Progress- Chapter 2

[Wixern]

Progress

Chapter 2

The activities of Progress

After the meeting there was a small conversation between the members, as usual. Normally, they’d discuss meaningless, trivial things such as the food in the Institute and what they’d do next. Today, however, they had something else to discuss.


‘What do you think they’re talking about in there?’ Ted asked the others, who were walking downstairs.
‘I dunno and, frankly, I don’t much care.’ Alice replied.
‘Hawke’s probably cutting Howard’s thumbs off ‘cause he didn’t make any progress on his research.’ Turan said, his voice grim.
‘Nah, I don’t think Hawkey’d do something like that.’
‘Little do you know, Ted. You’ve only been here for a month or so.’
‘I know, so I’d like some real replies when I ask a question.’


They’d reached the end of the stairways. Turan opened the door into the Institute’s main hall and waited outside. Alice walked past him and took a turn right, leading to the Institute’s garden. Ted though of Turan’s waiting as a reassurance that they’d all left. However, when he tried to walk past him, Turan grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him close.


‘Listen up, new guy. Progress started with a group of 21 people. When Hawke became the director, people started disappearing. And now there’s six of us. You do the math, pal.’
‘What? You think Hawke killed all of them?’ Ted whispered in reply.
‘No. I think he let them be killed. The guy thinks he’s so high and mighty that he doesn’t need to do anything himself. He just sends in one of his “Disposables”. All I’m saying is that you shouldn’t think he’s got the smell of roses following him everywhere he goes.’


And with those words, Turan left. He walked through the main hall and took a left turn at the statue, going to the weapons research facility, leaving behind a bewildered Ted.
Ted sat down on one of the many benches placed in the Institute’s enormous hallway. He tried to make some sense of the boiling pot that was his brain. So far, he’d thought of Progress as some form of student club, organizing fairs and demonstrating about the right of castration of animals. But after the first few meetings, it seemed to be a lot more serious than just that.


He dozed off, as he tended to do whenever he’d sit down alone. It wasn’t until he heard the door to the Tyr’s tower slam shut that he woke up. He looked over to the noise and saw Hawke locking the door behind him. Ted stood up and walked over to him.


‘Yo, Hawke. Where’s Howard?’
‘I hope he’s in his research lab now. I have given him the order to go there.’ Hawke replied sternly.
‘So, Hawkey. I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while now, but what does Progress actually do? Why, for instance, am I training people in gun fighting?’
For the first time since the meeting started, Hawke smiled. Or, rather, he curled up the sides of his mouth.
‘I think, Ted, that you and I should take the grand tour.’
Hawke walked off, indicating to Ted that he should follow.
‘Tour? What tour? Should I have packed lunch?’
‘The tour past all of Progress’s facilities, of course. I shall be your tour guide. Ask me any question during our trip, and I shall try my best to answer them.’


They walked on until they’d reached the statue of Dumen Tyr. From there on, they took a right turn and walked on a bit. They reached the door of a research facility. On the door stood the room’s number and what research was being conducted in it.
“Room 1E33: Human Research Facility.
Director of Research: Andrew Howardsen.”


Hawke took out a large key ring and selected a small key from it. The letters 1E33 were etched into it. He opened the door and stepped into the room. Ted followed him, careful for any “Human researchers” who’d take him by surprise.
The room was very large, and very white. Tables were littered with piles of paper and everywhere were researchers walking around, drinking coffee or gazing at some inexplicable phenomenon which they were supposed to explain. Several pods, filled with clear blue liquid, stood at the sides of the room. In it were humans, either dead or amazingly good at acting dead.


‘So.. at risk of having my head exploding with information, what do these people do?’ Ted asked Hawke, as they walked over to one of the paper-covered tables.
‘They research who we are and what we do. And mainly, why we do it. They try to come up with cures for diseases or work on a grand-scale project such as circular aging.’


Ted walked up to one of the researchers, who was pondering over some figures.
‘Well then, my man. Have you come close to the secret of immortality yet?’ Ted asked in a deep, official tone.
‘Almost, sir. We’re working on some imperfections, but we’ll be done in a few months.’
The researcher had answered without even looking at Ted. Taken aback by this cool response, Ted walked back to Hawke, who had started a conversation with Mr. Howardsen.
‘… Really can’t work any faster than this. We’re running ourselves ragged as it is right now, Hawke, and-’
‘That is why I wanted you to listen to me before. If you agree with my solution, your work would be easier and faster, not to mention more efficient.’
‘But Hawke, I can’t do that! I couldn’t live with the moral implications that I have about it.’
‘Your choice, Mr. Howardsen. Either you Progress, or you turn back into a tree-hugging primate.’
‘Yes, Hawke. I understand. I’ll.. think about it.’


Ted stood next to Hawke, waiting for him to finish his little talk with Mr. Howardsen. In the meanwhile, he took a look at some of the papers gathered on the table. He didn’t understand most of them, but he did manage to understand one. It was a small note, pasted on a large assignment. The note read “Unsatisfactory. Does not warrant Progress.”
He wondered what was wrong with the pack of paper. He flipped it open and read some of it. It seemed to be an improvement schedule for the human digestive system. It contained some rather nasty pictures as well.


‘Well then, Ted. We have finished this department. Any questions so far?’ Hawke pulled Ted away from the papers and gave Mr. Howardsen a final glance.
‘Just one. What happens when someone’s work is found “Unsatisfactory”?’
‘The work is destroyed and the researcher is penalized. Usually, destroying the weeks’ worth of work is enough penalty.’

[Wixern]

Without any further questions, the two men walked on to the next department. Ted noticed that everyone moved aside when Hawke came through, as though he was a flaming demon of some kind.
‘Is Progress a respected club?’ Ted thought of it as a simple question, but Hawke’s reaction proved him wrong. Hawke turned to him, his eyes afire with anger.
‘A “Club”?! Progress isn’t just a Club! It’s a community! It’s a way of life! If you fail to understand this, then you fail to even grasp our most basic concept!’
‘Woah! Chill down, dude! I was just asking, you know.’
‘Well… I guess you can be forgiven. After all, you are new to Progress. Just make sure you don’t think of Progress as some little student club that protests against trees being cut or something.’


After a few minutes of silent walking, they reached the next facility. On this door, too, hung a sign saying the room’s number and the research being conducted in it.
“Room 1R37- Weapons Research Facility.
Head researcher: Turan Hunter.”


They entered another large room. Weapons adorned every wall. They all seemed to be of the standard type, which you could buy from any weapons store. Ted took a Raven pistol of the wall. He looked at it, and immediately noticed a big difference. Normal Raven pistols fired 1 bullet at a time, but this particular pistol had been modified. Thanks to its double-barrel system, it could fire two bullets at the same time or with short paused between them. It felt slim and lightweight, as though someone had wanted to make it a perfect weapon in every aspect.


He placed the pistol back on the wall, careful not to let one of the other weapons go off. Hawke stood, waiting impatiently for him to join him in the middle of the room, where a large shooting range covered most of the space.
‘Well then, Ted. Have you got any questions to start with?’
‘Just one. Why?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I mean, Hawkey, why do we research weaponry? Aren’t we supposed to be against that sort of thing?’
‘No, Ted. You misunderstand our intentions. We strive for Progress, on all things. If we can improve weaponry, then why don’t we do so? If we can make weapons easier to use then we can reduce the amount of people inflicting hurt upon themselves.’
‘But you also make it a lot more easier for people to blow someone’s brains out! Don’t you see that it’s useless to even have guns?’


Hawke smiled at Ted again, his eyes piercing him like an arrow.
‘I am surprised to hear you speak so harsh about guns. Aren’t you the most famed gunslinger since fifty years? I know you, Ted. You know that I do not intend these weapons to be used for murder. It as all in the name of Progress, for the advancement of mankind.’
Hawke’s voice had a hypnotic effect on Ted, disabling him to come up with any reply. Hawke turned away and spoke to one of the weapon researchers, pointing over to the wall and whispering something that Ted couldn’t hear.


The researcher walked over to the wall of guns and, with great precision and care, removed a pair of guns from the wall. He walked over to Hawke and presented the weapons to him. Hawke took them and nudged the researcher to continue his work.
Turning to Ted, Hawke’s grim face turned into a smile again. He showed the guns to Ted, who immediately recognized them.
‘That’s… The Zaurus C model revolver! That’s not even supposed to be out in the market yet! How did you-?’
‘As knowledgeable as always, Ted. Now tell me, what are the original weaknesses of this particular gun?’
‘Despite their great power, they have trouble with far-away targets and their weight makes it harder to properly take aim at a moving target.’ Ted had spoken without any thought; he knew everything about weaponry and had a habit of exclaiming random technical facts whenever confronted with any kind of weaponry.


‘Very well, I see you have researched even the most up-to date models of guns. We, however, have improved this particular piece of weaponry already. It is now made of a more lightweight material. On top of that, it is equipped with a more powerful mechanism that allows its bullets to be shot over greater distances. Our next phase will be to add a simple heat-tracking system that allows the user to aim at a moving target with greater ease.’


Hawke held out the revolvers to Ted, who looked at the two guns as though they were his newborn babies.
‘I want you to have these, Ted. Take them, and show me what you can do in this shooting range.’
Ted’s shock was clear; he seemed to have completely forgotten their argument about weapon research. Slowly, he took the Zaurus C revolvers from Hawke’s hand and weighed them in his hands. They were very light indeed, and its handle seemed slightly different than the original Zaurus model.


Ted turned to the shooting range. Several target boards were sliding along the tracks, meant to be target practice for the guns in development. He stood before the targets and carefully raised one of the revolvers. He shot, and was amazed at the light recoil he had. It was as though he was firing a rather heavy water gun. The bullet found its way to the bull’s-eye, knocking over the target. He raised the second revolver and aimed at another target. Again, a light shot and a perfect hit. He got more and more excited as he went on, spreading his arms to fire at two targets at the side and combining the two guns for a single target. After a while, the last target fell with a light thump.


‘Very well done. Of course, I had expected no less from you, considering your background with such weaponry.’ Hawke clapped his hand two times before walking over to Ted.
‘These guns… They’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen.’
‘Of course they are. They were made by Progress, after all.’ Hawke said.
‘I think I might be getting the hang of this community now. By the way, may I-?’
‘You may keep the guns. We have spares lying around, just in case they explode during practice.’
‘Thanks, Hawkey. So, were are we headed next?’
‘Today’s tour has ended. We continue this tomorrow. In the meanwhile, I hope you will think about Progress and what we do. As our great leader, Dumen Tyr, once said: “Walk for Progress. Sleep for Progress. Live for Progress.”.’
‘I’ll… think about it. So, what do we see first tomorrow morning?’
‘Meet me at the Institute’s garden at eight forty-five. We’ll be visiting the training grounds for the members of Progress.’
‘Sweet. See ya there, Hawkey.’


Ted walked off, leaving Hawke in the weapons research room. After making sure that Ted was gone, Hawke turned to one of the researchers.
‘Any Progress today?’ he asked.
‘None so far, Sir Hawke. We-’
Hawke’s fist moved through the air and quickly made contact with the researcher’s face. He was knocked off his feet and against the table behind him. Hawke remained as rigid as ever as he addressed the other researchers.
‘Let this be a lesson. Progress or Punish. Make the right choice, and you will live. And with that message, I bid you adieu.’


Hawke left the room, leaving the researchers in fear. He smiled all the way back to his room.

[Nosedagger]

ooo, added to listings.