*7 Hours later*
I take a show and wash up my body which I have at least attempted to keep in good condition since I know my mother would've scolded me for that. My mother used to be a model before a banker and broker. But even after that she always made sure the family was healthy even when I was young. I have a very small build with small definitions of my muscles but nothing major impressive. One can say I don't eat any protein. I am 5'8, weigh about 150 pounds, and have black hair and brown eyes. Or Brown eye. I finish drying my body up and begin leaving the shower until Seila began speaking.
[Sir, apologies to make you return to the bathroom, but I highly suggest brushing your hair. Wouldn't you want your chances of being a candidate to be higher if your hair was done well?]
*Sigh* "Fine MOM!"
[I am sorry sir, but I am not your "mom" I am Seila, your-]
"I know I know!" I say waving my hand around
[Sir, why are you speaking out loud?]
I don't know. Does it matter?
[No sir.]
*3 hours later*
I have been vegging for a couple of hours and when checking the clock realize it is 10:40 am. I think it is good enough to head to the location the site mentioned and volunteer. Maybe the project can find something helpful for me. Even though the project has nothing to do with the disease.
I leave my apartment and begin making my way down to the nearest bus stop about 4 blocks away to get to Gunzahn Street. There I can get interviewed.
*59 minutes later*
[Sir, I have detected discomfort in your gluteus maximus, do you need some relief to]
My ass is good, thank you Seila for the concern. Just sitting for this long on a bus kind of is uncomfortable. But isn't life-changing.
[Very well sir.]
*9 minutes later*
"Next stop, Gunzahn Street! Five more blocks!"
Here is the stop then.
*Pshhh-Fwashh*
Geez, buses have sounded the same for over 80 years...I would think they would use an electric door which would be smoother and more silent.
[Due to money budgets in the government in recent years, and due to the disease, war, and domestic issues, the public transportation funding has been in a static position for about 50 years.]
Yeah, I figured. I have been living in this world and have seen in history class to see that conflict rising. KDD didn't help but maybe it at least redirected war funding to something more progressive for the commoners.
As I arrive at the front Federal volunteer facility I see there are not many others around there. I would assume a lot of people volunteer for the feds. Nationalism and all that. Never been a big nationalist. I do my part, as little as it is. But I am not against assisting where I can.
I walk through the door and only see a single woman standing at the front desk. She is wearing formal attire a suit and glasses. Black hair, in a bun, fair white skin, and brown eyes. Quite beautiful actually. Damn...Now I wish I could've dated a girl. Being 16 and not having friends for middle or high school does take a toll on your mind for relationships.
[Sir, perhaps you could ask for her number? I'm sure she-]
No offense, but I don't think you're the type I would get dating advice from.
[I don't see why sir, my programming allows me to have a database for psychology and recognizing social cues. I am-]
"Hello ma'am, I am here for a volunteer opportunity," I ask, ignoring Seila's monologue.
[Hmph...]
Excuse me, did you just "Hmph" me? That's a first...
I wait for a response in my head but it is silent. She Must so be salty. That's so anime.
"Yes sir, we do have various openings. Would you like me to show them to you, or do you have a pick already?" she asks
"I would like to apply for this uh," I open my wristwatch to remember the name, "Project Protokin"
Her eyes widen a bit but start typing rapidly. She didn't respond to my selection in a manner that is helpful so I wait to give her time.
"I have one opening. You are the last one."
"Oh, so others have done this as well?"
"Indeed. However, the price has been increased from $80,000, to now $3,920,000 sir."
"That...A big jump from what I read."
"Indeed. However, due to some circumstances, we are in desperate need, and will greatly compensate."
"Alright then...Where do I sign up?"
"Here sir, signature, date of birth, address, and so on."
A digital hologram appears on my wrist watch and I walk over to a chair to begin signing everything.
*19 minutes later*
"Alright then, I applied. When do we begin?"
"Splendid! We can at 8:00 pm"
"That's...Very later than I thought. But okay then"
*Hours later*
I spent the time of my day taking a local tour of the city just to kill time, spend money at a restaurant alone, and checked out the movies and other stuff. To be honest. My legs were kind of tired.
"Hello? I am back for the volunteering at 8:00 PM?"
I see the same woman sitting at the desk still and she gets up standing at a height of 6'2. She is much taller than I thought she was.
She then begins gesturing for me to follow her. She pulls out a card and walks over to the door behind the desk. Instead of the main door in the lobby.
I follow her and get a bit of an uneasy feeling. Feel like I am about to get killed in the shadows now. Not that it will matter. I am dying very soon anyways.
As I follow her through the various hallways, they become wider and more open. Eventually becoming more illuminated and metallic. Then becoming full-blown Advanced severely secured doors that I doubt 500 pounds of TNT could get through.
At this point, I am guessing the volunteering is just to see whether or not these hallways are too lengthy to walk and I get paid at the end of this.
[Do you need assistance? I can release some Adernal, or tell the woman you have KDD and need to]
I am good. I think we are almost there anyways."
*30 minutes later*
I have been walking for over 30 minutes! What the fuck is this place?! I might as well be exercising!
"We are here now sir," she says stopping and placing her card up to the keycard reading which begins using a red scanner.
"Final-" I cut myself off realizing I said that out loud.
"Ahem, my bad kind of didn't know I would be walking for a long period"
"It is alright sir, please follow me now" We both enter the slowly opening door to see a large room that seems to be a circular room that I am guessing is the size of a baseball field and some kind of capsule in the center. The room is maybe 7 stories high. Lights illuminate the room entirely.
"Please sir, step in the capsule" The capsule opens up and a wooshing sound comes from it. Indicating that it was pressurized.
I do as she says and step inside of it only for it to suddenly slam shut and hear the noise of the air pressurizing again. My body feels lighter abruptly.
She gives a gentle bow and begins walking away. I look up, and around the window of the facility and I do wonder what specifically am I volunteering for. Assisting with a teleportation project is vague of what I am doing.
Suddenly the lights begin to brighten up and I have no choice but to close my eyes.
[Sir, I believe you should turn your head away from the light instead of shutting them just to be safe. These lights are not on my archives of whether or not they are safe even with shut eyes.]
I guess to be safe. They didn't tell me what I am testing or being tested on.
*Elsewhere 1 mile away*
"Sir, the testing procedures have begun" A man with blond hair in a white lab coat steps up.
"Good, this will be the final test. All the others have been...great failures. If we don't successfully present good results, the government will officially shut us down." an Asian man with grey hair and glasses leans forward on his desk.
"Sir, how will we explain to the family of the other 49 other volunteers' fate?" another voice calls out in the group.
Silence runs in the room and after several seconds the Asian man stands up.
"We will compensate them with funds we receive after this experiment. I am sure of it."
He gets up from his desk, with a demeanor that strikes authority and obedience among his peers. He walks over to a large monitor which shows the room that is circular and a capsule in the center of the room.
"Let us begin"
"Yes, sir!"
Other scientists return to their tasks and many auditory noises begin to manifest from the video. electric sparks begin arcing over around the circular room beginning to rise in temperature.
"Status?" the Asian man asks
"Temperatures are rising more stably this time, opening up to the roof now for releasing of power."
"Good, is site 2 ready to receive its product?"
"Yes sir!" another man responded in another part of the room, "Site 2 has there roof open and ready to receive its package 10 miles from here!"
"Let us pray this works," he states
*Elsewhere back in the testing site 1*
I open my eyes a bit and see a large amount of electricity arcing around and between my capsule. Even striking the capsule a couple of times. But the capsule doesn't respond to the impacts of the strikes.
[Sir, this capsule is likely made out of Ademine]
Isn't Ademine the material that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars for less than a couple of ounces?
[Indeed, whoever is funding this program no doubt has a large pool of resources available to them.
Adeline is a man-made material that is 20 times are strong as steel as well as 1/3 its weight of it. The way it is worked and manipulated is the result of nanobots called D-17. The nanobot can change the molecular structure to be weaker and be changed into a shape without using a large amount of heat or physical labor. But the nanobots themselves cost millions of dollars in just a couple of teaspoons full. So whoever is funding this Protokin project no doubt is rich as shit!
Suddenly I hear loud cracking noises more than the electric shock noises near me. I look up from the capsule and see dark clouds forming. I know I walked for a while, but I don't remember dark clouds forming when I was taking a bus back here. Science is crazy.
*CRASH!*
Suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes the capsule once causing it to shake a bit. I mean, that was kind of scary. At least this thing is insulated as well. At least I would assume so since I am not dead.
Then *CRASH CRASH CRASH* in rapid succession of lightning strikes on the capsule. Yep, I am definitely in an insulated capsule.
*Elsewhere a mile from Site 1*
"Sir, the lighting strikes appear to generate additional energy to the testing as planned. Stabl at the moment with occasional simultaneous strikes."
"Good." the Asian man says.
He continues to look at the screen of the testing in action and a thought comes to his head.
"Who is the volunteer this time? If this keeps up they will become a millionaire after the success of the project."
"A 16-year-old named Daniel Wu, male, resident of-"
"What?!" the Asian man calls out, "What's my son doing here!"
"That I am unsure of sir. But he is a participant in this test. So I suppose 3 million dollars are going to your family from the government. Not that it matters sir haha! Your family is already rich. Literally trillionaires. 3 million is a small drop in your life." he says returning to his work.
"Please god, make this test successful."
*4 minutes later*
"Everything is stable and I believe the generation of energy is enough to work at the moment. I think we are ready sir."
"Then, commence the sequence. Begin Protokin." the Asian male speaks with determination.
As he turns a key he had in his pocket, suddenly a strong buzz is heard across the whole facility. As the capsule begins to spin slowly but increases.
*Test site 1*
Why is the capsule moving? Wait no, this is likely a part of the experiment.
I maintain my composure and stay in position. But the capsules are increasing in speed, pinning ym against the back of the seating and actually making my vision seem funny. All the crackling of electricity and spinning is making me become unaware of my surroundings.
*Back at testing command center*
"Sir! We are about to commence the teleportation, in less than 10 seconds."
"Begin!" the Asian man yells
As 6 levels are pulled, the capsule begins lighting up with blue and white light as the lightning strikes stop.
"It's working sir!" a scientist speaks positively.
The Asian man smiles with relief that the experiment is working"
"SIR!" a man yells interrupting his bliss of relief.
"What is it?"
"The clouds, something is happening! I can't figure it out! The cloud is building something up and I don't know what it is."
"Tell me as much as you can!"
"The cloud is, IS!, The Cloud is about to strike the capsule 100 times the strength it has done beforehand. The capsule has become a lightning rod and the clouds are acting up somehow!"
"Shit!... Sh-shut it off!" the Asian man yells
"It's too late sir, the strike is about to happen in less than 2 seconds!"
Everyone stands up to look at the monitor as suddenly a large lightning strike dives straight down into the capsule causing everything to shake even though it is a mile away. Everyone braces for a potential explosion and it happens. But not an explosion of force, but an explosion of light that can be seen from space.
*FWOOSH*
A blinding light blinds the footage, and from the window from looking over Site 1 can be seen a large ball of light that is the size of a sports dome.
After about 10 seconds the light fades and everyone seems to be safe. The storm vanishes as sooner as it started leaving no trace behind.
"Sir, Site 2 has not received its package. I think I think it was another failure.
"Huff, huff, huff....G-get me down to Site 1, now!" the Asian man demands as he runs out of the room.
*17 minutes later*
"Please god, let him be okay. I can't fail now, not before I started a cure."
*5 minutes later*
"Show me the capsule now!" he demands. Another scientist shows him the capsule which shows smoke and a very heated room.
"Where's the boy?!"
"I don't know." another response
"Then get me someone who does know! Was he taken to the infirmary?"
"No, sir, I mean we don't know. He just vanished. When we arrived the capsule was gone. We assume the test was a success and he was teleported to Site 2...I suppose it was another failure.
The man falls to his knees and looks at the capsule. In despair, his son is gone. The power of the lightning might've somehow been powerful enough to get through the insulation, and even destroy the Ademine material somehow. Leaving no trace.
"I failed you..." he says