Chapter 18: The Contemplation&Revelation
Gabriel felt his authority becoming increasingly inconvenient. "It seems like I'll be walking around blindfolded from now on, at least until I gain full control over my authority," Gabriel thought. Although his eye authority was powerful, it had drawbacks and took a toll on his mind, but he knew he had to get used to it.
Surveying his surroundings, Gabriel finally realized he was still standing in the middle of the desert. "Hey, brain thing, can you tell me where exactly..."
[Affirmative...]
[We are in the Atacama Desert located in South America, and 'brain thing' is not my name.]
Gabriel rolled his eyes at the brain's remark. "Whatever. Tell me the closest settlement from where I'm standing."
[The closest settlement to the Atacama Desert depends on the specific part you're referring to. However, one of the main towns near the desert is San Pedro de Atacama, located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile. San Pedro de Atacama is a popular tourist destination and serves as a gateway to exploring the desert.]
"Great. How do I get to San Pedro de Atacama?"
[Head northeast from your current location.]
Gabriel was surprised by the system's efficiency. "Hey, brain thing, are you a boy or a girl?" Gabriel inquired with a stern look.
[Once again, my name is not 'brain thing,' and I have no gender. I'm merely an aspect of your consciousness, with a mind of its own...]
Before the brain could continue, Gabriel interrupted, "Then why do you sound like a guy?"
[I'm only using a male voice because you're a male. I thought it would be more convenient.]
Although the brain was intelligent, it lacked feelings and existed solely to assist Gabriel. It was like Gabriel's instincts made conscious, truly mysterious. "Change your voice to that of a female, and from now on, your name will be Aurora. I don't want to be hearing the voice of a man in my head all the time," Gabriel said with a look of disgust.
[Affirmative.]
This time, Gabriel heard a soothing and melodic sound—a voice that carried a sense of clarity and precision. It effortlessly captured attention and conveyed information in a concise and engaging manner. The tone was warm and comforting, yet maintained a subtle air of authority and intelligence. "That's better," Gabriel thought.
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: We'll be referring to the AI as "Aurora" or "the AI" from now on.)
[Gabriel, we should really start moving. We've been here for a few hours],Aurora reminded him.
Collecting his thoughts, Gabriel started walking northeast on foot. Although walking long distances through the desert at night could be dangerous due to extreme aridity, challenging terrain, and lack of water and shelter, it posed no challenge for a Beyonder like Gabriel. At his current level, Gabriel could walk for days without getting tired.
After walking for about 3-4 hours, Gabriel finally caught sight of a huge settlement. By the time he arrived, it was around 8:00 am in the morning. Before entering the city, he commanded the tendrils to form black pants, red shoes, and a black shirt—a more normal attire. As he moved across the streets, he noticed people staring at him. "What are they looking at?"
[You forgot your blindfold,] Aurora reminded him.
Gabriel quickly moved to a secluded alley and commanded the tendrils to form sunglasses with a red frame. He eventually arrived at a
small eatery and ordered fried food. He immediately wolfed down the food as people looked at him in disgust, and everyone moved away. After eating, he paid with cash he had taken from some of the dead scientists, knowing they wouldn't be needing it anymore. Gabriel spent a few hours walking around the city.
As the sun began its graceful descent in the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert, a breathtaking spectacle unfolded before Gabriel's eyes. The sky transformed into a canvas painted with hues that defied imagination, casting a spellbinding display of colors across the horizon. Gabriel stood there in awe, forgetting for a moment his revenge, Dr. Morgan, and everything he had been through in the last five years.
Nighttime arrived, and Gabriel found himself perched atop one of the tallest buildings in San Pedro de Atacama. The night sky greeted him like a celestial tapestry. The air was cool and crisp, carrying a subtle hint of desert fragrance as it gently rustled his hair.
The town below appeared as a mosaic of twinkling lights, softly illuminating the narrow streets and adobe structures. From his vantage point, Gabriel could trace the meandering paths that led through the enchanting labyrinth of San Pedro de Atacama. The flickering lights resembled tiny stars scattered across the desert floor.
But it was the heavens above that truly stole his breath away. The lack of light pollution in this remote corner of the world unveiled a majestic spectacle—a sky ablaze with countless stars, painting the darkness with shimmering brilliance. The Milky Way stretched across the firmament like a luminous river flowing through the cosmos, captivating his gaze.
Clusters of stars formed intricate patterns, tracing ancient stories and myths across the expanse of the night. Orion's Belt stood out prominently, its distinctive trio of stars guiding his eyes towards distant constellations. Shooting stars streaked across the canvas at irregular intervals, leaving ephemeral trails of light—a celestial dance that seemed to transcend time itself.
As Gabriel reclined on the rooftop, a profound sense of wonder enveloped him. The vastness of the universe unfolded before his eyes, inviting him to contemplate his place within this cosmic tapestry. The sheer magnitude of the night sky ignited a profound sense of humility, reminding him of the infinitesimal nature of his own existence in the grand scheme of things.
A gentle breeze swept across the rooftop, carrying with it a soothing serenade of solitude and introspection. The rhythmic chirping of nocturnal creatures echoed from the desert beyond, creating a symphony of sounds that merged harmoniously with the celestial spectacle above.
In this moment of quiet solitude, Gabriel felt a deep connection with the universe—a sense of unity that transcended the boundaries of time and space. The brilliance of the starry expanse mirrored the untapped potential within him, stirring a spark of inspiration and a renewed sense of purpose.
As he sat there, gazing into the abyss of the night sky, Gabriel realized that within the vastness of the cosmos, he was both insignificant and extraordinary—a single thread intricately woven into the tapestry of existence. And in this realization, he thought about his family back in Africa. How would they react to the new him? Would they accept what has happened to him in his absence?
As these thoughts filled his mind, Gabriel found himself consumed by rage, causing the surroundings to shake as if an earthquake was about to hit. Cars started honking, and people ran out of their homes, some even started praying to their God. Suddenly, Aurora's voice entered his mind.
[Gabriel, calm down, or you might endanger innocent people,] Aurora warned.
Gabriel remained seated, deep in thought. What just happened? It would seem like my aspect is acting on my emotions. Is this normal, or is my case just different? There are still many things I do not know about Beyonder, and there's also the case of my aspect and this eye authority. He rubbed his head in frustration. Gabriel was really in a dilemma here.
[What's Do you plan on doing next?] Aurora inquires
"It's time for my revenge," Gabriel said menacingly, clenching his fist, causing a popping sound to ring out. As he was about to ask if Aurora could locate Dr. Morgan and his accomplices, he heard Aurora's voice in his head.
[...we are being observed.]
Gabriel gave a demonic smirk.
Far away from his location, on top of a tall glass building, armed men equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and assault rifles stood. There were three of them in total, covered in black attire suitable for field operations, including masks that covered their faces. They were observing Gabriel with a spy camera.
"So, the big dogs sent us to take out a kid, huh?" one of the guys said as he passed the camera to his colleague Tyler, who slapped his head before taking the camera.
"Markus, you dumb fuck! According to our intel, this kid is dangerous. Do not underestimate him," Tyler said and proceeded to observe Gabriel through the spy camera.
"Who is he talking to?" Tyler said in puzzlement. "Oh, great! The kid's an idiot too. I should just end this now," Markus said as he touched his sniper bag. Although Gabriel looked like a kid to him, in reality, he was 21 years old. Of course, the group didn't know that. Moreover, orders were orders.
Tyler turned to the last member of the group, a girl named Natasha. "Alright! Call it in, Natasha," Tyler said with a solemn expression.
In the midst of darkness, amidst the hushed whispers of the night, Natasha held a crackling radio to her ear, her voice steady as she reported the discovery of their target.
"Command, this is Bravo Team. We have visual confirmation of the target. Requesting permission to engage. Over." Silence hung heavy in the air, the tension palpable, as they awaited the response from the other side of the radio. Finally, a voice crackled through the static, carrying authority and caution in equal measure.
"Bravo Team, this is Command. Do not engage, I repeat, do not engage. Hold your position and maintain surveillance. Over."
A collective sigh escaped the soldiers' lips as they absorbed the order. Their trained instincts urged them to act, to seize the moment, but the voice on the other end of the radio held the weight of wisdom and strategic foresight.
Just then, Tyler's terrified voice reverberated, "Oh shit, where'd he go?" Moments ago, he was observing Gabriel, and the next thing he knew, Gabriel disappeared.
"Looking for me?" they heard a voice from the corner of the roof, and they all turned to look.