this was normal?”

“No! When I replaced Dr. Ollison’s arm, I could only use synthetic materials and she can only feel herself grip. That way she doesn’t crush something on accident. Connecting nerves to wires doesn’t really work. But with you I had the Vystern’s arms and legs to work with, and when they were integrated with the raw edenium. It was astonishing at how that metal will form together with organic matierial.”

“And supposedly this shit....sorry this stuff is pretty much indestructible right?”

“Right! No matter what happens to you now, you should be able to recover, lest you are beheaded or fall from orbit again.”

“I don’t plan on it, but I will keep these shoes for when I’m able to get comfortable wearing them again. Anything else doc?”

“No sir, I think that will be all. You can talk to the Vysterns child and spouse outside in the waiting area, they want to meet you....oh! Right! The Vystern also made a vid for you, here.” He hands me a small vid orb. “She wasn’t very wealthy so the small orb that’s cheap was all she could afford. The rest of her payment was sent to her family. Very well accommodated for giving her life to the project...”

“To me, you mean.”

“Well yes you, but understand. Please, you’re free to go. And just be careful out there. I don’t want to ‘have’ to see you again. I’d rather it be on friendly terms.”

(To me)“Dr. Alex the best surgeon, and the smartest medical doctor in the known galaxy. He also studies all of the different kinds of life forms we have discovered. It would be safe to say that he is the most capable Biologist to date. Should I take his contact information?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry? Did you say something commander?”

“No sorry,” I laugh nervously not realizing I said that out loud, “thank you doctor. Hope you have a great day.”

“You too Commander, safe travels.” I walk out of the room holding the bag he gave me. “How is that bag commander?” I turn to look at him.

“It’s a little heavy, throwing my balance off...but I’ll manage.”

“I see, carry on.”

I walk out into the waiting area and see a female Vystern and a young human girl sitting in the corner reading a children’s holobook together. The Vystern looks up and smiles at me. “Eve is that the spouse and child that doc was talking about?”

“Scanning.....yes commander, it is.”

I walk over towards them and she stands up leaving the child sitting there. I sit the bag on a sofa and meet her in the middle of a ring of seats. “You must be, umm...”

“Rain’s wife, yes.”

“Oh, the doctor said she had a really long name.”

“We all called her Rain for short.”

“It’s a beautiful name. And I can’t express in words how much I appreciate what she did for me.” She starts to cry, her beautiful voice starts singing a wonderful, but yet melancholy song.

“I am thankful too.” Eve says aloud.

“Oh my! You have her voice!” Her words coming through in a singing voice, almost as if she were actually trying to sing them. “I just wanted to see you, and tell you that I’m proud of my Rain. I loved her more than I loved the stars at night. My name is, Dances among the stars with showers of falling chaos.”

I interrupt her without knowing, “that’s beautiful, how do you come up with names?”

“But you can call me Stara. Our names are given at birth, whatever seems to be going on at the time of your birth is what your name is. For Rain it was raining during the winter season when it should’ve been snowing. For me my mother was out in a field laying down when she gave me life. She looked up and all of the stars were falling.” She motions to the child. “This is our daughter. We were unable to find a suitor to fertilize either of us for our choice to stay...as females together...homosexual. And so we searched out on earth to find peace there. This young one was at an abandoned religious building in a battle torn city.” She pulls up her Allserver and brings up a map. “Here,” she points directly at where my parents used to live in Alabama.

“That’s, not possible...”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story, but my parents lived right across the way from there...” I move her map a little ways, “there.”

“That is a lovely coincidence. Shall I return there, I would love to meet them.” I look down in dismay.

“Actually,” I look back up and move her map again, “if you go here you can pay your respects to them...if you wanted to.”

“I apologize, I was not informed. You have my deepest care for you. I have also lost both of my parents. But we should not well on the past. My love is now you. You are not my love, but I wish for you the best.”

“I appreciate that. I won’t squander this opportunity I’ve been given. I have to ask though, what is your daughters name?” I squat down and hold out my hand to her.

“Her name is Glacea. Rain gave her the name and said for me to give her a second one as humans do. But I couldn’t think of one for her. Would you mind telling me a good human name?” The little girl has sparkling blue eyes and solid black hair. She smiles and walks towards me with open arms, I pick her up and cradle her on my right hip. “She seems to like you. I have not seen her take to a human before. You are special.”

“Leila.” I look deep into her beautiful blue eyes.

“Leila? Very pretty. Yes. I like it.”

“You lost your love to me. I lost my love to the galaxy. Your daughter deserves a name worthy of her beauty. Alright, I need to go before I get all sentimental.” I put Glacea down and pull up my Allserver and link it with Stara’s. “Here, whenever I get money or any kind of resource that you can put in this list, you will get a portion of it.”

“But why? I didn’t ask you for payment?” She looks directly at me, her red eyes determined with a side of guilt.

“No! I didn’t mean it like that, I just want to help you in any way I can. Not that I feel like I owe you, I owe Rain my life. I can’t repay that, but I can help you and little Glacea Leila here.” I reach down and ruffle her hair and she giggles. “I’m not asking for approval, and I won’t take no for answer.”

“I could not ask this of you. But I am in thanks to you. There are important men waiting on you outside. Good luck.” I step in and open my arms to hug her and she looks at me curiously. “We are not in love?”

“I’m not trying to kiss you Stara,” I laugh nervously trying not to offend her, “I’m trying to hug you.”

“I thought that hugging was what lovers did to each other for mating?”

I laugh again, “no that’s fu...never mind, look just wrap your arms around my neck like this...” I put her arms around me and I grab her around her waist, we hug for a moment. And in that moment it felt like there was something inside of me that leaped out and squeezed her then disappeared. Then we let go and stepped back.

“I felt my love in you. Thank you.” She turns back and sits down. Glacea still looking up at me I squat down and hug her too. And again I could feel that feeling. “I could feel my love again. She caresses our daughter. I see in you. Goodbye my love.”

Eve speaks up, “goodbye...”

(To eve) “Why did you do that?”

(To me) “I did not do anything.”

(To eve) “Are you lying?”

(To me) “I do not possess the ability to lie, I am unsure the topic you are talking about.”

(To eve) “You just said goodbye to Stara.”

(To me) “Incorrect assumption. I haven’t spoken in approximately five minutes and 24 seconds.” I stand up and scratch the back of neck for a moment in confusion. Could that have really been Rain’s Soul?