Departure
“Synthesis complete.” An artificial voice, slightly distorted and almost sounding quite satisfied with itself, rang throughout a mostly empty room. In the center was a large cylindrical chamber. While the walls were glass, it was impossible to see inside due to large plumes of smoke flowing around, following an indistinguishable current. Slowly but surely, the smoke started to settle as whatever process had been going on finished. On one end of the room there was a row of empty desks, some of them had leftover pieces of stationary almost as if the lab had been cleared out in a hurry. On the farthest end of the row there was still a fully equipped desk. The room’s only occupant, asleep at said desk, began to stir upon hearing the voice. “Attempt number 597 is ready for evaluation, please retrieve it.” A hint of urgency came through, almost sounding impatient. “What…” The scientist groggily sat up in his chair, wiping away the sleep from his ey...