'Where is this?' As his eyes started to adjust to the light Clay could see his body being restrained on a metal table with tubes sticking into his body.

Shivering, a slow fear seemed to creep into his body as he realised that things did not look good.

The last thing that he could remember was the sound of a loud noise and pain that seemed to spread across his whole body. 'Where is this?' The question once again surfaced in his mind. This was not what he was expecting.

A flashback of the scene played in his mind, he had been walking home when at the crossing he noticed a young girl who had been crossing the road chasing after brother who should have only been slightly older than her. Unfortunately the amber lights had been flashing, maybe because of her height or the driver hadn't been paying attention but the sound of car hurdling across the road could be seen. He didn't know why he had rushed out but his body had reacted by itself. That was the last thing he remembered, the sight of his hands pushing the little girl out of the way of the incoming car.

"Hurgh... hhh.." Clay tried to shout but the sound coming out of his mouth seemed to be gargled, his throat was dry. Glancing once more at what he could see fixed on to the table he realised that something was different.

He didn't know how he hadn't noticed before but the colour of his skin seemed to be paler than before. Though his mind soon tried to explain this because of the injury from the crash. However an idea seemed to come forward trickling from the back of his mind. 'It couldn't be...'

Somehow Clay had a vague idea that this was not his body, after all, his birthmark that should have been on his wrist was no longer there.

Perhaps the noise of his struggling had alerted someone but it didn't take long before the room which was swathed in light to echo with the steps of someone moving closer to him.

"Huu ddhhee" panic seemed to settle in Clay's mind as the steps seemed to come closer.

DUUK. DUUK. DUUK. The sound was almost rhythmic like the beat of tune or the noise from a faded tape that seemed to be stuck in a loop.

Soon a figure to stand behind his head, Clay could hear the air travelling from behind him as the person seemed to glance at his body that was strapped to the metal table.

"You're awake Jigme?"

An alarm went through Clay's head as he wondered if he had heard the voice right. 'Jigme?' the name was strange on his tongue as he tried to mouth the strange name.

A sharp pain entered his shoulder as something was inserted to his body through the tubes that were connected to it. Darkness suddenly appeared as his eyes became heavier and heavier. Clay tried to struggle, but his body remained still, the only sign of activity was the veins that seemed to sprawl across his wrists. 'LET ME GO!'

The room once again returned to silence, as Dr Sullivan examined his latest subject sent by the Cornius Federation, he wondered if his newest patient would survive the treatment he would be about to undergo.

The success of this treatment was crucial for the Alliance, it was a partnership between the Cornius Federation and the Alliance which he was part of. Though the rate of failure was high compared to natural awakening, there was no choice, the impending crisis was closer than ever before. Two years.

Dr Sullivan knew he only had two years to supply the Zion Colony with enough soldiers who had awakened to combat the danger that would soon erupt in the local star system.

Even the soldier who lay on table was a volunteer who had only been drafted for this treatment after strenuous checks had been made to ensure the highest compatibility.

Natural awakening was a strange phenomenon that was hard to determine, until now. The artificial method that Dr Sullivan had created had instantly sky rocketed his career to a new height, though there was some side effects with the new miracle treatment, the successes far outweighed the failures. He knew now was not the time to think about his conscience or how much pain the volunteers would go under. He himself had a son who he had lost during the war. He had long realised that things were never truly black or white. Instead as a scientist working for the Alliance his work often put him into the middle space between the two, more often dark than light.

Noting down the status of his new subject he carefully took the detailed notes that hung at the end of the table and added some more information to the board.

SUBJECT 068. Jigme Chokphel

He is showing signs of activity to the serum. His body is undergoing metamorphosis. Current condition 'awakening'. Count down to next dosage 9 days.