~~~~~
Pausing for a second to let Adam digest the news, the hologram started speaking to him again.
"I decided that, rather than keeping you all under preservation to be the new Adam's and Eve's of the newly mutated Earthen surface, let's gather information about this new Earth and try to improve its condition! And that was why, I installed a Spacial Rocket manual inside the Tower, and ejected you all towards the surface of the Earth."
Hearing this, Adam's eyes widened as his brain started processing the entire information with breakneck speed. After a short pause, the hologram spoke again.
"Don't hate on me kid, but the survival of humanity, whether old or new, is first and foremost as even though we are cruel and panicky, every species should be allowed to fight for their survival, just like a species of worker ants. We might not contribute to nature itself, but we have every right to survive"
"And now comes the main part. What you need to do, now that you are alive, after so many years."
The hologram then started glitching before it returned to normal as it continued speaking
"There is one thing, you need to do. And you know what, I'll keep it short. Gather information about the reason why the Cataclysm occurred, investigate the mysterious beings responsible for the extinction and if you can, help these ignorant humans to achieve peace. I also need you to gather the remaining 8 genetically modified humans, spread my message and work together to achieve these things.." said the hologram while scrunching its forehead.
"I don't want you to babysit them, but at least provide them with the tools to achieve peace as It's up to them if they want to or not." Said the man while slowly closing his eyes, while his expression changed from stoic to a tender one.
"Or ..you can find a job, marry a beautiful girl of a different species and have a child all the while living as a happy family until finally, you die. It's up to you."
"I won't force you to abide by my order as you already had to since you were a child, but...hear this Adam Benjamin Smith.. "
"I may not be your real biological father, but I always was proud that you chose me as your father and gave me the feeling of having a child. So live the way you want, but don't forget your roots. That's all I ask." Said the man while gently closing his eyes.
Adam remained silent as he heard the hologram finish itself before a wide grin etched upon its face as it said,
"And now comes the main part. I know you have many questions as to why I had asked you to touch the pod once you would come out off it and not the other 8 test subjects, but hear me out first."
"The device that is etched on your wrist is Nanotechnology which I have further modified to suit your needs in this new world. What functions it has and how it is used, I believe you can figure that out.
It has no AI installed as well because, you know, I don't want to hinder your life goals. And now comes the question of your goal, if you want to follow the 1st path, that is."
"Become strong. That's it."
"I presume you are still unable to walk but, listen. These new species of humans have found a way to increase the cell repairing capacity of humans by 10-fold! So, even though these, mutated humanoid species are primitive at best, and if, by any chance m,y hypothesis turns out to be true, there is a cure for your condition! "
"But that is only available to the elites of these civilizations. And considering it to be still in its dark ages. It's the Survival of the fittest here. So, be strong and try to establish a foothold in the civilisation."
"And no need to think about being able to walk for the time being. You see that handle beside the pod's door" said the hologram while pointing at the door. To which, Adam looked at the handle beside the pod's door.
"Yeah, Grab that handle"
Adam followed the hologram's instructions and pulled the handle. And to his surprise, millions of Nanobots manifested out of the pod giving rise to a blue-coloured sleek wheelchair-shaped structure beside him.
"Presenting you, the WheelBro 69000 T!" exclaimed the hologram.
Adam looked intrigued as he analysed the wheelchair. He was intrigued as it looked more modern than his previously mechanised wheelchair. He then dragged his body and helped himself to sit on it.
The hologram waited for some time before blabbering in a mocking tone,
"Congratulations! Now you are like a Professor X cosplay!"
Adam couldn't control himself anymore as he finally cursed out loud, veins bulging out of his forehead.
"Fuck you, grey-haired monkey!"
But alas, the hologram couldn't hear it.
The hologram then regained its serious expression again as he said,
"This model is a modified version of your previous wheelchair. It might not look good but it can easily withstand a nuclear blast. But again it's just a means to an end. And considering how the world has changed, there are weapons or some non- scientific phenomenon that can potentially harm you, despite having this wheelchair. So, don't count on it too much.
All it can do is provide some sort of defence before you ultimately die. So don't always depend on it and strive to walk again so you can escape properly"
The hologram glitched again and this time, Dr Issac was visibly sad as his persona broke down.
"It seems, it's finally the end, huh? I rambled quite a bit but....bear with this old man will you, I didn't have anyone to talk to all this while."
"And before this recording dies, I just want to say some things..."
"Become strong, Adam. And if possible gather the other 8 subjects and guide them. Investigate the reason for our extinction. You might not be as talented as they are, but I believe you are the most rational and mentally adaptable of them all. So help them. And if you succeed, you might be able to prevent the extinction of humans before the 3rd Cataclysm, if it so happens "
"Learn, see the world and if possible save it. But don't give them the finest food on a silver platter. Make them work, and give them the bare minimum of the tools. Only then will they honour it. "
"I know it might not be an honourable job. People might be a bit hypocritical, but believe me, there are good people as well. So at least for them, work hard, for humanity. You are a scientist, aren't you?", said the hologram.
Tears fell down its face as it tenderly looked at Adam, and finally concluded in a quivering tone,
"Live well...Adam ."
And just after saying his name, the recording died down.
If anyone could see, the man in question was also crying as tears rolled down his sickly face as he came to terms with the death of his stepfather and mentor.
Wiping off the teardrop from his scrawny face and coming to terms with the death of his stepfather, Adam looked forward for the very first time since he woke up, trying his best to survey his surroundings.
The entire area was covered with a dense fog, so the visibility was a bit low, despite the break of dawn. He also tried looking up at the massive tower but unfortunately, he couldn't due to the dense fog. Finding no other way to decipher his current position, he finally tapped on his wrist, and a blue hue covered his wrist, signifying its activation.
Instantly, a window opened in front of his iris, displaying what he needed the most right now.
====================
[BODY STATUS]
[GPRS]
[COMPUTATIONAL ASSISTANCE]
====================
'Ah, so it's RPG, alright. Can work with it.'
'Initiate Syncronization', he mentally commanded.
Instantly, a blue hue enclosed his entire body from his wrist down to his legs, before finally stopping as another window manifested before him.
================
[BODY STATUS:]
...
{PHYSICAL COMPUTATIONAL DATA}
[Name:Adam Benjamin Smith]
[Life form:Tier 1]
[Age:26[800][Sex:Male]
[Height:161.5cm ][Weight: 40.8 kg]
[Profession:]
[Attributes:
-Strength-0.5
-Agility-0.1
-Stamina-0.3
-Dexterity-0.9
-Intelligence-2
...
[Emotional Status:Calm ]
[Heart rate:Normal]
[Blood pressure:Normal]
...
[End]
====================
Adam gawked at the bluish window as he studied his physical condition and tried to guess his strength and his possibility of survival.
Seeing that he was too weak to survive, Adam mentally closed the window. His gaze swept over his hands which he slowly curled up into a fist, clenching them as hard as he could.
"My upper body strength is really low", he muttered.
Shaking his head off his current thought, he then focused on the small box-shaped structure stuck beside his wheelchair. He brought his wrist over the box before a blue light was emitted similar to that of a question mark on his wrist.
Swish!
With a swishing sound, a pristine white heavy gun started forming over his hand, wholly made of nanobots. After it was formed, Adam studied the model of the new plasma gun in his hands.
It was wholly black with golden carvings over its stock and looked similar to a Desert Eagle Magnum, however, it was its 0.357 version. In short, it was beautiful.
It had no bullets, as it didn't need any. The main principle of plasma guns of 2099 didn't work on the pushing magazines of bullets but something else.
It was based on something similar to hydraulic pressure laws students read in physics.
What it essentially does is that it accelerates a projectile using a plasma discharge between electrodes at the rear of the barrel, generating a rapid increase in pressure discharge.
And as for the projectile, what more suitable object was there other than air itself?
In short, he would be firing air bullets pumped with electricity. But it has major disadvantages as well. It won't be functional in space and with less air.
However, what can Adam do? Beggars can't be choosers, right?
Instead, Adam decided to remove such thoughts from his head and focused on getting out of this place. Commanding the Nanobots to be on standby, the gun disappeared from his hands after which he placed his wrist on the other side of the wheelchair.
Another box was there, but this time no Nanobots crawled over his body as this one had food. To be specific it had MREs.
Tomahawk steak, grilled chicken, fried rice, chocolate milkshake, everything was there but unfortunately, it was only enough to sustain him for a year. Furthermore, if he wants these MREs to be fit for consumption, he needed clean water, which was scarce in his present condition.
Adam sighed looking at his dreadful condition before regaining his composure. Finally deciding to move forward.
"Move..." he muttered and instantly the wheelchair moved slowly, traversing carefully through the broken path of the glistening white snow under the bright rays of sunlight.
Briefly looking back at the tower, he muttered, "I'll come back again..Dad" before looking forward, finally determined to begin his crusade for survival, as his silhouette slowly faded away in the dark yet sunlit fog of the Snow.
~~~~~
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