Episode 19: “The Room of Origin”

Scene opens — inside the tower.

Aran stands before the sealed door labeled "A-001". The walls around him hum with energy. The virus inside his body pulses — as if responding to something beyond the metal.

*His hand trembles. Not from fear — from rage. From memory. From something deeper.

Aran (thinking):"I was never just a survivor. I was the beginning of something else."

He places his hand on the scanner.The door unlocks — slowly, painfully. A hiss of cold air floods out. White lights flicker on inside.

Inside the A-001 Room

The room is huge, circular, cold. The walls are lined with screens, wires, capsules filled with failed test subjects — all labeled:

A-002A-003A-004…A-050

All failed. All dead.

But in the center of the room — is a single stasis pod. Inside it — an empty space. A plaque beneath it reads:

"SUBJECT A-001: PROJECT BEGINNING"

Aran stares in silence.

Suddenly — the screens around the room light up. Static. Then… the Doctor appears. Face half-covered in a plague mask, eyes glowing white behind lenses.

Doctor (calm, twisted):"Aran. You've returned to where you were born.Not in blood. Not in pain.But in purpose."

Aran (gritting teeth):"You made me a monster."

Doctor:"No, no, no… You are the answer. A-001 was never a mistake.You were the origin.The virus was made from you.You are not infected — you ARE the infection."

FLASHBACK HITS ARAN HARD

Memory pours in — fast and uncontrollable:

He sees himself — younger — strapped to a surgical table, tubes pumping black fluid out of his bones.

He screams as scientists cheer.

The Doctor stands over him, saying: "He's adapting. He's stabilizing. He's… changing the virus to fit his DNA."

Back to present:

Aran drops to his knees, gasping. Eyes flickering blue, then red.

Aran (shaking):"...You… used my blood?"

Doctor (calm):"Your blood was the catalyst.Your pain, your emotions, your love — all of it became the perfect viral code."

Doctor (grinning):"And now that you remember, it's time to evolve again.Come home, Aran. Let me finish what I started."

Suddenly — the floor shifts. Syringes rise. Machines activate. The tower begins to close in. The room is sealing shut.

Outside the tower

Liya suddenly hears it — Aran's voice in her head.

Aran (telepathic whisper):"Liya… if I don't come back… burn this place."

Liya (tears welling):"No. No, you promised. Don't say goodbye."

Back inside

Aran slowly stands. Eyes glowing. Virus energy coursing through him — but controlled. This time… it's his.

Aran (coldly):"You didn't create me.You broke me.But I rebuilt myself."

He glares at the screen.

Aran:"And now I'm going to end this."

Final shot:

Aran walks deeper into the tower's core as alarms blare, machines awaken, and the Doctor prepares to activate the final stage.

Doctor (softly):"Let's see if my weapon still remembers how to die."

TO BE CONTINUED...