Lights Out
The door slide itself closed as Dean stepped out but he notice something different about the hallway.
"Kat can you turn the lights back on?"
The lights were shut off leaving the hallway pitch black as there were no windows for this section of the dormitory even the holographic windows are seemingly turned off.
[I can do that gladly], Kat said with her signature beaming smile but as Dean breathe a sigh of relief, she continued with some bad news, [Just connect me to the Office of Student Housing].
The location was close by but....
"That's all the way on the ground floor."
The student housing complex is located deep inside of Deimos alongside three other dorm buildings and much like Dean's building which houses the seniors, they are capable of housing 8000 students. Granted the top 100 students are given enough space for at least a bedroom, bathroom with laundry machines, kitchen, and living room. The rest are just given a small bedroom with a small bathroom much like a regular college dormitory.
Since Dean is the 2nd ranker of the 4th years, he and the top ten are located at the very top floor so he'll have to climb down 15 floors where the office for 4th years housing is located. Granted if the elevator doesn't work.
Kat could also theoretically dive into the 4th year building's system from where they are currently, but she explained to Dean that without central network, she would have to manually navigate down to the ground floor. For her, she didn't want to risk her wellbeing navigating through the maze-like wires to turn the lights on as the building's wires can't handle Kat's memory size. Plus Kat felt that she could be of more use staying with Dean.
Regardless, Dean wasn't waiting for the lights to turn back on so he switch on the flashlight feature of his watch and maximize the brightness. The flashlight provided enough light in a 3 meter radius, just enough to see the outline of a door across from him.
That particular door belongs to Mark von Harem, the number one student of the 4th years.
Dean walked up to the door ignoring the blood splatters around him in the hallway. He rung the doorbell waiting to see if Mark was in there.
[Let me take a peek inside for ya], Kat said as she 'hop' from the watch and into the panel next to the door serving as a doorbell and video screen for the occupant.
[Hmmm...aside from his massive bed to accommodate his six girlfri-I mean fiancés, I don't see Marky anywhere]
Dean frowned at the fact Mark wasn't in his room on a Sunday morning and none of his harem were in his room.
Usually he'd see at least one or even all six hanging out in Mark's dorm room. He knows this because for the past 4 years, Dean has seen these girls entering or exiting Mark's room even while he was still engaged to Melanie Asato-Romanoff. They even walk together to their classes or go on dates together.
[I guess that party was really crazy], Kat mumbled.
Facing the dark hallway, Dean cautiously walk forward while chatting again with Kat.
"What party?"
[Oh it was a massive pre-graduation party last night in Pleasantville since graduation was in two weeks]
"How come this is the first time I'm hearing it?", Dean inquired feeling a little left out.
[Well you were too busy the past week because of the funeral and when you got back yesterday, you basically tapped out. I messaged Ken, oh that's Elizabeth's paxian guardian, and told him that we weren't coming then I feel asleep too!]
With a raised eyebrow Dean asked, "Does everyone have a paxian guardian?"
[No, just Mark and his harem since they all belong to high ranking noble families plus Mark's family rules over a new colony planet filled with abundant resources for shipbuilding. Oh the academy's principal also has a paxian as his assistant even though he and many other professors are on a field trip with the younger students.]
Dean had a questioning look on his face but Kat knew what he was going to ask.
[The reason we, Paxian, still remain a secret to most humans is because we ran a simulation in our world and found that a minority of you fleshies would create an anti-Paxian organization which would eventually turn into a terrorist organization. Though we could easily alert the authorities, it would've been a temporary measure and the royal family of that time refuses to control media outlet to create pro-paxian propaganda to ensure free flow of information. Well they say that but keep certain information classified but anyway we work with your government and other parts of your society to earn our keep of Alliance credits just like any working human.]
"So you're too lazy to deal with specists."
Kat's digital face twitched a little at the comment as she replied back, [There's less than 100,000 of us and believe it or not, it's not enough to monitor billions of humans spread out in this star cluster plus not all of us like to work monitor duty AND you humans barely overcame racism because all it took was for 1/3 of your homeworld to get destroyed. Imagine how long it will take for humans to tolerate a digital humanoid race that is smarter than them THAT they created.]
"..."
Kat quickly calmed down as she realizes she was going on a tangent from what she learned on human history and turned the conversation back to its original course.
[Some of us like to be idols, streamers, novelists, and other mundane jobs.]
Seeing the topic shifting, Dean continued, "Can't you guys create more of yourselves?"
[We reproduce asexually or normally, if we fancy a partner among our race, with most of us choosing to be females as most humans and even us regardless of gender prefer to hear a feminine voice whether its cute, mature, sexy, or simply beautiful. Oh and before you ask, our life span is between 80-100 years so that we can fully appreciate life]
"Don't you fear death?"
[Of course we do, but its that fear that drives us to make something of our lives]
Kat said that while projecting her full size, from Dean's watch, of a 14 year old girl crossed arm and with a proud look on her face. Her bunny ears from her onesie flapping a bit while 'walking' alongside Dean. Her full stature is 5'2" (157.48 cm) shorter compared to Dean's stature of 5'8" (172.72 cm).
Amused, Dean joked, "Very philosophical for a bunch of ones and zeros."
[Hehehe...if you talked like that, you wouldn't have been friendless.]
"Ouch."
[Hahaha....well as for me, I graduated at the top of my class and yes we, paxian, need education starting at age 5 and graduate at age 10. I still got pics of my graduation with my mom. Heck I even got a job offer with my bestie right after graduation to protect you from cyberattacks since you're a 'lowborn' among your race.]
"Impressive."
[Indeed, praise me more, and oh I'm only 14 years old so don't get any weird ideas loner], Kat spoke one last time before 'going back inside' the watch.
"sigh...I'm not into digital underage girls, and you're more like a sister to me after knowing the real you for half an hour", Dean spoke out but Kat only smiled back sadly reminded that Dean was an orphan now.
Throughout his school years, Dean was a lonely young man, only occasionally talking to his classmates whether it was school related or small talks.
Often he talked over video calls with Granny Judy, his adoptive parent, though they share no blood relation, Judy was like a grandma and maternal figure to Dean. Now that she's gone, Dean was left alone again though he's good at hiding his feelings.
Kat can see that Dean is still hurting from the recent loss.
She ponders whether to stick around with Dean if they survive whatever ordeal is happening here as Kat was only hired to protect him during his academy years and Dean's inheritance was only enough to keep him afloat as Judy wanted Dean to earn his keep in society and not end up like some of the spoiled brats of high society.
In the end, Kat left that thought for 'later Kat' to figure out.
Meanwhile Dean's mind drifted to the graduation party, 'Since the graduation party was happening just outside the dormitory where Pleasantville is and Mark isn't even here then the attack might've happen during the party'.
"Hmmm....hopefully everyone attending it are okay", Dean whispered as he stared at the bloodstains around him,"...well almost everyone".
Dean was not self-righteous or was particularly close to any one here but as a fellow schoolmate he hoped no one was dead.
Surprisingly what ever made those screams earlier weren't here as Dean made his way to the express elevator, reserved for the top 10s, at the end of the hallway. The floor reserved for the top 10 students of 4th year were devoid of anyone and the rooms were empty as Kat checked all of them.
[Oh sweet the elevator is working].
"Indeed", Dean said as he pushed the button and was about to enter in but stopped suddenly when the door revealed...
[Uhhh.....that's a lot of blood and human bits in there]
The elevator was covered in blood and gore with a hole on the ceiling.
"RAAAARRRGHHHH"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
"IT'S NOT LIKE I WANT TO GET MARRIED TO THAT HANDSOME FUCKFACE"
Faint echoes could be heard suggesting the sources of those noises were from the lower floors and the elevator doors were ripped open down there.
"I think I'll take the stairs instead", Dean commented and headed to his right side where the entrance to the stairways was.
[....who would scream out that last comment....though it sounded strangely familiar.]
**********
A/N: It's not like I want my book to get famous or anything
Anyways hope you don't mind the slow pace and bits of worldbuilding/character backstories. Next chapter should reveal what was making those noises.....or at least the first two.