Subject 1A: Shard of the Primordial Virus
Containment Field Breached.
EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED.
Export Data?
Yes> No>
“Yes, tap yes!”
She gave Jonah a long look and tapped ‘Yes’.
Information scrolled by and assorted boxes containing complex code quickly winked in and out of existence.
“So what is this ‘Primordial Virus’?”
In response to her question a short section populated the screen.
The Primordial Virus was discovered [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] on Earth in the mid-1900s. Extensive Testing has concluded several discoveries.
All viruses present on Earth are predicted to be ‘descendants’ of Subject 1A.
Predictive Algorithms estimate at >99% confidence that Subject 1A did not originate in the Earth's Solar System.
No Data Available regarding Extra-Solar Point of Origin for Subject 1A.
Pertinent Research Notes:
Subject 1A referred to as ‘the Shard’ in 1,437 logs.
Biological Interactions with the ‘Shard’ vary wildly.
In rare instances researchers observed positive reciprocal biological relationships post-exposure. More than 80% of test subjects are commonly referred to as “piles of goo” or similar variants thereof in the researcher’s literature.
Extensive Experiments with both Human and non-Human organisms. Unique developments observed in digestive track of Human-Subject 564G. Study of Human-Subject 564G's Test Cell #23 included surveillance footage of Subject 564G consuming what appears to be ‘a mushroom’ of unknown providence.
Human testing suspended to focus research efforts on possible mycelial breakthrough. Researcher conclusions on tests not present in files.
Leanne’s head jumped back in disgust, “Human testing? That’s what was going on here?”
“Did it evolve the mushrooms or did the mushrooms evolve against it?”
She moved her head to look at Jonah but the sound of the AI disk ejecting from the slot paused the both of them. They both looked at the AI disk, sitting on the ejected tray.
“Well Sentinel, grab it and let’s go.”
“You said you were Security Personnel too. You grab it. Jonah.”
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Yuma entered the room and froze. It was a simple office, but large. Computer Terminals lined each of the walls along with lines of blue servers surrounding them on all sides. In the middle was a large desk with scattered sheets of paper.
What made her pause was behind the desk. In clean blue-glowing lines tracing the outline of a strange business suit was a blue-skinned woman. She had glowing translucent glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. Her hair was a digital facsimile of a clean, professional bun, tied tightly on the back of her head.
“Excuse me, who are you? Where is Janine? Wait, are you Janine? Where have you been? The paperwork build up has been unsustainable for… How many cycles has it been…”
Yuma’s mind raced as she took another few steps into the room. This was an SI, the Paperwork SI or something like that she guessed.
She didn’t doubt that this SI could be incredibly dangerous. At the moment, she… it, didn’t seem dangerous. She would rather not have to fight it. She put a hand behind her back and waved off the seemingly unnoticed people behind her. Please no one else come in here.
“Yuma, are you okay in here?”
Dammit Korl.
The looked up from her train of thought, “Who’s this? One of yours Janin… Yuma? I thought you said you were Janine?”
A hard dangerous glow started to emanate from her… its eyes.
“I… I’m sorry, my hearing hasn’t completely come back yet. I haven’t recovered fully from Cryo. I’m not Janine, I’m Janine’s replacement, Yuma.” She grit her teeth. Now she was having to call herself ‘Yuma’. Her name was Yumata.
“It’s about time that good-for-nothing Cryo-SI sent some fresh stock. I can’t tell you how much work we have to catch up on. Take a not… Who’s the damaged organic behind you?”
The inhuman glean in its eyes was back. The hair on the back of her neck rose. The air was charged, Yuma had a sinking sensation that she was operating on the edge here.
Dammit Kor-
“Sorry miss….? I was assigned to work with Miss Yuma.”
“Oh! Why are you damaged, organic?”
“I… uh I lost the arm before going into the Cryo-Pod on Earth.”
“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” The SI’s voice became more and more digital sounding as the 'mmmmm' went on. A server on the wall started to smoke before the body of the SI glitched in reality and then finally settled.
“Acceptable. Now Yuma, take out a notepad, we have a lot to cover.”
Yuma didn’t move, she slowly pulled out her portable to begin taking notes. Something was 'off' and in a big way but she couldn't place it. Her portable suddenly slid in half. She looked to the back wall and could see an incredibly thin... what seemed to be a sheet of paper. She looked back to the SI, it had those strange 2D 'sheets of paper' floating around her. The SI was dangerous, but it wasn't necessarily at the breaking point. Yuma thought that was impossible to miss. Just in case Korl got any ideas she flicked her eyes toward him. Thankfully, Korl seemed to get the hint.
“Well, are you going to get out a notepad?”
A *tap* *tap* *tap* clicked behind Yuma. Oh please no more people.
“I’m sorry Madam, we were only issued portables. We’ve run out of paper here in the Administrative Section.”
“You! Illogical Conclusion! Why are you so old? Impossible that they would have put you in Cryo at your age.”
The Clan Head nodded, “Yes ma’am, my name is Lee I’ve been managing physical supplies but the way to the Storage Bays are security locked.”
“Affirmative, it says a priority lock was placed here.”
The Clan Head tap tap tapped his way to her desk and brushed his hand against some of the papers. They disintegrated to invisible grains.
The SI jumped back in her chair. “Hmmmm, I… I see. That’s certainly… troubling. Is all the paper like this? Don't tell me everyone is using portables!”
Stolen story; please report.
Yuma kept her face still as surprise rippled through her at seeing the entirely too Humanlike, forlorn, pleading look in the SI’s eyes.
“Lee, would you take my two new Organics to resupply?”
Clan Head Lee bowed at the waist, “certainly Madam.”
“Good. Yuma and…”
“Korl, Madam.”
“Korl? Well, whatever your name is, you and Yuma go register on the Pad over there.”
Yuma would have gulped but her mouth was dry. The SI seemed… only mildly unhinged. Did she trust the SI enough to place her hand, her life, on the Pad? Absolutely not.
Yuma looked over to Korl and raised a flinty eyebrow. Korl’s eyes were wide as he moved it back and forth fractionally.
“You won’t register yourself as Administrative Personnel?”
Danger. Danger flashed with harsh blue eyes and warning bells in Yuma’s mind. The digital paper weapons or whatever they were called were dangerous. If the sharp edge was pointed at you it was functionally invisble. She moved toward the HandPad and placed her hand down on it.
Register as Administrative Personnel?
YES> NO>
Yuma moderated her breath as she tapped ‘Yes’.
ERROR. Prior Registration as Security Personnel. Unable to Register as Administrative Personnel.
Yuma stepped away from the Terminal, she hoped that it wouldn’t be noticed.
“You are already registered? As Security Personnel??”
“It appears so madam.” Yuma’s mouth was dry but she inched her hands toward the rifle slung over her back.
Lee started to speak, “Madam, this happened to me when I had woken from Cryo. I was registered in the Engine… Compartment, it was part of an abandoned plan to ‘pre-assign’ individuals to certain sections of the ship.”
“Hmmm,” the static build up increased at each ‘m’, “A questionable conclusion but convoluted. Did you say, Engine Compartment? I believe it is called the Engine Department.”
The three froze.
Yuma saw the Clan Head’s grip tighten on his walking stick.
“They called it both when I was there, my visit was very brief.”
“Hmmm, a valid conclusion. They’ve always been quite strange back there. Do we still have paper products? Real, paper, products?”
"Yes madam. Our stocks were sealed and preserved after portable's were distributed. Plenty left, in the Storage Bay."
She let out a digital sigh, "Thank the.... Thank the... thankfully someone had the foresight. I could just imagine. if. we. were. stuck. using. portables." As each word a piece of digital paper over her head appeared and started to spin. Yuma couldn't help but glance at the clean line that split her portable in half. It was completely smooth.
Korl gulped as he smoothly, and most importantly, slowly moved over the Terminal and placed his hand on the pad. He used his nose to tap ‘Yes>’.
Administrative Registration Process Initiated…
Korl bit down a burning, twisting stab through the palm of his hand. The smell of cooking flesh filled his nose. His hand released and he looked at the palm. Nothing.
“I’m registered Madam.”
“You have Nano in you? When did those get authorized for distribution? WHILE YOU WERE STILL IN CRYO NO LESS? I am tempted to have words with the Cryo-SI about this highly unorthodox behavior."
If she only knew. The three thought simultaneously.
The silence stretched out. The wily Clan Head pressed forward. "Yes Madam. As you can guess, the switch from paper to portable caused some issues. Switching back to the infallibility of paper has been... difficult." The Clan Head added quickly, "But necessary and long overdue."
She… It? attempted to pick up another sheet of paper on her as it disintegrated in her hand. A blue flash sparked from her eyes to fill the room for an instant. "I agree Lee. It's good to meet another paper purist on the ship. Korl, go with Lee and resupply the entire Administrative Section. Yuma. I’ve notified the Security Personnel Management Office regarding your mis-registration and received confirmation. They are waiting for you. Do you know where to go?”
Yuma shook her head. Thankfully she had already known about the 'Personnel' over in the Security Office, otherwise she might not have been able to hide the shock on her face.
“It is… it is… it is… did you get that?”
Yuma’s eyes were a little wider than usual. She nodded slowly and carefully.
“Ok good, please leave. I am quite distressed at the moment.” The SI placed both of its elbows on the table and buried her… its head in its hands.
Lee bowed again followed by a hasty but surprisingly disciplined bow from Korl. Yuma backed her way out of the office quickly and smoothly. They had gotten very lucky. This she knew.
----------------------------------------
Tule stopped actively scanning his surroundings. The smiles had disappeared and his surroundings had stilled. Not in a dangerous way, but in a calm one.
Jonah had finished checking over Jack and was down the hall heading towards Leanne who was doing something at the Terminal.
He turned toward Jack. Jack was seated, back against the wall, skin puffy and red. His hair was very dark brown with gold tips, curly and greasy with sweat, some of it plastered against his skull. Jack breathed through his mouth in sharp quick inhales followed by heavy exhalations. His eyes were heavy lidded, half open, unblinking and looking directly at Tule.
“You know, I know I’m not the most stable guy. I lose my mind when I see a crab. Kind of feel the same way - about you.”
Tule didn’t respond.
“Your eyes… are different. It’s like I’m looking at a crab.”
Jack grunted and Tule stood there. Their eyes were locked with one another.
“You’re a crab.”
“…Yes... and I am still Tule.”
Jack tried to laugh but hacked a thick wad of phlegm instead.
“Yeah, I know that. Part of me doesn’t though. Part of me wants to kill you and taste the soft meat inside.”
“You do not look like you are in any condition to attempt that.”
“No, I’m not. Most of me doesn’t want to either. I like you, I mean shit, we beat the SI together.”
Jack broke eye contact and leaned his head back against the wall.
“Just… just don’t come near me when I get hot. Can’t always control myself.”
Jack leaned forward and met Tule’s eyes again.
To Tule, clarification seemed important to group cohesiveness “Hot?”
“Yeah, like the crab-men we fought before entering the Core. Understand?”
Tule nodded, he did remember, “The hybrids. I understand.” Tule did another sweep of their surroundings, “Did you see where the little brother went?”
“Little brother?”
“Yes they called each other Big, Little, and Middle ‘Brother’.”
“Yeah the small one. I buried my fingers in his skull and ran enough current to ash him.” Jack didn't include that there was the influence of another force beyond his own electricity.
Tule’s face broke into a grin at that.
“So who were you fighting then?”
“A large mushroom-man who split into copies when I bisected him.”
Jack softly laughed, not wanting to start coughing again. “That sucks, he exploded at some point?”
“Yes, I assume after the other two died.”
“They were part of the… mushroom… entity.”
“Yes. Jonah called it a Mycelial Net.”
Jack nodded at that, that made sense, the connection they shared. “They’re not dead.”
Tule looked taken aback for a second before he swept his gaze over his surroundings.
“They’re not coming back, at least, I don’t think they are. I get the impression that they want us to leave.” Jack doubled over as he coughed, flecks of spittle drooled down the side of his mouth. He brushed it away with an annoyed, errant hand. Jack was resting his head against the wall, eyes closed and his breathing labored when Leanne and Jonah came out.
Leanne asked the obvious question, “Tule, what happened to him?”
Jonah corrected her assumption, “Tule didn’t do anything, I believe Jack… interacted or absorbed the Shard.”
Tule marginally raised an eyebrow. His hardened skin made his facial mannerisms more subtle than they had been. When no answer was forthcoming he asked, “Shard of what?”
“Of something called the ‘Primordial Virus’.”
Tule grimaced at the name, “It sounds as an evil thing.”
Jonah shot a very unsubtle look at Tule, “There’s no such thing as ‘evil’ Tule. Just choices and consequences.”
“You’ve sacrificed wisdom at the altar of intelligence, Jonah. Evil exists. On this ship and bey-”
A manufactured cough interrupted them, “Philosophy is fine and all but mind if we get moving? What did you find out in there?” Leanne was attempting to divert the conversation away from ‘the ~80% chance of turning into Human goo’, “I was promoted to Security Personnel.”
Jack laughed and Leanne’s face flashed red, “What? Don’t believe me?”
“No no, not that, I’m your superior now. You’re in my squad.”
Jack looked to stand but seemed unable to coordinate the strength and coordination to do so. Tule reached out a hand to help him up. His hand flashed out and grasped Tule's hand in a hard grip. There was a tense moment that Jonah missed completely and Leanne picked up but didn’t understand.
Jack grinned and grunted as Tule pulled back and up.
“Thanks Tule.”
There was another meaning that passed between their eyes.
“This does not mean you are my superior.”
“Yeah, Leanne, it does. Just ask the AI disk next time we plug it in.”
“We can do it now!”
“No, we need to leave while they are letting us… Anyone know the way ou-”
Jack fell face forward onto the thinning mycelial floor.