A Superior Intelligence

Indoor vertical farming. It was uncomfortably humid wherever they were and similarly dark. Surrounding them, providing the only light, towering pillars of glowing pods. Amber gold light struggled from them, lighting the immediate area. Light became less of an issue when the sirens started. Strobing red lights showed the true brilliance of their locale. Miles and miles of these towers spread further than their eyes could see. They could only imagine the structure large enough to house them all. They had no idea where they were going, they just ran. They thought that they saw a way out; salvation. They were wrong. The golden light they had mistaken for daylight was far from stationary. A multitude of arms closed around the glow as it began its short journey toward them. They hadn’t noticed it yet but three more of these beings had them flanked in all directions. Lore continued advancing towards the initial light but even as they neared it, its identity and purpose only became more obscured. It didn’t seem hostile. It gently hovered above the ground, floating in the air like a stationary squid caught before propelling itself forward; frozen in time yet not. Lore passed their Breacher around it.
“That’s funky.” Lore double checked their findings. “That’s really funky.”
“What is it?” Char lurched closer.
“It’s a Reaper matrix. Whatever this thing is, it’s powered by a Reaper.” Lore spun and sidled to the nearest pod. “Same here… This isn’t a farm. Well it is but it would be more accurate to say that this is a power plant.”
“But the Reaper doesn’t create any usable energy, it’s all rejeuvinative.” Char scanned a pod for herself. “That’s definitely rejuvenation energy their collecting. Why though?”
“The ability to heal oneself? Perhaps the owner is searching for immortality?” Varkral waved his wand over the squid-like machine. For a moment, the gold turned purple. “Or perhaps there is something more to this.” He repeated his action. His experiment was repeatable and yielded the same response. Unbeknownst to them, their flanking squids were growing ever closer.
“I say we find another Breaching point and try to find out more about wherever this is before we go any further.” Lore recalibrated their Breacher. Out of the corner of their eye, they saw the three new squids. They kept calm and held out their wrist. Char and Varkral grabbed on. The white flash illuminated the battery’s halls for a fleeting moment. Fresh air.
“Ugh,” Lore grated their tongue against their teeth, “didn’t realise how metallic the air was in there.” They tried to spit but nothing came out. The others were experiencing the same displeasure. None of them knew quite where they were; they knew they were on Earth but the specificities were still a mystery. Lore consulted their Breacher only to be further confused. “We were just in the middle of Mexico City. Now we are in the only place with ‘clean air’ according to this.” They flashed their wrist.
“And that is?” Char checked her own Breacher. “That can’t be right.”
“I think it might be then.” Lore glanced over at Char’s Breacher. Both devices displayed the same data. “We’re in Leipzig but at the same elevation as Everest.”
Varkral shook his head, confused. “Where?”
“Your Earth wasn’t that different to ours. Germany… Big on trading?” Lore tried to think of anything else they knew about Leipzig but couldn’t off the top of their head so resorted to bringing up a holographic map.
“Ah, that’s Totewasser. Destroyed during a siege in the seventeenth century, makes sense I didn’t recognise it.” Varkral smiled having justified his gap in his knowledge to himself.
“Interesting, slightly irrelevant but interesting.” Lore nodded. “This below us,” Lore stamped their foot, ”covers most of the Earth’s land, including the icy bits. The only variation this scan’s showing are air intakes and outflows. Leipzig seems to be the only place outside of this thing with a breathable atmosphere.”
“And even this is a bit thin.” Lore was running on anxiety but Char wasn’t so lucky. “What’s the plan then?”
“I don’t think we get a say.” Lore spoke calmly. “Whatever this place is, whatever the Char we’re here to see has done, it’s about to become clearer.” It wasn’t visible to the others yet but Lore could see two towering structures emerge from either pole. Their advantage didn’t last long as soon, both spires were visible with conventional vision. “But wait, there’s more.” Lore raised their arms in premature surrender.
“OBSERVATION: HUMANOID ENTITES MATCHING GENETIC TEMPLATE.” The first barked with a stilted yet human sounding monotone.
“DIALOGUE: THIS ONE CONCURRS. DIRECTIVE: CAPTURE ALIVE.” The second was the first to make a move on them.
“DIALOGUE: WOULD YOU KINDLY COME WITH US. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST.” Lore extended their wrists as if already cuffed.
The squids landed before arresting them; their tentacles becoming legs for them to walk on. In this state, they now closer resembled spiders which caused Lore to twitch but they did their best to otherwise maintain their stony resolve and outstretched arms. There was a flash of white as they were returned to the belly of the beast.
“DIALOGUE: PLEASE WAIT HERE. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST. FURTHER NOTICE: FAILURE TO ACT WILL LEAD TO TERMINATION.”
“Very polite aren’t they.” Lore attempted sarcasm. It landed.
“Best hostage takers I’ve had.” Char turned to Varkral who was scanning their immediate area with his wand. “Find anything?”
“Apart from the energy field that’s keeping us here? Actually, yes but I’m not sure quite what.” He returned to his scanning being careful not to cross the boundary he had just detected.
“Well, this is nice.” Lore had no idea how to fill the silence.
“Glad you like it.” A voice came from the darkness.
“Not enjoying yourself Char?” Lore turned around to see their wife multiplied. “Ah.”
“Ah indeed. You’re finally here. Nearly two hundred years but you’re really, finally here.” She looked like she hadn’t seen a shower in all of that time. It suited her in a crazed scientist sort of way. Matter of Perspective.