[i]“Your old name no longer applies. You’re a faithful servant of the Institute now. An instrument through which we accomplish the will of the Cradle, together.” The Director-General continued, both hands clasped on the desk in front of him. 

Like everywhere in the Institute, his office was almost completely dark. Thin blue chemical lights stapled the walls about halfway up, leading to the door. The main illumination though, came from the two sets of augmented eyes which stared unblinkingly at each other.

Two walls of the office consisted of giant windows, including behind where the Director-General was sat. The Cradle’s white fibrous material whirled against the glass like a howling blizzard.

Agent 595 stood up perfectly straight in front of the Director-General’s desk, arms neatly folded behind her back. She was the happiest and most excited she’d ever been, but maintained a neutral expression. Her tutorial was finally over! Now the real work could begin. 

“How do you feel?” The DG asked, studying her closely. 

“I feel ready to get started, sir.” 595 replied levelly.

“Good, because I have your first directive. Take two of the novitiates, capture 127, and bring him to me. He’s lost his way, and will not return to the Institute willingly. If he tries to escape, kill him. Think you can handle that?”

“Sir, yes sir.”

“Good. You’re dismissed.”

595 turned and walked halfway to the door.

“Oh, Agent?”

She turned and stood at attention again. “Yes, sir?”

“Don’t take too long - this is just the start.”[/i]

[hr]When 595 woke up, she was underwater. She tried to open her mouth and gasp for air, but realised she couldn’t do that. She thrashed around desperately, but could see no way out of the cave-like complex she was in. She began swimming quickly down one of the passages, only stopping when she realised she wasn’t drowning. In fact, she felt completely at ease in the water. She looked around.

She appeared to be in some kind of vast underwater reef. All kinds of vegetation and wildlife clung to the rock around the edge of the circular passage. There were a myriad of different pathways, and she found she knew where she was. She was in her residential colony, just a short swim from the city centre.

As her senses gradually acclimated to her surroundings, 595 became aware of a shrill warning sound coming from nearby. Something must be wrong - she recognised it as the evacuation alarm.

Suddenly, a tightly packed group of pale grey flesh exploded past her. 595 shouted out in surprise at the unfamiliar sensation of them calling for her to escape with them. She didn’t even know what they were, so wasn’t about to join them.

Then she sensed a familiar voice, and swivelled to look towards the caller.

Four long swimming creatures approached her. They looked like the kind of giant predatory cephalopods that’d been apparently hunted to extinction on most of the Human planets 595 had visited. She instinctively backed up, unwilling to get too close, until she realised who they were.