When Kai was being flown towards the strange sleeping pod, he couldn't help but curse the AI.
"Ask me first you stupid AI!"
And when he came near the pod, he hovered over it for a moment and then its translucent lid opened up with some white gas seeping out of it.
Then he was gently placed in it, and by the time Gerald and Fred came close to the pod, its lid closed shut.
He glanced at the blurry silhouettes outside through the hazy covering of the pod and guessed that they were Gerald and Fred, most likely caught up to him.
Something suddenly pierced his arms.
"...Ouch"
He then noticed that he was getting sleepy and it was difficult to even open his eyes.
"Ugh...why is this happening to me" Kai muttered groggily.
He noticed a needle piercing his arm
He opened his eyes with difficulty and glanced inside the cabin and understood that he actually could not understand anything.
After a moment the AI voice announced:
[Scanning Complete]
It paused as if unsure, then continued.
[...Error...Species incorrect]
[Species named Human found from database...correcting procedure...]
[Starting integration process]
Kai then noticed that the pod was illuminating and he experienced acute pain in his neck.
Just then the Psion announced:
[Integrate with Ichor of Mutated Fibian]
[Yes/No]
'...Yes'
Kai's mind was hazy from the drugs that were injected into his system, but he knew enough to understand the gravity of the situation. He was being integrated with the Ichor of a mutated Fibian, but what was a Fibian? what did that mean? Would he come out of this alive?
He tried to ask the AI what was happening, but his voice came out weak and slurred. All he could do was watch as the pod continued to illuminate, and the pain in his neck intensified, spreading throughout his body.
He could feel something happening inside of him, a strange energy coursing through his veins. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, as if he was being reborn into something new.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided and the pod began to open as white mist seeped out of it.
Kai blinked in surprise as he saw his reflection on the polished metal surface of the pod's interior. He looked different, somehow. His skin was smoother, his eyes more vibrant.
But most of all he had those weird runes which the strange humanoid jellyfish-like creature had all over its body.
Kai was exasperated.
'Seriously! First the ouroboros mark and now this!?'
As he stepped out of the pod, he was greeted by the concerned faces of Gerald and Fred. They looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, as if they weren't quite sure what to make of the new Kai.
"What happened?" he managed to croak out.
Gerald shook his head. "We're not entirely sure ourselves. The voice from earlier just announced some 'Error' seemed to have made changes during the integration process."
"And the creature is also gone, most likely used for the integration process"
Kai frowned. "What does that mean for me?"
Fred spoke up. "We don't know yet. You will have to find out yourself."
Kai sighed, knowing that he was in for a long and uncertain journey. But despite the uncertainty, there was a sense of excitement and wonder coursing through his veins. He was a part of something new and incredible, in this unknown world.
And with that thought, he stepped forward, ready to face whatever the future held for him.
***
Kai looked around the room, taking in the various weapons and equipment strewn about.
"So, are the both of you done looting this place?"
Kai spoke up while still in awe of the wondrous feeling coursing through his veins.
But there was a gnawing feeling in his heart as if something ominous was going to happen.
Gerald and Fred were confused at Kai's unexpected interruption as they were both busy examining some of the equipment, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and awe.
Currently, there were in an armoury of sorts, after the creature had vanished, the whole laboratory had shut down, it was as if the creature was the only thing that was keeping the lab going by providing it energy for its functions.
They got here through a rectangular gate that opened after the laboratory lost its power source.
"We have taken almost all that we could take" Gerald answered while looking reluctantly at the pile of equipment that was left on the floor.
"At least what could fit in our spatial bags!"
"So can we get out of this Ruin," Kai asked again.
Fred narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"What happened? Why are you urging us to get out of here?"
"Kai expressed his concern to his friends, a sense of foreboding taking hold of him as each moment passed.
"I am feeling an ominous feeling gripping my heart, growing stronger by the minute, as if a colossal threat was closing in on us"
Gerald and Fred exchanged a quick glance before turning back to Kai.
"Are you sure it's not just your imagination running wild?" Fred asked skeptically.
Kai shook his head. "No, I've got a bad feeling about this. It's like my instincts are screaming at me to get out of here."
Gerald rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, we've already got what we came for. There's no sense in risking our lives if there really is some kind of danger lurking around."
"Exactly," Fred agreed, nodding his head in agreement. "Let's pack up and get out of here before something happens."
Kai breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Gerald and Kai were taking him seriously. He quickly helped them gather the remaining equipment and pack it into their spatial bags. As they made their way towards the rectangular gate that would take them out of the laboratory, Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, causing all three of them to stumble and fall. The walls of the laboratory started to crack, and debris rained down on them from above.
"Move, move, move!" Gerald shouted, grabbing Kai and Fred by their arms and pulling them towards the gate.
They stumbled through the gate just as the laboratory collapsed in on itself, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake. The three of them lay on the ground, panting and covered in dust.
"SCREEEEEE!!!!!..."
Kai looked up at his friends, horror flooding through him. "...what was that shriek?"
Gerald patted him on the back roughly.
"What are you waiting for!!"
"RUN!"
As if a bolt of electricity jolted him, Kai ran for dear life behind the two of them, not even deigning to see what horrible atrocity was approaching them.