Outside of CIty Z, beside the flowing river, a young teenaged boy sat as he looked towards the waters deeply thinking of what his future lies ahead. He would come here when his life would arrive at a point that his decision would affect his future. His clear blue-eyes stretched across the riverbank, looking at the scenery for one last time.
As he gazed at the waters, he saw a glint underneath the shallow waters. He walked towards the river as the water greeted him with coldness. He saw a piece of metal lying down at the river bed. He bent his back as he slowly reached for it trying to figure out what it might be. As he grabbed the metallic object, an unfamiliar voice suddenly rang inside his head.
[Bionic System Activated..]
[Displaying User Physical Stat]
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User: Alex
Age: 17
Strength: 10
Agility: 7
Constitution: 9
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"What is this?"
Alex was shocked at what was happening. Did the mysterious metallic object do this? He saw as panel popped up out of nowhere and displayed it in front of him. It was his first time seeing this kind of stuff. Even though 500 years have passed and technological breakthroughs were constantly happening. He did not hear or see anything like this before.
As he looked at the object in his hand with great shock. It began to melt and fuse with his skin forming a metallic-gray tattoo in his palm. He felt his hand become cold that slowly advanced and circulated everywhere in his body. It felt like it was winter but he was feeling rather comfortable with it. The feeling was indescribable for him.
Ding...
[User has successfully integrated with the system]
[User physique has been reinforced]
[Bones have been coated with metal to strengthen and harden the user's body gaining strength]
Alex felt strong for some reason. He guessed it was that weird sensation that traveled inside his body a while ago. It was a good thing in a way that in the upcoming physical exams going inside the Academy it would become an advantage.
[System Reminder: Voice Command to "CLOSE" or "OPEN" system interface]
It was already late and Alex didn't have any time to spare loitering around the river. It was getting dark as he walked towards a tree where he parked his Bike. Traveling back into the city was within a few minutes where it wasn't that far. Alex made his way home riding his bike that he arrived minutes after. He arrived at the orphanage where he grew up from being four years old until now. He did know who his family was but all he ever knew was that someone left him beside the door of the orphanage.
"Mother Therese, I'm home."
Alex greeted an old nun that took care of the whole orphanage. This old nun was the supervisor assigned at this orphanage many years ago. Earth 500 years ago, being struck by a calamity that was the alien invaders from space, was left with a broken civilization that left countless orphans that made the surviving adults build an orphanage in which those that become one because of the war will be taken and be put under the care of the orphanage.
Mostly children living here were due to being their parents killed in a battle in space against the aliens. Though Alex didn't know if his parents were also killed in action.
"Have you already thought about it?"
Mother Therese was questioning Alex if he would decide to proceed in the Military. Being an orphan meant that in the future they would be given a choice if they would serve the Orphanage nurturing the future children that would also be put inside the orphanage or go to the military to get trained to fight the aliens.
Inside the orphanage children are given basic education until they are 15 years old and until then all the materials taught to them as of how and what was the history and events that occurred in the wholeness of humanity. Little technological application courses were also given that would make them handle a little bit of technology and how to fix them. It wasn't anything comprehensive in that particular subject but just the gist of it to make themselves a bit more familiarized.
"Yes, I've decided to proceed to military education."
Mother Therese felt a tear dropped from her eyes as she was seeing another child graduate from this place. Every time it would always be like this. The feeling would always be the same. She was also an orphan due to the war. She chose to be trained and remained here to take care of the children here a long time ago.
Alex neared her and hug her. A few days from now, Alex would be taken by the Recruitment officers. The hug felt warm as he would miss this caretaker of his that took care of him since he was a little child. He also couldn't escape shedding a tear as the emotions burst out from them.
A few days later, the recruitment vehicle arrived outside the orphanage. Two officers wearing black suits with white ties approached Alex with Mother Therese at his side.
"Long time no see mother."
"Yes, it has been a long time Michael."
The officer was clearly also from the orphanage as mother Therese became joyful seeing one of his children still alive after all these years. The death rate being a soldier was pretty high.
"I'm off, Mother."
Alex hugged her one last time as Mother Therese bade him farewell.
"You take care of yourself."
She smiled as her sadness and joy intertwined reflecting deeply by her eyes. As he walked inside the vehicle he looked for one last time before smiling then closing his eyes thinking of the new future ahead of him.
"Alex, we will arrive in City Z Military HQ in 30 minutes. There will be a transport ship that will take you inside the Planetary Space station above the surface."
Inside the massive space station, was the Military Academy were students from all around the world gather.