The panels of Ring D passed by in the darkness like a flickering strobe. Reflective luminescent paint captured and magnified the streaking light sources from the vehicles racing the loop, indicating meter markers and sub-corridor entrances.
Cael and her companions were forced to take this path, as had Eclipse and Xaia. They had realized early on that disabling their comms and operating on redundant analogue circuits gave them some degree of protection against the reverberating electromagnetic assault that had knocked out everyone else in Module D. Coated in a reflective signal dampening paint they would be able to approach the source of the disturbance. Deidre, an engineer had found an emergency supply cache and outfitted them with Gauss weaponry, plasma grenades and sheild emitters as a precaution. The only two to survive the initial e/m surge, they were able to find and re-activate three more of their companions.
Kaelis skidded silently to a halt in the vacuum. The others followed suit.
[Kaelis what is it?] Cael flashed her diodes in shades of pink and magenta to communicate without sound or transmission.
Kaelis flashed back in hues of emerald and sea green.
[I felt something - vibrations…]
[We aren’t alone] Deidre confirmed.
[Prepare yourselves] Cael cautioned.
The five sped again through the wide angular corridor as the distance further ahead curved into view. Greenish haze seemed to fill the air 1000 or so meters down. They reverted to humanoid form factors, splitting up and taking positions near either wall with military precision.
Orb shaped objects were floating about in the haze, the source of the green light. Studying them, Deidre determined they were setting up some type of communication relay.
[magnify]
No, these were not spheres but something resembling disembodied synth heads with only the crudest hint of a face. They moved with gliding precision but seemed to falter at regular intervals in response to the the electromagnetic noise that propogated throughout the corridor and seeminly the entire colony.
Kya opened fire during one of these intervals.
[Got one] her vermillion hued diodes flashed in smug delight.
The “head” rebounded from the blunt force of the alloy slug, bouncing off the floor. A shower of sparks spun like a firework from where it found it’s mark.
Tight focus beams of light began waving through the dust and smoke haze as two of the floating heads scanned for the source of the volley. The others seemed to ignore them and continue their work running cable further down the loop.
[What are you doing? I did not tell you to fire. Are you malfunctioning?] Cael flashed back.
[It is too late for that] added Atheone in hues of violet and UV
The five of them faced each other and in a 220ms duration of simulteanous flashes coordinated a new strategy.
Eclipse and Xaia skidded to a halt, backward somersault unfolding them back to their familiar humanoid shapes. Here was the series of locks to Module G. Their objective simple, operate the manual levers to begin the process for detaching the Module. The first two would begin a cascade in turn releasing the much larger frame integrations for the enormous living space and facilities of Module G. From there it would release via centrifugal force into empty space.
[### At the ### Mission Critical ### Delay ###]
The transmissions were garbled. A soul wrenching howl of Electromagnetic chaos roared in fury buckling Xaia and almost stunning Eclipse under the assault. Eclipse raised her shielded arm in response. A hexagon of Faraday woven nonmetallics burst open into a full body size shield. It sparked blue in response to the static pushing her backward.
Then they saw it, or didn’t see it. On the surface of the loop, where the security doors should have been.
In the darkness it appeared to be a teeming black mass. It was swarming with black shapes the size of a head. Eclipse was reminded of one of the entomology demonstrations in the Arboretum. She had witnessed a swarm of black beetles devouring the corpse of a dead animal. Though at the time she found it fascinating, the scene before her screamed danger.
Almost in response to her hesitation the teeming mass de-cohered and became almost liquid, agitating in sharp ripples as another electromagnetic disturbance threatened to overwhelm and throw her off balance.
Without warning three high velocity shapes careened toward their location from the opposite direction. Liquid black ovoids, as had attacked them before. They were of the same nature as the teeming horror before her. A formless colorless mass, able to reconfigure itself into any shape like an oil slick, given form and agency, if not sentience.
The five bravely closed the distance, entering the green fog blocking access to the rest of the loop. Combat protocal was engaged, each of them becoming a mere blur of fury and explosive power. Cael engaged her emergency propulsion closing the distance, her armored leg circled in a lightning flash to connect with the floating head. But only caught air as it simply was no longer where she had aimed.
She flashed in fury, continuing her momentum with the other leg connecting this time. The head was sent flying but the rebound shock also sent Cael to the ground.
She turned to see the others but they were restrained, immobilized by nanofilament.
Atheone had been subdued. The phantom “head” trailed mechanical tendrils. The tendrils had penetrated the dampening coating on Aethone’s transmitters. Her eyes were completely blank, face and body immobile.
Cael had one last countermeasure. She reached for the stun grenade in her left leg’s panel enclosure.
In one quick motion she tossed it.
But it was caught in the tendrils, and dropped harmlessly to the ground, diffused.
Aethone regained composure.
[Stop] her diodes flashed an angry violet.
[Explain] Cael flashed back.
[These are merely drones, and “ours”, not the enemy. This is precisely what happens when you shoot first and ask questions second, you fool. I’m receiving data. Standby]
[The insult is unnecessary] Cael communicated back with the barest hint of a pout
[At ease Team Delta]
Xaia regained control, scanning the situation.
It was simple, within the black mass was the “core” Xanthae spoke of.
Eliminate it.
Eclipse leapt away clinging to a wall as three high velocity objects silently careened, one of them grazing her shield sending it, and her flying in opposite directions.
[Scan complete]
[Targetting]
Xaia wasn’t holding back, her upgraded power core hummed with anticipation for this moment.
The “core” was a denser metallic geometric star, it was so clear as to be practically invisible in the darkness. Xaia’s scan had detected its e/m signature within the black mass. The power of her body-weapon would also probably destroy the lock mechanism, thwarting their plan to disengage the G Module. Either that or it would weaken it enough to have it pull itself free from the colony under it’s own mass. No time to worry about that now.
From the black mass, shapes writhed and bubbled, congealing and forming a humanoid shaped black mass. The shape resembled a Synth, two arms, two legs, aerials and even a face. It seemed to become aware of itself for a brief moment before raising its arm toward Xaia.
Xaia’s form shifted, legs and arms bifurcating, convulsing, re-orienting. Static filled the corridor, energy diverting and collecting under magnetic fields of immense raw power.
A wave of interference rippled out in deafening torrents from the core, disrupting her charge.
The black humanoid stepped forward, its arm now enlarged, rippling it began to glow red.
[Xaia!] Eclipse cried out in transmission.
She had recovered and leaped on the black figure. A shadow, or a puppet, a dark mockery of the true form. Though a full half-meter taller, it scrambled to regain its footing flinging the much lighter Synth like a ragdoll.
The explosion lit the loop corridor like a lightning strike. Fine particulate filled the area in chaotic spirals obscuring everything.
Xaia was in pieces, what remained of her.
Synth bodies, being non-organic, do not need exercise nor respond to physical conditioning. However they do enjoy games, while games in virtuaspace tend to be based on planning, resource allocation, and long term strategy (gearing themselves toward cultivating intellect and cunning) - many prefer the challenges imposed by limitations of the physical world. Engaging in a variety of physical sports is how many build connections, stay grounded and pass the time between their work. The Deltas were such a team. Cael, being their captain found that their affinity and ability to coorinate as a team would have practical application down the road. She was not wrong.
Awakening to find themselves alone, and in the dark they were able to rouse several of the others. Cael chose 4 volunteers, assurring the others that they would investigate the source of the blackout. Deidre would be given the distinction of honorary Delta for the task. Cael knew she might need someone with a different skillset for this mission, and her mechanical skills were second to none.
Kya kicked a box impatiently, sending it bounding into the darkness.
[Update received, transmitting to the rest of you] Atheone signalled to the others in light-code.
Eve, had survived the blackout and was operational in a protected location and aware of the situation (no mention of Xanthae was made during the exchange, it was assumed the drones were under Eve’s control). Apparently she had sent Xaia and Eclipse to find the source of the alien virus, a hostile transmission originating from some unknown object in the debris that had drifted into this zone following the Red Star’s gravitational pull.
The Red Star itself was a bit of an enigma, seemingly coming out of nowhere. There were rumors that this rogue star was from another galaxy, warped or teleported by forces beyond anything recorded in the databases. Still, there were many uncharted stars, either obscured by clouds or had been previously invisible brown dwarfs igniting to life.
[Are we supposed to just sit here?] Kya signalled.
[We can do whatever we want, but Cael should decide. Wandering off alone is not recommended] Deidre responded.
Atheone sat cross legged, violet diodes pulsing in silence.
Cael met their glaces silently.
A light illuminated the corridor suddenly, from the direction they had been heading toward before encountering Xanthae’s drones.
Atheone felt the vibrations first.
[Explosion - possible hull breach] She signalled.
[Deltas - form up] Cael commanded.
[We waste time]
Eclipse was down on one knee. Xaia had been all but obliterated by the unknown entity’s response.
She saw Xaia’s intented target. Barely visible in the darkness. It was a geometric star, its points shifting and inverting. Shifting to infrared Eclipse could see it had no heat pattern to speak of, as though it were a machine operating at near 100% efficiency. UV spectrum revealed it to be surrounded by a cloud of glittering motes. X-Ray revealed them to be emitting radiation.
None of this mattered really. The mission had failed and this would be their ultimate end. Eclipse would not accept this, she was young a 4th (and last) gen Synth, a mere 82 long cycles she had imagined a long and rich life. Those who mattered to her were gone, possibly forever or would be if she allowed this to continue. It was all too much to process.
The geometric star shrunk and in X-ray Eclipse could see it explode in field lines, tendrils of e/m flux, merging with the black figure, the crude imitation of her own form. No, it was different somehow. It reminded her of Leitha.
Wait, Leitha had deactivated and her body was destroyed when Even had jettisoned the DMZ where the virus took root, before the blackout. Leitha was in backups and had no body, so who was this?
The black figure seemed to read her processes.
Eyes appeared, two blue sparks in a sea of ink. Eclipse was struck with horror.
[You would be right]
This was not a transmission, the words were not words. They were pure meaning, and emerged in Eclipse’s processing before she was even aware.
What was this creature, had the virus somehow re-created Leitha’s form. Was Leitha somehow inside?
Laughter filled her mind. A laughter not her own and without mirth.
A laughter filled with pure hatred.
[Mother left me to DIE]
Eclipse backed away.
[You think your weaponry can hurt me?]
The wail that came next was shattering. Eclipse was paralyzed, thoughts were scrambled, out of order, fragmented, dissolving before she could re-assemble them.
[You would like it here]
Eclipse took that moment to dash to where her shield lay, faster than this creature could respond.
[It is … heaven]
[More laughter]
She raised the shield in time as another wave threatened to shut her down completely, the dampening effects of its hexagonal Faraday inlays absorbing the shock.
[What are you?] Eclipse transmitted back.
Its eyes became instantly pitch black. It howled once more. Eclipse’s shield began vibrating, shaking.
The mysterious geometric core began to deconstruct itself folding through unseen dimensions until it collapsed into a cloud of dust glittering in the UV. The cloud dispersing until being drawn is as though inhaled by the entity.
The glittering motes incorporated themselves into the figure. What power or meaning this had for it was lost on Eclipse. An intuition told her this was the time to act. It had collected itself into a singular being.
It could be targetted.
It could be destroyed.
[I dare you to try]
This time the thought was deeper in her processing. It carried a greater meaning than mere words. It was both mocking her, and challenging her. It wanted her to attack. It wanted to assimilate her.
[I am?]
[I am - tens thousands of years older or beyond your kind and those who built you]
[I am..]
[What you could be]
This last thought clung to her soul chillingly, it felt like a whisper but it carried the certainty of someone who knew the truth.
Eclipse fired a volley charged plasma bursts, diving in anticipation of return fire, their white-violet light flashed like lightning in the darkness.
The shots landed, melting away portions of the entity. Yet seeming to have no affect otherwise.
[All of this is unnecessary NR4-1133]
Eclipse needed to decide the next moments carefully. She fought back the - dread. These emotions were something Synths could choose to ignore or entertain yet this was something of an entirely different nature.
She was face to face with Death.
Eve finished processing the updates from Xanthae.
The data was disturbing.
She had seen everything.
The “virus” take on Leitha’s form.
The accusation.
No, she did not leave anyone to die, she did what she had to do to save the colony.
[Yet, here we are]
The unspoken thought intruded into her processors. She could not just sit and allow things to end this way. This colony was a very extension of her Being. The Synths an extension of her soul and self. Her daughters.
“Hmm?” Xanthae inquired, re-emerging from somewhere unseen. Her arachnidian tendencies still jarring to Eve. Eve realized she had spoken aloud.
“Your shuttle” Eve responded
“Take us. Around the outside.”
Xanthae seemed to nod. Her face the same expressionless mask.
The Loop shook violently. Something had thrown it off center, its spin now unbalanced it struck a relay array from a stationary, free floating module, sending the antenna into the deep void.
Cael and her “Deltas” suddenly lost traction with the surface. Launching upward with just enough time to shift to humanoid forms and brace for impact.
The loop ahead of them was blocked. One of the panels had broken loose. Cables, crates, tanks, hardware obstructing the way forward.
[Wait] Cael commanded
She collected herself, diodes pulsating in annoyance.
[Deidre, scan for a way through]
Deidre flashed an acknowledgement.
Eclipse felt the Loop shake.
[You want to play? Let us begin]
The being’s shadow seemed to grow. She realized it was no shadow but an extension of this this thing. Eclipse propelled herself from its reach only to see the shadows themselves rise up and assume humanoid forms.
[This was a treat, but time to play is over. I’m not here for your … Nova Core, but for something more valuable]
More laughter, it seemed to enjoy what it was doing. Was this all just a game, or an act?
[Your souls]
Another wave of electromagnetic onslaught threatened to stun Eclipse but her shielding soaked the interference.
Each of the newly generated Synths, all the same black flecked with stars, suddenly began firing on her position. Not plasma, this was something solid, and fast. Gauss weaponry? Something else?
The shots were practically invisible yet Eclipse deftly dodged each.
But one.
Her shield and most of her left arm were shattered. Sparks flew and Eclipse diverted power from that arm before a cascading short threatened her systems.
Eclipse felt her power faltering as the high speed slugs perforated her chassis in searing trails of pain.
[We arrive] Xanthae announced via transmission.
A dull vibration thudded throughout the shuttle as heavy duty magnetic docking clamps affixed to the magnets on the loop’s exterior, preventing the shuttle from being jettisoned into empty space by the centifugal forces of the colony’s rotation.
[Open the seal] Eve responded.
The shuttle door slid open silently. Xanthae’s drones had forced open the emergency docking seal from their side, allowing them access. Flashes of light scattered shadows throughout the inside of the Loop and into the shuttle. Xanthae was already outside and had cloaked, which had always unnerved Eve yet now she was grateful to have the support of one with such strange abilities.
[I have a mobile shield, it will protect us]
Eve could see nothing in any available spectrum offered by her sophisticated sensor arrays, but communicated an acknowledgement back to Xanthae.
[Eclipse] Eve transmitted.
It appeared that the area around Module G’s entrance was full of what looked like Synths except that they were all colorless. Eve had deployed 5 micro drones to illuminate and scan the area.
Eclipse was defending herself against the attacks but every time she tried to move from the line of fire something pushed her back in. Her core light was flickering dangerously.
[Ah, here she is]
A voice spoke to Eve, directly. As though the words emerged from her own processing.
[What is this?] Eve demanded.
[What are you?]
Malicious laughter filled Eve’s datastreams, overwhelming her processors until silenced suddenly.
Xanthae’s shield.
The being who resembled a Synth began to glow blue, its shape rippled momentarily in jagged spikes as though temporarily liquid. Two rage filled sparks became its eyes.
“Why, I’m you.” it mouthed.
Eve could see.
Eve knew, it knew, she could see the silent words on its lips.
“Your kind were able to lend me form”
The being’s blackness faded, it’s shape and form were now recognizable.
As Leitha.
“You.. left.. me.. to Die, Mother” She mouthed each syllable silently, her eyes a raging fire.
[Help me] Deidre requested
Kya begrudgingly took a break from pacing and assisted Deidre in tipping over a supply crate blocking the way through the rubble. Vermillion Diodes sighed.
[Almost there] Deidre responded.
Atheone was working on repairing Cael’s leg armor after the crate had fallen on her from above during another shudder as the Loop’s spin became increasingly unstable.
Kaelis had been cutting through some support cabling and was nearly crushed had Cael not pushed her aside just in time.
The rubble flashed as light shone through. Light from what appeared to be plasma bursts.
Eve was motionless.
Speechless.
“Leitha” drew near until she was only half a meter away.
“You want this don’t you? You don’t fear death... you seek it?” She asked silently, inquisitively as she paced around Eve.
Eve didn’t move.
“Take down your shield for a moment, I want to show you something. I know your story. I know that in your soul you already ‘died’, centuries ago… EV1108.”
“Your ‘creations’, these … imitations of sentience, are the only way you know how to cope with the grief that has already consumed your heart. Why do you continue?”
“We can show you heaven. We can even give you back the one you … lost.”
Eve was silent, unmoving, unblinking. A statue.
“Don’t think we don’t see you Xanthae.” The figure in Leitha’s form taunted, glancing up at a space on the ceiling high above.
“Come down now, silly spider.”
Mecha Eclipse 1.4
Eclipse struggled to bring reality into focus. Her body was devastated, torn apart by dozens of high velocity projectiles. The Synth “clones” this new creature wearing the guise of Leitha had summoned, despite her speed and agility had simply overwhelmed her with their fierce and sudden barrage. Yet when the Leitha clone had absorbed the metal-virus "co…
This is getting exciting, it's just hard to remember everything between segments.