Asrasya Chapter 1: FACILITY

It was an unfortunate day when he ran untamed and got unleashed in the wild. This event was about to change everything for good or bad, that remains to be seen.

It was a vast ocean, just water as far as one’s vision can go. In the middle of the blue floor there was a fortress standing, not even on an island, it was just a structure made of stones and cement. It was not just a simple construction, it’s one of the most highly guarded facilities. Not even the intelligence agencies know about the existence of such an establishment.

An unusual noise spiked from the chamber number 7X3. Door of that chamber was closed. Screaming and yelling of multiple people could be heard from the other side of the closed door. Suddenly the shut door burst opened as the guard was knocked out of the chamber. Open door gave a sneak of inside of the chamber, but most of it was shadowed by the flying guard that was still in the air about to drop on the ground. Chamber was of normal size that is of a normal prison cell with just a bed, a pot filled with water and a commode and sink above the commode’s tank. But the most intriguing thing noticeable inside the chamber was a silhouette of a human-like figure in the blue uniform, a standard uniform for a patient or the subject. But the patient was covered or not clearly visible because of the guard in mid air. Knocked guard finally fell on the ground on his back, giving a clear view of the inside of the chamber. Chamber was filled with guards, many of them lying unconscious on the floor, many of them bleeding and some of them just lying disoriented yelling for help in pain. But the focus of the chamber i.e. the human like figure was not seen anywhere in the chamber or even anywhere on the floor.

A guard inside the chamber crawled towards the wall, there were many fresh wounds on his body. He took support from the wall and sat leaning against the wall. He lifted his hand trying to grab the radio on his shoulder, his hand was shivering in pain and was covered in blood. He tried his best to get his radio from his shoulder and when he got hold of it, he alerted the control room about the incident.

“Control room, this is MOU126, reporting an issue.” the guard said in his trembling voice.

“MOU126, this is the control room, what is the issue?” The answer came from the other side.

“A guard went in chamber 7X3 to provide food.” guard took a pause to breath “To the subject it attacked the guard, when guard called for backup it attacked Musk Ox unit number 1 too and now is loose in the facility.” he continued.

“Guard what is the condition now in there?”

There was no answer from the guard.

“MOU126 can you hear me? What is the condition now?” Control room repeated the question.

There was still pindrop silence on the radio. Control room without wasting time switched its camera view to the camera in front of the chamber number 7X3 on one of its many monitors in front of them. They saw a bunch of guards lying unconscious and wounded. Many of them inside the chamber while one was outside the chamber, meanwhile one was unconscious leaning against the wall with radio in his hand. The conscious guards yelling for help were also dozed off.

“Hello Musk Ox Unit, can anyone of you hear me?” Control room asked looking at the monitor. There was no one in actual senses or in proper condition to answer that.

Without wasting any more time, the control room operator pressed the alert button. Bright white light in the corridors became way too dim making it difficult to navigate in the facility freely. Red light started flashing in the hallway to discourage and scare the subject. Alarm started buzzing in the Mammoth Unit’s quarter waking them up immediately. Other subjects present in the facility were not affected by it because the chambers used to contain them were sound proof and light from outside couldn’t penetrate the door. The staircase door started shutting disconnecting each floor from another. Each floor and every floor was isolated making each one of them a separate individual containment zone. Each containment zone would incorporate approximately 5 blocks. 1 block would accommodate at least 10 chambers. Nothing could come in and nothing could go out. Only thing now that was connecting each and every floor was a single large elevator and movement or even the access of that elevator was controlled by the control room. Control room operator switched its camera view from outside the facility to the inside of the facility on all of the monitors in front of them. Meanwhile other Operators present in the control room immediately made radio contact to the Mammoth Unit.

“Hello ‘MUL3’ please report.” Control room operator requested Mammoth Unit Number 3’s Leader. 

MUL3 was the name assigned to them. ‘MU’ stood for ‘Mammoth Unit’, ‘L’ signified ‘Leader’ and ‘3’ was their Unit Number i.e. 3. A Guard in a mammoth unit was assigned a name structure different from that of Leader’s. For Example, a guard in a unit was named something as ‘MU31’. ‘MU’ is the same as ‘Mammoth Unit’, 3 being unit number 3 and 1 was the number assigned to that particular Guard also known as a Mammoth. There were many Mammoth Units present in the facility and each unit was allocated a unique number. Each unit was designated a particular section of a particular wing of the facility. There were many units of guards present in the facilities for other purposes as well like Musk Ox Unit for controlling subjects on daily chore basis, Bald Eagle Unit to keep eye on danger inside and outside of the facility, Wild Dog Unit to bring in the rouge subjects etc.

“Hello control room, this is MUL3 reporting’ Leader reported.

“A situation has arised which needs to be dealt with.”

 “What is the situation?”

“Subject no. 7X3 has fled from his chamber. He has managed to injure the whole Musk Ox unit 120 single handedly. Subject is too dangerous and volatile, You need to be careful to bring him under control. Leader, you and your unit need to move towards the Armoury now.”

Everyone present in the quarter with the leader heard the conversation on radio. He took a look at everyone, they were looking at him too.

“You all heard the conversation, what are you waiting for? Get ready.” Leader ordered.

Every guard of that unit started changed into their uniform. Over their uniform they wore their signature heavy armoured vest and battle helmet. It is said their armoured vest can even stop the machine gun’s bullet. Even the helmet was capable of taking a major hit on it, saving the head from the damage. They all were ready and waiting for their Leader’s command.

“Is everyone ready?” Leader asked.

“Yes Leader.” Mammoths cried in unison.

“Good, let’s march to the armoury.” Leader finally ordered.

Whole mammoth stepped outside of the quarter’s door and started marching towards the armoury. They were marching in the hallway with 5 columns and almost 20 rows. Every step was moving in unison, causing vibration on the floor. Anyone at the other end of the hallway could hear their footsteps and feel the vibrations even if they were not visible. They reached the armoury and stopped in unison. Leader grabbed the radio on his shoulder and connected it with the earpiece to have an undisturbed conversation.

“Control room this is MUL3, requesting to open the armoury.” Leader said in the earpiece.

“Roger that MUL3, opening the armoury.” Control room responded and the armoury’s door opened.

MUL3 entered the room first and then his unit followed him in. The arsenal was more than big enough to accommodate almost 100 people at once. The interiors were white in color with all kinds of guns and ammunition kept just in case. Guns ranged from normal dart tranquilizer to the elite sniper to the RPG, there were a number of closets where ammunition for all guns were kept. All guns were kept secured even in armoury behind the unbreachable glass door controlled by the control room. No can just open and get it out. There were cameras all over the armoury, being monitored by control room 24*7. Operator opened the glass door giving access to the tranquilizer guns and darts, the tranquilizer used was of strong concentration. Every Mammoth picked up their respective gun and started loading the gun with the darts.

“As you heard it, the subject is way too dangerous to handle. But even we are Mammoths, we have proved ourselves and earned our title time after time. We have taken down many powerful animals down before. This one is no different either. We will hunt him down and put him back in his cage, no matter what. That too without any single casualty on our side.” Leader gave a motivating speech. He was a man of very little words, but even with the little words he managed to convey the message that was needed to motivate the unit.

“We will be moving in a subunit of 5-5 Mammoths. Every unit will travel to the designated floor via elevator. Control room will open the closed door for containment for some time when you reach the zone. We will move fast yet stealthily. 1 sub unit will cover 1 containment zone. I want at least 1 mammoth on each block. You all have orders to shoot at sight. Just confirm once you locate the subject.” Leader instructed.

“Any question?” Leader asked.

“No Sir.” Mammoths answered in unison.

“Control room, this is MUL3. Mammoth Unit 3 is ready to move out. Just point out the target’s location so we can take him down.” Leader said in the radio earpiece.

Meanwhile control room operators were surfing through different cameras view looking for the target. They found their subject on the 4th floor. He was confused looking here and there nowhere to go with closed chambers and closed the door of floors trapping him there.

“Control room to MUL3, we have located the subject. He is on the 4th floor near chamber 4X78. He is confused and trapped, so proceed cautiously.” Control Room answered.

“He is near chamber 4X78 and confused. MU350 to MU355 you take on this lead, meanwhile other units back them up but maintain your distance. We don’t need to agitate him. Let’s move” Leader instructed his unit further.

Mammoths got out of armoury and started marching towards the subject. Each Mammoth was exceptionally huge in size. They were called only in extreme cases, but this was no normal event either. If any subject can manage to fatally injure the whole Musk Ox Unit single handedly, it needs to be dealt directly with the Mammoth Unit. This was not the first time any subject managed to run from their chamber and similarly Mammoth was called to deal with that subject too.

One such escapee was Subject 2X56 escaped from his chamber. Subject was about more than 15 feets high and weigh around 500 KG. He was so powerful that his 1 punch can break the whole 3 storey house. Even after being so heavy and big, yet he was surprisingly swift. He was restrained by his chamber deep down in the basement on the seafloor.. His chamber’s wall was about 100 times thicker and stronger than a normal wall than the facility and bigger than everyone else's. Yet he managed to get out of his chamber and even managed to cross 3 floors above, destroying everything that came in his path including other chambers, injuring guards and even some subjects. Most of the damage caused by him had worse consequences, it freed many of other dangerous subjects that were kept deep down. That was the facility's hierarchy, most dangerous and volatile subjects were kept at the bottom of the facility. That caused unimaginable chaos and riots in the facility.

Mammoths were summoned to handle the situation. What happened next cemented their title and made them immortals in the facility's history. They not only took down the subject, put him down to sleep until his chamber was repaired. Vulnerabilities of his chamber were also repaired, more secure and contained. But they also managed to control the riots and take down the rioter subjects. Not to mention, each and every subject had their own speciality. Many mammoths were injured and many even had to lay their life. But all subjects were brought under control and put down to sleep. It wouldn’t have caused casualty if it would not have been the facility's policy about not killing any of its precious subjects. Each subject was secured in a temporary room and then their more secure and repaired chamber.

Every mammoth started taking their position on each floor, but their main focus right now was on the 4th floor. MU350 to MU355 stood near chamber 4*75 looking up in camera gesturing to open the door slightly. On getting the confirmation operator opened the door a bit, mammoth threw some smoke bombs in through the door and asked the control room to close the door and operator followed the order. After some good time, Mammoth gestured to open the door and ordered fellow Mammoth to wear the protection headgear. Mammoth wore the headgear while the operator opened the door fully. The Mammoth subunit entered the zone and the operator closed the behind them. The visibility was low even for the operator, he could not see anything clear in the monitor. Everyone was surrounded by the thick clouds of smoke. Everyone was connected through the earpiece.

“Status?” Leader inquired on the earpiece.

“Searching for the subject.” Mammoth answered.

“Found him. He is still near chamber 4X78. Should I take the shot?” Another MU354 asked.

Meanwhile MU354 took a deep breath, brought up the rifle and placed his finger on the trigger and was waiting for the confirmation.

“Take the shot.” Leader finally gave the confirmation.

MU354 pressed the trigger, the whisper that the rifle let out while firing the dart alerted him. Until the bullet could hit the subject, he vanished from his current position. Everyone had their eyes fixed on the subject, when he vanished, it surprised everyone.

“Subject vanished, I repeat subject vanished.” MU354 yelled in the earpiece. “Be on lookout.” He continued.

There was a big thrashing noise and smoke started evacuating from the zone, making visibility high. Everyone removed their headgear to have a look and the subject was no more on his place and there was a huge hole in the door. This alerted every mammoth, including the leader. Everyone was cautious now on the lookout, even the control room was continuously switching its camera view to find him.

“He is on the 9th floor near chamber 9X23” MU344 informed everyone.

“No, he is on the 3rd floor.” MU389 informed everyone in confusion.

“No, I just saw him on the 6th floor.” MU3367 said stuttering.

“I am on the 15th floor and he is in front of me.” MU321 said.

“He is on the 7th floor.” Control room operator informed.

“I am seeing him right now on the 2nd floor.” MU311 said.

“How is it possible?” Operator’s voice echoed in everyone’s earpiece. His voice was shock in his voice.

“What is happening?” MUL3 inquired.

“He is everywhere, in front of each and every camera. He is on every monitor all at once.” The Control Room operator was terrified, everyone can feel it in his voice.

“Let me grab his file.” Other operator said calmly, taking the control over. He input the subject's details in his computer and waited till the computer gave the subject’s details. I have all of his details in front of me.

“Can he make clones of himself?” MUL3 inquired.

“His profile doesn’t say so.” Control room operator answered. “But it does say he is fast.” he continued.

“How fast do you need to be so that you can be everywhere all at once, God Damn it.” Leader murmured. “Mammoth.” He yelled in the earpiece. Every mammoth gave their attention to his orders. “Shoot him on sight, no need to take the confirmation.”

“Copy that.” Every Mammoth said in unison.

“He is right now in front of me on the 5th floor, taking the shot now.” MU3311 said bringing his rifle upto marker and without wasting time he pressed the trigger. Hearing the noise, he vanished from his position again and just reappeared in front just before him even before the dart left the gun.

“Oh God.” Mammoth whispered.

“What was that?” Leader inquired again.

“He is….” Radio went static. This sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

“Can you copy, Mammoth can you copy.”

“He is in front of me. Taking a shot.” MU3306 clued in everyone.

“No…” Same mammoth yelled.

One by one every Mammoth’s line started going static. Before going static every mammoth was yelling and crying.

“Can anyone for God’s sake what is happening?” Leader asked on his earpiece.

There was still no answer, just static in his radio. Leader was continuously on the move with his headgear still on.

“Control room at least can you hear me?” Leader asked again.

“Copy MUL3, I am having a look at all camera views.” Control Room Operator answered.

“What the hell is happening?”

“He is not in front of any camera right now, all I can see is mammoths fainted lying on the ground. The zones are breached, breaking every door. He must be in some blind spot.”

“I am scanning all blocks one by one.”

On move all he saw was a series of mammoths lying growling, crying for help, some fainted. Every scene was making him angrier and angrier. But an odd piece caught his eyes. Subject was sitting in a corner just down the camera in the darkness where there was no other camera. It was true, he was hiding in a blind spot. He was still not moving even an inch. He was looking at the leader.

“Oh this animal is going to get a piece of my mind.” He thought to himself

He threw his rifle down, cracked his knuckles and his neck.

“Hey you monster. It is now you versus me.”

“What are you doing?” The Control Room operator asked.

“Kicking his butt.” Leader answered.

Subject got up, he was still looking confused and on the lookout for escape. But it was not possible, because MUL3 was in his way. He started running towards the subject, when he was close enough he closed his fist, about to hit the subject. But a sudden thrashing noise was heard and the leader was lying on the ground unconscious. Subject was on the run again. Control room was still looking for the subject. Before the operator could call for the backup mammoth units. Suddenly a voice was heard on the radio.

“I have him in front of me. I am ready to shoot.” Voice said.

“Who is this? Do you copy?” Control room asked. “Who is this?” Operator repeated

“This is -static- no. -static- 6.” Guard answered. “He is currently on the wall of the facility and I have a clear shot. Should I take it?” He asked for confirmation.

One of the operators was browsing through camera views, while the other operator was communicating on radio with the guard. Every camera view was just Mammoths on the ground fainted or some calling for help. No one was in condition to do anything. Situation created was panicking both of the operators and static noise or disturbance in radio was adding confusion in the mix. 

“Take the shot.” Unable to handle the pressure, the operator browsing through the camera views snapped and answered in panic.

“Wait no.” Other operator in the room yelled.

But till then it was too late, the guard had already pressed the trigger by then. But the twist that changed everything was the object that left the barrel was not a tranquilizer dart, it was a bullet and the gun was not a tranquilizer rifle; it was a lethal sniper. Even with noise generated by clashing ocean waves, wind flowing in speed, and sniper with suppressor, the subject heard the noise made by the gun. Before he could figure out what happened and where that noise came from, the bullet hit the subject and the subject fell in the ocean.