Quiver

Chapter 1 {Lavoisier Karst} (2)

Ding

Finally, Grayden thought. The elevator comes to a halt after what felt like hours, Marcel runs the key card attached to his lanyard over the sensor on the elevator panel and the door opens. The group walks out into the hallway that was illuminated by the red flashing lights, Marcel walks in front of the group his sister right by his side following closely. Despite Melissa calm and unbothered demeanor Grayden could see her chewing the inside of her cheek and fiddling her fingers nervously.

Grayden found himself biting his tongue his hands balled up causing his nails to dig into the flesh of his palms. He followed behind the group right behind a college he was rather close to, Quin Adkins. A older man around his 60's with a bit of a Afro. His black hair had a few gray spots do to his age along with dark skin. The two worked closely together in the field of Computational physics and actually being the head of the department do to there extensive knowledge on the subject.

Marcel turns to face the group Melissa taking a few steps back as she moves to stand by her friend, Millie.

Marcel: where we are going is called the stasis chambers..I'm sure y'all have heard of them...well you have a choice..

Marcel motions his hand towards a shelter door that was down the hallway.

Marcel: or of course you can follow me through this door and be put into stasis for...80 or so years.

The group stayed silent and in their place, Marcel cleared his throat and turned back and continued walking taking the silence as a "yes".
Eventually they all reach a large door Marcel once again sliding the key card over a sensor and waiting as the door slowly opened before walking in.

Marcel: you..your name was..Grayson right?

Marcel says looking at Grayden waiting for a response.

Melissa: Grayden...

Melissa side eyes her brother after correcting him but he seems to pay it no mind.

Marcel: right....go over to the pod to the far right.

Grayden discreetly nods and walks over to the pod and waits watching as Marcel gets everyone to their assigned pod before walking over to a locker and pulling out some type of full bodysuits of various sizes and handing them out.

Marcel: you will need to change into these..they have various sensors imbedded into the fiber that helps the pod keep track of your vitals...

Grayden awkwardly glances around at the others who are also equally as tense as himself.
Grayden looks over at the only person he really knew in the room, Emery, a man with black hair a thick stubble and stood at a mostly average hight. He was brown almost black eyes and tannish skin from being outside a lot.
Emery catches the glance and gives Grayden a shrug motioning to the bodysuit in his hand.

Grayden: do we just change...like..right here..? Or...

Marcel: where else...?

Grayden nods slightly expecting the answer he had received.

Grayden: uh..right..right..

Everyone undresses changing into the body suits everyone keeping their eyes glued to the wall or the floor as if their lives depended on it.
Marcel walks over to a wall mounted monitor and doing something Grayden couldn't clearly make out from his position, only the faint light shining from the screen being visible to him.

Marcel: Alright..get into the pods...I'm sure it's obvious out it works, just lay down arms and legs in the slots and wait for me to get you set up.

And as instructed everyone did as they where told, getting into the pod Grayden felt a chill run down his spine. The pod was freezing. Perhaps it was cryo stasis? That is what it seemed at least.

Marcel started at the far side of the row of the pods as he started to get everyone ready. Eventually he makes it to Grayden who was at the end of the row.

Marcel: you'll feel a few needles stuck into you...shouldn't hurt..

Grayden nods slightly not really knowing how to respond, Marcel pulls out a few thin tubs this needle barbs at the ends and starts to stick them into the different marks on the suit the slight poke of the needles puncturing his skin making Grayden cringe each and every time. It didn't take long for Marcel to finish and he lightly tries to push Grayden down.

Marcel: lay down would you?

Grayden tenses a bit and does as Marcel asked though Marcel's tone sounded frustrated. Grayden watches as Marcel grabs the oxygen mask and pushes it against Graydens face till the suction causes it to stick.

Marcel: Alright..start counting down from ten, the top of the pod is going to start closing on its own the minute I move so stay calm..

Grayden's eyes follow Marcel as he moves and steps back the top of the pod slowly closing a warm liquid slowly filling up the pod pooling around his body, it was almost calming if not for the loud continuous alarms in the background. Making it to six Graydens vision slowly faded, by nine he was completely asleep  the top of the pod sealed shut the warm liquid completely filling the pod.

"Set for September seventeenth year 3000"