-We should call her "Seven".
-Seven?
-Yes, Module Array 7…What do you think, Axiom?
-Huh? It's alright, I guess.
Hazy voices became clearer each second. With reluctant force, I tried to open my stuck eyelids. Each ray of light stinging the cornea, made me squint.
Bound to a metal chair by chains, there is no room to move. The two women who left me in the Module Array, are now standing here. But I can sense someone else standing behind this chair.
It took me few minutes to perceive the surroundings. Not being able to move or get up is overstimulating. Metal chains are so tight, they push to my bones while I struggle to free myself.
Me: Ahhh! Release me! - feeling of ire boiled inside me. - Aghh! Untie the chains!
-Stay still, stop shouting! - a young voice came from the back. Forcefully hugging my neck from behind with thin arms, almost choking me. - Listen, it is only for a short time.
Me: There is no reason to humiliate me like this!
-Well, I do have my own reasons. - grip of the arms on my neck got tighter. - Axiom, Except, leave the room. Wait outside, I will call you if needed.
The two women did not even hesitate and turned their backs to leave. I caught a glimpse of dark, lightless corridor as the two opened the door as little as possible to leave. Clearly, this is an intended move to prevent me from seeing outside. The person standing behind the chair decided to show herself.
A young girl covered with bandages. Her whole face except amber eyes is hidden beneath the fresh bandages. The uncovered part of her skin has blisters and red purulent scars which look excruciating. Thin, pinkish-red hair looks dull is adding to her sickly appearance. Looking at my own hair, I realized we have the same hair color.
Me: What do you want from me? Release me alre... - slap! The girl slapped me. Slap did not hurt at all as her hand was also covered with bandages.
-Shut up and listen to me. I am trying to help you. You have no idea what kind of situation you are inside. - her whisper tickled inside of my ears.
The cold seriousness in her voice. Maybe the best option for now is to calm down and listen to her. I will eventually make my way out of here.
After pulling a chair next to me, she sat down:
-First of all, we got to be careful to keep this conversation only between two of us. - her head pointed to the door - Understood?
Me: Go on.
-I assume you have gotten out of the Creation Module by Axiom and Except. Right?
What is Axiom and Except? The confused look on my face was enough as an answer.
-The two girls who were just here.
Me: Oh...yes.
-Have you ever been to a Initialization?
Me: I do not know what you are talking about! I woke up and everything has been a chaos!
Her hand covered my mouth with a force that can displace a jaw:
-If you start shouting like that again, I swear to explode you myself this time...
-Voidborns get firmware loaded before being taken out of Creation Modules. But I can see that yours has not been loaded successfully. Firmwares provide us with language skills and general knowledge about the GeneXISystem. - The young girl continued after seeing my uninterested expression. - I am not sure how much of this information has been embedded into you.
Me: ...
-Well, let me introduce myself. - My name is Ail; you can tell from my appearance,' said the young girl with a joking voice. - I am also a Voidborn, like you, that was created inside a Creation Module.
Me: I have no idea what a Voidborn or Creation Module or... GeneXISystem is. – With a complaining voice, my head swayed around.
-That is what I want to explain. Just listen to me carefully, or in your first step outside, consider yourself prey. - Her voice turned into a faint whisper that only my ears were able to hear. - This whole planet, Proxime Centauri b, is covered and ruled by a computer system, GeneXISystem. The system constantly generates new cyborgs with different levels inside Module Arrays, by merging embryos with artificial robot parts.
Me: We were inside a Module Array. But it was empty. - The conversation got interesting as I started to connect lines.
- Yes, Module Array 7. We detected extreme energy consumption inside that Module Array which has been empty for a long time. High energy usage usually indicates that a Voidborn is growing inside that Module Array.
Me: What is that Vodiborn you have been talking all about?
- Ah, you also do not know the cyborg tier system. There are 4 cyborg tiers: Augmented, Integrated, Synced and Ascended. They all have different levels of artificial parts and brain activity. None of them have fully independent will, except Voidborns. Voidborns like me are created by fusing embryos with the GeneXISystem itself, giving us immunity to mind control, endless lifetimes and higher physical capacity.
Me: Are those two women also Voidborn?
-Yes.
Me: Then why did you tie me up like this? Aren't we the same species?
-I am not done yet! Listen, the GeneXISystem is trying to create the perfect human-cyborg mix, the Apex. If any problem occurs in the Creation Module or Initialization, it is considered an unsuccessful attempt. - with a cold voice - We Voidborn are the unsuccessful attempts. None of the attempts has ever been successful. As it is close to impossible to infuse millions of particles inside a body. Eventually problems are unavoidable in the process.
Maybe her skin covered with blisters is a result of this. As much as curiosity ate me from inside, it is scary to ask her something like this. Her mood is unpredictable. She got up from the chair and stretched her arms and continued speaking while looking at me from above.
-You have been put into an artificial coma to run some tests.
Me: Huh? How long have I been kept like this?
Ignoring my question, she continued:
-It seems like GeneXISystem is successful in creating the Apex. - with an insulting look - The reason for all of us suffering...
She walked away with small steps towards the counter that stretched across the green wall covered with mould, dust and chipped paint. As her hands searched for something, making metal clanging sounds.
Anxiety built up like a mountain from the metal sharpening sound and being unable to move.
Ali: A Voidborn lives with constant physical and mental pain. Some end their lives; some bear with the pain to find the Apex.
Me: Why… Why do you nee…
Ignoring me, Ail continued her speech.
Ail: You might ask, "Why?" Voidborns can replace their malfunctioning components with another Voidborn's healthy part. It's not so easy as it seems, but in fact, successful cases are not ignorable.
Holding a scalpel in her hand, Ail walked toward me. These sinister eyes. We are almost face to face. A cold metal sensation appeared under my chin. It has to be the scalpel.
Ail: Imagine what a treasure an Apex body would be.
The glow in her eyes trembled my insides. These are eyes of a hunter looking at her prey. The unintentional anger is boiling my brain. The scalpel under my chin is a threat. Showing her superiority over me in this situation. I wish… I wish that scalpel was in my hands. Imagining myself stabbing her with no hesitation adds up to this anger.
Ail: Ughh…haaah…
Sharp thorns pierced her skin. Where did they come from? These thorns emerging from me are the incarnation of my wish. Hot blood penetrates to my skin through the white, dirty gown that I have been dressed with. Her screams before blood clogged her throat were enough to bring the two women waiting outside.
Crystal-clear thorns vanished into smoke, leaving holes inside Ail's flesh.
- Except, take the Ail out! Now! - dark haired woman shouted as she jumped and gripped my throat.
- You do not deserve to be free! - Dark, metal chains coming out of her spine, gluing me to the chair.
The previous chains must be coming from the same place. Interesting. Watching them panic and get angry is satisfying even though a hand is squeezing me viciously.
I smiled lightly to irritate her. A slap left its burning sensation on my cheek.
- You filthy creature!
-Axiom! Do not waste our time here! Let's get out! - the woman trying to drag Ail out shouted anxiously.
After a few seconds, the grip loosened with hesitation. Eyes filled with disgust finally left to help take Ail outside.
Looking at my glistening eyes from hatred for one last time, both women left. Turning off all lamps, the door locking sound was the last thing to be heard, leaving me with my own thoughts…
GeneXIS System: Acces to Memory - Denied