He began by giving her a rundown of history facts starting with United States President John F. Kennedy who survived an attempted assassination in 1963. The failed assassination catalyzed Kennedy to direct more funding into the space program, allowing it to flourish and accelerated the Space Race. An alien eusocial species (like ants, bees, and termites) called the Typhon was encountered on the Sputnik 1.

The United States and the Soviet Union banded together to fight off and capture the Typhon, unbeknownst to the general population. Together, they built the space station Kletka (Russian for 'cage') to be used as a prison for the Typhon situated in orbit around Earth's moon.

The United States eventually took full ownership after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and reused Kletka as part of 'Project Axiom' which were research labs atop the prison spaces to study the Typhon and bring advances learned from that to Earth.

After the 'Pobeg Incident' in 2000 where some scientists aboard the station lost their lives to the Typhon, along with geopolitical instability at the time, the United States shuttered Project Axiom, leaving the captive Typhon alive. By 2025, the newly founded TranStar Corporation acquired Kletka and by 2030, had refitted it as Talos I, a fully operational research laboratory to study the Typhon and develop advances in neuroscience.

This was what led to the creation of Neuromods that harnessed the Typhon's physiology to restructure the human brain and grant the user new abilities (including superhuman ones). TranStar grew financially successful from sales of Neuromods on Earth. In 2035 TranStar had further expanded the station to make for suitable living quarters for its staff that spent up to two years on the station between regular shuttles to Earth.

Because of the numerous agencies that operated and expanded Talos I over the decades, the station included a large mix of architectural designs, ranging from what was popular in 1960's America, to styles that were common in the Soviet Bloc in the mid-20th century, to opulent put in place by the wealthy TranStar executives.

"Currently it is 2040 and we are on Talos II," he finished, clasping his hands in his lap and waiting for a response. It was all too much to take in, but Jade managed to the best of her ability. Her sharp gaze ran over the seemingly normal setting before she climbed out of bed and picked up a wrench off the worktable she never seemed to use. Before Andre could question what she was doing, let alone stop her, she had hurled the tool at the window. It shattered, revealing the truth behind it.

Beyond the broken glass was a room that was part of the testing labs. The window had been a Looking Glass that projected the busy streets of a city on Earth. It was all fake, a poor attempt at comforting her with normalcy. The problem was she held no sentimentality with Earth. It was never her home, therefore the sight of it did nothing to ease her of uncertainty. She was truly on a space station, far removed from Earth. She spun around to shoot Andre a look but all he could do was sit stonily with wide eyes.

"You've always been testing me, watching me. What do you expect to gain from this? Why am I even here?" she growled, temper rising. Andre stood, hands held up, placating.

"Relax and take a seat. Let me explain," he reasoned. It took more than a moment to calm herself, but once she did, she gestured for him to go on.

"You don't want to sit down first?" he asked, patting at her bed.

"No," she spat out, impatience rising again. Andre saw this and hastily began again.

"The head of the TranStar Corporation was a man named Alex Yu who gained ownership of it with his sister Morgan when their parents, William and Catherine, died of old age. A real feat considering our advanced technology. Their experiments with the Typhon opened so many doors, but everything went downhill when they failed to properly contain the test subjects. They escaped to Earth where they quickly grew and colonized. Earth was lost to us in a matter of years. It took time to find out that we had even been invaded and even more to fight back. In that time this station was in production and we waged many wars in an effort to buy time. We knew we could only stall the inevitable. We barely finished in time to save what was left of the population. This station is all that's left of humanity," he said, frowning grimly and avoiding her steady gaze.

"Then what do I have to do with any of this?" she demanded, unrelenting even when he was clearly grieving for lost loved ones she neither knew, nor could care for, at the moment.

"We began capturing different species of Typhon and attempted to make them experience human emotion and empathy by using the Neuromods. We harnessed their strengths that way so why not give them ours? Many tests failed and we began to lose hope. Until we found you," he confessed.

"Me?" she inquired, bewildered.

"You're our only real breakthrough," he responded.

"Then I'm a…a Typhon," she stated, unable to feel much of anything. Had they really made a breakthrough with her if she couldn't even process this personal truth? She should be shocked or outraged. But all she could do was stand there, a blank slate. Back at square one, it seemed. She looked to the scientist for more answers.

"Yes. Since your detainment, through the first tests, memory loss, and different reactions to the next set of tests, you've shown great improvement. You even fashioned a human form with ease and have held it fairly well. The form you chose showed promise. Tori always had high hopes. I told her not to but you can't talk that girl down from anything once she sets her mind to it. She was so set on seeing her again. Talking to her. Even if you aren't really her," he recalled. She felt a sort of strange warmth to the words and a memory surfaced.

"When I talked to her, she seemed the most…familiar," Jade tried to explain. He nodded.

"The Neuromods helped to make you more human. We tried it on every species of Typhon; Mimic, Phantom, Poltergeist, Telepath, Technopath, and Weaver. None worked like the Typhon Anthrophantasmus, or Phantom. Maybe it was because they retained human remnants when the Weavers created them using human corpses. Whatever the cause, it worked, and here you are," he said with a nod to her. Jade remained silent, only raising a hand to study it as if waiting for it to change, but nothing happened.

"You were created and then implanted with memories from a close childhood friend of mine and Tori's. Her name was Jade West," he revealed, pain and sadness tinting his voice. She let him process his sudden feelings before speaking.

"Who was she?" she asked, sensing that there was more to her than just a childhood friend.

"Well, for starters, she was a close friend to both of us but meant more to Tori, if you know what I mean," he hinted, raising his brows suggestively. She contemplated what that meant and realized that Tori had been in love with Jade. It explained that feeling she had when she was around her and why Tori cared about her so much. There was a special connection between them.

"The goal had been to humanize a Typhon so that they could understand us and we could do the same for them. We could find peace together. But Tori changed that goal to getting Jade back when we lost her. She was dead set on it," Andre told her with a shake of his head, hands resting on his knees.

"Tell me more about her," she requested, finally taking an interest and sitting down. Andre looked surprised.

"You wanna know?" he inquired.

"Maybe it will trigger some sort of recognition and bring back more of her memories," she responded with a shrug. He nodded, newly determined.

"Jade was a very smart technophile. A daughter to two scientists who were long time members of TranStar and their technology. Tori's parents were members too. Actually, that was how they first met, at a TranStar convention. Anyway, back on Earth, Jade was on the verge of creating a device that would effectively disable the Typhon. You see, we parted ways after graduating high school. I ended up joining the new TranStar team that would be the first to board Talos II. I became a neuroscientist and often sent back messages full of research notes. She came up with a stronger version of the Nullwave Transmitter using that data and the Talos I incident. When the TranStar cleanup crew failed to contain the breach and the Typhon signal succeeded an Apex Typhon of the huge variety was summoned and they had to evacuate Earth. Everyone was set on destructive bombs that would tear our world apart by the time the dust settled, so she came up with the Nullwave device to stop them while keeping the Earth intact. By that point, she and Tori were in a serious relationship. Inseparable, really," he said, smiling at the thought of the blissfully happy couple. A memory seemed to untangle from within the darkness of her mind.

"I remember when Tori invited us to dinner with her parents," Jade recounted. Andre laughed.

"Yeah, that was a one-time thing. Never again after Jade and Trina got in a little disagreement and dinner ended up on the floor," he chuckled. She saw said argument play out in her mind's eye followed by Jade making it up to Tori. She didn't quite understand what all took place between them but she knew she should be really happy. Andre's sad frown pulled her back to the present.

"They were just about to be evacuated when their group was attacked. Jade would do anything to keep Tori safe. Even if that meant risking her life to save her. Tori made it here to safety and Jade died to make sure she did. That eats at Tori to this day. It's the main reason why she wanted to try bringing Jade back. Partly from the pain of loss and partly because Jade had the knowledge to stop the Typhon in their tracks. It sure was a hell of a mission finding and retrieving her body, more so transferring her very conscious. We even used her body to create the Phantom we would use to bring her back. An added measure Tori didn't fully agree with, but I feel it helped greatly. It all pays off when I look at you and just know that this will work, given time," he concluded, his dark eyes resting proudly on her. Jade felt a wave of doubt and worry. Being what she was she shouldn't feel any kind of emotion, but she supposed that Andre was right based on that fact alone.

"So, you look like you need time to process all this," he said with a clap of his hands. He stood up and stretched.

"You'll be fine, right?" he asked. She nodded absently, only giving him her attention when he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Give me a call if you change your mind, all right? I'm here for you, and so is Tori. You know, if you feel up to it," he suggested with a wink. Jade scowled and pushed his hand off her shoulder. He chuckled.

"Just as I expected you to react. More progress. This is great. See you tomorrow," he said, making his way to the door. She watched him go, silence taking his place after he left. She sat on her bed and held her face in her hands. She pulled them away to stare at them once more. She wasn't human. Then why did she look human, and act human, and feel human? It felt real. But it wasn't. She stared harder at her hand, willing it to be anything else. There was a subtle blur, a shiver of the form, but her hand stubbornly remained a hand. She sighed heavily and ran it through her hair, deciding on sleep. She crawled into bed and laid down, trying to relax.

Everything Andre told her swam through her head, triggering bits of memory she couldn't yet understand. It was a start but it wasn't fully formed yet. She needed more time. Soon she was asleep, her dreams quickly taking shape.

The flashes of death, of bodies beginning to stack up, that was Earth's rapid decline. Shadowy creatures of every shape and size darted in and out of her vision, sometimes chasing her. Tori was there, crying. It ached to see her so scared. They were almost to safety when they were cornered. Tori was in danger. She had to do something. The creature struck with sharp tendrils, pain lancing her chest and stomach, blood warm on her mouth. She choked on the metallic taste but watched with sad eyes as Tori looked back. Their gaze locked and then she was gone. Safe. Her vision went black soon after.

Jade jumped awake with a startled cry, realizing that she had called out for Tori. Her teeth clenched and she held a hand to her chest and stomach. It was as if she could feel the damage. She thought back to the last moments of the real Jade West's life and then to her own conversation with Tori. She hadn't abandoned Jade. Not even in death. She was the last bit of her that existed and now she understood just how important it was for her to try harder to find that person within herself. For so long she felt lost and didn't know who she was. She knew now without a doubt. She was Jade West and she was going to do what she could to save humanity from extinction.

"Guess what, sleepyhead?"

Jade turned to grab the TranScribe off the nightstand and answer Andre. She wondered if he always had a knack for bothering Jade. She had a feeling he did.

"What?" she snapped tiredly. She never did like 'mornings'. She suspected that was just a part of Jade she had stumbled upon without knowing.

"I had a little convo with Beck. He cleared you for release. I mean, you and I both know you could have broken out through that fake window in your room any time you wanted, but the fact that you stayed must have changed his mind about you. Especially since your abilities haven't resurfaced. It makes you stable."

"Have I been unstable before?" she questioned.

"Yeah. More than once. Your kind is hard to contain and even harder to kill. Believe me, the few times you lost control he tried to put you down. It didn't work. We almost always had to restrain you and wait for you to calm down."

"Did I ever…?" she mumbled. He made a tentative sound but continued.

"There was this researcher, Sinjin. He and his assistant Burf were a bit too pushy and insensitive. Actually, invasive as hell to everyone. Not just their test subjects."

"You didn't answer the question," Jade pointed out. There was a heavy sigh.

"Sinjin pushed you too hard. Let's just say he wasn't left intact and leave it at that. His assistant was so freaked out at witnessing it that he offed himself a day later."

Jade felt disconnected from that part of her. In fact, it was almost hard to believe when there was no proof past his word that any of it even happened.

"Are you still there?"

"Sorry. Thinking," she answered.

"It's a lot to take in. I'll leave you to it. Oh! One more thing. Tori asked to see you. Expect her very soon. She can't wait to talk to you. Especially after I told her about our conversation. Good luck!"

Jade scowled, feeling the need to strangle the scientist. If only she knew if that was a product of her human or Typhon side. At that moment there was a knock followed by the door opening and Tori peeking in. She took one trepid glance at Jade, saw her grouchy expression, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Someone looks upset. Was it Andre again?" she inquired, wandering closer. She was careful and slow with her movements but there was hope shining in her warm brown eyes.

"Should I be worried that I want to hurt him?" she asked, avoiding Tori's eyes for now.

"That's normal," she dismissed. Jade nodded and then moved to get something to eat. She never really felt hungry, and now that the truth was out, she suspected it had to do with the fact that she wasn't entirely human. Tori idly watched as she picked up a box of crackers, digging in and eating one.

"Those were her favorite," she commented quietly, nostalgic. Jade paused and then set the box aside with a sigh.

"Sorry. Don't mind me," Tori quickly apologized, worried she said the wrong thing. She hunched in on herself and looked at the floor. Jade stared a minute longer at her then got dressed. When she was ready to leave she stood in front of Tori.

"What do you want to do first?" she asked, offering a gloved hand. Tori looked up and their eyes met. Her brown eyes sparked and Jade found herself enamored with the smile that spread across her lips and reached her eyes. She began to see how the real Jade first took interest in the vibrant girl. She was so animated.

They walked around the station after eating a proper meal, Tori talking non-stop about everything they passed while also sharing anecdotes about their past. Some came to life with vivid clarity while others took time to form. They visited almost every part of the station that wasn't off limits before stopping at the only place left to go.

"And this is my apartment," Tori stated with a grand gesture at the closed door, her name on a plaque next to it. They were standing in the crew quarters now, Jade catching the glances of everyone they passed to get there. It was an odd experience. Some were shocked, some scared, and some angry. Each had their own feelings about seeing her walking around freely. She wasn't bothered by their reactions. She only wanted to understand why they felt them.

But that was the point of her existence, right? To resurrect a loved one that had the knowledge to save them. To be the proof that they could come to terms with the aliens known as the Typhon. Her kind. The more humans she observed the more she wanted to believe she was one of them, to forget she was inhuman. But it was impossible when they looked at her like that.

Entirely possible when Tori looked at her though. She couldn't properly explain how she felt when Tori looked at her, but it had a positive effect. That was all that mattered. Tori reassured her with a smile and carefully took her by the hand.