Unipsi, lovely entity

chapter 60: secrets

While the 23 survivor had their own challenges to survive both their paranoia and lack of food, Scilla completely shocked was taken by Idra’s android army. Well by the only 3 that didn’t perish in battle. Basically disconnected from reality Scilla didn’t oppose the machines, she just stayed still crying and sobbing. She was too far gone to understand anything of what was happening at her and around her. For the same reason the NDU’s AI was also forced to put her to sleep. Even inside the ship Scilla showed no sign of progression and the lack of response to external stimuli meant that she was also not eating. The AI couldn’t tolerate it. It had orders to follow. Take Scilla to Weeping Sky no matter the cost. It was the last order it received and it was going to fulfil it.

The journey to Weeping Sky was long and impossible for normal spaceships. Long distances can usually be compensated by building refuelling stations along the way or by developing ships that can harvest their own fuel. The issue with Weeping Sky however was the Magnos rift that cut it out of the sector. Rifts were particularly hostile region of space usually totally voided of any material particles. For unknown reasons inside rifts physics works differently. Space contraption just doesn’t happen and so all jump engines can’t work. A fast jump of just 1 day will became years of travel as normal engines don’t even approach 1/10 of light speed. It was thank to the rifts that the ETU lived peacefully west north of the Leans federation. Karlach and Kopora rifts separated them partially from the other civilizations. A different story was Weeping Sky as in such case the rift was not avoidable with a “small” detour. The Magnos rift was immense even from a planetary point of view. The empty zone extended for a minimum of 4 light years. A time that without a different kind of propulsion was just no possible. That was also the reason why the NDU used a different propulsion technology. Surely there were several way to make that journey but so far only the Esterians knew of them. Further more the absurd complexity and apparent incoherence of the rifts made them almost impossible to study. Rifts were anomaly that nobody knew how they truly work. Hard to blame them yet rifts are exactly what they seems. They mark the intersection between universes with different rules. They can be natural occurrences due to Unipsi’s instability or they can be artificially made.

For the NDU the journey to Weeping Sky was fairly short. Being forced into a drowsiness state Scilla didn’t felt much neither until the last jump. That broke both her half asleep state and her mental state. As the VBTD engine reached its peak power and jumped, Scilla felt her body being pulled apart. A force from inside her pushed on each layer of flesh wanting to erupt on her skin. It was a pain that she nerve felt before. A pain that she felt she deserved as she caused the death of the love of her life. Yet such probably needed pain revived Scillas sense. She felt a sudden deceleration that squeezed her on the ground. When it stopped the ship turned off. The AI sent out its last phrase.

“We have returned. Leave before I kick you out”

As the robots approached, Scilla walked out of the ship on her own. Around her massive metallic walls that extended for at least 30 meters upward. Upon her head she saw the ceiling closing and in the still open gap she saw the cloudy sky. Heavy snow was falling on her. With a twitch she looked around. She was clearly inside an underground hangar of some sort. Massive colour coded writing on the walls like a military base or a massive hospital. The letters were unknown to her yet familiar. It was Estir the Esterians language.

“where the fuck am I?”

Her voice echoed in the emptiness of the structure. The brutal architecture, the extensive use of metal reminder her of Idra’s nightmare.

Is this Weeping Sky? Did her machine brought me to her home? Why? Is this my punishment? Die here alone? I… I guess… it’s fair.

Uncertain on what to do she followed the only red line on the pavement. It guided her deeper into the structure but soon things started to became different. The base was for sure abandoned and empty. There was nothing inside of it. The only sound was the metal cracking from the temperature changes and its echoes. Then a sudden female voice that she didn’t recognise. Scared Scilla turned immediately to see a human woman on an electric wheelchair. The girl was young and pale. Half of her was astonishingly beautiful, the other half was a massacre. She was missing the left arm and leg. Her left side of the neck was partially burned and so was her face. Her left eye was close shut probably damaged by the fire. Even is such condition the creature was beautiful. Her untouched side showed a deep blue eye and platinum blond long hair. Her skin looked perfect and probably was perfect.

For a brief moment Scilla believed it was real but then a small step appeared out of nowhere to stop the woman. The wheelchair had no power to overcome the step.

“fucking stupid wheelchair crap. Can’t even get past a fucking sidewalk step.”

The woman was clearly not happy about it and was looking around probably for someone. Exactly as the step appeared out of thin air so did a pair of hands that grabbed the wheelchair and pushed it over the step. The woman surprised looked around as a man appeared beside her and started to walk away. He was the definition of a plain dude. Brown hair, brown eyes. Same light tanned or light bronze skin tone as Idra. No accessories, nothing that stood out at all.

“hey the fuck are you doing? I didn’t need help. You don’t push someone on their wheelchair without permission!”

the man turned to face the crippled girl. He just stared at her for few seconds. His eyes looked dead. Then he pointed on his side to a new distant and not well defined figure that was running toward them.

That realistic illusion disappeared exactly as it appeared.

What the fuck did I just saw? Is this normal? Am I going insane? Or maybe I am already insane.

Having nothing left to loose except her own life that she didn’t value as much as before, Scilla pushed deeper following the red line. Absolutely with no idea where she was heading toward she kept walking until she reached an open zone. It was like an underground park with what looked to be trees and bars all around. The line made her cross it and when she approached a bench a new vision appeared. The same woman in the wheelchair was beside a bench crying. By her side standing a different woman then the man appeared again. He was carrying a paper bag with something inside. He must have appeared out of nowhere even for the girls jumped when he sat and forced the bag on the wheelchair girl.

The wheelchair girl shouted in anger.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT!”

the man stare at her while her friend put herself in between and was about to shout as well.

“those are brioches. For you”

“WHY? THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?”

“cause I like sweets. I feel better after eating them. You looked sad so…”

“NOBODY DOES THINGS FOR NOTHING”

“never said I was doing it for nothing.”

“stay away from her creep” said the other girl.

“oh. Never thought of myself as creepy.”

“your intentions the real one or I fucking leave”

“miss Smolak…”

“how do you know my surname?”

“I work at the hospital, sort of. Can I continue?”

“ok”

“I may have heard your conversation. I may have knowledge of you lack of founding for implants to give you back your mobility…”

“do you think I was born yesterday? Go fuck yourself I’m not going to fuck you for money”

the man looked confused almost horrified at the thought.

“I’m not asking that. I’m not even going to give you money. I’m a researcher in cybernetic implants. One of the few who remains. I could build you a leg and an arm. Even the eye you lost. But I have a price for them. I want your life…”

“you want to kill me!”

“no wait, let me finish. I want your life knowledge. I want you to tell me everything you feel once you have back your limbs. The emotions, the sensations, everything. Even the most horrific details”

now it was the woman to be confused.

“Even how hard it is to clean the arm if I shit on it?” Smolak was testing the man.

He looked surprised but pleased.

“Yes I suppose. I would prefer if you don’t defecate on my creations but I will not stop you.”

“why helping me?”

“you don’t need to know”

“as I said then. Go fuck yourself. I don’t need your false pity or whatever despicable shit you have in mind. And take your stupid food back.”

“well I won’t try to persuade you. But if you change idea I’m Fermi. Just ask for me at the reception. And keep the sweets. They come from the hospital cafeteria too, they are strangely well made”

the vision vanished again.

What the fuck. That’s the one and only Founder. I’m seeing the fucking Esterian Founder. I thought he was… well different. Not so anonymous.

Strangely Scilla was intrigued in the story that the visions were telling her. So she kept looking for more. At some point she started seeing them walking away toward a different direction other than the red line she was following. It was almost as if those vision where guiding her somewhere else, so with nothing to lose she followed them.

She walked into a room of some sort. No idea who used to live there. On the bed a new vision. Elvira was covered under a white sheet. She slowly opened her eyes. The Founder was staring at her.

“did it work?” asked Elvira.

“you are the one who should be telling it to me”

The woman cleaned her eyes, with both hands and both eyes. It was just a natural reflex that never faded. It was in that moment that she realised, she had her arm back, her left eye back. The procedure worked. She immediately looked at her hands. On her right the organic side. On the left the new arm. It was of a dark grey metal that tried to resemble her organic arm as much as possible. Elvira was overjoyed so much that she hugged the Founder.

“I. I. I have my arm back. I can move my legs. MY LEGS! I can see. I can see again depth!…”

Then a sudden stop. With tears in her eyes she stopped hugging and retreated. She placed her left arm on her lap and with the remaining hand she touched it. She felt it, she left her left robotic arm being touched. She left her mechanical had moving from the soft sheets, to the rubbery rails of the hospital bed. She left the cold of the metal poles that kept the intervenors feeding (IV) up, to the warm face of the Founder. She had no words so she started stuttering

“I. I. F..Feel… fell things… I… c...can feel things!! I can fell things! My hand…. My leg they can feel the world… how is it possible? Why didn’t you tell me?”

The Founder however pulled back. He stood up away from the bed. His eyes were less death yet still lost.

“you will be dismissed in a couple of days. For maintenance in case the guide isn’t enough contact the university…”

“the fuck are you going? After what you did to me you are going away? You are leaving me?”

“I have done my part”

“what about the information and all the details that you wanted? You even said that you couldn’t put it into the contract and that you hoped I would still tell you.”

Elvira was pushing to keep him by her side. She liked that strange man.

“I lied. In the end all you can’t do is say that those limbs were made by me. Nothing more”

“why? Why are you going away? Why leaving me? Why helping me and why refusing to be acknowledge for your creation? Those implants of yours are amazing, they could be the future”

“Miss Smolak. You don’t need to know”

the Founder took as step forward to get away.

“I DON’T NEED TO KNOW MY ASS DICKHEAD!! I’M NOT DONE TALKING. COME BACK HERE OR I’LL RIP MY EYE OUT!”

The Founder stopped. With Scilla freedom of moving she could see that he smiled. He turned to face Smolak again.

“you are very vocal miss Smolak.”

“miss Smolak my ass. I’m Elvira”

“I know your name miss.”

“can you hear me out at least once? Like you did while assembling those implants? Please”

“ok. What is it?”

“I don’t know why you want to walk away, but I don’t want it. You treated me good all this time. Not like a desperate crippled. I’m not asking you to stay because you will be useful to me… fuck… this is way more embarrassing that I predicted. I want to be friends. Can’t we try to be friends?”

The man was silent. His eyes stared into Elvira but he never replied.

“please at least just once. Give my one last wish please”

“what is it?”

“I want to eat out once dismissed. I know a good restaurant. Please I’ll pay for you. Just come ok?”

the Founder pulled out his phone and walked to Elvira’s personal belonging to pull out hers.

The vision vanished again.

Is this like the story of the Founder? Why am I seeing it? And how come that such a peaceful and good man conquered the world and became a tyrant? Something is missing either here or on Terrans side.

Of course Scilla kept following the visions that so far looked chronological, but then upon entering a massive hall a new vision. Civilians, other humans living their lives. On the other side the door bust open and old Idras start shooting. Their numbers went from 115 to 135. They make sure that nobody could make it out alive. As their fury stopped a way smaller woman entered. She showed clear resemblances with both the Founder and Smolak. All Idra’s turned to her an 115 spoke.

“as you ordered mother. All our enemies are death.”

a cold voice replied.

“I’m severely disappointed…”

the Idras bowed as low as they could.

“I’m sorry mother. We were not fast enough.”

“my disappointment just increased. I’m not disappointed in your work. You and your sisters did splendidly. I’m disappointed because you still call me mother…”

The tone shifted toward a more playful one. It was clear that she inherited both the irrationally calm manners of the Founder than the chaotic nature of her mother.

“I have asked you to call me mum several times, but you still say mother. I don’t like it. You are my kids I don’t want to be formal with my babies”

the woman pouted loudly and as the Idras moved closer the vision disappeared.

Why? So there were also humans here. Why killing them? They are all so strange.

Even more intrigued Scilla kept walking following illusion that may be totally false. She didn’t notice that those shadows of the past were taking her someone specific. She reached a subway station. There a new vision awaited.

The founder was stating staring into the darkness of the tunnel. He was heavily clothed and snow had settled on his head. From behind him arrived Elvira who called him happily.

“Fermi! What are you doing out there? No… how long have you been here? You have a layer of snow on top of you”

Elvira pushed away the snow. The Founder however kept looking lost, maybe in his own mind.

“I arrived…”

he pulled out his phone.

“43 minutes ago”

“why? It’s super cold you will get sick”

He hesitated to reply.

“Do you think it’s snowing there?”

The founder turn back looking into the tunnel. Far deep in the darkness small light both green and red appeared.

“at Etruna? Of course, it’s snowing all over the region. They are just 20 km away”

“So it snows”

“who hurt you?”

the Founder turned to face Elvira.

“what do you mean?”

“you are always so lost, cold and distant. Some times even strange. You have never spoke of friends or family. But I can see through your shit. Your eyes betray you.”

“I’m… not hurt. I don’t speak of them because I don’t have any.”

“you have me!” said Elvira with a big smile.

“are we friends?” replied Fermi confused.

“are we not?”

The founder didn’t reply.

“how are the limbs?”

“working amazingly, even with this cold. You know I can feel the cold snow and it’s wet. It’s funny that when I pick it up with my left it doesn’t melt. Perfect for pranks”

“don’t exaggerate. I know you love being back to your full capabilities if not even more. But the connection is still fresh. Your biological side needs more time to merge with my prototypes”

“I know, I know. You told me a billion times, but it’s just too amazing. Come one let’s go, the restaurant is just behind the corner”

As Elvira grabbed the Founder arm an illusory train passed and immediately after a real one arrived. Scilla just went with it. She was already lost, can’t get worst.

While inside the train and after sitting comfortable on a 4 sits space with a table in the middle the vision came back. They were on the other side of the carriage. At the table Elvira, her nameless friend and Fermi. He still looked around almost all the time and replied briefly or not at all to “small talk”. When the waitress arrive to take their order he specifically asked for a bottle of water to be served closed. Against his will Elvira pushed him to order both a first and second dish. He choose among the less expensive things he could find. Unfortunately he had little to no success in actually receiving the least costly items. Upon ordering just a plate of penne al pomodoro (penne with tomato sauce) and a plain salad as second dish, Elvira objected.

“Sorry, he was joking. He will take emmmh. Paccheri al ragù di chingiale (paccheri with wild boar ragù) and do you eat steaks?”

“no”

“than he takes the fritto misto [mixed friend (different kinds of friend fishes combined)], thanks you”

once the waitress walked away the Founder spoke again.

“why did you order for me?”

“you think I’m stupid? I saw that you picked the cheapest thing around”

“and so?”

“and so I’m not a cheap ass. I received this prosthesis for free. They must cost a fortune. I can spend on my best friend who assisted me at my worst and the man who literally give me back the world”

“why if I am allergic to seafood?”

“you would have stopped me. Like you stopped me with the steak. But seriously you don’t eat steaks?”

“no”

“why? You can ask for different…”

“no”

“shish, don’t have to be so harsh”

But the Founder silence spoke louder than anybody in the restaurant. His inquisitive stare brought Elvira to apologise.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that we should be celebrating the moment. With food that’s… that’s worth it”

“I understand. That’s why I didn’t want to participate. I don’t belong here”

“that’s some bullshit again. I’m here walking and eating completely self sufficient because you decided to build and give me this limbs for free. With what I had saved I could just buy some old ass prothesis for my arm and leg. And as far as I know all artificial eyes cost at least 150k€. you gift me more than 200k€ without even knowing me. If there is a place where you and Malina belong is here. Here at this fucking table eating what I think is the best food in the city because you two saved my life.”

Malina, Elvira’s friend was obviously touched but the Founder was as stoic as a man could be. He was thinking of something but the vision vanished cutting away a piece. Now Elvira was no longer at the table and the Founder stood up. Malina immediately stood as well.

“where are you going?”

“I’ll pay my part and leave”

“you know I’m going to rush to the bathroom and call her right?”

“I expect no less. I hope I’ll be faster to disappear.”

“what the fuck is your problem? Elvi is trying everything she can to befriend you. Yet you are still being an asshole to her.”

“I’m aware of it. That’s way I’m going to leave.”

“who the fuck do you think you are? Some main character of some shit?”

“We both want her good. You will achieve it by standing with her. I’ll do the same leaving her…”

“keep up your stupid ass excuses…”

“you don’t know me.”

“yeah cause I have heard more words from you now that in 10 fucking months”

“I’ll remember this days as fond memories. It’s time to let me leave”

“fuck no”

As the founder walked away Malina rushed in a different direction and the vision stopped. At the same time the train reached a station and the doors opened. Scilla disembarked as illusions of Idra were waiting. They had just regrouped at the station and were walking away.

“I don’t understand. Why did mum order us to kill all the scientist?” asked one.

“it’s not our place to ask” said another.

“it’s our place to ask. It’s our place to have doubts and think. Were are built for that” a new voice again. The group was numerous and it seems that they were discussing about the killing Scilla saw.

“we had orders. We don’t discuss them”

“I know why we killed them” all Idras turned to see 167.

“We are not super soldiers for our people. We are protector for this place. For the things we hide here. Who would you trust? A nobody strange or your infinitely loyal daughters?”

“and what are we defending?”

“you should spend more time in the library sister 144.”

Iris told me the same. Her sisters were here to protect something but what? Is it still here now that they are gone?… wait. How do I even got here? This place is empty. There should be nothing working… how the fuck did the train work? Am I going toward a trap?

She was not wrong. In all the hours she spent walking she had seen now sign of life both organic or inorganic. No cleaning robots, no active signs, no functioning doors except the train. It was as if the place was totally death except where she was going.