Location: Bunker Neurological Research Laboratory
An old man in a white coat diligently wrote down recent test results. In front of the man was a brain in a jar. The brain had belonged to a dog, the experiment involved cerebral modifications of the brain, as well as running it through simulations. The old man was named Jackson, a 63 year old neurological scientist, before the war, he had helped find solutions to various severe mental disabilities, and the discovery of extrasensory abilities.
The door to the laboratory opened, Jackson looked over to see who it was. It was Evan, Jackson put his tablet down, and acknowledged him.
"Evan, wasn't expecting you" Jackson said matter of factly.
"The gene trooper sent out to rescue our scout has returned, but there was… not insignificant damage to its armor" Evan said, a bit hesitant, like he wasn't sure Jackson would believe him.
"Evan… gene troopers are encased in carbyne aluminum alloy, are you telling me that these bugs somehow broke through a material two hundred times stronger than steel?" A tone of unease was in Jackson's voice.
Evan cleared his throat, "Well, video footage from the troopers helmet shows a bizarre looking white bug… exhibiting extra sensory powers, this one being the one to cause the damage, this revelation caused Vilmire to… green light some previously turned down plans"
"So he is finally going to let me restart the Human Psionics Project?" Jackson said, a bit of hopefulness in his tone.
"Unfortunately no…"
Jackson scoffed at this, a bug shows enough extrasensory power to crack fucking carbyne plating, and Vilmire doesn't want him to find a way to match it. He knew Vilmire urged caution, but the threat was real.
"However, he did green light the proposed expedition to Blacksite 492"
Jackson perked up at this, that location stored much of the research into the field of psionics before the bombs dropped, while Jackson had some of the research at hand, it was not complete. Though this made no sense, if Vilmire didn't greenlight the Human Psionics Project, why would he green light an expedition to collect research for it?
"Do you think this is just so he gets us off his back?" Jackson asked, that was the only solution he could come up with, Blacksite 492 only dealt with Psionics, the chances of there being anything there beyond that were slim to none.
"I don't know Jack, but its something, considering your familiarity with the facility, as well as your experience in the field of what that facility did, Vilmire requested that you head the expedition."
"That wouldn't be too long of a trip, Blacksite 492 is in the Appalachian mountain range, if I recall this bunker is in the midwest, our monarchs should make the trip fairly easily" Jackson said
Monarchs were the evolution of Boeing's Osprey line of transport helicopters, the Monarch was much bigger, faster, had greater carrying capacity, thicker armor, and had self defense capabilities, such as counter measures, light railguns. It was a very versatile craft, and with their top speed of 350 knots, he could make it to 492 and back in good time.
"When do I go?"
"When Allen gets around to assembling a squad for you, likely going to be regulars, not to beat up on the scouts, but an operation this sensitive and far away from the bunker will require a high level of discipline, coordination, and fire power"
Regulars were, like their name suggests, full time military service members. While they were by no means anywhere near the level of a gene trooper, they were given augmentations. Better eyes, stronger muscles, thicker bones, better hearing, as well as a higher mitochondria count. Conscripts didn't get such augmentations due to the heavy resource and logistical burden that would entail.
"Understandable I suppose, if an insect kingdom can pop up here, it can pop up anywhere" Jackson said, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
"There were some interesting things recorded from our gene trooper in the field, beyond that weird white bug" Evan said
"Oh, and what would that be?"
"Okay… this may sound very strange, but… there were vanta black creatures, some with white heads, some weird floating ones, and one of them called the gene trooper, a 'sibling'"
"A sibling?" Jackson asked in disbelief, were these things on hallucinogens?
"It gets better, then when the gene trooper started running off with Julia, an even bigger black thing emerged and grabbed it by that was. The thing then proceeded to berate it like the thing was the troopers dad, before the trooper shot it in the face with its grenade launcher, and ran away" Evan said, barely containing a chuckle.
"Hmmm, I wonder what caused that reaction in these creatures…. WAIT! The things spoke in a way we could understand?" Jackson said, surprise evident in his voice.
"Yea… it appears that this thing is also capable of extra sensory powers, as Julia, the scout we retrieved said that the thing claimed to learn it from breaking into the scout's mind"
Jackson took a moment to process the information, then eased himself into a nearby chair, and sighed. Even after all this, Vilmire won't allow him to begin work on his Psionics project. Maybe the prospect was frightening to Vilmire, maybe he thought it was pseudo science, Jackson didn't know, but right now that wasn't important.
"The void creatures according to the footage from the gene trooper and testimony of Julia, believe that we are its family, for some odd reason. To them, we are just children, misguided children that need to be taught better. The reason given for this when asked by Julia, was because 'We had void in our souls'" Evan said, tearing Jackson from his thoughts.
Jackson put his head in his hands and groaned.
"For something with psionic powers, these things are mentally deficient" Jackson said, annoyance clearly in his voice.
"These things will come to 'save' us sooner or later" Evan said.
Jackson got out of his chair "Well then, let's hope this expedition gives us something we can work with"
Location: White Palace Meeting Hall
The Shade Lord and Pale King were currently talking about the situation involving the giant, which the Shade Lord claims is one of his children.
"I sent Hollow and Ghost to retrieve them, we had suspicions that you did something to them due to their white clothing" The Shade Lord recounted.
"You sent Hollow to retrieve the tall figures from the first sighting of them?" The Pale King asked.
"Yes, there were five I detected, yet Hollow was only able to bring back one, due to unwillingness to come wi-" The Shade Lord was cut off.
"YOU KIDNAPPED ONE OF THEM!?" The Pale King said accusingly. This would explain why the giant was reported to have one of the white clad figures with them during their return trip through the city. This wasn't an attack out of fear or spite, it was a rescue mission with collateral damage.
"I DID NOT KIDNAP HER! They are simply… confused, and afraid… I have to make it better, I have to"
"What makes you think they are void?"
"I detected it in their souls, though other elements are diluting it…. that is all I am willing to divulge." The Shade Lord said hesitantly.
"Have you ever had any contact with these new.. Erm.. siblings before?" The Pale King was confused now, these things were apparently void yet the Shade Lord, the literal god of the stuff never knew of their existence before now. They then responded with some level of either hostility of unwillingness to cooperate.
"No… I am ashamed to have been ignorant about them for so long" The Lord said, sorrow clearly in his voice.
"Perhaps this is evidence that not all void… wants to be in the Abyss-" The Pale King was cut off by the Shade Lord interjecting.
"SILENCE FOOLISH WYRM! Do not speak of matters you have no knowledge of" The Lord yelled angrily
"Ok… ok, how about we discuss making sure your…. Children, don't cause another incident"