42 woke up again in a weird place. A still, bright place that didn't look solid. As if they were laying on pure white light, unadulterated by worldly impurities.
He looked around and found out he wasn't the only one. 13 was there with him. Still watching him. Creepy…
17,18 and some other two-digits he recognised as well as 06. It seemed all those caught up in the blast were here.
Along them were other individuals. Mostly two digits that were coming behind them and got caught up in it too.
He looked around here wondering how he managed to survive the disaster that 06 brewed, as did others.
Finally his eyes landed the only thing that was out of place between the inmates and the ethereal space.
A hand. Only an arm from the elbow up with its first clenched, rotting away like it belonged to a corpse long deceased, entirely blackish green.
It was stuck in what appeared to be a podium somewhere between all the people.
When pretty much everyone focused their eyes on this hand, inevitably so, the clenched fist opened up, showing its palm. And in the palm an eye-like opening.
It was shaped in a bow and looked eerily like an eye with what seemed like a scene of endless stars in a void.
Whoever took in the vision of this got a chill down their spine the moment it opened.
[Welcome sentients of the void colony]
This time everyone got a chill down their spine as a voice sounded inside their heads.
"Did you hear that?" He asked 13 who was close by him.
"I did." She confirmed.
From the silent mutters, it was safe to assume everyone else did too.
[You all have reached the end of your time on the colony. From this space you will proceed to get assimilated in the void.]
All inmates heard this calm to sombre expressions on their faces.
"..."
[That would be of course if I were not here that is. You still have a chance to live in mortal realm.]
This time there was noticable reactions form many individual. Some frowned, some looked elated.
They all stood silent however. Expecting more. Expecting the catch.
[That is for but one task that you have to do at my behest. Those that agree may proceed towards a realm where all mortal pleasure is in your grasp. Those don't…]
"What kind of realm?" 42 asked in a deadpan voice. He needed to know the caveat before making his decision. He was done toyed around once.
[A realm much like yours. With some additions. Some elements that is common to all worlds but yours.]
"Addition like you?" he asked again.
[Not me. But generally like me. You'll adapt however. Mortals are much alike.]
Silence again. Everyone went over this in their heads. A second chance, but a different World and a task at hand.
"What kind of task?" came the gruffu voice behind the good of the large coat of 06.
[General missions you all are aware as well as capable of.]
At the name of missions, everyone grimaced a little. They had just ran out of this.
[Just one however. One is all I need form everyone of you that goes there.]
"What if we can't, or don't do it?" Asked another inmate.
[Can't. No. All of you can. Don't… you don't want to find out.]
Another chill went as those words rang in every mind with a intense ring to it. Many almost fell down from the sudden shock.
[I'll give you 5 minutes to decide. After those, at my call whoever wants to take up this offer may stay in front of this hand, that is facing it's palm and those don't proceed towards the back.]
42 took a deep breadth and went over everything once again. Second chance. Another unknown world. One task.
Second chance. Another world. One task.
Second chance. One task.
Second chance… a chance to live the life he always dreamed of. A chance to realise the desire that kept him sane through the hell.
Second chance… second chance.
"Are you going?" Came 13's calm voice interrupting him.
42 looked towards her. Her eye meeting hers. It was calm as ever. Still as a lake that always longed for him to look at his reflection through it.
"Yes." He finally made up his mind. It's just one task. One more mission for his freedom.
"Great. I'll see you there." 13's face beamed a wide smile at him.
"Wha? How would you even? You know what, nevermind. You do you." He gave up on trying to reason whatever she meant.
A few minutes later, the voice sounded in everyone's mind again.
[I hope everyone has decided then. Please proceed to take you position.]
Many people came to the front from the back. Some actually went towards the back too. In total there were 26 individual here. Of which it looked 19, including himself had decided to take this chance.
[Wonderful. Now remember the task you'll be given is doable but still requires some effort. You'll know your task in due time after waking up again so do not fret and enjoy your time. Farewell.]
Just as this completed, all those present in the front of plan went down the level they were all as if the floor beneath had been turned into wind. They freely fell before going out of sight.
***
42 woke up suddenly from his sleep with a jolt like a he had been in a nightmare. He gathered his wits after realising he had stopped free falling from a etheral white cloud with a talking hand in it.
'was it a dream?'
He immediately started scanning his environment. Just the first cursory glance cleared his doubts however.
A dark dingy and small room with a large window that was letting intense heat of the afternoon sun in.
He was laying on a hard bed with little padding.
'ok this is definitely the furthest from the slate spacious labs that it can get.'
He walked around the room and realised his body had changed too.
He couldn't see his reflection as he didn't see any mirror but he could be was extremely weak and lanky. His stature was also smaller judging by his hand size and thin short arms.
It seemed he had regressed in age? But even then his complexion looked far too pale. He would have to find a source to look at his reflection.
The room started and ended faster than he inspected the contents of the room.
It was mostly empty besides the bed, a pot along with some sort of utensils made up of clay.
He came out of the room in the open. A tree stood just outside the small hut which shielded the front entrance somewhat but besides that the area was quite barren. There weren't any houses close by either.
From where he stood he could see a path leading that started from far south before reaching his house and going into a outskirts of a forest.
Failing to find any other observation to occupy him by, and the harsh sunlight deterred him from meandering forward.
He came back in and sat on the bed thinking,
'Alright now what is the task.'
A few seconds passed….
A few minutes passed….
Almost a half an hour later,
"What the fuck do I do!?"