HE COULD REMEMBER FALLING. The surface of Eriadu growing closer with each gust of wind that cut off his breath. The mist enveloping and stealing any last glance of those that watched from above.

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you die. And from the height which he fell, logically he should be dead. Yet his eyes slowly flickered open and fresh air burned his lungs. It took a moment for his vision to focus, but once it did he immediately pulled at his restraints to retreat.

Dr. Hemlock glanced over in his direction, looking up from the datapad in hand. With a flick of his wrist, a small team of scientists immediately flocked to his side and began running tests while gathering his vital signs.

"CT-9916," Dr. Hemlock read the number from the datapad. "That was your designation, correct?"

He kept silent, holding back the slew of insults at the tip of his tongue. He needed time to evaluate his environment and process his situation. Lashing out would only make that more difficult.

"Are his vocal chords dysfunctional?" Hemlock questioned, turning toward the Kaminoan kept under careful watch at the back of the room.

"This CX unit was a prime specimen," the scientist taking his pulse answered instead, adjusting her glasses as she turned her attention to her own datapad. "All components should be optimally functional."

"Thank you, Dr. Karr," Hemlock nodded. His scrutinizing gaze focused back on the restrained clone before him. "Your squad is quite impressive. Sixteen tests and only five survivors—beating the odds stacked against you."

"Why am I alive?" his voice rasped as if it had gone unused for decades.

"Not how?" Hemlock looked amused.

"If you wanted me dead, you would have left me in that ravine," he countered. "You've made tremendous efforts to ensure I remain alive."

"That's true," Hemlock agreed. "CT-9904 never confirmed, but there were subtle implications that your mind was broader than the others."

He didn't allow his expression to reveal the thoughts swimming through his mind. He refused to allow Hemlock to find any weaknesses without cracking his emotionless exterior. "So again I ask: why am I alive?"

"My progress on a personal project of mine has halted," Hemlock explained with a sigh. "Clone Force 99 created the first success. That success has wandered off and I need someone who understands their mindset to return what was lost."

"You will find that I'm not easily persuaded," the clone countered.

"We have our ways," Hemlock replied lightly, waving for the scientists to proceed with their poking and prodding. "Besides... it's your mind that I need."

He could feel his eyes drooping as the serum injected into the iv line sustaining him began to take effect. "What have you done with Crosshair?"

"CX-4 has been lost," Dr. Hemlock admitted. "However, you now play an integral part in his retrieval and our steps going forward with Project Necromancer. You'll see."

The clone's eyes closed and his chest rose in a soft, steady pattern. Hemlock had been prudent with the sedative dosage this time around. History could not repeat itself, he could not waste his resources. He turned Dr. Scalder with a stoic look.

"I want his identity wiped. A clean slate for the CX squad's foundation," Hemlock instructed. "I need him malleable to proceed."

"Yes, Dr. Hemlock," Dr. Scalder agreed without hesitation.

"Dr. Karr, if you'll follow me," Hemlock requested without leaving much room for decline. She nodded her head, silently following him from the room. "You wish to be the new chief scientist, Dr. Karr?"

"I believe I have earned it," she agreed.

"Hmmm. Very well." Hemlock continued down the next corridor, his voice echoing down the hall. "Let's begin by bringing you up to speed on Project Necromancer."

The doors closed behind them, leaving the few scientists and Nala Se within the laboratory. The Kaminoan glanced down at the datapad that Hemlock had left behind—taunting her with the knowledge that he was essentially destroying the very thing that she had created. On the screen in bright red letters read the word: TERMINATED. As if it had been stamped across the file with malice. However, the underlying information that Hemlock had painstakingly acquired was still visible.

'CT-9916 AKA Tech.'

He'd been rebranded with a new CX number as if he'd been reborn. However, unlike the other experiments, she'd had no hand in this one aside from her stolen technology and knowledge. This one could be crafted however Hemlock sought fit. Truly a fate worse than death.

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𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞| An extremely short chapter compared to the others, but it provides some important filler information to set up some plot points further down the line. Thanks for reading!