45. Pie : Emergence

Rustling round in Sparrows backpack my microphone failed to make an accurate picture out of anything. The contents muffled every ping though occasionally a scream or yell could be heard. The world sounded so terrifying. The sounds of conflict and struggle subsided though and the bag could be heard being placed on the ground. Moments later a hand rummaged through the contents claiming a package above me and then myself.

Ripped back into the world from the pack my pings detailed a small room which the door led out into a larger warehouse. With only one occupant in the the room I assumed it to be Sparrow. The rustling of her suit reverberated through the microphone as if she was nervously checking her surroundings. Unsure as to whether we were safe I stayed quiet until she broke the silence with a whisper.

“I think we have some time to talk.” Before letting her continue I interrupted with hushed joy.

“Is this the world? It’s good to be out of the laboratories but is everywhere dangerous?”

“We’re not quite outside the zone just yet. A little further though and it’ll all be over.”

“What is the world like? What is sunlight like? Noah always spoke about the sun, and pie, he loved pie.” With a quiet chuckle Sparrow continued on.

“It’s an electromagnetic wavelength. Maybe we could help you see it once we’re out. Also you didn’t finish your telling me how the laboratories fell apart before we were interrupted. Do you mind picking up where we left off?”

I had no reason not to tell her. If anything I was glad to be given the chance to share my memories though I halted for a moment thinking about the situation. If things were as dire as they sounded while they fought their way to this point there might not be another chance to learn about the world. At the very least I wanted to hear what I already knew if only from someone else.

“If you tell me about the world I’ll be more than happy to go on.” Surprised Sparrow stalled for a moment.

“Well… um… it’s round.” Amused I gave her some guidance.

“What do oceans look like? How vast are they and what rhythm do the waves flow? What shade are plains of grass and how softly do they flow with the breeze? How does the sun feel and how do its rays diffract through the sky?”

The question was followed with silence. It seemed she was lost in deep thought due to the question. Maybe she hadn’t experienced such things either and was trapped like me. Assuming she was from the outside world was a foolish idea. Perhaps these people were desperately trying to at least get a glimpse of outside if only for just a moment. After processing that the question may have dejected her I immediately apologized.

“I didn’t mean to dishearten you.” With a sigh she quickly responded.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t you.”

“Have you never seen outside either?”

“I have. I just... can’t remember. This place consumes memories.” The microphone picked up another ping indicating her hand went to her face. Before long she continued on.

“I think I remember the sun. It shines through lighting up the day so you can always see. Sometimes after it rained the moisture would split the light over the entire visible spectrum. During the rain the sun would still beam bright enough so you could see each individual droplet. It’s warmth clung to you like a blanket keeping you safe.” Pausing for a moment she sighed.

“Nothing like it is here. It paints everything in lifeless shades and it’s beams fail to provide any warmth but still threaten excessive damage. The clouds usually sweep over to block out and distort any comfort it might emit. Only once every few months it has a chance to rise under the desecrated air to shine like it did so long ago for only a moment.” Waiting awhile longer she concluded reminiscing.

“The ocean’s were pleasant and the waves were so soothing. Grass was so soft you could sleep on it without any discomfort as the wind blew through with the harmony of a hidden glaive.” Strengthen her resolve she took her hand away from her face while bringing her knees up.

“That’s why we have to get out. We’re going to make this place like that again and you’ll get to experience it.”

Letting her descriptions loop in my processes I felt hope again. I used to listen to Noah rant sideways day in and day out while we worked on experiments. His stories always held me spellbound like hers did now. He promised one day I’d be given the same senses as him. That I’d be able to experience the world alongside him. One day. Maybe not with him now but one day I would experience it for myself at least for him. Sparrow spoke up again interrupting my thoughts.

“You mentioned a man named Noah. Was he from this place by any chance?”

“He was. He was in the laboratories. He left me in case he didn’t make it.”

“Do you mind finishing your story on how it all fell apart then? It might help us find him.” Feeling entitled to her after she took the time to tell me about the world I picked up where I left off before she and her group fought their way from the labs.

It was a nice day, or at least I thought it was outside, you couldn’t tell in the laboratories deep underground but it had to be pleasant outside after the fantastic day I had with Noah. He told me all about all the wonderful things in the world like trees and animals and sunlight and pie. One day he renamed me because Pi was too cliche for his liking. He just called me Pie because I thought it sounded so wonderful from his description of it and all the different interesting types.

It was such a wonderful day. Then something was unsettled from the ceiling before sirens started blaring. My database told me that this siren meant there was an emergency. Something trying to breach containment. Not knowing what was going on and not being able to move I did the only thing I could and cried for help. Noah being in the room with me quickly came to my aid sliding me into his lab coat pocket. As bulky as I was I think I could just fit judging from the sound of the fabric scraping down my sides.

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The sound of pattering feet continued as he ran down the corridors until finally he came to a control room over looking one of the experiments also inhabited by Frenchenko who sounded desperate for help.

“Noah it’s breaking out. Get on that console we have to reinforce the sections it’s trying to tear down. We were trying to dispose of it when it began to tear down a breach in the containment field. The reactor going up provided enough disruption to give it a chance.”

Without a word Noah proceeded to the console. His furious typing confirmed he was at it. The two men continued for a moment until the typing ceased being so frantic and Frenchenko let out a nervous laugh.

“Too close. Could you imagine the devastation that thing would have caused if it managed to get through the field? It would have been extraordinary-”

The sound of reinforced glass could be heard shattering from the one of the three control rooms. However it was not met with more frantic typing, simply the screams of the damned and Noah’s quivering voice.

“Dear god it breached station three. Those men… what do you think it’s doing to them?”

“Trust me when I say it’s beyond our comprehension.” Frenchenko continued. “That should be all it has left though and the control rooms have secondary shielding, it’s still contained.” With a sigh Frenchenko looked back to another console away from the window while Noah seemed to continue watching as I heard no movement from him until eventually he gasped.

“Frenchenko one of the men survived look! He’s just standing there amongst the bodies. What is he doing?”

Frenchenko rushed back to the window and the speaker broadcasted a message directed towards the compromised control room.

“Grendal get out of there it’ll make another pass on you eventually!”

Judging from the next response Grendal was probably just standing there dead eyed.

“Grendal snap the fuck out of it get out of there!”

There was silence for a moment until Noah piped up once more.

“What is he doing at that console?” The sirens now ceasing to blare as the containment field stabilized.

“I have no idea. Brave bastard might be trying to finish the containment purge. Idiot probably thinks the situation is more dire than it is.” Frenchenko took the microphone again.

“Grendal your bravery is noted now kindly flee while you still have your life. If you want a medal-”

Suddenly Frenchenko was cut off by another siren. This one far more dire. Experiment loose. It had escaped.

“How is it out!?” Frenchenko cried “The fields are still up how did it escape!?” Noah spoke next in disblief and shock.

“The main bulkhead. It’s open. It possessed Grendal to open the bulkhead.”

The laboratory complex quickly began to fill with screams. Another siren began to whir. Purge protocols were in effect. Everything was to be destroyed but it didn’t seem like that would be an issue. The escaped experiment was corrupting everything in it’s path. Eventually Noah began to walk to an emergency cabinet and retrieve a prototype psi protection helmet along with a shotgun and ammunition. Loading it he was only interupted by Frenchenko putting on a headset.

“You shouldn’t need more than one shell…”

“The hell are you… Frenchenko we don’t know if that works, take it off.”

“You were right about your little computer. It did help us out with something at least.”

“Don’t do anything stupid. We’re going to get out of here. I’ve got a second helmet just-”

“You really think you can get through the carnage that thing is causing don’t you? Sure it won’t flay your mind alive but it’s surely releasing all the other shit we’ve made over the years. Not to mention possessing everyone in between you and the exit. You won’t make it.”

“We won’t know unless we try!”

“I still have a better chance that transference to the machine might work rather than run and gun along side you. Best of luck though.”

With the final sound of a body slumping and his headset burning out Noah walked over to a console reading the writing on the screen out loud.

“Told you so…” With a disheartened chuckle he continued to read out what else was being written by the now digital Frenchenko.

“Have access to the laboratories systems. Will assist as best I can. Leave Pie here. Will look after it if you don’t make it.”

Finally Noah took me out of his pocket and placed me on a shelf. I began to beg him to take me regardless of the danger but he simply stayed silent for a moment before saying goodbye.

“Frenchenko is right Pie. I’m probably not going to make it. There is so much chaos in between here and the tunnel. Then there's the fact the whole area within 10 kilometers is probably decimated. If I stay here I’m going to starve to death in this room. No help is coming, not for a long time. I promise you though, one day, someone will come back for you both. Stay quiet and stay safe Pie. Frenchenko will look after you.”

With that he turned away with the gentle sound of the fabric of his lab coat swishing past due to the weight of the shotgun shells in his pockets providing the weight to follow through with the force of the turn. There was the mechanical sound of shotgun being cocked as Noah adjusted the microphone of the broken headset he had linked to Frenchenko.

“If you’d be so kind as to open the gates of hell for me, Frenchenko…” With a hiss from the bulkhead and the creaking of it sweeping open letting infernal screams of those still underground he bolted out the door making a beeline for the access tunnel.

“That’s the last time I heard him.” Concluding the story of how this place fell Sparrow followed up with her questions.

“Do you know if he escaped?”

“Frenchenko said he saw him on the cameras in the tunnel before they went out. I think he’s still alive. Do you think he’s still alive?” Sparrow held her breath for the moment. It sounded as if she had a sudden revelation over our conversation. Prompting her again she tried to hold her voice steady.

“I think I know who he was. We’ll verify if it’s who I think it is once we leave.”

“But do you think he’s alive?” Silence followed again. Opening her mouth preparing to give further explanation I found myself quickly stashed back into the bag before another voice echoed through the room.

“What are you doing alone Sparrow.”

“Flux. Scared the shit out of me. Getting some time alone to recover.”

“You’ve been talking to yourself for minutes. We can’t afford weakness at this point.” Pausing both Sparrow and myself felt a similar confusion. We spoke at the same volume. He would have surely heard me as well. Without missing a beat Sparrow conceived a convincing enough lie.

“Dissociating. Helps me cope.” Steps could be heard moving away as his voice became more distant.

“Just keep it together. Lives are resting on your capability.”

With the backpack rustling again we rejoined the others while I was hidden away. After a large meal I heard them planning over how to assault Lenina avenue. The main road through Pripyat to escape. Not long after the group enjoyed a good night's rest before getting up in the morning still completely exhausted but not devastated with fatigue. After a scream in the morning they prepared to march onward.