Auric Gods

by ZafkielRagnarov

In a world ridden by chaos and catastrophe, a single sliver of hope was presented in order to solve this world's problems. With the promise of a all granting wish device that would alter the very fate of the planet, seven rose to the task to fight for their right to claim such an absurd device. At the end of the day, whoever wins will change the world forever.

2. Chapter 2: Old memories, new enemies

A roaring cascade of footsteps thundered through the halls as several shadows became visible through the distorted glass wall. As the figures assembled outside the door, the object quickly swung open with a loud noise.

As several unfamiliar faces rushed inside the room, Kingu could only feel a slight sense of fear and caution rise from within. Feeling the uneasiness of his partner, Enkidu sent a few calming thoughts the Doctor's way.

"Doctor….!" A woman spoke up with a surprised look on her face.

"Incredible, the body Enkidu donated really did bring him back to life." Another person said out loud.

"I don't believe it, the Doctor's back." Another said in awe.

"Everyone, please get a hold of yourself!" The woman with brown hair barked.

As the room fell silent again, the woman carefully approached the Doctor with a face brimming with curiosity.

"Team, prepare to fill in the necessary paperwork. I want every single detail recorded; we cannot squander this opportunity to study this breakthrough in the medical field." She said sternly.

"Who is she?" Kingu asked.

"Oh, her? That's Operator Silence, or just Silence. From what I've gathered, she's dedicated to her research in the medical field." Enkidu explained.

"There's so many people in this room, did they all work on me?"

"I would assume so. After I integrated my Saint Graph into you, I've been ill informed of the events that have taken place during my absence."

"So, how do we handle this?"

"Relax, it's not like they're going to bite. Actually, I take that back, Warfarin might leave a few marks."

"Huh!?"

"Doctor, can you hear me? Doctor, are you there?" Silence waved a hand in front of their face.

Blinking a few times, the reincarnated Doctor shifted their gaze towards the medical operator in front of them.

"Do you know where you are? Can you speak?" She asked him.

"Do we tell them everything?"

"I'd say only a few select things."

"I'm sorry, who are you all?" They spoke, the sound was that of a gender-neutral tone. It could pass as both male and female.

There was a collective gasp that filled the room as the men and woman glanced at each other with gloomy faces. There was no need to explain their expressions as they all knew what the Doctor currently suffered from.

"It seems Enkidu's warning was something we all prepared for. But this further complicates a lot of things, good grief it's going to be a long week." Silence sighed as she adjusted her glasses.

"There appears to be a few problems with our new Doctor. Don't you agree Operator Silence?" A girl with bright white hair piped up as she zoomed up to the Doctor.

"Whoa!" Kingu was startled by her sudden appearance.

"She's the one I warned you about, that's Senior executive Warfarin. Your and her have a dated history or so I was told." Enkidu giggled while explaining.

"The one that might leave a few holes in me? That's her?!"

"Yep!" Enkidu said.

"Nurse J, can you please record down that the Doctor has a case of Heterochromia Iridum. Right side is a mixture of light and deep purple. Left side is green." Silence instructed as she shone a small torch at the Doctor.

"Noted." The man replied.

"Pulse and vitals are green across the board. Respiration rate and blood pressure is steady, almost as if he was healthy anyway." Warfarin wore a puzzled look on her face as she took some mental notes.

"I advise we report the Doctor's return to Dr. Kal'tsit. She needs to know of our current situation immediately." Silence suggested calmly.

"I'd agree with you, but at the same time I don't. Maybe it's because I'm suddenly drawn towards the Doctor's new scent that's making my mind-Owwww!" Warfarin let out a yelp and began massaging her head.

Reeling back her clipboard, Silence merely sighed at the senior executive's behaviour. "Need I remind you Ma'am that the Doctor still has an active restraining order against you."

"I know, I know. You don't have to remind me." She hissed.

"Excuse me, but what about the other Operators on board? They too are eagerly awaiting news about the Doctor." A medic spoke up.

"So far the only people that know of the Doctor's revival are the ones in this room. And we all know the price that was paid just to bring him back. Since he's only spoken one sentence, it'd be best if we kept him her for the next few days until we touch down in Lungmen." Warfarin folded her arms.

"While I may not be a psychiatrist, our Doctor may be suffering from things not seen by the naked eye. Waking up with Amnesia is not a pleasant thing I dare say." Silence added on.

"I believe there's some things that needs to be cleared up here." The Doctor finally spoke again.

The room fell silent as all eyes fell upon the Doctor, as if he was the messiah all of a sudden.

"This heterochromia label you put on me, its merely a result of which personality is currently controlling the body. As you can see, both eyes are different colours, which means that both Enkidu and I are controlling this body. I know it may sound ludicrous, but both our personalities have seamlessly blended together for the time being." They explained slowly to the room.

"You have to be joking…" Nurse J spoke up.

"Fascinating, I've read about cases of Dissociative Personality Disorder, but never have I witnessed it in person." Warfarin stroked her chin as she eyed the Doctor up and down.

"So, are we really talking to the Doctor?" Another member asked.

The Doctor turned to the source of the voice and answered. "Right now you are, but you aren't speaking to just the Doctor. You are also speaking to Enkidu, both of us are present simultaneously for the time being."

"So how do we address you? If that's something that's going to be mothering you in the future?"

"I don't mind what you address me as, he or she, the topic does not bother me." The Doctor smiled wryly. "And since the Doctor you all know has Amnesia, it'll be awhile before I grow accustomed to this environment."

"Alright, I think we've spent enough time standing about chatting. I want the team to start compiling their notes together and typing up the report." Silence instructed her group.

"I guess I'll be in charge of looking after you then Doctor." Warfarin wore a grin on her face as Silence left the room in a busied state.

Smiling at the senior staff member, he could only wonder what she had in store for him.

"Since you've shown no other immediate signs of problems, I insist you stay put until we finish running a few more tests. Once that's done, you'll be cleared to at least roam the Island until we land in Lungmen." Warfarin told him.

"I…I appreciate what you've done for me up until now. Really." The Doctor bowed sincerely.

A sudden urge to ask for some form on compensation raced through Warfarin's head as the temptation was there. Since the Doctor was unaware of her true nature, she could try and ask for his blood since no one was around to stop her.

"Hnghhhhh!" Warfarin restrained herself physically as the offer was just too good.

"I suppose it may be asking too much, but do you think I can at least stay somewhere…less boring?" He asked.

The vampire tilted her head to one side while pondering on the request. "I suppose we can at least move you back to your office for the time being. Whether Miss Silence or Doctor Kal'tsit would approve, I am not sure. But, I see no harm in simply moving you down a few blocks."

"That would be wonderful." Kingu smiled happily.

"We better move you quickly though, as Miss Silence said, the other Operators are unaware that you're awake. Not to mention the amnesia problem, things are going to be a bit troublesome for the time being." Warfarin said as she took quick strides towards the door.

Punching in a few codes, the lock undid itself and the door swung open in response. Sticking her head out, she darted her eyes in both directions of the hallway. Seeing no signs of life, she pushed the door all the way open and prompted the Doctor to follow.

"How are you feeling?" Enkidu asked out of the blue.

"Me? Right now? I don't know. I honestly don't know how to feel. I feel so out of place, yet there's this warm familiar feeling at the same time." Kingu responded.

"Don't worry, I'm here to support you every step of the way." Enkidu reassured him.

"Thank you…" He replied in a soft tone.

"Doctor, pick up the pace!" Warfarin hissed in a low voice as the man lagged behind.

"Sorry!" He whispered while catching up to her.

Walking in quick strides through the silent metal corridor, the duo rounded a corner and continued walking. Every now and then, Warfarin would glance around carefully, checking to see if some poor soul stumbled across them.

"Your personal office is just up there. You'll find that it also functions as your room as well, just expect to spend quite of bit of time in there from now on." She happily explained.

"Doctor….?!" A soft feminine voice called out from behind.

Pausing in their steps, Warfarin was clearly startled by the voice due her reaction. As the two of them turned around, a loud gasp escaped from the stranger's mouth.

"Amiya…." Warfarin greeted her with a sheepish smile.

Getting a full view of the stranger, Kingu felt a sudden sensation reach his head. It was the same gnawing feeling again, as if he knew who this person was, yet nothing came to mind.

"Doctor….!" The young woman repeated as the tablet in her hand fell to the floor.

"Amiya, it isn't what it loo-"

Before Warfarin could finish, the young woman began moving. "Doctor!" Amiya screamed before sprinting towards him with her arms outstretched.

Unsure on how to react, Kingu simply stood there as she closed the gap and wrapped her arms around him. Feeling a tight grip around him, the young woman known as Amiya began to cry tears of joy.

"You're back! You're alive!" She exclaimed happily.

Shocked by her actions, Kingu stood there in silence as Amiya continued to cry into his chest. Clearly his past self-shared a close bond with her, but his past self was not here anymore. Instead, a new Kingu and Enkidu hybrid stood in the old Kingu's place.

As Amiya pulled herself away, she wiped away her tears and wore a relieved look on her face. Staring at the Doctor, a dozen questions began racing through her mind on what she should ask.

Yet before she could initiate the next conversation, she stopped herself as something was amiss with the Doctor. For starters, the eye colour the current Doctor sported had different colours.

On top of that, the aura surrounding the supposed Doctor was different, as if the person standing before her was a completely different person. It was at this moment when the realisation hit her, a key detail she had completely overlooked.

"Doctor…do you…y-you remember m-me right?..." There was a hint of pain in her voice when she asked that question.

Kingu stood there, unable to answer the question. Instead, he merely gave Amiya a gentle look as he was unsure on how to respond.

Glancing at Warfarin, the senior director refused to meet Amiya's gaze. Instead, she hung her head low in disappointment, giving Amiya her answer through her silence.

Realising the Doctor's situation, Amiya let out a shocked gasp and covered her mouth. Shifting her gaze towards Kingu, her eyes told him everything. Inside of the young woman, a small part of her heart broke.

"I'm sorry, Amiya. I….don't remember anything." Kingu finally said the words.

Hearing the words come directly from the man himself, she came to terms with the facts and accepted the old Doctor was gone. Yet at the same time, she appreciated the fact that the Doctor survived. That's all that mattered to her in the end.

Taking a deep breath, she bowed deeply and apologized. "Please forgive my actions earlier, I was stuck in some old memories…"

"No, no. Please, don't apologize for that." Kingu waved his hand.

"Amiya, we did everything we could…" Warfarin said in a low voice.

"Yes," she nodded. "I was aware of the consequences, yet I refused to believe it. But seeing it for myself, and hearing it come from the Doctor himself. I can now safely move on from the past, it's what the old Doctor would've wanted me to do anyway."

"Mmm, we can only move forward from now on. Staying stuck in the past would only chain us down and prevent any progress." Warfarin added.

"In that case, allow me to introduce myself Doctor. I am Amiya, leader of Rhodes Island. I look forward to working closely together with you." Amiya introduced herself.

"It's a pleasure Amiya, let's do our best from now on." Kingu replied enthusiastically.

Coming closer to Kingu, Amiya grasped one of his hands and held it firmly while giving him a determined look. "I promise to protect you from now on Doctor. No matter what, you can count on me to be by your side."

Kingu couldn't help by feel flattered by her words. "Mhm, I'll make sure of it then." He smiled happily at her.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to return to my previous duty. I promise to see you later Doctor!" Amiya said as she picked up her tablet and quickly scurried off.

Leaving the two by themselves again, Warfarin couldn't help but on a let out a sigh as a relieved look formed on her face.

"She's grown so much, she's not there yet, but soon enough she will be. I didn't expect her to accept things so quickly, but then again she's probably hiding all that pain underneath that smile of hers."

"Will she be alright?" Kingu asked her with a concerned look on her face.

"Amiya is strong, there's no doubt about that. She'll pull through, just give her time." She said confidently. "Enough chit chatter, let's get you to your room!"

/…/

"I won't bother you for long Doctor since I have to return to my work soon. Just take a seat while I collect your blood sample for my records." Warfarin pointed to the large couch in the room as she wondered through a door into a storage area.

Returning moments later with a small machine and blood bag, she approached the Doctor and began the extraction process.

"It'll sting a bit." She informed him.

Looking for a good vein to extract from, she removed the protective cap and inserted the needle in in a smooth manner. Extracting the substance slowly, the aroma of the Doctor's blood began to make the vampire's mouth water.

"Doctor…your blood…it's smells so good!" Warfarin exclaimed as her eyes signalled a thirsty look.

"That's nice to know." Kingu smiled wearily.

"Done!" She happily said while eying the blood sample with a hungry gaze.

"You'd better not have extracted my blood for the sole purpose of it being your lunch." Kingu pointed a finger at her.

"Huh?! Do you think I'd go so far as to lie to you just so I can satisfy my cravings?" She smacked the back of his head with her hand. Although she'd be lying to herself if she'd simply pass the opportunity to extort the Doctor for his blood.

"According to Enkidu, he says so otherwise." He replied with a smug aura that only Enkidu could radiate.

"Sheesh, if I could smack that clay puppet I would." Warfarin grumbled as she began packing up her things.

Kingu simply chuckled at the small banter, it was small things like these that made him feel at ease. It felt like he could finally fit in with the place, hopefully the others on board would treat him the same way.

"Remember now, you're not supposed to leave this room until either me or Silence give the all go. There should be plenty of things around here to keep you occupied for the time being. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She winked at him before exiting hastily.

Leaving him all alone, the Doctor reclined back in his seat and wondered what to do next. Perhaps he could walk around and inspect the room, maybe a small nap is in due order.

"You're adjusting well." Enkidu said.

"Mhm, I'm surprised as well." Kingu replied.

"Obviously we're going to obey our seniors' orders for the time being until they let us go. How do you suggest we pass the time?" The Servant asked in a curious tone.

"No idea, I see a lot of things scattered around the room. Maybe some exploring might reveal some interesting titbits about Rhodes Island." Kingu shrugged.

"Well, I think you'll find some interesting things in your bedroom for starters." Enkidu suggested.

Following the Servant's cue, Kingu immediately got up and began making his way towards the simple looking door.

Turning the knob and pushing it open, the hinges let out a small creak as light poured into the dark area. Feeling Enkidu take over casually to flip a switch, the room became illuminated once more.

Casually scanning the area, the bed was in minor disarray as the sheets were unkempt and pillows sprawled about. In one corner sat a desk with a table lamp on top together with notebooks lying about with their pages exposed.

On the other side, a stand piqued his interest as an odd-looking coat was dangling there peacefully, as if it were waiting to be worn by its rightful owner.

"Ah, I see you've found your signature coat." Enkidu pointed out.

"I used to wear that?" Kingu wore a puzzled look on his face.

"Indeed, rarely have I ever seen you take it off or wear something completely different."

"It looks….rather uncomfortable…." Kingu said while approaching the clothing.

"Your old self was rather fond of hiding your identity. You'd hide your identity out in the field and take the mask off once you're back at base." Enkidu explained.

"Was my old self that paranoid?" The Doctor formed a curious look as he inspected the coat.

Enkidu simply sighed. "Everyone has their reasons, your old self never told me why either. But that's in the past now, we can't change what has happened. You are here, you are Doctor Kingu of Rhodes Island, forge your new destiny here."

"You're right there, I think a change of clothes is in due order. This gown is beginning to embarrass me." Kingu sighed.

"Hold that thought, I recommend using our Transfiguration skill to simple replicate your desired clothing. That way, when we enter combat, you don't end up stumbling naked through the battlefield." Enkidu butted in.

Kingu raised a brow. "Transfiguration skill? What do you mean entering combat? Are you saying that we will be out there physically fighting?"

"To put it simply, yes. While I have no doubt the Operators of Rhodes Island can handle their fair share, there are beings that simply outclass them in every aspect." Enkidu sighed.

"We didn't tell Silence or Warfarin any of this did we? That I am a part of you, that I'm half a Servant in all retrospect." Kingu pieced the information together.

"Indeed, I figured it'd be best if we kept it from them for the time being. Even you yourself were hesitant on telling them. There's a reason why we should keep this hidden for as long as we can, your old self seemed to have upset a few people here at Rhodes Island, some powerful people. My arrival further added more fuel to the fire, but I couldn't piece anything together since I chose not to meddle in your affairs. But now, now it's a different story, and we'll have to play our cards carefully." Enkidu's tone was serious about the matter.

"Wouldn't this Transfiguration skills make it obvious?" Kingu asked.

"No, it'd be quite discreet actually. No

---

w hold your thoughts and let's change into some new clothes first." The Servant pushed him along. "I'll demonstrate it to you, you'll learn it like its second nature."

Feeling Enkidu take the controls momentarily, a wave of energy never felt before surged throughout his body. It was an exhilarating feeling, knowledge began to seep in as Enkidu's thoughts flooded in.

Activating the magic circuits within for a short burst, the hospital gown that Kingu wore began to glow and disappear and was replaced by a bright light source. Within less than two seconds, the results began to show as the light receded and revealed a complete wardrobe change.

Standing in front of a mirror, Kingu was in control again and admired his new set of clothes. While it looked odd and uncomfortable from the start, the design began to grow on him little by little.

"The Doctor is now back." Enkidu said.

"Now what?" Kingu asked.

"For starters, let's fix this hairstyle of yours. It might give the wrong message to everyone that its me that's walking around and not you. I reckon and style that separates us apart easily."

"Sure." Kingu agreed.

---

A few days had passed since the Doctor's revival, and word quickly went around like wildfire. While the medical team did their best to keep it hidden, the rumours eventually got the better of them and the rest was history.

While news of the Doctor's revival did spark a newly lit fire within the operators, majority of them showed uneasiness of having to work along side what was essentially a new Doctor Kingu.

Of course, doubt was contagious to the point Dobermann had to step in and lecture those few Operators. While it was a temporary solution, even the trainer herself was showing signs of scepticism towards the new Doctor.

"It seems I'm going to have to work hard to earn everyone's trust back." Kingu sighed as he sunk into his office chair.

"I forgot to tell you one key thing about your previous self." Enkidu told him.

Kingu raised a curious brow. "You forgot?" Doubt filled his voice.

"Why yes, I did, a blunder on my part. But to get to the point, your relationship with the Operators here at Rhodes Island has been a shaky one at best. While your old self was a great tactician and thinker, your methods and decisions would be best viewed as a ruthless commander." Enkidu explained with a sour taste in his mouth.

"Are you telling me?..." A knot began to tighten around his stomach.

"Indeed, you threw away lives in order to secure whatever objective was at hand. If it meant sacrificing an entire squad to extract a single person, you'd jump on it. To them, you were a cold ruthless commander. To you, they were simply numbers on a piece of paper." Enkidu grimaced.

"No way…." Kingu reeled back in shock, the knot becoming even tighter in his gut.

"I can understand why the Operators are wary of their newly reborn tactician. Most of them harboured some form of dislike towards your old self. Perhaps even news of your critical injury made them happy for a short while. But now that you-we're back, they still have that negative view on you." The Servant sighed. "Not that I can blame them anyway."

"Is that how it is?..." Kingu sighed as he dropped his head low.

"That was your old self, you're a new Doctor. As far as I can tell, you haven't revealed anything resembling your old self. Be glad, that the relationships you'll forge from here onwards would be built on hard earned trust."

"I guess so…but still, it's going to be a long road from here on now." Kingu pinched the bridge of his nose before glancing down at the set of reports.

Gathering the papers, he stacked them neatly on the designated pile and glanced at the now tidy table. Not much was on it save for a cup of pens and pencils, a computer monitor and lamp. Not even a picture or coffee mug was present, it looked rather depressing to the outside eye.

Hearing the door click, the locking mechanisms released themselves and swung the object open. Revealing a familiar face, the young woman strode in with a warm smile.

"Good morning Doctor!" She said in a gentle tone.

"Ah, morning Amiya." Kingu welcomed her in.

"I've compiled the usual daily reports from yesterday, have you sorted out the itinerary papers?" Amiya asked while placing the folder on the desk.

"Mmm, it wasn't much but I followed your instructions and finished it as quickly as possible." He patted the small pile next him.

Noticing the large stack of folders next to it, Amiya tilted her head curiously and wondered what they were. "Doctor Kingu, what's this?"

Noticing where Amiya was pointing at, Kingu promptly replied. "Enkidu suggested I go through the files of all the available Operators we have at Rhodes Island. Said it would help me start somewhere in understanding everyone here."

"I see, well it seems like a good way to pass the time at least." Amiya smiled as she panned around the desk. "Did anyone tell you that your new hairstyle suits you? I like seeing it in a bun."

"Heh, thanks, you're the second one to compliment my hair. The first being Warfarin." Kingu smiled happily.

"It definitely suits you, but has anyone told you that you look more of a woman despite being a man?" Amiya put a finger to her chin as she could see the Doctor as a potential crossdresser.

Kingu could only afford a half-baked smile. "You're not the first, I've heard it countless of times from the nurses, Silence and Warfarin."

Amiya let out a giggle at the fact. "It's different, seeing you like this. Normally you'd hide away behind your mask and hood, I prefer it this way."

There was something about seeing Amiya putting on a happy look, it made Kingu feel at ease. If anything, he wished to grow a deeper bond with her over the course of his stay.

"How are you feeling Doctor? Has everything been fine for you the past few days?" Amiya shifted the topic.

Kingu rested his chin on his hand. "So far everything's been looking fine. Silence and Warfarin have been telling me they are pleased with my condition; in fact, I should be cleared to leave the office today."

Just as the Doctor finished saying that, the door beeped again and swung open to reveal Silence standing there with a happy look on her face.

"Good morning Amiya, Doctor." Silence greeted the two as she strode in.

"Hello there, Miss Silence." Amiya greeted the researcher with a bright smile.

Stopping next to Amiya, the researcher raised a hand and began to pet the young woman. Clearly the enjoyed look on her face meant that head pats are a must.

"Doctor, I'm happy to announce that you're clear to roam the Island and fit for regular duty. I look forward to working alongside you in the lab soon." Silence declared.

"About time." The Doctor wore a relieved look on his face as he got up from the desk.

"I have to return to the lab now, please take care of him Amiya." The woman said before giving her one last head pat.

"Will do!" She waved goodbye.

"You said you wanted to introduce me to the top people of Rhodes Island. I think you just got your wish." Kingu gave an excited grin.

"Yes! Let's go right now!" Amiya said excitedly before taking the Doctor's hand and tugging him along.

As the bunny girl lead the Doctor down the corridors, she happily explained briefly where they were and facilities they passed by. From passing by the dormitories to dropping by the factories and trading posts, Rhodes Island definitely earned the title of self-sustaining.

Of course, the journey wouldn't have been complete without meeting new faces along the way, for the Doctor at least. As Operators introduced themselves in a respectful manner, there were those that displayed clear distrust from the get-go.

The trip took an interesting turn when the duo stumbled out into the open area facilities within the island. With the absence of tight corridors and instead an open space, the other citizens of Rhodes Island took advantage to set up what was essentially a small town in an artificial space.

"Impressive…!" Kingu mumbled to himself as she saw the streets bustling with activity.

"This is essentially a small gathering hub for patients and Operators alike. This is where majority of non-combat personnel and patients stay during their time at Rhodes Island." Amiya explained as she pointed to the various shops and stalls.

Kingu could only nod in approval as he continued panning around the area.

"Let's move on." Amiya gestured to him.

Leading the Doctor further through the complex, it wasn't long before they started taking elevators upwards towards the surface. With the tour coming slowly to an end, the last place left on the list was the Command Centre at the top.

Riding the elevator upwards, the doors sprung open to reveal one big room filled with screens as far as the eye could see. Personnel sat in chairs with their eyes glued to the screen and gave regular updates on anything out of the ordinary.

At the front sat one giant monitor handing out data for all eyes to see. This was the big screen, where all main events would be relayed to the person in charge.

At the centre of all this activity, a woman with deep purple hair stood out firmly amongst the other common folk. The stern look on her face and the strictness in her eyes immediately gave a hint as to what her personality was like.

"Inform the engine crew of the new course change, have the lower deck secure themselves for the manoeuvre. Have the navigators find other alternate routes to Lungmen, we can't afford to lose any more time!" The woman barked.

In response to her strong words, the crew sprung into a flurry as Operators began blazing away at their consoles. Phones rang and calls went out to the various departments on board while others began scurrying off with their designated orders.

"Oh my, this is going to be fun." Enkidu smirked.

"Eh?!" Kingu wore a wary face.

"Keep a watchful eye on the radar, we can't afford to get attacked like last time." The woman said.

"Ahem, Dobermann, I've brought Doctor Kingu to visit you." Amiya garnered the woman's attention.

Hearing the familiar voice, Dobermann's ears piqued up and she turned to the source. Seeing the face of Rhodes Island and the once brilliant tactician Doctor standing before her, she couldn't help but give a small salute.

"Pleasure to meet you, Sir! I am Dobermann, former military instructor of Bolivar." She spoke in a formal tone towards the Doctor. Shifting her gaze towards Amiya, she spoke again. "Now then, let's cut to the chase. We've already plotted an emergency course change Amiya. But this manoeuvre is going to cost us another two days since we have to circumnavigate the hostile terrain."

"Do we have any idea what caused this catastrophe?" Amiya asked as she joined Dobermann's side and stared at the giant screen.

"Earthspirit and her research team came back just a few moments ago. According to her words, this wasn't the work of a Catastrophe, rather it was something else of the same destructive magnitude or even higher." Dobermann described with a grim look.

"Something else, can cause this much damage?" Amiya wore a confounded face.

"Whatever caused this, it delayed our journey by two more days. We're already running behind schedule and this just had to pop up, tch!" The instructor formed an annoyed gaze.

"Instructor Dobermann!" An enthusiastic voice chimed in.

"Grani, what is it?" She asked the short operator.

"Today's combat reports and current manpower strength as you requested." Grani replied as she handed the files over.

"Thank you, you may resume your previous duties as usual." Dobermann dismissed her with a nod.

"Ma'am, an emergency signal has been picked up! According to reports, the signal has been transmitting for the last three days. The region is playing havoc with our sensors so we couldn't pick it up until now." A female comms operator reported

"Do we have the location of the signal? Who's transmitting it? Have they answered our hails?" The questions were rapidly fired from Dobermann's mouth.

"No response from the sender Ma'am, I've tried several times now but no response." A male recruit replied.

"Triangulation of the source has been complete; it seems to be originating from a small outpost a few miles west from our position. Pulling up satellite imagery now." The woman informed.

As the big screen mirrored her actions, the satellite image revealed a small cluster of houses making up a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. As the operator zoomed in, an even more disturbing feed brought itself onstage.

Littering the grounds near the settlement, an array of bodies lay sprawled about in a mangled manner beyond recognition. The only takeaway was that these bodies belonged to the inhabitants of the place, now there were just a withering carcass.

"No way, who could've done such a thing?" Grani cried out in shock at the images.

"No one, this wasn't the handiwork of a person. This was done by animals, plain and simple." Dobermann disturbed look on her face.

"It doesn't add up, where are the bodies of the animals that did this? Surely not all of them could've survived the attack?" Amiya pointed out.

"Unless we go down there, we can only speculate at this point." Dobermann said.

At this point, a single brave individual in the room immediately volunteered for the task. "Instructor, allow me to go out there and investigate the attack." Grani spoke up.

Dobermann shot the Operator a sideway glance before returning her gaze towards the screen. After a short pause of hard thinking, the woman turned her head and said. "Request Denied."

"I beg your pardon?" Grani looked at the woman with a shell-shocked face.

"There are too many unknown variables present, I simply cannot risk sending you out alone by yourself." Dobermann made it absolutely clear. "Besides, Rhodes Island needs every able-bodied Operator on hand in case we come under attack by him again."

"But, there cou-"

"That's my final order Grani, stand down." Dobermann cut her off before she could finish.

Holding her tongue, Grani put on a disappointed look and adjusted her visor. "Understood, Ma'am." She sighed.

"Can we not organize a scout team and use the deployment ships? Surely that would be the more efficient approach?" Amiya spoke up.

Dobermann exhaled deeply, "I have already considered that approach, but I received a disturbing report from ground crews. We only have one bird that is barely capable of doing a five-minute sortie. After our Chernobog emergency evacuation, we exhausted all our fuel supply trying to ferry the civilians away from the danger. Hence why we need to get to Lungmen, to resupply."

Amiya could on offer a disappointed look on her face, everything Dobermann said was true. Ever since their departure from Chernonog, they've been on the move constantly in fear of confronting him.

Standing still for a short time, the leader of Rhodes Island offered a silent prayer and apology to the fallen settlement. "Then, there's really nothing we can do." Amiya said in a low voice.

Meanwhile the Doctor standing in the room could only offer a blank look at the bleak situation. But deep inside, the two souls that cohabited the body had a sour taste in their mouth towards the decisions being made.

"Something's bothering you." Kingu poked at Enkidu, his observant mind caught onto the Servant's feelings.

"Without a doubt, this whole situation makes me feel uneasy. Some things just don't add up, we need to get to the bottom of this. This whole thing reeks of someone's doing." Enkidu stated, his voice riled up.

"You're saying that this wasn't the hand of nature's doing and instead someone else's? Despite Dobermann saying so." Kingu said.

"I am confident someone's hand played a part in all this, if you noticed earlier, the fact Rhodes Island had to alter their course due to the terrain changing is rather obvious. Their researcher themselves stated it wasn't natural, so obviously it was the work of someone." Enkidu deduced.

"You keep referring to a someone, as if you knew who was responsible for all this." Kingu pointed out.

"Mmm, I won't jump to conclusions just yet. The whole terrain suddenly being transformed into something else I can understand, but the lonely settlement being wiped out by a mysterious foe? It just reeks of suspicion." Enkidu agreed.

"So, what do you suggest? Should I object and say we organize a scouting party anyways?" Kingu suggested.

"Save your breath, instead I have another plan. We'll be gambling on a few things here, but it probably has a higher success rate than arguing with Dobermann here." Enkidu jumped straight to the point.

"Let's hear it." Kingu began forming an excited grin on his face.

"Well, it'll start off like this…" Enkidu began.

---

As the command deck brimmed with overlapping voices, its two prominent leaders were busy conversing in their own world as to how the future of this island would be handled.

In the back, the newly reborn tactician leaned against the wall with a blank expression on his face. As if the events that had just transpired were a bore to him.

But deep down, the gears of two brilliant minds began to grind rapidly and a cunning plan was hatched. Soon, all of Rhodes Island would be made aware of their new Doctor's personality.

The first phase began when the Doctor approached Amiya with a tired look. "Amiya, I'll be returning to my office now." Kingu spoke in a brief manner, as he walked up to her.

"Ah, Doctor!" Amiya replied with a startled look on her face. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

Kingu raised a hand. "That won't be necessary, you seem preoccupied with Dobermann here. I'll leave you two to it for the meantime. Besides, you know where to find me." He winked at her.

Taking his leave, the Doctor walked past Grani and gave the girl a warm smile. Exiting through the door, the plan was set in motion from this moment forward.

For Grani, this was the first time she saw the Doctor roaming out and about ever since she heard the news. But the thought of starting a fresh new relationship excited her, at least it would lift up her spirits.

Silently making her exit, she slipped out the door and hurriedly rushed down the hallway after the Doctor. All the while calling out to his name.

"Doctor! Doctor!" She cried out as she finally spotted the figure and closed in.

"Ho?" Kingu raised a curious brow and turned around.

Stopping dead in her tracks, the Operator panted lightly as she looked upwards and locked eyes with the Doctor. Vigour and excitement filled her face and eyes as she could finally talk to him.

"Doctor, it's great to finally meet you again!" Grani exclaimed.

Kingu could only respond to that enthusiasm with a big welcoming smile. "A pleasure to meet you Grani. But I do apologize in advanced if I don't recognize, I'm sure you must've heard the news by now?"

Grani nodded her head. "Mhmm, I know about your amnesia case. That's why, I want to formally introduce myself again. Mounted Police Officer Grani is here to protect you, from now on, you can safely rely on me Doctor!"

Kingu let out a small chuckle at the enthusiastic display. "Very well, I'm pleased to have you by my side Grani." He nodded and extended a warm hand.

Grani saw the gesture and immediately returned the action and grasped it firmly. "I promise to be your shield and lance Doctor!"

"I'll hold you in high regards then." Kingu said with a grin.

"So, are you going to retire to your quarters?" Grani inquired, there was a doubtful look on her face.

Kingu raised a brow, impressed by Grani's skills of analysis. "I'm guessing something else is on your mind. I wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts."

The Operator sighed, "I don't agree with Instructor Dobermann's decision to simply abandon that village. Call me dumb, but I have a gut feeling that there's someone still there, a survivor that made it through that massacre. I just know it!" She argued vigorously, but quickly reeled back and kept her head down, she felt like an idiot. "I noticed how you stood there, with a blank look on your face. Surely you must have a say in all this right?"

Taking a quick glance past his shoulders and panning around for any prying ears, the Doctor bent down and said in a low voice. "To be honest Grani, I completely agree with you. That village definitely is worth checking out, even I think something doesn't add up."

Upon hearing the Doctor's words, Grani's face completely took a 180 turn and her frown was replaced by a bright smile. "I knew it!" She pumped a fist into the air.

"Shhhhh!" Kingu quickly covered her mouth as to not draw further attention.

"Sorry!" She apologized in a muffled tone.

"Anyway, that makes the two of us. I have a plan, but I need an extra hand or so to make it viable. I'll get straight to the point; do you want to help me investigate this village? If you refuse, then I won't hold it against you." Kingu proposed the idea to her.

Removing the hand covering her mouth, a gleeful grin rose across her face. "What took you so long to ask?" Her voice was giddy with excitement, "Hah, I've only known you for a few minutes, yet I already like you a lot Doctor."

The Doctor took it as a compliment and blushed slightly, "Shush, I don't deserve such praise."

"Psst, hello there. I hope I'm not interrupting something important, hehe." A low feminine voice came out from nowhere.

"AAAHH!" The duo yelled out in unison.

Startled by the stranger, the two of them looked to the source only to find a beautiful woman standing there with a curious look on her face. Straight away, her tail began moving around in an excited manner.

"By the queen, what the hell was that for?!" Grani had a go as she placed a hand on her chest to calm her beating heart.

"Shhh, I'm sneaking about as to not make my existence a well-known one. Besides-oh, um, hi there! You must be the Doctor." The priestess pointed to Kingu.

"Yes, that's me. I'm sorry, but can you tell me who you are?" He asked politely.

"Ah, excuse my rude manners. I am Pramanix, Karlan Saintess at your service. I have come to lend my powers to Rhodes Island." Pramanix introduced herself in a humble manner. "This is a secret between us three, not many know I reside on this island. And if anything, I beg you to keep it that way for the time being."

As the Doctor and Grani looked at each other, they both exchanged silent nods and that was it. Clearly Pramanix's secret would be in great hands, seeing as the two aren't the type to break a vow.

"So, what are you doing running around like a silent priestess?" Grani spoke up.

"Oh that? I heard that the Doctor was roaming about and decided to see if I could catch him. And now look where that has led us." She said happily. "Although, I did hear a bit of your conversation, would you mind telling me why this plan of yours involves going behind Rhodes Island's back?" Pramanix's tail began to act up again, clearly, she was interested.

"We never said anything about going behind Rhodes Island's back." Grani lied.

"Oh my, you don't have to hide it from me. Clearly any plan involving opposing or going behind Dobermann's back has me interested." She clapped her hands together excitedly.

Kingu pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "I think we just found our other team member." A pleasant grin formed on his face.

"Does that mean I get to listen to your cheeky plan?" The priestess had a joyful expression.

Kingu raised a finger, "Depends, would you like to participate in this operation even though you know of the risks involved?"

"If it's something that gets me off this mobile rock, and potentially pisses of the higher ups, then I'd be happy to lend my powers to you Doctor." Pramanix stated.

Grani had an expression that mirrored a child at a candy store, "Alright, that's the three of us on this Operation. Will that be enough Doctor, or is there someone else you had in mind you wanted to bring along?"

"No, this is fine. We don't want to attract too much attention when we begin the next phase of our plan. If we can secure a transport without any problems, we should slip straight through those security doors and be on our way." Kingu explained.

"I got the perfect vehicle in mind that can get us to our destination." Grani informed the group.

"Good, gather your essential supplies in case things go wrong out there. We'll meet in the launch bay in ten minutes." He instructed them carefully.

Nodding silently in response, the trio immediately went their separate ways and began the next phase of the plan.

---

The second phase began without a hitch as the trio met up in the already bustling launch bay packed with their essential needs. Although, Pramanix went to the extreme measure to bring a large overcoat to mask her face as best as she could.

Kingu was no exception as he immediately decided to put his overcoat to use and hid his face behind the infamous mask his old self wore adamantly.

Talk about not drawing attention, almost everyone in the bay shot the odd-looking woman and man a glance once or twice. But the best thing about the workers was that everyone was too busy doing their own thing to give a damn.

"Over here, this is it!" Grani gestured towards the lifted 4x4 vehicle sitting calmly on the floor.

"Let's make this quick, don't want them to start questioning us." The Doctor hurried them along as he threw his bag into the open compartment.

"Dear Karlan, I pray for a safe journey." Pramanix chanted as she vaulted into the back.

"Now if I remember correctly, this key turns it on and I have to push this and that…" Grani mumbled to herself as she began fiddling around.

In response to Grani's meddling, the engine roared to life and the vehicle was practically begging to be used at this point. By now, half of the crew members had their attention drawn to another loud noise in the room and were getting suspicious.

"Oh shi-Doctor, someone's approaching us." Pramanix tapped his shoulder.

"Get us out of here Grani!" Kingu yelled.

"On it, hold on tight!" She said before mashing her foot on the accelerator.

Replying to her commands, the wheels spun and let off an ear-piercing screech. Lurching forward, the 4x4 zipped through the hangar bay as personnel rolled out of harm's way.

Zooming straight through the bay doors, the vehicle leapt off the raised platform and landed on the sandy plains. With the occupants grasping on for dear life, Grani had the time of her life as she guided the 6-ton machine through the wavy dust bowl.

Ploughing through the sand, the figure of Rhodes Island began to gradually shrink at a steady pace as the island headed in the other direction. It wasn't long before the on board radio was filled with Dobermann's furious voice.

"Doctor, Grani! What the hell are you two doing?!" She demanded.

Grani immediately picked up the device, "Sorry Ma'am, but the Doctor and I both came to the conclusion that we couldn't agree with your decision. Don't worry about us, we'll be back soon!"

"Wha?!...You'd better turn that vehicle around or else-"

Grani switched the radio off momentarily so as to not let Dobermann's voice disrupt their little journey. With the group speeding away from Rhodes Island at a steady rate, there was no way a pursuit team would be sent out.

"I predict that woman is going to throw some hands." Pramanix commented as she watched the rumbling island.

"Ah, she'll calm down soon enough. But I do wonder about Amiya though, you didn't tell her about this risky operation, did you Doctor?" Grani glanced at the Doctor.

"Haah!" Kingu gasped as he pulled back his hood and mask, "How the hell did my old self stand breathing in that?!" He collected his breath and answered the question, "Amiya huh? I deemed it unnecessary to tell her, besides she'll understand my actions according to what Enkidu tells me."

"Enkidu?" Grani and Pramanix exchanged confused yet curious looks.

Seeing their expressions, Kingu realized that they were unaware of the double personality disorder. Shaking his head, he sighed and wondered where to begin.

"You probably know how me, and Enkidu look familiarly alike, well what if I told you that we're both inhabiting the same body now?"

"Eh?!" The two operators exchanged stunned looks.

"How is that possible, are you telling me that two souls are living together?" Pramanix said in disbelief.

Kingu gestured to his eyes, "Pay attention to the eyes, if you see two different colours, that means both of us are present. If you see purple or green, then its either me or Enkidu in control."

Grani and Pramanix blinked in unison as they studied the Doctor's face. Sure what he told them was true enough, but the fact that two souls somehow managed to inhabit one body still surprised them."

For a brief moment, all three of them sat in silence with their eyes fixated on some part of the horizon. The afternoon sun slowly transitioning into its evening state and letting off a warm glow.

"So, how's Enkidu doing?" Grani finally broke the silence.

Responding to her question, Enkidu took full control of the body and turned his head towards her. "Well, I'm doing fine thank you for asking." The Servant placed a hand to his chest.

"Woah!" Grani let out a startled noise as she noticed the difference right away.

While there wasn't much difference in how Enkidu and the Doctor conversed, at least the eye colour really told you who was in charge.

"Good to see you again Grani." Enkidu winked.

"Oh my, I am quite happy to know that you're still with us Enkidu. It's nice to see you again." Pramanix greeted the Servant with a smile.

"Still keeping your existence a secret I see?" He raised a brow.

"Same old, same old." She waved her hand.

As the Servant was about to return the authority back to Kingu, a small glitter in the far distance that was barely noticeable. Partially squinting his eyes, he immediately recognized the object and felt an uneasy feeling form.

"Enkidu? Is something the matter?" Pramanix inquired as she noticed he had been standing still for a while now.

Snapping out of his short trance, he put on a weary smile and shook his head. "Oh, it was nothing. I was just distracted that's all." He brushed her concern aside.

Resuming his original objective, he handed the controls back to Kingu and the two switched place seamlessly. Within an eye blink, the irises shifted their colour to the heterochromia palette.

"You seem troubled." Kingu pounced on the topic right away.

"I…I saw something that only meant trouble." Enkidu grimaced.

"I saw it, you saw a weapon, etched deeply into the sand." Kingu said, "Does it have a meaning?"

Enkidu selected his words carefully, "We are currently travelling through what seems to be the remains of a man-made calamity. And there are only two things I can think of that can cause this type of destruction."

Kingu's curiosity only rose even further, "You know, don't you?"

"Maybe, but I don't want to jump to conclusions just yet. Then again, my suspicions have always been correct, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was him." Enkidu stated.

"Who is 'he'? Is this someone I'm supposed to know?" Kingu started to become annoyed.

Enkidu sighed lightly and said, "The person I'm referring to was the one that nearly killed you. His name is….Gilgamesh….and he's not hard to miss."

"Gilgamesh?" Kingu said in a dumbfound manner.

"Yes, he's the one responsible for putting us in this position. Heed my words Master, he is not a man to be trifled with. He may as well be the strongest being alive walking this planet." Enkidu snorted at the last part.

"Do I want to know about him?" Kingu asked in a deadpan voice.

"No, not now at least. I have a feeling we'll run into him soon enough. We always do anyways; except I predict our next encounter would be less than cordial." Enkidu said.

"I'll trust you to handle it then, partner?" Kingu asked.

"Of course, I'll fight for us to the very end." Enkidu declared.

As the two souls wrapped up their conversation, Pramanix and Grani were busy conversing with each other as to what route they should take to reach the mysterious settlement the quickest.

With the Doctor jumping in to lend a helping hand, the group managed to come to an agreement and cut the travel time down by an extra hour. With the village sitting some 200 miles out, the journey was going to be a long one.

/…/

Two hours passed and the time read out 4pm on the dash, there was still an extra hour left. During this time, the trio exchanged a series of stories, most of it coming from Grani and Pramanix.

As the two Operators told tales from their homeland, time ticked by at a decent rate to the point an hour felt like nothing. To the horizon, the sun began to slowly dip, and its rays let of a warm hue.

After what felt like an eternity of driving, the remains of what seemed to be a village and a tall tower began to appear. Edging closer, the group confirmed their location and sped on ahead.

"Finally, I can't wait to walk around again. All this sitting is killing my poor bum." Grani complained.

"May Karlan watch over us, I don't like the look of things." Pramanix said.

Fishing around his bag, the Doctor retrieved three gas masks and a pair of gloves and handed it to the others.

"We're heading into an environment where we'll be handling dead bodies. Not only that, the smell will be horrible, keep the masks on at all times." Kingu instructed.

"Understood." The two of them nodded together.

"Coming up to the village now, I'll stop us near this main building." Grani relayed.

"Oh dear, the smell, it's unbearable." Pramanix coughed as she slipped the gas mask on.

"Slow us down and set your mask on Grani. Don't want you passing out on us." The Doctor said.

"Ok, ok." She replied before slipping hers on.

As the vehicle drove into the outskirts of the village, the group pulled up to the largest building and promptly disembarked. Immediately, a chilling wind swept through the area as if they had entered a graveyard.

"My god…" Grani trailed off in shock as she finally saw the rotting carcasses.

With the finally setting, the night-time sky rolled on in and visibility dropped drastically. Pulling out a torch, the Doctor illuminated the area and began scanning his surroundings.

"These look like the handiwork of a pack of animals, somehow it reminds me of the wolves in Kjerag after a successful hunt." Pramanix uttered carefully as she shone her torch at another carcass with barely any flesh left on it.

"Doctor!...I'm getting the chills!" Grani exclaimed as she hurried up to him and stood awfully close.

"Scared?" Kingu teased her.

"Absolutely not!" She shot back, clearly pouting behind the mask.

"Come on, let's focus on the task at hand first." He patted her shoulder in a comforting manner.

"Jeez." She groaned.

After scanning their initial surroundings, the view was almost the same everywhere. Carcasses of belong to that of humans or ancient ones lay sprawled about but in few numbers.

Weapons that were clearly made from a decent manufacturer lay on the ground either in pieces or just lying in positions that made no sense.

"I don't like it, I really don't" Enkidu said.

Kingu could feel the uneasiness flowing through his partner, whatever he felt also made his gut tighten up. In response to this, the Doctor took a more cautious approach as he walked towards the first house.

"Seems like some sort of place the leader would've stayed at." Grani pointed out.

"Well, we won't find much standing out here. Let's head on inside and see if we can find anything." Kingu gestured to them.

Approaching the door, the dried blood stains flowing from the base and over the steps indicated an already unpleasant revelation. To call it a door was a mistake, a human sized hole had been blown through the top leaving the bottom half barely intact.

Having the Doctor take point, he went up the steps and tried at the door handle. Opening the barrier slowly, the hinges squealed in response. Another cold torrent hit the group as the deathly stench of aging bodily fluids tainted the room.

"Well, let's see what we have here." Kingu said before taking a deep breath and stepping in.

Panning his torch around, the light revealed the first floor to be some sort of office and dining area for the owner. Tables and chairs lay toppled over together with utensils sprawled erratically over the floor.

Clearly a violent episode took place here, with more combing from the group more disturbing information made itself relevant to the group.

"Karlan bless this young soul." Pramanix chanted in a regretful tone as she picked up a small bloodied doll.

"May they rest in peace." Grani's voice was grim as she shone her torch towards a family picture.

Kingu could only shake his head at the fate of the family, that was why they needed to find out who committed such casual butchery. Did the village truly come under attack by a pack of wild beasts? It would've been impossible for them to have been wiped out so easily.

"I found the radio transmitter; it seems whoever tried to send the message failed to do so. Instead, only a standard emergency signal was sent out." Grani formulated from just observation alone.

"Play it." The Doctor requested.

Moving a finger, the Operator pressed play on the automated recorder and waited.

At first, only static came which then subsided into a raspy voice belonging to a man. From the way he spoke, it seems the attack had already started, and things were dire.

"To anybody that receives this message, please send help! They're here, these things just attacked out of nowhere and none of our attacks are working against them!" The man begged through the recording.

"AHHHGH!" A loud scream filled the room followed by the man crying out in horror.

"Oh god, oh lord, HELP US! Send the army, send everybody! Please!" He pleaded.

With that, the recording ended abruptly as the last noise that came out was the low growl of a large beast.

After listening to the unsettling evidence, the prospect of the entire village being massacred by a pack of hungry beasts wasn't so far off.

"This can't be, that didn't even sound like a hyena or coyote. That didn't sound like something native to this biome." Pramanix informed them.

"Whatever it was, it sounded hungry. Just listening to that low growl alone sent a chill down my spine." Grani shuddered at the thought.

"Your thoughts Doctor?" Pramanix waited for the expert's input.

"Enkidu says this doesn't add up. Something's not right, and I agree with him." Kingu stroked his chin while looking at them.

"What's our next move?" Grani asked.

"Keep watch at the door, me and Pramanix will keep looking around for other clues. Just make sure our ride doesn't go anywhere." Kingu instructed her.

"Roger." She nodded.

As Grani hurried off to the door, the Doctor and Priestess resumed their hunt around the house for any other pieces of evidence they could use.

They needed something, something that could offer an answer to what kind of monster lead this attack. So far, only the deep gnash marks in the wood and walls indicated the creature had giant sharp claws, meaning it could be giant wolf or cat species.

"Doctor, look at this." The Priestess beckoned to him.

Joining her side, the woman held up a note indicating some sort of suicide fail safe. Something to do with igniting the gas canisters in each individual household.

"A last-ditch suicide attack, clearly they never got to use it." Kingu analysed the note before looking at the various switches on the table.

"Perhaps they knew of the beasts' existence and made preparations in case things didn't go as planned?" She theorized.

"Judging from the looks of things, it seems they didn't get very far in terms of plan B." The Doctor grimaced. "Still, I find it out that we haven't found a single dead body indicating a large animal. The only solution here is that the rest of the pack take their dead back with them."

Pramanix pondered on the behaviour, "Normally once a member has died off, the pack leave its body behind and mourn. But dragging the dead back with them, that means expending unnecessary energy really."

Kingu scanned the room some more, while nothing else of value was found to add to their search, it would seem some extensive theory crafting would be needed to fill the gap. And for that, Enkidu already had an idea come to mind.

"Enkidu says that what if the packs never came to retrieve the body? Rather, the deceased simply vanished." Kingu spoke up.

Pramanix blinked a few times as she heard those words, "Vanished? You're telling me these bodies would've simply decomposed into nothingness over three days?!"

Meanwhile at the door, Grani kept watchful eye through the hole and kept tabs on their only means of transportation. But something else caught her attention, something that wasn't there when they first arrived.

Glancing over her shoulder, the Doctor and the Priestess were busy exchanging wild ideas back and forth as to further develop this case. Looking back outside, she gazed at the spot on the ground that caught her attention.

Reviewing the information in her head, she was fairly certain there were no large footprint tracks embedded into the soft ground when they showed up. Either she missed it completely or was unaware, there were now a pair of large footprints lying about.

The sudden urge to investigate drove her feet, but she was explicitly told to watch the door and the vehicle. But another strange anomaly only piqued her curiosity as a low faint silhouette grabbed her attention.

Struggling to make out what exactly it was, she squinted her eyes in an attempt. And then that's when it hit her, she saw the shadow move. "Is that?...I swear I just saw something move." She said to herself while opening the door wider.

Throwing another glance behind her shoulder, Doctor Kingu and Pramanix were still busy theorizing in their little world. Perhaps she should investigate her findings and report back to them, at least it might lead them somewhere.

"It'll be a quick scouting run, nothing more." She told herself as she stepped outside into the moonlit night.

Readying her lance in one hand, she mounted the torch to her jacket and began approaching the mysterious tracks. Scanning her surroundings, she saw multiple footprints everywhere this time.

Confident that these weren't here the first time, an uneasy feeling began to rise within the policewoman. Brushing aside her fears, she pressed on with the confidence of an Operator and told herself it was going to be fine.

Yet Grani couldn't help but feel she was being watched this whole time, as if there were multiple eyes in the shadow, preying on her every movement. Maybe she was just hallucinating, she told herself several times.

Walking slowly towards the source of the shadow, she saw it move yet again, this time with more energy.

"What the-?" A confused look formed across her face.

Edging closer to the building, the silhouette was situated just around the corner and if she drew any closer, she'd find her answer.

Rounding the corner, Grani was greeted by a pair of large hairy feet planted firmly into the sand. Realising what she was confronted with, fear crept up her spine as she slowly raised her head to see the full picture.

Standing no more than a few feet in front of her, a towering beast that could be best described as a giant lion, stood there menacingly with its jaw hung low. The look in its eyes matched that of a patient hunter, and Grani had walked right into its trap.

"Oh shi-!" Grani yelled out but was cut off as a giant paw moved swiftly to cut her down.

Rolling backwards and jumping away, the Operator readied her spear but could feel her hands and knees shaking at the sight of such a huge beast. If there was one advantage she had right now, it was her superior speed. But how long would that last her?

Rising to its full height, the monster edged forward slowly while growling in a low manner. Saliva dripped from its mouth by the buckets, its stomach churning in anticipation for the meal in front of it.

Forcing Grani out in the open, the beast reared its head and let loud a thunderous roar that travelled across the entire village. Bearing its fangs, its eyes locked on the short woman and prepared itself to pounce.

/…/

"Surely there should be some survivors hiding within the village. Not all of them could've simply been wiped out." Pramanix protested.

Kingu shook his head in disagreement, "It's pointless to try and look for survivors, you've seen what these monsters can do. If they physically entered the homes and left a mess like this, I'm confident all we'll find is an empty house that reeks of the dead."

"Still, you can't be so su-" Pramanix stopped herself as the sound a thunderous roar belonging to that of a rampaging beast pierced the air.

"AAAGHHH!" A high-pitched wail followed shortly after.

"Grani?!" The Doctor turned towards the door and found no sign of her, "GRANI!" He yelled while moving outside.

As the duo exited the house hastily, they were greeted with an overwhelming scene that made them freeze in their tracks. Counting at least seven moving targets, that was seven towering behemoths of a lion surrounding them.

"Grani!" Kingu called out to her.

"Doctor, they just came out of nowhere!" She yelled while dodging yet another dangerous blow from the beast.

Jumping back, she re-joined the group at near the house and pointed her spear in a readied manner.

"There's four in front and the rest at the rear, they're going to tear us apart at this rate." Pramanix's eyes darted around as she analysed the situation.

Scanning the hostile environment, Kingu's mind began to churn its gears as a hastily rushed attack plan formed within seconds. Crude it may be, it was the only thing that might keep them alive once this was over.

"Pramanix, what does that bell of yours do again?" Kingu asked in a hurried manner.

"Basically, I can summon and control ice with it. Do you have a plan in mind?" The Priestess said as she readied herself for combat.

"The ground, make it so that these suckers have a hard time moving around. That's what's going to keep us alive." The Doctor instructed.

"What about me Doctor, I'm all yours." Grani said enthusiastically, the thrill of battle hyping her up.

"I heard that you're the fastest Operator on Rhodes Island, how does risky ice-skating sound to you?" A grin shot across his face.

Grani put on her battle-ready face, "You can count on me Dr. Kingu!"

"Pramanix, get ready to freeze the floor on my mark. Grani go wild, whatever you do, you absolutely must not die you hear me?!"

"Roger!" They replied.

Taking a deep breath, the sound of the dice being spun echoed in the back of his mind. Now all he had to do was make sure he played his cards right so everything would fall into their favour.

"Now, unleash your powers Karlan, Priestess!" Kingu commanded.

Responding to his words, Pramanix raised her bell into the air and began chanting the required prayers. "O divine one, lend me your strength once more. Himeal burst!" The bell rang once, and the temperature began to drastically shift.

Within seconds the sandy desert began to shift into an icy plain as the floor froze into solid ice and spread across a wide area nearly swallowing the whole town itself. Catching the savage beasts off guard, the wild animals struggled to gain their footing on this foreign terrain.

Without any cue, Grani spun her pike and leapt forward onto the ice-covered ground and used her amazing mobility to guide her around the hostile battlefield. Sliding gracefully across, she approached her first target like a homing missile.

Noticing the tiny figure approaching rapidly, the giant beast roared in anticipation and dug its claws into the rigid ground while leaving one paw free. Essentially anchoring itself to the floor, it raised its paw and swiped at Grani but missed her completely.

Ducking underneath the obvious attack, the Operator swung her weapon up and ran the blade through the semi-thick flesh of the underside of the monster with ease. Using her momentum, she slid straight underneath the behemoth and came out the other side.

Essentially leaving a gaping hole in its underbelly, the wound split open followed by a mountain flow of blood and organs spilling onto the frozen tundra and staining it. With the first beast down, the rest of the pack let out an enraged howl for its fallen comrade.

"Don't stop Grani! Keep taking them down before they adapt to their environment!" Kingu shouted at her.

"Understood Doc!" Grani replied as she skated forward towards her next target.

While Grani was busy handling the behemoths on the ground, the other three monsters prowled the rooftops of the village and closed in on the Doctor and Pramanix. Blood was in the water and nothing was going to stop these savages apart from a thick wall.

"Pramanix, on your left!" The Doctor pointed with his quick reaction skills.

"Karlan bless me, bring forth your Glacial Requiem!" Pramanix chanted as she rung her bell once more.

As the savage lion leapt across the building, it soared across the ground with both its claws ready to maul its targets to shred. But it was too late as a tidal wave of giant icicles sprang forth from the ground and impaled the beast from all sides.

But it wasn't over yet, the sounds of two more rhythmic footsteps echoed clearly throughout the field. Fortunately, enough, Kingu was able to think up off a plan to delay them from being minced meat.

"Wall, now!" Kingu instructed Pramanix in the direction he pointed.

Reciting another chant, the Priestess raised her bell and said in a loud heavenly voice. "Harken the words of Karlan, Gelid Barrier!"

Within moments of her chanting and ringing the bell, a wall of ice rose froth from the ground at blistering speeds and rose to protect the duo. Just seconds later, the sound of something large smashing into the barrier could be hear accompanied by a frustrated roar.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Kingu glanced over at Grani quickly only to find her dodging and weaving through her enemies like it was nothing. Her spear moved at frightening speeds as the blade pierced and slashed at the beast's multiple times in just a few seconds.

It was at this moment his instincts screamed at him to move out of the way now. Yet these weren't his instincts, rather it was Enkidu's reacting to the presence of an oncoming threat.

Realizing that he acted too late on the warning, a large shadow blanketed the duo as a stray beast came hurdling down on top of them. Feeling the controls in his arms and legs being taken away, Enkidu instead took the initiative.

Reaching his arm out, he grabbed a hold of Pramanix firmly and yanked her towards him. Stumbling backwards from the action, the savage behemoth was initially going for the Priestess but was denied its kill with the interference of Enkidu.

With the beast still bearing down on them, Enkidu decided it was time to break loose some of the seals and activated the once dormant magic circuits within their body. As the newly awakened prana surged with activity, the Servant didn't hesitate to use them.

As energy cackled around their arm, a large glimmer of golden light discharged itself from Enkidu's hand and shot straight towards the giant beast. Just one blast alone was enough to cut through the monster like a hot knife running through butter.

Scorching the monster from the inside out, the final result was the behemoth exploding into several pieces and raining its blood all over the place.

With the encounter over is less than a few seconds, it was hard for Pramanix to process what just happened in the span of such a short time. More importantly, the Doctor was currently clutching onto her like she was some damsel in distress.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

Pramanix looked at him and blinked a few times before answering, "Yes….somehow I am. Thank you, I can't imagine what would've happened to me if you didn't save me."

"You can thank Enkidu for that, really." He told her with a sheepish smile.

"In that case, I'll extend my gratitude to the both of you." She patted his cheek.

"Let's wrap this fight up shall we?" Kingu said while setting the Priestess down.

/…/

Zipping through her opposition like a raging hornet, the edge of Grani's pike found itself constantly piercing and slashing at the thick hide of the monsters. While their fur was extremely resilient, it wasn't impenetrable.

Closing in on two of the monsters, Grani lodged her weapon into ground and vaulted herself into the air. Catching the beasts off guard, she descended like a raven with her lance at the ready.

Letting gravity do the rest, Grani picked her first target and lined up her weapon for the final blow. Smashing into the behemoth's giant head, the weapon pierced through its skull and deep into the bowels of its body.

Killing the monster instantly, its partner jumped on the opportunity to avenge its brethren. Lunging towards Grani with its claws outstretched, it missed completely as the Operator leapt above it in one swift motion.

Executing the same move as before, Grani spun her body in a circular motion and came down on the beasts akin to a circular saw. Activating her pike's innate ability, the blade burst into a bright blue hue as raw plasma energy surrounded it.

Coming down on her target, the weapon instantly cut through the monsters' flesh like nothing and burnt several parts of its body in the process. By the time Grani landed on the floor, the beast had been sawed in half in a mere instant.

Eying her handiwork, the smouldering carcass of the behemoth lay in two as its fluids stained the rigid icy ground. Leaving one beast left, Grani looked around frantically as she had lost sight of it earlier.

Hearing the sounds of rapid footsteps approaching from behind, she quickly spun around and froze in place. As a large shadow dwarfed her little stature, it was the front row view of a giant mouth about to swallow her that made her freeze.

Raising her weapon vertically, the small frame was just barely enough to block the monster's paws and mouth from grinding her to dust. Wrestling furiously for control, it was proving futile as the behemoth proved itself superior. All she hoped now was for a miracle to save her in the form of the Doctor.

"Pramanix!" The sound of Kingu's commanding voice filled the air.

"Verglas Palisade!" The Priestess chanted in reply to the command.

Just as Grani thought she was going to be minced meat, a giant ice pillar erupted from the ground and smashed straight into the side of the giant lion. Creating a loud noise and shockwave, it sent the beast flying sideways and stunned it.

"Now Grani! Finish it off!" Kingu yelled.

Not needing another word, she sprung forward like a speeding bullet towards the shaken monster and readied her energy pike once more. Pointing the weapon forward in a manner similar to a cavalry charge, Grani let out a screaming charge as she ran the blade through the monster.

Running the weapon through its mouth and skull, the blade destroyed the brain immediately and burnt whatever remains survived the encounter. Effectively killing the monster, the battle was over, and everyone could breathe a little easier.

"I'm glad…" Kingu sighed as he gazed at his surroundings.

Just from looking at how these beasts fought earlier, it was painfully obvious that the regular citizens of this town just wouldn't have stood a chance. Even then, they would prove to be a troublesome foe for the Operators at Rhodes Island in overwhelming numbers.

"I think we found our culprit responsible for this village's massacre." Pramanix commented while stowing her bell.

"We may have solved this mystery, but I'm afraid this just opens up another can of worms entirely." Kingu shook his head slowly.

"Doctor!" Grani greeted loudly as she re-joined them.

Wearing a proud grin on his face, Kingu couldn't help but extend a hand and rub the Operators head as a form of appreciation.

"Ahhh, Doctor!" Grani squirmed at the gesture.

"Ah sorry, you don't like head pats do you?" He apologized.

Grani paused for a bit and looked at him with a shy smile, "I don't mind if it's you, especially if I'm being rewarded." She said.

"Ah, then let me continue!" He grinned before dishing out more head pats.

"My goodness." Pramanix chuckled at the scene.

Their victory was short lived however as a loud echoing roar pierced the night sky in the far distance. And not long after that, the sound of rumbling footsteps rivalling that of a stampeded drew closer to the village.

"Not good, this is not good." Kingu gritted his teeth together as he gazed towards the north west.

Sitting in that direction was a large mountain of sand and rocks and small dots of fast-moving targets that seemed to be overflowing from the mountain itself. Realizing what it was, it was at this point Enkidu told Kingu to leave the vicinity as fast as possible.

"We have to go, we need to leave, now!" He barked towards the two of them. "Grani, fire up the vehicle and drive us away as fast as possible!"

"Roger!" She replied without hesitation.

As Pramanix rushed over and climbed into the back, Kingu approached the mount before an idea popped into his head. Glancing back towards the house, he quickly dashed towards it as a plan formed within.

"Doctor?!" The two of them called out to him.

"Just get ready to go!" He waved his arm.

Bursting through the door, he raced towards the table with the suicide switch and began working the dials and buttons. Following the instructions on the paper, he activated the gas lines and detonation switch together with a one-minute countdown.

Setting everything in place, he raced back out the door and found the thundering footsteps of the demonic beasts drawing by the second. Climbing in the 4x4, Grani floored the accelerator and rushed off in the direction they came.

Glancing back at the village, the charging monsters closed in just shortly after they left and began prowling the area for the intruders. Counting numbers over the hundreds, it was impossible for them to survive such an onslaught.

-KABOOM!-

A swirling column of fire rose high into the night sky, making the moon lit desert morning once more for a short while. The shockwave caught up to the group and shook the vehicle vigorously and startled its occupants inside.

Speeding away from their handiwork, the explosion served as a delay to stop the horde from chasing after them and potentially following them back to Rhodes Island. With the mystery of the village resolved, it made Enkidu and Kingu wonder if they just found themselves in yet another hole.

"There's that troubled look on your face again." Kingu said.

Enkidu simply offered a weary smile, not bothering to hide his emotions. "Mmm, you're right there. I'm afraid things may have just become more complicated for this world."

"What do you mean?"

"Those beasts we just fought; they are not native to this world's ecosystem. In fact, they shouldn't even exist in the first place. Their magical energy belongs to that of the Age of Gods, a time long since passed." Enkidu shook his head in disbelief at what he was saying, "They're called Uridimmu, and they're not some savage animal, rather they're demonic beasts bred for pure murder."

Kingu blinked a few times and questioned the validity of the Servant's words, yet the fact these things roamed the desert and wiped out a settlement was pretty hard to refute. "Demonic beasts….why now? Why are they here, have they come back because the world willed it?"

Enkidu shook his head in a disappointed manner, "No….this is the work of someone else. As for who, I can only think of two suspects."

---

Hey there! Congratulations on making it to the end of this Chapter!

First off I'd like to clear up the whole personality niche going on with the Doctor and Enkidu. I drew the inspiration to make the Doctor a Demi-Servant as I felt it'd be a different way to write from this approach.

Secondly, I based their interaction through real life encounters and anecdotal evidence from people diagnosed with Disassociative Identity Disorder. In the Doctor and Enkidu's case, think of them sitting in a car. Kingu is the designated driver or "front" and is the main face interacting with the operators and controlling the body. Enkidu is also a driver, having control as well but follows Kingu's lead. At any point in time, Enkidu can take the controls when the situation calls for it or when he feels like it.

Now if you're wondering, "Wouldn't Kingu find it annoying if Enkidu simply takes control out of nowhere?"
To keep it simple, no. Since Enkidu shares the same the body, he has sort of the right to also surface from time to time and interact with others. And for story purposes, Enkidu won't simply take over when Kingu is busily talking to somebody.

Another thing I'd like to touch on is their interaction. Some of you may be wondering how can two souls/personalities be looking/touching each other? Well, its entirely possible and from anecdotal evidence that I've gathered it just happens. DID is a complicated matter and it differs greatly between person as far as I can tell.

If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer!