Chapter 5, Simulation Part 5.

Pain

Dwayne had never experienced pain like that in his life, how can he describe such a feeling? It was like someone dismantling you piece by piece and digging into your body with a  tool, slowly screwing rusty bolts inside you. Then hammering  a nail down in your chest until it fit snuggly in your heart. Next his skin was burning like acid being poured on a naked body and melting skin and flesh, all that was left is bone with a few specs of meat sticking to it as they began to scrape it away. Dwayne was aware to it all, his lungs had dried up long ago from the constant screaming. He felt something pushing out of his head until reaching the outside, he felt two extra appendages on his head. The fun part wasn't over since soon after the same happened to his back. His fingernails felt sharper, he scratched them on the metal slab he was struck to and was rewarded with a sound that resembled a knife being dragged across metal. What were they doing to him? His body felt warmer than a bear Cub wrapped in it's mother's embrace, but at the same time his body seemed...stronger?

Then the pain was gone.

Dwayne didn't feel like the same hormonal teenage boy, more like an Olympic athlete jumping over hurdles and performing front flips for the crowd. He felt his muscles fortifying through him, hardening into solid steel. He felt lighter than a feather being balanced on a pink flamingo's beak. If not for the restraints he would've been flipping like a gymnast and Speaking of restraints, how the hell will he free himself?

"Greetings human, has our link been established? Are you able to hear me?"

Dwayne's head snapped so fast in the android's direction that his neck almost broke. The android paid him no mind, continuing to work diligently on the console like a proper robotic slave would. "Hey dickhead, I'm not in the mood for your telepathy shit—"

"The Server droid did not speak, I had, human." The distorted voice echoed in Dwayne's head. Dwayne had finally checked out of sanity hotel, now boarding on flight 'bat-shit crazy' traveling to the magical land of 'losing your fucking mind.' There was only one logical course of action to take when you walk this path. Cry until the bad voices go away.

"Is there suppose to be a voice in my head?!" The Server droid neglected the teen, continuing to type away. "Answer me you fuck!"

"Fool, that is a Server." The voice returned, this time sounding a bit better, at first it sounded like someone trying to make a phone call while going through a tunnel. "Servers are the Praedon's robotic servants, they're used as cannon-fodder in warfare to record enemy strategies and offensive maneuvers. Upon their destruction, their acquired data is transferred to a Server Prime."

"What's that?" Dwayne asked, he truly didn't want to know but when you're trapped in an...alien ship? Base? Wherever he was. It starts to get boring after a while might as well listen to the voice in your head keeping you company.

"An AI system capable of creating newer models able to counter the enemy's tactics. What you see now is a default version of a Server droid, in time they'll be augmented to be more efficient killers."

Dwayne's conscience marked that as beneficial knowledge for humanity's survival storing it away for later use. His self preservation came back online warning him to stay clear of these psychotic terminators. "You know...an hour ago I was a normal teenage boy driving my bike to  school, continuing the cycle of a boring life. Funny how fast shit hits the fan."

"I sense...acceptance in you. You've given up already." The voice's words  gave Dwayne pause. Did he really give up? He likely had no chance to get out even with this newfound strength; something he should ask the voice about, His restraints are too strong making his efforts fruitless. How was he supposed to get out? "Perhaps I can be of assistance."

"You can!?" Dwayne exclaimed, he lowered his volume then tilted his head towards the Server. The robot regarded him for the first time before returning to it's work. "Then help me damn it, do something-" His sentence stopped abruptly when he felt a slithering sensation in his arms. Dwayne's eyes widened to the size  of dinner plates, his focus swapped to the source discovering something snake-like and sharp moving under his midnight skin. Wait a second...what happen to his skin? Glowing orange tattoos decorated his forearm, and his fingers were honed to a sharp edge. Adding to his shock, a long thin blade emitting an orange glow, ejected from a slit in his wrist. "Voice...Voice! A knife is sticking out of me, are you fucking doing this right now?!"

"You have quite the vocabulary, Human. What's that phrase you earthlings use...Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Now the voice was being coy and Dwayne didn't have time for it. Before he could go on a tirade, he felt a similar sensation in his left arm then a duplicate revealed itself. Dwayne released a panic yell, frantically struggling to free himself.  "Calm down human. This tool is not here to inflict harm upon you...only your advaseries. We Darkfalls call them Rizers, an exclusive hard light weapon built into our bodies, connected by a fiber attached to our nervous system."

"S-so it's not killing me?" Dwayne's struggles waned allowing him to relax. "Good to know, but there's still the trouble of using it. The damn robot isn't exactly in stabbing-range."

"I need you to start concentrating, human." The voice spoke sternly like a father would do his child. "The Rizer is a muscle, stretch it..extend it like you would your arms." Dwayne was wary at first, who wouldn't be of a voice lecturing on how to use a weapon. Unfortunately he was desperate enough to obey, he shut his eyes tightly..consciously attempting to move it. He felt the blade twitch then extend, it looped around like a serpent bending down to slither across the floor until it reached the prey, then struck. His eyes flashed open when the sound of metal giving away echoed in the room. He looked over to see the robot's skull had been pierced through the back, the droid went limb like a puppet with its strings cut.

"Excellent, now link yourself to it."

"Huh?" Dwayne narrowed his eyes. "How do I—" The next thing he knew, his mind was reeled in like a fish on a hook into an unfamiliar body. It was like looking through glasses with red frames, he stared down at his metallic hands and the console below him. "Am I...controlling it?"

"Your mind was simply uploaded to an already empty space. No need to be concern, you aren't stuck like this when you've completed your task, the Rizer will disconnect."

"Should I expect more weird shit like this in the future?"

"There's no time for your stupidity human, release our body and we may flee this base." So they were in a base, a type of stronghold for the aliens-hold up.

"You mean my body—" Dwayne stiffened and every part of him wanted to look over to find look over to find his normal body, laying somewhat  peacefully on the operating table. Fear grasped him tighter than an anaconda's hold, his head shifting slowly to his body...except it was no longer his human one.

There on the table was a masculine creature, skin darker than the beautiful night sky, lengthy horns protruded from his skull along with long black spikes sticking out of his shoulders, there were also two spikes on the sides of his jaw. A line of spikes jutted from both forearms, sharp enough to cut steel.  Glowing orange tattoos covered his thighs, legs, forearms, and temples. The tattoo design that stood out is the one on his chest, shaped like a pair of wings traveling to his pectorals, between his pectorals is a glowing orange Jewel implanted firmly inside him, emitting a healthy glow. His eyes were like two glowing orange orbs, no pupils, sclera, just bug-like eyes.

Dwayne nearly fainted like a priest in a house of sin, he started walking backwards until he hits the golden wall and slid down slowly. He was no longer human, they had mutated him into a repulsive monster, if he wasn't an outcast before they'll think of him as one now. They'll probably shoot him on sight if he ever thought about stepping into daylight.

"Child..." the distorted voice called to him, Dwayne could tell there was forced sympathy in his tone more concerned about getting him moving than how he felt. "I know you are scared and confused, but right now you have to make yourself tranquil. These conflicting emotions are  impeding our escape. Do you wish for them to keep you here to continue experimentation? What they're planning will drive you off the edge of humanity, leaving you a devoid thrall that only obeys it's masters. Do you wish to keep your freedom, human?"

Yes...yes he did. Dwayne internally knew whatever happened to him probably couldn't be reversed. He hoped it can be, but would he find out by sitting here waiting to be discovered. There was an opportunity to escape and Dwayne is a boy who loved opportunity. Say If there was a wallet full of hundreds carelessly placed on a bus seat and you weren't able to pay rent that is due tomorrow, would you miss the chance to take it? Of course it was wrong to steal it but necessary to keep your home. Dwayne will do anything necessary to survive.

Driven by his new resolve, he willed the Server's corpse to get up and move towards the console. Knowledge that was not his own flooded in like a tsunami, he withdrew memories from the Server's CPU then typed madly on the console. The energy clamps disbursed freeing his new body, that he will certainly put to good use. Translation, he'll be taking down any fuckers who tries to stop him.

His mind was once again reeled into another body, the strength he felt earlier returned tenfold as he dropped into a crouch. He used the memories obtained from the Server to locate the oval shaped door, that slid open as he approached.

"I'm assuming you have a layout of the stronghold?"

"I do...it just doesn't make sense to me." Dwayne watched his claws clench into a fist as he walked the giant-sized corridors. His extraterrestrial side understood it perfectly yet his human self was confused. "You're forgetting I'm human...on the inside at least."

"Simplistic humans, you are too quick to give up on fathoming technology superior to your own. Your mortal side can't understand the complexity--"

"Who the hell are you?" Dwayne took pleasure when the voice stumbled on it's words.

"How dare you interrupt my degrading of your pathetic-"

"Who. The. Hell. Are. You?" The teen repeated slowly. The voice growled and went silent for a moment.

"I am a Darkfall, your Darkfall to be specific." The voice sighed in exasperation.

"You're a Praedon?" Dwayne's expression hardened, the voice's silence was telling and Dwayne snapped. "If you are, why did you help me escape instead of...I don't know, try taking over my head!"

"That was the original plan." Dwayne slammed his foot down, coming to a complete halt, his body moving to shut down mode. The silence in the halls travelled so deep that a fly would be heard passing gas in the room, if the voice had a physical form he would've punched it in the jaw then make a run for it. Sadly he'll have to stick with mentally glaring at the unseen presence.

"The key word there is 'original', what happen to make you stop?" Dwayne said, his arms crossed dismissively. "I'm guessing you had an epiphany about life being a beauty that should be preserved."

"You can say that..." The voice responded genuinely shocking Dwayne. "You're partially mistaken human, I fully intended to take your place, erasing your consciousness from existence. However, during the transference sequence I...came across something."

"And that something is?" Dwayne continued down the corridor, there should be an elevator not far from here. From what he could tell from the layout, they were deep on the ocean floor and only one elevator was available to the surface, the others lead deeper into the stronghold.

"Are you aware that you mortals only use ten percent of your brains?" He heard about that myth.

"Yeah, a scientist claimed ninety percent of it is standing idle for spare capacity. The theory was proven wrong a long time ago by professionals."

"Human professionals? I sorted through your memories and human machinery is inferior. Lesser species would've already conquered your primitive race if not for it's guardians."

"First off, stay away from my memories. Second.. Guardians?" Dwayne raised an eyebrow until he suddenly clapped his hands together in understanding. "Oh you mean those fucking capes who haven't come to bail our asses out yet? Nah, they're less threatening than a Piranha flopping around in an Arabian desert."

Seriously, weren't the heroes suppose to have a better response time than the cops. He's sure it was the afternoon by now, where were they if not here?

"Moving on." The voice waved off the comment. "Almost ninety nine percent of life in the universe has full access to their brains, while you humans are that one percent that doesn't. The task of a Darkfall is to occupy what you have access to, taking full control. Nothing is left except for a Darkfall pillaging your mind. That is why we call it the Descent, your minds are dragged below never to be seen again." Those words chilled Dwayne to the bone as he imagined almost sharing that fate. But what happen to make the Voice unable to dominate him.

"We underestimated how vast your minds truly are." The voice said while Dwayne stayed silent, eager to hear more. "What I saw made me feel...small. I can't explain it to you at this time but I will say my task was a complete failure due to my ignorance."

Dwayne will draw that as a mental tally for the 'human race because screw super-powered aliens, planet earth ruled supreme. The moment he thought that, the Voice almost immediately shot a comeback.

"Don't even begin to think highly of yourself primate, the only reason I failed is because you humans are so low on the food chain that we easily overlooked you. You're right next to an amoeba."

"If you failed against a human who is supposedly equal to an amoeba, what the hell does that make you?" Dwayne snapped back, a sense of human pride within him.

"I'll answer with a question human, would you find the universe's most intelligent insect a threat?"

Dwayne staggered from the Voice's blow on his ego, nearly dropping at the referee's feet. He drew a mental tally for the Aliens...he had a feeling this was going to be a long fight to prove humanity's value.

"Wait...that still doesn't answer the question of why did you help me?" Dwayne stopped in front a magnetic door, where a panel was installed on the side. He placed his hand on the panel allowing for the machine to scan him.

'Darkfall Recognized.' A synthetic voice said before the doors slide open. Dwayne entered the large elevator and stood clear of the closing doors. Dwayne found it odd that he was met with no resistance on his way over here, he expected to find a patrol of Servers being deployed to hunt him. Then the Voice's words came back about the Pradons underestimating humanity, did they really think they were that submissive?

"That other Darkfall talked about the Golden Queen, like she was the second coming."

"The Golden Queen cannot be described in one word, human. She is one of the most powerful entities in the universe, who desires sentient life to kneel to her commands."

"That bad?" Dwayne said, his eyes still wandered to his new body, gazing over every detail.

"How may I explain it in human terms?" The Voice hummed in thought. "I'll use an example only your infant-mind can understand."

"Go ahead." Dwayne furrowed his eyes at the insult, if he had a mouth he would give the voice his meanest frown.

"You're working long hours for a company that pays you just above minimal wage. The boss who runs the department is a condescending nuisance ."

"What type of asshole boss are we talking about here? The open type who takes up two parking spaces in his Lamborghini or the subtle type who has a picture of him and his hot wife on his desk facing the doorway,  just so when someone walks in he could show off what he got."

"Somewhere in between, The Golden Queen is subtle but she isn't afraid of flexing her power." The Voice said. "She holds the mind and soul of the Praedon empire...I mean that literally."

"Let me guess," Dwayne went back to the previous example. "You're the one guy in the office who can't stand the boss any longer so you want  to quit. However, you're  suffering from a terminal illness that is expensive to treat, unfortunately that means you have to do whatever the boss says or-"

"I die."

"That makes the Darkfalls the brown nosing idiots who follow blindly to stay on the Boss's good side."

"Despite being powerful warriors, the other Praedones look down on us."

"So the brown noser who's avoided at the water cooler. Fitting." Dwayne rolled his eyes. "What makes you different then?"

"Does a caged bird ever touch the heavens, Dwayne Cadman?"

"Huh, what is that suppose to mean--" The area around him began to shake violently. Massive tremors shook the ocean floor intensely. "That doesn't sound good!"

"The simulation is commencing...an experiment which will push Humanity to it's limit."

_____________________________

Leonard trained to keep his composure in dangerous in predicaments like this one. Showing weakness was never an option, his opponents will sniff it out and aim straight for the jugular. Malik was a strong man since the beginning and he'll play the part until the bitter end, he will not weep on his death bed because none are worthy enough to see his tears.

Standing up on a levitating golden platform circled in darkness, he looked ahead to the other  gold platforms holding two creatures that looked similar to the ones who captured him, except these ones wielded a presence of authority and power. They hadn't killed him yet but that didn't mean they won't if provoked, he needed to keep a cool head for now.

"Are you the one, they call Leonard Malik?" The dark alien said, it's one glowing yellow eye glaring at the mayor.

"Indeed I am." Leonard returned the glare, this creature was obviously sizing him up.

"Meaning you're this city's leader?" The dark alien chuckled. "Or is the correct term 'ex-leader'?"

This one was imperious indeed. The alien in white spoke a language Leonard didn't recognize to the dark alien. The creature regarded the white one then nodded. "Human leader, you have the privilege of knowing our names, be grateful you're the second inferior primate to learn it. I am Luxon and this wrathful swordsman is Wnight."

"How Kind of you. I wasn't aware pleasantries stretch beyond our stars." Leonard rolled his eyes. "If introductions are over, May I inquire is to why I'm here?" Wnight passed along a message spoken in that bizarre language again.

"Simple human," Now Leonard understood, Luxon was acting as the white alien's translator. "You are here to yield to the Praedone Empire and it's Golden Queen. Resistance is futile, it will only result in your slow demise-"

"I submit."

Luxon trailed off course and his one eye blinked in confusion. Did the alien really expect rebellion? Leonard wasn't stupid and is not a man who took gambles, these creatures have him on home turf. One mistake can send his neck to the chopping block. The snow-white creature was quick to respond.

"...I shouldn't be astonished by your choice, human. There is no shame in admitting you are outclassed, the Praedones conquered worlds much more advanced than this frail planet. Although,we barely fired a shot."

"Excuse me?" Leonard raised an elegant brow which earned a snicker from the dark alien then full-blown laughter. Wnight sent one glare the Darkfall's way before his laughter died faster than a fly in a frog pond.

Luxon cleared his throat, a smug look tailored on his expression. "Twenty-five percent of the deaths occurring now is by Server hands, while the other seventy-five is being caused via human hands. We predicted that your race would act hostile when their safety was on the line, but we didn't foresee you projecting that hostility onto each other. You fools fought like dogs over a slab of meat, killing or wounding whoever stood in your way to survival."

That wasn't surprising at all and he wouldn't pretend like it was, people who place their faith in human kindness are idealistic cretins putting all their eggs in one basket. He suspected the reason why 'generosity' existed in the first place, was to give humans the illusion of changing the world for the better. If you gave a drug addict on the streets your hard-earned money and expect them to use it to better themselves, they'd laugh when your back is turned. You can call Leonard a cynic but numerous experiences with the less fortunate planted that seed into him.

If someone was keeping score, the aliens had won this round with humanity falling behind.

"I'm going to assume you know about this planet's heroes?" His words triggered a strange reaction from Wnight. The knight spoke and Luxon translated.

"The guardians? If you're expecting a rescue plot then you are mistaken." Luxon said as a hologram of the city projected above them. "Right now a distruptor field is cutting communications to the outside world including anything within it. We're the only ones with the access of course." The hologram displayed New York being surrounded in a dome. That explained why the heroes hadn't responded, they were unaware of the situation. However, there were a couple of factors to have in mind.

"New York has thousands of tourists visiting every year and do you expect the people to stay in a city overrun by otherworldly monsters?"

"Ah that's where phase two comes into play, human." Luxon said elatedly, turning to what Leonard assumed was the Commander, since they spoke of a Golden Queen. Unless their females appeared masculine...aliens were confusing that way. The White Knight nodded in confirmation. Luxon summoned a small holographic screen with a yellow bar. The black creature touched the top of the bar then dragged it down.

The Holographic version of the magnificent Big Apple....began sinking below into a watery grave.