Prototype 13

Chapter Four: Unforeseen Crisis The day started like any other, with the steady hum of the facility’s systems and the low murmur of voices echoing down the sterile corridors. I was in the observation room, running through another simulation designed to test my reflexes. Virtual enemies appeared on the screen in front of me, and I dispatched them with calculated efficiency. The numbers on the monitor climbed steadily, a testament to my progress. Dr. Kane watched from the corner of the room, her arms folded and her expression unreadable. The man in the suit was absent for once, and the lack of his cold presence felt almost like a reprieve. “Your response times have improved,” Dr. Kane said, her voice breaking the silence. “Faster than expected. You’re adapting well, 13.” I didn’t answer. The simulations felt empty, a mechanical exercise that did nothing to ease the questions swirling in my mind. Who had this body belonged to? What was I really meant to become? Before I could dwell on it,...

Chapter Three: Fractured Truths The hum of the orientation chamber still lingered in my ears as I followed Dr. Kane and the man in the suit down yet another endless corridor. The light seemed brighter here, sharper, as though the walls themselves were watching. My head throbbed faintly, filled with fragments of images and words that didn’t belong to me. Knowledge had been poured into my mind, but it felt like a puzzle dumped out of its box—disjointed and incomplete. Dr. Kane slowed her pace, glancing over her shoulder at me. “How are you feeling, 13?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral. I hesitated, unsure how to answer. “Different. Like… there’s more inside my head now. But it doesn’t all make sense.” She nodded, as if this was expected. “That’s normal. The learning modules introduce concepts gradually. Over time, it will feel more natural.” The man in the suit didn’t react, his long strides carrying him ahead of us. He’d barely spoken to me since I’d woken up, yet his presence lo...