Awakening(Part 2)

Dr Hannah stared at the stats on her screen in disbelief. Damian's recorded physical stats were listed on it, and she found it hard to believe they were things a seventeen year old could accomplish.

{Personal Information}

[Name: Damian Ayodeji]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 17]

[Weight: 80 kg]

---

{Physical Metrics}

[Bone Density: 1.3 g/cm²]

[Strength (Deadlift): 430 kg]

[Agility (Box Drill): 8 seconds]

[Speed (100m Sprint): 9.73 seconds]

[Endurance (Dead Hang): 900 seconds]

[Reaction Time (RAT): 0.09 seconds]

---

The sterile, white room hummed with quiet energy. Damian lay strapped inside the pod, his body bare against the cold metal surface. The glass lid hissed shut, sealing him in.

A mechanical arm descended, holding a cluster of syringes. Without hesitation, it plunged them into Damian's limbs and torso. The clear solutions within drained into his body, and his vitals plummeted. The heart monitor beeped erratically, then slowed until it was barely audible.

"Vitals dropping... inducing simulated death," Dr. Hannah announced. Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled with anxiety.

Inside the pod, Damian's chest barely moved. His body, tricked into thinking it was dying, began to release its safeguards. The systems that kept his biology stable fell away, leaving him open to manipulation.

Another syringe, larger and filled with a glowing green solution, slid into place. The arm positioned it above Damian's neck and injected the liquid directly into his bloodstream.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then his body began convulsing violently. His back arched, slamming against the restraints as veins bulged eerily under his skin, glowing faintly from the green solution. Spasms racked his frame, each one more violent than the last.

"He's stabilizing," a scientist whispered.

But Damian wasn't calm yet. His breathing was ragged, his heart rate erratic. The pod's systems monitored every flicker of activity, tracking the delicate balance between success and failure. Then, as suddenly as it began, the spasms ceased. His body relaxed, his vitals evened out.

"Procedure complete," another scientist said, relief thick in their voice.

Before they could celebrate, the room shifted. The gravity in the room suddenly doubled, pressing everyone to the floor except two people, Michael who stared at the ensuing chaos with indifference, and Joshua, who was protected by his father's sphere of influence, his eyes narrowed at the unnatural scene.

Tools clattered off tables. Then it tripled, and one scientist cried out, struggling to breathe. Just as quickly, gravity reversed, leaving equipment and people floating for a split moment before slamming them back to the ground.

"What's happening?" someone shouted.

Inside the pod, Damian lay still, but a faint hum built around him. Without warning, an invisible pulse erupted from his body. It swept through the room, killing every machine. Lights flickered out, the monitors went silent, and the pod itself stopped humming.

"The power is out. We've lost all systems!"

The scientists froze, staring at the now-dark pod in horror. No one spoke, each waiting with bated breath for something to happen.

Dr Hannah began silently praying for a miracle, as her life and the rest of her staff were on the line if something were to happen to Damian. The silence dragged on, broken only by shallow, nervous breaths.

Suddenly, the power surged back on, lights blazing painfully bright. The pod hissed, releasing the locks. The glass lid slid open, and Damian sat up.

He looked around, his movements slow but deliberate. His eyes glowed faintly green, his veins still prominent but no longer bulging.

"Damian?" a scientist asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised a hand, staring at it as if testing its strength. When he finally looked at them, his expression was unreadable.

"I'm... awake," he said, his voice calm but resonating with a dark undertone to it.

Joshua walked towards his brother silently, calmly bending down to help remove the restraints on his legs.

Unbeknownst to all in the room, a small smile crept onto the face of Michael as his eyes glazed over with something that closely resembled a mix of happiness and pride.

---

Damian lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was quiet, but his mind was anything but. The rush of power he had felt right after the procedure had faded, leaving behind a calm yet potent energy thrumming beneath his skin.

He was stronger, faster, more durable, surpassing the limits of human potential.

Even more shocking was the change to his perception. His previously recorded reaction time of 0.09 milliseconds was something only achievable by the very best formula one racers. Right now, even though he couldn't dodge a fired bullet, he would have no issues reacting to the person behind the trigger if they were just a highly trained soldier with no physical enhancements.

His father had spoken to him briefly after the procedure. A firm pat on the shoulder and a nod of approval were all Damian received before his father gave him clear instructions. "Rest. Tomorrow is important."

Resting, however, was proving impossible. He was supposed to be asleep, but his body wouldn't allow it. Every muscle felt charged, every nerve alive. His entire system was in overdrive, vibrating with energy that wouldn't settle.

He shifted in bed, staring at his hands. They looked the same, but he could feel the raw power within them. The tests had barely scratched the surface of what he was now capable of, and he couldn't help but wonder what else had changed.

Lying back down, Damian tried to focus on sleep, but it wouldn't come. His body demanded action, his mind racing with possibilities. Tomorrow was important, but tonight, he was left with only his thoughts and the buzzing of insects that roamed around his window.