Mirage watch as the others search for clues. Megatron remember him from the time before the time in that horrid place. Mirage wanted never to go back there but memories are funny thing they never allow him to escape. Hound told him story of a human female that was made by the gods. As the story goes the woman was given a box by the Gods and she was instructed never to open. The Gods were mean to the woman and curse her with great curious nature. It was literally torture for the woman.
"Pandora." Spoke Mirage
"What is that, Mirage?" Ask Megatron
"Nothing, Sir."
Megatron neither trusted the spy nor is willing give him an inch. "You said something."
"I did. It is nothing. I said "Pandora." Spoke Mirage not seeing the reason to keep things to himself.
"What brought that up, Mirage?" ask Megatron
"It was story about human woman being cursed from the Gods." Answer Mirage evenly "When we were on Earth Hound would tell me of their stories."
"So what box did you open, Mirage?" ask Megatron
"My box is not completely open, Megatron, nor it is completely closed." Answer Mirage moving towards the computer.
"Did you know that bottom of the box was the aspect of Hope." Spoke Megatron in a faint smile
Mirage glances at the co-Captain mild surprise. Began turn on the computer to see when the last Log entries and frown. "What does Nightbeat say about this?"
Nightbeat glance at his partner who had been running the mouth since they boarded the ship. Getaway said a lot but not revealing that much most of his chatter is noisy distraction. Mirage is also not telling a lot from the detective point of view. It is not exactly unique feature for the crew of Lost Light some of the mechs have dark secrets. Dried Energon stain the floor. There was a struggle here but it is not in the engine room. Megatron wanted Riptide to stay with Nautica it made sense though she is only one with tech skills.
"Mirage made down here." Spoke Getaway
"No he never made it this far we found him in the bay." Spoke Nightbeat "The damage been done systematically not random."
"Why do say that?" Ask Getaway looking at the lock
"Most people attack the surface and leave a lot of damage on the exterior, and here the damage is more internal than external." Responds Nightbeat. "The edges are clean not ragged. This suggests that cutting tool has been used."
"Hmm the panel had not been forced either." Noted Getaway
"That is correct." Nodded Nightbeat
"So why go bother removing the panel?" ask Getaway
"To do more damage." Spoke Nightbeat "This panel had been design to protect the systems internal wiring from being smashed from the outside."
"Not Mirage's skill set." Noted Getaway "Nightbeat, something about Mirage is off."
"Yes, Megatron notices it." Nodded Nightbeat but decide to keep to himself as Getaway look at the lock and thought a bit. "Mirage, has been full of contradictions. It is the time he is missing from his chronometer is concerning. "They thought I meant something to you." What a weird phrase why would Mirage say that and who is they?"
"A lock is complex." Spoke Getaway.
"Makes you wonder who is behind there." Spoke Nightbeat
"Dangerous?"
"Most likely and somehow caution is needed." Spoke Nightbeat looking at the lock
"Are you caution type mech?" Ask Getaway
"Not really." Answer Nightbeat.
:Boss?: Ask Ravage watching them from afar.
:Keep an optic on Mirage.: Spoke Megatron looking through the files of derelict ship.
"Megatron, I found some entries that seem to me be a red flag." Spoke Mirage
"Alarming the word is you looking for." Spoke Megatron
"Unusual." Spoke Mirage "The Captain mention his hull a couple times but that encrypted."
"That is odd." Spoke Megatron looking at the former noble and thought. "For a mech who disdains Earth he has been making references to it like crazy. Red Flag means to be aware or danger. Story about Pandora says there something dangerous. No the Earth Gods sent a beautiful woman as a gift to a male but she was fore told of disaster, strife, and evil. Mirage is talking in code."
:Boss, what are thinking?: Ask Ravage
:I am thinking Mirage is trying to warn us.: Answer Megatron
"So can you crack the code, Mirage?" Ask Megatron
"It is done professionally. It will take time." Answer the spy
"This whole ship seems to be a Pandora's box." Spoke Megatron
"Pardon?" Ask Mirage
"Why would a cargo ship that looks like derelict ship will have this kind of security." Spoke Megatron
"It would mean they are trying to hide something?" Ask Mirage
"It is an elaborate deception." Nodded Megatron
"But Nightbeat and Getaway stating the hull is locked." Spoke Mirage
"It gone and has been long gone." Spoke Megatron. "I am guessing you can't scan inside the cargo hold."
"That is correct."
::It is a trap.:: spoke Ravage on the com
::Yes, Mirage, is the bait.:: spoke Megatron.
::Who ever own this ship did something to him, Boss.:: Spoke Ravage
::No, I think what is done to him was done a long time ago.::
"I think it is time to explore med bay." Spoke Megatron
"Why?"
"The injuries will provide some clue what is going on." Spoke Megatron "A medic records would have different level of encryption not as tight because someone lesser rank would need access. "
Mirage cocks his helm and considered what Megatron said. In fact it made sense medics would have information on anything that is dangerous and also that where the countermeasure.
"Very well…" nodded the Noble
Megatron watch the smaller mech as the walk down to med bay. Megatron noted that bay is relative in one piece but energon was everywhere. The main medic terminal has been smashed. Megatron had expected that but that is not the reason why he wanted Mirage here. Megatron look around for drugs to induce medical stasis. He hid the syringe within his hand and out of sight of Mirage.
"You seem to understand physiology." Spoke Mirage
"As a warrior one needs to understand physiology well to defeat the opponent." Smirk Megatron
"It is a commander prerogative?" Ask Mirage
"Medic needs supplies some critical elements will tell what happen to a person." Spoke Megatron "It also gives a clue to what happen to the ship."
Megatron look at the inventory of the medbay and surmise what the medic used for what purpose. The hull have is full of wretches that are clearly insane and plenty of fuel. Someone enjoy destroying the mechs sanity and made them puppets of the shadow of themselves. Mirage is getting anxious as a Megatron found terminal that access to security feed. Mirage was going under mnemo-surgery by a shadow figure.
"It good of return my poppet and I missed you." Spoke the voice "So much has change and yet it stayed the same."
"Go to the pits!" Scream Mirage
"My dear poppet that is where you be going, you been fighting me too much. I own you Mirage and I always will my poppet."
Megatron has a sinking feeling to his spark. Mirage level a gun at Megatron as saw the reflection in the terminal. Megatron finger the syringe in his palm as he got up and turn to face Mirage.