A small child, sat at a table in the dimly lit health experiment facility. The sterile, cold environment was far from comforting, but his small hands were focused intently on his drawing. He used crayons and pencils to sketch with remarkable seriousness, as if each stroke on the paper could transport him somewhere better. The paper in front of him was filled with a picture of a house, a dream of warmth and safety amidst the sterile surroundings.
Once he finished, Bayu eagerly lifted the paper, his eyes shining with excitement. He ran toward the professor, holding up the drawing as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
"Dad! Look at this!" Bayu ran excitedly, holding up his drawing, which depicted a beautiful house, drawn with pure imagination.
An adult man, a professor, looked at the picture and smiled. "That's a nice drawing. Is that me?" he asked, his eyes gently shining.
Bayu happily replied, "Yes, this is Dad, this is Bayu, we're in the new house."
The professor chuckled softly, ruffling Bayu's head with affection. "Bayu, I promise, one day we'll have a new house, a place where we can live happily."
Bayu felt warmth in those words. He smiled, though deep inside, there was an unspoken pain, as though that happy future would always exist but could never be reached. The memory almost brought tears to his eyes, but he held them back.
Now, sitting behind the iron bars, Bayu leaned against the cold prison wall and slowly lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Yuni," he said in a quiet voice. "I can't be honest with you all."
Yuni was taken aback by Bayu's words, not expecting to hear such a confession. Her face showed concern, and she turned to face him seriously. "What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes fixed on Bayu with full attention.
Bayu took a deep breath and then continued in a lower voice, filled with regret. "Actually, I've lived on the streets for a long time, constantly hiding from anyone who might discover my identity. If they knew who I really was, they'd capture me and send me back to that horrible place."
Yuni was silent, her eyes widening as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "So... you really were that experiment subject?" she asked, her voice trembling softly.
Bayu sighed, then spoke quietly, "Yes, let me tell you."
Meanwhile, in another room, Hendra sat at his desk, busy organizing several documents, while Bagas stood beside him, seriously reviewing some reports. Suddenly, the door swung open quickly, surprising both of them. Yuni appeared with a bright expression.
"Everyone! I have good news!" Yuni said enthusiastically.
Bagas, startled, immediately glanced at her with a frustrated expression. "Ahh, Yuni! Couldn't you knock before entering?" he asked.
"Sorry!" Yuni replied with a small laugh, bringing her hands together. "But I have good news!"
"Alright, what's that?" Hendra asked, intrigued by what Yuni had to say.
At that moment, Bayu appeared behind the door, startling both of them. Bagas quickly checked the prison key on the desk and realized it was missing. "Ahh, Yuni! Did you take the prison key?" he yelled, somewhat angry.
"Hehe, sorry again," Yuni replied with a small laugh. "It's because Bayu wanted to talk."
Hendra shook his head with a hint of frustration, then looked at Bayu seriously. "Alright, speak up, Bayu. Do you want to talk about that experiment?"
Bayu looked at them all with determination. "Yes, tell them whatever you know, Bayu," Bagas added, pressing him to speak.
Bayu took a deep breath, then spoke in a low voice, "Actually, my name isn't Bayu. My real name is Experiment Subject 1718B. I am one of the test subjects of the Crystal Abomination experiment, exposed to the Aetherium crystal. I don't know the main purpose of this experiment, but during my time at the research facility... the children who were the victims of this experiment had to undergo surgery and be exposed to Aetherium crystal radiation for long periods. This gave us abilities far beyond normal humans. Many of us underwent transformations... one of which is me."
Bayu then picked up a pen from the table and calmly stabbed it into his arm. Everyone in the room was shocked when they saw the wound, but in an instant, it healed. Bayu looked at them with a serious face. "The ability I have is rapid regeneration. My wounds heal in an instant. But the weakness is that this power only works for me. I can't heal others."
Bagas, still stunned, remembering the previous incident, interrupted, "But you can control iron and dead machinery, turning them into weapons."
Bayu nodded, but with hesitation. "I don't know about that. I just feel like... a kind of... calling. Those objects seem to call out to me to join and change. I don't know why, because this ability was never something I knew I had."
Yuni, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up, "Maybe... maybe Bayu is like a battery. When he receives energy from the Aetherium crystal, his body can control machines to move. That might be a reasonable explanation."
Hendra and Bagas exchanged looks, processing Yuni's explanation. Although it made sense, both felt they had heard enough of Bayu's story for now. Hendra finally sighed and said, "Alright, thank you for telling us everything, Bayu. Now return to your cell. We will think about our decision regarding you."
Bayu felt a little disappointed, but had no choice but to comply. Without saying another word, he turned and walked out of the room, back to his cell.
After Bayu left, Yuni stared at the closed door, surprised and a little uncertain. "Do you think... Bayu could join us?" she asked, her voice full of hope.
Hendra leaned back in his chair, his eyes deep in thought. "I'm still thinking about that decision, Yuni. I need time. Bayu... he has potential, but he also brings danger. We need to be careful before deciding anything," Hendra replied seriously.
Bagas, who had been listening, added, "We still don't know what he wants. But we must remain cautious."
Yuni fell silent, slightly disappointed, but she understood Hendra's decision. In her heart, she hoped that Bayu could find a safe place, and maybe someday join them.
Meanwhile, Bayu sat in his cell, his eyes vacant as he stared at the iron bars that separated him from the outside world. The reality of being a subject of the Crystal Abomination experiment began to gnaw at his mind more and more. Everything he had believed in, including the person he held dear—the Professor who had cared for him with love—was now gone. All of this stirred up a deep sense of loneliness, and despite his best efforts to hold back the tears, he couldn't deny that his heart felt shattered.
"What am I supposed to do?" he thought, slowly drifting into a hollow feeling, hoping that sleep could bring a bit of peace to his troubled mind.
However, his peace was disturbed when the cell door suddenly opened. Bayu was startled and quickly sat up, his eyes locking on Bagas standing at the door. Bagas looked at him for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Get up, Bayu," Bagas said, his tone softer than usual. "You don't have to be here anymore."
Bagas opened the prison door and tossed clean clothes toward Bayu. "Wear this and come out."
Bayu looked at the clothes, hesitating for a moment, but eventually stood up and put on the new clothes that Bagas had given him. Once he was done, he stepped out of the cell and walked slowly toward the large mansion door that was now open. Outside, the atmosphere was busy; many people were carrying items toward the nearby station.
Suddenly, Yuni's cheerful voice rang out behind him. "Bayu!" Yuni ran up to him, a wide smile on her face. "It looks like you slept soundly!"
Bayu was taken aback, standing still for a few seconds. He stared at Yuni, trying to make sense of her words. But before he could ask any more questions, Hendra and Bagas appeared behind Yuni.
Hendra, with a serious expression, explained, "Bayu, we are leaving this mansion. I just received a message from headquarters. We will be leading a new unit called the Vanguard Legion. This unit will focus on fighting the Shattered Star army, which has been causing chaos and crimes lately."
Bayu felt confused, still struggling with the reality before him. Hendra continued, "We are giving you a choice. You are free to leave and find your own path... or you can join us. The decision is yours."
Bayu remained silent, his heart in turmoil. What should I do? he thought, feeling lost. But then, he recalled Yuni's words from earlier, about home.
"…Because this place is my home."
"Home?" he pondered. Something inside him stirred, as if there was a strong connection to those words. More than anything, he longed for a place he could truly call home—a place that could offer him peace and acceptance.
With newfound resolve, Bayu looked at Hendra and Bagas. "I... want to join you," he said softly but firmly. "I also want to find my home."
Upon hearing Bayu's answer, Hendra smiled, pleased by his decision. Yuni and Bagas immediately approached him, sharing in the moment. Bagas wrapped an arm around Bayu's shoulder and said, "Welcome to club, Bayu."
Yuni smiled warmly and added, "Welcome to your new family." Their words filled Bayu with a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in a long time.
Yuni beamed with joy, while Hendra nodded, as if relieved by Bayu's decision. "Welcome to the Vanguard Legion, Bayu," Hendra said. "From now on, you are no longer alone."
With that, the group set off together toward the train, a newfound sense of camaraderie and joy filling the air as they walked side by side.
Bayu now found himself becoming part of a new team—a new family filled with challenges and a grand purpose. A new journey had begun, not only to fight against enemies but also to find a place he could call home, a place filled with hope and acceptance.
In a modern yet dimly lit room, with thick curtains blocking the morning light, a woman sat in a swivel chair, facing a large window that reflected the faint glow of dawn. The atmosphere was quiet yet tense, as if the outside world was on the brink of an unavoidable threat. The woman had short blue hair, her expression firm but filled with unease.
A male attendant in a black suit entered the room with quick, precise steps. "Miss, the situation is getting more complicated," he said in a low, cautious voice. "However, there is new information you need to hear."
The woman didn't move, only turning her chair towards the attendant with a focused gaze. "What is it?" she asked, her voice calm yet carrying an underlying tension.
The attendant continued, "A new special unit has emerged. They call themselves the Vanguard Legion. They've begun making moves, and it's said they possess considerable strength. Some sources claim they are actively fighting against the Shattered Star forces, who have been causing chaos lately."
The woman paused, contemplating for a moment before turning fully towards him, her face reflecting deep thought. "Vanguard Legion…" she murmured, repeating the name in her mind. Her sharp, calculating eyes hinted that she was already considering her next move.
After a brief silence, she rose from her chair with a calm yet resolute motion. "They might be able to help us," she stated firmly. "We need their support to face a greater threat. If they truly have the strength to fight the Shattered Star, we must meet them."
The attendant hesitated for a moment. "Miss, meeting them could be risky. They may not accept us so easily."
The woman stepped closer, a faint smile appearing on her lips, though the seriousness in her eyes remained. "I'm aware of the risks. But we can't afford to stand still any longer. We need strong allies, and if they can truly assist us, we will do whatever it takes to secure their help."