Eris on Cardamine

[Emissary]

Peeking outside Doc had found an empty hall with doors similar to his, probably leading to same rooms. There wasn't anyone around at all. Only quiet humming and occasional slight rumbling coming somewhere from the depths of this facility. Turns out other doors were locked, leaving Doc only to try out what seem to be an entrance to the hall.

Upon approaching it the doors slides off revealing a big atrium: a three level courtyard within the facility with a large grid-like window to the side. Outside window another portion of the station could be seen in the distance, even parts of it concealed in a fog. Judging by the view outside the base had probably been the largest one Doc ever seen before. And weirdest one for sure.

Atrium architecture was quite strange as well: patterns on the walls, oddly shaped columns, yet some parts were distinctively human made and those were clearly much older parts. As if the place had been something else a long time ago, and part of that long forgotten history was peeking out of cracks behind this newer, this so unhuman look. These surfaces closely resembling ones he had found at that strange station where he had ultimately fell.

While slowly walking around atrium, looking around at this new environment, he had almost missed another person approaching him.

Like in a flash Doc could instantly recall - it's the same person he had seen on the screen of his PDA back the station where he had... died? And before that just once Doc thought seeing someone on the far side of the chasm, disappearing in a blink of an eye.

"Feeling well, Doctor? We were wondering when and if you'd join our company here."

"Some had thought you'd surely perish where many did before you. Despite that our mutual friend here had been actively dispersing now unfound expectations, even as far as to intervene at own volition." - he gave a quick glance to the balcony on the second floor where John had noticed Anje standing and looking down on them both. "It's been a long month for you. However the journey isn't over yet, some would think it had only began and there is much ahead to envision, such are our thoughts as well and we're all anticipating the outcome."

He calmly approached John, walking down a few steps from the raising border running across the edge. For a few seconds the host of this meeting would simply stare while John was gathering thoughts for something to say.

"Who are you? It is simple - whom you had sought for some time but wouldn't know how to reach. Still, you'd like to know the name, do you? Unfortunately it would not matter to you, the names you use are merely addressing shortcuts. Our names, if they can be considered as such, are different in their purpose and use, they have meanings and those have... certain influences. Besides they're not written or pronounced. So pick any you'd like for remainder of our conversation. What are you then? Now, this is a better question. Right now in here am anything I'd want to be. Out there?" - he glanced at the window, seemingly pointing towards outside the station. "Well, that's not something you'd need to be aware at the present condition and moment, awareness and trust develops over time. Still, it may help you to know that we had met before."

A striking thought - John had seen him before, but where and when? Fleeting memories. There, that face, once among the delegates of a minor diplomatic mission, another then during some meeting, but where were they and when? Everything is in haze. Tiny reflection fragments were all that's left.

"But you do have many more questions and conflicted concerns underneath the surface. You've come this far, endured enough, so be at home - ask what you will, speak your mind but mind what you think - it would be disappointing for us all here if they wouldn't match."