Zac laughed because he assumed that the only team he’d have to worry about on day 6 was Team Watabe. Now, depending on what Watabe and Genkei’s Programs were, Team Micheal might be his biggest concern. Of course, Kenji might be a problem all on his own if his administration was successful. 

“Alright, you're next, big guy.” Dr. Varma called out to Genkei, who proudly strutted towards the Doctor. He was already satisfied with his Program; he didn’t need Dr. Varma to confirm his thoughts. All Chasers had a basic idea of what their Programs were capable of once they became Chasers. It was only that most had no idea how to properly use those Programs and had no litmus test on what would be effective or not. From Genkei’s and Watabe’s attitudes, they clearly felt their Programs were equal to, if not superior to, Micheal’s and Travis’. 

“Wow, ok, go ahead.” Dr. Varma shook her head in disbelief after she scanned Genkei. 

“Takashi Genkei 7954638, Program: Stockpile.” Genkei had a cocky smirk on his face. Zac looked at him, 

“Well, that's the perfect Program for him. Dammit.” Zac groaned. 

Program: Stockpile; allows its Chaser to absorb and redistribute kinetic energy in various ways. Its most basic function could make the Chaser an immovable object or an unstoppable force. It was a simple but incredibly versatile ability. Akiko, Ume, Micheal, Travis, and now Genkei, all birth Programs that would make them the focus of any other Organization, especially Michael. 

However, Zac’s eyes focused on Watabe. Watabe Ken was a very proud individual, but even after the others had revealed their Programs, he didn’t show a change in expression. Watabe walked forward without being called by Dr. Varma. She scanned him with her tablet, and her jaw dropped.

“I was wrong, looks like I can still be surprised. Zac, come here.” Dr. Varma called Zac over. 

He looked at her tablet and let out a whistle. 

“You think you can handle that on day 6?” Dr. Varma said with a chuckle. 

“On day 6, yeah. Give him a year, then… ehhhhhhh. Hehehehe…. Ahhhhh. I’ll get back to you on that.” Zac let out a nervous laugh. Dr. Varma motioned for Watabe to verify his information. 

“Watabe Ken 69458724, Program: Ion.” 

Program: Ion; this Program could manipulate charged particles. At its most basic level, they could control and manipulate electricity. At its peak, Chasers could manipulate things on an atomic level. Add that Program to Watabe’s already stellar performance thus far, 

“I really got my work cut out for me.” Zac sighed. He had high expectations for this group of recruits, but he didn’t expect this. All the recruits saw the look on Zac’s face, and they couldn’t wait for Day 6.  

“Yeah, keep that energy, Tiny Tots.” Zac chuckled as he looked at the recruits staring at him like fresh meat. 

The recruits  had already forgotten what they were told. It was difficult for anyone not to be initially seduced by the new power they were feeling. It was the only good thing about Zac not being able to use Programs. It allowed him to help these recruits remember that they were still human. 

“Well, now Dr. Varma here is going to take some time to review what your Programs can do individually. I know you have a general idea floating in the corner of your mind, but she will go over it with you in detail. You’ll have the rest of the day to toy around with your abilities and…” Before Zac could finish explaining what was next, Kenji’s tube began to bubble. Dr. Varma ran over while frantically tapping her fingers across her tablet. Everyone turned their attention toward the tank. 

“What’s going on, Shaila?” Zac walked over. 

“I don’t know; the Nano-machines are fighting directly with Kenji.” 

“What?” 

“Yeah, I don’t understand.” Dr. Varma stated worriedly. 

“Stop the process,” Zac commanded. 

“I can’t do that. It’s like a tug of war if we forcefully remove him from there.” 

“It will do more harm than good… dammit.” Zac cursed. 

Everyone looked on as Kenji's body began to twitch. But he didn’t appear to be in any sort of pain. Dr. Varma was frantically combing through her tablet as she observed all the information thrown at her. 

“This is incredible.” Dr. Varma blurted out.

“Well? Share with the class.” Zac joked. 

“His body is constantly changing and evolving. With each evolution, it picks out what it likes and expels the Nano-Machines, stabilizes, and then allows the Nano-machine to come in again.” Dr. Varma commented with a curious expression on her face. 

“What? You’re saying he’s using the Nano-machine to endlessly improve his physical condition?” Zac tried to understand. 

“Not just his physical condition, everything. His DNA is constantly being changed and reworked. He’d hardly be human when everything is said and done.” Dr. Varma no longer seemed worried and more fascinated.

“Why didn’t something like this happen to me?” Zac asked. 

“If I had to guess, it’s something to do with your innate abilities. You said Kenji instinctively copied everything he saw and adapted them to himself? Maybe that’s just how his particular body works. A sort of ultimate adaptation. He subconsciously takes in information from around him and copies what he deems the best, or at least the best parts while trying to improve it. On top of that, he is most likely using the Nano-machines scanning abilities, to expedite the process. ” Dr. Varma could only theorize. 

“So you think his body takes in the Nano-machines, scans the room, picks out the best sample, and copies and modifies it to change his body? Then push out the Nano-machines to start the process again?” Zac tried to understand. 

“Yes, and I don’t think this will stop until he’s satisfied.” Dr. Varma solemnly spoke. 

“You think he’s controlling this?” 

“Not consciously. You, on the other hand. Whatever your innate ability is, seems rooted in destruction, not adaptation. So the Nano-machines never had a chance when waking something like that up. But, with you guys being polar opposites in how your body reacted to the Nano-machines, this could be pivotal to fixing your situation.” Dr. Varma explained her theory. Zac nodded his head in acceptance.

He also looked around the room, at all the “samples” Kenji could be copying from. Varma was correct, when everything was said and done, he may barely be human. However, In the depths of Kenji’s subscious there was only one being in the room he thought superior to all the rest. 

“Zac…” The singular goal his body worked towards was to achieve what Kenji subconsciously deemed perfection. 

Everyone stared at Kenji’s tube for another 30 minutes before the turmoil within it died down. The liquid was still emitting a luminescent glow, indicating the Nano-machines were still present. Zac and Dr. Varma breathed relief, and just as they turned their attention back toward the other recruits, the liquid churned again. The luminescence instantly disappeared.

The water drained, and Kenji opened his eyes as his head instantly snapped over in Zac’s direction. Zac saw Kenji's pupils turn into slits for a moment and felt a wave of aggression before Kenji’s eyes returned to normal. 

“What the hell was that?” Zac asked himself. It wasn’t only the wave of hostility that he felt that shocked him, but the excitement he got from it. Kenji felt the same excitement, although he could not understand where it came from. It was almost instinctual. 

“Kenji, let's get a look at you.” Dr. Varma called out to Kenji, who stepped down. 

“How long was I in there?” Kenji asked as he cracked his neck. 

He looked at everyone around them, and they had completely dried off. That meant he was in that tank long after everyone else had gotten out.

“About 2 and a half hours,” Zac said as he stood next to Dr. Varma.

Kenji almost recoiled at the sound of Zac’s voice, as if he had seen his natural enemy. After Zac raised a confused eyebrow at him, Kenji calmed himself down and shook his head. 

“You ok, kid?” Zac asked curiously. 

“Y-yeah, Yeah. I’m just on edge for some reason.” Kenji responded. 

“That’s not too surprising. You went through countless and repeated enhancements and changes. I suspect it will take a while to get used to certain stimuli. From my observation, your instincts have heightened to frightening levels, and you perceive Zac as a viable threat.” Dr. Varma explained as she looked over the initial data she had gathered from Kenji’s suit. 

Kenji nodded his head in understanding, as he kept sneaking peeks at Zac who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Kenji wanted nothing more than to charge him at this moment, and he couldn’t understand why? He felt like an animal that needed to establish its dominance over a rival. 

“Alright, time for the moment of truth. Hold still, please.” Dr. Varma began to scan Kenji. 

Dr.Varma motioned for Zac, who leaned over and looked at her pad. He chuckled a bit, 

“Not bad, Isuel.” 

“It’s Kenji!” 

“Shut up, Isuel,” Zac smirked and started walking away.

“Ume, come with me. We’ll see if Devin can figure out what that Program of yours is. There’s currently nothing that can help you in our database.” Zac said without turning around to look at Kenji. Ume followed behind him, tentatively looking over her shoulder periodically at the others. 

“Sensei, what did his chart say?” Ume asked sheepishly. Zac seemed in a foul mood, although she couldn’t bring herself to look at his face to find out. 

“Suzuki Kenji, ID#: Not Applicable. Program: Unidentifiable,” Zac responded. 

“What does that mean? And with no ID#, doesn’t that mean….” 

“The Kill code is ineffective, correct. But that’s par for the course… with Zero Chasers.” Zac responded. 

“Program: Unidentifiable means he’s a Zero? It can’t be identified because it has no quantifiable limits?” Ume asked. 

“Correct.”

“I see.” Ume then flinched as she finally looked over at Zac’s face. She thought to see a face filled with rage or jealousy. She could understand that. Kenji was a Taboo Child like him. However, Kenji’s body seemed to send the Nano-machines into overdrive instead of rejecting them. It was no secret to Ume that Kenji didn’t seem cut out for this life and that he was reluctant to be here, but all this power landed in his lap. 

Zac had worked hard for several years hoping for them to figure out a way to make the Nano-Machines work on him, to no avail. But that twisted expression of jealousy was not there on his face. The look he had was far more frightening. There was a tranquil calm, with a sinister light in his dark purple eyes.

“Don’t disappoint me, Isuel.” Ume heard Zac mumble to himself. 

He wasn’t jealous at all. He was excited. Just for a moment Ume thought she saw Zac’s pupils turn to slits.

Dr. Varma watched Zac walk away and just sighed. She then turned her attention back toward the recruits, 

“Alright, Tiny Tots. Let’s get you guys squared away. I’m going to call you guys up one by one. Then transfer all our data about your individual Programs directly to you. You’ll be able to access it through your Nano-Machines. They’re a part of you now, like an extra muscle. So start flexing them. Except for you, Kenji… Kenji!!” Dr. Varma called out to Kenji, who was still staring at the door that Zac had walked through. 

“Ah? Ah… sorry, yeah, what’s up?” Kenji refocused. 

“I won’t be able to help you with your Program. No one can. That’s the only downside with Zero Chasers. All I can tell you is that you need to get familiar with your abilities and pay attention to your Boot-Up sequence.” Dr. Varma warned. Kenji nodded his head in understanding.

“Boot-Up sequence?” Akiko asked. 

“It’s not something you guys  have to worry about; it’s something only Zero Chasers have. If I’m being honest, it’s the real thing that sets them apart from other Chasers.” Dr. Varma then walked towards Watabe and then poked him in the chest with her tablet, 

“Speaking frankly, Watabe’s and Michael’s Programs are comparable to what the current Zero Chasers have. However, assuming they were of equal skill, Watabe and Micheal would be severely disadvantaged because of those Boot-Up sequences. Even if they fought one of them together.” Watabe and Micheal looked at each other and then stared at Kenji.  

“So make sure you completely understand what yours can do. Also, keep what it does to yourself, for now.” Dr. Varma warned Kenji, who nodded his head in understanding. 

“When I call your name, step forward.” Dr. Varma started to call people up as Kenji walked away from the group. 

Kenji closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He felt like he could do anything, but every time Kenji looked at Zac, he felt a primal hostility rise within himself and primal fear. He still didn’t understand this feeling, but he was sure he would come to do so on Day 6 when they clashed directly. 

Information about his Program and Boot-Up sequence flowed through his mind. However, the Nano-Machines needed a name for both to properly help him regulate them. The Program was simple enough. He could name it anything, but he was identified as a Zero Chaser, and there was already a certain amount of prestige and fear associated with that name.

“So, of course, it will be named Zero”

After naming the Program, details of what his Program and Boot-Up sequence could do filled his head. His eyes widened. He then chuckled as he came up with a name for his Boot-Up sequence.

He walked towards the exit excited, but before he left, he turned to look back at the group. His pupils turned into slits as he said,

“Let’s try this out. Initiating Program: Zero. Boot Up: Replica”