Ever since I awoke I decided to write a journal, a diary, a retelling of my new life. With Daimos now everpresent in my brain I´ve been logging directly into a file that probably will never see the day of light. How comforting it would be for another transmigrator to exist and know of his existence, or for that person to know of my existence - it would probably mess up my entire life. A boy wakes up from a coma and claims to be from an alternate dimension.
They wouldn't just keep me in the hospital, they'd put me in a psychiatry ward to forever be treated as a mentally ill person.
But perhaps one day I can use the journal to create a book. Or maybe it's better suited as a light novel or manga. Luckily, even in this life, they are still very popular. Next to revalidating and getting accustomed to life in the hospital I've also been sucked into a new time-consuming activity: reading up on all the interesting novels, anime and other TV shows that happen to be popular at this moment. Mother even took the time to write down "my" favourite TV shows so I can continue watching them whilst killing time in the hospital bed.
Today however marks a very very momentous occasion - I've been looking out of the same window for ages now and I've been dying to get outside and see more of the world. Even with all the available information on the web, seeing it for real is just different.
"Are you ready Evan?" My mom asks as I walk from the bed to the door.
"More than ready. This place gets to be boring quite quickly. I've literally survived this place only due to having enough interesting stuff to look at on the web - and oh, and Dr John's company whenever he'd swing by for a bit." I eagerly replied with a big grin.
"Speaking of the devil."
"Hello Evan, finally leaving us eh?"
"Oh, you're gonna miss me now?" I joked. "Didn't think of you as the emotional sort, maybe age is catching up to you."
With the time we spent together so far this sort of interaction came very naturally. The banter did wonders for my humour after spending hours in machines, walking - later running, and all the electric shocks I had to endure during recovery. I don't think I've been as fit as I am now - like ever.
"Tss, you should respect your elder's kid, maybe I should keep you here for another week and increase the amount of shock therapy." he sniggered "Or maybe extend the time you spend in the pool with the old ladies."
Shit. He got my weak point. Those old ladies look at me like I am some sort of delicious fruit. The ominous vibe kept me swimming quicker and quicker, just to get away from them.
"Anyways Evan, any idea what you're going to do now? Essentially you're an adult now so you have to make choices yourself. I know we've talked about this before, but I'm curious how things stand now you're leaving the hospital." My mother's gaze bore straight through Dr John, as the man himself could probably feel the wrath incoming - he quickly and decisively changed strategy and added "Obviously, those decisions are best made after careful deliberation and input from your loving mother."
"Well Evan, we'll have all the time to discuss your ideas and plan on the way home. I'm very happy our house will finally become a bit more lively. You should probably redecorate your room. We've kept it at is, but.. We'll you're not really that young anymore even though you're also not really the age of your appearance. I really miss your younger face. It's so... different now. At least all the rehabilitation training has made you look even more handsome."
"Mom, stop, please - you're embarrassing me. All that talk, we're just going home. Don't be all sentimental. I know you're talkative, but you're really overdoing it now." I say as I roll my eyes.
"Don't be such a spoilsport, I'm a happy mother and I finally can take my son home. Just let me have this and let me have this - or I'll just endlessly bore you with chatter on the way home"
"Just let me know if you need anything kid, I owe that much to you - and even more to your father. I might be 'old' but I can always help you out with my advice." Dr John chuckled.
"I will, thanks for helping me John." I tapped my mother on her shoulder and pointed to the exit - "Let's go ma, it's time I get some fresh air!."
After a few more thanks and a farewell, we make our way out of the hospital and towards the station where the hyperspeed-monorail will take us straight to the outer city. It's a little expensive but much quicker than hailing a cab or driving. After a quick transit and a cab ride, we were finally home... I had already looked at memories of this place, but some things seems to have changed but it was largely the same. Comfy, but modern with a sprinkle of hi-tech. Well, hi-tech in the sense that to me it was still very hi-tech.
"So, Evan, what are your plans for the future now? Dr John told me you and him have already discussed a few things so maybe this mother of yours can help you make a choice?"
"I've thought about it a lot and have had Daimos help me with a lot of probability math and research. There's not that many options that I really have that are appealing to me." I started off my monologue. I had properly researched this world and my options and it came to me quickly that I had zero qualifications, and would be regarded as a fourteen year even though I'm twenty years of age and more importantly - mentally a twenty-eight-year-old. You don't graduate high school when you're in a coma. So I'm a bit disappointed in my options.
"I've been laying in a bed for six years straight. So there's actually not that many places to go. I could go and finish high school and then attend a university. I could also find a simple low-paying job and move on with life. But honestly, neither of those sound great to me. I'd just be stuck at a desk learning or doing menial tasks or administration of some kind. With six years of my life gone, I'm not going to waste the rest of my life doing things I don't like."
"So what options does appeal to you?"
"I really want to make something of my life. I want to explore the galaxy. Go and see places. There are various ways to accomplish that. But many of them rely on money. With six years gone, I'm probably not going to catch up with my peers any time soon. Without graduating from some fancy college or university no big company will offer me a dream job or whatever. And I don have any billion credit ideas laying around that would solve my financial troubles."
"Basically, the easiest way to go and see the stars is to apply to the Global Army." I could see a visible reaction on my mother's face but she didn't retort - yet - so I decided to venture on.
"With my last name - and tragic backstory, and recommendation from Dr John I will probably be able to start the officer-quick-track. It'll be a grind, but starting off as an officer is much better than starting as a soldier. Anyways - becoming a commissioned officer is just a step in my plan. With how outlandish the role is of the Global Army, rising the ranks in the army will also correspond with political influence. The Global Army is also the most funded galaxy-wide operating organisation. The pay for an officer is actually pretty decent. And - no learning, and a lot of exploring the galaxy."
"You also forget to mention the wars, slaughter, pain and other struggles that you face. Not to mention possible DEATH. Your father was always brutally honest about his life in the army. It's not a rosy, comfy life of sipping champagne and chilling in some army barracks. It's a life that holds little light. I don't think you should join the army. Your only fourteen for g-sake!"
"I am twenty! Not to mention that with Deimos helping me, and my experience in life, I'm probably a lot better of than some spoilt kids joining the army for some clout."
"THAT is NOT the point, Evan. You might have this incredible neural implant, you might act grown up, you might act tough. But at least to me, you're just my little baby boy. Your dad died trying to repay hell to your kidnappers. We don't even know what happened on his mission and your willing to jump in the fire after him? Don't you think you should respect him or me more?" Tears were rolling down her face as she screamed and laid out her heart.
"Then who is going to tell us what happened to Dad? WHO? And what else can I do? Live a laid-back life trying to slowly build something up? Always knowing I'm years behind my peers? I don't want it. I want to live - experience and move up the world. Going to high school, or university and taking a job as a banker or an engineer does not give me a happy or thrilling life. I'll be stuck here when there's an entire galaxy to see. The Global army will get me to tour the galaxy, pay me and eventually I'll uncover the details surrounding Dad's death. It's the ONLY way."
I had to persevere in this. Staying at home was not an option - and the thought of going to school again had me suffocating. I dreamed of the stars as a kid and I more or less promised the remnant emotions of my namesake to investigate the death of 'my' / 'our' father. After discussing with John, I knew of several routes in the Army that would get me all of my wishes. It's risky... but wasting another life would just be boring and stupid. I'd much prefer playing poker and going all in with a good hand. And I'm ready to gamble on the global army.
After a deathly silence, some more arguments back and forth, emotional outbursts and whatnot - she managed to calm down a bit and consider the idea for the first time without to much drama.
"So what do you want to become? The army is one thing. But the stars... A soldier is just sent to wherever he's needed. Besides, they too have a list of requirements for applicants that I believe you cannot meet."
"The Global Army won't care too much about my qualification. Just my last name and Dr John's endorsement would get me into a suitable training academy for youths, preferably the officer-fast track course at either Illycos or Point Blanc. With Deimos' assistance, I can probably get myself an online crash course and graduate high school. That shouldn't be too hard. With that settled the army will have no problems with my recruitment." I replied coolly. Now that the emotion had left the conversation, I could push through a little easier. Deimos and myself had anticipated all of this so now I could finally relax a little.
"It'll be a grind but starting off as an enlisted officer will grant me some leeway with choosing where to enlist. There are many places where an officer can be recruited too. I'm not looking to get contracted to a regiment. I don't want to jump into any active frontier. I'll probably be looking for suitable employment as a liaison. I'll get to gain some important political relevance by supporting the local army Ambassador all the while not being in too risky of an environment."
"However, I'm not stupid. To get promoted I'll probably have to take some risks eventually, however - I will be studying fleet operation management in the meantime. In the end moving to fleet command will make it easier to rack in merits and with the global army her advantages in technology right now it'll also be relatively safe. In the end I hope to make corporal which probably will be enough to get access to the sealed files of Dad. Otherwise, a fleet commander at the corporal level with some ambassadors as friends can probably leverage some people to get access anyway."
This was the initial plan Deimos and me worked on. However... this was the safe plan A, the alternative plan B would not be told to my mother. Plan A was the way to get permission - plan B was to take very calculated risks. Risks where Deimos could be exploited to the fullest.