3 The LAD
Adriano couldn't even begin to understand how massive the mountain-like installation was. Someone could be born on its steps, spend his entire life walking up, and still die of old age before reaching the middle point.
"How can something so big exist?" He was sure that even if willing, the old earth governments could never realize something this gargantuan, simply by lack of required materials!
"The ECP had to strip mine two asteroid belts and five whole Moon-sized dwarf planets for the required resources," Oracle whispered in my mind.
"That's crazy," Adriano said as he set out from the barracks and towards the HQ. The air felt unnaturally fresh. He could even feel his lungs screaming in delight. "By the way, what is the ECP?"
"The Exodus Colonial Project is an organization funded by the survivors of the water wars of 2042 back on Earth. The ECP started with a goal to leave Earth behind and move the whole human population off-world to the moon colonies. Then the goals evolved after every success, asteroid mining, colony ships, terraforming of Mars, the first extrasolar colony, etc." Oracle spoke a little longer about minor and major achievements, like reversing aging and teleportation.
Adriano couldn't expect anything less from a society that had developed time travel. His thoughts were disturbed by the chirpy voice of Oracle in his ear.
"If you want, I can plot the most optimal route to the destination or call a transportation drone," Oracle informed. A second after, he could see an arrow appearing on top of his field of view and a holographic representation of a dragonfly-like vehicle next to him.
"How are you doing this?" He asked, surprised.
"I can intercept the visual information from the retina that is relayed through the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus and add extra information before sending it to the primary visual cortex." She explained in a de-facto-manner.
"Oracle," he called, a little embarrassed by the question he was about to ask. But he never had to, as Oracle could read his intentions faster than he could articulate them. A shining blue box with his physical stats appeared in front of him like a hoovering tablet.
[
Name: Adriano Meis
Age:29
Rank: Private (500 Merits for next grade.)
Merits: 0
Clearance: 0
Mission completed: 0
Stats:
Muscle Density: 14 (Strenght)
Muscle Flexibility: 12 (Agility)
Circulatory System Efficiency: 18 (Stamina)
Coordination: 13
Cognitive Functions: 22 (Int)
Evaluation: Basic Unenhanced-Human performance.
]
Next to the stats, there was a 3D model of his body, and he could zoom in and see how everything in his body currently looked and worked.
"This is amazing. Look, Oracle, I found you!" By zooming inside his brain, he found a metal sphere next to a spider-like chip connected to his brain fiber.
"Indeed, that's my hardware and the LAD." She affirmed.
"What's a LAD?" Adriano asked as he curiously explored the rest of his body.
"The Loyalty Assuring Device is a micro explosive designed to guarantee your adherence to Folgore protocols. In the case of desertion, voluntary friendly fire, or willfully ignoring orders, I'll activate the device." Oracle explained softly.
Cold sweat soaked his back and forehead as he realized what that meant. "I... Have a bomb in my head?" He dreadfully asked.
"Indeed." She confirmed and, after a small break, added. "I'm detecting a spike of emotional disturbance associated with a panic attack. I'm administering benzodiazepines and a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor to calm you down."
A cold wave slowed down his beating heart and calmed his nerves again.
"You think you'll keep me docile enough to control by drugging me?" Adriano asked defiantly. Right now, it felt as if he wasn't even allowed to feel what he was supposed to feel.
"Well, as long as you remain complying to the rules and regulations, there is nothing to worry about."
"I HAVE A BOMB IN MY HEAD! HOW CAN THERE BE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?" He indignantly roared, feeling the impulse to crack his skull with a rock and pull the LAD out.
A whistle came from his right. "Hey, newbie!" a well-built African-American man walked closer and asked softly. "Lemme guess, you just learned about the LAD?"
Adriano nodded, feeling the umpteenth wave of chemicals forcefully stabilizing his mood. The constant roller-coaster of emotions left him tired and empty inside.
The man took a big breath, exhaled, and patted his shoulder. "I know. We've all been through it. Walk with me." He turned away and gestured to follow.
With Adriano a step behind, the man started talking. "Right now, you must be feeling pretty pissed at the ECP and the Oracle. I suggest you forget about it." Adriano nodded at the first part but halted as he heard the second.
"This is no place or time to be defiant. The ECP will chew and spit you out without a second thought. Instead, do your best and prove your worth to them, there are amazing benefits to be earned, and it will keep you away from the riskiest missions." The man added the last part in a hushed conspirational tone.
Adriano considered his words carefully. Was he implying that ECP would send bad apples to suicide missions? If you have to send someone, you might as well send the disposable problematic ones. It made sense.
With a nod, Adriano conveyed he had understood the hidden warning. The man smiled and continued. "Plus, here you might be someone you miss or have been looking for all your life. Just last month, during a sortie, I met my father, whom we all thought dead in a hospice." He told Adriano all about how when his father was close to death, he had been replaced with a mannequin and sent to the future, where he had received an age reduction therapy and made fit to fight again.
Adriano couldn't hide his shock and listened, captivated. "What about you?" Adriano asked curiously.
"Oh. Mine is a little darker." The man said, frowning.
"I used to be a fireman. Back on Earth, I mean. On the 13th of November, I went to Stuttgart, Germany, with some friends. We toured the usual tourist traps, and then, on a dare, we decided to buy some camping equipment and spend a night in the Schwarzwald National Park, the black forest."
"On the first day, everything went great, we had a lot of fun, and the nature was amazing. At night I thought I heard someone screaming. My professional disposition simply didn't allow me to ignore it as my imagination over-interpreting the wind's howling, so I went to check it on my own."
"Everything looked the same no matter where I turned and walked blindly for hours. Instead, I got lost between the pines. I never found the voice owner or if she even existed." As he talked, the man seemed increasingly distressed, his fists got tighter, and his eyes went blank, reminiscing about scenes far in the past.
"When sunrise came, a park ranger found me. After noticing me going for a short walk but not returning, he said my friends had called the local police. He offered me some fresh water and a ride to reunite them."
"Man, you can't understand how happy I felt at that point. So relieved, I fell asleep on the ride to the base camp. However, I never made it there. The bastard park ranger had spiked its own water, and I awoke 300 years in the future forcefully recruited by this lovely organization." He spat on the floor and practically growled the last part before calming down with a deep breath, probably with the assistance of his Oracle.
"When I inquired how they had covered up my disappearance, you know what I was told? I was simply reported as lost. Like a dog that ran away from home."
Adriano felt uneasy on his feet as the world spun around him. Lost during a hike? Never to be seen again? "Oracle, don't you dare drug me now!" he growled.
"My wife disappeared two years ago during a hike. At the time the police said the same thing, she simply vanished from the face of the Earth. No body, no traces, no NOTHING GODDAMIT." He yelled, sitting down on the green grass.
The man sat next to him and placed his hand on Adriano's shoulder. "I know it must feel like shit, but this might be your chance of seeing her again. Folgore is big, but we all live here, on Mount Olympus. If she is here, you will find her." The man consoled Adriano, and it worked like a charm.
Adriano felt his anger subside, and a feeling of hope surged like a thawing brook after a cold winter.
"You are right. As long as there is breath in my body, hope lives. Maybe you know her, Ophelia Ozolins. Light brown hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and the most beautiful smile." Adriano kept describing her, enchanted.
"Can't say that I have, but I will definitely ask around. Hey, Oracle, add him to my contact list." A small notification appeared before Adriano's eyes. "Richard Wells wants to add you to his contacts, accept?" And then the two choices, Yes and No. Adriano accepted, and the notification window disappeared.
"Oh snap!" Richard's attention was caught by something in the corner of his eye. "Sorry, my man. I have to go now. Come look for me in the future if you got some spare time, I'll show you around." Richard turned around and sprinted in the direction the two of them had walked from.
Richard's speed outclassed any other runner Adriano had ever seen in his life, both on tv or in real life. A few seconds later and he had already disappeared.
