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The water glistened from the light of the screens that made up Alterna’s sky as Vee swam through the pipe that connected the 5th and 6th islands, known as Eco-Forest Treehills and the Happiness Research Lab. They finally emerged on the site of the latter, looking up as they did. It wasn’t really an island as much as it was a cluster of half-sunken and destroyed buildings, which made them question if it could count as a bunch of smaller islands. Regardless, they moved on, activating the grind rail and stepping onto it. Going building to building, grinding on the various ink-activated rails connecting them all, they enjoyed the breeze as it blew back their hair. Having reached the highest peak of the group of sky scrapers now, they stepped off the last rail and stretched, taking a glance around at the cavern. Usually they didn’t particularly enjoy the quiet all too much, but there were times where they could make an exception. Frankly, Alterna fascinated them if anything. They had always been one to love life and nature, but the interesting and artificial take on such a thing Alterna had was something they found to be rather unique and… peaceful. Weirdly peaceful.
Vee peaked over the edge of the building they were on, giving some contemplation of what to do next. They came down here to explore these abandoned settlements further, not really having the chance to do so before. They placed their Hero Shot on the floor and crouched down, gripping onto the edge of the building, doing so carefully so as to not lose balance and fall into the water far below. Carefully, they swung their legs over and slowly lowered themself so that their feet touched the outer sill of one of the very top windows. Examining the window, realizing there didn’t seem to be a way to open it from the outside. After pondering for a moment, they pulled themselves back up just enough to be able to grab their weapon, slowly lowering themselves back down again. They winded up their arm, bashing their Hero Shot into the window as hard as they could, repeating the action as it eventually began cracking, and then smashed. The sound of the glass shattering caused them to flinch as the sound resounded throughout Alterna. They peaked through the hole they had made, being able to spot some form of electronics in the building. Vee carefully climbed in, sweeping any shards of glass out of their way with their gun.
After climbing in, they stood up straight, beginning to inspect the fairly lit room as they walked. There were computers, wires, and all forms of technology unsurprisingly strewn about with reckless abandon or destroyed, with very few looking like they could still work if the kid had the means of booting them up again. There were also pieces of paper strewn about, with notes that was in a language they had no clue on how to even begin to read. Humming to themself, they noticed a staircase and meandered over, peering down them. Vee glanced back at the room behind them, surveying the place for anything they might have missed before continuing down the stairs. Vee spent a while exploring what they could of the building, Some rooms were in better condition than the rest, but it wasn’t saying much.
Eventually, they walked into a room that initially looked like all the rest and began exploring it as well. They noticed there was a table dead center, displaying diagrams of a dissected unevolved squid. Vee shrugged it off, glancing around the room before, suddenly, their eyes laid on something… Strange.
Cans of food. On the floor beside the table. All empty.
They walked over to them, a mild but bad feeling building up in their gut. Crouching down, they picked one of them up, rotating it in their hand. Canned tomatoes. They shrugged, looking up and-
…A bone.
They froze, dropping the can. They felt their stomach drop as the sound of the can hitting the floor resounded throughout the room. They stared at a collection of bones under the table. The idea of bones themselves didn’t unsettle them, they were quite used to them actually. But… In Alterna, it meant something else to them.
Kneeling on the floor, they carefully reached and gingerly pushed various bones aside before laying their hand on something… Dome shaped. They pulled it out from under the table.
A skull. A real, human skull was in their hands.
They looked around the room. The mess of destroyed technology and ruined papers.
They glanced back at the cans, returning their gaze to the skull in their hands.
They didn’t know what to think. Or what they were even feeling to begin with. It wasn’t fear, there wasn’t anything to be scared of. Dread, maybe? They had always known of the tragedy that unfolded here. Hell, they were pretty sure they’re the only one of two people in the entire world who knew the story in full. The fall of a once dominant species thanks to their own actions that hurt the planet they should’ve cared for, only for the last of those who were left to die out in a cave thanks to a select few’s restlessness. And, yes, they know this place is physical evidence of it.
But to have the remains of a single individual in hand, accompanied by clear evidence of their fear and desperation for survival? That was different. That sent chills down their spine, which very few things did.
They looked outside, getting up and walking towards a window. The clouds of the fake sky moved along the screen as they stared at the view. They took note of how close they were to the level of the water, seeing how clearly it glistened in the artificial light.
…
What else do they do with this?
It’s not like they could tell anybody.
They looked down at the skull, walking back to the table they found it under. Kneeling back down, they gently put all the parts of the skeleton in an estimate of the position they found them in, doing the same with the cans. Getting up, they made their way to the door of the room, looking back at the table. With a deep sigh, they turned on their heel and left.
They should probably figure out their grocery list.
