2 The Real Beginning

I awoke with a jump, taking a look around me in confusion with a slight headache.

Rubbing my eyes, I took a look around to see it's a pretty bland room.

The walls were plain white with no posters whatsoever, with only a dresser and a desk decorating the room.

Hoping out of bed, I notice I'm way shorter than what I once was.

As I'm stretching, I suddenly remember everything.

My father apparently was the President over the Omnica Corporation branch in Silicon Valley, California of North America.

He lost his wife during childbirth along with his kid a couple years back, which put him into a depression.

A few years later, he decided that he needed someone to inherit his legacy, so he went out seeking to adopt a child.

He adopted me, hoping to teach me his business so he could rely on someone.

I did my best to learn from him, but after a couple of months of being pushed too hard, I fell sick.

I was bed ridden for an unbearable eight months before apparently yesterday, I died, but took over his body.

Walking over to a mirror, I take a look at myself.

I was dark skinned with mess of uncombed curly grey and black hair.

I had dark circles under my eyes with a malnourished face, which was understandable as I was a six year old that got sick from being taught robotic schematics.

Overall, once I improved, I could see myself as being quite the good looking kid.

While I was admiring my reflection, the door opened and an Omnic dressed in a butler's suit walks in.

"Significant improvement in health detected, reporting immediately to Mr. Rose." His robotic voice is programmed to sound British.

I was disappointed to hear that it was one of those programmed omnics who were just empty shells that could only follow orders.

"Good morning..." I trailed off as I realized my father never really cared for giving his own butler a name.

"Good morning to you too Mr. Shawn.

Although there's an incline in your health, it is well advised for you to remain in bed.

I can provide assistance to wherever it's needed."

He attempts to usher me back to bed and I follow.

It would seem too suspicious if I suddenly was just fine after being bed ridden for over half a year.

"I'm hungry." I say deciding to at least pretend to be a kid.

"Very well. I will bring an accommodating breakfast suitable to your stomach. Please exercise patience while the meal is being prepared."

Having said that, he backs out the door, leaving me to stay in the bed.

While, waiting for my food, I began to plot my next actions.

Based on the premise that my father was the President of Omnica Corporation, I could assume that he would have the best quality of omnic available.

Seeing that he had absolutely no emotion or willpower, I could assume that either this was before Auroura or she was currently taking her enlightening trip.

Either way, it was clear that this was before the First Omnic Crisis.

I would have know the year to know how long I have to prepare, but I could assume that it was going to be within a couple of years.

Stretching forth my hands from under the covers, I attempt to summon lightning.

After a few moments of nothing happening, I give up, thinking that I'm probably too young to try anything electrical.

As I put my hands down, the omnic butler walks back in with a tray.

He gracefully walks over to the bed, sitting the tray down where I can comfortably eat and lifts the lid, revealing a bowl of oatmeal and orange juice.

"Before you is a bowl of oatmeal, enriched with ginger and honey with slices of banana. To drink is orange juice which will provide a quicker recovery." He explains.

I decide to experiment to see if the omnics in pre- Crisis era are capable of feeling emotions by experiencing emotion.

"You have my sincere thanks for taking care of me so far. I don't know what would happen to me if you weren't there for me." I say while looking for any response from him.

"You are most welcome Mr. Shawn." His metal face remains unwavering, empty.

Grabbing the spoon, and digging in, I don't plan on giving up trying as Rome wasn't built in a day.

In between bites I ask, "I'm assuming my fathers at work right now?"

"You would be correct, but he expresses his joy at your improvements. Unfortunately, he is tired up with work to come himself." He explains.

Any other kid would believe him, but I knew that he just believed my improvement was a temporary thing.

I remember intense study sessions with him, where he attempted to teach me each subject at a high school level in attempt to rush my understanding to start building omnics.

Then his disapproving face when I showed that I didn't understand complex math problems or the correct reactions between two substances in chemistry.

I'm sure that unless I barged into his office, capable of taking his position, he wouldn't care about what happened to me.

Not that I cared, I wasn't here for fatherly love as in the next couple of years, Omnica would take drastic hits as they closed and his attitude would only worsen.

In any case, I should take advantage of what Omnica had to offer while it was still available.

Since I completed high school and had some years of college experience, I'm sure that I could attempt to learn whatever he was trying to teach me about omnics before.

Finishing my breakfast and handing the tray to the omnic butler I question, "Do you perhaps know where my lesson material is?"

"It should be at your desk, but it is recommended that you get as much rest as possible." He cautions.

"Understandable, I will get some rest after looking over a couple of things. I promise." I lie to him.

"Very well, I shall retrieve it for you." He heads over to the desk, grabbing multiple books before placing them beside me.

Taking the first one and looking at it, I doubted the sanity of my father as he tried to teach a six-year-old kid Geometry.

In my opinion, Geometry wasn't hard when compared to the other math courses, but it was boring and no way a kid was going to pay attention to this kind of thing unless they actually enjoyed it.

Plus, Geometry was just the tip of the iceberg.

I needed to touch up on my Statistics as well as learn Linear Algebra since they are required for any career in robotics.

Putting down the math book, I picked up the Chemistry book, attempting to remind myself on everything dealing with the subject.

After an hour of studying, the omnic butler spoke up.

"Pardon my interruption, but I do believe it's time for you to take a break in your studies and get some rest."

Putting the book down, I put on a fake smile, "Of course, I will follow your advice and get some sleep."

"Very well, I shall return in a couple of hours with lunch." He proceeds to walk out the room, closing the door behind himself.

I wait till I hear his footsteps fade before getting out of the bed and laying on my stomach on the floor.

I then attempt a push up, which takes the breath out of me as I struggle to push myself away from the floor.

Barely completing three, I struggle back into the bed huffing for air.

I thought that was good progress considering I was in a bed for eight months and needed to get my muscles some much needed development.

Lifting my skinny arms, I knew they were basically skin and bones, and if the Omnic Crisis were to happen right now, I had no chance of surviving.

Soldier would be disappointed as I didn't even try to work on my legs this time, but there were going to be many opportunities later.

Picking back up the book on Chemistry, I prepared myself for the long grind I had ahead of me.