Somnambulance [Retconned]

[Toaster]

"Not going to happen," Olivia heard herself say.

An instance of complete senselessness overcame her...

... and she found herself in the middle of the hallway, standing over the prone corpse of one of the two men who had assailed her, her hand still tightly clenched around the steel pipe now embedded in the back of the man's head.

Eyes widening, Olivia's gaze slowly wandered from the body at her feet down the length of the corridor, landing on the second man, sprawled on his back. Half of his face was missing. and blood and brain matter slowly oozed out of his shattered skull, seeping onto the rusty deck. Shock, horror, and confusion overcame Olivia like a tidal wave, and she fell to her hands and knees, retching. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as what little her stomach had to offer splattered onto the deck beneath her.

It happened again, she thought to herself, heaving. Her heart raced at the realization, beating loudly in her chest. But, over the pounding, she heard something else - the sound of approaching foot steps. Shaking, she staggered back to her feet, turning to face the direction she heard them coming from. Sweat and tears blurred her vision, but at the end of the hallway she could make out the vague, dark shape of a person, slowly moving towards her.

"This sure is a mess," an oddly familiar voice spoke.

"They-" Olivia stammered, "they attacked-"

A stinging sensation penetrated the cloud of fear and confusion and Olivia's gaze slowly wandered down the length of her body. A dart protruded from her chest. Then, a second time, all went dark.


- - -


Images of the dead flooded Olivia's mind, snapshots of the violent scenes she had left behind. Mangled bodies sprawled over the floor, pools of blood and viscera, dead eyes staring up at her, accusing her.

Murderer.

She tried to scream, but couldn't. A thundering noise deafened her, pounding in her ears like colossal drums. It threatened to consume her, crush her into dust until nothing remained. But she fought, pushing against the clamor, refusing to let it destroy her.

Through the ceaseless din, she could make out voices - mere wisps of conversation. She tried to concentrate on them, struggling to make out the words.

"It's over. It's out of control!" One voice said angrily.

"Everything is fine..." Another spoke calmly, older than the other. "Some adjustments..."

"... too late! It killed five random people..."

"He."

"... not the time for that! We have to shut this down!"

"If we stop now..."

"Can we fix this?" It was a third voice. It sounded familiar.

"No, listen! We have to..." The first cried.

"Yes," the second stated.

"Do it," commanded the third.

The pounding grew louder and louder, drowning out the voices until there was nothing else.


- - -


Olivia woke with a start. Adrenaline flooded her system, washing away the exhaustion and soreness that attempted to claim her. With eyes wide and alert, her head shot from side to side, scanning her surroundings. She was in a small room, its walls, ceiling, and floor featureless save for creeping spots of rust. She herself was sitting on the floor. She tried to get to her feet, but lances of pain arced through her shoulders. Wincing, she relaxed and glanced down at herself. Her feet were bound before her, her arms were cuffed behind her back to a table leg bolted securely to the floor. She was stuck.

"You're awake," a familiar voice noted. Olivia's eyes shot up again, finding a man clad in black clothes and a cloak leaning casually against the door that was the room's sole entrance, concealed in the frame's shadow. "It's about time."

She recognized the voice - though it lacked the joviality she was used to. The man stepped forward into the light, revealing himself.

"You?" Olivia said in surprise.

The Dromedary's pilot nodded. His once friendly face was hard, his bright eyes cold. The sight of him sent a shiver down Olivia's spine. She shifted her shoulders, trying to pry her bound hands out from behind her.

"You can stop that," the stranger said, noticing her struggle. He held out a hand, revealing a small remote control. "The cuffs come undone when I want them to."

Frowning, Olivia relaxed again.

"Who are you?" She asked. The man remained silent. "What did you do to me?" Olivia demanded.

The stranger shrugged. "Can't you feel it?"

The mercenary perked up. Indeed, through the rush of adrenaline, she did feel something. A stinging pain in her right temple, like the migraines she had grown used to, but weaker. Instinctively, she tried to reach up to feel her head, but her bound arms simply smacked against the table leg. She looked up at the stranger and saw from his expression that he wouldn't give her any details.

A sudden thought shot through Olivia's mind.

"The crate!" She cried. "Where's the crate?"

The stranger chuckled and nodded past her. Olivia twisted around, turning to look up at the table top behind her. The black crate sat atop it. She let out a sigh of relief at its sight.

"Interesting thing to be lugging around," the stranger noted. Then, dryly, "I'm leaving now."

Turning back to face towards the room, Olivia saw him spin on his heels and step towards the door.

"Wait!" She called out after him. "You saw what's inside?"

The man paused, then shrugged. "Yeah." He continued towards the exit.

"What is it?" Olivia demanded. The stranger didn't answer. The door opened before him and he stepped through it, turning on the threshold to glance at her one last time.

"At least tell me who you are!" Olivia pleaded. In the door frame's shadow, she thought she could see a faint smile tug at the stranger's face. Then he stepped out of the room and the door closed behind him.

Olivia was alone again.

---

Olivia Sable