It was obviously no coincidence that there was a mind-controlling parasite on board the ship at the time where all this started to happen. But what impact could it have had? No one had committed suicide, the only person that had died was Mason. And even if his death was made to look like a murder to cover up a suicide, there were no bodies of water around for him to jump into. The parasite didn’t exist to kill its host- it only wanted to survive, and the only way to do as such was to use hosts to bring them to sources of water.


    Conceivably it was possible for the parasite to have an impact on the CMI- but it was still didn’t really add up- as the CMI would still be able to clearly tell that the host was still alive, just with altered levels of amino acids. And additionally, there were no ‘lakes’ on board the ship apart from my man-made one, but no one had been allowed into my sector since the message.


    I had to assume that it was something to do with this- there was absolutely no way that this was a coincidence. So, there was either someone with a parasite affecting their actions, or the parasite was with Mason, and hopefully dead. I had to plan for the worst eventuality though, so Mason as the host was discounted.


    As I approached, the yelling grew louder. I could make out 3 voices- Dan had obviously decided to join in. As I approached, I noticed Dan was holding something, tucked under his arm. Upon closer examination, I could see that it was a full helmet of some kind, much like a motorcyclist''s helmet, with a clear canister of liquid attached to the back of it. It was clearly something quite technologically advanced, from the numerous wires connecting to a small display adorned upon the front of the helmet. That and the fact that Dan was carrying it meant that it was some kind of prototype- perhaps a weapon of some sorts?


    “You took your time getting here- give us a hand in convincing her, we’re getting nowhere!” he complains.


    “Ollie?” comes Allison’s questioning voice. She clearly didn’t have much of a choice between who to trust. Someone who was terrified of her, someone who backstabbed her, or me.


    “Yeah, it’s me” I answered Allison, shooting a glare at Dan who tilts his head, confused.


    Turning to Saskia this time I asked again.


    “I was watching the lock, just like after you left me. I was just about to call for you and Dan to come and tell her it was time to make a decision, but then I heard yelling on Allison’s side of the lock. There were sounds of… I don’t know how to say it- collisions? It sounded like she was attacking everything in sight and yelling at the same time. I thought she was going to try and open the lock and then take me down, so I called for Dan and you, but only Dan came.”


    That was odd- I hadn’t heard any sort of calling from her.


    “As you can see, we’re now in the process of trying to convince her to use my device- so we can all feel a little safer” Dan butted in.


    “Absolute bullshit! You know it and I know it- That’s utter horse crap!” Allison exclaimed through the lock.


    With a frown at Dan for interrupting her and inciting Allison, Saskia continued.


    “She seemed to have stopped attacking the walls about 5 minutes ago, just after Dan came. At least, that was when she stopped yelling and actually communicated with us. Although she refuses to tell us why she did it.”


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.Dan handed over the headset and reminded me to check the screen before starting the device.


    “Why do the electrodes have to be aligned? Will the device just not work?” I asked him.


    “No, the device will still induce a sleep-like state, but it will only work for around 24 hours. The electrodes must be in the correct position for a longer sustained period. And make sure you don’t drop it- the chambers that contain the solution in the helmet are fairly volatile as this is a trial product!” he warned me.


    Great. One slip up from me, and I’d be the one needing a prince to wake me up from my slumber.


    “Alrighty then, you two enjoy your alone time together!” said Saskia in a mocking voice.


    She turned down the corridor I had just come from, with Dan in tow. Was it just my imagination, or did he follow her a bit too enthusiastically?


    “Are they gone now?” Allison tentatively asked me.


    “Yep, you can open the lock now. They’ve gone.”


    But as the metal fell away to reveal Allison, I didn’t see the face of a murderer. Or the face of someone with malicious intent.


    She snatched it out of my hands with a little more force than was necessary and placed it upon her head. I reached around to press the on button, which lit up the screen. The text indicated that the electrodes were in the correct position and told me to press the button again to induce the coma.


    I reached out a hand to help her stand up, and she took it. Slowly, we walked back to her sector, in one of my hands the container of food, and the other, her hand.


    * * *


    When she sat down on the bed, I handed over the container of food. But as she looked down at the box, with the helmet on her head, tears started pooling in the corner of her eyes. I used the screen''s prompt menu to open the visor, allowing her to dry her tears and eat. But she didn’t make a move to wipe them away, as she slowly ate her food.


    Finishing her meal, she wiped away the tears before handing me the empty container.


    “I’m ready.” was all she said.


    Shutting the visor of her helmet, I looked down at the container in my hands before looking back at her. I reached up and twisted the helmet before pressing the button. Immediately, her eyes started to droop, and she eased herself back onto the bed.


    Her eyes finally closed.


    “That’s what I should be saying to you” I replied.