The Awakening of Hope

(20 Minutes before the attack)

In the year 2130, in an underground lab, dim lights cast eerie shadows. Machines hummed, wires dangled, and the air smelled of metal. In the center, a young man lay still, his face marked by scars. His artificial arm glowed with advanced tech, and a blue device pulsed on his chest.

Dr. Xenon, a weary scientist, watched as the young man stirred.

'Where am I?' he mumbled, his voice filled with confusion. His artificial eye scanned the room, his bewilderment growing. He felt like a stranger in his own body, lost in a world he didn't recognize.

Examining his artificial hand, he scanned the room. One eye was a blank artificial orb, the other a vibrant blue filled with human emotion. Dark blue hair framed his chiseled jaw, adding to his curiosity. He no longer felt like himself.

His gaze landed on a long mirror, and he looked into it, seeing a face he couldn't recognize.

'What is this?' he whispered, attempting to stand but restrained by wires.

Their eyes met, the scientist's filled with manic excitement.

'Who is this old guy?' the young man asked in a hushed whisper. 'Who are you?'

Laughter erupted from the scientist's lips, an eerie symphony of delight and madness reverberating off the lab's cold stone walls.

Sitting on a table, the young man saw wires connected to his body. The scientist leaned in, grabbing a stray pen and urgently questioned, 'Do you remember anything?'

Furrowing his brows, the young man tried to recall his past, but nothing came.

"No," he admitted, defeated.

Dr. Xenon tapped his chin thoughtfully. "So, you have no memory," he mused aloud. "I see, I see."

Turning back to the boy, he probed further, "You don't even remember your name, do you?"

Once again, the young man shook his head solemnly. "No."

With determination, the scientist tapped the boy's forehead with the pen, and a metallic clang filled the room as a blue disk emerged from the back of his neck.

Examining it closely, Dr. Xenon pushed it back into place, and the boy's previously blank artificial eye gleamed with a vibrant blue hue, indistinguishable from his natural eye.

"What was that? I'm sure humans don't have such a thing. And what happened to my hand? Was it always like this... Am I even human?" His voice trembled with uncertainty as he grappled with his identity.

The scientist furrowed his brow, a mix of concern and reassurance evident on his features.

With a gentle touch on the young man's shoulder, he responded, "No, never say that. You are human. I only replaced some of your organs that you lost with artificial ones to save your life."

The boy grappled with the revelation, trying to make sense of the fragmented memories or lack thereof. The room seemed to close in around him as he attempted to absorb the scientist's words.

"Revolution's Army officers brought you here," Dr. Xenon continued. "You were one of the victims from Boston. Out of the 52 people they brought, but..." with a brief pause he continued, "...Only you survived."

"Revolution's Army? Survivor?" The young man's voice quivered, his curiosity sparked by this new information. "What are you saying?"

Dr. Xenon took a deep breath, preparing to unveil a history filled with tragedy.

"Let's just say humans once ruled this beautiful world and were evolving rapidly, with great inventions and much more... But then came an era known as the Rise of Artificial Intelligence, and after that day, humanity inadvertently invented its horrible end. And now... everything is ruined."

As the scientist spoke, his body seemed to slump into the chair, his hands trembling slightly. He adjusted his glasses and added, "You were involved in an incident that happened in old Boston. It was destroyed by the new rulers of the world."

The young man listened intently, absorbing the weight of the knowledge that had been denied to him. 'I still don't understand anything...' he thought to himself, an enigma, an empty vessel yearning to be filled with the past he couldn't remember.

"So am I one of your experiments?" the young man asked, trying to make sense of his existence.

The scientist's expression softened, regret and empathy crossing his features. "No, my boy. You are not an experiment. You are a survivor," he replied earnestly. "I only sought to give you a second chance at life. But the absence of your memories... that is something we must work to uncover."

The young man slowly looked down at his hand. The artificial hand twitched with a hint of unfamiliarity. 'What happened to me that I lost my hand...' he wondered, lost in his thoughts. For him, it was a hand crafted to save him, yet it seemed to be a key to unlock the mystery of his lost memories.

Suddenly, the lab door swung open, and a girl dressed in a flowing white gown stood before them. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, matching the length of her dress perfectly. Carrying a tray with a delightful aroma of warm soup, she entered the room with grace.

Upon seeing the boy awake, her eyes widened in disbelief, and she couldn't contain her excitement. "Oh my lord!" she exclaimed. The scientist, wearing a wide grin, turned to her. "Haha! Serena, look, he's awake!"

Serena's initial disbelief transformed into pure joy as she approached the young man. Handing the tray of food to the scientist, she directed her attention to him. Her voice was soft and melodious as she asked, "Hey, what's your name?"

The young man, still grappling with the absence of his memories, looked puzzled as he replied, "I don't remember, anything."

Serena turned her gaze toward Dr. Xenon, who sat nearby with his thoughtful beard, seeking confirmation. "Did he lose his memory?" Dr. Xenon leaned back in his chair, nodding in affirmation. "Indeed, Serena. It seems he has lost his memory."

Serena shifted her attention back to the young man, her eyes brimming with warmth as she spoke with a gentle tone. "When you were asleep, I used to call you Aaron. So, from today onwards, you're Aaron! Okay?"

The young man nodded, his gaze fixated on her face, captivated by her delicate features and the enchanting way her silver hair cascaded down her back, occasionally veiling her right eye. The only thing on his mind was 'She's beautiful...'

Amid their interaction, his mechanical arm whirred softly, drawing her attention to its unique design. A smile curved her lips, revealing her intrigue and acceptance. Before she could fully react, Aaron's hand extended toward her face, hesitating for a brief moment. But before she could retreat, his touch gracefully tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Serena's surprise transitioned into a mix of emotions, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue. He withdrew his hand, maintaining a composed expression, and sincerely expressed his gratitude. "Thanks for naming me."

Her face turned even redder, her heart pounding in her chest. She stammered, "Ah, m-my pleasure! No. no. I mean-" Panic set in as she struggled to find the right words. Dr. Xenon couldn't contain his laughter, hastily covering his mouth to stifle the amusement.

Serena, with a mix of anger and embarrassment, turned her gaze toward him and demanded, "What's so funny!?"

Meanwhile, Aaron observed Serena with a tilted head, a hint of a smile dancing at the corners of his lips. "Your smile is beautiful," Aaron commented, unable to contain his amusement.

Serena's embarrassment deepened, and she quickly covered her face, her cheeks burning. "S-Shut up!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled by her hands. Dr. Xenon, standing nearby, burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the lab. Seizing the opportunity, he reached out and grabbed the bowl of soup that Serena had brought for him, his hunger overcoming any concern for proper etiquette.

He began slurping the soup, clearly enjoying his impromptu meal, leaving Serena to continue her conversation with Aaron. She slowly lowered her hands, her embarrassment fading into a mix of annoyance and amusement, she sat beside Aaron.

As they engaged in conversation, Aaron suddenly closed his eyes, a sound catching his attention.

Serena furrowed her brow in confusion, wondering what was happening.

Before she could ask, a voice echoed in his mind. "Hmm, so you are my master!"

Aaron opened his eyes and turned to face Serena. Serena, still puzzled, asked, "What happened?"

Aaron looked at Serena with confusion and replied, "Did you hear it?"

Perplexed, Serena shook her head and said, "Hear what?"

Dr. Xenon, who had momentarily looked up from his glasses, interjected, "You have to call her."

Both stared at Dr. Xenon, their confusion evident. He shook his head and clarified, "I mean, you have to say 'Clara.' And she will appear."

Serena rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of it all. "Say 'Clara'? And who or what will appear?"

Aaron closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath, and then softly uttered, "Clara."

As Aaron spoke the name, a soft, soothing melody filled the room, seemingly emanating from nowhere.

A holographic figure, resembling a little human girl, materialized on Aaron's left shoulder, eliciting a startled gasp from Serena as she took a step back. "What the heck!" she exclaimed, her heart racing.

Dr. Xenon reprimanded her, saying, "Language."

Serena, still taken aback by the unexpected apparition, managed to compose herself enough to ask, "Is this an AI?"

Dr. Xenon nodded, explaining, "Indeed. Clara is an advanced artificial intelligence designed to assist Aaron. As he adjusts to his unique abilities, she will serve as a guide and support system, helping him navigate this new world."

Serena, though still slightly bewildered, grasped the concept. "So, she's like a digital companion for Aaron?"

Clara responded in a calm human-like voice, "Yes, precisely. I am here to provide guidance and help Aaron understand and control his extraordinary capabilities."

Aaron's eyes locked onto Clara, a mixture of curiosity and awe reflecting in his gaze as he absorbed the new information.

Meanwhile, Clara's attention shifted, her digital eyes narrowing with intense focus, scanning the environment for any potential threats or anomalies.

"In any case," Clara began, her voice calm yet urgent, "I sensed some chaotic voices. What's happening outside?"

Aaron, now aware of the distant commotion, responded, his tone filled with concern, "I can hear it too. It's been growing louder."

Serena interjected, her brows furrowing, "Ah, It's probably just the usual noise. The city has become crowded since we brought in more survivors from the outside—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the lab door exploded open with an ear-splitting crash, sending splintered debris flying in all directions.

Time seemed to slow as Aaron and Serena turned towards the intruder.

Standing before them was a colossal, menacing robot, its metallic frame glinting under the harsh lab lights.

It towered over the room, armed with an array of deadly weapons, its red eyes pulsating with an eerie glow.

In a split second, the robot launched forward, closing the distance with incredible speed.

Panic filled the air as the situation escalated beyond anyone's control.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Aaron swiftly positioned himself in front of Serena, his mechanical arm transforming into a shield, ready to protect her from the imminent danger.

'Huh, how my hand changed into-' He couldn't believe how his hand instinctively changed shape, responding almost as if it could read his mind. But his thoughts were interrupted.

With a thunderous crash, the robot unleashed another devastating blow, slamming into Aaron's shield with a force that rattled the entire room.

The impact sent tremors through Aaron's body, his robotic arm straining to hold its ground.

"DADDD!!!!!" Serena let out a startled cry, her heart pounding. Her trembling finger pointed towards the figure of Dr. Xenon, slumped in his chair.

A long, jagged pole jutted out from his chest, a gruesome testament to the violence that had unfolded.

"Dad!" Serena's voice quivered with anguish and disbelief, her mind struggling to comprehend the horrific sight before her.