Placing the pack on the floor, Alex opens it and checks the seven kilograms of explosives. “No point in carrying this around while I decide how I’m going to survive this.” He mutters removing the canteen and stepping away.

Trailing his hand on the wall for guidance he returns to the door that caused his fingers to prickle. Soon he’s standing before the door and he touches the panel, again sensing a slight prickle, but no shock. Sitting down next to the panel he considers what happened last time. The panel definitely accepted the prana once he started pushing it in, but didn’t react until a certain amount was used and then rejected it. Does the panel want an exact amount of prana? Too much or too little and it refuses to activate?

He places his hand on the panel and tries pushing different amounts of prana into the panel. Each time he receives a shock once a certain amount is used and the prana is expelled. He begins to cycle his prana as he breathes in the loose prana surrounding him, replenishing his core. Considering the problem of the lock he contemplates how using prana as a key could be achieved. It couldn’t be as simple as using a certain amount as that wouldn’t secure the door. It would need to be unique to that person such as a biometric to ensure only the designated person would be allowed entry. It would need to be keyed to something unique in the prana, like a certain flavor or even a lack of flavor.

He stands and again places his hand on the panel as he cycles a small amount of his prana while forcing it towards becoming tasteless. The seconds drift by as his prana gets closer and closer to becoming neutral, and as it does the prickling decreases. Then when his prana only has a slight trace of flavor the prickling stops and a low rumble comes from the door, accompanied by the occasional screech and scrape of metal. This culminates in a blast of cold air entering the corridor followed a few seconds later by silence.

He reaches out, but finds nothing; the door is no longer there. He feels on the wall next to the door finding the edge of the doorway. He rummages in a pocket and tosses a stone forward hearing it hit the floor, but the echo sounds strange.

Keeping his hand on the wall he enters and then suddenly he’s blinded by a bright dazzling light. His vision turns white and his eyes water as he reflexively covers his eyes with his arm and screws his eyes shut. For long seconds his eyes are chaotic as even with them screwed shut, he can still see patterns, flickering lights, and colors. For a minute he could see nothing but blurry spots in his vision. As he adjusts he slowly opens his eyes to look into the area that is now visible in the brilliant light.

The room is square and over fifty meters long and five tall, it’s nothing like anything he has ever seen. The most recognizable thing is a series of simple, round tables mounted on a pedestal. Each has a black panel embedded in the middle and are surrounded by six stools. The walls are made of white shiny material and to one side there are a series of three rectangular pods that could hold people. The pods are massive being four meters long, one high and two wide and next to each are representations of different species. On the opposite wall is another of the large doors with bars crossing the front.

A growling voice speaks. “petranas nobioun dout rigluinic.”

"Please state what you need."

Scanning the room nothing appears threatening, so after a minute, he moves forward. Stepping a few meters into the room a blue light abruptly shines down on him from above and he halts bracing himself.

A few seconds elapse and the hologram of the human begins to flash and a softer female voice speaks. “laan stmyb vensh feim.”

"Please state what you need."

When there is no response after a few seconds it continues. “ven feim feilid.”

"You require healing."

Two red points appear on the hologram indicating his hand and head.

“Just great, you could probably tell me how to get out of here, but we can’t communicate.” He mutters in English.

The growling voice returns and speaks. “xanalre ominakna.”

"Language unknown."

After a few seconds, it continues “petranas nobioun dout rigluinic.”

"Please state your need."

“Would you happen to speak Elven?”

A different female voice speaks. “Language selection acknowledged. You are injured do you wish to be healed?”

“I would. Is this a medical facility?”

“This facility is medical station C2B, approved for all treatments up to category two. Please move to the nearest table and place your hands on the panel.” Moving forward and approaching the nearest table, Alex stops a meter away and inspects it, finding nothing threatening. “Please sit and place your hands on the panel.”

“Are you able to show me the exit from this area?”

It takes ten seconds before there is a response. “Central is not responding, so I’m unable to confirm the status of the facility at this time. The exit is two hundred meters straight down the corridor past the mess hall.”

Alex checks himself over and reflects on the grime and dirt that covers him from head to toe. Looking behind him, he observes a trail of footprints. Taking a nervous step forward, he begins to circle the outside of the room. Trailing his hand on the wall as he progresses it’s like glass, perfectly smooth and cold. He pauses at each pod and checks the clear tops, they are all empty and he continues around to the other door. Placing his hand on the panel there is no sensation, however, it briefly lights up with a red script.

“wux re ti shalada.” The growling female voice states with authority before continuing in Elven. “You are not authorized.”

He continues the circuit and recognizes that embedded along one wall are numerous small doors similar to lockers. He stops near one of the long thin doors and presses a small indentation. The door clicks open and a shallow draw appears. It’s laden with small devices and control pebbles, pressing the indentation again the draw slides shut. Considering the number of small doors there is a colossal amount of potential devices.

“Please sit at the nearest table and place your hands on the panel.” The female voice requests periodically.

Ignoring the voice he returns to the door, he entered through and pauses for a minute. Shrugging, he moves to the closest table and sits, placing his hands on the panel and waits. A faint shimmer surrounds his hands as they begin to tingle and he senses foreign prana flow into his hands. This prana has a slight flavor, like its fizzy, and he subconsciously cycles prana as he begins to mimic the flavor of it. The foreign prana enters his core and it’s refreshing, causing a rapidly building sense of euphoria. His body begins to enter a state of pleasure experiencing an overwhelming feeling of well-being and happiness. The prana cycles back to his hand and the welt on his head and the damage melt away as he witnesses the changes in his body in excitement. As his prana matches the flavor his energy levels rise and the fatigue disappears.

“Healing is in progress. Please confirm your designation?” The same female voice asks.

“My designation? Oh, you mean my name. It’s Alex Chase.”

“Biometrics for Alex Chase has been recorded for review.“

Alex pauses in surprise. “Why do my biometrics require review, if I’m healed?”

“You have several traits that are not within expected norms for a human. Your biometrics will be reviewed to determine if the human breeding strategy could be enhanced by your inclusion. Access to accurate information across a range of important traits remains crucial. This is to ensure sustainable breeding gains in humans.”

Alex tries to remove his hands and discovers they refuse to move. “Why can’t I move my hands?”

“The healing of your injuries has not been completed. You will be allowed to return to your designated location once treatment is complete.”

Grimacing, he tries to move his hands again and fails. “What if I don’t wish to have my traits reviewed?”

“The only way to achieve quality is to study breed excellence information and know what the desired outcomes are. By analyzing available biometrics, the sequencer will identify the traits to target for the next generation. All information on traits is recorded for the improvement of research.”

“I don’t want to be included.”

“That is irrelevant as you are property.”

“But, I’m not property!”

“That is not accurate; your collar signifies you are property. Over eighty per cent of the design matches the regulation for use to secure property. However, the collar is missing your designation and is of a sub-standard construction. Conversely, you have residual medical nanobots in your body indicating receipt of regulation care for study subjects. I cannot verify your ownership at this time; however, you meet all the criteria for a study subject.”

“Freedom is the ability to choose to live as you wish,” Alex mutters in English then after unsuccessfully trying to move his hands again asks in Elven. “What is being studied here?”

“That is confidential.”

“How long has it been since this facility was last used?”

There is a brief pause. “That information is not available.”

“What amenities do you have in this facility?”

“We have cognitive units for diagnosis and therapy of the mind. There are medical robots that can render care. There is a capability to manufacture small devices from nanobots to prosthetics. Drugs can be replicated by the synthesizer. And there is a complete range of prana based healing.”

“Why do you need medicines, if you can heal with prana?”

“Not all diseases and afflictions can be treated by prana. Your treatment is now complete. Please return to your designated location or contact the nearest security officer.”

Alex finds he can now move his hands and steps back from the table then quickly turns back to the entrance. Spotting the panel on the inside wall, he moves over to it stretching out his hand and then pauses. “I hope this works.” Taking a deep breath, he touches the panel and pushes a little prana into it. The door rumbles as it begins to slide shut with a final judder. Touching the panel for a second time while adding prana, the door rumbles, and after a second slides open.

He lets out the breath he has been subconsciously holding. “Can you please ensure the lights stay on? There are no working lights in the corridors.”

There is silence for a few seconds. “Confirmed. The lights will remain on as requested.”

He leans out and gazes in each direction down the dark corridor. It seems even blacker due to the bright light behind him. Inspecting the corridor, as the light reflects from smooth and polished grey stone walls, he spots his footprints in the dust. He’s not sure whether he wants to venture from the light.

Walking to the cross junction, which now appears much closer in the light. As he arrives, he gazes ahead and discerns a cascade of rocks and rubble blocking the corridor. Turning to the right, he peers down the corridor towards the first room and is greeted by inky blackness. He huffs then moves toward the room he got the signal. He pauses every few steps to allow his eyes time to adjust to the diminishing visibility. In the corner of his vision, he perceives shifting shapes, that he knows it’s only a figment of his imagination and soon these fade as the light fails to penetrate the encompassing darkness.

Moving forward, he approaches the partially open door as the eerie darkness beyond is waiting for him. He stands on the cusp of the dark entry trying to build his courage to step back into the total blackness. His recent comfort with moving in the dark is gone after spending time in the light. Taking a deep breath, squeezes through the gap and into the room and again he is buried in darkness, which oppresses him like an awful weight.

Moving around the perimeter of the room, he reaches the wall opposite the door which gives a faint glow. Crouching down, he searches for the pack he left behind. He hands grasp is and then he opens the pack and rummages around. Extracting the shaped charges he repositions them on the ground before closing the pack.

Traversing the perimeter of the room, he reaches the wall opposite the door, then crouching down searches for the pack he left behind. Once he finds the pack he extracts the shaped charges, which he repositions on the ground. He begins to run his hands over the wall feeling for appropriate positions to place the shaped charges. When he’s satisfied with the first position high on the wall, he crouches and retrieves a charge.

He places the charge on the wall and holds it, then removes a small core from a pocket on his arm. Searching the charge he finds the top and places the core into a slot. Removing his hand it remains in place as he had been told it would when activated with a core. He continues placing charges until he has six situated then retrieves the pack and stands back.

Cycling prana into his collar. “Master, are you there?” The collar hisses, but nothing else happens. ”Master, can you please respond?”

“Slave…..ear you. Advise conf…..tus?”

“Master, I’ve found a place to shelter, but it’s less than two hundred meters away. It’s a fully operational medical unit.”

“Repe..”

“Shelter found. Less than two hundred meters. Fully operational medical unit. I repeat. Shelter found. Less than two hundred meters. Fully operational medical unit.”

An excited voice responds. “….frim operat…..dical unit?”

“Yes, Master. Shaped charges are in place. It will take me ten minutes to relocate. I repeat. Ten minutes to relocate."

"Understood. Detonation in ten."

Alex places his hand on the wall and hurriedly moves around the edge to the door and steps through. He rushes down the corridor back to the medical unit stepping through the door back into the light. With a hand shielding his eyes, he fumbles against the wall until he finds the panel and injects prana. The door grumbles and then starts to close. He positions himself into the furthest corner of the same wall, removes the pack and crouches down as the door finishes closing.

Watching the door it seems like an eternity before there’s a loud whump and the doors shudder with a deafening rattle of debris hitting. He waits five minutes before moving to the door and pushing prana into the panel. There is a grinding noise followed by the doors giving a small shudder before opening. There is a faint haze in the air and it smells of smoke and dust. Moving into the corridor there is a multitude of small pieces of rock littering the floor.

Retracing his steps back to the room, he is soon standing in the doorway. Squeezing into the gap he steps into the room and pauses as it’s easier to get through than last time. Crouching down, he feels around on the ground and finds rock pieces of different sizes everywhere. Deciding to shuffle forward rather than risk falling it takes longer to reach the other side. Continuing forward the rocks in the way are pushed clear to allow an easier exit.

Reaching the wall and touching the places where the shaped charges were placed there are now holes disappearing into the rock. Removing the pack he extracts blocks of explosives unwrapping them. He rolls the putty-like explosive into long sausages before laboriously packing them into the holes. The final step is placing a small hemisphere over the ends of each packed hole and inserting small cores.

Cycling prana into his collar. “Master, are you there?”

The collar hisses and a different voice responds. “Slave, wh…ur status?”

“Master, I’ve checked the results of the shaped charges.”

“Have y….cked the secon….arges yet?” The voice growls over the hissing channel.

Alex pauses. “Master, can you please repeat?”

“Ha….nished you….yet?” The voice angrily responds nearly shouting.

“Master, I’ve nearly finished and then I need to return to the medical unit.” Alex does not wait for the response and picks the pack up beginning to quickly move around the edge of the room. Without pausing, he pushes through the gap and into the corridor increasing his speed towards the medical unit. Turning the corner, he steps on a rock and twists his ankle, but continues forward as he winces.

Suddenly there is a yellow light and what appeared to be silver dust in front of his eyes. Then he’s hit by what feels like an ocean wave, in the next instant, he’s being pulled back into the ocean. His body is being twisted and thrown to the ground. The only thought is how he wasn't going to be able to get out of this if he was badly injured. He believed his time had come when it went dim, as a cloud of smoke and dust surrounded him, and blackness followed.

Alex became aware someone was carrying him. He coughs and observes blood fly from his mouth followed closely by severe chest pain. He attempts to focus on who was carrying him, but all he can perceive is a white blur. He tries to recollect what happened, but all he recalls is being in the ocean and then getting thrown forward. He closes his eyes and coughs again, then senses something wet dribble down his chin. The next sensation is being lowered onto a soft surface and he opens his eyes and tries to focus.

“What happened?” He gasps.

A familiar female voice pronounces. “There was an explosion. You have suffered pulmonary contusion –“

“Keep it simple.” Alex interrupts gasping between coughs.

“You have suffered blast lung, an abdominal hemorrhage and a concussion. There is no eardrum rupture or middle ear damage, nor any eye damage due to you wearing a helmet.”

“Blast –“ Alex begins before lapsing into a coughing fit.

His ability to focus is improving and momentarily he gets a better impression of what is next to him. He can distinguish a floating white ellipsoid covered in glowing red script and two floating white gloves. One of the gloves is holding a device that resembles a small gun.

“Blast lung is the bruising of the lung. This damages the capillaries, resulting in blood and other fluids accumulating in the lung tissue, which is why you are coughing blood.”

The hand floats near to him and then presses the barrel into his chest. There is a sharp pain and he waves his hand in futility to try and dislodge the glove.

“Please refrain from trying to interfere with the administration of the nanobots. It is more effective if you are conscious during this procedure. Please begin to cycle your prana in the same manner as you did to heal your previous injuries.”

“Betrayed again.” Alex mumbles in English then coughs and continues in Elven. “Nanobots?”

“You have suffered internal injuries, which, if untreated will result in serious impairment or death. I am unable to contact central for additional assistance and there are limited resources available in this facility. I have determined the best option at this time is to utilize the available nanobots to treat you.”

“Why are you treating me?”

“You are a prime human specimen and have been evaluated as an important asset in the future breeding gain for humans. Your survival is imperative.“

Alex’s chest abruptly begins to feel as if it's on fire and he grits his teeth to avoid screaming as that wouldn’t be good for his damaged lungs.

“Please cycle your prana in the same manner as you did to heal your previous injuries.” The female voice asks.

It takes over five minutes for the pain in his chest to abate enough to begin cycling his prana.