Chapter 35
Gate To The Stars
Part 6
Day Six
Date: 06/01/01
Location: Zone 6
Destination: To the City Gate
Mission Duration: Day 6
Remaining Time: 08 Hours
Objective: Reach the City Gate
Subject Names: Thomas, Samira Ali, Amanda Jefferson
Previous Success Rate: 90%
Expected Success Rate: 50%
Failed Subjects: 250
Successful Subjects: 10
Success Percentage: 4%
Experiment Results: 96% Failure
Experiment Outcome: Termination
Next Stage: Initiated
Objective: Monitoring
Stage Duration: 30 Days
Days Count-Down: 29
The System did not rush them, or give them any other instructions or time limits. That alone made Thomas uneasy.
The Gate continued to pulse quietly behind them, layers of light rotating like a patient predator. The air felt heavier now, charged, as if the world itself had leaned closer to listen, As if the system was reading his mind he heard the voice that he has grown used to by now In his ears.
{Partial Information Unsealed}
{External source information}
{Experiment Overview}
{Segment 3 of 4}
{Access Level: Restricted}
{Decoding Status: Active}
Samira was puzzled and said, "That's not a reward, is it a new mission?"
Thomas also was unable to comprehend what he heard and said, "It's really something.confessing."
Amanda folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I am the same here but then let's hear what they have to say, or that was it?" Her questions were not addressed to any one specific but no one had an answer for her.
It didn't take long for the to wait,the rest of the information did not flood them all at once. It came in sections, structured, deliberate, with a few seconds pause between each segment, like someone explaining something they should believed already and was perfectly reasonable.
{Information pocket decoded}
{PROJECT DESIGNATION}
{Human System Compatibility Trial}
{Initiating Species Langkatans}
Objective:
{Determine long term survivability and psychological resistance of human subjects under System governed environments.}
Amanda let out a sharp breath. "Does that mean we were lab rats?" Not even knowing if the information ended or not.
Samira was not surprised that she shook her head slowly. "No, I think it's worse."
The text continued to appear in front of all of them while the system was narrating it to Thomas at the same time.
METHOD:
{Forced relocation of human subjects from Origin World Earth}
{Memory suppression protocols applied selectively}
{System exposure under escalating threat conditions}
{CONTROL GROUP SIZE}
{257 Subjects}
Thomas felt his jaw tighten, frustrated and feeling shock with anger at the same time and said, "Two hundred and fifty seven."
Amanda whispered, "That's not a test. That's a massacre"
The System wasn't answering or commenting on their conversation, only stating facts and delivering information and continued.
{CURRENT STATUS}
{Failed Subjects: 247}
{Terminated due to environmental collapse, mental fracture, or System rejection}
{Successful Subjects: 10
Classification: High Compatibility}
Silence fell like a dropped blade.
Samira's hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists. "Ten... only...10 and the rest are terminated, not just dead but....terminated."
Amanda's voice cracked despite her effort to keep it steady. "Out of everyone they took… only ten lived."
Thomas stared at the words, feeling the weight of every unseen death press against his chest. People who had woken up confused, terrified, alone. People who never made it past the first monster, the first night, the first realization that no one was coming to save them.
"Was it just luck because I am sure that I am not special," Amanda said quietly. Like she was laminating, and answered the question herself, "I guess We're just the ones who didn't break."
Apparently each one of them was asking themselves the same question." Why me?" "How come I survived out of hundreds" questions that they couldn't get an answer for at the moment.
The System continued, unbothered by their reaction, but apparently decided to shed some light on their unasked question.
{OBSERVATION NOTES}
{Subjects exhibiting the following traits show increased survivability}
{Adaptive aggression}
{Emotional compartmentalization}
{Interpersonal cooperation}
{Resistance to System authority without rejection}
{Intelligence, IQ above a certain parameters}
{Physical and mental health in excellent condition}
Samira laughed once, sharp and humorless. "They're measuring how well we are able to disobey."
Thomas felt something cold settle in his stomach. "They want us as cannon folders."
"Yes," Samira said immediately. "In fact I believe they think of us as disposable tools."
Amanda looked up at the Gate, at the spiraling paths of light. "Does that mean they're watching to see what we do next?."
The System continued after a few seconds pause softly, like it was giving them a chance to digest the previous information.
{NEW INFORMATION UNLOCKED}
{Remaining Compatible Subjects}
{Status: Active}
{Quantity: 7}
Thomas straightened. "So, we are 3 out of seven more."
Samira's eyes narrowed. "At least alive."
"But where are they, and how are they surviving, are they ok at least" Amanda added.
Of course the system didn't bother to answer their questions so it didn't give the any clues. Locations did not appear. No names. No faces.
Like they should be satisfied by just the confirmation that they were not alone.
That there were others who had survived, suffered, adapted, just like them.
The System paused as usual for a few seconds, like it registering or recording their reaction, then delivered the final piece.
{EXPERIMENTAL PURPOSE}
{Long term projection indicates instability within Langkatan governance structures. Human subjects with high compatibility may be deployed as corrective variables, to be implemented in future narrative and operations}
{To determine the humans capabilities to survive, in case of a last resort to migrate to Planet Earth}
Amanda stared at the words. "They kidnapped and experimented on us to fix their problems."
Samira's voice was low, dangerous. "They kidnapped us, killed hundreds, and now they want to use us as pressure points inside their own system. That part I can't understand."
Thomas felt the anger finally settle into something solid. Something sharp.
"Remember they don't see us as people," he said. "We are not more than just subjects of lab rats to then remember?."
Like the Gate was responding to them, its light flaring brighter, the inner paths rearranging themselves. After they shifted their attention to the gate for a second, The System followed with one final update.
{DESTINATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE}
Option One:
{Transit to Adjacent City Nodales}
{Purpose: Stabilization, resupply, subject interaction, gathering more information about the inhabitants,}
Option Two:
{Transit to Governance Space
Purpose: Oversight engagement, information escalation, Reaching the heart of the matter, understanding and meeting in infected Langkatans}
Amanda barked a laugh that held no humor. "That's new, giving us multiple choice"
Samira rubbed her temples. "Another city means more of the same. Monsters. Missions. Watching us from behind glass what do you think Thomas"
Thomas stared at the second option, the words Governance Space burning themselves into his mind.
"That's where they are, and that's where we will go then" he said.
"Yes," Samira replied. "That's where the Langkatans watch us from, and where the System spared so far. And that's where the decisions to kidnap and experiment on us were made."
Amanda exhaled slowly. "And probably where they expect us to hesitate to go to, but what is the role of the system in all of this, and is it helping us or against us"
Both Samira and Thomas looked at her but none of them commented on the fact that she mentioned after the last part of the information they received
The three of them stood there, the Gate humming softly, patient, eternal.
"Going to another city keeps us alive longer though" Amanda said. "Meanwhile we can get stronger. Learn more. And maybe we could find the others."
Thomas didn't answer, maybe even he was not listening, his mind was totally occupied not about the options but mostly about the number 257. And their chances of survival, about waking up in a ruined world with no explanation and being told to survive or disappear.
He finally collected his thoughts and said, "They won't stop, even if we go to another city."
Samira looked at him, urging him to continue what he was saying,
"They'll just keep running trials, how many more it will take for them to stop how many do they think was before us and how many will come after us," he continued. "If not humans then from different species. Different worlds. Different versions of this."
Amanda swallowed. "So what will we do if we go to space?"
Thomas turned to face the Gate fully. "Then we stop being subjects, and stop them if the chance percent for us of course."
Samira met his gaze. "That means we have to start being a problem for them."
The Gate pulsed, brighter now, the paths within aligning as if reacting to their intent.
The System delivered one final line, like it was giving them a blessing for their choice but in an indirect way:
{NOTICE}
{Selection will determine observation intensity}
{No reversal possible after transit}
Amanda closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. "If we do this… there's no going back, is there?"
Thomas shook his head. "No."
Samira stepped forward, standing beside him. "Good."
Amanda looked at both of them, fear and resolve fighting in her expression.
Then she smiled, slow and tired and real.
"Well," she said, "if we're going to confront the people who turned us into an experiment… I'd rather do it face to face."
The Gate reacted instantly.
The spiraling paths collapsed into one.
A vertical corridor of light formed, deep and endless, stars burning within it.
The System chimed.
{DESTINATION CONFIRMED}
{Gate to the stars confirmed as chosen destination}
{Gat will be open until you pass through}
{Mission we resume on the other side}
Thomas was relieved to hear that last part, simply there was no time limit, that means they can leave whenever they wanted, and there is no mission with a time limit they have to worry about at the moment.
He looked at his two companions and said, "I think this is the best time we can rest, we don't know what are we going to face up and what is ahead of us" and after a small purse he added "lets be ready for everything and everything, if it meant to be we will encounter the other anyhow, I have a feeling that the system's goal at moment is to intervene with the the Langkatans"
Both Samira and Amanda agreed with him, not knowing what kind of an adventure was waiting for them beyond the gate to the stars.
A/N
Hello everyone, sorry for this chapter I have prepared it earlier then I had to rewrite it all over again and I didn't edit it so forgive me for spelling and grammar mistakes.