Origins of the man with two souls. Ch. 1

Brave soul ch. 1

"Touch it Gage... The procedure should be a success this time my son. I assure you that there won't even be a mark on you this time..."

"But father... You told me that last time and when i trusted you i got badly hurt. It was so hot father... My hand turned all black and the skin peeled off*

"Not this time my son. Trust your father. He only wants good for you right? Now touch it... Hold it in your hand!"

A small boy would be standing in an enclosed room, a flaming coal set in front of him on a steel covered table. This boy was young... Perhaps at the age of 11. He had brown hair, soft white skin, and deep red eyes. He would stare at this coal while a mechanical voice spoke to him from a speaker in the top corner of the room.

"Gage... Do as your father tells you to. You want him to be happy and love you correct?"

Gage would nod quickly, looking up at the speaker. "Yes father i do! But... It..." He hesitates for a moment  but finally grabs the coal and squeezes his eyes shut expecting the worst... But after a few seconds he would open them and stare at the still burning hot coal in his grasp.

"You see Gage? Nothing... Not even a tiny sting. Your fire proof... Your body can survive the most extreme temperatures!"

Gage would giggle a little sticking his tongue out and daring to place it on the coal. "Your right father! It doesn't hurt at all! But why? Why do this? Why do i need to be able to pick up hot coals?"

"I told you my son... So you can better protect the other one... The one that now lies dormant with you."

Gage would shift a little uncomfortably, placing the coal back where it was. "It's going to be hard dad when he wakes up... He's going to take over this body mostly when he does. But you said it yourself, my purpose is to protect my him like a brother! And i will do just as you ask father!"

The voice would get lower on the speaker. "Yes i know you will... Thats why i love you gage. You never refuse to do as your told... But i fear your abilities aren't enough to keep him safe. Not yet..."

Gage would look up and frown. Since the day he could hold a knife, he has been taught combat. His age was only an illusion... He knew how to use blades and small firearms since the age of 8 and has been extensively trained every minute of every day. "Father i can! I've learned so much! I can protect him! Please believe in me father!"

"No Gage... You know how to fire at non living targets and dummies. Not once have you ever killed a living, breathing thing... It's a whole different feeling. We need to make sure you won't even flinch no matter who it is."

Gage would nod eagerly, his hands balling into fists. "I will prove myself to you then! Please let me demonstrate! I'm ready!"

"I know you are... Tomorrow i will send you on a trip. It will be an ultimate test of your abilities Gage. And just because you are my som doesn't mean it will be easy in the slightest."

With that the voice would go silent and a door would open to what was close to a prison cell. A simple bed, toilet, and even a bared window. Gage would walk into it, none the wiser. This is how he always lived... A small room and with a strict schedule of breakfast, training, lunch, further training, dinner, before finally having a time for play and activities with employes of the complex until it was time for him to rest.

Gage would lie his head down on his bed and close his eyes. He dreamed to finally prove himself to his father... To finally be able to leave the complex... To finally see his only parent's true face.