Evan walked to the bedside chair and sat. "Your Zone is special." He said, flicking his wrist, the holograms displaying Talen's vitals expanded into a 3D model.
Evan stood up, zooming in on the hologram. "You see, the Zone enhances the body or mind, the better the person's genes the stronger the enhancement. But you my dear friend, your Zone enhances both." Evan's grin stretched across his face.
Talen's expression remained still as stone. Evan leaned in his nose nearly touching Talen's."Oh, Talen." Evan sighed, tilting his head. "You're too ignorant of your own capabilities. How... tragic."
Using his hands, Talen pushed Evan away. "Special huh, I'd love to see you last a minute in there. It would fry your big brain before you can feel how special it is." He retorted. Remembering all the horrors the Zone had put him through, and all the horrors he went through because of it.
Evan returned to studying Talen's vitals, chin propped on his palm, he mumbled. "I suppose you are right, enhancing just the body or mind is already taxing enough for the Neatherless bodies of those below level 3. Both would most definitely kill." He paused, turning around his eyes fixed on Talen's body, a predatory smile on his face. "But yet, here you are. Talen."
He spun around on his heels, grinning. clicking the hologram a long list composed of small texts appeared. "See this." The list of names expanded. "It's a list of all Zone users ever recorded by Hexagon. None of them, not even one had dual enhancements." He moved his glasses up his nose bridge. "You're one of a kind, or first of a kind." He paused, becoming giddy with joy at the thought of more subjects like Talen. "How truly exciting."
Growing impatient with the doctor's rants, Talen retorted."Look here doc I have a trial to attend, so hand over the scarf and I'll be on my merry way." He said looking around for his mother's scarf. "Also being one of a kind isn't as special as you make it out to be, It hurts like hell."
Evan looked at him, the sparkle in his eyes vanishing. "Your scarf is right here." He sighed, a small platform rose next to Talen's bed it had his mother's scarf on it. Talen picked up the scarf and began to tie it around his wrist. "There is a 3 day rest period between trial 1 and 2." Evan said, removing all the wires and tube attached to Talen. "you've been dead for a day, so you have 2 days to spare. Of course I would advice rest, but it's up to you." His eyes burned with hope. 'Just stay and rest you fool.' His predatory smile returned. 'Then I can really get to know how special you are.'
Seeing that smile again Talen sighed, it reminded him of that particular person's smile. "So what am I supposed to do then, and more importantly where do I even stay." Looking around the place then at Evan's face he continued. "Definitely not here." Talen stood up getting ready to leave the place.
Immediately he stood up he noticed, he had a terrible headache, and his body still ached. All his wounds from the trial were already healed completely only scars left behind. 'Guess the Zone is the danger.'
"The ensign dorms, I'll get one of my robots to escort you. Also you're supposed to be wearing one of these." Evan said. A robot stepping forward with a uniform draped over it.
The robot extended the uniform, it was a sleeveless, grey and black bodysuit made of dense fabric, fitted to Talen's frame like a second skin, no room for excess, it looked lightweight. The back bore the number 100 in black. The chest pocket bore Hexagon emblem.
Talen looked at it, took another look at the med room with all its holograms, machines and robots. "Where's the armor? The gadgets?"
The sparkle in Evan's eyes returned, he blurted. "As advanced as our technology is, it's useless to and on Zone users of and above level 3, so it's better to not get used to it." He took a deep breath, continuing. "Because the bodies of level 3 Zoners have been rebuilt by Neat-" Before he could get carried away Talen interrupted.
"Makes sense." Talen said turning around. 'I ain't here for a lecture bud.' Robot by his side he began walking out of the med room. "Tell your boss Ashen I said thanks."
Suddenly Evan exploded into laughter, startling Talen. He clutched his stomach leaning his head back. "That old man my boss, in what reality." He wheezed. "We are of the same rank, 5 of us actually." Evan paused, his grin froze, his eyes growing cold. "How do you know him, and so casually."
However before Talen could even speak, a red hologram began flickering Emergency on Evan's wrist. He immediately straightened up. "Bye bye now, 100." He said hurriedly shoving Talen and the robots out of the med room.
On their way to the dorms, Talen's mind was too occupied. His exchange with Evan had left him with questions. 'So Ashen isn't the big boss around here, this changes everything. Does that mean the whole 7734 project was him not Hexagon, or not? Also is Ashen's identity a secrets of sorts, I doubt that. Also five of 'em, who is the boss then. Ugh such a headache. More importantly, I need to quickly learn how to get to level 3. My body can't handle another episode.' Talen thought, remembering the last time he pushed himself well beyond 7 minutes, that was when his limits became 5 minutes.
Unbeknownst to Talen, because of his spacing out he didn't notice they had arrived.
'A gate?' They had arrived at a gate. It resembled the walls of the trial room, only it was bigger with a larger, black Hexagon emblem in the middle. Looking around Talen searched for who was going to open it, then.
The gate opened from the middle of the emblem, compressed air releasing with a whistle, it opened slowly and smoothly
What lay beyond the door was an extended hall that wasn't too long or short, on both sides evenly spaced were 10 rooms. With numbers on them, randomly written on the grey doors. The hall was lit with purple lights. Strips of black decorated it. At the end of the hall was another similarly large door.
The robot stood still not moving further, Talen looked at him then the robot pointed at the 7th room to the left numbered 100. 'figures'
Talen walked into the hall the gate closing slowly behind him, turning around he saw the robot already leaving.
The hall didn't smell like anything, as if it was intended to be that way. Talen walked, his black boots clanking on the metal floor, he arrived Infront of the door and stood confused at how he was going to get in. When suddenly emerald light came to life scanning him from head to toe. "Candidate 100 recognised. Doors opening." The doors to the room opened, smiling Talen walked in.
Looking around the room Talen let out a deep breath. "Feels just like home." The room was laid out exactly like his previous in 7734 only, this one was much bigger and cleaner, with an attached bathroom. He stepped in the door behind him sealing with a click. 'Looks like they have a lot in common.'
Talen glanced at the bed it looked softer than usual, his body was yearning for it.
Talen immediately went and laid on the bed. "Time to rest properly." The soft bed embracing his aching body soothing it, his mind succumbing to the bed's seduction.
As his body surrendered to the bed, the dorm room transformed into amber fields..
...
In a wheat field bathed in the amber dawn, wheat swayed in the breeze, the air filled with the earthy, grassy scent of wheat.
In the field a young Talen raced across it, a bright smile that reached his sparkling blue eyes plastered on his round face, the breeze sifted through his long silky black hair.
"Talen honey, dinners ready!!" A sweet melodic voice shouted.
Hearing the voice, young Talen sped up, his smile growing. 'mom.'
As he ran out of the wheat field, he saw his mother. Seraphina. Standing in front of their simple, cozy wooden home
She was a near exact replica of Talen, only softer. She had the same, blue eyes, only they were filled with life, same black hair only it was groomed and well kept, same porcelain skin only it glowed. She was an ethereal beauty.
"Mom." Talen exclaimed as he fell into her warm embrace. "Look mommy I caught a worm." He unclenched his fist, presenting a small purple worm. It wriggled on his tiny hand.
She looked at the worm then up at young Talen. "That's great honey." She said hugging young Talen tighter. "What do we do with it now." She said smiling warmly at Talen.
Clenching the blue scarf draped around her neck. "We let it go." Talen spoke, in dream and reality as the world of his dreams exploded in flames
Talen opened his empty eyes. He was back in his dorm room. He gulped. This was the first time in 13years he didn't dream of that night.
"Good bed equals good dreams, hah."