Cyber Chronicles 2: Prime Voyage

Chapter 4: Crystal

Awakening in a haze, she felt a strange disorientation, as if an invisible thread had severed her connection to herself. Blinking her eyes open slowly, she heard unfamiliar voices, distant and muffled, like they floated from a realm beyond her reach.

A peculiar weakness gripped her, each limb heavy as if an unseen force anchored her to the bed. Summoning considerable effort, she forced her gaze to wander, absorbing her surroundings. A disconcerting realization dawned – she had no recollection of how she ended up here. Her memory, like a slate wiped clean, offered no clues. Amidst the confusion, vivid and powerful flashes of unfamiliar memories danced tantalizingly out of reach. Despite her attempts, their meaning eluded her, leaving her feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

A gentle hand on her shoulder startled her, breaking the stillness. Even in her weakened state, the touch served as a catalyst, stirring her strength back to life. At that moment, as clarity slowly returned, she grasped onto fragments of her identity.

"Crystal? Crystal?!" a familiar voice, laden with concern, pierced through the fog. The voice held a comforting familiarity, a beckoning presence inviting her to hold on, to find refuge. Slowly, she opened her eyes, shielding them from the intrusive light with her arm as the room gradually revealed itself.

After a moment, she lowered her arm and sat up, gradually absorbing the familiar room. The bed beneath her provided a sense of stability. The group that had accompanied her before the dive stood nearby, their expressions marked by concern. To her left, the unbroken capsule stood as a testament to her safety.

A memory surfaced, a feeling of drowning overwhelmed by stasis liquid.

"Thank god..." a sigh of relief echoed from a familiar voice. Ann, seated on a stool to her right, wore a mix of relief and confusion. The others shared the sentiment, their collective gaze unsettling Crystal. A new face in the room suggested a healer responsible for restoring her strength.

"What happened?" Crystal whispered in a raspy voice.

"Your energy suddenly overloaded, causing your capsule to shatter. It seemed like you were drowning before that happened. Stasis liquid can sometimes cause skin burns upon contact with air, but fortunately, it's not immediate," Ann explained. "Hayden rushed over and fixed the capsule right away."

Another memory emerged – floating helplessly beside her shattered capsule, a silhouette appearing, and then everything going dark. That's where the memory ended, likely the point where consciousness slipped away.

Turning towards Hayden, Crystal locked eyes with his emerald gaze. Something about them comforted her, though she always attributed it to the color of his eyes.

"You're lucky Hayden was there; you could have been hurt badly," Lucien expressed, genuine concern etched across his features. His eyes conveyed a mix of relief and anxiety, revealing the depth of his worry for Crystal's well-being.

"It was our responsibility to protect her while Ann was occupied anyway," Amadh acknowledged, his voice carrying a sense of duty and accountability. His gaze remained fixed on Crystal, a silent promise of safeguarding her under their watch.

"But you could've failed, and she could've died if it was your and Ray's turn," Lucien pointed out, a trace of worry still lingering in his voice. His concern for Crystal's safety manifested in a subtle furrow of his brow.

"No, we have our methods of saving her," Amadh asserted, his confidence unwavering. His reassurance aimed to dispel any lingering doubts about their capabilities and commitment to Crystal's protection.

"Right, sure," Lucien responded skeptically, his doubt evident in the arch of his eyebrow. Lucien's skepticism reflected a cautious acknowledgment of the unpredictable nature of their mission.