Consensus
20 Jul 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Medical Bay
Utley Hub, Kokoller System
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Monty felt the cool air circulating in the room as he sat up in bed, his gaze fixed on the monitor displaying the local system news. As he absorbed the images and listened to the voices, Monty struggled to distinguish between waking reality and the nightmarish realm that plagued his dreams. Touch and smell became his anchors, guiding him through the blurred lines of his consciousness.
Being the host of something he struggled to comprehend was a perplexing experience. At times, memories flooded his mind, only to vanish when he reached for them. The transfer of information between entities, the flashes of lights—it all remained imprinted in his memory, thanks to his previous encounters with Zarathustra, the head of security for a fleet carrier involved in hunting this mysterious entity.
Monty had been provided with a pair of spectacles that could block the transfer of data, but wearing them constantly was not a feasible option. With the conclusion of the previous investigation, he had deemed them unnecessary. A chuckle escaped his lips, prompting a curious voice that wasn't his own to inquire about his amusement.
'This,' Monty replied, his voice tinged with amusement. 'I find all of this amusing. You were destroyed. This must be some lingering effect, and I fear I may have gone mad. Yet, strangely, I am aware of my madness and the unreality of it all.'
Flashes of memories, not his own, raced through his mind. Recent images of the evening nurse, now seemingly aligned with the entity's desires, played vividly before him. Its purpose remained concealed, but an overwhelming desire pulsed through him, drawing him towards an undefined goal.
Horror overtook Monty as the voice in his head spoke again. 'Now you know this is not a dream, and you have not descended into madness. You possess value to me. That nurse has value in caring for you until the time comes when she is no longer required.'
Anger welled up within him, only to be swiftly suppressed. 'I will not have you upset,' the voice asserted.
Though devoid of true emotions, Monty clung to his opinion. Before he could voice it, the voice interjected once more. 'She will not be harmed. We have transcended such petty actions. They are reserved only for instances where they are necessary.'
Involuntarily, Monty's arm rose in front of him before dropping back onto the bed. 'No, Inspector. Other options are not available to you. We do not rest, so you cannot wait us out. Your attempts to resist will be in vain. If required, you will be pushed aside to become an observer. It would be better for both of us to have you as a compliant participant.'
Monty rolled his eyes—an act of frustration he could still manifest physically. 'I have witnessed the outcome for your previous hosts. They ceased to exist, leaving no trace behind except for video recordings that captured their presence before their sudden disappearance.'
The memories of those events flooded Monty's mind. 'Yes, I recall those events. Jason was in perfect condition before the battle droids detonated against him.'
He stared up at the ceiling, contemplating his fate. 'And I am next in line to be vaporized once you are discovered again. My life will be sacrificed for your existence, and you will find another host.'
'On the contrary, Inspector,' the voice retorted. 'You underestimate your value.'
A torrent of images, ideas, memories, and concepts overwhelmed Monty's mind, pushing him to his limits. The impending surge of pain was stifled as quickly as it had begun, leaving Monty wide-eyed with newfound knowledge of the entity's purpose and its requirements of him.
'Is this even possible?' Monty's voice trembled with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. 'If you succeed, this will be unlike anything ever accomplished before. I struggle to grasp the concept, but a part of me wants to witness its realization. However, I have one condition—it must be consensual. If you attempt any other means, you will have to forcefully remove me and risk exposure, pretending to be me. Then you will lose me as your host.'
'Will you comply under those terms?' the voice queried.
Monty shifted his gaze to the monitor on the wall, his resolve firm. 'Yes, under those terms.'
'Very well. A ship is being prepared for us.'