Losing Myself

A young man walks down the hall of his home and glares into the dark room filled with portraits of the same woman. The man inside painting yet another one.

“This lifestyle, I ask that you leave it. Please, even if you must kill me to do so.” The man inside said.

“You ask that because you are too much of a coward to do it yourself, just like then. Even now, all you do is wallow in this room.”

“You’re right. How pitiful.”

The young man leaves, leaving his housemate to paint another canvas and fill the room with endless drawings of his lost love.

Deep into the night, the young man rides a motorcycle down the roads leading to the city of the Syndicate. The night is clouded, but the lights from the floating city of the Syndicate pierce them and lead the way to the base city.

Few roads have been restored around the planet – most made by Akihiko to allow for high-speed vehicles – as most transportation is done by light train. Still, new vehicles allow for personal uses. The motorcycle used, for example, travels at near the speed of sound while also being safe using sensors and AI on the bike and road.

It’s difficult as is to get in, I’ve toned down the AI just for you but be careful. Only you could handle this speed without help. Once inside you must scale the center building, the database we need is on the 50th floor.

“Has Veronica responded?” The man responds to the woman speaking into his ear, Lily.

I can’t get a hold of her myself. From what I hear she just runs bars and clubs since losing the city. I’m sorry, we had a big fight and never made up. The one time I did try to talk to her after what happened with the underground she ignored me.

“I’ll find a way to talk to her.”

Shoot. There are several people closing in on you. I’m not sure who they are.

“Scavengers. I’ll take care of them.”

Several motorcycles similar to the young man’s appear from the darkness of the forest next to the road and surround him. As he thought, they are scavengers looking to grab whatever resources he carries, even human parts can fetch a hefty sum.

They, however, are unprepared for who they face.

All bikes slow, reaching just stable enough speeds to remain upright as the young man stands on his bike and scans the area. Deciding his next action, he jumps from his bike and attacks the nearest scavenger before they make a move.

The scavengers are dumbfounded by the sudden burst of speed and athleticism from who they considered prey. Their partner is killed in an instant, yet they continue to circle their target and aim weapons at him.

All are useless. One after another, the young man uses his unbelievable speed and strength to deal with them. The second target is knocked unconscious with a helmet, the next by the body thrown at him.

The last three take defensive stances, they believe there is only one way for such a monster to exist.

“You! You have an exoskeleton don’t you!”

The young man never responds, dodging bullets and using a special whip made of energy to deal with two more. The last scavenger is left alone, his body trembling as the young man stands after his last attack.

In the night sky, the only recognizable attribute of the monster is a necklace of a half-moon around his neck.

“No… you’re. I’m sorry, please, I didn’t know.”

Mat…eo… Matteo!

“Gaaah!” Matteo stops punching the last scavenger at last, the figure below him left an unrecognizable mess after being ravished by Matteo who now huffs from the loss of control.

Matteo, can you hear me?

“Yes… I.”

It’s fine. Just get out of there before the Syndicate notices.

“Ok.”

Matteo grabs his bike and continues his way to the Syndicate base.

Matteo, are you sure you are ok? You’ve been losing it a lot as of late.

“I’m fine. Let’s just get this job done.”

Infiltrating the syndicate base is simple enough. Even with the hordes of robots, drones, and the large walls that surround the base, Matteo’s heightened physical abilities make it easy.

The base city of the Syndicate is a high-level city of which only a handful exist on the planet. Where cities like Ventura are known as cities for indulgence with colorful buildings, exciting activities, and rampant crime, the Syndicate base is one of class, high tech buildings with a splash of medieval architecture, and people that represent the calm nature of the base.

The city is bright just like Ventura however, the five mega skyscrapers being the biggest source of light in the night with the center building being the largest and most safeguarded.

Matteo walks down the main streets of the base; the market street stretches from one end of the city to the next. It has two intersecting streets for more commerce, but most businesses reside on the street or within the buildings resting on it. Everything else is housing or buildings such as hospitals or other resources.

On many of the walls is another resemblance to Ventura, screens displaying video messages from the leaders of the Syndicate. The video playing today about an upcoming announcement with the promise to change the world.

“Wait!”

Just ahead of Matteo, three guards wearing combat suits and a piece of an exoskeleton on their arms surround a young man with their guns raised. He pleads with them as he returns the items he stole. But they show no mercy, using their guns in stun mode to knock him unconscious in excruciating fashion.

How is it in there?

Matteo looks around. Everywhere he looks, people dress the same, the area quiet, many seem nervous to even look in the direction of the guards.

“It’s like the rumors say, calm and peace comes at a price. I’m going to the main building now, be ready.”

Matteo stares at the main building. The largest of all skyscrapers in the city, it also connects to the floating city above. It’s known as Atlas, holding part of the city but also a center for information and the leaders of the syndicate. As such, it is well guarded at all times.

With help from Lily, Matteo jumps through blind spots created by hacking into drones and scales the building. Even without cloaking devices or good camouflage, his speed is far too great for the normal eye to catch or for most machines to register in time.

Within seconds, Matteo reaches the 50th floor and enters by cutting the window open using an energy blade. It allows him to enter the server room without setting off any alarms.

Soon after, Matteo connects a USB to the servers inside, allowing Lily to access it from the safety of her home.

“If you can find anything concerning my mother, take it.”

… fine. I’m done. Get out of there.

“Good.” As Matteo gathers himself, he hears an old familiar voice coming from another room.

Hey! Why are you heading deeper inside?!

Matteo exits the server room into a large circular hall. It’s dark with the only light coming from the room with the familiar voice.

“I present to you the next generation of exoskeleton. Lighter, yet more powerful than ever before. The new generation will grant abilities you could only dream of; some of you will fly, others will have superhuman strength, each will be tailored to fit your talents. All will be a foundation for our collective dream.”

Matteo watches from the crack in the door as Elizabeth speaks to a large group wearing similar jumpsuits. All of them are in awe of the old man wearing an exoskeleton standing next to Elizabeth and,

“Truly incredible. Round of applause everyone.” Bell said, the room joins in celebrating the generation of exoskeleton. Bell is almost unrecognizable, his blonde hair now long and posture fixed.

Matteo stands confused as the room claps. It’s as if only he can see the state of the old man wearing the exoskeleton. His eyes are blank, his body grey and only held together by the exoskeleton. Still, he recognizes him from his time in the Syndicate.

Bell continues. “All of you have been gathered here today because you have been selected as the group worthy of wearing the next generation of exoskeletons. It will be difficult, training to wear such a complicated suit is a trial in itself, but the reward is power beyond belief, the ability to achieve our dream. And for that we will stop at no end. I come here not only to congratulate you, but to ask you to never lose sight of our dream. What we have here is special, but we must bring our blessings to the rest of the world. Pain, suffering, sin, we will have the ability to eliminate it all, you all will have the ability to do so. It is not just our reason for being, but our greatest responsibility as humanity. I ask of you, endure, for you will succeed. Endure, for you will go on to save this world. Endure, for you will be the cornerstones for what we have spent our lives working for. We must save them. Our brethren, no matter how lost. From those lost in their world of indulgence, to those led astray to believe our dream is achievable without sacrifice, and those wandering our planet without direction. It is us, standing here before you today, that will grant the opportunity to do so; it is I who will lead you all down the path to make it possible. Follow me, for all of you are capable, I believe in all of you, and together we will save this world and bring one of peace!”

The room roars, brought to life by the words of a man Matteo no longer recognizes.

“Bell?” Matteo walks inside.

“Hm? And you are?” Bell doesn’t recognize Matteo, now a tall man with a muscular build, the complete antithesis of the small boy he once knew.

“Bell, how could you do that to that man? Wasn’t he one of the first people you brought to the Syndicate? And now look at him, you’ve made him into some mindless being.”

“How do you know this… well, it matters not. Young man, you are mistaken. Even in his old age, even having lost his sense and as his body falls apart, what greater honor is there than giving your all for the better of the world?”

“You can’t believe that. Is destroying one life worth saving others?”

“Do you not believe so?”

“No… it is not worth it. It’s disgusting. Sacrificing a life should never be an option.”

“Hmm. Then allow me to show you what sacrificing a life can create. Garran, capture him.”

Garran dashes forward, using speed only Matteo can see as they lock hands. His strength is far beyond anything Matteo has ever faced, but he matches it. A moment later, Garran’s exoskeleton squeals, smoke emits from the back and thrusters activate from his boots which allow him to send Matteo flying into the wall.

The attack continues, Garran uses a small device that creates a rope of hard energy between two points to tie Matteo’s arms to his body.

“See for yourself, everyone! What else could give such strength to someone at the end of his life?! What more could anyone ever ask for?! This is our future! This is how we will save them all!”

Matteo stands. “You’ve changed Bell, the others would be saddened to see you now. I still remember meeting you. I thought we wanted to see the same world one day but I was wrong.”

“What… you. Matteo.”

“What?!” Elizabeth rushes to the edge of the stage. “Capture him immediately!”

Garran’s suit squeals once more, his next attack meant to cripple Matteo to keep him from escaping. As they dash forward, Matteo frees himself from the rope by tearing it with sheer strength. He dashes forward, somberness in his eyes as he deals a powerful blow to Garran’s chest before catching him in his arms.

“Thank you.” Garran mutters before breathing his last breath.

“Matteo. Incredible. Your mother’s greatest achievement is far greater than I could have imagined. Join me Matteo, we can save this world together with the blessing you have.”

“I will not join this, what you are doing is terrible.”

“And what you do is any different?”

“What?”

Bell approaches Matteo. “You killed that man without hesitation. I recognize that necklace, you’re a famed killer now. You live a disgusting life only to fulfil your own selfish desires, I for a greater cause. And yet you cannot accept this life?”

“I do not force others to act how I believe they should.”

“So be it. Capture him!”

More exoskeleton wearing people rush at Matteo, each with empty eyes just like Garran. Matteo fights them off, their speed and strength equal to his first foe, but not enough to take him down. Still, some use energy guns, blades, or strange weapons such as high-speed discs that whisk around the room. Combined with their heightened physical abilities, even Matteo cannot fend them all off.

Believing he has no chance of winning alone, Matteo dashes for the windows in the hall. A faint kick from his opponents the boost he needs, Matteo crashes through the windows and down the side of Atlas.

Matteo looks back to the window he crashed through as he falls, Bell watches as Matteo falls.

The two share a final look, their lives forever diverged down paths they believe they must follow.

Thanks for reading! For those who haven’t seen the author’s note, this story is a prologue to a story I worked on some time ago but haven’t finished or released. I thought it would be fun to delve into the past of some characters. I’m happy to say it was! Perhaps I’ll release the main story some day in the future.

Until next time – E.F. Veda