Chief Cain paid a visit to Ward C first. He wanted to hear from Francis what they had discovered deep below the Mars surface. The ward was busy with nurses running checks on each of those who had returned. Francis stood close to someone in deep conversation. The man in question had a thick head of black hair and thick eyebrows. He looked strangely vacant, too. When they saw his approach, they stopped talking.

Francis said, “Chief Cain, I had a feeling you’d want to question us.”

“I want to understand just what happened down there.”

Francis folded his arms. “Nothing good. It would be better to bury that place for good and leave it to rot. It’s already fallen to the Mortalis.”

“Did you encounter any?”

“Only Charles did. He had to take down an infected member of the mining team. The others, while shaken, didn’t appear to show any signs. For now, at least,” the man said.

“I’ll take on your advice, but something tells me the Overseer won’t say no to all that technology.”

“Had a feeling you would say that.”

The man next to Francis gestured dismissively offhand, “This is all it's got you so far? I’m not impressed. You haven’t even taken care of your bodily vulnerabilities!”

“Excuse me?” Chief Cain asked. “What’s his problem?”

Francis looked at Charles, who nodded back at him and came over. “Pyotr here is in the unique position to be the first human possessed by an extraterrestrial.”

“I’m a Nirikiri,” said Pyotr. “My people built the facility you breached. I’m here to figure out what happened to my people.”

Chief Cain looked from one man to the next. He struggled to accept what he was hearing. “Is he infected with a symbiote?”

“Not as far as anyone can tell. It’s all to do with his brain,” said Charles.

“Right. Mind if I take Pyotr and question him?”

Francis just smiled and shook his head. “I can’t stop you, but I don’t know what you expect to find.”

Cain didn’t give the man the satisfaction of a response and instead looked at a nearby doctor. “Have you checked this man over?”

The doctor took one look at Pyotr and answered, “Yes, he is safe to leave the ward. The only thing we discovered is some odd brain scans, but his vitals are normal and there’s no sign of infection.”

“That’s all I need to hear. You, Pyotr, come with me.”

Pyotr looked to his squad leader for guidance.

“Go with the man. It’s not like you have a choice.”

----------------------------------------

The long meandering way back to the Security Dome had been a mostly silent journey with Pyotr mostly looking intensely at different things, from containers to various pieces of technology.

“Okay, I’m a little more impressed. It’s a bit crude, but it’s not like we implemented translation protocols. After all, we never foresaw our demise.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I should’ve asked if not Pyotr, what should I call you?” asked Cain.

“Savin, my name before was Savin. I am over thirteen thousand years old thanks to being frozen in stasis for so long.”

“Thirteen thousand… is that right?”

Savin now grinned at Cain. “That’s a rough guess at best. Last, our records stated; that the average ape span was around thirty to forty years - maybe less. Tell me, have things changed since I went for a long nap?”

“Well, it’s more like seventy-eighty. More if you live well enough.”

“Hah, no wonder my age shocks you, and no wonder you're barely past Sol itself.”

Cain didn’t like being antagonised by the man, and for all he knew this was an elaborate trick intended to waste his time, but the way the man now spoke and acted. I don’t want to believe it, but it looks like I don’t have much choice in the matter. He seems genuine enough.

----------------------------------------

Before reaching the interrogation room, he had one of the on-duty guards go and find Reginald. Once that was done, the three of them were preparing to do a reading. Pyotr sat opposite Cain and smugly looked at the wreathe. “A mind-reading device. A bit of a brutish design. We only required a thin strip that covers the eyes and head. This looks like a torture device, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“You’re observant.”

“I’m a researcher, Chief. If I’m not studying or observing, then I have no purpose.”

“So that’s all your people strove for, science above all else.”

Savin stared at the wreathe intently before glancing back at the man. “If only it were that simple. My people believed not in life after death, but beyond it. We pursued as you people call it - godhood.”

“Why?”

“Why? No wonder you’re still apes. You fail to see the bigger picture, even with the head start we gave you.”

“Just put on the wreath. It will be over quickly.”

“And here’s me thinking we had trust, that we could talk things out like civilised peoples, but I see now you’re no less barbaric than the Ascenders. They had such great power and wielded it recklessly, too. Since you’re here and not them, that tells me they only got so far.”

“Put on the wreathe, Savin.”

The man shook his head, but still reluctantly obliged. Cain did the same and nodded to Reginald to begin.

The first thing Cain noted was the hum and vibrations that surrounded him. The scale of the room was truly massive and on all sides could be seen tall, gangly bipedal aliens. They paid no attention except for one, who leaned on the railing and smiled. “If this is your idea of torture, it won’t work. I may miss them, but this is all meaningless. Sentiment has no value to me.”

Cain looked as the aliens talked or input adjustments. The holographic screens and even their armour. How could such a race fall?

“Hubris, Adam, is the bane of all species who aspire to be bigger than what they are,” Savin said turning and walking down the ramp that led to where Cain stood. “We found out the hard way and someday, you will do. We were custodians and now we’re nothing at all.”

“Where is Reginald?”

“Why - I don’t know.”

“What?” asked Cain. He didn’t get to speak any further as the alien grabbed him by the throat and lifted him with ease, its rubbery hands somehow made his skin blister.

Savin looked from left to the right of Cain, inspecting his face. “You people are so tiny, to think you even made it this far. Some had even considered you as weapons to match the Ascenders. The human ape, adaptive, cunning and oh so clever, but lacking that which gave the Ascenders their edge!” The alien licked its lips using a long tongue. “Oh, how I wish those who doubted your kind could see you now. We modified you to be at a disadvantage, and you still managed to overcome it. That was the mistake with humanity -” Savin dropped the Chief of Security and the man clutched at his red, raw throat. “Indomitable spirit can overcome any obstacle if you have the will for it”

Cain steadied himself and got back on his feet. “I will ask again, you Xeno bastard! Where is Reginald?”

“He is lost in my memories and might be for quite some time. Truth be told, Pyotr has nothing more for me but Reginald. I could use him. From this point forward, this base is mine.”

Cain chuckled finally, “about that. I guess you’ll want an audience with the Overseer.”

“Ah yes, the one you all answer to. If you could be so kind?”

Cain put his hands on his hips. “I can get you the meeting. What I can’t promise is his cooperation.”

“Power is absolute. He won’t have a choice.”

“Heh - is that so?”