It didn't take long for the voice to continue once more.
[Now then, the cleaners chosen will be transported through avian transportation, you shall be split into groups handling different parts of the cleaning process, please move over here. That will be all]
…
It was silent for a while, before everyone began moving in unison
Step Step Step
I couldn't help but worry if this was the 'unexpected situation' that the system had warned me about last week, if it is then hopefully nothing else bad could happen but if there was…
Stareee
[3]
The screen still showed [3] which was to be expected since I didn't ask any questions today yet but still, I couldn't help but worry.
"What is it Cael?" Jeremy suddenly spoke as we all continued walking, his voice muffled but clear enough
"I have a bad feeling about this job."
Step Step Step
…
"Intuition?" Eve was the one who spoke
"Yeah."
"W-well you're intuition did save us back in that hotel thingy…" Amanda continued
"The brat's right, something tells me their hiding something…" Old Man Randy chimed in, it was quite rare for him to actually agree on something like this.
Step Step Step
"We're here." Jeremy spoke, yet I didn't answer
…
The place itself was huge, like a truly gigantic place, that was the first thing that came to mind, a hangar and right in front of us, what looked like one of those military planes that could carry a lot of people.
"Damn." I couldn't help but mutter, the plane itself looked rather old, and at the same time—Something that no normal company could legally own.
"Is this even legal-?" I couldn't help but mutter.
"Don't ask questions, let's go." Old Man Randy spoke
Step Step Step
As we continued forward. The closer we got to the plane, the more I realized just how damn big it actually was. From a distance, it looked like some old military transport aircraft. Up close? It was fucking massive.
The thing had enough space to fit—
"Wait…"
I stopped for a moment. There were already a couple dozens of us in there. I thought to myself as I looked toward the aircraft again. It wasn't some normal passenger plane. There were no rows of comfortable seats. No little windows. No flight attendants walking around with drinks.
Instead, the inside seemed to be almost entirely dedicated to space. Rows upon rows of seats were lined along the sides, with enough room in the middle for equipment and people to move around. And judging by the sheer number of seats—
"That's gotta fit at least a couple hundreds of people" Jeremy spoke once more
"Give or take." Eve continued
"How the hell would you know?"
"I can count." Jeremy spoke with a slight smirk, right… crazy observation skills, almost inhuman actually…
"...Right." I answered as we continued walking towards the entrance
Step Step Step
The massive loading ramp was already lowered, with several Cleaners standing around it and directing everyone inside. their voice muffled yet loud
"Team D7! Keep moving!" Spoke one of them
"Don't stop on the ramp!" continued another
"Equipment goes underneath the seats!"
"Next group!"
Step Step Step
The sound of hundreds of footsteps echoed throughout the hangar. I couldn't help but wonder, A few years ago, I'd probably have thought this was some kind of military operation from that gates anime. Hell, even now it still looked like one.
Except instead of soldiers carrying rifles... It was a couple hundred of cleaners wearing grey hazmat suits.
Step Step Step
As I stepped onto the ramp, I couldn't help but glance at the aircraft's exterior once more. I could see the scratches, patches of replaced metal. A few areas that looked like they'd been repaired more than once. This thing had definitely seen some use.
"Cael."
"Hm?"
"Stop staring and move" Jeremy spoke once more
"Oh."
Right.
I continued inside. The moment I crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed. The outside noise became noticeably quieter, replaced by the low mechanical hum of the aircraft.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM—
The smell was different too.
Oil.
Metal.
Rubber.
And that faint sterile smell that seemed to follow Silentium everywhere as I looked around. Rows of seats. Equipment racks. Emergency supplies straps hanging from the world, everything was made with the sole goal of being efficient. Nothing was comfortable.
This wasn't an aircraft designed to carry passengers. It was designed to move people who were going somewhere they probably shouldn't be going.
"D7! Left side!" A Cleaner pointed toward the seats.
"Got it."
I followed Jeremy, Eve, Amanda and Randy toward our assigned section.
As I sat down, the seat felt surprisingly stiff.
Clack
I pulled the restraint across my chest.
Click
Secured.
Glance
Everyone was doing the same thing.
Hundreds of people. All suited up. All waiting. For some reason, seeing that many Cleaners gathered together didn't make me feel safer. If anything... It made me wonder just how bad X70 actually was.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM—
The engines began to grow louder. I looked toward open door behind me. The hangar doors were still open. One glance out and honestly it was nothing special. Just the outside world.
Normal.
Quiet.
Almost peaceful.
I couldn't help but stare at it for a moment, the loud steps and chatter noises seemed to disappear and at some point—
KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR—
Then the doors slowly began closing.
...
I had a feeling we weren't going to be seeing that view again for a while.
—Kshhhhhhhhhh
[Departing in T minus 5 minutes, all personnel please be seated before take off] As the door closed the voice of the announcer rang through the plane as everybody prepared themselves.
Step Step Step
"Let's take a seat" Old Man Randy spoke
"A-alright."
Step Step Step
As we walked through the plane trying to find a seat where all 5 of us could talk on the way, it took a while before we found a place as we took a seat
Rustle Rustle
Click
In the end, I sat on the middle of both Jeremy and Eve, while Amanda was seated right beside Old Man Randy right in front of me and Eve.
"Well, any thoughts?" Jeremy spoke after a brief moment of silence his eyes seemed to look at all of us before stopping infront of me, his eyes locking with mine
"Say were we even briefed on the Remnant we're suppose to go clean"
Shake Shake
"Didn't get any" Jeremy said with a shrug
"Well whatever it is it's definitely airborne and any skin contacts probably fatal." Eve spoke as she clenched her fist, the fabric giving of a distinct plastic-like rustling noise, at the same time I couldn't help but also do the same
Rustle Rustle
I could feel my sweat pulling inside the suit, sloshing ever so slightly every time I moved my arm. at the same time Jeremy continued to speak, "Cael? You good? Your dozing off again."
System, what's the classification of this 'Remnant?' I asked, and the answer I received—It just made me far more worried then I ever was.
[Following your world's classification it shall be classified as, Vestige | Epsilon | Cataclysm] it went before turning to [2]
…
Fuck.
I could feel a headache coming, the word Vestige and Cataclysm seemed to echo in my mind, one did not need a brain to realize what this actually means, whatever this thing was—It was dangerous, yet before I could even share my thoughts…
A Vestige meant 'Those that have lost parts of themselves in exchange for more power' according to the system and Epsilon meant—
Shit.
I couldn't help but clench my fist.
Rustle.
"Cael?"
…
If Silentium knew what this thing was, then why the hell hadn't they told us? They gave us a suit. They gave us a respirator. They gave us—Wait.
No.
They hadn't even given us our oxygen tanks yet. My eyes slowly widened. The respirator we were wearing wasn't meant to be use with a filter. Meaning whatever was waiting for us at X70...
They expected us to need something more.
"Cael." Jeremy's voice suddenly seemed louder then ever as I was snapped back ton reality
"Hm?"
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Staring into space." Eve continued this time
"Oh…"
Glance
Everyone looked at me with a slightly concerned expression, Even Randy had turned his head slightly in my direction.
"I'm fine, I was just thinking of a novel scene all of a sudden" I spoke trying to ease their worries, but obviously I wasn't—But what the hell was I supposed to say?
Hey guys, apparently we're going into a Cataclysm-class Vestige and the people who sent us here didn't think we deserved to know?
…
Yeah.
That would definitely make everyone feel better.
[All personnel, prepare for departure.]
The announcement echoed throughout the aircraft.
Click.
Unconsciously I tightened my restraints even more and at the same time—
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM—
The engines began to roar. The entire aircraft vibrated beneath us.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM—
For a moment, nobody spoke. The chatter that had filled the plane gradually disappeared as everyone settled into their seats. Though I couldn't see a thing, one thing was painfully obvious. The aircraft began moving.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—
Slowly at first. Then faster.
VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR—
I instinctively pressed myself against the seat.
And then—
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—
The entire aircraft lifted.
...
We were airborne.
For the first few minutes, nobody really talked. Honestly? I couldn't blame them. We were all going somewhere none of us had been briefed about. And apparently, I was the only one who realized how bad this things going to be.
—Thirty Minutes Later—
[We will be arriving at the designated landing zone shortly. All personnel, prepare for landing.]
The aircraft itself had no windows, as my mind wandered inside my head, beneath the countless questions they all connect to the same thing, Where the hell were they taking us?
Yet before that could be answered—
Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble
The aircraft began descending, as we prepared for the landing my hands holding tightly on whatever I can, I could feel my sweat pouring inside.
Squeeezeeee
"Didn't know you had acrophobia Cael" Eve suddenly spoke at the same time Jeremy seemed to snicker. "Heh, guess you're quite the scaredy cat aren't—" Yet before Jeremy could continue her words—
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—Rumble Rumble Rumble
The wheels had probably touched the ground.
THUD.
The entire aircraft shook slightly.
Then—Screeeeeeeeeeeech
This continued for a while before it finally stopped and then—Kshhhhhhhhhh
As the the rear ramp opened the first thing I heard was someones voice amplified by what probably was a speaker
"EVERYONE MOVE OUT
As soon as those were spoken…
Click.
As We stood up one by one.
Step Step Step
Glance
…
Cars, the first thing that entered my vision. Not normal cars. Military-looking transport vehicles.
Of course. Why wouldn't they be?
"Team D7! Vehicle three!" Another voice could be heard as Jeremy answered them while raising his hand
"Got it!" As we followed Jeremy, from behind
Step Step Step
As soon as we reached the vehicle, one of the Cleaners standing beside it pointed toward a table.
"Equipment check."
I looked over.
There were several tanks lined up.
...
Stops
"T-t-t-those are ours?" Amanda spoke
"Yep."
The Cleaner picked one up and handed it toward me.
Clunk.
A rather large oxygen tank, one that would normally be place in your back, an Independent air supply. I stared at it for a moment. So that's why.
"They'll last you for at least 6 hours" The cleaner spoke as I attached the straps around my suit, feeling the weight settle against my back.
Click.
The regulator was still disconnected. But just having the tank there made me feel considerably less comfortable. Eve noticed.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" She spoke
"Probably."
Jeremy looked between us.
"What?"
I glanced toward the road ahead.
"I think they left a few things out of the briefing."
Tsk.
Randy gave a—Tsk as if he already knew, then we moved, and soon we got into the vehicle
Thud.
The doors closed and the engine started.
VRRRRRRRRRR—
And as the convoy began moving, I looked through the window. Somewhere ahead of us was Facility X70 and whatever was waiting there...
The Silentium clearly didn't want us knowing about it.