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He sits at the piano, his fingers commanding the keys with an energy that seems almost newborn. The room is filled with a melody that is both familiar and somehow rejuvenated, each note resonating with a fresh vitality. His torso is bare, save for a pair of pants that hang low on his hips, revealing a physique that could be mistaken for that of a man half his age.
“Sir,” EDI cuts in. “Conflict reports are coming in from the Regenesis.”
“Indeed?” The Legion barely shows any inflection as he continues to play uninterrupted. The light from the artificial Verilia’s star passes through his nearby window, catching his skin, which seems to glow with a blue inner radiance. “Detail this event for me.”
The holographic displays materialized above Legion’s grand piano, their urgent red warnings contrasting with the gentle nocturne flowing from his fingers. EDI’s voice cut through the music, precise and formal, though the AI had long since learned that emergency protocols held little sway over StarShade’s governor.
“StarShade Governor, we have a Level One containment situation at the Regenesis main facility.”
Legion’s fingers never faltered on the keys, the melody continuing as his eyes flickered briefly to the projection of the building floating above him. The mysterious red flow pulsed through the hologram, casting crimson shadows across his face.
“Fascinating,” he murmured, transitioning smoothly into a minor key. “Show me the pattern analysis.”
“Initiating temporal reconstruction,” EDI announced as the holograms shifted and expanded. “Beginning playback from thirty-three minutes before the incident.”
The virtual environment materialized around him—the grand lobby of the Regenesis building. Conference attendees moved through the space like ethereal ghosts, their forms reconstructed from security feeds and environmental sensors. The lobby bustled with activity—scientists, researchers, reporters, and corporate representatives mingling near the refreshment tables.
“Time index: Thirty-three minutes before containment breach. Sienna Krynn and Shimmer Vesper enter through the main entrance.”
Legion observed as the sisters’ figures appeared, Sienna’s characteristic confident stride carrying her through the lobby, with Shimmer following behind. The temporal reconstruction showed them pausing briefly before separating, each heading to different sections of the building.
“Time index: Zero. Initial release detected. Point of origin: First floor.”
The holographic reconstruction revealed subtle changes in the environmental readings, invisible to the human eye at the time. Legion’s playing shifted to a minor key as he watched the first molecular changes spread through the ventilation system.
“Time index: Six minutes after release. First anomalous readings in environmental sensors.”
The scene continued its ghostly dance. The crowd remained unaware as the aberrant red particles began to collect in the air within the lobby, the invisible threat brewing.
“Time index: Fifteen minutes. First visual manifestation of the phenomenon.”
Legion’s melody turned contemplative as he watched the first wisps of red become visible near the ceiling vents. The reconstruction showed the exact moment when people began to show signs of lethargy.
“Time index: Seventeen minutes. Sienna Krynn appears to recognize something about the phenomenon.”
The holographic recreation zoomed in slightly on Sienna’s face. Her expression had changed—alert and fearful, unlike those around her who were succumbing to the spreading drowsiness.
“Time index: Twenty minutes. First biohazard alert triggered.”
The scene showed the warning lights activating silently to prevent panic, but the crowd’s response was already dulled, the people moving as if through syrup.
“Time index: Twenty-two minutes. Security protocols engage. Doors begin automatic lockdown sequence.”
The massive lobby doors began to seal as Commander Thomir assumed control. Building-wide containment measures activated, and bioluminescent shields deployed. The red substance was now clearly visible, its flow patterns more defined and purposeful.
“Time index: Thirty-five minutes. Sienna Krynn makes deliberate movement toward Dr. Korr.”
Legion watched as Sienna’s figure broke away from the affected crowd, moving with purpose toward Zyran. Their interaction spoke of mutual recognition of the crisis unfolding around them.
“Sir,” EDI’s tone shifted, “the incident appears to have been triggered by an unexpected activation of the Red Spark within human hosts, particularly Sienna and Shimmer. The initial presentation of symptoms through pheromone release suggests a biological defense or communication mechanism rather than a conventional containment breach.”
The holographic simulation faded, leaving only the pulsing red patterns floating above Legion’s piano. His fingers completed their current passage before pausing briefly on the keys.
“Interesting direction,” he mused, resuming his playing with a slightly different melody. “Follow Zyran for now. Let’s see what my mentee is capable of deciphering. Record their findings in my classified files.”
The red warnings continued to pulse above him as Legion played on, unbothered by the crisis unfolding in his station. To him, it was simply another movement in the eternal symphony of space – sometimes harmonious, sometimes discordant, but always, always interesting.
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