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.

[Sailerius]

Night falls on Eutocius, as if the idea of "night" as it exists planetside matters here. "Night" is an arbitrary distinction wherein most people are asleep.

The major, however, is not most people and circumstances are unusual. She restlessly paces back and forth in her office, occasionally shooting an impatient glance at the monitor on her desk to determine whether or not word had come from the supply ship. She jumps in surprise when an alerting beep sounds from her computer, stumbling over to accept the message.

"Major Jorich," the male voice on the other end began. The major's expression of relief faded.

"It's me, commander."

"Report on the status of the Venerate."

"She's dead in space, sir. We've sent a rescue team to recover Rem and the ship, but..."

"Is she alive?"

"There's been no report on her status yet. None of the survivors reported encountering her. She might not be on the ship at all. If she's on Morgan, should we--"

"Forget about her. Use one of the backups if it comes to that."

"Forget about her?! But sir--"

"If what happened on Morgan is any indication, then we can expect Andrew to show his face any time now. Rather than waste our time trying to find Rem, we should begin training a replacement ASAP. If Andrew shows up and we're not ready to fight, you know damn well what'll happen."

The major sighs and nods her assent.

"Yes, sir..."

"You look tired, major. Get some sleep. I'll see you back on base in a week's time."

---

"Morning" comes on Eutocius, although like night, it's just as arbitrary of a concept. Unless you've set an alarm or are self-disciplined enough not to sleep in, you have a hard time waking up without being roused from your sleep. Waking up when it's pitch black out and being told that it's morning is enormously disorienting.

But not as disorienting as the gunfire outside.

[Ereth]

It had been a long day. After finishing the cake and cleaning up, Aiko had waited patiently for her roommate to wake before making an offering of a slice of the simple sweet---and much to the baker's surprise and dismay, Arel had devoured it with relish and demanded that the rest of the cake be theirs (well, hers) and theirs alone. Aiko couldn't let her roommate eat what was meant for the rest of their party, so she was now stuck keeping watch over it. I hope they like it, she thought. Then she frowned. Jun would probably rather chew on an old sock. But she couldn't blame him for thinking ill of her, for she had never been normal. Her mouth set into a firm line as she heard the gunshots.

And now I'm even more of a freak.