Anomalies

The Dome of Despair

“Asters...... Asteri ??”

Asteri opened her eyes. Upon awakening, he was immediately greeted by a Rigel hologram standing right in front of him. He was sitting in a chair, in the middle of a large white room.

Eh ? Shouldn't I have a SCR now ? Where is this ?

“Asteri, you okay ?”

Rigel's soft voice rattled Asteri's ears. He misses his father very much. He wanted to hug her very much. Only, his father was currently just a hologram, not real.

“Dad, where is this ?”

Rigel's hologram looks like he's breathing. He then tried to stroke his head, but it was in vain. Rigel's hologram hand, just pierced past Asteri's head the moment it touched him.

“Year 2125. Really a very distant future, isn't it?”

“What father is not real ? Why, and how ?”

“She's dead because of someone, Lady Asteri. Forget about him.”

Rigel's hologram disappeared in that instant, and behind him, a man was walking from the entrance towards him. Someone he doesn't know at all. Asteri instantly growled, then moved out of her chair quickly.

“Who are you !? Who killed him too !!?”

“Relax, it is not a good attitude to do by a mother, lady Asteri.”

“Hah ? What do you mean ?”

The man stopped in front of Asteri, then took out a small mirror from inside his pants pocket. Once the man pointed the mirror towards Asteri, then Asteri realized that he had become an adult now. Being a mother seems to make sense at her age in the future.

“Actually...... What is going on now ?”

The caesuri ? Is this the Caesuri ??

The man gave a small smile, while bowing in salute to Asteri. His right hand was stretched out, like a noble inviting his partner to dance with him.

“Include, lady Asteri. My name is Procus, the direct owner of this place.”

“Huh ? What place is this actually ?”

“My mouth. Your last descendant is waiting in the waiting room. Soon you will know everything.”

“Uhhh...... Can I think for a minute?”

“No need. Your descendants can no longer wait to meet you.”

“Ugh...... Damn it.”

Very forced, Asteri followed Procus into the waiting room. Out of the room where he woke up, Asteri was immediately greeted by a spacious and futuristic hall. Asteri was astonished to see it, because there was nothing like it in his old days. Several hologram screens lit up in the hall told of everything that Asteri had questioned inside her head all along.

Welcome to the Dome of New Hope, the last hope of mankind. As we all know, the Emergence event has spread and even reached to the ends of the earth. Nearly half the population of humans was wiped out, and many cities have been destroyed by it. The last hope of mankind, the SCR FOUNDATION, has been destroyed until there is nothing left on this earth.

This is where the Dome of New Hope comes to continue the legacy of the SCR FOUNDATION. It sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and is protected by 20 layers of nanoscale shields, giving this place absolute protection against the threat of anomalies. The Dome of New Hope currently has 50,000 logistics equipment, 5 tons of synthetic food supply, 30,000 units of automatic lethal armed combat robots, and, and 500 turrets of censored shooter threat detectors are scattered throughout the Dome of New Hope area. Live a new life with the Dome of New Hope. Because in this place, all human hopes that have been dashed with dust, will be reborn into newness......

“I set the two hologram screens, just for the puzzle that appears inside your head, lady Asteri.”

“What is the second part that really matters to tell ? It seems clear your arrogance, you know.”

Procus stopped walking for a moment, then turned to Asteri with a friendly smile at him.

“Of course, lady Asteri. Therefore, you do not need to doubt about security while living in our place. ”

“Uh..... What ? I'll stay here ?”

Procus still maintained his friendly smile that, the longer it was, looked even more terrifying in Asteri's eyes.

“Seternya will also remain so. Until our Bulwark development project is completed, you can go from this place, to outer space.”

Suddenly, the door at the North end of the hall opened, and a beautiful woman ran quickly towards the two of them, or rather towards Asteri.

“Who is it?”

“Ah, it looks like the boy is impatient to wait for you, lady Asteri.”

women look very young, around the age of 17. Just by standing and facing each other, Asteri can know that he is much taller than the woman. Only this time can Asteri feel his taste to be taller than anyone else.

“You must be Asteri's mistress, right ? I am Astra, the 150th generation of your descendants !! Nice to meet you, lady Asteri !!”

Asteri silently pecked for a moment. How wonderful is that future. Holding something unknown, and never expected by anyone. He never thought that someday he would also live like a woman in general. He turned towards Procus in disbelief, Procus just nodded assuring himself that what he saw right now was true.

“Procus, can I take a walk together with lady Asteri?” ask Astra excitedly.

Procus shook his head, before finally sighing and smiling lightly at Astra.

“(Sigh) Alright. It's just, make sure madam Asteri enjoys her trip.”

“Of course. It was a very easy thing for me, Procus !!”

Still confused, Asteri was suddenly startled when his right hand was held by Astra who had smiled happily at him, then began to pull him towards the door of the North Hall in front of it.

“Grandma, come with me. We will tour all areas in this place we explore !!”

“N-grandmother ? You call me that now !?”

“Hehe. Joking...”.

Asteri almost wanted to hit Astra's head in annoyance, but she managed to resist that urge. After all, it has always been like that of teenagers in this world. With a long sigh, Asteri finally let his steps led by Astra to various areas in the Dome of New Hope that he did not know at all.

And the adventures of the ancestors along with their false descendants have begun.

...****************...

“Astra, where are you taking me?”

“Saballah, grandma. After this, you will definitely be dumbfounded from seeing the place ?”

Hmm, his belief is great.

Asteri is currently walking in a clear white hallway with glass featuring a large aquarium outside its walls. Fishes of various types swim here and there in the vast and beautiful blue sea. Astra closed Asteri's eyes from behind while leading him walking in an unknown direction. Asteri can only get ready while hoping, that the surprise that will be given his long descendant is not something that will end his life.

“Astra, how are things out there ?”

“Very wild, and very terrible. Grandma didn't have to see or know. Because there, it already feels like in another world.”

“(Sigh) Looks like I'll get used to your new name, boy.”

“Ehe. Are you more comfortable being called as Asteri's mistress?”

“Call me Asteri only. Everyone always calls me that in my day.”

“Oh, but I feel disrespectful then.”

After which, the two of them were silent for a moment, and a moment later an automatic door sounded open. Astra led Asteri to walk a few steps into the unknown room, and after a few steps passed, Asteri's eyes were finally reopened. As expected by Astra, Asteri was made dumbfounded when he saw the contents of the room.

“We've arrived, lady Asteri.”

Asteri did not answer or speak at all. He let Astra run a few steps forward past him, enjoying the beauty of the dark purple room. The large hologram screen on the top ceiling displays a simulation of the entire universe. Like being in a spaceship, Asteri seemed to be carried through various planets, space rocks, and stars. White, red, blue, and even black, all the stars could be clearly seen in his eyes. Is this the beautiful future of man ? Even though they are out there, they are still able to produce extraordinary handwork.

“Mrs Asteri, you enjoy this view ?”

Asteri turned his gaze towards Astra, then nodded excitedly. Astra seemed very happy to get an answer from Asteri, a small smile on his face. But suddenly, Asteri was struck by something that disturbed his mind. Since Astra was still with him at the moment, Asteri quickly walked up to him and asked the question that had just popped into his mind just now.

“Astra, I just realized something. Why is there no one here but me, you, and that Procus ? Where did they all go?”

Instead of answering Asteri's question, Astra turned to his left pocket, which was a round, bright blue communication device hanging from a small silvery iron chain. The blue light was flashing incessantly, while emitting a very disturbing vibration for Astra. His face looked irritated, and then he turned towards Asteri while showing the communication device to him.

“Wait a minute, lady Asteri. Procus seemed to be calling me because of something. I don't know what it is...”.

“Jawab just call. I have no problem waiting for a moment, kok.”

“Alright, thank you !” astra replied while bowing in salute to Asteri.

The younger generation is sometimes naughty, but they all still have high manners as well. That was all that was in Asteri's mind as he looked at Astra once more in more detail. His previously childlike mind had now turned into that of an adult, just as his body had grown much taller when he was with Eva and Ava. What happened to both of them ? Would they be surprised to see her already growing into an adult without taking as long as she is now ?

From a distance, he continued to observe Astra who seemed to be very serious talking to Procus through his communication tool. He was not very able to clearly hear what the two were saying from there, but to be sure, it seemed to be about him. Asteri was very curious and wanted to question Astra directly back then, but she held herself back quickly. It would be very strange for him in the presence of his 150th descendant.

“Alright, I'll do it soon...... Uh, it's gonna be so easy....... Yes, I understand.” said Astra answered someone from her communication tool.

Did it ? Do what ? What does it mean 'will it be so easy' ?

This fellow...... Unbelievable !!

Asteri stared intently at Astra for a few moments, which instantly disappeared when Astra finished talking with Procus through his communication tool. Astra can be seen throwing a small smile at Asteri, before finally approaching him again. Astra slightly pulled the clothes worn by Asteri to get his attention, then smiled sweetly at Asteri.

“Mrs Asteri, come with me.”

“You don't need to be like that, do you ? Don't take me too I'll come.”

“Good, because the one after this will be much more interesting.”

A hint of disbelief began to show on Asteri's face. He hesitated a bit to follow Astra, and the desire to try to escape from this place began to grow in his heart. Astra, it seems like nothing like what he thought at first.

“Mrs Asteri, you daydream ?”

“Ah, no. Of course not. Hey, where are we going after this ?”

Astra again smiled slightly towards Asteri, this time accompanied by her head tilted to the left. His hands were hidden behind his back, looking like he was hiding something. Asteri, really starting to be unable to trust Astra. What will he do after this ?

“Reclaration.”

Heh, let's see, boy, who will win. Whether I am with my instincts that have been tested many times in this hell, or your very hidden cunning.

Some glitch began to appear on Astra's body, but Asteri pretended not to see it. So does Astra, who pretends to have nothing to do with her body. After a moment of silence, Astra began to deliver Asteri out of the beautiful room, going to something unknown. Astra walked in front, while Asteri was behind him. Some strange sounds began to be heard in the hallways, such as the sound of footsteps that seemed to be running away from something, the ringing of an unknown creature, and various other strange sounds, such as, including a song.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, happy birthday

.........

HAPPY DEATH DAY, TO YOU........

“Astra, who sings that ?”

“I heard nothing, Miss Asteri. Can you explain what song you mean ?”

“(Sigh) No need. Forget it.”

Their journey was resumed, with strange sounds accompanying them as a backdrop. They both pass through various aisles that every 5 meters are coated by a blue nanoscale shield. Asteri did not want to ask what the blue layer was really for. Only, his curiosity was very disturbing at this time, to the point that he was silent and had no words with Astra.

the next 25 minutes, and the two of them were still walking around without any words. The longer, Astra led her further down from the Dome of New Hope. Now they are walking in a vast tunnel, with thousands of black boxes hanging from its ceiling on both sides, left and right. Suddenly, Astra stopped walking, then turned to Asteri with a small smile.

“Mrs Asteri, are you exhausted ?”

“Of course. Where did you take me?”

Astra's smile still lingered, not disappearing or shrinking at all. Glitch-glitch began to appear all over Astra's body, making Asteri slowly start to walk backwards away from Astra out of fear. His mouth shook, and he tried to use his strength, but could not.

“Already expected, you want to do something, not !!?”

Astra tilted her head, and slowly her body began to enlarge, shrouded by thousands of twists of silk.

“Well, as you were able to get out of this desperate place, lady Asteri...”.

“Sericum, it's you !!?”

There is no such thing as Astra anymore. There was only a man, with his entire body wrapped by thousands of twists of pure white silk cloth, with no stains at all. The man named Sericum then spread out both his hands, and a few strands of silk on his body instantly sticking out towards Asteri and wrapped around her body, stopping her on the spot. Asteri panicked, shaking his entire body to be able to break free from the twists. But the result, just zero, is completely useless.

“You want to rest, don't you ? After this, you will truly rest soundly for eternity in this place. I promise.....”.

The entire black box was pointed at Asteri, and it didn't take long for the entire box to fire thousands of electric needles into Asteri's body. At that very instant, Asteri groaned in pain and fell to the floor without any resistance at all. Sericum walked up to Asteri who almost lost consciousness, appearing as the bearer of despair to those who tried to be free from his grasp.

“Ahhhh, that blue star is really useful, huh, it looks like ? Do you feel there is something different with your current body, madam Asteri ??”

“Blue stars........ You mean, is my father !!? You used my own father to eliminate my power !!?”

“Not me actually...... Except Caesuri.”

The caesuri ? He was here all this time ??

Asteri's vision began to blur, and the only thing he saw in these last moments was Sericum, who stood proudly in a pose right before him. Like a wolf howling after getting its prey, that is how Sericum stands today, declaring his victory over his prey.

“Asters...... Asteri ??”

...****************...

“Asters....... Asteri ??”

It was that gentle voice that re-established him to this nightmare. Asteri can feel his father's presence in his body. Rigel's blood, flowing directly within his veins, emitted a bright blue light. Asteri wakes up in a room full of human flesh and blood, cut into pieces by a chainsaw that lights up 24/7 nonstop. The entire wall is red. The cries of those who were tormented echoed in his ears. Asteri's eyes widened, looking at the figure he had always avoided. The iron mask stood not far in front of him, carrying a chainsaw in his right hand, and a human flesh that cried out in eternal pain in his left hand. There were no shaped humans in this room, yet still, their voices were still there. The surrounding flesh was alive, moving and wriggling in eternal despair to touch the knob of the door of the room and free themselves from this torment of death.

“Don't....... Don't....”

The iron mask walked slowly towards Asteri, dropping the living flesh onto the floor full of pools of blood and holding his chainsaw with both hands, lifting it high up in the air. In the end, there was only the cry of the timid girl that sounded loud inside the room. And the other two, listening to the girl's melodious singing from inside a room, smiled as they felt what the girl was feeling now.

“Procus, what gaze is it?”

“It was a look of despair.”

“Ah, a look of despair, huh ?”