/ Adrian
Sitting in the room that's filled with plants, the finery of the art, the great sense of superiority… I breathe out, as I reach for the cup of tea. The aroma is absurdly luxurious, the whole thing feels overly luxurious.
It's not that I am not acquainted with luxury, nor am I a stranger to technological marvels. Though what I see here is something I just cannot compute. Even though it has been a week for me here.
Feng had his own thing going on, so he assigned me to a room, along with this room I was assigned two guards and a maid. They stand near the room exit, conveniently keeping an eye on me. Even from what I see - these odd clothed humans surely look highly trained. A man and a woman that's at the door - straight as iron rod, with their physique so chiselled I wonder what training they've undergone… Though a question pops up every now and again - "Were they printed like me?".
The maid is a young man. He's like the finest spy one could get - absolutely catering, does not say much, though the look in the eyes is what gets me. The eyes that sort of have this idea that reaches you, once you meet them : "try anything and it'll be the end of you". This man has a thin frame, but he gives off the same level of worry one would get in the room with a viper.
Feng was an interesting individual. He did not yet elaborate much on this place, nor did he do his due to tell me about himself. Even with all that - I told him all I could. From how I was in the system, how I lived the lives of a University professor, how I was in the magical kingdom, how there was the world with AIO implemented and I was the CEO. About my wife, about my house, about my research, about trials with multiple humans, how I'd fry their brain and poison them to get results. All I cared about were results. I still do care about results, though I'm sort of a bird in a gilded cage.
After all I gave him information-wise, Feng sort of… He did ask some clarifying questions, he did probe deeper into the research constructs and the whole setup we had, noting down all I was telling him. He basically extracted all he could out of me within this week. I wonder WHEN am I getting my side of the deal?
Though, at the same time I wonder if he'll discard me after all I've told him. It's not like I have any freedom here. I'm aware that I am a prisoner.
I relax into my chair, as I have the damn tea. Looking out the window brings me some more questions than answers - it absolutely looks controlled like in the City of Lights. The weather control system that can alter the whole thing at a flick of a button. Currently it's daytime. As far as this thing allows to show. Though I did see the whole lot of changes over the past week, like someone was highly indecisive and changed the weather from snow to sun, to rain and rainbows every damn 5 minutes, until settling with some sunset theme. It's highly annoying that it does not stay the same for long.
I closed my eyes, as the whole thing was playing heavy on my eyesight, somehow it was too much to look outside.
"Master shall see you shortly." - Maid said, as he put a new made tea pot on the table, taking off the previous one, cleaned up whatever imaginary dust was there and walked over to the side where there was a small kitchen corner.
The guards moved half a step to each side of the door. Within a minute the door opens and Feng walks in with Sheng. Latter takes his holy spot near the back of the couch opposite me, on the left side. Feng sits on the couch opposite me. My damn puffy chair is just that - puffy chair. Comfortable, nice, but the maid and guards kept me off the damn couch like it was the throne I was too unequipped to even glide my arse upon. I just wonder how far gone into monarchy this damn world is.
"Good news and bad news for you, Adrian." - Feng begins to chat. The maid returns with a cup for his boss, pours tea and once more hides in the kitchen corner.
"Do I choose what we start with?" - I look at Feng.
Feng laughs in return.
"How imaginative of you to talk like that!" - He takes up the cup in his hands, - "See, my printed toy that is sentient, we've got an issue on our hands. You came to my lab, sure, out of whatever probe you crawled out of. And you told me all that you could, so the thing is, you either gave me a bag of bullshit, or really were speaking the truth."
Feng shrugged.
"Why would I lie?" - I replied.
"Good question. Only you would know the answer to that. Though I decided to check you on all that you gave me. Out of all the stories and legends you pulled out of your arse only one is dimly mentioned in the archives. It's the AIO thing." - He downs the tea in one go and places the cup back on the table. Then he made a gesture to Sheng, who projected the images above the table: old offices, some strange technologies, people in pods.
"So, my little bird, tell me what you know about this." - Feng eyes me like a prey. It's still a bit unnerving, but I am not one to fight this guy right here and now. Just outgunned and outnumbered.
"It's my first time seeing this." - I replied.
"Is that so?" - Feng smiles.
"Yes." - I concur.
Feng gets silent for a moment, analysing me, eyeing me… Then all of a sudden his whole demeanour takes a surprising change. From this energy of cutthroat with a smile,who will jump at any moment given, to the most calculative mastermind with a straight face. The expression was so cold and serious that it sent shivers down my spine, at the same time it felt like a boulder was pressed on top of me - he'll kill and leave no evidence of my existence. Is what I felt now - the innate fear.
"Fine, Adrian. Let us talk business then. You've claimed you know nothing of this place. I've observed you over the week here - you sure have no understanding how anything works, nor idea who was placed to nanny you in here. So let me then enlighten you." - He began. - "As I previously said to you - we are in Iron City. This place began its origin around 300 years back, when the first five families came together to build the most top notch fortress to withstand pretty much anything the outside world could throw at the time. From nukes to toxic fallout, to the damn natural catastrophes to pretty much whatever the imagination can run with. Around 50 years in - the fortress was constructed, the outside shell was permanently built. The next 20 years were the years when the most products and necessary items were procured to be created here. So that was that. The next stage was the part where the 11 other families came in - supplying hospitality, military and medicine. They were contractors at first, but then the whole setup of what the world got to - led them to sign up to be owned by big 5."
The story thus far seems like City of Lights… But a bit more screwed up in a way.
"So after some other while - the people flooded into the city to make it what it is now, also changing the whole flow of how humanity could be. From then on - some historical catastrophes hit, so we were required to seal off the whole of the City. Therefore securing the lives that are here. Though, the science here, even though advanced, was backed by some really humanitarian scientists, which were specialists in environmental things outside the City. Well, the whole thing of humanism led them to be disposed of. The big 5 did not want some rebel shit going off. Then there were repercussions in place to make sure compliance is maintained." - As Feng relies this whole lot on me, he eyes me and how I react to all what he is saying. I'm just still, partially scared to move. But I listen to every word.
"Then the new changes were implemented - all to control the population, making it a cattle stock for the ones above. Therefore the whole place has 5 levels to it. On top - the Top 5 families and the Elite, the ones below are what's used for the top. The very bottom is the gutter rat's place. The humans that were discarded, but not processed. So they maintain the sewage and waste." - Feng speaks, though the whole lot gives me too many chills.
"So, Adrian, where do you think we are?" - Feng asks.
"On the very top." - I replied.
"So what does that make me?" - Feng asks again.
"One of the top 5?" - I ask in return.
Feng gives a nod of approval.
"Indeed. I am one of the big 5." - He says easily. - "So what do you think about the big 5 from all that I relied on you?"
I keep silent. It's not enough information to say something for sure. I am not the judge, nor am I the Justice. It's a whole lot of variables and perspectives that are at play here. Some things about having humans processed as food might be too far for some, too little for others. There's also the caste system, the Elitism that is here, the oligarchy, the whole lot of many crimes against humanity, if there would be that, but once again - who am I to judge them?
"I cannot say. I can't judge what I have not experienced. So I don't know." - I reply, after the few minutes of silence that Feng gave me to think.
Feng observed me some more. The silence hung heavy. Then as if by magic the whole lot of the heavy was slowly alleviated. It was getting easier to breathe. But then the thunder struck.
"I'll let you experience it first hand, Adrian. Then I'll ask you the same question again." - Feng said. - "Liang, take him through all the five levels of hell. Show him all of it, then bring him back for a report. You have a week."
The maid showed up from the kitchen, this man looked at Feng, at me, bowed deeply, replying "Yes, my lord." - as he was standing next to Feng.
"I see you're well rested, Adrian. You'll go off staring today. Liang, make sure he does not die." - Feng said, then got up and walked out. Sheng was right behind him.
Liang looked at me, like I am the pest he's got the whole "joy" to babysit.
"Follow me, be quick not to fall behind." - He said to me as he walked toward the door.
I placed the cup on the table in a hurry and followed Liang.
Asking "where are we going?" would be the utmost idiotic thing to say right now. So follow the man it is. Within a few halls we reach a room, he hands me clothes to change into, changes also and we set off again. Halls, halls, elevator…
Then we walk out onto the open floor that looks like a large fancy mall - well dressed people, fancy looks, all decor is highly luxurious and expensive. And then I noticed - there are a lot of people who look like fancy doll slaves. They look like the add-ons that you attach to the wealthy bunch. Humans that look like dolls. Made to the standard of the owners requirement.
Some are beaten up bloody in public and no one bats an eye. Some are pulled by the other staff for disposal. Other dolls just pretend like all is well, nothing is going on. The wealthy owners just pull them along for whatever whims. And it does not matter if that is male or female.
Liang pulls me by the elbow to the side and down the hall. There are now other passages we're going through. Looks like the streets of the city, if a city was built inside the shopping centre.
One after the other - endless pristine sets of fine art, jewelry, outfits, humans… They sell humans as toys. Naked, dressed, awake and asleep - on the windows of the shops. Like wax statues, but real humans.
Liang pulls me inside some establishment. We sneak towards the workers' passages in the place. And that's when I observe the way the staff works, the items are used, humans are used, the way there's orgies and sexual exploitation of minors like it's nothing. Even young children, even infants - in the hands of grown men, used for self pleasure… Then killed off, then that's all - processed… Older looking women are the same, with teens and pre-teens… It's a nightmare.
I am aware that I've done horrid things, but I've only killed adults. I've been wary of getting youngsters, kids in harm's way, as I always thought that they're just kids, they ought to live, to be kids and experience life. Not the horrors of it. Hopefully - the beauty.
My actions led to wars, to deaths, to some children and women being killed.. I'm aware.
But this here - this is making my stomach turn. I'm sick. I'm even getting dizzy from all that I'm observing here.
And this is just the first level, as far as I can tell. What damn nightmare is awaiting me further?