Hearing those words, Subject One looked sorrowful and let out a long sigh.
"I also want to know who I really am — but I can't remember anything at all.
All I have in my mind are scattered fragments… I see myself in an unknown laboratory where they performed all kinds of modifications on me.
They implanted various animal genes into me for biochemical transformation, injected nano-metal into my body to enhance mechanical strength, and in the end, I became what I am now.
My previous memories should have been completely erased by them.
Other than knowing my codename is Number One, there is nothing left in my mind about who I was."
"Like a cyborg in a sci-fi movie?"
Lia covered her wide-open mouth in shock. All the conspiracy-theory movies she had seen about secret government experiments suddenly flooded into her mind.
"A secret government experiment? Creating super-soldiers? Like Captain America during World War II?"
"I only remember that the people in the base who transformed me belonged to an organization called Shocker."
Number One shook his head.
"Shocker?" Lia looked puzzled and guessed,
"A terrorist group? Some giant corporation's secret research project?"
Hearing this, Ryan showed a hint of sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Number One."Young man, what do you plan to do next?"
Number One shook his head bitterly, his expression lost and confused.
"I don't know. Other than the combat, assassination, weaponry, vehicle operation skills they forced into my mind… I don't know anything else.
I don't know where to go. I don't know what I can even do."
Lia suddenly spoke with excitement:
"In that case, you can stay at my house for now! If you want, you can work on my family's farm — food and lodging included!"
A modified human, a super-soldier — Elements straight out of sci-fi movies appearing in front of her made the young, adventurous girl extremely thrilled.
"Lia!"
Ryan frowned slightly and signaled to her with his eyes.
He didn't know how this young man appeared here, but bringing him home carelessly might invite dangerous trouble.
If the man in front of them really was an experimental subject of a secret organization and had escaped for some unknown reason…
Then the organization that modified him would definitely try to find him.
If they followed the traces to his home, his family might be endangered.
Although Ryan felt deep sympathy, he had to consider his family's safety first.
If something unforeseen might happen, the only thing he could do was send the young man to the police station.
What treatment a modified human like Number One would receive if he fell into government or military hands — that was beyond Ryan's control.
Lia stuck out her tongue and said,
"What's there to worry about? As long as he doesn't act suspiciously, who would notice anything in this tiny remote town where basically no outsiders visit?
Besides, we can't leave him here and ignore him, right?
He doesn't remember anything, has no identity, no money — if we abandon him, wouldn't that be too pitiful?"
"Young man, do you remember how you left that base and ended up here?"Ryan asked, needing to figure out how dangerous the situation might be.
Number One shook his head and spoke:
"I remember someone attacked and infiltrated the base I was kept in. Then I was awakened and ordered to deal with the intruder.
After that… I can't remember anything. I was defeated by that person… and then thrown here?
Oh, right — where is this place?"
Although he had been discarded like garbage on the roadside, Number One still felt grateful to the person who threw him away.
At least he was freed from Shocker's control.He could also sense that the control and tracking systems they placed inside his body had been destroyed and erased.He was no longer a puppet, no longer a killing machine controlled at every step.
"This is the desert wasteland in southern New Mexico. Nearby there's only our small town.Don't tell me there's some secret biological experiment base hidden somewhere in this desert?"
Ryan's expression darkened.
Number One's face changed.
"The Shocker Research Facility isn't in New Mexico… Although I don't know the exact coordinates, I'm certain it's in the north — in Montana, near the U.S.–Canada border.
Even though I lost consciousness after being defeated, not that much time passed…
How could I end up thousands of miles away here in New Mexico?"
"Could it be that some government special agents destroyed a terrorist biological research base and rescued you?"
Lia once again let her imagination run wild.
"But that doesn't make sense — if the government rescued you, they would take custody of you."
"If someone rescued you and then left you here…Then as long as you don't reveal your identity, probably no one will come looking for you."
Ryan spoke helplessly toward his daughter:
"If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay at our house temporarily."
Whether it was a secret government experiment or a private corporation's illegal project, the intruders who destroyed the base appeared to have no intention of harming this young man — otherwise, they would not have simply dropped him here safely, far away from the base.
The Shocker organization would have to search in secret.
And they would look for the attacker first, not guess that their missing test subject was hiding in a remote southwestern town.
As long as he didn't draw attention, no one would suspect anything.
Feeling both sympathy and a sense of justice, Ryan decided to take Number One in temporarily.
"That's great! I knew you wouldn't just ignore him, Dad!"
Lia said happily.
"Do you remember your original name?" Ryan asked.
"No… I only remember the codename Number One."Number One looked down with loneliness in his eyes.
"These people are too cruel!" Lia said indignantly.
"They treated you like an object — like a tool for them to use!"
Ryan sighed.
"Since you've forgotten your old name, why don't you choose a new one?"
Number One remained silent for a moment, then shook his head."I have almost no memories except the combat training and knowledge they forced into my mind — languages, geography, culture from around the world, and technical skills…I can't think of anything meaningful.
Why don't you give me a new name?"
"How about Clark Kent!"
Lia's eyes lit up, speaking eagerly.
"Clark Kent?" Ryan looked puzzled.
"Clark Kent!" Lia repeated excitedly.
"Clark Kent?" Number One still looked confused.
Ryan suddenly laughed."Superman.
It's a pretty good name, actually. What do you think?"
"Superman? Who… is that?" Number One asked, still lost.
Lia explained passionately:
"Clark Kent is Superman, the first superhero in comic book history! His real name is Kal-El, born on the planet Krypton. When Krypton was about to be destroyed, his parents sent him to Earth in a spaceship.
He was found and raised by the Kent family on a farm. After growing up, Clark became a reporter at the Daily Planet in Metropolis.
He has superpowers and a strong sense of justice and compassion.
Whenever disaster strikes, he puts on a blue suit and red cape, becoming Superman — saving people and fighting for justice.
He's one of the greatest superheroes ever!"
"That's only a comic character. Still can't beat Captain America."
Ryan couldn't help commenting with a smile.
"Captain America?"
Number One heard another unfamiliar term — but Ryan's tone implied this one was someone real.
"If you're interested, you'll have plenty of time to learn later." Ryan said."But right now you need a name. Do you like Clark Kent?"
"Superman… hero…"
Number One murmured.
Something stirred inside him — as if a spark of light appeared in his dark confusion.
His eyes brightened.
"Then I'll take that name.
From now on, my name will be Clark Kent.Kamen Rider Number One — Clark Kent."
"Great! Then I'll call you Kent from now on!" Lia said happily, extending her hand with a bright smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lia Winster, and this is my father, Ryan."
"Nice to meet you." Kent replied with a smile.
Kamen Rider No.1 (Ichigo)
· Clark Kent
Child of the Sun(not yet)
[T/N: Okay so Should I call him Ichigo or just keep it as No1]
(End of Chapter)