The vantage point taken by Rex allowed a better glimpse of the couple, as the silhouettes could be distinguished a man and a woman, but still the illumination did not permit to see their faces in full detail. The first one began to yell:
“There you are! You are finally here, Ħabib! Or should I say intruż? Just right where I wanted you to be!”
The dark figure clicked a portable button in his hand and emergency alerts buzzed all across the dome. Abrupt noises emerged from the 4 gates, located symmetrically around the chamber, and gravity made its work, as the locking mechanisms were disengaged and the entries went closed rapidly with strident crashes. Blackness covered the area; the lights and visual alerts on the consoles were bright enough to reveal vague shapes of the equipment and people. Next, the male drew a couple of weapons from his back and gave one to his companion, a lady that did not seem to react whatsoever to what was happening, taking her hands and squeezing them, so she can hold it steadily.
“Hold it right there, yes. That’s it, Imħabba.”
He accommodated her breather, thinking that it was falling from her and, after that, he turned his face towards Rex, still far away from him in the gloom:
“Now, I was wondering why you were still alive all this time…at first I thought you were just another guilty Outcast coming from a remote plantation in the other hemisphere, or even a glorified slave sent by a too generous Don. I even yelled to my wife, as we did not prepare on time your room adequately for the occasion. But then, I noticed that you had no problems walking around so freely. And then you told me that you wanted to learn about the Kujira! I do not know how…”
The talk was interrupted when the speakers around the dome emitted a different sound:
“Stupid old man! We know what you are trying to do! Stop at once!“
Followed by a profound inhale and exhale, in a clearly stressed voice, the person behind clarified his presence:
“Alberto Cruz of Malta Hyperspace Starfleet here! We came as fast as we could! We are overriding the systems outside the Awditorju! Keep the lunatic talking!“
The listener got heavily distressed with the sudden call:
“What is this? Is that you, amateur?! I-I do not understand…This is my prey! The final prey! Mine! You arrived late. I am authorized to do this!”
“It is not what you think, imbécil! This guest is a special one! Julia’s orders! Do not even…”
“I have lived for two centuries, but I still have the guts and wits to put a contingency plan beforehand. I will…no…NO! The light! The fire! My sweet, sweet Julia! What did she want from me? What did she say to me? WHAT DID SHE DO TO ME?!”
Past was brought to him, forcefully. The elder seemingly lost his mind, as he moved back and forth throughout the central floor, a body in complete tension and lacking full control. Anxiety and remorse in his mind began to flow through sweat and clenching teeth. He sobbed and proceeded with his ultimatum:
“I am so sorry, Julia! Did she think about all of this, right? What did she say to me? What did I do to her? WHAT DID SHE SAY TO ME?!? NO! I will blast all of this, directly into oblivion! Julia, my Ángel! I will do it right this time! All my sins will be paid as you wish! You should have just asked! And you still did not come personally for me…”
He kicked the top of the container in front of him, below one of the simulated bridge controls, opening it; an intense blue and purple glow emerged from it. Decisively, the mad man tried to focus his sight on Rex Baker, as much as he could, eager to know the final answer:
“My executioner. Any last words? Any last complaint? Any last question before I transform you into One with the Spirits, to What Lies Beyond, In The Void!?!”
![[Image: 0WfuF9g.png]](https://i.imgur.com/0WfuF9g.png)