Chapter 2: Acceptance
Driving on the country side road in the middle of the desert, I turned to an unmarked road as we took the route for several miles. After a while, I looked around and felt uneasy as my eyes had begun glitching randomly.
Holding a concerned thought, I trusted the woman as we approached a dead end on the road by a large stone rock. Gulping as the sweat fell from my face, Dr A moved her hand into her bags and raised a small black remote to the air. Soon, the large rock suddenly began to shift as a large door appeared at its base.
Driving the car inside the large metal room, I had applied the breaks and the room abruptly began falling into the Earth. Looking around at the passing light and then meeting Dr A as she waved her hands through her hair, tying it into a bun.
My heart remained steady and my instincts felt as sharp as can be as my eyes had begun going hay wire. Before I could speak, a massive flash of light engulfed the small elevator room. Covering my eyes, I lowered my arm and opened my eyes to an unimaginable place. It looked almost as if an entire functioning city was breathing with beautiful silver and gold all over.
Buildings as tall as skyscrapers and roads wide enough for tanks and spider like machines roamed everywhere. My mind was blown away as everything looked high-end and sophisticated.
"Welcome to 'Antrica'. The first line of defense behind the first line of defense in all matters war and nuclear to biological and extraterrestrial. Believe it or not, this place has been around for centuries as far back as the time of the first ice age. "
"How is that possible? What the is this place? "Awe-stricken and fascinated, I looked everywhere while constantly amazed.
"People from all over the world with peculiar skills and talent are recruited based on a sophisticated algorithm that has stood the test of time. Your AI in your head is a new transfer of that same system however, brought downtown o a fraction of a millionth. "
"What... Exactly are you people? Something this sheer in size and right under the desert. What are you people after? "Meeting her gaze with a stern expression, she tilted her head and smiled.
"Would you believe me if I said we only wanted what was best for humanity? "Inhaling, I nodded while turning forward.
"I wouldn't put it past you considering this in a logical point of view. A 'power check' for humanity. It's as comical as it is breathtaking. "
"Alyssa, please. Trust me and this place to help secure a better tomorrow for humanity's evolution. " Resting my chin on my arms over the steering wheel, I continued to stare at the shining city form what felt like an endless elevator among several scattered everywhere.
"If my past self left and went rouge, that alone should give you a vague sense of how I feel about this doesn't it... "Gulping as she met my sharp, cold piercing gaze as I stared through her and her intentions. "Would I be locked up like the others if I say 'no'... Tell me Doctor... What will you do if I disobey another of your orders... "
Tilting my head as my eyes remained sharp while everything beyond the elevator faded into light. Our eyes connected as I felt her body tremble. Her instincts shook her to her very core as my eyes mirrored what I felt.
An eternity seemed to pass until the bulk wall of the elevator doors slid open.
~•~
Turning in every direction, I walked beside Dr A through the winding and busy intersections as there was something going on everywhere. Looking up as strange, sleek and gorgeous aircraft jet past us in the skies above, I was short on gasps to say the least.
"Alyssa. "Stopping while lifting my foot and turning over my shoulder to Dr A, I headed next to her onto a lift.
Firmly inside, we then headed up the side of a large glass skyscraper as we reached the top floor. Waiting for the glass doors to open, we walked out onto an office like floor with red firewood coated along the interior.
Noticing Dr A had walked a few feet ahead of me, I soon followed close behind.
What's more, the moment the three pretty receptionists' noticed Dr A, they abruptly stood while bowing their heads out of nowhere. Waving them off with a pleasant smile, we continued without stopping around the side hallway and further into the floor.
Looking back from where we had just come from, I turned as Dr A was waiting for me inside a slender elevator. Walking inside, our noses touched as I asked if it was necessary for us to be squeezed like this. Her firm yet resolved gaze spoke otherwise as we eventually reached a level within the building.
Walking out, I then stood firm as I raised my gaze at the numerous objects everywhere as well as an unrefined, sophisticated workshop full of all sorts of materials. The colors and range of the materials was enough for me to question what exactly it was being built.
The floor was a single large room with a foot drop onto a swimming pool overlooking a terrace. The air smelled like oil and iron as my nose was keen on every scent. Dr A strangely smelled of lavender though, I was picking up faint traces of iron and I shook the thought from my head rather recklessly.
"Dr A. What exactly am I doing here? What will I be doing and why aren't in cuffs... Or worse? "Scanning the room and then meeting her gaze with an abrupt shock as her single outfit hit the floor below her ankles. "U-uh... Dr A? Why are you undressing... With a really perverted look that already seems to know what I look like beneath my clothes? "
Stepping back as my body was instinctively reacting to the danger.
"Relax, Alyssa. I'm not going do anything if that's where your mind has gone. "Turning while in her underwear, she then pressed the sleek, reflective wall with her hand and as a large wardrobe slid out from the wall. "Honestly, Alyssa. What kind if perverted beast do you take me for... Besides, if I wanted you, I'd have you by now. "
"Eh... You don't even deny you are a pervert. "Making a sour expression, I turned and walked around while sliding my hand across the smooth tables. "How old are you Dr A? Have any kids yet? "
"I'm twenty three. I am not married though, I do have kids... '12' of them to be exact. "Buttoning up a green and black checkered shirt, she then soid her wavy red-hazelnut colored hair out from within the collar of the shirt. "Bet you didn't need to know that and are thinking you shouldn't have asked. "
"Half right. So, what. Did the government or agency or whatever force you to make 'clones' of yourself? When did it start? "
Turning my eye to see her bending and raising a slim bag if sweats up her tender legs, she continued.
"I was fourteen when they recruited me... To tell you the truth, I was somewhat of a typical delinquent with an impressive IQ. They only found me out after a failed attempt at making a bomb I was going to use to blow up an annoying girls luxury car. Only two Korea days of sourcing the materials and it was almost done but they caught me and dragged me away. Honestly, they could have waited until after I finished. "
"So... 'phsycopath with major confidence issues'. How original. "Turning my gaze as she spun around and held her hands behind her back while cutely approaching me. "W-what? "
Backing up against the table as she brushed up her body against mine, I stood helpless as her gaze was overwhelming.
"Why don't you discipline me for my bad thoughts. Hmm? "Gulping as her warm breath bounced off my face, I turned my gaze and started to reach around the tabor behind me.
"H-hey... Y-you know we all make mistakes... Right. "Nervous, I then turned around and stood helpless as she wrapped her arms around me while resting her face beside my shoulder. "Eeek! "
Letting out a slight gasp, I clearly felt her body tremblenin temptation until an abrupt visit from the slim elevator opened.
"Dr A, I have the materials you wanted waiting on docking bay 7-... Uh... "A random yet, cute little stranger walked in holding a blue holographic pad in his hands. "Uh... Um. "
As our eyes met, my expression let out a cry for help as he turned to Dr A and watched confused at the situation. Suddenly when I think he understood me, he smiled and began reaching for his collar.
"For the love of-I was screaming hello you idiot! Not join in! "Pushing myself free and leaning against the table, Dr A hunched over the counter as I held a firm yet, flushed expression.
"What is it, Devan. Have the special materials I ordered come in? "Titling her head slightly while touching her lips with her fingers, he then cleared his throat.
"Y-yes Ma'am. The order came in this morning. I have a loading crew waiting on your go-ahead to bring them to your lab. "Gulping along with a firm posture, he then waited for Dr A.
"Oh, Alyssa. This is Devan. My good-for-nothing personal assistant as well as crappy bodyguard. Say 'hello'. "
Meeting his firm gaze, I turned to him while walking up to him as he looked up to meet my eyes.
"This little guy is your bodyguard? Your kidding? " Inhaling a gust of air as if anticipating his next move, I then stood unimpressed as in an instant, I was holding him up by his leg.
"Meh... He's dirt cheap plus he owes me his life. " Feeling pity for the guy, I set him down gently as I stood straight. "Devan, have the materials in my lab by the next hour. I also want you to notify Styx and Benny to round up the team. "
"Geh... 'Benny'? That woman hates me. " Pouting, I felt even more pity for him as I turned to with a smile.
"Mind if I tag along? "A sharp echoing sound of metal churning sent shivers up my spine as well as Devan as we turned to find Dr A firmly holding a piece of bent metal in her hand.
"O-oh?! That took me two days to make. Hey-"Having left rather abruplty, I watched from inside the glass elevator as Devan and Dr A faded away from sight.
('Might as well kill a few hours before getting right down to business. ')
---------
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone