Disclaimer: This is a work of original fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Warning: Description of Physical violence, Torture and Cursed words. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter 8 -- Face-to-face
Corridor, Unknown Floor Level, Unknown Military Building, Unknown Military Base, Somewhere in the US, 11 November 2020, 0810 hrs
Two days earlier…
“Let me go, you asshole!” An angry Erika tries to free herself from Sergeant Major Perez as she brings the human teenager to a room. “Where’s my brother and Lieutenant Freida? What have you done to them?”
Angered by her defying resistance, the Young Templar sergeant major shoved Erika to a wall before tying her hands with a zip tie. “Shut the fuck up, young one!” Katie shuts her up in a roaring voice. “They are no longer your family, so you better don’t give a shit about them! Your future is now under our control, and we can dictate who your family is. Continue with this nonsense, and I will not hesitate to send you to a research lab for them to turn you into a mindless bio-weapon!”
Horrified by her threat, Erika stops resisting her captor and breaks down, wailing uncontrollably. “No... No... Why are you doing this to me and my family…” Erika sobs in despair. ‘Pathetic young one.’ Katie smirks in pleasure after seeing poor Erika break down in distress. “We are rescuing you from those worthless humans, young one,” Katie smiled as she sneered at her. “We are your new family now, and you will accept living alongside our brethren after we turn you into one of us.” .
“I don’t want to be part of your kind. Why do you have to force me to become your kind? Why can’t you respect us and humanity?” Erika questions why they want her to become one of them. “Shut the hell up and accept the fact that you will become one of us in the future, bratty young one!” Another unnamed Young Templar lady hits Erika’s head as she scolds her. “Sergeant Major Perez, requesting permission to lock her right arm firmly so she can’t try to free herself from you.” The unnamed Young Templar lady asks Katie.
“Permission granted, Corporal,” Katie nods in approval. Then, they hold and secure both her shoulders firmly before continuing to walk down the corridor as they make their way to a medical room.
Later in the medical room…
“No point trying to free yourself, Miss Zander.” A human lady's voice tells the human teenager. “You are not strong enough to break the cuffs. So stop resisting and let me do my job, you brat!”
As Erika looked up to see who was talking to her, she couldn’t believe an adult human lady was speaking to her while wearing an unknown military uniform. “Wait. You are an adult human. How did the Young Templars let you live? I thought they would slaughter an adult human upon encountering one.” Erika questions her as she wonders why the Young Templars would keep an adult human alive.
“They deemed me worthy to continue living in their vision. In return, I offer my services and support to them.” The adult human lady replies before explaining further. “Sorry for not introducing myself, Miss Zander. I’m Lieutenant Anaëlle, a Tri-Sixer medical doctor working alongside with the Young Templars. You are here today for a medical checkup to determine both your physical and mental health before we can turn you into a Fledgling. So please cooperate with me for today, miss.” Jeanette informs Erika as she puts on a new pair of medical gloves.
“Why do you continue supporting them, doctor? They will eliminate you once you have outlived your usefulness to them. You are a human, and you shouldn’t sell away your humanity to them, you traitor!” Erika calls her out. However, her words pissed off the Tri-Sixer medical doctor as she detests young ones like Erika for lecturing her about humanity. Furious, she grabs Erika by her ponytail hair before facing her at a close range.
“Never ever lecture me about the definition of humanity again, stupid young one,” Jeanette warns Erika in a cold, threatening voice. “I’ve experienced what humanity had done to me before, so what’s the point of continuing to support it?” Jeanette lets out a quick breath before continuing. “The Young Templars gave me a new meaningful purpose for my life after taking me in when I had no one else to turn to for help. I would rather help them achieve their goals to make this world a better place instead. Even my children have become Fledglings now, and they will become full-fledged Young Templars after completing their military training next year.” .
“How could you do this to your children?!” Erika voices out in disgust.
“I’ve never regretted stopping my children from becoming full-fledged Young Templars, Miss Zander,” Jeanette says as an insidious smile appears on her face. “They are very grateful to me after I allowed them to sign up to become Fledglings. Now, they are eager to fulfil their duties as full-fledged Young Templars and replace humanity with their civilization.” The Tri-Sixer medical doctor then releases her grip on the human teenager’s ponytail hair before giggling to herself evilly. “I’m looking forward to turn you into an inhuman Fledgling through mental brainwashing. After that, I will ensure they will train you to become the most ruthless and heartless Young Templar ever created. Mark my words, Miss Zander. It will happen under my watch.” .
”No…No…” Erika mutters in fear. She realizes the medical doctor is going to assist the Young Templars in turning her into one of them against her will eventually. “Kodey, help me. I’m scared.” .
Ward 2-4, 2nd Floor, 88th Regiment ‘Ravens’ Aid Station, Fort Drum, New York, USA, 13 November 2020, 0803 hrs
Back to the present…
“Open your mouth and eat the damn food, stupid human!” Sally scolds Kodey for refusing to eat the food placed in a spoon that is in front of his face. “You take away my sister, so go fuck yourself, you unholy monsters,” Kodey responds in a bitter voice.
Irked by Kodey’s rudeness towards his fellow Raven Young Templar, Lieutenant Blair takes out a stun baton and prepares to electrocute the young adult human into submission. “Continue with your abusive language, and I will not hesitate to shock you with this baton right here. Don’t make me do this, you ungrateful human.” Alex warns. “Do it, you son of a bitch!” Kodey talks back. “I have nothing else left to lose after you and your people took away my mom and my sister from me.” .
Provoked by his words, Lieutenant Blair turns on his stun baton before electrocuting Kodey. “ARGGHH!” Kodey shrieks in pain as he feels the voltage of electricity travel throughout his body. “Look who’s the toughest guy now!” Alex taunts in a loud, menacing voice. “You think you can defy us with your cocky attitude?! You think you humans are way better than we are?! Let me tell you, we are far smarter and superior to you, and we will not hesitate to eradicate your fellow inferior humans.” .
“Go on and finish me, you bloody bastard.” Kodey goats him in ending his human life.
“I will end your life when the time is right, Mr Zander. But first, I want to savour every moment of your pain and despair coming from you pathetic human.” Alex says with amusement. “Now let’s get down to business, shall we?”
Without hesitation, the Raven Young Templar officer turns his face to Sally and gives her a new order. “Stop feeding this ungrateful human, Sergeant Flannery. If he doesn’t want to eat, let him starve himself. I want to speak to this pathetic human now.” Sally nods after hearing his order and she puts the bowl of food, and utensils back on the metallic cart. After that, Sally pushes the metallic cart to a corner of the room as the two Raven Young Templars ready themselves to talk to the young adult human.
“Do you know why you are still alive despite being a 19-year-old adult, Mr Zander?” Alex begins his first question.
“Why should you even ask me this when I have zero knowledge of why your people spared me alive?!” Kodey retorts back.
Amazed by his clever response, Lieutenant Blair claps his hands slowly and sarcastically. “Indeed, you are the son of Daniel Zander. You must have inherited his intelligent genes from him. We hold you alive since the top brass have shown interest in you, and they wanted us to transfer you to one of their bases in Nepal. Within the next few weeks, a military transport aircraft will land at this military base of ours, and we will transfer you to that aircraft before departing for Nepal.” .
“What about my sister?!” A furious Kodey demands answers.
“She’s no longer your sister anymore, Mr Zander.” Alex’s voice turns cold as he inches closer to Kodey’s face. “She’s on her path to become one of us, and she will disregard you as her brother after we fully convert her. I can’t wait to see her disown you in front of our kind before killing you in the most twisted way possible. Hence, I will show you later the first step of her conversion.” .
“I will fucking kill you and your people if you dare to convert my sister into one of your kind.” Kodey threatens him.
“Try me, foolish human.” Alex gloats back. “I’m way stronger than you by a lot, and I will not hesitate to drop you like a dead fish within seconds the moment you lunge at me. Don’t even think about landing your punch on me.” .
“When me and my mother come back to rescue my sister, you better not beg me for mercy after I defeated you, you evil bastard,” Kodey warns him.
Amused by Kodey’s statement, the Raven Young Templar officer intends to insult him further by telling him the fate of 1st-Lieutenant Freida. “About that. She’s not your actual mother. Your biological mother got killed by a Puncher months ago.” Alex says in a deadpan voice. “Right now, your adopted mother is still alive, but she’s transported to another military base of ours for another purpose. Hence, you will not get to see her again.” .
Shocked by his words, Kodey bursts into a furious tirade, demanding to know the whereabouts of 1st-Lieutenant Freida — “Where is she now and what are you planning to do to her?!”
A devilish smirk appeared on Lieutenant Blair’s face as he saw another opportunity to dehumanise the young adult human further. “Don’t worry, Mr Zander. We will look after her well so that she can fulfil the intended role we gave her. Once she fulfils her role, you will get to reunite her with her again at the correct time.” Alex chuckles in an evil tone as he ends his statement. “Now, it’s time for you to witness this important event of your lifetime.” .
Ward 2-4, 2nd Floor, 88th Regiment ‘Ravens’ Aid Station, Fort Drum, New York, USA, 13 November 2020, 0803 hrs
‘What does he mean by that?’ Kodey wonders as he sees Lieutenant Blair walk to a nearby television mounted on the wall before turning it on with a remote. Soon, the television screen shows a helpless Erika being completely cuffed to a medical chair while a medical doctor stands beside her.
“Is that MY SISTER?!” Kodey raises his voice in shock as he can’t believe the human teenage lady shown on the television screen is his sister.
“It is her,” Alex replies with excitement. “Today, you will see your sister become a whole new different person.” .
“What do you mean, she will become a whole new person?” Kodey asks with suspicion. Just as he finished asking, a horrifying thought appeared in his mind. “Wait. Don’t tell me you are about to convert my sister into a Young Templar, aren’t you?”
“That’s right,” Alex answers boldly. “Today marks the process of her quitting humanity and joining the ranks of our kind. Once she becomes a full-fledged Young Templar, she will accept our way of life and join our cause of restoring this great planet by eradicating humanity.” After telling Kodey that, Lieutenant Blair turns to the television screen before opening his mouth to speak to the medical doctor. “Good morning, Doctor Anaëlle. How’s the young one doing? Is she ready to join our ranks?”
“Affirmative, sir!” Jeanette replies. “She’s ready, but should we let her see her brother one last time before initiating the process, sir?”
“Permission granted.” Alex agrees with enthusiasm. “I’ve been waiting for this moment, so don’t fail me now, doctor.” .
Lieutenant Anaëlle nods and then wakes up a sleeping Erika to let her see her brother one last time. “Wake up, Miss Zander. Time to see your brother one last time before we start the conversion process.” .
As Erika opens her eyes, she sees her brother lying on the hospital bed with both his hands cuffed to the railings of the medical bed while two Raven Young Templars are standing beside him. “Kodey….” Erika calls out to her brother as a tear flows out from her right eye. “Come and save me, brother. I’m scared…”
“Erika?! What have they done to you?!” Kodey angrily shouts as he sees his sister sobbing through the television screen. Then, he turns his face towards Lieutenant Blair before issuing a verbal threat towards him. “Release me now, or I will bloody kill both of you. You sick fucks!”
Without hesitation, Lieutenant Blair uses his stun baton to electrocute Kodey into submission. “You think you can scare me with this pathetic threat of yours?!” Alex howls in fury before pulling Kodey’s hair. “It won’t work, foolish human. Now watch this moment as your sister becomes one of us. Doctor Anaëlle! Begin injecting the vial into the young one right now!”
“Right away, sir!” Jeanette acknowledges his order before inserting a serum vial into an injector gun. “It will be painful for a while, so bear with it, Miss Zander,” Jeanette informs Erika as she presses the injector gun onto her left shoulder. Soon, Erika feels herself getting hotter than before as the serum dissolves into her blood, thus causing her to undergo unknown changes to her body. “What have you done to me?!” Erika screams in agony as she feels her head spinning.
“Your body is transforming itself to become a Fledgling, young one,” Alex says in a thrilling voice. “It’s time you quit humanity and embrace your new identity as a future Young Templar. This man right here is no longer fit to be your brother, and we will help you integrate into your new family.” .
However, her condition worsens as her body twitches in pain and she coughs up blood. “ARGHH! MAKE IT STOP!” Erika screeches in pain. Soon, her eyes’ pupils turn into slit form, and visible fangs appear on her teeth.
“Please stop… Stop this madness, I’m begging you. I can’t take it anymore.” Kodey begs in desperation as tears flow down his face.
“Too bad, I would rather see her completing her transformation into a Fledgling.” Alex grins with a sinister look. “After that, we will train her to become a full-fledged Young Templar, and I will train her to be a Raven operator. Then I will order her to kill you once she fully embraces our vision.” Lieutenant Blair chuckles in an evil tone as he lets go of Kodey’s hair. “Oh look, she’s a Fledgling now.” .
To Kodey’s horror, he sees blood flowing out from his sister’s eyes and mouth as she completes her transformation of being a Fledgling. “Kodey, I’m sorry. Please take care of yourself from now on.” Those are her last words before fainting out of exhaustion from her painful transformation.
After witnessing her painful transformation, Kodey gives up all hope in saving his sister as he feels he just lost his sister to the enemy, the Young Templars. “Just end my life here right now, you son of bitches. I have nothing else left to live since you people murdered my family and turned my sister into your horrible kind. Do it.” Kodey resigns his fate to them.
“We have no intention of ending your life now, Mr Zander. Like I said earlier, the higher-ups want to speak to you,” Alex informs him. “Over the coming days, you will follow every order I issued while staying at our military base until your departure to Nepal. Failure to obey my command and I will not hesitate to give you actual hell. Dream on trying to rebel against me, stupid human.” Then Lieutenant Blair turns to face the television before giving a last instruction to the Tri-Sixer medical doctor. “Thank you for converting the young one into a Fledgling, Doctor Anaëlle. Please look after her until the caretakers arrive to take her away. That’s all. Goodbye, doctor.” .
The appearance of Erika and the Tri-Sixer medical doctor disappear from the television screen as they end the video call. Satisfied by the outcome he desired, he spared Kodey from any further mental harm. “I will see you again tomorrow, Mr Zander,” Alex tells him before turning his face to Sally. “Our conversation with this human ends, Sergeant Flannery. Time for us to leave him alone and exit the room.” .
As they leave the room, leaving him alone, Kodey weeps silently in anguish as he struggles to come to terms with his sister being turned into a Young Templar and the death of his adopted mother as well. He wished he could find something to end his life currently, as he can’t bear the pain any further. At least he can join his deceased actual mother in heaven. However, he lacked the willpower to do it since he was having a mental breakdown.
Unknown Laboratory (Underground), Unknown Floor Level, Unknown Research Outpost, Somewhere in the US, 13 November 2020, 1500 hrs
Somewhere in a research lab…
“MAKE IT STOP!! WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IT’S HURTING ME!!” A lady screams in pain as she’s tightly strapped to an operating table inside a confined NPR (Negative Pressure Room). “ARGHHH! IT’S HURT!!”
Behind the glass wall, a team of Tri-Sixer scientists and a Young Templar military virologist observe the test subject from a distance. “How’s the test subject’s progress so far, doctor? Is the new virus performing way beyond our expectations?” A Young Templar military virologist questions the head of the Tri-Sixer scientists. “It is, Major Misaki. The test subject’s body is bonding well with the virus.” The Tri-Sixer head scientist replies. “In fact, the virus is rewriting all the human DNA structure found within her body, but that doesn’t mean she will turn into a zombie right now. To achieve further, we need to insert the booster variant into her now, madam.” .
“Alright, doctor. I want to see the effects caused by the booster variant. Hence, insert it into her body now.” Kaede issues the order. “Right away, madam.” The Tri-Sixer head scientist acknowledges her order before instructing a fellow scientist to do it.
Soon, an injector machine containing the booster variant moves towards the shoulder of the test subject before pausing as the machine ready itself for injection. “No. No. Don’t inject me with that machine!” The test subject begs in fear as she stares at the machine. However, the machine protrudes a thin needle before piercing it into her shoulder, and the liquid slowly dissolves into her bloodstream through the injection.
“KYAAA!!” The test subject cried in agony as she felt a stinging sharp pain when the booster variant liquid flowed across her entire body. Unknown to her, that booster variant causes the cells within her body to mutate, which could lead to uncontrollable physical changes in her human body. Within seconds, blood emits out of her mouth and eyes as her body rocks violently. Then, her fingers mutate into claws before a pair of monstrous wings and a tail erupt from her back. “No. ARGHH!….” Her screams soon turn into a demonic roar as the virus completes her transformation into a bio-weapon.
“It’s beautiful!” Kaede raises her voice in excitement after seeing the transformation caused by the new virus. To her, this new virus and its booster variant have surpassed her expectations, and she wants to improve it further. Then, she hopes the top brass will use her improved virus for biological attacks on island nations like Japan and ANZ (Australia-New Zealand). Hence, she intends to find more captured adult humans and use them as test subjects by injecting them with the new virus for further research.
‘Just you wait, pathetic humanity. With this new virus, your doom will come faster.’ Kaede smirked as she saw the former test subject break free from the operating table and move aimlessly across the NPR.
To be continued...
End of Chapter 8
Note: All the characters, places and storylines of the Hellwave story are owned by Jeremy Mountbatten. All rights reserved by the author. Feel free to give some feedback and don't forget to like and subscribe. If you want to support me, you can tip me on Ko-Fi (link provided below).