Into the Chamber

"Greetings, Supreme Commander," a gentle voice called as a female attendant approached a seated man. She presented a respectful bow before meeting the man's eyes.

As their eyes connected, the attendant felt a subtle yet undeniable pressure emanate from the man's gaze, immediately unsettling her composed demeanor. It was as if several weights had been dropped on her shoulders. Though she did not know exactly who this man was or the significance of the title 'Supreme Commander,' she understood he was likely a major military figure from beyond this star system.

Interstellar travel was exceedingly rare in this remote region and neighboring star systems. Most couldn't afford it, not even the few 'nobles' and prominent businessmen could occasionally manage such journeys. Even outsiders almost never visited this region due to its isolated location and limited connectivity. For this man, who likely belonged to a different league altogether and probably hold far more status and importance than the ruling minor rural nobles—to visit this place...

Faithlou Olympus-mons. His name rang far and wide across the entire Human Confederation's military institution, yet hardly anyone from this remote corner of the galaxy would be familiar with the title of Supreme Commander of the 28th Elite Vanguards. In rural areas, awareness of such matters is often minimal, much like many other affairs of the Human Confederation. However, to those who truly understand the significance of the Elite Vanguards and the rank of Supreme Commander, they would never dare to talk nor look at the Faith's face so lightly.

The Elite Vanguards are renowned for their ruthless effectiveness in causing carnage and destruction to their enemies. Each member of the Elite Vanguards has never tasted defeat. Countless battles have been fought and won, turning the tides of conflict, leading to the annihilation of planets and space fleets alike. They are relentless in their missions, fighting to the last man if necessary. Unlike common mech units, they are comprised of highly trained and skilled pilots—the best of the best—known for their courage and ruthless efficiency. This makes the Elite Vanguards the most prestigious and distinguished unit within the Human Confederation Mech Branch.

The Supreme Commander on the other hand is a testament to one's unparalleled achievements, leadership, and expertise during battles. One must be a extremely seasoned mech pilot who frequently fought ferocious, doggedly combat in order to lead the most highly regarded special forces in the branch.

As for Faith, he has personally given orders that has resulted in the loss of billions of lives, regardless of civilian casualties. Once bustling metropolises and small villages alike across planet surfaces have been reduced to rubble under his command. He himself has dueled thousands of ace mech pilots, never once losing, leaving them nothing more than flesh paste and scrap metal.

This man carries a legacy of uncountable bloodshed, known only to him, his comrades, and those who fought beside him. While others may only know of his title and general achievements, his demeanor bears the weight of his actions. Every breath he takes seems to reek of blood.

After participating in the recent seven-year campaign, the military had finally granted him furlough. Over those grueling years, the man had been involved in typical intergalactic invasions and xenocides carried out by the Human Confederation, whose core seemed founded on xenophobic conquest. The relentless brutality of his experiences was wearing him down, and he was eager for a change of pace and scenery.

And today unfolded unlike any other day in his military career. Instead of orchestrating carnage and destruction, the man made an unexpected choice. He opted to kick back and enjoy a break, a luxury rarely afforded to him during his extensive military service. He took this opportunity to travel across the galaxy within his given time period.

What better way to enjoy life by traveling from galaxy to galaxy, planet to planet, city to city, exploring tourist destinations and indulge in local cultures and amenities. And now, here he stood, in one of the most famous and highly rated local spa destinations. Why a spa you may ask? No specific reason, the man just wanted to enjoy life.

The mans name is Faithlou Olympus-mons, the Supreme Commander of the 24th Elite Vanguards of the Human Confederation Planetary Forces Branch.

After exchanging greetings, the spa attendant composed herself and observed the man before her for a split second, not daring to look at his eyes again.

What caught her attention was his physical appearance. She had never encountered such handsomeness and perfection in the flesh, surpassing even the standard male models she was familiar with.

She admired Faith's facial features, comprising of a finely defined jawline and a well-proportioned nose. Even as he sat, she could tell he stood about 7 feet tall. Not to mention those toned muscles and flawless skin that accentuated the chiseled contours. Yet, Faith's most striking attribute was his long, iridescent silver hair, akin to nacre, which cascaded down his back.

She was oblivious to the fact that this perfection was the work of advanced bioengineering where only the top echelons of society could ever be privileged enough to undergo such modifications to the body. Due to his distinguished status, Faith's complete skeletal framework, muscles, skin, organs, and function have been meticulously fashioned using the pinnacle of engineering marvels. This was something she, and the rest of the mundane, would never know be possible.

"Ehem. Excuse me for interrupting, Supreme Commander Faithlou Olympus-mons, I am here to inform you that everything has been prepared. My name is Diandra, and it will be the greatest pleasure of mine to guide you through our facility." Though she wanted to savor more seconds to admire Faith's body, her professionalism kicked in. 

"Please follow me." She turned around and led him out of the waiting room, guiding Faith into the sprawling expanse of the spa facility.

As they traversed the large corridor, they found themselves enveloped in a serene environment brought by a plethora of exotic bioluminescent plants that adorned the corridor, illuminating a gentle ambient glow, while fragrant blossoms released their delicate scent into the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil and fresh vegetation. Soft ripples of light danced across Faith's face, originating from cascading mini waterfalls that nestled against the walls. The trickling stream cut through the well-placed foliage, as its rustle intertwined with the symphony of gentle torrential cascade. Faith took a moment to absorb the surroundings as he opened his senses to the environment. In this carefully planned corridor design, every detail seemed to breathe life, transforming it into a living, breathing sanctuary.

"Do you find the environment to your liking?" Diandra asked, anticipating some form of praise for the place she worked.

"Indeed. I did not expect your spa establishment to be this remarkable," Faith remarked while extending his hand towards the dark slate walls, generating subtle disruption in the otherwise seamless mini waterfall.

"We are but a humble establishment, sir. Varialea is just a second-rate city. How could our establishment possibly compare to those of the capital city? Or perhaps other planets for that matter. We could only aspire to provide the best aesthetics and services for our guests." Humble as she may be, a satisfied smile curved on her lips.

"Perhaps, If I may ask, why would a someone of Sirs status would want to visit our planet, Theliane? The Qladishi star system is a bit isolated from any star hubs, and there are no prominent academies or military bases in the vicinity as far as I know." She paused for a brief moment, sorting her word choices.

"So I was thinking, due to Sirs presence, with all due respect, is there some sort of trouble here in Theliane that we should be worried about?"

"Hmm... Are you qualified to question me such matters, Diandra?" Faith raised his eyebrows.

At that moment, realization dawned upon Diandra, cold beads of sweat formed on her beautiful face. "I... I am terribly sorry for asking something I shouldn't, Sir." she stammered.

With Diandra's sincere apology, Faith's lips softened into a reassuring smile. "No, there is nothing to worry about. You can rest assured that Theliane is safe. I am here merely on a whim for personal matters." He said with candor.

Theliane, a relatively backwater planet in the Qladishi star system, held sentimental value for Faith. His mother was born and raised in the outskirts of Varialea City before moving to a more prominent planet. Visiting Varialea had long been Faith's cherished goal, a personal pilgrimage to pay homage to his mother's hometown. He planned to stay here far longer than any other city he travelled to.

"I see... Then I'm glad I didn't make things complicated for you, Sir. I hope you'll have a wonderful time here." Diandra said, relieved.

As they chatted about other matters, Faith realized he hadn't met any visitors yet, so he inquired.

"The others? Does Sir mean other guests? Well, after knowing that an important figure will be visiting our establishment, we reserved the entire day for a more secluded experience, all for you, Sir."

"That's good to hear." The prospect of being approached for by admirers would have been a constant source of irritation due to his incredible looks, or perhaps his title to those who are familiar.

As they went deeper through the corridor, they passed through a vast indoor expanse where at its center stood a massive dome-like chamber. Around this dome, a few separate jacuzzi pools were arranged. With the entire spa facility booked exclusively for his use, the jacuzzi area remained devoid of chatter or crowds. Some might have found the solitude unsettling in such a spacious setting, but for Faith, it felt perfect.

Before Diandra could explain anything to him, Faith was immediately drawn to the dome-like chamber and couldn't help but ask, "What is that thing?"

"We call this place The Oasis. Here, guests can indulge in our jacuzzi pools. That huge chamber you see is our Float Therapy Chamber. As far as I know, we are the only establishment to have it. Well... because we made it ourselves." She explained.

"A Float Therapy Chamber?" Faith said as he approached the huge dome exterior.

"Indeed, Sir." She followed. Sensing his curiosity, she followed suit and opened the chamber door, revealing a body of water inside, like a pool fully enclosed within the chamber walls.

"Here, as Sir can see, is a pool that has been infused with a type harmless solution. It allows one to float freely until they doze off. Of course, this is a... unique feature in our establishment that guests seldom indulge in, as they find it a bit... monotonous." She said awkwardly.

"Then why is it encased in this huge dome?"

"Yes, a feature to note is that the chamber is capable of simulating the environment upon Sirs request, the walls here provide a realistic 360 display." She continued.

"Visual setting?" Faith mused.

"Indeed. Sir can Prompt anything to the AI, and the chamber walls will generate the visual setting according to Sir's desire. For example, like this, Chamber! Put me in space, give me a view of planet Theliane from orbit, exaggerate the stars on the background."

After a brief pause, the interior walls of the chamber suddenly morphed and danced with colors. The once-white walls now depicted the expanse of outer space, adorned with countless twinkling white specks. In a different segment of the interior wall, a lifelike blue planet emerged, its surface adorned with patterns of green and white. The portrayal gave the impression that the viewer is orbiting the planet.

"As Sir can see, the chamber's AI boasts impressive capabilities among other features" She elaborated.

"Well, that is all I have to offer for this room. Shall we continue our tour?" She asked, a hint of concern in her voice. Typically, first-timers are eager to try the Float Therapy Chamber and often wasting most of their time here, not having the chance to experience other more prominent facilities.

"Hmm... Interesting, I want to see what this chamber can do." He replied eagerly.

"Huh?" Does Sir mean trying the chamber out now?"

"Yes, is there something wrong? I would just like to try it for a few minutes, we have all day don't we?" While concern was plastered across Diandra's face, so too was excitement was present on Faith's face. This due to the training from the military discontinued this kind of training involving 360 screens since a long time ago.

"Arr... Yes, fine choice, Sir. It will be a shame if Sir did not fully experience what our establishment facilities have to offer." Diandra forced a smile as her worries came true.

"So, then is there anything I can assist Sir with to start?" She inquired

"Um... No, that is all. I can manage to try this chamber alone."

"Ah... Are you sure sir?"

"Yes, is there a problem, Diandra?"

"No, there are no problems, then I shall leave Sir on his own. If Sir wants to continue the tour of our facility or requires any type of assistance, please step out of the chamber as I will be waiting here. Please enjoy." Diandra said with a bow before facing the other way in silence.

With this, a newfound solitude settled within the room, accompanied only by the gentle murmur of the bubbling jacuzzi water. Faith took a deep breath, then slowly unwrapped his towel, revealing his white military-issued boxers.

He then slowly submerged himself into the chamber's water, immediately feeling the coolness of the waist-deep pool. His soles felt the flat smoothness of the base of the pool. Feeling ready, he closed the chamber's doors, enclosing himself to the outside world.

'So I just call out the chamber and mention the setting I want, right?' He thought to himself.

"Chamber! Please show me a forest and a lake." He said to the lifeless walls of chamber.

It took a few seconds to register as it was a very general description before the interior walls erupted in a symphony of colors, revealing a vivid azure sky adorned with abstract swirls of white clouds. In a mesmerizing transformation, the water's hue shifted to a crystalline blue, transporting him to the heart of an expansive lake, surrounded by a dense pine forest. Far in the distant horizon, he could see towering mountains draped in snow. The panorama was so vivid, yet he knew it was fake because he could still feel the shallow waist-deep water.

He then took a few steps towards to what he expected as the chamber walls and felt his fingers brushed against it, confirming that he is indeed still within the chamber.

'It's scary how realistic this is.' He repeatedly caressed the smooth chamber wall, reassuring himself. 

Thinking about his options, he decided to try something different. "Chamber! Transport me of at the heart of Molten planet."

As he said that, the chamber's wall underwent a swift transformation, unfolding into a vast expanse of desolate dark-grey landscape of bright ocean. Like the birth of a terrestrial planet, nothing but flowing molten lava surrounded him. The water his waist was submerged in emitted glowing orange hue. As the transformation completed, Faith found himself immersed in a seemingly boundless lava bath. The water turned warm, and the bright radiant glow of the lava inhibits his sight. 

"Woah! Scary." He said, slowly scanning his surroundings, admiring the sight before feeling it was enough.

"Chamber, let me return to nature's embrace, an exotic rainforest this time."

The chamber's walls distorted once more, whisking him into the heart of a small ravine etched into the earth's surface. The body of water cradling him found itself enclosed by tall soil banks. He was in some sort of a natural spring. 

The verdant foliage of exotic plants and roots spilled over the edges, flourishing on the gentle undulations of the ravine banks. He could see feathery ferns as their delicate fronds swaying with the soft breeze, sprawling vines adorned with clusters of vibrant flowers in hues of pink and purple dangling like nature's curtains, and large-leafed plants lightly kissing the spring water's embrace. Water droplets dripped down from the flora, glistening in the gentle sunlight, indicating that the forest had recently been showered by rain.

The water turned crystal clear, revealing a chunks of rocks as the spring floor. Despite its realistic appearance, the floor beneath him remained smooth and flat. Looking up, he beheld unfamiliar arboreal giants forming a lush canopy, their branches dripping with glistening raindrops from the sunlight that filtered through the dense foliage. Shadows of birds and tree-dwelling fauna added to the scene.

'Impressive.' Faith was honestly impressed.

"Other features she said, let see... Chamber, can you give me ambient sounds that match the current setting." He uttered. Almost immediately, a symphony of sounds enveloped him, followed by the gentle cadence of water running, echoes of trickling light raindrops, the melodic trill of birdsong, and the delicate rustling of leaves brushing against one another. The realism was astonishing, it felt that he was alone in the spring.

Feeling satisfied with the environment, Faith finally let go of everything and reclined in the water, floating freely on its surface. He spread his limbs, feeling the gentle embrace of the water against his skin, enveloping the entire backside of his body. As he inhaled, the sensation of his chest rising was accompanied by a subtle upward drift, and as he exhaled, the gentle compression of the water caused him to sink slightly. All while the ambient sounds around him softened, muffled by the water's density.

Somehow, Faith was unknowingly became sleepy, and before he knew it, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to seep into a quick nap. A nap that forever changes his fate.