Chapter Text
S-17 Apollonian, 84-21-7, 10:45 PM. Service elevator 4. - Halley Bauer
Halley Bauer was still half asleep as she walked towards the elevator. They haven’t been sleeping well for the last few cycles. While the grueling work at the chemical processing plant would provide an explanation for most other Gestalts, the three red diamonds on Halley’s forehead provided a more nuanced explanation.
Being mildly bioresonant introduced more problems into Halley’s life than it ever solved. She was never able to use this ‘gift’ for anything more than getting splitting headaches and getting unsettling dreams, and the usual ‘benefits’ of bioresonance never appeared for Halley. Born in a slum, to a mother who didn’t think her worth the rationmarks, Halley fell into a smuggling ring, and was arrested on trumped-up ‘possession of contraband’ and ‘resisting arrest’ charges more than once.
After her sordid past, the nation bounced her back and forth between penal colonies, prison orbital stations, and now (finally) a [REDACTED] camp that seemingly intended to work her to death.
The only cold comfort Halley could muster was that Apollonian was a small facility. Perched above a sulfur deposit over a mildly volcanic area of Leng’s surface. Perhaps a hundred and change Gestalts worked in Apollonian in its mines, geothermal plant, and chemical processing facility. Along with them; a few Dozen Aras and Eules worked in support roles and of course they were all ‘protected’ by a core of Protektor units.
Halley worked in the chemical plant, and (mercifully) was stationed on the 3rd shift, the smallest and least active of all 3. Most other Gestalts were asleep, or being shuffled through the classrooms upstairs at this time.
Thoughts of what might be for lunch dominated Halley’s thoughts as they stepped into Service elevator 4, her usual route to work. What was not usual was who, or what Halley found inside. One of the Kolibri units from downstairs was standing in the elevator, impatiently waiting for the doors to close.
From the look on the Replika’s face, it could sense Halley before it could see her. Kolibri’s always looked at bioresonant gestalts like that; with a trademark veneer of distrust. As she stepped into the elevator, she could feel the tell-tale signs of the bioresonant unit focusing on her. “Good morning, er… Kolibri.”
S-17 Apollonian, 84-21-7, 10:51 PM. Service elevator 4. - KLBR - S1704
Kolibri was never in one place at any given time. Kolibri was many, connected in a glorious whole greater than the sum of its parts. The Cadre assigned to Apollonian had 6 units, Numbered S1704, to S1709. Each one of them contributed their memories, experiences, thoughts and dreams to one another. Sometimes it was difficult for any individual among them to know where ‘I’ ended and ‘We’ began.
This was always comforting to Kolibri. It kept her productive and even-keeled. And from this position of stability; they guided the 174 souls of the facility. It was hard to say what feelings were unique to a single unit, but Kolibri-S1704 was proud of her work.
Kolibri always shared their workload, and just as the gestalts had 3 shifts, so did they. Two of her Cadre rested, while another two engaged in leisure, and finally; two were completing their regular patrols of the facility. 05 was in the geothermal plant, and 04 was en route to the Chemical plant. There had been reports of smuggled contraband being hidden within the sulfur-bleaching area, and while the STAR units were unable to find anything, Kolibri was confident that if there was anything to find; they would.
Kolibri got into service elevator 4, and waited for the mechanism to start. As she waited, she could sense a presence approaching the elevator. Kolibri was familiar with this sensation; one of the Gestalt workers had low-level bioresonance. They were undisciplined and weak. Nothing compared to the power and grace with which Kolibri used their bioresonance, and it paled in comparison to their glorious Commander a hundred fold.
But Gestalt HABAUR-R-45039 was still a threat. Even low-level bioresonant individuals were capable of manipulating the thoughts or actions of those around them through the expression of strong emotions. This was something Kolibri was especially sensitive to. No matter; Gestalts were always so frail, and her Mark-75 10mm pistol would be able to deal with them, should the need arise.
Only after this mental calculation did the Gestalt come into view. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her figure looked more gaunt then most of the Gestalts. Kolibri focuses on the Gestalts' mind, parsing past the bioresonant awareness they had. After a small peruse of their short-term memory, nothing was out of the ordinary, save for (predictably) poor sleep.
The Gestalt winces slightly as she gets into the elevator, and speaks up. “Good morning, er… Kolibri.”
“It’s still the evening, roughly 11pm.” Kolibri corrected the Gestalt. “You haven’t been sleeping well. Do you know why this is the case?” The Elevator doors close, and slowly, it starts to move.
Kolibri can feel the Gestalt think back to its bunk. They were uncomfortable, and harried by strange dreams. Kolibri can catch a glimpse of a large red eye, and the feeling of being deathly ill. It takes a while for the Gestalt to properly respond. “Nightmares, I guess… er. Common with my ah…” The gestalt motions towards their forehead, and the mark of Bioresonance. A proud marking. One that Kolibri Shared.
Satisfied, the Kolibri retracts from the Gestalt’s mind, letting her relax for now. “Have you not been taking suppressor medications?” Kolibri asks.
The Gestalt shakes her head, “Couldn’t afford them… n-not after being transferred here.”
“Ah. Understandable.” Kolibri responds.
The elevator ride continues in silence. Kolibri’s mind wanders to its other units… 07 was reading a very interesting novel about the early days of the revolution, reportedly written by the Grand Revolutionary’s daughter herself. A book like that was always inspiring. The leisure of other units had a calming affect on the entire cadre, and reading new and interesting books always interested Kolibri's collective mind.
Suddenly, a feeling of unease floods into the Cadre of minds, as 05 begins to send over a flood of information. Strange readings were coming from the geothermal plant, they looked like seismic activity. While small instances of unstable plate tectonics was to be expected from such a geologically act-
A sudden jolt rocks the facility, cutting through the collective thoughts of Kolibri. The metal cage that is the elevator suddenly drops multiple floors, only stopping when the entire structure violently jerks to one side and slides another few floors. This violent motion sends both the occupants careening into a wall, Kolibri impacting first with a heavy thud, followed shortly by the Gestalt falling directly onto them, their heads mashing together as Kolibri tries to brace the Gestalts fall with outstretched arms.
A deep rumbling lingers for a moment more, as the pair can hear rubble impacting the top of the jammed elevator carriage. A few frozen heartbeats later, the entire contraption steadies, as the two occupants find themselves in a suspended metal box, buried hundreds of feet underground.
After the initial adrenaline starts to run through its system, Kolibri 04 reaches out to its other units and to her shock, finds nothing. Kolibri 04 can not contact Kolibri 05 to 09. Emergency stores of adrenaline were running through 04’s system, they were trapped, and worst of all, alone. All it can do for the next long while, is stare at the ceiling of this death trap, and hyperventilate.
S-17 Apollonian, 84-21-7, 11:05 PM. Ruins of Service elevator 4. - Halley Bauer
Halley’s head swam with pain. She was hardly able to see correctly in the dim light of the ruined elevator. Nothing felt broken (Thankfully), but their entire body felt sore. She felt the Replika half wedged underneath them, as they both reeled from the sudden impact. Shifting to the side, she groans.
“You alive?” Halley says in a strained voice, before coughing violently, the air around them had become thick with mortar dust that stung Halley’s eyes. Putting their sleeve up to their mouth, they take a few deep breaths through the fabric, and hold their eyes closed until the dust mostly settles.
“A-alone… Alone.” The Replika jabbers to Halley’s side. A sinking feeling emanates from it, a feeling Halley’s mind eagerly takes in. She can feel the replika’s emotions forced into her, all the panic, and hurt and isolation. Bioresonant minds are prone to soaking up emotions like a sponge; and Halley's mind is no exception.
Halley can recognize this as what it was. Bioresonance feedback… whatever anxieties this Replika was having, it was giving them to her, then reading it back. A Circular loop that quickly devolves into a panic attack (at best), or brain damage (at worst).
What minor training in bioresonance Halley got was mainly focused on avoiding harmful feedback like this… And while it might get her killed the best way to break someone out of this was…
TWACK , the heel of Halley’s palm impacts hard onto the reinforced skull of the Kolibri Unit, nearly breaking her hand in the process. Nigh instantly, the Kolibri’s outgoing fear and isolation was replaced with a jab of anger and confusion.
Scrambling into a sitting position, the Kolibri draws its sidearm, aiming it towards Halley’s chest. She quickly raises her hands. “Just getting you out of that Spiral. Y-you almost took us both down there.” she says quickly, trying to calm the anger she had created.
The Kolibri stares daggers into Halley, as the two linger in a stand-off. “Assault for a Protektor Unit is punishable by immediate execution.” it says sternly, as its breathing slows. The gun starts to droop slightly, as Halley can feel the bioresonant focus back on her.
She breathes for a few moments, blinking their eyes open now that the dust has mostly settled. “I just wanted to help…Please, you have to see that.” Halley says, trying to think calming thoughts. If one of them panicking could set off the other, maybe one of them being calm could help even things out.
S-17 Apollonian, 84-21-7, 11:10 PM. Ruins of Service elevator 4. - KLBR - S1704
The Gestalt practically lay at Kolibri’s feet. They could end her in a matter of milliseconds, but the gnawing isolation still threatened to grip at the edges of Kolibri’s mind. It focused on the gestalts mind, rummaging through it for any inkling that it was going to attack again.
Kolibri takes a few deep breaths, unknowingly mimicking the Gestalt’s breathing. While the gestalt was tense, with the handgun pointed directly at them, there was a strange sense of calm coming from them. Kolibri could be sure they weren’t going to be attacked… for now.
Holstering the handgun, they look up towards the partially collapsed ceiling. “We must be pretty far down. A Retrieval team should be here soon.” Kolibri says. They take a moment to move their focus away from the Gestalt to try and contact the rest of their Cadre.
Their focus tries to push past the gravel, push past the debris. They close their eyes and strain their mind, but nothing materializes. A faint pain buzzes in the back of her neck. “N-no… no contact.” They say, shoulders slumping. They were alone down here; cut off from their cadre by some unknown force.
The Gestalt slowly sits up, looking around gormlessly for a few moments, before their eyes land on Kolibri. “Hey. Come on; not again.” The Gestalt says, before snapping their fingers in an annoying fashion. “You’re not alone, You’ve got me here… alright? I might not be what you’re used to for company, but ah… I’m better than a corpse.”
For now; these words ring hollow in Kolibri’s ears. Until a more startling statement comes from the Gestalts mouth. “You’re Bleeding.” she says, her tone one of concern. Quickly Kolibri searches for signs of the damage. A damp spot on the back of her neck quickly reveals itself. Oxidant. Her heads up display quickly shows a slow and steady drop in Oxidant pressure.
With the adrenaline pumping through their system, Kolibri had hardly felt the shallow, 8cm long cut along the edge of her hairline and right above their armored collar. They probably got it from the fall, or shortly after when the Gestalt landed on them. “I am bleeding, You're right… Gestalt, I can’t effectively see it. You are commanded to help me affix a repair patch.” Kolibri says dryly. Fishing out a small plastic pouch, they hold it up with one hand, while pushing up their blue-toned hair with the other.
The Gestalt hesitates for a moment, before moving forwards, and grabbing the patch. “Ah… Yes mam.” They say clumsily, as they take the patch out of its packaging. Kolibri speaks up as they turn their head to the side, allowing the Gestalt access to their neck. “It’s a small cut, but we currently don’t know when we can expect to be saved. Just place the patch lengthwise along the affected area, and press down.
Working as directed, the Gestalt complies. “A-ah… do you not know when they might get us out of this thing?” they ask.
“No. For all I know this could have been an act of Imperial sabotage, the entire facility could be damaged. Expect hours, if not days.” Kolibri says callously.
The Gestalt is quiet for a few moments. With only one mind within her grasp, Kolibri idly focuses back onto the Gestalt as they work. She was worried about dying down here, and experiencing some minor symptoms of claustrophobia.
With the patch in place, the Gestalt moves away from Kolibri, sitting down against the far wall. “W-well… let’s just get comfortable then. Not much we can do anyways…” They say glumly. Kolibri nods in affirmation, sitting up as they feel the oxidant clot.
“So… what’s your name?” The Gestalt asks
Kolibri raises an eyebrow, “Call us Kolibri.” they say. Peering into the gestalts mind, they can see this answer has not satisfied her. “You ask for a name for this particular unit. Very well; you may call me 04. The last two digits of my serial number.”
The Gestalt shifts, clearly uncomfortable with the mode of communication Kolibri was using. Being bioresonant, they should be able to clearly feel Kolibri’s focus. If they had nothing to hide; why did she fear their mind?
“Well, 04” The Gestalt begins, seemingly intent on using an individualized name for Kolibri. “I’m Halley. I really hope we get out of this together. Things might be hard, but stay calm, please? For both of us.” They say; trailing off.
“As do I, Halley.” Kolibri says, if the Gestalt wanted to use individualized names, so be it. “I will stay calm.” They say with a soft nod.