Journey 1-1: A Spark of Life // RE#80RN

The now closed for public, laboratory inside the seclusion zone, was quiet. Except for the few hums and beeping of machinery, and the soft rhythmic ticking of a metronome placed above a cluttered workbench. Lights filtering through the space station's window as The Blue-a water planet which the station's orbiting-came into view, reflecting the light from nearby star, illuminating the contents within the laboratory.

Shelves packed with vials, instruments, and curios collected over years of research. At the center of it all, behind a protective layer of glass, lying prone on a cold metal table, was a puppet, an almost perfect replica of The Herta herself.

The eyes of the puppet stared blankly into the ceiling unsettlingly.

Ruan Mei tapped her finger against the edge of her tablet. "Fascinating," she muttered, glancing at the glowing artifact suspended mid-air above the puppet's chest. The artifact pulsed faintly, like the weak thump of a heartbeat.

She had managed to obtain this incredibly rare curio after traveling aboard one of Xianzhou's fleet: The Seed of Abundance. Trying to find one is almost impossible as the Alliance is always hellbent on erradicating anything related to the infamous Aeon of Abundance ⁽ʸᵃᵒˢʰᶦ⁾. She was lucky enough to recieve a contact through one of their followers.

Not far from her. The #83rd member of the Genius Society ⁽ᵀᴴᴱ ᴴᴱᴿᵀᴬ⁾ observed her antics. Of course, using one of her puppet as a proxy. She wouldn't risk some freaky accident ruining her attire.

Herta had recieved the news of Ruan Mei 'borrowing' one of her puppets. Though she had actually received it directly as the puppet that was now laying cold a top of the table. "Number 80," Herta stated as she observed the puppet.

She had remembered every puppets she had made, over 2000 are roaming free within the space station, serving as her eyes and ears. Number 80 was one of the few oldest remaining puppets left that was still in pristine condition.

"Seem like number #127 is going to be the new ancient model, ironically." Herta sighed. When Ruan Mei sets her eye and focus on something, nothing will stop her from achieving the result. As a felow genius and scientist, Herta understood that well.

Ruan Mei rolled her eyes, but didn't respond. Instead, she adjusted the energy field surrounding the seed, trying to tune the delicate ballance of parameters to stabilize the connection between it and the puppet. While doing so, the entire room is suddenly filled with a strange and almost felt like an electric tension, as though the very air is trying to hold it's breath.

The seed suddenly flared, its light intensifying into a blinding white. A rush of heat flooded behind the protective glass. The emergency cooling system takes place, rushing to control the heat. At the same time, the puppet's eyes flickered.

Then it moved.

The motion was slight, a twitch of fingers, the barest tilt of the head. But it was enough to make Ruan Mei raise her eyebrows. "Did you see that?" She whispered.

"Of course I did," Herta replied, her curiousity perked up the moment she felt her connection to puppet 80 was severed. Under a normal condition, nothing should be able to hinder her connection with the puppets. Not even silver wolf's hacking. Because they're perfect.

"Increasing the stabilization field," Ruan Mei muttered as she adjusted the seed's energy. The puppet twitched again, and more clearly this time. Its hand flexed, joints whirring softly as the once cold and lifeless body began to stir awake. The flicker in its eyes grew stronger and brighter until it burned with an almost unnatural intensity.

The genius' breath caught as the puppet's head stiffly turned toward her. For a moment it simply stared, unblinking, with no expression or whatsoever.

And then it spoke.

"Where... am I?"

The voice was a bit hoarse, probably the result of a damaged voice module, but there was something unmistakably, felt... human beneath that layers of machinery. A tone of fear and confusion that no mere machine could produce. Though oddly enough, intellitrons are in an entirely different category.

"Welcome to existence," Ruan Mei said, her voice dry with amusement. "It seems you've been given a second chance, though I doubt you'll enjoy it much."

The puppet-no, the soul within the puppet-struggled to sit up, its movements was unsteady and awkward. Its head turned again, scanning the room as if searching for something familiar.

"I... I don't understand," it stammered. "What... am I?" it quivering under the genius' gaze.

Ruan Mei stepped forward cautiously, "You're a... mistake," she said bluntly in a soft voice. "An accident. A spark of life where none should exist."

For a long moment, the puppet said nothing. Then it lowered its head, staring at its hands.

"No," it whispered. "I'm... alive."

But behind the grandeur from the now successful experiment. An unseen presence stirred, its gaze lingered on the puppet, like a hunter watching its prey.

Neither Ruan Mei nor Herta noticed, but the puppet did. It felt the warmth, the weight of something, pressing down on it like a silent blessing.

---

RE:HERTA

---

//FIRST PERSON VIEW//

My gaze kept lingering on the sight before me. Just moments ago, I was drifting freely across the darkness, an expansive void, alone, for god knows how long until something dragged me out. Like a warmth embrace, covering my whole being.

Now, my eyes are fixated on the oddly shaped fingers and joints. I can move them, but for some reason I can't feel anything from it.

"Can you stand?" The Woman from before, clad in a chinese garment, a dark green qipao embedded brown, gold and white highlight. Her turquoise eyes locked to mine.

Her voice was soothing and calming. Unbeknownst to me, I had already followed her order, now standing up with both feet on the ground. It was then I realized-as I looked down-I'm currently wearing a short, white frilly minidress that reached my thigh, black coat that roughly covers 40% of my body(?), along with high heels.

"W... What?" I stammered, still overwhelmed by the revelation. Not only did I somehow managed to be alive again. I'm currently wearing something that-not in my whole entire life-I would expect to wear. But...

I do said that I'm alive... But, can this even be called a "Life?" I softly muttered.

I can't even recall anything from my past. They're all fragmented, trying to piece them would immediately made my mind went blank. But something for sure, I fully believed that I used to be a guy back then. The sudden reveal of me wearing this dress and the subtle reiection confirmed that.

I locked eyes with the woman again, but this time she turned her head towards the other individual in this room. There was another person there, or something that resembles a person, just beneath the darkness. That person slowly strode forward, followed by light taps of a heel on the cold metallic floor that reverberates through the whole room.

The light finally revealed a puppet that resembles a petite young girl. Her face was devoid of emotion, but there's a bit of a spark of interest in her eyes. Albeit unnoticeable to the naked eye.

She kept walking forward, keeping the consistent rhythmic patterns of taps each time her heels gets in contact with the floor. Then she stopped. Just before the glass that separates us.

And then it hits me. Our appearance are quite similar. The ball joints, the clothing, and even the heels. I instinctively approached her. And now I'm standing head to head with her. The only thing that separates us was the glass.

The puppet girl closed her eyes and released a huff, "No access, no response. I'm completely cut off from this puppet," she said, though emotionless, it still couldn't hide the tone of her disappointment. As if she just lost a precious possession.

I was curious enough that I began questioning her, "Cut off... No connection?" While doing so, I also tilted my head in response to her words. Wait, what am I doing?

"Apart from gaining individual consciousness, subject also shows interest," the woman in qipao dress muttered softly while focusing on her gaze on the tablet.

The puppet girl then locked eyes towards the woman, "While I do find your experiment fascinating. I couldn't possibly find any use for her." As she said that, the glass that separates us pried open. Letting the air invade the previously isolated room.

"We'll get to that later." The woman replied and walked away from the scene. Followed by the puppet girl.

And just like that, the two of them left. Leaving me alone, with even more questions than answers than before. A sudden shift in my vision startled me. I looked everywhere and found a small... Creature, Jelly things? Nudged my leg.

"What... Are you?" Albeit my speech form were still detached. I find myself slowly adapting to my current form. Looking at the creature below-stared at me with pleading eyes-I lowered my body until my hand could reach the thing.


"Cute..."

---

RE:HERTA

---

//THIRD PERSON VIEW//

Herta and Ruan Mei fled the scene after the unexpected success of imbuing the Seed of Abundance into a lifeless puppet. Leaving said experiment roaming alone within the seclusion zone.

Ruan Mei previously had observed the puppet with scientific detachment, noting her unexpected independence. She speculates that the Seed of Abundance may have acted as a conduit, allowing a soul to inhabit the doll's body.

Still, it was unexpected for the puppet to actually gain and independent life. Intelligent? For human standard the puppet seems to have at least the average intelligence of a normal person. She had initiated several experiments and projects that bears similarities. Thus safe to say this was not the first time she had experimented with one of Herta's puppets.

"While I'm tempted to know the limits of her capacity," Ruan Mei was the first to initiate the talk after the silence that stretches ever since they left the puppet.

Patterns of taps echoing through the hall, two geniuses, walking side by side, approaching an elevator, "I'm afraid I must leave. I'll left her in your care. After all it's yours to begin with."

Herta was taken aback from her blunt request. Suddenly barging into her space station to conduct another experiment, even using one of her possession, smuggling an abundance's material out of a Xianzhou fleet, "Wait, hold on. You can't keep throwing your experiments to me."

"I have some place to be, in the meantime I suggest you find some use for her." Before herta could reply again. The 81st member of the genius society already went two steps forward and entered the elevator before she could even enter. The door shuts close, and Herta was left alone.

Although Herta could have just jumped into one of her puppets that was nearby the ground floor elevator. She find no use in doing it since at that moment, nothing would stop Ruan Mei from advancing into her destination.

Herta let out an exasperated sigh. The genius already had enough trouble from recent threats to her space station, though she could care less about it since Asta would take care of everything.

Her mind then shifted into the anomaly that resided within one of her puppet body. Until an idea pops up in her mind.

---

RE:HERTA

---

//FIRST PERSON VIEW//

After taking a lot of consideration. I have decided to bring the little creature along in my embrace. The girl and the woman from earlier had left me for quite sometime. Since they didn't explicitly said that I was forbidden to roam the place, I quickly set my foot outside my open container.

The little creature hummed, a little excited. I think. As i brought it around the place. I observed my surroundings as I walked through the corridor that seems to stretch out in utilitarian symmetry layout.

The dark narrow passage was illuminated by the sterile white glow of overhead lights recessed into the ceilings. For a research facility, this place seems to be leaning more into a scientist's evil lair.

No matter how I look at it. Every corners of this whole place or facility screams "future" and "alien."

At the moment I still couldn't recall my past. But judging from my reaction, I could tell that this is truly the first ever time I've seen such spectacle.

The creature in my arm suddenly bounced, it hums a bunch of melody, seems like it's trying to sing. I couldn't help but just smiled at the little creature.

After the silence that was profound, broken only by the sound of footsteps and the singing of this little creature. I arrived at an automatic door that immediately opens up the moment I get closer.

Behind the door, a huge laboratory stretches out in the open. It's metallic walls gleaming under the cold artificial lights. There's also rows of giant glass tanks in the middle, eight of them. Each containing some kind of plants and greens, submerged in some kind of liquid.

On the glass tanks, holographic displays flickering into existence. Filled with complex visuals such as numbers and letters, which I couldn't read. No matter how hard I tried. In my disappointment I quickly dismissed that attempt. And focused my gaze somewhere else.

"Huh?..." My attention is now solely focused on the grand view before me. It was unbelievable, and I still couldn't believe that this was all not a dream. But a reality which I will have to face everyday.

Waking up in a completely different body, and not even an organic one, which has the appearance of my opposite gender in the past had already brought my hopes down.

But...

Once I set my eyes to this view currently... I'm at loss for words.

A huge blue celestial body dominated the horizon. On the surface, clouds gathered and swirled above the vast blue expanse.

I was frozen in place, admiring the incredible view. Three words escaped my mouth, "I'm... In space," still sounded monotone but no longer distorted.

Then something clicked in my head. A space station, two individuals that are oddly familiar even though this was supposed to be our first meeting. And the little creature in my arm who resembles a cat and... Jelly?

"Honkai... Star Rail," I still don't know what was that. But I'm confident it must've been something related to my current predicament.

There are a lot in my mind, but I shouldn't dwell on it for now. Because, I should enjoy the vie-

"Enjoying the view?"

"W- Wah?!" A sudden voce startled me.

In my act of carelessness and lack of awareness, I accidentally threw the little creature upwards. Sending it flying mid-air. I quickly realized what had transpired, and immediately rushed to catch the little creature-who's now screaming for help-before it could reach the ground.

While moving around to catch the trajectory of the little creature, I accidentally slipped and fell to the ground. I had forgot I was currently using a high heel, and was not accustomed to wearing one in the first place due to my past circumstance.

My fate now lies between the surrounding air and the cold, hard surface beneath me. What followed was a loud thud, along with another, although softer one that landed precisely above me.

It was the little creature.

Meanwhile, the nearby observer just stood there, her face unreadable as usual. Could you at least helped a bit? I cursed deep in my thought. Clutching my nonexistent pain in the head. I sat down while still holding the little creature.

I managed to recall few things after my leisurely walk. And if my memory serves right. The person who steed before me is Herta⁽ᵍᵉⁿᶦᵘˢ ˢᵒᶜᶦᵉᵗʸ ᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ ⁿᵒ•⁸³⁾ or at least, the one who controls the puppet, and the owner of this whole space station, which was literally named after her.

Herta seems to be in deep thought. She held her chin, closed her eyes. Silence stretches into seconds and the minutes while I waited on the floor, with the creature sitting on my lap, bouncing happily. Eventually, she reopens her eyes and looks at me.

"You, come with me," She said, her tone demanding. Without wanting to hear any complain from me, not that I have any to begin with. She waltz away from the scene, as if there's no time left in the world.

"...Quick," that word escaped my mouth.

You know what? I've completely resigned with my current predicament, letting the flow of water guide me to the end of this downstream. Not like i could do anything about it anyway. I stood up, with the creature, now in my arms once again. Quickly followed Herta, catching up directly behind her.

"Left the critter. They are forbidden to leave this floor," Herta once again ordered. This time she stopped to look at me and the creature.

I stopped mid-step. I looked at the creature again. It's staring at me with it's sparkling eyes, as if pleading with full hope for me to stay.

I looked at herta again. This time mimicking the creature's pleading eyes. But this time, it was directed at her instead. Unfortunately, as if she already knew my ploys.

"No. buts." She stated with pauses at each words.

Just when I finally made my first connection...

I reluctantly placed the critter, as what Herta called them, to the floor. It seems like it also understood the atmosphere of this situation. Looking down, it hops away from me. Returning to the laboratory.

"I will return... I hope..." I said, reassuring the critter. It turned its head toward me and jumped in excitement before eventually heading back to where it came from. This time, without looking all gloomy and sad.

I sighed and smiled while looking at the critter's happiness, "good job... Eli-" and then I froze.

The word just came abruptly as I stammers.

At the same time I felt very unease, unsure of what just happened.

That word... Or rather, a part of it.

It feels foreign yet intimate. I feel like I had known that for my whole life. Yet when I tried recalling it again. It's all gone. Like something unreachable, no matter how far I tried to chase it. It just strays further and further away.

"Eli... Incomplete... Need more time..." I muttered softly as I walked toward Herta. Who's been waiting this whole time.

Herta continued walking as I approached her, and just like that. We resumed our journey.

We walked through a long corridor illuminated from several ceiling lights. On our way, we also met another Herta puppet, which was just standing by, idly. It turned it's head on us or rather me. Before turning it's face forward, staring at nothing.

Eventually we arrived in front of an elevator. "What are you waiting for?" Herta said.

"You're not... Coming?"

"Why should I? I have puppets stationed in almost every corners of this station. I'm everywhere." She bluntly stated.

Oh right, I just remembered that. Without making her wait any longer. I went in to the elevator.

The door slid shut with a crisp hiss as soon as I stepped inside. Herta just looked at me before we were separated again, only this time by a thick metallic door.

I could hear a pneumatic click. Thinking that was the door engaging it's lock mechanism. For a moment, the chamber was silent, save for the sound of distant woosh that echoed faintly through the shaft. The elevator is ascending. Sending me toward my next destination.

If this is one of those second life scenario they always talked about. I would complain to whoever in charge of sending me to this mechanical body instead of flesh and blood.

I sighed again. This time I looked forward, with full determination, I will make full of this 'second' chance that has been bestowed upon me.

Well...

After this door opens of course...