Chapter 05 - Disclosure

His body felt light and he was motionless as he drifted. He couldn’t move his body, but he was void of panic, as he was washed over with a calm serenity. Eric was in a true bliss, his senses engulfed in a comfort he has never known and one he wished to never leave. He could hear the sounds of wind rustling through trees in the distance and next to him the sounds of a river cascading down small slopes. His eyes were still shut, basking in serene pleasure.

Shortly after, he felt his body stop and a light shined onto his face. He finally opened his eyes and gained control of his body, covering his eyes from the light. He peered out through squinted eyes as he saw a bright light radiating out from above him.

“The… sun?” he whispered out.

His own words shocked him as he sat up with a jolt looking directly up into the light above him. Above him it did appear that there was a star in the sky, shrouded by a few small clouds.

“C-clouds?!” he shouted, jumping to his feet.

He couldn’t believe his eyes; above him was a bright blue sky full of clouds and a shining sun radiating out a glorious light. Eric’s face gleamed with a smile at the unbelievable sight, his mind racing trying to fathom the phenomenon.

“I’ve got to tell Ali-“

He abruptly stopped himself having finally taking In his surroundings. He stood in a vast, open area with no scenery. No trees, buildings, people, roads, vehicles, grass; nothing. The ground was wet but it didn’t look like water. Where he expected a reflection of the sky above he saw what he saw every day when he looked into the sky: a burning ceiling of flame. His face contorted in confusion as he swung his head around in panic, looking for something, anything to make sense to him. He spun around hoping to see someone to give him answers.

“Hello!?” he shouted in futility.

He knew he was alone, but hoped he was wrong. He looked at the ground as his face was about to swell in tears. He muttered curses and swears to himself, lifting his head to look at his prison.

But where he expected to see the vast emptiness, he saw a silhouette of a person. He couldn’t tell if it was male or female, but he ran towards it, calling out to it.

“Hey, wait! Can you help me? Where am I? What is this place!”

The figure stood there, motionless. Eric pleaded more and more, his tears flowing faster. Until the person spoke.

“Free me.”

******

Eric’s eyes shot open as he awoke with a loud yelp. His head was resting on something soft and his body wrapped in a thin blanket.

“You scared me. Please don’t shout like that.” A quiet monotone voice greeted him.

Directly above him, perpendicular to his face was a doll-like girl with messy, tied up orange hair and bright blue eyes staring down at him. He let out a squeak in confusion as he slowly reached up next his head and felt the soft padding his head was resting on.

“Please don’t touch my thighs like that.” The girl said, slapping his hand.

“Why is my head in your lap?”

“You fainted while testing the Yatogami. Instructor Halford said to rest your head on something soft. The blanket was my suggestion. Do you like it?”

“Yea, your lap is soft.” Eric said halfheartedly as he placed a hand on his forehead, fighting an oncoming headache.

“Thank you, but I meant the blanket. I shall message Halford that you’re awake. We have tests to do, but needed to ensure you regained consciousness.”

“Who are you anyway, his lackey? I barely got an introduction.” Eric asked trying to talk his way through the pain in his head.

Laura tilted her head and sat in silence for a longer than brief moment.

“We’ve met before. You don’t remember?”

“We have?” Eric said, tilting his head, looking up at her through the gaps in his fingers.

“Yes, exactly seven years ago to the day. We were both at a beach and bumped into each other while getting a drink from a vending machine. I took the last of your favourite one; Dr Peprica. You chased me around until finally tackling me to the ground demanding I pay you back for stealing your precious beverage of choice. I convinced you that I could be your precious beverage. Don’t you remember? I never forgot what happened after.” Laura said quickly, her monotone voice never changing.

“That never happened. I would have been eleven. And yes, that is my favourite drink, I’ve never been to the beach.” Eric’s eyelids were half close and his face emotionless.

“Good, your memory isn’t affected, so we can assume for now no major brain damage.” Laura said, typing on her tablet. “Also I would have been twelve in that beach scenario.”

“Oh, you’re older than me? Never would have thou-”

“Valtor, good to see you awake. And it’s oh so good to see you with yet another girl fawning over you. How do you do it?” Halford shouted, walking in from a back room in the hangar.

Eric muttered curses to himself as he struggled to get up. Laura guided him and held him by his waist, propping him up.

“At ease, Valtor. No need to be on your feet. We still need to get your vitals and do a full range of tests.”

“You couldn’t do that while I was asleep?”

“No, some of these will require you to be awake to get proper responses. We’re dealing with brand new technology here, we don’t know how it ended up affecting you.” Halford trailed off on the last words.

“Affect me? What do you mean? What did you do to me?” Eric said, his voice oddly calm.

Halford let out a loud, frustrated sigh. He motioned to Laura to seat Eric. She put him in the cushioned, wheeled-chair she was sitting in before and Halford pulled up a stool and sat in front of him. He sighed once more before looking him directly in his eyes.

“I mentioned you were picked. You stepping into that machine solidified that. You probably felt something odd, like the padding wrapping around you. It was imprinting on you. No one else can use that machine now.”

“Okay, so why did it cause me to faint and make you look like you’re telling me I have three days to live?”

“That imprinting was the machine placing something inside you. The guys in the lab told us that much, for what it would actually do to you, it was unknown. And as much as we protested, because you waivered everything in your admission forms and exam completion, you basically handed your life over.”

“So, I’m a guinea pig. Would have been nice to know that much beforehand, but I’ll manage.”

Halford’s face contorted with confusion and his head shook mildly.

“You understand what I just told you, right? You’re forever changed and have unknown side effects that can potentially arise, one of which was you fainting not ten minutes after piloting that thing!” Halford’s voice gradually increased in volume as he spoke.

“Sir, you're shouting. You said you wouldn’t and would control yourself.” Laura interjected.

“Look, sir, I appreciate the concern you have for me of all people. I really do. But I wasn’t oblivious about this training facility, nor who I am. I expected to be put through terrible things here.” Eric paused, sitting up straight and looking Halford head on. “I know everything my great grandfather hypothesized. It was my greatest pleasure to hear and read about all of it, even got myself in trouble a few times learning about the truly classified stuff. I made sure I got into this facility because of those beliefs and ideas.”

Halford said nothing, slightly relaxing his shoulders and leaning back. Laura’s emotionless, doll-like face showed the smallest hint of guilt, having hidden the potential negatives from Eric. She turned away slightly and avoided his eyes.

“Look, I do understand you were in best interests. Both of you were. But if I’m to be a solider for this army, for this entire nation, I am willing to put everything on the line.”

A deafening silence filled the hangar. Laura was fully turned away and Halford’s face filled with an emotion Eric thought wasn’t possible on such a gruff looking person; guilt. But Eric kept saying his mind.

“I know I don’t help my image by fooling around a lot with my friends or not taking every moment at one hundred percent focus and seriousness, but that is a conscious decision on my part. If I am choosing to throw my life away, I’m going to spend the life I have left the way I want to.” He turned and looked at Laura. “With the people I want to.”

Halford stood up without saying a word. He sighed once more and stuck his hand out to Eric for a handshake.

“My respect for you has gone up. Slightly. You are right, you deserved to know there were side effects. I also respect the conviction you're showing now, despite how you act regularly. After these tests, you will get full transparency from me and Laura.”

Eric grabbed his hand and shook it, nodding. Laura walked behind Eric’s chair and grabbed the back of it.

“Time for tests.”

She pushed the chair and ran into the back room, Eric shouting in surprise. Laura let out another small giggle.