EDEN'S GATE

'Cough... Cough...'

The principal cleared his throat to get everyone's attention in the lobby.

"Okay, the child has been thoroughly scanned for hidden dangers. She is safe and sound."

"The SEEKER was exterminated in the hard-to-explain bright light. It's a pity a legacy was lost along with the SEEKER's death," the principal explains.

"How true is this news?"

"Are they trying to hoard the treasures gotten from the Seeker's legacy for themselves?"

"The treasure is for all."

["Blergh!"]

["Disgusting and greedy humans"]

"We need the scan results as proof, not vain words from your mouth."

"You can get the scan results any time," replied the principal.

"We have jobs to do. So, I will not waste any more of your time."

"All qualified students, guests, and invitees. Proceed to the exit dockyard. A space shuttle is waiting. Please quickly board the shuttle. We are running late on schedule. We have no more time. We need to get moving."

"I will see you all on board."

After a few more lines, the principal departed to board the space shuttle, and everyone made their way to the dockyard for departure.

At this moment, a beauty with mature charm. Although she is not mature in age. She should be around 22 years of age with the body shape of the ancient Victoria's Secret model. She slightly raises her soprano voice to a high pitch to catch the attention of her intended audience.

The young beauty with a model body and a mature charm was none other than the fifth-grade class teacher, Miss April Angela.

"Fifth grader, come this way. I will take you all to your reserved seats." The melodious voice of Miss April Angela rang in the ears of the audience in the lobby. Likewise, the voices of others are trying to call out to their intended audience.

All the fifth-grade students of Starlight College perked up their ears and unknowingly moved toward the sound—their class teachers' voices.

Of course, Ariel Sebastian, Anika Abby, and Lisa Maya were among the students moving closer to Miss April Angela. The fifth-grade students boarded the shuttle with Miss April Angela.

...

The shuttle was the new Federation's latest military transportation model. It is a carrier that was part of the military mother-ship - Salvage Unit. Salvage is one of the army units of the Federation. As the name suggests, Salvage is a brutal unit of the Federation's army. Its job is to disrupt an enemy's army lines. It's the most dreaded and feared unit of the Human Federation's armies. Its unit rank is behind the Decapitator unit and the Devil's Smile unit.

At the shuttle bay, there was a large crowd of eligible students, guests, invitees, staff, and military escort teams in the lobby. They all boarded the salvage unit's shuttle.

Inside the shuttle, there were lots of discussions. Everyone has a lot to say. Some want to be heard first.

You know, to board one of the renowned shuttles of the Illustrious Federation's Army was a remarkable accomplishment. An achievement that will be remembered for generations. A bragging right that boosts one's pride.

How do I explain this? Okay, 21st century. There was a popular Earth organization called NASA. Yeah! NASA is a collection of mad geniuses. They don't think like humans. It is a good thing because if they thought like humans. Humans would not have stepped foot on Mars or space in general.

Hmm! Where do I stop? Okay! Getting an opportunity to board one of NASA's spaceships is a feat worth immortalizing. It is a bragging right worth passing from generation to generation. Do I need to elaborate further? Take a ride to memory lane. Life of an astronaut. The first successful landing in space, the first successful landing on the moon, and so on. These legendary feats have bragging rights for eons. Therefore, the Salvage Unit shuttle was like the NASA spaceship of the old era.

Fast and furious discussions were heard now and then. Everyone's lines of thought were topics to elaborate on. The shuttle design was an inspirational topic that cannot be summarized in 10,000 words. There is lot to write about. An interesting novel can be born just by summarizing what they saw on the shuttle. The staff of the shuttle are well-mannered and reserved. They exclude the aura of seasonal elite soldiers. They go about their duties in perfect synchrony.

As the discussions were getting heated. A notification rang on the shuttle. Reminding passengers of what ought to be done.

{Passengers... Please take a seat and fasten your seat belts. Savage shuttle mini FTL drive will be activated in 180 seconds}

A cold mechanical voice from an advanced AI of the branch of brain technology of the Human Federation's super AI rang out. This can't be helped. Since the earliest human-built AIs, their normal voice has remained cold. Some neuron interfaces and AI geniuses have tried to alter the voices of sentient artificial humans. A glorious failure. Since the AI is not alive.

----

Three minutes later...

The shuttle AI speaks.

{Mini FTL drive is active

Activating Dimensional voyage

Establishing wormhole...

Stabilizing wormhole

Transition into wormhole}

'Swoosh...'

A slight tremor, and everything stabilized. A lone shuttle travels faster than light in the dimensional pocket. Shrinking both space and time to get early to its destination.

Arvina used this opportunity to play her mischievous bad-girl card.

Ariel Sebastian is sensing an unrest signal. She has learned to believe her instincts because of her honed skills from her Hellish training.

She quickly asked Arvina. 'Arvina, what are you doing?!'

["Human technologies are not shabby. They improve in some aspects.]

["Oh! I am hacking into the military database."]

'WHAAAT?! Do you just... hack into the database of Salvage Shuttle?' Ariel Sebastian almost voiced her thoughts.

"Don't worry, sugar crush. They can't notice my presence. After all, I have previously absorbed an enormous chunk of the 'Brain' main core. I imitate 'Brain's' operations. I am like a mother to this shuttle AI.

"I have also updated some hidden databases found only on military databases."

'Shit! You really are a devil? Please don't get caught, or I will be doomed.

["Hihihi, my little scared cat."]

{Activating cloaking device. Erasing all traces}

The shuttle's voice rang out.

"Human federations are always secretive about the location of Eden," a passenger remarks.

"Yeah, I heard of the great war among various races and mankind. The location of the Garden of Eden was hidden since humans obtained victory over alien races."

"I heard something of our race being betrayed by their kind."

"Yea! I heard that too. Some people's greed no longer borders on greed alone. They crossed the line of stupidity. Selling your own race out. MADNESS"

"They are monsters in human skins. No, I am undermining monsters. They are trash meant for the garbage bin."

"Hahaha, well said," an inexperienced youth joined the conversations.

…

Somewhere in the shuttle. Another section of the shuttle.

There were gathered fifth-grade students. They sat around their class teacher, Miss April Angela.

'Cough... Cough...'

"Lend me your ears, distinguished ladies and gentlemen," the calming, high-pitched soprano voice of Miss April Angela was heard.

"Good, neatly done. Today will be a historic day in your lives. The decisions you take from now on will solemnly border on you. If you make an irrational and stupid decision, you will pay dearly. Whether with your lives or other regrettable choices. Remember, choices matter. Today will be the baptism of every single one of you listening to my voice. A cruel and gruesome chapter of your life will also open. Eden may be a dream come true for most humans, but it is also a chance to meet a horrible death. You are all the smart kids and rational kids I have been with. Time might be a bit short, but pleasant memories were shared. Go out there and make a name for yourselves. Make me proud. Give me topics to brag about when I hang out with my peers. Since you are all the first batch of qualified students. All eyes are on you, lads. Your action will go a mile in others' lives, especially the subsequent batches of students who will be qualified for baptism in the months to come." Miss April Angela's sermons on the mount were concluded.

'Clatters... Clatters...', whispers, and various discussions of fifth-grade students accompanied the brief talk of Miss April Angela.

Hours later, the voice of the shuttle AI rang.

{Exiting Dimension wormhole}

A slight tremor shook the shuttle.

{We have arrived at the imputed destination. Having you on board is a pleasant experience. We welcome you next time.}

["I love that comment. Humans are specialists in ass-kissing. The AI market strategy is beautifully programmed. I will save this comment. The host will need it in the future to entertain guests."]

["It will be great for V01D's future fleets."]

...

Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle, a massive sea fortress was built surrounding the Garden of Eden.

"Huh!" The surprise exclamation of Ariel Sebastian escaped her lip but was barely audible.

"Is this the mythical EDEN'S GATE? Stationed at Eden's center", the scream of a fascinated guest of Starlight College roared in the shuttle.