Resonance
06 Dec 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Part Twenty-Four
Resonance
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Jason woke to the smell of cooked food. On a small ship, landed at a pirate facility that had undergone a violent internal mutiny, and the lady responsible for it was cooking food in the little kitchenette onboard the Diamondback Explorer. That anyone could cook anything in such a confined space, was surprising enough. That someone, that held such sway over the events that were still taking place outside, was cooking for themselves and not having another do it, was hard for Jason to wrap his head around. Even at a proper planetary facility, the pirates he ran with, or used to run with, rarely cooked anything, other than their own brains, with all the drugs and booze they liberated from ships they interdicted and plundered.
Stretching his arms and back, Jason leaned over to look at his data tablet. The conditions outside were surprisingly calm and serene. There was no lingering smoke nor could he see damage. It would have taken more than just themselves, working around the clock, to undo everything he had witnessed before boarding the ship and being forced to rest.
Jason bolted upright into a sitting position as his eyes opened wide. He had not noticed the date and time on his data tablet until now. He didn’t sleep through the evening, he slept through two days and nights, and the light outside was the morning of the third day.
A low hum caught his attention as he looked at the small partition that was part of the cramped quarters. Jason was startled when the sonic shower activated on its own. “I have fresh clothing for you to wear. Get yourself cleaned up and dressed. You need to eat before touring your facility.”
Partially terrified Jason did as instructed as Zooey prepared a nutrient-rich meal for both of them to consume. She tilted her head sideways in a moment of confusion, as the portions in front of her resembled those Art used to make when they were onboard Xochitl’s Krait class ship. The exact quantities and nutrients were an exact match for what he said they contained when he used to prepare them for the crew.
Random disjointed memories appeared and disappeared with equal rapidity, giving Zooey a moment of pause as she attempted to focus on the fragments and place them with some form of context. The childlike part of her brain cooed in excitement, as she too saw the fleeting faces and moments.
“Do these mean anything to you,” Zooey asked, as the child shook her head that she did not. The self did not understand the complete nature of the unique properties within the unnatural genetic properties imbued to her. She could split her will and desires into that of others, to look into their minds, and guide them accordingly. None that she had touched in such a manner brought no recognition or memory of anything she had seen in those fleeting images.
The sound of the quarter’s door opening brought her attention back to the here and now as Jason stepped into the Diamond Back Explorer’s small kitchenette.
“This meal does not appear as the most appealing but it is quite tasty and is full of all the nutrients your body requires. Today will be a busy time for you, and your personnel are anxious to meet their new leader.”
Jason sat at the small table, saying nothing, hearing that eerie disembodied childlike giggle.
Visions played through Monty’s mind as the symbiote analyzed the images attempting to make sense of what it was witnessing. There were flames, explosions, weapons firing. Ships landed as the people within them screamed. Mindless hordes boarded and attacked those on board. Others on the ground who were not like the others attempted to fight and flee but were swarmed by waves of uncaring flesh.
The image changed to the same place, with ships on the ground and people of various types and dresses scattered around, going about their chores. A young man stood amongst them, watching the others as they went about their task. A young woman was present, sitting on a crate. Her face was hidden by her hair. The sound of a giggling child filled the air around, but no child was present.
The head lifted but was enveloped by a swirling electrically charged black cloud as space folded and bent. The unnatural sounds of the bending and contorting frame of a massive capital ship, then a bolt of high energy particles reached out as if to strike him directly.
Monty woke, gasping for air, experiencing a moment of minor disorientation as the fleet carrier exited from its hyperspace jump.
The symbiote knew the carrier had jumped but was unable to reference their position. The security measures encapsulating the small dredger prevented any form of reaching out itself. For the moment they would have to wait until they were contacted again.
“I hope she knows what she is doing,” Rex stated, looking over from his captain’s seat, to Avery who nodded in approval. “Curiosity is often more successful than pursuit.”