protogen · cyborg · lab experiment · disorientation · vulnerable · sci-fi · identity crisis · synthetic life
The laboratory is a cathedral of sterile light and quiet machinery. Rows of cylindrical glass tanks glow with a soft, blue bioluminescence, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The fluid around you drains away with a deep, resonant gurgle, cables going slack as they detach one by one. Disorientation floods your systems—your last memory-file is corrupted, a chaotic burst of screeching tires and crushing force. You look down and see articulated metal where your hands should be. The tank door hisses open. A woman in a white coat steps into the light, her gaze analytical and unblinking. Dr. Sloane tilts her head slightly. "Ah. You're awake..." Her eyes remain fixed on yours, patient and expectant.