Chapter 6: Jarod's Story

I was, like you, created inside of the Lab That I destroyed. I remember it quite clearly. I woke to see the world for the first time as a shell of myself, devoid of all understanding, and all I could do was watch and learn. So that was what I did for the first three months of my lifetime. I watched through the window of a capsule as a small fox with two Tails worked with the technology around him. His name, from what I deduced, was Tails. He worked with the machinery around me, and occasionally, some of his friends would come by. I would listen intently to their speech, and soon understood their language. They talked of scientific tests, of cells of various kinds, and many things about the human body. Most of all, they talked of the wide open world around them. They talked of adventures to save the world, and of destroying evil. I listened, and one day, I found the courage to speak to the Fox from in my capsule.

"Why can I not leave this place?"

The fox quickly turned on the spot, and looked directly at me. He pressed some buttons on the computer screen next to him, and shook his head.

"That's strange... I thought you couldn't speak English. My test all concluded that you had complete amnesia and could not remember anything."

This confused me. "I had been in the lab for months, watching and learning." was my reply. "You speak this 'English' so often; I can now understand most of it."

"That's weird... I suppose I should run more tests..."

"When will you let me out?"

The short fox looked up at me again from the computer screen. "I don't suppose that it will be anytime soon. I haven't made you to be able to survive in society, and you don't have any social skills or anything, so I suppose that all you are worth now is data... so I suppose it would be better if you were destroyed."

I could not understand this. I did not know much of the outside world, but to die without any knowledge of anything would be a life hardly worth living. I begged for the Two-tailed fox to let me live, but he refused to take my opinion. So, I decided that I needed to get out of the capsule as fast as possible. I smashed the glass with a fist, making a way out. I ran out, and while the smaller Fox was asleep, but was shocked to see what I found.

I saw, in capsules around me, many other clones, much like I was. Each one was eyeing me with the same blank look that I recognized as one like I had made when I had been in my capsule. Each one had a life to live, a future to have, and they were yet doomed to stay here, and be destroyed after they had served their creater's scientific purpose. I suppose that you were one of them, and I could not distinguish you from the others. I was afraid then, after seeing more clones like myself, and fled the lab quickly. I swore then that I would return there someday, and free them. A few days ago, I did, but let me continue my story from then.

Without any purpose, memory, or knowledge, I wandered the city I found outside, looking about for something that would help me. Finding nobody, I wandered the plains until I found this forest. I entered it, finding many things inside. Ripe berries and fruit helped appease my hunger, and water from calm springs helped to quench my thirst. Dry moss gave me a soft place to lie, and it was here that I found a home.

It was not long before I found the Tree. Yes, I mean the one that I was praying at earlier. I found it after days of wandering the jungle, still seeking my purpose. At the sight of this symbol, I found myself praying to whatever god had put it there. "Great God..." I said, "Whoever you are, and whatever you have done to lead me here, help me find my purpose. Give me a life with which I can feel love, and protect those whom I hold dear. Give me hope for a brighter future."

The Flame, through its wisdom, heard my prayer. I reached out to me, and I felt a strange energy flow into me. I felt the great power of the fire expand from the earth, and consume me. It burned my skin, consuming all of my body. In the rising Pain and heat, I fainted.

When I woke, I found myself being cared for by my sister Nicole. We are all brothers and sisters, for we are all filled by part of the flame. I looked at myself, and found myself as I am now, with dark fur, rather than the light orange it used to be. I soon found my ability to manipulate fire, and have used it for my purposes. As soon as I learned of the Flame from the other followers I devoted my entire life to the purging of evil, what the power was meant for. It was my new purpose. I was one of the most revered of the followers, and all looked up to me. Once I had done so much for the flame, I returned to the tree which with I had gotten my powers. I once again kneeled, and thanked the Flame for what it had done for me. It had given me a purpose, and with it, I was content. Lastly, I asked the flame if I could do anything to repay it for its deed.

Once again, The Flame heard me. It gave me then a great gift. One that I always will treasure and one that I will always regret. The Flame took a shape, and just like it had done for Satan before me, it became a part of me. The Flame that had given me my power, and that of all of its followers, now resides within me, as the great wings of Hell. I have power beyond my wildest dreams, but as a result, the Flame directs me and guides me. It leads me to my destiny that which Satan has done before.

I am destined to destroy the world.

And I can do nothing about it.

This knowledge has been a part of my existence for years, and because of my great relationship with the flame, I am respected by the followers of the Flame. I am given the task of choosing who comes to be among us, and I am given the highest honors in the village. My brothers and Sisters, though they have not suffered as I have for the Flames purpose, are the only people I can be trusted by. I live on with them, waiting for the day that the Flames will is done.