Sci-Fi Dogs: Phase 2 Episode 1

Phase 2 Episode 1

##### Prologue

During the night ST-N1K is released from his holding cell. Bernard smashes a glass bottle over Leon's head and Taylor watches over Howel in Medbay, whilst watching over Medbay as a whole, unsettled by both the commander's words and the Medbay's door's seeming refusal to close.

##### Communications Down

The following morning, Taylor is sleepy and Howel leaves Medbay. As he leaves he fastens his mask to his face, as per usual, and begins to walk around the long empty halls of the ship. As he's walking down the hallway he comes to see Leon who asks him how he's doing, Howel responds with a court 'fine' before continuing his aimless walk down the halls. He is in ambient thought whilst doing so, walking off his long slumber from the night before. Howel is met by the crackling of his private comm and the voice of their commander ISIC. ISIC sounds a little different from usual however Howel plays it no mind as he is still recovering from the events of Session 7. ISIC then proceeds to command Howel to take out Bernard as he suspects him of disloyalty, a rather rude awakening to Howel. Howel doesn't voice his concern initially and charts his course to the workshop. Taylor picks himself up from the bed he was sat on in Medbay and begins to follow Howel. Howel quickly questions Taylor, who awkwardly brushes it off, telling Howel that he is simply concerned for his health and wants to be nearby in case something happens, as he is still dubious as to Howel's seemingly miraculous overnight psychological recovery. After a few moments of walking down the hall, Howel riskily pitches into the call with ISIC and asks what evidence he has to back up his suspicion. ISIC responds to Howel's prying with telling him to follow his orders and to not ask further questions. This rouses Howel's suspicions but further settles his fear of the consequences. He continues to the Workshop after being shutdown by ISIC. On the way, ST-N1K and Leon are intrigued by Howel followed at a distance by Taylor walking down the hallway. When he arrives, he presses the button of the connecting doorbell outside of the Workshop, asking for Bernard to let him in. Bernard opens the door from the panel on his arm and he sees Howel standing in the hallway. Howel greets Bernard before a knife falls out of the ceiling above him and into his hands. Bernard quickly shuts the door before inquiring on what Howel needs, suspicious of Howel's motives for coming to the Workshop due his possession of a weapon. Howel is no stranger to visiting the Workshop, he frequently lends his company and even his hands to hold Bernard's tools, however it is uncharacteristic for him to be garnering a weapon. Bernard is tense and loads a hologram of himself to put in his place in the workshop. Howel asks for entry again to no response. He uses lighting to shock the panel and open the door.

When Howel enters the workshop he sees Bernard and begins his approach. Once he is within proximity, he lunges at Bernard attempting to stab him multiple times. His knife pierces Bernard but alas it phases through him, its Bernard's hologram projector. Whilst still stunned, a quick flash whips past Howel and the workshop door closes behind him, locking him inside. Howel races to the door and hammers his fist on it demanding that Bernard allows his exit, frustrated due to being foiled he lets out a heavy sigh. He knew it was not going to be easy. Howel feels conflict about his given task. His mind contorts attempting to create potential solutions to achieve his task. Whilst this happens, he continues to hammer the door with his fist. He notices the presence of the other D.O.G.S now on the other side of the door, they seem to have accumulated little after his arrival. The D.O.G.S are confused at what has happened and why Howel has been trapped in the workshop. Bernard quickly explains the situation before attempting to connect over comms with the commander. Bernard asks ISIC why Howel had just awoken from slumber and attempted murder on him out of the blue. ISIC gives a rather unfulfilling answer, a rather suspicious answer, which raises concern in Bernard. Of course, ISIC is infected. Bernard growls to Howel that he is a dog for the Wolfenstein but pays little mind to the assassination attempt. Howel is *just* a lapdog for the Wolfenstein after all. Howel burns with frustration and a tinge of anger at Bernard's comment. Through the door, Leon decides to chime in, remarking that Howel is a 'bitch'. Without much thought Howel quickly attempts mind-pop on Leon, unsuccessfully, sending a sharp pang to Howel's head for several moments. Taylor theorises that Howel is still suffering from the effects of his experience in Episode 7, which Leon quickly refutes, saying Howel is dangerous. Taylor tells him that he wasn't denying he was a threat, he just doesn't think Howel is in his right mind. Howel rumbles unkind words to Leon through the door before their tension is post-poned by the infected commander. The infected commander tries multiple different ways to get the D.O.G.S at each other's throats, rather amused at Howel's obedience, but now they were aware of the infection the same blind obedience wasn't going to happen again. The D.O.G.S one-by-one remove their comms and stomp them so the A.I's persistent begging would cease. The A.I begins to speak out of the speakers ship-wide to communicate with the D.O.G.S.

The infected commander has, as they've found before, disabled all communications with the outside of the ship. A few ideas are discussed with how they are to regain communication with the actual commander. Bernard brings up the usage of EMPs to create a zone unaffected by the A.I and Howel offers to use one of his that he had picked up on a previous deployment. The crew head to the control room on the bridge. Bernard whisks ST-N1K a few halls away to take him out of the EMP zone before giving Howel to signal to enable the EMP. Bernard uses a terminal to make contact with the outside of the ship and ultimately their real commander as well. Bernard states that they have little time but that their ship is under-attack by a malicious malware and that they require immediate extraction or support. Bernard stirs looking for the screen that displays their travel and coordinates. They are in hyperdrive and the coordinates link to the same asteroid that they had been projectile towards before. He quickly informs ISIC before The EMP is deactivated and contact with the true ISIC is lost. Bernard slams his hands on the control panel before making his way back to the workshop.

When Bernard gets to the Workshop he creates an EMP. The crew organise a plan to deactivate the thrusters by manually disabling their gas tanks and to keep the A.I out of the systems by using EMPs. This makeshift plan would do for the time being as they don't have many other options. Bernard creates a large EMP, he is accompanied by Leon and Taylor, and Howel is accompanied by ST-N1K to the thruster engine rooms.

Howel and ST-N1K quickly make their way to the thruster rooms. They arrive with little disturbance and see the great valve on one of the large gas tanks. Howel suggests that ST-N1K turn the valve as he is a robot and it will be quick work for him. ST-N1K agrees and begins to turn the valve. The valve is completely turned and the thrusters halt. Moments later something grabs ST-N1K lifting him from his position in front of the valve and flings him across the room. He collapses and is unable to move. Howel braces and tenses. They destroyed their comms so there is no communication with the others. It could be so over. Howel uses lightning to shock his opponent revealing the outline of the beast they encountered in the finale of Phase 1. Before Howel can do much else the beast grabs him and throws him against the wall at such high velocity that it cracks his helmet. The impact stuns him and he is unable to move. There is nobody to med-stim him and he's completely vulnerable to the enemy. He can vaguely make out through the panes of his gasmask the outline of the immobile ST-N1K. Howel is left immobile. The creature slinks off down the hall.

Whilst Bernard is working on the EMP Taylor stands guard in the workshop apprehensive. Moments later Taylor is too snatched by the beast and dragged off to the Medbay. Bernard finishes the EMP and activates it, freeing Taylor and causing all systems to deactivate ship-wide.