Exaltica: Eden Awakening Saga, Sin Denial Options

[Sailerius]

Exaltica: The Eden Awakening Saga
Episode 1: Sin Denial

"Emergency power conservation is in effect. All non-essential systems have been taken offline."

The recording of the woman’s voice is the first sound you’re able to make sense of. A dull ache of annoyance in the back of your head suggests that you’ve heard that recording before. You’re pretty tired, though, so your eyes flutter shut again and you drift back down into the depths of unconsciousness.

"Emergency power conservation is in effect. All non-essential systems have been taken offline."

Just as you’re about to fall asleep again, the recording plays again. It’s starting to get really annoying. You probably won’t be able to get any sleep until it stops. You suppose that means you’ll just have to get up (even if only to stop that blasted recording). It makes a pretty good alarm clock.

Your feet touch the floor uncertainly. You’re not sure if it’s because you’ve been asleep or because the artificial gravity in the ship is acting up, but you have a hard time standing up straight. Wait a minute, why are you on a ship?

As you try to gather your bearings, memories flood back to you in a disorganized heap of imagery. It takes a few minutes to sort everything out and arrange the memories chronologically. There must be something missing, though; no matter how you put together the disjointed pieces of your memory, you just can’t figure out where you are or how you got there. Maybe looking around will provide you with some clues.

The only lights on in the ship are the dim red emergency lights which illuminate only the essential areas. Inside rooms (whose heavy metal doors you must manually slide open because "Emergency power conservation is in effect. All non-essential systems have been taken offline."), it’s almost completely black.

The ship you’re on is fairly large; you’re able to gather that there are six decks and a sizable docking bay. Too big to be personal transport. A supply ship would have a larger cargo bay.

More importantly, where is the crew? And where is everyone else?

You’re all located on deck 3 and wake up in different cabins. Features on this deck: Cabins, storage, lift (deactivated), stairs.

[slaix223]

Nate could hear it, the droning sound of the automated message waking him up from his sleep. As much as he wanted to put it out of his thoughts, it simply couldn't be done. After a few seconds, his tired mind caught up with him.

Wait. Shouldn't I. . . ?

His eyes shot open, only to see the dim room of a starship greet him.

"I'm on a ship! Why am I on a ship!?" Nate exclaimed, only to reflexively clamp a hand over his mouth. The last thing he needed was for someone to hear him.

His nervous rambling continued in his thoughts. Oh god, they caught me, didn't they? They found evidence linking to me on that cargo, or maybe someone ratted me out, or. . . or. . . !

Nate's eyes darted around the cabin, trying to find any indication of where he was. There wasn't a single thing that could clue him in on the nature of the starship. With a sigh, he began to go through the possibilities.

It can't be a standard transport ship, like the one I took. It seems too large for that. But if that's the case, what is this ship supposed to do? They probably did find me, and they're transporting me off to some special prison for terrorists or something!

He took a deep breath of air. One thing was for certain: He didn't know where he was, so he should stay calm and not reveal anything. There could be a rational explanation for this, after all. His mind calm, he finally took a listen to the siren that had been constantly going off and causing him to have a nasty headache.

"Emergency power conservation is in effect. All non-essential systems have been taken offline."

"What does that mean?" Nate asked. "Are supposed to be in some sort of hibernation? But it's impossible to sleep with that thing buzzing through our ears, which means. . . An emergency!"

His mind paused, letting him recall the situation from before. He gulped his saliva out of nervousness and took a feeble few steps over to the door, or what he thought was a door in this dim cabin. As expected, it didn't open automatically. After a good shove, it slid open. Almost immediately, Nate shielded his eyes as a second light, positioned exactly outside his door, shined inside.

Anything's too bright in a darkness like this, he thought.

With a second light, he could see a little better into the deep recesses of his cabin. There was a small dresser off to the side, a white bag on top of it. With a gasp, he ran over to it. As he felt around in the bag, he could feel all of his belongings, safely tucked away.

He pulled out a thin, rectangular device. It was his new laptop; the one he bought after the old one went up in flames. He flipped it open, followed by pressing the power switch up in the corner. After a few seconds, it didn't turn on. He tried again, then tapped a few keys on the keyboard. Nothing was working.

It doesn't seem to be damaged, so it's probably just a dead battery. Still, so much for this helping me.

He stowed it back away, and then slung the bag over his shoulder. At least he had something familiar he could hold onto. He needed the comfort, even if it wasn't much.

His breathing increased. He turned to the open door, and took a step towards it. Then another. In a few seconds, he would be outside, in the hallway. What would he find? A few steps into the hallway, and he heard it, a piercing scream in the darkness. His head turned to the side.

Oh god, what if this is a prison transport ship!? And what if they torture their prisoners! His deluded, impossible thoughts continued to bounce around his skull as he started to walk in the direction he heard the scream. I. . . I have to know for sure.