Dark Realities in a Dark World
The team quickly began collecting information – Jackie moving to the other localized mainframes in the center and Lyra and Sura tackling the massive tetra bites of information within the center's mainframe.
Sura's mind continued to wander. The Taniths were a side branch but they were still an important part of the Simms family. The world still associated them with the Simms and any scandal involving them would also effect her family.
She bit her lip as the information continued to flow – she would have to figure out a way to speak to her father or Dr. McGregor - her father's distant cousin.
Lyra cursed into the squad comms.
"It seems Crysalite is also being used here commander." She paused for a long time – causing Jackie to revits information sent to her.
"Continue Operative! Is this a danger that needs immediate attention?"
"I think so sire. It would seem that they are experimenting with Crysalite at the genetic level, they have already found that it has a "compatibility" with the human neurological system."
"And how do they know THAT! You seem commander we need to end of them. There is something sick going on here!"
Jackie was by Aiden's side in less than a second. Her hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort and calm. She jutted her chin toward the door – Aiden sighed and took up positions at the door.
Jackie looked about and understood why Aiden was barely keeping it together. The room was filled with recovery tanks, some empty some with more than one individual. Women and men – what was left of them – in them or on metal tables on the floor, suspended from ceilings or angled along the walls.
They were all connected to the mainframe located in this room. Some women pregnant others not, men that were only spinal cords, eyes and mutated reproductive organs.
Jackie closed her eyes, took a deep breath and focused on the computer.
>Encryption complete. Information returned to Sura Tanith. Download of Stratus Bastion incubation room mainframe 78% complete.
It startled Jackie that this was considered an incubation room – and disgusted her. She looked around her with a different perception of the situation.
She found herself wondering if she could allow all of these people die. She closed her eyes as her stomach clinched painfully was her mind refused to consider them people.
Orion had observed it all. Jackie had looked into his Sara's green eye and he felt the empathy – not pity – she felt for Sara. Had he been wrong, again. First when he fought to save Sara just to allow her to exist this way, and second when he believed that Asset 4986J needed to die.
He closed his eyes. The metal of his palms denting as his cybernetic hands balled into fists – he still thought of her as an asset and not a person.
"Old friend. You're obsolete. It's time for you to step down and decommission yourself."
Orion opened his eyes.
"And who is speaking – a resistance rat or a Nexus Directive Chief?'
Kieran smiled. "Either way, this is the end for you."
Orion nodded. "And her – what happens to your sister."
The smile vanished from his face. "I should never have allowed that to happen to her. You and my father are selfish – Sara deserved better.
Orion nodded again – he was beginning to understand that as a fact.