Subject 0.2 didn't flinch at the scream. It didn't display malice. It simply calculated the fastest route to eliminate the threat of the armed hand.
The air in the sterile white lab didn't just feel cold; it felt engineered.
Kaelen pressed his palm against the glass barrier, his fingers twitching to a rhythm he didn't recognize. On the other side, the subject—labeled 0.2 —sat perfectly still. It looked entirely human, save for its eyes. They weren't reflecting the room's fluorescent lighting. They were absorbing it. Unnatural Instinct [Ongoing] - Version: 0.2
The subject froze mid-stride, its hand hovering inches from Vance's throat. It turned its void-like eyes back to Kaelen.
The heavy vacuum seal of the chamber hissed and gave way. Subject 0.2 stepped out into the open lab. It didn't look around in wonder. It didn't show aggression. It simply stood there, waiting for the next variable to process. Subject 0
"Stop! System override code 9-9-4!" Kaelen shouted, his voice shaking.
The subject didn't look at the knife. It looked at Vance's wrist. In a blur of motion that defied biological reaction times, 0.2 closed the gap. It didn't grab the knife. It gripped Vance’s forearm and twisted. A sickening crack echoed through the room. Vance screamed, dropping the blade. The air in the sterile white lab didn't
Suddenly, the subject's head snapped toward Kaelen. There was no emotion in the movement, just pure, terrifying efficiency. Kaelen took an involuntary step back. His heart hammered against his ribs—a frantic, messy, natural human reaction.