ÆnigmaVerse

Chapter I: Genesis

In the depths of an abyssal darkness, an all-encompassing silence prevails, devoid of light, trapping me in utter stillness. Immobile and sightless, I am consumed by isolation and the weight of my frozen existence.

Where am I?

Falling... fractures into nothingness, I yearn for breath and life-giving air, denied to me.

Am I dead?

Confusion envelops me as I struggle to comprehend my existence, to grasp the events that led me here. Yet amidst the chaos, sensations drift through my being as I float aimlessly, adrift in the void.

Am I alive?

Let me live. The plea echoes through my consciousness, a desperate longing to embrace life, to revel in the vibrant pulse of existence. Yes, I am alive.

But what am I?

Time stretches on, eons passing like fleeting seconds, until a sudden spark pierces the core of the darkness. Vibrant specks of colour streak past, defying perception with their blinding velocity.

Who am I?

As my eyes slowly part, a world unfolds before me is both strange and the familiar. The gentle graze of my hand against an ethereal membrane, teetering on the precipice between existence and non-existence. Approaching from the other side, a figure draws near, its hand reaching out to touch the glass that separates us, aligning perfectly with my own.

Can you let me in?

I find myself standing at the threshold of the aether, an ocean filled with shimmering stars, as I exists betwixt and between, neither here nor there.

Please… You have to say…I can come in.

“You can come in.”

With fervour, my fingers press deeper into the fragile barrier, causing it to shatter like glass. Our hands entwine, reuniting as one. In that moment, I am now aware of who I am and the purpose that awaits me.

“Beyond the stars outside of time and space, is where I born and belong. Away in my dreaming space. The universe's sing a lullaby only I can understand, into my hearts and souls of my deepest and darkest mind.

I am the Ænigma.”

Unknown Location, Unknown Time.

A man in a lab coat sprinted through a dimly lit corridor, his path illuminated by the pulsating crimson hue of an alarm. Every desperate stride he took seemed to convey that his very life depended on it, and indeed it did. The piercing screams echoing behind him served as a chilling reminder to never glance back, for the relentless entity pursuing him would surely catch up. Clutched tightly in his hand was a black metallic orb, its size akin to that of a baseball. Its structure resembled a Buckminsterfullerene.

Reaching the imposing vault-like door, he swiftly pressed the keypad and swiped his keycard, causing the door to slowly open, accompanied by the sound of hissing hydraulics. As he slipped into the room, he strained to shut the door behind him. However, a pincer-like hand wedged itself within the narrowing gap, determined not to let the door seal shut. From the other side of the door, a raspy female voice called out, "It’s…Me…Margaret." Panic surged through the man as he cried out, "I'm sorry!" In a desperate attempt to free himself, he kicked at the menacing pincer, the sound of cries of pain and suffering filling the air. Eventually, the pincer released its grip, and the door sealed shut.

With a mix of resignation and relief etched on his face, the man acknowledged the unfinished task at hand. The room he entered was an outdoor laboratory, featuring a grand dome adorned with a cage-like fused-ring arrangement similar to the orb he held. As the sun began to rise, its faint glow cast across the lingering night sky. The dome housed a towering and immovable machine, reminiscent of Stonehenge, with monumental metal pieces standing tall. Positioned at the centre was a circular platform. He walked across the grassy ground, each step accompanied by a satisfying crunch, until he reached the platform. Clutching the orb tightly, he extended his arm and aimed for the heart of the platform. With a release of his grip, the orb defied gravity, hovering above the surface. A soft hum filled the room, signalling the activation of the platform. The laboratory's AI, known as Researcher, spoke from the computer console, its voice resonating through the hall. "Initiate calibration of Athena's Sphere and assess Cosmos Magnitude."

As time passed, the sun's rays reached out to touch the horizon, casting an ethereal twilight upon the world, bathed in a fiery luminosity. The researcher's voice echoed through the room, announcing, "Cosmos Magnitude Analysis Complete." Anticipation filled the man's heart as he eagerly awaited the results. Suddenly, the Researcher blared the alarm, "Warning! Warning! Mesosphere Magnitude Void Detected! Begin Quarantine." Confusion spread across the man's face as he turned around to check the door, but instead, he came face to face with a tall, elongated figure. The creature had pincers for hands, adorned with numerous fingers and arms, while its legs resembled those of a deer but with ape-like talons at the end. Three faces cascaded from its head, each with long blond hair and a conjoined grin stretching wide.

In a flash, the monster used its pincer to choke the man, lifting him off the ground. Gasping for air, he managed to utter, "Margaret," his voice strained and desperate, as he locked eyes with three pairs of tearful blue orbs. The monster, revealed to be Margaret, shifted its gaze towards the bluish, liquid-like energy emanating from the orb. Suddenly, the dome shattered from an external force, and grotesque, deformed monsters burst inside, drawn to the orb like moths to a flame. The Researcher glitched between words but managed to sound the alarm, "Warning! Quarantine Fail! Multiple Troposphere... Stratosphere... Mesosphere... Thermosphere... Exosphere Magnitude Voids Detected!"

The man was struck with horror as the Voids ignored him and brutally fought against each other for the orb. Explosions resounded, and the earth trembled violently, shaking the very foundations of the land. Cracks began to form in the once clear sky, and lightning crackled fiercely from within the heart of the machine itself, defying the laws of gravity. The metal pieces elongated and dissected until they disappeared from view. From the gaping fissures above, something hurtled toward the earth with incredible speed, disrupting the boundaries between land and sky. Reality itself seemed to be torn apart as landscapes bent, twisted, stretched, and shrank, caught in the throes of cataclysmic upheaval. In the chaos, a symphony of fragmented shards erupted from the fabric of existence, each taking the form of a star-shaped spike. Countless in number, these celestial fragments scattered across the expanse, like ethereal shards strewn across the heavens, shattering the Voids near the orb into non-existence.

Emerging from the rubble, the man in the lab coat surveyed the aftermath of the recent incident. His gaze fell upon a young woman standing on the edge that view the outside world, her short red wolf-cut hair swaying in the wind. She wore a burnt and torn white lab coat, paired with a black short-sleeved dress shirt adorned with intricate rose patterns, and black jeans. As the dust settled, the truth revealed itself—the dome that encased them all was perched atop a tower. The cityscape below lay in disarray, transformed into a disorienting labyrinth of chaos, folding and floating.

"What has happened to my world?" Her thoughts dripped with anguish and a thirst for retribution, her eyes reflecting the cosmos trembling, brimming with tears. As she stood there, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps and turned her attention to the man in the lab coat. "Please, save us, Alice" he begged.

***

Nexuscape Integration eXpansion (NIX) Polytechnic, Central Park, Manhattan, USA. October 3 2203, 5:33 P.M.

NIX Training Field.

“Move! Move! Move! It won't slow down and wait for you! It can kill you in the blink of an eye!" bellowed the Instructor, a tall, blond-haired man in his early forties, his full-grown beard adding an air of authority to his presence. With his keen eyes, he oversaw the recruits during their live training sessions, meticulously observing every detail. The recruits leapt and their equipment on their body enables them to phase-shifted from one location to another, desperately trying to keep up with their multiple blurring speed targets. The captive Void swiftly transitioned from flight to aggression, seizing one of the recruits in mid-air and hurtling both of them towards the ground.

In a terrifying confrontation, the recruit found himself staring into the face of an elongated, spectral figure, its ghostly visage looming menacingly overhead, vividly reflected in the recruit's Visors. The creature's mouth contorted unnaturally, revealing a ghastly assortment of teeth as it launched a terrifying assault, intent on consuming the recruit's entire head in a gruesome feast. The recruit swiftly drew his gun, unleashing a point-blank shot that pierced the heart of a menacing Void, instantly rendering it lifeless.

With a forceful kick, he managed to free himself from the clutches of the motionless creature's grip. Without a moment's hesitation, his instincts guided him towards the designated safe zone, his heart pounding with adrenaline. However, fate had a different plan in store for the recruit. In the midst of his frantic retreat, he abruptly halted, the once-empty surroundings had transformed into a nightmarish ambush, as three distinct groups of Voids encircled him, effectively blocking any possible escape routes. He found himself cornered, trapped in an inescapable web of danger and uncertainty.

A surge of fighting instinct coursed through the recruit, compelling him to swiftly switch his equipment. Yet, his momentum was abruptly halted by a glaring warning notification that materialized on his device: 'Warning! Artificial Cosmos Insufficient!' Before he could even process the implications, a lurking Void pounced on him from the shadows, snaring him in a firm headlock. As his body crashed against the unforgiving ground, a chill surged through his veins, draining the colour from his face and bathing his forehead in a torrential cascade of sweat. Fear's icy grip tightened around him, constricting his every breath. His heart pounded in his chest, a relentless drumbeat of terror, as a menacing chorus of Voids converged, encircling him with predatory intention. Panic seized his vocal cords, and with a voice trembling with desperation, the recruit's cry pierced the air. "SOMEBODY! HELP ME!".

Another recruit swiftly entered the fray, wielding a transparent blade-like weapon with unparalleled precision. In a single fluid motion, she deftly severed the Void that ensnared a fellow recruit, liberating him from its menacing grasp. Unbeknownst to him, he was not the sole victim of this perilous ordeal; his entire team was entangled in a similar predicament. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the woman swiftly recalibrated her equipment, setting it to operate at maximum efficiency but within a strict time constraint of 9.57 seconds. This meticulous adjustment ensured that her gear wouldn't succumb to overheating and the subsequent risk of catastrophic explosion. However, it also meant that she had to execute her plan flawlessly, relying on a single powerful strike.

Without wasting a precious second, she surveyed the dire circumstances unfolding before her. Her voice, laced with urgency, counted the menacing adversaries that surrounded them. "Fifteen Voids," she stated, her tone mirroring the gravity of the situation. "Eighteen recruits... all perilously in danger." Her voice carried an intensity that underscored her unwavering focus and unwavering determination. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, embracing a moment of calm amidst the chaos. "Breath...In…Breath...Out." Her eyes underwent a breathtaking transformation, shimmering with a kaleidoscope of vibrant, multicoloured hues beneath her Visors. She whisper that carried an air of finality, "Farewell."

In a mesmerizing display of agility, she phase-shifted, zig-zagging and weaving effortlessly through the treacherous terrain, navigating the dense undergrowth and towering trees with seamless grace. Within a matter of seconds, the recruits stood in awe as the lifeless bodies of the Voids lay strewn before them, vanquished by the woman's unrivalled skill. With an air of silent authority, she walked away, her departure signalling the end of the gruelling training session.

***

NIX Symposium.

"The Voids manifest in a multitude of grotesque shapes and sizes. They exhibit aggressive behaviour towards other sentient species and even engage in conflicts among themselves. However, there are instances where they display no hostile tendencies at all. Voids are believed to be physical embodiment of conscious and subconscious thoughts. It is theorized that individuals with intense emotions or memories, such as trauma, anger, sadness, or fear, can summon these monstrous entities. They are akin to 'poltergeists,' materializing as external energy and inflicting physical effects driven by negative emotions like fear, worry, or stress. The true nature and existence of these creatures remain subjects of speculation."

The NIX's AI interface delivered the lecture to the student recruits in a dimly lit room, with the projector casting an eerie glow. A recruit raised his hand and posed a question to the AI, "Lecturer, are the Voids indestructible? If they are, how do we counter-attack or stand a chance against them?" The murmurs of agreement rippled through the recruits. Amidst the crowd, a disengaged young man sat slouched in his seat, seemingly uninterested compared to his peers. With only thirty minutes remaining in the session and nothing else to occupy his time, he decided to entertain himself by performing various coin tricks.

“Little is known about the anatomy or biological composition of the Voids, as their physiology is incomprehensibly alien. Each Void possesses unique abilities, such as matter mimicry, telekinesis, teleportation, and even convert the live and deceased being to create new Void. When night falls, they are at their most powerful.”

As the recruits listened to these revelations, they were struck with awe or consumed by fear. The young man effortlessly flipped the coin into the air with his thumb, skilfully catching it in his hand. He then smoothly rolled the coin across his knuckles from one hand to the other while his eyes remained fixed on the projection reels.

“Some Voids possess high intelligence and take on bipedal forms resembling humans, capable of communication and organized cooperation. Despite their complex neural structures, these creatures lack mirror neurons, preventing them from empathizing with the suffering of other beings or perceiving anything beyond prey, but relentlessly target any other form of sentient organic life, particularly humans. Their absence of empathy forms the foundation of their malevolence, as they are intentionally cruel and driven solely by their insatiable hunger for consciousness, the essence of human existence.” The AI display a chilling scene, projecting it before the wide-eyed recruits. The gruesome display proved too much for some, who succumbed to the horror and fainted.

With a deft and fluid motion, the young man executed an impressive sleight of hand, flipping the coin behind his hand and seamlessly bringing it back around to catch it.

“However, most Voids can be harmed by kinetic trauma caused by the extraterrestrial energy known as Cosmos, mostly generated by individuals called Quasars, or by blunt force and ballistic attacks from M.J.O.R.N.I.R., which possess cosmos properties. A fatal assault utilizing cosmos energy will cause the Voids to completely vanish."

Performing a thumbs-up palm spin, the young man allowed the coin to spin rapidly around his thumb before catching it again. With a flick of his wrist, he effortlessly flipped the coin back and forth, finally he deftly caught it between his fingers.

The room fell silent, anticipation building as the Lecturer, prepared to announce the top scorers of the NIX Stargazer Final Exam.

"I would like to announce the top five scorers of the NIX Stargazer Final Exam," the Lecturer began, its synthesized voice resonating throughout the lecture hall. The exam, a comprehensive assessment of knowledge and skills acquired during the training program, served as a milestone for successful completion. It covered a wide range of subjects, including written tests, practical exercises, and scenario-based assessments.

The Lecturer paused for a moment, before finally revealing the names of the top scorers.

“1. Evangeline Weiss

2. Paul Sievernich

3. Tetsuo Kenshin

4. Lucy Drakenstein

5. Felix Quantum”

A smile of delight spread across the young man's face as he heard his name announced on the third place. Rising from his seat, as Lecturer concluded its discourse, and its numerous recruits began to disperse, their faces reflecting a range of emotions. Some wore expressions of awe and curiosity, captivated by the power and potential of their new endeavour. Others carried the weight of their duty, fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead. A few were consumed by fear and apprehension, mindful of the risks that awaited them. Meanwhile, the majority of recruits engaged in their own conversations, engrossed in idle chatter and gossip. Felix skilfully navigated through the crowd, avoiding accidental collisions, as he hurry toward his destination.

***

It was the eleventh hour of a chilly October night, and a frosty breeze cut through Felix's dirty blond hair, styled in a swept-back manner with spiky fringes and an undercut. He shivered, huddling in his short, black, single-breasted trench coat as he patiently waited in the dimly lit alleyway. The purpose of his presence was a secret meeting with the leader of the Paradox Movement, carrying a cargo of utmost importance.

The Paradox Movement was a resistance group that believed NIX, a vast conglomerate with numerous subsidiaries, was not merely an innocent corporation but rather a facade concealing its involvement in illegal activities. They suspected NIX of creating bio-weapons known as Voids and manipulating unsuspecting civilians into volunteering as their soldiers.

As Felix braved the cold, thoughts raced through his mind. "I need to secure this cash; time is running out if I want them to make it," he contemplated anxiously. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the alleyway. Two figures emerged from the shadows, their identities obscured by the darkness, clad in trench coats and hats.

"Here it is, just as you requested," Felix said, extending a Rubik's Cube-like container towards the man standing before him. The man took it, deftly spinning the cube to align the colours, causing the lid to pop open. He inspected the contents within. Satisfied, he signalled his companion, who produced a folder containing the promised cash and handed it to Felix.

Delight washed over Felix as he counted the substantial sum of $730,000. "This is more than enough!" he thought gleefully. Curiosity got the better of the man who had paid Felix, and he inquired, "How did you manage to find it?"

"Luck was on my side. I stumbled upon it in an old storage room, hidden in a pile of dusty old boxes," Felix truthfully replied.

"That's impossible! Our agents would have discovered it, and we wouldn't have needed to hire you. Stop playing games!" The man's agitation was palpable.

"I'm not playing games. I'm telling you the truth!" Felix defended himself.

"He's telling the truth," the man holding the Rubik's Cube interjected, supporting Felix's claim.

"Enough. Let's go," he commanded his companion, urging him to leave. Turning to Felix, he issued a stern instruction, "Remember, this meeting never took place. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Felix acknowledged, aware of the gravity of the situation.