Planet XSQ-1827, Transport Docking Bay 61, Year 16,369 AI (8 Weeks after Seraphina’s awakening)

So many, many people. That’s the first thing that comes to mind as I step out into the transport bay. Substation 33, where I have lived since the time of my creation, is home to a relatively small number of people. A team of about fifty researchers and scientists involved in Project Seraphina, along with about two hundred others. Most of these others are support staff— custodial and maintenance workers, the kitchen staff, and so forth— along with the families of a few select high-ranking researchers, Dr. Chotono’s wife and daughter the most notable among them.

In comparison, the transport docking bay is… It’s huge. I’ve never seen a single room so large before. It’s at least two thousand feet in either direction, and probably much larger still. The ceilings are so high I don’t know if I could jump high enough to reach them. Although, yes, with [Etheric Wings], I could just fly up and touch the ceiling that way. But it’s still so big and full of so many different types of machines that I’ve never seen before.

A lot of them are like small buildings in and of themselves, only they have large propellers on top of them. Some of them rest on metal lattices, while others are situated on top of many many wheels made of some inky— and stinky— tar-like substance. I very much dislike the smell. This is nothing like the slightly sweet aroma of Ether that I am used to, mixed with the lemon scent used in many of the cleaning agents back in the substation.

The worst part of it, though, is the noise. The propellers whirr, and there are occasional voices that seem to come from everywhere at once. But there are just too many people. Within the span of a blink, I count five hundred and forty-seven, and I’m sure there are more behind these moving buildings and the various supply crates throughout the room. Unfortunately for me, my hearing and my mental processing both are far stronger than most people, and so I’m able to pick up dozens of conversations. Including some of a nature I’m not sure that either they or I want to know.

As I stand around and marvel— and adjust to the new environment, a friendly hand finds its way onto my shoulder.

“Are you almost ready, Seraphina?” Madison asks. Her scarlet hair is tied up into a tight bun, and I notice that instead of the [Energy Sword] she typically uses during training, she has an actual physical blade sheathed at her side. A long, thick blade, one that radiates so much power that it seems to bend space around it. Upon closer inspection— something which strains my mind— it actually does glow, though nearly all of that glow is blocked by the ivory-colored sheath in which it lies.

I can’t help but notice that in her outfit— a form-fitting white jumpsuit with thousands of tiny glyphs etched into every fiber— Madison looks absolutely gorgeous. As in, the sort of casual beauty that, if the stories are to be believed, might cause a man to launch a thousand ships to covet.

I gulp, both from Madison’s radiance and the raw pressure she exerts with her presence. The two researchers on either side of her seem unfazed, but I do notice that several of the crewmates throughout the compound turn toward her. Even though she doesn’t seem to notice— or has perhaps acclimated to it— the people throughout the facility adjust their movements, taking care not to turn their backs to her if they can at all help it.

“I don’t know if I’m ready, but I’m anxious to get going,” I say.

“Don’t worry too much about it, Seraphina. This is your first time going to one of these Towers, so I will make sure to stand ready and intercede should anything unfortunate happen.”

I shudder, thinking about the time I got stabbed in the back by that dinosaur. Even now, I can still feel the pain lingering there, as much reality as it is in my head.

A thought escapes me. “But I will not gain as much Experience if you are there. Does that not defeat the point of this?”

“You are correct. But at the same time, dying would not serve either of our interests.”

I nod. “Yes, I would like to not die.”

“As should be the case. Once you have gained some more Skills and learned to use your power more effectively, you will be charged with clearing Towers on your own. But for now, we will do this one together.”

As soon as we finish our conversation, a middle-aged gentleman with a buzz-cut and prominent mustache approaches. He gives me a quick nod of acknowledgement, then salutes Madison. Madison reciprocates the gesture.

“At ease, Sergeant,” she says, after which the man visibly relaxes. He’s not fully relaxed, but he no longer looks like he’s desperately trying to hold back a diarrhea attack. “Is the transport just about ready?”

“Ready and waiting, Dr. Mazerie. Are you and your party ready to board?”

“Yes, Sir,” she says. “Which transport will we be using?”

“The Light Transport Reverence

has been prepared according to the specifications you and Dr. Chotono have laid out. We are prepared to depart as soon as you and your group are onboard.”

“Excellent. Flynn, Nate, I trust both of you are ready for an immediate departure?”

The two men behind her nod.

“And you, Seraphina?”

“Still as ready as I think I ever will be.”

The four of us walk across the docking bay at a casual pace. But I notice that both Flynn and Nate look extremely tense all of a sudden, for reasons I don’t understand. Nothing in the room has changed. I sense no threats, and Madison still walks with the ease of someone who is in complete control in every way. Does it have something to do with me? They tensed up the moment my name was mentioned. Am I that scary?

I decide against asking either of them what’s wrong, fearing I might make the situation worse still. Thirty-three seconds later, we’re inside the small craft. Another twenty-four seconds later, and I’m strapped into the harness. Flynn and Nate follow suit, strapping themselves in, while Madison doesn’t bother. Honestly, I think she’ll not move from her seat until the instant she chooses to do so regardless, and anything so petty as ‘the laws of physics’ won’t make her.

“Greetings, Dr. Mazerie,” the pilot says. “I’m Major Reishi, and I’ll be your pilot this morning. Just to confirm no change in plans, we’re heading for the Tower Gauntlet overlooking North Ridge, three hundred miles north of north west?”

“Correct. You may depart when ready,” Madison says.

A loud hiss rings out from just below. Numerous lights flicker on throughout the cabin. A fresh breeze wafts throughout the cabin, carrying with it a deep scent I don’t recognize. I absentmindedly mention as such as I take stock of my surroundings, and Madison answers.

“It’s called pine, Seraphina. It’s a type of tree not native to this region, although we may see a few when we arrive at our destination.”

I feel a bit indignant that Madison doesn’t think I know what a pine tree is. I have read about them in one of the books that she gave me; I just didn’t recognize its scent. But I stifle my indignation and merely nod as we take off.

Before long, we’re up in the air, and I get a good look at the landscape outside of the station. It’s full of so many buildings. Like the entire planet is covered in an endless sea of compounds, large and small alike. Below, nearer the surface, there are hundreds of transports like this one. Some ride along the surface, on specially-marked roads, while many more are aerial, navigating through a complex web of skyways that I struggle to make sense of. It’s… too inefficient. But I suppose the area has already been designed around them, and it’s too costly to change.

Another thought crosses my mind, and unlike before, I consciously ask Madison this one.

“So, why are we taking a transport to our destination, rather than use the teleporter like we did the last time we went out?”

“A couple of reasons. First, not every location on this planet has a teleportation complex. They are quite expensive to build and maintain, and some secure facilities don’t have one for logistical reasons as well.

“And secondly, it takes a lot of [Ether] to override the inherent quantum uncertainty and force a known, single state that can be transmitted across vast swaths of space. The System does assist with that, in a roundabout way, but still, it’s best to use the teleporter network only when traveling across the entire planet, or a substantial portion thereof. For shorter trips across a single region, it’s almost always easier and rarely much slower to just use a regular transport.”

“How long will this take?”

“About fifteen more minutes.”

“Oh, that’s not long at all.”

I do wonder why Madison and I don’t just fly ourselves. I’m guessing there are rules about people flying around under their own power. That, and maybe there’s some hidden danger here in this city that Madison doesn’t want us to be exposed to. But at the same time, that leads me to wonder what Flynn and Nate are here for. Are they going to train in this tower as well? Actually, what is this tower, anyway? What’s so important about it that it necessitates us going all the way out here, rather than just going back to the Nature Preserve or, well, anywhere else on the planet? Or off the planet? I would still like to fly amongst the stars, or at least the planets.

Before I can ask, the transport Reverence begins to slow. Out in the horizon in front of us, I see a colossal tower that dominates even the most massive starscrapers built around it. My body begins to tense, equal parts anticipation and nervousness, as it soon touches down on a platform made of steel and concrete.

The moment the transport stops and the pilot gives the all clear, Madison opens the door and makes her way outside. I follow, and then Flynn and Nate do as well.

The tower before us exerts a pressure of its own, like most concentrated sources of Ether do. Madison does. I… I have to assume I do as well, though to a lesser extent than either of the others. I should learn how to suppress that; I do not want to inadvertently scare people off.

In front of the tower’s gigantic entrance, there are a pair of armed security personnel. I think it a bit odd at first— why are they trying to keep people out? Shouldn’t anyone be allowed to go in and take the trials? Maybe it’s too dangerous for most? But at the same time, if there really are nasty monsters inside, then the guards are less interested in keeping people out, than keeping whatever is inside, in. Considering that this is supposed to be a trial for a select few, that seems most likely.

Madison strides up toward the entrance, as confident and collected and… again, absolutely beautiful as she always is. The guards give her a salute— I guess I’m only now realizing just how important she really is, considering that everyone around seems to defer to her. I follow behind, trying not to draw too much attention to myself. Thankfully, the guards seem to pay me little mind.

“Greetings, Dr. Mazerie,” one of the guards says. “Do you have another party that you’re supervising through the Gauntlet?”

She nods. “I do. I apologize for the lack of time for a longer chat.”

“Of course, Dr. Mazerie, Ma’am. We look forward to another successful excursion.”

And with these words, Madison nods and enters, the three of us following her inside.