The Truth in the way we live
Sura's hands shook as they moved over the holographic keyboard. She was on the verge of tears and she wasn't quite sure why.
'Don't lie to yourself Sura! Damnmit!'
She worked faster to try and distract herself. One crystalline ruby eye turned Sura as the other stayed on her own work, as Lyra spoke to her through their encrypted neural comms.
"Calm down Sura. They will be okay."
"I know. I know."
Lyra narrowed her eyes but both returned to their work. Their liaison looked on in fascination and awe. Her cybernetic eyes unable to keep up with the girls' work.
Aiden and Mikael stood guard over the abandoned data hub close to a decommissioned reactor.
Mikael sucked his teeth for the umpteenth time as he checked readings again. The are had been decommissioned but not properly.
The black metallic walls were slick with black corrosive residue, the air stank of a rot that burned the back of their throats. He spoke into the encrypted comms.
"You have another 30 minutes ladies – speed it up."
Lyra and Sura both nodded, their fingers redoubling their efforts.
Sura found another large chunk of data and Tally's systems quickly grasp hold of it – a second data cable moving from the amorphous black AI unit to slot into Sura's processing port.
Tally spoke to the squad. "data found. Rooster documents redacted. Sending to Jackie for further analysis. Redaction has been done to the highest clearance levels."
"Redacted?" Sura frowned – tears rolling down her cheeks.
Jackie and Dax were pressed tight against an outer fortified wall, Jackie's scrambler protocol covering them both – having learned, and partially adapting, from Lyra and Sura's earlier efforts.
Jackie received the data and BDJ began processing and her ocular systems opened up the data worm protocols to attempt to trace the information back to the start, and decipher the redactions.
Her mind whirled. Dax's voice came over the group encrypted comms, even as he stood next to Jackie.
"Are you finding anything Jackie?"
She didn't answer as she processed the data and listened to BDJ.
>All listed cybernetic units are listed dead. Their family have all either been sent remains or told these individuals had no remains left to be sent. All findings being sent to squad Vi Somno via encrypted channels.
Jackie spoke to Sura directly – through Jackie's nanites left in Sura's systems.
"Sura. It will be alright. We will figure this out together."
Sura didn't reply – she knew she didn't have to – she was afraid her voice would betray her.
Dax nodded and the two moved out.
>More information obtained about the final locations for the given list of cybernetic units. Would you like the data collated and processed Y/N? Collating data and distributing to squad Vi Somno via encrypted channels.
Jackie's eyes went wide as she read the information.
Asset 2209: Asset able to sustain 10 offspring at once. Viability for three more similar instances extremely high.
Asset 0871: Offspring still viable even after Uterine rupture. Asset able to recuperate and re-enter the program.
Asset 1890: Though cerebral functioning is currently null research has shown maintaining corporeal functioning is preferred over freezing reproductive material.
Asset 3100: Asset continues to ability to carry offspring even after the 20th delivery. It is recommended that Asset is reentered into the program for a 20th time.
Lyra cursed over the comms.
>each asset tracks with the given redacted cybernetic units.
Jackie blinked. Once again BDJ was responding to a command before Jackie actually gave it.
"My system is saying these assets…" She gritted her teeth as she said the final word, then needed a break to adjust herself.
"…. Track with the listed redacted cybernetic units."
"Damn."
"No."
Lyra's word was said in fury, Sura's in pain.