Project Insectoid: My Hybrid Ascension

[Model: AI Experimental Module]

[Type: TI-0117042209]

[Status: Online]

[Communications: Offline]

[Scanning hardware health, please wait...]

"That didn't give me any useful information," Liam said, crossing his arms and sighing in defeat. He had hoped for some answers but was now forced to sift through useless data and notifications while the system did its own thing.

[Scanning complete!]

[Multiple malfunctions found, maintenance required.]

[Initiating self-repair protocol.]

[During this time, the system will become unavailable. Please wait.]

"At least I won't have to watch it for some time now," Liam commented as the holographic screens disappeared in the blink of an eye.

It would be nice if it stayed like this, but he knew it would return eventually.

Now that he was free, he picked up a TV remote that looked like it was made of glass and flung himself onto the bed, getting into a comfortable position.

He tapped the power button, causing the TV to activate.

From the long, black bar on the ceiling, a thin screen began to emerge.

After it finished descending, a crystal-clear picture finally appeared, though it flickered due to poor signal.

Rarely, you could catch some old entertainment series or a movie, and Liam was hoping to see one tonight, especially since it was late.

"It's been 75 years since the Insectoid atta—"

*tap*

"And now, we're reporting live from where a shelter has been overrun by mutated plants. They appeared out of nowhere and—"

*tap*

"The military is preparing to destroy—"

*tap*

The screen went black and began retracting into its case after Liam turned it off with one press of a button.

"Seriously! Who watches the news past midnight?" Liam complained, raising the TV remote as if he were about to throw it across the room, but he quickly changed his mind.

Without the remote, there was no way to turn on this old TV. That's why its value had dropped so quickly, and the remotes weren't the best quality either.

Liam got up from his bed and put away the fragile remote before approaching the window.

A gust of fresh air escaped into the room as he opened it.

In the distance, he could see Torran's Faction's main shelter, with towering buildings reaching into the dark sky full of glittering stars.

He extended his arm as if he were about to touch them, and his wings spread, ready for flight. But Liam's desire shattered at the sound of a nearby surveillance drone.

"Tch," he furrowed his eyebrows, his forehead wrinkling. He pulled his hand back and closed the window before returning to his bed.

"I can't wait for this stupid war to end," Liam muttered to himself, placing his hands behind his head before finally drifting off to sleep.

****

Liam's eyes cracked open with the first ray of sunlight that hit his face.

[System self-repair protocol still in progress. Please wait.]

"It's too early for this..." He grabbed the pillow he had been sleeping on and threw it over his head, shutting his eyes and trying to get more sleep. But his stomach had other plans, as its growls echoed around the room.

Driven by hunger, Liam was forced to get up and get ready.

He moved one pair of wings over his shoulders and forearms, while another pair extended down his back, glutes, and the back of his legs, transforming into iridescent green tattoos with a blue sheen.

After putting on his everyday clothes and lowering his antennas, he headed toward the kitchen, running a hand through his raven-black hair.

"Morning," Liam greeted his mom, who was already in the kitchen preparing food for the day. However, the smell wasn't as appetizing as one might think.

The room was filled with an unpleasant odor, like someone had taken off their shoes and hadn't washed their socks for two weeks. That's why Ella made the food early while everyone else was still asleep.

"Oh? Liam?" Ella asked, her voice rising in pitch as she turned to look at him. "Why are you awake at seven AM?"

The young boy yawned and sat down at the table, scratching his abdomen, which growled like an angry dragon.

"Oh..." His mom half-closed her eyes after hearing the answer from his stomach. She turned back to the stove and continued cooking.

"Are you feeling better after a good night's sleep?"

"I do, actually," Liam replied, placing his elbow on the table and resting his head in the palm of his hand while idly tracing circles on the wooden surface with his other hand.

He couldn't see it, but a warm smile spread across his mother's face after he spoke those words. No mother would want to see their child suffer like that.

"And have you had any more headaches?" she continued, hoping it wasn't too soon to ask about them. She didn't want to accidentally trigger him.

While waiting for an answer, she turned off the stove and picked up a gray metal bowl.

She scooped the food with a ladle a few times, placed it into a deep dish, and set it on the table along with a spoon.

"Luckily, the last one was during my shower yesterday," Liam replied, straightening his back and rubbing his hands together before digging into the meal.

Neither the funky smell nor the weird, brown, slimy texture stopped him from scooping up the meal, which seemed like it might come alive at any moment.

"If only it could stay like that," Ella sighed, serving herself a portion so she could have breakfast with her son.

"If only..." Liam muttered, wishing for nothing but a normal life.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. There was more Liam wanted to say to his mom about his system, but he didn't want to worry her further. Instead, he changed the topic.

"Hey, what did food taste like before?" he asked, taking another bite of the sticky, unidentified substance.

"Before the massive gas bombing?" Ella licked her spoon clean and pressed it against her chin, trying to remember her younger days.

"Yeah," Liam responded after licking his bowl clean, though the monstrous growl from his belly demanded more.

"Well, before the Armageddon," Ella began, getting up to refill Liam's bowl so he could listen to her long explanation in peace.

She tried to keep it brief, but before the Insectoids sprayed the planet with strange chemicals that caused everything to mutate and allowed humans to develop abilities, food was much richer in taste, full of variety, textures, and so much more.

Now, it was hard to find organic food, and they were dependent on meals whose sole purpose was to fulfill basic nutritional needs.

"The apples and other fruits and vegetables you taste from time to time are just the tip of the iceberg," she finished, playing with her own food, which no longer seemed appetizing.

"So the Insectoids are to blame again?" Liam said through clenched teeth, gripping the spoon tightly. Whenever he discovered something good, it turned out it didn't exist anymore.

"Those cursed bugs—I'll make sure to eradicate them!" He slammed the table with his fist, his semi-transparent wings spreading wide. They were colored in a gradient of crimson red, pulsating with intensity.

Ella was about to calm him down after seeing Liam's frustration, but her gentle expression turned into a frown as she noticed his antennae falling over his eyes during his dramatic display.

She cleared her throat, and one glare was enough to bring Liam back to his senses. He hid his features as quickly as he had revealed them, offering a nervous smile.

No words were exchanged between the two, and beads of sweat formed on Liam's forehead as he awaited his punishment. Luckily, he sensed Ava approaching.

Never thought I'd be glad to see her, he thought. It felt like divine intervention.

"I've always found it amazing how they can just phase through his clothing," Ava commented as she leaned against the doorframe. "So, what's on the menu for breakfast?"

"The usual nutrien mash," Mom answered, getting up to serve her daughter. But as she placed the bowl on the table, loud knocks echoed through the house.

Everyone exchanged glances. Visitors were rare, and they weren't expecting anyone today.