THEM

“Each light is a reach to another dimension, another world of infinite choices and infinite possibilities. You have only begun to scratch the surface, but We are so glad you have made it this far. Keep going. Keep searching. We hope to see you again soon. Very soon~”

“We Are So Glad You Could Join Us~”

“The four test subjects have been found at the location of the Motel. Collected at around 3AM, promptly shot in their sleep with tranquilizers to make transportation easier. Each one is in pristine health, according to the health information we have on hand. Blood and bone samples shall be taken. Exposure to rift tests and cube radiation shall be taken as well.”

One of Their voices softly spoke into the recording device, within the room that held computers and various screens for measuring the data that They would collect on Their test subjects. They had high hopes for these four, it was rare that an entire group of species came through a rift together. Usually it was just one, but four of them? What a rare treat indeed.

On the other side of the room, the other side of the one way glass, the four Enforcers were strapped down to their own seperate medical tables, slowly waking up from the sedatives. Precisely five inches away from one another and lined up in a neat little row, side by side. Medical examinations and scans of the four’s internal organs had already been taken, filed away with the other research. It would all be looked over later, to see if anyone else on the island matched the Enforcers biology in some way.

The test subjects were being held in a sterilized white room, large, spacious and escape proof. That is if the Enforcers could even get out of the straps that bound them to the table. Straps around the ankles, around the thighs, one around the midsection, straps around the wrist, then around the elbows, and finally two across the chest in an X like formation. Normally not so many restraints were needed, but They weren’t taking any chances with these four. They had tested and perfected Their restraint method, not even a rabid werewolf could escape it, but how They knew that was a story for another time.

Despite the spacious room there was also a ray like machine, very similar to the machine that had been in the bunker of Wailing Woods, the one that loomed over a floating rift. Attached to the ray machine, just below the gun’s neck was a glass tube that contained a concentrated rift. The neck of the machine extended downward and connected to a large, rectangular panel. It was here that there was knobs and buttons to adjust the frequency of the rift, as well as the exposure time.

From high intensity to low intensity, and from between 5 seconds of exposure to 30 seconds of exposure. Although They never went past 15 seconds, since in a majority of all test subjects, 20 seconds typically lead to imminent organ failure. They couldn’t afford to take such risks anymore.

When Their test subjects fully awoke, it was no surprise that the Enforcers started try to escape. Thrashing around in vain, shouts and questions of ‘what’s going on?’, ‘where am i?’. They had heard it all plenty of times, it was rather amusing how most test subjects tended to act in the same manner, as if following a precise script that they all read off when awakening in a strange place.

They spoke to Their test subjects in a calm and civil manner, addressing each Enforcer by their actual names and asking questions about their home world. Asking questions about topics that They shouldn’t know, asking about specific subjects that no one should know about except the Enforcer’s themselves. They had Their ways of getting information to ask such questions, hoping to know more about who these Enforcers were and where they had come from.

But unfortunately the questions went unanswered, the test subjects to distracted by the confusion of what They should and shouldn’t know. How did They know the Enforcers names? How did They know to ask about their homeworld in such a manner? It was all understandable confusion, but in the end it didn’t matter. The questions didn’t matter, the pointless conversation that ended in no where didn’t matter. What really mattered, is what came next.

“10 seconds on, and 1 minute off, starting at medium intensity. Firing now at Test Subject 1.”

One of Their voices came over the speaker of the room, the ray machine slowly moving into position and looming over the first, lined up Enforcer. Once the machine finished lining up and calibrating over it’s target, the tip of the machine started to glow with a bright white and blue light.

There was a small window, small two seconds of a moment where everything was completely silent, before that familiar crack of a rift going off echoed within the room. That bright white and blue light shot out of the end of the ray machine in a concentrated rift beam, blasting the beam directly into the chest of Test Subject 1. The Enforcer’s agonized screaming could barely be heard above the noise of the beam, 10 long seconds of every cell within the subject’s body on fire, torn apart and swirled all back together again.

But when the 10 seconds was up, the machine shut down and Test Subject 1 was allowed to rest for an entire minute as They looked over the recorded data on Their computers. They were very pleased by what They had found, the way Test Subject 1’s DNA seemed to partly bond with and accept parts of the rift was extraordinary. Perhaps this was how the Enforcers traveled so easily through space? Did this ability extend to other dimensions? Was this ability purely genetic or was it learned? And more importantly, could it be replicated? Could it even be used as a tool for Them to bring more test subjects to the island?

There was a lot of wonderful questions piling up, and one thing was for certain, They had to research more and it began again by firing another rift beam at Test Subject 1, this time for 15 seconds. They ignored the screaming and the begging of Test Subject 1 and his comrades, keeping an eye on vitals of course, but otherwise simply focused on the incoming data. The cries for Them to stop fell on deaf ears, the whimpers of not wanting to die simply caused a cold eyeroll. Though, They did at least provide some reassurance...

“You’re not going to die Test Subject 1. Not without our permission. You are far to important now.”

Yes, far far to important. But with that importance, the tests on Test Subject 1 stopped, doing any more then 2 blasts would most likely cause severe cell damage. So, it was a really good thing that They had three other similar tests subjects~

Test Subject 1 was wheeled out of the room by one of Them, taken to a new room to begin blood and bone sample collection. Normally They would do it in the same room, but with so many subjects to still test on, this just made things easier.

Once Test Subject 1 was out of the way, the ray machine began slowly moving towards Test Subject 2, who understandably began trying even harder to get out of his bindings. Thrashing around, begging for Them not to do it. It brought a smile to Their face when Test Subject 3 and 4 offered to take the other’s place, silly little creatures.

“Do not fret, you will all get a turn~ Now firing at Test Subject 2, at medium intensity. 10 seconds on, 1 minute off.”

Test Subject 2 could only scream helplessly as the rift beam ripped through his body, and They couldn’t be happier at how well the Enforcer’s cells were taking it. They had been a bit uncertain, if any of this would actually work, since there had been many times where a test subject had brought Them no information what so ever. Many tests were failures, especially those preformed on the more human test subjects that were on the island. Humans never brought much data, although They did have Their eye on one particular human...

The 1 minute cool down began, and They eagerly looked over the recorded data. It was all absolutely breath taking, nearly perfect rift synchronization. Granted it wasn’t perfect, definitely needed a lot more work and tweaking. But it was a start, They had 45% of this puzzle now, compared to when They had started, way way back in the beginning when They barely had 25% of this puzzle.

But imagine what They could do once They had a full, 100% fail proof system. Their reach into other galaxies, other dimensions could go much much farther. Maybe They could even expand the island into a whole new planet? Okay maybe that was ridiculous, but still, They hadn’t been this excited in Their research for a long long time.

Test Subject 2 was hit again, then carted away like the first test subject. Then the same happened for Test Subject 3, and then Test Subject 4. Rift beam after rift beam, fired away and data collected. More of this puzzle was slowly being revealed, and it was a long awaited step in the right direction. Of course They still needed to research more, test more, They were far from Their goal. But, it was a good thing They had an island full of all kinds of test subjects, and that one or even several of those test subjects could very well be the key that They needed to finishing this several centuries long project.

“Start prepping the machine for cube shard testing. We are more then excited to see if anything comes of it~”

Green eyes light up at the sight of the man himself, the woman stepping away from the gate as Dusty slid through the opening. She knew it wasn’t for her, and she wanted to give the man his space. No need to frighten him away.

There was a pause and a glance at said signs, then a small smile crossed the woman’s face as she shook her head.

“We’re not here to sell you anything Mr. Radliff. And if you don’t want us on the property that’s quite all right. We can just talk out here.”

Dusty’s words seemed to just fly over her head as she opened up her brief case, pulling out a clipboard that was settled amongst the files. Closing the case again and settling it by her ankle, she grabbed a pen from her pocket as she read over her clipboard.

Neat suits, straight ties and a briefcase full of files. They were looking forward to this meeting, but They knew it would be a fragile situation. All Their reports and what They tended to pick up on Their cameras all pointed to this man being rather reclusive. At least They knew he would be home, but as with most reclusive subjects, measures had to be taken, just in case the subject made a run for it.

Annabeth decided to do the talking, presenting a soft kind face, blonde hair done up in formal bun. Kind, cute, formal but not threatening or intimidating. Her two partners lingering in the background, seeming to give Annabeth some space, not at all gazing for a potential runner.

“Mr. Radliff! Mr. Radliff are you home?! I would just like to speak with you for a moment!”

Annabeth’s voice called out as she knocked on the gate, or tried to. Instead settling for grabbing the front of it and giving it a gentle shake, letting the rattling metal be her doorbell.

There was a small pause, then a calm smile spread across Their face as They glanced over the ‘No Solicitor’ sign, how charming.

“Now there is no need to be alarmed. I know the lasers and all the floating metal seem strange, scary even. But it is all perfectly safe.”

One of Them gives a small, comforting smile. Although it lacks warmth.