The Expanse: Mnemosyne's Ghost

Chapter 1

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The airlock clanged shut behind them, sealing the Rocinante's crew inside the derelict Escher. Holden took a deep breath, the recycled air thin and metallic. The dim emergency lights flickered, casting long shadows that danced erratically on the walls. "Stay sharp," he ordered, his voice steady despite the weight of foreboding pressing on his chest.

Naomi's eyes scanned the corridor, taking note of the dormant Protomolecule clusters pulsating with faint blue light. "This place is a graveyard," she muttered, her voice tinged with sorrow and caution.

They moved forward in a tight formation, Bobbie and Amos taking point while Drummer brought up the rear, her keen eyes watching for any sign of movement. The ship's interior was a labyrinth of twisted metal and decaying systems, each turn revealing more of the Escher's tragedy. Abandoned equipment, signs of a hasty departure, and the occasional Protomolecule growth disrupted their path.

Holden felt a chill run down his spine as they passed a cracked display screen. A ghostly figure flickered on the broken monitor: Joe Miller, the detective. "James," Miller's voice echoed faintly, barely louder than a whisper. "It's never over, is it?"

Holden froze, his heart pounding. "Miller?"

"Miller?" Naomi echoed, her brow furrowing in concern. She saw nothing but the remnants of a malfunctioning panel.

Holden swallowed hard, the hallucination leaving a sour taste in his mouth. "It's nothing," he lied, but he could see the doubt in Naomi's eyes.

Amos paused, his hand hovering over his weapon. "Cap, you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Just... keep moving," Holden commanded, shaking off the disquiet. "We need to find the source of the Protomolecule contamination and any logs that can tell us what happened here."

Deeper into the ship, Naomi's hand brushed against a section of wall lined with data ports. "Holden, over here," she called, her technical mind already whirring with possibilities to access the records.

They gathered around Naomi as she worked her magic, connecting her portable device to the ancient system. The screen lit up with fragmented logs and corrupted files. Voices overlapped in a nightmarish chorus, words disjointed and haunted. Suddenly, one voice cut through the chaos—a desperate cry for help, repeating over and over again, growing louder with each cycle.

"Help us... please, somebody... help us..."

The hair on the back of Holden's neck stood on end. "We need to find the source of that transmission," he said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

Drummer nodded, her jaw set with determination. "Then let's get this done. The Belt needs to know what happened here."

Amos's grip on his weapon tightened. "Lead the way, Cap."

A sudden, jarring crash echoed through the corridor, making everyone jump. The haunting silence that followed was oppressive, amplifying their unease. Their mission had just become a fight against the unknown.

What Fate do you choose next?

Investigate the source of the distress call immediately, knowing it could lead to answers or danger.