As Delson began to Meditate again he saw the crystal floating in front of him once again. The iridescent light soothing his mind once again. The images of his past began once again flashing in front of him. Like a speedrun therapy session, the painful memories flooded his mind as he dealt with years of pain. The memories of his childhood and the events that led him to become the person he was today.
The memories flowed through his life until it began to show the events of the crucible. An underground laboratory that he was overseeing with the Core 7. The turning point of the human race. It was supposed to be the start of a new technological era. The energy they were harnessing was able to power devices at an alarming efficient rate. As the memory began to clear up he found his mind merged with his past self.
"Sir we are ready to commence the experiment with the energy source Gaia." said the lead scientist. "We are awaiting your approval for the initiation of the experiment, sir." Delson looked over the status panel of the energy source and everything seemed to be within the parameters. "Go ahead with the experiment," Delson responded. The scientist looked over to the energy source and stated "Begin experiment One Eight Nine Two Alpha."
"Initializing experiment One Eight Nine Two Alpha in Three, Two, One, Initializing commenced," said another scientist. A robotic voice began to speak over the intercom. Status Alert: Please stand behind the red line as experiment commences. Experiment commencing, All parameters are within the green zone. Experiment ten percent complete. Experiment twelve percent… Status Alert Anomaly Detected.
Status Alert Termination of the Experiment Commencing.
Status Alert Termination of the Experiment Failed Evacuation of facility recommended.
"What is going on?" Delson yelled. "We don't know, sir," the lead scientist responded. "There is a large energy spike happening." "Get it under control now," demanded Delson. "I'm trying, sir, the system isn't responding," responded the lead scientist. "We need to evacuate now sir," one of the other scientists interrupted. "The energy spike is on the scale of a nuclear warhead going off in this lab, we will be dead if we don't leave now." Delson was stunned. This shouldn't be happening, never before had the energy spiked before. As the scientists began to evacuate, The lead scientist noticed Delson just standing there. "Sir, we need to go now!" The scientist pushed Delson through the door just as the door slammed shut on the arm of the scientist, slicing it off just above the elbow.
Delson looked back in a panic. This can't be happening, this is all wrong. Delson thought. The lead scientist was beating on the door screaming as she began screaming and crying. Delson watched in horror as the scientist was beating her arms on the thick glass door. The bloody stump of her arm squirting blood across the door and floor. As Delson stood stunned two armed guards grabbed him under the armpits and began dragging him towards the exit of the facility. As they dragged him away Delson watched as the scientist began losing strength from the blood loss and slid down to lay on the floor as a wave of energy pulsed out of the energy source and vaporized the scientist in an instant.
"NNOOOOO!" Delson screamed. The guards kept dragging Delson through the corridors as the emergency blast doors began slamming shut behind them. "We aren't going to make it if we keep dragging you, sir" One of the guards shouted. "You need to snap out of it now. You can deal with the emotions later, right now you need to survive." Delson started to say something back as the other guard slapped him across the face. "Run you idiot or die here we are done dragging you." The guard began sprinting down the corridor shortly followed by Delson and the other guard.
The blast doors kept slamming shut behind them as they ran. Just before the exit of the facility Delson got caught on the railing leading to the exit door, Delson watched as the guard who slapped him sprinted out the exit door. The second guard grabbed Delson's Jacket and ripped it off the railing. As soon as the jacket was torn free Delson sprinted up the stairs and out of the facility and turned around just in time to see the second guard come out the door only to get caught between the blast doors as they slammed shut over the exit smashing the guard into a red meat paste. Delson fell to the ground and began punching his fists into the ground screaming at the top of his lungs "Why is this happening!!" He was right there one more step is all it would have taken to be free of the door." The other guard walked over "Sir we don't have time for this, we need to get you on the helicopter with the other survivors and evacuate the area sir". Delson looked up and glared at the guard, "Fine, lead the way." Delson looked back one more time at the blood splattered door from where the guard who stopped to help him get free of the railed had died. The guard would have lived if he hadn't stopped to help him just like the scientist. Two Deaths because of him. Two Deaths that need not have happened.
Was this the cost of their hubris? They were warned not to mess with this energy source, but with the possibility of endless energy was simply too enticing not to try. Were they wrong for trying? Were they wrong for going against his warning? The others had told him there was no evidence of his claim about the energy source being too unstable for this experiment. As Delson got on the Helicopter and they took off into the air there was a loud rumble from deep within the earth. Delson looked down just as a loud explosive reached his ears and saw a shockwave blast out from the location of the lab's location.
What did he know that they didn't? How did he know this was going to happen?
The Memory faded as Delson opened his eyes. "System I accept the chain quest." Delson said.
Chain Quest Available: The path of kindness? Confirm your decision?
"I confirm," responded Delson.