Into Darkness

Posted on Wed Apr 28th, 2021 @ 3:27am by Ship's A.I. Lyta & Commanding Officer Maralen Seitha & Engineering Consultant Nevarre of Kryll & Chief Security/Tactical Officer Sarah Dominie & Science Specialist Eos Tolján & A.I. Specialist Jaime Treva & Assistant Chief Medical Officer Leonardo 'Leo' Giordano M.D.

Mission: What Lies In The Darkness
Location: Sector Post XR-46
Timeline: 248001.01 13:45

As they exited the event horizon of the Mobile Doorway's vortex, Maralen shook out his fur and tail almost reflexively before wrapping his tail back around his waist. His manner resolved itself into the Calm Efficiency as he looked over his team, assuring himself that they all arrived intact. He then nodded to the Security Chief, indicating that she and her people could take point for the moment as their job demanded of them.

Before them, the hallway was cluttered with debris and fallen structural fragments. From the ceiling, a couple of conduits sparked and dangled as though they were barely clinging to their places. From somewhere nearby, a crackling sound came and went as of circuits that were trying to connect and failing. And a voice that seemed to be a whisper brushed through the empty corridor...

The words were not discernible, but the voice seemed to be repeating them over and over like a mantra... or as though it were trying to deny something to itself. But the direction from which the whispers came was nearly impossible to discern as well. They seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

Above the team's heads, the light panels flared and dimmed as power routed through them then faded off to travel elsewhere like an aimless ghost. The whispers stopped as suddenly as they had begun...

Looking around them, Jaime frowned at the damage but the voices had her concerned even more. They hadn't been able to contact the outpost's caretaker again, hadn't been able to translocate expectedly, and because of that they most likely would be considered intruders. "Sir..." she looked over at Mar as the voices ceased, her expression relaying her concern.

The Security Chief moved forward with 3 others indicating the remainder to cover the sides and rear so essentially the remaining team was in a kind of security bubble at their entry point. She checked the readouts on her wrist mounted computer, "I'm not detecting life signs but there's a lot inter...." she paused as the ghostly sounds rose for a moment before fading back into a kind of white noise. "ference." She finished.

Maralen had not missed Jaime's look or tone, but he had left it be for the moment, awaiting Sarah's assessment. Now, he looked at the only non-organic member of their team. "Lyta? Have you been able to connect with the station's AI?"

Lyta, who was able to join the team by means of a small self-contained emitter array disguised as the ShadowDragon Emblem on her uniform, looked caught between perplexed and unsettled. Maralen had asked her to come when they had been unable to contact the station's inhabitant -- and given the state of the station, he suspected that she might come in handy with the AI there -- to help them 'navigate' the situation. Now, though, she was no more at ease than any of them.

"I can talk to her, Sir," Lyta said after a moment, "but she's... damaged." She paused. "The whispering? That's her. I think she's trying to find her calm."

"Sshrral..." Maralen muttered. That was not good. "Try talking to her Lyta. See if you can get through to her."

"I am, Sir," was all Lyta said in response.

Maralen nodded, looking then to the others. "Then all we can do is move on. We begin a search pattern with this location as the center and work out in concentric circles." His eyes came to rest on the Security Chief. "That is, unless you have a better way." He was offering to defer to her judgment since she was trained specifically for this.

Dominie paused for a moment, her eyes unseen behind the helmet she wore, then replied, "If Lyta can continue her communication attempts while under movement we can make that work. We will need to move fast, I am unsure about how much time we may have to find the individual we are here for. I and Officer Bryce." She gestured to a large man, also in armor like her to her left "Will go ahead to verify if it's safe to proceed. The rest will remain with the main body. All non security will be in the middle with my personnel around them, if you approve?" She looked at her commanding officer. The security personnel already in position, ready to move. As she spoke she secured her scanning device to the top of her energy rifle. Which like all the others had been set to stun.

Maralen nodded, and the group began to move. Sarah and her man Bryce moved ahead, leap-frogging each other as they checked each corner, alcove, and doorway for any signs of life and/or hostility. The rest followed behind, surrounded by the Security detail, Lyta continuing her attempts to get through to the station's damaged and sometimes-irrational-sometimes-sane AI.

Eos barely heard a word said. The fluctuations of energy, both in the kind that maintained the station and in the normal radiation that existed in space, were off. The natural flow that should exist from an AI was not there. Instead, it was a hodgepodge of bandages over systems that barely was keeping energy in check, it grated over her nerves and put a boulder in her belly. Her eyes darted over those with her, wanting them to leave. They shouldn't be here. She should have spoken up against this.

Leo stepped over to her and asked quietly out of concern, "Are you alright?" He'd been observing everyone there.

Lilac eyes fell on him briefly before turning to stare straight ahead as if they hadn't been skipping around. "Yes, I am fine. " Which technically was true. "Thanks." She hoped he would not have that irritating trait of needing to poke his concern into her business.

"Alright," Leo nodded. Not totally convinced, he decided to stay near her, at the least, when he could.

LOCATION: Sector Post XR-46, Command Center, Level 29
TIME: Concurrent

"They're coming, Nevarre! We have to-"

Siyrena was confused again. It happened from time to time, and Nevarre had neither the time nor the parts to repair her properly. And that was painful. Like most Kryll or Builders, Nevarre considered Siyrena as much a part of this place's crew as any other. She was sentient in her own right, and now she was hurting. And he had the knowledge to repair her... to mend her... and there was just no way to practicalize that knowledge.

He sighed and spoke softly. "No, Siyrena. They've gone. They've gone to attack the ship that spoke to us just a few minutes ago." He reminded her gently.

"No, Nevarre! They're here! On the station!" She insisted, a note of panic entering her soft tones. "Please, Nevarre, activate the security systems? Please?" She begged, forgetting in that moment of not-so-coherent panic that she was capable of doing that herself.

Had they been functioning, that is.

"Siyrena, I need you to listen to me, all right?" He said gently, raising the back of his hoverchair from its flat position to its normal, sitting position. He'd had it flat so that he could move under one of the panels and rewire it... again. But if he didn't calm the frazzled and confused AI, she might do something dangerous without meaning to. And that would just be... worse.

"But they're aboard!" She persisted. "We..." She hesitated as though she were trying very hard to focus. "Yes...?" She finally asked.

Nevarre sighed a bit and set his tools into their niches in his chair. "They couldn't have boarded, Siyrena." He assured. "The shields are still up. Do you understand?" He was being as patient as he could considering that, if he didn't get that panel rewired, this conversation might just all be moot in about five minutes anyway.

She hesitated again. "Y-yes..." She answered finally. Another pause; and when she spoke again, her voice was clear and focused. A moment of lucidity. "They came through the ancient Gateway, Nevarre. And they are not from those ships that attack us. Though I do not know where they *are* from." Another pause. "What do you wish me to do?"

Nevarre sighed. "Where are they now?"

Siyrena hesitated again. "I... it's hard to narrow it down with the Internal Scanners damaged." She admitted, sounding apologetic for that. As if it was her fault? In the last -- how many Cycles had it been? -- she had taken far more damage than any AI should have to. "But... I think... Level 32." She finally managed through the hazy readings the Internal Scanners were providing her.

"Then approach, carefully, and find out who they are and why they're here. Can you do that for me?" His words were spoken gently and with great compassion. He knew she was in bad shape, but he could not do both things at once. And she could not repair this panel. So that left tending their guests. If she could.

She paused again, and her voice quavered slightly as she answered softly. "I... I think so. I... will try, Nevarre..." And then she fell silent. Still concerned, but more concerned with their continued survival, he sighed and lowered the back of the chair once more to float it under the panel... the Shield Grid once more held his focus...

LOCATION: Back in the corridor on Level 32
TIME: Moments later

Back in the corridor, the team had continued their slow forward progress. As they reached a corner and checked around it, weapons lowered out of the ceiling on either side of the corridor. One only half-lowered, but the one on the right lowered completely and could be heard to hum as it powered up. At the same moment, a hologram shimmered into being halfway between their current location and the next corner. It was a semi-tall woman of slender build with long, braided black hair and metallic green eyes. She was standing between where the two weapons would be if the second had functioned properly.

The weapon did not fire, only revealed itself. Siyrena was not attempting to show hostility, only to be ready in case whoever had boarded the station was hostile. It was clear that she was in some distress as her image flickered even as she called to them.

"Show yourselves!" she called in a tone that was meant to show authority. But underneath that was an uncertainty.

Sarah looked at her partner and held up one hand to indicate he is to hold position. "Happy to as we came to help, so pleased to have found you." she called from around the corner she'd briefly peeked out from. "I'm going to secure my weapon and step out, do I have assurance of safe conduct?" Her voice held her ever present Earth British accented english. Tone was polite, questioning at the end (its important to let the other side make decisions in cases like these) and gentle, not unlike one cops used to talk people off ledges. Aware one wrong move could end badly. She made sure her voice carried, hoping the others could hear.

Siyrena hesitated, but only for a second. After all, it was she who had the advantage of terrain... right? "I will not fire unless you prove yourself to be hostile," she answered. She could feel herself slipping, and tried desperately to keep her thoughts from scattering and skittering into the shadows as they did so often lately, too often.

Maralen frowned. He could hear something under the tones of the woman. He looked questioningly at Lyta.

Lyta was frowning too. Her first words, however, were for Sarah, very softly spoken as she approached the Security Chief. Holding out one hand, she offered a tiny device. "Take this and put it in your ear. It will allow me to communicate with you at a distance without her hearing."

Sarah quickly removed her helmet and put the device in her ear with a nod of thanks. "One moment then please." She put the weapon on her back, helmet under one arm. Hands open to show they were empty. She wore a gentle smile as she moved slowly and carefully into the open so as not to shock the AI. "Hello, I'm Sarah." She offered.

Siyrena watched the woman emerge from behind the corner of the corridor. Her own manner was tense, wary. Fear had begun to creep into her again, and it showed in the tight way she held herself; she was fighting for clarity and strength which had, until she had been damaged, been just part of who she had been. "Sarah..." She repeated the name as if processing it. A moment passed, and she straightened a bit. "I am Siyrena. Why are you here, Sarah?" She knew there were others, and her eyes flicked toward where she knew they were hidden. "Why do your comrades hide?"

Sarah did not like the body language or tone, they were talking and that was good but it could still go very wrong. Her own body language was open and non threatening as she kept her tone gentle, "Pleased I am to meet you Siyrena" She said making sure to use her name, in part to make a connection and help keep focus. "We are here on a mission to help you and the one that resides here." She explained, "The rest of the rescue team is just waiting to make sure its safe and you are ready to meet them." She continued, internally concerned about their lack of ability to hide anything from a semi sane AI.

Around the corner security took the hint and adjusted themselves so their armored bodies could better protect the main team if the AI snapped but continued to hold in a non threatening manner as they could manage while keeping ready.

Siyrena watched the other woman; Sarah was using the same tone Nevarre used on her when she was losing it, or a similar one. Could Sarah tell that the madness was slithering into her mind? She straightened herself, trying again to convey that sense of assurance, but the longer she stood here, the more she felt herself slipping. "I would prefer it if they came out here where I can see them," she informed the lady, adding after a moment's thought, "Please?"

Around the corner, Lyta sighed. Though she did not speak aloud, Sarah heard her voice in her ear. "I think it might be best if we came out where she could see us, make her feel more in control of the situation. But you are Security; whatever you recommend, I will pass to the others." She had thought there would be more need for that tiny earpiece, but it seemed not. "You need not answer aloud. The surface of the earpiece I gave you is coated with the psionically-conductive material used on the ship's interface plates. Just think, and it will send to me. That way we don't agitate her by your speaking to someone she can't see."

Sarah nodded to the AI and in her mind, "I don't know I think this was an excellent idea, one never knows." She thought approvingly, too many options is not a problem she feared. She would have to remember this ear piece idea for future missions, it seemed to have a great number of situations it could be useful for.

As to the situation at hand, like many law enforcement personnel she mastered the art of looking directly at someone while her side vision took in what else she could. In this case keeping careful track of the powered down turrets, watching for signs. Again in her mind, "A few security first then you, Captain with his security last. Security on high alert, but secure weapons." Their scanners would warn them if things powered up, hopefully in time.

To Siyrena she said, "They will come to meet you." She said a bit comforted by the renewed focus and greater feeling then before of calm from the AI

Maralen motioned for the others to follow the security officers out to reveal themselves as Sarah had suggested. He liked the way she thought; it was very... Realm -- and by that he meant that it was very efficient, strategic and clear. As they rounded the corner, he held his hands out away from his body as Sarah had done, noting the others do the same.

Lyta stepped up beside Sarah. "Hello, Siyrena."

Siyrena's eyes flicked between the people as they emerged, falling on lyta as she spoke. The voice was familiar, the same as the voice of the other AI who had been talking to her. "You're... like me?" she asked. Her voice was not as certain as it had been, the battle in her mind slowly going to the Damage.

Lyta nodded. "Yes, Siyrena. I'm AI."

Siyrena looked from Lyta to Sarah. "You said you came to help?" Her attention was now on the Security Chief. "How? How will you help?"

"If your Caretaker needs more hands we can help repair, if equipment is needed we may be able to help there as well. We can assist in different ways once we know what's needed. Lyta will be better able to explain, I am a Protector, others are the fixers." Sarah's voice kept it's gentle tone, she wasn't sure if it would be too much to ask to talk to the caretaker and so held off.

Siyrena was starting to lose hold of what fragmented clarity she had. She looked between the woman and her fellow AI. What should she do? Nevarre would know. She should ask him. Yes, that was it. Wasn't it?

Lyta looked at the others then back to Siyrena. "Siyrena," she began calmly, "if you let us talk to your companion, he can tell us what he needs. I know you're having trouble; this place is so badly damaged, and if you're as much like me as we think, then I know how that must hurt." Her tones were sympathetic, even empathetic. "I also know that, in such a state, I would be hard-pressed to know what to do and would trust my commander." She motioned to indicate Maralen who stepped up beside her slowly as she indicated him. "I'm sure you do too, right? Trust your companion?"

Siyrena looked at the felinoid beside the other AI for a second, then back to Lyta, nodding slowly. "...Yes..." she said very slowly, "...he will know. I... I won't prevent you." She flickered and was gone. The weapons cycled down.

Lyta looked at the others, Sarah first. "You did very well, Sarah," she complimented the security chief. She then turned to the captain. "She's very damaged, but I think it's safe to go forward now. She gave me his location. He is on Level 29."

Maralen frowned. Having not seen the schematics of this station, he had no idea where that was in relation to where they were. "And we are... where in relation to that?" he asked, looking to his Operations Chief as she had seen that schematic, and he was fairly certain she had it on a data pad with her as well.

Jaime was looking over the datapad just then. "We're on level 32, Sir. We'll need to go down."

Maralen nodded. "And what is Level 29?" he asked, his eyes still on Jaime.

"Twenty-nine is an Integrated System and Engineering Access level, one place for manually switching systems off," Jaime answered. "It makes sense," she then observed, "he'd be trying to keep the shields functioning."

Maralen took a breath and nodded. "She may have given us permission, but we cannot count on her stability. We proceed as we have been, cautiously." He motioned for Sarah and her team to continue their procedure. "Where is the nearest Lift?" he asked.

Sarah smiled in thanks at Lyta's words and a tension she'd not been showing lessened from her shoulders. She did let out a tiny sign of relief before turning to the group as one of the security officers answered the Captain's question, "About 50 feet around the next bend Sir."

The team headed out, moving around the bend and to the Lift as cautiously as they had moved up to that point. Once there, Maralen touched the call pad. From somewhere far below them, a grinding sound could be heart, followed by the odd whispers once more. Then silence reigned once more, broken only by the shorting circuitry and the team's breathing.

"Sshrral..." Maralen muttered to himself. "Apparently, we are climbing down," he told the team. Motioning to a pair of the security officers to guard, he and another pried the doors open far enough for the man to poke his head in and look around. The man retreated and nodded.

"Okay, folks, same routine," Maralen told them as he stepped aside to allow the security personnel to precede him into the shaft.

The frown on Eos's face deepened as the security team filed into the shaft. She struggled to control her breathing, to maintain her usual unreadable facade. The longer she was on the station the worse she felt. It was as if she had become tuned to the disharmony of the energy around her. The song, the vibrations were off, tuneless and thrummed through her being painfully.

The team entered the shaft and began the long trek down three levels...

>>>TBC<<<