David closes his eyes in an attempt to try and fall asleep, but instead of darkness from closing his eyes, his eyes remain open, and even stranger his perspective had changed, he no longer saw the light on the ceiling but himself, he saw himself lying on the bed, dread showed on his face as his heart begins to race, his breath unsteady, he reaches to pinch his face hoping this strange situation was all but a dream, but he couldn't feel his face, there was something isolating his face from his hand, he looks down at his hands, and finds his hands were no longer the scrawny hands of a 13 year old, they were bulky and clad in jet black amour with occasional streaks of red light, he clenches them to ascertain wether they were his, realising they were his, he tries to left his head to look at his body on the bed, but upon lifting his head, he notices his perspective had change once again, he could now observe his body on the bed from a higher point of view, he bumps his head on the ceiling as he tries to fully extend his neck, at this point his heart rate had slowed down, his breath more steady, 002 was back.
002 stared at his younger self with a complicated look, almost like a look of disdain.
"The scene we just saw is your memory, the oldest you can remember and the one the that pertains to your emotion of joy"
002 heard a voice from behind him say, the white clad entity walks into the room, but not before disintegrating the ceiling of the small room, 002 questions the entity what was the meaning of showing him his own memories, the white clad entity ignores 002's question and introduces himself,
"I don't remember my true name but you can call me Weiss, I mean no harm, I only wish to help you"
002 retorts calm and collected
"The only help I need right now is to leave the maze, If would please let me out"
Weiss inturn assures him,
"Do not fret, this is an accelerated experience, it will only take a minute in real time"
002
"what help are you offering me?"
Weiss
"I want to help you reconnect to your emotional spectrum"
002
"it's unnecessary, they will only leave my heart and mind in turmoil, my confidence lacking and my conviction shaken"
Weiss, intrigued by his response inquired, to what use is your conviction in the face of the bigger picture. 002 immediately answers stoically," my conviction revolves around the Sovereignty and the Emperor, and my duty in regards to Humanity and it's protection is the bigger picture". Weiss smiles and shakes his head in disagreement, "the bigger picture is how your life and desicions affect sentient beings, morphing and constructing in this way the direction in which our self awareness and our consciousness evolves, inorder to achieve a variety of perspectives". To 002 Weiss appeared to be a philosophical entity of considerable age and experience, as he continued to ponder, Weiss turns to look at 002 and mumbles, "still not enough", 002 was confused by the remark and asked Weiss, "what do you expect to gain from this?".
"I do not wish to gain anything, I am the remanant consciousness of a strong psychic master that died with an unwilling state of mind, I have lost all my memories, but when you were in proximity, I felt a subtle familiarity that stimulated my emotions"
After he said this he turn to 002 and reached out his hands, similar to earlier when they met in the maze, 002 was once again helpless, unable to react despite having forseen it. 002's eyes closed involontarily, everything slowly turn black and he heard Weiss say "we will meet again, very soon". When 002 opened his eyes this time, he was standing in line, along with other Vanguard Cadets, they were standing in rows and colomns, seemingly waiting for something, David--now fifteen years old--leans over to the nearest cadet, and whispers "what is happening", the cadet looks at him sideways, his expression unchanging, as if to tell him to bugger off, his curiousity still unsatisfied, he turn his gaze to look at the platform infront, where the cadet guardians stood in the same formation as the cadet, he scanned the guardians until he locked eyes with his guardian, Grace. Grace was glaring so hard at David, David felt she could strangle him from all the from the podium, "get in line", David imagine her say. As he was still trying to give Grace a heart attack, Dr. Henry walked on the podium accompanied by a dozen level 6 transendent, they had badges that made them easily Identifiable, they were Dr. Henry own bodyguards, Dr. Henry tests the microphone and starts talking,
"Greetings to you all, future of the sovereignty and hope of humanity, for the past three years, some of you two, you have trained and resolved yourselves in anticipation of the SOW where the true trial begins, in heart of you diligence and dedication, today as you graduate, the Transendental Emperor himself wish to congratulate you and impart a bit of wisdom"
In mention of the Transendental Emperor, the room falls into a cacophony of murmurs, wisphers and excitement, but it all ceased when Dr. Henry raised his hand for silence.
"Now let's welcome the one who fearlessly fought the Lycana on the front lines of the old home, the one who bravely led transendent to by us time as we fled from the Lycana and the one revered as the King of Transendents who 500 hundred years ago brought us to find Cassen, the new home."
This improvised welcome speech, filled with reverence and bootlicking, didn't seem like Dr. Henry's style, so the cadets were very eager to meet this great existence.