Chương 207: LOG-198.

I stood outside of my makeshift interrogation chamber with a slight frown, arms crossed and Shell all but hiding behind me at the curious gazes of the three Pearls that had apparently been waiting outside. Perhaps I would have considered the largest of the trio blind, but like Eyes, Head appeared perfectly capable of seeing the world around her, in spite of the fact that she only had her lower face to operate with.

"Patina, Khaki. I see you've finished up with your little tour?" The former nodded, while the latter stared at the taller than average white Pearl awkwardly looking back at her from over my shoulder. Yet before either my creation or the 'leader' of Batch Two could say anything, fingers longer than most hands moved.

'Greetings, esteemed Overseer. I must confess that you are not altogether what I had been led to anticipate, given the many descriptions so confidently conveyed to me. Yet expectations, however carefully crafted, are often humbled by reality, and in this instance I find the distinction to be no disappointment. On the contrary, it is a genuine pleasure to make your acquaintance!'

Blinking in shock at the veritable storm of, for lack of a better term, heavily accented words that had just been twitched at me by the silent giant's fingers, I couldn't help but voice the first question to come to mind.

"You can speak?" Difficult to read in comparison to most Gems, likely due to the distinct lack of the micro expressions I've grown used to reading. Still, general body language seems to indicate genuine friendliness. Either she's an adept actor, or she's unaware of what just occurred in the room behind me. Ugh, helpful, but fuck off.

Interjecting code notwithstanding, something in my voice or expression must have proved amusing enough to draw a giggle from Khaki, even as her larger counterpart waved both hands forward, digits twitching and swerving in jittery, yet paradoxically smooth motions.

'Not in the customary manner of spoken words, but through the silent lingua of Pearls? Naturally. I daresay I possess a most verbose tongue, so to speak! Though I must confess it is more frequently engaged in spirited conversation with my own mind than with any willing audience.'

Before I could respond, the immense Gem leaned forward, previously motionless lips tugging upwards into a far too wide smile that had me wanting to step backwards, her gemstone covered head tilting slightly as she seemed to zero in on Shell, who I could see stiffening in place behind me.

'Ah, yet another visitor! What a delightful surprise. I had scarcely imagined so many individuals would find their way here in such a short span of time. Indeed, I had all but resigned myself to the notion that none would ever arrive. Yet here you stand. My sincerest greetings to you as well, little White.' Stubbornly resisting the urge to allow my eye to twitch at the given name, I stepped forward, ignoring everyone else in favour of reaching forward and planting a hand on Patina's shoulder.

For a singular instant, an old memory that I would never forget tried to rise to the surface, only to be ruthlessly squashed beneath a cold, steely focus that I wished I could claim to be entirely my own. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Patina, this is Shell, from the Reef. She lacks the context of our situation, and I need to head upstairs to check on something, keep her out of trouble while I'm gone, understood?" While the Pearl was quick to nod, clearly catching the unspoken meaning behind my words, Khaki's muttered"that's what Shell looked like?" served to draw the Gem in question's attention away.

Yet my attempt to move past the gathering was halted by the largest of them abruptly bending downwards, placing her enormous gemstone directly in my path and preventing any further progress, unless I wanted to play a bizarre game of limbo in order to do so. Eyes narrowing, my mouth opened to order her aside by reflex, and in the split instant that I took to remind myself that as much as I would have preferred otherwise, I didn't hold authority over everybody, the giant Pearl moved her hands once more.

'Viridian, as you have been named, pray allow me the privilege of accompanying you! The upper reaches of the Atoll are fraught with peril, and I should be most distressed were I to permit your demise without making every earnest effort to prevent it!' My first instinct was to deny the overgrown chatterbox, but as the sensation of observation fell upon my shoulders once more, I found myself staring over towards one of the surveillance visors scattered throughout the hallway with a heavy frown.

"... Very well. I'll be counting on your protection then, Head." Once more, the Pearl smiled a far too wide smile, even if not a hint of teeth were shown throughout the expression, her fingers doing the talking for her.

'Excellent! I confess, I am most curious to witness what a Nacre such as yourself might be capable of accomplishing! My own explorations, though frequent, unfortunately yielded precious little, for the systems of this facility have remained stubbornly beyond my access. Yet perhaps one of your stature might fare rather better than I!'

I answered the proclamation with a non-committal grunt and stepped around her, ignoring that too-wide smile even as she fell into place behind me, shadow falling over my lightform while Khaki and Patina both waved us goodbye, the latter (thankfully) also keeping a careful eye on Shell, who had slowly begun to mirror the motion after noticing the other Pearls do it.

— The trip back to the largely abandoned upper level of the Atoll only seemed to get creepier as we progressed, which in turn only served to make me all the more suspicious of the unnerving feeling. It was as we finally reached the top of the ascending path that led to the open space just beyond it that I heard a sound that set my hackles rising and claws splaying. Humming. Vocal frequency and tone matches the screaming of the swarm encountered outside of this facility.

I should be cautious and prepare to engage in a fighting retreat if needed. A large hand abruptly swept in front of me, and it was clear in that instant that Head had noticed the noise too, the massive Pearl creeping forward with a silence to her movements that was more than a little impressive, considering her sheer size.

Advancing at my own pace, I crept along with my fellow Gem only to pause at the sight of a single figure standing in the center of a doorway, long limbs gracefully gliding through the air in a literally glowing dance, given the luminescent nature of her lightform. The hologram looked similar to the feral, mindless things that had been floating about in the sky, yet this one looked ever so slightly calmer, even as I noticed the floor darkening where she stepped.

Glazed eyes stared blindly out at nothing, some unknown melody slipping forth past translucent lips while long, luscious hair swayed with every motion, an exotic looking dress further distinguishing the specimen in front of me compared to its simpler looking counterparts. With a glacially slow turn of my head, I got my counterpart's attention, claws twisting and turning to spell out words of my own.

'Do they get in often?' Head's own…well, head (Stars, that name was getting silly to use) moved back and forth slightly in a negative response, her fingers twitching back at me.

'No. A dangerous specimen, this one, born of a younger generation. Do you see the false gemstone? It is no mere ornament, but the unmistakable sign of a mind capable of foresight. Unlike the screaming ones, it possesses the unsettling gift of planning several steps ahead.' As I took note of the jagged, almost pauldron-esque shape clinging to the hologram's shoulder, she paused, seemingly considering something, before twisting the digits in another few motions.

'I should mention, before it escapes me, that I positively adore your manner of communication. There is a rare, dangerous charm to it that I find most enchanting.' Despite my own misgivings, my lips quirked upwards, only for my entire lightform to freeze in place as the burning, humming thing finally went silent.

Slowly, the now sizzling ghost turned to stare directly at us, the air distorting around it slightly and a hint of life bursting forth from its previously dull eyes, an excited tone to its almost echoing voice.

"... Dance with me. Dance!" With a sigh, I noted that the creepy feeling had seemingly fled entirely, even as I prepared for a fight, Head letting out a vaguely disgruntled noise from beside me that felt more like the rumble of a boulder than any sound a Pearl might make. Just one thing after another, huh?