Now that Aaron is free from his responsibilities, he dedicates himself entirely to practicing his Inherent Technology. He feels a deep sense of happiness and pride for finally possessing his own Inherent Technology, especially since he previously received nothing. When he activates his power, he experiences a profound sense of liberation; even amidst the chaos of betrayal brewing nearby year to come, he is confident he can save his family without sacrificing anything.
Every Android is born with Inherent Technology, an intrinsic system aligned with its role in advancing the realm of technology. Each Android maintains absolute control over and a direct connection to its invention; every machine they create becomes a vital extension of their system, enabling them to manipulate and improve the machine at will.
When the ten Androids complete their births, they undergo rigorous testing to showcase their Inherent Technologies. Each Android demonstrates unique and formidable abilities in its respective field. Some can manipulate energy, and others can control the machinery they build, causing concern among the human populace about what might happen should they rebel. However, Aaron remains calm, confident that he can stand toe-to-toe with them with his own Inherent technology's power.
Eventually, Aaron meets the Androids. They exchange greetings and share stories of their experiences, but that's all. For now, Aaron isn't worried about betrayal, as that was still a far future. He's fully focused on his pregnant mother's upcoming labor. Excitement fills him at the prospect of becoming a big brother, something he never experienced in the previous timeline, because previously his parents did not think about it, as they were fully focused on the project.
Many months later, his family welcomes a new baby boy. His mother names him Noah Rex, feeling a sense of relief and contentment after his birth. When Aaron sees Noah for the first time, tears of happiness well up in his eyes, another reason to protect his imagined, envisioned future. As the family leaves the hospital, they celebrate Noah's arrival, feeling a newfound completeness with four members now shining with hope.
Three years pass. Aaron, now five years old, and Noah, three years old, sit in Aaron's room playing a baseball video game on the console.
"Big brother, catch!" Noah exclaims eagerly, as his character swings the bat and hits the virtual ball.
"Oh!" Aaron shouts in surprise, missing the catch.
Hearty laughter erupts from Noah.
"Nice play, Noah!" Aaron praises, smiling.
"Yay! I'm the strongest!" Noah exclaims proudly.
"Yeah, you're my strongest little brother," Aaron responds affectionately.
"One more?"
"Hm!"
They continue playing and chatting about their morning activities. Suddenly, Noah shifts the conversation.
"Big brother, those sisters are beautiful, right?"
"You mean the ten Androids?"
"Hm!"
"Sure, they are beautiful... Why do you ask?"
"Because they gave me candy, which means they're kind!" Noah says confidently.
"Being kind is a form of beauty, Mama says so to me."
"Good for you," Aaron replies gently, smiling at his little brother. But then, his expression shifted as he heard an alarm suddenly blare throughout the entire building.
"WARNING!" the loudspeaker blares.
"Enabling code meltdown in 60 minutes.
Please evacuate immediately!"
"Repeating!
"WARNING!" the alarm repeats.
"Enabling code meltdown in 60 minutes."
"Please evacuate..."
(What is this? This is not the previous timeline.)
Aaron's mind races. He recalls a haunting fragment from the previous timeline, an unauthorized assault by unknown soldiers who stormed the Android Project's research department. They confiscated all experimental data, executed the researchers, and brutally experimented on Aaron, the prototype, and the ten Androids. He barely escaped after a devastating virus outbreak happened in the whole community, fled into cryogenic hibernation chambers, only to awaken a million years later in a desolate, apocalyptic wasteland.
"What's that loud sound, big brother?" Noah asks nervously, having never heard an alarm like this before.
"Don't think about it. We need to go to Mom," Aaron responds firmly, helping Noah to his feet.
"You don't want to play again, brother?" Noah asks, confused.
"No, we must go now. It's important," Aaron insists.
"Okay," Noah says reluctantly, following his brother's lead.
As they step outside the door, they see their mother, along with Jacob, Henry, and Timothy, running toward them at a hurried pace, their faces etched with concern.
"Oh, thank goodness, you two are all right," Amy said urgently, cuddling her children tightly, relief flooding her voice.
"We've been looking everywhere for you," Jacob said, his brow furrowed with worry.
"Conversation is for later; we need to hurry," Timothy interjected, glancing anxiously over his shoulder.
"What's happening, Mom?" Aaron asked, voice trembling.
"I don't know why the protocol meltdown activated. Now that you're here, we're heading to your father's office first," Amy explained, her tone tense.
"Why? It's dangerous now," Aaron replied, a hint of fear in his eyes.
(I have bad feelings about this),
"We need to retrieve the important research documents, and we'll evacuate afterward," Henry said optimistically, trying to sound reassuring.
"Don't worry—it's less than a second's work; we'll finish this," Henry added confidently.
(That's what I was worried about)
After rushing to Jonathan's office, they quickly scan every corner of the sterile, fluorescent-lit room in search of the files. Eventually, Henry spots a distinctive folder with the project label.
"Ah, here it is—
Bang!
A gunshot abruptly echoes through the quiet room, startling everyone. They turn in shock to see Henry lying on the floor, a black hole in his forehead, blood pooling around him as he falls motionless.
"Henry!" Amy and Jacob shout simultaneously.
"Brother Henry!" Aaron cries out, horror-stricken.
"What does this mean, Timothy?!" Jacob demands, eyes wide with alarm.
"...Sorry, please don't hate me for this. It's crucial for my family's survival," Timothy mutters, grabbing the files while holding a gun steady at the others.
Aaron attempts to activate his power, but no energy emanates from his body. He strains desperately, trying everything to trigger his abilities, but nothing works.
"Aaron, don't try anything; it's useless, you know," Timothy says coldly.
"As a researcher involved in the project, I know something you don't, that this entire building is a deadly trap for anything created with Creatium."
"Any Creatium energy particles emitted here will cease to function once the false safe is activated. Whether you possess Inherit Technology, there's no way to use it now"
"And an army will be here, they're not ours soldiers, but they need these documents."
"Is this your only way, Timothy?! Betraying us?" Amy shouted, her voice breaking.
"You don't understand how hard this decision was for me, Amy," Timothy said quietly.
"Is it your family that truly matters most to you, Timothy?!" Jacob retorted angrily.
"You don't need—" Timothy was cut off as Jacob lunged forward and tackled him before he could finish.
"Jacob!" Amy yelled, alarmed.
"Uncle Jacob!" Aaron cried out.
"Get the file and run!" Jacob commanded urgently, struggling to wrench the gun from Timothy's grasp.
Amy nervously grabbed the files, tears streaming down her face, as she hurriedly lifted crying Noah into her arms and pulled Aaron by the hand.
"Let's go, children!"
"But Uncle—"
"Let go!"
"Let go of the gun, Jacob!" Timothy shouted amid their struggle, both men wrestling over the gun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the chaos, the gun goes off three times, bullets skittering across the floor.
"Help! They're escaping!" Timothy yelled in panic, frantic to call the soldiers.
Immediately, he heard footsteps. As he expected, it was armored-suited soldiers who burst into the room, weapons raised, but he noticed their guns were pointed directly at him too.
"Wait—
Ratatatat!~
"Uncle Jacob!" Aaron exclaimed as he heard the distant hail of gunshot echo sharply and loudly through the hallway.
(Damn it! Why can't I use my power now when i needed?!) He wondered, frustration flickering across his face.
"Where are we going to run, Mom?! I'm sure they're also responsible for this!"
Amy was deep in thought, her mind racing with a safe escape. Even if they run outside of the building, she knows the soldiers would be relentless, firing at them if they saw them on the way. At that moment, she remembered her husband's words, which gave her hope.
"I know one place! Even if this building is destroyed, they won't be able to break it!" She declared with confidence.
"Mom, what about dad? Will he be okay?" Aaron said anxiously.
"He will join us..." I promise," Amy replied, trying to sound reassuring despite her own fear for her husband's safety.
After a few tense minutes of hurried running through the hallways and corridors, Amy halted at a heavy secured, sealed door. She quickly slid her ID card through the reader, entered his passcode, and waited as the locking mechanism opened.
"This is..." Aaron murmured, recognizing the familiar door, one that his father had taken him to.
"There here! Needs backup!" Suddenly, a soldier shouted, echoing down the silent corridors.
Thankfully, the door hissed with sound, and the trio dashed inside.
Ratatatatat!~
Amy quickly grabbed the lever, lowered it to activate the lock feature, sealing the door securely behind them. When the door completely closed, Aaron and Noah embraced Amy tightly, as she fell on the cold floor, exhausted and frightened.
"Mama!" Noah sobbed, tears streaming down his face as he clung to her, trembling.
"Hah...hah...hah, you two are alright?" Amy said, struggling to speak.
The two nodded.
But Aaron notices his hand on Amy's back is wet, and he looks at it, and his eyes widen in horror as he sees blood on it.
"Mom, you're bleeding..." he whispered, tears welling up.
"Huh?...ahh, don't think about it, ack!" Amy gasped, coughing blood as adrenaline waned and pain surged through her body.
"Mom! Mama!" Aaron's voice cracked as he cried, pressing his hand against her bleeding back, trying to stop the flowing blood.
"Mama, are you okay?" Noah asked, his voice trembling.
"Hm! Mama was okay... I'm just tired, that's all." Amy replied, forcing a painful smile to hide her anguish.
"Woahh, mama!" Noah wailed, tears flowing freely, as he painfully came to know what had truly happened to his mother.
"Why is my baby Noah crying too? I'm still here" Amy softly said, a melancholic smile on his lips.
"Mama! Mama! Woahh...ahh!" Aaron cried out, overwhelmed with despair.
"You know, Aaron, Noah... you two are my greatest treasure," Amy said softly, as her voice faded.
"Every moment of my life is precious because of you two,"
"I've always prayed for you two to grow into great adults,"
"I wish I had seen you two grow up,"
"Mama...will rest now...so please...sur..vive..." she murmured softly as her eyes remained open, a peaceful smile on her face, even the light in her eyes fading as her life was lost forever.
"MAMA!"