Cycles of Violence
"So what should we do now?"
The voice wasn't anything that anyone else would ever be able to hear without psionics, but Alley just rolled with it. She had been listening to sub-vocal communication all of her life, after all.
The Viper had wanted to take a hammer to the AI, but she had been convinced not to. It had taken quite a bit of persuasion. She was still seriously unhappy with both the situation and the fact that it had used Mark's seeming to talk to her. The small form that now clung to her neck, blending almost perfectly into her scales, was very persuasive. She didn't command, she suggested.
"Well, first of all, what do I call you?" Alley asked, fingering the scale where she knew the other was hidden. It felt like a regular scale. "And will scanners detect you?"
"Only if you wish or I am incapacitated." The other reassured her. "As for a name? I was half of Easer, we shared the same name."
"There is a lot of baggage attached to that name." Alley warned. "We didn't know for most of our lives that she died trying to save us. We were told she had done horrors to us and we blamed her for that. A lie, but a needed one to safeguard our lives. Mother loved her secrets."
"The Muton Shinaroa was a very capable being." The other said diplomatically. She didn't like the fact that the Muton had killed Easer, but she did understand why. "She must have known the truth would come out someday. The facts of what was done to you lot and the truth about what Easer wanted."
"I need to talk to my nest." Alley said slowly. "If I know them, they are on their way to try and rescue me. They won't care who gets in the way."
"You had a sub-dermal com." The other said slowly. "I cannot replicate such, but I can mimic it myself. Um, I hope that would work for you."
"I don't think secrets between us are going to happen." Alley said with a smile as she turned to the screens in the room and sighed as on activated and she saw Jane sleeping with the others. Herman sat beside her, his young face grave. "Those kids. Those poor kids. Can I help them? I want to help them."
"You are powerful, Alley. Just as Easer planned from the very beginning." The other sounded subdued. "But there are limits to your power just as there are to mine and there were to Easer's. I don't think so. The boy and the other natural born humans? Maybe. The clones. No." She gave a tiny sob.
"It might be more merciful to let them sleep until they pass away."
"That is the same as killing them myself! I can't kill kids!" Alley said weakly. "I can't! We have to try. Something! Anything!" She went still as screen flashed and an alarm started blaring. "What the-?" Something changed and she could see far more than the room she lay coiled up in. She saw nightmarish forms sweeping towards a familiar white thing that was rushing towards the station. She gasped as one wing opened. She knew what was coming. "Oh… shit..."
She put every ounce of her power into protecting her ears. Just in time. The blast was easily audible even though who knew how many walls. And whatever protections the control room had were not quite enough to prevent her blacking out momentarily. She came back to herself lying on the floor. She stared at the carnage that now surrounded the machine. Pieces of genetically altered sharks floated every which way. Most of said pieces were very small or mashed or both. Nothing moved except the white machine which was now slowly closing in on the sensor position.
"My nest! Get that com up!" Alley begged and she felt a mental acknowledgment. She spun to the other screens and saw humans all on the floor. Some lying as if unconscious, other in obvious distress. That sonic weapon had worked incredibly well out of the water. Under the surface? It was devastating.
"The AI will respond to voice commands." Alley's partner sounded just as shaken as Alley felt. That weapon was serious. And even if she did find some kind of defense? The last thing she wanted was to fight. Not here. Not now.
Alley moved to the screen and spoke aloud. "Show me the dolphins."
The screen lit up to show Ray, Sven and then others in some kind of formation in the small grotto that they Alley had seen. The calves and females were surrounded by the large bodies of the others and the weapons that had been mounted on each swung too and fro, seeking targets. "Let me speak to them." She commanded and a light blinked green by the screen. "Ray? Elder Sven? Talk to me! Are you all right?"
"Ally? You survived? What was that?" Sven demanded. "That felt like Thor's hammer."
"He was the God of Thunder, right? Close." Alley muttered. "That was a very powerful sonic cannon at near point blank range. It tore all of the guardians apart. Stay where you are. Protect your pod. I don't think these are enemies. I recognize the ship. I think they are my kin. They have probably come to my aid. I will see if I can talk to them."
"Powerful weapon indeed." Sven replied a bit absently. "Everyone has a headache from that."
"It hurt me here in the middle of the facility. I can't imagine how you feel. Are the calves all right?" Alley begged.
"They are fine." Marki spoke up. "Scared and ready to bolt, but fine. Glad you made it."
"Me too." Alley said dryly enough that every dolphin laughed with her. "I will try to keep you informed, but I bet my nest are bit irritated."
"If this is only them irritated, we do not want to see them angry. Go." Sven replied with a laugh. " We will deploy as a precaution, but hopefully not a needed one. Try to keep them from doing that again. I like my teeth where they are!" Everyone laughed at that as Alley cut the com.
"What word on that com?" Alley asked.
"I am sorry, Alley." The other said weakly. "I cannot access that frequency."
"Then we do it the hard way." Alley said sternly. "Do I have to stay here?"
"No, but..." The other sounded shocked. "Alley… if they shot at the facility..."
"They shot at the guardians." Alley corrected with a frown as she moved towards the door and it clocked open, Herman was standing there, face ashen. "Herman?"
"What was that horrible sound?" Herman begged. Alley didn't hesitate. She scooped him up and held him tight enough to comfort, but not tight enough to hurt as he fought hard not to cry.
"Facility, lead me where they will dock. I need to be there in person." Alley commanded and a line of LEDs appeared on the floor, they flashed in a direction she hadn't been yet. Doors opened as she slithered as fats as she could without jarring the boy. "Herman, it is okay. That was my family." Alley started off, careful not to shift the boy. "I bet they are very angry with your mother putting a slave collar on me."
"She what?" Herman asked, face very pale now. "No. She couldn't! She had to know that would make people mad."
"Desperate people do strange things." Alley said with a sigh as she saw a door marked 'Airlock'. "God, I hope Rachel tries the door before blowing it."
As if her comment had commanded it, the airlock opened and half a dozen forms showed inside, all with weapons in hand. Their armor was odd, different, but she knew their faces through their face plates. Herman buried his face in Alley's shoulder, but Alley felt elation rise. Her nest! And Colonel Kelly! All were staring at her, wide eyed. All of their weapons were ready and if she knew them? Off safe.
"Am I ever glad to see you guys!" Alley said with a nod as she slowly bent down and laid the boy on the deck. "Herman, be very still now." She kept her voice calm and loud enough to be heard. "These soldiers are very nervous and we don't want to worry them. So just, be still, okay? They won't hurt you unless you give them cause." She slowly laid herself out on the floor, arms wide out.
"Alley?" Marina's soft voice was coming closer as Alley put her face to the floor. Alley knew if she moved, she would likely get shot. Probably only stunned, but it would hurt. "What is going on?"
"A shitstorm." Alley replied. "Colonel, I need you to fall back. If you believe nothing else I ever say, please fall back. Secure the vehicle. You do not want to see what is in here. You do not! I did not."
"Alley?" The X-Com soldier asked. "The Lady said she heard you scream. She said it sounded as if you were enslaved. But there is no collar now."
Hands were searching Alley carefully. Not that she had anywhere to hide much on her person. A scanner whirred close at hand and Marina gasped.
"What did she do to you?" Marina demanded as gentle hands traced her neck. "This is a burn! She did collar you!" Marina snapped, rage singing deep in every syllable. Then again, Marina knew that feeling. Knew it well.
"She did. It burned off." Alley did not move as Marina checked the rest of her, even when the medic's hands tickled the underside of her crest. "Yes, I am still ticklish there, please stop that or I will tell Alina on you." Herman actually giggled at her tone and more than one of the others snorted.
"Tell me what?" Alina asked from close by. Alley grimaced. She should have guessed the Vipers wouldn't be left behind. "That my partner is a pervert? We all know that."
"Please tell me Ami's protections worked against the sonic weapon!" Alley begged. "That hurt like hell from this end."
"No damage." Marina muttered as her scanner whirred near each of Alley's ear holes.
"Yes, they worked." Ami spoke up, her pride pricked. "If Aroa or Ana had been wearing my gear, they wouldn't have been hurt." She was doing something, probably something tech related. Not good.
"Alina, Ami, Adika! Don't try to access!" Alley warned. "This place has defenses on top of defenses and an AI that has three different conflicting primary programs." Ami gasped and Alley continued. "Yeah. It is mess. It gets worse." She warned.
"Alley, your readings are all messed up." Marina said softly. "What happened?"
"Something both wonderful and horrible. I am going to do something and I don't want to get shot." Alley said quietly. "Is Arisha here?"
"She was helping run the ship." Marina said quietly. "She and Jesse refused to be left behind this time."
"Stubborn female. Sounds familiar." Alley still had her face plastered to the floor. "May I show you what happened?" She paused and then spoke quickly. "The boy is an innocent. He was exposed to educator energy. Quite a bit of it." Marina gasped and Alley continued. "Please check him gently, Marina."
"On it." Marina said quickly and her scanner whirred again. When she spoke again, it was cheerful to hide her fear. "I see. Boy? What is your name?" She asked gently.
"Herman." The boy said weakly. This his voice turned sly. "Are you going to eat me? I know where I can find some salt." He asked and then giggled again when everyone groaned.
"Herman, be good or I will spank you." Alley commanded.
"Yes, Matron." Herman said with a gulp.
"Matron?" Everyone said the same thing. Alley was just as shocked.
"I am not a matron, Herman." Alley said with a very small shrug, since she knew she was still covered by at least two weapons. "A? I am not human. B? I am not in charge of anything."
"That is what the machine said to call you." Herman said and there was utter silence in the hallway. He gulped again. "Uh… I am sorry?" He tried.
"Not your fault, but I would have preferred to find a better time to explain than this." Alley said sourly. "Yes." She said to everyone. "I took control of the facility. I didn't know you were coming and the guardians were autonomous anyway. Were." She said grimly. "You made a hell of a mess."
"They wouldn't back off." Cable sounded pleased, but then again, he liked things things that made big booms.
"You are lucky you didn't kill anyone or everyone with the over-pressure of such a weapon from such close range." Alley snapped. "What is the second rule of the range?" She demanded.
First rule? Every weapon is loaded. Even when unloaded, they were to be treated as loaded. Second rule? Know your target and what is behind it.
"There wasn't anything behind the facility, Alley and it was made by the Elders. One sonic blast wasn't going to damage that." Cable protested. "It is built into a sea bed."
"There are females and calves of a dolphin pod that the Elders enslaved here, Cable." Alley said grimly and everything stopped again. "They are intelligent. Tell me, pray tell, what would happen if a high powered sonic weapon were to strike an aquatic mammal? Even a mature one?" She snarled when no one spoke. "And that leaves aside the fact that they live in a natural cave underneath this place. Sound plus limestone, Cable! Can you spell 'seaquake'?" She demanded angrily. "Did you even bother to scan the area for life signs or were you just happy to play with your new toy?"
"Uh..." Cable swallowed hard. "No excuse, Ma'am."
"Oshina is not here, is he?" Alley demanded. "He would have hit you for that." Everyone murmured agreement. Even Cable muttered softly, incredulous. "Two hundred. Now. Ana, don't let him lose count or he does it again from the start with you on his back in full gear." She commanded.
Vipers were not that heavy, but they were not that light either with all of what the nest took into the field and seeing as how Cable was likely already in human full gear including armor? Ouch.
"What is he…? Uh..." Herman broke off whatever he was going to say as Alley felt a shiver in the floor as Cable hit it and started counting out slow push-ups with Ana doing the same. "Um."
"Discipline is what separates soldiers from a mob, Herman." Alley said flatly. "Cable did something that could have killed us all. The facility might have survived. The people in it or under it? Not so much." She sighed and relaxed as best she could as Marina sighed deeply. "Marina?"
"You know. Are there more?" Marina said softly. Alley chanced a nod and no one took offense. "Oh damn."
"Yeah. Most of them worse off than him." Alley said softly. "I am going to sit up and touch him, Marina. I need you to keep your scanner on me when I do."
"Okay." Marina drawled that out to at least four syllables as Alley rose slowly. The Viper coiled herself automatically, trying to ignore the four weapons aimed at her. Colonel Kelly hadn't moved.
"I have seen pictures. That kid looks like Vahlen." Colonel Kelly said slowly. Alley did not react but Herman did.
"What did she do to you?" Herman asked in a long suffering tone. Everyone looked at him and he shook his head. "I know who you are and Matron Alley is right. You do not want to see what is within here."
"How old are you, boy" Jane sounded almost punch drunk and Alley could relate.
"I will be two in a month." Herman said quietly. Everyone stiffened and he nodded. "I know what was done to me. I know things I shouldn't. I know I am dying, just like all the others."
"No, you are not." Alley felt a great calm settled over her and anticipation came from her partner as she reached for the boy. She took hold of his hand and focused her power on him. The molecules that made up the tumors inside his body resisted her, but she fought them as she fought any enemy and then, slowly eradicated them. Marina gasped as Herman did. Alley smiled at the boy. "No, you are not."
"Um." Herman stared at Alley as she gave his hand a squeeze and then released it. "What did you do?"
"I destroyed the tumors on a molecular level." Alley said quietly as she coiled herself back up. "You will need help. Such things leave damage that I cannot heal easily, if at all."
"How?" Marina and Herman both gasped that. They stared at each other and Alley had to stifle a smirk.
"I don't know." Alley admitted. "Easer planned this all along. This power, she apparently built it into me to be able to manipulate substances at the molecular level." Marina was staring at her, wide eyed and Alley nodded. "I talked a bit with the Lady and I asked her. Yes, I could." She said softly. "But it wouldn't be him."
"Alley..." Marina said weakly, but everyone else looked confused.
"I am not the Elders, Marina." Alley said firmly. "I may be able to create life as well as destroy it eventually. But that doesn't give me the right to enslave another. Sure, I could probably make an exact copy of Mark. But it wouldn't be him. It would be someone new. Someone who I took choice from." She shook her head. "No. I won't. Ever. Colonel, I need your word. If I ever, and I do mean ever, act out with this power, you must strike me down."
A pin dropping might have sounded like an artillery shell in the silence that fell in the corridor.
"Don't ask that of me, Alley." Colonel Kelly said softly. She wasn't quite pleading.
"Then who?" Alley asked, nearly in tears. "Oshina? I bet I can recombine genetics now! That is about the same level if finer control. I can make monsters, Colonel! Just like the Elders! I know the basics and I am sure I will learn more than is good for my sanity."
"Well, well, well..." A familiar, hated voice sounded and Alley turned to see a group of humans, all armed with familiar weapons. All of them aimed at the group.
"What have we here?" Jackson asked with a smirk.
