Tssssssssss... tssssssssss...
"Ugh…"
A blinding flash pierced the darkness.Silhouettes flickered in and out — shadows passing sleek instruments and glass vials between gloved hands. The faint blue glow of bio-chambers painted their suits in cold light.
"Pulse is normal. No abnormalities detected."
"Good. This one's promising. Begin preparations for the next phase."
The sterile hum of machinery filled the room — endless, patient, precise. Transparent tubes pulsed with pale liquid, feeding into a capsule where a figure lay still beneath glass.
After a Long While…
The chamber had dimmed to half-light. A mechanical arm stitched cables along the edge of the pod, its servo motors whining faintly.
"Report, now," the commander's voice echoed from a raised observation deck. His uniform bore the insignia of a dead nation — one that had once ruled the skies.
"Sir," a researcher replied, adjusting his glasses nervously, "the test subject is showing… abnormalities. During the fourth phase, recovery of Project Third Eye is proving difficult. We need more subjects to obtain accurate data."
The commander leaned back, shadows tracing the scars along his jaw. The steel walls around him were lined with holographic monitors — maps of unknown worlds, shifting constellations, and data streams that pulsed like arteries.
"I see…" he muttered. "It's getting harder to acquire new test subjects. The IPF has been increasing their inspections."He exhaled through his teeth. "Use the ones we already have. No excuses."
"Understood, sir."
The subordinate saluted and hurried through the sliding door.Metal hissed. Silence returned.
The commander stared at the flickering monitor before him. A lone symbol spun slowly on the screen: a triangle with an eye at its center — the mark of Project Third Eye.
"I need to accelerate the plans," he murmured. "Before it's too late."
He pressed a button on his communicator. "Contact Void."
A long tone answered.
tooooot... toooooot...
Then, a distorted voice filtered through static — low, cold, almost amused.
"Fancy seeing you contact me first. What is it?"
"I need to know—has the IPF made any movements? How long until they strike?"
"Difficult to say," Void replied. "They're growing suspicious. I'm watching their informants, but it's not easy. What about the subject I sent you? Any results?"
The commander hesitated."That one showed promise... at first. But now it's breaking down in the third phase. We'll need more."
"I see. The mortality rate in that phase is always the highest. Don't worry—new subjects will arrive soon. The ascension from the farm is nearly complete."
"That will do for now," the commander said flatly. "Contact me once your end is done."
Click.
He sighed, rubbing his temples."If only this would end... I'd vanish and take that long vacation I was promised."
A Week Later…
WEEEERRRRRRR—
The base shook violently as crimson alarms lit the corridors. Walls pulsed with emergency runes.Technicians scrambled between stations; holographic screens exploded in static.
"What now!?"
"Sir!" A soldier burst into the command deck. "The IPF has located this base! We must evacuate or everything will be exposed!"
"What!?" The commander slammed his fist against the console. "How did they find us?"
"Sir... it's Void. He betrayed us — sold the informants' data, revealed our coordinates."
"That traitor..." His voice cracked with rage. "After everything I've done for him? Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, sir. Our shadows confirmed it."
"Then initiate the escape protocol. Destroy all data and erase this base. What about the experiments? Any completed?"
"Protocol already active, sir. All information deleted. Only one test subject remains — one phase from completion."
"Cancel it. Commence the Hokote Plan immediately."
"Understood. Launch sequence will take one hour."
"Do it. I'll buy us as much time as I can."
He stared at the ceiling — a ceiling that trembled now with distant bombardment."You can't stop me now, Void... I'll have my revenge soon enough."
Moments Later…
BOOOOOOOOM!
The lower decks erupted. A wave of dust swept through the corridor, carrying the smell of burning ozone and molten steel.
"Sir! The IPF has reached the perimeter! They're firing plasma rays!"
"How much more time until the plan completes?"
"Just your approval, sir!"
"Then launch it! Leave no survivors. No one must ever know."
"Yes, sir!"
"How long have we been in this cursed base, Liam?"
"Eight centuries, fifty-six years, and ten months, sir," the assistant replied mechanically, his synthetic eyes flickering.
The commander gave a bitter chuckle. "All these years... and now it ends."
"Liam, have you uploaded my consciousness into The Traveler?"
''YES sir. Only your mind is stable within it. Adding anyone else risks overload."
"I see... Then remove mine and upload yours instead. Launch the Hokote Plan."
"But, sir—if I do that, you'll—"
"Enough. Do as I say."
"Yes... sir."
As the young man turned to leave, the commander's gaze softened."Maya... will you hate me for this? If you were still here, none of this would've happened."
"Sir, it's done," Liam's voice came through the comm.
"Good. Destroy the base... and all my sins with it."
"What about you?"
"Me?" The commander smiled faintly. "I've lived long enough. It's time I joined her i have kept her waiting for long enough. Go upload your consciousness. Finish what I couldn't."
"Yes, sir."
He sat down in the empty chamber as lights began to fade."Have a good life, my son... your mother and I will always be with you."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ—BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The base imploded. Steel folded into light.From orbit, it was only a flash — a dying spark swallowed by the void of an unknown planet.
Above the Ruins…
A colossal vessel hovered in the atmosphere — smooth and black, reflecting no light.Its underbelly opened, releasing drones that scoured the wasteland below.
"Void, the base has been destroyed," a voice reported over comms. "All personnel eliminated. The governor is dead."
Void stood at the ship's viewing deck, cloaked in shadow.Beyond the glass stretched a bleeding horizon — the planet's crust splitting as the cleansing sequence began.
"Good," he whispered. "That old relic had outlived his use anyway. With the obstacles gone, we can proceed as planned."
A low hum filled the air as a crimson beam extended from the ship's core, reaching toward the dying surface.
ZOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM— WORLD CLEANSING PROTOCOL: INITIATED...
"Excellent," Void murmured, watching the light consume the world."Now... let us leave this dying planet and ascend to the higher one — the world that was promised to us."
The ship rose, leaving behind nothing but silence, dust.