Play@YSDC

After studying the door, Kiara sighs.

“Hmm, we need to lower the jamming signal or at least reverse it somehow. CENTRAL controls this door, so we need to replicate the signal somehow.”

"Maybe I can modify the jammer to do that," says Sam, looking at it.

I did roll exceptionally well when I made it.

Sam modifies her jamming device to piggyback on CENTRAL's network frequency. In a matter of moments she has found the interface for the door and sent a signal to unlock it. The door smoothly slides open with a hiss. A hazy smoke or water vapour disperses into the corridor.

Sam, Kiera and Jojo step over the charred corpses and enter through the door. Moses and Isabella remain outside, seeing to Nicole who seems to be coming round.



The room itself is not large and its base is circular rather than square. It is crammed with equipment. Around the periphery are electrical cabinets, pumping equipment, computer terminals, dials and gauges everywhere. The atmosphere is hot and humid.

In the centre of the room is a transparent glass cylinder. Two banks of what look like mechanical and electrical equipment flank it on each side. Within the cylinder is a viscous fluid with a slightly pink tinge. It is difficult to see if there is anything within the liquid, although there are some shadowy shapes.

"You're the computer expert," says Sam to Kiara. "I'll follow your lead."

“We’ll, ‘expert’ might not be the exact word…”

[62] = 62
Computer use 65 d%: [ 62 ] = 62

Bewildered by this whole array, Kiara examines the room, trying to figure out just how the whole set-up is configured.

Bewildered is right. There is the whole gamut of equipment from traditional computer server cabinets to arrays of pumps and tubes.

As a best guess Kiara thinks she can divide the machinery into two main groupings, one focused on electronic equipment that could represent CENTRAL, the colony network, and similar computer systems, the other more mechanical, with pumps and tubes. Both sets seem to connect to the cylinder in the centre of the room.

Kiara relays her findings to the others.

“I think we need to disconnect the mechanical apparatus and restore CENTRAL back to normal, but it won’t be easy.”

"Why I've never seen anything like this before but if I had to hazard a guess, I would say that there is some kind of organic life form that is contained within this central cylinder. It is quite possible that is what is corrupting CENTRAL." Jojo opines as he observes the apparatus in the room.

"Once we begin decoupling everything from the cylinder, we should be prepared for more interference from whatever is within. Is it possible to shut down all power before we begin?"

"Sounds like a plan," says Sam, looking around for a means to shut the power down.

“Urrrrrgh.” Nicole gasps.

Kiara nods in agreement and also takes a look around.

While looking around for energy couplings Kiara draws closer to the cylinder. Through the pink-tinged fluid she can see that Jojo is correct, there seems to be a human figure inside. She calls the others over.

Moving nearer they can see the head of what could be a man, but seemingly half decomposed, skin and muscle stripped away revealing bone in places. The cervical and thoracic vertebrae are visible as well as the ribs which seems to be fused to the sides of the cylinder where the electrical and mechanical equipment contacts it.

There is no more of the body below the upper torso, no limbs or internal organs. The top of the skull has been removed revealing the brain, wires and tubes penetrating into it. No eyes are visible but two thick cables insert where the eye sockets should be. What is left of the skin and muscle over his face is fixed in an expression of terror, the shrivelled lips open in a silent scream.

There's something familiar about that disfigured face...

Aíne will be taking over the role of Nicole

"Who is this?" wonders Sam aloud as examines the contents of the cylinder. "I think we'd better disconnect it."

Swearing, Kiara recoils in horror at the sight of the figure.

“Oh God! What have they done to this poor guy? If we disconnect or drain the tank, he’ll die, but that’ll be a blessing!”

Trying not to look at the figure too much, she studies the tank, looking for valves and switches.

A voice booms out from hidden speakers, female, low pitched and smooth, but emotionless and electronically modulated.

'You have entered the Barnard's Rest CENTRAL Intelligence Core Facility. This is a restricted area. Please indicate your security clearance or leave immediately.'

In a twisted, distorted sort of way the face looks a bit like Virgil Steinmann

[57] = 57
Spot hidden 37 d%: [ 57 ] = 57

Kiara fails to recognise the poor individual.

“CENTRAL, this is Science Officer Kiara Khan. I have been given full access and authority. Human organic components have been integrated into your systems in defiance of all operational protocols. I want a detailed explanation and a full maintenance history of the control system. Report.”

Hoping that this will give them time, she jerks her head at Sam to begin disconnection.

"It's Virgil," gasps Sam, instantly recognizing him, as she sets to work disconnecting the cylinder.

Spot Hidden roll (55% skill) about the person in the cylinder:
d%

Spot Hidden 50
1d100

Jojo looks at the face as it bobs close to the cylinder wall.

"I believe you are right. It is Virgil. I wish he would have stayed with us and not gone after the organism that attacked me. Let's get to work before more damage is done."