Canlanma Street Level, Story 8

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Story 8

   "Test Subject 730 is ready for testing. TS730 is an entity that is 50-human, 30-lemur, and 20-mechanical. Natural eyes, ears, and tail are replaced with mechanical parts for experimentation. TS730 is a male about 110 cycles old."

  "I'm ready!" The test subject cheers from the other side of the crystal-enforced plexiglass. 

  The scientist shakes her head. If only I could get him to be less expressive. She thinks to herself as she records information from the health monitor. "Alright, Elder Valentine. Which mechanical part would you like to test first?"

  "I think I would like to test my eyes first. I mean, they were really good when I was younger."

  "That's what we are aiming for." She returns. "We will be doing a dimmed test first."

  "Alright, Ms. Padina." The Elder smiles. He positions himself like a child waiting to hunt down his friends in a game of hide and seek. Padina chuckles and shifts the lights so they barely outline him and the room. A holographic screen appears over the plexiglass. Padina places different shapes on various parts of the walls and tells the computer console, "Set symbol brightness to 1% and room brightness to 2%." The machine beeps and adjusts the lighting in the test room. The scientist calls out, "Alright, Elder Valentine. Can you see any symbols on the walls?"

  There is a pause before the Elder calls back, "I see the symbols. Circle, Square Triangle, Star, and Hexagon." 

  "Correct. Adjusting for the brightness test." Padina recalls the symbols. She speaks to the computer again, "Gradate room brightness to 90% and symbol brightness to 91%." The machine responds and slowly brightens the room around the Elder. The Elder looks relieved as the area becomes more visible. "Is everything okay, Elder?" Padina looks to his spiking vitals. "You seem shaken up." The Elder nods without saying anything. The scientist takes a few notes and randomizes the shapes' locations. "Alright, Elder Valentine. Do you see the shapes?"

  The Elder takes a while to answer, "Uh, yes. Circle, Triangle, Square, Hexagon." The scientist notices he missed a symbol and looks over to see a spike in his heartrate again. She looks to the room to see the Elder staring at a darker shadow on the wall. There was already shadow there from a ledge for other tests, but something else is there. "Correct. Let us skip to the tail test for today." The scientist says while trying not to jitter. She turns to the computer one last time. "Activate the tail climbing test. Also activate Intruder Protocol once TS730 begins the test." The machine gives a beep and drops a heavy black pole to the ground behind the Elder. The shadow shifts slightly and the Elder can hear a low growl which perks up his ears. The scientist takes a deep breath. "Alright, Elder Valentine. You need to grab and climb the black pole with your tail only to test its grip and strength. Are you ready?" The Elder nods and swallows hard. "Begin the test, Elder."

  As the Elder grabs the pole, alarms sound. The pole rises toward the ceiling and the shadowy figure grabs the Elder. The tail holds to the pole well, thankfully. Instead of deterring the figure, it uses the leverage to crawl up and muffle the screams of the Elder. The pole returns to its empty space as Padina can hear more screams before something tears into the Elder and growls in bloodlust. While horrified of the turn of events, the scientist ducks under the machine and her desk to avoid the chaos. The alarms soften as a voice chimes in from a nearby speaker. "Padina? Are you safe?"

  Padina takes a ragged breath. "I am 80% sure I am safe. But Test Subject 730 is not."

  "Understood. The Protectors are coming."

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