Chapter 3: Identity

Chapter 3: Identity

I dragged my index finger across the hologram as it changed the perspective on the fleet, spinning the view. I gently exhaled from my nose. Military posts were always boring especially with me being within the capital ship of the fleet. For the majority of my time here, it was always the same repetition. Paperwork, holographic scanning, and review of the ship's basic integral structure. Though, I've never really understood why WE have to do it… Maybe it's an act of counteraction to boredom.

As time passed, I became more and more disconnected from my surroundings. Blankly staring towards the hologram, and unfortunately, my brain slowly started drifting off into the dream I had. I questioned what was behind all of that, I questioned whether was it truly an experience that I understood. I thought to myself more and more, the blood on my hands, smeared against the side of my hands. The scent of death. The puddle…

I pressed my hand against the side of my forehead. Though suddenly, I felt a hand press against my back. Breaking my line of thought, I heard a soft creaking behind me as I hastily turned my head around. It was Vaelel, she had a smile spread across her face though it had a hint of concern. I assumed she was concerned about yesterday's log…

"Are you alright? You seemed to be paler than usual." Vaelel pressed her hand against my forehead. Her gloved hands pulled down my arm so I could face her. "If you have any concerns about anything, please tell me." She was close, her usual stern gaze softening to something reminiscent of a marshmallow.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me." I responded somewhat bluntly as I tried averting my face away from her gaze. Despite her being far closer to me than my actual biological parents, I still couldn't shake the feeling of the tense knot within my stomach tightening. She was moreover a guardian after all.

She pressed her right hand against my cheek, pulling my face towards her jet-black hues. Despite her petite size, her actions were more akin to a raging behemoth rather than a young-looking lady; despite her attractiveness.

"You know, Eteth… I know more than you can ever imagine." Vaelel's responded softly. "You do?" I responded in a flat tone. "I've seen you from the start, Eteth."

She knew more things about me than myself. "I know, you don't need to say any of this like that." I turned my head away the second her hand lowered back to her legs. She lightly exhaled from her nose, giving me a more and more worried expression. And she then reached forwards and then held onto my hands. Lifting them slightly up, my head darting back to meet her gaze.

She smiled. "I knew this would work." She responded happily to her idea. Even if she lived for a long time, she still held a gentle kindness.

"I know your identity is something hard for you to grasp… Born holding the memories and talents of the hero Odrlin. But keep in mind you are also, Eteth. You are your individuality, an identity that should be cherished. So please, tell me what Eteth is concerned about."

It was a sudden comment given by Vaelel. I felt my face boil from embarrassment, I probably had a dumb look on my face. "I'm fine… I'm sorry for making you worry." Vaelel knew this was a lie, but she still held that gentle demeanor, her face not shifting. She let go of my hands as she tilted her head slightly to the side.

"Eteth, if you still have something within your chest. I can gladly take you somewhere, and where we can talk. It can be anything to your liking." Her smile turned into a smile of worry once again.

"I'm fine, you don't need to ask me out on a date. I'll ask you later." I responded cheekily, in an attempt to get her away from concern. As she then promptly slapped the side of my head from my insolence.

"Eteth put the date plans on hold for now. I am concerned about your state of mind right now." Oh, she didn't deny it. "I'm fine… I'm fine…" I responded, rubbing the side of my head. And without hesitation. "Alright, go back to work!" Vaelel then smacked me on my back as she stood up from her chair. Walking back to the middle of the bridge.

However, I turned my head towards the beeping radar as the crew suddenly seemed to have been frantically pressing buttons. Within a crack, the world became dark.

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I woke up disoriented and confused, and in intense agony.

My glove was firmly gripped around a piece of metallic alloy and I was hanging off a piece of debris from the ship. My vision was focused downward, I only saw the colony with the corner of my eye and the rest space. My blurry vision slowly came back to its senses. The starry vision, the vast galaxies within view.

As I slowly regained focus, I heard the catastrophic beeping and sirens of my ship. I pressed my hand against my head, and a raging headache pierced through the sides of my cranium. The ringing in my ears was piercing. Luckily I had a breathing mask covering half of my face, so I wouldn't choke in pain within the void of space.

I opened my mouth and croaked.

"Repair."

I uttered one word as suddenly a swarm of glistening specks of dust escaped from the palms of my gloves, a holographic image re-constructing the basic appearance of the innards of the ship and then hardening.

I lay flat on top of the hard light, as I wheezed and gasped for air. As a warm liquid dripped down the side of my head, then down my chin. Dripping down on top of the glassy floor that I've produced.

"Notice: Head Injury identified… Fractured Ribs, Broken Ribs, Seven Dorsal Wounds, Severe Trauma at The Abdominal Area." Cel notified me quickly.

I felt my body grow colder and colder as I slowly looked down toward the floor as crimson liquid stained my uniform. "Ah, Shit..." I responded weakly as I raised my right palm whilst on the floor. "Producing Medical Stim" Cel responded as an injection-like metallic object was formed out of Thin Air.

I weakly grabbed it as I raised my left arm. Slamming my hand onto the floor, I forcibly pulled myself upwards. I clenched my teeth, as I felt the pain of the universe dawn down upon me. Only the ever-so-small sensation of Adrenaline was able to numb the pain.

I felt my gums bleeding as I then shouted with all of my might, forcibly pulling myself into a laying position. The shards of metal pierced into my back, as I was fully able to see the massive plate of metal shoved into the side of my stomach. Piercing into my organs deeply, as if someone threw a metal frisbee to my side, it was impaled vertically.

Blood gushed from my wound, and I felt as if my consciousness was going to slip away. I slammed the metal stim into the top of my chest, forcing it into my heart. I felt a sense of relief as the minor wounds closed and spat out the smaller chunks of metal from my back.

However, the metal plate was incapable of being pulled out. I sat upwards gasping for air. Sure, I felt better. However, there was still a problem. Blood poured down the side of my stomach as I franticly responded. "Cel, give me painkillers." The Sentient Artificial Intelligence complied, as another Stim was created. "Produced"

I grabbed it with my left and then slammed it into the stomach area closest to the wound. Shit even the Stim hurt, as the pain numbed in less than a second. As a waterfall of sweat rolled down the side of my head. "This Thing worked right?" I responded frantically as the Artificial Intelligence Assured me. "Yes, I've done what you've asked me."

I grabbed a hold of the metal chunk lodged into my stomach and violently pulled it out. From the wound blood gushed from onto the floor as if I were a fountain. Then the temporary healing factor closed the massive trauma I had on the side of my stomach.

The Hard light Was Covered by My Own Blood... It was a grotesque sight to see.

I coughed violently, as I slowly forced myself up from the sitting position, stumbling to the side to stand up. Every single move I took with every cell I had was in intense agony despite the painkillers that were within my system. The now cold blood dripped down the sides of my leg and torso. It was an odd sensation to feel.

I looked around my surroundings and saw a bunch of holes bored into the walls of the ship. At least I was lucky enough to not be catapulted out of the ship. I dragged myself to the exit of the ship, my body ached, and I was hit with an invasive event that I had no idea about. Walking myself into the abyss of darkness that laid in front of me.