"Stanford? Where are you buddy?," Vert hissed, his throat dry from the harsh desert sand and the rusty air. Gone was the strangely comforting sound of paws padding along the ground, the sound of distant heavy breathing. And Stanford was smart. He had camouflaged himself. He was here somewhere, perhaps right under Vert's unsuspecting nose. And Vert was near stupid. Standing out in the open, easy pickings for Krytus or Kyburi - and he didn't have Stanford's keen senses to warn him of any close threats. He was walking into a room full of knifes blind. The blonde moved behind some large boulders, hoping to uncover any preserved paw prints - but the ground was solid and bone dry. In the distance, beyond the howling of the wind, Vert thought he could hear the sound of gyros, wheels groaning over the sand and he instinctively ducked behind one of the larger rocks. There was a distant hiss, as the Syfurious rolled to a slow halt just metres from Vert. The leader felt his heart sink as a pair of feet crunched down onto the sand, slowly pacing a circle. Then, two feet became four as a conversation broke out between Krytus and Kyburi.
"Krylox and Kyrosis will deal with the lesser Human. Why do your tracking skills cease to find the leader and the beast he is searching for?"
"My skills are most efficient Krytus! These canyons render my heat signature systems useless!"
The female sentient's voice softened to a lull almost.
"However, the beast may be hard to track, but human's are weak survivors. He could not have gotten far within Sage's technology to aid him."
"Indeed, Kyburi. If I recollect, we once enslaved those creatures to use against Sage's miserable race."
"Ah yes. They were intriguing tools of war, one drop of venom enough to send a sentient into turmoil. Should we find that creature, we should capture it ourselves. It may prove useful to our cause.
"Perhaps. Perhaps we could turn it against those miserable humans and watch it tear them limb from limb."
Krytus' voice became louder as he got closer to Vert. Krytus snarled and before Vert knew it, a smaller boulder beside him had been sliced in half, still molten from the intense heat of krytus' core. The red sentients were still oblivious to his presence but that was far from comforting to Vert. He could practically feel his heart knocking against his ribs to escape. He was lucky, but not for much longer. Krytus snarled and sheathed his blade before stomping away, back towards the Syfurious.
"Kyburi, set your traps, no creature walks away from us alive."
Vert heard them leave, but knew that he would be an indefinite madman to leave now. Kyburi would be weaving her web of traps and it was only a matter of time before he would walk into one. Surely Zoom would find the team and they would come looking for him. But Vert was feeling doubtful. Would anybody walk out of this alive? Would Stanford not only survive but get his human form back? These were all questions with indefinite answers. Vert peered around the edge of the large boulder and seeing there were no Red Sentients, he hopped up onto the rock, reaching another ledge to get to the second level of the rock wall. He clambered up rather effortlessly and edged his way around the gap, keeping his eyes peeled for Stanford or Zoom. They were hunting Stanford. Stanford may have been given the body and mind-set of a cunning, sly predator, but Kyburi was an equally proud and brutal huntress. She wanted him alive, to enslave, without even realising his human roots. He hoped the hybrid could hold his own, it would hurt the team more to know he was a mindless possession to Krytus' legion.
Vert gazed down at the ground down below. Kyburi was quick to weave her web of traps. Vert cringed.
A pattern of red energy beams lined the passage, barely hovering above the floor. On contact, they would alert their creator and likely give their victim a nasty antimatter energy shock. Vert clutched his sword, rounding a corner on the ledge, which brought him into an isolated crag on the strange landscape. A pit, filled with soft, dune-like sand in contrast to the harsh grit There were two entrances and exits to the structure, with was walled in by a large red-rock, smooth-walled monolith which stretched up to kiss the hazy yellow skies. Vert jumped down and dashed across to the other side, feet padding on the soft sand. There was a bridge structure along the other gap and he glanced out over it into the crooked passage. The floor was lined with similar traps, except these metal pods resembling a bear trap, featuring a pair of electrified steel jaws. Vert was about to steal a closer glance but was halted when he heard soft footsteps thudding towards him, echoing of the walls. Thinking it was Kyburi returning to check her traps, Vert ducked behind one of the edges, peeking over to check.
Though, his nervousness disappeared once he saw the huge, hunched shadow of an animal and couldn't help but smirk as Stanford, or at least what was left of him – cautiously peered around the corner. His green eyes seemed wizened, but certainly not at peace. Old and tired. Worn out like the ends of his auburn fur. Vert felt his chest tighten as the hybrid's eyes darted down to the traps. Its lips contorted, almost into a scowl as it lifted a huge paw and stepped over the first trap. Vert watched in amazement as he continued to sidestep the danger, claws digging into the grit and gravel. It travelled over the last trap with confidence and Vert moved down to confront him.
Unfortunately, Vert wasn't aware of how sudden his movements had been. Thinking of how calm he had behaved around him and Zoom before, Vert hadn't anticipated, or wanted to startle Stanford. Not in the slightest. However, when he jumped down, the animal panicked, almost backing over its own feet. Vert lifted his hands reflexively, trying to break the tension and reflexively calm him down, but the closer he got, the further Stanford would back away. His back foot graced against one of the traps and Vert shouted out in a panic. Stanford put his opposite foot back and Vert heard the unforgiving crunch of the teeth of the alloy metal jaws latching onto the beast's rear leg.
An excruciating, shrill squeal was ripped from the beast's jaws as it leapt into the air, painfully keeping itself upright on three unsteady feet - tail locked between its legs, ears pinned and eyes brimming with fear, anxiety and pain. Vert crashed down into the dust to avoid being crushed as it continued to scream and bay, blood starting to seep out from between the metal teeth and drop onto the sand.
"Stanford!" Vert rushed in to help, trying to grab Stanford's leg. When he finally did get his hands on the trap - the sudden pain and anxiety induced adrenaline was making the animal panic and dart from side to side, he found that he couldn't pry the metal jaws open. Blood dribbled across his fingers. Could he cut it off with his sword? Not likely, it was sunken in close to the bone. Besides, Stanford was screaming and yowling - Kyburi and Krytus would surely have already heard his distressed cries. Then it would already be too late. He tugged harder, feeling his arms straining as the hinge on the trap started to creak open. Nearly. The pressure of the bar on the opposite end of the trap was intensifying and whether or not it was accidental or intended, Stanford lashed out at Vert. Being kicked by a 3/4 tonne animal didn't hurt as much as being bitten with a bite force stronger than a lion's, but it carried enough force to knock Vert across the floor and make him feel slightly nauseous. He watched with askew vision as the canid turned around and grabbed the trap between its jaws, ripping it away, screws and individual pieces raining down on the floor. As it tried to put pressure down on its leg, Vert could see the puncture marks in the fur, staining the orange coat with dark coloured blood.
The sound of roaring engines tore through the animal's whimpering as two dark crimson cars came crashing through the opening. Vert could the repelling fear welling up in the beast's eyes, its yellow eyes distorting until they were almost white like sheets of terror. Vert held onto his sword through his scuffed and aching palms, yet he knew that he would struggle to repel both Krytus and Kyburi. Kyburi's vehicle started to block their exit, the car's 'fangs' buzzing with energy. Meanwhile, Krytus jumped out of the Syfurious and started to steadily pace his way over towards Stanford, his molten blade barely scorching the floor. Vert watched as the two predators locked eyes and Vert thought he saw caution reflect in Krytus' deep, blazing eyes. Stanford was just as tense - every inch of his thick, shaggy coat was on end and starting to curl and his ears were barely visible against his skull. The noises the canid made were repelling - inhuman snorts and snarls, so loud as to warn any creature. Though, Red sentients were tyrannical and bold; they were undeterred by any façade of aggression.
Though it was mostly fruitless, Vert blundered into Krytus' path, wielding the same sword Sage had given him on the day they had met. His body was worn and stiff, but he couldn't let Krytus kill Stanford, or take him prisoner. Krytus laughed.
"I can respect courage, human, but you are a fool to stand between two highly adapted warriors. I cannot understand your race's necessity for compassion," Krytus spat, "It is what brings my sister to salvage warriors from a non-eternal species. You stand before us and protect this voracious creature with no higher value for your own survival."
There was a louder hissing sound as Krytus pierced the sand with his blade. He smirked. "Or perhaps that isn't your motive, human. Kyburi noticed the absence of one of your team members." Krytus gave a sickening smile as he noticed the dread in Vert's eyes. "perhaps I am looking at him right now. I can see a resemblance, human. It is amusing how similar how similar it occurs on the miserable blue race - one look in the eyes says it all."
Vert swung his gaze towards Stanford. He couldn't see it - but Krytus had been around for eons and had a superior mind and body. "As enjoyable as it would be to capture a human, your teammate has earned my mercy. Though, infections must be eradicated. I'll put it down before it becomes more deranged!"
Vert's sword clashed against Krytus as the red sentient made a move to strike his friend. Krytus was fast - Vert could barely catch each of the white hot slashes. Yet, Kyburi didn't intervene. She didn't need to. Without Stanford's help, he would eventually succumb to Krytus' flames. The human fighter kicked out, Krytus faltering only a little. The sentient plunged his arm forwards, barely missing Vert by seconds. Krytus lunged forwards again and swung the blade of cooled mantle straight down on Vert. Vert fought to stop the blow, but Krytus was stronger and his sword was facing him flat; eventually, the force wrenched it from his hands and Krytus kicked him back to the ground. He struggled, but the Red sentient hoisted him up by the collar. He tried to kick, but was threatened with a blade to the throat. Kyburi was laughing. "I'm going to enjoy this, human. I appreciate a challenge, but war can only be entertaining as long as I conquer the multiverse-"
Vert didn't close his eyes as expected when so close to death, but tried to stare Krytus down despite the constriction in his throat. Though, he was good to be looking, as otherwise he wouldn't have had the satisfying pleasure of the of seeing the sentient's feet ripped from under him. Something human or not, had snapped in Stanford. Where previously he was so strong yet powerless, now he had overcome his fears. Whether it was to destroy Krytus or to save him, he wouldn't find out until later. Currently they were one in the same, uniting against a threat to the whole multiverse. Out of the air, the enraged creature had surged in and wrapped its thick jaws around one of Krytus' feet. With a single flex of its thick, muscular neck, it threw Krytus into the air, Vert landing on the ground. Kyburi's eyes widened and Krytus was yelling. Vert's heart nearly stopped from shock as he watched as Stanford caught Krytus between his teeth as he came back down and he didn't seem to be waning in his grip, despite how hard Krytus was hitting him. In fact, the leader watched in horror as Krytus' shell started to crack and split from the pressure. Within seconds, the teeth snapped shut and Krytus' essence soared up into the air. Vert stood mortified. Kyburi, filled with rage, surged her vehicle towards the pair, but was blocked by an incoming EMP blast, shattering her essence.
Kyburi's vehicle landed in a mangled heap as Vert felt a wave of relief wash over him as Tezz and Agura emerged, weapons bared. Noticing Vert and Stanford, they lowered their guard and rushed towards them, Zoom emerging from the splitwire along with Tezz. Vert nervously eyed Stanford, but he was no longer in a crazed sense of mind. He seemed once more subdued. Exhausted. Drained. He was barely on his feet, his back feet splayed along the ground. He seemed undeterred by the other humans and his chest was heaving as he nursed his still bleeding leg. Agura held the antidote for Stanford's aliment, but he didn't seem worried about it. She approached him with a nervous look on her usually calm face.
"Krytus. Did Stanford-," She asked, pausing.
"I don't know what happened, but yeah," he whispered back. Both team members looked to the side as Stanford uttered a whine and a long sigh, dropping down onto his knees and letting his head drop to the dust, his bold eyes half lidded.
"His control is destabilising Vert, we must act quickly," Tezz advised. Vert sighed. He moved to crouch next to Stanford's head, whilst Agura took his front leg in her hands. Stanford barely flinched, only blinking a little. Vert smoothed the remains of his fauxhawk atop his head. "Easy buddy, this will make things feel better. I promise." Vert watched almost in a sensation of numbness as Agura and Tezz searched for the bloodstream and then pumped the contents of the vial into his body. Vert was worried that Stanford was barely moving, the man-wolf occasionally twitching softly with a rough sigh until it stopped altogether except for the occasional hoarse breath. Tezz seemed to notice Vert's concern and offered what seemed to be a rare offer of sympathy.
"He's unconscious, Vert. The cure is slow to work and he will not be able to regain consciousness until the serum completes its infection." Vert sighed. At least maybe now he would finally be able to recover from this. After all, he owed it to Stanford now. Even in such an obscured state of mind, Vert couldn't surpass the fact that Stanford had taken out Krytus, and much less saved his life. He had been through a lot in the last week - the least they could do is allow him some rest and recuperation.
"Then lets get him back to the Mobi before that happens."
Relatively short penultimate chapter! There will be one more chapter and then perhaps a oneshot.