"ADAM!" They all screamed as he collapsed in front of them.
The loud, alarmed screams of them all attracted the attention of Tephe and the ministers, causing them to look over.
"What happened?" Tephe asked in concern as she pushed through the ministers and rushed over.
[[ALERT.]]
[[Operator had lost consciousness.]]
[[Operators brain functions have reduced to minimal levels for unknown reasons.]]
[[Initiating emergency medical protocol X-ray Nine Nine.]]
[[X-ray Nine Nine initiated.]]
[[Commencing automated recovery of operator.]]
[[Initiating automated lockdown mode.]]
[[Automated lockdown mode in full effect]]
[[WARNING. Approaching non-crew members will be fired upon with extreme prejudice.]]
"We don't know, he just started acting strange before he collapsed," Stacey replied with a voice filled with concern.
"GET A MEDIC OVER HERE!" Revi bellowed at some guards that had been quietly observing from spots around the hangar bay.
"Yes, empress," One of the guards replied before he started issuing orders.
"Adam, Adam, wake up, Adam," Tephe said as she knelt next to him and shook him gently with teary eyes.
Maya looked down at Adam with a confused look on her face. She didn't understand why this male human called Adam was now ignoring her friend; he had never done that before.
"Calm down, Tephe. Medical personnel are already on the way, plus I don't think shaking him like that will help," Revi said in a soothing voice.
"There is no need, please step aside," A voice most of them recognised suddenly said.
As they turned, they found Spector Android descending from Spector along with a hover bed.
"Spector Android!" Rowena exclaimed in surprise before asking, "What are you doing?"
"I am recovering my operator and transferring him to the medical bay, where I will ascertain what is wrong with him," Spector Android replied.
"I already have medics on the way. I will be sure he receives the finest care," Revi replied.
"Negative. The medical capabilities of your race are subpar to my own," Spector Android replied.
"Subpar?" Revi repeated in a mixture of surprise and offence.
"Affirmative. I mean no offence, but from what I have been able to ascertain from the universal subspace network, there is no race in the known universe that can match my own medical capabilities," Spector Android replied before adding, "However, if you wish to be of assistance, you can give me the dark matter you promised. I will need it in case I need to perform an emergency jump."
"Where could you possibly need to perform an emergency jump to when you claim to have medical capabilities better than the entire known universe?" Revi asked sceptically.
"Classified."
"Excuse me?" Revi asked in surprise since it had been a long time since someone refused to answer a question of hers.
"That information is classified as you lack the relevant level of clearance to know it."
"I'm the Empress of the Phoenix race and yet I lack the clearance to know it?"
"Your title of Phoenix Empress means nothing to me."
"Enough!" Lorelie suddenly snapped before saying in an angry tone, "Do you think instead of bickering, we can please focus on helping Adam?"
"Right, sorry," Revi replied in embarrassment.
"Affirmative," Spector Android replied before bending down and effortlessly picking Adam up.
After she placed him on the hover bed, both it and she made their way back towards Spector.
"Wait up," Tephe said as she quickly followed along with the others.
"Negative," Spector Android suddenly said as she came to a stop and turned back to face them while the hover bed proceeded to enter Spector.
"What?" Tephe asked in confusion.
"I am currently in lockdown mode as per emergency medical protocol X-ray Nine Nine. Any non-crew member who attempts to get close to me will be eliminated with extreme prejudice," Spector explained.
"You mean you will fire on us should we get any closer?" Rowena asked with a frown.
"Affirmative."
"Kind of harsh, don't you think? We just want to be with Adam," Aphrodite asked in annoyance.
"I am simply following my programming."
"I thought I was a member of Adam's crew?" Tephe asked.
"Negative. Only one among you has officially been made a member of my crew and as such, only Stacey Sinclair has authorisation to board me at his time."
"So make me a member of your crew," Tephe said stubbornly.
"Negative. Crew admittance requires the operator's authorisation."
"So, there is no way we can board?" Lorelie asked.
"Negative."
"It's fine," Stacey said before continuing, "I will go with him and keep you all updated on any changes."
As she finished speaking, she rushed off after the hover bed.
"Out of curiosity, what would you have done if this had happened while we were in space?" Eri asked before adding nervously, "Please don't tell me you would have jettisoned us into space."
"Negative. I would have landed and deposited you at the nearest habitable planet or space station before entering lockdown," Spector Android replied before turning and heading back into Spector, after which the entry hatch sealed itself.
"So what now?" Emma asked as she stared at the sealed entry hatch.
"There isn't anything we can do but wait," Rowena replied with a sigh as she looked at Spector with concern and worry.
"At least Stacey will be able to provide us with updates regarding Adam's condition," Aphrodite remarked.
"How about I show you all to your rooms while I have someone bring the dark matter over," Revi suggested.
💫💫💫
"This makes no sense, this makes no sense," Lililuth said nervously as she flipped through notebook after notebook that were strewn over her desk.
"Why can't I find the records of this event anywhere?" She asked as she glanced up at a large holographic screen showing Adam, who lay unconscious on a medical bed in Spector's med bay as Stacey stood nearby looking at him with concern.
As she stared at Adam with her concern-filled gaze, her uniband suddenly announced an incoming call, attracting her attention.
Seeing that it was a call from Tessa, she accepted it, causing another large holographic screen to appear showing Tessa and Becky's faces.
"Sisters," Liluth greeted before she returned to searching through the notebooks.
"Wow, she really does address us as sisters," Becky said excitedly.
"Thank you for allowing me to tell Becky about this. I also hope you don't mind me calling you when she's here?" Tessa asked.
"Not at all, she is our future sister after all," Tessa replied without looking up.
"Have you lost something?" Tessa asked, seeing Liluth's actions.
"I was hoping that I had, but I'm starting to think otherwise," Liluth replied with concern.
"Huh!" Becky replied before asking, "Why would you hope to have lost something?"
"Because I have no idea what's happening to Adam right now," Liluth replied as she looked at Adam's holographic screen again.
"That's what we called about, we're concerned about Adam's recent actions and wanted to confirm with you that this was anticipated," Tessa remarked before adding, "But now it sounds like even you don't know what's happening."
"You're partially right," Liluth replied before adding, "Adam's actions on Earth were expected because of the negative side effects from travelling through time too much; however, I know nothing regarding his current unconscious state."
"Unconscious state!" Tessa repeated in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Becky asked.
"After arriving at Fenix Nest, the other sisters questioned him about his choices back on Earth, specifically regarding his choice not to allow innocents time to evacuate. Such questions, along with Emma's accusation that he has become a mass murderer, seem to have tipped him over the edge and caused him to suffer a mental breakdown, which, along with the negative effects from time-travel, resulted in him falling unconscious."
"My god," Tessa reapplied as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"That's awful," Becky replied with concern before asking, "What's this negative side-effect he's suffering from?"
"I'm afraid I can't reveal that to you yet," Liluth replied.
"Why? Don't you trust us to keep it quiet?" Becky asked with a frown.
"Becky!" Tessa admonished before adding, "I already explained that Liluth has to follow what is written in her notebooks; she can't waver, or the future she knows might no longer exist."
"Right, right," Becky replied before turning to Liluth and saying apologetically, "Sorry, Princess."
"No need to address me as princess, we are future sisters after all," Liluth replied while giving a small smile.
Tessa smiled before asking, "Do you have any idea why the notebook didn't warn you of Adam's current condition?"
"Also, how do you know he collapsed? That wasn't streamed," Becky asked.
"I know because I have a direct feed to Spector and can see everything that is happening there," Liluth replied.
"You what?" Tessa asked in shock before adding, "How do you even have that?"
"Seriously?" Becky asked before adding, "Can I get that access too?"
"No. I only have access to it as I need it to monitor what's going on," Liluth replied.
"Boo," Becky replied with a pout before realising something and asking excitedly, "Does that mean you've been watching Adam in the bedroom?"