Corbin's gaze caught sight of the control panel embedded in the wall, its switches and indicators still intact. He stepped forward and flipped one of the switches with a decisive motion.
A series of discreet clicks and hums echoed through the chamber as overhead fixtures sputtered to life. One by one, the lights blinked on, bathing the storage area in a stark, sterile glow.
The once-hidden corners of the room were now exposed, revealing orderly rows of crates and shelving units, many of which had been untouched despite the chaos elsewhere in the station. The floor was clean and smooth, unmarred by the debris or damage they had seen in the docking bay.
It was a striking contrast to the ruined state of bay number 1. The room felt eerily pristine and it was clear now that the destruction elsewhere hadn’t reached this section—or had been purposefully kept at bay. Whatever had happened here, it seemed this room had been spared—but whether by chance or design was a question they couldn’t yet answer.
Maya knelt cautiously near the remains of the rabid dog, her expression thoughtful as she studied the scorched, emaciated form. She hesitated, glancing back at the others before speaking.
"
This might not have been rabies," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. She gestured toward the open sores and unnatural contortions of the creature’s body. "
I’ve seen rabies before, and while some of this fits, there’s something... off about it. The symptoms seem exaggerated, like it was exposed to something far worse."
She looked up at the group, her gaze steady. "
I’d like to scan it for pathogens or anomalies, but it may take a few minutes and I need your permission. If there’s any chance this is something engineered—or something we could encounter again—I want to be prepared. What do you think?"
