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Fathom's Phantoms Things Change

Kamrn stared at the closed door; through it he had just lost two more members of his party. Sgt. Gunner he could understand but the Fox, Henry Worthington... it just seemed a waste. Several members of the remaining group murmured their feelings of loss and the Gorumn was inclined to agree.

A more pressing concern gained the Sergeant's attention when the Donkey Engineer fidgeted; the discussion he was sharing with Jeremiah gained volume when his objection came out with the hint of a bray to it. "It's just not a good idea!"

The Pointer put a paw on the Donkey's shoulder. "Relax. They're several floors below us an' we're heading back t' th' Executive Deck... we'll be safer there, Alton."

Tirzsark butted in. "Yea, Burger... relax. You saw those things-- they go for the easy targets first."

The Engineer fidgeted. "Well there are lots more people down there."

Helen shrugged, adding in her opinion. "Better them than us."

The comment caused the Donkey to frown. "I never really liked the 'us or them' argument, miss."

Jocelyn was also quick to weigh in. "Exactly. This is an emergency situation and it's our job to help where we can."

The female Programmer glanced right back. "Then you two are welcome to go join them."

Lewis shot her a look. "Helen... that's not helping."

She returned the glare. "Well neither is his pity party. The fact of the matter is that we're alive and we just need to focus on that."

Engineer Alton pointedly ignored the two as he looked back to Jeremiah. "That's not all I'm worried about... I don't think the elevator was the best choice."

That comment caught Kamrn's interest and he slid past Dr. Cortez who was inspecting his supplies in the middle of the lift. The Gorumn interjected himself into the conversation. "Why?"

The Donkey's long ears lowered slightly when Kamrmn spoke up. "Why what, sir?"

Kamrn made the effort to use the right collection of facial muscles to make it look like he wasn't scowling; he recalled that a lot of other races didn't like Gorumn casual expressions. He made an active attempt to aim for inquisitive. "Why wasn't using the lift the best choice? Trams were down and the walkways between decks would take hours."

Either the Engineer was naturally flighty or Kamrn hadn't succeeded very well. "Uh... because... they... er-- the elevators... they're heat sensitive."

Jeremiah patted the Donkey's shoulder again. "All th' more reason we wanted t' get on one before those things, Alton."

The Engineer shook his head. "That's not what I mean. The sensor mechanisms respond to ambient heat, which means if those creatures get close enough to the operating system the emergency backup control might--"

All discussions in the lift went silent the moment the movement stopped. Tirzsark leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Might bring our escape to a screeching halt?"

The Donkey pulled open a panel on the wall and keyed in a command after plugging his PCD into it. His ears wilted. "Emergency lock down."

The Cytkus whuffed in several breaths. "Does anyone else smell scorched metal? Burger... you think it's those things?"

Nodding, the Engineer continued punching away at the console. "Yea... this transit shaft goes one way-- it's those things."

Helen pushed her way through the rest of the group without really having anywhere to go. "Are they coming this way? They're following us, aren't they?"

Jocelyn reached out a hand to intercept the female programmer. "Relax. Please. Getting worked up isn't going to hel--"

The other woman pushed the arm away. "We need to get out of here. Come on! There has to be some way to--"

Dr. Cortez silenced Helen with a light backhand from one paw. "Get a grip or you'll get us all killed, woman."

Kamrn pulled the Cat away from the Human. "Thank you, Doctor-- and that's enough."

Helen's hand went up to the side of her face and she turned on Victor with a vengeance. "You FUCKER! I'll--"

The Gorumn interposed himself even as Jocelyn worked to restrain the woman from attacking the Cat. "This is NOT helping. If you do not calm down I will have to render you unconscious... and that goes for everyone."

Lewis spoke up from off to the side, still lingering in the corner of the lift. "Uh... Sergeant? Didn't you lose your stun baton back at the Central Hub?"

Not particularly interested in handling the details, Kamrn glanced back to the programmer and created a dent in the wall with his fist. "I do not need it."

The next two minutes were blissfully silent with the only discussion going on being Jeremiah, Kyle, and Alton. Between the three of them they began to formulate a plan. In the end it was the Pointer who decided to put the plan into motion. "Sergeant... can ya help me get th' door open?"

The Gorumn did just that but even with the two of them prying at it they remained securely closed. Jocelyn was just moving to help them when Alton looked up from his data pad and his ears raised. "They're magnetically sealed... you have to override the security backup first."

A moment later, after Burger turned the magnetic lock off the doors finally parted to their combined force. Jeremiah glanced into the darkness before pulling out his PCD and activating the directional light beam. Checking out all directions with his own, Kamrn realized that the lift had stopped between levels; the closest deck was almost twelve feet above them. The Pointer shook his head, "Well THAT doesn't help much."

Dr. Cortez glanced past them and pointed. "Right there."

Kamrn looked to the Cat then followed his extended index finger to a ladder. The Gorumn shook his head. "Too far away... if someone missed that jump--"

Helen spoke up from behind him. "It's better than waiting here for those THINGS to get us."

Lewis, for once had pulled himself away from the wall and stood next to the woman. "I agree... we should try SOMETHING, right?"

Victor spoke bluntly to the two of them. "Okay... so which of you wants to go first then?"

Technician LaGriss interjected. "I will."

All eyes went to him where he stood next to Sherman; he was affixing a length of braided cord around his waist. From his place at the door Kamrn looked over everyone at the Human. "Are you sure?"

Kyle nodded, tugging on the strap. "Sherman's going to hold onto this tether. Besides, there's probably an override code needed to get that door open. Once I get there I'll tie this end off and you guys can secure the one Sherman's holding... it'll be a lot safer for everyone who comes after me."

Sherman didn't seem convinced, but he held the other end of the cord regardless. "But it's not safe for you, Boone."

The Human smiled at the Bull and kissed the back of the Gen's hand. "I'll be fine, Sherman... you're keeping me safe."

Lewis weight from foot to foot impatiently. "Fine... whatever. Let's just get moving, alright? Those things should be here any minute."

Burger, still at the lift console shook his head. "No... it'll take them a few minutes-- the elevator's top speed from deck-to-deck gave us a good head start."

Helen shot the Engineer a dirty look. "Well how about YOU wait around to find out? I know I don't want to."

Kyle and Sherman exchanged a few words and then both moved to the open doorway. Kamrn took a step back as the Human glanced to the ladder. "It's not that far... you ready, Sherman?"

The Bull nodded and leaned down to the Engineer. Kyle placed a kiss on the Gen's muzzle and, as Sherman stood he picked him up. With a simple, almost effortless heave the Bull sent the Human through the air with just enough force to get him to the ladder. Engineer LaGriss landed against the wall and scampered to get handholds and footholds. He slid down several rungs before me gained purchase and a collective sigh of relief filled the lift; it was short lived for Kamrn however as he caught scent of the scorched metal Tirzsark had mentioned.

Kyle wasted no time climbing up to the double doors. Holding onto the ladder with one hand he managed to open what Kamrn assumed was the maintenance console and got to work. Turning at the sound of movement behind him, the Gorumn saw Helen tying off Sherman's end of the lead around her waist. Kamrn's gaze was enough to get her to explain herself. "When he gets the door open I'll follow him up and we can tie off the cord and throw it down."

Jeremiah shook his head. "He can do that by himself, Miss... there's no reason for you t' go up after him."

She shot the Dog a dirty look. "We're in the Executive Deck now... I know it and I have access codes. I'm going up after him."

Dr. Cortez took a step toward the Human woman but Kamrn intercepted him, unwilling to waste time in arguments. "Fine. It's fine."

The Cat had several choice words to speak under his breath but he didn't press the issue. Instead he gathered up his supplies. The Gorumn watched the Doctor just in case until the confirmation chime of opening lift doors signaled that Technician LaGriss had been successful. Kamrn called up to him, "We're sending Helen after you. Let us know when you've tied off the lead."

A moment passed before the reply came. "Alright! It's secure."

As Helen passed him, Kamrn grabbed her by the arm. "Once you're up there check to make sure the way is clear."

She nodded mutely and quickly moved to the open doors. Helen paused, glancing down at the tremendous drop beneath her then squirmed and shrieked as Sherman picked her up. He gave her a light shake. "Stop."

It took a moment before she complied but, once she did, the Bull counted off to three and then tossed her to the ladder; again his aim was perfect. She latched onto it much more cleanly than the Engineer had and quickly scampered up to join Kyle at the landing above them. She untied herself. "Alright... Lewis... you're next!"

Dr. Cortez pushed past the Human male. "Fuck that-- I'm a doctor and I know the Executive Deck too. I'm next."

Sherman snorted. "So does Overseer Schultz."

Several eyes glanced to the Bull and Jocelyn interceded. "I'm not an overseer anymore, Sherman... and I'm fine staying and helping here."

Jeremiah sighed. "Come on, we'll all get up there-- let's not waste time arguin'."

Helen dangled the cord. "Exactly. No arguing-- Lewis is next."

Victor muttered under his breath. ".... eight ways, lady... eight ways-- don't even need a scalpel..."

That transfer went smoothy as well; with Sherman's aid Lewis made it safely to the ladder and climbed up to join Helen. Kyle tossed the lead back down and Kamrn was securing the cord around Dr. Cortez's waist when he heard the Technician's call from above. "Hey! Wait, guys! We need to stick together!"

Jocelyn called up toward him. "Boone? What's going on?"

Technician LaGriss called back down. "They just ran off..."

Victor motioned to Sherman as he declared. "Leave em... if they don't know how to be team players then let them do their own thing."

Other than Burger's ears falling once again nobody else seemed to object and Sherman launched the Cat across the gap to the ladder; Victor landed on it with poise and grace, barely pausing before making his way up to the doors. In record time he joined the others and had just tossed the end of the cord back down when a shout of warning came from down the hall.

Kamrn looked up toward the hall-bound party. "What was that?"

Dr. Cortez did not wait to answer, rather he simply sprang off of the landing and impacted against the top of the lift. He shouted frantically down at the party still inside. "Those things are in the hallway!"

Tirzsark grabbed the cord next and pulled it taut. "Gimme some help, Sherman."

The gears were obviously working in the Bull's head until he realized what the Cytkus had in mind. The two of them braced themselves, securing the angle of the cord. Kamrn was already aware of what they had planned. He turned and shouted up at Technician LaGriss in the hall. "Back down here!"

Kyle objected. "We'll just be trapped in the shaft!"

Dr. Cortez yelled from his position on the top. "Can't you seal the doors?"

The Technician shook his head. "They just burn through them... remember?"

Suddenly Alton fell away from the console as several sparks shot out of it. The lift hummed and dropped a half inch causing everyone to let out a cry of alarm. When it settled the Donkey sat up. "I... uh... overrode the security lock down."

Kamrn wasted no time. "Down the rope or onto the top. Come on!"

Kyle glanced over his shoulder down the hall. "What about those two?"

Victor's comment from the roof was crystal clear and emotionless. "Like she said... better them than us."

The Human lingered at the door for many long moments before Sherman called plaintively. "Boone... please."

Sighing, Kyle responded and made his way down the ad hoc 'zip line', caught in the Bull's arms. The doors closed and the lift continued upward. Kamrn shook his head; almost half of the civilians in his care had died in a matter of minutes-- he didn't much like the sour taste of failure. He knew something would have to give eventually but for the time being he resolved to not accept any more deaths. That, unfortunately, was something he didn't have much control over... as he was soon to discover.

* * * * * *

The lift let them off on the lowest level of the Executive Deck; it wasn't ideal but it was serviceable... especially considering a security lockdown prevented any further travel toward the upper levels closer to the Bridge. Kamrn led the party out of the elevator and Dr. Cortez remained just behind him. Next went Jeremiah and Burger along with Kyle; Sherman followed along right beside the Human. Apparently the Executive Deck was safe from Phantoms, but the Bull was not about to bet his life on it... or Boone's.

Although the rest of the group had no prior experience with the Phantoms, Sherman was not quite as handicapped. He still wasn't completely sure of how it happened but he had just as much memory of what felt like a 'past life' as he had of the one he was living. Granted, the prior memories only extended as far back as when he'd arrived at the Farlight outpost but they continued right up until he hadn't died. Everything before Farlight was still there... it just felt more like a summary than any real memory.

It was hard to understand and even more difficult if he were try to explain it but there was a 'ghost image' of previous experiences he'd had that included living and working as a laborer on the Farlight research station. Despite everything being so similar there were a number of distinct differences-- such as Humans not existing there and having no interaction with the Voljoi or Gorumn. Back in his previous life the entire Geniticon species thought itself alone in the universe... but they were apparently very wrong.

It started with the discovery of an alien installation beneath the surface of the planet and, from there, developed into an arms race between the DRC and the VAC to try and collect as much understanding (and technology) as they could. At some point a dig team uncovered an alien held in some kind of torpor and actually awakened him. Sherman now understood that the alien was in fact a Voljoi, who, as a race had purposefully chosen to avoid Geneticons after they took over the Earth and eradicated humanity.

In less than a week the Voljoi had failed repeated times to warn the outpost of an impending disaster but with so many other questions more important to the faculty the warnings were completely ignored; from the little Sherman had heard about the alien he was supposedly a 'guest' but treated more like a test subject. The Bull remembered sighing when the memories had poured back into him; if the DRC in his other life was as evil as the one he knew in his present life it hardly surprised him.

The strange influx of memories had been a frightening and paralyzing event; it had taken days for him to come to grips with what his brain fought to understand but it didn't all make sense until a VAC recruiter pulled him from prison. His recruiter knew him as Clinton Paisley too and, although all the Bull had ever known of him was his voice, that was familiar enough that he put two-and-two together. That man, a Rabbit named Dr. Sean Parker... and he knew what the Bull was going through because he'd experienced it before... more than once.

The Sean in the previous reality had been a highly placed VAC technology director who had contacted the survivors of the initial Phantom attack on the DRC base; he had helped direct them to safety. Clinton hadn't known then the Rabbit was helping them but, as the Bull started putting the pieces together he began to understand: those who were stuck in the repeat loop of fighting against the influx of Phantoms in the different Echoes needed help... and the only way to do that was to get more survivors because only those who survived the Phantom attacks would remember what had happened when that knowledge transferred to the new realities.

Clinton was not a stupid Bull but he also wasn't well versed in alternate reality theories, quantum physics, or any other number of things Dr. Parker had mentioned while he was being briefed for his transport to Sigma-Echo. The fact that the Rabbit had regained his memories almost a month before Clinton had ended up leaving the Bull even more confused but apparently Dr. Parker was convinced that he knew where the next Phantom attack would be... and how to stop it.

Based on the fact that the Bull was stuck on a locked-down space station about to be vented into space he realized that the Rabbit's calculations had apparently been off; had Dr. Parker been correct then the Phantoms never should have even shown. Then again, Clinton realized, the plan had been good but it was the Rabbit's target that had been wrong-- it wasn't the Apercu that unleashed the creatures. Whatever item he'd recovered from Dr. Ibrin N'Losk hadn't been responsible... it was something else.

The Bull clenched and unclenched his hands, mind idly wandering as Jeremiah and Burger attempted to convince ALVIN to undo the security lock down. Their explanation of a plan had gone over Clinton's head during the first few sentences and from there he only became more and more lost but apparently whatever they were saying had the program's attention.

Sherman snorted when he thought back to Farlight; Alvin had a body back then-- he was an automaton whose body had been created by a super genius and whose programming came to them from the desk of an elite technician. The strange thing was that the AI's modulated voice sounded eerily like the one given to the Collie body of ALVIN back on Farlight.

ALVIN's silence finally ended as the Engineer and Technician's explanation came to a close. "I understand your interest in making this plan work although I am unwilling to threaten the welfare of important members of the crew without a working proof of concept. This has been a failed attempt to halt the Phantom phenomenon from manifesting, thus we will require as many individuals as possible to survive for the next attempt."

It was a true enough statement based on what Sherman's limited experience told him but the more primal self-preservation portion of his mind told him that he didn't want to die... even if he HAD volunteered. Thankfully, Jeremiah had a response for the program. "Atmo scrubbers!"

There was a pause from ALVIN before it asked "Was that meant as an explicative, or were you suggesting--"

Burger's ears stuck straight up. "Yes! Atmospheric Scrubber Cartridges! THAT is the proof of concept!"

There was another pause from the program. "Unfortunately that is not a solution. After computing all known variables that will not serve as permanent containment."

Jeremiah's whiskers rose slightly as he cracked a wry grin. "Not FOREVER, no... but didn't yoa say ya only need t' hold em off for a little while?"

"Correct. Long enough that the Transitive Wave can pass from this Echo to the next."

Next to Sherman Kyle sat up, fidgeting. "Transitive Wave? Echo? What is all of this, exactly? I don't want to escape those things just so I can suffocate on a derelict space station."

The Bull gave the Human's hand a gentle squeeze. "ALVIN's looking at the big picture, Boone. He says the station is doomed but we don't have to be.'

The program gave a faint laugh. "A very simplistic way to look at it, but correct nevertheless, Mr. Paisley, thank you."

Kamrn grunted his single word inquiry. "Paisley?"

Sherman didn't bother explaining and nobody else asked. A gentle, reassuring hand on his from Overseer Schultz actually made the Bull even less comfortable but he said nothing.

Dr. Cortez was pacing, exactly as he had been doing since finding out that they were trapped. "I don't like 'simple ways of looking at it' and I don't like 'big pictures'... I like the idea of living to see tomorrow."

ALVIN was very quick to address the Cat. "I apologize Victor but your chances of survival in the more commonly accepted, mundane, immediate sense are not worth estimating... although it may bring you no comfort I can assure you that the Transitive Wave will at least help retain your consciousness of this event into a different version of you in another Echo, thereby increasing his chances of survival."

Kamrn cleared his throat. "So... you're saying we're dead no matter what."

"That is not entirely correct, but I can understand how you have come to that conclusion. In actuality your condition would rely wholly or in part on quantum mechanics and the general interpretation of Schrodinger."

Tirzsark's double eyelids blinked independently. "Um... bless you?"

Alvin laughed lightly. "I appreciate that humor... thank you First Class Gunner Tirzsark. No-- I refer to the Schrodinger's Cat paradox, also known as the Copenhagen Interpretation. A quantum system remains in flux until it is interacted with or observed by the external world... at which point the superposition collapses into one or another of the possible definite states."

Although that explanation went right over Sherman's horns Boone seemed to pick up on it immediately. "So you're saying as long as our memories survive it doesn't really matter what happens to us?"

"That is a self-depreciating way to look at the value of your existence but it is accurate at the most fundamental level, yes."

Dr. Cortez's fur stood on end as he hissed. "YOU'RE the one depreciating our lives by suggesting that only our memories matter!"

Alvin didn't pause for even a moment before answering. "Many argue that an individual is nothing more than the collection of the memories that make up their existence."

The Cat's ears lowered and his eyes narrowed. "Well I'd like to keep making more memories if it's all the same."

"Sadly, it is not all the same."

Jeremiah stepped over to the speaker. "Alvin... is th' atmo scrubber enough of a proof of concept for you that this plan could work?"

Tirzsark flicked the tip of his tail as he regarded the Pointer and Donkey. "What exactly IS the plan? I only understood like, four words."

Jocelyn interjected. "Atmospheric Scrubber Cartridges are used in a life support system to turn CO2 into Oxygen."

Burger's ears went up, then down, but Boone stood up and moved to the Cytkus. "Right... and, using them we might have a way to trap them."

The Donkey flicked an ear. "Temporarily."

Jeremiah nodded. "Long enough."

ALVIN issued a 'throat clearing' noise to gain everyone's attention, "Yes. Considering all variables as well as estimate times for the exact arrival of the Transitive Wave your proposition increases survival percentage of the station to nearly 10%. Do you have a proposition on how to obtain the necessary materials or where they may be located?"

Dr. Cortez's demeanor immediately changed to something more positive. "He said yes? Excellent. What do we need and where can we get it?"

Jeremiah's and Burgers' ears drooped simultaneously; it was the Dog that stated "It's all near Agroponics."

Victor scowled. "That's a LONG ways away."

ALVIN's cheery response was noteworthy. "I can have a Voljoi crewman retrieve it. Please excuse me please."

Everyone was quiet after the muted 'click' of the speaker turning off and that silence prevailed for several seconds until Tirzsark offered. "Well... I'd say that's promising."

A moment later the Cytkus was on the ground dead, two glowing eels emerging from his chest. Everything had seemed to have been going so smoothly but the last piece of rational thought that ran through the Bull's mind was grabbing hold of Boone's wrist before shouting "RUN!"