It seemed that the being had spoken with them for as long as it was able, as the situation deteriorated quite quickly once it seemed like it was losing its strength. Rareth was not sure what to make of the storm outside. She had her neural implant analyze everything her sensors were picking up while she looked for a method of escape. However, before they would be forced to learn the nature of this storm, the team suddenly found themselves ejected from the simulation entirely. 

[hr]

Rareth drew in a deep breath the moment her eyes opened. It was very much reassuring to be back in her own body, though at the same time, she did not feel different at all from just a few moments ago. Truly, the simulation did replicate the experience of being alive quite remarkably well, to the point that her implants’ automatic responses did not even kick in automatically when she returned to consciousness. The experiences were similar enough that there was no meaningful shock to her system. She had to activate her diagnostics systems manually to examine her current state. 

A Rothian doctor assisted Rareth as well, but once she was out of the harness, she was quick to her feet rather than waiting around for an examination. Her diagnostics could handle the rest. She did stand up cautiously, just in case something was wrong, but after a step or two, she rushed over to 595 as well. Freyr was helping her out of the harness, while Vreta looked on nearby. “What happened to you with the being? Did it answer my final question?”

The only member of the team not to “awaken” immediately was the droid body that had been scanned for NIrann. Although, it was not because anything had gone amiss. As soon as it had returned, the mind of the copy had been transferred a quarantine segment of the base’s central computer. Nirann would analyze his memories and any other changes to ensure they were safe to merge with his own experiences. It would not take too long, but the process was still not immediate.