Running through an empty hallway can be surprisingly exhilarating, especially when it's an alien one. There's a certain sense of freedom, even though in my heart I know it's elusive. But it feels wonderful, grasping at something unattainable.

Shifting my view to my left, I look at the sky, through the openings in the glass which allow me to see beyond. The alien cityscape goes around me, and the sun shines on them like a guardian. The pinkish sky is now almost rosy, and the rings are glistening a lot more than on my first day. It's not changed a bit since I got out of my lab earlier today though. I don't know if I should even use terms like 'days' on a planet with endless sun.

But it looks beautiful. This alien sunset. Would have been incredible if there was a moon as well in the sky, but apparently this planet doesn't have one. Or if it does, it hasn't shown itself in all this time.

My vision dancing up and down, I look over my right, and then up the vast walls that surround the innards of this mega structure. The holes are here as well. Also the columnar objects make their appearance here, the ones I referred as lifts or something moving of the sort while I was walking with my group the last time. They were present in the dining area as well. While I make a mental note of these, I pass by numerous metal slabs in their intervals, that could be doors. But, they don't seem to have those sliding mechanisms I am used to. They seem to be static. Be just that. Metal slabs on walls.

I don't think this would be an easy task, space buddy. They could be back anytime.

But you're hurrying, aren't you?

You bet!

He groans, seemingly in deep thought like once earlier.

Hey wait a second.

I can't do that. I'm doing a perimeter search.

No. No, wait. I think it's futile like this. I have a better plan.

I slide to a stop. Now all my momentum is lost. Absolutely amazing. You're in my head, couldn't you tell me about it while I was running?

I pant. Oof, that took a lot out of me.

If it's a facility off limits to humans, it also must have systems which would prevent humans from accidentally entering, wouldn't you say?

Hah! I think that's a reasonable thing to say! Maybe I wouldn't find an opening just by roaming about, after all. Well, how do we find an opening then?

The good old-fashioned way. Check if there's something on the other side.

Old-fashioned? I don't know what you mean. I don't have X-ray vision, and if I'm not wrong X-ray doesn't penetrate thick steel plates. So how do I do that?

Hmm. Maybe you can kick the wall. I don't know, your legs are very capable. They certainly seem so.

Well, if I kick the wall with all I've got, this fine pair of limbs would be done for. They are at least half a foot thick, each slab!

What's wrong in it not to try?

Legs don't grow like hair do! You know that don't you?!

Just get on with it, and be careful while you're at it. That'd do.

Ugh, you'd be the death of me.

I'd certainly hope not.

I sigh. Well, pray so.

I take in huge breaths calm myself down. This is wrong on so many different levels. God, would this be the end of me? Jordan Ramsay, breaking his legs by kicking a wall? That sounds absolutely miserable.

Well, you're miserable already for taking your sweet time when we are on the clock!

This stupid head voice!

Don't bad-mouth me! I'd run away.

"Aaaaaaaghhh!" I sprint to the side of the walls and scream, "THIS SUCKS, AUGH!"

Such a strong report, that I feel my bones go all jiggle wiggle.

Huh?

"That was a hollow sound wasn't it? It wouldn't have made a noise if everything was solid, " I think out loud, while sitting down on the ground and massaging my leg. That really hurt though.

Now this could either mean, there's some internal mechanisms for which there's space behind, or-

"It could be a whole new world in there."

I startle at the realisation. Maybe I've found the path after all! If only I could just access the area beyond somehow...

The human hive is a hall. A rather long corridor with beds placed on each side, and it goes through the central axis of the building, meaning that the lab I've visited thrice now, lies to it's side, it's right side to be precise.

If we go on with that line of thinking, the scenario is like this. Imagining two concentric circles-

Have the human hive bifurcate it in two halves.

Yeah, and the lab, like a box on it's right side. Which leaves plenty of unused space inside the inner circle.

"And that's why the hollow sound. There has to be something in there. Anything."

So how do we find an opening.

...

If it's really meant to be accessed by them, I think I know just the thing.

He coos. Is that so. And what could be this 'thing'?

Patience. We just need to follow one of them get inside. It's so simple really, I really can't see how you didn't-

Ugh, this boy is STUPID.

Hey now, I don't know any-

Wow, I groaned again.

Gah! Concentrate on me! Get your priorities straight.

Okay, okay. So it's clearly a STUPID idea to wait for the aliens to come, stalk them and then get in. That has huge chances for getting caught.

But, I don't see any other wa-

There HAS to be some other way! If we do something in their presence, we'll inevitably alert them in some way. You clearly don't want to be skewered this time do you?

I gulp. That's frightening how you put that.

Yeah? So come up with something else.

But what can I...

This is difficult. I have no way of knowing their secret way of accessing areas that are off limit to humans. And, if there is no entrance I can't even use space buddy as the VIP he makes himself to be.

He he he...

Shut it.

So, what am I left to do?

Well, maybe I should think after I've gone full circle. There's not much left anyway, I think. There are no rooms or halls at all on this side.

I start running again and soon-

I slide to a stop, for I can go no more. "I'm at a dead end?!" I gasp as I approach the oddity in front.

Right before me, there's a projection from the wall that cuts short the passageway.

Oh, I see. Space buddy chimes. That's the end of the human hive from the other side.

What?

You heard me.

Then... then are you saying there's nothing I can explore or find out? I eyed the passageways. I practically scanned them. And yet nothing? Am I that worthless? I put my hand on the wall. I can feel, the hollowness, even if it's in my mind. I know there's something beyond. If only... if only I could reach it.

I groan and kneel down. Such a waste. Everything. Is. Such. A. Waste.

Well, how's your other leg?

Let me take care of the one I injured in the process! I'm already limping my way across. Have some sympathy! And I already checked the walls are hollow. What more do you want me to do?!

I don't know. But...

Hey. But I don't say anything more. I feel an unsettling knot in my stomach. We both feel what the other feels and this hesitation inside him is being fed into me. It's unnerving.

Come on. Why are you nervous.

Because it doesn't make sense. There has to be something here. Aliens can't pass through some hidden secret path all the time. They have to have some quick access!

But we found nothing here. Maybe they access it from elsewhere-

Listen here. How many floors have you visited?

Two? There's more but I can't reach them. I wasn't meant to.

Right. Then it is common sense that if they want to pass from the human areas into the alien areas, the paths must intersect somewhere. The aliens won't go down and around everytime-

Hang on.

I stand up.

Something happens to me.

Don't. You can't signal them. We just-

I don't want to. Just listen.

I smile. It's strange. I don't know why I feel so confident. But, I'm almost sure. I think I have it, right in my grasp.

I was right. Space buddy, I think I have the answer. The solution. The key.

Come on. I told you it was a terrible idea to wait for the pests to return.

Yeah I got that. Doesn't mean we can't be patient.

But there's too little time! This is our last chance! We won't get-

Do you know what my gut is saying right now?

He doesn't say anything. But I know that he knows. I proclaim it anyway. I put it into words. "I know it's not optimal, it's not logical and it shouldn't make sense but. If you are patient, even if you're in a hurry, being a human- being patient, having inner peace- it boosts how you assess situations. It enhances your thinking ability and approaching problems the right way. Hurrying will only lead to hyperventilation, cause you to fumble."

...

You understand what I'm saying?

Yeah. I think it's time I trusted you in return.

Belief. Attainment. I think I am reaching there.

Purpose.

I smile even more. Yes.

There must be something in the air. Why do I feel so confident? I have never felt so calm and composed before. It's almost unlike me.

I advance. I move almost automatically.

And then-

"SHOW YOURSELF TO THE LOST ETERNAL, AGH!" I place a karate kick on the outer wall of the human hive with my other foot.

_______________

...

And now I'm a cripple.

You suck. You absolutely suck.

Somebody just kill me already.

_______________

Dejected, frustrated and humiliated, I crawl my way back towards the entry way of the human hive. It's a slow process as I drag my body along the long corridor.

There's nothing more that I could do. I have been in the lab for weeks. I have seen the aliens. They don't have any doors other than the one I exited from.

"There's no way. We're done here."

I agree. Let's head back and be miserable, shall we?

It aches. But what else can I do? I tried my best. I even found the cavity. Yet-

I grit my teeth and slam my fist on the side, on a metal slab between two columnar objects.

I sigh. Hard.

Space buddy stirs. I hear him groan. It probably hurt him a bit. Sorry, I just feel so usess.

I am so deep in my sulking good-for-nothing state that I hardly hear him gasping. What happened?

My hand. It didn't make a hollow sound.

Yeah so wha-

It hits me.

I look to my side. It's the same kind of wall I hit earlier that gave off a hollow sound.

"But there's no room beyond here. It definitely should-"

Well, there's something fishy going on for sure.

I gulp.

This is deeply unsettling.

I slam my fist sideways again.

...

"It's deathly quiet... As if it completely took the force of my fist in."

This is unnatural.

I gulp. "I'm getting a bad feeling about this."