Chapter 2 is finally out! I had quite some fun in conceptualizing the characters and what will happen to them. So far I've already finalized the techs, CR-Units and the characters that is going to accompany Alex's journey.

Chapter 2

Surgery of Alex Herman

The surgeon is attached to a Realizer with Alex on the surgery table. Several medical staffs can be seen assisting the surgeon. Oddly, several armed guards can be seen in the operating theater. The black and gray wiring suit that Alex was wearing got cut out which triggered an explosion that shook the ship. However, the team pays no mind to that as Alex needs their attention.

"Extraction procedure all green." one of them said.

"Commencing extraction. All stand by for the blood."

The X-Ray vision shows that the 9mm bullet is intact in Alex's head. By using the Realizer, the surgeon is slowly pulling the bullet out telekinetically from the small cavity that it created. It won't be long before a bloody bullet is being extracted as it rests upon the right hand of the surgeon. The staffs immediately starts dressing the wound and prepares for regenerative treatment with Realizers.

The surgeon is visibly delighted as he immediately unmasks himself. However, to the shock of those witnessing the surgery. The surgeon looks like he is about to put the bullet into his mouth. Suddenly, there are many sounds of guns cocking up and the surgeon quickly finds himself being aimed by all the guards in the operating theater.

"Doctor Cannibal, it would be nice if you can put the bullet in the tray instead of your mouth…"

The surgeon is visibly distressed as he knows he is being pointed by 5 armed guns.

"Hehehe, just joking, put them down please…"

"Yeah right, make your move first!"

Doctor Cannibal nervously puts the bullet into the tray with another medical staff quickly getting the tray out of his reach. The surgeon then focus his attention back on Alex.

"Alright, time to get this poor boy's head fixed."

8 days after the surgery

"We have administered quite some medication to treat the withdrawals. Hopefully after this treatment, he'll be able to finally speak or move. But there is a chance that he'll never be able to move again."

An unconscious Alex is fully soaked in a tank of gelatinous green liquid treating his brain damage. It is close to the end of the treatment, and moment of truth being nearer. The doctor has explained to Woodman and Karen that Alex's brain damage has been healed with the combined treatment of Realizers and regenerative serum. However, damaged brain nerves do not function right away despite being healed. And so further regenerative treatment is required.

Also, Alex is noticeably thinner, his buffed up body was caused by the drugs. Cutting off the intake of it has caused them to self destruct. Doctor Cannibal couldn't help but to think of how much trouble the rest of the medical staffs are gonna go through, physical therapy can be a long process and cannot be sped up by Realizer.

An hour later

Alex opens his eyes, seeing Doctor Cannibal in his sight. Not telling if the boy is able to speak, the doctor starts off the question.

"Can you hear me? If you can, please say something." the doctor probed.

Alex starts off trying to let out a growl. It is all weird to his damaged mind that he is trying to growl. He then lets out his first word since the attempt.

"Yes…"

Everyone is visibly delight, Alex has managed to speak. But Alex's face turn sour after attempting to move his arms, they aren't as responsive as he had hoped. They can see his struggles, the regenerative treatment isn't achieving the expectations for motor functions. Alex only stay silent as he turn his gaze to Woodman, the very man he attempted to kill more than a week before.

"I believe you want to know why this happened, but trust me, I have a lot of ask as well." he said lightly.

"Indeed… Indeed…" Woodman replied.

"Would you two mind to leave us alone for awhile? I'm not quite comfortable for others to know about it." Alex asked the doctor and Karen.

"Karen, Doctor Cannibal, just let us be." Woodman assured.

Though reluctant, Karen can see that even if a Realizer is attached to Alex, he is in no shape to even do anything with it. So she let's the two to talk alone.

"Yes Mr Woodman."

After the two has left the ward. Woodman starts off the conversation.

"I wonder why you don't want to return to your father's?"

"Isn't it obvious? He is the one who turned me into this!" Alex angrily replied.

Woodman only closes his eyes sadly as he doesn't wish to hear that.

"I did everything he told me to, wake up early every morning, study hard for GCSE. And yet he betrayed me!"

Tears start flowing out of his eyes as he speaks. He recounts of the harrowing memories of being kidnapped from his home.

"He had me tied up and sent to a facility. The next thing I knew is that I keep having weird dreams of me fighting against prisoners, they are so real… They bleed, they hit me, I feel painful at first but no pain afterwards. And then I was wearing a suit that can manipulate… Territory and move objects inside it, I crushed them into tiny pieces. Then finally, I keep dreaming about coming to a ship and then crush you. It keeps on happening again and again, until that happened…"

Woodman then opens his eyes, he is very sympathetic towards Alex, who was caught in the middle. He remembers seeing Alex when he was younger, a sweet teenager that is very intelligent and obedient to his father. Being privately tutored, Alex has the time to serve as Max Herman's personal assistant in Asgard. And considering Max's position in Asgard, it shouldn't be surprising that Alex knows about combat grade Realizers and even the existence of transdimensional beings known as Spirits.

"Do you intend to keep me alive after I tell you everything?"

The question amuses Woodman.

"After all this happened, and I probably have stumbled across secrets of Asgard. You as the CEO has every right to silence me, don't you?"

Woodman only let's out a small laugh which baffles Alex.

"You have been working on the secrets indirectly all the time. Close, but simply not close enough because Max keeps you away from it most of the time. You are just an innocent bystander that was caught in all this." Woodman explained.

"No! You don't understand. I still dreamt of hearing they called me Perfect Wizard and Perfect Soldier. I must have had something or else they why would that bastard even handed over me to them?"

Alex is clearly agitated, Woodman knows Alex is not thinking right. Perhaps grievances has caused this.

"Just because you really have something, doesn't mean you originally wanted to do it. Don't blame yourself for something that happened beyond your control, get a hold of yourself!" Woodman reprimanded.

This surprises Alex as he never expect Woodman is seriously thinking of letting him live.

"Think about it, you know your father isn't working alone. If I let you go out there on your own, who knows what will happen when they find you. We won't be able to sit here and talk again."

Alex then realize his own foolishness in the matter, Woodman is right.

"He isn't my father anymore… If he intended to turn me into a sacrifice, then I wish he never adopted me in the first place."

Woodman finds it amusing that Max was part of the crew that created the ship. Thus making Alex indirectly part of the crew as well.

"You are indirectly part of the crew that created this ship. This is Fraxinus."

Alex's eyes widened as he recalls seeing a marked document named Fraxinus. He has been assisting his father with the handling of this document for quite awhile indeed.

"I'm on board of Fraxinus now?" he asked,

"Yes, and I think it is at your own and our best interest to keep you here until you are fully recovered. You are dead to the world, I will protect you for now, Alex."

Alex now looks at Woodman with an even more confused look. The two has barely talked to each other outside of Asgard HQ office. And the two mostly talk about work in office. Just why is Woodman even doing this?

"Why? Just why?" he asked again.

"I believe in innocence, it is never right for you to be caught in all of this. If there is someone out there that has the capacity to do something this cruel to a person I know, I will not hesitate to protect him or her."

Alex sheds a tear upon hearing that, he is grateful to Woodman. Woodman then signals Karen and Doctor to come in, knowing that their conversation is over.

"Thank you. For all of this."

"I can see it in you. You aren't the type that gives up easily. If you need any help just feel free to ask. This ship is full of people that you can easily approach. When you get better, I will explain more to you. I'll be going then."

Alex only nodded lightly, he didn't fully absorbed what Woodman said as Karen pushes Woodman out of the ward. When being left alone with Doctor Cannibal, Alex starts to ask him the question he has been dreaded to ask.

"Am I going to stay like this?"

"Never to move and walk again? Considering what the bullet did to the brain, there is a good chance of that being permanent." Doctor Cannibal replied.

Alex is visibly distressed, all these happened against his will, that hypnotic training supposed to make him kill himself to avoid interrogation. But to be alive, and learn that he may never walk again is quite a heavy blow.

"You must be hungry, you need to eat more. Without those drugs you aren't as buffed as we thought."

Doctor Cannibal is right, it has been at least a year since Alex ate something that he can call proper food. He noticed that he lacks a lot of strength. He can't help but to almost cry at his state of plight, he only lightly nodded to want to have something to eat. It didn't take long before Kannazuki comes in with a tray of food.

"It's you, what a surprised."

"Well I was told he's awake now. And considering I was the one that beaten him, I would want to see how's he doing."

Alex suddenly spoke, responding to Kannazuki.

"I'm all messed up… "

Kannazuki then put the food on the table and position it to allow Alex to eat.

"Just stop thinking and eat, you need it."

Alex tries to grab the spoon with his right hand, but struggles to even reach the spoon. Seeing that he angrily gives up in frustration.

"Damn it! I'm a cripple… I'm useless…" he growled.

"I don't think so. The fact that you are able to move your hands a bit tells me that there is at least some hope that you'll walk again." Kannazuki said.

Alex starts tearing up, unable to accept the prospect that he may be crippled for life.

"But what if I don't? I'm only 17 this year, I can't… I just can't…"

Kyouhei then puts his hand on the young man's shoulder attempting to console him.

"You can't just give up without trying right?"

"My future is robbed… And now I can't even feed myself…"

Alex let it all out, Doctor Cannibal and Kyouhei looks at each other and they know how the young man is feeling. Both of them had their lowest point, what happened to Cannibal can even be argued to be as low as Alex.

"You'll be able to walk, the nerves ending are properly connected. All you need to do now is to go through physical therapy. If you keep sulking on it, you are not going to walk again." the doctor consoled.

Alex only remains silent, thinking about regaining his motor functions.

"You are not alone… You are not a prisoner here." Kyouhei said lightly.

Herman manor, Yorkshire, UK

Max Herman lights up another cigarette, silently mourning for his lost son.

"I'm really a cruel man, am I?"

He then grabs a photo on his desk, it is a woman's.

"Oh, Catherine… I miss you, I really do. And I'm sorry…"

The woman has a long blonde hair that reaches down her shoulder. She looks youthful and possesses a kind smile and a pair of beautiful emerald green eyes. Max is reminiscing about his time with Catherine, he knows of this woman. Suddenly, he senses the presence of two person which makes him quickly draw out his pistol.

"Max…"

Recognizing the voice, Max hesitates to shoot, he has trouble in figuring just how did the man and woman even managed to be in his room.

"Elliott, Karen!" he exclaimed.

"Let me ask you something Max, just what is Perfect Soldier? And why is Alex the one in it?"

Max's eyes only widened, in his thoughts Alex must have told them something before he died.

"Just why Max? I've known you for so long, I know you aren't the kind that would do this. You raised Alex since he was a child, and you turned him into a guinea pig for this Perfect Soldier project!?"

Max's thoughts are filled with the reasons why he made Alex into one. He angrily reply to Woodman.

"YOU MADE ME DID IT! Because of your softness, you got Catherine killed!"

Woodman then remembers the fateful incident which involved a Wizard named Catherine.

"Africa… Was it?"

Max then lets out a maniacal laughter, tears start to fall off his eyes. Sadness and anger filled the man as Woodman doesn't know the exact detail.

"The woman I love, you sent her to her death. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW THE DETAIL OF THAT?"

Woodman then closes his eyes, he is sorry about it. Asgard just like DEM and other advanced arms manufacturer exploited Africa. The blasted region has skirmishes almost everywhere, Catherine must have been killed there.

"I thought it would be very fitting, to have her own son kill you. But to think that he has joined his father and mother now, not too bad of an ending for him."

Woodman and Karen can't help but to display their disgust at Max. Max's heart however, is torn inside, Woodman is someone he really sees as a friend. He loves Alex and in his lapse of judgement, he sacrificed the son of the woman that he loved in the name of revenge.

"The organization promised me the very thing I wished, just my revenge. I care not about the Spirits or my wealth. They demanded Alex, I gave him up after some serious consideration, he is a perfect candidate in genetics being the son of an ace pilot and a famous Wizard at that time." Max coldly explained.

"Killing me won't bring back Catherine, if that was what you wanted I figured you would have done so long. But I can't believe you would sacrifice Alex so easily, you are so proud of him. You raised him like your own flesh and blood, how could you, my friend?"

Woodman reprimands his friend, unable to accept the fact that his friend has done the deed.

"I failed Catherine… I failed to protect her children. The organization demanded my loyalty and I gave them that, at the very least I was made Alex's handler." Max's voice starts to show signs of him faltering.

"Just what is this organisation?" Woodman demanded an answer.

"An organization that would bring the end to you and Westcott!"

An object suddenly drops to the ground, Woodman and Karen recognize it being a stun grenade. They cover their eyes just in time before it goes off, Max escapes the room through the balcony. Karen and Woodman gives chase as quickly as they can. Just when Max runs out of the main gate, a loud honk is heard on his right, he is quickly illuminated by a car's headlight. It is too late to dodge, the car bang onto Max.

"Max!"

Woodman and Karen, along with the driver of the car who rushes out to check on Max. Max is bleeding profusely, he then speaks to Woodman.

"Protect Alex, I feel that he's still alive. Please, save him from them. That child has always been an intellectual, doesn't fight well. Trust no one in the Ratatoskr board. Forgive me, my friend, tell Alex that I'm sorry and I love him too."

Max then shuts his eyes, dying from his injuries as an ambulance arrives to the scene. Tears then flow out from Woodman's eyes, saddened that both of them didn't make proper amends to their mistakes.

"I promise that I will protect him, and make him stronger to protect himself as well. Rest in peace, my dear friend."

Virginia, USA

A round table of 10 people are in a conference room, they were called upon when learning the death of Max Herman.

"Max and Alex are dead. And Max shot himself in the head." a man started.

"I've always opposed the idea of letting Max handle Subject Zero. He's too attached on his son!" a woman added.

"Herman's death will have an impact on Perfect Soldier. Icarus and Veda project were spearheaded by him. Calibrations on Icarus are not even finished, Veda is stuck in Alpha hell." another one lamented.

The news of Max's death is taken very negatively amongst the members. Max was in charge of the projects apparently. The leader, the one in spectacles then starts to address the situation.

"We have to continue the projects without Herman. Subject Zero, Alex did perfectly well in the simulation, I believe the failure was due to our impatience and we didn't threw in more variables. I believe the future subjects will achieve better results."

A stream of datas are projected on screen to show the data of Perfect Soldier, the numbers have silenced the non-believers. Some of them are visibly regretful in sending Alex prematurely.

"All members are to bide their time. Perfect Soldier phase 2 will commence, Icarus and Veda are to be taken over. Any question?"

That's all for now, Doctor Cannibal is an OC created with the help of FikusMikus and Uruk from r/datealive's Discord. I know the story so far is still a bit slow, I intend to take my time to write up a longer chapter with faster progression in the upcoming chapter. Many thanks to them and thank you for reading this. Leave a review for any feedback, thank you once again.