This is an isolated story separated from the paradoxical Hope, but lives within the same universe. Cory was a sheltered child, raised on an unorthodox planet that held defectors and cunning people blinded by greed. He hopes to get a one-way ticket off the planet. But he has a secret, he was born from renown descent. They forsook their biology to gain otherworldly strength, often spoken of in legends past. But the ones who kept their biology intact unleashed a new secret that countered the Renowned. An authority over the natural elements, while the renowned gained unparalleled strength.
*AAAAARGH!*
Cory's brain felt like it had shattered into pieces, forgetting who he was for a moment until his brain forced its self back together. He was on his bed and his body was arching from the pain, desperately looking for a way out. Spastic movements shuffled the bed. Then finally someone spoke to him.
'Hello Cory, I am a prototype system to aid your escape. Feel Honored to be the first of this trial. Successful escape means we can aid more of the Renowned in the future.'
"Who do you think you are?! Where are you?"
"Who are you talking to, Cory? I just heard screaming coming from your room, so I ran this way."
"I thought for sure I heard somebody talking to me! But I don't see anyone either, though. I am sorry to scare you, Charles."
"Are you doing drugs, Cory?"
"Charles! of course not, a single moment of weakness will definitely get us killed here."
"All right, I am too tired to keep you company. Bye!"
"What a spoiled brother I have. Since it is six in the morning, I may as well get dressed for school."
'by the way, I can read your thoughts, so speaking out loud is not required to speak with me. Hence the brain splitting pain.'
'NO NO NO NO NO'
Cory spun his head back and forth, waving his arms around to reject even the thought of this. But the voice he heard isn't ignorable. Then he lost the tension in his body, pointing even as if it was in front of him.
'So you're telling me I have got some mystical system that will help me leave this prison planet?'
'I am nothing so complex. I am an A.I. model rigorously tested to help civilian Renown people survive wartime conflicts. Whispering Gecko has a reputation as a renowned hero known for surviving even the most treacherous environments. He proved himself to be stronger than even the strongest heroes in terms of survivability. It is him that my A.I. borrows from.'
Cory waves his hands exaggeratively while chopping the air.
'So I can't master the ancient technique of kung fu?"'
'no, I resemble a special forces operator integrated into a H.U.D. to guide you to safety. Best part is, I will act as a navigator, so you will no longer need to worry about getting lost in environments you've been into before. Mini map here too, if you want it.'
'Well, that's a disappointment.'
'On this planet, any advantage is crucial in determining the difference between life and death. You will grasp a better idea of what I can do in the future when your life is on the line.'
*Pfft*
"Whatever. I need to get dressed now."
Cory got dressed for the day and had a bland cereal while impatiently waiting for the bus. Charles eventually left his room ready for the day after quickly eating some cereal as well, just a few minutes before the bus arrived. Cory and Charles walked to the bus quietly, mostly because they were not morning people.
*POMF*
Cory didn't even know what happened until he could see the sky as he was being dragged away by a man clad in black.
'Quick! Cory, bring your thumbs to just underneath his eyebrow bone and shove your thumbs into his eyes! Knee caps are susceptible to a full on kick.'
*AAAAAH-CRACK*
*POMF-PSSH*
"Thought you could get away, punk?"
The only thing Cory felt was a needle pinching into his neck and immediately, his vision went dark.