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墨書 Inktalez
In the bustling office, voices filled the air, intermingling with the ringing of phones, the clattering of keyboards, and hushed conversations, creating an atmosphere charged with urgency and tension. Employees dressed in shirts and blazers hurriedly navigated the narrow aisles, briefcases and reports in hand, their faces etched with anxiety and focus. A few were engaged in hurried discussions about document details, while others flipped through folders at a rapid pace, even talking on the phone as they walked. Everyone moved like cogs in a machine, precise and swift.
Suddenly, a heavy footfall and the sound of metal scraping against the floor drew everyone's attention. A group of individuals clad in white protective suits slowly approached from one end of the corridor, carrying a heavy Metal Cage. The cage was supported by bright steel reinforcements at each corner and enclosed with transparent bulletproof glass, designed with a chilling precision. Inside the cage sat a person—disheveled and lost.
The individual curled up at the bottom of the cage, hands resting on their knees, staring blankly at some nonexistent point. Their hair was unkempt, streaks of gray dirt marked their face, and their eyes were sunken, reflecting helplessness and exhaustion. Their lips moved slightly as if trying to say something, but no sound emerged.
In front of the protective suits stood a squad of fully armed guards, their automatic rifles glinting coldly as they scanned their surroundings with expressions devoid of emotion. Their steps were synchronized and powerful, eyes sweeping over everything like machines ready to fire at any moment.
"Make way!" one guard's voice cut through the noise, low and commanding. He raised a hand to signal the office workers to disperse. Some hurriedly stepped aside, pressing against the walls; others stole glances at the cage with expressions of shock and unease, but most kept their heads down as if afraid to witness something they shouldn't.
The procession continued forward, the sound of the cage scraping against the floor piercing like a knife through glass. Whispers erupted from a distance but quickly fell silent, fear of trouble silencing any curiosity. The surrounding bustle seemed to pause for a brief moment in response to this strange sight before resuming its previous rhythm as if nothing had happened.
Inside the cage, the person remained motionless, gaze blankly fixed on the transparent glass wall as if seeing through it all or completely detached from this world. Their figure appeared distorted and pale in the reflection of the glass, contrasting sharply with the surrounding chaos and noise, evoking an inexplicable sense of oppression and unease.
Carefully, several individuals in protective suits carried the heavy Metal Cage along the corridor until they finally stopped before a thick metal door. The door was equipped with a complex Electronic Lock, beside which a Scanner flickered with cold blue light. The guard standing at the door quickly inputted a series of codes; with a low "click," the door slowly opened to reveal a brightly lit yet oppressive room inside.
The room was spacious and stark white, filled with steel supports and complex piping along the walls and ceiling. The central floor was laid with shiny silver metal that reflected cold light. A few researchers in lab coats stood inside, wearing heavy Goggles and gloves, their expressions tense and focused.
"Place it in the center!" one researcher commanded loudly, his voice laced with undeniable authority. He strode quickly to where the cage was to be positioned and pointed at a mark on the floor. The others swiftly cleared away equipment and clutter from the central area to ensure no distractions remained.
The individuals in protective suits struggled to lift the cage carefully, slowly moving it into position at the center of the room. "Steady now; don’t touch the Guardrail!" someone reminded again, their tone trembling with tension. The cage was finally set down heavily with a muffled thud that echoed throughout the room.
Almost instantaneously as it landed, cracks appeared on the surrounding floor as if triggered by some mechanical device. The silver floor slid open, revealing rows of gleaming steel Guardrails that rose up around the cage, forming an unbreakable barrier. Between these Guardrails flickered faint blue electric sparks that occasionally emitted soft hissing sounds, radiating an unsettling sense of pressure.
Suddenly, multiple laser emitters on the ceiling activated simultaneously, casting several slender red beams that crisscrossed and enveloped the cage in the center. The beams resembled invisible walls, flickering with a cold light, completely isolating the cage from the outside world.
"Stay back! All non-essential personnel, evacuate immediately!" a leading researcher shouted sternly, his eyes filled with vigilance as he pointed at the onlookers. Several assistants began to push through the crowd, ushering the curious gazes out of the room. The heavy metal door slammed shut with a resounding thud, sealing off the scene inside.
The researchers quickly immersed themselves in their work, scanning the exterior of the cage with their instruments, recording data while whispering to one another, their faces etched with anxiety and unease. Inside the cage, the individual remained motionless, staring blankly at the beams of light as if everything outside was entirely irrelevant to him.
The intersecting and flickering laser beams reflected in his eyes, resembling an invisible net that tightly ensnared him. This scene felt like a prelude to some unknown experiment or the beginning of a secret trial shrouded in mystery.
The researchers gathered around excitedly, akin to sharks sensing blood in the water. One person held a camera aimed at the target inside the cage, continuously capturing every detail as the lens moved up and down; another gripped a board filled with dense symbols, quickly jotting down notes as blank spaces were rapidly filled with hasty handwriting. Each movement was precise and urgent, their expressions marked by a strange focus that bordered on fanaticism.
In the center of the room, within the cage, that lost soul continued to sit on the floor, his gaze fixated on some nonexistent distant point, utterly unresponsive to the commotion around him. His breathing was slow and erratic, as if even maintaining life had become a torment.
Standing at the forefront was the team leader, a man in his fifties wearing heavy goggles. His slightly hunched figure appeared weary yet steady. He slowly picked up a small recording device and pressed a button; with a beep, he began to speak in a calm tone reminiscent of dissecting an unnamed corpse:
"Base, report personnel, Silevs." His voice was steady but slightly hoarse, impossible to ignore. "Level Three personnel, number three-four-three—Beta Team."
He paused briefly to glance at his data board for confirmation before continuing: "Report subject, First-Level Contact, number Seventy-One."
Raising his gaze through thick goggles, he coldly fixed his stare on the individual inside the cage. The subject remained still, devoid of any movement—like an empty shell from which the soul had been extracted. Silevs inhaled gently and lowered his tone slightly as if recounting an untouchable taboo:
"The subject has completely lost psychological response; other changes remain unknown."
He raised his hand slightly, and the research assistant beside him immediately nodded, opening a portable physiological monitoring device. Data jumped onto the screen one after another, each waveform carefully examined and recorded. Someone whispered into a headset to report the data, while another person placed a small vial of samples into a designated storage box, meticulously labeling it with the date and number.
Silevs observed the flurry of activity, his face still devoid of any emotional fluctuations. His fingers lightly tapped on the casing of the recorder as if deep in thought, before he spoke again in a low voice:
"We need more data; continue monitoring. All personnel, remain alert."
With his command, the atmosphere around them grew even tenser. The laser beams surrounding the cage continued to flicker steadily, occasionally emitting faint hissing sounds, as if reminding everyone that every second here was critical.
Inside the cage, the man remained silent and still, but his eyes—those hollow eyes—suddenly shifted slightly, as if realizing someone was watching him. However, his gaze quickly lost focus again, sinking back into an eerie silence that left one unsure whether it was merely an illusion.
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