Chapter 9
Revelation
Having been intercepted by EarthGov Bastian and Karrie are apprehended being quarantined in a med lab, after going through a myriad for tests and bio scans they're escorted to locked quarters. Not having a say and nothing better to do both take the time to rest after their ordeal, hours later Bastian wakes and is startled when the door opens as a man enters carrying a covered plate and a canned drink. The man places the plate on the table in the rooms center and leaves without saying a word, Bastian gets out of bed and walks to the table and uncovers the plate revealing scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. He sits down at the table, grabs the fork and starts eating as he hasn't eaten since before the outbreak began.
"Enjoy that, did you?" [A man enters his room]
"Who are you and where are we?"
"I must first apologize for the "rushed and rough" interception but we had to acquire you before anyone else did."
"Would those other people happen to be unitologists?"
"Exactly we knew they directly had a hand in unleashing the Sprawl outbreak."
"Mind telling me who you are?" [Bastian asked]
"Yes of course I'm Nick Rodriguez of EarthGov's defense council… please walk with me."
[They leave Bastian's room]
"Where are, we going the computer in my room showed we're going into deep space?"
"You'll see soon enough we're just about there."
[Both continue walking down the hall]
"Your friend Matland is doing well by the way, he won't be fighting anytime soon but he'll make it."
"Thank you we were worried."
"He was lucky."
"Exiting shock space in 3… 2… 1…" [Ships computer]
[Both walk to a nearby observatory]
"Ah, we're here…"
Bastian looks out at massive station circling around a lone moon guarded by fleets of EarthGov battle ships. Later Bastian is reunited with Karrie she accompanies him and the councilor as the ship docks with the station.
"Hey are you okay?"
"Yeah, slept well."
"We deserved it after all that."
"Have you seen Charles?"
"Yes, he's okay he'll make it."
"Where are we?"
"This is Crypto Station… the very existence of this place as well as what goes on here is classified at the highest levels… so high that everyone here from every soldier, staff, scientists everyone stationed here has been threatened with treason should they ever disclose any details about this place." [Rodriguez explains]
"So, what exactly goes on here that it needs to be kept out of the public eye?" [Asked Karrie]
"Research specifically into the this moon."
Bastian looks up at the upper view of the moon's surface.
"Something special about it?"
"Yes… what your about to see inside may prove difficult to understand, hearing maybe more so."
[The ship docks]
"This moon was discovered 50 years by EarthGov deep space survey teams… they came across this moon which per them was rich in resources and useful elements… however when they started digging into the moon they made a frightening discovery."
"We're listening." [Said Bastian as they board a ride that takes them into the facilities built into the moon]
"Deep beneath its surface was petrified organic matter of course initially they thought they discovered some fossilized alien remains but when they examined it closer they found that the entire interior of the moon was the same… they went even deeper and eventually discovered gigantic organs."
"What are you saying this moon was alive like it was living creature?" [Asked Karrie]
"That's exactly what I'm saying, they sliced open one of them and it was indeed a heart the size of a planet cracker… one of our more recent discovers was the creature's brain."
The ride stops as they enter a crossover tube network that takes them into the moon, they look seeing what seem to be giant bones, other organs and arteries connecting to them.
"Most notably what it did yesterday when the marker triggered its final stage."
"Convergence." [Said Bastian]
"Yes, upon its initiation over lightyears away across space the signal, the brain sensed it… it sprung alive moving and pulsating as if it was trying to function."
"This is a lot to take in… and I thought I was imagining it."
"You saw something didn't you while you were trying get off the station?"
"Yes, the marker tried to make me kill Karrie but I fought back and… somehow, I broke through and shattered their mask as they called it which was hiding their true nature… they looked exactly like this."
"How did this one die?" [Karrie asked]
"From what we can tell this one had died in battle likely with an alien race and somehow, they managed to kill it with some type of weapon judging from the very large crater at its top it was strong enough to kill it in one shot but it seems they lost the fight too, perhaps their last act of defiance."
[A tall man enters the chamber]
"Something big is on the horizon and its moving towards us, what you encountered on the Sprawl was proof of that."
"General Titan I remember you."
"Yes, we met briefly, to be honest I'm impressed you made it."
"Thanks."
"We'll be blunt with you two we need your help." [Said Rodriguez]
"Why us, just because we survived?" [Bastian asked]
"We need as much people with experience in this as possible, we already have Gabe Weller."
"He's okay?"
"Yes, he's been recovering since yesterday he was evacuated with the civilians on Titan and brought here." [Said Titan]
"Currently Mr. Weller is in surgery, he's being outfitted with a prosthetic leg so he can walk again."
"So why not look for Isaac?"
"We would if we could find him but he's gone off the radar we're trying to look for him but he's proven determined to stay hidden, I don't blame him given was done to him to learn more about the markers." [Said Rodriguez]
"Instead we have you two, you both are prime recruits you've seen how these necromorphs act your familiar with these things you, Karrie and Gabe are the best bets we have right now." [Titan stated]
"I take it we don't have a choice in the matter."
"I'm afraid whether you like it or not you both are being conscripted."
"Conscripted into what?" [Karrie asked]
"An agency called TEDA, General Titan here is its director." [Said Rodriguez]
"Never heard of it." [Said Bastian]
"I'd be surprised if you ever did, TEDA stands for Terran Elite Defense Agency up until 6 months ago, the agency was off the books and operating in the shadows… the agency only recruits the very best to stand in defense of humanity and you both are what we need." [Titan explained]
Bastian and Karrie look to each other with uncertainty.
"I'm in… I helped them start all that chaos maybe with doing this I can atone for it." [Karrie answers]
"So am I… a lot of red flags are going up in my head right now about this but I can't in good conscious just walk away and pretend this isn't happing of course, like you said neither of us have choice." [Bastian agrees]
"I'm glad you see the picture… both of you are doing the right thing for all humanity, these beings what some of the staff are coming the Brethren Moons are the biggest threat we've ever faced." [Said Titan]
"If tough times are ahead we'll need to stick together." [Bastian stated]
"Precisely, for the time being this station and the USM Avalon's Approach will be your home my men will escort you back to the ship… get some rest for now you've both've been through a lot." [As Rodriguez leaves]
Back on the USM Avalon both are lead back to their quarters.
"Alright you guys have free-run of the ship and station updates have been installed on your RIGs that'll inform you if you wonder into any restricted areas as well as inform us if you don't heed its warning, Titan will contact you directly when your needed understood?" [Said the TEDA agent]
"Understood." [Both]
"Good, have a nice day and welcome to the agency."
[The agent leaves]
"Some life we have huh?" [Said Karrie]
"Defiantly."
END of Titan Chronicles
