Meta Slaves - Looking For Group: Chapter 2

A sigh left Dr. Calloway's mouth as she sat with one leg crossed over the other, and her gaze lingered on the endless abyss that stretched before her.

She found herself in a massive room filled to the brim with sleek, curved consoles that lined the perimeter, their surfaces alive with holographic displays and pulsing lights. Strange machines that blended the magical with the technological hummed softly, creating an otherworldly ambiance that made even the most tech-savvy enthusiasts blush. Even the cords that ran through the consoles pulsed with inner light, similar to glowing veins that powered the arcane circuitry.

But the room's pièce de résistance was the massive panoramic dome, lined with monitors that offered an unobstructed view of the ocean all around her. Schools of fish swam in almost a hive-mind manner while masses of bioluminescent plankton drifted by lethargically, their ethereal glow casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across Dr. Calloway's face.

No matter how many times she saw outside the walls of her home, the doctor couldn’t help but marvel at the city of Atlantis—a realm of impossible wonders and terrifying power.

Atlantis rose from the depths like a behemoth, a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. Its lower levels, vast and sprawling, stretched deep into the ocean floor, housing research facilities, hydroponic farms, and power plants that harnessed the very energy of the sea. Massive, iridescent domes protected entire districts, their surfaces shimmering with a mix of advanced materials and arcane enchantments.

Above the waves, Atlantis continued to reach for the sky. Sleek skyscrapers of crystal and metal pierced the clouds, their designs a harmonious blend of organic curves and geometric precision. Bridges of light connected these towering structures, with vehicles and pedestrians moving about in a carefully orchestrated dance of daily life. At the city's heart stood the Control Spire, a colossal tower that served as the nerve center of this aquatic metropolis, its peak adorned with pulsating energy fields that seemed to touch the heavens themselves.

"Beautiful, isn't it, Mr. Nwosu?" Dr. Calloway's voice was barely a whisper when she spoke, yet the message was still carried easily in the tense silence of the room.

Even as she spoke, her gaze never left the school of fish as they twisted and turned like a vortex until they finally drifted off into the distance. But as the sea life faded from view, Dr. Calloway’s eyes slowly and inexorably panned downward and met the horrified eyes of a dark-skinned man whose name tag read ‘Tobe Nwosu,’ the Director of Environmental Systems and Life Support.

The poor soul trembled like a leaf in a storm. His once pristine lab coat was now stained with blood from the multitude of lacerations on his head as one of Dr. Calloway's men held him by the collar. 

Seeing the abject horror on the poor him to face the director’s face, Dr. Calloway's lips curled into a soft smile as she slowly preened around to survey the room. Bodies of scientists, technicians, engineers, and security personnel lay scattered about, slumped over consoles or sprawled on the floor. The scent of ozone, iron, and something more primal hung in the air as a grim reminder of the violence that had transpired mere moments ago.

Dr. Calloway took a sip of her tea, savoring the moment before looking back out at the ocean’s depths. "It’s truly a marvel to behold…. A testament to humanity's drive and our near infinite adaptability." Her free hand gestured towards the sprawling cityscape. "We've built a paradise in the most inhospitable environment imaginable. We've tamed the ocean itself."

She finally turned to face Nwosu with a stern look in her eyes despite the smile playing on her lips. "But Atlantis isn't just beautiful. No… It's a reminder of our failures." 

The doctor's face was filled with abject disdain and scorn as her eyes turned toward the massive cables anchoring the colony against the ocean's relentless currents. To her, these marvels of engineering were not triumphant achievements but symbols of humanity's greatest weaknesses and deepest flaws.

Tobe Nwosu followed her gaze, causing him to tremble intensely as he struggled to comprehend the situation. "Why... why are you doing this? What's the point of this slaughter?" he asked in a shaking voice.

A short, amused huff left Dr. Calloway's mouth. Her leg slowly came down until her heel clicked against the floor as she approached the monitors. The click of each step was ominously punctuated with each tap of her high heels until she stopped and stared at the sun peeping through the surface.

"The point, Mr. Nwosu," she said, clasping her hands behind her back and turning to face him once more, "is to right the wrongs of our own hubris. To reshape humanity into what it always should have been."

Her eyes carried a fiery gleam as she continued, "Atlantis was meant to be our salvation, a new beginning for humanity in the face of a calamity of our own making.” Dr. Calloway slowly started making her way back to the director. “Instead, it has become our prison."

“A prison, in which you, Director Tobe Nwosu…” Dr. Calloway squatted and came eye to eye with Director Nwosu as she hugged her knees. “Will help me break us free of.”

Director Nwosu's eyes swam in his head as he struggled to process Dr. Calloway's words. He stuttered, unable to form a coherent thought for several moments before finally finding his voice.

"You’re... you’re insane," he sputtered, his words tumbling out in a rush. "You're all insane! Do you really think you're going to get away with this?"

His head shot from side to side, taking in each dark-armored soldier in the room. "This is treason of the highest magnitude!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "What were you thinking?! Did you really believe you could... could... murder us all and get away scot-free!?"

Nwosu's eyes widened with a mix of fear and defiance. "You’re all trapped like rats down here! There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide!"

Dr. Calloway remained squatted, hugging her knees throughout the director's impassioned diatribe and her smile never wavered. The expression on her face was reminiscent of a mother indulgently watching a child's imagination-fueled ramblings.

“Y-You! You should know better than anyone else!!” The director's gaze snapped back to Dr. Calloway, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "The committee has not only surrounded this place with the military but with your very own inventions! You'll all be washed away in a sea of automatons!"

As the last echoes of Nwosu's words faded, a heavy silence fell over the control room. The only sounds were the soft hum of machinery and the director's ragged breathing in the face of Dr. Calloway’s widening smile.

"Oh, Tobe," she replied with a voice dripping with false sympathy. "You still don't understand, do you?"

Dr. Callowayreared up to her full height as she looked down at the Director of Environmental Systems and Life Support, Tobe Nwosu. “Did you really think I’d be so careless as to leave an army of the most advanced automatons to ever exist in the hands of… the committee?” She replied in a tone that suggested she found the very notion as funny as she found it insulting. “Do you really think so little of me, Director?”

The director's righteous indignation crumbled, replaced by a look of dawning horror. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as he stared up at Dr. Calloway. Her hand moved slowly, deliberately, into her pocket, pulling out a flat, phone-like device.

"W-what? What does that mean?" Nwosu stammered as she tapped away at the device.

"Marissa!" he shouted with a voice cracking with desperation. "What does that mean?!"

Not even bothering with a reply, Dr. Calloway turned toward a large stack of monitors containing the security feed around the facility with an expression that contained a hint of pride. A formidable force slowly accumulated around the facility they occupied. Outside was a chilling fusion of human military might and advanced robotics, setting up a tight perimeter while officers gestured wildly and shouted commands at their subordinates.

Following behind the security forces, a legion of automatons of varying sizes marched in perfect synchronization. Some were the same size and shape as Atlantis’ security forces soldiers, their metallic forms gleaming under the harsh lights as they moved shoulder to shoulder with them. The human soldiers looked almost primitive next to their mechanical counterparts, as their movements were less precise and fluid.

But what really caught the director’s attention were the larger automatons. They towered over the rest while skittered about like some kind of arachnid. Each held a multitude of segmented, tentacle-like limbs that twisted and writhed before shooting forward with their own eerie intelligence. Even though they moved similarly, these mechanical monstrosities had a central mass instead of a spider's body. Their limbs sprouted from this central mass, and within that mass lay a core encased in a lattice of dark metallic segments as it pulsated with a deep, ominous red glow.

The director watched with growing horror as one of the massive spider-like automatons skittered across the screen. Its movements were unnaturally quick and precise for something of its size, defying the laws of physics and biology alike. The red light from its core pulsed and throbbed, casting eerie shadows through the gaps in its exoskeleton, giving the impression of a malevolent, alien intelligence lurking within.

Nwosu felt a growing sense of foreboding as he slowly turned to Dr. Calloway. His face was a mask of shock and dawning comprehension as she met his gaze with a smile that was equal parts prideful and menacing.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Dr. Calloway's voice cut through Nwosu's horrified trance. "The pinnacle of magitech robotics. A perfect fusion of advanced technology and arcane energies."

She stepped closer to the monitors, her eyes gleaming with an almost maternal pride. "Each one is a masterpiece of adaptive AI, advanced materials, and harnessed magical forces.” Her hand slowly stroked the device in her hand. “And they answer to me alone, Tobe. Not the committee, not the security forces…”

The woman’s smile grew even wider as she lifted the device in her hand. “Just… me." She said with finality as a singular finger dropped down and tapped on the screen.

Director Nwosu gasped before snapping his head back to the monitor and saw that the cores of the automatons flashed brilliantly before their bodies jerked violently as if struck by lightning.

And in an instant… all hell broke loose.

A giant metallic tendril swung ruthlessly at their flesh-and-blood counterparts that surrounded it, causing an entire formation of Atlantis’ security forces to fly through the air. Their body flipped like ragdolls before slamming into their comrades and the vehicles accompanying them. But the larger automatons weren’t the only ones to turn. The smaller humanoid machines turned towards their former masters.

Their limbs transformed into deadly weapons as razor-sharp blades erupted from their forearms. The metamorphosis was as swift as it was terrifying. What were once ordinary-looking robotic appendages suddenly split open, revealing complex mechanisms within.

With a sickening metallic screech, the humanoid m machines swiped at their former comrades, cutting them down viciously.

Director Nwosu gawked at the chaotic mess before him. His mind struggled to process the betrayal and destruction unfolding in the streets of Atlantis. The city was supposed to be a safe haven for all humanity, but the security feed showed a slaughterhouse as the human soldiers fell in droves. 

Most were caught completely off-guard and ended before they even knew what was happening. Others scrambled for cover or desperately tried to fight back the metallic demons within their midst. But it was hopeless as more of those larger automatons skittered into view. Their massive form dwarfed the desperately fighting humans, and their limbs lashed out with terrifying speed, crushing anyone and everyone.

The room around them shuddered violently as explosions reverberated through the building. Nwosu tore his eyes away from the monitors to look at Dr. Calloway, who wore a melancholic smile. Her eyes reflected the flashes of destruction that were not only displayed on the security cameras but the panoramic windows behind her.

Beyond her silhouette, the cityscape of Atlantis was erupting into chaos. Explosions bloomed across the underwater metropolis, shattering the illusion of invulnerability. To his horror, Nwosu saw one of the smaller habitat domes crack as spider-web fissures spread across its surface. In a matter of seconds, the dome failed completely, causing the ocean to rush in, swallowing an entire section of the city.

"Stop!" Nwosu cried out, his voice a mix of terror and disbelief. "Marissa, please! You have to stop this madness!" The world tumbled out desperately as he pleaded. "Think of all the innocents! This isn't reshaping humanity; it's destroying it! There has to be another way!"

Dr. Calloway looked away while her arms went up to hug herself as if seeking support. For a moment, she remained silent as the director looked up at her with a despairing look.

After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke in a voice that was barely above a whisper. "How long have we been down here, Tobe?" She replied sorrowfully, unable to meet his gaze. "Ten generations? Twenty?"

The director remained silent, unable to form a response. He knew precisely what she was going to say. He petitioned the committee to consider these drastic changes himself.

And not disappointing him, Dr. Calloway once again turned towards chaos unfolding on the monitors and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I have tried everything but this, Tobe. Everything." Her voice cracked slightly, revealing a glimpse of the weight she carried. "Negotiations, gradual reforms, campaigning, threats…”

She turned back to face him, her eyes now glistening with unshed tears. "This is the only way," the doctor said quietly in a voice filled with terrible certainty. Sometimes, the hand of fate must be forced for humanity to confront its mistakes and forge a new path."

Another explosion rocked the facility, but it was much closer this time. Debris rained down from the ceiling, but Dr. Calloway stood unmoved, her posture remaining resolute.

"I take no joy in this, Tobe. But sometimes, the role of the shepherd is not just to guide but to cull the flock for the greater good." She reached out, placing a hand on the director's shoulder. "I hoped you’d understand… This isn't the end of humanity. It's a new beginning."

As if to punctuate her words, a massive tremor shook the building. In the distance, through the panoramic windows, they watched as cable broke loose, causing a massive residential dome to tetter over. It didn’t take long for the strut supporting the structure to snap like a twig and send the dome careening into a trench.

“Oh god…” Director Nwosu let out a weep. “Oh god…. What have you done?”

The director gasped for air as he watched the dome full of men, women, and children disappear into the abyss. "None of them had anything to do with this..." he choked out, looking up at Dr. Calloway as if she was a monster, a demon incarnate. "What have you become...?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

But even as he spoke, swarms of lifeboats filled the water as the rest of the colony started the evacuation. The ocean teemed with these vessels as a smile full of relief and triumph crossed Dr. Calloway's face. She had made an insane gamble, and it was paying off. The people of Atlantis were escaping to the world above where they belonged. 

To reclaim and build upon the land, just like their forefathers had.

Yet, her work wasn't done. There was one last crucial task to complete. She had to ensure that this glorious city would remain in the annals of history and stay there, never to be used again. Atlantis had to be more than a footnote; it needed to be a cautionary tale, a reminder of humanity's hubris and the price of isolation.

Dr. Calloway turned her gaze back to the Director of Environmental Systems and Life Support. She knew that only he could fully scuttle this place, but she also knew he would never help her willingly, not after all that she'd done.

She addressed the director in a calm but commanding tone. "Tobe, I need your access codes. The attacks by the automatons will continue until every soul has evacuated.” She informed him of his plan while watching a snarl grow on his face. “Then, using your access, we'll flood every dome. It's the only way to ensure Atlantis can never be reclaimed."

The director opened his mouth to refuse, but before he could utter a word, Dr. Calloway's look turned sinister and dangerous. 

Closing the gap with him, Dr. Calloway’s eyes glinted with a cold, calculated threat. "Before you reject me, Tobe, I'd like to point out one crucial detail." Her voice was low and menacing as she stood just above the director. There's one dome that has yet to be evacuated."

"It's the dome with your family, Tobe." Dr. Calloway gestured towards a particular dome that wasn’t marred by battle.

Nwosu's eyes widened in horror as he realized the implications of her words. His gaze darted between the untouched dome on the screen and Dr. Calloway's impassive face.

"You... you wouldn't," he stammered.

But Dr. Calloway's eyes bore into Director Nwosu's, and not a hint of hesitation painted her features. "How many do you think have died already, Tobe? Do you really think it would matter?"

A long, tense silence ensued as they just stared at each other as nothing but the sounds of distant alarms and the occasional rumble of explosions could be heard. Director Tobe Nwosu held her gaze until he ultimately lowered his head.

"Set every structure to flood to on a 24-hour timer.” Dr. Calloway commanded as she lowered her arm.

Closing his eyes, Nwosu felt a sharp pain in his chest as his teeth grit together so tightly he thought they’d shatter. "Computer, this is Director Tobe Nwosu. Authorization code: Delta-Seven-Echo-Nine-Zulu-Tango. Initiate total flood protocol, timer set to 24 hours." He ordered the control room's automated system through a choked voice.

A beam of light scanned over the director from above as the computer processed his command. "Voiceprint identified. Biometric scan confirmed. Please provide secondary authentication, Director Nwosu."

With trembling fingers, Nwosu placed his hand on a nearby console. "Secondary authentication: Four-seven-two-niner-five-Alpha-foxtrot."

The computer chimed in acknowledgment. "Authentication complete. Flood protocol initiated. Timer set for 24 hours."

A large digital clock with deep red numbers appeared over the monitors of the panoramic view, striking a stark contrast against the ocean background.

Satisfaction formed on Dr. Calloway’s face as she nodded. "Thank you, Tobe. You've done the right thing."

Director Nwosu looked up at her with eyes filled with despair and resignation. "Have I? Or have I just condemned us all?"

"You've given humanity a chance at a fresh start," Dr. Calloway replied. She turned to the panoramic windows, watching as more lifeboats made their way to the surface behind the timer as it counted down from 24:00:00.

It was about time for Dr. Calloway to make her own escape, but she still had one last loose end. Her gaze went up toward one of her soldiers, who approached and presented her with a magitech revolver with a sleek and silvery body that gleamed under the emergency lights—blue pulsating energy coursed through the cylinder and along its barrel. The revolver was both elegant and menacing, a perfect blend of classic and arcane elements.

Dr. Calloway took the weapon in her delicate hands and held it in an unfamiliar and awkward manner as her hand raised, pointing the gun directly at the director's head.

Nwosu knew it was going to come to this. But seeing her hands shake and the revolver rattle brought some solace to him. Due to the tears flowing down her face, it seemed she held on to some vestments of humanity.

"I'm sorry, Tobe," she whispered as her voice cracked with emotion. "I truly am."

A bright blue light momentarily engulfed Tobe Nwosu’s vision before the darkness took him.

"Holy shit, bro." JJ breathed as a stylized logo slowly appeared, pulsing with the same ethereal blue energy as the gun. The words ‘FRUITS OF EDEN’ materialized, accompanied by a tense, synth-driven beat that oozed with intensity.

JJ's vision began to blur as the world swirled around him in a disorienting mix of colors and shapes. When he finally felt what he was looking at was becoming more coherent and sharp, he found himself stumbling around as the building shook violently around him.

"Woaaahhh..." he groaned in a woozy voice, not quite used to this intense of a VR experience. It felt eerily real as if he were actually there in Atlantis. True to the game's specifications, all he had to do was imagine moving his body, and his virtual self responded in kind in real time with virtually no lag whatsoever. The surreal sensation made him question reality for a moment as he stood there to get his bearings.

Lifting his hand and wiggling his fingers, JJ looked all around his as he began to explore his body. His eyes widened in amazement as he looked down at his feet as if it were really him. 

"Whoa," he whispered, continuing to make strange movements - touching his face, patting his chest, even attempting a small jump. He couldn't really feel anything too crazy in the physical sense, but whatever his headset was doing was tricking his brain thoroughly enough for him to feel a shadow of sensations. He assumed it was some kind of advanced play on the phantom limb syndrome or something.

The building shook violently once more as screams and the sounds of battle echoed from just outside what appeared to be a bedroom door. JJ spun around, taking in his virtual surroundings. The room was a weird take on living quarters by mixing a strange blend of magical urban fantasy and cyberpunk as he looked around at the sleek furniture and holographic displays flickering with warning messages. 

"This is insane," JJ muttered to himself, still marveling at the responsiveness of his virtual body. 

As his heart raced with excitement, JJ looked at himself in the mirror and saw that he was wearing an outfit strikingly similar to what some techwear hipster would rock. A dark, hooded poncho draped over his shoulders, cinched at the waist with a utilitarian belt. Beneath, he wore loose-fitting cargo pants tucked into sturdy combat boots. The ensemble was completed with gloves and various magitech attachments, giving him a sleek, futuristic look.

Looking at his face this time, JJ found that the character he created accurately reflected what he saw as an idealized version of himself. He was fit and decently muscular, with short but still aesthetically pleasing scruff and well-styled hair. 

JJ grabbed his chin, looking himself up and down with a smirk. "Dayum… I look hella sexy..." he said, admiring his virtual self.

The strange dichotomy between his self-admiration and the sounds of screaming and battle outside wasn't lost on him. Wanting to experience more, JJ turned away from the mirror and went for the door. As his hand reached out and pressed on the control panel, the door instantly hissed open, revealing a flurry of panic outside. Men, women, and children ran for their lives while security officers in armor did their best to corral everyone out while yelling instructions.

One security officer already had his weapon drawn when looked at JJ, and shouted, "Hurry! We're evacuating to the surface! This isn't a drill--" The officer's hand reached out to grab JJ but he froze in place.

JJ’s eyebrow raised as he tried to move forward but found himself stuck in place. Nothing he did worked.

Worry started to creep in when suddenly, a message populated his vision:

ERROR CODE: 7734 CONNECTION TO SERVER  LOST

"Of course… Of course, you’d crash on launch." JJ groaned as he closed the error message and returned to the login screen. “Why wouldn’t you?” He grumbled before attempting to reconnect.

However, when he tried to log back in, he was met with a devastating sight: a queue number of 3,055,204 and an estimated wait time of 15 hours. 

JJ's physical hands started to shake as they approached his face. His fingers slid under his extremely expensive new-generation VR gear, and with a mix of rage and resignation, JJ pulled off his VR equipment and looked down at the built-in Electroencephalography (EEG) equipment.

"FUCK...!!!!" he let out a furious roar before slamming his hand into his desk.