Chapter 4: Ain't the solution

Wake Louchette

There was a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere. The ground shook, and I felt the tension running over my entire body. Machines started to alarm. Everyone in this whole building felt no panic; the principles of applying safety precautions applied. All the people working in this research company were looking for ways to prevent laboratory types of equipment from falling, no matter the single debris that might fall between them. A few among the computers were activated manually, yet most of them were automatic machines with sensors stimulated by AI.

The intensity of the earthquake became higher. I ran towards the elongated-chiffon-colored table and hid from minimal falling debris. 

I sighted at my co-worker, Hisha Go, who accidentally slipped on the floor. I immediately helped her stand, and with a quite trembling phase, we hid together under the table. 

"You saved my life!" She marveled. I let out a tiny smile as a sign of acknowledgment. 

The earthquake became more and more dangerous, ranging from uneven distribution of seismic waves which divides staggers the intensity. I haven't experienced this kind of phenomenon ever since in my life! 

I can feel it. Everyone can feel it. 

There was something wrong with the earthquake. 

The researchers began to look for the safest place to protect themselves. Holding the edge of the table, I glanced at Hisha to check if she was alright. Fortunately, she was. 

The floor surprisingly shook a bit stronger, which made Hisha exclaimed. She accidentally buried her face and hugged me from the back. 

I was shocked by what she did. So I glanced her through my back and asked to remove her hands after the sudden shake was gone. She looked at me and immediately understood the message I want to communicate with her through the eye.

Later on, when the situation became a little bit normal, Hisha took her hands off and pinched my left cheek. 

"Ouch! What's that for?" I gasped, touching the area where she did the pinching. 

What the hell? 

"Psh, silly." She commented. Pouting with sound with her hooded eyes, and looked away.

I was about to say something related to what she did, but she managed to change the damn slight awkward atmosphere she made.

"Have we received any warning?" She wondered after taking a glance at our co-workers who were busy fixing themselves. She was actually referring to the machine that will show an algorithm that predicts possible earthquakes. 

Lmao, I wished I realized that earlier.

She examined all the machines around us. "Look, the screen isn't blinking red." She added, pointing towards the large monitor in front of a vast tube-like facility with penumbral transparent glass that serves as the facility for examined subjects. 

Her eyebrows curved a wrinkle, and her eyes were questioning the strangeness of the machine-which failed to perform its purpose. 

"Weird... What if someone tried to interfere with the system and control all of our working processes?" I pondered.

"You mean, someone who isn't working with us?" She inquired. 

I slowly got out from under the table and strolled my eyes around this huge-semi futuristic lab. Hisha did the same too.

"I supposed, but it's just my hypothesis, so don't take it seriously, Hisha," I assured her while fixing my laboratory gown's sleeves. 

With an affirmative note, she said. "Sure! Plus, our system is much more fastened where hackers have no place." 

From the right side of my eye, I spied her waiting for my next response. However, I chose to walk away. But even from what I did, she still followed. 

"Eh? Wait for me!" 

-

On the other side of the building lies the most protected room where only those who were most authorized can enter. I walked fast towards the bunch of souls who were discussing something.

It was urgent, and most probably, about the earthquake. 

"I know, I know it's alarming."

"But how is that possible?"

"Try to check it one more time, please! Maybe it's just a glitch of a bad connection."

These were a few voices that I've heard while walking towards them. Upon arriving, I immediately sat in front of this long office table. Some people were standing in front of each system machine, and the rest of the crowd were already sitting. Most of them acknowledged my presence by bowing their heads, and I did the same to them too.

I looked at our head, who was sitting facing us, and after he noticed that I was there, he began the formal discussion.

"Everyone is here; I guess we can start."

Moreso, we talked about the unfixed reasons for the algorithm failing to give a warning. Each has its own deductions with the scientific and technical analysis, given that those operators assigned for security weren't able to track the flaws. 

We also tackled the unusual pattern of a while ago's earthquake through the gigantic seismometer. The wave gaps between the shake were hugged, which made all of us feel uncertain.

A few moments later, one of our colleagues ran towards the office. Three security personnel hindered him from getting inside the convention since he was not a researcher nor part of the technical groups. He was our maintenance staff.

"Hey! Every one of you! You should see what's outside!" He implored. His voice was agreeing. So among all of us here, I was the first one who went near to him.

I steady my eye contact with him. He stepped back a bit. 

"What are you saying?" I asked.

"The-there is something un-unusual in the sky."

I leaned forward and straightened my back even more. "What do you mean? Did you saw something strange outside? Like what? A lady floating?" I guessed.

"Chill, maybe he's just referring to the sun's reflection, creating an illusion that it was a pair." A co-worker of mine gibed and laughed with a tone of emphasizing a joke.

Some of them laughed too, but our head researcher warned them.

In front of all this crowd made this poor man's legs weak, and he could feel himself trembling. I was kind of upset. Why was he like that in the first place? Just because of our profile?

"No, you're wrong. Wake is trying to do his crazy research work." The same voice inserted, mocking my previous research about a creature with a french braid hair I saw when I was driving in the middle of the night before. 

He laughed. 

For twice, our senior warned him again.

I clenched my fists but managed to take down my temper. I decided to focus my attention on the man's words rather than minding their insecurities. 

I inhaled and let out a deep breath before I proceed.

"Bring me to the spot where you have exactly seen what you had observed." 

He quickly nodded. 

The officers immediately discharged him and allowed him to guide me. My colleagues followed us with the security officers as well.

My jaw dropped, and my eyes could no longer look away from what I saw, from what every one of us saw. A prismatic ambiance of the sky's cerulean based shade welcomed our sight. Different kinds of birds flew just everywhere, making the sky almost full! When moving away from the daffodil rays of sunlight, their wings exhibit phosphorescent! 

The lime leaves of the trees became radiant, dancing with the rhythm of where the wind blew. The breeze of the wind slapped our warm conflicts, it seems raining, but it wasn't. But the most enthralling part was the wind had a scent of floral mint! 

A sudden strike of white lines appeared in the skies like waves. Each of us raised our own arms to have better access to the splash of nature. 

"This is wonderful..." Hisha complimented. Her mouth hanged opened, her body froze, and her eyes widened-staring at this beautiful scene.