Darklight: Precipice

Part 14: Discovery

Soran and Rosaline were walking back through the Corporation HQ Building when one of the nearby elevators opened to reveal Ana and Draz.

"Ah Soran" Draz said. "How did the reunion go?".

"Its best not to ask" Soran replied flatly, shutting the line of questioning down before it could go any further. Draz glanced at Rosaline and decided to leave the matter be.

"I think its best if you come with us" Draz said. "The committee went on for quite some time after you left. There was an anomalous seismic event that started when The Artefact grew close to Utopia City, but due to the fact that Utopian sensor equipment is focussed on the ground and air above Utopia City, we have been unable to locate the source of the tremors".

"With all the technological might of Utopia you aren't able to see what's right under your feet?" Soran spat. He was still angry at Dr Day, and putting this onto Draz. Draz raised his eyebrows, unfazed by Soran's snap.

"I thin you know more than anyone, Soran, that Rammachandra wanted to draw attention away from what lies below our great city". Soran remained silent, almost apologetically.

"But we may have an answer" Ana said, filling the awkward silence. "Natasha used one of our more redundant systems to triangulate the signal".

"Oh" Rosaline piped with a wide smile. "How did she manage that? Your wife is a clever woman, Soran" She patted his arm. Soran didn't react.

"Using sensors which are usually meant to monitor Clandestine Generator vibrations through the Continental Plates" Ana replied. "She is really is ingenuitive, an asset to the BEA".

"What has she found?" Soran asked.

"We're not sure yet" Ana replied. "We know that the location runs close to part of the Crystalline Matrix which has yet to be mapped, so we don't know what's down there. It is close to Rammachandra's shelter and so it is likely to be Forefather related rather than naturally occurring. We've already drilled into the location and our team is there now".

"They're there already!?" Soran asked in surprise. "How long was I gone?" He looked at Rosaline now.

"How long was that simulation?" Rosaline gave another one of her condescending smiles.

"You were under for a few hours, Soran. The simulation can mess with your temporal perception". Soran was unsettled now. What could Rosaline have done to him whilst his mind was preoccupied with her origin story?

"Are you heading there now?" Soran asked Draz.

"Yes, The Artefact is there already. I'm sorry Lady Kisa, but I cannot allow you to come with us - even after all you have done. Your clearance level does not allow you to visit the site".

"I understand" Rosaline replied. "If you require my assistance over the comms I will be in my lab". With a nod to the group she turned and walked away.

"Natasha is there already heading up the site" Ana said. "Let's move out".