Project Devilgama

Eight

"I'm sorry, but it had taken struggles to make one," May said, beside him was a body of an entirely mechanical structure. Robotic, but humanoid at the first glance. Replacing the whole head was a wide pane of glossy black. Black cables dangle from it and connect to the body, resembling a braid of the hair of a human. And a pair of mini-wheeled skates were attached to its feet where its palm was supposed to be.

Then, "Hi, Farad," May gave an audio cue, "Faraday-1, pretty good name, isn't it? Surely reminds you of her. It's like the servants of the governments you see on TV. Proudly made by Devilgama Dynamics. Was a joke but I love how it's called, man." The tiny lights turned on, and the black pane began to brighten up. But there weren't so many colorful things on the display, only texts, and symbols Mhaz had no idea about.

"It's your assistant?"

"Correct," The machine answered, "What do you wish to search?"

"You made an entire world and it is the only thing it can do?"

"No." May said, "Simulate Faradis."

"He-"

A sleek sliding noise suddenly came from the metal double doors behind Mhaz. Stood on the opening was Hannev, his forehead drenched in sweat. The corridor wall was flashing red behind him, unbeknownst to the two in the room since before. And alarms have echoed. "Buzz cut!" He yelled in a tremble.

"Buzz cut? What is that about?" Mhaz asked.

"God. Buzz cut." May mumbled, his expression seeming in total distress to Mhaz. "You're not going to believe me. There's an incoming nuke, the blast is predicted to reach this level."

"The Centrifuge is all prepared, sir," Hannev informed. "We have advised evacuation for every inhabitant."

The alert shook Mhaz inside out. He kept thinking of something to ask, though all the point was to deny the impending doom. Fear corroded his heart. He had thought of nuclear safety here, yet his expectation was false. He looked at the humanoid computer standing by, as if it was living and about to have its life end soon. He thought of the whole simulation program that would then be buried below hundred of meters of rubble and swallowed by the earth. He remembered the bed he had slept on for only one night, and how short his time was in this place.

"Is there nothing to protect this bunker?" Mhaz said, "Think about all your creations, May. Everything."

"Farad is everything," May stated. "Now, stay behind me and do not get lost."

"It's half an hour to impact, sir," Hannev said, beginning the stroll through the bustling people. "Mhaz, if you have never ridden a Centrifuge, you might have to hold on for the Gs. But it's fine and safe, after all. Just a couple of buckle up and we're okay."

Farad was rolling behind them. Mhaz was thankful it did not crash into people and tumble on the floor helplessly. He began thinking if it was more than May's assistant, though hard to accept. He wasn't sure of what May had said, couldn't decide if it was fact or a desperate mechanism to cope. Perhaps there's an intricate scheme built in May's mind in case of the worst-case scenario. Farad still looks like a walking computer and the thought of how pathetic it is kept emerging in Mhaz's mind.

They came up on an elevator. Its double door slid open, and in they went.

May pressed a red button beside the control panel. He told Mhaz that it was the emergency button that will deliver its passenger directly to the Centrifuge Bay. And it would only be the empire's end when this button is activated.

The ascend began.