The Highest stared at the vats of modified organs, each one painstakingly made all for the experiment it was about to carry out. Nearby, a gru’ul test subject was strapped to an operating table. Scanning devices were set up around it, allowing the Highest to see into its body with ease. The images displayed on the holograms hovering around the table would provide enough insight for the operation it would do.

  The gru’ul subject had been given a powerful dose of the paralytic, rendering it unable to move and risk ruining the operation. It was also connected to a plethora of life-support equipment, ensuring that it wouldn’t expire during the procedure.

  For days, the Highest had obsessively gone over the operation its predecessor had done to transplant organs that could host the nanites into the human. During that time, another team had created equivalent organs that could be transplanted into a gru’ul.

  The Highest had deduced that if creating new gru’ul from scratch was a perpetual failure, perhaps modifying an existing one would result in a gru’ul progenitor for the next stage of the Mandate. It focused its attention lying on the cold, metal table and stared at it without any shred of remorse over what was about to happen.

  From the tray full of wicked surgical tools next to it, the Highest picked up a dull, metal scalpel and tapped the side of it with its claw. A blue light ran along the edge of the blade, sharpening it to such an extreme that it could cut through almost anything with ease. It then touched the tool to the gru’ul’s chest in drew a long line down the middle.

  Paralyzed as it was, the gru’ul wasn’t able to scream out its pain. It could only suffer in mute silence through the torment of being cut open and gutted. The Highest hadn’t deemed painkillers necessary, indifferent to any pain its actions might cause. Instead, it fell into its work performing the delicate surgery.

  All the organs were removed while the life support kept the gru’ul test subject alive despite its wishes otherwise. Then, one by one, the new ones were inserted and carefully integrated into the host’s system. Once the chest was done, the Highest moved on to the thorax and likewise sliced it open without regard. It repeated its work with great care, often referencing the gru’ul’s vital signs to ensure the operation was going smoothly.

  Many hours passed, the Highest having lost track of time as it fell into its work. It cared not, for it knew the results would be worth it. After finishing connecting the final organ, the Highest closed its brethren back up and disconnected it from the life-support it was on.

  All the while, the Highest kept an eye on the various holograms. The gru’ul experiment remained on the table for several more hours as the paralytic wore off. Given that the subject hadn’t expired yet, the Highest took that as a sign to continue to the next phase.

  The Highest retrieved a vial of the human experiment’s blood and injected it into the other gru’ul. A beat passed before it screamed out in pain, thrashing against its restraints. Its squealing annoyed the Highest so much that it administered more of the paralytic just to silence it.

  The Highest watched clinically as the nanites introduced from the human’s blood rapidly replicated and interacted with the new organs. Time passed, and the nanites didn’t reject the host. Given the stability of the subject’s vitals, the Highest deemed it safe to return it to a cell for continued monitoring. It would continue injecting more nanites into the tentative success after the current ones fully integrated themselves in the host’s body.

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  The Highest shrieked in satisfaction and returned to the control room to monitor what it hoped would be a success.

  Adrian was rudely awakened from his fitful sleep by the lights in his cell abruptly turning on. He immediately sat up, alert. The sleep cycle had felt far shorter than normal, which meant it was time for another experiment. Sure enough, the wall to his cell opened and revealed three gru’ul.

  “Come,” said the lead gru’ul through a translator orb. “Do not resist.” It clicked and the other two gru’ul advanced towards Adrian. The prodded him forward and out of the cell.

  For the first time since arriving, Adrian had some measure of agency over his actions. Every experiment so far had resulted in him being paralyzed before being brought to the lab. He wondered what was different but hadn’t the faintest idea. He trudged along, resigned to his fate. Perhaps he would finally die during whatever horror they had in store for him. At least then he would finally find release from the hell he’d found himself in.

  The group continued through the maze of corridors until Adrian found himself in the same lab all of his experiments had been held in. It was a novel experience, being able to see where he was going, he mused. It was certainly better than staring at the ceiling during the trip.

  Inside the room was the gru’ul Adrian had come to learn was the Highest. He could tell by the badge upon its chest. He was escorted forward and brought before it. The other gru’ul remained by his side with their guns pointed at him, ensuring that he wouldn’t attack their superior.

  The Highest was handed the translator orb from its lesser and faced Adrian. “Why?” it shrieked in anger. “What is it that makes you so special? Every experiment I have performed to replicate your success ends in failure.”

  Adrian scoffed. “How would I know?” he mocked. “It’s not like I was ever consulted during the experiments. You’re the ones who designed the experiments that modified me. Surely, you must know?”

  “My predecessor did not leave behind what criteria was used to select you as an experiment,” the Highest responded. “That you are still alive after what was done to you is nothing short of astounding. You should have expired during those experiments, yet somehow you survived.”

  “You never gave me the option of dying,” Adrian spat. “Every time I thought I was dead, you somehow brought me back to experiment on again!” he said scornfully. “Why don’t you do the same for your precious experiments?”

  “It would make no difference,” the Highest hissed. “The nanites inevitably reject their host and kill it. Even my most recent experiment, which should have had the highest chance of success, expired.”

  Adrian narrowed his eyes. “The nanites can decide whether to kill their host?” he asked.

  “Yes,” the Highest confirmed. “They must bond with their host to fully integrate themselves.”

  “What do they do?” Adrian couldn’t help but ask. “You spent so much time infesting me with them. Surely, there must be a reason?”

  “They improve you,” the Highest said. “Every part of you that is imperfect is removed and improved upon. You are the perfect meld between a machine and an organic lifeform. Equal parts both, working together to make something better than when separate.”

  “How do you decide what makes me imperfect?” Adrian asked.

  “You are our creation,” the Highest replied. “We are well aware of how to make you a better version of yourself. Modifying you is our right, for you have always been ours to do with as we please. Such is your purpose. Now then, it is time to study you further.”

  A familiar prick stung the back of Adrian’s neck, and he lost all sensation in his body in the span of several heartbeats. He turned limp but was caught by one of the gru’ul flanking him. After being restrained back to the operating table, he could only stare helplessly as the Highest peered over him and brandished an injector filled with a vibrant yellow chemical.

  “I will have my answers,” the Highest said as it plunged the needle into Adrian’s skin. “One way or another.”

  Adrian’s world faded to black, and pain was the last thing he knew before falling unconscious.