Kael watched as the scientist approached him, holding a fist-sized white box in his hand. As the man came closer, he turned the box to reveal a small keypad. The scientist typed in a series of numbers, and a faint click echoed through the room.
Kael's gaze remained fixed as the scientist removed a necklace from the box and stepped closer, stopping a few feet away.
"Now, I'm going to put the necklace on you," the scientist began, his tone clinical. "But remember, once it's on, you cannot remove it under any circumstances. It will adhere to your body, and any attempt to take it off will result in you being registered as a criminal, subject to a long prison sentence."
Kael gave a small nod, signaling his understanding. 'So, they're using this to monitor the population and keep us in line,' he thought grimly. 'I'd refuse if I had a choice, but they'd force me anyway. For now, I'll endure.'
The scientist moved cautiously, stepping closer to place the chain around Kael's neck. His posture remained guarded, maintaining enough distance to retreat quickly should Kael react violently. Nearby guards stood ready, observing every movement.
After a brief struggle to secure the necklace, a faint snap was heard. Kael immediately felt a strange shift within his body. A faint wave of energy spread across his form, tingling briefly before fading into nothingness.
Kael's stomach dropped as the realization set in: he'd made a grave mistake by accepting the necklace. 'This thing makes me feel like a lapdog for the army, he thought bitterly.'
Lowering his head, Kael studied the pendant attached to the necklace. The small display on it began to flash numbers erratically, changing so quickly that he couldn't make sense of them. Confused, he turned to the scientist, whose tense expression revealed that this wasn't normal.
{Unidentified hacker countermeasures will be taken} a mechanical voice announced from the necklace.
The device throbbed violently against Kael's neck before coming to a sudden halt. The display froze, revealing a final number. Kael stared at it in disbelief.
The scientist adjusted his glasses, analyzing Kael from a distance before nodding.
"It seems you're just a Grade One," he declared, his tone neutral.
The words hit Kael like a knife to the chest. He had hoped for at least a Grade Two, but being at the bottom was devastating.
"Grade One? Is that… even good? Can I survive like this?" Kael asked, injecting disappointment into his voice to appear pitiful whereas he was rather calm and collected.
The scientist's lips curled slightly as he placed a hand beneath his chin. "A Grade One isn't terrible, but given how long it took for you to awaken, we expected more. That said, you may still grow stronger—it depends on you. For now, you're free to go home. We'll contact you if further tests are required."
Kael lowered his head, feigning grief. Internally, however, he was anything but disappointed. 'Contact me later? What a joke,' he thought. 'At least this gives me time to explore this world and find my friends. Still, something tells me I haven't seen the last of these government lackeys.'
"Uh, excuse me, sir," Kael said, lifting his head slightly, "could I get a phone or a map to help me find my home from here?"
Kael knew with his grade he would not be getting a vip exit out the building and the outside world might have well changed significantly in two years. So he wanted to rely on his phone for help in directions at least.
Without responding directly, the scientist signaled to one of the guards and began walking toward the exit.
As he left, he spoke over his shoulder: "You'll find your belongings in the white drawer. Your phone is there. It's active and updated. Anything else is not my problem."
Kael let out a low huff as the man disappeared from view. 'Finally showing your true colors, snake.'
He turned toward the drawer, his mind already racing with plans. First, I'll head home. Then I'll try to contact the others. I just hope they're all okay.
***Author's note***
Thank you for embarking on this journey with me, please gift me power stones, comments and review when you feel the time is right. THANKS FOR THE UNENDING SUPPORT.