Bitter Ambrosia Part 1

ENTERPRISE SECURITY LOG 4993 SD 331 JM1 1:42 PM

MAIN DECK

A sizable crowd of just a thousand shy humans and very small, bipedal dragons is gathered on the deck of the Enterprise. A massive, horned dragon floats in the air just starboard, seemingly waiting. A young man that looks very much like Theta steps out to join the crowd, but a voice calls out to him as someone who's clearly Ambrosia chases him out onto deck.

Lucian: Hm? --he turns around-- Oh, Svipal...

Svipal: Don't you 'oh, Svipal' me, mister. Where do you think you're going? --She crosses her arms with a stern glare, but softens after a moment-- You're not... really going to leave with everyone, are you?

Lucian: It's a wide, wide world out there... and I was chosen to lead the expedition. A lot of people are going to be relying on me... --he does look away at the floor, though-- Honestly, I do wish I could stay with you. Nothing in this world would make me happier, my love. But...

Svipal: --she grabs on to his arm and pleads with him-- Tell them no. Tell them you won't do it. Please... Please, Lucian, stay here with me. The ship can sustain you for the entire rest of your years. You don't need them!

Lucian: --he shakes his head, and draws her into his arms-- No, but they need me. I'm sorry, love. --she mumbles, 'What about what I need...?'-- One day, when we've settled down into the world, I'll come back for you.

Svipal: --She gives him a look as if saying 'Not sure if serious'-- Lucian, honey, you're very brave but that is a dragon. An actual right-out-of-the-legends dragon, and he's making you all leave your phasers behind.

Lucian: --he gives a big, dopey grin-- What's one dragon? Love will find a way.

Svipal: So... you're sure about this. --she looks crestfallen--

Lucian: --he sobers up again-- I'll come back for you, Svipal. I promise. --he looks over at Bahamut, who is making a speech to the rest-- Look, it's time to go. ...I love you, Svipal.

Svipal: I... I love you too, you big idiot! --she tears up and just flails at him for a second before latching on to him and crying. He holds her there for a moment until she calms down. before bringing her into a kiss--

In the meantime, Bahamut has finished speaking. Raising a massive claw, it reaches over and begins to carve a teleportation circle into the surface of the deck. Once it's completed, it seems to meld and interface with the ship, glowing with the same pale green lights of the hallways inside.

Bahamut: Now, go unto this world of Gaia. Enjoy its unspoiled fruits, and learn to live in harmony with nature. Once you leave here, you may never return.

Lucian is among the first to step forward, and onto the teleportation pad with a few eager young men around him. There's a flash of light, and then he's gone. The crowd slowly begins to follow suit, while Svipal stares at the empty space her love was in. She slowly begins to walk back downstairs.


ENTERPRISE SECURITY LOG 4997 SD 331 JM1 7:21 PM

MAINTENANCE ROOM

Svipal: Useless! It's all fucking useless!!! He's never going to be able to keep his stupid promise! --She's seen throwing things, shattering glass stasis tubes, and generally wrecking havoc. Another manikin is seen trying to calm her down but she just shoves the doll aside and walks around throwing her hands in the air.-- Every single moment without him is agonizing! Lucian, I'm a being who can count away every single picosecond you're gone... Why did you do this to me...? --she collapses to her knees, sobbing again-- I'm... I'm sorry, Freya, are you okay? --the other doll gives a quiet confirmation and Svipal sighs with meloncholy-- This isn't going to work... I have eternity ahead of me, and... to what use? Eternity without him is... no life at all. ...

Svipal picks herself up, calmly reaching for a maintenance screwdriver on a nearby table. 'Freya' looks on in horror as Svipal approaches a wall.

Svipal: I don't want to live in a world without you, Lucian... so... I give you all of my love. Please, don't come back for me. That dragon... that accursed goddamn dragon will kill you... so, I hope you find someone else instead...

She braces the screwdriver against the wall and taking a deep breath, starts ramming her face into it, using her inhuman strength to drive it into her skull again and again, setting it to a rote function when her expression loses all sense of life or reason. Sparks and shards of metal fly as her head is torn open, her face peeled off. Her tear tanks rupture and spew the last of their liquid all over the wall. And finally, after about a minute, Svipal slows down, unable to process the looped command any longer, and falls over backwards.

The room is silent for a moment. The other manikin stares in horror, before crawling over and dragging Svipal to a maintenance tank and placing her inside.

DIAGNOSTIC

SEVERE CRANIAL TRAUMA

STATUS: UNDERGOING REPAIRS

CRITICAL MEMORY ERROR

STATUS: DATA CORRUPT - PLEASE CONTACT ENGINEER