STEP!

STEP!

STEP!

The sound of footsteps echoed through the large golden-tiled balcony as Commander Zoltan stepped forward.

Floating by his side was the blue orb, within which stood White, looking forward at the massive golden door in the distance.

There were no words uttered between them, the entire walk in silence, and finally they arrived before the golden gate.

Stretching both hands forward, Commander Zoltan pressed his palms on the doors, sending ripples of golden light before he exerted strength, pushing open the massive doors.

White expected a flurry of light, but the world within that door was black, with motes of gold filtering through the air, providing illumination.

The first thing he saw was the two guards, who bowed to Commander Zoltan before stepping to the side, allowing them in, and that was when he saw that unmistakable presence.

Suspended in a massive cylindrical tube, filled to the brim with golden liquid, was the hulking five-meter-tall creature.

It remained still, both its hands and legs constrained by chains as thick as human thighs, with a large gas mask on its face.

But now, being so close, it wasn’t just grotesque-looking; it radiated a terrifying aura of violence that permeated the room in an uncomfortable chill.

Around the room were rows and rows of supercomputers, with codes and lines over their surfaces taking endless scans, along with a couple dozen scientists working on them.

"Commander Zoltan."

One of the scientists, an older man with a staff, stepped forward, bowing slightly to Commander Zoltan.

"High Scientist Lucas."

Commander Zultan greeted him back.

"And you must be White."

The man said, tilting on his staff to look at White, who turned his gaze to him and asked,

"Exactly how tight are your safety protocols?"

"Safety protocols? Why’d you ask?"

"I mean, if the creature that wakes up is somehow not me..."

White said, stopping there, and the man laughed out loud.

"Commander Zoltan..."

"Yes, High Scientist Lucas."

"In what estimate are the fusion projects I have worked on?"

He asks.

"The last time I checked, it was 800+."

Commander Zoltan replied.

"And how many of them were successes?"

"You have a reputation of never having failed before..."

He said, and the man turned back to White.

"I’ve never failed before, Mr. White... and you won’t be my first."

He made very clear before rising to his feet and ordering,

"Begin Preparation Phase for Consciousness Extraction."

He ordered as hundreds of machines whirred to life.

"Commander Zoltan."

He called as a runic object with a hemispheric center appeared in his hands.

It unleashed an absorption force that absorbed White’s sphere, locking it in place.

"I’ll take things from here."

"My trust is in you, High Scientist Lucas."

The Commander said, bowing slightly before he turned back, leaving for the door, which shut behind him.

He resumed walking, but after about five steps came to a stop, turning his head to the side.

Right, there was a silhouette floating in the air, casting the shadow of a humanoid creature with four massive blue wings over him.

"You don’t know what you’re doing, Zoltan."

It spoke to him, a feminine tone, before quietly fading away.

Commander Zoltan looked quietly at where it had been for a long while before he resumed stepping forward, his eyes steeling.

His last words hung in the air like a solemn vow.

"I know Humanity has played it safe enough."

___________

"White... Can you hear me?"

The voice echoed through the orb as White looked forward.

About twenty meters away were the scientists, and standing in front was High Scientist Lucas, who was speaking to a mic covered in runes.

"I can hear you."

He replied curtly.

"That’s good. I have very simple instructions for you, White. Do you follow?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good."

"The first instruction: lie down flat on your back against the golden floor of the orb." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He said, and without wasting any more time, White got to the ground, lying flat on the floor.

There was still that force that pinned him to the ground, and whilst he could easily break free from it, White remained still.

The last thing he wanted was to ruin everything because he couldn’t follow simple instructions.

"That’s excellent, White. Now, I need to tell you a couple of important things."

"On the press of a button, which I will do in a minute from now, you’ll feel a bit drowsy, the world will go dark, and you’ll lose consciousness, just like in sleep."

"Do not panic, and do not try to resist the force. This is just you being transported straight into the body."

"All that this surgery will be to you is just a simple sleep. When you wake up, it’ll be done. Do you understand, White?"

"I understand."

"Very well. Now just relax and allow yourself to drift into sleep."

He said,

It took a while, but true to his words, White began to notice golden mist dispersing into the orb.

He didn’t react to it, letting it fill up the space, and it soon covered him.

He felt himself getting drowsy, to the point of sleep, but... White never fell asleep, even as his eyes shut closed.

He remained vastly aware and even noticed the dragging force from the orb suddenly snatch him, bringing him closer towards the tube where the creature’s body was.

A hole was opened at the tube, and through it White entered, entering into the creature through a hole that had been drilled into the back of its head.

The sensation was like that of water filling up a bucket.

He was the water, and he could feel himself expanding and winding, connecting himself with the musculature of the creature.

’This is easier than I thought.’

White thought, finding himself gaining control of a couple of the creature’s muscles.

"It’s working, Professor. We’re getting positive fusion feedback."

A scientist said, as High Professor Lucas smiled in pride.

"I’ve done more than 800 fusions now. Even if this is an alien fusion, how hard can it really be?"

He thought, and exactly in that moment,

RIIIIIIING!

RIIIIIIING!

RIIIIIIING!

Alarms blasted forth from all of the supercomputers, deafening the entire room.

"What is going on?"

"All Scan tests are in multiple red overhead."

"We’ve lost control of life stats..."

KABOOOOOOM!

A violent explosion shook the room as every supercomputer hanging in the air detonated simultaneously, their lights vanishing and leaving the room in pitch darkness.

Now... the true fusion begins.