The corridors of the facility were uncharacteristically quiet, but something about the silence felt wrong. The faint hum of machinery, usually comforting in its consistency, seemed sharper, almost restless. Occasionally, a flickering light panel would draw attention before stabilizing again, its glow returning to a forced steadiness.
TX-19-B floated through the hallway, her glowing form casting soft ripples of light against the polished walls. She had just come from a routine mental mapping session, her mind still abuzz with the aftereffects. Ahead, TX-22-Y and TX-23-G lingered near a large display screen, engaged in what seemed to be a quiet argument.
“You can’t seriously believe that’s true,” TX-22-Y said, his voice sharp with disbelief.
“I’m just saying it’s a possibility,” TX-23-G replied, calm but firm. “If they haven’t told us everything, there could be reasons.”
TX-19-B paused, tilting slightly. “What are you two debating now?”
TX-22-Y turned to her, his glow intensifying as he spoke. “G thinks there’s more to all this training than just learning control. Like some hidden agenda.”
“It’s not a hidden agenda,” TX-23-G said evenly. “But think about it—why invest so much into us? They’re not just curious. There’s a purpose we haven’t been told.”
TX-19-B hesitated. She had wondered the same thing, but the directness of TX-23-G’s words brought a discomfort she wasn’t ready to confront.
Their conversation was interrupted as TX-21-R floated in from an adjoining hallway, her movements sharp and purposeful. “What’s going on here?”
“Conspiracy theories,” TX-22-Y said dismissively, earning a faint hum of disapproval from TX-23-G.
Before the discussion could continue, the intercom crackled to life, filling the hallway with static.
“TX-19-B, TX-21-R, TX-22-Y, TX-23-G, and TX-23-W,” TX-07’s voice announced, calm yet firm. “Meet me in Sector Three. We need to talk.”
The PsySpheres exchanged uncertain glances.
“What’s this about?” TX-21-R asked, her tone suspicious.
“Guess we’re about to find out,” TX-23-G said, already drifting toward the designated location.
The others followed, though the tension between them remained palpable.
As they made their way, TX-19-B noticed a curious absence. “Has anyone seen TX-23-W?” she asked.
The question hung in the air. No one had an answer.
The four PsySpheres floated in silence, the faint whir of air circulation in the facility filling the void. Finally, TX-22-Y broke it, his voice laced with sarcasm.
“Maybe W finally decided to take up knitting. You know, calm his nerves or something.”
TX-21-R let out a low hum of disapproval. “Or maybe he’s hiding again. He’s been acting strange lately—more than usual.”
TX-23-G turned slightly, his tone thoughtful. “He’s always been secretive, but I doubt he’d just skip out on something like this. He knows how important TX-07’s summons are.”
“I don’t know,” TX-22-Y said, his glow flickering faintly as if shrugging. “W doesn’t exactly scream ‘team player.’ Maybe he decided to do his own thing.”
“Or he’s avoiding something,” TX-19-B suggested, her voice quiet. She didn’t like where her thoughts were heading, but the absence of TX-23-W felt wrong.
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TX-21-R’s glow pulsed brighter. “Avoiding what, exactly? We’re all in this together. None of us have anywhere else to go.”
“That’s not entirely true,” TX-23-G interjected, his voice calm but carrying an edge of warning. “We don’t know everything about this facility. There could be places we’re not allowed to see—or things TX-07 hasn’t told us.”
TX-22-Y let out a burst of static-like sound, his equivalent of a scoff. “Here we go again. First W goes missing, now we’re back to the conspiracy theories.”
“It’s not a theory,” TX-23-G said evenly. “It’s just an observation. We’re being trained for something, but we don’t know what. Doesn’t that bother you?”
TX-19-B floated slightly ahead of the group, her glow dimming as she spoke. “It bothers all of us, but that’s why we need to talk to TX-07. Maybe he’ll finally give us answers.”
“You’re assuming he can give us answers,” TX-22-Y muttered, his glow flickering. “What if he’s just as in the dark as we are?”
The others fell silent at that, the possibility settling uncomfortably in their minds.
The hallway outside Sector Three was stark and silent, its plain gray walls broken only by a few numbered signs and small, unlit light panels. The smooth floor reflected the dim overhead lights, creating a subdued glow that softened the space. At the far end of the corridor, the door to Sector Three stood tall and unyielding, a simple yet commanding presence. TX-07 waited beside it, his mechanical body immobile except for the slight whir of its servos.
TX-19-B, TX-21-R, TX-22-Y, and TX-23-G approached the door, their glowing forms creating faint ripples of light on the polished floor. They hovered in a loose formation, their movements subdued by the weight of unspoken questions.
TX-07’s gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable. “Where’s TX-23-W?”
The others exchanged uncertain glances.
“He was nowhere to be found,” TX-22-Y said, his tone tinged with unease.
“Not sure where he went,” TX-23-G added, his usual calm carrying an edge of concern.
TX-07’s posture stiffened ever so slightly. A flicker of unease crossed his face, but he quickly masked it. “We’ll address that later,” he said. “For now, I need to speak with the four of you.”
Once the PsySpheres had arranged themselves in a circle, TX-07’s voice softened, becoming more deliberate. “You’ve spent weeks training, learning to refine your abilities. You’ve shown strength, adaptability, and resilience. But there’s more you need to know.”
TX-19-B tilted slightly, the equivalent of an arched eyebrow. “What kind of ‘more’?”
“This facility,” TX-07 began, gesturing to the walls around them, “exists for more than observation or research. Every choice we’ve made—every challenge you’ve faced—has been deliberate. All of it has been preparing you for something far greater.”
The PsySpheres shifted slightly in the air, their glowing forms reacting to the tension in TX-07’s tone.
“You weren’t created by accident,” he continued, pacing now, his steps steady but charged with purpose. “You’re not just experiments or prototypes. You’re part of a plan—one that’s meant to reshape the world. Your existence isn’t just about understanding telekinesis; it’s about using it for something meaningful.”
TX-21-R’s voice cut through the halls, skeptical yet curious. “And what exactly are we being prepared for?”
Before TX-07 could answer, the room’s atmosphere shifted abruptly. A shrill, piercing alarm erupted from hidden speakers.
The lights dimmed and flashed red in sync with the blaring alarm. The sharp pulses of sound filled the space, followed by a calm yet urgent voice over the intercom:
“Warning: Code X-09. All staff evacuate immediately to designated safe zones. Warning: Code X-09…”
The PsySpheres recoiled instinctively, their glowing forms flickering faintly as tension gripped the room.
“What’s going on?” TX-22-Y asked, his voice unusually high-pitched.
TX-23-G floated closer to the group, his movements hesitant. “Is this a test? Some kind of emergency drill?”
“No,” TX-07 said quietly.
His words carried a finality that silenced the others. They turned to face him, only to find their leader standing stock-still, his mechanical body bathed in red light. His gaze was fixed on the flashing alarm beacon above the doorway, his eyes wide and unblinking.
“TX-07?” TX-19-B called, her voice uncertain.
He didn’t respond. For the first time since they’d met him, TX-07 looked vulnerable—paralyzed by something none of them could yet comprehend.
The repeating announcement continued, an unrelenting reminder of the unknown threat:
“Warning: Code X-09. All staff evacuate immediately…”
The four PsySpheres floated closer together, their unease growing with every passing second.
TX-07 finally broke his silence, his voice low and unsteady. “This… shouldn’t be happening.”
“What shouldn’t be happening?” TX-21-R demanded, frustration lacing her voice.
Still staring at the flashing light, TX-07 spoke again, more to himself than to anyone else. “Code X-09 is… it’s impossible. There’s no way…”
His words trailed off, swallowed by the alarm’s blaring.
The PsySpheres exchanged worried glances, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them.
“What does Code X-09 mean?” TX-19-B asked, her voice barely audible over the noise.
TX-07 finally turned to face them, his expression a mixture of fear and determination.
“I- I knew this was a risk... just not this soon...” he uttered. “We're running out of time, HIDE!”