ENTRY: 0.2
[IMPACT DETECTED... ANALYZING HULL INTEGRITY...]
[HULL INTEGRITY 86%...]
[NO FLUID LOSS DETECTED...]
V.III awakens. They are surrounded by plant life. Foliage blocks out most of the sky, but the beams of light that break through give more than enough sunlight for the life below. Under the android is a pile of sticks and leaves. If the canopy above hadn't broken the machine’s fall, it's likely that much more damage would have been taken.
As it stands up, it takes a moment to scan its surroundings. A great nostalgia washes over the machine’s blank mind before evaporating like water in the desert. They have memories of a similar green expanse, but they're so distant that the robot’s cold intellect is unable to grasp them completely.
The warm light bounces off of the creature's elegant form like sodium metal on water, casting its otherwise uncanny appearance in a somewhat beautiful light. As it looks towards the sky, it's met with a group of colorful creatures flying overhead. The flock blissfully screams, a cry the machine hasn't heard in a long time. After admiring the view, V.III begins their exploration. They must find SIRENUSE #82 as soon as possible, and that leaves no time for reminiscing.
As the machine walks through the shrubs, they hear noises all around. It seems that animal life is still present, which only makes the absence of any human life more apparent. The leaves rustle as the wind blows, and flowers dance to the hums of animal life.
“LO! DEATH HAS REARED HIMSELF A THRONE!..”
A voice recites a chorus in the distance.
“IN A STRANGE CITY LYING ALONE!..”
The machine recoils in fear. Although human speech should be bringing the creature relief, the voice it is hearing sounds unsettlingly inhuman. V.III slowly moves away from the sound, stepping over the leaves as carefully as possible to avoid making any noise.
“WHERE THE GOOD AND BAD AND WORST AND BEST!..”
They notice that the voice is coming from the same location. If it were after them, it most likely would have approached by now. Feeling assured, the machine begins walking in the direction of the noise. As they get closer to the source of the sound, they see a figure slowly approaching them. As it gets closer, its form comes into detail.
It is remarkably similar to V.III, but its exterior is nowhere as pristine, and on its jaw there is a V.VI. It approaches V.III and, for a second they feel resolved. But as V.III reaches their mechanical arm towards the unit, they are met with no response. The creature passes V.III as if they didn't notice them at all.
“Have gone to their eternal rest…”
<Rampancy...>
It is a word that materializes in the machine’s mind. All V.III knows is that it has something to do with the decomposition of the brain, although its exact meaning has been forgotten. But V.III feels it may be what they're witnessing. The machine wonders if this is what would have happened to them if not for their preservation. A mind gone mad, doomed to wander forever? And if so, are they really so different from that unit?
The detached being continues on its path. Perhaps it is on a mission of its own. Or perhaps it has no mission at all.
Disturbed, V.III continues on their journey.