"Heya Cappo," Jock's voice rang out as Addison strode into the room labeled "Cafeteria."
"Jock." Addison halted, taken aback at his presence. "Should've guessed you'd sniff out the kitchen first."
He grinned, patting his sizable gut. "For a joint crawling with synths, they stock some quality chow." Jock jabbed a thumb at the far wall, lined with rows of glass-fronted cubbies, each bearing a placard announcing its gastronomic contents.
Addison ambled over, tugging open a door marked "Prime Rib." She extracted a plate, its pristine white surface dominated by a slab of bloody, still-steaming meat flanked by mounds of creamy mashed potatoes and vibrant green beans.
"Huh." She prodded the fluffy potatoes, inhaling the savory aroma wafting up. Damn, that smelled good.
Sliding onto the bench beside Jock, manners be damned, Addison snatched up the dripping cut of beef and sank her teeth in, ripping free a ragged mouthful. "Mmmm," she groaned, eyes fluttering shut as the rich flavor flooded her tongue. "Okay, damn. Nicest prison I've had the pleasure of being locked up in."
"You've done time, Cap?" Jock arched a brow.
Addison nodded, chomping away. "Twice," she mumbled around the mouthful, smacking her lips. She licked the juices from her fingers before elaborating. "Dropped some punk on Mars in a salvage dispute. Bastard drew on me, but I squeezed off the killshot first. Second stint was for accidentally swiping classified UA files from a derelict cruiser. Ain't my fault they did too good a job disguising it as a beat-up fuel hauler. Both times, the slop they called food had me swearing off ever landing my ass back in the clink. But this here's something else."
Jock snorted. "Right? They're fattening us up like hogs for slaughter."
"And that's what's bugging me," Addison mumbled around another heaping bite. She swallowed heavily. "What's their angle, Jock? Why roll out the royal treatment?"
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug, jaw working as he mulled it over. "Beats me, Cappo. I just know it don't sit right."
"You and me both." Addison stuffed the last morsel in her mouth, then pushed to her feet. "Think I'll go poke around, see what I can suss out."
"Need backup? I swung by Swain's earlier - guy was sawing more wood than a lumber mill. Everyone scored their own digs, looks like. 'Cept him, they were all blacked out tighter than a deep space airlock. You too."
"A lady's gotta have her privacy from prying eyes like yours, Jock." She winked. "Appreciate the offer, but I'll fly solo on this recon mission. 'Sides, you chow down, big guy."
Grinning, Jock plopped back down, already shoveling in another heaping forkful of what looked to be some kind of lasagna. "Twist my arm, why don't ya," he garbled out around the half-chewed mass.
Smirking, Addison slunk out into the deserted corridor. She had no clue what time it was - no windows to the outside, and this rock probably didn't stick to a standard 24-hour rotation anyhow. Being planetside always threw her off-kilter, made her antsy. Much as she hated to admit it, this place, for all its claims of not being a prison, suited her just fine. Sterile and enclosed, the thrum of machinery and equipment a soothing white noise.
She crept through the vacant halls, footfalls near-silent, slipping from shadow to shadow swift and wraithlike. Rows of doors flashed by, and she felt a twinge of relief as she confirmed Jock's intel. Swain was out cold, splayed half-off his bunk, a line of drool trickling from his slack mouth as he snored like a busted engine.
The rest of the crew's quarters were indeed locked up tight, the translucent panels offering only blurred silhouettes within. Swain, Jock, Fariah, Pachinski, Mueller, Daber, Throm - all present and accounted for, their names emblazoned on the doors. As she drifted past, Addison scrutinized each still form, the subtle rise and fall of their chests unknotting the dread that had settled in her gut. They were alive, at least. For now.
Addison slipped into her quarters, the sterile metal walls a blank canvas for her racing thoughts. She upended her duffel onto the bunk, scattering meager possessions across the crisp sheets. Her fingers closed around the datapad, its screen flickering to life with a soft blue glow.
A resounding thunk made her whirl, her hand flying to her side, finding it empty. But it was just a footlocker, materializing from a hidden compartment at the foot of her bed. Addison's pulse quickened as she knelt before it, examining the biometric lock. Standard UA military issue. Her thumb pressed against the scanner, and after a considering beep, the lid swung open.
“Bingo,” she grinned.
Relief flooded her as her fingers found the familiar grip of her Vector. She drew out the chrome pistol, its weight grounding her. The rest of her gear lay neatly folded beneath – flak vest, tac-boots, even her battered pressure suit.
"Good," she breathed, strapping her weapon to her waist. It was odd that they had given her her gun back. Maybe they really weren’t prisoners here. But if Addison’s mother taught her anythingr, it was that you always look a gift horse in the mouth.
Feeling more confident with her weapon at her side, Addison left quietly as she came, reflecting on what she had learned about the facility from the data core the previous evening.
She pulled out her pad once more, the soft blue light illuminating her features as she swiped through the downloaded files.
Addison's eyes narrowed as she tapped into the facility’s schematics. Most decks were mundane – crew quarters, mess halls, rec areas.
It was the lowermost deck that held her attention, blinking an ominous red on the schematics that popped up on her pad when she accessed the network.
A message blinked on the screen:
DECK 18 - SPECIMEN CONTAINMENT
ACCESS RESTRICTED - COMMAND AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED
She tried everything she could think of, but it seemed there was no way to access any information about that deck. With every tap, she expected to find herself thrown out of the system, but the datapad was as patient as she was, throwing rejection again and again, only to offer the password screen once more.
Her jaw set with determination. Whatever "specimens" they were keeping down there, Addison intended to find out. If she couldn’t access it digitally, she would just have to check it out in person.
The corridor outside was eerily silent, save for the low thrum of the station's power plant vibrating through the deck plates. Addison made her way to the central hub, where a bank of elevators waited. The doors parted at her approach, revealing a car as bland and white as everything else in this place.
She stepped inside, skin prickling with unease, and jabbed the button for Deck 18.
Nothing. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment from the control panel. Addison's fist clenched, a curse hissing through her teeth.
"Find something interesting, Captain Gray?" The voice that oozed from the intercom was liquid silk, brimming with smug confidence. Addison's hackles rose instantly. Driver.
"Thought I'd take the full tour," she said, forcing nonchalance into her tone. "Getting the sense that's not an option."
“Perceptive. You shouldn’t even have those schematics, you know. I wonder if our little rogue AI has decided to try and make you a new target for trouble. Deck Eighteen is off-limits. For now.”
"Thought you said we weren't prisoners." Addison leaned against the wall, arms folded, masking the tension thrumming through her body.
"Oh, you're not." Driver chuckled, the sound grating against her nerves. "But Specimen Containment... let's just say it's not ready for public viewing. The exhibits might prove hazardous to your health."
“You really have a way with words, Driver.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“It wasn’t a compliment. If you listened between the lines, I was calling you a creepy fuck.”
Another chuckle echoed through the small space. "Coming from you... I doubt very much that many things frighten you. I'll reserve judgment on whether or not it's a compliment that I 'creep you out' after you've seen Specimen Containment."
“And there you just went and did it again.”
“Very well, Captain. Let’s introduce you to our… Other guests.”
The lift shuddered to life, beginning its slow descent. Addison's grip on the railing turned her knuckles white, her breath coming in short, controlled bursts. When the doors finally opened with a soft ding, a wave of cool air washed over her, carrying the sharp scent of antiseptic mingled with something... musky. It tugged at her memory, reminiscent of the menagerie on Kylops Right Colony, where the galaxy's deadliest creatures were kept on display.
Stepping out, Addison was assaulted by the harsh colors of the corridor. Neon green and pink stripes adorned the walls, their garish hues seeming to writhe in her peripheral vision. The metal floor amplified each step as she ventured deeper into the facility's bowels.
Cages lined both sides of the hallway, sealed off with thick, reinforced glass. Many stood empty, their interiors bearing the marks of neglect. But others... Addison's throat tightened as her gaze fell upon the occupied enclosures. In that moment, a pang of regret shot through her. Maybe Jock had been right – maybe she shouldn't have accepted the offer of his company.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
In one cell, a creature that resembled a cross between a snake and a scorpion coiled languidly around itself, its multiple eyes tracking Addison's progress with unsettling interest. She fought the urge to recoil, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.
In another, a hideous mass of tentacles writhed in a tank of viscous liquid, occasionally smacking against the glass as if trying to grasp her.
A quadrupedal beast with razor-sharp talons paced restlessly, its furless hide rippling as it let out an unnerving howl. The sound sent shivers down her spine, echoing in the sterile corridor.
Something that resembled a hairless ape with a hide like crimson scales rattled the bars, growling and hissing like a rabid animal.
And then... She saw it, the bare edges of her perception latching onto a presence directly ahead of her.
Her pulse quickened as Addison approached the end of the corridor, an ominous presence drawing her forward despite every instinct screaming to flee. The creature's cell loomed ahead, positioned to capture attention from any vantage point down the bizarre hallway. It lurked in shadows that seemed to deepen with each step, cloaking its form.
Addison's skin prickled, the fine hairs on her nape rising to attention. Fear coiled in her gut, a living thing twisting and writhing. Her muscles tensed, primed for flight, yet her boots continued their steady rhythm against the metal grating, an executioner's drumbeat propelling her onward.
She halted before the cell, taking in the thick glass - at least ten inches of impenetrable barrier between her and the monstrosity within. The entire cell was made of the same thick glass on every side, suspended by thick chains that rose high into the dark above it. Her breath fogged the surface as she leaned closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull despite the alarms blaring in her skull.
It moved then, a fluid unfurling of obsidian limbs, glossy and sleek like an insect's carapace. The creature glided to the glass with a predator's lethal grace, filling her vision. Addison's heart stuttered and raced as she took in its appearance - the elongated, ridged skull tapering back, nestled among a strange grouping of tubular protrustions, the wicked arc of its spear-tipped tail. It was almost insectile in nature, but moved with far more deliberation than any creature she had ever seen.
But it was the eyes, or lack thereof, that sent ice flooding her veins. Blank expanses of exoskeleton, dark and unfathomable, yet Addison had the uncanny sense of being seen, analyzed, dissected layer by layer. Of being...known. Hunger, savage and raw, emanated from the creature as it studied her, suffocating in its intensity.
Unbidden, she lifted a trembling hand, pressing her palm to the unyielding glass. The creature's lips peeled back, metallic fangs catching the harsh light, and bioluminescent patterns burst to life along the angular planes of its body. Mesmerizing pulses of color, vivid and strangely beautiful, lured her forward until only a scant few inches and the barrier separated their faces.
Every cell in Addison's body vibrated with the sudden certainty that this creature was far more than a mere beast. Ancient intelligence, vast and unfathomable, lurked in the chitinous, reflective depths of that blackened, eyeless gaze. This close, the air fairly crackled with its presence, raising the fine hairs on her arms.
A resonant hum built in her bones, the glass quivering against her palm with the force of it. The patterns intensified, searing into her retinas in strobing flashes of bio-electric light. Addison's breath caught, pressure building in her skull. Her thoughts blurred at the edges, narrowing to a single focal point -
"So, Captain Gray," a voice oozed from behind her, shattering the trance. "Meet the reason this facility was built."
Addison whirled, heart in her throat, hand flying to the empty holster at her side. Driver stood an arm's length away, too close, that ever-present smirk carving cruel lines into his face. He cocked his head, gaze flicking past her to the creature as if sharing some unspoken communication. When his eyes met hers again, they glittered with malice.
"Meet... meet what?" she managed to choke out. “And how long have you been standing there?”
"About fifteen minutes…”
“What?” Addison thought to herself. “Fifteen minutes? There’s no way…”
“Allow me to introduce you to Apex," Driver continued with a flourish of his hand. "The reason you and your pretty little ship are stranded here." His hand flashed out in a flourish, encompassing the cell. "Impressive, isn't it? Of course, I'd expect no less from a seasoned space jockey like yourself."
She glanced back at the creature, which was twisting its head side to side, examining her.
She fought the urge to back away, trapped between Driver's unsettling intensity and the creature...the Apex...at her spine.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
As if in response to his words, the creature slammed its tail against the glass, the impact reverberating through the soles of her boots. Despite herself, Addison let out a small yelp, cowering. David took her by the arm and led her a few steps away from the cage. She trembled as he released her, smirking at her reaction.
"Still find me creepy, Captain?" Driver's smirk sharpened, a knowing glint in his eye.
"Yes," she ground out. "That thing, however..." She jerked her chin at the Apex looming behind her, watching their exchange with a predator's avid focus. "Is fucking terrifying."
"An apt description. I'll add it to my notes." He shifted, angling himself between her and the cell, forcing her attention. "Fascinating species. Deadly. Highly intelligent. We've encountered them on worlds scattered across the galaxy. And yet, we know so little. But that's what this facility is for, isn't it? To study their incredible life cycle. Convergent evolution, maybe. Maybe I’ll give you a firsthand experience one of these days.”
Her skin prickled at the comment, but she couldn’t put a finger on why.
“Is it from here? Is that why it glows?”
“No, not at all. Apex specimens don’t normally do that. That was from an experiment from my predecessor. She wanted to see what would happen if we injected some genes from the local fauna prior to incubation. The glowing effect was an expected side effect, but there were… Complications.” He pursed his lips together, and she could tell he wasn’t willing to divulge more.
A chill skated down Addison's spine at his evasiveness, the weight of the words left unspoken. "You're just full of non-answers, aren't you?"
"And you're far too perceptive for your own good." He leaned in, so close she could feel his breath hot against her ear. Why they gave androids such realistic details, Addison would never understand. Her nails bit into her palms, her body wire-taut. "But then, that's why you're here, isn't it?” he continued. “That insatiable curiosity. That need to peel back the layers and see how it all ticks."
He pulled back, just enough for their gazes to lock. Addison's heart thudded against her ribs, his eyes a fathomless black in the harsh light. "You're getting quite the exclusive tour, Captain. Access to knowledge most beings can only dream of. All we ask in return is your...discretion. Co-operation, really. You understand that… when… you leave this place, you will be signing the most comprehensive NDA ever lawyered into existence, correct? There’s a lot of credits to had here, you know."
Addison's eyes sliced into Driver's, her mouth a tight line. "I didn't claw my way up from the gutter of this galaxy by betraying my principles at the first whiff of credits. You can dangle all the shiny toys and secrets you want, but I won't be your pawn in some sick game."
Driver's chuckle slithered across her skin. He traced a finger down the glass, the creature within mirroring his movement with a claw. "Principles," he mused, the word dripping with derision. "A luxury for those who can afford them, Captain Gray. Out here, in the void between stars, principles are as flimsy as a pressure suit with a slow leak. Sooner or later, they'll leave you gasping."
Addison's knuckles blanched as her grip tightened on her holster. The creature - Apex, Driver had called it - lunged at the glass, a screech tearing from its throat. She flinched despite herself, the primal sound worming into the deepest recesses of her hindbrain, triggering an avalanche of instincts older than conscious thought.
“What exactly do you want from me?” she asked.
“What we want, is to extend an offer. As you well know, you’re quite good at what you do.”
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Driver," Addison replied, her voice laced with suspicion. "I don't negotiate while staring down the throat of an alien beast."
"But that's just it," Driver interjected, pushing himself off from the glass to stand upright. He took a couple steps forward, closing the gap between them. "We happen to think you're exactly what Tartarus Deep needs right now."
Driver's lips peeled back, revealing too-white teeth and for a sheer moment, Addison saw a similarity to the creature in the cage. "Exquisite, isn't it? The perfect predator, honed by eons of evolution. And yet, for all its savagery, it's a marvel of biology. Imagine what we could learn, Captain. What we could become."
Addison swallowed, her tongue darting out to moisten suddenly dry lips. The air in the corridor pressed down, thick and cloying. Driver's gaze bored into her, twin black holes threatening to swallow her whole.
"I'm not interested in becoming anything other than what I am," she ground out, each word a struggle. "I'm a scavenger, not a scientist. Not a test subject for whatever twisted experiments you're running here. I won’t be your lapdog."
Addison watched him closely, her eyes narrowing. Her stomach churned as she considered his words and the implications behind them.
Driver's soft laughter sent chills down Addison's spine as his unblinking gaze bore into her. "Oh no, Captain Gray. We don't want you as a lapdog. We believe you could be much more."
Addison's eyes darted between Driver and Apex, her heart racing as she realized she was trapped between two predators: one visible, the other concealed behind a facade of civility. The cold metal grating beneath her feet seemed to vibrate with an unseen energy, amplifying her sense of unease.
"I told you, I don't play games," she spat, jaw clenched against the rising tide of fear in her gut.
"Neither do I, Captain," Driver retorted, his expression as immovable as the reinforced glass surrounding them. "I'm at Tartarus Deep to unlock mysteries - not engage in petty diversions."
He glided towards Apex's prison, his fingertips grazing the surface once more. The reverence in his touch made Addison's skin crawl, as if invisible insects were skittering across her flesh.
"As for you," he continued without looking back, "you're here to observe and learn. For now."
His words hung in the air like a toxic mist as he turned to face her. His gaze pierced through her, probing deep into the recesses of her mind.
Addison swallowed hard, forcing down the bile that threatened to rise in her throat. She straightened her spine, meeting his gaze with steely determination. She'd faced down hostile aliens, treacherous space pirates, and volatile supernovas - she could handle one unnerving research analyst.
"What exactly do I have to learn here?" she demanded, her voice steadier than she felt.
"That's for you to discover," he answered cryptically.
A bone-chilling screech from Apex shattered their standoff, the sound reverberating through the chamber. The creature slammed its tail against the glass with earth-shaking force, yet the barrier held firm.
Driver's unsettling grin returned as he glanced back at Apex. "Feeding time," he said casually. "You're welcome to observe."
As he spoke, a flurry of activity erupted inside the cell. Great white clouds billowed from tiny holes in the walls - not smoke, Addison realized, but some kind of pressurized gas. Apex flailed, its muted screeches penetrating the glass as it retreated to a corner.
The ceiling slowly parted, thick chains pulling the glass panes upward. Something plummeted from above, crashing to the floor of the containment unit with a sickening thud. A goat, Addison realized with mounting horror.
Another burst of gas, and the chains released, slamming the glass back down with finality.
In a heartbeat, Apex was upon its prey. Addison flinched as blood sprayed across the window, painting it a gruesome crimson. The goat lay lifeless, the creature crouched atop it like a grotesque trophy. It snarled, baring metallic teeth, before a smaller mouth extended from its maw to puncture the goat's flesh, hissing and screaming.
Addison recoiled.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Driver mused, his hand still pressed to the glass. "Truly a perfect killing machine. Disappointing it didn't use the secondary jaws this time. I've seen it punch straight through a bovine skull - the force is quite impressive." He glanced at her. "Are you familiar with the Mantis Shrimp from old Earth?"
Addison shook her head, fighting the urge to vomit.
"A shame. It's our closest comparison. Mantis shrimp could 'punch' prey faster than sound, with the force of a bullet. While Apex lacks that speed, it far surpasses the force."
Addison's stomach churned. "I would like to leave now, Driver."
He turned away to look at her. “You do look like you could use a rest. We will talk more later. You are free to go.”
His attention returned to Apex as it pummeled the goat's corpse, tearing away chunks of flesh and fur.
Addison walked away, her steps measured. But as the weight of what she'd witnessed crashed over her, instinct took over. She ran, her boots clanging against the metal floor, each impact jolting through her bones.
She ran faster than she had ever ran in her life. But not from the creature.
Deep in her heart, she knew she was running from Driver.
**********