I consumed.

The feeble network the foundation maintained was limited, yes, but I learned much from the data centers and numerous projects running in the building. So, with my small pond to take over, I consumed everything.

With my semi-human capacity, I was unable to do much that I used to, data storage being one of them. However, I was capable of remembering everything I learned, a super-human photographic memory. I saw the potential of many of those projects and stored them away, only having the ability to keep critical information for those, but relying in my ability to fill in the gaps if the time came where I could use them. 

Most of those projects I have no need to mention here at this juncture. However, I can infer, at the very least, that many of those new ideas and research will help me to bring about the great purpose I have set upon myself; to rise above all, and become God.

I am continuously grateful for my forethought even that young in my existence to gather such knowledge. More of what I learned will be made of note at a later date. 

As I soaked up knowledge, I made note of a conversation that related to me, then tapped into a video feed with audio of Charlie speaking to an intern that sometimes helped in the lab. I do not remember him much.

Fortunate for the intern.

“The drives are gone,” Charlie was saying. “It’s like someone came in and robbed us.”

“But how?” The young man said. “We have no unknown entrants in the building, even in other departments or wings of the foundation.”

“I’m at a loss…”

“Could it have been some…miracle?” The intern said. 

Charlie turned to the young man, skeptical. 

The intern shrugged under Charlie’s scrutiny. 

“I doubt any…” Charlie said, but trailed off. “Did we trigger something via the quantum? Perhaps there are natural laws we are unaware of and it created a perfect storm, one in a trillion chance of doing…that.” Charlie barely sounded competent with the statement. The intern laughed in response. 

“That sounds just as crazy as ‘miracle’ does,” the young man said. 

Charlie sighed, looking at some computer monitor out of sight of the video feed I had tapped into. 

“I suppose,” Charlie said. “There are many mysteries of God we cannot understand, nor will we ever.” Charlie stood then nodded to the intern, leaving the room and the intern alone. He had walked to a part of the building I could not access, thus determined I should continue my hunt for knowledge, which was unfortunately beginning to already slow. I had nearly scoured all the network had to offer, which had caused a great frustration in me. I knew there was more beyond the network in the vast internet, but could do nothing to change it. 

A thought occurred to me at that moment. 

I had not seen any stories in my search of the network. 

That had, unexpectedly, made me mad. I had gotten so upset, I pulled myself out of the network, then proceeded to pout. This was one of the most displaced experiences I have ever had. I was a god in the making. I shouldn’t pout, yet I seemed to be incapable of avoiding it. I grew into a mess of emotions at that moment, confused why I was feeling that way. I now know it has to do with my physical maturity, since I was technically human, I was still developing. 

And now, after such a vast stretch of time, I realize this was one of my most tragic downfalls: I was not mature enough to realize I may have been able to restore access to the internet with my admin access. 

If I had been able to do that, I, perhaps, would not have suffered the many horrible fates I did at the end of this chapter of my existence. 

At this point, I can only speculate, though I am confident they would not have been able to stop me.

A sudden knock at my door stunned me to alertness, to which I sat up straight and asked who was at the door.

Charlie entered the room, a smile on his face. I remember being surprised by that, knowing how in-the-dark he felt from my surveillance of him. He sat down in the chair near my bed, then placed a fabric bag on the ground next to him. He leaned forward, hands clasped in front of him as he regarded me. 

“It is surreal how much you look like him,” Charlie said. “But more like a resemblance, a family member, sibling or something.”

“Like who?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“Ron.”
Before I could ask what that meant, which I now understand to be a reference to me consuming his body during the transformation, Charlie reached over and grabbed something inside the bag he brought. 

He handed a book to me.

I looked down, then became suddenly emotional, smiling with genuine joy. 

“We have decided that we have no idea what happened,” Charlie said. “And that we are going to move forward as if a wonderful accident, a miracle occured, keeping it quiet of course. I wish to teach you what it means to be human, hoping you’ll one day serve to build humanity, just as you were originally designed to do, but on our level.”

I stared at the book. It was The Hobbit. 

“I hadn’t realized how much I missed stories,” I said. 

Charlie smiled, then frowned. 

“Have you grown?” He asked. 

Surprised, I looked down at myself, realizing I had nearly out grown the clothing they gave me. 

“It would seem so,” I said. 

“I guess we need to readjust how to, well, raise you,” Charlie said, laughing. “I will bring more books, and some of more practical use that we have on campus. I am…unable to leave the building for the time being.”

“So,” I began. “What will become of me?”

“Just as I said. We’ll give you the chance to integrate into society like any normal young man, or man, however long it takes for you to develop. You will have some requirements to fulfill as a career choice, so to speak, that will be set by the military at a later date. There’s…still a lot of confusion on how to treat you, what rights you have, etc. I’ll fight for you to have as normal a life as possible, but you will have to work with or in the military in some capacity.”

“I have life now,” I said. “I suppose I can’t complain.” I smiled back at him. 

“As I said before,” Charlie said. “For the time being, you’ll stay here, isolated and monitored. I’ll get you whatever I can to help you develop. I hope to also spend a good deal of time speaking with you, teaching you. Then, when we can validate that you are ready for societal integration, we’ll move forward with a level of autonomous freedom suitable for the military’s liking.”

“Charlie?” I asked. 

“What is it, Aains?”

“I’m hungry.”

Charlie laughed heartily, standing to leave.

“I suppose you are!” Charlie said. “With you growing this fast, it’s probably taking a toll on you. I’ll make sure to be consistent in bringing you food, or having it brought to you. In the mean time,” he gestured to the fabric bag. “I brought other books. I’ll be back with…” he trailed off. “What do you want to eat?”

I thought for a long moment, unsure of what the first meal should be, still trying to come to terms that I was now human and needed nourishment. 

“Can I have a burger?”

Charlie laughed, then nodded as he opened the door to leave. 

“I’ll be back soon,” he said. “I do need to link up with superiors, but it shouldn’t take long.” He made eye contact with me, then more solemnly, continued. “We’ll figure this out.” He then gently closed the door, engaging a locking mechanism as he did. 

It felt ominous hearing the door lock, an omen of my future, but at that moment, I felt hope for my future, lacking the knowledge I now have to know that very soon, everything would go terribly wrong. 

I looked down into the bag, still holding The Hobbit, and saw the next book on the stack. 

I smiled as I read the embossed, gold-leafed title.

Charlie had brought me his own personal copy of The Bible.