The Home of Black-Feather

Kaden opened the door to a room at the end of the hallway, letting the others walk in. “Well… you guys should be good here.” He began to turn around and close the door, heading out, when Jacobi dropped a heavy, strong hand on his shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?” Jacobi harshly turned Kaden around by the shoulder. “We need an expert on this stuff, remember?” he threatened through a tease. “Wh-wh… come on, man, there’s only two beds in here.” “You’re taking the floor,” Jacobi drags him into the room proper and closes the door. Kaden glared at Jacobi and unconsciously clenched his fist at his side. He immediately relaxes it when he notices and exhales, looking down. “My offer to you guys was to stay the night here, not to be a trip sitter” “We’d appreciate you being here,” Kira said politely from behind Kaden. Kaden’s face softened. He turned around to look at her. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she smiled softly, hopeful. She was holding Kalel’s organic arm as if to keep him from falling over. Kalel had his head down. His hair draped over his face. “We don’t know what’s normal” “… yeah…” Kaden looked at Kalel. “Just… get him to the bed. It’s better to not move too much” Kira helped Kalel walk over to the bed on the right side of the room. Kalel stretched his hand out ahead of him to guide his way towards sitting. He placed his hand gently on the bed and slowly lowered the rest of himself onto it. His arm gave out somewhat, causing him to clumsily flop onto the mattress with loud snaps and popping sounds coming from the wood frame. “Damn! How much do you weigh!?” Kaden blurted out, the snapping making his heart jump. When he turned to the bed, he saw Kalel hunched over, holding onto his cybernetic arm, tucking it into himself. His face uncharacteristically wore an expression that was clear to read: guilt. “Oh! Hey! That’s not… don't be like that.- No! I’m not trying to tell you how to feel. It’s just it’s not you- the bed- the sound scared me- you’re really big. I wasn’t trying to- I’m sorry-I didn’t mean t-” “Kaden,” Kira interrupted Kaden’s spiral. “It’s okay.” Kaden looked at Kira, choking on his words. “Seriously, I wasn’t trying to be mean” “Yeah, it seems like being a dumbass comes naturally to you,” Jacobi said, jumping hard into the bed next to Kalel. “Kal, hey bro. Don’t let high-tail make you run away.” Kalel cracked a small smile at the inside joke at Kaden's expense. “Seriously, you didn’t do anything wrong. Besides, this thing is a piece of crap anyway” Kaden internally scoffed at Jacobi. The bedframe is a handcrafted piece from a renowned woodworker…like every other bed in the house. But still! “I just… Please don’t break my bed,” Kaden sighed.

Kalel looked up and out the window when the smooth ground of the wastelands gave way to the brick road of their home oasis. They headed deeper into the most habitable areas of the center. The bright greens and soft glows from bioluminescent foliage waved and shifted in front of Kalel, looking almost unnaturally vibrant. They drove past homes built of wood and stone, large twisting trees and plant life integrated into the architecture. Metal is found here and there, wielded into walls for stability, used as decor, and a few exposed pipes that carry clean water. Near these homes, parked custom and bought rigs for travel of all sizes and shapes. They pulled next to a large house, one big enough to hold at least two generations, let alone just two people. Kaden parked and opened the automatic side door. “Alright, just follow me.” He climbed out before them and walked toward a side door of his home. Jacobi climbed out, followed by Kira. Kira assisted Kalel out by pulling on his cybernetic arm. “Thanks,” Kalel said quietly to Kira after standing up straight. He then lifted his organic arm to her head and petted her hair. “Kal, come on!” Kira giggled. She held his hand in hers and guided him to the entrance where her brother and Kaden were waiting. Kaden watched Kira make her way to the door, focusing on her hand around Kalel’s. He looked away when they got close and unlocked the door. “My mom is upstairs in her room,” he said, stepping inside before the rest. “She’s probably trying to sleep, so try to keep it down” The four of them walked into a spacious kitchen that was lit by the orange soft glow of ceiling lamps hanging by vines. Kaden’s attention was brought to a plate of frosted cookies resting on the marble island in the middle of the room, next to a small hand-sized bag. Before he grabbed one, he noticed a folded card with his name on it, written in cursive with a heart on the last letter. He picked it up, opened it with one hand, and skimmed the note left inside. I’m so proud of you! I know you’ll be a great influence on them! You enjoy yourself, sweetpea! Kaden carelessly flicked the card back on the counter and grabbed a cookie. He gestured with his head toward the rest of the cookies at his three guests while taking a bite. Jacobi didn’t hesitate to grab a cookie and eat it in two bites while pocketing two others. Kalel slowly walked up to the counter and stared at the plate, wide-eyed with a slightly open mouth. After standing for a beat, Jacobi looked up at him between bites and grabbed a cookie and stuffed it in Kalel’s mouth. Kalel took a bite and grabbed the treat in his mouth before it could fall out and let out a deep closed-mouth giggle after a hum of satisfaction. He grabbed just one other cookie and slipped it into his pants pocket. Kaden looked over at Kira. She held one cookie, taking smaller bites than Jacobi, notably not taking any others. She wore a smooth dress with no pockets. Kaden grabbed the bag off the counter and stuffed two cookies inside, then pocketed one for himself. “Hey, Kira” She looked over at him, her hand to her mouth, holding on to a chuckle, keeping her full mouth closed. “Hmm?” “Here.” Kaden handed her the bag of cookies. Kira gratefully took it from his hands, swallowed, and looked at him with soft eyes and a genuine smile. “Thank you, Kaden.” “Uh.” Kaden cleared his throat and looked to the floor. “Yeah.” He then quickly turned and pointed to a nearby hallway. “The room you guys can stay in is this way.” He felt the heat rising in his face as he quickly walked the way there.

“So, you’re okay with staying here?” Jacobi said to Nova. She looked up at him from her tablet with only her eyes and smiled. “I can handle it out here, you know that.” “Okay yeah… make sure nothing happens to the little guy, okay?” “I’ll keep your baby safe.” Jacobi chuckled at that and climbed into the back, leaning over Kalel and his sister. Kalel was still playing with Kira’s hair, staring at his fingers twist and twirl the strands. He was humming softly while purring. “So… status report?” “I think he’s good,” Kira looked up from Kalel to her brother. “He’s calm.” “Is he good enough to make it over to Kaden's?” “He should be…as long as I stay close.” Just then, Kaden pulled through in his vehicle. A slick, black rig that’s somewhat smaller than Jacobi’s. The tinted windows wrap around the vehicle like a gray band. A roof-hinged door slowly opened itself. “Hey Kal, we gotta get up now,” Kira whispered through a soft smile. Kalel smiled back at her. “Yes.” Jacobi leaped out of his rig and stood close by. “You need help, big guy?” “Yes.” Kira snickered and helped Kalel upright to a sitting position by holding the back of his neck and back. Kalel scooted his way out of the vehicle, clumsily stumbling on his landing. Kira followed closely after and held his hand. She guided him to the open door of Kaden's vehicle. Kalel, letting go of Kira’s hand, unceremoniously dove through the door, landing on padded seats. Kaden snapped his head toward the three teens adjusting themselves behind him. “Hey man! Careful! Don’t let that metal scratch up anything or else!” “Or else what?” Jacobi jabbed back. Kaden narrowed his eyes at Jacobi but didn't say anything. Instead, he turned around to continue typing a message to his mother on a small device in his hand. Kalel pressed his forehead against the window, staring out into nothing in particular. Kaden let out a rough sigh in annoyance. “Hey man! Can you not do that?” Kira shifted Kalel, gently pulling him off the window, leaving behind a smudge mark. She leaned his body against hers, letting him hug himself around her and relax. “Your mother really won’t mind,” Kira asked. “Oh yeah,” Kaden answered. “She knows it’s you guys, but that’s it. Don’t worry about her. Are you guys good to go?” “Just waiting on you, big shot,” Jacobi answered. Kaden turned to look at him. Kira shot her brother a look of disapproval for his rude answer, then turned to Kaden, looking him in the eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly with a kind smile. Kaden turned back around, placing his hands on the steering controller, making sure none of them noticed that he was blushing. “Uh… yeah. No problem.” The ride was quiet, aside from the hum of the vehicle and the sound of Kalel's purr. Kaden picked up on how odd Kalel's purr sounded. It lacked any rhythm or even volume consistency… like a baby.

Nova, Kira, Kaden, Kalel, and Jacobi made it outside while the rest stayed inside to keep watch over the party. Kalel and Kira made their way inside The Little Guy’s passenger cabin. Kalel has his head on Kira’s lap, looking up at her and twirling her hair in between his organic fingers. Nova sits in the front next to the driver's seat, looking down at a tablet in her hands, wearing a pensive expression. Jacobi leans against his vehicle with his arms crossed, staring daggers at Kaden. Kaden is standing tight, his hands in his pockets. He looks down at his feet, lightly kicking the sand. Kaden grimaced and inhaled sharply. “So… wild night, huh?” Jacobi tilted his head, looking up as he exhaled, rolling his eyes, annoyed. “I guess that’s a bit of an understatement… I swear I didn’t even know he brought that stuff! He thought it would be funny” “You think this is funny?” “What!? No! That guy is weird!” “Now that’s an understatement,” Jacobi grumbled. They stood in silence for a beat, not looking at each other. “Well, there goes our first and last party.” “Huh?” “My parents are never going to let us out again. Especially Kal.” “Who says you guys have to go back home tonight?” Jacobi raised an eyebrow toward Kaden. “I mean, they know you guys are hosting this thing. They probably don’t expect you guys to make it back the same night.” “Kal can’t stay here” Kaden looked down to his side, tucking his chin slightly, and took a breath. He looked up at Jacobi. “He can stay at my place” Jacobi took a breath, shifting his crossed arms and shoulders slightly, looking away, contemplative. “What about your mother?” “I’ll message her. Tell her what she needs to know. If I tell her to leave us alone, she will” Jacobi stayed silent for a second, then kicked himself upright off his rig. “Alright, but we’re taking your rig.” He then climbed up on the side of his vehicle, hanging on by holding on to a cage bar with one hand. He turned to look at Nova’s device and talk to her. Kaden looked up, rolling his eyes. “Of course.”

“Jacobi, what are you doing!?” Kira looked up to see her brother closing in with Kaden in tow. “I think it’s a good idea to have someone with personal experience here for this.” Jacobi thrusted Kaden forward. “Tell them what’s going on here, kay.” Kaden stared at the two of them on the ground as the rest of the crew closed in around him. “Uh…” he cleared his throat. “Someone slipped him something, some street hallucinogen… Vomiting is pretty normal.” Kira shifted Kalel, placing his head on her chest under her chin. She placed a hand over his ear and purred. His eyelids were heavy, the movement of his cybernetic eye slowing. “I don’t know anything about…that stuff.” Kaden gestured towards Kalel’s face. “Is he okay?” “This augment isn’t just connected to the visual cortex of his brain.” Nova stood to the right of Kaden, doing her best to explain to the ignorant surface kid how Kalel’s “eye’ doesn’t only process visual information. Kaden looked at her, not comprehending anything. “Okay, just, yes, it’s strange, but it’s not the movement. It’s that this only happens when he’s asleep, well, specifically when he’s transitioning out of sleep.” “A hallucinogen would explain that,” said a weirdly familiar-looking Norman male standing next to Nova. Kaden looked back down at Kalel when he noticed his breathing picking up. “He needs to get out of here. Can he stand?” Kira stroked his hair, pushing it back off his face. His face was still slack and his eyes half open. “Not on his own,” Kira breathed, her tone full of concern. Jacobi quickly got down and put Kalel's arm over his shoulders. “Come on, big guy,” Jacobi grunted, lifting Kalel to his feet. On the way up, Kaden took Kalel’s other arm, adding more stability to the lumbering giant. “Let’s take him to my rig.” “Did someone throw up?” Kalel mumbled. “I smell vomit” “Yeah,” Kaden answered.

“Holy shit,” Kaden said under his breath, realizing he was trembling slightly. He looked back over toward Kalel. He was on his knees, his organic hand clutching onto the trash can above his head. The metallic one hung heavy at his side. His head was slumped, big dark curly hair draped over his face. Kira was sitting on her heels next to him. She opened the curtain of hair in front of his face, tucking it behind his ear, and held his chin with her other hand. He looked awful. His face was relaxed. His green organic eye was completely glazed over. The metallic black “eye” darted wildly, the yellow “iris” shrank and enlarged rapidly, making his red “pupil” constrict and widen violently. Kaden looked away from the freakshow, snapping at the rest of his friends. “Did you know!?” “No way!” one of them yelled, their voice trembling with shock. All of them wore wide-eyed, horrified expressions. Kaden growled, narrowing his eyes at them. Then he was forced forward, his eyes locking with Jacobi’s. Jacobi held him by the collar of his shirt, his grip tight, his clenched fist pressed against Kaden's neck. In his other hand, he held the small bottles of the illicit powder. “What is this?” Jacobi growled through clenched teeth. “I told you, seriously, I don’t know!” That didn’t convince Jacobi. He twisted Kaden’s shirt collar, constricting it around Kaden’s neck. "Okay! Okay!" Kaden strained out. “It does look familiar.” “What. Is. It.” “From the looks of it and your brother, it’s most likely a low-grade hallucinogenic. The shit that kid pushes is not exactly medical grade. But he really should be fine, he just has to ride it out.” “Ride it out?” “You know? Just wait for him to come down, it should happen on its own with time, it depends on how much he took.” Jacobi looked down at his open hand. In it were the six vials, two of which held nothing inside. “But hey man, I don’t know how that kid works. That thing with his eye…” Jacobi looked up at Kaden, his eyes furrowed. He stared hard into him. “You’ve done this shit before?” Kaden didn’t answer that question, choosing to stay silent, mostly from embarrassment. The crowd around them slowly got back to mingling with each other and moving to the music, completely getting over the violent altercation they were witness to. Jacobi snatched Kaden by his bicep, dragging him toward Kalel.

Kalel burst through the back door with an unexpected, unintended force that made the door slam loudly against the wall. He didn’t register the people nearby who were giving him looks, as the lights and music instantly made the world start spinning around him. He braced himself with one hand against the wall and attempted to walk along the side of the building. He didn’t make it far from the door when it opened once more, with Jacobi instantly spotting him to his side. “Hey big guy…” Jacobi put a firm hand on Kalel’s shoulder, stabilizing him. Kalel stared wide-eyed at the ground, watching the lights dance around his feet. “Can you look at me?” Kalel shook his head. Kira ran through the door and found Kalel and her brother. She then ran to a nearby trash can, picked it up, and quickly placed it under Kalel. As soon as the base hit the ground, Kalel gripped the sides and retched into the opening. Kaden and his crew watched the whole ordeal from across the main floor they stood in, as the rest of Kalel’s friends surrounded him. “What’s with the tin can?” Kaden cringed a little, not enjoying what he was witnessing. He then heard snickering coming from behind him. “I dunno what you’re talking about? He looks pretty par for the course” “… What?” Kaden turned around to his city-dwelling “"friend"”, giving him a suspicious look. “Oh, don’t give me shit”, he said through a boisterous laugh. “It’s funny” “No, FUCK THAT!” That was too far. Way too far. It’s one thing to call the freak a freak and even to throw punches at his dumbass brother. But drugging him!? “He’s going to be fine. He can take it. HA! Look at him! He’s really not as indestructible as he thinks he is, that's for sure. I mean, damn, I might have overestimated him. What a punk!” Kaden pushed the city dweller in the chest and stepped back away from him. His face wrinkled in disgust. “What is actually wrong with you!?” Jacobi snapped his head around to Kaden at the sound of his yell, his eyes narrowing as he tuned into the tense exchange. “No way…” Jacobi started over to them when the lowlife stepped up to Kaden, challenging him with a sneer, his chin up. "What are you going to do about it?" Before Kaden could react, Jacobi shifted him by the shoulder with one hand and, with the other, delivered a swift, powerful hook under the city-dweller's chin. The kid slumped over and fell to the ground. The crowd around them scattered back, making a circle around the three. “Hey, man, I didn’t kno-” “GET HIM OUT OF HERE!” Jacobi’s eyes burned into Kaden, making his tail tuck around himself. He raised his hand in front of him and hunched slightly. Stuck where he was, not wanting to get close to Jacobi. “Seriously. I don’t even know what it is.” Jacobi bent over the unconscious kid and searched him. Finding six 10 ml bottles in a pocket on the inside of his jacket. All but two are filled with a colorless, odorless powder. That’s when the kid began to stir, waking up. Jacobi kicked him in the gut, jolting the kid fully awake, making him fold inward, hugging his middle. Jacobi grabbed a fistful of his hair from the scalp and dragged him all the way to the front entrance of the warehouse. The crowd split, making a path as the exit was a good distance away. He tossed the kid out into the dirt, kicking him in the head for good measure. “Get the fuck out of here before a fucking kill you!” “I carpooled here,” the kid slurred. “WALK!”

There was this kid that was a part of Kaden's crew. A city-dwelling Hyomeo. He's a rogue, a bit off kilter, and completely unpredictable. He's known for something that has the crew keeping a close eye on him. Selling illicit items. They don't really want to confront him either. He did pay to be there. As long as he doesn't hurt anyone, they let him pass. Kaden does his usual razing, Jacobi does his usual threats of violence, all pretty standard stuff. It's nothing they can't handle. The crew, Kalel, the twins, their cousin and her boyfriend, and Nova and her Norman peer make their way outside to watch the stars. They talk about teenage nonsense, mostly confronting Jacobi and Nova's peer about how they're "enjoying" the party. They even call out Nova's peer for making out with Kaden's wild friend and make fun of the obvious hickey on Jacobi. That's when Kalel blurts out something odd about the stars, completely out of nowhere, very unrelated to the conversation. "I'm trying to count the stars, but I keep losing track; I'm trying to find the final number" “Kalel, what?” Kira had been lying next to him looking up at the sky. She sat up to look Kalel in the face, her heart sank. “If I count them all, they all know the final number. The biggest number ever! How can there be more than that!?” “Kal… are you high?” “…..I’m freaking out.” With that Kalel strung up and bolted, sprinting toward the back entrance of the warehouse. “Shit!” Jacobi shot up and gave chase, followed by the rest of the crew.

Kaden is a bit of a high-status surface kid, similar to Hakeem and Aria's children. He's a full-blood Hyomeo. Filled with arrogance, his mother smothers him and absolves him of taking any accountability. Kalel is a gentle giant. Being entirely capable of punching a hole through someone, chooses to never engage in any physical aggression towards another person because of this and being forced into his mysterious past. Kaden pretty much takes full advantage of this.

The events that led to this shift happened at a party the main crew was hosting. A rager on the surface in an abandoned warehouse. They worked hard to set up the place, making it a ticketed event. The twins wanted to raise money for something. They built a stage and large areas for dancing and lounging and outfitted the place with an air filtration system so any Norman who could make it there could attend to their full potential by taking off any masks they needed to get there. It was what happened at the party that changed Kaden.

The news of her visit was well anticipated. Nova hadn’t seen the twins in three months. She blames me, of course. Her insistence on attending Liberty Tech seemingly wasn’t considered. The well-known demanding performance takes up so much of her time. Still, she knew I could have made some time. I don’t know how to tell her the whole truth about the boy. I considered listening in on her lines with the twins to know just how much they told her. I decided against it. Aria taps in at least once a week since his acquisition. In all honesty, he’s doing better than I projected. It’s truly a testament to her. Aria was right. That child would have had no chance of becoming well-adjusted away from his own people. Away from her.

Her visit was just her and the children. Nova’s excitement was contagious. She had so much planned out for them to do together. I couldn’t resist smiling, watching her decide on the best of her projects to present to them. After her small outburst, she overall seemed to get along well with the boy as well as I could decipher. Kalel. That's his name. It’s unique. Aria smiled when she told me. The children gave him that name. I smiled at that. She stayed close to Kalel. She would purr every so often. A quieter, deeper purr- I don’t believe I’ve heard before. Kalel would relax into her. It was…Beautiful.

“He’s really into this ‘superhero’ thing. It’s a bit odd”, Aria spoke through a smile, looking over at the children. Kalel now sat near the twins and Nova. Silently watching Nova speak about how the electric conductivity of the human body affects the implementation of augments.

“My father was also fascinated by old world media. He collected discs.” I walked from the brewing station and handed Aria a cup of tea. Red Leaf Tea, spiced with cinnamon. Her favorite. I sat in a chair adjacent to hers, watching the children from across the living room. Nova then grabbed Kalel’s hand and stood, dragging him to her room with the twins. His expression was impossible to read. I straightened up, pushing my back off the back of my seat, prepared to stand and walk to my daughter. “Is Kalel o-”

“He feels safe”. Her voice was soft, tired. The Hyome’s ability to intuitively and accurately sense these states in others is undeniably extraordinary. I’ve come to trust this. I relaxed back into my chair somewhat and looked over at Aria. Her large hair was tied into a low ponytail. The ribbon holding it together was tied tight but messy, almost lazily. She had a light shadow underneath her eyes. She took sips of the tea, savoring them, relaxing into her chair more and more after every one.

I just looked at her for a moment. An unexpectedly long moment. When I noticed this, I felt the need to say something. “How have you been, Aria?”

She looked up from her cup. She had been staring at the red liquid in between sips, her eyelids heavy. She looked me in the eyes and gave me a small, soft smile. “I’m okay, Jean.”

I genuinely was at a loss for words for a quick moment. This was unlike her. I held back my doubt. “That’s good to hear”

Her smile faded somewhat as she looked back down at the cup she held in her lap. Her tail, wrapped around her legs just above the ankle, constricted slightly. “That boy…” She winced slightly and softly bit her bottom lip. Her smile completely faded. “I…” She covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes strained tight, holding back tears.

Jean works for global as lead researcher and engineer, with a focus on efficiency. He also acts as a diplomat. Aria and Hakeem become close to him after Jean took on a mentor role for Ronin. 

His daughter's name is Nova, who is the same age as Kalel. She's a bit taller than the average standard human female, standing at about 5'11. She's a brilliant but perpetually bored "privileged kid". Spoiled but not rotten 

They met Kalel three months after he was adopted by his family. Though Aria did mean to visit soon, the visit didn't come until much later, as everyone was adjusting. Kalel would have already accepted his name when he and his family visited the small family of the crater cities. 

There was an awkward tension as Nova's reaction to him was misplaced, ignorant jealousy. She demanded that her father tell her why she is "too young" for functional and cosmetic augmentations, but Kalel isn't. Augmentations being not a big deal where she's from, and her being so young (13-14 years old), she is still a bit egocentric. 

Jean feels embarrassed and regretful for not taking more time to explain the situation to his daughter. But he is a bit disappointed that her self-centeredness got the best of her, as she does have more knowledge than most of her peers on the Hyome, their culture, and biology. At the end of the day, Nova is a daddy's girl. Jean is extremely gentle with her, sometimes to a fault. He wouldn't be harsh or too stern. He gently jogged her memory and let her get out of her own world for a moment in private. 

She's not quite the "humble" type, but she isn't mean. She attempted to make Kalel feel better (and attempted to explain herself a bit) by pointing out that she is surrounded by people with Augs, even pointing out that her father has subtle tech implanted in his eyes and hands. 

Context: Entry from the personal Journals of Aria, After a Civil Meeting about what to do with “the rescued boy”

How dare they. How DARE they ever suggest that this boy go with them!! This was their fault. They allowed this “fringe cult” to continue its deplorable existence. “Too small to justify allocating resources”. They are still “recovering”. Disgusting, insulting excuses. They made themselves known! Very clear on what they are, their goals, and exactly HOW they plan to achieve them.

Of course, we agreed to assist in finally bringing this group to an end. Of course, only after their growing boldness started affecting GLOBALs bottom line. They turned a blind eye to the attempted surface raids, unsanctioned resource extraction sites, the loud, bold, bigoted propaganda and sermons going unsilenced, unchecked! NO, the line was drawn at stolen tech and funds!

They had found that some of their own worked for A.P.E.. The so-called "Ascension Protocol Engineers”. To give people some credit, that name is absolutely ridiculous; I wouldn’t take anyone who willingly calls themselves that all that seriously at face value. Well, turns out that a high-status broker or two was one of these apes. How embarrassing. Pathetic.

I appreciate Jean. He might be the only one close to sane among them. Also, the only one who can get my words through to them. It is ridiculous to suggest that he would be better under the care of GLOBAL. “The necessary equipment and knowledge on augments”. We aren't ignorant. We do not lack any more knowledge than they do, and that boy needs much more than that. It was terrifyingly apparent that some of them had ulterior motives. My friend calling them out was unexpected. Jean seems to have risked a lot standing up for me. Standing up for him. We have to visit him and his daughter again soon.

Context: Following the acceptance of his new name, Kalel is tasked to begin a journal

My name is Kalel. Kalel. I’m not like them, but I am them. I’m Hyome. I’m not a weapon. That much has been drilled into my head. It doesn’t make much sense. I’m practically more machine than man. My arm and eye make that much obvious outside of the replaced nerves and augmented heart. I’m entirely too quick, my aim too precise, my arm impossibly destructive. My body can take it. It was better than the others. They were able to push farther and farther with me. Unlike non-hyomenal, our augments were fixed. If wanted and given the chance they can completely remove and heal from the intrusion. We couldn’t. It was the only way. To the techs this was perfect. Proof that augmentation is how we, people, higher lifeforms, will truly ascend. 

…

I don’t think I like writing. My new handler caregiver gave me the order to do this. She told me I can call her Mom... I never had a mother. I don’t remember much from early childhood. I was moved around, bought and sold, that I do remember. … I remember the others. They told us we were... necessary. That what they did was necessary. That the world will thank us for what we had to do. I. Had. To.