Somewhere in space, on a top-secret ship, wandering through the stars, a man wearing a lavish suit was enjoying a pricey wine made from the unique vines grown on Tera Nova.
Savouring every sip, his face expressed displeasure when his communication device suddenly flashed. Seeing the name of his caller on the screen, he pressed answer.
"Commander Landon, what may I help you with today? I hope you aren't calling for another upgrade. I don't believe your body can take any more experiments."
"Mr. Rineback, I appreciate your concern for my health, but that is not why I called today. I believe I have found a newly emerging subject for the project GoWSS. Care explaining that matter to me?" Landon asked, a look of discontent on his face.
"Commander, your distrust in me hurts my feelings. You know very well Phoenix Co. put an end to that ridiculous project years ago. No offence."
"None taken. Then how is it that I have a man with blood patterns matching my own in front of me?"
"Well, I would like to know as well, Commander. As I just said, that project was terminated when your brethren started going rogue on humanity. Few of you are left, and creating new super soldiers is practically impossible."
"Listen, Ezekiel, I know you're just a businessman. But you carved your way to the top of that darn company, and you should know when one of your projects is still being used. Now you better get your ass back on Tera Nova before I hunt you down myself to get answers."
"No need to be so rash, Commander. I'll head back right away. Where should I come to see this subject of yours?"
"I'm keeping him in New Alcatraz Supermax. He is being kept under sedation. You better hurry; I don't know how long this will be effective on one of my kind."
"I understand. I'm on my way."
Hanging up, Ezekiel let out a scream of rage and threw his wine glass across his quarters.
Now, you all may remember the name Ezekiel Rineback from Henry's past. Well, it is indeed the same man.
The Eternity project was a success and was now a common practice for the wealthy and powerful. Ezekiel had climbed up the ranks in Phoenix Co. and became one of the prominent chairmen in the company.
Therefore, his access to such methods of preservation was limitless.
Now, Ezekiel, being a self-centred man, refused to get bossed around by this military brute. Calling the Phoenix Co. HQ, he ordered one of his personally employed scientists to go in his place to the prison.
"Isaac, I'm counting on you to report anything unusual on that 'man.' And don't write a report for the company. Call me as soon as you're done and give me your report verbally."
"Yes, Mr. Rineback. I will call you back shortly."
Reclining back in his chair, Ezekiel sighed. What kind of trouble had come to haunt him this time?
Again, this troublesome project was biting him in the ass. He swore at his predecessors for being so dumb as to think a complete man-machine was achievable with their limited technology.
He hoped the man was a fluke, as he had no wish to be back under military scrutiny.
Back on Tera Nova, Commander Landon was eyeing the blood results he had gotten from his prisoner.
Henry Calvert. His biggest problem as of now.
The blood tests clearly revealed nanites and traces of Tamarain blood within the man. There were few to no other scenarios in which that made sense.
The only logical conclusion was that he was a GoWSS subject just like him.
He kept in mind that Henry might be one of the GoWSS deserters, but he looked too sane to be one. Or he was a test subject of the Tamarains to have a hybrid spy, able to hide within human ranks.
If that was the case, then it was a failed experiment. Simple blood tests pointed him out, and the human military did frequent blood work to keep the army clean of spies.
Henry was beginning to wake on the other side of the mirror, and he felt confused about what had happened. He remembered fleeing after incapacitating his two guards.
Then, a sonic boom and a sharp pain to the back of his head. With his focus coming back, he could now see he was tied down in a chair in some dark room, with only furniture, a metal table, and a chair in front of him.
He understood what had happened. Something or someone had managed to knock him out.
And he was now back to being a prisoner in what he assumed was the interrogation room inside the prison he had seen. Hearing a door open behind him, he looked at the mirror in front to see who had entered.
It was none other than Commander Landon.
"Morning, sunshine," Landon said in a mocking tone.
"Well, good morning to you too, Joseph. May I call you Joseph? Ahh, whatever, I'll do it anyway," Henry answered, a touch of cockiness in his voice.
He didn't want to let him see that he was terrified.
So, as the saying goes, fake it till you make it.
"Oh, but you can. I do not have a care in the world what you call me. For now, what I'm concerned about is your true identity."
Sitting across the table to Henry, Landon leaned on the table and brought his hands together. He looked Henry coldly in the eyes and confronted him.
"Are you one of the rogue GoWSS subjects?" Landon asked, going straight to the point.
"Do I look like a mass murderer to you, Joseph?" Henry said, with a neutral tone this time.
"Well, Henry, I did find you on a blown battlefield, nine bodies lying around you. So tell me. What should I think?"
"You're a big man, Joseph. I don't need to tell you what to think. What I will tell you, though, is that I've never killed for anything other than self-defence and survival. Now, would you mind untying me? I don't believe I am any threat to you."
"What leads you to that conclusion, Henry?" Landon asked, leaning back into the chair.
"Well, my guess is that YOU are one of the GoWSS subjects, one of the sane ones, I will add, and that you are the reason I am tied in this chair. Am I right?"
"Your guess is as good as any," Landon replied.
As he said this, Landon pulled out a small tablet from his pocket and tapped it.
"What are you doing?" Henry asked, starting to feel slightly panicked.
"I stopped the interrogation room cameras, Henry," Landon answered, a smile drawn across his face.
"Why? Do you intend to kill me? Like your soldiers did?"
"Relax Henry. I will do no such thing. What I will say next is classified for the highest levels of the military only. I needed to cut off unwanted eyes and ears."
"What is it that you want from me, Joseph?'' Henry asked nervously.
"First, let me untie you."