May 5th, 2020
Jacob steadied his breathing as he looked down the sights of his rifle. An unnatural cold permeated the surroundings; with every breath, his anxiety increased as a slowly began advancing into the seemingly empty forest. Suddenly, from his right side, a green flash shot towards him. He dived to his left with almost inhuman reaction time. It wasn't enough, though, as the green glow responded just as fast curving to intercept him, with a speed that defied physics.
Instead of hurting him, though, it phased right through him as the environment changed from a forest to that of a small room as a loud voice sounded out from speakers on the ceiling. "We'll end it here for today Jacob, go get some rest you've been doing great.", Jacob responded with a "Yes, Sir!" before leaving the room.
"Well, what did you think, Dr? He is our best candidate." A man in a slick suit asked another who was instead wearing the white coat you would commonly find on doctors or scientists. "He is certainly exceptional, sir, but I still have concerns. We only have one chip, and that single one cost an uncountable amount of lives to make. I still believe it would be better suited to someone who has been in action.". Hearing this, the man in the slick suit frowned as he thought genuinely of what the Dr said.
"Hmm, my decision still stands. Those that have the experience you want while still being of prime-age are non-existent. We have to adapt to the changing circumstances doctor. In a few short months, we have lost over half the country and have yet to receive any communications from any other country. We can only assume the worst, begin your preparations for the procedure immediately. I will let him know.", "At once, sir.", the Doctor replied before exiting the room.
The man in a suit stood another few moments in the empty room, looking down at the simulation room Jacob had been in one last time before taking a deep breath and leaving.
Jacob began removing his clothes as he prepared to shower, he had been running simulations since 5 AM, and it was now 8 PM. Suffice to say he needed one. He looked at himself in the mirror, his once chubby face now defined and lacking any signs of fat. His once fat stomach now replaced with a six-pack developed through the constant rigorous training he partook in five days a week. He stared into his dark brown eyes, reflecting on all that has happened as tears began to fall from his face.
He shook the thoughts from his head as he finished removing his clothes and entered one of the many shower stalls as he heard other people come into the showers. He quickly washed his short black hair and the rest of his body in under 90 seconds, his once brownish looking greasy skin replaced with a slightly tanned white. Jacob quickly dried and dressed before exiting the shower room to be greeted by the enormous back of the person who took him in. "Director Jameson.", Jacob greeted the man who found him and gave a safe place to train and recover from the catastrophic events that shook the globe merely a few months ago.
The director turned and greeted Jacob with a smile, "Ah Jacob, just the young man I was looking for, tell me, friend, do you remember the terms upon which you came to stay here?". Jacob quickly nodded his head as his heartbeat began to accelerate slightly in anxiety, "Of course, sir. Is it time?". "Yes." The director nodded his head as his face turned serious, "I know you've just put that fresh uniform on but go ahead and meet the Doctor on level 5. He will have a gown for you and get you all ready to go.".
"Yes, sir," Jacob affirmed before heading to the medical office. Just as the director had said, Dr.Wilson was waiting for him alongside a neatly folded gown on the bed next to him. Dr.Wilson looked up from his chart as he heard a pair of footsteps come to a stop in front of him, "Ah, Jacob good to meet you, I'm Doctor Timothy Wilson.", he said as he held his hand out to shake Jacob's. "Nice to meet you as well sir.", Jacob said as he firmly shook the Doctor's hand. Dr.Wilson slightly raised his eyebrow in surprise at the teenager's impressive grip strength. "If you'll just remove your shirt and take a seat next to me, I'll go ahead and take your vitals.", the Doctor instructed.
Jacob removed his shirt and sat next to the Doctor as directed as the Doctor put a blood pressure cuff around his arm and an oxygen sensor on his finger. "How are you feeling today, Jacob?" the Doctor asked as he turned on the machine to record Jacob's vitals. "Good, sir," Jacob responded uncertainly. The Doctor nodded his head as he pulled a stool from nearby close to the bed and sat facing Jacob, "You know you don't have to do this, right? You're only 16. No one will blame you for changing your mind.", the Doctor said with an expression of concern.
Jacob sat quietly, staring at the Doctor before looking down for a moment. When Jacob lifted his face, his eyes were watery and his face filled with rage, "I know I don't have to do this, but I have nothing anymore. My entire family is gone.", Jacob's expression of rage turned to that of grief as he began uncontrollably crying. The Doctor looked upon Jacob with a face of sorrow, wishing he could do something for the boy to help ease his pain. "I can't say I understand what you're feeling, but I do sympathize with your young man. I am genuinely sorry for the truly challenging circumstances no one of your age should ever have to endure, but please hear me when I say this Jacob. I did not know you're family, but do you think this is what they would want? For you to risk your life, to fight the very thing that took them from you?".
Jacob was silent for a moment before speaking again, "I've made my decision Doctor. I can't just stand back. I'm sorry, but I can't.", he said with a tone of finality. The Doctor's face was stern as he thought to himself, 'Lord above, is this really what we've descended to? Am I truly going to give this boy power and let him carry this burden?' the Doctor closed his eyes, contemplating his morals. "Okay, Jacob, you have gone through what others could only imagine you have the right to make this decision, but you must look into my eyes and tell me something first."
The Doctor shut a pair of curtains hanging around the bed as Jacob stood from the bed to change into the gown. Before long a nurse came and inserted his IV before opening the curtains and pushing the bed down a long hallway to the operating room, as they approached the pair of doors leading to the OR, Jacob could also see the Doctor and director engaged in what seemed to be a difficult discussion. The director nodded before looking towards Jacob with a smile and approaching, "You doing alright, bud?" the director asked. "Yes, sir," Jacob responded, his voice slightly cracking.
"Good." The director nodded, "I have come to expect nothing less of you, Jacob. Just breathe, you'll get through this, and in no time you will be a shining beacon of humanity's ingenuity. You will have the power Jacob, to avenge your family, your friends, everyone who's been taken from you. You will have the ability to save this world.". Jacob's eyes began to water, and his pulse grew faster once again, not of anxiety this time, though, but of rage. The director nodded at the nurse to continue as he saw his words affect Jacob.
Jacob stared at the ceiling as he was wheeled into the middle of the operating room. The Doctor was discussing something with a man dressed unlike the other nurses as another nurse approached him and warned him before injecting a sedative into his IV, "You may feel a little warmth potentially some slight burning in your arm, but that's completely normal no reason to worry.". Jacob nodded in acknowledgment of the nurse's words as the sedative was injected. Within seconds Jacob no longer felt any emotion as his thoughts grew foggy and his eyes heavy. Before long, Jacob closed his eyes, settling into a deep sleep as the back of his neck was incised with a scalpel.