A bleeding moon's pulse

CHAPTER 2 | ACT 1

All members of the group went their separate ways after the story. All doing their own things, whether it be laying in their bunks and pondering their own words, playing solitaire, or reading the mechanics and repairs manual. All of them could hear an annoying buzzing. No matter the room they were in, they all heard something hitting against the metal walls, or buzzing relentlessly. At first, this was a minor annoyance. It was easy to ignore when they were all busy with their own things. They were unfazed by the ongoing rattling of the ship's hull, and how the subtle shook and trembled so often.

Soon enough, it became hard to ignore. It flitted and bounced off the walls. The humming grew louder, more persistent. It rose and dipped in frequency, whittling down their patience. Neither of them could focus anymore, It rang in their ears, the three trying to swat away the sound on impulse. It jumbled the words Gauze read. It distorted the thoughts Iodine wanted to be left in peace with. It gave Lidocaine a real challenge; playing a solitary game with an opponent.

Despite the unpleasant ringing in their ears from the sound, none of them came together to discuss it. They were instead called to the central area by the familiar chime of the P.A system. After the three gathered, a new voice added to the shallow conversation they were having.

"Right. I need you to listen to what I tell you," A stern voice barked. "I need you all to sit down and strap yourself to a chair. I don't care what you do right after that, as long as you DON'T leave the chair. You're passing through a strong field of electromagnetism." the voice cleared their throat. "We didn't account for it when creating the shuttle, so it's causing some setbacks," it said, frustrated.

It was the voice of someone who would do anything to keep them alive. "It's going to be bumpy, as you likely already know. Don't let it get to you. Take some pills if the headaches get too strong. B-1524 out." The voice ended its mechanical transmission.

"Oh look who decided to show their face. Took you long enough" Lidocaine huffed. "Coward," he added with a hiss, narrowing his eyes. He cleared his throat, mouth running dry. No response was made.

"They still can't tell it to us straight huh?" Gauze sighed, rolling his eyes. "Oh so prestigious. The cowards can't even tell us their real goal straight from their mouths now that we're moments away from our deaths. Atrocious." Gauze held a strong distaste for anybody working at the settlements, knowing that everybody working there was inhuman, and wolfish unless they proved otherwise. He lashed out at anything and anyone who suggested otherwise

The audio system remained completely silent, ignoring their conversation entirely.

Iodine bit their inner cheek for a moment, trying the bitter, foreign words out on their tongue before saying them. "By the tone of our radio officer, I'm not so sure that's the case." disbelief laced their voice. Their Superiors had little disregard for their lives - for all lives at the settlements.

Iodine noticed Gauze's mouth open to say something as he shimmied forwards to the edge of his seat. "Well, not quite." Iodine began to retract their statement before Gauze could interject. Gauze settled back down, leaning back and calming down.

"Let's just say our officers' motives are questionable." Lidocaine interjected, everyone in the room nodding in agreement. "We'll see what they're planning soon enough. They can't hide the truth from us forever."

The P.A system roared to life again. This time, with broken sentences and static. The group settled down, heads whipping around to face the loudspeaker. It spewed and spewed grainy nothingness, words that were unintelligible amidst the crackling. A series of numbers was dictated, none of which they were at the capacity to remember. It turned on and off, buzzing to life and then faltering and turning into garbled speech.