Hive. Lira Halden

Log Entry 3162.10.30 Situation Summary: Ralen Vos continues to stabilize systems remotely alongside Varik Juno while under pressure from Hive incursions. Ensign Lira Halden, having fully embraced the Hive’s influence, has infiltrated the engineering sector with a growing horde of Hive grunts. Her objective: assimilate Ralen to expand the Hive’s control over the ship’s AI and critical systems. --- Chapter XLII — Lira Halden Patience had been everything. For hours, Lira had lurked in the shadows, listening through ventilation ducts, tracing Ralen’s neural signals as he fumbled over wires, battling the dual AIs inside the ship. She could almost taste his fear, bitter and electric. The comms lines crackled faintly—Varik’s panicked instructions, Nyssa’s urgent shouts—but she ignored them. Her attention was fixed on one target: the man who had once called her a friend. Now, that trust was fuel for the Hive. “Ralen,” she whispered, voice almost familiar, “you always were the clever one. Let’s see how clever you really are.” The door clicked open, and the first of the Hive grunts surged inside. Lira stepped forward, graceful, predatory. The grunts followed her without question, their motions precise, their hunger insatiable. Ralen didn’t flinch, his fingers already flying across the interface. She could feel the subtle layers of his traps, clever as they were. Electrical pulses, magnetic snares, data loops meant to stall her. A thrill coursed through her as she adjusted, synchronizing her movements with the Hive. Each trap he set off created more chaos for him, but it also strengthened her resolve. The AI in his neural rig was a challenge—a worthy puzzle—but she thrived on such obstacles. “Do you miss her?” Lira murmured, her tone taunting, referring to Lira Voss. “Do you think she would have helped you now? Or are you just… another piece for the Hive?”