voidmissions | [M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN

On opening their eyes, Voidtreckers will feel a sense of disorientation, a dizziness to their vision and inside their head. Both clear quickly, letting them remember where they came from: in the midst of a mission, some unknown entity jumping them, and then —

They're here. Wherever here is.
They stand in an empty room. The lighting of the room stings their eyes after how dark the rest of the station has been. The walls, ceiling and floor are all bright white, tiles. There is no visible door, no windows.

After the disorientation comes fear. The hairs on the back of their neck stand up. For those with danger sense, these senses are going haywire, even though any other abilities are still not working. The feeling can be pushed down, it is similar to the air of expectation at the start of a horror film, the anticipation of fear rather than being in a truly dangerous situation. It might be that they have been on the train long enough to have felt it before.

Heavy footsteps sound, it is almost impossible to tell where they are coming from as the echo through the empty space. The feeling of dread grows until part of the far wall slides open with a mechanical hiss.

Filling the doorway are two huge figures, around seven foot tall and bulky. They are in large metal suits, almost like power armour, black with highlights of gold. They wear a mask that covers their whole face. It is impossible to see the figure inside at all. Their breathing comes through heavy and raspy and when they walk their footsteps are heavy. The door closes behind them and their presence makes the room feel smaller. One of them scans a green light over the voidtrecker.

"Do not be alarmed. Under sections ninety six of Inter-dimensional law and on behalf of the Void Ministry we have intercepted Voidcraft designation Voidtrecker Express as part of ongoing investigations. You have been taking part in a simulated excercise to gauge your skill and strength. No harm shall come to you or your crew, you are protected by inter dimensional law. You have been chosen for questioning and we ask that you comply. You have the right to refuse our interview but we have the right to hold you until our investigation is complete or one week in standard void time has passed, whichever is longest. Complying with us will ensure our investigation is more efficient."

The inspector talking pauses here, as if giving the voidtrecker time to take in that information.

"Do you accept our interview?"

ENEMY: UNKNOWN

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Essek suddenly feels unsure about this. Trying to get a read on what's happening, what information he's gathering from this conversation. If it can be called that.

"What difference would consent play in this matter? In my answer? Would it change anything?" He needed to know before he answered. Needed to know he wouldn't be sent back without Caleb.

"Your answer will determine if any passengers were aware of the Void or consented to being tethered, or not," one explains, still in the same calm tone made heavy by their helmet.

"No action but interviewing passengers of the Voidtrecker Express will be taken at this time," the other says. "What changes are you concerned for?"

At this time. Hm. That still isn't reassurance. Perhaps he needs to phrase this in a way that might allow for them to think twice before trying to undo anything.

"I was concerned that you may attempt to undo what has been done. I have reason to remain on the train for the time being, I did not want my being taken without consent to change that yet, not without my consent again," give him a choice.

"As for your previous questions, my world is unaware of being a part of a system and the void as you refer to is unknown to us."

"Removal of individuals from their tethers without preparation is inadvisable," one explains. "Doing so will result in a high probability of harm. Removal may be a possibility in the future, but no removal will take place at this time."

For whatever comfort that might (or might not) give.

"Do you enjoy your time on the Voidtrecker Express?" asks the other.

Essek hears what isn't said, which is to try and find a way home without knowing how to properly untether could harm people. It's good to note. Though he doesn't like that future removal might happen.

The question is a hard one. "I find it satisfactory."

There is a small, brief as it is, before one asks: "Would you choose to continue to travel the Void on another craft if possible, or is your preference to stay on the Voidtrecker Express?"

That is a good question, one Essek has to actually consider.

"As of right now, I have preference to stay on the Voidtrecker," He pauses, then adds: "I have no intention to explain what my reason."

He doesn't trust them, so he has no reason to mention Caleb.

"Understood," answers one of them, nothing disappointed or changing about their tone. "You were part of the crew at the time many were brought into the false manifestation of a system by a single entity. The city of Jinnjar, believed to be on the planet Diagad. Were you one of those taken there?"

The memories of that particular mission are not fond ones, some aspects were not too bad, but the majority of the mission was overall terrible.

"Yes, it happened shortly after my arrival, I was among those taken."

"We would appreciate anything you are willing to share about this event, to whatever extent you are comfortable."

"We understand," speaks up the one who had been quiet, "that it was a distressing time for those involved."

"We want to get a better picture of the unknown entity and the events that occurred. If you have suffered any side-effects from your time there."

Essek thinks about what he wants to share, what he feels is important to share. To be honest, there is a lot that he doesn't remember clearly anymore after the torture.

"I, as many, was brought into a mass illusion created by an entity that called itself Chaos. During the time under this illusion, I was given a false identity, memories, and life to attempt to keep me under. Fortunately, due to my heritage and familiarity with illusions, my mind was able to break from the falsehood," He chooses to not mention Caleb or Mimi. He didn't want to say their names to these people.

"In an attempt to fight back, myself and a few other attempted to dispel the illusion in a central area, this caused the creature to lash out," a simple enough explanation that isn't actively making him remember. He-.. he doesn't want to say anymore than that about it, to explain what happened.

"As for residual side-effects, there have been some of a magical nature, yes."

There is a quiet - usual, but even once Essek has spoken, a few seconds more before one of them speaks. The same usual calming voice, but something careful about it too.

"We will only ask once," they say, more reassuring than threatening, "if there was anything you believe concerning or of importance, in the entity's response to you and your group's attempt to break its illusion. To help understand the entity itself."

There is nothing pressuring in the air, nothing dread-inducing. But it's either in that air or in their always calming voices, that there is an understanding that they may be pressing somewhere uncomfortable.

Essek is silent for a long moment, seeming like he might not answer - and he almost doesn't, not wanting to relive any of it. After compartmentalizing all of that trauma, he really didn't want to revisit it, but it was already on his mind again, already clawing at the walls.

Perhaps it was too late now anyway.

"It captured us and tortured us saying it would make us experience what it had, a taste. The experience of losing--" he closes his eyes and shakes his head, his hand coming up to cover his eyes.

"It said something about us trying to sentence it to the fate of the void. That is what it gave us a taste of."

There is a small quiet, but a presence of sympathy. Unable to be read in the features of the two masked and suited, but not bereft from their presence.

"We are sorry," they speak, and sound like it; even when still there lingers the calmness of their way of speaking. "And we thank you."

A pause, and then they continue.

"Have you or any other passengers part of the voidcraft made contact with others who know about the void, other than this entity and ourselves?"

[M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN - THE INTERVIEW

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