Chapter 28
Author's Note:
So there are some things that I forgot to go over and cover on the last flash back for Rene…
Shi'ar : In the marvel comic universe, this is an alien race. They are described as being avian creatures, and are very large and imposing in nature. I'm thinking something like the Turians in Mass Effect, only softer, as they have feathers, leather-like skin etc. But they still have talon-like hands, I think the description I found was five-digits… but don't quote me.
The doctor is a Shi'ar. He is not an antagonist, but I know that the flashbacks and memories will be portraying him as such, and then go back to admiration and respect. This is because the memories and flashbacks are in a general POV and/or from the labtech, primarily.
Also, the lab assistant is of an unnamed race at this time. Just think very human, with odd coloring. She's very pretty. Light orange skin, deep, sapphire eyes and dark hair. Very small, thin nose. Her name is Redina, no known last name.
Skrulls: These are a marvel race. They have dark, green skin and are a very aggressive race. Their military and social structure resemble that of an empire and still have an empress or emperor to rule over them or their factions. Also, they are shapeshifters
Maaaajor spoiler-alert right there.
"That was too close." The Shi'ar scientist grouses as he stomps back in through the sliding glass doors and across the lab. He growls, feathers atop his aging scalp are still on end in agitation as he is soon accompanied by his lab technician and assistant.
"Sir, it was a false alarm – "
"It absolutely was not a 'false alarm'!" His anger surprises the girl and she takes a few steps back, blue eyes widening as she stares at her mentor.
"Don't you see?! It was a test! Those bastards know we are on to something, hell… they probably have an agent here on the inside!"
As his anger had seemed to start to diffuse at his bitching, the girl attempts to relax somewhat. Rolling her shoulders and taking in a deep breath she continues to watch the doctor as he grumbles and gripes.
"Even If there was an agent within, I doubt they know anything beyond the basic employee clearance."
"It is only a matter of time before more members of the lab get wind of our possession of a lesser infinity stone." Here he shoots the poor girl a pointed glare, "The probability would be much lower if you'd not ask for assistance when using our surgical equipment."
Here she has the guts to glare back at the doctor before remembering their furry, red patient (which the Shi'ar doctor is always reminding her that 'it's' an 'experiment' and 'we can't allow ourselves to view it as more, for our sanity').
It was all a bunch of BS if you asked the girl.
"Well, without Dr. Shianni's assistance, I would have killed our patient."
"Experimental weapon."
"Right."
Now at the sterile case, she sees the creature stare at her, seemingly not affected by the small scene that had played out that afternoon. The information on the attached data pad confirms this.
"Our subject hasn't suffered any stress or adverse effects from this afternoon's tryst."
The doctor grunts an affirmative, "I expected as such. It should be far more capable of adapting to unknowns. Less an animal, more a machine."
The lab assistant contemplates the complacent animal in the cage for a few moments before something starts to bother her.
"Doctor,"
Her tone of voice must have alerted something within the doctor, because he gave his beautiful assistant his complete and undivided attention, which was rare.
"I do not think it would be very wise to give, which we intend to be a mamilic machine something as powerful as the stone. There are too many variables, and it would have a weakness against hacking."
The doctor hums and nods… but there was a look in his sharp, avian eyes that didn't settle right with her, and his voice intoned that he knew something she didn't when he continued to speak, "I have already thought of those limitations. Even if we decide to not use the stone to power the animal, we can still find alternative energy sources, and simply make it a creature like those modified and tested on Planet X."
"But your plan is to manipulate and use the lesser stone as a power, and since it can't be placed into an object for use like the greater stones… it's inherently useless –"
"Unless it's implanted within someone's body."
Here she narrows her eyes, "I saw the reports and files on that last test – it did not bode well,"
"And all of us in the operating room nearly died… I know. But we didn't install the conduits and the channels that the stone needed to access the hosts' tissues and biological system, but to allow clear channels for that energy to be released."
"Not to mention, access to the central nervous system to be manipulated."
Here the doctor smiles proudly, and his assistant can't help but be pleased at the recognition. She may have only been a weapons' developer and designer, but she was the one scientist he'd every meet who knew how to fine-tune and bend electrical currents to her will.
"Precisely why I brought you along, my dear girl. We have installed the channels, now all we need to do is ensure that the mammal's brain will be able to control the thrums of its' power."
She watches the doctor intently once more and sees a look of resignation on his face, taking a few steps forward and looking over his shoulder, she sees him reading up on the earlier security breach.
"You fear we won't have the time, aren't you?"
"Redina, we may have to take matters into our own hands."
Something cold grips her heart, but at the serious look on her mentor's face, she understands immediately.
They have been compromised. The Stone Skrulls were mobilizing, and they want what was liberated from them three years ago.
The issue now wasn't if they were going to make an attempt to re-take it…
Now it was when.
"For the sake of keeping peace, we need to find a way to hide this, instead of making it a weapon."
The doctor is silent for a very long time before turning to regard his assistant.
"We may be able to do both. But you are right, finding a way to ensure that power isn't abused, and is kept away from all… even our own… must be our first objective right now."
She nods before looking over at the animal, already thinking that the doctor and she will probably abandon that project… but she will ensure the creature survives… somehow.
She feels like utter crap.
Shit, trash, junk, garbage… and all the other analogies she can't seem to think up of right now because her head just hurts. The panda tries her best to not move or make a sound, but as she lets out a low groan that lilts up into an inhuman whine, she finds she doesn't care.
"Red?"
Rene freezes in place at hearing her nickname rumble up from the soft, warm presence beside her. Only now does she realize that someone's holding her hand. The handsome sound continues as the being beside her keeps talking. She only makes a decision to move when that voice starts to become panicked again.
"Rocket…"
She sighs heavily and slowly opens her eyes. As the fog lifts, she finds herself gazing wearily up into strong, warm brown eyes. Now, she knows that they are not alone in the room, and she knows that they all want some kind of verbal confirmation that yes, she's okay, and an explanation sometime of 'what the fuck happened'.
Unfortunately, she had no words for those deep, brown eyes. If she moved or spoke, they'd go away… right?
The spell is broken when Groot speaks up and waves a thick branch in her face, then proceeds to tickle her nose with a leaf. She crosses her eyes to stare at it before snuffling and moving to prop herself into a slightly-seated position.
"Man, we were worried about you there!" Peter speaks up, deciding to help his buddy out because Rocket looked like he was about to zone out on them too.
"Yes, small, red friend. You were surprisingly still and frozen for some time."
Rene looks up at Gamora with slightly confused and panicked eyes. Getting the message, Gamora helps to diffuse the drama for her by huffing and rolling her eyes.
"Oh please, it was like 5 minutes."
"Still… what happened?" Peter folds his arms across his chest and looks down at the small, red panda.
"Well… it would appear that I had a panic attack…" There is a bit of silence in the room, almost waiting for –
"How is it possible for panic to attack? Is panic a person? If so, how did-"
Rene giggles, and at this almost everyone else in the room relaxes. None of them were very good with sentiment, and all this was just plain awkward for everyone involved. The poor sods.
"Easy, Drax… don't go busting your brain there. A 'panic attack' is just worrisome and a little scary…" He still didn't quite understand, so she sighs good naturedly and tries to explain, "I was just remembering a very bad experience and my body reacted the same way it did back then…" his face was still blank, so she continues, "Like when you train to fight? Or practice with your knives? Some things become a reflex… I was thinking about something, and my body reacted on instinct."
"I see… like when you reach for your weapon that's been covered in the fiery liquid, and are pulling away before you feel the burning?"
Rene grins now, "Yes, that's exactly right."
Now here he frowns, "That is a sad thing you had to endure, then. Painful or frightening?"
"Frightening. I've had worse pain."
She hears a huff of air release from beside her and she now remembers that they have an audience.
And now cue the embarrassment.
"Um… yea… so that's what happened…" She answers while watching Rocket watch her. He's been silent this entire time, which she's not certain she's grateful for. "So… I'm okay…"
Her voice drifts off as she almost gets lost in his eyes again, but he looks anxious to remove them, so in an effort to reassure him, she lifts a clawed, brown hand and rests it briefly on his clothed, orange thigh and grabs his wide eyes then when she says softly and kindly, trying to put in all the relief and gratitude in her voice as she can muster, "Thank you."
Rocket reads into it and understands. He nods his head and quirks a smile, "Good thing, Red."
She purses her lips before returning a smile and retracting her paw.
Now that he's reassured, she chooses to address the room, "I may elaborate on it later… but right now I'm starving. Do we have pancakes?"
Drax vehemently agrees, and voices his decision to make them this time. Peter looks like he is going to faint in horror, and Gamora threatens that if Drax so much as touches the precious pancake softness, she'll dull all his knives before chucking them out the airlocks.
Groot hobbles over and wraps his 'arms' around Rene's neck and she rubs her furry cheek against his bark with a smile. But within her plant companion's embrace, she peeks through one, bright sapphire eyes and looks over at Rocket –
Grinning back at her.
Author's Note:
I have the gumption to write more, but my carpal tunnel's acting up. How fricking annoying. -_-
So I post this now, and I have the rest coming in a day or two.
Thanks for everything! Any Qs, PM me!
Kallen.
