OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 2: Rebirth

***

[Subject 777 connected.]

[Aether body confirmed.]

[Memory synchronization start.]

….

….

….

….

As he emerged from a state of unconsciousness, a shrill cry pierced the air.

Blinking his eyes open, he beheld a colossal figure looming above him, a giant of sorts, strikingly magnificent in its appearance, cradling him in her arms.

And despite the cacophony surrounding him, a deep calmness enveloped him.

Abruptly, the crying stopped, triggering an eerie sensation of déjà vu.

…It was as though he had traversed this path before, lived through another life.

The giant being gazed down upon him with a warm smile, triggering an inexplicable feeling of recognition within him.

Leaving her eyes for a moment, he surveyed his surroundings and quickly deduced that he was in a room that diverged from any he had encountered before.

The ambiance was , futuristic even, evident in the colors, sounds, and aromas.

Yet despite the sensory overload, he found himself surrendering to a sense of comfort and safety in the giant's arms.

Her embrace was a sanctuary from the disorienting newness of his surroundings, a source of stability in an uncertain world.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself to be lulled into a deep and restful sleep, grateful for this unexpected respite.

As slumber claimed him, he began to dream of his past life.

Images flashed before his eyes - a world of technology and innovation, a life of luxury and ease, a very boring life it was.

He soon found himself overcome with nostalgia.

However, the recollections that filled his thoughts were scattered and jumbled, making it difficult for him to piece together a coherent story of his past.

Nevertheless, a strong sense of boredom lingered, suggesting that his past life had been monotonous and devoid of adventure.

Slowly but surely, he started to recall moments spent with family, and with friends, which made it increasingly apparent that he had been somebody else, somewhere else.

And while he contemplated this, a sudden darkness descended upon him, enveloping him in its warm embrace.

He woke up with a start, feeling disoriented and confused.

The giant was still cradling him, and he looked up at their face once more.

He caught a glimpse of something that had eluded him before - a glint of warmth and affection in their eyes.

'Who is this giant and why is she looking at me like this?' he thought.

Listening to the voices around him – he heard the giant's soft voice, repeating the same word "Emir" again and again in a variety of playful tones, the same way any person would speak to a child, while he also heard a child's high-pitched chatter.

And even though he was a newborn, he understood them.

It was as if he had always known their language.

'This is weird... Too weird, what the hell is going on?!'

He attempted to reconcile his fragmented memories with his present circumstances, but an inexplicable occurrence transpired.

A voice, seemingly originating from within his own mind, suddenly made itself known to him.

[….]

[Subject number 777 synchronization complete.]

[….]

[Beginning quest.]

[….]

A sense of confusion and fear overtook him, but the reasons behind these emotions remained elusive. It was as though an ominous sensation had taken hold of him, signaling that something was wrong.

Instinctively, he began to wail, his cries echoing throughout the unfamiliar room.

The volume of his distress only grew louder, as though he were trying to communicate something urgent and crucial.

While tears were running down his face, he slowly tilted his head up wondering if the giant cradling him heard the voice, but it didn't seem like it.

The giant looked to be surprised about his sudden outburst, so she worriedly asked:

"Doctor, is something wrong with Emir? Why won't my son stop crying?"

'Son... What? Is it me? Am I really this woman's son?'

'Then wait, wait, WAIT. Does this mean that I was reincarnated? OH GOD! HOW?!'

'...Although I always wanted a second chance at life, but... I didn't think I'd get one this literal!'

'Did I win the lottery of reincarnation or something? Or was it a mistake? Is the voice involved?'

'I need answers. How did I end up here? Was I reincarnated? And if so, why?'

Emir thought, his mind racing with questions.

He looked to his left and saw what appeared to be the doctor his supposed mother mentioned.

"Nothing is wrong Miss Laura, the injection was done perfectly."

"Then why is he still crying?!"

"Miss Laura please calm down, nothing is wrong with the child, he is born healthy, and his crying is completely normal for a newborn. It might just be his instinctive reaction to the injection." He calmly stated.

'If she is my mother then that little chatterbox is my sister huh,' he thought as he looked away from Lily and back to Laura.

Emir watched as her expression shifted from worry to relief whilst she drew him closer to her chest.

And in spite of his confusion and inability to grasp the situation, his mother's embrace filled him again with a weird sense of safety and warmth.

It was as if he knew on some deep, instinctual level that she was there to protect him.

The doctor continued, "I'll need to run some tests on Emir, but I don't anticipate any problems. We just want to make sure everything is functioning properly."

Delicately picking him up, the doctor took Emir away for testing, which barely registered in his mind as he struggled with the sense of unease that lingered within him.

…

Lying in the sterile hospital crib, he closed his eyes and attempted to make sense of it all.

But regardless of his efforts, the persistent feeling that his life was destined for something other than normal persisted, haunting him like a specter.

He soon began hearing footsteps, as the doctor came up to the crib he was lying in and softly spoke:

"Emir, let me just scan you real quick to make sure you're okay, alright?"

He attempted to nod his head in agreement, but his body refused to cooperate.

The doctor then lifted him and placed him into a compact cylindrical pod, which performed the scanning procedure he had mentioned earlier.

Once the scan was complete, he removed him from the pod and carried him back to the room where his mother was waiting.

The calm demeanor Emir displayed on the surface concealed the inner turmoil consuming him.

His thoughts and emotions clashed fiercely, creating a chaotic storm that showed no signs of calming down.

The questions that plagued him had been weighing on his mind for some time now.

Was he truly just a reincarnated being, brought back to this world to fulfill some purpose beyond his understanding?

Or was there more to his birth and his connection to that mysterious voice that echoed in his mind, a voice that seemed to beckon him towards a destiny he had yet to comprehend?

As his mother and the doctor exchanged words, he continued to struggle to concentrate and comprehend the situation at hand.

'Is it because of me being a newborn that I can't manage to control my thoughts?' He theorized.

After a long while, the doctor finally excused himself, leaving Laura and him alone in the hospital room.

She soon began to rock him, the rhythmic motion of her arms provided a soothing balm to his frayed nerves, easing the relentless turmoil that had consumed him since his arrival.

Gradually, the steady cadence of her movements lulled him into a state of drowsy contentment causing his mind to finally quieten.

The torrent of thoughts that had plagued him for so long receded into the background, replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility.

And as he slowly drifted off into a deep slumber, a plan began to form in his mind.

Upon waking up, he would try to make sense of everything that had happened, to unravel the tangled web of information that had so confounded him.