Chapter 3: Fall From Heaven
As the mysterious door continued its gradual opening in mid-air, Kenji and Aito quickly positioned themselves on the opposite side of what seemed to be the front. They were trying using the floating door itself as a shield. The door, emitting a faint glow, opened at a painstakingly slow pace, which seemed unnatural to Kenji.
"Why is it taking so long?" Kenji asked in a hushed whisper.
Aito's screen lit up with a series of calculations. "Instead of delaying security, I sped us up. The speed of time in this room can be adjusted, sort of like a thermostat.”
“Relatively speaking, security has been delayed… at least from our point of view." Aito continued, instead of exuberant his digital voice was calm and matter-of-fact this time. “Before we accessed the computer, it appears we were actually moving several thousand times slower than the outside world.”
Kenji's eyes widened in realization, but he had an idea. "Can you change it again? Make us move at the same speed, before slowing this room down again?"
"It's within my capabilities," Aito confirmed, his tone confident and assured.
As Aito made the adjustment, the figures that started to enter the room began moving at what appeared to be their normal speed. Kenji and Aito, hidden on the other side of the floating door, watched as an angelic three-person security team filed in, scanning the room.
[https://i.imgur.com/U3QwuLG.png]
The figures seemed vaguely female under what looked like modern body armor, carrying various pistols in each hand. If not for the wings and halos, they could have passed for a Swat Team in winter camouflage. The front figure seemed to be in charge, but the two flanking her broke the silence first.
The figure on the left muttered, voice partially muffled, "Just another false alarm?"
"Think he forgot his password again?" The figure on the right responded.
"I think he just likes to mess with us. He is one of the oldest right?"
The leader finally spoke. "Don't blaspheme. Secure the room."
"Yes sister. Sorry sister." The other two replied in unison.
"End of shift, sequester thyselves away from Mortals for a span. Reflect on Duty."
Even under the heavy armor, the two subordinates visibly flinched at the admonishment. Kenji heard their footsteps as the security team moved towards the desk and computer, and away from his hiding spot.
With a nod from Kenji, he and Aito quickly stepped out from behind the floating door and into the hallway that had appeared moments before. The corridor they entered was a stark contrast to the dark void they had left behind, sleek and pristine, reminiscent of a futuristic space station.
"Now," Kenji said.
Aito executed the command they had prepared, and before anyone inside could respond to Kenji’s voice, time within the dark room slowed to a near standstill.
Peering through the doorway they just slipped out from, Kenji saw the security team frozen mid-motion, their movements halted as if they were figures in a paused video.
"That should keep them busy," Kenji remarked with a wry smile. After ensuring their pursuers were trapped, he swiftly closed the door from the other side, sealing the security team within the room. He then quickly located the control panel beside the door and began to tamper with it, further securing their situation. While the technology was unfamiliar, Kenji spent his youth taking apart machines.
Once the task was done, Kenji reached into his bag and pulled out a yellow sticky note. He stuck it onto the door's control panel and wrote 'Out of Order' across it in bold letters. It was something he often did any time he broke something.
[https://i.imgur.com/zD6dquO.jpeg]
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"No one's going to guess this was left by intruders," Kenji remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "They might even think it was a false alarm."
Aito, observing Kenji's actions, chimed in, "That's surprisingly cunning. It might just buy us more time."
Satisfied with his clever ruse, Kenji gestured to Aito to follow. "Let's move. We need to find a way out of here, and fast."
Together, they hurried down the corridor, the clean, futuristic environment stretching out before them. The stark white walls and soft, glowing panels contrasted sharply with the dark void they had left behind.
Suddenly, the eerie silence was shattered by a series of ominous howls, echoing through the corridors, followed by the distinct sound of claws scraping against metal. The noises were getting louder, closer.
Kenji’s pace quickened. What was that?" he asked, casting a glance over his shoulder.
Aito's screen flickered with each howl. "That doesn't sound friendly. And it's moving fast."
As the howling grew louder, Kenji and Aito rounded a corner, only to see a pack of mechanical creatures, running on four legs, their blue eyes glowing ominously in the bright corridor.
[https://i.imgur.com/xV3qlrw.jpeg][https://i.imgur.com/NJcoQyj.jpeg]
"Whatever those are, I don’t think they read the note," Kenji remarked dryly.
With the mechanical creatures closing in, Kenji picked up Aito and looked around for an escape route. Spotting a side passage, he veered off the main corridor, hoping to lose their pursuers in the maze of the station.
The chase was on, the clatter of the creatures' movements and their howls were getting louder. Kenji’s mind raced for solutions, his survival instincts kicking in. Aito, acting on his self-preservation routines, kept scanning their surroundings, looking for any advantage they could use.
As they fled, Kenji and Aito hastily closed every door they passed through, hoping to slow their pursuers. However, the creatures were resourceful. To Kenji's dismay, small openings along the walls, designed specifically for them, allowed the creatures to continue their pursuit with barely a pause.
Their situation was growing more desperate, Kenji's eyes scanned the environment for any means of escape. His gaze landed on a ledge high above them, with a ladder retracted just out of reach. It looked like a potential hiding spot.
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"Aito, I have an idea. I'm going to throw you up to that ledge," Kenji said, determination was in his voice.
"Understood, "Aito replied succinctly, ready for the quick action.
Kenji carefully positioned himself and tossed the teddy bear assistant toward the ledge. Aito managed to grasp the edge and pull himself up with surprising agility. Moments later, the ladder clanked down, its rungs unfolding.
Kenji quickly climbed, his breaths heavy with exertion. Upon reaching the top, he glanced down to see the mechanical creatures arriving just as the ladder was pulled back up, out of their reach. They could jump surprisingly high, but luckily not high enough.
For the moment, they were safe. Kenji and Aito crouched on the ledge. Kenji, with his below-average physique, needed to catch his breath. The sounds of the frustrated creatures echoing below them.
“Can we call those things Hellhounds? Angel-Hounds don't sound scary enough.” Aito didn’t have breath to catch, and was quick to talk nonsense.
"Sure thing" Kenji whispered, wiping sweat from his brow. He was trying to think of their next move. "We need to figure out where we are and how to get out."
—
[https://i.imgur.com/koJS0Uo.png]
After a couple minutes huddled on the ledge, Aito's screen suddenly flickered to life, capturing Kenji's attention. "I'm picking up communications. The security team is being questioned about the situation," Aito informed him.
Kenji thought for a moment, an idea forming. "Try sending a message back. Keep it short. Say, 'Situation Clear. Forgot Password Again.'"
Aito hesitated briefly, then complied, sending the message through the facility's network. The response was almost instantaneous and surprisingly accepting of the explanation. Within moments, the facility seemed to relax; the mechanical guard dogs retreated back into the walls, and the openings sealed shut. An announcement over the intercom declared the lockdown over, and the tense atmosphere dissipated.
Angelic figures, dressed like lab workers and technicians, some carrying clipboards, began to move around the facility, resuming their duties. Among them, Kenji noticed a group of darker-haired individuals dressed like students, led by one of the angels. It appeared almost like a field trip, an ordinary sight in this extraordinary place.
Kenji nudged Aito, nodding towards the group. "That's our ticket out of here. We blend in with them."
Aito, displaying a digital frown on his screen, replied, "That plan is just dumb enough to work, or just get us caught."
"'Just dumb enough to work' can be our catchphrase," Kenji quipped.
Aito retorted, "More like what'll be written on our tombstones."
Kenji grinned, the adrenaline of the situation was overriding his fear. He placed Aito into his knapsack and carefully descended from the ledge, landing quietly on the floor. After adjusting his jacket, Kenji joined the back of the group of students as casually as he could, blending in seamlessly.
[https://i.imgur.com/CEjMckd.jpeg]
The group walked forward and Kenji kept an eye on their surroundings, taking in the details of the facility. As they moved through various sections, the angel leading them was explaining features of the station in a calm, melodic voice.
The angelic guide's words resonated with an air of solemnity. "Each of you has been selected for a grand destiny," she announced. "You will be trained in the ways of magic and combat. Time passes differently here, so you will only proceed to your next worlds when fully prepared."
Kenji, walking silently among the students, felt a surge of concern, not so much about the prospect of training, but the fear of being discovered. He knew that under close scrutiny, his true identity as an unintended intruder would quickly be uncovered.
The guide continued, "This is a significant responsibility. We ensure through rigorous screening that none of you wreak havoc on less developed worlds. Only the truly capable are allowed to progress."
The implications of the angel's words about training and responsibility were fascinating, but for Kenji, the immediate concern was avoiding detection. He had a feeling that their luck would run out soon, Kenji exchanged a discreet glance with Aito, hidden in his knapsack.
Noticing a room just off the main corridor, Aito subtly signaled towards it. Understanding each other perfectly, Kenji gradually fell back from the group, his steps measured and quiet.
As the distance between them and the group widened, Kenji, with Aito in tow, slipped into the room unnoticed. The door closed behind them with a soft click, providing a brief sanctuary from the potential dangers of their precarious situation.
Safely inside, Kenji let out a soft sigh of relief. "That was close," he whispered. "We need to figure out our next steps quickly."
Aito's eyes lit up in agreement. "Yes, I’ve been trying to gather data.”
In the quiet room, Kenji and Aito quickly regrouped. Aito's screen displayed a detailed map, which he had been silently compiling as they moved through the facility. "Based on our exploration and the map I've downloaded, there's a room nearby labeled 'Transporter.' It's likely our best chance to get out of here," Aito informed Kenji, his voice confident.
Kenji nodded in agreement, his mind racing with the possibilities and dangers of their next move. "Alright, let's find this transporter. But we need to be careful. We can't afford any more surprises."
They left the room cautiously, blending back into the corridors of the facility. The map on Aito's screen guided them, he led them through a series of turns and passageways that were likely to be empty, each step bringing them closer to their potential escape route.
As they approached the transporter room, Kenji's senses were heightened, aware of the significance of their next actions. There was a chance this next door would lead them home.
Kenji hesitated at the threshold, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He turned to Aito, who was peeking out from the knapsack. "Aito, back there, in the room... I didn't have time to fully process it, but a lot of time has already passed on Earth, hasn't it? We were the ones nearly frozen in time, weren’t we?”
Aito's eyes dimmed slightly, reflecting his hesitation. "Based on the data and estimated time dilation… before we unlocked the computer, it's probable that years have indeed already passed on Earth. However, I can't be completely certain without more information."
Kenji absorbed this news, a mix of concern and resignation in his eyes. "We were… for years..." he murmured, the weight of this revelation momentarily grounding him.
Shaking off the feeling, Kenji stepped into the transporter room, his resolve firming. The room was dominated by a large platform surrounded by intricate machinery and glowing panels. Kenji felt like he was trespassing on a movie set. It was clearly designed for transportation, but to where, remained unknown.
Kenji approached what appeared to be the control panel of the transporter, studying its layout and the symbols that adorned its surface. The technology was advanced, possibly beyond anything he had seen before, but his intuition as a programmer nudged him forward.
[https://i.imgur.com/Jl7TNEf.jpeg]
"We need to figure this out," Kenji said, his fingers hovering over the panel. "If we can understand how this works, maybe we can choose our destination... or at least have some control over where we end up."
Aito, analyzing the panel from his position in the knapsack, displayed various symbols on his screen. "I'll assist in any way I can. Let's see if we can crack this."
Kenji began to carefully manipulate the control panel, guided by Aito's insights. They discovered a list of requests and potential destinations, many of which sounded like dangerous, almost suicidal missions. Kenji scrolled through the list, his expression growing increasingly concerned.
"It isn’t as simple as selecting Earth. We have to choose a request to open a destination, but most of these are about slaying demon armies or the resurrection of world-destroying beings." Aito noted, his digital voice tinged with worry. "These seem far beyond our capabilities."
Kenji nodded in agreement. "Let's skip those. Find something less... lethal, or maybe from Earth."
Aito's screen flickered as he sifted through the requests. "There's one here that's been repeatedly ignored as too low priority. It's been relegated to what looks like a spam folder," he said. "It's labeled 'Tech Support.'"
"Tech Support? That sounds more manageable. Maybe we can pull up some more info," Kenji said, selecting the request with curiosity.
But as soon as he made the selection, the transporter hummed to life with a sudden intensity. The platform vibrated, and a swirling portal materialized in front of them, its energy pulling at them with a surprising force.
"Kenji, I’m being drawn in!" Aito called out, his small form beginning to move towards the portal.
Kenji, acting on instinct, leaped over the console and grabbed Aito. However, their efforts were in vain as the portal's pull grew stronger, drawing them both into its swirling vortex.
As they were enveloped by the bright light of the portal, the transporter room was left in silence, the portal snapping shut behind them, leaving behind a room filled with the hum of machinery and the lingering echoes of their departure.
[https://i.imgur.com/eTTIi7v.jpeg]
End of Chapter 3: Fall From Heaven
Next: Chapter 4: Gone Fishin'