Samal Hectorese was in his quarters praying on his musallah when the madness took hold of him. He found he could not speak. He felt unclean and unworthy. He began praying to God and asking why. Why what? He did not know. Someone forced open the door to his quarters and said, “It is time to wake up Samal Hectorese.”
Upon hearing this, the madness was driven from Samal’s mind and he was himself again. He followed Junitha Findragon and asked, “What is happening? Something was affecting the way I think. We have to find a way to put an end to this.”
“I have been trying,” said Junitha, “but I can only work so fast. We need a way to end this fast before someone gets killed.”
They heard sobbing. They were outside Dr. Vandis Bane’s office. They found Ryoko Jeagan inside cradling the body of her dead lover.
“I just wanted her to know that I still loved her,” said Ryoko, “it did not matter. It did not change what I had to do but I just wanted her to know anyway. Who would do this?”
“We were too late,” said Zai, last of the Raath as he entered the office.
“Nothing we can do about that,” said Junitha, “All we can do now is work to stop the attack. I’ve been putting people to sleep as they crossed my path but that is only a temporary solution. We need a way to drive them out.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Samal, “you say we are under attack but I do not see any horde anywhere. Is it some kind of chemical attack?”
“They are attacking your minds,” said Zai, “the Spectral Horde are using mental telepathy from a long distance away to affect our minds. Their control is limited though and easily broken. We need a way to reach everyone. To tell them to fight back within their own mind and take back control.”
“I have another way,” said Junitha, “Is there a way for me to speak to everyone on the ship at once?”
“Are you sure you can do it?” asked Zai.
“I’ve used it before,” she replied.
“Then there is a way,” said Zai, “from the command and control center you can access every communication terminal in the ship all at the same time. You will be heard everywhere.”
“Then I need to get to command and control.”
“What about Ryoko?” said Samal, “whatever your plan is we may need her to help us execute it.”
“I’m not sure she’s in a state to help anyone?” said Junitha.
“They should not have been able to do this,” said Zai, “they may be influencing us but they should not be able to push someone to murder. Unless they are concentrating their power on a single mind.”
A device deployed from Zai’s right arm. It was round and looked like a large magnifying glass. He held it over Ryoko’s head. Through the glass they could see an image of Ryoko’s skull and then of her brain.
“I can see the effects of the telepathic influence on her brainwaves,” said Zai, “I have scanned a number of people on my way here. Not everyone is being affected.”
“They don’t need to affect everyone,” said Junitha, “If they can get into enough of us and generate enough hysteria and paranoia… We’ll tear each other apart.”
Zai used the device to scan Vandis Bane’s body. He gently asked Ryoko to let him see her so he could determine who had done this. Ryoko let him.
“I have a match,” said Zai, “there is enough DNA under her fingernails from her attacker.”
“Who did this?” demanded Ryoko.
“It is a match for Raddy Volcane.”
“Oh shit,” said Junitha.
“I’ll kill him,” screamed Ryoko, “I’ll kill you all.”
Before Ryoko could make good on her threat Junitha was in front of her. Her eyes turned bloodshot red and she carresed Ryoko’s cheek. Ryoko fell down in a deep sleep.
“She won’t be any good to us like this,” she said, “best to let her sleep it off.”
“How did you do that?” asked Samal, “how did you move across the room that fast? That is impossible.”
“I don’t have time to explain,” said Junitha, “we have bigger problems. If the horde is controlling Raddy we need to stop him. He is a Superior
“I will find Raddy Volcane,” said Zai, “Raath are natural hunters. I know his scent. I can track him even with my battle suit offline.”
“Why is your battle suit offline?”
“Under the Spectral Horde’s influence, Vanz Kerrigan and Roweth Sinclair attempted to attack me. They disabled my battle suit temporarily. This does not happen often. It will take time for all of the systems to reboot. ”
“Okay,” said Junitha, “You find Raddy and make sure he doesn’t hurt Janessa or anyone else. I’ll get to command and control. Damn this is not going to be easy. I have a whole ship of people losing their shit between me and there. I just hope to god that too many of them don’t kill each other before I get there.”
“I may have solution for that,” said Samal, “I can provide a distraction. You said everyone is in the grip of paranoia and anger. I will give them something to direct it at. While they are attacking me they will not be attacking you or each other.”
“Are you sure about that Samal?” said Junitha, “You may be a Superior
“Then I will just have to trust you to get there before they can kill me,” said Samal.
“Looks like we have a plan then,” said Junitha, “let’s go.”
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