Crowns and Guns.

Rift (part 1)

I carefully walk down the stone stairs, making sure not to hit my head on the low ceiling. The stairs are crazily steep, and I have to watch my step to not tumble down. I have never been this deep. Unsurprising, cause only the commander is allowed down here. ORCHID had demanded it so.

I step down the last steps of the stairs, and I am met with a sea of blinking lights. The room I step into is made of metal, and the walls, and ceiling are covered with blinking lights. Some are just random, but some seem to form patterns, like letters and numbers. The floor is made of metal grating, but below those grates are just as many lights. I feel goosebumps rising on my neck as I look around, taking in the beautiful sight. I lived in this compound for half my life, and I never knew.

I look around, scanning the room for buttons or anything that would allow me to interact with anything, but of course, there isn't. Am I supposed to just, know? Am I supposed to ask?

I put my bare feet on the grates, and yelp from the sudden feeling of cold metal on my skin. The moment I utter the sound, the lights start blinking faster, and I hear a mechanical voice.

"Hello, commander. What can I do for you?"

I take a deep breath and immediately start coughing from the dusty air. After I am done coughing, I look up at the lights. "Hello ORCHID, I say. Nice to meet you."

No reply.

I continue. "Would you mind showing me anyone who has requested a syringe?"

"I am an artificial intelligence. I do not have wishes and wants, I cannot mind a request. So of course, I do not mind."

Silence.

After a minute or so, I realise it is not gonna tell me who took the syringe. I break the silence. "Please, tell me who has requested a syringe."

"Nobody has requested a new syringe recently. However, the former commander did request to pick up a used syringe, that was destined to be destroyed. It was filled with blood."

"Let me guess, it was filled with blood from someone with a toxic elven infection."

"It was. It was used to treat a recruit named Kelsey Warner."

Okay, sounds like the murder weapon. I make a mental note and continue.

"When did Former Commander Lawrence check out the syringe.?"

Lights start to blink faster and flicker. It is giving me a headache. "I am afraid I don't understand your question. Please rephrase your question, or speak more clearly. If you think this was in error, please contact tech support."

I sigh. "When was the syringe checked out?"

The lights calm down a bit. "Yesterday, at twelve minutes to midnight."

"So, just to confirm, Former Commander Lawrence checked out a used syringe at twelve minutes to midnight, yesterday."

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"Commander Lawrence did not check out a syringe yesterday."

I run my hand through my hair. "But you just said ..."

"I just said: 'Commander Lawrence did not check out a syringe yesterday.' In the future, if you want me to repeat something, you can simply say the word, 'repeat'"

I stamp on the ground and immediately regret it when my foot hits the sharp edges of the metal grates. "You are not making any sense."

"If you want to deliver a formal complaint, please contact support. They will redirect you to the relevant department."