I can't sleep. All I can think about are the tests Wolliw conducted with me yesterday:

    He had studied my physiology, marking abnormal traits in a little notebook.

     He also took small samples of my DNA with a strange pill-shaped machine that, once swallowed, collected samples as it passed through my digestive system.

    Now, I'm wide awake, wondering what the results will reveal. Will my genes be unlike those of any other being in the Chasm?

    My mind wanders:

    I wonder what Nur is up to right now?

    "Probably looking for Ygrene," I mumble softly, rolling over. Slowly, my eyes droop shut, finally transitioning into sleep.

    Suddenly, I awaken in a vast, domed room. It is so expansive, in fact, that I can hardly see its apex.   

    "I must be dreaming," I whisper.

    A strange figure floats far above me, making ominous mechanical sounds.

    "Is this a premonition?" I ask myself.

    "Perhaps it's more of a metaphor..."

    I walk around the room, yet it feels as if I haven't moved an inch.

    "Hey, robotic figure up there!" I call out, unafraid.

    Nothing changes.

    "Hey! I'm talking to you! Where am I? What is this place?" I ask again, yelling violently.

    A beam of light shoots down from the figure. Inside it, a small parcel descends to the ground, which, once it hit the floor, I identified as a box of food and water.

    "Am I in some sort of prison?"

    Light floods into my opening eyes. The dream hastily fades away from me.

    "Morning, sleepyhead," Wolliw teases from the kitchen, "Breakfast is ready if you want it."

    I slide out of my bed, full of new questions. My stomach rumbles hungrily.

    "Coming!"

       "So, I got the results on the DNA test," Wolliw announces excitedly.

       "After the pill sent me all the data, it disintegrated into simple carbohydrates. No need to worry about it anymore."

    "What did the results show?" I inquire, munching on the cereal Wolliw prepared for me.

    "Well, you're full of alien DNA but also full of standard Innerchasm DNA."

    "What?" I blurt.

    "I know. It's unexpected. These results could mean a lot of things.." Wolliw speculates.

    "Could I be the product of an Innerchasmic species and an Outerchasmic species?" I suggest, "Or maybe an Innerchasmic species with evolved traits fit for the outside world."

    "Who knows, Esir? For all we know, you could be an artificial blend of Innerchasmic and Outerchasmic DNA. Anything is possible," Wolliw explains.

    I sigh. 

    "What do we do now? Conduct more tests?" I ask.

    "My level of expertise is useless beyond this point. We need to consult the Bureau of Outerchasmic Speculation."

    "Are you sure? Can we trust this 'Bureau'?"

    "Okay. Here's the long and short of it:

    "The Bureau is a mixed bag. Some individuals want nothing more than the thrill of discovery, while others are filled with corruption. There are almost a thousand members in the Bureau, but since I know my way around the place, we should be able to avoid the bad apples."

    "Gosh," I respond, "This sounds really dangerous."

    "It's up to you if we take this route. Honestly, though, I don't know where else to go."

    I sit in nervous silence for a while.

    "I have to decode my existence," I affirm, "I have to uncover my past, whatever the risks may be. Let's do this."

    After a few brisk minutes of preparation, Wolliw and I headed out on foot for the Bureau, which is apparently nearby. I brought the key I had found in the East, knowing it contained vital clues to my history.

    "See that tall cone in the distance? That's where it is," He tells me, "The dream home of any Outerchasmic scientist."

    "Wait," I utter, "You're a part of the Bureau, right?"

    Wolliw stiffens.

    "Well, I know a lot of the people there, and I'm really involved with their projects--"

    "You're not a part of the Bureau!" I cry out.

    "Okay, okay! I'm not an official 'member' or whatever," Wolliw admits.

    "Why not?" I question.

    "Well, you see, there's this...hidden system inside the Bureau. If you don't--comply with that system, you're kicked out of the group."

    "System?" I blurt.

    "Frankly, it's not really a 'Bureau'; it's a cutthroat hierarchy: the 'head persons' decide the group's rules, dictating the decisions of the lower members.

    "That's why I was kicked out. I didn't submit to the 'rules', so the 'head persons' found a 'reason' to take me out the picture."

    "This is nasty! Why haven't you reported this conduct to anyone?" I ask.

    "It's futile, Esir: The Bureau is legally protected by the Chasmic Federation. Put simply, they're immune to accusations. My complaints would all go to waste against them."

    "So why are we going to this place if it's so nefarious?" I ask.

    "It's the only organization with enough funds to support Outerchasmic research. Sure, there are other Beraus, but none have made any significant progress in the field. This place is our best bet, believe it or not."

    "But---but how are you even let into the Bureau?" I inquire, my voice wobbling uneasily.

    "Anyone with an Outerchasmic PhD is. It's the law. Of course, the Bureau tried revoking my license, but they couldn't find enough dirt to dig up about me."

    I quiver slightly.

    "I shouldn't have held all this back for so long," Wolliw confesses, "I'm sorry. Look, I promise you the Bureau is full of numerous well-meaning researchers seeking society's betterment, far more than the few villainous members at the top. We'll be fine in there. Trust me."

    Gosh, Nur, I think to myself, splitting up with me may have been the right choice for you. Look where I am now...

    "I better not get into trouble, Wolliw," I reply.

    "I'll be there for you, I promise," Wolliw confirms earnestly.

    We stop at the foot of a towering building, plunging into the fog above.

    "Alright, are you ready to learn the truth about your past?" Wolliw says, grinning.

    I take a deep breath in.

    This is my mission. Nothing else matters.

    My fingers clench the metal key I brought along with me.

    I will do anything for this.

    "I'm ready," I state.