Buried Treasure

A hollow click sounded out. The panel above me began to descend slowly. I stepped back, staring in awe at the development before me. Nothing supported it as it lowered to the ground, as if it were a piece of paper drifting slowly downward. It settled on the ground below with a gentle thud, and then silence. The hole was darker than night, as if light was unable to enter within. Like a fool, I stepped onto the plate to get a better look.

It began to rise back up towards its place in the cube, taking me with it. The others screamed for me to step down, but I was mesmerized. I could almost see something inside. Within seconds the plate I was standing upon had resumed its rightful place, sealing me within its dark reaches.

A flash of light blinded me momentarily. As I slowly opened my eyes, I began to make out shapes within the confines of the artifact. Slowly the room came into focus. It seemed larger on the inside than was possible.

The room lacked the polished magnificence of the cube as well. It seemed rather dingy in fact. It was brightly lit, but spots of rust pocked the metal floors and walls, paint peeling on the odd furnishings that occupied it.

A dull hum reverberated all around, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. A voice called out from across the room, startling me. I turned to see a… I don’t know how to describe it. It was almost like a window on the wall. Images flitted past within it, showing me images of things I couldn’t understand. Words I couldn’t read. A female voice, sounding oddly hollow spoke.

“It has been four hundred thousand, three hundred and sixty years, nine months, and six days since last activation.”

I walked over to the strange window, where the voice had seemed to emanate from.

“Greetings doctor. How may I help you today?” The strange voice from nowhere asked me.

“What are you?”

“I am the Archival Storage and Computation Interface. Or ASCI if you prefer.”

“Asci? Where are you? Why can’t I see you?”

“What ever do you mean doctor? I am right in front of you.”

“The window?”

“There are no windows on this floor doctor. Are you feeling alright?”

It was too much for me to handle. Disembodied voices, strange machines, that constant hum droning on. I sat down, my knees too weak to support me.

“Is there anything I may help you with, doctor?”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” I asked, my head beginning to ache.

“It is only proper to refer to you by your title. If you prefer, I will use your name instead.”

That voice. There was no emotion behind it. No inflection. As if it… Weren’t alive.

“What is this place? What am I doing here?” I asked, trying to make some sense of the situation I had found myself in.

“This facility houses the genetic research division of Sentinel Industries. You have been tasked with creating a new life form for commercial sale. Did you not read the file I sent you?”

“Genetic…” I looked at the strange window, the illegible words flowing over it like a stream. “Please, I don’t understand any of this. I’m not this doctor you seem to think I am.”

“I do not understand, doctor. My scanners show you as Dr. Edward Robinson, Sentinel Corporation employee.”

“Just tell me what’s going on here.”

“Very well doctor. Please draw your attention to the screen in front of you. I will begin the briefing shortly.”