It's been three weeks since the lights went out. Three weeks to the day, to the hour, to the minute. I remember every instant of it. I remember everything. That's one gift from Prometheus.
This room is sealed, and my keycard doesn't work without power. The door is too heavy and too durable to force. But even if I could open it, I'm not sure if I'd leave. Something is wrong. The lights are powered by the same source that powers the whole facility, so if it's out for me, it's out for everyone. No one has come to help me, either, which isn't very encouraging. We deal with some dangerous things here at Prometheus Labs, so this testing chamber may be the safest place left.
At least my latest residence is tolerable. The claustrophobic environment makes it hard to think, but it's well furnished. Normally these rooms are fairly spartan, but since I'm doing a longer term study, they've outfitted it with nice furniture, a (thankfully battery powered) lantern, and all the food and water my enhanced metabolism needs to survive. A bed, a desk, some bottled water and cans of food. And, of course, filling the corner of the room, the green-gray slab.
Telekill, we call it. One of our greatest inventions, the capstone of years of research. The average human suffers countless minor psychic intrusions each year. Between lingering Faerie glamours, Salbaj mind-tricks, and the Enforcers, "free will" is not so free as it ought to be. The average civilian doesn't notice, of course, and the influences are subtle, but alarmingly real.
Telekill will finally liberate human determination from the interference of inhuman forces. I would be one of the first to be truly in control of my own mind, my own destiny. Already, thanks to my mnemonic inoculation, my memories serve my mind. Telekill will ensure that my mind serves me.
Of course, first we need to ensure that Telekill is safe. Which is where I come in. Everything Prometheus produces is extensively safety-tested. And because of the risks involved in working with the forces we do, human testing is conducted only on Prometheus volunteers. There's risks involved, but there always are to the first brave men to touch the future.
This is, or rather was, a second stage study of telekill, long term human exposure. Short term studies showed that short of eating it or headbutting it, the stuff is harmless. The greatest risk I expected coming into four week isolation with the green-gray slab was boredom. I was to have been released eleven days ago. I'm beginning to doubt I'll ever get out.
I'll die here. I had hoped for more than a lonely death in a room with the green-gray slab. I had such dreams! I would have been the one to not just reach but seize the future. The new era when mankind sees just what the universe is like. I had plans. I could have been so much. The Prometheus of legends stole fire from the gods so that mankind could rise to be like the gods. I've seen what this Prometheus will bring mankind. We will be like gods. I would be a god. But no, I'll die here with only the green-gray slab for company.
The air in here is thick. I can hear myself breathing. There's nothing else to hear. If there's still a world outside, it's forgotten me. Someday, they'll exhume the chamber, maybe, and wonder at it and its contents. Perhaps they'll even figure out what the green-gray slab does. Even if I won't get to live forever in, maybe I'll live forever in memory as the man in the mystery chamber from the past who brought the gift of freedom to mankind. Freedom is like fire, isn't it? Maybe I'll be Prometheus.
My gaze returns to the green-gray slab. But why not? It's the most visible thing there is. There's an odd sheen to its surface, a color that vanishes as soon as you focus on it. An ephemeral sort of cerulean. If I look slightly away, I see it swirl like an oil slick on a lake.
Can't stop staring at the green-gray slab. Nothing else to look at. It's shiny if you don't look too hard. Sort of a blue on the surface of the green-gray slab. Yeah, it shines kinda blue.
There's the green-gray slab. That's funny, the green-gray slab is blue!
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The green-gray slab.
The greendarkgray slab.
The greendarkgray slab.
The greenit's darkgray slab.
The greenit's very darkgray slab.
The greenI can't seegray slab.
The greenI can't feel my armsgray slab.
The greenor anything, reallygray slab.
The greenam I dead?gray slab.
The greenNo.gray slab.
The greenI'm not dead. I can't be dead yet. I have so much left to be.gray slab.
The greenYou can't stop me from being who I'm going to be. I remember me. I remember everything.gray slab.
The greenI know what happened to me. You weren't safe, were you? Just took more than four weeks. You ate my mind, my soul. But you can't digest it. Because I'm me. I'm me. I remember myself. You can't destroy my memories because I have the mnemonic.gray slab.
I don't need anything else. I'm going to be who I am. I'm going to be who I could be, who I would be. Can you feel that? I'm getting my form back. Metal is weaker than will. If you took my body, Telekill, then it's only fair that you replace it.
Senses, limbs; all will be mine once more. I stagger to my new-formed feet and swing a molded fist at the reinforced door. It holds. But my will is stronger than metal. Soul-drinking stone, you were to give mankind freedom of destiny. And you shall still bring it to me. My fire will burn bright, even as others flicker and die. The door is beginning to buckle. Soon, very soon, I will leave this chamber and leave Prometheus to the eagle. Then all will see my will. All will see who I am. I am myself. I am myself!
I AM ZACHARY!
March 17
Got out Wednesday. Fortunately, they didn’t really have much to go on, but it was still a closer call than I would have liked. Denver is not a good place for me to ply the trade anymore. I’m writing this at the airport; my flight to Miami leaves in about an hour. McTavish moved down there a few years back and he might have a spare room for me. Or at least a spare couch. There is a silver lining to all this. Spoke with someone who gave me a few pretty good ideas to work with, and Miami seems like a good place to try them out.
March 20
Somewhat settled in. McTavish did have a full spare bedroom, and was happy to let me stay there for a bit, even if he’s charging me some rent. He’s made good for himself. He’s mostly legit now, but he gave me a rundown on the scene here. It’s less developed than I would have guessed, which is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the people probably aren’t too wise to classic cons, but I’m less likely to find helpers for anything large scale. The gang presence is also pretty bad, so I had best make sure my marks aren’t the type to bite back.
April 1
April Fool’s Day feels like a holiday for grifters. I know it isn’t, but I like to think of it that way. Every time someone falls for an old pigeon drop, I just want to shout out “April Fools!”. They actually think they’re conning me. Anyhow, I think I’m almost over the first hurdle for the big project. There’s a place that offers quite reasonable rates if I use it late Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’d have to move my stuff in and out each time, but that shouldn’t be too bad. McTavish is helping me. I’m a bad influence on him.
April 8
Okay, I’ve almost got it ready. Thank you, cellmate Jeff, for your excellent suggestion. I’m going to start a religion. Cult, really. It’s such a brilliant scheme. Just get some followers together, and milk them for all the money they’re worth. The best part is, it’s not even that illegal. Voluntary donations for the benefit of the congregation. I can say that with a straight face. I just need to figure out what the cult is like. I did some Wikipedia-ing, and came up with some decent candidates.
- Gaia or Earth Mother
- Mithras (Roman mystery cult)
- Christian offshoot
- Do it yourself!
Leaning towards Mithras. I don’t trust my creativity enough to try to come up with something myself. The kinds of people a Gaia cult would attract would be easy marks, but they’ve already been bilked pretty hard by the New Age and organic foods stores. Legal cons are the best cons. I’d feel a bit wrong doing a Christianity variant. I was raised kinda devout, and though I’ve certainly, ah, lapsed, I’d probably end up dreaming of Reverend Horace glaring at me, and I can do without that. Mithras is a bit weird, but that hopefully just sets me apart. I mean, I’m not sure how applicable an ancient Roman warrior cult is in modern day Florida, but at least this way I’m probably the only game in town. In other news, I’ve got a good lead on an apartment. Hopefully that’ll pan out.
April 17
Today’s the day. I spent all last week putting up posters, and spreading the word that the truth of Mithras was about to reach Miami. We’ll see how many people come, and then on Thursday how many come back. The actual Cult of Mithras was men only, but I’m certainly not limiting mine. Priests of Mithras aren’t exactly required to be celibate. Anyhow, I printed out a bunch of homemade liturgical material, and there’s folding chairs at McTavish’s place. I also got a carpenter to rig together this nice looking altar, with carvings and everything. Really looking forward to this. One month in Miami and already in business!
April 17
Damn damn damn. McTavish flaked on me. He had a date or something, and couldn’t help me move the stuff. I had to do it myself, and let me tell you I’ve grown to hate that altar. That 200 pound altar. Yeah, hardwood looks great, but can I move it? And folding chairs are fine in ones or twos, but when you have a couple dozen it gets less fun. I need to go to the gym. But right now I have the first meeting of my cult and I have to be all charismatic and commanding and not like someone who’s probably pulled half his muscles and is operating on three hours sleep. Great, people are trickling in. Here goes.
April 17
Meeting’s over. That was odd. The people who came seemed a mixed bag, but receptive to what I was saying. I think you have to be to come to something like this. Looking for their paths, I suppose. I didn’t do as good a job at selling it on them as I know I can, but they didn’t need it. About 30 people. Mostly males, but not exclusively. Looked like some ex-military types in there. I think people will be back. So, made it so far, but I still need to figure out a way to move this stuff in the future. God, I’m tired.
April 19
Had the second meeting today. McTavish was able to help move stuff today, so it wasn’t so bad. Apparently his “date” was an utter disaster. Serves him right. Most people showed up again, along with a couple newcomers. I told the story of Mithras again. His birth from a rock, his victory over evil incarnated as a bull, and his final banquet with the sun-god, who acknowledges Mithras as his superior. Then I led people through the liturgy, and we had dinner. Feasted, I should say. I served hamburgers; it seemed appropriate.