The Infinity Project

[FooFighter]

21 years ago.

::Blood Dragon Base Kyoto, Chugoku System::
::14.09.; 16:03 Manhattan Standard Time::

The young Kusarian closely examined the device on the small table in front of him, the life support system that would give him freedom. While his shell still looked human, he no longer was. His consciousness went beyond the wildest dreams mere mortals would have. His ability to process information far exceeded what military-grade AIs could do. His reflexes were superb. He controlled myriads of nanites - but without the implants a human would need to do so, but only with his brain, emitting forms of radiation to issue commands only a handful of scientists in Kusari knew. Still, he was organic - and thus, far from being invincible, as the nanites were not able to "repair" anything more serious than minor tissue damage.

"We constructed it exactly as you told us, Inoue-san."

Inoue Ryos immune system was almost completely dysfunctional. The genetic engineering conducted on him destroyed his natural ability to defend himself against virii and bacteria. While he was able to survive in the more-or-less sterile environment of the space station where they made him what he is now, there were few places he could go in his condition. The life support system however, shaped like a breathing mask, though covering half of it's wearer's face, would replace his natural immune system with an artificial one.

"What are you waiting for, friend?"

Slowly, Inoue reached for the breathing-mask-esque device, his hands shaking. This was a very special moment in his life. During the last 20 years, there has always been something denying him his freedom of choice, be it being a child born on a research cruiser far away from any populated system, be it being a test subject in a black project or be it being someone blind of revenge; now however, a new, blank chapter of his life would begin. What would he do first, after he left Kusari? Maybe he'd go to Bretonia, Liberty sounded like a fine choice as well; both were highly populated and the Kusarian agents would have a hard time finding him there. Finally, he put on the mask; with a *click*, it attached itself to Inoues face. He took a deep breath.

It felt strange; naturally, his body rejected all the wires and tubes going down his throat. For a moment, he thought he was going to puke and felt drained, with the life support system "feeding" directly on his body's energy reserves. If he weren't sitting, he would have collapsed. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't - the device had started integrating itself on his vocal chords. It's symbiotic relationship with Inoue's body was remarkable. Eventually, the nausea stopped, and slowly, his body was accepting the mask as a new part of it.

"You look like it's killing it from inside, Inoue-san...are you alright?"

When Inoue replied, it wasn't with his own voice. The mask took the pulses on his vocal chords and reproduced them in it's own, cold, electronic, emotionless way.

"I am...for now, at least. Thank you for everything, Sato-San. Bring me to my ship now, please."