• Chapter 1: Symphony de noir
    pg.5


    "Dude, it's still looking at your direction." Carmine tries to get CJ's attention even though he's looking at it unsure of what to do.

    The cloud mass then looks at Carmine's direction which she quickly takes notice and sink behind the PADs screen. Looking as if it's focusing it's gaze at Carmine, it shifted it's gaze to the cloaked corpse then back at CJ.

    "You're not like those knights or the priest," it paused for a moment, "your clothes show that you were like those who inhabit this chamber." another pause though the cloud mass seem to rest as it disperse around the sphere.

    "What are you" CJ asked as he takes a few steps to his side.

    "I simply exist, given form to sustain what was left unattended for 5 decades." the cloud forms above the sphere. "Though I am not as old as this chamber or what lies outside."

    CJ takes a moment to think pulling a chair and sitting down.

    "Tell me pilgrim of the past, I asked myself this question anytime I wake, what purpose does this place serve?" the cloud mass looks at CJ. "You look like the high priest before he was alive, before he built his cult outside my chamber."

    Looking at the cloud mass CJ stood up straight taking a few moments to think as Carmine looks at the both of them. It patiently waited a response then a while later CJ clears his throat.

    "This place serves as a home for our species leap in our evolution." he calmly stated before continuing, "The things we do here, aims to our continued advancement in the field we work in as well as finding ways to increase our livelyhood in this world or another."

    The mass looks down then back at CJ to give him a slight nod of his response.

    "A just cause for your people, though a failed attempt hense your home in ruins." it replied although looking around it seems that what it said was half true as he continues, "though maybe a ruze is what your architechs planned."

    The cloud mass began to recess into the sphere, "Ancient Engineer, before I slumber, I asked that you release me from this magic orb." it calmly said as it fully recessitate into the sphere.

    Carmine scanned the sphere again as CJ walks up to the sphere which begins to slow it's revolution.

    "Revolution is down to 20rpm, it's live, whatever is in the sphere." Carmine scans the sphere for any other signatures, she found an interesting reading as the stand she's on moves closer to the sphere. "The readings I'm getting now shows that it's like a giant brain and another interesting fact is that it's giving off a sophisticated energy pattern." she stated as CJ moves back to the console to increase the Siphons energy input.

    "We should be able to get a signal to AVI while that thing will be kept inside the sphere." CJ finished adjusting the Siphons as he starts to work on getting a signal.

    While studying the entity's energy pattern, Carmine spots a similar pattern. "This thing shares the same energy with the planet, though this entity is made up of 80 percent of the energy and continues to siphon between itself and the planet."

    "So let's just say these folks can use magic in a sense since mana exists, well I don't wanna be an evil wizard or anything so I'll just stay as an engineer and make a lazer that go pew, pew." CJ joked but was unable to get a signal to AVI as he continues to try again.

    The ground shook a bit, though CJ and Carmine noticed but nodded it off as they continued working.

    After a few minutes or so CJ was able to get an almost clear signal to AVI though they experienced a few minutes of delay in response until the signal cut out before they could tell AVI of their situation. Swearing on himself, CJ continues to work on getting back a signal. The ground shook again except it was a little stronger than the first one.

    Emergency lights went off and alarms blaring.

    [P.A.: Attention, Public Outcry detected, A.I. St. Arcadia response underway, warning A.I. unresponsive, initiating GHANDI protocol.]

    An unearthly wailing was heard from the corridor as the emergency doors for the chamber closed. Looking at the doors closing CJ caught a glimpse of humanoid although they had the same wounds around their eye sockets as well a lack of eyes, before any of them could reach the chamber the emergency doors shut and the only thing that could be heard were those creatures wailing and pounding on the door.

    Clenching his chest, CJ leans on the console as he tries to calm himself.

    Carmine peeks out of her hiding spot as she looks over at CJ who's still trying to calm his nerves as she moves out of hiding, "Boy, if you a prayin man now, pray harder, cuz we're in trouble."