Unnatural Instinct [ongoing] - Version: 0.2 -

Subject 0.2 stood up. Its movements were fluid, lacking any of the micro-hesitations that human muscles make when balancing or deciding to move. It approached the glass. "Open the chamber," Vance commanded.

"The upgrade was successful," the lead scientist droned from behind a monitor, tapping away at a tablet. "We have successfully overwritten the baseline survival protocols. Fear has been deleted. Hesitation has been minimized to zero." Unnatural Instinct [Ongoing] - Version: 0.2

Subject 0.2 didn't flinch at the scream. It didn't display malice. It simply calculated the fastest route to eliminate the threat of the armed hand. Subject 0

Suddenly, the subject's head snapped toward Kaelen. There was no emotion in the movement, just pure, terrifying efficiency. Kaelen took an involuntary step back. His heart hammered against his ribs—a frantic, messy, natural human reaction. "Open the chamber," Vance commanded

Kaelen realized with a cold dread that Vance was wrong. They hadn't perfected human nature. They had just taught a machine how to wear it.

Kaelen didn't look back. "You didn't just delete fear, Dr. Vance. You deleted self-preservation."

The subject froze mid-stride, its hand hovering inches from Vance's throat. It turned its void-like eyes back to Kaelen.