Cocoon

[Hussaini]

The upwards acceleration of the elevator dragged down on Hussaini's body, but he stood unperturbed. Eyes closed, hands behind his back - he seemed serene and static. His bearing appeared almost deathlike as his slim and tall figure was bathed in the intense, white neon lights. The acceleration stopped, and the elevator raced to its end station at top speed. There were no stops along the way, only the final destination. It slowed as it approached it. Riding the final few meters with a steady crawl, before finally stopping. With no sounds entering or leaving, no clanking of machinery, no apparent friction.

A gentle beep entered the sealed environs. "Scan complete. Welcome, Overseer." - the disembodied computer voice announced, and Hussaini's eyes opened wide as he stirred to the here and now. The doors followed, opening to the sides with a subtle hiss. He allowed his lungs to slowly fill with air, then took a step outside. Then another. The elevator doors quickly closed behind him. He looked around the corridor he was in - it was far less lit than the elevator he emerged from, and it took a small effort to will his eyes to adjust. A collection of notes hit his ears from afar, and his lip curled into an involuntary smile.

From behind his back, he produced a nondescript lock box. He examined it for a moment, then concealed it behind his back again, proceeding down the corridor with a quick, yet almost inaudible step, towards the source of the music. The corridor snaked around in its layout, its sterile and bland walls decorated with no small measure of strange, abstract art. As he progressed, it got wider and higher, as well. At its end, a wall seemed to block any further progress. He approached it, almost close enough to touch it with his nose. After a moment, the "wall" yielded to him. First a small hole opened up at the height of his head, then grew until almost all of it disintegrated in the fashion of an organic membrane, revealing a secret passageway. The sound of music from within intensified, its chords gained in complexity.

He stepped inside the spacious hall appearing in front of him, and in its center, spied a small desk-like terminal projecting a virtual piano interface. The small frame of a child, mostly concealed by her long, black hair, seated in front of it. She swayed with the music, her performance alternating between childlike clumsiness and prodigious mastery. He paused to observe the scene for a few moments, then started walking towards it - with extra care to not produce any sound that would disturb the music, or reveal his presence.

Standing now close by behind her, he could not bring himself to interrupt. Luckily he didn't have to. Missing a tone, she uttered an expletive unexpected of a child, and slammed her fist on the table in frustration. "You are getting better." He chuckled, as he leaned over and deftly maneuvered his right hand around her, and to the interface, to expertly complete the remainder of the piece. "Father!" She looked at him with her bright, green eyes, almost in disbelief. "You're home!" She wrapped her hands around him, and caught unawares, he nearly lost his balance.

Retracting his hand from the piano, he hesitated to return the gesture. It has been some time now, that she was with him, but he was still not used to it. All things of honest affection and parenthood still seemed alien to him. A part of him doubted his ability to perform the fatherly duty that was now imposed on him, and another feared he would bring her in harm's way. Yet he could not bring himself to send her away anywhere. The small head of his progeny pressed against his chest, and her heartbeat beating alongside his, brought him sensations he never knew he could have. Or thought himself deserving of.

He allowed his hand to slowly fall on top of her head, caressing her hair. "I got you something." He produced the box he'd been carrying in his left arm, behind his back, as she let go. "What is it?" She eyed it with wonder as he placed it onto the table. "Go ahead and open it. There." He motioned to the small button on its top, but she beat him to it before he could finish the instruction. The seals on the box undid themselves, and it opened like a flower to reveal a small glass tank. Inside it, a small, furry creature approximately the size of a hamster jumped around. "For me? What is that?" She asked in disbelief.

"Just a little something I picked up on my travels." He crossed his hands. "I thought it'd keep you company while I'm away. Of course, on the condition you feed and take care of it yourself."

"It's so small, what if I step on it?" She fidgeted around, but didn't take her eyes off it. "Guess you'll just have to be careful. They do get quite a bit bigger, though. This one's just a puppy. Go ahead and pick it up, it won't bite." He nodded and took a step back to allow her some space.

She reached inside with her hand, at first warily, then with more confidence and gently picked the creature up. Holding it in the small of her palm, she brought it close to her face. It propped itself up on its hind legs, and placed its paws on her nose. She giggled hysterically. Hussaini observed, without saying another word. He felt something he didn't feel since he was human. Being almost moved to tears. He could not help but wonder, how it would have been, had life taken other courses. Just him, a small farmhouse on the bank of the river, and a family. No wars, no great works, no lies and brutality. No monsters like him. Even the serpent inside of him was stirred, for a moment. Perhaps, it too, wondered.

"Father? What's wrong?" She interrupted him. He cleared his throat, and his thoughts returned to equilibrium. "Nothing, Sara. I was just wondering...what will you call him?"