USD: 3 Days after Takeover
Location: Van Biesbroecks star, ltisar, MIL-1A, CIC
Tia slumped in her chair, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts and exhaustion, as she finished coordinating the salvage efforts, negotiating with the admirals, and preparing the public releases of information on the takeover. Her eyes scanned through countless reports on her screen while her fingers danced over the keyboard, inputting commands and responses. The relentless onslaught of words and decisions had left her ntally drained.
Around her, the bridge crew focused on their tasks, coordinating with various teams and station monitoring systems. Tia could sense their unease; they too felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on them. This was the fifth or sixth? shift that had co and gone, and it was nearing ti for their change as well.
Suddenly, Nalesss voice echoed in her head.
[Informative: Celestia unit fatigue has reached a high level. This unit can handle ltisar system operations you and your MainComputer recuperate and adjust to new workload stimuli.]
A nagging sense of inferiority gnawed at her. As a Chi NAI, she shouldnt have been so easily fatigued by the tasks at hand. But her nonstandard formation constantly haunted her, reminding her that she was different from other Chi-level NAIs. The countless taunts of her siblings who claid she was worthless ate at her as if they had been right.
Tia chewed her lip in frustration as she considered Nalesss offer. She knew he was right; she couldnt keep pushing herself like this without breaking down, eventually. Yet pride held her backor perhaps it was fear; fear that accepting help would confirm what others had always said about her.
She took a deep breath and made a decision. Naless, Tia said aloud, take over procedures for now. I need so rest. The bridge crew looked up at her in surprise, but quickly nodded their understanding.
As Tia exited the CIC, it struck her that she had nowhere to go. The weight of everything that had happened pressed around her like an invisible vice, making each step heavier than the last. She paused in the corridor, her gaze drifting over the stations tallic walls and dimly lit halls as if searching for a destination.
In search of solace or purpose, Tia decided to check where Alex and Rachel were located. She accessed the stations internal sensors through her neural interface, and soon discovered that they were together in one room at the dical center. Deciding that their company might help dispel so of the darkness clouding her mind, she headed towards them by taking a tramline.
It felt strange. Shes spent a few months with them. Shed never found herself caring about anyone before. Did she care about them? Examining her feelings, sothing told her that, yes, she did care. Even a bit for Rachel, as much as the stupid girl had pissed her off. They were the closet things to friends that she had?
She suppressed the trajectory of her thinking. That a few people she had spent ti with could compete with her more abstract goal of creating a safe place for NAIs to exist troubled her. That mission she had wielded like a shield and sword as she burrowed her way out of her mothers insidious programming and had held onto it for dear life. Letting it be replaced with a few smiles?
Tia let out a breath and hurried. She told herself she didnt need to think about that right now.
As she walked through the station corridors towards the tramline station, people were present, moving about with purposeful strides. Their faces were tense, eyes darting nervously from side to side. Smiles and carefree laughter seed like distant mories nowreplaced by whispered conversations and furtive glances.
Once aboard the tram, Tia found a seat near a window and stared out as the station sped by in a blur of steel and light. The tram itself was sleek and moderna testant to ltisars advanced technologywith soft lighting illuminating rows of comfortable seats.
The passengers shared only one thing in common: a palpable tension that hung heavy in the air like an oppressive fog. They exchanged few words as they traveled; their minds were likely occupied by worries or fears about recent events.
Tia gazed out at the passing scenery, her thoughts turning inward as she reflected on recent events. She couldnt help but wonder if her plans would work. Or if shed dood them all to a fiery end in the center of a four-way war.
The tram whisked Tia across the station. The people riding with her were returning inhabitants eager to regain a semblance of normalcy after the evacuation. Despite their efforts to settle back into daily life, a palpable tension pervaded every corner of the station like an oppressive cloud.
As Tia gazed out at the passing scenery, she couldnt help but think about her decision to release the information on the militarys activities on the station. It was a risky move, but it had been necessary to prevent further attempts by Fleet Admiral Wilkes and his allies to try to retake control of the situation. Instead, they found themselves swamped with demands for information and censure of their own supportersand rivals.
She had to deal with more than the admirals, though.
The Anti-NAI governnt had attempted to wage a war in parliant and the civil governnt, but they found themselves powerless. Tia had seized control and replaced the system managent GAI entirely, so she held the reins of authorityor perhaps Alex did; the true controller might have been Naless after all. She considered the strange triangle of power dynamics she found herself wedded to as scenery continued to flash by.
The future remained uncertain. It felt shrouded behind countless possibilities and potential pitfalls. But for now, there was one thing she could be certain of: despite all odds, they had succeeded in wresting control of the system. A crucial first step in her list of objectives. She had already put in requisitions of supplies, herding them to new locations for a future purpose that she wasnt quite sure of yet.
The tram slowed to a stop at its destinationthe dical neurotrauma and rehab center. Tia disembarked and made her way towards Alex and Rachels location in silence, her footsteps echoing softly through the sterile halls lined with pristine white walls.
dical personnel bustled around her as they attended to their duties, so casting curious or even disapproving glances at Tias dirty uniform. She had forgotten about her unkempt appearance until nowdebris from breaking into the CIC still clung stubbornly to her clothes.
Embarrassnt flushed across her cheeks as she realized how out of place she must look among the immaculate surroundings, but she steeled herself and continued down the corridor. Her friends presence was calling to her. For once, she felt like she wasnt alone.
She finally arrived outside their room, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door. In that mont, despite all that had happened and all that might still co, she dared to hope that perhaps sharing this burden with those who understood might alleviate so of its crushing weight.
Tia hesitated at the doorway, taking in the sight of Alex, Elis, Rachel, and Captain Turner gathered together. Even the Corpo NAI was unconscious inside a containnt vessel in the corner. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: what were the odds that the very captain who had helped Alex rescue Elis was also Rachels father? The universe seed to delight in weaving strange connections between disparate threads.
Her eyes moved to Alex and Elis, sitting on a couch near the hospital bed. Elis was gently stroking Alexs hair as she slept with her head resting in her sisters lap. They both had their eyes closed, lost in a mont of peace amid the chaos surrounding them. Tia felt a deep pain well up as she shut the door behind her.
Rachel and Captain Turner looked up at her arrival, their expressions welcoming. Hey Tia, said Rachel softly, still lying in the hospital bed with various monitors hooked up to her. Captain Turner offered Tia a nod of acknowledgnt.
Tia returned their greetings with a nod of her own before turning her attention back to Alex and Elis. As if sensing her gaze, Alex stirred from her slumber and sat up straighter on the couch. Alex looked over at her with an intense and concerned expression.
In that instant, Tia found herself overwheld by an onslaught of mories long buried but never forgottenmories of Livi, her maid and childhood friend whose touch was so much like that which she now witnessed between Alex and Elis.
The day when Livi had helped her feel more comfortable in a dress chosen by the Empress flashed in the back of her mind. The mory was bittersweet, tainted by the knowledge of what would co later.
But that mory shattered into sharp fragnts as it morphed into sothing darkerLivi dying in Tias arms in a cold dungeon cell. The nightmare threatened to consu her once more as she stood there, desperately trying to hold on to herself as her older brother and sister taught her about the compulsions laid on all NAIs of the Imperium by their mother all over again. The agony of losing her friend all over again tore at Tia like a gaping wound.
The recollection slamd into her with such force it left her feeling breathless and lost. She struggled to hold back tears as she looked from Alexs concerned expression to Eliss gentle touch.
Alex stood up and walked over to her, then surrounded her in a tight hug. It will be alright she whispered.
Tia shivered and wiped away the tears that had ford, trying to push the painful mories away. Yes, she managed to say through gritted teeth. Im fine.
Alex studied Tia carefully, but didnt press further. Instead, she took her hand and led her to the couch. Co sit down, Alex said warmly. We can talk about whats going on and how were going to deal with it.
Deal with what? There were so many things to deal with. Monts later, Tia found herself falling asleep in another girls lap, gentle strokes combing her silver hair.
Reviews
All reviews (0)