They moved swiftly, defences at the perimeter of space breached methodically and effectively. Greil’s manic phase had paid off, and the teleporter sat in the centre of the first basement. It was formed of multiple rings rotating around a pedestal, said pedestal was surrounded by less elegant machinery, but make no mistake, every piece of this creation was machined with exacting precision.

The main principle was simple, the object would resonate with an antenna, your body would be converted to energy and passed along, where the antenna would reassemble you with that energy. The connection between the transmitter and the antenna was achieved with some kind of simulated quantum entanglement, not something I’d likely ever figure out even if I ever finished my studies.

Greil started the device, and a resonant hum filled the room, a penumbra began to form atop the pedestal, at the exact centre of the rings. “I suppose you’d call it a teleporter,” she said, “It’ll be a gate to the back of our lines, allowing us to escape this place before Betrayers ignite the atmosphere.” She paused.

This wasn’t everything. Though she didn’t know it, I’d gone through her correspondences, as the distress she had over them was not easily hidden. Their government had decided against saving her, believing that she was not an asset to them. The scientists that had saved me, had in the time they had left, unified the theories that had allowed them to craft this, as that was where many of their original expertise lay. At this, it was plain, at least to me, that they could have accomplished much more in their fields than they ever did in their current ones.

The plans, however, spoke of a very specific flaw, once a person had been passed along, so to speak, the resonance was broken, as it relied on many precise factors, both quantum and classical, that were changed when this occurred. The variations needed to bring it back into resonance were minute, but precise, it would be easier to build the rings back from scratch. They had beseeched her to take the chance, much as they didn’t like the situation, she was their friend, and I was a random stranger, unique perhaps, but still a stranger. I had nothing against that reasoning, there was nowhere for me to be in their civilization anyway.

But that hadn’t been what she had chosen.

“Go on, step on in, if your sudden appearance is any guess, I think it’d be similar to when you crossed over.” She chittered.

“You’re not coming with me?” I asked, despite knowing the answer.

“No, the resonance spin stability and transport field is too fragile for both of us to enter, I’ll come after you.”

I nodded sagely. “Then I won’t feel like an idiot for this.” I replied.

Greil turned to me quizzically, before I grabbed her by an arm and spun her toward to the opening. “What are you doing?!” she snapped, trying to break my grip.

“Don’t bother, I gave you a small dose of Tirune extract just this morning.” I’d slipped it into her bloodstream with a needle, thin enough that it carried the poison but didn’t cause pain. It had gone between the joints in her exoskeleton, where there were no chitinous plates. As she attempted to protest, I shoved her onto the pedestal. She disappeared, and the machine ground to a halt.

“Goodbye.”

Well then, I’ve just condemned myself to certain death by incineration or at the very least suffocation. How am I going to amuse myself until then?

I leaned against the wall, slowly sliding to the ground, I had avoided thinking about it for as long as I could, now I couldn’t take back my choice. I was going to die, nowhere near my home, where my family would never know. I’d never get a girlfriend, despite finally mustering the courage to ask her out. More importantly, I’d never get to see my family, nor my siblings grow up.

I wonder what they thought of my disappearance. I thought to myself, and a stray thought quickly implanted itself in my mind. I’m going to burn, burn and die.

The AI chose then to interrupt, of which I was glad, even if it only reminded me of my choice.

[In terms of survival, that was an exceptionally stupid decision. Why did you choose it?]

There’s… nothing for me here. I think back. No friends, no family… the only worth I’ve got to these people is as a test subject. Greil’s got people who care about her, and she can do more good for the world than I ever would… Besides… I care too much for her to let her die in my place.

I had to admit I was terrified of the coming apocalypse, the air itself would ionize into plasma which would burn me to a crisp. I didn’t want to die, but I wasn’t going to let myself die when another should live. Anyone who would mourn me would keep mourning me even if I survived this.

[Perhaps, but is not survival paramount in evolution?]

That’s… not really true. Evolution prioritizes the passing on of genes. Altruism is genetic, and the urge for it increases the closer the blood relations are. In fact, survival of the fittest is not wholly true, the more correct one would be survival of the most adapted. Though I’ve also heard it likened to a race between extremely drunk people.

As I completed that thought I felt a sudden pull on my person, an uncomfortable light tugging sensation leading me northward. Though much fainter, it felt almost the same as what I felt in the beginning. Huh… I thought to myself. Could it be? I got up, new purpose found, grabbing a pre-packed rucksack and hastily setting off.

The first of the star ships had arrived, floating somewhere south, large enough that I could see the blip that showed its position. Clouds blocked off the rest of the sky, perhaps that was a good thing. More of these would arrive to encircle the planet, covering multiple grids before simultaneously launching a battery of missiles that would cause chain ionization throughout the atmosphere. It’d take half a day for them to surround and synchronize, strengthening the effect and allowing all the atmosphere to ignite, and boil away the oceans. I wonder if it ignites more than the atmosphere, would it hurt then? I stop myself. Stop thinking about it…

The tugging sensation grew stronger as I progressed, but in very small increments. I had made it to some kind of rocky area, dry and cold. No more clouds to obscure the sight of those harbingers. More ships had circled around the planet, the grid was completing. I hope Greil isn’t beating herself up, though I’d also prefer it if they didn’t celebrate too happily. The tugging sensation changed in direction as I hiked up the rocky hill. It had begun to turn slowly downward. If it’s in a cave, I’m utterly screwed. No point to me worrying now though, so I took a deep breath before continuing.

[There is a cliff coming up ahead, based on the deviations you have provided me, it’s likely at its base.] Page chirped in. Page was strangely unaffected by whatever affected me, needing me to feed it information regarding the direction of the tugging. A strong wind began to pick up, the smell of the ocean coming in, an acrid tang accompanied it, though I paid it little heed, I had long learned to ignore the small differences.

There was no way around the cliff, it stretched further than I could as I stood at the top. Looking down was not pleasant, a fall from this height would likely kill me just from me striking the water. I couldn’t see anything below, just the sea foam and jagged rocks jutting from the water. I grimaced, and began rummaging through the pack.

I took out a pair of gloves, I wouldn’t be able to simply slide down a rope, I simply lacked the equipment for normal rock climbing. I would have to climb down by hand, hoping that footholds and handholds were plentiful enough for me to reach the bottom relatively quickly. The gloves were thin but absorbent, and excess liquid would be redirected down my arm, they even provided full tactile feedback. I’d made them while assembling the pack, which was meant for short exploration, but I couldn’t stop now, I had less than an hour to go before the planet was blanketed in fire. I took a breath, deactivated the healing naomachines, and started down.

I chose more or less vertical sections, though I also preferred areas sloped so that my body weight could rest against it, avoiding areas where the slope was in the opposite direction. The day had begun to reach noon, and the sun beating down causes me to pause and drink from my flask every now and then. Sometimes I found areas sloped enough for temporary respite, but I was already beginning to feel the soreness of my muscles. I pressed on, coming across some dead ends often enough to significantly impede my progress. Sweat flowed from my gloves, sliding from my wrist down and joining the rest of my body.

A flash of light came from above, and I looked up in horror to find the missiles fired. Panic threatened to usurp my body’s calm, and I quickly gauged the distance from the portal.

Lights flashing in the sky.

Too far to climb, not in this period of time.

They grow in intensity, rivalling the sun in the sky.

Won’t make it by climbing, but I’m directly above it.

Soon the sun is blotted out by the light, so bright you can no longer look up at it.

Let go?! That’s insane…

My shadow shrinks, becoming a full solid black against the rock.

… Can I make it?

Soon sight becomes impossible, looking at the rock hurts.

I’ll have to.

I fall, and the light engulfs me. Searing pain all over followed by cold nothing as my nerves are destroyed and my skin melts away.

my eyes… mY EyeS… I CAN’T SEE. CAN’T HEAR. CAN’T FEEL.

CANNOT SCREAM.