Phoenix looked down on the floor as he dragged Jay out from the situation and fled from the floor.
And shut the door to the floor below restricting access.
Phoenix :
So did you find him enlightening.
Jay was not still sane.
Phoenix :
Goddammit. Jay snap out he was obviously spewing lies one after another.
Jay :
But, what if it's all true.
Phoenix :
But it could also be false. Are you going to give up.
It could be just lies mixed with the truth.
Jay :
Everything he has said is correct. Down to his last words.
When I wake up I might end up dead. I might never wake up from this nightmare.
Phoenix :
If this was a nightmare you would never be standing besides me. You would have been locked in a cell somewhere with less than likely chance of escape. You could have ended up as a slave on the Slave island.
Phoenix :
Things can always go worse than they have ever been. So stay positive and keep moving.
Phoenix :
Be positive, then you might have a chance to give that Lord a piece of your mind. Be negative you'll keep sitting here and see all of us and yourself consumed by the void.
And that will be your imminent defeat.
Jay thought about it and it cleared his mind. If he wants to reunite with his family. He has to clear this game no matter what.
AND with a new determination filled in Jay's chest. Jay asked for a plan.
Jay :
So how were going to deal with them.
Phoenix :
This is unprecedented. I never would have thought that nihility and suicide would go hand in hand.
Jay :
For containment they said to use androids.
Phoenix :
This facility is well equipped with androids.
The researcher intervened.
Research :
This is #01 we call it Wyatt. This will be perfect for containing those two. It has stun baton, sleeping gas and a net for capturing escapes.
Phoenix :
Then we'll use the android. And it will perform containment procedure.
The researchers quickly recalled the android. And after some dust wiping and oiling it was good to go.
Android :
Good afternoon masters. How may I help you.
Phoenix :
Execute containment procedures on Anomaly Nihility and Suicide man.
Android :
Lethal or non lethal.
Phoenix :
Non lethal.
Android :
Understood. I shall execute non lethal procedures.
Standing besides the door both Jay and Phoenix waited as the door opened and as the door opened. Two bring slipped inside. Both the anomalies had entered the room. They had been waiting before the door. Because it might open on sometime.
The researchers who saw suicide man attempted to commit suicide. Some bashed their heads on the walls. Some tried to cut their necks off with scalpel and other equipments.
Few lucky ones had quickly shut their eyes off before they could see him. And some ran off.
The android rammed itself into both of them and pushed them down a level. And it automatically shut the door behind it. And headed down to neutralize them.
Jay was lucky because he saw nihility but Phoenix who was standing on the other side saw the suicide man. Phoenix lost all sense of self. He was just standing with a stale face his eyes had dilated and iris had grown in size gathering as much light as he could. He started blankly into space.and then he took action Phoenix summoned many fire arrows and pointed them towards himself. And before Phoenix could launch the arrows into himself. Jay bashed Phoenix and that action seemed to break Phoenix's suicidal move.
Phoenix snapped and he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Jay :
Phoenix, snap out of it.
Phoenix :
I'm fine. I.. Am.... Fine?
Phoenix questioned himself.
Jay :
Good.
Saying this Jay rushed to help the other scientist. Just a good punch was enough to make them recover. But it was too late for some who had already succeeded in their endeavors and had left the lands.
And seeing them others fell into despair and denial.
Researcher :
Why didn't he sent in the military. Just sending two men. They want all of to die.
Researcher :
My life has been a massive downslide. And now it will finally end.
Meanwhile from the lower level screams and static noises were fully audible. It seems that the android was doing its task. Or both of them were faking it and had already destroyed the android.
The lower floor had become the Schrodinger's floor.
Both situations cannot simultaneously exist.
Maybe the android was hurting them but they were just faking and not were actually being hurt.
And on the door there came a loud banging noise. The banging sounded metallic so Jay opened the door and came the android trying to execute a smile.
Android :
Both of the anomalies have been recaptured and contained.
Please perform supervision.
( Extra tidbits :
Even though androids are extremely capable of fully doing a human's job. Humans have been assigned the task of supervision so that everything can be double checked as well as humans have something to do. And don't sit idle.
Even companies and factories for every android they take. Their has to be a mechanic or supervisor for maintainece .
AND for those who try to abuse the law by taking advantage of the system which employs them. They are welcomed by a field which employs both the humans and androids. A field which has a bias towards living organisms. Which boast itself for developing a sense of responsibility for self and their country. That's right it's the military.)
Jay once again moved to the lower floor and this time he was very careful. When he would turn corners he would slightly peek and when clear he would move. And he found both of them unconscious locked separately inside a room.
When Jay saw nihility he assumed that suicide as well would be locked and Jay took a slight peek in another room. To see that someone was there he didn't look directly at his face. But he had confirmed the androids actions. And locked the room himself with extra welding.
Jay called on Phoenix. And informed him the area was clear but still Phoenix peeked inside in horror. And slowly came down the stairs. Because suicide was here the next floor was also empty. So the final floor was where the most dangerous anomaly the Doppelgänger resided.
. And because it was in the report that the doppelganger was intelligent and violent. Both of them stayed on their toes.
And they finally opened the last door to the floor below.
The lights were fully on and running. All the facilities were online. All the doors were opened. Jay and Phoenix searched high and low for the Doppelgänger but something was amiss.
They couldn't find the Doppelgänger and this time they searched together. So they could cover each other.
If the Doppelgänger was not on this floor then where could he be. Jay thought about it. The exit will be locked unless and until all of the anomalies are contained. On the bottom floor the researchers had been killed. With similar MO.
The lowest floor where it's last location was found out to be empty.
It would mean one simple thing. The Doppelgänger has blended himself as one of the researchers.
Fearing this they headed towards the upper floor where the researchers hounded them pleading them to exit the facility .
Phoenix :
Everyone please calm down. The Doppelgänger is still in this facility. Unless we can contain him. The doors won't open. This is the established containment procedure.
Head researcher :
So have you found it yet?
Phoenix :
The Doppelgänger isn't on the lower three floors it must have blended as a researcher here. What is the exit protocol here.
Head researcher :
The protocol is to update the work log. Before leaving the presence of all anomalies would be confirmed. And then everyone would leave.
But in this scenario the protocol dictates that the activities of all faculty would be checked in order. And until resolved everyone will be held here.
Phoenix turned to the group of researchers.
Phoenix :
Is there anyone who feel out of place. Or their daily routine.
The researchers started raising suspicion and one of them spoke up.
Researcher :
Since today Schalotten been very upset.
Schalotten :
Huh talk about yourself, you're just a newbie. Using your connections to work here. I had to struggle to get in here.
Soon fights erupted between the two. And Phoenix intervened
Phoenix :
Both of you, stop it. It's jot the time to fight.
Phoenix decided to take a simple approach.
Phoenix :
Are these all the researchers.
Head :
We have sent a few up to take care of the child. But this should be the rest of us. The child is undergoing surgery as we speak.
Phoenix grabbed Jay aside as they discussed their plans to expose the Doppelgänger.
Phoenix :
It's certain someone from them is the real Doppelgänger.
Jay :
How should we go about it.
Phoenix :
It's the game of wolf. Between many villagers there is one wolf. If he touches us he could choose to act or not.
Jay :
This isnt wolf but temporary politics. I say Firstly we use your name to establish a dominant structure. Then grab the researchers one by one for interviews. Narrow down the suspects and finally detain them.
Or create a psychological situation where we can see all kt their reactions. And then detain the suspicious one.
Or the most unethical. I have lots of high potions on me.
We grab a person in a room and stab them. If they don't turn we immediately administer magic potion. And if they do we have our selves a Doppelgänger.
Phoenix :
That is the most deranged plan I've ever heard. And might work if everything fails.
Phoenix :
According to its reports, it can copy a person's memories and entire appearance with just a touch. So it might have left a body somewhere. We'll have the android do it for is. Until it has a body. We gather everyone and pick out the most suspucious.
Jay :
And then we will psychologically pressure it to reveal itself.
AND with this the rudimentary strategy was set. And with that a game of wolf had begun.