AutoTerra: Operating Systems

Chapter 72: The Tenma Group?

Still in the Biology Laboratory of Genetics, Astan walked down a dark hallway. As before, there was a lot of spotting along the passageway and the bones of the former corpses, whether they were human corpses or monsters.

“This place has experienced chaos.”

Astan continued walking without realizing something was following him. A shadow crept softly on the wall, following him in silence without being discovered. Occasionally a pair of yellow eyes appeared, watching Astan's movements closely.

“Although he found what you expected, he does not necessarily understand the situation.”

Again the inner upheaval occurs in the shadow, between the subtle sound and the heavy sound.

“The idea is unstable. But I'm sure, even without my help he can remember something.”

“Something...?”

“Iya…. Something that this is not a difficult thing to forget.”

The two shadow eyes narrowed, submerging themselves within the wall, but still following behind the darkness of the passageway.

Astan continued walking with his rifle until he found a room that he thought was quite suspicious. Thankfully the door was not locked by the security system, so Astan could easily enter.

“It looks like this room is important. Maybe before they did not have time to lock because of a precarious situation or something,” Astan comments as his eyes browse every corner of the room.

When getting in, Astan saw this room was also minimal lighting even though the Core energy of the Ship had been ignited. This room is quite spacious, there are several beds lined up, separated by glass bulkhead. Each bed had a machine tool on its side, and behind it was a glass wall of glowing green liquid.

In addition, as Astan went deeper and deeper, he found a small glass tube in the middle of the room, mounted on top of a complex set of machines. Curious, he approached the tube.

Inside the tube is a small object similar to a memory chip. But strangely enough, some of those chips were enveloped in flesh and veins that were beating slowly like a heart.

Because the thing that Astan got was very strange, he also contacted Edrick through the communication of the armor helmet.

“Chairman, can you come here? I was in the opposite position to the direction you were going. It is located around the Genetics Lab area. Okay.”

After the call was interrupted, Astan again noticed the chip. His hand tried to touch the surface of the glass, making a motion as if it was about to touch the object. However, suddenly his brain felt a strange sting that made Astan grimace in pain.

“Argh..!”

Something came back to his mind. An incident where a person with a face not so clear due to covered shadows pushed him hard into a bed. He tried to struggle, but could not do anything because his body was bound by iron beds.

“You are a very suitable part..” That voice is not so clear.

The mysterious figure took out something using a small claw. It is not clear what was shown to him, it must have been a very bad thing.

“Your jaw will fit using this. Think about how great you would be if this thing managed to fuse with you. You can even become a real god!”

The figure drew the object closer to him. Slowly approaching, getting closer, and closer.

“No! Stop!”

“I don't need that thing!”

“I don't want to be strong or anything related to gods and power!”

“If it has to sacrifice many lives and my own soul, I'd rather be weak for life!”

“I don't need a power that will only make humans greedy!”

Both hands of Astan holding his head which is still covered with a helmet. This dizziness is getting crazy. Not just an incident, glitch panels and strange sounds reappear.

[Starting the process of synchronizing the user's soul and body]

[Synchronization Process: 1%]

[5%]

[20%]

[34%]

[….]

“Argh!!”

The mysterious panel and voice had disappeared, the shadow of an event had also completely disappeared from his mind. Astan shook his head, trying to disperse his miscellaneous thoughts and keep his balance back. After feeling calm, Astan again noticed the chip in the glass tube.

It's freaky. As Astan touched the tube and paid more attention to the chip, his mind suddenly gained mysterious information. It's like a memory, but Astan doesn't know if it's his memory or someone else's.

“Sialan...” Astan hissing annoyed. “Who was in my mind?”

“Astan?”

Astan turned his head, seeing the figure of Edrick had arrived. The leader immediately approached, worried about the situation of Astan who looked weak.

“What happened to you?” Edrick held both of Astan's shoulders. “Is there a monster attacking?”

Astan shook his head weakly. “Ti-no. It's just, I found something.”

Edrick followed the direction of Astan's view to the glass tube on top of the machine. It took Edrick a while to look at the tube until he realized something new.

“Ah, what do-not this..” Edrick touched the surface of the tube.

“You know something?” tanya Astan was curious.

Edrick also answered seriously, “Before running the mission, Wirma and I were given samples of information about evidence found and used in the previous Feron Company trial. The information was only data, but I did not think we could find the information in real form as expected Commander.”

“What do you mean, Edrick?” Astan is getting clueless. “What information do you mean?”

“It...” Edrick pointed to that terrible chip. “Is System Re:Set.”

...~*~*~*~...

“Astan..?”

Wirma narrowed her eyes in disbelief. The figure he saw on the surveillance camera footage was very similar to Astan. The only difference is the color of the eyes on the face. In the footage, the man has two perfectly yellow eyes with no facial wounds, while Astan they know has a yellow heterochrome eye on the right and a silver one on the left with a cut on the left eye.

“Astan? You mean, that guy looks like our partner Astan?” ask Zered in disbelief. “Where might there have been a figure of Astan at the time of the incident on this ship three years ago? It's possible that person just happened to look like Astan.”

Wirma believed Zered's words. It is impossible if there are humans who are similar to other humans. Both still have differences even though they are very thin.

“Download that recording. Who knows useful as additional evidence.”

“Good, Vice.”

Zered immediately downloaded the recording data using a flash that he removed from the system.

As long as they search for old footage while watching the surroundings through still-functioning surveillance cameras, Wirma feels something is off. They had communicated with the Group Chairman Edrick and already knew their current state, while the Tenma Group had no news at all.

“Any. Tenma group did not contact us at all,” said Wirma suspicious.

“What were they not seen in the surveillance camera?” farhan asked still leaning by the door.

Zered who was back watching the monitor replied, “Last their movement was seen on the Public Deck, around the Administration Office Area. As they walked on, the cameras in the next area did not work at all. So, we have absolutely no idea of their situation. My drone flew in that direction just in case. But until now still found nothing.”

“Try me to contact them.”

Wirma tried to call through a helmet call. The call made it in, but there was no answer.

“Here Vice Chairman Wirma! Anyone, please answer! Tenma Warrior?! Private Lavisto?! Private Irawan?!” call Wirma in a panic because no one is answering.

...~*~*~*~...

“Lavisto? Tenmas? Irawan? Anyone, please answer! How are you guys doing there?”

Wirma's call across the street was heard clearly through the leaked helmet audio. No answer from anyone. There were only bloodied hands lying with some parts of the body covered by the dark shadows of the room.

...~*~*~*~...