“Janessa where do you think you are going?” asked Junitha.
“I am going to talk to Zai,” said Janessa, “you heard what Suchin said before she went into that coma. Zai knows something.”
“That is not what she said. What is wrong with everyone lately? Ever since the Spectral Horde attacked something has been wrong on this ship.”
Janessa found Zai in the remains of one the weapon lockers. Most of it had already been salvaged for any useful parts that could be used to modify their existing weapons in preparation for a future attack.
“Tell us what you know Zai?” Janessa demanded.
“I know very little at this point,” said Zai, “But I do have a number of theories.”
“What are they?”
“I am not prepared to share them yet.”
“Who do you think you are?” said Janessa getting so hot with anger her body itched, “Who the hell are you anyway Zai? What makes you think you can do this? Who are you to judge us? What gives you that right?”
“I do as That Which I Serve commands,” said Zai.
“What the fuck does that even mean? What do you even serve?”
“A Higher Purpose,” said Zai.
Janessa moved forward to hit Zai but Junitha stopped her.
“Listen to me Nessa,” said Junitha, “This is not you. Something is wrong. You need to step away and calm down.”
Hearing Junitha call her Nessa, just like Tania used to, it made Janessa realize she was right. There was something wrong. She did not feel like herself. And people had been acting different.
“I want you to go to your quarters and lie down.”
Janessa went to do as Junitha said.
“She had a point,” said Junitha, “She may have been losing it but she had a point. What right does your master have to judge us?”
“You know by what right,” said Zai, “That Which I Serve has decided that humanity must be judged and I am his tool.”
“Oh are you still using that bullshit excuse. That you are just following orders. Do you always just blindly follow his orders? Do you ever think for yourself and question what he is asking you to do?”
Zai moved forward quickly and went right up to Junitha. He towered over her and in anger said, “That Which I Serve has earned my unconditional loyalty. I have never seen him act with anything but righteousness. I have no reason to question his will. He saved me from damnation. He gave me the chance to serve A Higher Purpose.”
“Son of a bitch it’s happening to you too,” said Junitha.
“What?” Zai did not understand.
“Ever since the Spectral Horde attacked, it’s like something is spreading. And it looks like I’m the only one not affected so far. But that could change. I can’t assume that I’m immune to it. I need you to stop thinking about your mission for a minute and help me figure out what is wrong with all of us. Because if it is affecting you too it won’t matter what your decision is.”
Zai agreed.
By then it was too late. The madness had already started.
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