I was trapped in an experimental chamber tube, filled with some kind of cold, sticky liquid. The lab was huge, but it still felt suffocating, even with the oxygen mask on. It felt like I was drowning in the very fluid that was supposed to keep my body stable. The view from inside was hazy, but I could still make out what was happening outside.
There were men and women in white lab coats. Some were focused on their computers, while others—wearing sterilized aprons, masks, and gloves—were busy cutting open some kind of creature's skull. It had a long, eyeless head, filled only with rows of sharp teeth and heightened senses to hunt down its prey.
The invasion of these things hadn't happened that long ago. They came from outer space. Not intelligent—but instinctual, in a way that was terrifying. I remember my first encounter with them vividly.
It happened right here, in this same lab. That invasion wiped out half the team. I still remember the lights flickering and blood splattering across the glass of my chamber.
But even then, they made sure I was protected. No matter what happened, I had to survive. If I died, they'd lose all their progress. Simple as that.
In their world, they were sacrificing themselves as heroes. But in mine… they were just greedy people who forced a normal teenage kid into this. The pain I went through every day was immeasurable, all because they wanted a prototype to fight the enemy.
They kept me locked in that unbreakable tube. Fed me dead human meat because my body couldn't digest normal food anymore. I was turned into a weapon. Rejected by humanity.
I was—a monster.
——∆——
A few years later...
"Don't disappoint us, John."
"Please try not to put pressure on me. I don't wanna die today, dude."
"It's funny coming from someone who nearly fell to his death from a cliff last month."
"Oh please, that was last month. It's different now."
"Sure."
"Guys, please. Don't make my ears rot with the same conversation every time we go on a raid," I muttered, walking toward the edge of the plane's rear gate.
The winter wind hit my face. I looked down at the city—lifeless. I still remembered the bustling roads, the chaos, and the quiet peace I once found there. Now there was nothing. Just silence, overgrown vegetation, and those creatures roaming the streets.
This used to be my home. The city of joy—Kolkata.
"If you need backup, let us know immediately," Gabriel's voice came through the comms.
"No worries, Gabriel. I'm going with him."
"That's why I'm worried."
"Stop pickin' on me every time."
I tuned out their banter. This mission mattered.
We were going to secure the city. We'd be here a while.
I'd waited a whole damn year for this. Just to see my home again.
"Enough chit chat. Prepare to jump after me, John."
I jumped out. The wind rushed past me, and for a moment—I felt alive. This was the part I loved most about missions. Everything else? A mess.
But this time, I was confident. Confident we could reclaim Kolkata—without John screwing things up.
He was reckless. Almost got himself killed more than once. He even forgot his parachute once during a mission—
"SHIT! I FORGOT THE PARACHUTE!"
There he goes again.
All my confidence vanished in an instant.
Last time it happened, we were over the Pacific, trying to raid a navy ship that had been taken over by pirates.
"John… this is the second time…"
Gabriel's voice sounded tired. "Even after I warned him… Sometimes I wonder if he does this on purpose."
"I'M SORRYYYY!! PLEASE SAVE ME!!"
"Fine, just stop screaming on the comms."
This guy… I swear. I'd leave him if I could. But he's too valuable to lose.
"Emma, how long until I can transform again?"
"Just thirty more seconds."
"Got it, thanks."
"I'LL HIT THE GROUND TOO HARD IN THIRTY SECONDS."
"I said I'll save you, so please shut your mouth, John."
I had to adjust my aerodynamics and risk getting injured just to save this idiot. Unbelievable.
"Twenty more seconds, Ishan."
It had been a while since my last transformation. I had a cooldown, based on how long I stayed transformed. The International Army used to schedule our missions around it.
Breaking the cooldown came with a price.
"Ten more seconds."
"We don't have that much time, Emma."
We were already close to the ground. Ten more seconds, and John would—
"SAVE MEEEE!!!"
"Tch… fine. Gabriel, go help him. Now."
"On my way."
I wasn't the only one who could transform. But I was the only one who had to eat human meat to do it. The price of being the first experiment.
Gabriel shot past me in his monster form—faster than a jet. His massive white wings reflected the sunlight like some divine being. His form looked calm. Like it had made peace with itself.
Mine… didn't.
My monster form was something else. A beast that could outrun bullets and smash through tungsten like paper.
"Mission 'Save John,' successful."
"Stop pickin' on me, man."
"Fine. I'll drop you, then."
There they go again.
Thanks to Gabriel, I could pull my chute without worrying.
"Great call, Emma. I forgot about Gabriel."
"Here you go, forgetting your teammate again. Stop trying to shoulder everything alone. We're a team."
"…I'm sorry."
She was right. I had a habit of taking everything on myself. I never really had a proper team before—too many accidents. I didn't know how to connect.
"Sorry won't cut it. You're getting a full lecture after this mission."
"Anything you say, Emma…"
"Focus. Your cooldown's done. You're clear to transform. Head to the target zone and wait for John's signal."
"Copy."
As reckless as he was, John was a great spotter. He knew the new laser rifles better than anyone. One of the best soldiers we had.
And me?
I was the best weapon humanity had.
Not a hero. Not a soldier.
Just something they unleashed when the stakes got high enough.
And yet… a part of me still hoped I could be more than that.