Captain Markov looked over the room full of researchers, her eyes quick but sharp, like she was taking mental notes on each person despite barely glancing at them. She stood with her back straight, hands behind her back, feet planted like she was ready for the ship to suddenly rock even though everything was calm.
"Let''s get started," she said, her voice carrying without her having to shout. "For those of you just coming on from night shift, we''ve found some weird stuff in yesterday''s deep-water samples."
She pointed at the big screen behind her, which lit up with microscopic pictures of what looked like crystal formations. Elias leaned forward, genuinely interested despite already knowing what they really were. The images showed patterns that looked too perfect to be natural but too complicated to easily classify.
"We found these at about 3,200 meters, near the thermal vent system we''ve been studying," she continued. "Initial testing shows they break several physical laws we thought were solid. They''re keeping their structure under conditions that should basically make that impossible."
The display changed to show the crystal structures next to normal seawater samples. The difference was obvious—normal particles moved randomly while the crystals seemed to arrange themselves like they had a plan.
"What''s most worrying is how they seem to organize themselves," Markov said matter-of-factly, despite how crazy that should sound. "Dr. Levinson, tell them what you''ve seen."
The tall, skinny guy Elias''s neighbor had pointed out earlier jumped up, practically bouncing as he took control of the display. He had the barely contained excitement of someone who thought he was about to become famous.
"These structures act like biological systems, but they''re completely inorganic," he explained, pointing his laser at specific parts of the samples. "When we put them in contact with organic material in our tests, they start integrating with it, literally restructuring the material at a molecular level."
A murmur spread through the researchers—excitement, not fear. Elias watched them with a grim understanding. These scientists saw medical breakthroughs and Nobel Prizes. None of them realized they were looking at the thing that would eventually eat cities and nearly wipe out humanity.
"The possibilities are just... mind-blowing," Levinson continued, his voice getting higher. "Think about medicine alone—rebuilding damaged cells, growing new tissue, maybe even replacing entire organs. The crystals seem to ''learn'' from the organic material they touch, getting better at integration with each exposure."
Elias glanced toward the woman he''d noticed earlier, finding her watching Levinson with a carefully blank face that still somehow suggested she knew exactly what was really happening. When their eyes met across the room, her slight squint confirmed his guess—she recognized early corruption as clearly as he did.
Markov took back control with just a small gesture. "Thanks, Doctor. While the potential applications are definitely interesting, right now we need to focus on figuring out exactly what we''ve found." Her emphasis on "figuring out" seemed to quietly rein in Levinson''s enthusiasm for jumping ahead.
She turned back to face everyone. "Starting right now, I''m putting stricter containment rules in place for all these samples. Primary containment stays limited to Lab Seven with Level Three isolation. Research teams will work in shifts to keep watching the samples round the clock while making sure nobody gets too much exposure."
A researcher in the front row raised her hand. "Captain, are we worried about contamination? The first tests didn''t show any biological dangers."
"Standard procedure for unknown materials," Markov answered smoothly. "Until we completely understand what we''re dealing with, we treat it as potentially dangerous."
Elias noticed how she sidestepped the actual question about contamination concerns, reframing it as just following protocol. Her instincts were already picking up danger, even if she couldn''t say exactly why.
"Team assignments will be posted after this briefing," she continued. "Our priorities are: First, figure out exactly what these crystal structures are made of. Second, document how they interact with organic and inorganic materials in controlled conditions. Third, determine where they came from—whether they formed naturally, were created by some biological process, or..." she paused for just a second, "something else entirely."
The screen changed to show the deep-sea thermal vent where they''d found the samples. The underwater landscape looked alien—chimney-like structures spewing superheated water into the dark, weird ecosystems thriving in conditions that should kill anything trying to live there.
"The thermal vent''s unusual environment might explain some of the weird properties," suggested another researcher. "Extreme pressure, temperature changes, and unusual mineral concentrations could create conditions we''ve never seen before."
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"That''s a reasonable theory," the captain nodded. "Which is why we''re doing a second collection dive today, with better sampling equipment and searching a wider area."
This announcement got more excited whispers from the researchers. Elias kept his face neutral even though he knew the historical significance—this second collection would bring more corruption aboard, speeding up the disaster that was coming.
"Submersible Team Two deploys at 1400 hours," Markov continued. "Labs need to be ready by their estimated return at 1900. I expect all departments to keep in regular contact throughout this investigation. Any weird readings, unexpected results, or concerning developments need to be reported immediately—not after you double-check, not after you discuss it with your team, but immediately. Got it?"
Everyone nodded, thinking she was just being thorough rather than sensing real danger. Only Elias, and maybe the other chosen ones in the room, understood she was unknowingly creating the first corruption response procedures that would eventually become standard throughout what was left of civilization.
"Dr. Chen will handle the research rotation schedules," Captain Markov wrapped up, pointing to a woman standing by the lab entrance. "Security has been briefed on containment requirements. They''ll monitor access to restricted areas and enforce exposure time limits."
Elias glanced over to where Keldric stood with other security officers, his face professionally blank but his stance somehow more alert than those around him. Their eyes met briefly, a wordless acknowledgment passing between them. Even in this historical scenario, Keldric''s protective instincts were fully intact.
"One last thing," the captain added, her tone getting sharper. "I appreciate scientific enthusiasm, but I expect disciplined methodology. Document everything thoroughly before theorizing, verify before concluding, and put crew safety above research shortcuts." She delivered this last point with a pointed look at Levinson, whose excitement dimmed slightly under her stare.
"Dismissed to your assignments," she finished. "Department heads, stay for more briefing."
As people started leaving, Elias stayed seated, watching how everyone interacted. The researchers broke into animated discussion groups, theories and speculations flowing freely now that the formal part was over. Levinson quickly became the center of the biggest group, his gestures getting more dramatic as he talked about all the potential uses for the crystal structures.
The woman Elias had noticed earlier stood up but didn''t join the departing crowd. Instead, she positioned herself by a monitoring station, pretending to review data while actually watching the room. When her eyes eventually found Elias, she tilted her head slightly, signaling he should come over—casually, like they just happened to meet.
He took his time, stopping to look at a nearby display showing thermal vent data before slowly making his way toward her. When he finally reached the monitoring station, he stood looking at the adjacent screen, speaking quietly without directly looking at her.
"You''re one of the chosen."
"Maren," she confirmed, matching his casual stance and low voice. "Analytical chemist in real life. You were at the Cathedral—sitting near the scholar from the Market Quarter."
Elias nodded slightly, remembering her now from the gathering at the Sanctuary. "Have you found any others?"
"Security officer by the main entrance—Keldric, I think. He caught my eye earlier." She adjusted something on the display, keeping up their cover of work conversation. "We should find any others on board without drawing attention."
"Yeah. Looks like we''re at the very beginning—first discovery of corruption, initial research phase." Elias kept his voice neutral, like they were discussing routine findings. "Have you seen Lyara?"
"Not yet. But this ship is big, lots of different research departments." Maren''s voice stayed professional, but her eyes showed she was sizing him up. "You know her well?"
"She has information about the trials that could help us," he replied, keeping it vague.
Before Maren could respond, department assignments appeared on the nearest screen. Researchers moved forward to check their schedules, giving natural cover for their conversation.
"I''m on primary sample analysis, Laboratory Seven," Maren noted. "You?"
Elias checked the listings, finding his name under a different team. "Secondary properties research, Laboratory Four. Different shift schedules."
"Maybe that''s on purpose," she suggested. "The trial testing how we handle things individually before forcing us to work together."
Made sense. The Maw seemed to be evaluating them on multiple levels—not just whether they understood corruption''s dangers, but how well they could navigate complex social situations while keeping their cover identities.
"We need a way to talk without anyone noticing," Elias said. "And to find the others."
Maren nodded slightly. "The mess hall during shift changes is perfect—people naturally gather there. Second rotation break at 1600 hours would work best—most departments cycle through then."
"I''ll be there," Elias confirmed. "Keep an eye out for Lyara especially. According to her, each chosen one needs to find specific artifacts that ''resonate'' with them personally."
"Artifacts? Interesting." Maren kept her expression neutral, but her eyes showed she was definitely curious. "I''ll keep that in mind."
As more researchers came over to check assignments, they naturally drifted apart, each heading toward their designated labs. Their brief talk had established their first alliance in this historical scenario—a small start, but crucial for dealing with what was coming.
Elias walked toward Laboratory Four with measured steps, thinking about what the briefing meant. Captain Markov''s address had confirmed exactly where in the Heraclea''s timeline they''d landed—the very beginning of humanity''s first encounter with corruption. The crystal samples had just been discovered, their true nature not yet understood. The catastrophic containment breach from the historical records was still days or maybe hours away.
Which meant he had time—time to find Lyara and the other chosen ones, time to identify the artifacts that would resonate with him, time to figure out what lesson this historical crucible was supposed to teach him.
But as he passed security personnel setting up containment protocols for the labs, Elias couldn''t help wondering if the Maw would let events unfold according to the historical record—or if this recreation would speed up the tragedy to test how they handled pressure.
Either way, the first phase of his trial had really begun.