Post by Magnus on Nov 20, 2013 18:53:15 GMT -6
Death and Rebirth
Age: Fourteen
A day I could never forget for the rest of my life. Almost felt like it was yesterday...
...Was over a decade ago, really. I just sat there in my bed in a shared room of the orphanage that cared for me when they found me at their doorstep as an infant. I was told that they had no idea where I came from, for I was just suddenly dropped off in front of the building as quickly as someone, or as some eye-witnesses said, "something" left me there. However, from my own memories for as far back as I could remember, I never possessed any real attachment to the foster care. Well, that was mainly because of my terrible and rather painful memories I've had since childhood. None worth mentioning, mind you, but I'll never deny the fact that I was at least treated well by the adults and wasn't living under poor conditions. Of course, if I was treated in such a manner, then this place wouldn't have been up and running. I was just grateful to have a roof over my head instead of dwelling on unimportant aspects of my childhood and my unknown parents.
So this day in particular, I was just there alone in the shared room. There were many beds all over the room and lined up neatly, and luckily for me, mine was the closest to the large window to the side. I really enjoyed just gazing out and staring down on our small city as I often daydreamed about many things. If I wasn't doing that, I'd just either sit there silently or read silly stories to pass the time. Most, if not all the kids hated and pushed me around, so I had to spend my play time away from them completely. Of course, now since I'm in my early teens, it's even worse. However, I've always found it weird that the teddy bear they apparently found in my arms when I was an infant always gave me some sort of comfort. In order to stop the other kids from taking it from me, I always hid the thing and didn't bring it out other than in times like my alone time or if I was sleeping. They mocked and laughed at me all the time...a boy my age holding a stuffed animal like a little girl was always something they could pick at. But I paid them no mind. The bear did help...and oddly enough, I still have the thing sitting around in my apartment to this day to reflect on those times.
As I grabbed the bear and gazed out the window, I stared down as I saw some police officers casually walking in the streets. They were no Maverick Hunters, but they regulated the peace of our little town. But I was always hearing amazing stories about the hunters and their fearless soldiers. Especially the famous Class S Hunters. Despite all the crap that went on here, I always wanted to find a way to help the good guys. To maintain peace throughout my world as a Maverick Hunter...even if it was just a silly child's dream. After all, I was a full-on fleshy human. They wouldn't have accepted the likes of me; the very humans that they sought to protect by all means necessary. However, that only made me want to be a hunter even more. On top of their heroic deeds, they all were so cool. A hunter visited our town a month back and just watching the proud soldier was a huge honor, for they were never required to come to this little place. Nothing significant happened here that needed their utmost attention. That was, until...it happened.
For some reason, the environment became all gloomy outside and moments later, I witnessed an enormous explosion from afar. The more I panicked as I saw this, the more terrified I was. I've never seen something so destructive before...and it was only from a distance. I had no idea what was going on. To tell the truth, I wet myself when it happened.....Hah! Gotcha! Even then, I was old enough to control myself.
...Anyways.
I witnessed even more explosions from other areas and by then one of them was really close to the orphanage to where the flash blinded me for a sec. I was so confused, and out of instinct, I took cover and hid under my bed. I was there for a while as it became quiet for a few minutes. I just didn't want to move until it was all over...but then moments later, I heard a really loud scream from below. It was definitely one of the women who looked after us, as it came from the first floor below. At first, I was ignoring it...but soon after, I heard the screams and cries for help of more adults and even the children of the orphanage. I was shaking way too much and I could hear so much destruction on the floor below...but if I wanted to be a heroic Maverick Hunter someday, I had to stop cowering and go down there. Before I knew it, I calmed my nerves and stormed out as I kept hold of the teddy bear. I was such a fool....what could a human boy do?
I raced through the hallways and boarded the main elevator down, my heart pounding with each passing second. Felt like it wanted to burst out my chest from how nervous and scared I was. But as the elevator halted and was on the first floor finally, I widened my eyes in abject horror as the automatic doors slammed open and witnessed the aftermath of a carnage. Who could have done such a horrible thing...there were children and adults scattered all over the place and debris from the ceiling was covering the floors. Some were even buried under it. I realized some reploids were in there too. They likely appeared to protect them all, but they were all slaughtered as well in their valiant efforts. All that was going through my mind was that I had to find a way out and that if I just stood there in shock, I would be on the floor too piled on top of some of them. I tried my best to walk on through without looking down, but my eyes were just drawn and glued downwards as I walked. But after a long and painful walk through, I managed to step on solid ground again as I approached the broken double doors that were forced open. Staring outside, I've seen even more dead bodies and destruction. Whoever was doing this, they were doing it extremely fast. I hadn't even seen any attackers to say an explosion near there had just happened.
It was like I was in a nightmare. I closed my eyes to try and wake up, but that failed. I was rejecting the reality that was around me...and soon after my eyes became very watery as I finally accepted the fact that this wasn't a dream. So now desperate, I ran off into a random direction, completely confused with no sense of direction. Just that I wanted to get out of there and live. The more I gazed at my surroundings, the more people I saw killed in the streets and more damaged buildings. Little time was passing as I turned a corner, however I realized a shadowy figure ahead of me that was in the middle of a ravaged street. As I slowed my progress, the figure was that of a reploid. A female to be precise. She was just...standing there and looking off in some random direction. As I recall this moment now, things may have turned out differently if I didn't open my mouth or just ignored her and found another path. Stupid me called out to her, thinking she was someone fighting off whatever was attacking the city.
But she turned around as I seen her full appearance and likeness...her eyes were soul-less like a doll and when she locked eyes with me, she pulled out a beam sword immediately as her feet began to slowly proceed forth, approaching me with killing intent. The moment I sensed the hostility, I was pacing backwards...and like pure instinct, the female roid realized my fear as she dashed at me at a speed that was too much for me to possibly react or escape. It was only a couple of seconds later that she was within close quarters and was swinging her weapon multiple times...before I knew it, I fell down on my back and was confused as to what actually happened while seeing my own blood fly upwards in my fall.
When she walked passed me and vanished out my sight, I finally realized the excruciating pain in all my limbs...or rather, what was left of them. I tilted my head all over as my legs and arms were an absolute mess. Both legs were severed from the thighs and so was an arm...and my other arm was just barely hanging on there. I can't even explain as to how that all really felt, because at the time I was paralyzed, traumatized and still confused. I've never experienced such a thing at that age and I was too afraid as to what would happen next. It was quiet...and there was no one around to help me. It didn't help that my vision was obscured a bit from some blood that was in my eyes. Everything was beginning to blur as I was just about to lose it, but I was still too into the severity of the moment to even shout out in combination with the tears. Though a few seconds before I blanked out, the shadow of a short man covered me.
--
Strangely enough, I was awakened by a lot of noise and tinkering around me. My eyes were still shut and someone was obviously working on something from what I heard. As I creaked my eyes open, I was staring upwards at a ceiling before closing my eyes back from nearly blinding myself from the light. But once I reopened them and tilted my head around, I was in a lab of some sort.
"So, you've finally awakened. It's been about three days."
I heard the voice of a man on the side of me before turning my head in that direction to see the said short and stubby middle-aged person looking down on me with a smile. "You're lucky to be alive, young man. When I found you, you were a complete wreck. I'm sure glad I was able to make it in time. I couldn't bear to see someone do young die in such a manner." He spoke to me in such a calm tone as he proceeded to tampering with something near me. But it was then that I finally realized by looking downward that my body was...different.
In place of my arms were synthetic ones. While they were mechanic, the blackened artificial skin looked so identical to my old arms. I pulled my head up a tad as my legs were the same all the way up to my thighs. I tried to move my limbs a bit, but was barely able to. It was then that the professor was explaining to me that he had just finished the part of the operation where he replaced them, though was not yet complete. But he was very relaxed about the procedure to where it was able to calm me down and prevent myself from freaking out. Since I was advised to take it easy and rest, I did so as I closed my eyes. Since my new limbs were successfully attached, the operation wasn't going to be painful since I still didn't have too much feeling and functionality in them just yet. And the anesthetics were doing their part too.
So several hours passed as I was conked out. It felt so good to rest, even if images of the city's destruction and that reploid who did this to my body raced on through my dreams in the pitch black darkness. Even then, I was still too confused to understand what went on there...and why. But I finally came back to, feeling like I was asleep again for another day or two. When I gazed around and took another look at my body, my limbs appeared even more polished and I also had some sort of body protection on. The professor appeared back in my sight again as he greeted me and had a bright smile on his face. Like he accomplished something amazing.
"It's all right now, son. I've finally finished the operation. And don't worry about the body protector. It just serves as an extra bit of protection and it's removable." The man then helped ease me up on the operating table as he allowed me to get a feel of my new body. As I moved my fingers and toes, as well as waving around the arms and legs, it was a little tough to get adjusted to it, but the feeling in general felt pretty comfortable...almost natural, but not quite.
Afterwards, I stood on both legs as I was guided to a mirror. It actually looked pretty cool and the little body armor was so lightweight too. It was almost as if I was wearing feathers over my shirt. But then the doc began to explain some of the augmentations he gave to my body. As he explained, they all were mostly aimed for combat-purposes and when I asked him about that, he plainly stated that he gave me the ability to fight so I could protect myself...that he designed my new "body" to be as quick and nimble like a ninja. He told me about the Bio-roids...and how they've been reeking havoc all over. That they were the cause for my hometown's destruction and were even backing the Maverick Hunters into a corner.
It was a lot to digest, but soon after he brought over a weapon he created for me. It was in the appearance of a Japanese sword, but explained how that was just it's aesthetics and that he forged it with modern day material to rival the weaponry of this age. As he explained more about it, I began to realize that if I had the ability to fight, I could finally properly protect people. No longer would the fact that I was human could hold me back from fulfilling what I desired to do for my entire life. But it was quite the price to pay for...being different from others. I already didn't fit in too well and if I were surrounded by such an environment like the orphanage again, I'd really be treated like a monster. But at least I could defend myself now. However, after a while, the professor left and entered another room as I heard him moving some things around on a table and came back out with a small back pack in one hand and...my little teddy bear in the other. It sure did fly out of my hand when that Bio-roid attacked me from what I remembered. However, before he did anything with them...
"I believe you'll find your place in this world with the second life I've given you. But before I say anymore, what's your name, son? I'm Gerald White."
"...Kai." I spoke in a low tone. I didn't know why, but just calling myself by my birth-name sounded weird then. They say I had a name tag in the little capsule they found me in. But something about my name felt so...off now. While I was the same person, it felt like a great change was done to me other than my augmented body. "...B-but, I don't want to be called that anymore."
The professor had a rather surprised look on his face. However, a smile crossed his features as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "Then how about we give you a new name!" He stood there and pondered for a bit as something sparked in his head, which he then patted the top of my blond hair. "...How about Magnus? It translates to 'Greatness', as I do believe you have the potential to achieve many great things with your new life."
I stood there for a moment, hearing the new name before I immediately placed a smile on my face and nodded....wait, I SMILED? I was told that I was the child that never smiled and I sorta knew that was true. But other than the name sounding cool, it felt like an honor to be named in such a fashion...and it was a symbol of the new path I could take, no matter what it may have been. As such, I then walked away as I stared into the mirror to give my body another overall view. Afterwards, I closed my eyes. I thought about it hard...how my first life was put to an end by that Bio-roid as Kai...and then I was reborn as the cyborg, Magnus. Just thinking about that gave me some hope for the future, even though I know it was going to be tough being different from other humans. I was honestly afraid of how the world was going to treat me based on if they took a close look at me. But I figured I'd deal with that along the road. It was time to get my new life started.
Afterwards, the professor gave me my teddy bear and the back pack. "Good! Then Magnus, I want you to live your life as happily and freely as possible. I know, you're too young to look after yourself...but to tell you the truth, I have people who are after my life and skills constantly...and I don't want you wrapped up in it, despite your new ability to fight. Besides, you should leave this old guy behind and pursue your future...and seize it. So I've packed you plenty of food and supplies until you can either find a way to handle your own or gain help from someone else." After patting my shoulder one more time as he helped with equipping the back pack, he began walking with me towards some stairs. "I wish I had more time, but hopefully you can also find an even more talented person than I who can help you with your new ability to battle."
I wanted to say something in means of wanting to stay with him; to help him with these people who were chasing him, however I had no idea what I could say. The man looked so dead-set on seeing me go after my own future instead of worrying about him. But as we paced up the stairs and oped a door, we happened to be outside the destroyed and deserted city of ours. So his lab was underground...
As we both stared at the city that showed nothing but death, as well a gloom in the cloudy sky, the professor placed both hands on my shoulders as he gave a determined look on his face to cheer me up. "Be strong, Magnus. Abel City is way more than several miles away from here to the southwest. It'll be a long and dangerous journey, what with these Bio-roids roaming around and the tough terrain you have to travel through with all the destruction, but you must persevere. I gave you the ability to protect yourself and others. You'll...unfortunately have to try out your new abilities with actual experience in battle, but I believe in you."
It was the first time someone actually told me they believed in me. I mean, the man hardly knew me, but now that I think back on this moment, I guess he saw something inside of me that he could relate to. Or perhaps he was just as lonely as I was. The man was the closest thing to a father that I've ever had, only because he cared so much to give me new life and gave me things to aspire to. I'd never forget him for as long as I lived...
He spoke his farewells afterward, and I was still hesitant on moving. I was still scared, but I reminded myself that the professor believed in me...and I didn't want to waste the new life he had given me, so I slowly and eventually began walking on a path that lead towards leaving the city in the specified directions I was given. As I kept walking and tiled my vision back to the man, I waved at him from a distance when he did so to me. Magnus, huh? It really was a 'great' name. Yes, pun was intended. But as I walked down the path, I witnessed the rest of my destroyed city and was reflecting at the horror I experienced. That bio-roid...her image was something I could never forget. And it was strange because she appeared no different from a reploid. But if there was a moment where I had to face her kind again, I had to steel myself to fight against such adversaries.
...My life depended on it. I needed to transform myself from a timid teen to a steel warrior. The rebirth as Magnus was proof of that.
Age: Fourteen
A day I could never forget for the rest of my life. Almost felt like it was yesterday...
...Was over a decade ago, really. I just sat there in my bed in a shared room of the orphanage that cared for me when they found me at their doorstep as an infant. I was told that they had no idea where I came from, for I was just suddenly dropped off in front of the building as quickly as someone, or as some eye-witnesses said, "something" left me there. However, from my own memories for as far back as I could remember, I never possessed any real attachment to the foster care. Well, that was mainly because of my terrible and rather painful memories I've had since childhood. None worth mentioning, mind you, but I'll never deny the fact that I was at least treated well by the adults and wasn't living under poor conditions. Of course, if I was treated in such a manner, then this place wouldn't have been up and running. I was just grateful to have a roof over my head instead of dwelling on unimportant aspects of my childhood and my unknown parents.
So this day in particular, I was just there alone in the shared room. There were many beds all over the room and lined up neatly, and luckily for me, mine was the closest to the large window to the side. I really enjoyed just gazing out and staring down on our small city as I often daydreamed about many things. If I wasn't doing that, I'd just either sit there silently or read silly stories to pass the time. Most, if not all the kids hated and pushed me around, so I had to spend my play time away from them completely. Of course, now since I'm in my early teens, it's even worse. However, I've always found it weird that the teddy bear they apparently found in my arms when I was an infant always gave me some sort of comfort. In order to stop the other kids from taking it from me, I always hid the thing and didn't bring it out other than in times like my alone time or if I was sleeping. They mocked and laughed at me all the time...a boy my age holding a stuffed animal like a little girl was always something they could pick at. But I paid them no mind. The bear did help...and oddly enough, I still have the thing sitting around in my apartment to this day to reflect on those times.
As I grabbed the bear and gazed out the window, I stared down as I saw some police officers casually walking in the streets. They were no Maverick Hunters, but they regulated the peace of our little town. But I was always hearing amazing stories about the hunters and their fearless soldiers. Especially the famous Class S Hunters. Despite all the crap that went on here, I always wanted to find a way to help the good guys. To maintain peace throughout my world as a Maverick Hunter...even if it was just a silly child's dream. After all, I was a full-on fleshy human. They wouldn't have accepted the likes of me; the very humans that they sought to protect by all means necessary. However, that only made me want to be a hunter even more. On top of their heroic deeds, they all were so cool. A hunter visited our town a month back and just watching the proud soldier was a huge honor, for they were never required to come to this little place. Nothing significant happened here that needed their utmost attention. That was, until...it happened.
For some reason, the environment became all gloomy outside and moments later, I witnessed an enormous explosion from afar. The more I panicked as I saw this, the more terrified I was. I've never seen something so destructive before...and it was only from a distance. I had no idea what was going on. To tell the truth, I wet myself when it happened.....Hah! Gotcha! Even then, I was old enough to control myself.
...Anyways.
I witnessed even more explosions from other areas and by then one of them was really close to the orphanage to where the flash blinded me for a sec. I was so confused, and out of instinct, I took cover and hid under my bed. I was there for a while as it became quiet for a few minutes. I just didn't want to move until it was all over...but then moments later, I heard a really loud scream from below. It was definitely one of the women who looked after us, as it came from the first floor below. At first, I was ignoring it...but soon after, I heard the screams and cries for help of more adults and even the children of the orphanage. I was shaking way too much and I could hear so much destruction on the floor below...but if I wanted to be a heroic Maverick Hunter someday, I had to stop cowering and go down there. Before I knew it, I calmed my nerves and stormed out as I kept hold of the teddy bear. I was such a fool....what could a human boy do?
I raced through the hallways and boarded the main elevator down, my heart pounding with each passing second. Felt like it wanted to burst out my chest from how nervous and scared I was. But as the elevator halted and was on the first floor finally, I widened my eyes in abject horror as the automatic doors slammed open and witnessed the aftermath of a carnage. Who could have done such a horrible thing...there were children and adults scattered all over the place and debris from the ceiling was covering the floors. Some were even buried under it. I realized some reploids were in there too. They likely appeared to protect them all, but they were all slaughtered as well in their valiant efforts. All that was going through my mind was that I had to find a way out and that if I just stood there in shock, I would be on the floor too piled on top of some of them. I tried my best to walk on through without looking down, but my eyes were just drawn and glued downwards as I walked. But after a long and painful walk through, I managed to step on solid ground again as I approached the broken double doors that were forced open. Staring outside, I've seen even more dead bodies and destruction. Whoever was doing this, they were doing it extremely fast. I hadn't even seen any attackers to say an explosion near there had just happened.
It was like I was in a nightmare. I closed my eyes to try and wake up, but that failed. I was rejecting the reality that was around me...and soon after my eyes became very watery as I finally accepted the fact that this wasn't a dream. So now desperate, I ran off into a random direction, completely confused with no sense of direction. Just that I wanted to get out of there and live. The more I gazed at my surroundings, the more people I saw killed in the streets and more damaged buildings. Little time was passing as I turned a corner, however I realized a shadowy figure ahead of me that was in the middle of a ravaged street. As I slowed my progress, the figure was that of a reploid. A female to be precise. She was just...standing there and looking off in some random direction. As I recall this moment now, things may have turned out differently if I didn't open my mouth or just ignored her and found another path. Stupid me called out to her, thinking she was someone fighting off whatever was attacking the city.
But she turned around as I seen her full appearance and likeness...her eyes were soul-less like a doll and when she locked eyes with me, she pulled out a beam sword immediately as her feet began to slowly proceed forth, approaching me with killing intent. The moment I sensed the hostility, I was pacing backwards...and like pure instinct, the female roid realized my fear as she dashed at me at a speed that was too much for me to possibly react or escape. It was only a couple of seconds later that she was within close quarters and was swinging her weapon multiple times...before I knew it, I fell down on my back and was confused as to what actually happened while seeing my own blood fly upwards in my fall.
When she walked passed me and vanished out my sight, I finally realized the excruciating pain in all my limbs...or rather, what was left of them. I tilted my head all over as my legs and arms were an absolute mess. Both legs were severed from the thighs and so was an arm...and my other arm was just barely hanging on there. I can't even explain as to how that all really felt, because at the time I was paralyzed, traumatized and still confused. I've never experienced such a thing at that age and I was too afraid as to what would happen next. It was quiet...and there was no one around to help me. It didn't help that my vision was obscured a bit from some blood that was in my eyes. Everything was beginning to blur as I was just about to lose it, but I was still too into the severity of the moment to even shout out in combination with the tears. Though a few seconds before I blanked out, the shadow of a short man covered me.
--
Strangely enough, I was awakened by a lot of noise and tinkering around me. My eyes were still shut and someone was obviously working on something from what I heard. As I creaked my eyes open, I was staring upwards at a ceiling before closing my eyes back from nearly blinding myself from the light. But once I reopened them and tilted my head around, I was in a lab of some sort.
"So, you've finally awakened. It's been about three days."
I heard the voice of a man on the side of me before turning my head in that direction to see the said short and stubby middle-aged person looking down on me with a smile. "You're lucky to be alive, young man. When I found you, you were a complete wreck. I'm sure glad I was able to make it in time. I couldn't bear to see someone do young die in such a manner." He spoke to me in such a calm tone as he proceeded to tampering with something near me. But it was then that I finally realized by looking downward that my body was...different.
In place of my arms were synthetic ones. While they were mechanic, the blackened artificial skin looked so identical to my old arms. I pulled my head up a tad as my legs were the same all the way up to my thighs. I tried to move my limbs a bit, but was barely able to. It was then that the professor was explaining to me that he had just finished the part of the operation where he replaced them, though was not yet complete. But he was very relaxed about the procedure to where it was able to calm me down and prevent myself from freaking out. Since I was advised to take it easy and rest, I did so as I closed my eyes. Since my new limbs were successfully attached, the operation wasn't going to be painful since I still didn't have too much feeling and functionality in them just yet. And the anesthetics were doing their part too.
So several hours passed as I was conked out. It felt so good to rest, even if images of the city's destruction and that reploid who did this to my body raced on through my dreams in the pitch black darkness. Even then, I was still too confused to understand what went on there...and why. But I finally came back to, feeling like I was asleep again for another day or two. When I gazed around and took another look at my body, my limbs appeared even more polished and I also had some sort of body protection on. The professor appeared back in my sight again as he greeted me and had a bright smile on his face. Like he accomplished something amazing.
"It's all right now, son. I've finally finished the operation. And don't worry about the body protector. It just serves as an extra bit of protection and it's removable." The man then helped ease me up on the operating table as he allowed me to get a feel of my new body. As I moved my fingers and toes, as well as waving around the arms and legs, it was a little tough to get adjusted to it, but the feeling in general felt pretty comfortable...almost natural, but not quite.
Afterwards, I stood on both legs as I was guided to a mirror. It actually looked pretty cool and the little body armor was so lightweight too. It was almost as if I was wearing feathers over my shirt. But then the doc began to explain some of the augmentations he gave to my body. As he explained, they all were mostly aimed for combat-purposes and when I asked him about that, he plainly stated that he gave me the ability to fight so I could protect myself...that he designed my new "body" to be as quick and nimble like a ninja. He told me about the Bio-roids...and how they've been reeking havoc all over. That they were the cause for my hometown's destruction and were even backing the Maverick Hunters into a corner.
It was a lot to digest, but soon after he brought over a weapon he created for me. It was in the appearance of a Japanese sword, but explained how that was just it's aesthetics and that he forged it with modern day material to rival the weaponry of this age. As he explained more about it, I began to realize that if I had the ability to fight, I could finally properly protect people. No longer would the fact that I was human could hold me back from fulfilling what I desired to do for my entire life. But it was quite the price to pay for...being different from others. I already didn't fit in too well and if I were surrounded by such an environment like the orphanage again, I'd really be treated like a monster. But at least I could defend myself now. However, after a while, the professor left and entered another room as I heard him moving some things around on a table and came back out with a small back pack in one hand and...my little teddy bear in the other. It sure did fly out of my hand when that Bio-roid attacked me from what I remembered. However, before he did anything with them...
"I believe you'll find your place in this world with the second life I've given you. But before I say anymore, what's your name, son? I'm Gerald White."
"...Kai." I spoke in a low tone. I didn't know why, but just calling myself by my birth-name sounded weird then. They say I had a name tag in the little capsule they found me in. But something about my name felt so...off now. While I was the same person, it felt like a great change was done to me other than my augmented body. "...B-but, I don't want to be called that anymore."
The professor had a rather surprised look on his face. However, a smile crossed his features as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "Then how about we give you a new name!" He stood there and pondered for a bit as something sparked in his head, which he then patted the top of my blond hair. "...How about Magnus? It translates to 'Greatness', as I do believe you have the potential to achieve many great things with your new life."
I stood there for a moment, hearing the new name before I immediately placed a smile on my face and nodded....wait, I SMILED? I was told that I was the child that never smiled and I sorta knew that was true. But other than the name sounding cool, it felt like an honor to be named in such a fashion...and it was a symbol of the new path I could take, no matter what it may have been. As such, I then walked away as I stared into the mirror to give my body another overall view. Afterwards, I closed my eyes. I thought about it hard...how my first life was put to an end by that Bio-roid as Kai...and then I was reborn as the cyborg, Magnus. Just thinking about that gave me some hope for the future, even though I know it was going to be tough being different from other humans. I was honestly afraid of how the world was going to treat me based on if they took a close look at me. But I figured I'd deal with that along the road. It was time to get my new life started.
Afterwards, the professor gave me my teddy bear and the back pack. "Good! Then Magnus, I want you to live your life as happily and freely as possible. I know, you're too young to look after yourself...but to tell you the truth, I have people who are after my life and skills constantly...and I don't want you wrapped up in it, despite your new ability to fight. Besides, you should leave this old guy behind and pursue your future...and seize it. So I've packed you plenty of food and supplies until you can either find a way to handle your own or gain help from someone else." After patting my shoulder one more time as he helped with equipping the back pack, he began walking with me towards some stairs. "I wish I had more time, but hopefully you can also find an even more talented person than I who can help you with your new ability to battle."
I wanted to say something in means of wanting to stay with him; to help him with these people who were chasing him, however I had no idea what I could say. The man looked so dead-set on seeing me go after my own future instead of worrying about him. But as we paced up the stairs and oped a door, we happened to be outside the destroyed and deserted city of ours. So his lab was underground...
As we both stared at the city that showed nothing but death, as well a gloom in the cloudy sky, the professor placed both hands on my shoulders as he gave a determined look on his face to cheer me up. "Be strong, Magnus. Abel City is way more than several miles away from here to the southwest. It'll be a long and dangerous journey, what with these Bio-roids roaming around and the tough terrain you have to travel through with all the destruction, but you must persevere. I gave you the ability to protect yourself and others. You'll...unfortunately have to try out your new abilities with actual experience in battle, but I believe in you."
It was the first time someone actually told me they believed in me. I mean, the man hardly knew me, but now that I think back on this moment, I guess he saw something inside of me that he could relate to. Or perhaps he was just as lonely as I was. The man was the closest thing to a father that I've ever had, only because he cared so much to give me new life and gave me things to aspire to. I'd never forget him for as long as I lived...
He spoke his farewells afterward, and I was still hesitant on moving. I was still scared, but I reminded myself that the professor believed in me...and I didn't want to waste the new life he had given me, so I slowly and eventually began walking on a path that lead towards leaving the city in the specified directions I was given. As I kept walking and tiled my vision back to the man, I waved at him from a distance when he did so to me. Magnus, huh? It really was a 'great' name. Yes, pun was intended. But as I walked down the path, I witnessed the rest of my destroyed city and was reflecting at the horror I experienced. That bio-roid...her image was something I could never forget. And it was strange because she appeared no different from a reploid. But if there was a moment where I had to face her kind again, I had to steel myself to fight against such adversaries.
...My life depended on it. I needed to transform myself from a timid teen to a steel warrior. The rebirth as Magnus was proof of that.