The Expanse: Mnemosyne's Ghost

Chapter 2

"Investigate the source of the distress call immediately," Holden ordered, his voice echoing in the abandoned ship. They couldn't afford to waste time; each second could mean the difference between uncovering the truth or falling victim to the Protomolecule's sinister reach.

Bobbie's eyes narrowed; her Martian instincts honed for such missions. "Agreed. I've got point," she said, moving ahead with her weapon at the ready. Amos fell in beside her, his expression unreadable but ever vigilant. Drummer and Naomi followed, their footsteps reverberating in the eerie silence.

They navigated the twisting corridors, guided by the desperate cry looping through their comm systems. The walls seemed to close in, pulsating with a faint, bluish glow. "This way," Bobbie gestured, her voice confident. Yet the tension was palpable, a gnawing anxiety that only strengthened as they neared their destination.

Holden's mind raced, flashes of Miller's haunting figure interspersing with the pressing reality. The line between past and present wavered, making him question each decision, each step. Suddenly, a high-pitched wail pierced the air, distinct from the looped distress call. The crew halted, senses heightened.

"Down here," Naomi pointed, her sharp eyes detecting a faint light spilling out of a slightly ajar door. They approached cautiously, weapons drawn, the atmosphere thick with dread. Holden took a deep breath, his hand trembling slightly as he pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was a horrifying mix of organic and mechanical. Protomolecule tendrils wove through consoles and equipment, giving off an unsettling, bioluminescent glow. At the center of the room, a figure was slumped over a console, their body partially fused with the Protomolecule.

"God," Drummer spat, her face twisting in disgust. "What in the hell happened here?"

Holden took a hesitant step forward, the figure's labored breathing audible now that the door was open. "Are you the one who sent the distress call?" he asked, his voice gentle yet firm.

The figure's head lifted with immense effort, revealing a face marred by terror and pain. "Help... us," they rasped, a frail hand reaching out. "The... Protomolecule... it knows... everything."

Naomi hurried to the console, her fingers flying over the controls. "Their system's been completely hijacked," she reported, eyes wide. "It's not just the AI. The Protomolecule has created... something sentient."

As the implications of Naomi's words sank in, the figure's eyes rolled back, their body convulsing violently. In an instant, tendrils sprung forth, smashing the console. Sparks flew, and the room plunged into darkness, the only light coming from the eerie glow of the Protomolecule.

"Get back!" Bobbie shouted, pulling Holden away as the figure's last breath echoed horrifically in the confined space. The tendrils writhed and grew, blocking their retreat.

"A trap," Amos growled, his weapon aimed and ready. "We need to move, now!"

Their escape route now obscured, panic edged into their minds, but Holden's determination held firm. "This way!" he shouted, pointing to a narrow corridor on the other side of the room. They had to survive, to find the answers buried deep within this malevolent ghost ship.

Blindly navigating the labyrinthine corridors once again, the crew raced against time and the tightening grip of the Protomolecule.

What Fate do you choose next?

Attempt to find an alternative exit through the narrow corridor Holden pointed out.