Isara, was a promising researcher, particularly in the area of Fake Matter and Null Fields. In some ways she even eclipsed one of the fleetâs brightest geniuses, - her sister Kira.
That was until a lab experiment went horribly wrong.
Isara was working on generating âTemporary Constructsâ, a type of matter that could be summoned into existence then dispelled with no trace residue. Normally this type of research would be theoretical, even to the Sekarri who were 400 years ahead of humanity.
But Isara had access to a highly classified âShardâ that she stole from Tiff Avraxianâs office, whilst Tiff was âentertainingâ the latest batch of apprentices. Where it came from, no one knows - but Isara soon found out it held a deep, ancient and long forgotten power.
Hooking her devices up to the Shard wouldnât have been enough to activate or create any form of effect, but Isara wasnât just super intelligent, she was hyper resourceful. She had long ago hacked a grade B reactor on the Muskardagan, a massive fleetship in the process of decommissioning. The ship, and reactor was beaming energy to relays, which in turn focused the power into the shard.
This was enough to activate it.
Her construct hypothesis was proven true, all the matter in her lab was phase rotated into an orthogonal axis. The construct was only meant to be limited, but when the shard interacted, it twisted every atom into an irretrievable imaginary state, shifting them to â instead of â. In simpler terms? Everything that was once real had been âtiltedâ out of existenceânot removed, but placed where no physical observer could reach.
It wasnât darkness, nor was it light. She stood at the threshold of something alienâa biome awash in shifting crimson and deep violets, pulsing as if alive. The air felt thick, oppressive, and humming with an unnatural energy.
Before she could take a step forward, her breath caught. A sudden, crushing force clamped around her throat. Gagging, choking, she struggled as her vision blurred. Through the haze, a figure emergedâa cloaked thing, its eyes burning red as it strangled the life from her. The pressure on her windpipe was unbearable, her lungs seizing as she fought against the unseen force.
Her tail twitched. With the last ounce of her strength, she pressed a hidden release switch on her shoe.
In an instant, the relays vented, the capacitors discharged, and the power feeding the Shard was cut. The lab began to ripple back into existence, phasing in like a mirage coming into focus. The figureâs red eyes remained locked onto hers as it dissolved into the collapsing void.
And just before the last traces of that dark world vanished, she heard itâa whisper, stretched and distorted, crawling into her mind:
"Do not come back."
No one believed Isara, all the footage, tether implant trackings, holo monitors, everything in the fleet, showed that, as Tiff had put it, âA clumsy, over worked and over ambitious scientist - violated several protocols, partook in theft, so she could be the next to claim the Arkand award.â
After that, Isara quit. She took time to reflect on her life, causing a fracture in her relationship with Kira who always applied the expectations of elderly sisters. Soon Isara found herself drinking and enjoying the company of Liora, who was all to quick to help ease her sense of failure; âSo what honey? You donât owe them anything - if Kira thinks the work you were doing is so important, maybe she can do it herself instead of messing with drones.â
After some good words with Liora to McMusty, Isara found herself serving drink in the Stellar grove. At first it was the BBQ ranch but then she moved up to something more classy at the Private Alcoves.
Unlike Liora, Isara couldnât banish her ambitions to be âjust doing something with her life.â
One day, Tabby, Kira and Fel showed up at the bar, cashing out their monthly Meritshare perks for all day dining. Isara found herself nearly quiting, as she had to constantly serve her sister and endure the mindless banter from the three idol girls.
That was, until Eris Tabbyâs sister showed up.
âUhmâŠFel, KiraâŠcan we move on?â Tabby awkwardly tilted her head sideways in the direction of Eris who just came through the door.
âUgh⊠yeah, ok. Letâs head on to the observatory - we can get more of a look at Earth, itâs still 3 lightvmonths outâ, Fel rolled her eyes as Eris before paying off her tab with two blinks of her eyelids.
With a half hearted smile, Isara returned her eye flicker to confirm payment went through and waved them off.
âIsara is it?â, the colourful, B-Celeb that was Eris pulled up a seat and rested her paws on the bar.
âHey look, I have sponsorship deals with McMusty, not sure if you had heard.â Eris batted her eyelids at isara, testing the waters of her sexuality.
âYes, âŠand? Can I help you?â, Isara didnât take the bait.
âWell, you know we will be picking up a lot of humansâŠhuman males. And the officers lounge is getting refurbished,â Eris said with a nudge nudge wink wink.
âHmm, I didnât know that - where will Fel, Kira and your sister Tabby go?â Isara asked, feigning interest.
âWho cares!?â, Eris chuckled, âjust not there - they are already locked out as of tomorrow.â
âAnd this affects me how?â Isara, as instructed, poured out a sticky, sweet liqueur and passed it over to Eris, who grasped at her hand, caressing her fingers softly before taking the glass out her hand.
âOops, sorry, how clumsy of me,â Eris said, her almond eyes glazing over in mirth.
âErrâŠanyways, looks like theyâll be needing a new waitress now McMustyâs got the contract - the jobs yours if you want it.â
Isara was taken back, she didnât know where Eris was going with all of this, maybe some sleazy pitch for a date, or to buy her tickets for an opening gig - but a chance to work at the officers loungeâŠ. now that IS interesting.
âWait, whatâs a top selling celeb doing running errands for McMusty?â Isaraâs eyes narrowed, immediately smelling a rat.
âStraight to it eh?â Eris, brushed the bangs out of her eyes, âok, I can do that.â
âLifeâs pretty lonely when the fleet drop you like yesterdays garbage eh?, all that talent, all that knowledge, just gone to wasteâŠ.what a pity.â
The next few hours, saw Eris work her crude magic, on minute buttering Isara up with compliments, the next spouting conspiracy theories and lamenting over bad blood.
Isara couldnât exactly disagree with Eris, being from the top research department- Isara knew all about the short comings of the Tether. She also saw first hand, the corruption at the top, especially anytime she had to go into Tiffâs office.
âUgh, fine, so what is it you want from me?â 3 hours later, Isara snatched the bottle out of Erisâs hand, replacing the cork and returning it to the third shelf.
âWe want you to be an informant - word as it, humans blab.â
Almost slurring her words, Eris nearly face planted as she flicked a holographic projection from her wrist onto the bar.
âBoth the males, and the females,â she chortled, as a projection of a naked male and female pirouette in front of them.
âWe want you to get friendly with the humans⊠and any VIP Sekarri that come in. Then, you relay anything of interest to us.â
âHow do I know what you are interested in?⊠well, other than the shard.â
âAll in time,â Eris sniffed in the air, âhey! where did that bottle go?â
Greynightsaber
2025-03-05 01:30:59 +0000 UTCMr Adam McMurchie
2025-03-04 23:25:33 +0000 UTCImsolo
2025-03-04 22:48:48 +0000 UTC