Phantasy Star: Mechanical Error
Chapter 6
Written by Sarah Schoenlaub
The ride to Zelan was silent. Wren sent Feria and Erick off with warm thanks and promises of good pay. "You'll be highly paid for your work today."
"Good to hear that, Wren. It's been nice working with you. Don't hesitate to contact me," Feria said.
But now they were heading toward Zelan. Wren focused on the flight, but was making many plans. "The Vahal Fort will be destroyed when we reach Zelan. I set explosives before we left."
Laurie blinked. "But what about…"
"No Laurie. We couldn't leave the fort open like that. I know there is much to be found within it and much to research, but the risk is too much," Wren explained.
He docked with Zelan. Laurie stood by the door and watched when it turned to green. She reached for the handle when Wren pulled her back. "Wait. Something isn't right."
Demi looked at Wren oddly. "What is it, Master?"
"I received no audio reply from the dock masters."
Laurie raised an eyebrow. "Maybe they were busy?"
Wren shook his head. "Demi, Kera, Laurie, go to the cargo hold and airlock the door."
"What?" Laurie asked him.
"I don't trust this. I'm trying to send a remote message to check the main system and am being denied. Just trust me, Laurie," Wren said.
"You know that security is tight on the main system…"
Wren looked sternly at Laurie. "I know when something is wrong. Go. Get in there now. I'll comm you."
Laurie finally obeyed, entering the cargo hold. Demi assured it was airlocked and signaled Wren. He opened the shuttle door and walked into the port. Laurie watched him on her wrist comm.
"I knew it. There's an unknown substance in the air. Attempting analysis…"
Laurie shook her head. "What in Algo…?"
Wren gave Laurie a view of the room, through his eyes. Various Alpharens were scattered about, unmoving. People lay dead on the floor. "Demi, get Kera and Laurie in safe suits and get in here."
* * *
Wren identified himself to the security scanner by the door in front of the main system. He, Laurie, Kera, and Demi entered slowly and quietly. "We've got to stabilize the oxygen amount in here," Laurie said, walking toward the computer. She looked up and stopped dead in her tracks. "By the Light…"
A massive, growling thing was all over the computer screens, oozing with darkness. Laurie could feel her blood running cold. Wren stepped in front of her, to shield her and get a good look at the thing. "Dark Force?"
"But Wren… the Profound Darkness is gone. We defeated it, remember?" Demi was shocked to see the creature. She walked over to Laurie and shook her a bit. "Laurie, dear, come on. I need you to fight with us."
"We'll have to remove this from the computers," Wren said, initiating his Positron Bolt.
"This is crazy," Kera said.
Demi used Barrier and Kera used Saner to give the group an advantage. Laurie shook her head and came to her senses. She added a quick Warla to the mix just before Wren hit the Dark Force with a massive Positron Bolt. The creature growled at the damage and unleashed the Black Energy Wave.
Wren got hit with it, but it didn't effect him much. "Demi, keep Laurie and Kera away from that."
Demi nodded and used her Phonon. The Dark Force snarled as the light and high pitched sound hit him. Laurie used Effess, and then smiled in surprise at how well it still worked. She hadn't yet lost her esper magic. Kera got out a repair kit and some trimates, to get them ready.
Another Positron Bolt brought the Dark Force to its end. The Creature shuddered and stopped moving, then fell with a crash to the floor. Most parts of him were gone, but his main body was left. "Kera," Wren commanded, "Take that to the medlab and autopsy it. I want to know everything about it."
Kera nodded, and with Demi's help she carried it to the medlab.
Wren scanned all of Zelan. "The filters are still running, but not as well. Looks like someone turned them down." Wren clicked a few buttons to increase the work of the filters and production of oxygen.
"That Dark Force… How, Wren?"
"I don't know, Laurie," he replied honestly. "It troubles me also."
Laurie watched as the oxygen levels stabilized. Suddenly the comm buzzed. Laurie clicked it and saw Kera, with Demi, Kory, and Trisha. "They survived the poison, apparently. There are a few survivors in suits here who noticed the poison in the air and were able to safely suit up. They say that an odd electrical signal destroyed the androids."
"That's strange. I'm so glad there are survivors!" Laurie smiled.
"We need you down here, Laurie. Trisha and I can only do part of the autopsy."
"Why?" Laurie asked, puzzled.
"Demi, show her."
The comm changed to Demi's eyes. Through them, Laurie saw a mess of wires inside the Dark Force. "It's mechanical?" Laurie asked.
Demi nodded. "Looks partly biological and partly mechanical. I've never seen anything like it. Trisha and Kera are getting tissue samples. Laurie, I need you and Wren to come look at this computer system."
"Affirmative. We'll be there when oxygen levels stabilize. Keep suits on until I say otherwise," Wren instructed.
Laurie fell back in her chair. What was happening in Algo?
* * *
"This is most certainly AI. Possible late model, with unidentified processing unit. It's not a Wren processor, a Demi processor, or a Mieu processor. This is something entirely different, and I still haven't deciphered its command language," Wren said.
"Is it safe to remove suits?" Laurie asked, trying to analyze some of the Dark Force's parts with thick gloves on her hands.
Wren paused, then nodded. "The poison has almost completely been filtered. We'll have to change the filter soon, though. Usually we have Alpharens to do it."
"I could do it," Demi said.
Laurie peeled off the safety suit and pulled off the helmet. "It's easier to work this way."
"I wouldn't want you to have to climb in the air ducts, Demi," Wren said.
"It wouldn't be too much trouble for me."
Wren nodded. "Well, we should do that soon. How are Kera, Trisha, and Kory?"
Laurie laid her comm on the table and worked as she talked to them. "We've analyzed the tissue samples," Kory reported.
"Excellent," Wren said.
"The only match we found was an ancient Dark Force sample on file. You were right, Wren. The genetic code of this has obviously been worked with. Some of the genes are those we haven't yet found the functions of. It's hard to tell what we're dealing with."
Wren nodded. "This electrical unit is also difficult. The processor is hard to identify."
Trisha took the comm from Kory. "We analyzed the goop on Wren, and it is indeed highly toxic material. We were extremely careful in handling it. Kera and Laurie were lucky to not have been hit with it."
"I know, Trisha. It killed Alys Brangwin. It was absorbed into her skin and spread through her body, poisoning all the major organs. It was horrible to see a tough hunter die," Demi said solemnly.
"We're getting nowhere with this research. We've got to find someone who knows more," Trisha said.
"The only place I can think of that will help us is the Esper Mansion," Wren said. "First we should check for more survivors and then change that air filter."
* * *
Demi turned on her flare unit to a low level. It was very dark in the air duct, and even though she was securely connected to Wren with a harness, it was a little scary. She kept in contact with him, sending little blips of data as she crawled through the dark. Finally she reached the filter.
"I'm at the filter," she said aloud into her comm. She knew it wasn't really necessary, since Wren already knew from the data transmission, but it was kind of a triumphant thing. She also knew Laurie would want to hear it. With Wren's instructions, Demi carefully removed the filter and looked at it.
There's an odd black material, Wren, she said through her data transmitters. Like the black energy wave. It's coated this entire huge thing. This was probably in the air for awhile.
Change the filter now, Wren instructed. We'll talk when you return. I'm keeping a sharp eye on Laurie, Kory, Kera, and Trisha. Their vital monitors have shown no trouble.
Good, Demi replied. She changed the filter easily. Now pull me out of this creepy place, Wren.
Demi was able to turn around in the extra space by the filter. She crawled back quickly, trying to get out as soon as possible. Even with her flare lighting the area, the air duct was very scary. She suddenly stopped.
Wren felt the rope tighten as Demi stopped. What is it?
I thought I heard something. I'm going to look. Give me a little more slack.
Give me visual, Demi. I want to see it.
Wren turned to Laurie. "Demi says she heard something."
"What do you think it is?" Laurie asked.
"I don't know, but I don't want anything in there."
Demi turned right, slowly creeping so she could hear the sound. It's like a soft scratching…
Wren suddenly saw something. Do you see that shadow ahead?
Yeah. What is it?
Laurie's eyes grew wide. "Tell her to stop, Wren. I don't like it."
Wren glanced at Laurie, then relayed the message.
I agree, Demi said. It doesn't feel right.
Give me your location, Wren commanded.
Alpha sector three, right by the power generator.
Wren paused. Fire a phonon right at it. If it attempts attack, use your Stasis Beam and hit it again until it dies.
Demi was very hesitant, but she obeyed.
Laurie heard the growl of the critter over the comm. "Wren, what did you tell her?"
"We have to attack. Demi's got it. The creature must be small to be in the air duct."
Laurie watched worriedly. She saw the creature up close through Demi's eyes. "It looks like that Dark Force!"
I think it's dead, Wren.
"Demi has defeated it."
Laurie nodded. "Tell her to bring it out."
Demi emerged a few minutes later with the creature. "We need to scan the air ducts and make sure there are no more of these hiding."
* * *
"None were found in the scans," Laurie reported cheerfully.
Wren nodded. "Excellent."
Demi still seemed concerned. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"I even sent a mobile camera in the air duct. There is no sign of any others," Wren said.
"How are Kory, Kera, and Trisha?" Laurie asked Demi.
"They're trying to analyze the tissue and the electronic systems of both."
There was silence a few moments, then a sudden, impatient beep of the comm on the main computers.
Wren clicked the button to accept the message. "This is Zelan, Fuoren speaking."
"Is Laurie there?"
Laurie walked over to the computer and saw Kyle. "I'm here. What is it, Kyle?"
"I've been trying to find you. I need you to come down here."
"Why?"
"Well Laurie, it's about mom."
Laurie's eyes grew wide. "What's wrong?"
"She's really sick. They say she's dying."
Laurie looked at Wren. He nodded. "We're leaving now, Kyle," he said.