Chapter 14

MENAGERIE OF MARVELS

MystTech Creations, West Hollywood, California, United States

Chip led Gen to a room that was mostly bare besides the many lockers on the wall that were all closed. It was like the entryway with white floors, walls and ceiling. However, it appeared to be a workstation with some instruments pushed into corners. And the scent of cloves and peppermint was strong in the air, which was different than the lobby which smelled of cleaning chemicals.

“Why don’t you wait here for me for a moment,” Chip said, looking over his shoulder at Gen. “I’ve got to go prepare a workstation for you. I’m sorry, the work won’t be glamorous, but I think you’ll still learn a lot by being in this environment. After I get things set up, I can give you a full tour. Will that work?”

Gen nodded, looking around, noticing a strange blue substance lining the wall of lockers. “Yes, that’s fine. I can wait here. But what all are you guarding here?” she asked, thinking of the strange simulation meant to protect this place and then also the idea that there were security measures in this room.

“Oh, there are the most valuable substances most could imagine here,” he answered. “We have technology that’s of immense value. But we will get to that soon. Firstly, let me make some arrangements. Just stay put here and I’ll return soon.”

“Okay,” Gen said, standing still, looking around uncomfortably when left alone. She tensed, worried that another security protocol would be tripped and she’d be assaulted by something that wasn’t real but felt like it.

Instead, she stayed alone in the mostly white room for a whole minute before the far door opened again. However, it wasn’t Chip returning to retrieve her. Surprisingly, it was a face that Gen recognized.

“Bermuda Laurens?” Gen questioned. “What are you doing here?”

Seeming as surprised as her about the unplanned run-in, Bermuda looked around. “I’m working, showing some of my magical creatures to Chip to see if they might be of use to his company. What are you doing here?”

Gen nodded, a bit confused by this idea, but going along with it. “Well, I’ve been assigned to do an internship here to fill in my knowledge on technology.”

“That’s about like throwing a preschooler into grad school,” Bermuda said, pursing her lips in disapproval at this notion.

Gen actually grinned at this. “Yes, so I’m not the only one who thinks my boss is unreasonable.”

“Well, he might be, but you only look like the insane one if you rebel against him,” Bermuda stated. “If I can give any advice, don’t fight too much against the authority, until you have a case, that is. Otherwise, you only look like an insubordinate rebel without a cause.”

Gen nodded, thinking this was excellent advice. “Thank you. I’ll take that to heart.”

“In the meantime, would you like to see some magical creatures?” Bermuda offered. “They could help to fulfill your requirements.”

“Absolutely,” Gen agreed, excited.

“Follow me,” Bermuda said, waving her back through the door she’d come through.

As Gen followed Bermuda through the winding corridors of MystTech Creations, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and unease. The giantess moved with a purposeful stride, her no-nonsense demeanor a stark contrast to the whimsical and bizarre creatures that had surrounded her at their last meeting.

“Now, listen up,” Bermuda began, her voice a commanding tone that echoed through the cavernous space. “What you’re about to see are some of the most fascinating and potentially dangerous creatures in existence. They’re the result of a strange evolution which is a fusion of magic and technology that’s unlike anything the world has ever seen.”

“So, you’re telling me that these creatures…they are actually animals? Like real living things?” Gen questioned, surprised by this new set of information.

Bermuda nodded. “They are. But the presence of technology and magic infused into their consciousness and DNA over time. This created a whole new species. I’m still studying them, but they aren’t magitech because they have a living component to them. It’s like they are living-magitech… I don’t know, I’m still working out the terminology.”

Gen nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and trepidation as Bermuda led her into a vast, dimly lit room. The air hummed with a strange energy, and Gen felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt on the precipice of learning something great and revolutionary that few, in this world, even knew about.

“First up, we have the Cyber-Pixies,” Bermuda announced, turning around to reveal several flying creatures behind her.

She gestured to a swarm of tiny, glowing creatures that buzzed and flitted through the air. They were no larger than a thumbnail, but their intricate, circuit-like wings and pulsing, neon bodies were mesmerizing to behold.

“These little guys can get into any electronic system and work their magic, debugging code and creating effects that are impossible to detect,” Bermuda explained carefully, motioning to the creatures in an array of colors. “But also, one should be careful with these clever little creatures. They’ve been known to cause a glitch or two if they’re not properly supervised or even if they are allowed to go wild. They can fix an advanced electronic system or they can fry it to irretrievable rubbish.”

“Wow, they are like little repair creatures,” Gen mused, amazed. She watched in awe as the Cyber-Pixies danced and swirled, their movements creating a dazzling display of light and color that seemed to defy the laws of physics. She reached out a tentative hand, and one of the pixies landed on her fingertip, its tiny feet tickling her skin.

Gen giggled, both from the sensation and from the surrealness of the experience. “Aren’t you cute?” she said to the creature.

It nodded and then flew away in a hurry, sending sparks of pixie dust in its wake.

“Next, we have the Holo-Griffins,” Bermuda continued matter-of-factly, like there was no time for dawdling.

The giantess pointed to a group in the corner. It was so dark there that Gen couldn’t make out much at first. However, after a few steps, the figures took shape and she could hardly believe what she was seeing.

There, huddled in the dark were majestic, translucent creatures that seemed to shimmer and shift in the dim light. They had the bodies of small lions, but their heads and wings were those of eagles, and their eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.

Bermuda motioned proudly to the strange creatures. “These beauties can project incredibly realistic three-dimensional images, creating environments that are so immersive, you’ll forget they’re not real.”

“You mean they can shoot movie scenes?” Gen questioned. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, and the images of their own free will, which makes studying them even more fascinating,” Bermuda answered.

“So they come up with their own movies,” Gen guessed.

Bermuda nodded in reply. “But be warned—they’ve been known to get a bit carried away, and their illusions can be very convincing. They can brainwash people with their images. They can get you swept away in a false reality.”

“That’s so crazy,” Gen said in awe, looking away suddenly from the creatures like she was afraid they might entrance her.

As if on cue, one of the Holo-Griffins spread its wings, and the room around them dissolved, replaced by a stunning, panoramic view of a mountaintop at sunset. Gen gasped, her heart racing as she felt the cool breeze on her face and smelled the crisp, clean air. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the illusion vanished, leaving her once again in the stark, clinical room.

The giantess snapped her fingers, a stern look on her face. “Not right now, Holo-Griffins. Just keep your movies at bay for a little longer. I’m showing our guest around.”

Gen was careful not to look back at the crazy creatures as she followed Bermuda to the far end of the long room.

“And finally, we have the Nano-Monkeys,” Bermuda said, her voice taking on a note of caution. She pointed to a small, glass terrarium filled with what appeared to be a swirling cloud of metallic dust. “These microscopic monkeys can build and rebuild themselves, creating circuits and structures on a molecular level. They’re incredible for designing intricate special effects rigs, but they can also be unpredictable. If they get out of control, they could wreak havoc on a massive scale.”

Gen peered into the terrarium, her eyes straining to make out the individual Nano-Monkeys. As she watched, the swirling cloud began to combine, forming a tiny, shimmering monkey that chattered and leaped, its movements almost too quick to follow. It moved around its area, looking over its shoulder at Gen, seeming to be plotting based on the cunning expression in its eyes. It was all too much for Gen to even process, but she couldn’t ignore what she was seeing with her own eyes.

“Incredible,” Gen breathed, her mind reeling with the possibilities and implications of these strange, hybrid creatures.

Bermuda nodded, her expression grave. “They are indeed. But I’m not sure I’m comfortable leaving them here at MystTech. Something about this place doesn’t sit right with me.” She shook her head, her brow furrowed.

Gen gave the giantess a pointed look. “Really? Emperor had a similar…suspicion.”

There was a glint in Bermuda’s eyes, like she was grateful for the information. She nodded. “Right. Well, I’ll have to think long and hard before I agree to loan them out. In the wrong hands, these creatures can do serious harm. In the right ones, well, they are still unpredictable.”

Gen couldn’t help but agree, having seen firsthand what the creatures could do. But she had also seen what MystTech Creations could do and that was very unsettling. The memory of her disturbing experience in the lobby was still fresh in her mind.

As she followed Bermuda out of the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to MystTech Creations than met the eye. Emperor had sensed something dangerous within these walls, but just how treacherous was the question. It could be harmful to a few…or millions.