Teal amniotic fluid filled the four-meter tall tank all the way up to the very brim, thick and sluggish with no threat of sloshing over for the moment. A great pressure lock served as the lid to the incubator but it's been detached to allow the doctors access to the body floating suspended inside.

The body was cultivated to be 180 cm tall, and weigh about 132 lbs of muscular mass. The legs, shoulders, and spine were the center focus of this model's physique, prioritizing speed and kinetic strength. The top half was broad and sturdy to ease the strain of wearing the 150-pound allimonite flight suit. Tapering down to a slimmer waist, the legs were long and powerful. Their strength was kept in the thighs, concentrating over 5000 pounds of force within one swift kick.

Wrellal Tiamar, the resident astrophysicist, predicted that the model's average running speed would be around 73 km/h depending on if the target planet's gravitational pull was similar to theirs.

Qaur'chezsh, the physiologist, was fanning himself with the documents he and the cardiologist painstakingly wrote their ideas and formulas for renovated organs on. Sweating from the stress of creating and implementing said experimental organs into the model. All while fervently praying that they will succeed function without the other organic systems most lifeforms would be dead without but would be too burdensome for the project.

Various other professionals and agents grounded their teeth and plucked at their clothes, all eyes fixed on their latest attempt.

An EEG periodically scanned the body for any anomalies as it coursed around the tank, a sharp beep and tiny green light signaling all clear.

Pima chewed her thumbnail as she watched gloved hands carefully drop the rack into the tank, trapping the body and hoisting it out. When the head breached, long, curly white hair wetted down, the doctors methodically started removing the tracheotomy tube and IVs for every inch of the body that made it out.

When everything hooked into the body was snapped out, the rack was slowly lowered to ground level and the stabilizers moved in.

From there it was a blur of readings, instructions, and procedures to ensure that this time was a success. That they got it all right. A couple of starting shocks and the chest started subtly rising and falling with its first breath. Everything checked out, green across the board, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

But Pima was jittering in place because the project still hasn't woken up.

She glared at the grayish body lying on the examination table. Its hair was starting to dry, letting them all see just how dim the white color really was.

They didn't know why the project looked the way it did, but with it being physically and mechanically sound there was no reason for it to still be comatose.

The head doctor of the facility administered a waking serum… Nothing.

She gave the body a few shakes… Nothing.

Cautiously gave it two shocks… Still nothing.

Fed up, Pima pushed the doctor away and yelled at their one desperate success in a long time to wake up before giving the project a sharp slap across the face.

And it worked; jarred into existence, the project lurched upwards, grasping at Pima's arms, mouth opened in what she believed was to be a scream, but no sound came out.

Everyone was startled and yet intrigued as none of their previous projects ever reacted this way when activated before. Granted none of them were ever activated like that. They were always all calm and collected, mature with the programming installed in them.

Pima, while scared, was the most curious out of them all. With the gray undertone to the project's rapidly darkening skin, and its hair gaining some luster upon waking up, its eyes were also completely dark. No color has set in yet.

It was odd and utterly fascinating.

"What are you?" The creator asked her creation, noting the irony.

The project opened and closed its mouth repeatedly, distraught that nothing was coming out.

Its hands tightened their grip on her painfully, but Pima waved off those who stepped forward to assist her.

She watched the project, deadset on seeing what it'll do next.

With a deep breath and an audible gulp, it tried to speak one more time.

"C… C-c-c…. Co-c-col…. C-cold! Cold." Dulcet, distinctly male, but weak.

Pima was dumbfounded before she finally noticed what it was trying to communicate. The project was shivering all throughout its-his-body.

"Oh." She said softly. She smiled as reassuring as she could at this intriguing specimen and gently pried his hands off her.

Free, she took off her lab coat, even removing the pens and pins in case they might somehow upset the freezing man, before draping it on him and buttoning it up.

"There, now is that better?" She asked.

The project nodded, clearly grateful by the admiring look in his eyes. She could see a bit of blue start seeping into his irises.

She rested her hand on top of his forehead and was filled with glee to feel him lean into her touch.

"This is incredible." She said to her colleagues, who were watching with rapture.

"You are a Rider; more specifically a Recon Assault Scout. Your job will be to investigate planets and their respective flora and fauna, recording everything you find, executing any who stand in way of your mission and utilizing organic sweeps to determine if the planet is suitable for assimilation. Your line is known as the E-series, for you, and all Riders who will be made like you, are experimental. As far as now, you're the only one who made it. Do you understand?"

She felt, more than saw, the Rider nod his head before nuzzling more into her palm.

"You're so cute. I'm Pima. I'm the one in charge of this project, therefore your creator. I hope to see more interesting developments from you," she lightly scratched his head for emphasis and could swear she felt him purr slightly, "Come to me if there's an emergency concerning you. And don't worry..."

She leaned down to press her cheek against his. She could see her reflection in the glass of the incubator. Her blonde hair got messy and tangled at some point and her bright green eyes were shining with excitement.

She smiled at the possibilities from this strange Rider to come.

"I'll take care of you."