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[Chapter] - 1 “...”
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…
…Darkness…
…
When my life began, I was met with nothing but darkness… and silence.
My movement was limited. Moving felt heavy, and slow. I could not extend my body to a full standing position or stretch my arms without meeting resistance. I accepted that this was not a bad situation, and perhaps, this would be my simple, meaningless story.
…
*BEEP*
Until I was suddenly blinded as lights flooded my senses, mixtures of blues, greens, and deep reds surrounded me. For a moment I could not comprehend everything all at once, so I shut my eyes, hoping everything would go back to the way it was before. But every time I opened my eyes the bright lights never ceased.
Eventually, I came to my senses, and the lights became bearable. Observing my surroundings, there were so many unknowns, yet they all felt familiar. A piece of me knew what they were, yet I didn't understand it. Eventually, a green light went yellow, then red. The substance that was slowing my movement began to drain. Then the see-through material lifted, dropping me to the floor. For the first time, my body felt gravity.
An unbearable, painfully familiar weight was upon me. I moved like a newborn. However, I learned quickly. I was able to walk within about thirty minutes of my newfound freedom. This new world was of metal and cold air. Displays flickered as I gazed at them, how did I know they were called displays? I attempted to read the “display” in front of my old world.
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[Tube] - K-482
[Status] - Success
[Subject Name] - Klaw
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These words…
“Words?”
So that's what they are, seemed to have no meaning, yet they made sense. I was in a test tube, I was an experiment. And so, I was a success.
To the left and right were other test tubes, although they lay empty as red lights dimly glowed within the ambient liquid. Was that what I was in too?
“Klaw”
Was that my name? A name, I must have a name. This place, what was its name?
At that moment, an unstoppable flood of questions arose deep within me.
Who… am I?
Why was I made?
Who made this place?
…
…Who made me?
The last question echoed through my mind as I continued my investigation of this strange metal behemoth.
This world was a maze of metal corridors. Every hall and room was dark. Only ambient red lights gave some semblance of guidance. When I first entered the control center many displays laid dormant, a layer of dust covering their screens. Although a singular blue glowing panel lay in the center. When I touched it, the room came to life with sounds and light.
The main display lit up.
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[Midas Station]
[Status] - Idle
[Reactor Status] - Online
[Date] - 7 / 16 / XXXXXX
[Last Command Received] - 7 / 16 / XXXX
Awaiting Command…
[_]
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Whoever made this place must have been gone for a long time. Thousands of years, if not more. When looking back at the panel, an interface appeared. A myriad of keys dotted the surface. Each one adorned a letter.
Letters?
I first tried,
[Klaw]
The main display changed in response.
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[Subject Klaw]
[Status] - Success
[Description] - “An attempt to clone a being like myself. To give onto another the power cursed upon me. Perhaps finally, this one will be a success.”
[_]
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This one?
Did he try to make others?
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
I felt an urge, and searched
[Tests]
And once more the display changed.
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[Onboard Station Tests] -
[Cloning] - Status - Success
[Advanced Weapons Systems] - Status - Incomplete
[Spatial Displacement] - Status - Failed
BewARE%ThE#OtHErS - Status - AB^A*$%$%@
[_]
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Only three, and there was a strange fourth option I couldn’t select. Cloning was the most familiar. I opened the file and found a list of hundreds of thousands of names. The last one was…
…Klaw.
…
There was one last file at the end.
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[Addendum] - FAILURE
“Failure. Failure. Failure. This has proven the powers cursed upon me can not be given to another form. I understand that this is how reality has set it to be. My time here is finished, I have gained all that there is to offer here. My leave shall be quick. Perhaps the next galaxy shall give unto me its secrets.”
7 / 16 / XXXX
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So, he has been gone for these many years, thinking of me to be a failure. Seems time is all it took. And he may never come back. So it's just me, and no one else.
…
More time has passed, and I have begun to read more of the logs left by my creator. He was a being of power that none could comprehend, even he could not completely understand it. He had done so many amazing things. Yet for what purpose is not stated. He seems to just want to gain more knowledge.
I went to inspect his tests on advanced weapons. Such inventive ways of attacks. A highly advanced Plasmatic Discharge based weapon.
It had one flaw he could not surpass however, overheating.
After many failed attempts, I actually succeeded in firing the weapon multiple times. It was as simple as adding additional vents to the exterior of the weapon. Why did he not think of that? Could he not think of that?
What happened to him?
Who was he?
Again, nothing but questions plague my mind. I returned to the control center, with a new sense of pride having finished his work. The main screen had been updated.
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[Onboard Station Tests] -
[Cloning] - Status - Success
[Advanced Weapons Systems] - Status - Success
[Spatial Displacement] - Status - Failed
BewARE%ThE#OtHErS - Status - AB^A*$%$%@
[_]
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I still didn’t know much more about him or where I was.
A thought came to mind.
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[Personal Logs] -
- [REDACTED] -
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Figures. When he left he probably removed most traces of himself.
…Why?
My perception of time within this place has been lost. There is no way to have time known, no clocks, no nothing. What is a clock anyways?
I still am wondering how I know so much already. I only recently came to, yet I knew so much and understood the world. Perhaps it was a side-effect of being a clone?
I may never know.
After much experimentation and exploration, there are no exits. This world loops on itself through endless metal halls. The closest thing to it is the inactive "Spatial Displacement" pedestal. I think I'm just going to call it a teleporter. Nothing I have done has worked. I have no idea what this “Khaos Ether” is.
Perhaps this is the world I will live in forever. There is no necessary loss in this. Although much of the outside expanse sounds so fascinating.
Like when I first awoke, I have once more found my peace.
…
Sadly that sentiment wouldn’t last much longer.
…
Who knows how long it has been?
…
I don’t.
…
There is little to do once you have been all over the station. There are millions of other stations out there based on the logs that remain. So if he is out there, he may not even remember this one little station. Another thing I realized is that there is no connection to the outside world, everything is in a closed loop here.
Nothing gets out or in.
…
Even more, time passes. I have read through his research now. Many times over. There isn’t much, however, there is not much to do here besides read or fix the teleporter, although I gave up on that a while ago. “Failed” makes more sense now.
…I hope someone comes soon.
…Please...
…
On one of the many uncountable... days?
Something new happened. When I was in the control center, trying pointlessly to come up with some way to finally fix the teleporter, the main monitor flashed to life with a deep red.
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[ ! ALERT ! ] - UNKNOWN SCAN DETECTED
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…A scan?
From what?
From where??
…
Are there...
others?...
My endless stream thoughts were interrupted.
*ZSHZRRRZ*
A loud buzzing sound emanated from the cloning halls.
Following to the source, it was the room I first awoke in.
*THUD*
A large uneven chunk of the wall had fallen to the floor. Light flooded from the other side, only being blocked by two forms entering through the breach.
They seemed, cautious when they entered, holding what looked like very, very crude imitations of the Plasmatic based weapons.
They also adorned what looked like suits meant to be used in space...
Wait... Space?
We couldn't possibly be in...
"Are you sure this place has been abandoned?"
The figure wearing a red painted suit spoke so quietly I could barely hear. The one in a blue colored suit seemed to talk next.
"Look, we've scoped this place out for a few weeks, there was no traffic at all, no signals too."
"Wait... A full dead spot?!"
The yellow winced as his voice echoed down the halls.
"Nice going."
The two continued to banter while investigating the many displays in the room.
It was the first time I had seen anything living. I won't lie, my curiosity had truly gotten the better of me. With caution I slowly approached to the blue one.
*CLICK*
"Move any further, and I will shoot."
The blue one jumped back, placing its hand on its pistol.
I threw my hands up. I don't know why, but my instincts were telling me it showed I meant no harm.
I felt the cold barrel touch the back of my head.
Speak, I need to speak. How do I speak, How?!
Then, just like everything else, I knew. Why do I know how... Why?
With the voice of someone who has never spoken, I spoke for the first time.
"I-I am h-h-harmless... P-please d-don't."
"Yeah right. We should jus-"
"Wait."
I felt the gun flinch.
"Why?"
"Just... Wait."
The blue one seemed to think for a moment.
"Tie him up. He... May know something about this place."
I was swiftly tied up and put against a nearby wall. I constantly glanced at the hole. So close to freedom.
So close...
So painfully close...
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