*
The room ahead looked something like a call centre. Yet, like everything I’d seen in Ascension so far, it was immense in proportions but unspectacular. There were merely row after row of desks, each with a small screen. It didn’t look as though it had been used for a long time. Dust coated the surfaces of everything and hung in the air unmoving.
There were handhelds and other relics scattered about the floor. A shiver ran through me as I caught sight of some of the desks which had been upturned and fire damaged. It was as though some awful event had occurred there.
I my gut something was tugging at me. A sense of something shared. I thought I saw my angel again. But there was nothing. Just the same quiet room. Then there was the tugging sensation again. I felt myself becoming weightless as a though a gorge was swallowing me up.
Gradually the world began to collapse in on itself and light perforated my vision. Everything grew dark.
I awoke to screams and chaos.
Hundreds of people were running about in a melee of panic. Files of paper scattered into the air as the rush ensued. Further away from me was a squadron of deformed people advanced. They were nightmarish half human things.
Grinning in pleasure one grabbed after a young woman and tore at her flesh. Pieces of her clothing drifted noiselessly to the floor. Her screams blended with the panicked cries of the rest. Male and female they were all screaming.
Wailing that woman battered her aggressor with all her strength. But he was too strong for her. A flash, possibly from a sidearm, danced from his hands which blew a hole through her chest. She collapsed to her knees and tumbled forwards. Life left her in a quiet gasp.
The sounds of terror increased to an almost deafening level at that. They were rushing towards me now, that column of frightened people. Like a herd them ran together hoping to find safety.
Passing through me as though I was nothing more than an apparition which they could not see they began to hammer upon the armoury door.
In desperation several of them kept thumbing the door screen, but it would not yield. The door replied to each desperate fumble with a red cross and a warning noise.
A man to my right began to shout ‘what’s happening, oh my god, oh my god, open the fucking door, please, please open the door.’
A second person began to yell, ‘for the love of god, somebody help us. You can’t do this to us. They’re going to kill us all. Have mercy you bastards!’ His voice was silence by the flash of a sidearm and he sunk to the floor.
Next a woman about three feet behind me was cut in half by the downward stroke of one of the deformed.
My heart began to pound and sweat was drenching my face. ‘Open the door!’ I screamed at the top of my lungs along with the rest of the pleas for help.
It was no use. The door remained firmly closed. It was the end for them.
The figures had already reached the door and were laughing with sheer delight as they threw the gore about them.
In ecstasy they dispatched a young boy to my left. His face froze with a look of confusion as he fell.
The final four people no longer made a sound. Something had gripped them. Their eyes were determined. They no longer screamed for mercy.
I noticed that they had joined hands. Each of them holding the others in steely conviction. They had accepted what was to come. Each had tears running down their faces, but they would not cry any longer.
As the group rounded on them faces hardened with resolution with resolution. Almost meekly and with a sense of enormous dignity they bowed their heads.
They offered no resistance as the group descended upon them. They died without a single sound. Not one scream. Not one call for help. They just accepted it.
It was a good death. It was noble.
With a slow washing of colour the vision ended. I did not want to know more.
With resolution I continued onwards. Part of me wanted to take a moment to collect myself but I knew that if I stopped now, I wouldn’t be able to continue.
Sean looked down in empathy. He could see my tears.
These visions left me with only a flash of what had happened. But it was enough to know what had happened here. Just like on Earth civilisation had fallen. History moves in cycles. Birth to death. This was where humanity was now. It had been born. It had lived. It would die.
I felt numb, there was nothing left in the world that could make me feel again. I was lost in a trench of agony. What I had just seen, what I had seen before, were but a shadow of a greater whole. The composition of which I knew to be more monstrous than anything I could imagine. But the more I saw, the more I cared, cared about the future. I cared, because I was certain, that I would never let this happen again. I thought of all the people on the colonies. They had no idea what was coming for them.
What if its already there, I thought to myself.
With resolve I struggled a smile at Sean. It was comforting to have another presence. He never complained, never worried about himself, he was perhaps the best person that I could have been stranded with. Someone to ground me, someone to keep me calm.
Sean seemed to understand my thoughts. He swung down from his previous altitude and looked right into my eyes. Nodding gently he glided from me and pointed ahead.
‘Not far now, we just need to reach the end of this information centre, the lifts will be there and waiting.’ I knew that he was trying to comfort me. Without scouting ahead there would be no way of knowing if the lifts would still be operational, or if there even were lifts anymore and not some jagged hole torn into the skin of Ascension. Clearly this did not concern him for he had already begun to glide away. Nothing phased him.
We floated through the debris of an eternal darkness, a world untouched by light. Here no light ever generated would be reflected, nothing would escape the surface of this place, for there was nothing left worth shining upon. We had done this to ourselves.
I swept my hair across my forehead and sighed. I was tired and hungry and it had been so long since I’d had the opportunity to rest. Ahead the arches of the room passed above us repetitively as we sidled along with apparent haste. About us lay the remains of a perfect world, captured forever in the wasteland of space, preserved in a cold vacuum. The horrors here could never die. It stuck me too that perhaps, in some way, the good of this place might never die too. This station might rest here forever, but it would never disappear. It struck me that this might well be our legacy. That those looking for evidence of humanities existing might find only this place. I wondered what they would think of us.
An impasse lay ahead. Sean hovered through without apparent concern. I followed a little more cautiously. We passed to the impasse to find a space filled with the gore of the massacre that had happened before. Lights flickered continuously, casting shadows of beings that never were.
To my relief, just as Sean had said, the lift appeared before us. I walked towards the door control and without a word I pushed the button marked summon. The door screen flashed an upward facing arrow and then failed. The screen went blank. We listened for the lift.
Despite the broken screen after about a minute the lift doors opened. We entered the confines of the lift with ease and the doors shut.
‘Please state your floor’ asked the mechanical voice of the lift. I hoped it too wouldn’t break. That really would cap everything off nicely. An idiot and a machine pretending to be an idiot get stuck in a lift - humanity extinct.
‘Floor one hundred and nine,’ Sean stated musically. The lift acknowledged and began its descent. The metrical whooshing of the passing floors had a soothing effect upon the both of us. The tension between us had eased. We felt safe.
‘What do you expect we will find in the detention centre,’ I asked.
‘Who can say? But it is best to be prepared for what we might find. I suggest...’ He fell silent as the lift suddenly came to a complete stop. My eyes began to search for the problem, we were definitely
not at the right floor. The door remained tightly closed. The lights went out.
‘Sean,’ I called out.
‘I’m right here George,’ he replied cautiously. I armed my lancer just in case. Raising the rifle to my shoulder I found that the screen had switched to night vision. I looked into the field of green and then gasped.
One of them was in the lift with us.
He was facing towards Sean, tracking the sound of his voice. The targeting reticule locked onto the figure who was panting now, ready for the hunt. His lips were curled up and the whites of his teeth glowed in the display. The reticule flashed red. I pulled the trigger.
Immediately an explosion of light flashed out of the muzzle. I watched as a bolt jumped towards the figure. The figure’s chest burst open.
The light from the bolt temporarily illuminated the room. Ghastly shadows filled my eyes. Something wet struck my face.
With shock I realised that it was his blood. Focusing back onto the night vision, I saw that the figure had fallen, but his stomach continued to move up and down. He was still alive. The targeting reticule locked back on the fallen figure and I fired again. The figure was sawn in half by the blast.
The lights came back on and the lift began to surge its way downward. I wondered what had just happened. It was not as though the lift was planning our execution. I wondered if there was some hand at work behind all of this. It was certainly disconcerting to think so. No being should ever be able to impose this much wrath upon another. I wondered if Blue Dawn felt the same.
‘Floor one oh nine: Mandel Detention Facility, second floor,’ the mechanical voice sounded and then concluded, ‘doors opening, please mind the doors. Caution. A quarantine is in effect, please proceed with caution. An enforcement team has been notified.’
The doors slid open and revealed a small room. The lights in the room were buzzing and flickering. Ahead was a thick secure looking door. It was closed.
On either side of the room ran two identical counters protected by seemingly impregnable glass. Part of the right hand side glass had been badly burnt, presumably by the discharge of a lancer. I turned to Sean and asked, ‘how do we get in?’
Flitting towards the door Sean replied, ‘we must gain access to the custardy vault behind the glass in order to gain entry to the detention wards.’
‘And how exactly are we going to do that, I can’t see a way in.’
‘There is a panel on the glass George, why not take a look?’ I moved towards a series of white digits seemingly drawn onto the glass. The numbers ranged from one to nine.
‘The code is six-nine-nine-seven-three-two.’ I gently tapped on the numbers he indicated. After each tap the number I had selected made a sound like a wind chime. At the end of the sequence part of the glass slid back from the rest of the windowed wall and rose into the ceiling. I stepped through the narrow glass and got behind the counter.
‘How did you know the code,’ I asked. He certainly seemed to know a lot for a person who protested that he knew very little.
‘My database contains contains information the Eternis Systems deemed sufficiently useful to upload. So far the volumes have proved very valuable.’
‘Good for you,’ I muttered as I scanned my eyes about the counter. All I could see were screens. On the screens were live feeds from each of the cells. Empty cell after empty cell passed through my vision. I began to lose hope that she would be here, but then, out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted her.
‘Sean, look at this! She is here! She’s alive.’ I jumped into the air with relief. Tapping the vocal button on the screen I stated ‘open cell 414-B.’
I heard a klaxon sound and the systems stated the words: ‘access to cell-blocks approved, first tier security for cell block four-one-four-B disabled.’ With no more ceremony than this the security door flashed from red to green and opened, splitting apart in several places and rotating away.
We walked through.
Sean and I entered on the gallery level which was above the cell blocks. It occupied a small strip hanging over the centre of the detention ward. I figured that it was probably quite a good way of monitoring each of the cells from a single vantage point, if you had good eyesight.
In the square below several cells occupied the corners, in the centre sat Aeniah’s. She was staring calmly at us.
As my eyes connected with hers, she arched an eyebrow. With a start I realised that she was completely naked. I averted my gaze, too late not to take in her well formed, toned body. I almost couldn’t take my eyes away from her.
Then my eyes were drawn back towards her, for behind her stood another woman. This woman was impossibly beautiful, tall, with long silky brown hair folding to her shoulders. She was clothed in an odd dress, like the ones in history books where women wore skirts and materials that clung to the body. Around the collar of her silky top were two blue strips of light.
But it was her eyes that set her apart most of all. Deep black eyes ringed by a halo of blue light. No woman had ever lived and been so beautiful, even in her strange attire she could stop hearts.
With a soft sound the glass separating the four of us slid away and the gallery level descended to meet the two women.
The woman behind Aeniah stepped through the cell and towards us. Aeniah followed with her head held high.
‘You dumb fucking idiots.’ This appeared to be Aeniah’s way of greeting us. ‘I fly you dumb bastards all the way to this station and you walk right into a trap.’
I looked at her in confusion. Was there a trap? I couldn’t see one.
The beautiful lady smiled a wicked smile. She turned to Aeniah and stated, ‘I don’t suppose they know who I am, do they?’ She turned grinning back towards us. ‘Well we have met before, don’t you recognise my voice?’
It hit me then, that graceful voice, that powerful mesmerising harmony. It was Blue Dawn.
‘But how?’ I stammered, ‘you’re a machine, you’re not a person.’
‘And you would be quite right. Your rather banal contribution to proceedings, whilst unimportant, perhaps requires an explanation.’ I stared towards her intently waiting upon her next words. ‘What you are looking at is a genetically engineered host body, of which I have several - of varying quality. Inside this body is a receiver through which I am able to inhabit this form. I exist in all the bodies simultaneously whilst also being within the station at the same time.’
‘But that’s not possible, is it?’ I asked.
‘If it was not, then I would not be speaking to you right now?’ She sighed impatiently.
‘Okay.’ I replied curtly. ‘Why are you here, what do you want with us and why did you place us in quarantine?’
‘It was for your safety of course. As my sensors came online I found that there were still many infected who remained alive. Despite my best efforts. They survive oxygen deprivation and extreme changes in temperature in a most inconvenient manner. Unfortunately beyond locking down the station there is little that I can do to help. You were placed separately in biological quarantine in order to keep you safe, not only from the hordes, but also from each other.’ Folding her arms Blue Dawn appeared almost caring. ‘You do understand how dangerous this place has become?’
‘Well then what about the rest of our crew? Where are they?’ I returned.
‘They have been sealed in the docks and are not permitted to leave. Unlike Aeniah, Sean and yourself I have not permitted anyone else further access to Ascension.’
Aeniah scowled at her with utter contempt. Practically spitting her words out she turned to Blue Dawn and said, ‘then I suppose you won’t mind if I contact my crew?’
‘Very well Aeniah, a comm-link has been established to the vessel docked in Ascension’s tertiary structure.’
In a moment a black square bearing Ascension’s insignia appeared in between us. A series of dots were tracing their way along the screen. The dots were replaced by an image of First Officer Knightly.
>
‘Aeniah, is that really you?’ Knightly shouted in a hoarse voice. Something clearly wasn’t right. His eyes had a wild property to them, glazed and unfocused.
‘Of course it’s fucking me, you dumb bastard. What on Earth have you been doing? I’m sitting here exchanging pleasantries with a murderous bloody machine and you’re there scratching your ass,’ Aeniah replied in a less than offended tone.
‘We tried everything we could Sir, I’m sorry Sir, there was no means to find you, no means of opening the security cordon,’ stammered Knightly.
‘I have heard enough of this Knightly. Status report. Now!’
‘Well, Sir, it has been a while since we heard anything from you. We assumed you had gone. We...we stopped looking. I had ordered the ship to prepare to make haste for the colonies, to try and see if we would have better luck there. The crew is restless, they want to move. Some have even gotten violent. The cells are full...’
She swiftly cut Knightly off with a slight raise of her palm. ‘You mean to tell me that I am gone for a couple of hours and you let my ship turn to anarchy and then plan to leave us here. This stinks of mutiny officer.’
‘A couple of hours Sir,’ Knightly asserted timidly, ‘you have been away for days.’
‘Days!’ Aeniah screamed whirling to face Blue Dawn.
‘The mass transport process is very temperamental,’ Blue Dawn stated with a shrug. ‘The systems were damaged, you both suffered from some neurological problems. It took several days to stabilise the both of you.’ Blue Dawn seemed worried now. It appeared that Aeniah could put anybody on the back foot. Before Aeniah could become angered further a loud bang was heard coming from the screen.
‘Sit rep!’ Shouted Aeniah towards Knightly. ‘Come on man, pull yourself together. What is going on over there?’
‘Sir, there has been an explosion. Safeties were lifted from the reactor.’ Gunfire was audible from across the comm-link. ‘Shit, there are people trying to reach the CIC.’ A detonation sounded. ‘Keep them clear Lieutenant. Marshall, get guardsmen to the CIC-control now!’ More gunfire could be heard in the transmission. Aeniah looked distinctly grey now.
‘What’s happening Simon? Knightly! What is going on?’
There was no response for a while, merely the sound of muffled orders being given. Then his voice returned over the comm-link. ‘Aeniah. Sir. A group of rebels have managed to get some guns and explosives. They are trying to take the ship. They have killed most of the people outside the CIC and they’ve messed with the surveillance systems so we can’t see them. The Marshall can’t raise the guardsmen. I don’t think that the rebels have the firepower to get through the doors for the moment. We can’t seem to get a response from outside CIC. I have locked down the ship, nothing gets out. What are you orders Sir?’
‘Hold the CIC at all costs Simon. If they get to the CIC all is lost. We are coming to get you. You have your orders officer. Follow them. I don’t need to tell you the consequences to humanity if you fail. Hold them off at all costs. I don’t care who they are or what they might have been to you. I still expect you to kill them. Aeniah out.’ The screen dissolved, darkening the room slightly. ‘Sean how far is the dock from here?’ she asked.
‘Around a six hour walk, that is if we don’t meet any obstructions along the way’ he replied calmly.
‘Obstructions?’
‘George and I have had several problems with the former inhabitants of the station. I believe that we are unlikely to be able to travel to dock A-44-C from here. Considering the trouble that we have had travelling the small distance to you I do not believe it wise to undertake a journey of that length. Furthermore much of Ascension’s transport infrastructure, such as lifts and highways, appear offline or damaged. Therefore there is little opportunity for a short cut.’
There was a pause whilst Aeniah seemed at a loss. It was broken by the sweet and commanding voice of Blue Dawn. ‘I agree. The odds of reaching the docks are unlikely given the size of your team and the size of your undertaking. There is of course a solution, but for this you will require my assistance.’
‘No way, I don’t even trust you enough to boil an egg. For all I know, this is your doing,’ Aeniah contested angrily.
‘Wait, I think we should hear what she has to say,’ I interjected.
Aeniah opened her mouth but remained silent. Blue Dawn continued, ‘my help does, however, come at a price.’
‘Name it,’ Aeniah growled.
‘I need you to re-instate my full control over Ascension.’ Blue Dawn replied. ‘Many elements - including the Equinox project - remain outside of my full control. I would also ask that you assist me in resolving the problem of the Artefact and continue with your present mission objectives. Your species survival is to our mutual benefit. Does this sound unreasonable?’
Aeniah growled in response, she clearly had her misgivings. However she said nothing and so Blue Dawn took this as an agreement. ‘Very well. The fastest way to the docks is via mass-transport. I have isolated the problems inherent in my first attempt and rest assured you will arrive safe and sound. I also have the capability of furnishing you with an army through which you can retake the ship. However I require your authorisation to issue the command to the Equinox subjects.’
Without giving time for Aeniah to reply I asked, ‘the Equinox project, they are an army?’
‘Not necessarily,’ she replied coyly. ‘The subjects involved in the project were much like you George. They had a great affinity with the genetic modification required to reach the state of Ascension. It was believed that arranged as a coherent body of persons the Equinox subjects would provide the perfect policing agency for the abilities gained by others, being both stronger and more intelligent than they were.
‘However the result of the project was somewhat a failure. Installation of a command infrastructure worked at best, intermittently. They are somewhat unpredictable. Their purpose was simple. They were to be vessels of energy through which the citizens of Ascension could delve into and draw upon for their use. I have little time to explain the complexities of it to you.
‘When the use of this energy became widespread among the inhabitants of Ascension, what we called casting, the Equinox subjects began to cut people off from their source of energy, seemingly at random. When this occurred the population was often extremely violent towards them and several were killed. When the station descended into chaos I lost the ability to administer control over them. We now have little contact,’ she concluded.
‘I need to know more, Blue Dawn, why did the population attack them? What went wrong?’ Blue Dawn appeared to be about to open her mouth in response but was cut short by Aeniah.
‘There is no time for that right now George. Dawn I’ll give you whatever approval you need, just help me get my ship back.’
In front of Aeniah a new screen appeared. From where I was standing the text was blurred and illegible. She appeared to scan the document, searching for some hidden clause. Biting her lip she pushed her palm against the pad and drew what I presumed was her signature.
‘Temporary Equinox control established,’ Blue Dawn sounded in a distracted manner. ‘Preparing mass-transport. Mass-transport available. I shall drop the three of you in the quarantine zone outside the docks. That way you should avoid any surprises. Mass-transport in three.’
I held my breath. What would we find? I had never been too fond of surprises and right now I seriously hoped there would not be any waiting on the other side. ‘Two.’ The floor beneath me began to hum more loudly than the background of Ascension. ‘One.’ I felt my feet beginning to lift off the ground as I experienced an awful stretching sensation. ‘Mass-transport’ and all was night.
10