I woke up feeling light headed and the urge to vomit was overwhelming. The moment my feet touched the cold floor I keeled over and emptied my stomach. The funny thing is I don't recall eating. My guess is a feeding tube which was inserted from my nose. I got up and felt that standing upright was unsafe. My body kept advising me to go back to sleep. I ignored the pleas of my body as I walked forward. The ship looked like it had crashed somewhere but no clue where. It looked like a moon or maybe a large meteor. The ship was damaged and the escape pod was stuck after sometime I realised that I was on my own. After failing to find the parts to repair the ship I sat down in meditation. I recalled my days in Hypogean and how I missed being normal without judgement. I felt a warm breeze as a portal opened a few feet away. An elderly walked out and had pitch black skin with gold flecks. His eyes were maroon and his hair was a pale lavender. A few strands of copper were seen subtly. He was walking on a stick. I asked him where Kaleeza was. He explained, "Mother is fine. She was wondering when the chamber will cut you loose." I blinked, "Was I asleep for a thousand years?" He laughed hysterically and it sounded melodious. He waved me on and I came out to see Sas was here and she looked the same. The elderly explained, "You were gone for a few hours." I was placed in the hyperbaric chamber and lulled to sleep. I went to sleep and woke up in a private bedroom.
I opened the window to see an arena. I dressed in humble clothes and walked out. Everyone was eating and I chose not to. After breakfast we were taken to the arena and introduced to each other. The first one was named Rei. He was a human in his twenties. His face was heavily freckled. His hair was light brown and bushy. He was enhanced like me. He had the ability to walk through walls, solar lances and make himself invisible. The next was Sola. A woman in her thirties. She was a little chubby. Her dirty blonde hair was tied to a ponytail. She was quiet and had the ability to manipulate nature and connect with animals to gain their strength. The next was Ragnar. He was a man in forties. He was bald and had a huge black beard. He was tall and bulky. He had the ability to manipulate shadow, magnetism, and the ability to fly. The was Fae. She was about the same age as me. Her dark brown hair was cut till there was barely any left. She was shorter than me and was very energetic. She only had the ability to manipulate technology. I was introduced as the vessel. They asked what my name was. Sas replied, "Neo" We were told to get along with each other and try not to hurt each other. We are all equals. There will be no infighting. I bowed respectfully. In response the others just moved their heads as though they were swerving to avoid an invisible pot plant dangling. One of them rolled their eyes as they began talking about their abilities. One was claiming superiority and soon a shoving match started. I tried to diffuse the situation. But soon everyone started to use their gifts. I turned to see Sas and the others on the observation platform. They didn't look happy. I ran to them and asked them to do something. They said they gave them temporary gifts. The point was to see if they can let go of their ego.
One of them threw a solar lance at us and I asked them to do something. Sad pressed the emergency button. The arena filled up with gas. They decided to hurt everyone on the platform. Sas told me their gifts will delete themselves in ten minutes. By then they will be dead. I used air manipulation and cleared the arena. I jumped down and told everyone to stop fighting. They refused. So I took them down one by one. First was Ragnar. I used light beams to kill all the shadows and set his portals on fire. Then I used telepathy to make him complacent. A solar lance almost got me. I jumped up and landed on my feet. I used black fire and destroyed his solar lances. He was speechless. Then I stunned Rei with electric energy. Far tried to use drones but I created an energy storm around me. Her drones were totaled and she fell to the floor spasming. I took two steps and a thick vine wrapped itself around me. It kept tightening its grip. I remember a water kingdom in the swamp that did that. I had to use fire manipulation to get out. I took a deep breath and breathed invisible fire. The vines burned without a trace. She was infuriated. She tried to grow more vines but I spread black fire like a blanket. The vines died and she tried to lunge at me and Sas asked me to stand down. So I switched off the gifts and got my knees with my hands on my head. The others got on their feet and tried to attack me at the same time. Sas screamed for help as the others tried to use their gifts. Rei made one last solar lance and threw it before he was a normal person. The lance pierced me from the front while a view pierced me from behind and I fell to the floor.
I stayed down for a few seconds and then I got up. Sas laughed, "My friend was right. You are the vessel. Which is why you are more compassionate." I watched as my wound was glowing with a golden hue. A few blinks later my wound healed without a scar. I saw the security heading in my direction so I stayed on my knees with my hands up. The others tried to fight but their dismay they couldn't. They were stunned and hauled in. There is a specialist on the planet with biokineses. She can meddle with the living tissue in everything. The scientists gave the others a finishing serum which would metabolize really fast in their bodies. The end result is that they will never be able to get enhanced with abilities ever again. The best part is it is untraceable. So no weaponization. I was taken upstairs to recuperate. I ate dinner and asked politely, "Why am I called the vessel?" Sas explained, "The humans are killing those with abilities while enslaving non-humans. We are saving those abilities in one person so the ones who were wronged will live on." I scrunched up my face, "So am I a legion or vault? Or am I like Arman? A preserver of something valuable?" She grinned, "Definitely within the lines of Arman. You can use it at your own discretion." I smiled, "I only practice but rarely have the opportunity to use it. I make sure I find myself in a place where I don't have to rely on my abilities. I try to find hard work or do something productive with my hands. Otherwise I fall into depression." She took my hand and asked me to find someone worth spending my life with. I grimaced, "I am immortal so anyone I spend with will die as I live on." She stroked my hair and promised me that everything happens for a reason and I will find my happiness one way or the other.
After a million injections later I had a look at my new ship. A single piloted trident shaped spaceship pitch black glossy finish with the latest technology on weapons and space travel. They had removed the astrolabe. I requested one as I miss having something familiar. The techs politely declined. I walked towards my new ship wondering where I must go. I saw an idea about creating a laboratory in the jungle. I recalled the Primers and felt a wave of dread. The nearest was an empath by the name of Serene. She had orange and black stripes all over her body. She was the last of her species. And her deceased family was being cloned and other essentials were being done to ensure her survival. She was a Tigerish. She came over and stroked my hair to soothe me. Finally we hugged and she promised me that everything will be alright. She saw the memories of them and she patted me on the head before she went searching for Mira. I walked with my satchel filled with basic necessities. I still have the pistol Gidim gave me. The others waved as I walked by and I smiled and waved back. I asked Chisa when I was coming back for the next round of injections. She chuckled, "Soon. We will let you know once we confirm. You are simply going off world till we sort out the other test subjects." I raised an eyebrow, "They are still here" she shook her head as though she was trying to push away a bad memory, "Yes and the tantrum is getting greater day by day." I tilted my head as an idea popped out of nowhere, "What if I convince them to leave and never mention this to anyone. I could make them forget or I could make it so they are unable to mention this to anyone in speech or sign or writing" She gave me a delightful look, "Mira is already taking care of it. So don't worry. Just go out there and live for the rest of us." I forgot Chisa and Mira are mentally linked with technology. They are both native Hypogeans. They have placed a chip that allows them to communicate with each other while standing across one another without uttering a single word.
I was taken to the space port and watched as my dear Calysto was demolished. I stood still as taking a moment of silence in honor of my fallen ship. Chisa had a laugh as I walked over to my new ship. She asked me to be careful. I didn't get a chip implanted. So I was alright. She asked me to avoid certain sectors. I smiled, "I will avoid the SEO no matter what." She raised an eyebrow, "What?" I pursed my lips, "Sectors Enforcing Oppression." She raised both eyebrows with shock echoing across her face. Her eyes widened with horror. I asked to go to the Nocturnal zone where I can work as a relief aid. She grinned, "That can be arranged. Go to the twilight zone and meet Carom. A pugilist. He will take you to a medical floatilla." I grinned, "Thank you for your help." She grinned and winked, "Actually thank you for your patience and support" I winked, "Anytime my dear" she blinked a few times and gave me the coordinates. I waved as she backed away. She smiled and waved back. I took off as the other test subjects were escorted to their transport. The star bridge opened and I went in to see the spectacular view of space.
I landed in the twilight zone. It is named that way because there is little to no light. You must be equipped with objects of illumination or it is possible to land yourself in bodily harm. There are creatures who thrive in such unusual conditions who are scrounging for their next meal could be you. I had night vision so I had no such problems. I flew through the asteroid belt and the pile of garbage and pieces I think used to belong to ships that were blasted to oblivion. There were a few parts still blinking red or orange light. I kept going in the direction mentioned in the ship's computer. I found the planet Noire. The planet looked pitch black. It was barely illuminated. Because this place was base for unregistered to get a new identity and go back out into the galaxy and make a genuine difference. The people were prepping for their next stop. I sent a message and they gave permission to let me board their ship. A red skinned man with long black hair greeted me. I was expected. To their surprise I came a little earlier. But still I got my identification card. A thin cylindrical metal with a sequence of dots decorating the side. The bottom had two short prongs with gold lines. I inserted the stick to the information booth to check my information. According to it I am a resident of Noir and my name is Pearl. I just graduated and now I have chosen to dedicate my life as a relief worker. I dressed in the uniform provided. A peacock blue shirt and pants. A pair of white shoes, a mask and thin purple gloves.