738 The apartment (2)
The elevator ride seemed to stretch on forever, but in the end, they reached the right floor.
The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a long hallway lined with reinforced apartment doors.
Each door was a monument to security and privacy, their heavy-duty construction designed to keep unwanted visitors at bay. But that wasn't a problem Erik couldn't solve.
Be it brute strength, or the precision of the biological supercomputer, the young man could easily enter. However, it was clear brute strength was going to make the apartment a doorless shell. nove(l)bi(n.)com
Erik and June stepped out of the elevator. There was nowhere in sight, but still the young man kept himself concealed through the Chameleon Veil, with June still in his dog form, to avoid alerting the security system or people coming out of their apartments to go on with their day.
The understated illumination from the led lights bathed the hallway in a muted glow, sculpting elongated silhouettes on the reflective flooring.
The atmosphere was crisp and clinical, a notable divergence from the city's pulsating vitality that thrummed stories below.
<This fellow chose an interesting place to buy a house. >
The apartment doors lined the hallway at regular intervals, reflecting the subdued radiance with their alloyed facades.
Each door bore a number, and it wasn't hard to find the man's apartment door among the many in the hallway.
<616. Is this the right door? > June asked.
<Yes. >
Erik fixed his gaze on the door, already working in his mind on how to bypass its security. June remained by his side, ensuring no one saw them. Despite his unease, he trusted Erik's judgment.
Erik reached inward, mentally connecting with the biological supercomputer.
<Access the security system, > Erik said. The computer gave an almost instantaneous reply.
[PROCESS STARTED. SCANNING FOR NETWORK ACCESS POINTS.]
Seconds later, it gave Erik some additional information.
<Be ready then, we don't know what we will find once inside. >
With the security systems disabled and the door unlocked, Erik and June were free to enter the apartment. Their mission was just beginning.
While crossing the boundary of the doorway, they found themselves enveloped in the apartment's ambiance. It was an expansive, contemporary space. For some reasons Erik expected the place to be spartan. The owner was a mercenary, after all, and not one very respected.
The furnishings had a streamlined and polished appearance, with their sleek surfaces reflecting the chrome finishes and touch-sensitive controls of the innovative appliances that adorned the room.
The walls were more than just structural boundaries. They were canvases for digital art displays.
<I didn't think this guy had an artistic side... Well, there's always something to learn. >
These screens showcased a dynamic array of colors and patterns, their hues morphing and transitioning into an entrancing visual ballet that added a layer of vibrancy to the room.
Some depicted abstract forms, others mirrored the pulsating rhythm of the city, creating a mesmerizing fusion of technology and artistry that breathed life into the space.
The apartment, perched high above the city, seemed to exist in its own world, a bubble of tranquility amidst the ceaseless energy of the metropolis below.
<Finally, I can take a shower, > June's voice echoed in Erik's mind as he surveyed the apartment. His canine form shimmered and shifted, morphing into a human shape very close to Erik's one, but with some differences due to the blood he gave him to morph into a human.
<Don't get too comfortable, > Erik said. <We'll likely get dirty later. >
June's face fell at Erik's words, his excitement replaced by disappointment.
Despite their shared appearance, they were two distinct individuals, each with their own thoughts and feelings, and he clearly didn't relish the idea of getting dirty again so soon.
Erik knew that. Since he spent months close to the clone, he learned a lot about him. He wondered why his power to make clones resulted in creatures that weren't exactly like this, but he assumed it was due to the Mirror's centipede peculiar brain crystal power.
<Alright, > he sighed, his disappointment clear even in his telepathic voice. <I'll just rest then. >
With that, June moved further into the apartment, leaving Erik alone in the entrance.
The young man closed the door, and with a click, the room fell into silence.