"Nexus!!"
"Nexus!!"
NEXUS!!!
"Huh!"
Nexus opened his eyes. It felt very clear, a woman's voice calling echoing and ringing from inside his head. But it seemed like his mother's voice, which made his heart pound.
Her blue eyes, slowly rolling, looked around. The small room was lit by a single ceiling light. There was a table and chairs, covered with items like medicine bottles, but also what appeared to be media-speak, like special scissors and knives.
There was a sink nearby, the faucet still running half-open, seemingly deliberately designed to be weak.
The room was soundproof, the sounds of animals like lizards on the walls even echoed inside, and I realized that the walls were covered in ceramic.
Nexus had laid himself down right on the bed that had wheels, and his body was wrapped in a thick, warm blanket.
Nexus's hand reached for the blanket, planning to throw it away, but when he saw his arm, it was a shock.
The color and size of his hands had changed. Not just one, but both. His body was now dark blue.
He immediately sat up, threw off the blanket and saw that all parts of his body had changed.
Nexus used both hands to feel his face and head. It felt different. He looked left and right. There was no mirror there.
"I thought I was dead," Nexus whispered.
...
Knock... knock...
There was the sound of footsteps heading towards the door in front of him, slowly step by step the sound getting louder. The door lock then moved.
The door slowly creaked, someone pushed the door.
"Who?" asked Nexus.
"So you're awake." The blue light from the person's eyes sparkled, in the darkness standing staring at him on the dark side of the front door that was not exposed to light.
A man, the man began to take a few steps, towards the light.
"They paid me to kill you. Meanwhile, I swore as a doctor to help every patient I had until fate decided. So..."
...
The previous doctor,
This is the doctor. He's the same doctor who treated Nexus at the hospital and administered the injection. He also had a patient named C-Iris a few months ago.
"I engineered your death. To save you," said the doctor, smiling at Nexus.
The doctor walked to the sink, he turned off the running water tap.
"The rest is up to you to decide. Because from now on, your name is Maximus."
"I've modified your entire physical form to only 10% identical. I've only retained your face, and I've modified everything else, even your voice."
"Don't worry, your metal body is still adaptive."
...
The doctor then took his cup and went to a nearby gallon jug of water. He opened the cupboard and took out some medicine.
After selecting a few pieces, he closed the cabinet, walked over to Nexus, and placed them on the table next to Nexus.
"Stabilizer, just take this once." The doctor then walked to the exit.
"You must go, and start a new life. This door will always be open for you."
Before he could really go any further, the doctor stopped, "Sorry, I actually want to adopt you, but I'm not ready for that yet."
....
The doctor's footsteps could no longer be heard.
Nexus was silent, wondering and very confused about what was happening.
"Why don't I just die?... what other life do I have to go through in this unfair world," said Nexus as his hands gripped his bed.
...
Nexus then stepped toward the open exit, walking through the dimly lit carriages.
But up ahead, there was a very bright light.
His eyes were blinded by the glare of the light as it reached him. He slowly opened them to see that he was on a tall hill. The height was so great that the city below him seemed small.
"Is transformation mode unlocked? I see."
Without thinking much more, Nexus walked and decided to leave.
Then Nexus began walking down the hill using the available path. Walking down and down.
While descending the steep hill, he almost slipped several times.
Feeling exhausted, Nexus occasionally sat down and took a breath, wondering how the doctor had gotten to and from that steep hill.
Continuing on, the mountain goats seemed to be mocking him, as he climbed and descended the hill with ease.
"Beehehee!!" the mountain goat's voice.
"You beast!" said Nexus.
...Finally, there was a flat road. But Nexus took a break first to recover his strength.
"I haven't even come up with any idea of becoming Maximus. But... I have to...." Nexus got back up and started walking. "Accept it..."
****
It took 2 hours to get to the city post.
"Where should I go?"
"I don't even have any money."
...
Nexus arrived in town. Not knowing where to go or what to do, he sat down on a nearby bench.
(From here on, we will call Nexus Maximus.)
It was nighttime, and very late. Sitting there, the streetlights shone brightly and the silence of the night passed. Not knowing where to go, I sat there thinking, and the thought crossed my mind... to die.
"Hey kid," said a man's voice nearby. Startled, the man in his wheelchair turned towards the light, and finally came into view.
"It's not good to go out in the middle of the night." Apparently it was Nova Prime.
'New Prime...?' Maximus chewed.
Maximus remained silent, but his hands were clenched tightly. As he looked at Nova Prime, a feeling of rage rose within him.
****
Maximus remembered how Nova Prime had sentenced his parents to death.
Eyes, head, ears, hearing, seeing, and feeling everything on that day. It was decided that today, Nova Prime, with his axe, would behead Atlas Prime.
"Any last words?" Nova Prime asked.
Atlas Prime surrendered, in front of hundreds of thousands of cheering, watching people. He lost everything in just one day.
"... Forgive my son, Nexus Diggito."
Nova Prime then raised the object he was holding high.
She hesitated slightly, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Atlas Prime."
The ship landed, along with the screams of his son Atlas, Nexus watched it.
****
Despite those memories,
Nova Prime now rose from his wheelchair, relying on his arms to crawl to sit next to Maximus.
"...are you lost, don't know the way home?"
Maximus didn't answer. He chose to remain silent.
"Is that so..." said Nova.
"..., I'm having a hard time too. I keep thinking about all the things I've done that must have made someone suffer,"
"That child... He ran away and who knows where. Until then I heard the news of his death."
Nova reached into her breast pocket. She held out a bag that looked like it had a lot in it.
"Use this money for your life, son. I'm sure it won't run out even in your lifetime. But you have to keep saving it, okay? Use this money for the right things."
Nova gives Maximus a bag containing money and gems.
"Can I know your name?" Nova asked.
"..."
.....
Maximus took a deep breath, "I... Maximus."
...
"Okay, Maximus. If you need my help..." Nova Prime held up a piece of paper. "Contact me immediately."
...
"Why don't you just adopt me," said Maximus.
Nexus Prime then replied, "I wish so. But we Primes are born differently, if we come into contact with a child too often, the harmful particles from our bodies can kill him."
...
Maximus was silent, but in his mind he was muttering. About his father, who was also a Prime, a former Nova Prime trooper.
"... I heard that the Prime leader in this area has a son, how did he survive?" Maximus asked.
Nova Prime, took a few seconds to think and remember about Nexus, before he answered, "...He's a lucky kid, not many kids can do that."
Nova then turned on her wheelchair, ready to leave. "Maximus... I hope we can meet again. I want to talk to you longer. However... I'm also busy. I'm restoring this area, until then the elections will begin."
Nova Prime left. Nova looked relieved, a smile on her face. She whispered, "His name is Maximus now, isn't it?" She had finally found Nexus and secured his future.
****
Maximus put the money bag into his chest pocket, then lay down on the chair, staring at the stars in the shining night sky, until his eyes felt heavy and closed.
To be continued...