Chapter 7
As we passed through the door, the stale, unmoving air of the chamber hit us. The room was massive, lined with rows of broken pods, their glass shattered, metal casings corroded with time. Dim emergency lights flickered above, barely casting enough illumination to see the horror within.
Stepping closer to one of the pods, I peered inside—only to be met with the sight of a brittle skeleton, curled up and lifeless. A sinking feeling settled in my gut as I glanced at the others. Most were the same. Remains of failed experiments, or perhaps victims of an abandoned project.
But then, one pod stood out. Unlike the rest, it wasn't empty or filled with decay. Instead, something round and translucent floated within—a strange, gelatinous mass suspended in a dimly glowing liquid.
"HELCE… what the hell is that?" I asked, my voice hushed.
{Scanning…} The AI orb pulsed as it processed the data. Scan complete. This is an embryonic Kryptonian—}
My breath hitched. "You mean… this is a cloning lab?"
{Correct.}
I turned to De'Mar, whose expression was unreadable. Her fingers hovered near the surface of one of the shattered pods, tracing the fractures in the glass. Her golden eyes held a distant look, as if she were somewhere else entirely.
"This place… it wasn't just a lab," she finally said. "It was a nursery."
The weight of her words settled over us like a lead blanket. This wasn't just a scientific outpost—it was a place where Kryptonians had tried to preserve themselves. A last attempt at survival before their world was lost forever.
And yet, something had gone wrong.
Out of forty pods, only one had survived. The realization sent a shiver down my spine.
"This wasn't just any cloning facility," I muttered, stepping past the ruined remains of the failed experiments. "It was a research outpost."
De'Mar's gaze lingered on the lone surviving pod, her expression dark. "That makes sense. Kryptonians stopped reproducing naturally thousands of years ago. They engineered their children, selecting only the best genes to pass on."
I exhaled sharply, turning to take in the ruined lab. "If this place were a genetic research facility, then it was probably tied to one of Krypton's noble houses."
Then, as if the universe wanted to confirm my suspicions, my eyes landed on a familiar insignia.
A single, bold letter S was printed on the wall.
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Why am I not surprised? The House of El—Krypton's top scientists, geneticists, and all-around geniuses."
De'Mar let out a slow breath, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "If this belonged to them, then this place could have answers. Maybe even a cure for you."
I wanted to believe that. I did. But something about this place felt… wrong. The silence, the decayed corpses, the lone embryo left to float aimlessly in a broken world—it all screamed of a forgotten tragedy.
And we had no idea what else might be buried here.
As we ventured deeper into the facility, the extent of the destruction became increasingly evident. Walls lay in ruins, and on the few that remained intact, deep, jagged claw marks marred their surfaces. The floor was imprinted with massive footprints, suggesting that whatever caused this devastation walked on two legs and possessed enormous feet.
After what felt like an eternity—approximately thirty minutes of cautious navigation—we stumbled upon a crystalline structure embedded within the heart of the facility. As we approached, the crystal began to emit a mesmerizing array of colors, pulsating rhythmically as if responding to our presence.
"What is that?" I asked, directing my question to HELCE. "And what's it doing?"
{Scanning...} HELCE's orb pulsed in tandem with the crystal's glow. Analysis complete. That is a Kryptonian Infocrystal Node, also known as a Synaptic Matrix Core. To put it in terms you'll understand, it's an exceptionally advanced computer—far surpassing any technology Earth has to offer.}
I stared at the luminous crystal, a mix of awe and apprehension swirling within me. "So, it's a repository of knowledge? Like a database?"
{Precisely,} HELCE confirmed. Ryptonian crystals serve a variety of purposes, such as recording videos, storing computer data, and even storing the memories of individuals, which can be projected as holograms.}
De'Mar stepped closer, her eyes reflecting the shifting colors of the crystal. "If this Synaptic Matrix Core is still operational, it might contain invaluable information about this facility and its purpose."
I nodded, the weight of our discovery settling upon me. "Then let's access it. We need to know what happened here—and if there's anything that can help us."
Approaching the crystal, I reached out, my fingers hovering just above its radiant surface. The pulsing light seemed to beckon, inviting us to unlock the secrets it held within.
As my fingers brushed against the crystal, it pulsed in rapid succession—green, red, then blue. The emblem of the House of El materialized on its surface, glowing with an ethereal light. Before I could react, a flash enveloped the room. When my vision cleared, a woman stood before us. She bore the insignia of the House of El on her chest, her black hair cascading down to frame piercing blue eyes.
"Hello there," I greeted nervously.
She responded, but her words were unintelligible; the translator implant in my brain failed to decipher the Kryptonian language.
Turning to HELCE, I asked, "Can you translate or connect with the crystal?"
{Oh, sure,} HELCE replied with a hint of sarcasm. Let's just have one AI invade another AI's personal space.}
"Can you or not?" I pressed.
With a simulated huff, HELCE floated closer to the crystal. A compartment opened on its spherical form, extending a tube that connected seamlessly to the crystal's interface. The room brightened as multiple lights emanated from the crystal, casting intricate patterns on the walls.
The woman spoke again, this time in clear, understandable speech. "Can you hear me now?"
"Yes," I replied, relief evident in my voice. "Who are you?"
"I am the AI custodian of this station, designated Yor-Atûn-El. But that is not important. You must leave immediately; you are in grave danger."
Before I could inquire further, a deafening crash resonated through the chamber. The walls trembled as debris scattered. Instinctively, I turned toward the source of the commotion. A hulking, gray figure with jagged bone protrusions burst through the crumbling wall. Its red eyes locked onto me with predatory intent.
The creature charged with terrifying speed. Before I could react, it slammed into me, sending me hurtling across the room. Pain shot through my body as I collided with the unyielding floor. Dazed, I looked up to see the monstrosity looming over me, its grotesque form casting a menacing shadow.
Drawing upon my reserves of strength, I rolled to the side just as it brought down a spiked fist, narrowly missing me. Seizing the opportunity, I sprang to my feet and positioned myself behind the creature. Channeling every ounce of power, I delivered a punch to its back. The impact was catastrophic; the creature exploded into a gruesome spray of gore, its remains splattering across the chamber.
Breathing heavily, I turned to De'Mar and HELCE. "That was Doomsday, wasn't it?"
HELCE's voice lacked its usual sardonic tone. {Affirmative. That was a Doomsday—a genetically engineered Kryptonian weapon of unparalleled destruction.}
De'Mar's face was pale, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "If that was just one... how many more are there?"
Yor-Atûn-El's holographic form flickered. "This facility was compromised long ago. Multiple Doomsday prototypes were released during the breach. Your presence has likely reactivated their dormant states."
A cold dread settled over me. We had ventured into a place where science had crossed ethical boundaries, creating abominations that defied reason. And now, those abominations were awake.
"We need to get out of here," I said, urgency lacing my words.
De'Mar nodded, her usual composure shaken. "Agreed. But we need to be cautious. If more of those things are lurking, we can't afford to face them unprepared."
HELCE's orb hovered closer. I suggest retrieving any valuable data from the Synaptic Matrix Core before departure. It may contain information crucial to understanding—and possibly combating—these creatures.}
Yor-Atûn-El interjected, "I can facilitate the data transfer. But we must act swiftly."
I clenched my fists, glancing around the ruined chamber. The weight of our discovery pressed heavily upon me. We had sought answers, but in doing so, we had awakened nightmares.
"Let's move," I commanded. "Time is not on our side."
As we prepared to extract the data and make our escape, the distant sounds of walls crumbling and guttural growls echoed through the corridors. The Doomsday prototypes were stirring.
And they were coming.
Realizing that extracting data from the Synaptic Matrix Core would be too time-consuming given the imminent threat, I made a snap decision. Approaching the crystal pillar, which stood nearly as tall as I did and radiated a soft luminescence, I prepared to lift it. Despite its substantial size, I found it surprisingly lightweight, likely due to its advanced Kryptonian construction. With relative ease, I hoisted the crystal onto my shoulder.
De'Mar's eyes widened in astonishment. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"We don't have the luxury of time," I replied, adjusting my grip. "This is our best shot at uncovering the information we need."
HELCE hovered nearby, its sensors scanning the surroundings. I detect multiple hostiles converging on our location. Immediate evacuation is advisable.}
"Let's move," I commanded, leading the way back through the ruined corridors. The weight of the crystal was negligible compared to the urgency pressing down on us. As we retraced our steps, the distant sounds of crumbling walls and guttural growls echoed closer, spurring us to hasten our pace.
Upon reaching our ship, I carefully secured the crystal in the cargo hold. De'Mar initiated the launch sequence while HELCE integrated with the ship's systems to monitor any pursuing threats. As the vessel lifted off the moon's surface, I couldn't help but cast a final glance at the desolate landscape below, now teeming with awakened horrors.
With the Synaptic Matrix Core in our possession, we had a chance to unravel the mysteries of the Kryptonian facility and, perhaps, find a solution to stabilize my deteriorating genetic condition. But first, we needed to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and the nightmares we had inadvertently unleashed.