Time, once again, was swift, this time with a lasting effect. It was a long day, and from one moment to the next I had no one, abandoned in this desert full of gloom and death. That's all I can say about this place, yet something doesn't quite add up.
Why were the pyramids built? What did Jeffrey mean by 'the grand plan'? Why are there still people in this world? Were not all affected by the "mid-sleep" as it seems, or were only a select few affected?
'so many damn unanswered questions'
And then there's Jeffrey himself... he has some kind of system that can manipulate not only the space around him, but also people, apparently. Those guards seemed willing to do whatever their duty was, but the way the other guard referred to the system was "the system." I don't know how dangerous or how big this system is that I heard so much about in just one day... unless it's related to the pyramid's control center, although that would be strange.
The one I was with didn't sound any more robotic, but whichever one Jeffrey has seems to have more consciousness... unless he's the one controlling it.
The heat enters the room once again; it's not cold, but I'm not exactly dying of cold either. Luckily, there are no flies in the deserts, those little insects that climb onto your skin and start bothering you while you're trying to sleep, or even think; you see them in front of you, doing their insect things.
Enough with the insects, enough with the visions, enough with whatever I am, the figures return again, several... "characters"? They come to me in the form of a memory from when I was leaving Jeffrey's building. That Taurus seemed strange, but more in a literal sense; it was the only figure that could almost match my height. The others were small, birds, beasts, some normal ones like wolves, but most were normal people, just... with some strange mutations... I really don't know what to think of the city, much less of myself...
'OF COURSE!, the tablet'
I get out of bed and without properly assessing where my things are, I trip over a pair of boots... were they mine?... wait, now that I think about it...
'I'VE BEEN JUST AS GOD BROUGHT ME INTO THE WORLD ALL THIS TIME!'
I looked around the room for clothes and sure enough... there was an outfit nearby with a tag on it
"Nice show of force... but remember to be decent, yours truly, J"
No wonder, and the car didn't have windows. I'd never stopped to think about it, not that it was important. My scales cover my entire body, so it's basically a full suit of armor, from head to toe, including my tail... which is about half my body, but strong enough to stay aloft and not fall to the ground.
But looking at the floor... I must have been really tired, since it's clear where my tail went when I arrived. About the apartment... another look and it's... humble, to say the least, cozy, nothing grand: a bed, a table with two chairs, and what I think is a kitchen... not that I have to eat... since I woke up that feeling hasn't come around, maybe I don't have to?
'How confusing!!!' - I put my hands to my head. This body is strange, the world is strange. How could I have been okay with those experiments Jeffrey mentioned if they were going to change my being so much that I wouldn't be human anymore? Although, thinking about it...
The group of beasts I saw as I left the building when they were picking me up seemed more in harmony with their bodies, as if they had been born with them. The strange thing was that those who had wings didn't fly at all; they only had them as some kind of rather strange decoration, but they did seem fully functional.
On a nightstand near the bed was the tablet, and on the other side was the credential they had given me.
Upon picking up the tablet and turning it on, it displays a kind of bionic eye that, like the control head, scans the environment and once finished, illuminates my face with the same squares as before. Then the bionic eye disappears and the tablet now displays a table with various data that I assume is my information.
Name: Unknown; Age: 26; Occupation: Response Soldier (to be reassigned); Mission: (redacted)
Personal data: Cadet (unknown), in his own words, following an ideal is not valid for being oneself, of course, he demonstrates several aptitudes worthy of the first generation corps, which, and yet, does not seem a suitable place for the cadet, at 25 he took the unit by surprise with different ideas that changed the playing field, when (redacted)...
And so, having been selected, he would take the lead; however, the major (redacted) would take command of the mission (redacted), thus marking a new beginning after the (redacted).....
=end of data
And so, with much more information about me and the world before the dream, such as capital cities, the empire, much of the information either written down or simply unavailable... but Jeffrey forgot one detail: at the top appears an acronym of my name... I suppose something military.
"Orpheus"
It may be my name, it may not be, but it's something I'll use to at least refer to others.
Then the tablet vibrates and the screen turns blue, finally displaying Jeffrey's face.
Jeffrey: "It's good to know that we're finally open to communication. I really didn't think this wouldn't work, but it's better than the other option."
'that?'
Jeffrey: "Anyway, your new partner will most likely be arriving at your location soon. He'll give you a tour of the city of Mhantra. It might not be like Khila, but it's beautiful in its own way. It doesn't have as much desert, and the pyramids are less common. When you arrive, I'll give you a few more details on your tablet. For now, explore, because I have a job for you, sleepyhead."
Once the tablet turns off, almost in sync, the doorbell rings, revealing who will be my partner behind it.
Anxiety gnaws at me once again. Could it be that Taurus I saw on my way out? A bird? A wolf? Another dragon like me? A fish? Who knows, anything is possible at this point.
I grab what's left of my clothes and get ready to leave. The uniform has a kind of pocket that fits perfectly with the ID they gave me earlier, but unfortunately, I have nothing to carry the tablet with... but Jeffrey himself gave it to me and said it was on his territory. I don't think anyone would dare enter here knowing I'm still under his control, and not only that, I work for him.
Then the knocking sounds louder and more insistent than before, more hurriedly, I walk to the door and open it... I hope it's a fish... but to my disappointment
{Orpheus and his companion thought at the same time, "I was really expecting something else," when they saw each other for the first time}
An ordinary human being with nothing remarkable about him except that he is taller than average: "I suppose you're the one the system assigned as my partner... I am..."
"Orpheus, it's a pleasure to meet you..."
A human who has nothing to do with the author doing a self-insert... well... actually, a friend's: "Nibal, a pleasure, when they told me you were a mutant, I really thought you were like one of those birds, you know? No offense, even if you were one it would be fine.... only... you're really in shape, in the sense that... your shape makes sense... at least in a realistic way of looking at it
'This will be a long day'
"Sure, so... where exactly are you taking me?" - Not that I want to reveal that I have no idea where we actually are; the visions seem to have abandoned me.
Nibal: "Don't worry, it'll be a quick trip to the center. Magnum showed you the way back, right?"
Should I answer him?
Then Nibal starts laughing wildly, as if he had just told him the best joke of his life
Nibal: "Hahaha, that was a good one, you should have seen your face, for real. It's nothing personal, but you've seen how idiotic I can be. Come on, get in the carriage, as I like to call it," he says, pointing to the small car he brought with him. Maybe it's not the best way to travel, and I might fall a couple of times because of my size, but it'll do. It's big enough for both of us, a simple two-seater convertible without a roof... although it would be worse if it had one.
Nibal: "Okay, climber, buddy, get on."
Then we set off straight for the city. This time, at least I'm not naked, although with my scales, it's not like I've never been naked at some point. Now, a bit of the neighborhood: ruined houses, some made of tin, a couple made directly of mud and enriched sand to give it shape. But as we get closer and closer to the city center, the quality of the houses changes. Little by little, even cars start appearing on the road, whereas before there weren't so many.
Once we passed a couple of eye-catching posters, some promoting products to protect you from the sun's radiation, others referring to Jeffrey as the absolute leader of the city, and even Troso as its founder; however, these seemed quite old compared to the newer ones.
After passing under the last symbol, there it was, Mhantra, peeking out from among the various ruins. Several roads pass above us, a large city in every sense of the word. Again, the same strange figures, different bodies, humans everywhere, some tall, some short. I couldn't tell if they were children or not. There were even some birds and many wolves... Why are there so many wolves in human form in the city?
The transportation is different too; some ferries hang overhead, and there are ships as well, but they look more like unmanned drones than anything with someone on board. They don't seem strong enough to even support the weight of any of them.
Meanwhile, the density of people decreases, and now I think we're in the slums. Few people, many cars and different modes of transport. One rather strange sight: a human riding a bull, and giant creatures walking on all fours with people on their backs. Super creepy and weird, to be honest, but the creature didn't seem to have an expression... not that it had any other choice.
And so, little by little, more creatures similar to this one appeared, carrying one or a large group of people at the same time. The curious thing about it all is that none of them show any expression.
Nibal: "Yes... those are the forgotten ones, creatures that at one time were perhaps the pinnacle of evolution, but are now a shadow of it; it is said that they were made for war or that they were cursed to remain that way."
'curious'
As time passed, we reached the center. The structure that once seemed small from afar is now immense. I don't know how I couldn't describe the ship's ruins in detail before; they are simply colossal, making it seem as if they are directly devouring the sun.
Nibal: "And yes, this is the center, this is where all the magic happens. Not much is actually done, but people survive with what they can. As you can see *points to a group of disheveled people, including some of those figures he had seen before*, no one, not even those born here, can escape urbanization. Those over there perhaps weren't useful, couldn't control their benefits in time, or their benefits simply don't do any good for the community."
It's cruel to do such a thing to your neighbors, but if that's the law in the desert, what can we do? I wish I could do more, but my priorities lie elsewhere right now.
After spending some time in the city, with not much to say except that it was mostly in ruins and that multiple figures coexisted in a single place, a strange kind of peace began to form, but it was soon overshadowed by the bustle of the city, which, like the day before, was once full, but not as much as at that hour.
"So... this is...?"
I look at the ship now; it's immense before me. Compared to that, I'm just a small child. It's simply gigantic, and at the very top I can see what I think is the command post. Perhaps that's where I was... and that would explain the system.
Nibal: "Well, I hope you had a great run, because we're here. We'd better hurry; the boss doesn't like waiting for others."
'Everyone calls him boss, should I call him that too, I guess?'
I think as, after getting out of the car, I head once again to the giant doors and the windows that decorate them. Once inside, the number of people and newborns is even greater than before, and this time I can say that some are equal to or taller than me, but without a trace of yesterday's Taurus... why do I keep thinking about him?
I try to look a little more closely in the crowd to find the trio who captured me and then sold me for some bags of bottle caps from the day before, but nothing, I don't think I'll see them again
Before getting on the elevator, I noticed the soldier nearby, and it was the same one as yesterday.
"So, what about that day?"
Soldier: "Your arrival is awaited, you'd better get here quickly!"
He shouted again, at least he answered me, so maybe he's not under control and the system isn't absolute.
Nibal: "Relax, that's how they are on duty, but when they're off duty..."
A smile escapes the soldier, but he quickly recovers as if he had never done so; in fact, he seems to regret it.
Soldier: "Time is of the essence, and you'd better finish your tasks as soon as possible!"
After that, the elevator opens once more, and once again I have to curl up into a ball so my horn and tail don't damage the elevator, just like last time. Some time passes and we're now in a different corridor, with several doors all around, but at least I can walk without having to shrink down.
By the time we reach a red door, it opens upon scanning Nibal's face, revealing a large auditorium. It's a bit deteriorated by time, but it's clear that it's frequented quite often.
Nibal: "Well, we arrived early *looks at a couple of people near the stage* so, this is what will happen *approaches me as we look for a seat* several people will enter through the door, all or most of them work for the boss, he will give the tasks for the day, we go in and out, simple, we finish the task, we get paid and we repeat, understand?"
I make an affirmative gesture and he agrees to sit down. Time passes and just like that, more beings and people arrive, among them I manage to distinguish the trio who sit further back from us.
Unlike those born outside, these have more pronounced features; you can tell they go to the gym. Some look like they were made for war. Other reptiles similar to me also make an appearance, only these are bigger than me, and I'd bet one managed to fly halfway. They all have something in common: the appearance of well-paid and highly capable assassins, though nothing to envy in humans. Several have hundreds of scars; others were completely missing limbs, but they either had a prosthesis or nothing at all.
Those who looked older seemed to be analyzing me as they passed by...
Thirty minutes later, the auditorium was full, even some bird-like creatures appeared to accompany the performance. When the lights slowly dimmed, leaving only the stage visible to everyone, a deathly silence materialized.
Jeffrey (over loudspeaker): "Alright, ladies, gentlemen, born, assassins, and bounty hunters, here are today's tasks."
Then Jeffrey appears out of nowhere, with a folder in his arms, and begins to explain while a screen appears behind him; it shows various groups, names, and photos of all kinds.
Jeffrey: "Today we have several missions, nothing important to announce, as you know, exit to the left you will find the mission panel, have the squad leader scan it and resolve it, now about assigned tasks"
Several lights shone on some of those present, including myself, the trio, and others.
Jeffrey: "The selected groups must go to a warehouse on the outskirts, they must rescue a high-value target alive, each one knows their reward, the group that brings it back will receive an extra reward"
Behind him, an image materializes and the tablets turn on with a copy of the image.
Jeffrey: "I haven't put you in as a team, remember that, you're still independent, of course, don't kill each other, you're more useful to me alive than dead, prove your worth"—he said this last part turning towards me—"Well? Are you expecting a gift or what?"
Nibal: "Get ready"
'that?'
Then the whole room turns into a zoo, nobody is safe, everyone runs out like they're headless. Nibal also gets up and runs for the exit. Of course, I follow him so I don't miss what happens. Then I smell blood. A small fight breaks out between several of them; even the humans start to stand up to the newborns.
Nibal: "Watch out!"
An arm flies through the crowd and almost hits me; even those sitting down aren't safe. I manage to hit a couple as I run for the exit, Nibal is behind me keeping pace.
Once outside, the selected ones walk towards the elevator while the others rush out to another room where I manage to see the famous table with some moccasins attending to the hurried bounty hunters and assassins.
Nibal: "It wasn't as bad as last time, you lasted longer than my last teammate, well, let's go"
"What happened?"
while we wait for the next elevator
Nibal: "Well, the boss isn't someone you have to keep waiting for like any other city leader. He's got influence and a lot of clout; everyone wants his job..." When the elevator arrived, we didn't go up and started going down. "...and the general agreement is that as long as you exist, a job can be taken by someone else, so they usually damage or fight so you can't get a job, since..." Now we're outside, the selected ones walking in different directions. One group is looking at their tablet. "...their requirements ask for a certain physical appearance and adaptations that only some have, so if you can't get up, you can't do jobs, so you're useless in their eyes and in the eyes of society."
I also take my tablet and look at a series of coordinates
"I guess we're going that way, right?"
Nibal: "I'll drive, I've been there before"
And then, we ventured into the unknown again, or well, just me...
....
....
....
Meanwhile, elsewhere, far, far away from the Paradise ship, we find ourselves in a cave. Naturally, caves are rare in a desert, but this one is made of debris and sand. You could even bet there were corpses lying around... but somehow it blended so well with the inhospitable surroundings that it seemed almost natural.
Inside, a stench of old age and reptile dominated the entire place, literally
At the bottom of the cavern, a sleeping dragon lay peacefully, taking its third moment of peace; almost 5 centuries had passed since it last emerged to spread its wings.
Then, a holographic figure appears; the dragon, colossal and sinister, lazily turns its head toward the device, knowing how to answer, presses a button, and the figure becomes visible.
'Damn signal... it never gets better even after centuries'
Figure: "This time a first-generation awakened one has come"
Once again, another disappointment to add to the list. Every time a first-generation individual awakens, they either commit suicide or become unstable and must be eliminated before they can even shed some light on how to reignite the pyramids.
A heavy sigh fills the cave, an echo of 'you never change', preparing to hang the hologram after another failed report
Figure: "Relax, old friend, this time he's conscious, he doesn't remember anything that happened, and he has access to the pyramid, I managed to access his system"
Then several screens appear again. Fascinated, the dragon shakes off the little sleepiness he had and pays attention to the images, like how the scaling turns on the control head, the interaction with the system, even when he takes the weapon it lights up, demonstrating that it is indeed from the empire
Dragon: "Do you have it under control now?"
Figure: "Well, I figured you wanted to meet him. I have the location he's heading to, so we could..."
Dragon: "Then why are you telling me? It must be time to put the structures back in place. They won't see it coming; they're still tired from what happened last time. Lead him towards me."
Figure: "As long as you do your part... I just came to say hello, it's been a while..." - but before he could finish what he was saying, he was hanged by the dragon
It rises from its nest and heads towards the cave entrance. Upon emerging, the gray figure with scales forming different patterns appears, its strong legs capable of supporting its enormous size visible. Two pairs of wings, one larger than the other, appear, creating patterns on their membranes. Its gigantic chest causes its front legs to bend slightly inwards for balance. A long, serpentine neck is the first thing that emerges. A rough face and jaws as large as its skull turn towards the horizon. In its ruby-colored eyes, a glimmer of hope appears; perhaps this is its moment to take revenge on the snakes.
Dragon: "Just wait for me..." - It wasn't words that came from his jaws, just a couple of proud growls as his chest swelled, preparing for what was to come.
Then, opening its immense wings and expanding its frame, it takes flight. It has done so several times before, but it can never get past the part where the dust manages to enter its eyes; it still cannot get used to that part of this world.