ataraxion | 001

[ ENCRYPTED 75% TO MEDICAL AND XENOBIOLOGY/GENETICS STAFF + BRUCE BANNER: ]
I took the liberty of checking out the blood samples we were able to get from the creatures at the end of the maze. Some of them seemed to have bacterial infections, which isn't surprising, but I also checked them against known DNA samples from Earth.

I don't want to alarm anyone, which is why I've encrypted this for now, but so far the results are all coming back in essentially the same manner. The DNA of these creatures is a mix between Earth creatures -- the lion is a large component, and there are also what appears to be genetic material from the Australian dingo and some sort of crocodile. However, at the present time it appears as though the largest genetic contribution comes from human beings.

Obviously the samples may have been compromised, as I've really only been able to work off their blood and some hair. I'm going to request a larger sample, preferably an entire specimen -- dead, obviously. Hopefully we can get more answers, and hopefully the human genetic material was just cross-contamination.

[ OPEN: ]
I've heard a few things about people returning to the end of the maze to clear out the rest of the creatures, in addition to a possible salvage operation. My name is Elizabeth Ross -- I'm a cellular biologist and university professor back home. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to request a mostly intact -- though definitely dead -- specimen of the creatures. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are wondering just what they are and how they got here, not to mention how they've survived the jumps, and I'm hoping that an entire specimen might be able to give us some answers.

How is everyone feeling?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's possible. Or not all of the scientists tried to alter their DNA and were killed, or it wasn't the scientists at all and these were test subjects who got loose and attacked the scientists. Maybe they weren't humans at all and they bred them specifically.

I'm afraid that without the research notes, we might not have a concrete answer as to what they were doing. [ Pause. ] Unless the two members of the crew that are left knew something about this.

Human cells could've been used if they were bred, and traits from other species were added into their genetic code. No laws would stop you from going through with it here. [ As there are plenty back on Earth. ] If a body is brought back, some things might clear up, at least.

[ And the crew members ... ]

We should ask them. It's clear that they know more than they let on.

If they'll answer. If either of them would have known what the scientists were doing.

I've heard they haven't been willing to give much information in the past, but we could try.

[ a beat. ]

They haven't contacted us after the sickness was cured, or during the time people were sick, have they?

They didn't make their own post to the network, but I saw the Chief Engineer speaking to someone on their post. At least one of them is still alive.

After what happened to the man who got trapped, no one seems to trust them.

They'll probably tell us that they don't know anything if we ask about the lab work, just like they did with the messages, but something just doesn't feel right to me.

None of this feels right to me.

001 | video

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted

voice; 75% encrypted