N.E.C.R.O.

Part 1 - Chapter 2: Intelligence Test

I entered the snowy white iron-plated building. This was the second time I was entering the building in my life, considering that this was my second intelligence test.

As soon as I had taken a step onto the 'Identification Pathway', the sensors on the floor of the building scanned my shoes and identified me as a minor-citizen of Origin-Terrain. Then it responded, "Your test-room is 'Room 53'. Have a nice day, Nile!"

So, that meant that I had to enter the third room in the fifth floor. The room 5-3 has two entries. Every room in that floor has two entries, because there is where the island's president gives his speech when he comes here.

I reached the first entry and there was an AL, Laura, blocking the entrance. "I'm here to take the intelligence test. Do I have permission to enter?" I asked.

"Sorry, please use the other entrance. This entrance is prohibited."

"Sure, thank you." I bowed, to which she responded with another bow. I walked further and reached the other entrance. I repeated the same sentence, "I'm here to take the intelligence test. Do I have permission to enter?"

And to my surprise, the AL on the other side, another Laura, repeated the first Laura's words! "Sorry, please use the other entrance. This entrance is prohibited."

I was slightly confused. Had I accidently spoken to the same Laura? So, I went back to the first Laura, again, and said "Please let me through, I have to take my Intelligence Test."

"Sorry, please use the other entrance. This entrance is prohibited."

Puzzled, I said, "But the other entrance is also blocked, and I was asked to go through here."

"Sorry for the inconvenience. Please wait as I contact the AWMI supercomputers."

"Okay..." She suddenly became still. After about half a minute, she responded.

"There has been a mistake. Your entrance is waited for in the other doorway."

"Okay, thank you," I said, half relieved as I walked towards the other entrance once again. I asked Laura (the second one)to let me in. But to my surprise, she said, "Sorry, please use the other entrance. This entrance is prohibited."

This was getting repetitive and slightly scary. "But I was told I was being waited for to enter through here."

"Sorry for the inconvenience. Please wait as I contact the AWMI supercomputers." Again?! She was quiet for about half a minute or so, just like before. Then she said, "There has been a mistake. Your entrance is waited for in the other doorway."

Very fortunately, a staff member had just been passing by me. I addressed the queer situation I was facing to him. As a staff member, he was granted clearance to enter the room without the need of specifically asking for a consent. That was the way I got inside the room. After that everything went smoothly. An AI scanned my brain, and asked a few questions, which I answered without problems. After that my identity was encrypted with a validated 'No Malfunctions' signature.

After I reached back home, I asked Neuro how such a condition could occur, in context with the Laura(s).

"Maybe the AWMI was overflooded with information and requests. Or maybe it was self-updating. Either way, I'm sure it won't keep happening."

"I see..." I said as I quietly sat on my bed, thinking about this. No one was at home. My mom was in her laboratory, researching. Dad was out in his laboratory (or so he calls it), making games. I closed my eyes and drifted into the world of dreams...

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On the grassland laid a being, whose eyes were filled with tears. The tears of goodbye. Judging from the surroundings, this moment seems to be from a time before the Door was opened. Years before, or possibly, eons before...

There was a village close by; the houses and huts of which were destroyed. It was evident from the ashes and blackening of the once inhabitable structures that the village was burnt and is now unpopulated.

The being got up, and picked up the sharp blade that laid close by, with teary eyes. "I will destroy them," shouted the being. "I will destroy every single one of those Highland imbeciles!"

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