CHAPTER 4.5: ANCIENT PRISONS
THE PORTAL OF NO RETURN
The elevator door opens, revealing a massive security door. Behind it lies the portal to the pocket dimension containing the Codex. Tyra hesitates momentarily, her thoughts drifting to Administrator Michael’s foresight in securing the Codex this way. A separate dimension was a stroke of genius, ensuring not just physical security but the preservation of vital knowledge should calamity strike.
Yet, recent events leave her uneasy. Can this dimension, so heavily reliant on science, withstand the unpredictable force of magic? The memory of her malfunctioning combat rifle in the face of a magic spell surfaces, and she can't help but feel a crack in the corporation’s facade of omnipotence.
Approaching the door, Tyra's gaze sweeps over the labyrinth of security measures: magma androids, rows of turrets, swarming drones, dogdroids, Timeburners, and shimmering Magma energy shields. The absurdity of this fortress-like setup isn't lost on her. Who in their right mind would risk triggering this death trap? she wonders.
After presenting her ID, she endures a tense ten-minute verification process before the locks disengage, and the colossal door swings open. With a low hum, the portal materializes, a shimmering gateway that carries an air of foreboding.
THE FORGOTTEN FINE PRINT
The portal reminds Tyra of the infamous contract all employees of Magma Corporation must sign—soldier, bureaucrat, or otherwise. It reads like a relic from another era:
"Magma Corporation is not responsible for the loss and/or inclusion of blood, organs, limbs, bones, skin, muscles, and even mental or DNA alterations that entering the portal may cause directly or indirectly to you as an individual."
She snickers bitterly at the memory. Back when the portal was first created, this clause was horrifyingly relevant. People bled, vomited, and screamed from the physical trauma of crossing dimensions. Broken bones and missing limbs were not uncommon. But those were the old days. Now, no one even has internal organs. Evolution—or perhaps Magma Corporation’s interventions—had rendered humanity an entirely different species.
Still, the fear of death lingers. Some fears are too primal to disappear. With a sigh, she steels herself and steps through the portal.
THE CODEX LIBRARY
On the other side, Tyra is greeted by a vast expanse of knowledge. Endless shelves stretch into oblivion, filled with books sealed by magic, glowing spheres of data, and encrypted computers. This library is the beating heart of Magma Corporation’s power, a place where even the smallest secret can tip the scales of influence.
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The sheer scope of it is overwhelming. Rubbing her temples, she debates where to start. Her eyes land on a familiar computer—the one she uses to search for sensitive information.
Settling into the chair, she types her password: Tyra777.
Error.
Confused, she tries again, slower this time: Tyra777.
Error.
Panic begins to creep in. She tries different combinations, cycling through every password she can think of until one finally works: Lyra555.
Her fingers freeze. Lyra? The name is foreign to her, yet it seems eerily familiar. A wave of unease washes over her as she stares at the screen. Who is Lyra? And why is her name tied to this terminal?
BURIED TRUTHS
Curiosity gnaws at her. Digging through the internal database, Tyra searches for clues about this mysterious Lyra. After navigating layers of bureaucratic red tape, she finds a single entry: Lyra was an employee who died years ago. As per Magma Corporation’s protocol, her records were wiped to honor her memory.
The file offers no further details, but the connection between them feels undeniable. Was it a mistake? A ghost in the machine? She dismisses the supernatural explanation. This pocket dimension is designed to detect anomalies of all kinds, spirits included.
Shoving her discomfort aside, Tyra turns her attention to the snowman and skeleton from her recent encounter. With painstaking effort, she pieces together scraps of data, mixing vague memories with strategic search terms. Finally, she stumbles upon a thread of information.
Years ago, the entities she faced—dubbed Skully and Frosty—were leaders of rival corporations: Necro Corporation and Cryo Corporation. Both were embroiled in corruption scandals involving the government. While the trial ended in imprisonment, they served their sentences and were later released.
Now, however, they seem to be back in the game. Their presence suggests a resurgence of corruption within the system, a possibility Tyra finds disturbingly plausible. If they’re active, it means Magma Corporation’s grip might not be as firm as everyone assumes.
NIGHTMARE REVISITED
Her next lead is the hairless, bipedal dog from her nightmare. The memory of its form sends a shiver down her spine. It had haunted her sleep since that encounter, its unblinking eyes and unnatural gait defying logic. She begins tagging keywords and descriptors into the search engine, hoping for even a fragment of insight.
As the results begin to load, a thought crosses her mind: What if this thing isn’t just a figment of my imagination? What if it’s real—and worse, what if it’s hunting me?
Tyra leans back in her chair, her fingers trembling slightly. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that this isn’t just about her. Something much larger is at play, and the Codex might hold answers she isn’t ready to face.
For now, all she can do is keep searching.