“Im approaching the location” A soft voice with a hint of a hiss spoke up to the speaker, announcing her next move. Hearing no disagreement she continued, her craft making her was towards an abandoned space station.

Five weeks ago the place went missing and its inhabitants disappeared. When the satellite finally pinpointed the location they let the days pass before sending a mission to scout the place.

Acandae volunteered, partly from boredom and partly to get away from the people at the station. She was immediately accepted and now she was about to land.

The craft settled in one of the platforms, making the dust and debris fly around. When it settled the door swung open and the ramp slid out.

She stepped out, donning a body suit and a helmet. When the place registered it was safe to breathe (the space station was covered by an oxygen holding bubble, she removed the helmet and left it in her ship.

She stepped off the ship, still in her humanoid form, and made her way cautiously to the main doors of the building.

"Noted. We- ß∂- having some interf-#$ trouble. Communication m•¶#$-pected. Keep us posted."

The space station was ring-shaped, like many of those like it. Eight decks would provide a lot of space for the crew, and within the inner ring a number of floating platforms were used for experiments, and a central sphere was connected through the ring for controls, security, and traffic. Normally, a ship would dock at one of the many ports, or a smaller ship would land on one of the platforms that brought small ships into one of the bays, and security and crew would meet the new arrival.

Now, the bays sat dark, flickers of light visible as a few panels sparked. The metal groaned lowly underfoot, the cosmic currents of space rocking the proverbial boat. A panel was flickering as wires sparked a little, clear damage evident. What had happened here? Her scanners couldn't pick up much; the station was a bit close to the orange star that burned at the heart of the system, and electromagnetic surges and small flares made it hard to pick up much of anything that she couldn't learn with her own two eyes.

At least there was atmosphere. And enough power to at least operate the airlocks. But the lights were dark; she had to use her own flashlight to see what was going on. If she can work her way into the computer banks and security centers of this place, and maybe conduct some repairs, maybe she can find out what happened here. And if she was lucky, there would be survivors in closed-off sectors of the station, working and surviving off the still-functioning areas of the station.

“Roger”

She stopped breathing for a bit when she stepped off the ramp and into the platform. With a soft sigh of relief she pressed the button on the communicator/recorder in her ear. Even if the signals weren’t received everything will be recorded so she can just send the data.

“There seems to be no one in sight” She murmured her voice low enough to remain stealthy but loud enough for the recorder to pick up.

“There’s damage, possible wither from a strong energy wave, or an enemy attack” She continued as she stepped across the platform to inspect the walls. “If it was an attack though it seemed the crew surrendered early.

“I’ll go to the control room” She murmured. She flicked of her flashlight and allowed her eyes to narrow, seeing in the dim light. As a snake she can see even when there’s little light, but not when its pitch black.

She pressed a code into the keypad and stepped into the door

The door slid open with a wheeze... or tried to. It stopped about halfway, making a strange juttering noise and rattling a little. Then it stopped entirely. Ugh. Well, she could force it open or climb under...

Either way, she found a dark, dusty hallway on the other side. Open doorways were sprinkled along either wall, leading into side-rooms or hallways that crisscrossed the interior of the station. Up ahead, she could see a large hallway that crossed this one, one that ran along the center of the ring that made up most of the body of the station. She didn't see anything, any indication of life.

Well, maybe not entirely. There was the faint sound of something in the background, the kind of noise that would be drowned out by the electric hum of a powered station if it was operational. It was a varying thrum; rising and lowering, steadily but faintly. The emergency power generators were active. The fact that the place had little to no power was likely due to damage... this extensive, it might have been a severe EMP (maybe a solar flare) or a powerful physical impact that rolled throughout the station. The latter could certainly would toss things up in the inside, and she was catching sights of loose screws, metal bits, and other things around that may verify that.

Though it didn't explain why some of the electric systems were tripping. As she nears the main hallway, she catches sight of a faint glow from a side-room off this hallway. It looks like some of the terminal screens and computers built into the station -are- still in working order. That's a bit surprising.

She doesn't have to go far to get a look at a compact bunk room, shattered glass dotting the floor and clothes and personal possessions scattered along the floor. The fact that there's no body or sign of blood makes it even more... unusual. On the wall, near the bed, is a screen that flashes a message, a warning that was probably sent by the main computers; one of the last things the screen did before everything went to hell in a handbasket...

Intruder Alert! Alien Presence Detected in Central Engineering!

She decided to crawl under the door, thankful that her flexibility as a snake passed on to her humanoid form.

When she straightened up she dusted herself off before looking around.

“The place seems deserted” she reported softly. With a light tap she activated a video cam that was positioned near her eye, to record everything she saw.

“The powers are off, the generators are still running.” She continued murmuring as she cautiously stepped through the hallway. She favored the shadows, hiding from an unseen or unknown presence.

”The attack, or whatever it is, must be recent. The generator’s still aright and we know how limited it is.”

She looked around, allowing the images to be recorded. She fidgeted slightly, she was nervous in a place like this. But she had to act professional.

She leaned over and peered at the screen.

“Looks like it was an attack” She breathed. Her reflexes sharpened slightly at the message. She turned hurriedly her eyes looking around. She didn’t know if the aliens stayed… and she didn’t want to find out unprepared.

Her ears picked up the sound of metal groaning quietly, but something under it caught her attention. A faint beeping of a keypad being used, and the soft 'swoosh' of a door opening. It came from that large hallway, possibly one of the split-off passages that came off of it.

But she heard no footsteps, no sound of anything approaching or wandering. Just silence for a few long seconds, and then another faint noise as the door closed again.

Still, she was sure of one thing now; she wasn't alone. Her scales itched as she looked around and up... but she saw nothing. It might not know where she is, or that someone was on the station now. Maybe. But she doubted it; whatever it was, was moving too silently to be unaware of a nearby enemy...

She can feel her body tensing as she looked around, her tongue flicking out to taste the air. The place smelled slightly of danger... but of what danger?

She stepped back against the wall, settling against it to blend in the shadows. One hand went to her lips and she swallowed air before sliding a gun out from her second stomach. The metal was a nlittle bit sticky, but it worked well enough.

Stepping lightly she moved to the door and peaked, her feet ready to take her to safety by a leap.

Far below her, the slithering form of the off-white tentacles paused in the shadows between floors... what was that above? It slithered silently closer...

Out in the hall, she finally heard the noise confirming her thoughts. Another sound of a door opening... then, after a minute, it closing again. Something was moving around out there, silently checking rooms and searching the station. Looking for her.

And she had no idea what it was. It didn't make footfalls, she didn't near any murmuring or breathing. Just the mechanical noises of the doors being opened. It was like a wraith or ghost was stalking the halls of the quiet station... maybe it wasn't a monster at all, but the phantom of an old crewman.

Heh. Not likely. But whatever it was out there... if it truly was a ghost, why would it open the doors? Something else was afoot here. Maybe... and hopefully her gun and own abilities would be enough to handle it. From the sounds of it, the thing just passed into a hallway about twenty feet away and across the main passage. It wasn't far, though it may be a ways into the side hall. Any minute it might return and check on the next area...

OOC: Sorry, school didn’t let me get Online for a while. Ill be posting more now that its a little more relaxed.

She kept her voice low and her movements minimal. There was something in there, and its undoubtedly alive. Her breath caught as she felt it come even closer.

Her tongue flicked out, testing the air for life. It confirmed the presence of another being, but the sensation wasn’t enough to give her guess on what she was facing.

"There's something here..." She whispered under her breath. "I’m not sure if its friend foe or just here by chance, but ill be making sure I have an opportunity to ask.

She pressed herself against the wall and bit her lower lip, trying to blend as much as possible within the shadows. She sat still, waiting for the intruder to make the mistake of coming in the base

((Gah, I'm so sorry. This was the week of hell; I've been getting 3 hours of sleep a night))

She was waiting... aware, worried, but wary. As she waits for this phantom... the first door in the hallway, one that is a ways up ahead of her, suddenly opens. Holy crap! She sees nothing come in or out... the air pressure and taste doesn't even change. The door closes... after a few minutes, it opens again...

Tense, she waits... finding nothing coming out. It closes silently. As she waits... seeing nothing, she is forced to come to one of two conclusions; either she can't see or sense what's stalking these hallways...

Or something is playing a game with her. Opening these doors remotely, either randomly or in something in sequence. Well, it might not be intended for her... actually, it could be a slow systems test, done manually. Someone might be in the engineering ops of this station, testing each door and system one at a time.

((Its fine. My exams are next week so i understand)

She immediately knew she was in trouble. She can’t handle something hidden, especially if she didn’t even know what it was. There were equipment that she could use to track it, but unfortunately she didn’t bring any with her.

She decided to abandon this mission for time being. After all the safety of an agent is first priority especially if she didn’t know if she stood a chance against the intruder. Besides she can get back to the place once she was properly equipped… and maybe even with back up behind her.

She stepped backwards; keeping her back to the wall as se slowly started her way down the hall. She hugged the shadows and the corners, trying to keep out of sight as she crept back to her ship.

((hope the exams are going well. just tackled my own...))

As she slips out, she continues on down the hall. She can see other signs of the cycling and operation of systems remotely as she moves. Definitely this wasn't just some invisible creature, she could tell now; only having a tiny slice of it, she had come off with that impression, but as she moved along she saw other doors opening and closing (or not moving at all), screens flickering on and off, and other tell tale signs.

It was a system diagnostic; a little more thorough than most, as it was actually operating them in their entirety instead of just running a simple pulse or check. But when there was the possibility of extensive physical damage, it made a big difference in the accuracy of the results.

Well, either that, or a horde of such 'ghosts' were moving about. Given the echoing noises of doors and electronics trying to work, the faint groans of metal moving from solar winds, and the sense of something present in the dark and damaged station... well, it wasn't a comforting thought.

As she moves into the hall, she hears a faint sound of something below. A spark, a faint flash of light, and then heavy blast doors come down a ways in front of her. Someone just blocked off the way back... and that sound was someone tinkering with the circuitry directly, causing a manual override. Someone physically, directly caused the heavy doors to close.

.
.
.
...Maybe it IS ghosts after all...

(going fine ill be done by fridays )

She gave a little jumped and hissed, her lithe body turning around ready. Dust was flying from the two doors that lay on the ground. She realized her mistake a few seconds after the movement; her reaction would have alerted anyone in the vicinity.

She was pushing down the panic she felt, for it seemed that there are a lot of them in here. Unless the monster hacked into the main computer itself.

Her heart pounded as she realized that someone might be watching her fro, the security cameras right now. With a quick and careful aim she shot down the nearest three in the vicinity and slipped into a nearby room to hide. Her hand flew over the pad and quick fingers locked in a password that would keep the door closed.

She finally turned and studied the room she was in. She seemed to have locked herself in the small infirmary of the station. With a soft sigh she checked fro cameras, there were none, and lied down. She closed her eyes and visualized the place.

“Emergency…” She whispered to the microphone. “I’m trapped in the station, there seems to be something or someone in here. Dispatch a group immediately, I don’t know until when I can hide.”

Deep below, the tentacle twisted and squirmed. It listened and waited for an unseen signal. Everything had been going well... until now. Where had this... creature come from? As it observed her moving about, it slowly began to realize it wasn't a member of 'the alliance', nor an alien here on it's own interest.

An ADD agent after all? Yet one that was quite different from what he would expect... he couldn't let her interfere.

On the other hand, maybe it wouldn't "interfering"... he could find another use for her... and this station. IF he could catch the cautious agent...

Her ears only hear static; it seems like there's too much interference to send a message... dammit. She's not sure if the solar flares would pass any time soon, but her own comm wasn't powerful enough. Not to reach her ship; as she listened to the static and crackling over it, she knew that she'd have to use her comm system ON her ship to call for help. Either that, or the one on the station... if it still functioned.

...
Dammit. And here she was, locked in the infirmary. She could hear faint groans of the station through the floors, but she couldn't tell what else was going on. Looking around her, she saw there was minimal functionality here; most of the medical equipment looked undamaged, but lacking power. A few panels were flickering or glowing with a weak light, but the controls for the screen were cracked... would it work at all?

From below, a very faint noise... she picked up slithering. Something was slithering in the floor somewhere here... she didn't know what. But it was a sound she knew well; whatever it was didn't have even a tenth of her weight, it sounded like an uncommonly large snake. But there sure as hell weren't supposed to be those kinds of animals here, were there?

She resisted the urge to throw the useless piece of metal to the ground. As an agent she usually kept her emotions controlled, but now there was something about the place that creeped her out.

She sat up and wrapped her tail around her feet. She closed her eyes again, thinking of another way. She looked around and stepped to one of the computer’s on the desk. Tapping the panels did nothing; this place was either destroyed by the surge…or disabled in the main computer.

Her sensitive ears picked up the sound and she shuddered. She really wasn’t alone in the station. She decided to risk going out, it’ll be better than being trapped in the infirmary. After all, her ‘companion will find her sooner or later, and she preferred later.

She unlocked the door and stepped out, darting to a camera’s blind spot.