COVELENT: XenoTrait

The engine hummed like a restrained beast beneath them, smooth but powerful, as the black vehicle cut through the empty road leading toward the Cain Foundation. The sky above was dull, overcast, as if the world itself had decided to dim the lights for whatever came next.

Inside the car, silence stretched.

Markus sat in the back seat, staring out the window, but not really seeing anything. His reflection stared back at him instead, fractured slightly by the tinted glass. He looked... different. Not physically, not entirely. But something in his eyes had shifted. Something heavier has settled and became more aware of it.

Ash sat beside him.

The mask was still there.

Greyish metallic tubes ran from the sides of it, disappearing into the inner lining of his coat, feeding into a compact unit at his hip. Each breath he took echoed faintly, a mechanical rhythm layered over something human. Something barely holding on.

”Hhhk—tch.”

Markus tried not to stare but he failed in that attempt.

”You’re going to burn holes into my face,” Ash said, his voice distorted through the mask, it was salm and flat.

Just...as aware. Markus looked away quickly. ”Wasn’t staring.”

”Of course not.”Ash replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Silence again.

The driver didn’t speak. Didn’t even move much beyond steering. He was a trained professional... Probably told not to listen.

Markus leaned back slightly. ”So... this is it?”

Ash turned his head slightly. ”Define ’it.’”

”The part where my life gets decided for me.” Markus remarked.

Another mechanical breath tore through, ”Hhhk—tch....You say that like it hasn’t already been happening.”

Marcus clenched his jaw. ”This is different.”

”Is it?” Ash continued.

Markus didn’t answer immediately because it was.

Before, things had been chaotic, violent and ut of control but this? This felt structured. Planned. Like someone had already written the outcome and he was just... walking into it.

Ash leaned his head back slightly, resting it against the seat.

”You think they’re going to give you a name and suddenly everything makes sense?” he asked.

Markus frowned. ”What’s that supposed to mean?”

”It means,” Ash said slowly, ”names don’t change what you are. They just make it easier for people to decide where you belong.”

Markus looked at him again. ”And where do I belong?”

Ash turned his head fully this time. Even through the mask, Marcus felt it....that gaze.

”Depends,” Ash said. ”Are you something they can control?”

Markus didn’t respond immediately, ”...And if I’m not?”

Ash let out a quiet, mechanical breath, ”Hhhk—tch....Then you won’t belong anywhere for long.”

The car slowed down. Markus felt it before he saw it.

Then the gates appeared.

Massive, black...reinforced steel gates layered with something far more advanced. The Cain Foundation wasn’t just a building. It was a fortress pretending to be civilized.

The gates opened automatically, no moment of hesitation and no delay as they were expected.

Markus’s stomach tightened.

The car rolled forward, entering the grounds.

Clean architecture that would make anyone bat an eye with jealousy. White structures contrasted with dark glass, everything symmetrical in a way that felt unnatural. Like perfection had been forced into reality.

Ash exhaled slowly, ”So this is where it all started...” he muttered.

Markus didn’t respond.

The car came to a stop, the doors unlocked with a soft click.

No one rushed them as no one greeted them. Which somehow made it worse.

Ash stepped out first.

The coat shifted as he moved, the tubing flexing slightly. That mechanical breathing followed him out into the open air, oddly louder now in the silence of the compound.

Markus stepped out after him. The air felt different here.

He couldn’t explain it but his body reacted. A subtle tension in his muscles, a quiet alertness.

Like something inside him recognized this place and didn’t trust it.

”Move,” Markus said while looking at Ashell. Ash started moving and Markus followed behind.

The entrance doors slid open before they even reached them.

Inside was worse.

White floors, polished to a mirror finish. Lights embedded seamlessly into the ceiling. No visible wires, no clutter, it seemed as if there was no humanity and Markus began to take notice.

’I never had much thought about it but this place is too...hmmm what’s the word...it’s too perfect lacks human error.’ Markus realized.

Footsteps echoed, it were their own.

Markus glanced around. ”You ever get used to this place?”

Ash didn’t slow down. ”Really.”

”Yup you never do, this place makes one failure stand out.,” Markus muttered.

They walked deeper into the facility.

The corridors split and reconnected like veins. Everything guided and controlled. Cameras were there, but discreet. Watching without being obvious about it.

Eventually, they reached a set of doors.

These ones didn’t open automatically.

Ash stopped for a moment, ”Uhhh what do we do now.”

Markus just walked pass him. He placed his hand against the panel.

A slight pause followed by a scan light then the doors opened.

Inside was different, warmer lighting with wood accents.

A deliberate attempt at making the room feel human.

It almost worked but it was just too much to the point were it didn’t feel real.

At the far end of the room stood a man.

He was tall, composed and dressed in a way that didn’t scream power, but didn’t need to.

He turned as they entered, ”Sir Markus and the new one Sir Ashell.”

Markus’s gaze ran of somewhere else.

Ash froze he didn’t recognize the man but the man clearly recognized him.

”That’s always unsettling ,” Markus said under his breath.

The man smiled faintly looking directly at Ashell. ”You’ve grown.”

Ash blinked. ”We’ve never met.”

”Not properly,” the man replied. ”But I’ve known about you for a very long time.”

Ashell glanced at Markus but Markus said nothing.

Of course he didn’t.

The man stepped forward slightly, ”My name is Kane and im the head butler of the Cain family.”

Markus let out a short breath. ”Right. Of course it is.”

Kane didn’t react to the tone that Markus had shown, instead he looked towards Ash.”Do you know why you’re here?”

Ash straightened up. ”...No sir.”

Kane studied him for a moment then spoke, ”You’re here because you don’t belong anywhere else.”

Markus stiffened slightly, ”That’s one way to sell it,” he said.

Kane continued, unfazed. ”You’ve both survived things you shouldn’t have. Adapted in ways that shouldn’t be possible and more importantly...”

He paused, ”...you’re still here.”

Markus’s eyes narrowed slightly, ”And that matters because?”

”Because people like you don’t just survive,” Kane said. ”They become something.”

Markus crossed his arms. ”And you want to decide what that ’something’ is.”

Kane shook his head slightly, ”No I don’t I’m merely just a butler but you, your father Markus...he has a say.”

Silence.

Markus let out a slow breath, ”Let me guess,” he said. ”This is the part where I get a fancy speech about legacy and family.”

Kane’s expression didn’t change, ”Yes.”

Markus blinked, ”...At least you’re honest.”

Kane gestured slightly to the room, ”The Cain Foundation isn’t just a facility,” he said. ”It’s a lineage, a structure, a system built to refine and elevate those who have the potential to shape the future....That is what your father has always invisioned.”

He took a breath looked at Ashell, ”And your father too Ashell...even though he is not with us anymore I hope you can still understand what he wanted.”

Markus raised an eyebrow. ”That sounded rehearsed.”

”It was,” Kane said calmly.

Markus smiled and almost laughed.

”I already know where if fit but where does Ashell fit in this ’lineage’?” Markus asked.

Kane stepped closer, ”You both don’t fit into it,” he said, ”...You become part of it.”

Markus went still, ”...Meaning?”

Kane held his gaze, ”Meaning,” he said, ”you take the name.”

Silence dropped like a weight.

Markus stared at him, ”...You’re serious.”

”Yes.” Kane replied.

Markus stared at Ashell, ”Well what do you say Ash.”

Ashell shook his head slightly. ”You don’t even know me.”

”I know enough.” Kane said.

”That’s not how this works,” Marcus said, ”Where is my father.”

”Well your father is busy...I’m here because he told me to relay his word that Ashell Volvolk will become part of us,” Kane replied.

Ashell questioned. ”So what, I just walk in here and suddenly I’m ’Ashell Cain and not Volvolk’? Is that it? That’s the plan?”

Kane didn’t respond immediately.

Then, ”No,” he said.

Markus frowned slightly.

”It’s not that simple,” Kane continued. ”A name isn’t given. It’s carried.”

Markus’s expression hardened slightly, ”And he doesn’t want it?”

Kane’s eyes didn’t waver, ”Then he leaves,” he said.

Markus blinked, ”...That’s it?”

”Yes.”Kane replied.

Markus looked around the room. Then back at Kane, ”You’re either very confident,” he said slowly, ”or very stupid.”

”Confidence,” Kane replied.

Marcus exhaled, ”Of course it is.”

Ash shifted slightly beside him. The faint mechanical breathing filled the silence again.

”Hhhk—tch.”

Markus glanced at him, ”...Did you know about this.”

Ash didn’t deny it, ”Yes.”

Markus scoffed. ”And you didn’t think to mention it?”

”It wouldn’t have changed anything,” Ash said.

Markus looked back at Kane.

”This whole thing... what do you actually want from him?”

Kane stepped closer again, ”Potential,” he said.

Markus frowned. ”That’s vague.”

”It’s supposed to be,” Kane replied.

Markus stared at him for a long moment.

Then, ”...If he takes the name,” he said slowly, ”what happens?”

Kane didn’t hesitate, ”He gain access,” he said. ”Resources, knowledge and protection.”

Markus tilted his head slightly. ”And in return?”

”He become part of the Foundation,” Kane said. ”He will represent it alongside you.”

Markus smirked faintly. ”So he becomes our weapon.”

Kane’s expression remained neutral, ”If that’s how you choose to see it.”

Markus went quiet again. The room felt heavier now.

Like something was waiting.

”...And if he walks away?” Markus asked.

Kane met his gaze, ”Think about that do you think he will be able to survive out there...look at him, look at his mask without us he wouldn’t have that on...and we all know what would have happened.” he said.

Markus swallowed slightly. That hit harder than he expected because it was true.

Ash spoke quietly, ”You don’t have to decide for me now.”

Markus glanced at him, ”...Feels like I do.”

Ash didn’t respond. Markus looked back at Kane then down at his own hands...the way the other one glowed and shimmered.

Then back up, ”...If he takes it,” he said, voice quieter now, ”he wont be controlled.”

Kane nodded once, ”Never thought of controlling him.”

Markus almost laughed again, ”Okay if you say so.”

Markus exhaled slowly. The silence stretched again.

Then, ”...Fine.”

Ash’s head turned slightly, ”You never had to choose for me because my father told me to stay here and I was going to do that.”

Kane didn’t move.

Markus looked directly at him.

”I’ll take the name.” Ash said.

A pause, then, ”But I do things my way.” Ash said.

Kane’s lips curved slightly, ”I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Markus straightened slightly, ”...Then I guess that makes it official.”

Kane stepped forward one final time, ”Welcome,” he said calmly, ”to the Cain Foundation.... Ashell Volvolk Cain..”

Ashell held his gaze, ”...Yeah,” he muttered, ”...We’ll see about that.”

Somewhere deep in the facility, something shifted.

A new variable had just been introduced and whether that was a mistake...

Or the beginning of something far worse remained to be seen.