Quantum : Galactica

Author's Note

I started writing the storyline to Quantum in 2020, and it's been through many different rewrites and changes. It was originally an alternate universe, known as AUs for short, of my favorite video game at the time. I first named it Death Wish, then Galactica. Eventually, it landed on its current name...

Quantum : Galactica.

The key parts of Quantum were written in quite possibly the most traumatizing point in my life. It has been 2 years, and I still have not fully recovered. But I came out of it as a whole new person, with deeper, unbreakable bonds with the friends that pushed through it all with me.

This is a special thanks to...
Delaney "Dorado" Lane
Greer "Watsi" Garrett

I would not have been able to do any of this without the two of you by my side.

- With love, Emmett Ruth.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

It's far past midnight, the while building dark and silent. The living room is dim-lit, and the only sounds heard are the quiet hum of tired lamp lights and the soft whisper of the air conditioner.
"...Hey Papa?" Samantha would look up at her father. "Yes, kiddo?" He'd respond in that same gentle tone.
"Did I ever have a mom...?" Samantha then asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice. "Well..." He'd kinda fall silent for a moment, trying to find his words. "It's a long story, love.. I'm not sure you're ready to hear it."
"You always say that every time I ask..! What are you so afraid of?!"
Dr. N, Samantha's father took a moment to speak. He'd pick up a small picture frame off the table beside him. "This was a family photo when you were just a baby.." his words catch in his throat. He'd pause to inspect the photo. "This pretty lady holding you was your momma. You resemble her more than you think.." He'd then whisper under his breath, "She was so young in this photo.. just as I was. I miss it."
"What was her name?"
"Her name was Darla. She took my last name when we got married." He'd adjust his glasses, looking away from the photo and back to his daughter.
"Papa?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Where is she now?"
His heart sunk. He'd swallow and look down at the photo again.

"She's dead, sweetheart."

In the early days of Quantum Facilities and Dr. N is looking through his building proudly, his hand intertwined with Darla's the whole way through.
"Noah, I've never seen you smile this much since Sam was born. I'm quite proud of you.. for achieving this. A whole facility complex built to your vision. It's impressive!" She'd glance over at him, a subtle smile on her face, and a bright, beaming grin painted on his.
"Well, I've always had a knack for the unknown.. particularly when I get to look at it up close. I'm sure countless more have that same curiosity, and I'd like to share this with them." Dr. N would lock eyes with Darla, brushing his long ginger hair out of his face.
"You're always thinking of everyone else.. that's why I like you." She'd pat him on the back. The two descended down the nearest stairwell, having decided that they're both bored of the elevator. Going down floor by floor until they're at the 6th floor underground. They took a sharp left down a long hallway of office and storage rooms. Getting down to the very end of the hall, they reach a big, heavy iron and steel door, with a big warning sign plastered in the direct center-"WARNING: RADIOACTIVE"-with the small text of don't enter if you're pregnant, Yada Yada. Dr. N presses the handle down, pushing the door open with a bit of effort, and then he leads Darla in behind him. "Airlock room with all sorts of prep stuff ya gotta do before going to see the reactor.." Dr. N talks to himself quietly. He and Darla assist one another with preparing themselves in hazmat suits before entering, making sure everything is properly sealed and secured.

"Would you like to do the honors?" Dr. N asks, pointing to the even bigger door on the other side of the airlock room. It appears to be a security vault door, with even more sophisticated seals than usual. "Oh, absolutely!" Darla grips onto the handle, twisting it until the door opens. She steps into the vast room, shortly followed by her husband. The two gaze upon the vast room, impressed by all of the machinery. In the center is a large, deep pit, with a massive nuclear reactor at the very bottom. Darla approaches the pit, grabbing onto the rails and peeking over, looking at the big machine.
"So, this is what powers all your stuff, huh?" She'd ask, turning back to face him. Dr. N would nod, stepping up to the railings beside her. "Nuclear power is one of the cleanest sources of energy out there. I'd figure it'd be quite useful for a complex as big as mine. Don't you think?" He'd reply. He then eyes down at the rails, furrowing his brows. "Be careful on these rails, I don't trust them.." He wiggles the rail he has his hand on. It very clearly ROCKS forward, almost hitting him. He'd jump back, startled. "Most DEFINITELY be careful on these rails.. don't lean on them." Darla steps back and tries pushing hers. It doesn't rock as bad. "This one's a little sturdier... I guess."
Dr. N walks off to observe the machinery strewn throughout the room, lightly poking at inactive hydraulic lines. A loud click is heard from the reactor. "What was that?" Darla asks. "It's just the reactor powering on. There's nothing to worry about." Dr. N responds. He turns back to the machines on the ceiling. "I wonder how Sam is doing with her nanny.." he would mutter to himself.
Darla would walk around the circumference of the pit, trying to view a better angle of the blue light being emitted from the reactor, which is thoroughly submerged in freezing cold water.
There's a new background sound of water and steam hissing in pipes. Cold water to help cool the reactor and hot water being carried away from the core and up to release the steam.
She leans a bit too far on the unstable rails. "Shit, shit, shit! No, no -" Darla would shriek, the rail giving way under her. With a loud, echoing creak of straining metal, then a crack, desperate scream, and a splash, the scene twists into disaster.
Darla has fallen into the pit, pulling the broken rail down with her. As she fell, her head sharply smashed against the machinery above the reactor, giving her a mercifully quick and mostly painless death. "Darla-?!" Dr. N turns, a look of pure shock and fear on his face, watching the love of his life lose her life right in front of him. He's stunned. The falling rail knocked necessary control rods out of place, and the room that was once peaceful is now in complete meltdown. The room began to fill with heat and steam. Dr. N twisted towards the door, watching as the lights are choked out by the water in the air, the emergency red lights switching on. He'd eye the reactor, running up to it and looking into the pit. "No.." He'd whine. He then runs to the big vault door, which had sealed itself shut behind him when he had first entered, and now had locked itself, having a reactor meltdown been detected. That means that HE was locked in.
"I am NOT locked in, you fucker! Let me out!!" He'd pull the handle. "Let me!-" the handle pops clean off in his hands. "Out..."
Dr. N blankly stares at the handle in his hands. "Shit." He says to himself, looking up at the door, then to the reactor behind him. He watches, frozen in terror, as the reactor finally blows...