-= The Underground Oasis [TUGO] =- by Ground Zero The Last of the people filed out of the thick-walled, circular elevator. Some of them were obviously nervous, other seemed calm, almost in a daze. The room was nicely furnished with semi-modern pieces. The room seemed very comfortable and peaceful, condradicting its actual meaning. There were about five plants or so. The walls were tiled with a deep silver tile, making it seem metallic, yet with a soft look. A few people sat down and picked up magazines which they hastily rustled through. Others nervously paced around the room, pausing occasionally to make small talk with others passing by. There stood two guards near the large white door. There was a receptionist who sat behind a thick glass window in her office, occasionally getting up to call off the name of who was next. Frank Twister sat nervously in the far left corner of the room. He couldn't believe he brought himself to this. He had been diagnosed with a rare disease which affects chromosone 21, about 4 months ago. Once the victim hits the final stages of this disease, a severe devolution of the brain functions and a type of retardation occurs. When he found out about this it crushed his family. He just turned 26 two months ago and now this. A friend had told him about this place. They called it The Underground Oasis. It is said to have been here for over two hundred thousand years and hasn't chaged at all since. The waiting area design was obviously way ahead of its time, but not being seen by enough people nor having resources available kept it from becoming popular back then. The oasis itself is famous for its total curing of terminally ill and wounded people. But what people don't hear are the major side effects which are the downside of the deal. The bottomline of the oasis is either you get unconditionally cured or horribly disfigured and in a lot of cases, death occurs. The reason scientists haven't raided this years ago is that, to the rest of the world, it is basically a myth. The location of TUGO is within one of the largest peaks of the southern Andes, which had been hollowed out by its once volcanic state. Frank had heard about it through a friend who knew a professor whom had, years earlier, ran an expedition but could not capture physical evidence of The Underground Oasis. Having only a few months left before the disease took full effect, this was basically his last chance to live beyond the end of the year. He told no one of this little trip he was making, hoping to avoid the opposition his family. The secratary's voice broke his deep thought. " Mr. Twister, your next sir." Frank began to wonder if this was such a good idea. The side effects were unpredictable. No, he had no choice. Compared to what the disease was going to him soon, it couldn't really get much worse. Or could it? As he started walking toward that large white door in the center of the room, his life flashed before his eyes. He saw himself in 6th grade helping his little league team win the championship. He then saw the day of his 17th birthday, when his parents bought him his first car. Next he saw the saddest scene of all. He saw the look on his girlfriend's face when he told her about his having the disease and how she left him the next day. He knew she would be disturbed by this but he never thought someone so sweet, and understanding could be so cold. He felt the chill of the dull, silver doorknob, as he opened the door. Once he was inside, he noticed the cushioned dark blue walls, and yet another door ahead. He entered the next door and saw probably the most phonomenal site he had ever seen. The whole thing looked like a large underground cavern, actually thats what it was. There was the small landing he was standing on, and a long narrow bridge that headed over a seemingly bottomless chasm. He saw the bright violet colored light way on the other side of the bridge. He knew the person before him must be facing his destiny in the heart of the oasis. Once the light faded away, he heard a loud, soul-piercing scream. Just the sound of it sent shivers up and down his spine. He saw a guard heading across the bridge toward him. He tried not to think about it as the guard was only a few yards away now. The guard glanced at his clipboard then at him. " Twister? ", the guard asked. " Yes ", he replied in a voice that seemed so calm it was obvious he was trying hold back emotion. " Your next ", the guard said with a grave face, showing no feeling whatsoever. Frank nodded his head slightly. As they headed across the bridge, Frank could feel his knees beginning to shake. As they reached the end of the bridge the guard stopped and motioned for Frank to continue foward. He could see the chamber just ten feet ahead of him. As he got closer he noticed it had walls of a clear hard, rock, resembling diamond. He moved towards the middle of the small chamber. Suddenly he felt his body go numb and he could see nothing but a purple blur. He felt his eyes close and then the rest of the world seem to fade away. He could not hear, see, or feel anything. And then it all went black. Frank Twister sat in his cell, staring at the wall. He had been doing so for the past five hours now. The warden strolled down the isolation area of Columbus State Penitentary. He stopped in front of Frank Twister's cell. He signalled for the guard to open the cell and then two other guards put shackles on Twister's hands and feet. He was led down a hall to a thick steel door. The warden opened it and led the way as the guards and Twister followed. There was a priest in the room. He asked Frank if he would like Penance. Frank Twister didn't answer as though unable to hear him. The two guards then led him over to a surgical bed. He was set down in it and tied down at the hands and feet. I.V. lines were then placed in his left wrist. The lines were hooked up to bags filled with clear liquid marked with warning labels. The priest made the sign of the cross over Frank Twister's body. The warden then made a downward signal with his hand. The liquids were allowed to flow freely through his body. Frank Twister strained in his bonds for a second. A gurgling noise was heard in his throat. A few seconds later his body lay limp in the straps. The younger looking of the two guards guard looked up at warden. " What was this guy in for anyway ? " the guard asked. " Bastard came home from a trip one day and stabbed his ex-girlfriend 27 times with screwdriver. She layed there for an hour, and Mr. Twister here then sat there and watched her die. No one ever knew what made him nuts though. He didn't talk once during his whole trial. The strange thing was, before he left for this trip, he was in the final stages of this chronic disease, of which there is no cure, but when he visited the prison doctors, 2 weeks ago, they couldn't find a trace of the disease. Ahh who cares, guy got what he deserved." The UnderGround Oasis was written by Ground Zero of area code 2o1. You can reach The UnderGround Oasis [TUGO] at 2o1.818.4894 3 nodes ù 3+ gigs ù 0-1 day warez ù USR 16.8 duals ù Sysop: Mister Twister