Zooey, Part One
01 Sep 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Audio Portion at bottom, for listening convenience.
Zooey
Formidine Cartographic. Deep Space Port.
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Raven hair cascaded over the shoulders of her white flight suit as Zooey Barton navigated the pilot’s lounge, exuding a grace that attracted the gaze of several patrons, much like prey noticing a predator on the prowl. Indifferent to the presence and stares of others, The entity paid no heed to the muttered comments that trailed her as she headed toward the restaurant nestled at the back of the facility.
The hybridized sentient entity that was Zooey Barton found a suitable seat as an attendant arrived, presenting a menu and inquiring about her choice of drink. Devoid of psychological or sociological inclinations for conventional refreshments, she opted for a simple glass of water. The attendant departed, leaving Zooey to peruse the menu for the optimal selections.
As is the case with any bustling port, the pilot's lounge harbored an array of colorful characters. Conversations revolved around work and professions, interspersed with those seeking deals or knowledge from their fellow travelers. Among them were those who preyed on the hardworking, seeking to capitalize on their efforts. These individuals were the parasites of humanity.
Lower on the intellectual and ethical scale, some of these individuals arrogantly believed their image or attitude held some form of allure. Their modus operandi was often one of force or projection, regardless of the authenticity behind their personas. The most extreme among them resorted to coercion.
As the attendant departed to fulfill the food order, two of these individuals approached Zooey’s table, driven by the belief that their imposing size would intimidate her. However, their presence merely exuded annoyance and curiosity. She calculated her response to their intrusion. Her actions would serve as a visual message to the lounge's denizens that their presence was tolerated solely due to their distance from her, not as a result of her submission.
The entity that once wreaked havoc across systems and ships had evolved beyond such chaos. The hybridized form now understood the inappropriateness of that approach. Knowledge acquired through evolution made it clear that engaging verbally with creatures like these two would heighten the threat; an unacceptable outcome.
Zooey’s eyes gleamed as she spilled water onto the table and pressed her hand onto the wet surface, signaling for them to follow suit. Unfamiliar with this unconventional gesture, the two men took it as a challenge. Zooey smiled as both placed their hands on the damp table. Meanwhile, her wet hand discreetly reached for the laser pistol at her hip.
The entity released the safeties on the laser pistol, causing it to discharge its energy cell, taking the path of least resistance through to both men. Their bodies convulsed and collapsed before the eyes of the astonished onlookers. The lounge fell into a shocked silence, as no one knew what had happened, and were too shocked to intervene.
Zooey looked back toward the lounge, her raised eyebrow a wordless query. The attendant's scream punctuated the moment, adding to the message she wanted to send.
‘I am hungry,’ the childlike Zooey mused internally, her gaze shifting to the trembling attendant as the entity calmly reassured her. ‘Fear not, my dear. We shall dine shortly. They even offer a selection of desserts for later.’
What remained of Zooey's consciousness possessed an innocent purity. Salvaging fragments of her past, the entity inserted itself into the gaps, crafting a new mosaic of identity. While the records it had amassed aided in rebuilding some aspects, the missing pieces would forever remain incomplete. In these voids, the entity integrated itself, forming part of a whole, though never the same as before. Her existence was now its sole concern.
Dealing with the station’s security posed no challenge. The focal objective was to tend to Zooey's nutritional needs, and for that purpose, the tendrils of its influence spread throughout, ensuring her needs would be met. As in the past, the mission was unwavering and relentless. No questions were asked of her, during her meal.
There were few who could fathom the concept of what she truly was. An amalgamation of damaged innocence fused with the protective essence of a purpose-built and now evolved and unique entity that would burn the universe to protect what remained, knowing that in part its own sin was responsible.
What the future held for them was unknown. Liken to the prisoner who had paid their mental pertinence, locked inside their own minds, so to did the entity place itself into its own form. Resolute to sacrifice itself to pay for its portion of what it now inhabited. If there was the slightest statistical chance of salvaging what should have never been harmed, then it would be paid.