The light to Drew's pod shone green, the indication of a successful enhancement, a glaring beacon amidst rows of pods in red.
The pod hissed open, letting the fog of body emitted steam trapped within, be expelled... a pungent odour wafting from it as well.
An unconscious Drew was still strapped to the metal cuffs that binded his limbs, his body constantly emitting steam.
"Damn!" Stephen whistled, looking at the steam that was undeniably a miracle before his eyes.
While it was natural for the amount of body heat generated during the enhancement to create a fog of steam, that was the steam that was expunged when the pod hissed open.
By now, Drew's body should be cooling down.
The steam coming off from him now, was not normal. That much was evident, from how it so naturally bent the air, tapping into what was undeniably atmospheric energy.
No, it wasn't steam as it was not hot and scalding. A more accurate noun, would be mist.
"To not only undergo a successful enhancement, but to awaken your dormant mana cells? This kid must have insane luck" Stephen quipped as he watched the workers unbind the unconscious Drew.
As he was brought down, his unconscious form was taken to a different chamber where his body would stay to process the change.
This was a very natural reaction, because the body would need to consolidate and adapt to the new changes it had been forced to undergo on the spot. It would need to recover energy to maintain its function, which was why it was forced to go into hibernation.
To kick-start itself into operations again, it'd need a massive amount of energy, which was the purpose of the chamber where Drew was being led to, the doctor there placing him on IV (Intravenous) infusion.
This hibernation was something that could last anywhere from a few hours, to even two days depending on the person.
What Sean didn't know, was that his existence alone, had already began altering events. According to the original timeline, Drew, though not a character that appeared in the book, that solely being because, he never survived the genetic enhancement.
Drew was meant to fail the enhancement process, because the original Sean had died. The beast gene Sean had received, a gene that was incompatible with Drew, was what Drew had received in the original timeline of the book, and hence had died.
This time by a complete rewrite of fate due to Sean's existence, Sean had received the gene instead, which happened to have a very high compatibility with him, and Drew had received another which was compatible with him too, even managing to awaken his dormant mana cells.
As for what changes this would cause in the future? Nobody knows.
----
The old researcher resigned into his seat, looking upwards with a contorted expression that later collapsed into dismissive disappointment.
"A pity indeed" he voiced in derision.
Tapping a button beside Sean's unchanging 3D, internal mapping hologram, Sean's pod shone red, alerting the workers to a failed enhancement.
With efficiency, they let down his body, taking it outside of the warehouse and loading it at the back of a truck filled with bodies too.
"Last one" one of them said to the driver, who nodded and kick-started the ignition, prepared to go dispose off the bodies.
The old researcher remained manning the position. Though rather than the previous enthusiasm he had for Sean's, his expression was of utter disinterest. His mind seemed to be occupied by something else, eyes glazed, his expression contorting occasionally.
Three minutes after Sean's, Drew came out successful. But the old foggie still couldn't give a damn.
----
In an incomparably dark place, two indistinguishable figures, stood apart from each other, eyes trained on their counterpart.
"Get out!" Sean barked.
To his words, Sean remained silent.
"I said, get out!" Sean barked again.
"Fuck off." Sean dismissed him calmly, his tone contrasting to the aggression in the other's.
"Why are you here?" Sean asked, still with that aggressive tone.
"I don't know," Sean replied. "And it's not like I wanted to be here either."
"Why?" Sean tilted his head, the aggressive tone giving way to genuine confusion.
Sean raised a brow at his abrupt change.
"What do you mean why? Do I look like I belong here?" He asked, his expression incredulous, as though asking: "is that not obvious?"
"Who said you don't?" Sean clapped back.
"What do you mean?" Sean asked confused.
"Who said you don't?" Sean asked again.
"Who said I did?" Sean quipped with his own this time, failing to understand what his other was driving at.
"Who are you?" Sean asked, deciding to change his approach.
"I'm Sean Storme" Sean replied matter of factly.
"Are you now?" Sean asked, his lips tilting upwards in amusement.
Feeling irritated, "What?!" Sean barked, losing his cool for the first time.
"Exactly." Sean replied cooly, "Are you really Sean Storme?"
"Of course I a..." Sean paused, feeling like he was forgetting something, something really important to him, something he couldn't afford to lose.
"You're Sean Storme" Sean said with a shake of his head, feeling disappointed.
Sean however, did not reply, trying to grasp unto what it was he was forgetting.
"Looking for something?" Sean asked curiously, but received no reply.
"What is this feeling?" Sean muttered under his breath, eyes murky... "Urgh, it's so frustrating" he cursed softly.
"What are you looking for?" Sean asked him again, but he paid him no mind, trying to focus on the sensation... desperately trying to remember what it was, that he was supposed to recall.
The image of a completely average looking man with light blonde, almost white hair, his eyes filled with undeniable pride, as if daring the world to look down on him.
The image of a beautiful woman with black silky hair, dressed in a simple, summer sundress. Unlike the man beside her, most likely her husband, she had a humble and serene smile, yet one could not bear to look away from her.
The image of a light blonde, almost white haired boy. Like his mother, he was very handsome, and had cheekiness, radiating from him in waves... like an arrogant, playful young noble. He stood with his arms wrapped around a beach ball.
On the sand playing, was a toddler. He...
"Who's he? Why can't I see him?"
Sean struggled, struggled see that kid, he wanted to know... No, he needed to know who that kid was.
Slowly, the child raised his head, and Sean caught his eyes.
Those eyes... Arrogant! Disdainful! Smug! Predatory! Dark!
Under his gaze, Sean's figure began to disintegrate, turning into motes of light amidst the panic of his companion.
However, there was a smile on his face.
"I... I am Ellis Jonathan!"
His eyes snapped open, breath coming out in short, rapid gasps.
However, on his face, there was a smile. A smile of cold satisfaction.
*Growl*
A growl caught his attention, causing him to finally pay attention to his surroundings, and a row of sharp teeth dripping with blood and saliva, appeared before him... as well as a pair of inky black eyes, staring at him with menace.
*********
Tell me I cooked!...?!
And don't forget to pay your taxes... enrich me with dem precious stones, or your twin jewels become stones 💀