The shock of their discovery still resounded within Sam, Akhtar, and Arjun as they crowded into the cramped compartment of the capsule, beneath the weight of their new knowledge.
"All human babies, newly born," remarked Sam incredulously. "I thought there were no normal humans left, like us. What's happening? There's more to this than we thought."
Their theories were interrupted when the container started shaking violently; they had reached the port. Arjun was still thinking fast and commanded all of them to get into the capsules, shut them with plastic, and remain there so that no one could imagine that there could be people inside those containers.
Hours ticked by in silence as the capsules were moved onto a truck and driven away to some destination or other. Sam's stomach rumbled, reminding him of how hungry they must be after traveling for days.
"How many days since we left?" Sam wondered aloud.
"Two or three days, perhaps," replied Akhtar. "But inside the capsules, one does not feel such great hunger."
They were on high alert in the truck, rumbling further on, not knowing where they were headed or what they would find there. After a bit, the truck stopped, and warily they emerged from their hiding places.
"Where are we now?" Sam whispered across.
Akhtar and Arjun exchanged uncertain glances. "Who knows," they replied in unison.
As one, they zipped open the capsules and emerged into the unknown. As their eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room, the silence was broken by Akhtar's voice.
"It looks like some kind of lab," he whispered, awed. "And it's…futuristic."
Sam's stomach growled again to remind him that he was really very hungry. Just when they were about to satiate their hunger, footsteps echoed in the room, signaling the entry of another person.
"Quick, hide!" urged Arjun in a panicking voice.
They bent behind a row of capsules, their hearts hammering with bated breath as they waited in hope. Then, with the glide of the door, a figure stepped into the room.
They held their breath, shocked at who it was.