Arcana

Chapter 2

I stepped out from the capsule after hearing the message with a spaced out look. A bit nostalgic about my past experiences, I was once again lost in thought.

The room which I entered after exiting the vehicle was virtually identical to the other room that I first entered. A confined space full of nothing but endless white. For all claustrophobic people this would surely bring them nightmares. But even so, once you come across such a room repetitively, becoming tolerant to its suffocating interior was only natural.... at least from my experience.

*Welcome back Mr. Alberts, please proceed to the second terminal for further verification.*

Urging me to undergo another biometrics scanning, the electronic voice resounded throughout the cramped room.

The security was unbelievably strict within the headquarters. Considering the fact that all the organization's archives were stored within its walls, it was only necessary to implement such stern measures.

Not wasting anymore time, I approached the second biometrics machine. In comparison with the first one, this machine was in many levels, more complicated. Requiring fingerprints from all individual fingers, voice recognition, and lastly, DNA verification using a drop of blood.

*Toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot* ...*toot*

"Fingerprint verification complete, switching to voice recognition mode."

Tedious work from the very beginning, it was quite frustrating. For every time I needed to attend a seminar or whenever I'm summoned by the higher ups, I had to do this correctly with every step of the way.

"Identification number 21217211697, Apprentice researcher Seth Alberts is here to serve the phantom."

Reciting the same old line surely was embarrassing. Back then, it certainly sounded cool to my young self. Feeling as if I was a superhero of some sort, announcing his secret password in order to gain access inside his secret base. But for the teenage me right now, I couldn't help but think that it was absolutely childish.

Come to think of it, even older members undergo the same process. I couldn't help but laugh inside my head, imagining those obstinate seniors uttering such cringeworthy phrases.

"Voice verification complete, please insert a finger inside the chamber located on the midmost part of the machine."

The only part where I could never get used to, the DNA analysis. Stinging pain to the fingertips was always inflicted. Due to the fact that the skin of my fingers were thicker ,because of the consistent friction when working, the puncturing apparatus exerts greater force compared to normal.