"Kael's right," Rosa said, her voice uncharacteristically gentle, her pink hair catching the light as she shifted, her cryo-suit's torn shoulder revealing more porcelain skin.
"Those girls… they're counting on us. Makes you wonder who we were before all this, doesn't it?" Her fingers brushed Kael's arm. "What made us… chosen?"
Kael: "Yeah," he said softly, "We're all here for a reason. I… I don't remember anything about my past. Who were my parents? I don't remember anyone. Just vague… static images."His eyes lingered on his scarred hands.
Kael: "Sometimes I think I feel something... but it's like I was born halfway through a dream I can't finish." Clara glanced at him in surprise.
Clara's: "Y-you really don't remember... anything?" she asked softly, her fingers clutching her toolkit tighter against her chest.
Rosa: "Your family, your name before the vault, even what you did...?"
Kael: "Uh... I think I liked rice? Maybe?" scratching his head. "Oh—and I really hate spiders."
Rosa chuckled, her body relaxing just a little as she flopped beside the bunk. "You're like a puppy that wandered into a science experiment."
Clara looked—half concerned, half thoughtful. "That's...that's so w-weird. We all woke up with our memories intact and I even remember the lecture o-of my dad before I went to the pod."
Asha: "Your neural imprint suffered partial corruption during cryo-stasis. Phoenix Protocol reinitialized your body and essential survival instincts, but deeper memory sectors were fragmented—possibly by traumatic override or a forced manual lockdown. Your cognitive blueprint is intact... but your past is buried."
"In simpler terms: you were not meant to remember—likely by design and even by your own choice." Kael scratched the back of his head.
Kael: "Sera, you've been quiet. What do you think… about why we're here?"
The group's eyes shifted to Sera. Her sports bra clung to her curves.
She uncrossed her arms, stepping away from the wall behind Kael. Sera leaned against a bulkhead, arms crossing again—this time beneath her chest. Then, she spoke—low and firm.
Sera: "My parents—Dr. Alistair Valerius and Dr. Lyra Valerius—they were lead researchers on Project Phoenix." Her voice wasn't cold this time. "They used to argue about it late at night, thinking I was asleep. Mother thought it was humanity's last shot after the Scorch. Father… worried we were playing God—with genetics, with fate itself." She paused, remembering the past.
Sera: "The solar flares in 2057…knock out power grids and satellites. They triggered something that had been sleeping in the Earth's crust. An ancient viral organism, and maybe parasitic. It responded to the radiation like it had been waiting for a signal."
Her fingers clenched briefly. "I remembered it was called Crawler Plague. Within six months, ninety percent of the world was either dead... or infected, it mutated them to something horrific... twisted beyond recognition of their usual self."
Kael watched her closely, not speaking as Sera's arms tightened around herself.
"I remembered the ones that have been caught with that virus, They still habe consciousness....They remembered enough to scream your name while they tore you apart."
Asha (to Kael): "Emotional distress detected. Subject Seraphina requires space—but appreciates being heard. Do not interrupt. Standing by with a supportive silence protocol."
Kael stayed quiet, letting her speak without interrupting and just stared at her with the horrific story that he can't remember.
Sera finally turned her gaze back at him. "So yeah. We're here because someone thought we were convenient genetic samples." She exhaled slowly, "I'm not sure which is worse."
Sera's words lingered like ash in the air, Kael remained still watching her chest rise and fall while, Clara shifted beside him.
She clutched her data chip through the fabric of her jumpsuit, its edges sharp against her palm. With Sera's words echoing in her mind, the magnitude of this responsibility is becoming clearer to her.
Clara: "M-my father, Ambassador Marcus Vance, spent his final m-months brokering deals for Project Phoenix," she said, while her brown eyes glistened with tears. "H-he worked eighteen-hours a day, negotiating with world leaders who were watching their nations collapse in real time. The agricultural systems had failed, the cities were burning, and then the plague hit."
She pulled the data chip from her pocket, holding it up to catch the dim light. Kael could see the respect with which she handled it.
"He gave me this, the day I went into cryo-sleep," she continued, "The Restoration protocols, he called it. Everything they'd learned about rebuilding civilization from scratch—engineering schematics for power generation and water purification, agricultural programs for growing food in contaminated soil, social frameworks for organizing survivor communities."
Her hand trembled slightly as she looked at the chip. "He said I was their hope. That they will need my knowledge, my engineering skills, my ability to fix problems, that I can bring humanity back from the brink." She looked up at Kael, her eyes bright with determination that hid her shyness.
Kael "I believe you can do it Clara, we just need to stick together to help each other out and rebuild civilization again!" Kael smiles widely while pumping a fist into the air with exaggerated confidence.
Clara giggled softly, and even Sera—stoic and sharp-edged—let out a small chuckle the tension building up finally easing from her shoulders
Clara: "Thanks Kael, you always give me motivation"
Before the warmth could settle for too long a familiar voice cut in with playful mischief.
Rosa, not to be outdone, grinned as she leaned in. "My dad, President Alistair Thorne of the North American Federation, pulled every string he had to get me into the program," she said, her voice laced with a blend of pride.
"The Scorch and the plague shattered governments, collapsed economies, turned the world into a free-for-all where only the strongest and smartest survived." She bumped Kael lightly with her elbow.
Rosa (with a smirk): "My reflexes and tactical training landed me a spot in the pods, but honestly?" She leaned closer, her chest brushing his arm just enough to make his brain short-circuit. "I'm not complaining about the company I ended up with. Got myself a genuine hero and two brilliant women. Could be worse."
The moment was charged with possibility, with the weight of shared history and the promise of an uncertain future. Kael's HUD updated with new information:
as Sera, Clara, and Rosa shared their stories, something within Kael clicked into place.
Suddenly, his HUD flickered to life in the corner of his vision. Asha's voice followed a beat later.
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – DATA CORE SYNCHRONIZED]
[Lore Entry Unlocked – "The Solar Scorch"
Year: 2057
Event: Solar Flare Cascade – "The Scorch"
Catastrophic solar activity triggered electromagnetic surges across Earth's surface, disrupting biospheric conditions and reactivating dormant subterranean viral strands.
Result:
90.4% population loss
Global infrastructure collapse
Mutation of infected humans into Shambler-class bioforms
Response Initiative:
Project Phoenix (Vault-Tec Division)
Objective: Secure elite genetic and cognitive assets in cryogenic containment
Parameters: Subjects chosen for high adaptability, psychological resilience, and interdependent skill profiles
Survivors: [14] Cryo-pod candidates selected
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Kael blinked as the glowing blue panel faded from his view
Asha: "Congratulations. You've successfully activated your 'Lore Hunter' instinct. Useless in combat, but invaluable for piecing together why this world is destroyed—and who might still help fix it."
Kael: "Asha mentioned the control room should have a detailed file on the 11 girls still on cryo-sleep" He says as he takes a deep breath and continues "That place contains their background, their specialization, why they were chosen, we need to go there."
Rosa's sultry voice cut through. "Bet they're as hot as us, huh, Kael?" Her wink was pure mischief, designed to provoke exactly the reaction it got—a crimson blush that spread across his face. "I mean, if they're selecting for genetic compatibility and survival traits, they probably weren't picking from the ugly pool."
Sera's scoff was automatic, the tsundere response as natural as breathing. "You think this is a beauty contest? you shameless flirt."
Clara's giggle was like silver bells, "R-rosa does have a point, though," she said "I-f they were selecting for breeding pairs and genetic diversity..they will choose the best Gene's." She trailed off, her blush deepening as she realized the implications of what she was saying.
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QUEST UPDATED – [PROJECT PHOENIX: AWAKENING PROTOCOL]
Objective:
Investigate the Control Room Archives to unlock individual profiles and cryo-status logs of the remaining 11 female candidates in Cryo-Vault Terminus.
Background:
The Cryo-Stasis system is fragile after 107 years of partial power failure. Improper or rapid awakening procedures may result in total neurological collapse or physical death of the subject.
IMPORTANT: Awakening Limitations
Wake Limit: [2 Subjects / 7 Days]
Reason: The cryo-cooling matrix requires 168 hours to safely recalibrate between activations.
Overload Penalty: Forcing additional awakenings before cooldown results in subject death.
Exception Cases: Seraphina Valerius, Clara Vance, and Rosalie Thorne were reanimated due to Kael's Phoenix Core power surge event. No further exceptions predicted.
Reward Tier Breakdown (Per Successful Awakening):
For each girl awakened safely, Kael may receive:
[Team Passive Boost] – Based on a girl's specialization (Engineering, Combat, Medical, Diplomacy, AI Systems, etc.)
[Skill Fusion Chance] – Gain or evolve personal skills after affinity development
[Group Synergy Buffs] – Minor increases to Morale, Coordination, or Resource Efficiency
[Affinity Path Unlocked] – Personal storylines and romantic progression with awakened subject
Possible Skill Rewards (varies by subject):
Tactical Coordination (Passive): +10% Team Combat Efficiency
Vault Logistics (Passive): Unlocks crafting, upgrades, ration conservation
Medical Subroutine: Adrenal Burst (Active): Temporarily restore 50% HP for self or ally
AI Assist Protocol: Echo Command (Passive): Gain bonus from AI Asha's advanced systems
Social Link Boost: [Synergy Chain - Dual Affinity] – Unlock bonus dialogue & events between Kael and two bonded characters
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> 🔒 UNLOCK CONDITIONS – CONTROL ROOM ACCESS REQUIRED
Locate the main vault terminal. Archive index must be manually reconnected via biometric interface.
> Quest Progress: 3/14 Subjects Active
Remaining in Cryo-Stasis: 11
Status: [SAFE]
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Kael's Internal HUD (Flashing Note):
"If we're bringing them back… it has to be the right time we can't make mistakes, Asha." as he said in his mind.
Asha: "Affirmative.
The group steeled themselves, ready to face whatever secrets the control room held. Together, they stepped forward into the unknown.
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Authors note:
End of chapter 5, jam packed action for the next chapters