"So, you went to the research team for a task but ended up trapped in this Vessel?"
Team A's leader was trying his best to take every drop of information I had.
"Yes," this was the third time to confirm it. "With all the researchers there."
"But you came out alone."
"That's because they've already become a part of the scenes."
"What did you mean by saying that?"
"Some kind of epic piano music made them that way. They work there as if it's their life."
"And that music didn't affect you?"
"I did my best to avoid hearing it."
"Why didn't you warn them?"
"They were screaming and running all over the place, try to warn them in that state if you can." I tried not to be sarcastic but I failed. Of course I'd fail, how could I answer that question in a normal straight forward way?
And what made it worse that the one I was talking to was absolutely conceited.
"Now I know why there's a saying that team E has got the craziest newcomer ever." he clicked his tongue, before giving me a derisive look. "Sooner or later, you'll see what your words will cost you."
"Yes. Eventually, this will happen one day."
"Won't you tell me how you broke the spatial cycle then?"
"I've told you already," I swallowed the urge to exhale after reaching the edge of my patience. "It opened after I've searched enough in the place I was in. It's about an important project or something."
"What did you find about it?"
"Nothing special other than a note about something in the third lab."
"Now, about the music—"
This was a pure torture.
I knew that he needed the information, yet… Why were he repeating things over and over again? I was already tired.
"What made you avoid the music? Did you know anything about this Vessel?"
"It's just my instincts." I was just not ready to turn on my scared self so I didn't hear it.
How could I know information that the researchers themselves didn't hear about?
"Okay, for now stay with the team. Don't do things on your own since you don't have the proper tools or even a specialization. Just follow what we command."
'Just follow what we command'
How pathetic—
I'm not even in your team to talk with me with that toon.
'Don't make problems, Nathan. Stay humble.'
"That would be fine for me."
That scary team leader went away from me, and I finally had the chance to breathe while all my thoughts were around something like: how could he be that foolish?
He didn't ask about the lab coat I wore, nor about the working card. All he asked about was the way to get out and how did I get in and random things about what was there.
Was it normal or what their work focused on? Just how to get out?
Oh…
There's a chance that he didn't actually think that I did it on purpose. As if I ended up here by pure coincidence.
"Well, that's better."
I would have a headache if they treated me as someone who could do things here.
"You okay?"
Silas stepped closer, with a small bottle of water in his hand.
"Yes."
"Take this, you must have been there for a long time."
I took the bottle from him, and drank the water with a quick look around me. The feeling that something was terribly wrong returned even stronger… this time I didn't figure out any clue about it.
"Is there something wrong going on with team A and team B?" I asked, quietly, not wanting anyone to hear. "The atmosphere is terrible."
Silas looked behind his back for a second before answering, slowly, very thoughtful. "They were discussing choosing someone to take the mission of team G. But you came from nowhere, and I bit that they are already thinking about making you take it, even without asking… since you are from team E."
"And… What was that mission of team G?" I didn't even hear of that team before.
"..."
"...?"
"That—"
"Just say it."
"They are usually used as preys. Taking the steps before the main team to secure the place."
Aha— a prey…
I bursted out a laugh that made every eye in the lab on me… it didn't stop till my stomach started to ache.
"They want me to be the prey?"
I surely looked like an insane human being, but I didn't care at all…
"And who's that one they chose before me?"
"Me."
"...? Really?"
I looked at him in disbelief but he didn't say it was a joke. He didn't even look frustrated about it.
"They are taking you as a prey, and you said nothing?"
"I'm the only newcomer in my team. Losing an inexperienced member isn't that bad."
"...?" What's up with crazy company?! Losing people? Is that something they actually think of with full seriousness?
How could they?!
"Is it important to have someone like that?"
"Yes. Team A had three already but they all got lost. That's why we didn't get to go elsewhere until now."
"But you are on team B?"
"When team A and B get together, the actual discussion goes to team A's leader. Team B is a backup."
"Where is Drew and Dean then?"
"They were in a different Vessel when we entered this one."
I'm leaving this company, no matter what.
"Silas, did you finish chatting with your friend?"
"Yes, team leader." Silas answered in a humble way that didn't suit him at all. Even his dark blue eyes flickered for a second when he lowered his head.
That alone was enough for me to be afraid of him.
"Nice. Now tell him our next step and be prepared."
"I'm going with him. Two seemed better than one."
"...?"
His team leader frowned.
"No, one is enough."
"He said he won't go alone there."
Hello? I didn't even say that I'm going in the first place.
"If that's the case then fine. Although it would be a loss."
That team leader went on his way. And I stood there silently looking at his back before turning to face Silas with a blank face.
"Who gave you the audacity to decide on my behalf?"
"They weren't thinking of making you choose from the beginning."
"Do you think that I'll do that just because they wanted me to?"
"I bet that you'll go there whether they told you or not. What would you have done if you had walked in and found the room empty? You would've tried every door on your own anyway."
That's right…
"Plus," Silas continued. "I said I'm going with you because I know that they aren't going anywhere at that level. We've been going in cycles here for three hours now and nothing seemed to be alright."
"..."
Three hours? Weren't they professional teams?
"Okay," I rubbed between my eyebrows before looking at others again. "I don't want to stay here either so let's go together. Let me warn you beforehand: I don't know how to get out either."
Silas nodded.
"Take me with you too." "WH—"
I nearly jumped when a voice came from behind me. Turning around, a familiar face appeared.
That woman from the newcomers' ceremony.
Adeline I think…
"Take you where?"
"With you, to find a way out."
"But you belong to a team here, don't you?"
"My team leader won't question my choices."
"Team B?"
"No, team A."
"...?"
I looked at Silas, asking him to say something, but he shrugged his shoulders as if it was out of his business.
"I'm not responsible for anything that happens there. Do as you want."
That Adiline nodded the same way Silas did before, and that made me sigh.
What was the plan again, Nathan?
Find lab three and see what you could do about the project. While doing that, you have to find a way out.
'Right, I can't stay here any longer.'
Without any more hesitation, I went to team A's leader and told him that we'll head first to the third door. Silas and Adiline also made sure that they would report what happened through their communication radios… then we got in.
The first thing we saw was the main lab again… empty, with no way to return to the previous one.
I took a look at the main computer, then tried to turn it on. When it didn't respond I punched it hard enough and it did its job after.
"The date first." I checked the main network to see if something changed.
It did.
It was three months after the date I saw before.
"What's up with the date?" Silas asked when he finished searching for anything useful around. "Is it a hint?"
"When I opened the door before, the date was three months earlier than this one."
"If I'm not mistaken, in the lab we left just now. The date was three months earlier than this."
Ah?
"So it's connected if it's on the same date and time?"
That was an epic conclusion that made me want to try something. But before doing that, I opened Tristan's secret folder in the network and uploaded it to my tablet.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying something out."
"What was it?"
"Change the time." It took about three or four minutes to modify the date and time. "Do you remember the hour?"
"It was about 1 PM."
"So let's try 2 PM."
I hit enter and start to count down the seconds. After exactly three minutes the whole lab flashed, and we found ourselves setting exactly where we were sitting… but in the previous room, where all others were.
Nice.
All of them looked at the three of us as if we were aliens.
"Now, that's interesting… Would you mind trying it once more?"