I: Alyx - Tumblr Posts

alyxwen:

theonwyndham:

LOCATION: a room - basement DATE: october 31st, 10:15PM WITH: @curiouscalculations & @alyxwen

Alyx found them, both Data and Theon, in a hidden corner, lips dangerousely close. Theon moved away first, slowly letting his hand go of Data’s arms. Blaming his previous alcohol consumption, once again, too close to the edge. The look on urgency on their friend’s face made the adrenaline rush clear some of the buzz going on in his head. That meant she had what was needed to access the door, probably.

They all got the information a few minutes later, Theon watching as the map in his armlet updated, a little red dot flashing. It came with hearing confirmation from Cosima. He wondered if the security was disabled, but left that to the expert hacker. If he had to evaluate her in regards of her performance in the last mission, the engineer did not have any difficulty admitting she was the best at what she did. If he had not known her previous actions to wield such destruction, Theon would have considered her an artist. But enough of that. They needed to focus on the task at hand, which was to get in and investigate the content of that secret door.

Next thing he knew, everything was pitch black.

Door locked behind them. No way out, no way in. Only the smell, pungent in every way, coming through the cloth plastered on their face let them really know where they were. Down the staircase that seemed to never end, the smell was even more horrifying. The muffled sounds of screaming above their heads let them know they needed to act fast. They were not the only ones needing to deal with the sudden death of lights. Theon was suddenly remembered of those moments when younger, visiting the museum. All those security alarms, the darkness that could enveloped all the place if one misstep was made. It was probably a similar procedure, but instead of a room, it was the whole manor. Turning his head to Data, his hand touching lightly the android’s hands. “You need to find the switch. They’ll know we’re here.” It was a simple trick, all lights going out everywhere, including upstairs, meant that the owner would know something was up. If they had more than one room like this one (he hoped not), hopefully the intruders wouldn’t be found too easily.

Making sure that Alyx was still close to him, the last thing he wanted was a repeat of the previous mission, for both his companions, he made his way tentatively. Even their armlets did not seem to be enough to light some kind of path. They needed to get the lights up as soon as possible.

Though her task was urgent, Alyx had to hide an immediate smile at the dazed, soft look on Theon’s face as she joined him and DATA. It was undoubtedly irresponsible to become overly intoxicated during a mission, but she trusted him to be safe, and it gave her joy to see him carefree – a change from his usually worried self. “Orion,” and here she blushes softest pink, only hints of it showing beneath a mask that she is very grateful for at the moment, “gave me the DNA. You have the voice, I believe?” 

The group moves quickly into the room, unlocked thanks to what the other groups had collected and Cosima’s expertise. Speed was of the essence, and Alyx was truly happy to be paired with those she worked extremely well with. There would be no squabbles over minutiae with Theon and DATA, only a cohesive accomplishment of what they sought to do.  ( It would be different if she were paired with, say, Seneca or Fox, both of whose perspectives differed greatly from her own. ) As the door closed behind them, the lights flickered once, before shutting off, leaving the trio in total darkness. It swallowed them up, and as Alyx took a single, deep breath to combat the claustrophobia that threatened, she became aware of a vile smell all around them. It was familiar, sickly sweet but rotten, and though she was immediately put in mind of a species of flying creature who fermented their meat before eating it, it nauseated her, the close and air-tight quarters making the smell much more vivid than it had been in a wide cave. And there remained the concern of its origin – as obviously no batwing kiros lived inside this mansion. Deal with the problem at hand, she thought to herself.

Nodding at Theon’s suggestion, and following his train of thought, she tapped out a message to Raven, letting her know of the cause of darkness. Stepping forward gingerly, silver boots brushed against something on the floor, something that squishes rather unpleasantly, and she shudders. “DATA – listen for any humming noises, something electronic like a control pad. There has to be some way to turn the lights back on if this is intended as a trap.”

@curiouscalculations

A drunken smile, stumbling footsteps, and the slightest swaying posture were gestures DATA never thought he would find himself of the receiving end of from his creator. But he knew it couldn’t last. Their moment of peace, only awarded in the absence of everyone else, was quickly shattered by the approaching form of their fellow crewmember. Bearing news of a mission DATA would rather forget if not for the urgency it required, DATA watched as she delivered the items needed to continue with the task at hand.

DATA allowed himself to be led through the motions of opening the door and shepherded into the room, taking note of the various lock mechanisms that littered both the hinges and the frame of the door. Whatever was placed under the security of the cold metal door and the cramped concrete walls was not to be disturbed by curiosity. Calculating eyes watched the heavy metal swing shut when suddenly the lights began to flicker before plunging them into complete blackness. Darkness, for DATA, had never been a hindrance. His vision adjusted accordingly with an ease evolution had never granted humans. He watched as Theon reached for his hand, moving his own to meet his creator halfway.

Looking around the room, DATA ignore the vile smell and graphic image of decaying bodies tinged green in the darkness of his night vision. They could not be helped now as any semblance of life would have left them long before the crew’s arrival, and so they could not call for any of their concern. Instead, he searched for the power source or any type of switch that could be engaged in order to return the mansion to its previous well-lit glory.

“This way,” he ordered, slowly leading the group through the maze of decaying flesh and broken bones. Without blueprints or plans of the mansion’s design, DATA would be forced to follow the suggestion Alyx provided and listen for the familiar hum of electricity.

The further they ventured into the room, the more suffocating the mixed scent of death and decay became.  DATA had the ability to hold his breath with little consequence; however, the other two would not be so lucky. Turning around to assess their wellbeing, DATA allowed his fingers to move up the soft flesh of Theon’s arm with the soft touches of concern. “If either of you is made unwell by the scent, I can continue alone.”