3———GrowlIn a heartbeat, my stomach emitted a pronounced growl, its hunger echoing within the walls. I blushed, feeling self-conscious about the untimely sound.Amusement glinted in the cat's eyes. "It appears you've a hearty appetite. How about some breakfast to start the day?"Nodding, I followed Mr. Cat as he gracefully moved toward the entrance. It radiated a bright glow despite the distance between us.That was when I came across it a translucent barrier, its position over at the entrance made it possible for enough for one to understand that it was a door or at least it served the same purpose as it. The translucent door seemed to barely no notice of a presence sucked up the cat in a single gulp or rather Mr. Cat phased through the translucent door seeming not to mind the presence of the frost-like appearance of the door, i followed suit stepping into a hallway, pristine white. Glance over the sides as I stepped into the hallway, it stretched endlessly in both directions like a tunnel but unlike any tunnel i could remember it was all lit, white and held sterile air to it. Walking alongside the cat, my gaze was drawn to the pulsing blue lights, flowing over to the end of the hall, at the left, humming with an indefinable energy."That is ether," the cat elucidated. "The pulsing blue line is just a visual effect of ether, serving as a visual reminder of that demarcation. Or should I say it’s the effect of air and light on it"This, as the cat explained, was ether the mysterious energy source of the plant, the plant redirect the flow of ether from the outside to it main storage point.The plant seemed more like a battery cell as it continually absorbed energy. With that much amount of energy being directed over here I wonder what it's being used for. "—this way."Mr. Cat draws my attention over to the left side as he walked a bit ahead of me, guided me over to the end where the uniformity of white materials illuminated by a blue glow along the edges stopped at a point me."Mr. Cat, why is everything in a white-blue monochrome?""Who knows, maybe it was the creator's artistic sense, or perhaps he was just sloppy when deciding the building's color.""I see."I refrained from bombarding Mr. Cat with more questions. Asking to many questions to someone you just met might feel like you're annoying. And who knows what Mr. Cat is like when he's annoyed. Looks like I'll have to wait for the right moment to inquire further about the creator."We're here, the cafeteria block."A translucent door to the left marked the entrance to the cafeteria. As we stepped inside, a stark white room greeted us, devoid of aroma. The space differed from my expectations, minimalistic expanse of white tables and chairs, lit by soft, warm lighting, created an atmosphere that felt both welcoming and sterile, leaving me intrigued and perplexed by the design.
Din—don—Din—Din—Don—
As we were about to move forward, an eerie bell rang out, its source unknown. I instinctively looked upwards, attempting to locate the sound, only to find my vision blur with a slight ache over my head. It felt like my head was being meshed by invisible hands. —was it hunger, or was it something else? My stomach growled again, the sound more pronounced this time, and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, earning a gentle chuckle from the cat."Nothing to be concerned about," the cat assured me. "Hunger is a shared human experience. Let's satisfy that appetite in the cafeteria."As we navigated the space, I noticed the tables lacked any visible arrangement of food or utensils, leaving me intrigued and uncertain. Anticipating my curiosity, the cat led me toward a peculiar cabinet-like structure embedded in the wall—the cafeterias innovative approach to service, maybe.Unlike traditional counters, this cabinet had no doors. Utensils were meticulously arranged within, beckoning with a purposeful elegance. Confusion bubbled within me, and I couldn't help but inquire, "Where is the food here?""Have no worries," the cat reassured me. "Food is indeed available. Place your hands upon the wall before you."Trusting the cat's guidance, I pressed my palms against the surface. As I did, an unexpected sensation coursed through my fingertips, blue lights—that subtle energy seemed to bridge the concept between the digital and the tangible.In response, a crisp, human-like voice emerged from the white wall itself, enveloped by a white light that cascaded into intricate blue markings—a visual symphony reminiscent of the hallway and library's books."Welcome, 101. I am the cafeteria AI, known as CAIN," the voice introduced itself. "I will be responsible for your health and well-being during your stay. Feel free to ask if you have any questions."CAIN's voice carried a blend of warmth and authority, weaving an introduction to the technology governing this place. It explained meal options, delving into nutritional content and providing recommendations based on preferences.As I listened, captivated by the fusion of technology and knowledge, the blue markings transformed, illustrating an array of menus. CAIN's presence was revolutionary where innovation and advanced technology intersected, painting a vivid portrait of the extraordinary nature of the plant functionality.With newfound insight, I made my selection, allowing CAIN's guidance to shape my choice. A plate materialized before me, holding the meal I had chosen—a curious amalgamation, blending the familiar and unfamiliar. It may have been plain and bland, but despite the absence of visible food, the taste and texture were peculiar yet satisfying, but in wrong way hinting at the convergence of advanced technology and the elemental act of nourishment.—After finishing my meal—a curious blend of the ordinary and the technologically advanced, something like that. Though peculiar, managed to satisfy my hunger—I couldn't shake off a lingering sense of discontent.As I set the utensils aside, Mr. Cat’s gentle voice chimed in. "How was your meal?" it inquired.I offered a nonchalant response, masking the perplexity I felt. "Why did the food taste like I was eating raw ingredients?"The cat's response came in the form of an almost comical turn of its face, a silent gesture that seemed to ask, "What are you saying?" Was he pretending not to understand or genuinely oblivious?"Well, now that it seems like you've finished all your meal—""Mhmm...," I growled. "Why didn't you tell me the food wasn't going to taste good in the first place?" "It's not like you'd eat it if I told you the truth, and besides, what do I know of a child's taste?""But...""Don't worry about the taste; you'll get used to it in time.""I don't think I'll be able to get used to the taste.""Now for the matter at hand."Surprisingly, the cat took a turn over the conversation as the mood seemed serious. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, so I'll answer them based on urgency. How about that?" I nodded. Giving a thought for a moment before asking, "What is this plant all about?"The cat smiled. "Always starting off with the hard part. Well, it doesn't seem that much of a hard question on its own." The cat seemed to playfully tease with its words. "Have you heard about the story of Noah's Ark?"Noah's ark... Feels like I know something about it, but not.The cat, perceptive, noted, "The story is from in a time long, before your existence; so it’s obvious that you wouldn't be able to remember something about it.""Noah," the cat continued, "was a man who saw beyond the horizon of his time, had a revelation of a great flood, much like a storm on Earth, but fierce.""A revelation? A glimpse into the future?" I questioned, seeking clarity."Exactly," the cat affirmed. Noah forewarned the people, yet scepticism veiled their trust. When the deluge arrived, humanity stood at the precipice of fate. Noah, however, had the key—a salvation embodied in an ark. Before the flood, Noah built an ark, a vessel that became a sanctuary. Pairs of animals found refuge within, shielded from the tumultuous storm."He saved them all?" I marvelled at the notion."Yes," the cat nodded. Noah's ark became a symbol of hope amidst adversity.The cat shifted its tone, adopting a tone of reverence as it spoke of "this plant." A repository where humanity wove the tapestry of its history—a beacon preserving the essence of bygone times. The genesis of this tale lay millions of light sols ago on Earth, where a revolutionary energy source called ether was unearthed.Ether, a beacon of cleaner and safer energy, yet not devoid of consequences. The discovery led to a planetary crisis, initiating with the often-overlooked guardian—the ozone layer. Ether's utilization exacted a toll, weakening the ozone layer's shield against the sun's harmful rays.Radiation permeated, casting the world into chaos. Creatures morphed in unimaginable ways, flora glowed eerily, and the ozone layer shattered like fractured glass. The aftermath birthed three distinct zones—north turned frozen, the middle scorched into a desert, and the south fragmented into storm-laden islands.Humanity faced an existential test, yet hope thrived. Scientists and survivors, driven by a shared purpose, worked tirelessly to mend the fractured ozone layer, striving against the encroaching radiation.As the pernicious radiation threatened humanity, the survivors, with no defence against it, conceptualized the plant—a structure that absorbed the infinite ether, an emblem of salvation for the planet's future.But all hope was lost as the radiation started to affect humanity also, and without the ability to withstand the radiation the last of humanity decided to create the plant, a structure that absorbs the infinite ether leaving the rest of the planet to the hands of this plant, and with hope still with them they created this plant to save the planet for when the time come. The tale on humanity's plight didn't stir the expected turmoil within me. Oddly calm, I processed the cat's explanation—our world fractured into zones, experiments with ether wreaked havoc, and the ozone layer's demise altered life irreversibly.Yet, my lack of recollection acted as a shield. I pondered, "Does that mean the whole of humanity has gone extinct?"The cat responded, "No, far from that. Humankind is in a state of recovery. We can't expect the world to return to its original state, so the plant preserves the knowledge amassed till now."In my quiet musings, I grasped that it wasn't a total loss for humanity, probably a beginning, and end or both. If the humans wasn't extinct but in the brink of it where were they? And if per instance a relation from my past memories was alive how would they feel if they found that the one who was in this body was no longer here?A peculiar tranquillity enveloped me. Perhaps it was the void left by forgotten memories, sparing me the emotional weight of recollections.Had I remembered someone, panic might have replaced this surprising calm. For now, the revelation echoed in my mind, a story of humanity's struggle, survival, and an ever-present hope. Constantly, it felt like Mr. Cat's words were paint a canvas, an erased blank slate being filled up with a different perspective—a different color. The cat's gaze softened as it spoke, "Well, all that story might not be good for someone. Why don't we have some fresh air?""Fresh air?" I echoed, intrigued by the idea within the white confines of the facility. The cat's eyes twinkled with amusement as it led me through the translucent door, transforming the cafeteria's sterility into a breathtakingly scene.
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