Lockdown

"Leave unless you are an authorized personnel. This is not request, this is a command." 

Elira rubbed her temples in frustration. Although she had managed to keep a calm face for so long, her thoughts were in complete chaos. Even in terms of unexpected disasters, this one was an utter calamity. 

The investigations were still ongoing, but even the basic details of the situation were already disastrous.

From what they had gained so far, a voyager had crashed onto terminal O, but as for why it had crashed, they were still clueless. 

The crash had destroyed more than half of terminal O, and along with that, there were a preliminary number of 12 deaths and 45 injured. The situation was only getting worse with every second, as this news was made public.

There were hundreds of voyager passengers per day, and with this disaster, a lot of manpower was allocated in healing the injured and managing the situation. The entire administration was disrupted, and the rumors flying around the citadel did not help.

Now, the biggest problem was everyone's curiosity. She would have preferred to keep this matter within the citadel, but the loud sirens and flashing lights had alerted everyone that something was wrong. Now, everyone needed the details of the situation, even if no one knew the details anyway.

There were still loud protests demanding to know what had happened. Sighing, Elira handed her clipboard over to her colleague, Gwen.

"I'll go and check up on the investigations. Deal with the crowds, do not allow them into the restricted zone. Tell May and Frey to direct all guests into the lounge or the reception. Any news from Ryan?"

Gwen shook her head distractedly. The protests were getting louder again. Elira could understand their confusion, but this really was too much for her to handle. Utterly exhausted, she stalked of towards the investigation site, her heels clicking on the marble floors.

The area was almost completely ruined, with lights hanging off of their fixtures and upturned tiles everywhere. The cost for repairing the damage could only be estimated, but even so the sum would be hard to procure.

Just then, she spotted the lead investigator, named Arthur helm. He had been a great help, efficiently managing the investigation despite working within a short notice.

"My apologies for disturbing you, Arthur, but I would like to know if there are any leads on the case?"

Arthur turned back and offered her a tight smile, before his expression turned grave. 

"Good to see you Elira. The investigations are going smoothly. In fact, I believe we have already figured out the person, or more accurately, group behind this."

Elira raised her eyebrows." A group? do you mean to say that this was not an accident, but rather a orchestrated outcome?" 

Arthur nodded, before continuing, "Come with me. We've managed to speak to three survivors so far, and based on their statements, and the state of the vehicle, we had already reached a preliminary conclusion. However..."

They had reached the wreckage of the voyager now, and Elira finally saw it. The reason for Arthur's grave expression.

Elira took a step back, her throat going dry at the sight in front of her.

"...You won't be happy with the conclusion."

He was referring to the four charred bodies that lay on the ground, their skin completely black and their features unidentifiable, but their skin was a glossy black, smoke still curling off of it.

If the situation was dire a few minutes ago, then now, it had officially become disastrous. 

---

"As of today, Friday the 18th of June, 9:42, The lightless citadel will go into lock down. We express our heartfelt apologies for this inconvenience, but this matter concerns the safety of every single person in this citadel. Once more, this matter can NOT be disclosed to the public for safety reasons. Once this calamity has deemed to have passed, The lightless citadel will open once again, and the details of the matter will be announced. I repeat..."

It was but a single announcement. Just some words. 

However, the aftermath of it was huge.

The entire citadel was thrown into chaos as people freaked out, demanding answers. But the high administrators were indifferent to their pleas, simply telling them to wait. Answers would arrive eventually. 

Elira sighed. She did care about the pain that many were going though, but if they knew the reason for why she closed the citadel, they wouldn't doubt her choice. The alternative to the situation was so horrible that she couldn't even consider it. 

She could understand the helpless cries as they complained about their missed appointments and opportunities. She could feel the pain behind every bitter and harsh curse that was hurled towards her. She had offered free bedding in the barracks and free dinner, the most she could do.

As the principal authority, she knew that her decisions meant that there was more economic damage, but she was willing to risk it. No amount of money could ever help her recover from the lives that would be lost if she had opened the doors. 

Hopelessly, she stared at the unconscious figure of her brother. He had received quite a lot of wounds, but he still had a chance for recovery. The same couldn't be said for the other two dozens of wounded. Who knew if they would survive the ordeal or not? After all, humans were pitifully weak. 

Elira closed her eyes, wishing that all of this was just a bad dream. If Arthur's conclusions were correct, then the future would only get worse. This was only a beginning. A mere fraction of their power. 

Their wrath was unstoppable and utterly inevitable. This was only a mere demonstration, a seed of fear they had sown to give their warning.

---

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here? or are we destined to die here?"

Quill looked up from the drink that he was swirling towards the man who had asked him the question.

"It doesn't matter either way. For me, both options are about as bleak as the other."

The man looked shocked. He had a youthful face, with bright eyes and short, curly hair. 

"Brother, do you find no reason to live in the beauty of the outside world? No reason to go back there? No wish t-"

The man was about to continue his dramatic speech, but stopped at the look in Quill's eyes. Mumbling something under his breath, he picked up his glass and went to a different table, only to start his speech again.

Quill sighed deeply . This was the Twelfth idiot who had come up to him and started ranting about how destiny was cruel and had sentenced everyone to their final breath here.

At first, he had listened, albeit half heartedly, but after a while he just tuned them out and gave whatever answer came to his mind. 

Stifling a yawn, he looked down at his drink. He had been attempting to drink it for the past hour or so, but the unnecessary thickness and sweetness kept bothering him. He would've liked to order a different drink, but he was broke.

For someone who looked like a cold, rich businessman, especially with his suit, he was down to his last two copper quartz. He had to thank his lucky stars for being stuck here, as he got a free dinner and even a free drink.

He ended up having to spend 3 copper quartz on a room, as the barracks were already filled by the time he asked for a bed.

Still, it wasn't that bad of a price for the quality. 

As for what was happening in the citadel, Quill could not care less. Like principal administrator Elira had said, answers would be given eventually. He could wait until then.

He never particularly had any interest in idle gossip, and considering the fact that almost everything that was being said was just rumors, he was even less inclined to believe a word of anything said in this lounge.

Sighing, he picked up his coat from the sofa and put it on. There was still sometime left before the clock struck 11:30, so he decided to look around the citadel a bit. He was aware that there wasn't any withdrawal machines, as he had asked almost every employee he had seen for one, but it would still help to know what was there.

He knew that floor 15 till 23 was just rooms. 24 and 25 was designated for lounges and cafeterias. floor 11 till 14 were entertainment arcades and bars. He was currently on floor 12. 

Striding towards the elevator, he decided to check out floor 10 and go lower from there. 

The elevator arrived with a mechanical hum, and Quill was shocked to see that it was empty.

He got in, and was about to press the button for floor 10, when someone walked in. 

Quill's eyes widened slightly in shock.

It was an elegant lady, dressed in high administrator uniform. That itself was quite a shock, but he recognized those facial features from the announcement that had been broadcast an hour ago. 

It was principal administrator Elira Farance, the one with the highest authority in the lightless citadel.

She looked at him, before narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Floor 10 please. Also, have we met before?"