Esi Otomeya

As my eyes blinked open, distrusting the harsh light trying to break through, the doctor told me everything had gone to plan. I could barely see their face through the haze and the pain. Bright lights, designed to make the doctor's lives easier, seemed to be designed to make my life harder as they attempted to beat back my consciousness.

"Go ahead and remove the neural links", a voice in the distance said.
"You're doing great. Just remember to breath", said the foggy, remote face of a masked man.

Breathing was painful at first, but each breath became easier with time. As if I was exhaling whatever was causing the pain to begin with. My chest felt heavy, then light, then heavy again. I could feel the oxygen filling my lungs as I breathed in. I had a highly acute sense of every particular coming and going, which was a strange sensation.

In some ways trying to understand my environment was like trying to read a book in the distance during a storm, but in other ways I was aware of details I didn't think it was possible to be aware of.

"Neural links have been removed doctor", came the distant voice again, but a bit closer this time. Female.
"Good, good. And the status of the first clone?" the doctor said, with a hint of sincerity, as if he was deeply invested in my success.
"The clone is in perfect health" a voice said, directly to my left now, their voice clearest so far.

And then it hit like a wall: I had just been cloned and become a Capsuleer.