Day 1
The narrator is imprisoned in a stone tomb, with a psychic barrier preventing him from breaking free. He remembers volunteering for an experiment called Project New Titan which would presumably make him the most powerful soldier who ever lived in order to counter future attacks, but doesn't remember how and why he is imprisoned. He begins to recite his personal history over and over again. "My name is Praetorian Guard 094. I was born 29 solar orbits ago to Astrological Engineer 4872 and Praetorian Guard 013. I am in union with Controller 011, we were married five solar orbits ago after Controller 010 died."
Day 193
The narrator can sense the presence of his fleet, but doesn't understand why he hasn't been freed yet. He continues to recite his mantra, but it is obvious his memory is starting to falter.
Day 237
He tries to break through the walls, but he receives a powerful shock. He's getting persistent nightmares of a burning city. He continues to recite his mantra, but he's forgotten his parents' names and the name of the project he volunteered for.
Day 752
Each time he tries to break free, the shocks worsen, and he stops, believing the next one may kill him. He clings to the desperate hope that his comrades will rescue him soon. All he can remember of his parents are that his father was an engineer and his mother was a guard. It takes him several tries to remember his wife was named Controller 011.
Day 2532
He is still plagued by nightmares of a city on fire. Now all he remembers of his wife is 011.
Day 3234
He says someone will come free him, hopefully. His memory has deteriorated even further. "M-My name is Praetorian Guard 094. I had a family at some point, y-yes I think I was married. Something happened and... Why can't I remember!? 011, where is 011?!"
Day 30567
He laments that no one has rescued him. His memory is almost gone. "My name is Praetorian Guard 094. My name is Praetorian Guard 094. My name is Praetorian Guard 094. My name is Praetorian Guard 0944. My name is Praetorian Guard 094#. My name is Praetorian Guard 09*. My name is Praetorian Guard 0#$. My name is Praetorian Guard-"
Day 40150
He now welcomes the nightmares, as they are the only time he sees anything other than the rocky walls of his prison. When he calculates that he's been in here for 110 years, he suddenly remembers 011 is his favorite number, but cannot remember why.
Day 55346
He forgot his favorite number today.
Day 66895
"Can't sleep or meditate... so many nightmares. Burning cities, people screaming, tall shadows with three heads.... How long ago was it all? What's happened to me?.... Who did this to me? How l-long have I been like this? Was I always like this? Where am I? What in the world am I!?...."
Day 72253
He is finally released. He finds himself surrounded by people who are tiny like ants compared to him. He feels a strange kinship with them. A man named Controller 074 says they are his masters.
Day 73000
He follows their orders without question. He kills when told, he destroys when told, and he returns to his prison when told. His masters only refer to him as X.
Day 73465
X's masters order him to assist them in invading a small planet called Alderoc. He arrives and immediately lays waste to Alderoc's armies.
Day 73467
Today was the first time X disobeyed his masters. As he attacks Alderoc's capital, Controller 074 orders him to kill the fleeing civilians. He refuses, saying he is a soldier, not a murderer.
Day 73468
Enraged, Controller 074 orders X back in his prison. X's masters wanted the natives driven to extinction. X argues that with their military broken, the natives are no threat and they can easily colonize the planet. X glares, and for the first time, Controller 074 shows fear.
Day 73469
Controller 074 retires and Controller 075 takes his place. X is ordered to march in a military parade celebrating their victory over Alderoc. As he walks through the streets roughly as tall as the buildings around him, he finds that most of the citizens are scared of him, but the youth cheer for him. As soon as the celebration is over, X returns to his prison.
Day 74835
X's masters form an alliance with the Nebulans. X is ordered to face the Nebulan champion Gigan in a sparring match. The fight lasts for several hours and ends in a tie. Afterwards, the two pose for publicity shots and then march in a military parade celebrating the alliance. X and Gigan chat and become friends.
Day 130243
X, Gigan, and Gigan's younger brother Megalon return from conquering another planet. Megalon is powerful yet childlike, which amuses X. They find that Controller 075 is gone and Controller 076 has taken his place. X is separated from his friends and returned to his prison.
Day 135056
Controller 076 enters X's prison. The man is an incredibly smug, cocky, condescending man-child and X has to resist attacking him. X is told they and their allies are preparing to attack a sizable blue and green planet of a neighboring solar system, the third from its sun and rich in resources. A place alternately called Terra or Earth. After 076 leaves, X meditates in the darkness of his prison as he feels it being moved. He knows he's forgotten something very important, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't find it.
