Jason and his crew took another week to leave the Nether Regions once they secured their target. Without delay, they headed for their hidden base located in Sector 2, Region 3—on the outskirts of the empire's territory.
The base was hidden in a partially destroyed star system with no civilization in sight, hidden in a space pocket that appeared like a veil tear and because no one really paid attention to this area, it was easy to hide.
Shortly after arriving in the hidden pocket, Jason and his men transported the passed-out Alex to their research facility where he was put in a stasis pod.
Unfortunately for them, they were unable to take off his armour as their attempts prompted the system to recall it into his nanite storage.
"There's nothing we can do about the nanite storage in his system, but that's okay." The lead researcher, Dr. Miles Venley, said to Jason.
"Mm," Jason nodded staring at the floating Alex. He more than anyone knew how tricky the nanite storages were designed. They were impossible to retrieve without the right tools.
Alex only had a black pant put on him, leaving his chest bare. On his chest and arms were bio-connectors that monitored his vitals, supplied air as well as fed him nutrients.
"Do your thing and keep me updated," Jason said, casting a last glance at Alex before walking out of the facility.
"Of course," Dr. Venley pushed on his glasses and gave a polite bow as Jason walked out. With a sigh, the researcher turned to his team and instructed them to begin work.
In the first few days, they studied his body and compared it to what they knew from before Alex disappeared. They also measured the amount of energy his body naturally gave.
"He appears to already be an A-tier awakened." One of the searchers muttered with surprise in their tone.
"Fascinating. In just four years, he's managed to reach the ranks of Class A. The veiled space does indeed contain vast amounts of energy. Look at his cells…"
Dr. Venley couldn't contain his excitement. It's not every day you get the chance to study such incredible specimens. With Alex, he was going to do a very good job.
When their equipment focused on Alex's cells, they noticed how they were saturated with so much magical energy it blinded their equipment. They had to recalibrate it just for his sake.
"His cells not just contain mana, but also void energy, something he didn't have before. And then there is his manitoria…" Dr. Venley narrowed his eyes at the display.
Inside Alex's cells, he noticed how his stored mana behaved differently from others. While incredibly small, it was as bright as a star.
"… they appear to be spinning?" the doctor wasn't entirely sure, but he would definitely find out. As they continued their research, a few days went by before Alex showed signs of waking.
"Sir, the subject is waking up."
Everyone on the research team turned their focus on the pod, watching as Alex's eyelids slowly fluttered open.
Alex felt lightheaded as he opened his eyes, "w-where am I?" he muttered in a daze and looked around.
But his vision appeared greenish, puzzling him when his mind recalled what happened to him.
"Shit!"
He cursed and attempted to react, but his body was too weak to do anything and he felt some kind of resistance akin to being in water. "What the hell?"
Only after taking a second to regain his composure and study himself and around him did he notice the place he was.
'I'm in a research facility? That bastard!' Alex felt a wave of anger as Jason's face appeared in his mind and he swore to tear him apart should he see him again.
[Uhm… Hello, my name is Dr. Venley and it's a pleasure to meet you, Alexander Gray.] Alex snapped out of his bloody thoughts and focused on the man in a lab coat before him with a scowl.
"Pleasure my ass! Get me out of this thing!" Alex demanded in outrage, but the man remained composed.
[I apologize for any discomfort you may be experiencing, but I can't do that.] The doctor pushed his glasses up his nose.
[You're a unique person, Alexander. We believe that in you lies the potential for the human race to evolve beyond what we already have. It would be a shame if we missed this opportunity. A lot of lives could be changed.]
Alex was not interested in hearing the passionate rumbling of a madman.
"And what about how I feel? You guys are doing this against my will and simply because you claim to do it for humanity doesn't make it okay!"
Alex struggled but to no avail, he couldn't circulate his energies and for some strange reason. His cores were still spinning, but they couldn't deliver any energy to him.
'What the hell are they injecting in me?' Alex could feel himself getting weaker and weaker. The researchers made sure to keep him weak enough to not be a threat and active enough to monitor how he uses his energies.
Of course, he just woke up so, Alex would be getting to that part shortly. After all, he would want to attempt escape.
[I understand your frustration, but there is nothing I can do about that.] Dr Venley ended the channel and motioned for his people to get back to work.
Alex took deep breaths to calm his rage as he assessed his situation. 'Forget about Hunter Zol and the others finding me. Wherever they've taken me, chances are Lord Zol would never find me.
'It's up to me to find a way out myself.' Alex mused as he watched the researchers do their thing. Suddenly, he felt a sharp prick on his arm and his eyes shifted to the tubes connected to them.
'Blood. They are withdrawing blood from me…' Alex was fuming at the moment, but there was nothing he could do.
With nothing to do at the moment, he closed his eyes and tried to listen in on their observations. Maybe he could learn something that might help him escape his predicament.