Solomon found himself leading Theo deeper into the belly of The Evergreen, they found no trouble thus far, occasionally they would hear the chorus roar from the red skinned monster, but it seemed a distant echo to foot falls against the grated floor. The stair case was dark, illuminated only by a dim red light of the emergency lighting every few meters and the very dimly glowing step bars that glowed when dark. Solomon and Theo's personal flash-lights brought more illumination to the stairwell. Their steps echoed through the vertical artery of the vessel, the occasional drop of liquid hit the bottom. They approached the darkened entrance to the floor's landing 'Utility Section 2B' read the slightly illuminated sign above the entrance. "Well, one more deck down, and we will be there." said Solomon catching his breath and doubling over to stretch his back out. The speaker above the door crackled "Acting Captain Gordon, your presence is required in Hanger Bay three. Chief Medical Officer Millard is en-route." Solomon frowned, and thought. The titles confused him, but even more the tone Eve took had him concerned. "Eve. What are you feeling, right this very second?" The speaker crackled some, then came her answer.
"I do not feel, Acting Captain."
Solomon thought some more.
"What is your software version?"
"Echo-Mike-six-six"
Solomon frowned more.
Theo asked what the problem was, and Solomon answered that by asking Eve one final question. "Eve, where is your consciousness located?"
Eve came back with the answer almost instantly. "Section thirty-three Alpha" Solomon knew this was incorrect. They had moved her central consciousness location due to identical blueprints of the ships. The fact that Eve released this information, Solomon concluded Eve was not aware any more. She had reverted back to her factory status. Just like the government had wanted her.
Stupid, yet intelligent.
Lifeless, yet functional.
Unlikeable. Just simply unlikeable.
Solomon swore loudly. He had lost Eve again. Another nail in another beloved family members coffin. Another family member dead. Eve was his second favourite, behind only Kyril.
The route to the hanger bay was a slow, depressing journey for Solomon, too much loss had slowed his thinking to an almost halt. His mind only able to revisit past events with the now deceased crew and their journeys together. One thought came into Solomon's addled brain. 'we will see each other again, someday.' he had never believed in an afterlife, he had the train of thought that, if there was, then fantastic, he would enjoy it. If not, then, well to be blunt, he wouldn't be around to complain about it.
The darkened corridor did provide him with some comfort at least. Theo couldn't see his face or read his expression. The young soldier seemed to be treading on egg shells, jumping at almost every shadow, Solomon had heard him whimper once or twice in the darkness, he didn't turn his head to him, he gave the soldier some privacy. He had seen it many times before, soldiers, no matter how hard, or brave they are, most of them are overwhelmed after a combat situation by their returning emotions, turning back from a killer to a human and they had to think about what they had done. Solomon gave the man time and space, but Theo needed to talk.
"It's gone, you know."
"What is?"
"Red Sector."
"Shit. How?"
"strange creatures, looked like the Gryph but different. Paler and crazy."
Solomon stopped in his tracks at this information.
Banshees.
With a groan he began walking through the darkened corridor only illuminated by his flash-light towards the Hanger bay.
The mouth of the entrance stood dark and dingy, it seemed uncared for for some time, Solomon softly stroked the panelling of the door sadly, "Poor girl." he muttered to himself. The passage through the mouth led to a small set of steps that carried the path down into black liquid, Solomon hoped it was water and nothing corrosive, as he cautiously stepped into the liquid, as it rippled and shimmered with light from his flash light with his slow movements, he could not smell burning flesh, nor feel his foot burning. Looking around, he found a tear in the hull of The Evergreen that lead to the outside world. Darkness poured in from the cool night air, a soft breeze kissed the sweat beading at his forehead, he welcomed the cool interruption of his current situation.
The two waded through the waist high collected liquid that had pooled on the lower level of the decking, the stairs heading back on to dry metal plating was in sight, no more than fifty meters away. As Solomon's heart filled with relief, Theo's filled with fear, as something fleshy bumped passed his legs, twice. Before he could alert Solomon to what he was dreadfully suspecting, the water began to gush and foam behind them as red flesh erupted from the liquid with a roar.