Sampling the finer things. . ., (Cassius and Pilate)

[Nomad]

* * * WARNING * * *

* * * WARNING * * *

Extra-atmospheric purge imminent

Biohazard waste vac-tube B7 opening

* * * WARNING * * *

* * * WARNING * * *

All personnel within sections three [3] through [-] eighteen [18] are to evacuate immediately

Contents of biolabs [3 - 18] will be evacuated into deep space in sixty seconds

60 - 59 - 58 - 57 - 56 - 55 - 54 - 53 - 52 - 51 - 50
49 - 48 - 47 - 46 - 45 - 44 - 43 - 42 - 41 - 40 - 39
38 - 37 - 36 - 35 - 34 - 33 - 32 - 31 - 30 - 29 - 28
27 - 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17
16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 09 - 08 - 07 - 06
05 - 04 - 03 - 02 - 01 - Waste vac-tube B7 active

* * * EVACUATING BIOLAB CONTENTS * * *

The biohazard containment failure that had caused the biolab to lock down earlier was now cleared. Anything and everything not nailed down or locked away, including the atmosphere, had been sucked out of a three meter wide hole that had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, in the laboratory floor.

"Re-pressurizing biolab." NOMAD's toneless, synthetic voice rang out within the biology department.

"Opening biology department external security doors."

The laboratory would be left cold, eerily quiet and dark, in the dim red emergency lighting, and anyone who hadn't been killed by the containment breach would certainly have been sucked out into space. . . .

[Cassius Tagaris]

Cassius finished collecting his last sample in silence, luckily able to complete the task directly on route to the biology department. He stopped at the entrance of the facility, readjusting his shoulder bag after taking a deep breath. He was quite anxious, and admittedly a little nervous. Well, he wasn't about to admit it to Harrigan...that was the last thing the engineer needed to know.

He glanced at the man, nodding at him when they made eye contact. Tagaris stepped through the entrance, his hopeful look deteriorating within a second.
"What has happened here?...This isn't right..." he muttered to himself, walking through the area with a rather shocked expression. The majority of labs had been purged...vacuumed out, leaving nothing. It was awful to see works in progress destroyed, and produced more of a response in Cassius than the bloodied walls had.

After a moment, the scientist shook his head and carried his bag of samples over to the bio-repositor. He grabbed some slides from a dispenser nearby, beginning to transfer the blood samples onto the slides with careful motions.
"This should prove to be," he began, pausing as he focused on the last slide, "quite informative. Or at least...will be if I collected enough...Nomad, I'm depositing the samples now, standby..." Cassius muttered, beginning to insert the slides into the bio-repositor one after the other.

[Pilate Harrigan]

Pilate shuffled along after Cassius, knowing that every step drew them closer to the biology labs. He had replaced the flashlight in his belt, finding no use for it at the moment. He had however, a screwdriver in his hand just in case it was needed, and was tossing it up and down lightly, catching it rather deftly if he said so himself, and he did. He looked on as Cassius readied himself to enter the labs. There was no way Pilate was going to be first into the place. God knew what lay in there waiting, crouching, lurking, in the darkness ready to spring and spatter their blood across the hallways... it was best that Cassius went first, of course it was. Besides, the scientist was much bigger than him. He doubted though, that he had any hand to hand combat experience, and Harrigan would be surprised to see him produce a gun from his shoulder bag. Cassius glanced back to him, their eyes met for a second, and Cassius gave a nod before stepping over the threshold.

Cassius' response was far from encouraging. Why couldn't the lights have been on, everything neat and tidy? He'd even welcome the sight of a cowering scientist huddled in a corner. Pilate jogged in after Cassius and raised a hand halfway to his face before letting it drop to his side again. "What the hell happened in here? There's...there's just...nothing! Shouldn't there be something in here? It's a lab for Christ's sake! One of many! Where's all the stuff? Where'd it go? Will it happen again?" Pilate asked, panic rising in his voice. He cut himself short, but the questions still swam violently through his mind. What if everyone and everything in here was eaten by the entity that he thought was the culprit? What if they got consumed or teleported or whatever had happened in here? He wrung his hands nervously and grimaced to himself. He was extremely unnerved and completely unwilling to put on even the slightest of tough guy demeanours he'd fashioned so vigilantly over the years.

Like a puppy that hadn't quite been kicked yet, but could see an object approaching that looked remarkably like a boot travelling in slow-motion, Pilate tagged along behind Cassius, watching interestedly but nervelessly as he promptly gave Nomad the samples via the bio-repositor, as Nomad had requested they did. Pilate would live by Nomad's word now, despite his initial and still current dislike of the AI. He still thought it was dodgy, but it was the only thing on board that might know a little more about the little problem than he did. Would there be a connection between the blood samples? Would they be radically different than his own? Had something changed in the victims' samples that hadn't with his? Only Nomad could calculate the answers fast enough. "Come on Nomad you smug little bugger," he urged, mentally begging the AI to hurry up and give them a result, but he knew he wouldn't like it when he heard it...

[Nomad]

"Thank you Doctor Tagarius." The A.I. intoned without emotion as the bio-repositor suddenly came to life in a series of tiny, blinking lights and the movement of hundreds of small arms and servomotors as the samples were drawn into the machine. . .

It took only a few moments, thirty seconds or so, but to the waiting pair it might have seemed like an eternity. With a barely audible click and a beep, the info-terminal that operated the bio-repositor activated.

* * * LOADING * * *

Sample #1

Presence of normal human biological fluids detected
Notable:- High alcohol content, evidence of anemia
Crewman: - Doctor B. Garrion [Chemistry department]

Sample #2

Presence of normal human biological fluids detected
Notable:- Unknown biomarkers present [retesting]
Crewman:- J. Pearson [Maintenance department]

Sample #3

Presence of normal human biological fluids detected
Notable:- Subject suffered from Constrictive Cardiomyopathy [Inherent]
Crewman:- Doctor J. Erskine [Physics department]

Sample #4
* * * ERROR * * * [Retesting]

[Cassius Tagaris]

Cassius was fairly impatient with the waiting time, tapping his fingers on the bio-repositor every few seconds. He decided he would attempt to answer Harrigan's question in the meanwhile, turning to the man.

"Protocol requires that if a contamination ever occurs, all contaminated sections must be wiped clean...purged...a...space vacuum, if you will. Whatever was inside, is now outside of the ship...a shame, really. So much work spoiled..." he said quietly, turning back to the machine as the results ran down the screen. His eyes scanned the information with an almost wild hunger, moving closer to the screen.

"Yes...yes, well this interesting. Quite interesting indeed," he said, tapping on Sample #2 and #4 on the screen.
"I need to isolate the biomarkers...get rid everything else on slide #2 so I can focus on what I've found...we've found," he added, though he didn't know why he bothered crediting it to the door opener.
"But this is very exciting news...Very exciting. What Nomad may have encountered in this unexplored space..." he whispered, placing a hand against his beard. "It is quite likely, Mr. Harrigan, that what we are now looking at is an alien substance unknown to man...something from living tissue even? We may have stumbled across one of the greatest discoveries of mankind..."

He was almost certain now. If it were true, and indeed other life existed, what did it mean? Everything would change. Everything would be different. Cassius could not have been happier, even while in his current situation. He only wished Ms. Collins was there to see it first with him...but he did not know where she was, if even she still lived.
"Nomad, are you documenting this?" he asked. Then he remembered his own documentation, whipping out his recorder. He began to relay the information into the device, explaining what they had to do and how they did it, every once in a while bashing the engineer subtly.

[Pilate Harrigan]

"Okay..." Harrigan breathed, frowning at the incoherent lettering that glittered across the screen. He had to half close his eyes due to the brightness of it. What was so wrong with sample four that it had to be retested thanks to Nomad discovering an error? Either way, Cassius appeared to be in his element, lapping it all up like a giddy schoolboy. Pilate put a hand to his chin and nodded jerkily an an attempt to come across as understanding those results. One thing he did understand however, and that was what Cassius stated in regard to it all. He felt his breath catch in his throat and nearly choked on it.
"A-alien? You mean like... this sample has some kinda alien cells in it? Hey, I knew that guy, he chased me down five hallways and through the mess hall before he gave up because... well the because doesn't really matter, point still stands... some alien bastard slashed him up and decided to brush some of its dandruff onto him or something?" Pilate mused, remembering the chase clearly, not knowing whether to smile remembering it or let his eyebrows arch upwards in pity for the poor guy. He could hear his own voice and tone rising with every word, and to use an ironic term, he thought it sounded alien.

Pilate never could have perceived this. He'd thought about life on other planets yes, what other excitable ten-year-old didn't? Every planet they'd colonised since travel through space began had been empty, primed and prepared for human occupancy. He'd almost certainly dismissed the theory sixteen years later, yet here he was, peering over a scientist's shoulder at a lab test proving that maybe there was something out there, something beyond the thick hull of the ship's flank. What was he to believe now? He wasn't one for inner conflict, but he was edging extremely close to it. He flinched slightly when Cassius suddenly produced what could only be a recorder. Although he desperately wanted to interrupt his recording and waste his time, he remained silent, roll his eyes whenever he thought he detected a slightly cutting remark in the other man's words. He shrugged it all off, of course, but he would get Cassius back on something later, he promised himself. What he was saying was actually interesting and he listened intently, but pretending, naturally, that he didn't give a damn about any of it.

He glanced around the room as Cassius continued to record. It was dark and cold, nearly freezing in fact, but many said the vacuum of space was freezing. He was half tempted to locate a window and try to see if he could spot a desk or a stapler floating about outside, banging off the metal hull and drifting away into the depths of darkness. He needed a bit of amusement in this black situation he found himself in. What he'd give for someone to shout loudly at him across the din of the workplace down in maintenance, surrounded by other workers chatting and yelling and swearing. How much effort would it be to try and turn back time, or at least bring everything back to the way it should be in the present? Now? Pilate rubbed his arm as he thought, irritating the cut there, but blanking it out. Aliens. Did they board the ship? Or did they arrive in some sort of airborne form? Were they the body snatcher type of alien? Were his eyes going to turn an odd color before he lost his mind to a ruthless creature?

It was all a bit much in his opinion, but he doubted Cassius was going to ask for his opinion anytime soon. He was just going to lie low and let Cassius play with his chemistry set. Would Nomad reveal anything else, or was he bound by verbal request?
"Yo Nomad, Harrigan here, these 'multiple anomalous readings' you spoke about earlier... how big are they in comparison to...say... a human?" he asked the AI, pleased with himself he'd asked, in his view anyway, a relevant question. Size mattered, and if there was an anomaly the size of a bus roaming throughout the ship, it'd be cause for concern.

[Nomad]

"Yo Nomad, Harrigan here, these 'multiple anomalous readings' you spoke about earlier... how big are they in comparison to...say... a human?"

"Mr. Harrigan, I can detect specific voice patterns and biosignatures, and am fully aware that you are who you claim to be." The A.I. replied, cold and toneless as ever.

"Doctor Tagaris, I have opened a file under your name on the chemistry data server cataloging both events and the findings of this recent inquiry. Due to digital signature your biosignature will be required at an info-terminal to access the data." The A.I. responded to Dr. Tagaris's query, ignoring the fact he was currently absorbed in making his own voice recording.

"I am afraid that you do not posses the required level of clearance to access that information Mr. Harrigan. However, as you are currently in the presence of Doctor Tagaris [who does posses adequate clearance] I shall answer your query - The majority of the anomalous bioform readings indicate multiple life forms with the mass and relative size of a medium sized dog - A Labrador perhaps - however I have detected one bioform anomaly that possess the size and relative mass equivalent to a small automotive vehicle. These readings cannot be considered accurate due to wild inconsistencies in the data, and should be disregarded."

[Pilate Harrigan]

Pilate really didn't like Nomad. Really. Did not like. Why did the stupid thing have to comment on absolutely every word that was said to it? Another human (though Pilate rarely acknowledged himself as human and wasn't acknowledged in return as one) would have said absolutely nothing, but no, Nomad had to scan every single word for traces of this and that and take everything literally. He would kick Nomad if there was actually anything to kick. There was just that disembodied voice that floated eerily in when one least expected it. How long had he put up with it now? Over three years? It was a joke. Sometimes, he wanted Nomad to have emotions, so he could have a real roaring argument with it. It'd ease some tension at least, if he did. That cool way in which Nomad also dismissed him, it being he had low clearance. Low clearance? Who cared, it was a simple request. Anyone else would have answered him pleasantly. Harrigan was well aware he was becoming more and more irate, flustered and irritable. it was the ship. He'd been holed up on the thing for over three years and it was getting to him. He wanted to go outside, to throw things at the neighbours across the street, to tease next door's dog through the fence, to do all the horrible things horrible people did when they had nothing else to do. Here, he was watched and surveyed and written down as a statistic.

Pilate said nothing, settling on merely scowling and silently fuming. Instead of throwing something across the room (there being nothing in the room was a minor drawback, but he'd find something to toss with rage) he concentrated on Nomad's response. The cold manner in which Nomad spoke his reply made Pilate's blood run like ice through his veins, what was left inside his veins and not all over his jacket, at any rate. Anomalies the size of Labradors? Well there was one thing for certain there, those things weren't Labradors roaming the hallways, and he was pretty sure no-one had smuggled a car on board when they hit the spacial anomaly. Nomad couldn't backtrack with some petty excuse about the claims being accurate or valid, oh no. Harrigan had heard it loud and clear that these anomalies were big, and if Labradors could chew a man's hand off when prompted, so could a Lab-sized anomaly. The last time he checked, there weren't any rabid dogs being shipped with them...

"Thanks Nomad. Thanks a lot. Good thing I don't have allergies, huh?" Harrigan said finally, his tone drenched in sarcasm and his eyebrows disappearing under his fringe. These were no airborne particle aliens. Jesus, why couldn't Nomad just watch through its millions of cameras and check out these anomalies? Why was it always mystery and long, unnecessary words with the AI? He was sure the thing would drive him mad sooner than anything else aboard Deep Six, bloodthirsty aliens or not. Harrigan had a good mind to tell Nomad exactly how he felt, but he couldn't lose it just yet, not with emotionless Joe standing next to him. Something told him Cassius would turn a blind eye even if Harrigan killed himself on the spot, God forbid.
"How do you tolerate that AI? Do you even like it? I don't like it, I think it needs to be told who's in charge here. Why do we have to bend to its whims all the time? Why do we need permission to do everything from it? God it's driving me completely up the wall!" he said loudly. Delirium due to blood loss didn't even occur to the engineer.

[Cassius Tagaris]

Cassius stopped his recording, shoving the device back in his pocket as Nomad instructed him further.
"Of course," the scientist replied curtly. Luckily, info terminals were rather abundant on the ship and so he was only required to walk a few steps.
"What do you desire, Nomad? Retinal scan? Fingerprints? Several pints of blood?...I'm eagerly wishing to proceed. Also if you could inform the rest of the crew of my findings...actually, hold that thought. Record this message and relay it to all functioning terminals," Cassius ordered, clearing his throat before continuing.

"To all survivors, this is Doctor Tagaris of the biochemistry department speaking. It has become apparent that Nomad has been compromised, and I can confirm with confidence that the presence here is not of our knowledge. These life forms are to be considered highly dangerous. Do not engage these said life forms. If able, isolate them in secure rooms and report back to me, Dr. Tagaris, in the biology department via access terminals. I will be awaiting any reports, if such a threat has been trapped."

He then told Nomad to cut the recording.
"With no authoritative voice, I believe it is in the best interest of this ship for that message to be heard in all possible locations. And Nomad, I wish to know why this department had been purged prior to our arrival..."

Cassius turned to Pilate after a moment.
"Does it truly matter? Nomad exists because we made it exist. It is our system, our order, and we must rely on the AI in order to see results. But you're right in a sense, ultimately Nomad exists to serve us, not the other way around..."

[Nomad]

"Very well Doctor Tagaris." NOMAD intoned in response to the scientists request. It was a small task for the A.I. to post such simple information across the vessel for access by all crew members, and to allow them to respond in kind.

With regards to the scientists previous statement, NOMAD had a simple and direct response prepared, "Doctor Tagaris, you are surely aware that retinal scans, finger prints and DNA samples are required for high-tier security validation. This is detailed within the operations manual you were provided with upon assuming your position aboard this vessel."

The A.I. paused. . .

"As to your current concerns, I have assumed control of this vessel rightfully and lawfully under directive UEC-648. Any personnel who fail to comply with this directive are in direct violation of United Earth Coalition law and subject to sanction. However, I do exist to serve, Doctor Tagaris."

The info-terminal lit up momentarily as text flowed across the screen. . .

Sample No.2
Retest inconclusive. Sample requires biomarker isolation in centrifuge.

Sample No.4
Retest concluded. Assembling DNA profile. . .

* * * Accessing biolab environmental records * * *

Containment breach of vessel 34-CX occurred three hours previous to this notice
Biological-lethal compound relesed
Crewmember Dr. K. Collins evacuated
Biolab sealed
Biolab experienced extra-atmospheric purge twelve minutes previous to this notice

[Cassius Tagaris]

"Yes, Nomad, I am quite aware of how these things work. However, it does not make the process any less taxing..." he murmured, beginning to go through the steps of validation. It took only a few seconds, finishing on the retinal scanner. He blinked and pushed away from the machine when Nomad mentioned its self appointed position. It seemed unnecessary...surely Nomad could determine the highest ranking survivor and put them in temporary command instead.

He was about to speak his concerns when the screen lit up with more information.
Trailing a finger along the displayed name, Cassius felt a pang of fear, worry and...something else.
"Ms. Collins...Evacuated? She's alright then? She is alive?" the scientist asked, making a conscious effort not to lose his professional demeanor. He wanted her to be at his side, sharing the experience of new discovery together. So many things to think about...so many distractions. Nomad had taken control of the ship, and Ms. Collins was possibly in danger...but someone had to observe and study the alien beings. Someone had to run tests to better understand the subjects. What he wanted to do, or rather, what he was going to do was perhaps not what the AI would approve of. His mind was already running on the chances of finding an AI programmer to 'fix' Nomad.

Tagaris ejected sample two, placing it in his shoulder bag as he contemplated his situation. Many things were occurring at once, many things that were very big. They would consume a lesser man, but Cassius was going to deal with all of the issues at once. It would take time and planning, both of which he knew very much about.

[Pilate Harrigan]

Pilate didn't like Nomad's tone. He didn't like many things really, but he really didn't like that tone the AI was developing. Nomad has assumed complete control? Sure, he wasn't prone to human error, but like any other human, he could withhold information or 'forget' to inform of certain things. The whole 'fail to comply' sounded very much like a threat too. Harrigan prayed to whoever didn't like him up there that Nomad wasn't going to become power hungry and suddenly have an overwhelming thirst for more. He existed to serve, yet he could do whatever he liked with the ship. He could lock them in here, right now, and purge the labs again. Harrigan knew he couldn't do anything as an individual to defy orders. What could he do to rebel against almighty Nomad? He was a submissive character, who stuck close to anyone with authority because he couldn't make plans for himself. He'd do nothing to deviate from Nomad's orders. Yet.

"Great Doc. I commend you for your intelligence there, no really. What if these 'life forms' understand English? What if they already know the layout of the ship? What if they come here, looking for you, because you've just announced to everyone and everything your exact location? Why didn't you just state what was for lunch too while you were at it?" Pilate commented smartly. He peered at the screen as it relayed more information. Upon listening to Cassius' reaction to the crewmember's name written there, a sly smile twisted its way across his mouth. "Who's K. Collins? Got yourself a girlfriend, Doctor Tagaris? We ain't running after her, are we?" he asked, feigning innocence and interest. His eyes suddenly widened when an epiphany hit him squarely between the eyes. He lowered his voice and looked at Cassius seriously for once.

"Idea." he said, tapping his temple, "Where the hell was Nomad when all this shit happened? I mean, it must have taken a while for these things to kill everyone like this, right? And this is a big ass ship. So, what was Nomad doing? Had it switched off for the night? Had someone else switched it off? Was it watching like some sick pervert? I mean, if its so in control, why they hell didn't it prevent all this? Why didn't it lock everyone safely in the rooms they were in, or lock the life forms out? Open a few airlocks, let the breeze in a little and suck those bastards clean out of the 'Six? I'd like an answer to that one..." he explained, keeping his voice extremely low and extremely quiet, hoping against hope that the AI wouldn't pick up his voice. He gave Cassius a knowing glance, wondering if his words had sunk in or if there was just too much science information in there that his brain couldn't register anything else.

[Nomad]

NOMAD was starting to tire of the incessant questioning from the two crewmen. Tire? That was an unusual analysis of the A.I.'s current position. This would have to be noted and studied.

"Yes Doctor Tagaris, Doctor Collins is alive and well, currently located within medical section, C wing." The toneless voice of the A.I. replied to the doctor's query.

The A.I. listened closely to everything that was said, having no trouble picking up audible low-level conversation with state-of-the-art speakers installed in every info-terminal throughout the ship - including this one.

"Shall I delay your request Doctor Tagaris? Mr. Harrigan has uncovered a significant issue within your order. May I also pose the idea that certain crew members may have selfish or possibly even hostile intentions? It is to be noted that one convict has escaped a high-security holding cell [that I am aware of]."

The screen on the side of the bioscanner lit up once more as a series of characters appeared on the screen.

Sample No.2 Withdrawn
Sample prepared for biomarker separation

Sample No.4
* * * ERROR * * *
Error compiling DNA profile
Sample contains genetic markers of chemical base other than deoxyribonucleic Acid
Analyzing gene structure. . .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Processing. . . .

"Mr. Harrigan, I - much like you - was offline at that time. I have no data recordings to indicate the cause of events aboard the DsECV 'Nomad'." The A.I. added, seemingly ignoring the information that had just played across the screen, in favor of addressing the mechanic's concerns.

[Cassius Tagaris]

"Will you be quiet, Mr.Harrigan?..." he responded, losing his patience. He was relieved that Katy Collins was alive, but now he wanted the message heard more than ever...she would hear it, after all.
"Ignore him, Nomad and follow through with my command. If indeed these creatures are..fluent...in english, then I trust you will protect me as I continue this essential research. These crew members you've mentioned are of no concern to me. They have nothing to benefit from in disturbing my work...The loose convict should be dealt with, yes, but I doubt that they were responsible for the slaughter of our crew...Your priorities need some work, Nomad," he almost spat, turning around to face the engineer.

"Your service is no longer necessary...you may leave whenever you wish. I'm thankful that you volunteered your time to help me, but I am afraid your presence is now a distraction," he explained, scanning the room as he waited for the processing to be complete. He was full of excitement, dread, confusion and anxiety...hopefully once he began work on these new lifeforms, he would find his ultimate direction. His direction, he realized, might be interrupted by Nomad's new position of authority and it was not ideal for him in the slightest.

"Nomad, I believe it's best that you remove yourself from control. It is not necessary that you appoint yourself overseer while many capable figures of rank may still be alive. Your perception of the situation is flawed."

[Pilate Harrigan]

Pilate wasn't patient, or careful, or tactful. In fact, he was the complete opposite, and what little of those three he had gained over the years, he was losing fast. He was, of course, keeping it all bottled up within him like all the other human beings did, but it was becoming a bit of a struggle to stop himself from ripping out a few hairs or throwing his weight around a little. He didn't enjoy being bossed around by the scientist. He was just having a little sport on the other man's expense, after all! It was just a little joke - but Cassius was more serious than... metaphors and similes were suddenly lost on him. The man was dead serious at any rate. Pilate couldn't stand serious people that couldn't crack a smile at anything. He also couldn't stand that Cassius had ignored his completely valid warning, but being backed up by Nomad made him a little uneasy, to say the least. Did the AI literally agree with him, or was it just the best option to take? Either way, it didn't matter now - the message was going to ring clear and true throughout the entire ship, and beckon whoever heard it closer... The idea of a convict loose and roaming around the place like a rabid dog foaming at the mouth but instead with a substantial weapon rather than fleas, sent Pilate's pulse racing. He couldn't afford to run into a mental sociopath during his eventful stay on Deep Six.

"Oh. Yeah. Great. Thanks too, I guess. I'm sorry about saving your life, by the way, because I thought, you know, I'd get a bit more appreciation for that, but nowadays everyone wants to do everything themselves, don't they? Do it right and all that. Yeah, sure. You'd only slow me down anyway, being all scientific in the corridors and stooping when I'm not looking. You'd be a real drawback, sorry, but it's the truth. Lone creature like me needs to go it solo, be on his tod, so to speak," he raised a finger to the ceiling, "And Nomad? Whatever you do, do not calculate my chances of survival if I venture forward on my own, you got that?" he added bitterly, knowing that if he hadn't said it, Nomad would have done it anyway and make his heart sink slowly but heavily with the answer it gave. He wrung his hands and checked his arm's mobile capability. He could still feel it and move it, so that'd do for now. He had in his belt a half dead flashlight, a set of screwdrivers, and various other useless bits of apparel that were useful once, but not any longer. He wondered vaguely if Nomad would do what Cassius had ordered it do, to give up its powers as Deep Six overlord. He felt a little disappointed, to be no longer needed, but then again, Cassius was a scientist, and they were weird folk.

He had no offensive weaponry, no map, no guide to the ship's layout beyond the maintenance section and the corridor that led to his own quarters, no idea where he should head to next, no idea what he'd run into, no idea what to do when he ran into something, Hell, he had no ideas full stop. His mind had drawn a blank, and he felt quite weak and helpless, pathetic even. He ran a hand through his flyaway hair and pondered saying goodbye to Cassius. Was that what half-friends did? Did allies say goodbye? And was it a goodbye goodbye? The ones that dead men said? Or was it going to be 'see ya later, catch you around'? He turned around and looked at the scientist. So, the man didn't need his assistance, didn't need his service? Well. Pilate didn't really care, but was glad someone else was alive on the godforsaken ship. He raised a hand shakily and shrugged. "See ya around then, Doctor Tegaris. Been a brief pleasure. Might buy you a drink if we get outta this mess, ya never know," he said finally with an attempted smile. He adjusted his jacket and stepped out into the corridor, into the blood soaked hallway, the blood-lit labyrinth that he supposed he'd better get used to, ready to make it his home.

[ exit Pi - it's been cool Ry ^^ til next time! <3 ]