In the cold, cavernous depths of a vast, industrial factory, General Zorvath floated upward from the depths. He moved with eerie calm, his body shrouded in shadows, his face hidden but for the faint outline of his hulking form. The sound of faint machinery and the deep hum of factory workings reverberated in the darkness, the distant clang of metal and the hiss of steam echoing throughout the cavernous space. As he rose, lights flickered, casting fleeting shadows that hinted at something massive and cold being constructed far below.
Higher up in the factory, five other figures awaited him, each standing in their own secluded, shadowed corner of the facility. No features were visible; only the faintest outlines suggested their presence, shrouded in darkness so dense it seemed to swallow any light that dared approach. As Zorvath neared them, a voice broke the silence, deep and laced with scorn.
"So… Valkris is dead."
The words hung in the air, heavy with a mixture of disdain and disinterest.
"What a waste of resources."
Another voice, colder and more clinical, echoed from the shadows.
"A predictable outcome. Valkris lacked the refinement, the… enhancements we're implementing now. And that is why the factory exists."
A slight movement among the figures hinted at a nod. One of the shadowed forms spoke, its voice sharp and commanding.
"Show us one of these 'modifications.' If we're to trust this new program, we need proof that our agents will withstand the power they'll face."
Zorvath gave a nod, turning to a figure standing by a nearby control console—a man in a crisp white coat, his face half-hidden by shadows and glasses that glinted faintly under the dim lights. Dr. Rend, head of the New World laboratory and factory, stepped forward, his fingers dancing across the keys of the console. The hum of machinery intensified as he inputted a series of codes, the screen displaying a surge of encrypted data as the command was sent deep within the facility.
In a sterile, ice-cold chamber far below, lights flickered on, illuminating rows of cryogenic capsules. One capsule hissed as it unlocked, fog billowing outward and frost clinging to its edges. Slowly, the glass slid open, revealing a figure within—an agent, still and expressionless, its aura barely contained. A low, ominous hum filled the room as the agent stepped forward, its movements deliberate, precise, as if calibrated to perfection.
Dr. Rend's voice crackled over the speaker, addressing the shadowed figures above.
"This is the prototype, the first of its kind. We call it CP0. Its loyalty is unwavering, its strength incomparable… though I still require time to perfect the remaining units."
The council members observed the figure in silence, their gaze intense, almost predatory. The air grew tense, as if charged by an unseen force. Without warning, one of the shadowed figures, releasing a pulse of energy so dense and otherworldly that it was felt throughout the factory, a power pressure that settled over CP0 like a lead weight.
The effect was immediate. CP0's composure faltered, its body locking under the suffocating force. The agent's knees buckled, and it dropped to the ground, gasping for breath as sweat beaded along its brow. Outside the thick metal walls of the factory, buildings in the nearby city began to tremble, and walls cracked, crumbling under the sheer intensity of the power radiating from within.
"Too weak to withstand even this,"
the shadowed figure hissed, disappointment lacing its tone.
"If it cannot endure a simple test, it's of no use."
Another council member, watching the strain on the factory's infrastructure, spoke up, their voice calm but edged with warning.
"You're bringing the entire structure down. Control yourself, or you'll destroy more than your experiment."
With a low, irritated growl, the figure released CP0 from the pressure. The agent attempted to regain control of its breathing. Dr. Rend cleared his throat, forcing a strained laugh as he mopped a bead of sweat from his forehead, casting a wary glance around the now-damaged facility.
"Ahem," he stammered, voice trembling ever so slightly. "Perhaps… we could refrain from testing such intensity within the facility? Beside you're away stronger Master...…"
He laughed nervously, still aware of the shadowed gaze on him.
The council member waved a dismissive hand. "See that CP0 takes Valkris's place. He'll be useful—if he survives."
Dr. Rend gave a quick nod, signaling CP0. The agent, now recovering, stood tall, its aura unwavering once more as it saluted. Without another word, CP0 exited, already assigned to Valkris's former position.
One by one, the shadowed figures faded into the darkness, their forms disappearing, their presence lingering like a chill in the air. The silence that followed was thick, weighted with the promise of the powerful and dangerous forces at play—forces that were only beginning to awaken.
Dr. Rend watched as CP0 stood, unwavering, his recovery rapid, almost unnatural. A thin smile spread across Rend's face, his eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction.
"Quite the monster you are, CP0," he murmured, almost to himself. With a nod, he turned his gaze toward the sprawling section of the factory below, where hundreds of incubators lined the vast chamber. Each one held another agent in stasis, bodies suspended in cold, sterile capsules, waiting to be completed. The faint glow of monitors and machinery cast an eerie light over the rows of incubators, highlighting the cold, mechanical precision of their existence.
A flicker of weariness crossed Rend's face as he adjusted his coat with a sigh. "Time for coffee," he muttered, rubbing his eyes before turning to one of his assistants, who was seated at a nearby console, closely monitoring the incubators.
"Keep an eye on things here," Rend instructed, his voice clipped but polite. "I'll be back shortly."
The assistant nodded dutifully as Rend made his way out, the heavy, industrial doors of the factory closing behind him with a low hiss.
Cut to the New World city
Dr. Rend now appeared almost unrecognizable from his role within the factory, blending seamlessly into the city streets. Dressed in an unassuming coat and casual attire, he walked along the bustling sidewalks like any other citizen. The city thrived with life around him—children chased each other in laughter, cars wove through traffic, cyclists rang their bells as they rode by, and vendors called out, hawking their wares to passing customers. The air was filled with the hum of everyday sounds, and the normalcy was almost disarming.
Rend entered a small, quaint coffee shop tucked between two bustling buildings. A soft bell chimed as he pushed open the door, stepping into the warm, cozy interior. He approached the counter and placed his order, a quiet "One black coffee, please."
The waitress behind the counter gave a polite nod, bustling to prepare his drink before handing it to him with a smile. Rend took the cup, nodding in return as he settled into a seat by the window. He lifted the cup to his lips, savoring the warmth and richness of the coffee as he sipped slowly, his gaze drifting outside to the city.
People walked past, unaware of the hidden world of darkness that existed just beneath their feet—the vast, cold factory, the incubators, the monstrous creations of his design. Here, everything appeared ordinary. Parents shepherded their children, laughter filled the air, and the pace of daily life flowed on as if untouched by the shadows lurking in the background.
Rend's eyes softened for a moment as he watched, as if even he felt the strange, stark contrast between this world and the one he had just left. Yet there was a faint smile on his lips, a knowing gleam in his eye. With another slow sip of coffee, he blended back into the fabric of the city, an invisible thread in the delicate balance between the ordinary and the monstrous world he was creating behind the scenes.
Dr. Rend finished his coffee, savoring the last sip before setting the cup back on the counter with a quiet satisfaction. Rising from his seat, he slipped out of the coffee shop and made his way back toward the factory, blending into the city streets as if he were just another ordinary citizen. But as he neared the factory and stepped inside, the hum of machinery and the sterile scent of the lab reminded him of his true purpose.
Upon returning, Rend dismissed his assistant from the control station with a curt nod, reclaiming his position at the console as he scanned over the incubator data. Everything appeared as usual—status lights blinking in orderly rows, diagnostics reading normal—until a sudden, sharp crack echoed from deep within the chamber.
He turned sharply, watching as one of the incubators split down the center. Water poured out, pooling on the floor as electrical sparks flickered from the damaged pod. Dr. Rend's eyes narrowed in shock.
"This is impossible," he muttered, glancing over at his assistant. "Did you input any changes while I was out?"
The assistant shook his head, looking just as bewildered. "No, sir. I didn't touch a thing."
Rend moved closer, his gaze fixed on the lifeless figure now lying cold on the factory floor, water and shattered glass scattered around it. He frowned, a mixture of disappointment and frustration on his face. "Failure," he declared flatly, waving a hand dismissively. "Arrange for its disposal."
He turned to leave, but his assistant stopped him with a gasp. "Sir… look!"
Rend turned back, his eyes widening in astonishment as a surge of energy rippled through the seemingly lifeless body. The agent, lying on the cold floor, twitched and began to rise, its chest rising and falling with breath, its eyes open and fixed on Rend with an almost unsettling awareness.
The agent stood, completely unclothed, its gaze piercing and intense, focused entirely on Rend. For a moment, the two regarded each other in silence, and despite the strangeness of the situation, a spark of intrigue glinted in Rend's eyes.
"Well," he murmured, barely containing a smile. "This is… unexpected. Impressive, even."
Rend's curiosity took over as he ordered the agent to be moved to a lab room for further testing. Lying on a sterile examination bed, the agent remained motionless as Dr. Rend conducted a series of scans, his face unreadable as he analyzed the data. Every result came back normal—the prototype's structure, its neural responses, all within standard parameters. But as he probed deeper, he noticed a distinct anomaly.
"This one," Rend murmured, tapping a finger against the data screen, "has somehow developed a mind of its own."
The revelation was both disturbing and exhilarating. This agent, unlike any of the others, showed signs of independent thought, a self-awareness that set it apart. Despite his amazement, Rend's lips twisted into a cold, calculating smile.
"Broken," he murmured, naming the agent. "A defect, perhaps… but one with potential."
Rather than disposing of it, Rend saw an opportunity—a chance to test CP0's capabilities against an unpredictable opponent. Without wasting any time, he initiated a call for CP0, arranging for a training ground deep within the factory's secured chambers. The setting was stark, a cavernous room with reinforced steel walls, built to withstand the powers these agents possessed.
"Let's see how CP0 fares against you, Broken," Rend said softly, his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of the experiment as he observed the two agents preparing to face each other.
INSIDE THE FACTORY TRAINING GROUND FOR AGENTS.
In the training ground's cold, reinforced chamber, CP0 stood motionless, his gaze fixed on Broken. With an eerie calm, he began absorbing the latent energy in the room, his body pulsing as he converted it into large, dense bubbles of water that hovered around him. With a quick motion, he directed the bubbles at Broken, firing them like water cannons, each one traveling at high speed.
Broken moved fluidly, dodging each bubble with a sharp twist and turn, his agility almost unnatural as he evaded every blast. Regaining his stance, Broken clenched his fists and glared at CP0. He opened his mouth wide, unleashing a powerful, concentrated sound wave, a deep, resonant roar that shook the entire chamber. Though the reinforced walls absorbed most of the impact, the ground beneath them cracked, sending a web of fissures across the floor.
The sound wave hit CP0's right hand directly, but instead of recoiling, CP0 absorbed the energy, his hand glowing faintly as the wave was pulled into his palm. A cross-shaped symbol appeared on his hand, glowing with a pulsing light. With a sudden, forceful thrust, CP0 redirected the energy, doubling its destructive power as he hurled it back at Broken.
The amplified sound wave slammed into Broken, launching him across the chamber. His body hit the steel wall with a resounding clang, and he slid down, leaving a slight dent in the metal surface. The impact kicked up a dense cloud of dust and debris, filling the room with a thick haze.
As the dust began to settle, CP0 slowly approached Broken, his footsteps echoing ominously in the quiet room. He halted just a few feet away, gazing at his palm with a sense of newfound awareness. For the first time, he spoke, his voice low and even, yet strangely curious.
"It feels…like I've gained something from you " CP0 began to understand this own abilities slowly.
Broken lay on the ground, breathing heavily from the impact of the amplified soundwave, but he was far from finished. He pushed himself up, meeting CP0's cold, analytical gaze. Without waiting for another strike, Broken sprang forward, his movements a blur as he closed the distance with surprising speed.
CP0 remained motionless until Broken was within striking range, then sidestepped gracefully as Broken's fist sliced through the air where he had been. Broken recovered quickly, pivoting on his heel, and launched a fierce uppercut toward CP0's chin. CP0 raised an arm, catching Broken's wrist mid-strike, and countered with a swift knee to Broken's abdomen. The impact forced a grunt from Broken, but he twisted out of CP0's grasp, dropping low and swinging a leg around in a sweeping arc.
CP0 jumped, avoiding the sweep with almost mechanical precision, landing lightly on his feet. Broken, already back on his feet, lunged in with a series of rapid punches, each one aimed for a critical point. CP0 blocked each hit with fluid movements, barely shifting his stance as his arms moved in sync, intercepting each punch with calm efficiency.
Broken feinted to the left, then spun to the right, his elbow aiming for CP0's temple. CP0 raised his arm just in time, deflecting the blow, and retaliated with a swift palm strike to Broken's chest. The force sent Broken staggering back, but he regained his footing, his eyes blazing with determination.
Taking a deep breath, Broken unleashed a powerful roar, the concentrated soundwave tearing through the air as it surged toward CP0. CP0 extended his hand, his palm glowing faintly with the cross symbol as he absorbed the wave. With a cold gleam in his eye, he redirected the energy, sending the amplified soundwave hurtling back at Broken.
Broken barely dodged, feeling the shockwave graze his shoulder as he leapt to the side. He hit the ground in a roll, coming up just in time to see CP0 charging toward him, closing the distance with frightening speed. Broken met him head-on, dodging the first punch by a hair and countering with a low kick to CP0's knee. CP0 shifted, absorbing the impact, and struck out with an open palm aimed at Broken's face.
Broken blocked with his forearm, the clash resounding through the room. He took advantage of the close proximity, grabbing CP0's arm and twisting it, trying to force him off-balance. But CP0 barely reacted, shifting his weight and using Broken's momentum against him. In a fluid motion, he reversed the hold, locking Broken's arm behind his back and driving a knee into Broken's lower back.
Broken cried out, but managed to wrench himself free, spinning around to face CP0 again. This time, he held nothing back. He surged forward, his fists flying in a rapid barrage of punches and jabs, each one aimed with deadly accuracy. CP0 blocked and dodged, but a few strikes slipped past his defenses, landing solid blows on his torso and shoulder.
Seeing an opening, Broken leapt into the air, delivering a powerful kick to CP0's chest. The force drove CP0 back a step, but he quickly regained his balance, his face impassive. Before Broken could press the advantage, CP0 lunged forward, his movements a blur as he closed the gap with a spinning kick that caught Broken in the side. Broken staggered, but quickly retaliated with an elbow aimed at CP0's neck.
CP0 dodged, catching Broken's arm mid-strike and twisting it downward. Broken countered by dropping to one knee, using his free hand to strike CP0's leg, unbalancing him just enough to pull free. Broken scrambled back, breathing heavily, his gaze locked on CP0 as they both paused, assessing each other.
With a sudden burst of energy, Broken released another soundwave, this one more concentrated, aimed directly at CP0's center. But CP0 anticipated the move, sidestepping gracefully and rushing forward, his body a blur as he closed the distance. In an instant, he was upon Broken, his hand glowing with absorbed energy as he struck out.
Broken tried to block, but CP0's speed was overwhelming. The punch connected with Broken's shoulder, sending a shockwave through his body as he staggered back. CP0 followed up with a knee to Broken's midsection, then a brutal uppercut that snapped Broken's head back, disorienting him.
Dazed but not defeated, Broken threw a desperate punch, his fist hurtling toward CP0's face. CP0 caught it effortlessly, his grip tightening around Broken's hand like a vice. With a final, swift motion, CP0 twisted Broken's arm, forcing him to the ground and pressing him into submission.
Broken struggled, but CP0's strength was unyielding. He knelt above Broken, his expression cold and detached as he held him down, victory firmly in his grasp.
Dr. Rend's voice cut through the tension. "Enough, enough!" he called out, his tone sharp but controlled as he stepped forward, eyeing both agents with narrowed focus.
Dr. Rend's gaze flicked between the two. "One of you has the ability to absorb and reuse attacks, enhancing them with every use," he observed, casting a look of satisfaction at CP0. "And the other… has the raw power of sound manipulation." His eyes lingered on Broken, noting the fractures and scratches from the impact.
He dismissed the two, signaling for CP0 to return to his post. Turning to a team of medics standing nearby, Dr. Rend gestured to Broken. "Get him patched up. We'll need him in top form"
As the assistants moved in to tend to Broken's injuries, Dr. Rend murmured to himself, a faint smirk crossing his lips. "In this training ground, their powers are limited… but even here, they show such potential."
He watched with satisfaction as Broken and CP0 were escorted from the room, already envisioning the greater battles these prototypes would soon face.
Factory Lab.
As the medics tended to the cuts and bruises across Broken's body, he sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the cold metal floor. The quiet beeping of machines and the low hum of equipment filled the air around him, but his mind drifted, replaying the scene in the training ground. The fight with CP0 had felt more like a test than a true mission—an order without reason, a purpose he couldn't quite understand.
"Why…?"
he murmured softly to himself, barely aware of the question escaping his lips. He had been created to follow orders, to fight, and yet, for the first time, a strange feeling stirred within him—a doubt, a curiosity. Why had he been pitted against CP0? Was that really the right thing to do?
He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if to grasp something just beyond reach. Words he had never spoken before crossed his mind, vague and uncertain. Right… wrong… free will. Concepts that felt distant, yet oddly close, as if they'd always been there, waiting for him to notice.
Lost in thought, Broken continued to question himself, the faintest spark of awareness growing within. What did it mean to choose, to understand purpose beyond orders? His gaze grew distant as he pondered this strange new feeling, a quiet conflict stirring in the depths of his mind.
As the medics worked around him, oblivious to his inner turmoil, Broken began to realize that, perhaps, there was something more than simple obedience. And with that seed of doubt, he took his first step toward understanding what it meant to be free.