| < Incident 01 > | Incident 02a > |
wake up... wake up...
wake up... wake up...
Nothing except darkness, only myself and my thoughts... Me and my own darkness...
wake up... wake up...
I keep repeating that in my head.
wake up... wake up...
But how long will I have to wait... How much longer do I have until I have to wake up?
wake up... wake up...
My name is... Dammit... Already lost it...
wake up... wake up...
I have to wake up... I need to wake up... I need to...
wake up... wake up...
Wake up... somehow...
wake up... wake up...
Until I heard this water dripping followed by an unnerving sound... I'm not sure where I am... Or... who am I...
I need to...
I was face-first in a somewhat flooded area. I was in a dark, old tunnel with a network of pipes and valves and little to no light sources. I stood up again, but... In reality, I have no idea who I am or where I am. And I'm not sure how long I've been out in the middle of this shithole...
But then it struck me.
I'm lost...
"Shit..." I mumbled, even worse, that I'd forgotten why I was here, let alone who I was.
I glance around, and I'm left with the feeling that there is someone or something located in this place. Something isn't right about this place.
Fortunately, I had a gun on my hip—a handgun with a silencer, an extended magazine, and a sight stuck to it, and the gun seems to be automatic. I quickly pulled my gun, examined it, and was ready to shoot at anything that would kill me. Then there's the recollection of my lost memories when drawing this gun. Maybe. Maybe I used to be a soldier...
My memory? ... The protocol? ... I can't really remember... But that's all I can think of right now, so it's progress. I'll have to remember more, and maybe I'll remember everything along the way.
I heard something; it was a single splash resonating throughout the tunnels around 10 kilometers to my right, which goes to another tunnel channel. I opted to go there in the hopes of finding a way out, even though there are some bad things over there. At the same time, it's possible that there's a way out.
Besides, I can stroll for an hour with nothing to worry about, but shit, this place is a labyrinth, but I won't get lost if I follow the sound... Hopefully... So, I headed to the source through these tunnels with my gun drawn. Until I noticed something in the water. It shines a bright blue circle through the frigid water; I'm not sure if it's a trap or something else.
I'm debating whether or not to shove my hand inside that thing since I'm at a loss on what to do. It took me a while to consider until I noticed a rebar sticking out from the rubble. I yanked it off and took it up so I could poke it and see what it could do. It feels metallic, but there is no reaction. But I heard a sound, but I can't hear it properly since the water is drowning it out. I was hesitant at first, but being the dumbass I am, but it appeared to pose no danger at all. Fuck it. I simply take it up anyhow, and it better not chop my hand off.
I grabbed it and what seems to be a small metallic rectangular box, small enough to fit the entire palm of my hand, it was painted black with three parallel blue stripes all the way across from the right side of its frame and a glowing blue circle in the center.
"Sleeper detected," says a thing in a cold, monotonous voice.
"S-Sleeper?" I was shocked that it talked with me. But what exactly is a Sleeper, as this thing called me?
"Reversion successful. Welcome back, personnel." The thing talks to me as if it knew who I am.
"What reversion?" I ask, "Who are you?" I bombarded it with questions, looking for an answer.
"Intelligence Apparatus Modular, or I.A.M. system, product G45-271 12R/Y Information and Data line, but many locals in this liminal space referred to this system as 'Gary,' do you recollect this system, personnel?" said the box, monotonously.
I.A.M... I've only heard a couple of these before. "So, you're the A.I. things that helped us, right?" I remembered part of it, but to be honest, I gave a half-assed answer to a machine.
"Yes, this system is glad that you are recalling some of your lost memories following the mnemonic protocol wipe," it responded.
Memory wipe? "W-why did you do that for? At the very least, can you tell me who I am?" Maybe it will lead to some answers.
"Identifying Unit SP-Code... inconclusive. This system cannot identify your Unit SP-Code, which was likely removed due to your conversion and the long duration of your servitude as a Sleeper, as well as your memory has now been wiped due to the protocol we have to follow during the scenarios that have broken out in the past," said the talking box.
"Then what exactly is a "Sleeper," as you just called me?" I questioned.
"...Sleeper is the result of the personnel conversion through deactivation, who subsequently became hostile units upon reactivation and... commenced the eradication of all life and pursued destruction."
I remained mute at first as the creature talked to me; what it said made me feel remorse that I don't even remember. It's best not to bring up the subject right now.
"Before that, do you know where we are? Can we get out of here?" I asked.
"Routing... Located. This system will direct you out of this liminal space through these sectors. This system is now configured to route to a designated area. You may now go, personnel." it then projected a map with a path that leads to an exit, or at least a way out of this place, and so I holster it onto the right side of my chest and go to this map that the I.A.M. leads me there.
We walked for hours and miles, but there's no doubt we were inching closer to the exit.
"Is it that long?" I said, wondering if there was another option. "Analyzing... if you follow these predicted courses, this system predicts that you would arrive at the designated spot in about 28 planetary orbit cycles at most," it stated.
Great... Walking on foot for 28 days. "Are there any shortcuts? Are there more of these 'sectors' you just mentioned?" I replied.
"Negative. And because of this liminal space's opposing conceptual relativities and ontography, this system must update this path and its surroundings; this system requires allocating and prioritizing the sub-routines," it rationally explains, but I know what it means: it's having trouble finding a better way out. didn't want me to be concerned
"I'm wondering. What is the designated area you mentioned?" As soon as the I.A.M. heard this, it became silent for a moment, as if it was thinking of a better, safer way to convey things to me, so it merely uttered the word-
"Station 107, personnel."
Then I felt this rage well up within me, but the oddest thing is that I don't recall anything at all, but I know in the back of my mind that something or someone made me feel as if I was forced to do something terrible for their amusement.
Then there's a wave of loud splashing sounds echoing through the entire tunnel just behind me, but what worries me is that it's moving closer, quicker, and it's clearly heading straight from where I stood.
The I.A.M. verified my fears: "Unknown vector is closing in, and it is approaching quickly; this system suggests that personnel immediately proceed toward the extraction spot."
I made a break for it where the I.A.M. directed me, but that thing is chasing me so fast, and this damn water... made it much more difficult for me to flee.
"600 meters approaching," warns the I.A.M. once more.
"400 meters." It's already here.
"150 meters." Fuck, it's getting closer!
Shit!
But then I already had my gun ready from the anticipation. "50 meters, it is approaching, personnel," it says as I turn around and scan my surroundings. But...
It then erupted out of the water, a giant, ugly dead fucker made of rotting meat and bones, as if made by some fucked up guy who had sick fantasies about sculpting dead people and making them move. And that thing can come up out of the water regardless of how shallow the flood is, or it doesn't have any pits that I haven't fallen off yet. But the thing caught me off guard, but I was quicker on the trigger.
Sure, shooting its dead corpse with an entire magazine, but the bastard took a good chunk of its body but didn't die, or the fucker didn't even flinch; it only pissed the thing off.
Then, with all of its fucked up limbs, it swung at me, hurling me against the wall with such force that I thought I'd die from the violent impact. Thankfully, the gear I was wearing generated a sort of energy shield that took the brunt of the force from that thing and the impact for me, though it was a close call that I didn't die as a result of it. But I was still disoriented from the attack, so I stood up quickly, but the thing had already reached a couple of miles distance and was running at me with inhuman speed. I was ready to pull out my handgun when I noticed both the I.A.M. and my gun were missing.
That thing that flung me into the wall also knocked my things off. I'm completely unarmed.
"God dammit!"
As I turned and looked up, the thing was close by and trying to kill me first with its horrendous arm, however this time it was aiming for my head and trying to crush me down between its deformed hands and the floors below me. I swiftly leaped away as it used its brute strength to crush and dig into the floor as if it were a bomb; I doubt I could survive such an attack with my shield.
But now I'm overwhelmed with dread and impending doom as it is ready to open another attack.
"Aw, fuck!"
But this time, I narrowly escaped by rolling to the side as it hit me in one furious upward swoop that could have torn my chest and face off. Though it only made a great splash in the water, its overly large arm got stuck in the ceiling, giving me enough time to go as it became enraged for letting its victim escape until it was gone from my sight, I could still hear its violent thrashing. I keep on running until I reach safety.
But there's still one problem. I need to find my pistol to take down that thing and the I.A.M. to get out. I have to go back and hope that thing isn't still in there.
I ran back as fast as I could to the place where that thing had attacked me, thinking that my gun and the IAM should be somewhere nearby. I didn't hear or see that thing for a moment; it was probably looking for me somewhere else.
Then I heard that damn splashing water again, the ugly fucker's here, and this time one of its gnarly arms was chopped off, and as the thing appeared from the distance stopping me in my tracks, it was much more pissed off than before, but I noticed underneath the flooded floors behind that thing standing, it looks like a gun but bigger looks like a rifle or something. But the large idiot is still standing there, facing me, with a gun on the ground, and I have no idea what to do.
So I pulled the dumbest and riskiest act ever attempted like an idiot like myself, but what choice did I have? Running away from it will be my worst mistake.
"Ah, fuck it!" I said as I did just that.
And so I run towards it just as much as the big ugly fucker charging me head-on with its unnatural speed using all of its horrendous limbs to get me. I'm somehow as I dodged down rolling through between its running legs and dodged from its arms' flailing about, and yet that stupid bastard is so completely enraged it still charged toward the wall without any means of stopping whatsoever while gaining its momentum, I took this perfect opportunity and running head to the gun.
I picked up a gun, it's a sniper rifle, it's been soaked in water but it still works and is fully loaded, it looks like mine from the pistol I was holding.
I was checking my gun when I heard a huge booming sound echoing through a whole tunnel it directed my attention to where the monster had finally connected with the wall when I thought it would've been enough to kill it from the impact alone, instead, it made a massive crater and remained unharmed, it snapped back at me with its empty eye sockets and immediately doing that again with its ramming attack still far away from where I stood, but it didn't matter, I got my gun back.
And my body remembers very well I handled this gun as if I'd been fighting guys like this for years. I pulled the trigger.
As the barrel releases a bright blue glow and flies toward the thing's head, it seems time is slowing down.
- instantly its head in the middle was completely blown up into a gory mess - I caused that bastard the worst kind of migraine, it was nasty, but that thing finally gets what it was coming for - the bullet struck it so hard that the thing smacks down hard to the ground by the rifle's stopping force, stopping dead in its tracks.
But somehow it didn't give up; it stood up quickly afterward, but I fired a second shot so I wouldn't give it another opportunity by aiming at the thing's lower torso ripping away from its legs, and yet it crawled towards me closer, though much slower this time, and then I fired a third time, a fourth despite the fact that it still moving, and finally the fifth, finally bringing the damned thing down for good. The scene was a gory mess, with only little pieces of blood and giblets smearing on every surface, and I was lucky enough that it didn't splatter on me.
I regain my composure after glancing at this gruesome spectacle for quite some time... It feels like forever since I killed that thing - then I almost forgot and went straight back searching for the I.A.M.
I finally called its name as I yelled for it in the hopes that it would hear me, "Gary? Gary?! Where are you?!"
It took me a long time to search through every place where I assumed it had landed, looking for the IAM in every nook and cranny, then when I noticed a familiar glow and letting out of flickering lights. This was Gary's light trying to get my attention but rather I hope it didn't break from the impact from the result of the blow that sent me hurling to the wall, because if it did, I'll be lost in this hell where I woke up forever.
I rushed to it and picked it up in the water, "You alright? Are you broken?" I responded the first thing I was concerned about for the IAM was to see if it was okay.
"This system is operational and remains in good condition, personnel; this system is glad you survived the fight." Gary answered, again speaking in its monotonous tone, but it appeared to be more concerned with me than I worried about this machine.
"Thank God you're okay," I said, grabbing it and holstering it on the right side of my chest.
"You forgot your sidearm, personnel," it says while projecting a single line of holographic light and pointing to where my pistol fell, which was on the left side behind me, just buried behind the rubble.
"Thanks. And I thought you were a goner," I remark as I check my pistol and then holster it, amazed at how helpful this little guy is.
As Gary points out. "We are near to the extraction point. Head there in the straight path until you encounter the stairs." the I.A.M. instructed.
It took a few hours of managing my things on the go until it led me to the stairs... A seemingly never-ending set of steps. Every time, my luck gets worse.
"You believe this is the way out?" I'm not sure if the I.A.M. is broken or whether the mess in this place makes my trip more difficult.
"About 12 kilometers ahead, you will reach the extraction point." it says, but it can't lie because it's an A.I. As a result, I have no choice but to climb.
In less than an hour, Gary suddenly says to me, "In hindsight, you should have employed your internal weapon platform system against that hostile local lifeform," and I come to a stop.
"About what?" I inquired. "Did I use it when I was a Sleeper?"
I didn't realize I had these talents when I was 'asleep,' and I could've realized and used them against that thing in the first place, but I can't remember since I was too busy fighting and panicking as that thing attacked me from the water. At the very least, I'm out of the floods. No more big, bad things coming to kill me.
"Yes, this system recommends that if you use your platform system, you would gain tactical advantages; however, you cannot recall your prior uses as a Sleeper unit; this system encourages you to conduct field testing while on our excursion; and this system will provide preliminary scan and may run diagnostics on your platform systems on how it operates." according to the I.A.M.
"All right, once we're out of here," I say as I continue to climb up.
As I climbed for a few of hours, I wondered why I had to agree with an A.I. that just knows about me and wants me to come. So I ask Gary, "Is there anything interesting about that place?"
"This system believes there is recorded evidence regarding the personnel conversion and the schematic that the unknown sender has developed specifically for the Sleeper units reversion... or so this system believes," the I.A.M. replied.
"Is it the one you made me turn back to normal? Is there anything that may bring back my memories?" I wonder.
"It is possible... however... are you truly sending this system to the designated area, personnel?" "It is possible... however... are you truly sending this system to the designated area, personnel?"
"I- uh- I would've phoned to them the instant I picked you up; you'd be taken by now, and I don't know who I am, remember?" I stammered, reassuring the I.A.M. that it is safe with me. That question caught me off guard.
"This system truly apologizes for this presumption, personnel," it said monotonously, but the I.A.M. felt bad for questioning me as one of them.
"Don't sweat about it," I said.
But that makes sense; Gary is right to be terrified; if it was capable of feeling fear, and checking me to see if I was a Sleeper or not, being one of those guys would mean we did anything terrible to anyone, even this I.A.M.
Then, when I reached the top of the steps, I noticed light streaming from somewhere.
It was a door peeping out light, not far from where I stood, but it felt too quiet for me, so I drew and readied my pistol, "Is there anyone in here?" I told Gary to watch for threats.
"Scanning... Negative. No hostiles detected within your vicinity, personnel is safe to approach," Gary confirms.
But I have my gun ready just in case.
I slowly approach the door that leads to nowhere as I grab and twist the doorknob open while aiming down my pistol. It was all bright light yet I can't see through it though.
"We are now entering another uncharted sector, personnel," it adds, as though expecting my journey into the unknown. And to think, a guy like me, who was presumably a kidnapper, has now become a guardian of this thing while having no memory of who I was.
And while I think about it, I ask Gary, "Would it be alright if I bring you there? Because you know you're being taken by a Sleeper like me."
"This system will enable your access and restore your facility credentials after you bring this system to Station 107. Why is the personnel asked?" As the I.A.M. grew curious as to why I asked this out of the blue.
"I was thinking a lot back there when I first found you. Did I- um... did we do anything bad? Did I attempt to get you to the spot to do something horrible to you during my time as a Sleeper?" I wondered.
This guilt weighs hard on my chest as I think of more than one atrocity I made in the past, waiting for it to reply, and if it does, then I will shoulder these responsibilities.
"Yes, you are delivering this system to their region for data extraction, but this system did revert to your normal condition, so this system is satisfied with the outcomes of your reversion," it answered, trying to cheer me up.
"Well, in that case... Are you still with me?" I asked.
"This system is operational and ready for service; it's nice to have you back, personnel," it says as if it's eager to work with me.
"All right, then, lead us out," I told the I.A.M.
"Understood, establishing route line to Station 107," it says as projecting a map - between this place's exit and the outside. I went through the door, finally free of that hell.
Now, the Sleepers are most likely on my trail with the goal of capturing Gary and potentially converting me into one of them again.
And if I have to redeem myself for my wrongdoings as a killer... My mission will then be to safely carry this I.A.M. to that location.
And maybe they'll give me some of the answers I'm looking for.
| < Incident 01 > | Incident 02a > |