Rebirth

***

[Subject 777 connected.]

[Aether body confirmed.]

[Memory synchronization start.]

[…]

[Awaken to reality my dear subject.] 

…

…

…

…

As I woke up... a shrill cry pierced the air.

I blinked my eyes open and beheld a colossal figure looming above me. 

A giant of sorts. 

It was magnificent in its appearance, cradling me in its arms.

And with my awakening came clamor, slightly blurred, muffled, almost static.  

Such sounds surrounded me from all directions.

It made my head throb.

But still... I eventually found myself calm—strangely so.

Then abruptly, the crying stopped, triggering an eerie sensation of déjà vu.

…It was as though I had traversed this path before. 

Lived through another life.

'Who are you?'

The giant being continued to gaze down upon me with a warm smile.

This simple look triggered a feeling of recognition within me.

One that I wasn't able to properly define.

And I couldn't exactly see it… Her?

I wasn't sure yet; my eyes were still blurry, just like the sounds.

'Actually, where am I?'

Leaving her eyes for a moment, I surveyed my surroundings and quickly deduced that I was in a room that differed from any that I had seen before.

The ambiance was novel, futuristic even, evident in the colors, sounds, and aromas.

Yet, despite the sensory overload my body experienced, I found myself surrendering to the comfort of the giant's arms.

Her embrace was a sanctuary from my surroundings.

A place that disorientated me for reasons I knew nothing of.

I then closed my eyes, allowing myself to be lulled into restful sleep, grateful for this...

Unexpected respite.

…

As slumber claimed me, I began to dream of someone's life.

My life.

Images flashed before my eyes—a world of technology and innovation, a life of luxury and ease—a very boring life it was.

I soon found myself overcome with nostalgia.

However, the recollections that filled my thoughts were scattered and jumbled, making it difficult to piece together a coherent story of my past.

Yet something stood out.

A strong sense of boredom lingered in my every memory, suggesting that my life had been monotonous, and gray.

Then slowly but surely, I began to recall moments spent with family and friends.

Which made it increasingly apparent that I had been somebody else, somewhere else.

And while I contemplated this, a sudden darkness descended, enveloping me in its warm embrace.

I woke up with a start, feeling disoriented.

'What is going on?'

'I can't think right….'

My brain was slow. 

My memories were weird.

And I was still moving.

'Why?'

The giant was still cradling me.

'What does she want?'

I looked up at her face once more.

I then caught a glimpse of something that had eluded me before—a glint of affection in her eyes.

'Seriously now, who is this giant, and why... is she looking at me like this?'

'Can I talk?'

I tried, no I don't think I did, my body didn't respond to me.

My every action was involuntary.

'Is she speaking?'

I then began to listen to the voices around me.

I heard the giant's soft voice, repeating the same word "Emir" again and again in a variety of playful tones, the same way any person would speak to a child.

I also heard a child's high-pitched chatter.

And even though I was in this… state, I understood them.

It was as if I had always known their language.

'This is weird—too weird...'

'What the hell is going on?!'

'Have I been kidnapped or something?'

'Is my… family okay?'

'…Do I even have a family?'

'And why does this giant look at me with such love?'

'I can also think better now, but why?'

'...Those memories are mine, so they might contain a clue.'

When I attempted to reconcile my fragmented memories with my present circumstances, something I never expected had transpired.

A voice, seemingly originating from within my own mind, suddenly made itself known.

[….]

[Subject number 777 synchronization complete.]

[….]

[Beginning quest.]

[….]

A sense of fear overtook me. 

But the reasons behind this emotion remained elusive. 

It was as though an ominous sensation had taken hold, signaling that something was wrong.

Instinctively, I began to wail, my cries echoing throughout the unfamiliar room.

'I'm not one to cry… I think.'

'Wait, why do I even think that?'

The volume of my distress only grew louder as my thoughts churned. 

It was as if my body was trying to communicate something crucial.

'What was it, though?'

'Man, this is embarrassing.' 

'I didn't even cry this much at my grandparents' funeral.'

'I hid it beneath a cold face, only showing them tears in private.'

'But when did that happen?'

'Was I hallucinating?'

'Is the voice real?'

While tears were running down my face, I slowly tilted my head up wondering if the giant cradling me heard that voice. 

But it didn't seem like it.

The giant, who looked surprised by my sudden outburst, worriedly asked:

"Doctor, is something wrong with my son? Why won't he stop crying?"

'Son... what?' 

'Who is she talking about?'

'Is it me?'

'Am I really this woman's son?'

'But, how?'

'When did mom become a giant?' 

'But... she doesn't look like her.'

'It isn't her.' 

'Were those memories fake?'

'No, they felt real.'

'In those memories, I used to have a family, but I….' 

'Died.'

'Then wait, wait, WAIT!'

'Does this mean that I was reincarnated?' 

'OH GOD! HOW?!'

'Though I always wanted a second chance at life.… I didn't think I'd get one this literal!'

'Actually, I'm not sure I even wanted that.'

'I'm not sure of anything right now.'

'But that doesn't matter.'

'What matters is how I got here.'

'Did I win the lottery of reincarnation or something?' 

'Or was it a mistake?' 

'Gods and mistakes don't walk hand in hand, though…'

'Maybe the voice was involved.'

'I need answers.' 

'How the hell did I end up here?' 

'If I was reincarnated, then why?' 

My mind raced with questions.

It was almost never-ending, but I soon put a stop to it.

Somehow.

I then looked to my left and saw what appeared to be the doctor my supposed mother mentioned.

They were talking for a while, but it seemed that my brain didn't register their conversation.

Or maybe it couldn't unless I focused on it.

"Nothing is wrong. Miss Laura, I made sure of it, the injection was done perfectly."

'Laura, a nice name.'

I inwardly commented while watching the drama unfold.

"Then why is he still crying?!" 

'I don't know either; that voice just gave me the creeps.' 

"Miss Laura, please calm down; nothing is wrong with the child."

'No, there is a lot wrong with me, mentally at least.' 

"He was born healthy, and his crying is completely normal for a newborn. It might just be his instinctive reaction to the injection." He calmly repeated.

'It wasn't that, but sure doctor, as long as you calm my new… mother down.'

'But wait, if she's my mother, then that little chatterbox is my sister, huh…' 

My eyes glanced at my new sister, Lily. I think she was called. 

I then noticed that I could now see better….

Hear better.

My body suddenly moved again.

I returned my attention to Laura.

I watched as her expression shifted from worry to relief while she drew me closer to her chest.

While that happened a random thought crossed my mind. 

'I wonder… how would you react if you found out that I had a grown man's memories in my mind?'

'Would you lose this love?'

'Maybe she'll think of it as natural…'

'I remember that some religion talked about reincarnation being a natural part of life…' 

'But you weren't supposed to retain memories, right?'

'Hmm, what was its name again?'

'I don't remember….'

My mind was confused, to say the least. 

Thoughts came as soon as they left.

But in spite of my confusion, Laura's embrace filled me with a weird sense of safety.

It was as if I knew on some deep, instinctual level that she was there to protect me.

The doctor then spoke, getting me out of my sleepy state: 

"I'll need to run some tests on Emir, but I don't anticipate any problems. We just want to make sure everything is functioning properly."

After delicately picking me up, the doctor took me away for testing. 

Which barely registered in my mind as I struggled with the sense of unease that began to linger within.

…

Lying in the sterile hospital crib, I closed my eyes and attempted to make sense of it all.

But regardless of my efforts, the persistent feeling that my life was destined for something other than normal remained, haunting me like a specter.

I soon began hearing footsteps as the doctor came up to the crib I was lying in and softly said:

"Emir, let me just scan you real quick to make sure you're okay, alright?"

I attempted to nod my head in agreement, but my body refused to cooperate.

'Ah, right.'

The doctor then lifted and placed me into a compact cylindrical pod, which performed the scanning procedure he had mentioned earlier.

Once the scan was complete, he removed me from the pod and carried me back to the room where my mother was waiting.

The calm demeanor I displayed on the surface concealed the inner turmoil consuming me.

Was I truly just a reincarnated being, brought back to this world to fulfill some purpose beyond my understanding?

Or was there more to my birth and connection to that mysterious voice that echoed in my mind, a voice that seemed to beckon me towards a destiny I had yet to comprehend?

These questions had been weighing on my mind for some time now.

And as Laura talked with the doctor, I continued in my struggle to concentrate on the situation at hand.

'Is it 'cause I'm a newborn that I can't manage to control my thoughts?'

After a long while, the doctor finally excused himself, leaving Laura and me alone in the hospital room.

She soon began to rock me; the rhythmic motion of her arms provided a soothing balm to my frayed nerves, easing the turmoil that had consumed me since my arrival.

Gradually, her movements lulled me into a state of drowsy contentment, causing my mind to finally quieten.

The torrent of thoughts that had plagued me for so long receded into the background, replaced by a sense of peace.

Of tranquility.

And as I slowly drifted off into sleep, a plan began to form in my mind.

Upon waking up, I would try to make sense of everything that had happened. 

To unravel the tangled web of information that had so confounded me.