Chapter 14 [https://i.imgur.com/Y92bBGZ.png]
Concept art for Lillian and the diary (the little blue device on her arm)
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Zac explored further into the mine. It turned out that everyone was on the top floor of the facility which continued deep into the mountain through a number of complex passages.
From a floor plan on the wall, the top floor held the weaponry and residential quarters with hundreds of separate bedrooms. The only exits he could see was through the main blast doors that were tightly closed, or through the manhole which involved fighting neck and tooth through hundreds of monsters.
Zac slowly inspected each room. The residential rooms were identical, with two bunkbeds for 4 people, and one large cupboard.
He opened up every cupboard, looked under each bunkbed mattress, and touched every name scratched into the walls. He was eventually rewarded for his thorough inspection. In one room he found an inconspicuous hexagonal sticker hidden in between a mattress and a wall. It was similar in texture to the battery. He placed it near his arm and it also was magnetically attracted to his suit. A blue line travelled from his battery across his chest to his new sticker, which took on a glow blue. He touched it and a new hologram appeared in front of his face.
Entry 1 of 60:
Stardate 1346.1989 of the celestial orbit around Messier 583.
My name is Dr. Karl Venderheim. I am a senior engineer here at Outpost X1147Y. We have just received an immediate evacuation order by the Citadel. It appears a riftwalker was spotted entering this world's atmosphere and soon this world will be filled with riftwalker spawn. We were given an hour to prepare for the journey back to the Citadel. There's not enough space in the warp-ship for everyone's personal belongings, and there are too many prying eyes for confidential research data to be taken onboard. As such, only the essentials can be taken, and the rest of my life's work will have to sadly be abandoned.
I have heard rumours that the riftwalkers have sensory organs attuned to the power orbs. It has never been proven, but there is little other reason why it would come here of all planets. I wonder if it knows what we are attempting to achieve with their technology.
To the hunters that will come and purge this place, I ask for your help. Please, find my research and bring it back to me. It is invaluable and pertains to the applications of power orbs. The Resistance's plans have been set back years because of this loss.
I trust that you too are disenchanted with the cruelty of the Citadel. That is why I'm not afraid to openly discuss my rebellion with you. The Citadel thinks that I am working on vinabrutium, but exile on this outpost has granted me a certain lack of supervision that has been most useful.
I managed to secure a second power orb to study in secret. My collated findings are stored in the main control room down on level U7. There are multiple data tablets but don't be fooled into looking around, the rest are fake data made to hide the real deal. A tree in a forest if you will. Look for experiment 112.147, and if you find it, ensure that you hide it from the Citadel because it will spell death should it fall into the wrong hands.
I have also had to leave behind the secret power orb. It is hidden within the main control room. If you find it, keep it. Treat it as payment in advance for your help.
When life is too hard and circles and triangles lead you to meaningless destinations, look up to the stars to find your answer.
Zac flicked to the next entry.
Entry 2 of 60:
Stardate unknown.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
My name is Lilian. I have no last name. Unfortunately I am no hunter. I am a recruit who awakened earlier this afternoon, and was sent by Captain Sunderland to collect purified vinabrutium for the Citadel.
Seventy of us arrived at sunset and were ambushed by monsters. Only ten made it inside. Last night I happened to sleep in this room and found this very badge.
It is unfortunate to say that the riftwalker spawn remains a problem and I suspect the Citadel has no desire to rectify the situation.
This evening, following the instructions from Dr. Venderheim from entry 1, I found the research and will return it quietly back to the Resistance.
I am leaving this here as a means of communication to more recruits who may arrive in the future. You are not alone in your anger. I will seek to join the Resistance in the future. Come and look for us.
I have yet to find the main control room. It is not on any floor plan, and I suspect it might be a protected bunker, hidden behind a number of safeguards. Good luck in your search for the power orb, fellow recruit.
Zac sat down on one of the lower bunkbeds. This woman, Lilian, sounded like she was in exactly the same situation as they were in now. He was comforted that there were other people like him who also wanted revenge and freedom.
Zac kept scrolling, speedreading through the rest of the entries:
Entry 5 of 60:
My name is Victoria, I have read the messages before. I too am a recruit sent by Captain Sunderland...
I did not find the main control room.
The situation has changed on Level U4. Never go there. It is the start of the mine which now houses a great evil...
I will see you in the Resistance.
Entry 23 of 60:
My name is Pia, a recruit sent by Captain Sunderland...
I found a set of blast doors in the shooting range on Level U3. It was hidden behind broken curtains and wall panelling. The doors appear impervious to phaser bullets. There must be some sort of mechanism to open it, but I couldn't figure it out. The sun is rising soon and the rest of my circle is leaving for the main facility. Unfortunately I will have to leave the task to you, fellow recruit.
I will see you in the Resistance.
In the shooting range. Okay...
Entry 52 of 60:
My name is Sam...
I managed to open the blast door, but was met with another set of doors with biometrics and an alien language that I didn't understand... I'll leave it to the next recruit.
I will see you in the Resistance.
Entry 60 of 60:
My name is Luke...
I did not find a method to open the doors. All the recruits tried to scan their retina and use their fingerprints, but were all denied entry. As with entry 56, phasers do not work. The steel is too strong to rip out even with our enhanced armour. There has to be another way to get to the electronics and hotwire it to open. I'll leave it to the next recruit.
I will see you in the Resistance.
Incredible. Zac sat on the edge of the bunkbed, metal screeching with any shift in his weight. It's incredible that they are so willing to work together towards a greater good.
The Resistance. Zac steeled his mind. One day he would join them. He took the badge with him and walked in search of the way down to the shooting range.
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Zac left the bedroom, walking towards the stairs that led to the lower levels.
He could constantly hear voices and footsteps of people running around, scouring the place for goods. Someone had found a mess hall, and people were carrying canned food and vacuum packed jerky back to the main hall where the rest of the recruits lay. Zac popped his head into the kitchen and saw multiple people rummaging around.
Someone pushed him to the side as they rushed past into the room.
"Guys, stop what you're doing!"
"What is it?"
"It's the injured recruits. Those who were bitten by the giant rat monsters. They're getting worse. We can't stop the bleeding. Ella wants everyone to stop what they're doing and help to look for medical supplies. We're running out of time."
"I thought someone found bandages."
"They're bleeding through."
"Rift."
"Where have we checked?"
They all ran to one side of the wall, and milled around an emergency exit plan was on the wall.
"How far have we searched?"
Everyone looked at each other and started pointing at different rooms they had searched.
"Okay okay, stand back. There's hundreds of rooms that are the same. Collectively, we've probably checked half of them."
"Not thoroughly enough it seems." Zac stared down at his glowing badge and commented to himself.
"We need to go to the lower levels. This is a facility with hundreds of employees. There has to be a sickbay somewhere."
"I reckon it's near the mining entrance to treat people injured from mining."
"Good idea, which level is the start of the mine?"
There was silent tension.
"Four! I think I saw it on an emergency floor plan. It was underground level four, I'm certain of it." A man shouted.
"Okay, half of us go to underground level 4. If there's nothing there, start working your way up to ground. The rest of us, quickly finish looking around this level and start going down. We'll meet halfway. Remember, don't get side-tracked. Don't pick up anything else. Look for the sickbay, look in every drawer for medical supplies, and bring back everything that seems remotely medical into the main space where the injured are lying."
Everyone nodded in approval.
"Go, go, go!"
Everyone dispersed and ran down the hall. What if I cauterise them? Will that give them more time? Zac thought to himself. No. There's still time. Zac followed the group that ran down the stairs that led further deeper into the crust of the planet. Sorry Dr. Venderheim. My circle needs me. No one from my circle will be dying today.