Summary: Just the start of strange things for Jynn.

"So you're the other reason why my presence has been requested on this planet? Fascinating."

A hushed voice tickled Jynn's ear.

She let out several grunts and groans as she came to. Opening her eyes for a moment before quickly closing them as a bright, blinding light was over her.

What the…? Did I leave the lights on again? She thought to herself. As she tried to bring her hand to her face to rub those tired eyes awake, she noticed she couldn't move. She could barely feel her limbs. Then she noticed something else. She couldn't speak. She tried to, but she couldn't open her mouth. All she could muster was a groan.

What the hell? Had she passed out? Was she in the infirmary? It didn't feel like it. She didn't know why she felt that, but it didn't feel like it. Something just felt wrong.

"But I see They've been… careless with your care." That hushed voice spoke again. Didn't sound like one of the ship's doctors. But she felt like she recognized it.

Who is this? She hoped her eyes would adjust fast enough to see where she was and who the person speaking was.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, and her vision cleared. They widened. She saw a terrifying sight before her. An Elder. Their face, more or so helmet, hovered over her. She could recognize that from anywhere. She would never forget it. But this one looked different. Their garb and helmet were different. More stylized. Like they were a high-ranking member.

Metal strips from their helmet swooped over their dazzling bevor(or perhaps a board collar) and looped around Their arms. Those arms. This Elders' arms were on full display, not hidden beneath those pristine red robes They wore. But They weren't wearing the usual garb of their brethren, nor was it red. Rather, They wore neutral colors, warm colors, though mostly dark grays and white with a hint of color. They still wore a robe, a dark grey, with an ever darker cloak. But it was not designed to hide Their arms; like They were not ashamed of that frail part of them. Gold bands were on Their wrists and elbows, connected by a wispy white material. Then a red sash loosely wrapped around that thin waist. Little metal charms dangled from it

What the hell! What the hell! What the hell! Jynn exclaimed in her mind and kept repeating it. How was an Elder doing on the ship? Why couldn't she move? This was a nightmare. This can't be real.

Then she noticed something. She wasn't on the ship. She was somewhere else. From the corners of her eyes, she could see was in a lab of sorts, which looked to be ADVENT by the design. Geometric. Oppressive. And then she noticed several workers in the room. Human and alien. Their lab coats boar the symbol of ADVENT on their backs.

No, I can't be back there. They can't have me again. I was on the ship. I know I was on the ship.

"Master Maker." An alien worker came over to her. She felt her heart drop. She knew the Elders preferred the "lower creatures" to refer to Them with such a title.

"Hm?" The Elder turned his head towards them.

"We've brought in everything you requested."

"Good." Maker nodded. He turned his attention back to Jynn. "Now… Please leave. I would like to study my subject… in private before my, Brethren arrive."

"As you wish." They nodded and ordered everyone to leave the room.

No. No. No.

Jynn closed her eyes tightly. This had to be a dream. A nightmare. She couldn't be back in the Elders' clutches. A sharp gasp came from her. She felt wrinkled fingers touch her head. A nail dug into her skin. And then a pull on her mind.

She opened her eyes, seeing that familiar purple of psionics flowing around her and this Maker.

"Hm?" Maker drew his head closer for a moment. "Ah!" An excited gasp left his lips as he drew his drew back.

A grunt slipped from Jynn's. She soon saw what had his attention. He was pulling something from her. Something blue. It looked like his psionics, but blue. She had never seen such a thing. Did psionics come in different colors? She noticed something. His arms were shaking as his fingers arched. He was having trouble. Like this blue energy was resisting him. After a few more tugs, he relented and let it go. The psionics dissipated.

"They were not lying. They were not mistaken. There are traces of an — — in you." He said. "Buried deep within you."

Wait… did he get cut off? Jynn noticed a set of words disappeared. She didn't hear them.

Before she knew it, the Elder was in her face again. Both hands clutched her skull as those psionics started up again and started to stab at her mind. Searching through her memories. Searching for something. "But where are they? How deep do they sleep?"

"Ah…! Ah…!" She let out a gasp, feeling her jaw open. She wanted to scream.

"Though your sleep is deep, this may sting." Maker said as he drew back one of his hands.

More gasps came from her as she felt her mind and body being pulled at. Like this Elder was trying to rip something out of her. A scream was finally slipping out, but just as it came. It was silenced. She felt nothing as her mind fell apart. The world was dark.

"Raal'Maker does his work well." A voice hissed. "The Information Network is running well. Better than before."

"Yes, he does. I thank you for your suggestion, Ri'vi." A more pleasant, more calm voice said.

"You are welcome, Angelis."

Oh God, no. Jynn immediately recognized the voices as she came to once more. More Elders. She was still in the Elders' clutches. What had happened? How did They get her? What happened on the Avenger?

She tried to open her eyes, but couldn't. They felt tremendously heavy. And her body ached greatly. What had They done to her? Probably experiments. She listened closely to the two.

"Now if only he could find the — —."

"In due time, Angelis." Ri'vi said.

What are they saying? What is being blocked out? Jynn wanted to know that missing detail.

The two Elders continued to talk about her. Continually referring to her as the 'asset' and how her integration into the Psionic Network was allowing ADVENT to work more efficiently. Eventually, They went to other topics, how their Brethren on other worlds were doing, how some of their allies — said with a lot of venom — were doing on recreate lost technology of another species, research on Their "condition", and then finally onto another subject. Though the words kept disappearing from her ears.

"The — —…" There was a heavy disappointment in Ri'vi's voice. "They perform their tasks well. But are lacking in true progress."

"Yes. Yes. Our wayward children." Angelis nodded. "Those they are tasked to eliminate still flourish. That human condition still afflicts them."

"And now we have — — returning." She hissed. "The true ones. Not the imposters."

"Yes, that is worrisome." Angelis said. "But we can snuff them out as long as we plan accordingly."

"Are you thinking of…?" She hesitated to ask.

Angelis nodded.

"I believe it may be time for the creation of another. One that will truly be perfect. A perfected — — that will lead our armies and Us to victory against the one that chases. The one that consumes all. The asset will fight such a role."

"But… forgive me for saying this, but Maker advises against that. To ''Ascend' her would — — her,' so he has said. Repeatedly." There was worry in Ri'vi's voice. An odd amount of concern for an Elder.

"He worries over nothing. We can rebuild her. Remake her into something greater. The damage he speaks of is nothing."

"Will this interfere with his task of finding the — —?" She asked.

"I do not see it doing so. In fact, it may finally draw out our illusive friend."

Oh… Oh… Jynn gasped mentally. A slow horror set in as her mind filled in the blanks. They are going to turn me into a Chosen.

The world went black again.

"Do not DARE do THAT to her!" Though the voice was hushed, there was great anger within it.

This time, she could open her eyes. This time she could see. No more darkness. She was upright but behind some sort of glass. In some sort of tank, notices air bubbles float in the liquid.

Then she saw before her several Elders. Several psionic projections, but Raal'Maker was in person. Angrily pointing at his Brethren as his psionics lashed out against the objects in the room. And something was off.

First, she had never seen nor heard the Elder so angry before. Somehow, and she didn't know how or why, she faintly recalled "sessions" with the Elders. He was always calm and oddly polite for an Elder. He never spoke down to his workers and didn't speak ill of her, though he worked on her like she was a guinea pig as he tried to search for whatever it was and "fix her damage." He was an odd one compared to the others, from what she could recall. And he didn't think too highly of most of his Brethren. He didn't hesitate to call Them "idiots" and "deluded fools" when They were not around. And though he held his tongue when They were around, he had his moments where he chastised Them for their mistakes. Especially, if it dealt with her and her health. Such a strange Elder.

And second. His psionics. There was red mixed in the purple. Red. And the red was arching violently like a lightning storm.

"You all will risk so much doing that." The hushed anger continued.

In the middle of the Collective was Angelis. She seemed undisturbed by Maker's outburst.

"Maker…" She said calmly." She will be the perfect — — against a growing problem. She will be perfect for the future. Perfected for — — , perfected to lead Our — —."

"And she will — — if you do that! Even if she survives, she'll be broken like them. Damaged. Especially like K— —. " Maker snapped back. "Something's causing — — in her besides how you all are going beyond the — — I set for that suit and system! You're letting her — —" One of his arms pointed towards her. "And then — — will endanger the link to the — — . Doing that to her will surely sever it."

"Then fix it." Angelis replied. "Find them."

"Do you all not think I have not been trying?" More and more anger entered Maker's voice. That red rapidly consumed his purple psionics. Bolts of energy struck one light fixture, shattering it into many pieces. "While you all haphazardly conjure up new abominations and chasing vain dreams, I have been trying. While damaged." He placed his hand on his chest. "You broke —— her. Now she's done it to me. Poetic." He let out a dry laugh. "Something you all did when you… acquired her, damaged her. Broke something within and blurred that connection."

"Ya'zout!" One Elder just behind Angelis moved forward. One with a rather aggressive-looking helmet. Several places came to sharp points and jutting spikes. On the lower half of the helmet, there were 6 vents, perfectly mirrored on each side. It resembled a mouth. One twisted into a snarl. And that snarl was beginning to glow with energy. "How dare you accuse those higher than you of such a—"

"Vome Talos! Vome Talos!" A deep, raspy voice called out. "Let him speak. He knows what he speaks of, no?" That caused the aggressive Elder to relent and move back and behind Angelis.

This was a voice Jynn hadn't heard before. And this Elder wasn't among the rest. She noticed a screen in the middle of the room. That's where the voice came from. She let out a gasp. Their helmet. Their helmet looked quite ghastly. As if it was a skull, possibly mimicking what They looked like underneath those pristine helmets.

"Has the ya'zoul not done well for this group you lead, Angelis? Has he not helped greatly especially for the — —, no?" He stated. They murmured. He had. "Then let him speak."

"Apologies, High Magister Va'lo'Fe." Angelis said, bowing towards him.

"Thank you." Raal'Maker also bowed to him. "Though you push me to work on more pressing matters…" He paused as a growl slipped out. "Under no circumstances shall she be — — to one of them. Lest she — —"

"Fine. We clone her and do it." Angelis said, growing tired of the conversation. "There will be two. Body and Mind." Maker laughed, a raspy laugh.

"A clone? Will the clone even be like her? Be compatible?" He laughed again, knowing it was a mad idea. "You can not replicate the soul as well as that connection. We know this well with the soul. That Reaper is a fine example. The masterwork of you all."

That struck a chord. Another shouted at him and he shouted back. The conversation devolved again with Val'lo'Fe and Angelis struggling to get everything under control.

Jynn felt herself adding once more, but knew something wasn't right. She had never seen or heard Maker be so bold before his Brethren. They did something that ticked him off. And that something dealt with her.

They started the process, didn't They?

She felt that familiar feeling of herself coming to again. What was in store this time? What torture befell her? Was I the past or present? She was leaning towards the past that as these had to glimpses of lost memories with how the events were playing out. A great relief to her mind, as she had not been recaptured.

As she thought this, she could feel she was on a table or in some sort of device. She felt enclosed like something was all around her. And then she felt something drop onto her face. Something wet.

"What have They done?" And that familiar hushed voice of Maker speak.

As her eyes fluttered open, a person was hovering over her. This wasn't the Elder. They looked human and male. But something was off. There was something about his eyes. Looked as if they were missing. Just darkness existed where his eyes should be. She felt more wet drops. Were they crying?

"What have They done!?" This man cried out. In Maker's voice. Their lips matched the words. Perfectly. She looked around the best she could. Only this human was there. And she was definitely in something. Like a pod.

Hesitantly, he raised his raises his hands to her face, gently resting them on her cheeks. "Those fools. Why do this? After I warned Them?"

Is this Maker? She questioned why this human spoke with his voice. Is he possessing a human?

The human continued to touch her face a little while longer before he withdrew his hands. He then raised his hands over his body. A second later, purple and red psionic energy flowed from them and around her. She felt several tugs on her body and mind. And something about her body felt off. Again, it hurt, but several parts of her felt different. Like she had been stretched out. Her bones reshaped and her muscle mass was different.

And the psionics felt familiar. Like Maker's who had grown more gentle over time as he worked on her. Seemed like this human was Maker. But why was he possessing a human?

"Mak'Symmtra." A voice with a metallic twang said. Maker turned his head as some strange being came over to him.

What the? Jynn couldn't make them out. Like her mind was actively blurring their form. Whatever it was, she knew it towered over Maker, but could see several things floating around them. Shimmering under the lights.

"Ah… Hera'tius." Maker greeted the being. Despite the waver in his voice, there was a warmness to it. He sniffled as he wiped away tears. "I see you received my message, my friend."

"Yes." They nodded. They came closer and peered over her. "I see what They have done. Madness."

"She's — —."

"I can sense it."

"Did you bring it?"

"I have." The being brought forth a canister, raising it high into the air. "My brethren and I have worked hard to purify the blood. But we are concerned traces of the X'zea'shia still remain."

"Hm…" Maker grimaced as he looked at the canister intently. He then looked at her. "I may have to take the risk in order to undo Their work. The damage They caused."

"You know the risk is great if the X'zea'shia connects to her."

"I know, but I must take it. She is one of the many keys to the future. For the survival of all."

"You think so?"

"I believe so, my friend."

"Hm." The being muttered. They set the canister aside on a table.

They looked at Jynn once more. Examining her. Then they looked back at Maker. They laughed. A sharp, distorted, metallic laugh.

"Finally coming out of your shell? Finally being defiant, my friend?" They tapped at his head.

Maker grinned. "I have been thinking. I have her to thank for the new perspective." He gestured at himself.

"I will help you with this, to make the chances of the X'zea'shia connecting slim. To give her a barrier for some time. Protection from them and then your brethren. My siblings and I will need some time to bring additional materials."

"Yes, yes. I was thinking of that. I don't want Them meddling any further." Maker swiftly nodded. "Thank you, this should do for now."

"And when the time is right. When she meets with the eadto'ta'adows once more, I will be her emissary for you."

"Hera'tius… you don't have to do that. I'm already treading a fine line with working against my Brethren. They suspect, but have no evidence yet." He didn't want them to get caught up in his schemes.

"I will. You, Mak'Symmatra, and your mentor Val'Fe'Weyta and those under him forever have the backing of me and my kind. You all are so different from the rest of the Echtralls. You are like — — they chased off long ago out of jealousy."

"Hera'tius. I am touched." He didn't know what to say.

"Let us get to work. We have little time before more damage is done if she stays in this state."

"Yes, yes…" He swiftly nodded. "What sort of barrier were you thinking of?'

"Words, symbols, additional edits, and integrations. The latter two must be staged until she is more stable. But with the words and symbols, when the time is right, they will trigger memories deep within her."

The being raised their hand, it became clear in Jynn's mind. It was thin, jagged, and a light silver metallic. The very tips were purple. They began to draw out symbols with their finger. White and purple energy flowed from that finger and took shape. A five-sided shape. The top was longer than the rest. They then made an "X" in the center. She felt like she knew just what he was drawing, but the answer was distant.

"Shadows of the past that have come back to the light." They said. The symbol disappeared. Already they were drawing another shape. "To fight this twisted light. Darkness masquerading as righteousness. Sin." She recognized. ADVENT. The Elders insignia. They clenched their fist and shattered it. They then turned to Maker.

"Then you." They poked at his chest. "What is broken within. Twisted, shattered, but found, redeemed, and mended." They drew another symbol. A circle, flowing waves at the top and bottom. Wisps of water wicking from it and this wisp flowed into an orb at the center. "Who now seeks to repair and atone for what the Echtralls have done. Who seeks to save those from the X'zea'shia." The waves shifted into eyes, several piercing eyes. "And who seeks to meet the Wey'vo'ta and Ectvander guide. The Ect'esltial… before the end comes." They closed and withdrew their hand. "What is she to you?"

Maker looked at the symbol and then at him. He let out a dry laugh. "A bit on the nose, but it will work nicely. And you know."

They laughed in return. The symbols faded.

Maker looked back at Jynn. Sadness was evident on his face. "Now… What shall the words be, my friend?"

"Get the blood ready for the pod so I may speak them."

"On it."

The being turned back to Jynn. They raised their hand to her head, and placed their finger on the center of her forehead.

"So'govoth. Ec'tash esche o'vota'ka 'adows. Oshe 'asta so'gov me'mataka?"

They started tapping on her head in a rhythmic pattern. They kept repeating this for a few minutes.

Suddenly, she felt something cold rise beneath and around her.

"So'govoth. Ec'tash esche o'vota'ka 'adows. Oshe 'asta so'gov… Mak'Symmatra?"

As they said that, they withdrew their finger. As that happened, a black, red, and blue substance flooded her vision. She was gone.

"AH!"

Jynn woke up with a great shout, like lightning had struck her. She was panting, almost gasping for air as she clutched her chest. She looked around. The room was dim. Faint lights were around her computer desk.

"››Wait…‹‹"

She was in her quarters. She was on the ship.

"››Wait… What?‹‹"

She looked around again and at herself. This was definitely her Quarters. She was moving. She was speaking. She wasn't in some ADVENT Elder lab being experimented on. Not being submerged in some strange liquid.

She noticed her clock. 06:22. So early.

"››So was I dreaming? Those dreams were… weird… felt real…and…‹‹" She closed her eyes, trying to remember them, but they quickly faded from her mind. Dammit. "››And now I can barely remember them. Foggy like the rest of my memories.‹‹" She sighed. She wanted to remember them. Deep inside herself, she felt like they were important.

"››Maybe they'll come back.‹‹"

For now, she felt like returning to sleep. She didn't feel fully rested and needed all the energy she could get. She had a few meetings later in the day.

"››Wait…‹‹" She finally noticed something. She raised herself back up and rubbed her throat.

"›› Hold on…‹‹" She uttered words but nor in English "››What in the world!?‹‹" She rubbed her throat again and spoke more words. She was speaking in an alien tongue. It was partially harsh. Partially the language of the Elders. No matter how hard she tried, she continued to speak in the alien tongue. And the other language she spoke she couldn't recall the name of.

"››Oh… Dr. Marin and the others are going to have a field day.‹‹"

Looked like a trip down to the doctors was in order. Sleep could wait.

Bradford was moving through the halls with great haste. He had just finished a meeting and noticed a message from the Medical staff. It was about the Commander, but the details were sparse. And he had missed this message for about an hour.

"Dr. Marin, I received your—" Just as he entered the infirmary, a strange sight greeted his eyes, causing him to stop in his tracks. Sitting in one of the beds was Jynn with the doctors tentatively looking after her. And she had a strange-looking cap on her head. Several white circles — electrodes —lined it and even more wires ran from it and to one computer a technician was at.

"What the hell is going on here?" He questioned as he entered.

"››Hey, John.‹‹" Jynn waved.

That made him stop again. He scrunched his brows together. He looked at Jynn and then at the doctors. He even picked at his ears, flicking away whatever got caught under his fingernails. "Am I hearing correctly?"

"She's stuck speaking some alien language and then what the Elders talk." Dr. Marin said. He was sitting on a stool just beside the bed. "Said she woke up like this, which was about an hour ago."

"What?" Bradford wasn't quite sure he heard that correctly.

"What he said." A computerized voice played. Jynn had a tablet in her hands and she was typing away. "Don't know what happened, just woke up like this after weird dreams." That same voice played from the tablet.

"What."

"We are running an EEG test right now." Marin explained. He glanced over at the readings. So far, nothing.

"And how's that going?"

"So far, no abnormal activity. Same with the psionic side." And psionics was his specialty, as he was the head of the PERG. The Psionic Energy Research Group. Most just referred to it as the Psi Lab. "The psionic readings are slightly higher, but still roughly the same since we found her months ago."

And that was something he was still picking at. There were signs she had potential… or there could have been some genetic editing from the Elders for whatever They were doing to her. He just knew he had to tiptoe over the subject with the Commander, as she hated the abundance of tests still happening to her. At least he was patient. He could wait until her health was much better and fully investigate this finding. He just wondered how Dr. Vahlen would have reacted if she were here with them. Probably would have been cursed out by the Commander a few times. She could be pushy and it matched how eccentric she could be.

"Okay." Bradford slowly nodded. "Any clue what she's speaking besides sounded like one of those Elders every other word?"

"None, and we're searching the data banks for any matches." Marin said.

Bradford made his way over to her and sat next to her on the bed. He offered her his hand and she gladly grasped it.

"How are you doing?" He asked. Eyes studying the contraption they had on her head.

"››I'm okay.‹‹" A sigh betrayed her, showing her annoyance. She made sure to type it out so he understood. "››I don't know what caused it. And quite frankly, it's been… wait… wait… I'm speaking English again!" Halfway through speaking, she suddenly switched back to English.

Dr. Marin looked at the readings. Barely anything had changed. "Huh… this is strange."

"But a good sign? Right?" Bradford asked.

"Yes, but also no. We still don't know what caused it and by all means, she could relapse into speaking like that again."

"Great." Bradford shook his head.

"I take it you want to run tests on me for the rest of the day?" She was almost hesitant to ask, but felt like that would be for the best.

Marin nodded. "Yes, but not the whole day. I know how much you hate excessive testing." He lightly teased, pointing his pen at her.

"Yes, yes…" She rolled her eyes.

She let out an exasperated sigh as she closed her eyes. She wondered how long the testing would go for. Feeling her hand being squeezed, she opened her eyes.

"Anything I can get for you, Jynn?" Bradford asked.

"Tea would be nice." She said. "If that's fine." She threw a glance at Marin, knowing part of her diet was still restricted.

"It's fine. Non-caffeinated." He said in a serious tone.

"I think she'll be able to live without the caffeine, doctor." Bradford chuckled, and so did Marin. He chuckled even more when she rolled her eyes. "I'll be back in a jiffy." He said before getting up and heading off to the kitchen to make her some tea.

About 10 minutes later, he came back with tea in hand and a few treats. Warren, one of the Specialists, was in a baking mood and had whipped up some cookies for the crew. Jynn was rather delighted by the treat, and more so when Marin said she could eat them. They tasted heavenly. She'd have to give compliments to Warren later.

He spent some time with her, catching her up on the current events, and just having a casual chat until he had to return to his duties. A few hours later, she was free. Still, nothing abnormal on the scans, which everyone thought was weird. They would give her a day of "freedom" before dragging her back for more tests. For now, she headed back to her quarters and back to bed. She needed the sleep. Had a lot to do in a few hours.