Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 7

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 7, Deeper Within

Revy lies motionless on a small cot in a dimly lit back office. Her shaven head is lined with sweat, and her eyes seem to be moving under closed lids. Two figures are in the room with her. A red-haired Gallentean woman sits beside Revy’s unconscious form, looking after her with concern. The other woman stands in a corner, reading data off of the chip Bastion recovered at the laboratory. Both are deathly silent, a tinge of uneasiness exudes between them and pierces the smoky air.

A door opens at the opposite end of the room, breaking the silence. A Caldari man steps through, a drink in hand, looking with intrigue at the unconscious Intaki.

“What happened to her?”
He exclaims with little apathy.

Ignoring the question, the dark haired woman responds:

“I’ll take her to my lab... Understand- I’m not promising anything. Have your men bring her to my ship.”

The woman speaks directly to the Caldari man, ignoring the two others. She then closes the data pad, and brusquely leaves the chamber, letting the door clash loudly shut behind her.

~~~

Revy perceives apparent darkness. All around her is this feeling, this vibration in the air. A tingle arcs through her cold veins, though she cannot feel it here… Before her looms the hive. It seems vast, unending. An ethereal representation of her mortal form floats patiently in front of it. The hive is in constant movement, thousands of drones pierce its surface, performing all manner of tasks upon its craggy and irregular carapace.

Millions of tiny fuses light in no apparent pattern all around her, some beginning to shift from deeper within the structure. Moments pass while several tendrils cautiously slither towards her, like snakes unwilling to reveal their presence.

“I… what…?”
Revy begins to think, trying desperately to form unconscious words.

As if in response to some wicked behavior, the tendrils immediately burst to life- revealing several prong-shaped barbs along the entire length of their form. With one swift and crippling action, all six tendrils whip around her body, sinking the barbs deep within her imagined flesh.

Squeezing.

And then there is only the sound, and pain. It floods through her, threatening to wipe out all human thought, replacing it with only an absolute series of truths she cannot quite yet comprehend.

There is no I.
Only the one.
The rest are its progeny.

~~~

As if suddenly understanding a new language, Revy’s imagined form fades, along with the visage of the hive.

“The one still exists…”
She mutters incoherently, though none are present to hear her strained words.

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