Epilogue

The small lab buzzes with activity as numerous arms, and other small robots put the final touches on their work. Clustered around an operating table, the robots complete the installation of the last of the skin on their creation. As the last piece goes on, the table starts to rise up, until it's occupant is in a standing position. Though the size of a normal human, the creation bears a resemblance to an AC, the head shaped like that of a DRONE, the legs smaller versions of the COUGAR2 limbs. The body is build like a core, though the front is flat, proportioned like a normal chest. The arms miniature LANGURs with more developed hands, the forearms slightly thicker on the outside.

Sliding off the table, the creation lands lightly on it's feet. "Primary processors online." A synthesized female voice declares. "Secondary processors online. All physical components online. Boosters online. Primary weapon systems online. Commencing activation." As she speaks, the robots move away from the creation. "Activation complete. Commencing awakening."

Feeling himself start to awaken, Kain opens his eyes, and can right away tell something is wrong. Looking around, he sees the world displayed in more colors then he is used to, a HUD overlayed over his vision. "What the hell?" He utters, looking around. Raising a hand up, he starts to scratch his head, but stops when he sees that the hand is mechanical. Looking at the hand, he makes his own open and close several times, and the mechanical one responds. "Okay." He says slowly. "Before I start freaking out, can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Greetings Kain." The female voice greets him. "I am sub core Omega." Kain looks around, but sees no source of the voice within the lab. "That name sounds familiar." Kain mutters, trying to think. "Your template is still integrating into your new shell." Omega explains. "What is the last thing you remember?" Kain thinks for a second, and gives his head a shake. "It's kind of fuzzy. I was, in Baylore, I think. Then, I remember being somewhere else, I, call me crazy, but I think I was on Mars. The planet Mars."

"That is correct." DK agrees. "Data assimilation completed. Bridging memory units to primary processors." As she says this, Kain suddenly remembers everything that had happened up until coming to the medical lab for the samples DK needed to create his stimulant. "What the hell?" Kain exclaims, looking down at himself. "Allow me to explain." Omega tells him. "Yes, please do!" Kain shouts. "One minute I'm normal, the next minute I wake up in a tin can! What the hell did DK do to me?"

"As she had stated, my daughter had used your DNA sample to create the needed stimulants in order to facilitate their return to Earth." Omega explains. "Their?" Kain asks. "During the reconstruction of your human body in the Layered, a template was made of your brain patterns prior to your departure from Earth. Once this facility had been re-activated, a copy of my primary systems were transmitted here from a isolated server."

"What does that have to do with me?" Kain shouts. "I have to get back to Earth!"

"You have returned to Earth." Omega tells him. "You have also completed your mission. Controller Prime was terminated on time index 25280101."

"So, what am I doing here?" Kain asks. "You are a protoform created using Kain's personality template, as well as from DNA samples used to create the stimulant that had been used to facilitate Kain's return to Earth. It would appear that additional information from your brief time on Mars has also been added to your memory. Perhaps an error within this facility's systems, but one that has little impact on your current state." Kain takes a minute to process the information, literally. "So, I'm a copy?" He asks hesitantly. "Modifications were necessary in order to ensure that your psyche would be able to transist into a non-organic form. However, roughly eighty-three percent of the original personality remains."

"So I'm a copy, mostly." Kain states. "That would be an accurate description." Omega agrees. "Right." Kain sighs. "So, if the other me managed to save the day, then, what year is it?" As soon as he asks, the information appears in his mind and on the HUD. "Fifty years?" Kain asks, surprised. "Affirmative." Omega agrees. "Your protoform consists of not only the mechanical shell, but also organic components cloned from your DNA. These organic components link your primary processors to the shell and facilitate the-"

"As disturbing as it is that I somehow understand all of that." Kain interrupts. "Speak simple English damnit!"

"You are in a sense, a cybernetic organism." Omega finishes. "Similar to what your original self had become, though more inorganic then organic." Kain slowly nods. "Okay. So, why?"

"Though Controller Prime has been terminated, I still have one other directive that must be completed. However, knowing that I would, die when Controller Prime, and subsequently, the Layered itself, were destroyed, I had created a copy of myself and inserted it into this facility. Since then, I have continued the construction of your protoform, and reconstructed AC Dark Knight. In order to complete this final directive, I require your assistance."

"Okay." Kain says slowly. "So, what's this final directive of yours?" There is a long pause before Omega replies. "I do not know." She admits. "I have a, urge, or perhaps, desire, to make my way to the lowest levels of this facility. However, in order to do so, I will need a shell in which to travel in. Having come to this conclusion, I became apparent that an AC would be best suited for this task. However, my combat skills and data are minimal at best. Therefore, in order to correct this deficiency-"

"You made me." Kain finishes. "Correct." Omega agrees. Looking around the lab, Kain notices a large mirror off to the side. Going over to it, he takes a minute to look at himself. "Freaky." He says. "But kind of cool. Did you at least give me boosters?"

"Affirmative." Omega replies. "As well as laser blade units built into your forearms. Your core unit can also accept back-mounted weapons that I have designed for your protoform." Nodding, Kain gives his arm a swing to try and activate the laser blade, but nothing happens. "Your boosters and laser blades have been disabled for the time being." Omega tells him. "Damn." Kaim mutters. "I wanted to try the whole flying thing. So, did I survive?"

"You wish to know?" Omega asks. "Not everything maybe." Kain admits. "But, tell me I at least survived taking down a Controller."

"Yes." Omega tells him. "Though you, and my daughter, were grievously injured, you both survived." Kain breathes a sigh of relief. "That's good to know."

"With the fall of the Layered, the Alliance also began to fall before the UEG. Also, with Kain's return to Mars-"

"Hey!" Kain shouts. "I said I didn't want to know everything!"

"My apologies." Omega apologizes. "Still, I came back to Mars?"

"Correct. Kain, as well as others from Earth, returned to Mars several years after destroying the final Layered in order to assist the surviving members of humanity that continued to exist upon the planet. Is this answer satisfactory?"

"Good enough." Kain agrees. "I wonder who I ended up with? Valkyrie, or Diana? I'm betting Val hooked up with Deakon by now. Don't say it!" He says the last part to Omega. "Why do you not wish to know?" Omega asks. "Cause it's not me anymore." Kain says. "Coulda, woulda, shoulda. If I know, it's going to bug me at some point. Let's just say that I want to be me."

"I believe I understand your logic." Omega says. "Somewhat." Kain nods. "Right. So, what now?"

"I have completed the modifications to your protoform." Omega declares. "It is now running at full capacity. If you do not have any other requirements, we must begin." Kain thinks for a second, and shakes his head. "Can't think of anything else. As long as they made it out alright in the end, I can live with that."

"Please proceed to the garage then." Omega tells him. Nodding, Kain leaves the lab, and steps out into the hallway. Seeing no one around, Kain tries his boosters, and finds them working. "This is great!" He shouts happily as he boosts down the hallway. Taking the corners fast, Kain almost crashes at one point, but manages to recover. "I think I'm going to like this." He declares when he arrives at the garage. Activating his laser blades, Kain executes several slashes and stabs like an expert fencer. "Hmm, fencing was never really my thing." He mutters, checking his memory and finding other fighting styles already loaded in.

"Going to have to try those later." He tells himself. Looking over at his AC, Kain sees that Dark Knight is just as he had left it: KAWASARA in hand, GREYON3 on the left shoulder, and the HYDRA missile launcher on the right. Taking to the air, Kain flies over to the repair bay, landing lightly on the gantry. "What about my back parts?" Kain asks. "The AC's core has been modified to store and equip your weapons as needed." Omega tells him. "Right." Kain says, the core hatch opening as he approaches it. Sliding in, he notices that the cockpit is a lot more snug then he is used to. "Little snug ain't it?" Kain asks. "As your protoform can link directly into my systems, additional space was removed in order to accommodate additional systems."

"Still feels a little tight." Kain mutters. "You will adjust." Omega tells him. Starting Dark Knight up, Kain sees Omega take the place DK had in the other Dark Knight. "So, where to?"

"I have de-activated the barriers separating this part of the facility from the lower levels." Omega tells him. "Please proceed to the elevator." Kain does so, moving towards the elevator at a leisurely pace. "So, according to the stuff popping into my head, this place wasn't originally built by humans."

"Affirmative." Omega replies. "This facility had originally been created by the beings responsible for creating the disorder units, and the systems that would eventually create Controller Prime. When humanity first colonized this planet, they discovered the ruins, and built this facility over them in order to study them in more detail. Using the knowledge they gained, they created an entity that would in time become Controller Prime. However, in doing so, they also awakened the primary system responsible for managing facility security. Seeing that unknown lifeforms have invaded, the system deployed security drones to sanitize the planet."

"The disorder units." Kain says, thinking. "So that's what happened to Mars the first time around. So the ruins are down there?"

"Negative. Upon realizing that humanity might one day return to plunder the remains of the creators, the Mars Prime directed the disorder units to dismantle the ruins and attempted to erase any traces of the creators on this planet. Once his task was completed, Mars Prime returned the security system to its original state, then self-terminated in order to ensure that no traces of the creators were ever found."

"But traces were found." Kain says, stepping into the elevator. Looking around, he feels like he is actually Dark Knight, rather then just piloting it. Raising up his left hand, he sees the AC's left hand rise up, the hand opening and closing. "So, what's down there?" Kain asks. "Unknown." Omega replies. "When this facility was originally built, this was the lowest level constructed. There is no record of the humans going any deeper then this level, nor is there any record of Mars Prime continuing down further."

"How would you know?" Kain asks. "If Mars Prime self-terminated, then how would you know what he did?"

"Prior to his termination, Mars Prime did not destroy all traces of the creators. Those traces that did remain contained a record of his actions." Kain slowly nods. "I see. So, other then the fact that you need to go down there, you don't know squat."

"Affirmative." Kain nods. "Okay. Nothing to it, just another day on the job for a Raven. Let's do it." The elevator comes to life, and starts moving downwards, towards the unknown, and towards destiny.