The day was forced into a start. The city was quiet, traffic was sluggish, and anyone who dared to look out a window towards the ominus pyramids in the sky quickly averted their gaze. For Nutrivend, nothing has changed other than a wasted day. Thankfully, the staff was let off the hook for missing the previous day due certain circumstances. Not that it seemed to matter for Genes as her daily routine of checking food dispensers and examining abominations in the forms of vegetables gone wrong was as belittling as before this mess started.
"Is it just me or are these potatoes wiggling like worms?" a coworker questioned as they poked the very odd lump of biomatter with a scalpel.
"Is it even a potato? I thought this was the spaghetti squash," Genes commented.
"It is?" someone asked.
"Well that would explain the 'worms' I guess. But why is it wiggling?" another examined the lump closer.
"You idiots! It's a carrot from group S4-F! Get to work and fix it!" the supervisor screamed.
How is that thing a carrot?!, Genes thought as she stared at the lump in shock.
Bolts was bored. No work to do, the technicians were busy playing games to pass the time, and nothing was needed to be done. A few even claimed that the debugging division was busy having a chess tournament due to the lack of work. His processor absently went to the mini-fiasco roughly a month ago testing the Marksman software which was now selling quite well on the market for military contractors. He was certain that most of it was because of him.
"Oi! We've got something!" someone called.
"Finally!" half the room cried out at once.
"What is it?" Bolts asked.
"Nutrivend had another biohazard accident only this time they screwed up installing the software. We've been called in to do it right before we are served pulsating tumor monsters for food."
Everyone laughed and cheered at this. Even without the anxiety the entire lab loathed days like this and any job was better than doing nothing. Bolts was also glad to have something to do other than calculate prime numbers in his head.
"Frankly I'm waiting for them to make an actual monster out of plants. Wonder if U-COM would get called in for that," someone joked.
"Can we not talk about U-COM? I had to rush my grandparents to hospital because they nearly had a heart attack," a voice called.
"My bad! I didn't know!"
"Everyone's stressed. I know I am," Bolts commented.
The group decided to stop talking after that as they headed for the nearest garage. Thankfully the company always had a few spare airtrans vehicles for employee use. Bolts called driving which went unopposed other than the fact that the vehicle would drive itself. Not that he could care, anything that had a cockpit to sit in would be enough to satisfy him despite being the backup driver.
"Why is that every other day it's a raid or an investigation into Marsec?" Copper growled as he sat in a hovercar.
"Hey man it could be worse," the other officer in the hovercar said.
"Yeah yeah I know. But we can both agree that this is pointless."
"Look we've had this conversation plenty of times. My advice? Bug out and find something else to do. Private investigation, bodyguard for hire, U-COM, just something else. I get it, you want to protect people without being an attack dog and the red tape. I know you are often given the short end of the stick and I end up with the jobs you want which doesn't help but what can I say?"
Both officers huffed as they staked out the Marsec weapons factory in front of them. A tip from the Senate ("officially" that is, unofficially was a wild guess) mentioned that a suspicious transaction was going to happen by the end of the week. To make things more fishy, said transaction would likely involve the more advanced hardware that Marsec develops such as power armor, PEC-4B "lineage" plasma cannons, and an air hawk warrior assault craft.
The scary thing was that these items would be sold within the city because nothing escapes the ever present attention of the PGU outside of city limits. With the city already being a powder keg, whoever has access to these resources could destroy the city. Thankfully, the worst that has happened at the moment was the fiasco involving the U-COM investigation and the fact that Marsec refuses to let Megapol do their job (assuming they would do it in the first place that is).
"The sad thing is that for some dumb reason or another I love this city," Copper sighed as he leaned back against his seat.
"Heh, tell me about it. We love this place and yet we hate it. Would be nice if it actually fit the pretty picture we were told four years ago and not have this mess. What I can't understand is how did it end up like this right from the start? Do people plan for cities to be corrupt from the very beginning these days?" his partner questioned.
"Considering the Extropians and Technocrats? I'd say so considering the only thing they can agree on is sharing the city as a playground."
Both immediately perked at a noise coming from outside of the hovercar. Rolling down a window, they listened and realized immediately what it was.
"Guns," the officer said.
"On it," Copper agreed as the air raid alarm blared.
"This is Skygaurd, I've got a confirmed visual on hostiles," Johnson heard through the speakers.
"Looks like they're making a mad dash for it," someone stated.
"All craft, weapons free! Pick your targets!" the commander barked.
"Copy that! Engaging hostiles!" the pilot responded.
The traffic system was not the best means of seeing what was happening, but it was far better than the radar blips that barely showed anything. So far the dogfight was going in favor of U-COM and the few Megapol vehicles that were able to join the fray. But no one expected the random SAM.
"What the?! Where did that come from?" a pilot exclaimed.
"There's another! Break! Break!" someone else yelled.
"Who's the nut job in the jacket?" the commander demanded as the screen showed an individual armed with a missile launcher.
"Contact has delivered it's strike team! Make that two!"
"Lock down the buildings and have Megapol evacuate the civilians! I want those craft taken out last year!"
"Got an ID match on our mystery shooter along with other heavily armed individuals! It's the Cult!" Johnson reported.
This day just gets more interesting, Susan thought to herself as she continued to give orders.
"Anyone have something that can be used for self defence?" Bolts heard a technician ask.
"Uh...fire extinguishers?" a Nutrivend employee suggested.
"We live in the twenty first century, have survived a double alien invasion involving a three way war, and have built a city that has stuff straight out of a 1950's pipe dream. I doubt anyone here has pitchforks or shovels anymore," another technician said.
"It's a Nutrivend hydrofarm. There's got to be something here. Cutters, scalpels, chemicals, anything that can be improvised. We find a place to barricade ourselves in and deal with anything...not from this solar system," Bolts took charge.
"Who made you the leader?" someone demanded.
"You want to lead? No? Then stop complaining and start thinking. I'd rather be ready for company than be caught off guard."
"He has a good point. Besides, he has combat matrix in him," a technician stated as they searched for anything to use as an improvised weapon.
"Lock everything down and someone get rid of that carrot!" Genes heard her supervisor yell as the entire complex went into lockdown.
Fungal spore outbreak? Mildly scary but relatively simple to contain. Berserk animal? Automatic security and a few trained guards. Hostile aliens entering the building with unknown intent? Terrifying. Genes still was trying to devise a cohesive thesis on why animals have a better "sixth sense" in terms of danger than humans or hybrids. But right now she was fairly confident she knew what that feeling felt like.
No wonder Stinky went ballistic, she thought as she disposed of the "carrot" into a biohazard container.
The other scientists frantically but orderly cleaned the lab as they followed biohazard protocols but stayed in the lab. They were safer inside than risking whatever was outside...assuming the security systems are kept below level 4.
"What level are we at?" Genes asked as she realized this fact.
"Level 2 so far. Doors are locked and vents are sealed which gives us...an hour I think until we start having trouble breathing," was the answer.
Everyone gulped at the prospect and avoided the feeling of panic. Rapid breathing would waste the precious oxygen that was now limited and the hazmat suits were behind an inch of metal. Short of a plasma torch to cut through or a Marsec high explosive charge surgically placed, nothing was getting through the door easily.
I am going to die here. Why is the term "dead end job" seeming to be more amusing than terrifying right now?, Genes thought to herself in morbid humor as the reality of the situation sunk in.
The wolfhound quietly sped straight for the hydrofarm with the full complement of the U-COM soldiers. They had replaced the loss from yesterday with a fresh recruit that fit the requirements for field work and their armor has been retrofitted to record the action. The atmosphere was cold and tense with everyone knowing that the things roaming the buildings were hostile.
"You will be handling the Nutrivend hydrofarm while Megapol investigates the second location and handle the Cult. We already have clean up and recovery heading their way to make sure any samples are not stolen so you will be forced to maintain the perimeter longer than usual. Leadership will follow previous operations while overall command has been given to 1-1. Nutrivend has stated that they will not tolerate excessive damages so keep collateral to a low. As for the Cult, they'll be handled once civilians are out of danger and we don't have to worry about alien hostiles roaming the city. For now, get in there, save any civilians, eliminate hostiles, and await extraction and further orders. Good luck," Johnson explained through the coms.
"Sounds like fun. Who wants to bet we're going to have an eventful afternoon?" Boss remarked.
"It's going to be eventful one way or the other. Megapol has a few assets to help us here but they're more focused on handling the other location as of now. So far the labs have only managed to explain the 'gun' recovered from our first meeting and the psyche of what we assume to be their primary foot soldier as of now. For those of you who don't know either, it's the big blue muton with the egg throwing bazooka. Anything to add Boss?" Lead stated.
"'Nozzle heads' spit out a relatively weak acid along with eggs while the oversized worm spits stronger acid and gives birth upon death. Those who weren't present for that mess will know what I'm talking about on contact. Priority target for heavy weapons will be the worms while M4K's will target their kids," Boss explained.
"Hate those things," someone from the second team muttered.
"Uh...what about the 'crabs'?" the new recruit asked.
"Keep your head down and shoot on sight. You have about three seconds to kill one after it grabs someone's head before they are mind controlled. This goes for everyone, if crabs are spotted all other targets are secondary unless we meet something worse," Lead said coldly with the original members from the first team agreeing.
The ride was soon over and the teams headed to search the complex. Surprisingly for a building with large amounts of open space, there was a surprising amount of places for someone or something to hide behind. Despite neither of the teams working together before, both groups unanimously agreed that the searching was annoying.
Copper was begrudgingly thankful that the raids he has conducted gave him experience as another blob of green acid ate away at the wall he was behind. He was also grateful for U-COM to make it clear that his life was more important than their science. In other words, shoot first and forget everything once they clean up. Still would be nice to have something with more firepower than his lawpistol as popping shots like a cheesy western getting him nowhere.
"Just die already!" he yelled at the pink...thing that was spitting an endless amount of acid at everyone it could target.
Another thing he found infuriating, the fact office buildings belonging to the companies had to be palaces was annoying. The only satisfaction he could think of seeing the expensive building was that it was getting trashed.
"Anyone have a grenade?" he called as he reloaded a clip into his gun.
"Have a smoke here!" another officer yelled.
"Use it and give me covering fire!"
"Are you insane?!"
"I'm a stunner on raids. Insanity comes when I'm off duty," he joked as he shied away from the hissing acid.
"Stunner eh? Always felt bad for you guys but I guess you're either too crazy or too stubborn to go down," the officer chuckled before tossing the smoke grenade.
The smoke billowed out and flooded the grassy walkways within seconds. Copper broke cover and after seeing the alien, he shot it. He was mildly surprised to see it still standing after taking the heavy round to the chest at close range but fired again to be sure. The second round finished the thing off and cleared the way for the other officers to move up.
"Reception is likely to be crowded," he muttered.
"More of them! Open fire!" an auto cannon user yelled as more of the otherworldly creatures rushed out of the building.
"Really wishing we had M4K's right now!" someone yelled.
"Hovercars, where are you?! We have hostiles on lobby stairs trying to melt us!" another officer shouted.
"Forget it! Use stun 'nades and knock 'em out!"
"Think it'll work on them?!"
"Just throw 'em already!" Copper angrily yelled as he fired two rounds at another pink creature that got too close.
Much to the relief of the Megapol officers, the gas worked on the aliens albeit with varying degrees of efficiency. Still, they were confused and panicked by the gas and were handled easily. Not leaving anything for chance and unsure on what to do with the aliens, they did what they could to restrain them before moving into the building and look for more hostiles to...pacify.
"Contact, rafter connecting broccoli to potatoes. Three nozzle heads plus a worm," 2-4 called out.
"We can pincer them if we split up," Boss suggested.
"Risky... Missed shots could hit one group or the other. I'll take my team up, have yours down here for fire support and keeping an eye out for others," Lead said.
Boss gave a nod and shrug at the idea before organizing his team into position. The hunt was more tedious than anything else but so far it was quiet...perhaps too quiet. Chatter from the Nutrivend security reported that a few eggs and worms have been dealt with but other than that there was nothing.
"They've spotted us! Open fire!" Lead yelled, breaking the sense of stillness.
"Suppress them! Conserve ammo in bursts!" Boss ordered as he fired off a quick burst at the aliens.
"Behind! Giant worm!" 1-2 yelled.
"2-3 and 4 get up there! Move!"
"Attention U-COM, there's a botanical lab nearby with scientists trapped. Your engagement has-" a voice cut in.
"We're a bit busy right now!" several voices shouted as the firefight continued.
Bolts softly bounced the fire extinguisher in his hand as the sounds of gunfire sounded off above him. So far nothing has bothered to pay the technicians a visit. Maybe the aliens were interested in the hydration systems? Frankly he could care less so long as they left him alone right now. The others were bickering on why anyone would target a farm instead of a military target. Strangely, they seem to forget why said farm is important and what would happen if so much as a single building that did a mundane task was taken out of operation.
Idiots, he thought to himself on just how blind the others were to the consequences on losing a farm.
He kept his focus on the doors instead of paying attention to the argument. U-COM never said anything on what the aliens were but he was certain that he would notice a difference without much debate. The only things that made him anxious where the status of his friends and the lingering thought that his fire extinguisher would be more of a nuisance than a threat should anything come through the door.
"So...uh...anyone interested in the game tomorrow night?" someone blurted causing the room to go silent.
The Nutrivend scientist sat nervously as all eyes turned towards them.
"You're more concerned about a gravball game than the fact we have aliens waging a war right above our heads?!" a different scientist yelled as the gunfire above continued.
"Eh...hockey actually but I'm losing my mind. Give me some slack would ya?" the first one protested.
Bolts internally groaned and tried not to let it show. Another minor perk of being a sentient machine is that he could easily control his body and emotions. But the statement still was-
"What is that?!" a shriek went through the room.
A hissing noise was mixed in with the general mayhem in the room. Once Bolts finally saw the source of said hissing, it was easy to understand why everyone was jumping about as if they were standing on hot coals. Afterall, a snake about a foot and a half long with teeth would be enough to make anyone want to be somewhere else. To make things worse, the thing was spitting at them.
"What do we do?"
"Kill it!"
"I ain't getting near it!"
"Get over here you lit-"
"How fast is this thing?!"
Someone finally managed to grapple the intruding creature and pin it. Bolts decided to deal with the still snapping and spitting jaws by bashing them shut with the extinguisher and keeping it firmly pressed.
"That handles that," he muttered.
"Anyone have duct tape?" the individual currently holding the snake down asked as it tried to thrash.
Copper was less than thrilled to meet a giant worm or snake with teeth and more acid spit. Thankfully, the monster seemed to agree that the meeting was unwanted and attempted to escape. Attempted being the keyword because while U-COM said the lives of Megapol officers was more important than specimens, they never said anything about targets of opportunity. Besides, his last clip was almost empty and the others were too far away to help currently so his ever present stun grapple would have to do for now. Stomping its head, he fired the last three rounds into its back before draining the battery in the stun grapple.
"Hostile down! I've got a live one here!" he called.
"Crazy stunner," an auto cannon user muttered, "Hover cars, any more hostiles? We have one stunned with several guns aimed at it."
"Uh you sure there's only one? I'm reading there's four unknown lifesigns right in front of you," a hover car pilot answered.
"Four? What do you mean four?" someone demanded.
"Is it just me or is that thing having a stroke?" another voice asked uneasily.
"Well I did stun it," Copper said defensively as he backed away from the alien creature.
The body spasmed uncontrollably before the thing shrieked and (much to the horror of the officers) popped like a balloon. Besides the obvious mess, having three things wiggle out of what remained was enough to give any psychologically numbed individual a bout of unadulterated terror. To make matters worse, once they regained their composure to start killing the things they were unable to hit the creatures.
"Stop trying to stomp on them and just shoot them already!" someone screamed as the sound of a lawpistol went off.
"What's going on in there?" the pilot asked.
Genes poked and prodded a set of pencils and pens that sat on a workstation in an effort to avoid panic and boredom. The faintest sounds of gunfire had stopped a few minutes ago and one of the monitors hijacked for the news stated that the danger has passed. So far only fifteen minutes has passed so either U-COM was that proficient or the hostile aliens were incompetent. Still, being trapped in a room doing her best not to breath to fast or talk was nerve wracking.
Reaching out with her very limited psionic potential, she was able to notice that a rather large crowd of individuals was standing outside of the door. Who they were and what their intentions are is impossible to tell but she had a decent idea that they were trying to get them out. As far as she was concerned, whoever got her out of this coffin would have her eternal thanks regardless of their character.
And once I get home I am going to curl up on the couch with Stinky, she thought to herself to disperse the tension inside of her.
The door slowly started to make noises after this thought. Those who noticed looked over and the rest shortly followed. Unnerved, one person reached for a scalpel with a shaky hand which resulted in others arming themselves as well. After a few moments, sparks or red and green danced through the door and continued to do so until a hole was formed.
"Coast is clear folks so put the torches and pitchforks away," an engineer said as they turned off a plasma torch.
"Alright careful with it. Careful!" a different voice barked as the engineer packed up their equipment and the scientists began to exit the lab.
"What is that?" a scientist asked as a few U-COM soldiers were hauling something...very agitated.
"What is what? Paramedics are outside," a U-COM soldier not hauling the thing said nonchalantly.
Genes has seen a few things more than once that she shouldn't have when visiting Cooper and understood the subtle message: shut up and forget everything. Rather cold but having a friend as a cop who has given the same message before made it easy to understand. Still, whatever that thing they (were not) handling was definitely going to be hard to forget.
"Genes?" a familiar voiced questioned.
"Bolts?" Genes realized her friend was currently being escorted by security.
"Alright alright friendship time is over. Everyone outside and be snappy about it," a security officer stated before the two could go further.
Both friends looked at each other and knew there was going to be another interesting evening later.
Johnson had a difficult time holding the hot coffee in his mouth as a very angry commander Susan stormed into the room and barked for an update. If he had to guess, the idea of bombing the Cult into oblivion was not favored by the Senate or Megapol despite the obvious treason.
"Both sites are secure ma'am! Megapol has their area secure and are awaiting clean up," he said after swallowing the coffee.
"Finally something positive to this mess," Susan fumed, "And our team?"
"No casualties but in need of a resupply. Managed to bag a live one that a few scientists and Cyberweb technicians managed to trap."
"Just got a death threat call from the Cult," someone stated.
"Get rid of them," Susan snarled.
"Already did and blocked the caller ID."
Johnson gave the a tired groan. Ever since the phone call from earlier this day has been one crazed scenario after another. Well, at least they know why the Cult was something to be taken more seriously in the city. Speaking of which-
"Ma'am, are we going to launch an attack on the Cult?" he asked.
"Let them come home and rearm first. Make sure they know that despite us being restricted from bombing the buildings that doesn't mean we can't do some interior redecorating," the commander stated.
"Explosive ammunition authorized?"
"Incendiary as well. Equipment recovery for the raid is a priority but I want maximum damage."
That sent a predatory satisfaction to everyone. They were citizens of Mega-Primus and the Cult always was a pain. Now it was personal.
"I'll warn the fire department about it. Don't need to have half the city go off in smoke," Johnson smirked.
"I'll get the police. Might as well round up any we miss," someone else said.
"Good. By the end of today I want the interior of one of the temples to be ash," the commander ordered.