(Unknown Structure, 2200 km East of Starborn, Star’s Reach)
As we walked into the next room, the hologram appeared again, still with its undefined humanoid shape. Now, however, it was speaking English, so everyone could understand it. “Hello, and welcome to the Gap Science computer-aided Enrichment Center. Please proceed to the Specimen Collection Chamber to ensure biocompatibility with the Testing Environment.” At the other side of the chamber another set of doors opened, with a blue force field across it, which resembled a standard particle screen designed to keep germs and nanites out of sterile environments.
I noticed that, on one wall, one of the grey tiled panels that made up the wall had been opened slightly, either on hinges or simply by being forced out from the other side. At any rate, I could see what looked like a crawlspace behind there. Not sure whether there were other discoveries further down that path or not. But, other than the door, it was the only feature that was out of place in this otherwise uniform room.
Something about this setup struck me as odd, so I looked at the Hologram, and asked, “Before we begin, who are you, and what is this place designed for?” As I spoke, I typed a brief message in the AR screen my armor provided, sending a quick note to Raven.
M.Mollen: Raven, have you cut the links with the AI? Are team comms secure?
Raven: Yes, though the AI was a little upset about not getting more data. Team comms are secure, but be aware that we may get interference if the structure is able to block signals.
M.Mollen: Right, we’ll deal with that when it happens.
The hologram nodded, and said, “There is no direct translation for my designation in language [English]. The most literal translation would be Compution and Reasoning Output Learning Intelligent Named Entity. Acceptable acronym designate: CaROLINE.”
“The Qaettel people created the Gap Science computer-aided Enrichment Center to allow researchers to study a variety of phenomenon using live test subjects in controlled settings. The primary goal of the Gap Science Research Laboratory is to gain an understanding of trans-spatial technology for use in a variety of products. There are also alternative testing regimens designed for multiple scientific endeavors.”
Trans-spatial technology? Ooh, I liked the sound of that! “Did the Qaettel create the Gateways, like the one in this system?”
“Negative. Historical archives record that the Gateway was present when the Qaettel first came to this world. Scientific archives record that the Gateways have a unique trans-spatial prototemporal signature. Primary Hypothesis of Gateway Research Teams: the Gateways were positioned in the far future, and propagated backwards through time and space, occupying all parallel dimensions and alternative timelines in those positions. The Enrichment Center was designed to help develop the science of trans-spatial apertures so that the Gateways might be developed and then seeded throughout time in the spaces where they were witnessed to be placed. The Enrichment Center urges you not to consider the tempro-philosophical ramifications of this study if you are unfamiliar with 8th dimensional temporal mechanics.”
Well, I can honestly say that ‘future advanced civilization made the Gateways and sent them back in time to be present from the beginning’ was a theory that I had considered for how they came to be. Then again, the Gateways were well ahead of any other tech that people had ever found, including in Lost Tech ruins like this one. So maybe there was something to the idea. Or it could be alien scientists being just as wrong as the human ones were, and the truth was something else entirely.
I took a breath, and decided. There was too much going on here for me to turn my back on this place. Over the team comms, I said, “Valkyrie, head to that exposed hatchway and explore the inner workings of the facility. See what you can discover. Ravensclaw, with me. Let’s see what the Enrichment Center can do for us.”
Our groups split up, with my team heading through the open door. A short walk down the hallway, and we found ourselves in what would best be described as a medical bay. Once again, the hologram appeared next to us. “Please remove body coverings to prepare for specimen extraction. New coverings approved by the Enrichment Center will be supplied for testing.”
Looking over at Raven, I asked, “Analysis on the air?”
Raven checked, and then said, “Air is a good mix. No harmful trace elements my sensors can detect. The field we passed through was a particle screen, so any pathogens, allergens, or other contaminating material from the outside should be neutralized. It is as safe as can reasonably be accounted for.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
I nodded, and said, “Right, guess I’ll play guinea pig.” I began pulling off my armor and storing it (and my weapons) in my bracer, until the bracer was the only thing I was wearing. When asked to remove the bracer, I flatly refused the hologram, citing cultural and sociological reasons. As the ladies followed my lead, I made the same argument for their collars (the ones who had them, anyway). Not sure the AI really believed me, but it didn’t object, and went ahead with the specimen collection, which basically involved taking blood and urine samples for analysis. Well, except for Raven, who simply provided a materials list of her drone body’s construction.
We were moved along a moving walkway where our bodies were scanned, and then we were provided with ‘approved’ coverings, which were basically a white shirt and shorts, with orange coveralls, and a pair of rather spiffy boots that snapped into place like ski boots. A quick analysis of the items said that the suits provided most of the basic protections that the ship suits did, but with out vacuum protection. The underclothes were listed as ‘anti-chafing garments’, while the boots were actually something pretty cool. Apparently, they had some kind of momentum negation system, which would allow a person to jump (or fall, assuming you landed on your feet) from great heights without injury. The actual ‘safe distance’ depended on local gravity, as terminal velocity was a key factor. I made a note for Raven to get the specs for these boots if she possibly could. I wanted these things added to our armor tech. The ability for a bunch of Marines to basically jump out of a transport on the fly and do a ‘superhero landing’ without injury was simply too delicious to overlook.
Once we were dressed in the ‘approved coverings’, we were released into a comfortable chamber with a bed, several chairs, and… not much else. The hologram’s voice came to us, and said, “The Enrichment Center thanks youyou’re your patience. Please wait in the relaxation vault until your samples have been processed.”
When the voice cut out, I looked to Raven who paused, and then nodded that we were not being monitored. Good, I didn’t want this CaROLINE listening in on everything we did. Looking to the rest, I said, “So, this whole place seems way too good to be true.”
Jaynie laughed, and said, “Oh, sure, the ancient ruin with an AI just suddenly wants to test us. I’m sure everything will be just fine. Well, I did get some new boots out of the deal, so I’m not entirely upset.”
Cali grinned at us, and said, “Sure, but am I the only one that feels like I’m stuck in some kind of video game?” Jaynie and I just stared at her. “Fine, more than the normal Nomad experience of this world, I mean.”
Shearah frowned. “If this is a sort of game, then these tests may be difficult. Likely if we win, we get some kind of prize. But what happens if we lose?”
I let out a long breath, and said, “Well, if we’re really, really lucky, then we will simply be kicked out of the facility. If we’re not lucky, then we’ll find out why this place has been abandoned for so long. Of course, if we pass the tests, then we might be able to get the research these people have done on ‘trans-spatial apertures’ and the like. That could give us all kinds of benefits.”
Sheila looked at me expectantly. “And I’m guessing that the reason Valkyrie isn’t in here with us is because they are going to check out and see if there’s danger before we fall into it?”
I grinned at the princess. “Right in one. This facility, what we can see of it, anyway, is far too small for a real ‘testing facility’. Which means there are areas we haven’t gotten to yet. If, say, there were vats of hazardous chemicals lying around, then Valkyrie could perhaps be able to find them and ensure that those chemicals aren’t going to dump themselves on our heads.”
Just then an orange oval shape appeared on a wall in front of us, and we saw a strange device on a mechanical arm drop down out of the ceiling outside the forcefields of the ‘relaxation vault’ we were in. As that happened, CaROLINE’s voice came to us again. “Hello and, again, welcome to the Gap Science computer-aided enrichment center. We hope your brief detention in the relaxation vault has been a pleasant one. Your specimens have been processed and we are now ready to begin the test proper. Before we start, however, keep in mind that, although fun and learning are the primary goals of all enrichment center activities, serious injuries may occur. For your own safety, and the safety of others, please refrain from — *static* Por favor bordón de fallar Muchos gracias de fallar gracias *static* Stand back. The portal will open in 3, 2, 1...”
This bit of language changing and ominous warnings did not endear the Enrichment Center to me, but when I saw a blue energy ball shoot out from the device on the arm, and hit the wall, I was entranced. The orange oval in front of us had now become… not clear, but like looking through an area where suddenly the perspective has changed. Without thinking, I jumped through the portal, for that is what it was, and found myself standing next to where the blue orb had hit. These crazy aliens had created short range portals!
Looking at everyone as they joined me, I knew I probably had the same manic grin on my face as I saw on theirs. “Ladies, this changes everything. We have to get our hands on this tech. Personal portals, even if they are just short-range, could shake the galaxy to its core.” Their enthusiastic nods told me that they all understood just how game changing this could be.
A door opened next to us, letting us into a room with a big red button. Like, big enough that you could literally stand on it, with a blue line leading from it to the door on the other side of the room. A translucent tube extended down from the ceiling in one corner, and looked like it had some kind of box resting on the cap at the end. After a moment examining the door, and not seeing anything better to do, Carissa stepped up on the button, which caused the tube to release the cube, and the door to open. When she stepped off the button, the door closed.
This kind of test was simple enough. Surely nothing compared to the whole ‘personal portal’ level of technology. But they were probably establishing a baseline before moving into the real testing? After all, anyone who couldn’t solve this problem would be useless as a tester. When we placed the surprisingly heavy cube on the button, the door opened. Yeah, predictable test had a predictable outcome.
CaROLINE’s voice came over the hidden speakers again. “Excellent. Please proceed into the chamberlock after completing each test. First, however, note the incandescent particle field across the exit. This Gap Science Material Emancipation Grill will vaporize any unauthorized equipment that passes through it - for instance, the Gap Science Weighted Storage Cube. Your culturally important heritage items have been added to the authorized equipment manifest.”
The ‘chamberlock’ was basically an airlock that allowed the facility to isolate the different testing chambers, which would help to keep the results consistent. In other words, it was a high-tech version of an airlock on a clean room in modern science labs in the real world. Pretty cool, actually, especially since the facility had to have been abandoned for thousands of years. How this place had not fallen into disrepair after so much neglect was going to be interesting to find out.
We followed the chamberlock to an elevator. When we got in, the door closed, and we felt ourselves heading down.