(Point of view: The Old Man)
The liquid inside the tanks was barely moving.
Slight ripples. Almost invisible. Like slow breathing.
The entire room was bathed in a dim, bluish-white light, filtered through the screens suspended from the ceiling. Black cables ran through the walls like dead roots. Each machine emitted a constant, discreet hum, which had become so familiar over the years that I could barely hear it anymore.
I have devoted almost my entire life to finding compatible subjects.
I remained seated in front of the main console.
My fingers were motionless.
The screen projected hundreds of luminous lines in front of me, but my gaze drifted elsewhere. Always.
Towards the tanks.
Pour it to them.
I was like a child facing his future present, so impatient.
Beta-2 floated silently in its tank, arms slightly open in the pale liquid. Its hair drifted around its face like flower filaments.
Even though other figures slept here, she remained by far the best.
I let out a faint laugh. Almost silent.
CLACK.
The security door opened behind me.
The air changed immediately.
I didn't even need to turn around.
I already knew who had just walked in.
His steps were too silent and fluid.
Asmara moved slowly between the columns of light. Her long white dress slid silently over her pale body. Her pale hair seemed almost transparent under the neon lights.
But it wasn't her appearance that bothered me, it was more the speed with which she had tamed her body.
As if nothing in the world could truly stop him.
–...
She stopped near an empty vat.
Its reflection was slightly distorted in the glass.
I immediately noticed the small dark spots on his sleeve.
My gaze slowly lifted towards her.
– You went out.
She turned her head slightly towards me.
Her faded blue eyes seemed almost luminous in the artificial dimness of the room.
She smiled delicately and murmured
- Yes.
His voice remained soft. Peaceful.
Like a person speaking in an empty church.
I slowly swiveled in my chair.
- SO ?
Silence.
– you're becoming very curious
She said, while cleaning her sleeve
– I found her.
My heart skipped a beat.
I sat up immediately.
– Roum ?
She nodded gently.
A simple movement.
But something in my chest tightened involuntarily.
After all this time.
Living…
They were still alive.
A screen changed abruptly behind me. Lines of data appeared automatically.
She pulled him towards us with her fingertips.
Location unknown. Deep external zone. Abnormal biological activity detected.
I stared at the results for a few seconds.
But she continued:
– It is stable.
Stable.
This word should never have been possible.
Not after this level of exposure.
My fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the desk.
– Are…. Are Are u sure about that?
Asmara slowly approached the screens and passed through the luminous data.
– You doubt it?
I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
I stood up, but my legs immediately protested. Old. Heavy.
Asmara watched calmly, her arms crossed behind her back.
As if she were simply watching the rain fall.
I immediately turned my head.
– and the others… and Beta-1.
Silence
I already regretted my question.
But Asmara whispered softly:
– They're doing quite well.
I slowly turned my eyes towards her…
His expression had changed slightly.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But real.
His fingers had tightened slightly against his sleeve.
And her eyes… stared at Roum's image without blinking.
As if something inside her was hesitating.
My breath caught a little.
I recognized that look.
I had already seen it.
A very long time ago.
I ran a trembling hand over my face.
I understood why the orders had changed.