Adam looks around the room. He notices that his red suit casts a soft red glow on the walls, highlighting the edges and corners of the room. The walls themselves are made of a dark, metallic material that seems almost organic, as if it were alive and pulsating with energy. The room is dimly lit, with only a few overhead lights casting a yellowish hue. In the center of the room, Adam sees a circular platform made of the same dark, metallic material as the walls.
The platform is surrounded by a faint blue glow, emanating from small lights embedded in the floor. Adam can feel a hum of energy coming from the platform as if it were alive and waiting for him. The room feels like a cross between a laboratory and a spaceship, and Adam can’t help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation as he stands in the center of it all.
Despite the chaos and disarray in the room, Adam can sense a strange sense of order in it. Whoever handles this place has put a great deal of thought and effort into keeping things running, even in the wake of a disaster.
He wondered how he ended up here, and if he’d see Cyrus soon. As he thought about it, a hologram flickered to life before him, showing the image of a man with kind eyes and a gentle smile. “Welcome, I’m Dr. Taro,” the hologram said in a voice that sounded almost too calm. “I trust you’re not too disoriented by the teleportation process?”
Adam gazes at the shimmering blue hologram of Taro. He can’t help but feel awestruck by the man’s presence. The hologram flickers and dances in the air, creating a sense of otherworldliness. Taro’s face is etched with wisdom, and his eyes seem to hold within them the secrets of the universe. His voice is smooth and measured, conveying a sense of calm and confidence that immediately puts Adam at ease.
Adam opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a door slid open, and in walked a robot butler with a silver tray.
“Ah, Delta,” Taro said with a nod. “Thank you for bringing the refreshments.”
Adam watched in awe as the robot, Delta, glided across the room with effortless grace. Delta set the tray down on a table, and Taro gestured for Adam to join him.
“Please, help yourself,” Taro said, motioning to the tray.
Adam approached the table and reached for a small, glowing fruit. He bit into it and was surprised at the burst of flavor in his mouth. It tasted like nothing he had ever experienced before.
“So, Leo,” Taro said, his hologram flickering slightly.
“I’m not Leo, the man that was crushed by those robots was Leo,” Adam spoke up, his voice echoing in the empty room. “My name is Adam.”
Taro’s hologram flickered again. “My apologies, Adam.”
Adam looks around the room, taking in the strange equipment and technology. “Where... where am I?” he asks, still feeling disoriented from the teleportation.
“You’re on the Spearhead,” Taro replies. “Or rather, what’s left of it. The Spearhead is a spacecraft.”
Adam’s eyes widen in surprise. “Spacecraft? How is that possible?”
Taro’s hologram shrugs. “It’s a long story and one that I’ll explain when the rest of our team returns. In the meantime, allow me to introduce you to Delta.”
At that moment, a small robot butler rolls into the room, its round body and sleek design looking both futuristic and whimsical at the same time. “Hello, sir,” it chirps in a cheerful voice. “I am Delta, your personal assistant. How may I be of service?”
Adam can’t help but smile at the little robot’s cheerful demeanor. “Uh, hi there,” he says. “I guess I could use a drink?”
“Of course,” Delta chimed in, his smooth robotic voice a stark contrast to the flickering hologram. The robot’s sleek silver body glided effortlessly across the room, its bright blue lights illuminating the dark corners of the crashed spaceship. “Please make yourself comfortable, Adam.”
Adam looks up from the hologram, he sees a bright light behind him, and turns around to see a figure materialize in front of him. It’s a girl, shorter than him, who is also wearing a suit similar to his, but in a bright orange color. As Adam lifts off his helmet, he sees Garnet doing the same. Her hair falls in soft waves, and Adam notices the bright orange of her suit complements the color of her hair. She gives him a friendly smile, and he returns it with a nod.
“Nice to meet you,” Adam says. “I’m Adam.”
“Garnet,” she replies, shaking his hand. “I heard we’re both new recruits.”
Adam nods, “Yeah, Taro just explained the basics to me. It’s a lot to take in.”
Garnet laughs, “Tell me about it. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.”
As they talk, Adam can sense that Garnet has a bubbly personality. Despite the gravity of the situation, she stays upbeat. It’s a refreshing change from the bleakness of the world outside.
As the blue light fades, a figure in a blue power suit materializes in the room. The newcomer lifts his helmet off to reveal a mop of shaggy brown hair and a scruffy beard. He looks around the room, taking in the other occupants before nodding in greeting. “Hey, folks. My name’s Ian. I guess we’re all here for the same reason.”
As Cyrus teleported into the room, the bright purple flash momentarily blinded Adam. He blinked a few times to clear his vision, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Cyrus standing there with the Black and Green blooms in her hands. Her helmet was already off, revealing her face, which was twisted with concern.
“I couldn’t save them,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I found them too late.”
Adam could feel the sadness in her words, and he realized she must have been on a mission to find the other recruits for Taro. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to them.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“What happened?” Adam asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Cyrus took a deep breath before responding, her eyes closing briefly. “I found them both dead,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was too late for them. There was nothing I could do.”
Cyrus clenched her fists as she recounted the events of the mission. “I should have been more careful,” she muttered under her breath. “I shouldn’t have let them out of my sight.”
Adam could see the anger and disappointment etched on her face. Despite having just met her an hour ago, he could sense the intensity of her emotions.
Cyrus nodded and then turned to Taro’s hologram. “We need to talk,” she said, her voice determined. “There’s something you need to know.”
“Of course,” Taro looks back at the recruits, “There is a fully stocked kitchen through these doors.”
Delta leads the group to the kitchen. Adam can’t help but notice the efficiency and precision with which the robot moves. Despite its lack of expression, Adam senses a certain warmth emanating from Delta, as if it were more than just a machine.
Ian says, “Fully stocked, but no chef, eh?”
Adam looks around the kitchen and the mess hall. “And no crew.”
Garnet chimes in, “I think that’s why we’re here.”
Delta rolls up to the group, holding a tray of water glasses. “Here you go. Water is essential for your health and well-being,” the robot says in a monotone voice.
Garnet takes a glass and takes a long sip. “Thanks, Delta. It’s nice to have a robot butler to take care of us.”
Ian raises an eyebrow. “I still can’t believe I’m on a crashed spaceship with a hologram and a robot butler.”
Adam nods in agreement. “Yeah, it’s pretty wild. But I’m just glad to be here and part of something bigger than myself.”
“What do you say we cook up a feast, eh?” he asked, flashing a grin at the others.
Garnet’s face lit up. “Oui, I can help with that!” she exclaimed, her French accent adding a touch of melody to her words.
Adam nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as they worked together. “Sounds good to me,” he said, feeling a twinge of hunger gnawing at his stomach.
Ian took charge, his broad shoulders and calm confidence making him seem right at home in the kitchen. “Alright, let’s see what we’ve got to work with here,” he said, rummaging through the cabinets and fridge. “Looks like we’ve got some veggies, some protein, and some starches. What do you guys feel like making?”
As they discussed their options, they got to know each other better. Garnet talked about growing up in France, and how she had always loved tinkering with electronics. Ian shared stories of working the late-night shift at the diner, and how he had developed a knack for cooking on the fly.
As they chopped and sauteed and stirred, they bantered and joked with each other, the tension and fear of the past few hours melting away in the heat of the kitchen. Ian led the way, showing them how to create a dish that was both hearty and delicious, his confidence and skill bringing a sense of calm to the chaotic situation they found themselves in.
By the time they were finished, they had created a meal that was fit for a king - or at least for a group of hungry adventurers. They sat down at the table together, the smell of the food filling the room and their stomachs growling in anticipation.
“Are we really going to do this?” Adam asks the group, “Whatever this is.” They sit down at the table with their food. “Yesterday I was riding my bike to a park, fast forward to now. I saw a man and woman get crushed, fought a robot, and now on a spacecraft with whom I assume is an alien but looks like a sci-fi Santa.”
The group chuckles, but the atmosphere is still tense after the news of the deaths. Ian breaks the silence. “Well, we’re all in the same boat now, Adam. And we’re all here for a reason. Maybe we don’t know what that reason is yet, but we’ll figure it out together.”
Garnet nods in agreement, “I mean, we were all chosen for a reason, right? Taro and Cyrus must have seen something in us that made them believe we could handle this.”
Adam thought, But I wasn’t chosen, Leo was.
“I feel we were overdue for a paradigm shift., Ian adds.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Garnet says, “Sometimes life throws us curveballs, and we have to adjust. We were brought here for a reason, and we’ll find out what that reason is soon enough.”
“They are here for a reason. I was just lucky, I think,” Adam thought to himself as he looked down at his suit. “The woman and Leo are dead and I’m still here. Maybe no one else has to die.” He kept these thoughts to himself, not wanting to add to the already tense atmosphere at the table. Instead, he forced a smile and tried to focus on the present moment, enjoying the food and the company of the others. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread and responsibility.
“Besides, we’re like superheroes now,” Garnet added.
Adam looked up at Garnet, his thoughts interrupted. “Superheroes?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Garnet smiled, “Yeah, like the Avengers or the X-Men. We have powers, we have suits. We’re basically superheroes.”
Ian chuckled, “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but my power is making a mean grilled cheese sandwich.”
They all laughed, the tension in the room slowly dissipating. Adam couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope amid all the chaos. Maybe they were here for a reason, to save the world or something. He wasn’t sure what their purpose was yet, but he was determined to find out.
Meanwhile, Cyrus sits in the teleporter room, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. She doesn’t cry, but the anger and sadness in her eyes are palpable. She grits her teeth and looks up at Taro’s hologram.
“I told you I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s life,” she says, her voice laced with frustration. “And now two of them are dead. How am I supposed to keep the rest of them safe?”
Taro’s hologram flickers slightly before stabilizing again. “I know it’s difficult, Cyrus,” he says, his voice steady. “But you’re not alone in this. You have a team now, and we’re all here to support each other.”
Cyrus scoffs, “My last team died protecting me. I couldn’t save them. How am I supposed to protect anyone now?”
Taro’s hologram shifts, his expression becoming more serious. “You’re not alone, Cyrus. You have the rest of the team now. And you have something to fight for, something to protect.”
Cyrus looks down at the Black and Green blooms in her hand, her anger slowly turning into determination. “You’re right.” She takes a deep breath, attempting to calm her emotions before continuing. “We were being hunted,” she says again, her voice cold and steady. Taro looks at her with a mixture of surprise and concern. “What do you mean, Cyrus?”
Cyrus leans forward, her eyes locked on the holographic image of Taro. “I mean that someone was after us before they even had the blooms.”
Taro frowns. “I see. And you have no idea who it could be?”
Cyrus shakes her head. “No, but it’s something we need to be aware of. Whoever they are, they’re dangerous and they won’t stop until they get what they want.”
Taro nods slowly, considering her words. “I understand your concern, Cyrus. But we can’t let fear paralyze us. We must be cautious, but we also need to focus on our mission.”
Cyrus grits her teeth, frustrated by Taro’s dismissive response. “I understand that, but we need to be prepared. We can’t let our guard down for even a moment.” Cyrus storms out of the teleporter room and heads straight to the training room. She takes out her frustration on the training dummies, hitting them hard and fast with her fists and kicks. Sweat pours down her face as she continues to unleash her anger and frustration.
As she pummels the dummies, her mind races with thoughts of her previous team and the recruits she had failed to protect. She wonders who could be behind the attacks on them and why they would want the recruits dead. Her fists tighten as she thinks about how she could have prevented their deaths if only she had been better.
She continues to train for what feels like hours until she finally collapses on the floor, exhausted and emotionally drained. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts. “I will find out who did this. No one else has to die.” She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts.