Scene A: Amp Pharmaceuticals
Tschhk
The sound of the metal door sliding effortlessly across the sleek metal floor would
be nothing short of expected in other times, yet it leaves me astonished. Gone are
the times when I'd frequent this place while paying no mind to details like these.
Traveling with only a few barely-function gadgets in hand, it's been troublesome to
find these outposts. More like "time capsules" than anything else, I'm lucky to see
that they're mostly functional. They've retained almost all of their storage, running
power and blocked the outside elements incredibly. Of course, they run deep into the
ground, as there's no other way to preserve them for so long. Even I'm not sure how long
it's been.
This outpost in particular was an absolute pain to find, with my only way of tracking its
position being with a lifeform analyzer. In a barren world, it'd be easy to find a life
signal among the wasteland, but the world is unexpectedly rich in life in all kinds of
environments. I guess life finds a way, no matter how impossible the odds are.
Making my way through rows of cabinets, coolers and screens that once displayed all
kinds of detailed information, I approach the centerpiece of this outpost. Despite
having held up the best among all outposts I've seen, only one of its devices would
be working, after so long. It fills me with relief to see it working, but a sense of
dread soon washes over my body. An enormous glass capsule, stretching several meters
upwards, filled with a viscous, orange liquid that suspends a bizarrely massive entity
inside.
"Looks like you're doing well..."
Better than myself, at least. I see my own, glossy reflection in the glass, showing an
entity almost as strange as the one contained within. Living as a being of white fur and
pink hairs, "why this?" is a question that never left my mind. Having to fend for myself
in an unnatural environment, with an unnatural body, was one hell of a learning experience
in what I can do. I believe I can consider myself "comfortable" in this body, now, but it's
time to see what an old friend has to say about theirs.
Walking around the capsule, I notice that it's supported on a kind of base, with several
plugs and inlets for fluids and wires. I'm no longer aware of how any of this works, seeing
as, again, uncountable years have passed. I can barely trust my own memories of the past,
although I can be sure that the entity inside is, or was, my "friend". Also, I'm fairly sure
this friend didn't fit almost barely into the capsule. Seems like I expected growth to occur?
but to grow so big... a body that's almost 3 meters tall...
I take my time looking around the outpost. If it's lasted for this long, surely a few minutes
won't be a problem. Digging through the cabinets for any indication on operating the machine,
I initially don't have much luck, finding mostly reports on the studies I used to run here.
Sometimes I find some silly trinkets whose stories I no longer remember... there must be some
fun reasoning for something like a squeaky dog toy to be here, but I wouldn't know. I don't
believe there were actual dogs here, though.
Minutes turn into hours as I find nothing on the operation of the machine. Occasionally I'll find
now-unusable pieces of equipment, like disks that may have contained the answer to my questions,
but there's clearly no way to peek into what's inside.
No windows down here to tell me how long it's been... Most files have been read through already,
leaving me aware only that I ran fluid experiments down here. It's probably where I discovered
the capsule's fluid and produced it. Some kind of perfluoroalkane that is applicable for liquid
breathing, helping to keep the entity's health in proper condition.
After enough time, having gone through every cabinet (and not mustering the courage to open the
coolers - who knows what the chemicals are like after so long without cooling? Probably lethal...),
I decided the best course of action would be to break the capsule open. It's likely not the best
course of action, but considering it's completely sealed other than the oxygen pipes, I'd have to
damage the equipment anyway. Well, you served your purpose, so you may at least be destroyed having
finished your objective.
I get into an awkward position between the wall closest to the glass structure. Sandwiching myself
between then, with my legs against the structure, I take a deep breath before pushing onto it lightly.
...
Won't budge, damn. I slowly apply more force, still facing massive resistance.
...
It worries me how tightly-fit it is, putting a lot of force might send it flying. I'm particularly strong,
so I need to be careful here. Nevertheless, more force is needed. I adjust myself against the wall, bracing
myself for a push. I do a small hop from the structure and kick it with force.
vbrrrrrr...
It vibrates in response, otherwise still fitting perfectly into its slot...
Fuck it.
I hop once more, this time putting as much force as I can into my kick. Joining my legs together, I put
everything into this kick, which...
Fwoomp... CLKJRJSKJGDFDFSDGSSSsssssssssshhh
The capsule flies off the base, crashing into the ground after slamming itself into one of the corners of
a cabinet. Its fluids slowly drain out from both the crack and the pipe sockets. The liquid is viscous enough
that the entity inside didn't shake around too much, it's probably fine. Probably.
Landing on my two feet (...paws? Still not fully used to that) after the push, I hurry over to the capsule
and observe for any reactions. As the syrupy liquid pools around the ground, dampening my paws (we'll go with
that), I push the capsule until the figure inside is facing upwards. Still unconscious...
Now that part of the glass is shattered, it shouldn't be too hard to get it open.