An eerie echo crept through the halls of the Cornerian Orbital Gate. Even during the busiest hour of the day, the crew felt uneasy going about their everyday duties. As Beltino Toad, the facility's Research Director, shuffled down to the research lab, he received a chill up his spine. The small toad stopped for a moment, looking around at the personnel carrying on with their duties, trying to see if they shivered just as he did. He stood in the middle of the hall for a moment, eyeing up each of the crew that passed by. Everyone was focused on their duties, but he could tell they felt anxious.
Beltino continued his way down to the research lab. Just the day before, a research team working on Fichina reported some abnormal activity a few kilometers away from the base. When the research team reported back, they requested immediate and urgent assistance. Beltino, followed by a few soldiers, were sent to investigate the findings.
When the team had arrived to the site, they were in disbelief. Far from the base, deep into the blizzard and buried within the Fichian ice, lay a woman encased in ice. Her container was clear enough to show that this lady was of an avian race, but she had some unique traits that remained unrecognized. Beltino pondered the possibilities of her condition but first asked a different question.
"How did your censors pick her up? She's completely frozen," he inquired.
"Well sir", a researcher responded, his tone tinted with confusion, "Our scanners were picking up trace amounts of gamma and UV radiation, which lead us deep into this frozen cave. Once we arrived the radiation disappeared, but the scanners started picking up faint brain waves."
Beltino paused for a moment, letting this information sink in; what were they to do with this lady? It was obvious that she was frozen for a reason, but why? Was she dangerous, or was it that somebody had finally discovered the secret to frozen-sleep – stasis? What was with the radiation? He noted the abnormal markings in the ice around the cave. It seemed as though strips of the ice were melted and then frozen again. There was only one thing to do.
"We need to cut her out of there and bring her back to the Orbital Gate," he stated. The crew stood quiet for a moment, then one of the main officers spoke up.
"Is that advisable research director?" he exclaimed, "I mean, she's giving off radiation! And look at her, someone must have frozen in there for a reason...she could be dangerous."
Everyone was muttering and whispering behind Beltino, which annoyed him. He knew the risks but either way she could not stay out here, dangerous or not. What if remnants of the Androssian army found her later and she was indeed dangerous?
He decided to investigate her further. Looking up at her he noticed her eyes were clenched shut, almost like she was in pain before she was frozen. He looked over to where one of her wings was covering her right thigh. Perhaps that's where the pain was sourced? He noted the strange pattern of her tail feathers, and the odd but intricate design under eyes. He thought she was attractive, for someone so different; if it wasn't for her small, sharp beak and the unique traits, he might have mistaken her for a flamingo. Her feathers were, after all various shades of pink. But he would have been very mistaken. She almost looked like a hawk, or a falcon but with added traits. He stopped and scribbled his findings in his booklet and shoved it in his pocket, looking back at the crew and the other researchers.
"I'm well aware of the risks officer, but I'm afraid I've already made my decision. Cut her out of the ice and we will do further analysis on her back at the Gate," he concluded."
The officer grudgingly agreed and the crew went straight to work.
It was seen that Beltino's order made the entire crew anxious, as they struggled to hide their nervousness. He didn't care. He felt he made the right decision. If the crew did not like it they could leave.
Nothing could be worse than the apariods, he thought to himself with a grimace.
He finally made it down to the lab, and approached the main researcher, a husky named Dodge.
"Hey Dodge, what have you found today?" he asked with a friendly tone. The husky chuckled, and turned from his work to face him.
"Nothing new for you today Beltino, but I am to inform you that General Pepper is coming today. He wants to know what's going on."
Before Beltino could reply, the General entered the research lab unannounced. Dodge realized that Beltino was worried, but he understood why. The General descended the stairs towards them, a warm smile across his face.
"Good afternoon gentlemen."
"Good afternoon, Sir," They both replied, saluting the old hound dog.
The General was a highly respected and beloved figure in Lylat. When the General was attacked by the apariods and hospitalized, he received an overwhelming amount of gifts and visitors. This made the him proud, despite his injuries. When he was released from the hospital, he announced he would remain General for another two years, after which he would announce a successor.
He stood with his hands behind his back, and glanced at Beltino.
"Beltino, care to brief me on the situation?"
Beltino nodded, and gestured for them to amble towards the large block of ice that was housing the avian. Streams of chilled air were flowing around it, causing both men to suddenly shiver. General Pepper gazed up at the frozen avian.
"Where did you locate her?" he asked.
"A research team found her on Fichina a few days ago," Beltino reported, "At first we thought that she was of our system, but we found some unusual physical formations. Further analysis has shown that her DNA is not of Lylat origin."
"Where it is from?"
"Unknown, Sir."
"Hm. What have you theorized thus far?"
Beltino swallowed hard. Some predictions were that, whoever she was, she was highly dangerous. Her energy readings were off the chart, which posed questions her level of threat to the Lylat system.
"Her species DNA suggests that she can actively raise her body temperature to extremely high core temperatures. This also suggests that heat is certainly not a weakness, but perhaps a strength. We've also picked up traces of radiation but we have not determined the origin of it."
The General thought for a moment before responding.
"Are you suggesting, Director, that this female avian is a phoenix?" he prodded, an eyebrow raised.
Beltino nodded, "She does suffer from a large wound on her upper right leg," he continued, " but if we were to thaw her, she would require medical attention."
"What is preventing her from melting or blasting her way out of that ice?"
"We are controlling the temperature, it seems that the colder the temperature, the harder it is for her body to raise its temperature. Additionally, she seems to be holding the weapon used to harm her. Scans of the object shows a super-cooling agent that spreads quickly through the veins and cardiovascular system. This would have traveled throughout her body within seconds, immobilizing her despite her removing it. We can assume that, who ever did this to her, wanted her to be frozen for a long time. "
General Pepper looked at Beltino, his face stern.
"Found anything else that I should know of?" he probed further.
"Well.." Beltino hesitated, "... we have been picking up faint brain waves, suggesting that part of her is still awake, but unable to act."
"Hmm... You are aware that by housing her, at any moment she could break free. What if that cooling agent wears off? Then we've got a possible threat loose."
"Yes General. But she could be a friendly, and we can restrain her if need be."
The General chuckled, his trust in his comrade was unfaltering.
"Beltino, just… be careful alright? We don't need another war on our hands."
Beltino nodded and grinned and crossed his arms.
"Don't worry General, we've got this under control," he reassured his old friend.
While the two continued their conversation on the research teams findings, the avian's eyes shot open.
"Director, we are getting an elevated reading from the ice!" Dodge yelled.
Beltino turned sharply, "What are you picking up, Dodge?!"
"Trace amounts of gamma radiation and high frequency brain waves!"
"Cool her down then!" Beltino snapped.
"We can't! She's melting the ice and flooding the electronics! We've lost control over the temperature regulators!"
The crew scrambled to regain control over the temperature of the ice; all while the soldiers readied their weapons and took their positions. Beltino and the General hurried down the stairs, and took cover behind a table. They both looked at each other, panic written across their faces.
In that moment, she broke free. Ice flew in every direction, smashing some of the screens, and shards of ice sprinkled all over the floor like shattered glass. The scientists took cover under the control panels and desks, and some of the soldiers were hit with chunks of ice and, slamming them into the floor. The few remaining men took aim and fired at the avian, but missed, their vision hindered with the steam from the temperature contrast. When their guns were out of energy, they fled the lab.
The avian stood boldly amongst the mounds of ice and puddles of water. Her vibrant pink feathers were drenched from the damp air. Her piercing magenta eyes searched around the room for possible hostility. She stepped out of the ice, steam rolling off her shoulders. With her fists clenched and her beak set, she walked down the steps towards the General and Beltino.
However, before making it down, she felt a sharp ripping pain in her thigh, and grunted, applying pressure to it as she limped the rest of the way. Her breathing became laboured, and she winced as she fell to the floor at the last step, unable to support her own weight through the pain. It was not so much the wound that was the problem: it was the poisonous cooling agent. Its effects were still faintly in her system, which caused her to feel weak and achy, amplifying the injury.
"Ah! Dammit!" she whispered under her breath, throwing the mysterious weapon across the room.
The crew started whispering and peaked up through their cover examine the scene. Beltino was the first to stand up.
"W-Who are you?" he demanded, "Do you mean us harm?"
The avian sighed, annoyed.
"Depends", she started, attempting to stand up but falling again, "Ngh... are you going to hurt me like the last guy?"
Beltino knew she wasn't a threat, but could already tell she was a sassy one.
"Depends," he grinned, offering her a hand. She took his offer and got to her feet, leaning against the railing of the stairs. She applied more pressure on her wound, wincing again.
"Asshole...!" She muttered to herself.
Beltino felt more at ease, but just to settle everyone's nerves, he clarified the situation.
"So are you a friend?"
The pink avian smiled, even though she was still in pain.
"Yes, " she laughed, "I'm a friend."
General Pepper ordered his men to stand down, and turned to face the woman.
"That is good to know," he chimed in, "Now, do you have a name, Miss?"
"Nova," she stated boldly.
"Nova what? Do you have a last name?"
"A last name?" she asked, confused.
Pepper sighed, remembering that she wasn't from Lylat. Beltino couldn't hold back anymore, he had so many questions.
"So what are you? Not to be rude, but we have collected some strange readings and I just want to clarify." he gushed, trying to hold back his excitement.
Nova smiled at his curiosity.
"I am a Phoenix. I can't really tell you much more than that right now…"She trailed off looking back over at the broken ice mounds, "...Sorry about that. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
She noticed a few of the men slowly getting up, one having a bloody nose and another with a cut down his arm.
Beltino glanced over at the men as well, and gave a heart-warming laugh.
"Oh no need to worry my dear," he said, taking her arm in hopes that she would follow him up the stairs, "These men have seen a lot worse. We will get them all fixed up in no time!"
Nova smiled a little, and walked with him, yet she could feel that breathing was becoming difficult. She coughed, trying to clear her throat, but her chest still felt tight. Beltino noticed her struggling.
"Everything okay Nova?" he asked, concerned. Nova nodded in response. The one thing she didn't like was to appear weak in front of others.
Beltino continued to lead Nova down the halls of the Orbital Gate. The General strolled slowly behind them, not as fascinated as Beltino was with the newcomer, but interested enough to stay close. As they walked, Beltino asked Nova various questions, and she would give a short but sweet reply. She felt as if she was slowly losing herself with each step, causing her to feel light-headed. Her wound caused her to limp most of the way down the hall. Her breathing became slower and weaker, and her head started to pulse with a throbbing headache.
What is going on? Nova thought to herself. She shook her head, and tried to shake off her feeble feelings. Her confident composure almost kept her inner thoughts and feelings a secret, but then Beltino turned and noticed her laboured breathing and pained expression.
"Nova?"
Before any words could slide of the tip of her tongue, Nova lost her breath, slowly closed her eyes and collapsed onto the floor.
"Scan her!" Beltino ordered to one of the men passing by.
"Her life signs are slowing sir! When she forced her body to heat up the cooling agent caused a reaction and obstructed some of her veins!"
"Get her into medical immediately! I will be right there!"
Two men picked up the tall, beautiful avian and rushed her down to the medical bay. The General looked at Beltino.
"Why are you saving her?" he asked his old friend. Beltino picked up the strange stone that had fallen out of the Phoenix's hand and examined it slowly.
"Do you know what this is, General?" he questioned back.
The General looked at it curiously, for a moment, and shook his head.
"No, I'm afraid I do not."
"Well, you should. You see, this is the marking of a higher order."
"Higher order?"
"Yes. She must have been sent here for a reason, something must be brewing out there in the depths of space. Something dark, for her to be here."
"What can she do about it?"
"She can make the darkness go away…I'm guessing."
The General raised his brow, then ordered, "Keep her here until further orders."
Beltino nodded, "Of course."
The General turned and headed towards the exit when Beltino called his last comment, "By the way, it's a memory stone."