The Birth of The Unity (sequel to Chronicle of Nautilus)

Chapter 15: The Death of A Tool

'I've been watching people at the canteen and the library. I've noticed a pattern that will help with your investigation. Jason, everyone who had been brought out of the tanks lately is sick. I looked into the eyes of older people. They were alive. Eyes of the young ones are not always like that. Their gazes freeze and they phase out. They do not talk much, and if they do, they speak in short sentences. I only do not see this in the new Nikki. It seems she had eluded the sickness. Perhaps you should talk to her and find out why she wasn't affected. Hope this helps.

-Adam.'

I had my suspicions about the newborns, thought Jason reading the note on the computer with swollen eyes. He stretched his hands and yawned. For a moment, he remembered to sit straight but after he focused on the computer, his shoulders collapsed. The last week spent in front of the screen for Jason was a real test of endurance.

Because of the lack of socialization last few days, he even had grown a small anxiety of leaving his room. He, of course, did not notice it, but it was the main reason why he took the time to visit Nikki. He had received the letter from Adam two days ago yet only now he was on the way to Nikki's pharmacy.

During the walk to the store, Jason thought if he should reveal the facts how Nikki had died in her previous life. She already knew a softened explanation of her death. But he was not sure how she would react after learning everything. Meeting Nikki after her death felt both strange and awkward. When the door to the pharmacy opened, he felt weak shivers run down his back.

"Hello," he said to the young woman behind the counter, who was inspecting a variety of bottles lined up in front of her. Black eyes, black hair, small head: she had all the features the old woman had before her. Her face had fewer wrinkles than Nikki before her, and she seemed to have a friendly face but to Jason's disappointment, it was only deceptive looks.

"What's up?" She greeted Jason without looking at him. Then, she hovered to the top left shelve and after picking a bottle no different from others returned to the previous location. "I am quite busy, but I think– " she read the back side of the bottle with narrow eyes and put it on the table. With an intimidating stare, she looked at Jason and said, "– I can give you a few minutes of my precious time. Are you sick? You don't look like sick to me. Hey, you here?" She snapped her fingers and awoke Jason from his disappointment trance. "If you need medicine don't just stand like that. Hurry up and give me your prescription old man. C'mon, C'mon, I don't have all day."

Jason was in his mid-thirties and did not feel old at all. And now he knew why no one ever came to this room. It was because of her.

He said, "Well, kid. I'm all right, and I came here not for drugs. I want to ask you about your new life about how things are fun on the ship and all that."

"For real? Are you a nut? Who asks things like that?"

"No. I'm the security officer of the ship. My name is Jason and I came here to ask for your assistance in my investigation."

"Ok then, mister 'all serious.' Ask me things but be brief. As I said, there is something important I'm doing here. I can't waste hours on you."

Jason was damn sure that whatever she was doing was totally insignificant. He asked, "Have you felt at any moment during the birth experience that someone is trying to influence you?"

"I experienced many new things. But influence? Don't think so. The doctor was cool and so was the computer that taught me. I refused to get into conversations that had nothing to do with learning. To be frank, they tried so hard to make the beginning of this life look beautiful and fun that it made me sick. This place is a total dump compared to what I had before."