The thundering sound of a slap echoed across a brightly lit room with massive painted glass windows. As the young little Mike, barely 10 years old as of now, raised his head, he saw only the massive boots of an adult standing before him. Blood dripped out of his nose onto the ground as the boy groaned with pain.
[Instructor] - "Get back up, boy! Fight! "
Ordered the man without an ounce of empathy.
[Mike] - "I can't, sir, I can't anymore. "
Said Mike as blood from his mouth also joined the puddle from his nose.
[Instructor] - "Coward! Weakling! How could you become the will of the Emperor one day if this is your pitiful reality? "
Yelled the instructor as he abruptly smacked Mike aside.
The distinct sound of a crack was heard inside Mike's chest. Yet, the boy no longer cared. By this point, the number of times his ribs had broken became a number so large that Mike began to feel numb to the pain in his chest. The strength in his arms was slowly drained away by the lack of oxygen as one of his lungs had once again been punctured.
At ten years old, Mike had to have his crystal connected to his brain; a procedure only done to adults because of the risks. On top of the physical torments of his martial instructors, he had to contend with the endless lessons taught to him to train his political and strategic side. There is no rest for a young boy adopted to be turned into a weapon.
Monday, Mike will attend a crystal training course designed to help him master his abilities. Tuesday, Mike will attend a course about political maneuvering and other subjects of an administrative nature. On Wednesday, Mike will undergo a course of indoctrination designed to teach him loyalty to the Empire. Thursday and Friday, the boy will be put inside his cyberknight armour and sent on missions with other knights. Saturday, the boy will be put through multiple courses teaching him different martial disciplines. Finally, on Sunday, Mike will attend the Imperial military academy to learn about military tactics and deployment.
Suddenly, the injured little boy rose up from the ground and activated his crystals. With lightning leaking out of his hands, Mike charged at the instructor and struck him with a punch. However, the giant man easily shrugged off the attack before slamming Mike into a wall, causing him to break more bones.
[Instructor] - "Get up! Do not think you can simply coward away because of a few flesh wounds! "
Yelled the instructor angrily as he approached Mike.
Maybe this time, Mike couldn't get up anymore. He was not just tired; he could feel his own body yearning for the sweet rest of death. However, he knew he couldn't just give up. He was told of his destiny, to help others, to prevent what happened to his parents from happening to other children. Though he was ten years old, his mind was moulded to a point where he was thinking like an adult at this age.
Suddenly, the sunlight began to shine through the painted glasses, illuminating Mike in a golden shine, which highlighted his cyberknight crest. Justice will prevail in the face of darkness. As the instructor stood over him, ready to kick him again for his supposed laziness, Mike began to whisper something under his breath.
[Mike] - "Guilt Extension: Curse of the Red Spores! "
As soon as Mike uttered these words, the instructor abruptly screamed in pain as the skin on his leg suddenly inflated before bursting and splashing his blood and muscle everywhere inside his pants. Soon, the man was violently yelling, with similar spores appearing everywhere on his body before eventually becoming an incapacitated body on the floor.
[Mike] - "What now, coward? Why aren't you moving, you bastard? "
Whispered Mike as he suddenly pressed his palm onto the instructor's face.
There was a cold disconnect on Mike's face as he grabbed the crippled man's face. There was fear inside the instructor's eyes as he looked into the clinical, empty expression on the boy's face. There was a sudden crack as Mike fractured a piece of the instructor's skull with his palm, boosted by his crystals. By this point, the instructor was crying and begging in mumbled noises, as his face began to cave in on itself.
[Mike] - "Don't worry, I will not kill you. If I destroyed you here, it would be inefficient for me in the long run. I want you to remember this moment and stop giving me shit everytime you train me. For once, sir instructor, learn from the disciple instead. "
Said Mike in a cold voice, devoid of a heartbeat.
And so it was, Mike, a boy forcefully orphaned by Sniper to be turned into his ultimate tool. Mike was trained not to think for himself, not to value his own comfort. The boy was taught to only serve others and only prioritize others' well-being over his own. Sniper had always intended for Mike to become his mindless tool of war, since his coldness and efficient mindset prevented him from possessing the same charisma Michele had. The Empire will value collaboration and diplomacy as much as it values war.
For this matter, Michele was intended to be the leader of the cyberknight, the charismatic Grand Knight, meant to rally everyone to the Imperial cause and inspire hope wherever he went. Meanwhile, Mike was to be turned into the Grand Knight of the military and lead the war effort on all fronts and show his cold brutality to those who opposed the Empire. However, fate's interference in Sniper's affairs would soon turn things in a direction no one expected.
To Mike, now 15 years old, his life's purpose has but one goal: To follow and uphold the Imperial gospel. As a cyberknight, his duty is to tear down the old system, protect the weak and be an agent of the ideas of virtue, justice, and loyalty. By now, his presence was a more common sight to the members of the Empire. However, what differentiated Mike from Michele was his cold and stoic demeanour as a contrast to the warm and charismatic expressions of his counterpart. Yet, being cold doesn't he's dysfunctional as a cyberknight. Though Mike did gestures of kindness out of principle, his actions resonated with many more people than the performance-like attitude of his counterpart.
In the hallways of Imperial Base Nepal, Mike strolled around the facility with the duty to inspect the place for any infractions against protocol. Though only meant to keep him busy, with Sniper not even expecting any result, Mike took the assignment seriously. However, as the newly appointed Grand Knight of the Military inspected the unremarkable hallway with care for every detail, a shocking sight shattered the monotony of it all. While everyone dressed up in their freshest uniform to look good in front of him, a single woman walked among the crowd with blood coating her entire body.
Confused and offended by the ungodly sight, Mike immediately moved toward the woman, with everyone stepping aside out of respect and fear to allow him through. When Mike had reached the woman, she froze before gradually turning around with dread in her eyes. To the girl's surprise, the Grand Knight was standing behind her with his tinted blue visor staring directly into her eyes.
[Mike] - "KD unit number 555, why are you not adhering to the dress code? Could you explain why you are walking amidst the base with such disturbing attire? "
Said Mike bluntly.
With shock and fear gripping her every limb, KD-555 fell down onto the ground. With trembling limbs, the girl began to cry out of sheer terror before wetting the floor underneath her. People in the crowd immediately began to whisper and stare at the girl with disgust in their eyes. At some points, some people even hoped for the Grand Knight to execute the abominable creature on the floor.
[KD-555] - "I... I didn't mean to, my lord! Please! I'm sorry! I didn't know what came over me, I just came back from a mission... "
Said KD-555 in a trembling voice.
As the puddle of urine on the floor touched Mike's boot before flowing around it, the crowd around gasped in shock. However, true to his principles, Mike immediately raised his arm in the air, instantly calming all noises in his surroundings.
[Mike] - "Leave us! May no one cross this section of the base until I'm done with my duty. "
With this single command, the crowd immediately dispersed in an orderly manner. Soon, Mike and the crying assassin were the only people left. Slowly, Mike bent down and used his ability to evacuate the urine toward a nearby drain. Then, without a word, Mike handed the girl a tissue to wipe her tears with. However, still gripped by fear, the girl remained frozen in a catatonic state with trembling lips.
[Mike] - "Please stop this, I meant you no harm. "
Said Mike bluntly as he wiped the tears off the girl's cheeks.
Never in a million years would KD-555 expect such a level of compassion from a man revered as much as the Grand Knight himself. After a moment to recollect herself, KD-555 recoiled backward before kneeling down and bowing to him.
[KD-555] - "I'm terribly sorry, lord! Please, forgive this filthy creature on the floor for all the offensive indecency she bore with her abominable body. "
Whispered KD-555, still trembling out of fear.
[Mike] - "Stop this! My duty as a cyberknight is to guide the lost to their rightful path and punish the heretics for crimes. Let's set you up on the right path, comrade. "
Said Mike in an inspiring tone as he reached his hand toward the girl.
Later, Mike took the assassin girl to his personal room, where he allowed her to properly shower and wash the gore from her body. After a while, the water stopped flowing as the girl stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body. It was then that Mike witnessed for the first time the true beauty of the blood-covered assassin. Mike's heart throbbed immediately at the sight of the girl with a feeling he didn't understand.
[KD-555] - "Lord, I had cleaned myself as you ordered. "
Said KD-555 with a gentle bow of respect.
[Mike] - "Put on one of my coats and make your way back to your barracks. Do not repeat today's mistake again, comrade. Also, instead of a dehumanizing codename like KD-555, how about I give you a name instead? If you don't mind, I suggest the name of "Kadyn" considering the first two letters of your designation. "
Said Mike as he removed his armour and helmet.
Shocked and flattered by his kind words, KD-555 immediately nodded her head in approval.
[Kadyn] - "It's a beautiful name, lord. I shall keep it forever. Thank you! "
Said Kadyn excitedly with a smile.
[Mike] - "Do not thank me, I'm simply adhering to my duty. "
[Kadyn] - "Lord, can I ask you a question before I go? "
[Mike] - "Make it short. "
Said Mike in his natural voice, unfiltered by the helmet.
Upon seeing Mike's handsome face, Kadyn gasped silently out of shock, but also excitement. She was always the odd one among her sisters, with an overly dreamy mindset considering her nature. Slowly, Kadyn approached the Grand Knight, driven by the survival instinct of deer and the mindset of a dreamy teenager in love.
[Kadyn] - "Ahem! Lord, may I ask why you are treating me so well? I mean, I'm nothing but a filthy assassin with no honour. "
Said Kadyn while discreetly approaching the Grand Knight.
[Mike] - "The cyberknight order has a code of honour for me to uphold. Others may not see you as human or one of our own, but I shall partake in no such hypocrisy. You have dedicated yourself to the service of the Empire; thus, you are to be treated with respect. You are a comrade just like any other man or woman. "
Said Mike clinically as if reciting a passage from a textbook.
Kadyn suddenly touched Mike's bare back without any semblance of rationality. However, luckily for her, this deer crossed the street without being hit by any car.
[Mike] - "Stop fooling around, soldier. "
Kadyn quickly recoiled before placing her hand against her chest. As Mike turned around, he was met with the sight of a pink-cheeked girl breathing heavily at her mouth in awe of what he had just done.
[Mike] - "Comrade! Please focus your mind! This is very unprofessional of you! "
[Kadyn] - "Are you sure you didn't treat me well because you... maybe... have some thoughts more than your honour code. "
Said Kadyn with an awkward smile.
Immediately, she was met with the baffled stare of the Grand Knight, as he became speechless. For all his years as a tool for Sniper, he had only a few conversations outside of business or duty. However, the situation before him was something he couldn't even comprehend, as in his indoctrinated mind, the illogical nature of the conversation went against all the training he had ever received.
[Mike] - "Ugh! Please stop this nonsense, comrade. It's time for you to go! "
Said Mike, unsettled by the weirdness of the situation.
[Kadyn] - "Of course, lord. However, will we see each other again? You're the first person to ever treat me so well, and I'd like to know more about you. "
Said Kadyn as she daringly invaded Mike's personal space.
[Mike] - "I'm the Grand Knight, soldier. My identity is not information you can access. "
Said Mike as he began to recoil from Kadyn instead.
[Kadyn] - "I'll keep it a secret! I promise! "
Said Kadyn while standing practically inches away from Mike.
Mike was pushed to his limits as this kind of nonsense conversation broke every single protocol he was meant to follow. Instead of Kadyn being the deer in the headlights, Mike was now the deer in the headlights, lost on what to make of the situation. Never once in his life has a person dared to willingly approach him like this without fearing for their lives. This girl was the one exception that Mike could never expect.
[Mike] - "Back off! Who the hell do you think you are? What kind of insanity has driven you to speak such nonsense and act as if I'm your equa- "
Yelled Mike abruptly, causing Kadyn to back off in fear.
Mike suddenly held himself back from finishing his phrase. Before Kadyn could react, Mike wrapped her in one of his coats before pushing her out of his room without a word. Inside his room, Mike breathed a huge sigh of relief as he was finally freed from the awkward questions. He could feel his own heartbeat in his chest from sheer stress, yet he couldn't help but look back at the door, and wonder about the girl. The way she conversed with him, though nonsensical and invasive, made Mike feel... Human.
Back in the present, Mike suddenly woke up on a hospital bed and immediately sat upright, thinking he was still in Sniper's throne room. However, after a few ragged breaths, Mike realized that he was in a hospital room instead. Despite the reassuring sight, he wasn't sure if this was real or has Sniper had dealt with him and this was the afterlife. All of a sudden, a sharp pain rocked him in the mouth, neck and chin.
[Mike] - "Fuck! That fucking... AAAARGH! "
Whispered Mike in pain as he gripped his chin, now mostly a construct made of several pieces of shining gold metal plates.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around Mike's chest and pulled him back onto the pillow before he felt a gentle kiss on his cheek. Turning around, he noticed Kadyn in a half-asleep state before she hungrily spooned him with her body.
[Kadyn] - "You had me worried, you know? I stayed with you in bed for two days straight, thinking you won't wake up. "
Said Kadyn with tears hanging by the edge of her eyes.
[Mike] - "Oh... right. Thinking back, were you always this much of a mindless romantic from the start? Like you absolutely weirded me the fuck out the first we met, remember? "
[Kadyn] - "Huuuh? Why the hell are you bringing that up? "
Exclaimed Kadyn, surprised by the random nature of the question.
[Mike] - "I had a dream, I think I relived that time we met for the first time. Bloody hell, that was scary. I think you were prepared to have your way with me the first time we met. "
Embarrassed and flabbergasted, Kadyn punched Mike on the chest, causing him to grunt at the pain.
[Kadyn] - "It's not like it matters, doesn't it? We ended up doing it so many times afterward anyway, you dummy. 856 times, to be exact, uwu. "
Mike facepalmed hard upon hearing Kadyn's words.
[Mike] - "Not you keeping count of all of it. "
Upon seeing that his wife's exposed back was uncovered, Mike quickly pulled the blanket over her and made sure she wasn't freezing. However, upon noticing that Kadyn was not dressed under the sheet, Mike began to doubt what had occurred during his coma.
[Mike] - "You did not take advantage of me while I was in the coma, right? "
[Kadyn] - "Huh? What? Do you think that lowly of me? I just feel comfortable sleeping like this. You are really an asshole sometimes, Mike! "
Exclaimed Kadyn, outraged by Mike's claims.
Mike laughed at Kadyn's cute outburst before grabbing a strand of her hair and rolling it in his fingers.
[Mike] - "I might be a bloody asshole, but I'm a living one and not a dead one, Lemon. I just wasn't sure earlier if I was in reality or in a dream. It's these kinds of logical and nonsensical conversations with you that confirm I'm truly in reality, that I'm alive and still me. "
[Kadyn] - "Not entirely yourself as a whole. "
Said Kadyn jokingly as she tapped the metal plate that is now Mike's chin.
[Mike] - "There goes my chances to grow a beard. "
Kadyn giggled at the remark before lovingly snuggling her head against Mike's chest. However, while Kadyn was still oblivious to the danger they were in, Mike was well aware of what was about to happen next. Now that he is awake, Sniper will be expecting his wife's head to be delivered on a platter to him. Looking up, Mike showed the same defiant look he had shown to Sniper a few days ago at the camera observing him.
To be continued...