Prologue
Blood pooled on the floor, collecting around his severed leg. It dripped from every cut he received in the past several hours, all from his fight. Across the battlefield, standing spotless in the limelight was his enemy.
"Motion and movement is impossible. Why don't you just give up?"
"Screw... you... I'm not... giving up... not... even... to the likes... of you!" he panted, laying flat on his back, clenching his fists to keep the pain he felt dull. Sheared off from the knee down, pain was becoming far too much, along with all the other wounds he had incurred during the fight. He would soon die from blood loss, and what had he accomplished?
"Mr. Mann, stop being so stubborn. You are dead to everyone, and soon, even to yourself. Your only chance for survival is to accept my offer, join the Council, and let me take over. How much simpler can I put it?" boot heels clicked until opening his eyes met with X's. "You have less than a minute, and by then there would be no point in even trying to heal you."
Alex tried pulling his body onto his elbows to meet X face to face, but he was hardly even able to get up. He passed out before he could even give the scientist a reply.
"Damnit. Must you be so difficult?"