LOG-189.There was a bit of pathfinding needed before we got to a branching corridor that felt vaguely familiar to what I’d grown used to. While the winding halls of this particular facility weren’t exactly identical to the ones I’d spent far too much time walking around as the Overseer, there were enough similarities to ensure that we didn’t get too lost trying to make our way out.From there, it didn’t take all too long to find an exit to what I was increasingly becoming certain was some kind of old Atoll.Part of me wanted to label it abandoned, but as Periwinkle and I stepped through a reception area reminiscent to the one located on…or rather, the one that had been located on what had once been the Reef, I couldn’t help but run a talon along one of the walls, leaving a light scratch in the process.More importantly, as I brought the digit closer for inspection, I noted the complete and utter lack of any kind of dust, save for the scarce few particulates I had clawed loose with my action. “Someone has been keeping this place clean, I think.”I nodded along with my companion’s assessment, the fusion’s wings fluttering slightly as she glanced around with wary eyes.My own gaze focused on the archaic looking doors that likely led outside to some overly decorated courtyard. The things were practically covered in delicately carved glyphs, reminiscent of the older parts of the Reef.Location is almost certainly several hundred thousand years old at minimum. Architecture is reminiscent of known Era Zero designs, with a focus on White Diamond and a distinct lack of her counterparts. A lack of updates to the existing structure could either be the result of a lack of imperial presence, or a priority towards Court specific aesthetics by the Morganite in charge of design.My eye twitched slightly at the thought that I struggled to identify as anything other than my own, even as I filed away what few nuances regarding it that I could while approaching the doors, planting a hand against one and pushing.Unlike the ones at the Reef, which had moved on their own after a bit of prompting, these particular examples of Gem ingenuity proved far more simple, merely swinging outwards and allowing me to take a step outside.One that halted as my entire body froze beneath the heat I could feel trying to pass through my lightform, hot enough that it actually hurt slightly.Along with that extremely concerning factor, the roaring, deafening crackles of flames and…screaming, prevented me from hearing whatever Periwinkle had said from behind me, and to top it all off, the sight that met my eyes…Bodies. There were thousands, hundreds of thousands-no, there were millions of bodies filling the sky, with not a speck of open air to be found save for the space occupied by the writhing, screaming things, all accompanied by a ruined cityscape surrounded by a no doubt scorching hot desert sitting beneath it all.Every single part of my mind urged me to try and step back in order to shut the door as quietly as I could, even as I narrowed my eyes and hesitantly leaned into the enhanced vision I’d picked up from the additions to my code, trying to make out the distant figures.They widened right back up as I realised that the rapidly moving, burning bodies were Pearls. Though thankfully not true ones.Closer inspection indicates material more reminiscent of projections rather than the hardlight of a Gem’s lightform. Features are indistinct and blurry at various sections. Fingers meld into each other. Some lack hair. Others faces. These are little more than holographic ghosts that are somehow emitting heat along with their light.With a start, I realised that Periwinkle had gotten close enough to likely see the spectral firestorm as well, the amalgam frozen in place as I tried to pull the door closed as gently as possible.Several of the faux Pearls were staring at me now, having separated from the swarm. Their bodies occasionally flickered as they began to float downwards, blank eyes locked onto my own and mouths hanging open, adding their voices to the shrieking chorus.“W-What is-”“Get. Back.”Moving one hand behind me, I planted it palm flat against my fused creation’s chest and gently pushed her, even as I followed suit and stepped back into the blissfully cool interior of the Atoll, the hard click of the door shutting back into place breaking the silence.We stood like that for a few minutes, quiet and unmoving even as I prepared to ram my talons into anything that tried to follow us through the entrance.“I…I-”Blinking, I chanced a glance backwards, only to see Periwinkle with her arms wrapped around her midsection, the fusion’s expression uncomfortable as she was engulfed in light.A second later, two figures stood in her place, one rapidly jolting up and into the air with her wings, and the other brushing aside some of the fabric that trailed her lightform, gently rubbing at her gemstone with an uncertain look.Patina and Violet exchanged glances with one another and blushed, even as I turned my attention back towards the doors, waiting.After another few minutes of precisely zero activity, I hesitantly allowed my shoulders to slump slightly, a breath escaping past my lips as I retreated from the doors and twisted back around to face my unfused creations, who had both done the smart thing and summoned their weapons in the meantime.Meeting their gazes with as calm of a mask as I could put up, I gestured towards the hallway we’d come from, both Pearls looking towards it as I strode past them, dress shifting slightly with each long stride.“We’re heading deeper in. I don’t want to take my chances with the things outside, whatever they are.”I heard them shift slightly, as if they had glanced at each other once more, before their footsteps joined my own muted ones.A burning sky of ghostly Pearls…just my fucking luck.Ugh.