Afterworld

[Kauket]

...writing session...

...W#it#ng N#ur#l En#ry: fi##lj#urney##.6 - "E#sing T##sions Pt. 2.8"

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>... Needn't be distracted.
>... Someone.
>... Or something.
>... Here.
>... Playing with me.
>...
>... I do not have time to play now.
>...
>... Or perhaps it is I.
>... That desires to play.
>... The mind is a dangerous tool.
>...
>... I want out.

... connected to occular subsystem. encoding visual data... beginning stream

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A reluctant sigh was had as Raven swivelled around on her heel, marching back to the desk with the improvisional study, slumbering down in the chair.

"I suppose this place is just messing with my mind. " Heaving out a sigh, she idly pondered about the situation. "Would be optimal to get a second opinion on this. No way that I can build another friend here with these parts. "

Lifelessly prodding the junk that remained on the side, she leaned back, thinking for a moment. Usually, she would have an entire workshop and neural network of minds to work upon projects, but within the Shrine, there was nothing but the inner conscience of her crumbling mind, and her voice. As well as the supposed guest running around.

Leaning forward to take another glance at the samples, she noticed something. An inconsistency. They had changed, showing an entirely structure and hue to the core. As if it had just evolved within the span of three minutes. She leaned back, taking a look around the alien room, pondering if another mind trick is being played upon her psyche. A long and winded admittance of confusion was had as she idly examined around,

"O-ookay..."

Uncertain as to what is taking precedent, she began to slowly undo her set up, returning the bits and bobs back to the carriers. Picking up each piece felt heavier each time, gradually building up over time. As light as a feather, to heavy as an anvil. Physical lethargy started to settle, slowly drifting away to unconsciousness. For a moment, she almost gently went with the smooth flow, until a moment of realisation hit. She wasn't tired a few minutes ago, and the room had changed in hue, something was around. The air changed, gravity became more intense. That something that wants to play, as to what it was, remained an enigma.

A sense of urgency came over, the innate desire for survival, as a third sensation of desiring to flee crept up upon her psyche. The bird wanted to fly, to get away, the Shrine was no home to her, only a safe haven to get away from the Sentinels. But it was no shelter from what would remain upon there. Despite the urgency of needing to return to her ship, she left the dissected components by the table out of regard for whoever was present before, in hopes of not aggrovating whoever may have been there - for them only to return to be table-less.

Taking a step through the doorway, she took a moment to remember the direction she came from, only to be interrupted by the cracks forming once more, gradually becoming louder and louder as it boomed into existence, acting as a mental barrier for thought.

For a brief moment, a shadow had dimmed the walls, flying past her down the other end of the hallway. Stumbling in confusion, she turned around as it went down the left corridor. Blinking rapidly, only realising now that the doorway she had come from had unexpectedly vanished entirely and replaced with a wall, she rubbed her eye, trying to determine if it was reality or a dream.

Reaching out her hand, she felt the cold smooth surface of the structure, feeling that it was indeed there, the dense yet lightweight metallic surface felt genuine, but there was no indication of change, nor weakness, only the gentle hum of the station could be felt through the vibrations. She knocked twice, hearing that the wall wasn't hollow at all. The wall echoed her actions from afar, beyond the presented surface, a deep thump from the other side returned.

Knock knock.

Redacting it with haste, she shook her head, swivelling to the left, taking a prolonged blink to mentally ground herself as she retreated with stoic distress, pacing away down the hallway. After a few steps, she opened up her eyes, revealing that the environment had completely changed, now presenting itself with a labyrinth of organic corridors, veining on endlessly, remaining entirely indistinguishable in nature as they flourished onwards within the station.

" ... Wh-...at. "

A distant metallic groan was had, as if something was shifting, creaking under duress, synchronizing its tension with the flow of the stations heartbeat. Quickly looking between all the exits, she brought up her datapad, determining if there was a magnetic field to use as a compass. Unsurprisingly. There was not. A sough of a sigh was had, accepting that trouble may be coming. Raven debated on a direction to take, she gazed at the entries, making a brief but hazed calculation. One path was lighter, yet one was darker. Another seemed taller, yet another seemed smaller. Straight. But narrow. Twisting. But turning. The options seemed endless. Half-heartedly, she went with the path that contained the light, hoping it would at least indicate some form of sense of direction.

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