Chapter 10

"The Man"

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]

05/26/2368

Central Military Base of the Republic of Hommss

The powerful aerial transport vehicles finally touched down with a roar on the base's helipad. Swirling currents of cold air whipped up the snow around them on the tarmac as the bay doors opened, revealing their precious cargo. A group of Hommssian soldiers disembarked, dragging with them an unconscious, completely hairless human being.

The man's skin was smooth as marble, completely devoid of body hair. His limp body slid over the sparse snow, leaving a furrow in its wake. The soldiers loaded him onto a small, awaiting light transport vehicle to carry him close to the massive entrance gates of the base's underground bunker. The doors screeched open with a colossal metallic groan, revealing an illuminated hallway delving deep into the mountain's core like a great hall. The vehicle trundled through the tunnel, transporting the captive toward a special facility for his case.

The soldiers maintained silence, their faces hidden behind enveloping masks and helmets. As they progressed, the tunnel's lights briefly illuminated the prisoner, revealing his vulnerability to his captors. He didn't understand what was happening, in shock, completely disoriented and weak. Finally, the vehicle halted in a processing area where other armed guards awaited. Without ceremony, the soldiers unloaded the naked man and handed him over to the new custodians, who firmly grasped him while assessing his condition.

They led him through several corridors to a processing area. There, they issued him a white form-fitting bodysuit made of a clinging material that adhered to his bare skin. The garment accentuated his smooth, hairless flesh, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.

Once suited up, they loaded him into another smaller, enclosed transport vehicle. The captive, still weak and confused, could barely keep himself upright as the vehicle lurched into motion, delving deeper into the underground complex.

After a journey of about fifteen minutes, the transport halted. He was ushered through doors that opened into an immense, square chamber with pristine white walls, ceiling, and floor. The brilliant, shadowless lighting created an almost surreal feel. The guards disembarked from the vehicle and, without preamble, seized the prisoner by the arms, dragging him unceremoniously into the center of the room. The man could barely resist, his body seeming drained of strength after prolonged exposure to extreme cold.

Once in the room's center, the guards released him and retreated back toward the exit. The prisoner crumpled to his knees on the white floor, looking around with wide eyes as he tried to comprehend his predicament.

The doors sealed shut behind the guards with a muffled thud, leaving the captive alone in the sterile, expressionless environment. Silence was absolute, broken only by the man's faint gasps as he tried to catch his breath. Slowly, he began exploring his surroundings, crawling awkwardly across the floor. The walls were devoid of any discernible details or openings visible. No furniture, objects or anything disrupted the monotony of the space. Bewildered and disoriented, the man huddled in a corner, almost hugging himself for companionship.

His mind began to drift, transporting him to memories of a past that felt so close yet only further confounded him. In the midst of a global pandemic, he recalled the endless days cooped up in his tiny apartment, much like his current situation, trying to adjust to the new confined normality. The hours ticked by slowly, one after another, as he tried to keep himself occupied and distracted.

Some days he would binge-watch shows and movies on television, others he spent gaming or browsing the internet to fulfill various needs. Occasionally he would attempt to focus on his remote work, but the virtuality and stress of the situation often became overwhelming.

On one of those humdrum days, idly scrolling on his phone through social media feeds, an eye-catching ad caught his attention. It was an advertisement from the NeuroNet corporation seeking participants to trial an innovative new product. The offer promised a substantial sum of money, equivalent to about a year's average salary - around 150,000 Shywids (the old defunct currency of the fallen Republic of Waidmanns) - in exchange for allowing qualified NeuroNet employees to make a home visit on an assigned day, following COVID protocols, to perform a brain activity scan.

Intrigued, the man explored the company's website, carefully reading through the program's limited terms and conditions. The opportunity to earn a considerable amount of money with little effort was tempting, especially amidst the economic uncertainty reigning during the pandemic. After carefully weighing the risks and benefits, he decided to submit his application to participate in NeuroNet's trial program.

Minutes later, a confirmation email arrived with a scheduled date and time slot. Following the link, he could only select from a limited range of available days, eventually confirming that in three days at 11am, he would host a delegation from the company at his home. Thank you for participating in the development of the future.

The days ticked by in their usual monotonous, dull fashion until the appointed visit day finally arrived. The doorbell rang precisely on time. The man rose from his couch and made his way to the main entrance, riding the elevator down to the building's lobby where he saw them: a team of four people, three men and one woman, all donning full white hazmat suits with medical-grade face masks and protective goggles. They looked primed to enter a quarantine zone.

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They exchanged curt nods, avoiding physical contact. One of the men, seemingly the group's leader, asked him a few routine questions about his recent health status and whether he had experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. The man shook his head, assuring them he had remained completely isolated with no signs of illness.

Satisfied with his answers, the team proceeded to take his body temperature with a non-contact infrared scanner. Once confirming he had no fever, they proceeded to his apartment with his permission.

During the trip, the conversation remained superficial and casual, avoiding overly personal topics. The man led them through the building's corridors until reaching his door, unlocking it with a key and welcoming them into his humble abode. Once inside, the NeuroNet team began deploying their work equipment. One of the men instructed the host to take a seat wherever was most comfortable. The man complied, settling into his old but plush recliner.

Almost immediately, the woman of the group approached and began asking him a series of questions, some personal in nature, others related to his educational background and technical expertise. As he responded, another man proceeded to affix a series of cables and electrodes around his head, securing them with an adjustable harness.

Across the room, a third team member trained some kind of scanning device on the man's face, apparently performing a meticulous scan of his ocular retinas. Simultaneously, the fourth member carefully took fingerprint samples from each of his fingers. The process, though somewhat uncomfortable, proceeded with efficient professionalism. For nearly an hour, the man sat, answering questions while allowing the devices to collect data on his brain activity, eye patterns, and fingerprints.

Finally, when all procedures were concluded, the woman approached once more and requested his bank account information. The man, somewhat perplexed but confident they would uphold their end of the deal, provided his banking credentials. To his surprise, mere moments later, his phone vibrated with a transfer notification alert. NeuroNet had deposited the full agreed amount plus a bonus into his account, bringing the total to 230,000 Shywids as extra compensation for the additional COVID-related inconveniences.

Grateful, the man escorted the team to the exit of his apartment. Despite the strange experience, the substantial payout would certainly help ease his financial situation through the turbulent pandemic times.

The man shook his head, forcing his mind back to the present. The memories of yesterday faded away. He slowly rose to his feet, legs numb from inactivity, but still unable to understand why he felt so drained of strength, how he had ended up in such a desolate, snowy wasteland. He took a few faltering steps toward the center of the pristine white room, examining every detail with wary eyes. The silence was so dense that the faint crunches of his bare feet on the floor sounded like amplified snaps.

Suddenly, a faint metallic click pierced the stillness. The man whirled around, searching for the sound's origin. His gaze settled on a thin line splitting apart in the wall, slowly dividing into a geometric pattern. That section of wall began rippling and distorting until the image of a tall, slender figure appeared projected upon it.

It seemed to be a man encased in a white, form-fitting suit similar to those worn by the subjects who had captured him. His face was obscured by an enveloping pure white

His face was obscured by an enveloping pure white mask, only the black round reticles that served as eyes stood out in a different color.

—Do not be afraid, you are safe here — the projected figure said. —Simply remain calm. All will be well —

The tone of those words meant to be reassuring only heightened the confusion and fear of captivity. He opened his mouth to speak, to demand answers, but at that moment the image on the wall dissipated, reverting to pristine blankness.

—Wait!...where — he tried to ask where he was, but the vanished image left the room in silence once more.

Suddenly, a faint metallic humming drew his attention. A small aperture had opened in another wall. A metal tray laden with food slid out, coming to a stop nearby where he stood.

The man eyed the tray warily, unsure if it was safe to take what it contained. But hunger and thirst eventually overrode his fears. He crept closer and examined the fare: a plate piled with some sort of grayish nutritive paste and a sealed glass of crystalline water. Without further thought, he knelt and began wolfing down the food ravenously, barely tasting its bland flavor.

Days began to bleed into a hazy blur of whiteness and silence. The captive lost all sense of time in that sterile cell, where nothing changed except the ceaseless routine of eating and existing. He would awake in the same corner where he had fallen asleep, the white wall his only companion. At some point, the small aperture would open and the tray with the bland but nourishing food would appear. He devoured it without a second thought, his stomach growling with hunger. Then long, vacant hours sitting or pacing in circles, his thoughts drifting to memories that seemed to belong to an entirely different life. Flashes of his pre-captivity days assailed him - waking in his bed, looking out the window, working on his computer, eating a home-cooked meal.

At one point, a faint hissing drew his attention to the ceiling. A thick green fog began emanating from the vents, filling the chamber with an acrid-smelling gas. The man held his breath, cupping hands over nose and mouth in a futile attempt to avoid inhaling the unknown substance.

Slowly, his lungs burned for oxygen. He coughed violently when he could no longer resist, sucking in deep draughts of the gas. His eyes streamed tears as he stumbled around the room, desperately searching for an exit. But a heavy drowsiness gradually overcame him, and finally his legs buckled, crumpling bonelessly to the floor like a rag doll. His vision darkened, the last thing he registered the metallic sound of hatches opening. Several silhouettes swarmed into the white cell.

Gloved hands firmly seized and hauled him, dragging him unceremoniously from the chamber. The captive tried to resist, but his body would not respond, paralyzed by the gas. The last thing he saw before blacking out was the illuminated hallway stretching before him as he was hauled off into the unknown.

image [https://i.imgur.com/gcxKC1K.png]

2024 © LJ Kauffmann