The Flower Path

1. Prologue

"Subject 2851, step forward for final upgrade."

The child shuffled forward shivering slightly, barefoot feet across cold metal floors.

A large machine sat waiting ominously. She stepped forward after being prodded from behind and climbed onto the platform. The technician lifted her and placed her on the machine. Straps wrapped around her feet and her ankles to keep her steady, a stinging came from the back of her head and A.L.I.C.E's voice sounded.

[RECALIBRATING...PLEASE WAIT.]

A shiver ran down Subject 2851's spine, ALICE sounded so cold nothing like the AI she'd nurtured since birth. What were the technicians doing to her?

Needle-like pain shocked her system from her fingertips down to her toes. A small whimper escaped from her, she hadn't even realized she'd closed her eyes until she opened them.

Her feet still stinging from what had happened before were placed back on the cold floor.

The technician in their glaringly white scrubs ushered her to another who waited at the side of the lab. Clothes like she hadn't seen before sat folded on a chair.

"Get dressed."

On went a pair of dark blue slacks. A long shirt that fell to the top of her knees came next. Thick socks and strapped boots came on next.

[2851, MY SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN UPDATED.]

Still, the tone of the voice in her head was robotic but not nearly as much as it had been before. 2851, craved her pod with its crisp sheets and dim lights. ALICE told her stories that were found in the archives of the database. Instead, she was led through the hexagonal hallways of the station. Past the med bays, classrooms, and incubation rooms until the technician paused before a large vault door. They leaned forward their eyes scanned before the clang of metal moving against itself happened and the great vault door opened into a dark room with its only source of light a glimmering cosmic pool that stood upright at its heart.

[Item: Spatial Transporter

Level: CLASSIFIED

Ability: Transports individuals through space and time.]

'Thank you, ALICE.'

It seems her only friend would be the only one being forthcoming.

A light appeared beside the Spatial Transporter, a researcher with fine silver robes stood proud and somber.

"Subject 2851, you have been declared inessential."

"What..." Her voice came out as a squeak and she shuddered at the black hole-like eyes that stared down at her from above, "What's going to happen to me?"

"You have been equipped with an upgrade to your AI. To survive in your new world we have bestowed you a trading system with limitless worlds at your fingertips. Your AI will update you on all information about your new world. We will place you in the most appropriate place where you'll be able to live and thrive." A cold chuckle that sounded like the cracking of hard rations, "We are not so cruel as to leave you with nothing." They looked down and shuffled some cards that were in front of them. "From this day on you are no longer of this world, from this day onward you will be an Em..."

The technician beside 2851 cleared their throat and shook their head.

"Onward into your new world and may you better it as you've been taught."

2851 was guided forward by the strong hands of the technician before she stood before the swirling pool of light. She would do her duty and make a better world, for this was what she'd been taught since the moment she could retain thought.

She stepped into the Spatial Transporter and as the new world surrounded her she smiled.

From the darkness and into the light.