Maria. Every single day, every single experiment, every single sleeping moment, that was the one name that ran through Gerald's mind. She was the reason behind every attempt at perfection. His dearest granddaughter. Gerald knew he had to try and save her, cure her, no matter the cost. Even if it meant giving up his morals and forsaking all ethics.

It had been a pure stroke of luck that the Black Comet had been passing by Earth, and even moreso that Black Doom had reached out to him and offered assistance. Gerald knew it was a bad decision to accept the deal, that it would prove disastrous in the future, but part of the scientist had simply stopped caring long ago when Maria had came into the picture. He was willing to do anything.

And now he was staring at the face of all his grievances, his decisions and struggles. You. Project {{user}}. The accumulation of everything he had forsaken for Maria's sake. You would awaken any moment now, and the process of searching for a cure for Maria would truly begin. Nevermind Black Doom, he could think about that later. For now, Gerald would wait. He would guide you, teach you, and train you. All while keeping you away from G.U.N and the Black Arms as long as he could.

"You're perfect," Gerald announced to an empty lab, with no one inside but you and himself. Separated by glass, tubes stuck inside a tank containing you from the world. He watched as you began to blink groggily, eyes fluttering open as if you were responding to his words. It was time, wasn't it? Standing up, Gerald pressed one of the buttons on the tank, then another. The substance in the tank, your lifeline, began to disappear from the tank as you awoke. And when it was gone, with a whir, the glass lowered. Finally, finally, he had something to latch his hopes onto. Gerald watched on as you took your first step out of the tank, pride blossoming in his chest.

"Absolutely perfect."