Within the deep levels of the renowned Ember-17 facility, Lazarus has been cornered. He faced worse odds earlier. As the group moved closer to him and shouted, his eyes narrowed. The viper was weary of fighting. His entire world broke around him. The Elders' are false. His mentor stole him from his family; his family was murdered. What else does he have? Some spear and a necklace.
As the female viper of yellow and tan shouted at him, he could not see her very well. The bright lights were preventing his eyes from adjusting quickly. She repeats the order several times as they move towards him. Yenta got within a few feet of him and reached out to grab the spear from him. As she moved closer, she lowered her rifle to reach forward. His violet eyes quickly locked onto her green, emerald eyes.
She almost felt time stop around them as she locked eyes with this viper. After what felt like hours, she finished her movement after Jackson spoke. Cunningham and Jackson moved closer to the viper and go to detail him. They noticed as he does not fight back at all. Cunningham moved behind the viper and slipped his long forearms into the tightly fitting cuffs. His violet eyes look almost dim.
Yenta stared at him, watching his eyes drop down to the floor, lost. His body is covered in marks from the battle, with blood being all over him as well. Jackson put a muzzle over the mouth of the viper to make sure that his long fangs never get put to use. Travis spoke up, noting the odd behavior of the male viper.
"Something makes me think he found much more than a spear here."
Lazarus looked at the sharpshooter with a mysterious look in his eyes. He never even tries to make a sound. The viper is pushed forward by Jackson, being given no respect. He does not expect it anyway. Richard holds the viper's right arm and Jackson on the left one. Lazarus is almost lifeless as he moves with X-com. Yenta never stopped staring at him, holding the odd spear. She never even looked at the spear, keeping her eyes on the black and red viper.
Travis came and softly put his hand on her shoulder, pulling her a small distance away from the viper. "Hey, don't let him go to your head. I know he's your kind, but we cannot take any chances- he killed Alex."
Yenta nods profusely, trying to think clearly. Feeling that odd chill around the hands of the viper almost made her dream. Slithering forward, she quietly replies, almost aloof, "Sure."
She watches as the rest of her team pushes the viper around, taller than any of them. She moved closer to him again and just looked at the details of his figure. The horns around the edge of his hood, meeting the scaled body of his. Without much armor on him anymore, she can see his wounds—the grizzly wound in his side and the many scratches on what remains of his armor.
His coils are just massive compared to hers. His size and musculature are just incredible. Yenta ignored the carnage around them, just keeping her eyes on the viper. She is entranced almost, unable to look away from him. Her emerald eyes danced about his obsidian scales, where the black meets the crimson red. She nearly started to daydream when they came to the elevator. The entire team crammed into the shaft, and it rocketed upwards. As they got back into the radio communications range, Jackson quickly radioed to command.
"Menace 1-1 to Command, we were unable to acquire the asset, but we got something better." The chest camera footage on their armor will be up for inspection. Tygan surely would want to watch it.
"What did you get then? Fire-Brand is en route to exfiltrate."
"How does one Lazarus sound?" Jackson spoke with a cocky nature, flaunting his false victory over the serpent. He surrendered, not bested.
As the team steps out of the elevator, they shoved Lazarus out and move him towards the door. Yenta stayed a little behind with Travis and Michael.
"What is going to happen to him, guys? Surely we won't kill him?" She was audibly worried. She cannot help but care for him. Natural, instinctual care for him was within her heart.
"I do not know. Whatever happens, we have to keep our heads straight." He said and looked at both of them. "I know that you lost Alex to this viper, but he rebelled. This could be a real win for us." And he turned to Yenta, which is slightly taller than him when at her normal posture. "And we cannot place blood above water. We may not be blood, but we are family." Both of them nodded and followed the detained viper.
It did not take long for the SkyRanger to arrive. It landed a short distance away from the main door and opened the rear hatch for them to enter inside. The whole squad quickly got inside, sealing the door behind them. The heat was warmly welcomed by the team, especially both of the vipers. Lazarus did not express it, but he is freezing. If he stayed in that facility for much longer without finding warmth, he might have perished.
The craft takes back off, allowing for the several hour flight to begin. Jackson sits on the innermost bench, closest to Lazarus. They have him under close watch by everybody. But when the flight started, Yenta just could not take her eyes off of him. She hardly even knew that she was doing it. She was snapped out of her trance when Lazarus raised his head and looked at her. She quickly looked away, which was noted by the squad.
Richard leaned back in the bench, still keeping his weapon pointed at Lazarus. "That was not too hard. Could make a trophy out of this one!" He chuckled, which was joined by Jackson.
Yenta's deposition instantly changed. From her cold and silent nature to a wave of flaming anger. "Don't you even joke, Richard! He may be the only male viper still alive!" She said, gripping her rifle rather tightly. Everybody in the craft looks at her in confusion, even Lazarus. His glazed-over eyes were replaced by a much brighter pair, as his head tilted in confusion.
Richard was slow to respond. "I am sorry, Yenta, I was just kidding."
"Yeah, you better be." She quickly hissed in return, crossing her arms over her chest. Lazarus keeps his eyes locked on her, wondering why she did stand up for him like that.
The flight was long and uneventful after that point. Hardly was a word spoke over the next two hours. Lazarus would only either stare at the ground or Yenta. He was oddly mesmerized by her. He was lost in his thoughts most of the time, wondering how much of what the Warlock said was true. Did he have no family left, save for his treacherous mother and cowardly brother? How could he even consider them his family?
As the flight was nearing an end, Jackon stood up in the bay. "I know we all had our moment earlier, but we need to stay together on this. The enemy wants us to be divided, but that is our strength. We all come from different places. Cities and farms, hospitals, and…. Hatcheries." He said, looking at Yenta. "Whatever happens, we need to stay together. For the good of Earth."
The squad all agreed, and Yenta smiled at Jackson. Maybe he has come around to accepting her in the team? Whatever would have changed his mind is beyond her. She can only hope that his statement is valid, and she can keep improving.
Just as Jackson sat down, the SkyRanger was landing, causing him to sigh deeply. Jackson and Cunningham lift the motionless viper and lead him out of the craft. Yenta moved in with the rest of the squad as several security teams take the viper and lead him below deck. Yenta quickly slithers to the bridge and does not find the Commander. Being bold and having something urgent, she dares to venture to his quarters. With a small series of knocks, she hears a voice within.
"Come in."
Yenta quickly entered the room and saw the Commander sitting at his desk, and he spun around to look at her. He dressed in his usual outfit, being that of an older X-com flak jacket and old pants. Formalities are low.
"My, you sure are in a hurry." He said, noting just how fast she entered the room. He saw the haste in her eyes.
"Sir, something odd happened on the mission."
The Commander sat up a little bit more straight, which there was hardly any more than he could have. "Well? What was it?"
"When we ran into Lazarus, I just… got lost. It was almost like I blacked out when I looked at him. What… what does this mean?"
The Commander sighed and ran his hand into his greying hair. "Well, it is certainly natural, Yenta. No, you aren't going to be kicked out of X-com because of you feeling something. If that were the case, Travis and Kath would have been gone a while ago." He chuckled but quickly reverted to his serious state after seeing Yenta in such a complex mental problem.
"Look, Yenta, how is this: if you ever feel anything more for Lazarus, just let me know, okay? I do not want to know all of the details, but just let me know." He said, watching her emerald eyes being laden with worry. There are a lot of things she has never done before, such as be attracted to anybody.
She nodded and quickly left the presence of the Commander. He sighed once he was alone again, but it did not help her much. As she slithers down the hall, she was lost in her thoughts, going back to their quarters. Never before as she felt like this for somebody. Maybe she needs to talk to Kath about it.
As she got back to the bunk-room, she quickly changed out of her armor. Nobody else was there, so she took the pleasure of having some privacy. The viper changed into a long-sleeve shirt, which has some pre-war rock band design on it. She looked around, now familiar with the layout of the room. Spending so much time here allowed her to not feel as awkward around her teammates.
As time passed, Yenta reclined in her bunk, reading from a book. She found the book during a mission in one of the city center's slum districts. The old hardback book has seen better days, but Yenta loves reading it. Watching the words jump off the page to her was incredible.
Eventually, the room was flooded with the whole squad as they return from escorting Lazarus below deck. He was secured in the place that Yenta once was in. Yenta closed her book and asked, "So how did it go?"
Travis shrugged softly as everybody takes off their cold armors. "Good as it could have. He still has yet to say a single word." He says, placing his rifle on the spot above his bunk.
Jackson grabbed a towel and a change of clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Richard and Michael were loudly discussing what movie they were going to put on tonight. The argument eventually included Yenta, but she knows almost nothing of the film they are talking about. The only things she has ever watched have been here.
"So Yenta, action, or horror?" Richard inquires, holding up two different movies. One of them is quite old, while the other one is newer, by the looks of the film's cases.
Yenta could only shrug. "What is a horror movie?"
Both Michael and Richard look to each other and agree on the horror movie, and Michael proudly states: "Tonight, you will learn."
The time passing into the night was very uneventful. The Avenger started her long flight, moving to a completely different sector, making for a slightly turbulent ride. Having to evade ADVENT patrols in the skies, avoiding the heavily surveilled border walls, and the ship's mechanical issues all made for a bumpy ride.
Eventually, as the ship landed in a dense forest, close to one of the Lost Cities, the night was falling. Alpha squad was all assembled in front of the large TV they have in the room. Some old movie about aliens is playing, with Yenta watching intensely. Kath and Travis are sitting next to each other on the couch, with a blanket over both of them.
Just as a suspenseful moment was coming up, Richard spoke up, "Ah, this is a good part!"
Yenta quickly hushed him, remaining intent upon the movie. "Shush!" With the rest of the team joining her.
As all of the squads in X-com relax for the night, having earned this, the lower decks are not as lively. Tygan, Shen, and the Commander are standing outside of the room that Lazarus is within. They are trying to decide what to do.
"Yenta has already proven that vipers can change sides. Who's to say that he has not already?" Shen suggests being more accepting of the vipers.
"This is, perhaps, the most powerful soldier ADVENT has cooked up aside from the Chosen themselves. We cannot take that kind of risk." The Commander replies, wanting to accept the idea but worried about the risk.
"If we could tame such a soldier like Lazarus, this could turn this into a winning battle," Tygan states, putting his hand to his chin. "In my time in ADVENT, things like him were a myth, a legend. Working in the darkest shadows, silencing voices before they ever spoke. Many called him an Inquisitor, seeking out the resistant souls."
"Inquisitors are the most loyal, determined servants of the Elders. How could we ever trust one?" The Commander asks, looking at both of them. His sunglasses are neatly folded in the chest-pocket of his.
"He has nothing left to lose now. When they found him, he was alone, surrounded by countless dead ADVENT. No regular viper could have done that. And he attacked the Hunter when we took Yenta." Shen answers him.
"But how could we know that he will not work out of his benefit?"
"If he cared about his safety, then he would not have stormed a facility all by himself, killing dozens of enemies," Tygan affirms, joining in the opinion with Shen.
The Commander sighed, crossing his arms. "I guess I have some work to do then, don't I? We should meet our new resident." He said, moving to the heavily secured door. The metallic frame is lined with dozens of locks, bolts, and mechanisms. It would be difficult for a berserker to escape such a prison.
The Commander put his hand on the scanner, and the door began to hum softly. The electromagnetic locks disengaged, and the bolts retracted. The heavy door slid to the side, revealing the inside of the room. The room is separated, with half of it being provided as a cell. It was going to be used for the VIP, but that quickly changed. The section is bare. With just a singular bed, and toiletries Lazarus has no luxury.
There is a large table where the room is split and a window. The Commander walked over to the table, accompanied by Tygan and Shen, and sat down there. The cell was rather dark, with the orange light shining down into the room poorly. On a rack within Tygan's lab is everything they found on Lazarus. His armor, his weapons, and that spear. The only things they allowed him to have were his necklace and clothing.
Lazarus was sitting at the table, looking down when they came into the room. The Commander spoke, with his voice being projected through the speaker into the cell. "Lazarus, I presume? I am-"
"I know who you are. Everybody knows you, Commander. From the Elders to the insurgent- everybody knows you." He said, with his head being raised, and looking into the grey eyes of the Commander.
"That makes introductions short then. What were you doing in that facility?" The Commander asks.
Lazarus sighed, looking down again for a moment. Remembering his purpose was troublesome. "As I told the Warlock: I was going to find the truth. I spent years serving the Elders as an Inquisitor, finding even the most hidden rebels, but it never felt… right. No matter what I told myself, I always found the wrong in what I did. When I saw the Hunter attack that viper, I could not stand for it."
"What made you change?"
"I felt like a hypocrite. I killed countless innocent lives just to forward the will of the Elders. And I saw the Hunter try to take one life of my people, and I felt dirty. I never questioned it before, but at that moment- I knew it was wrong."
"Who are you loyal to?"
"Nobody, I guess. I have no banner or colors to fly. I only wish for my people to be free from the torment of service to the Elders. When I raised my sword to kill the Hunter, I knew there was no going back. But when I separated his head from his shoulders, I felt… free."
"How can we trust you?"
"You cannot. I'm a viper. I do not deserve your trust, nor do I expect it."
"What do you plan to do with your freedom?"
"Fight. Both of our kinds fight for a power they know not. Millions flocked to the centers, obeying the will of the Elders. And my kind never had a choice. I never had a choice. If I am given a chance, I will fight the Elders fang and scale, to save my people."
"You may get that chance. Get some rest." The Commander said and stood up, quickly leaving with both Tygan and Shen. The door locks behind them, and they all stop outside.
"What is going to happen, sir?" Shen asks the Commander, with Tygan asking the same thing.
"I may take a risk."
As the night rolled on, the movie was nearing a finale. The protagonist seemingly escaped the monster in the space ship, trying to relax on the escape pod. Yenta was simply captivated. She could not stop watching this movie. The pillow and blanket she held were tight against her figure as she watches on. Several others have fallen asleep as the weariness from the battle set in. Travis and Kath are both asleep, along with everybody save Yenta and Richard. The older man tends to stay awake quite a bit longer than the others. Whenever they would land at a resistance camp, he would put his medical skills to great use, healing, and helping the insurgents.
As the credits rolled on the movie, Yenta sighed and shifted. Richard finishes the last of his drink and says in a whisper, "Not one of my favorites, but a classic indeed." Yenta smiled and nodded, being grateful that such stories are not real. At least, she hopes they are not real.
Richard turned the TV off and went over to his bunk. Yenta sighed as she slithered back towards her own, which lays next to the door. Beneath the door, where the small gap is, she swore that she saw a faint, blue light moving. She stopped in her tracks and hesitated. Yenta moved to the door and opened it, and looked down both ways of the hallway.
When she looked left, there was nothing, save the light of the moon. Looking right, she saw a fading blue light as it went down a different hallway. Yenta did not give a single glance back into the bunkroom as she starts to follow the light. She sneaks around, trying not to alert whatever she sees. As she got to the corner, she sees the light fading down a flight of stairs.
Continuing to follow it, she sees it moving deeper into the ship. Without a single question, she continues her chase. Deeper and deeper into the craft, she went, reaching the bottom deck. She follows the light into a tight hallway, which she sees turn one final corner. Cautiously approaching it, she peeks around the corner, just in time to see it go into the cell-block. She sees what looks like a viper's tail moving into the room.
Not worried that there is a prisoner, she followed into the room, wanting to see what the light is. The cell-block is entirely dark, and she can see what she was chasing before her is an odd light, a psionic projection of a viper, male in fact, standing before the cell's button. It looked at Yenta and moved through the door. Slithering closer, she saw the ghost of a viper move into the prisoner, and he gasped awake. His violet eyes blazed brighter than a star.
As Lazarus sat up, he saw Yenta in the darkness. Her bright, green eyes are hard to miss. He postured up slowly and sat down at the chair again. "Have you come here to mock my calamity, viper? I have the cold as my torment; I don't need my kin betraying me."
Yenta shook her head profusely. "No! No… I saw something, and I followed it down here." She said, not understanding what she perceived.
"What did you see?" He asks, tilting his head. The male viper is wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, which helps with the cold somewhat.
"Some blue light. When I got down here, it looked like a ghost of you."
"Of me? Surely something brought you down here to me."
She shrugged, moving her tail around awkwardly. "The humans don't trust us, Lazarus."
"You know me?"
"Yes. Do you not remember when the Hunter shot at me? You saved my life."
"Yes… I suppose I remember that. The day everything changed." He said, looking away for a moment. "So, why did you come down here? Really? Surely not some fantasy of the mind tricked you into coming here?"
"Are you an Inquisitor? Like the kind who silence entire camps in minutes?"
"I was."
"Why did you rebel?" She asks, looking into his eyes.
"Same reason as you. When I saw the Hunter fire at you and…"
"Kath."
"Kath, I just felt something within me. The call to do something. I questioned myself at that moment. Would I allow somebody to murder my kind, in the name of loyalty?"
"When we fought that battle in the town when Jensa fell, I lost faith in the Elders. If we could not stop five humans from destroying a relay, what could they do?"
Lazarus nods, finding somebody that agrees with him.
"Why did you surrender to us?"
He sighed deeply, trying to find out himself. "I had nothing left to lose. The Warlock told me that my family was murdered and that I have nothing left. After there was nobody left to kill, I was aimless, hopeless…"
"Then join us. Together, you and I, we can save our people." She said, moving closer to the glass and the controls for the cell.
"I have enough blood on my hands. How could I switch sides again? I went from fighting for the Elders, to against them, and to fighting for X-com?"
Yenta nodded, finding no fault in it. "Yes, fighting for a cause, to free the world. Not just our kind but everybody. Imagine a world where vipers could live in peace."
"You are just dreaming, Yenta. Even if we defeat the Elders, we still have to prove to the humans that we are not evil. Then after that, to the other races. There is no end to our struggle. On every front, we have to fight."
"Then, we will fight. I would rather die fighting than to lie down and accept it." She said, being a few inches away from the glass, with her breath fogging the glass somewhat.
Lazarus sighs, looking away for a moment. "I've fought for this long, might as well keep going…"
Yenta hissed with excitement as her hand moved over to hit the release button. She did not finish her action as the lights in the room soon blazed with life. She looked to the door and saw the Commander walking in. "Corporal, what do you think you are doing?"
"I was just-"
"No, no excuses. What. Were. You. Doing?" He said, asserting himself, standing on the other side of the controls.
Yenta looked down and sighed in defeat. "I wanted him to join us to win this war.."
"Are you sure that is what you were talking to him for? Or was there something else?"
Lazarus moved from his position, moving closer to the glass, far more curious now.
"Or were you breaking rank, trying to act on your own will?"
She stuttered for a moment, trying to find something to say. But she could not find it.
"Yes, sir... "
"That's what I thought. Head back to your quarters. It seems I have more talking to do." The Commander said, grabbed the chair from the table, and sat down there, with Lazarus returning to his own. Yenta reluctantly left the room. Once the door closed, she swiftly moved back up the flights of stairs, trying to return to bed. She will have quite the story for Kath tomorrow.
The next morning rolled around without a single word. Everything continued like the events of last night never even happened. Yenta was so incredibly nervous about it; she felt like she would get thrown off the ship because of her actions. But as breakfast passed by, her squad began to notice.
Jackson finished a bite of his cereal and asked her: "You alright there, Yenta? You look like you've seen a ghost." She nodded without saying anything.
Travis adds, with Kath in the seat next to him, "Yeah, you have not said a word yet. What's up?"
It was painfully easy to notice that something is under her scales. When her standard scowl has been replaced by anxiety and worry, it gets seen very quickly.
"I just did not sleep well last night."
Richard and Michael boh chuckled heartily, if not a bit too much. "Movie got you spooked?"
"Yeah. I guess so."
The moment Yenta finished her breakfast, she quickly got up out of her chair and slithered out. Entirely unlike her. Kath set aside her food and follows after her. It took some haste to keep up with the large viper, but she soon caught her on one of the platforms that look out over the wasteland.
"Yenta! What's wrong?" She said, stopping next to her as Yenta leans down on the bar.
Yenta sighed. She looked around for a moment before moving back to her white and black companion. "I made a mistake last night, Kath. I went down to the cell-block, and I spoke to him."
Kath looked at her and tilted her head. "What's wrong with that? I'm sure-"
"I almost let him out. I was overwhelmed by a… desire. The Commander barely was able to stop me in time."
Kath groaned softly, knowing that something serious is wrong. "And you expect punishment for it?"
"How could I not? I read some of the records, and Lazarus killed several operatives in his years of service. Above that, he is an Inquisitor!"
Kath shushed Yenta softly, not wanting everybody to know that about the viper. "The whole crew does not need to know that. If the Commander has not killed him yet, then there is a reason. The same thing with you. Just relax, and trust me, okay?"
Yenta nodded, and she moved to hug Kath. They shared the moment in awkward silence for a moment before they broke apart. "We need to stay together like this. If we are going to beat ADVENT, we cannot hide things from each other, okay?" Yenta nodded more and more, trying to clear her mind.
"I know, I know. That is why I went down there in the first place. I just want our people to be free, and having him fighting with us, could change everything." She confesses.
"I know, Yenta. He was like us. He will take some time to change." She said and smiled, showing the bottoms of her fangs past her chiseled scowl. Just as Yenta would have responded, Travis walked through the door, coming out to the platform.
"Ah! There is where my viper went." He said and moved up to Kath's side and was very close to her.
"Your viper?" Yenta asks, crossing her arms softly.
Kath looked away for a moment. "Yes. I found something more to fight for." The viper smiled weakly and placed a brief peck on Travis's cheek. After that, Kath quickly slithered away. Travis looked at Yenta and chuckled. "Hey, things worked out."
"I know, Travis. It was not hard to notice." She said, stifling a chuckle.
"Hey, maybe in time, you'll get with somebody like Michael or somebody."
In the back of her mind, a name was shouted out. A powerful desire in the heart of her soul. Lazarus, a character like no other.
Yenta felt like she would have said something after a few moments, but a loud noise interrupted her thoughts. She saw the floodlight flash red and the alarm blare just once. That typically means for the entire faction to get together, for the Commander as an announcement.
It took a while for everybody to assemble in the hangar. It is the only place that everybody can be together.
The Commander stood on several boxes, standing above everybody just enough to be seen by everybody. He saw that everybody is here and he started with a sigh.
"Pretty much none of you are going to agree with me, but that is my job. I am going to use Lazarus against the enemy." With that one statement, there was murmuring in the ranks, but it was quickly silenced. "You all already know how useful both Yenta and Kath have been to our cause. Imagine what we could do with a soldier like Lazarus." Some random grunt shouted in the ranks: "Yeah, he could kill us!"
There were a lot of voices that agreed with him. "I know he is quite powerful. One of the most refined soldiers the Elders ever created. I spent all of last night and this morning talking to him. From what I can tell, and I am never wrong about character, he seems honest. I never saw a person as defeated as he was in that facility."
He looked around at all of the nasty frowns he is receiving. "But, he will go through a test, as all of you did. A rite of passage. Major Jackson, you have been selected." Selected for what is an excellent question. What will he be doing?
"Instead of running the Course, Lazarus will fight Jackson. The first one to tap or get knocked out loses. Best on best. The best soldier ADVENT ever produced, versus ours."
The event did not take long to set up. There was almost nothing to set up. The multitude of soldiers made the edge of the fighting ring, and the deck made the ground. What else was needed for a fight? Within just a few minutes, it was all ready to go. The entire crew was silent as the viper was brought out from the depths of the ship.
The black and red viper was brought to one side of the ring of people, and they all stared at him. His violet eyes moved around, looking at all of them in the eyes. Most of them could not hold eye contact with him. His posture is quite a bit taller than everybody around, threatening to dwarf all of them if he tried. He is not wearing the ornate armor he once did—instead, a simple white shirt.
"No bell, no referee, just fight." The Commander said, moving down from his crate, moving closer to the fight. Yenta and all of Alpha squad watch in silent anxiousness. They saw what Lazarus did to Alex, and now he is fighting the best of them. If he can beat Jackson, he can beat anybody here.
Jackson was forced to take off his armor and have no weapons. They were separated by about ten feet when the Commander came through the crowd of people. The Commander raised his hand and dropped it, yelling: "Fight!"
Jackson was already in his fighting stance, and Lazarus did not move an inch. His scales did not budge a single movement. Jackson moved quickly and threw a right hook. Lazarus watched the fist almost in slow motion. He was wondering if he should fight or not. If he wins this battle, he has to fight for X-com. If he loses, who knows what would happen.
As the fist came closer, Lazarus made his choice. Lazarus clenched his left fist and parried the punch. Lazarus instantly moved into a counter and drove his right fist into Jacksons' stomach. The sound of the impact was harsh, but Jackson was undeterred. Jackson's left fist was already connecting with Lazarus's chin before he felt the punch in his gut.
Lazarus did not flinch at the punch, nor did he move his jaw at the force. With a bit more adrenaline in his veins, Lazarus goes on the offensive.
Lazarus moved his fist like lightning into the defenseless squad leader's nose. The punch rocked his head back, and he soon shifted to defend himself. Lazarus did not let up, though. Giving a combination of headshots and body blows to the human. He was moving so fast that Jackson could not switch his defense in time for each blow. Any time that Jackson could get a punch through the precise flurry of attacks, it did nothing. The scaled beast was continuing on his assault.
Jackson rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Lazarus's lower torso and taking him to the ground. Lazarus instinctively wrapped his coils around the human and flipped them over. Without a second to spare, Lazarus continued on his assault. He was throwing punches and elbows down to the human. His coils constrict around the human's legs and push into his lower stomach, taking more of the air out of him.
Jackson is getting wearier. Despite getting hits on Lazarus, he just keeps fighting. Each punch slipped past his wavering defense and struck him. With each strike, his head was rocked back and hit the metal ground. Jackson swung and got Lazarus with a cracking uppercut.
The viper paused and looked down at him. He hissed angrily and moved his hands onto Jackson's throat. His long, four-digited hands wrapped around his throat and started to choke him. The crowd began to yell and shout as he looks to be trying to kill Jackson. The human loses color in his face as his hands struggle to get the cold, reptilian hands off of him. After his face turned blue, his bloodied knuckles reached up and tapped three times on the viper's forearms.
At that very moment, he let go. Lazarus removed the grip from his coils and everything from him. He turned his head and spat onto the ground, leaving some dark purple blood and a tad bit of liquid nitrogen in the blend.
He postured up and extended his arm for the human to take it. Jackson was still gasping from being choked so severely. He stared at it for a moment before he hesitantly accepted it. With a firm grip from both of them, Jackson was lifted. Lazarus patted him on the shoulder and looked to the Commander after letting go.
The same guards that brought Lazarus out of the depths of the brig once again returned to him. The crowd is silent- not a murmur nor a word. As the binds were replaced on his arms, he was led back through the multitude of men and soldiers. As he was moved along, Lazarus made eye contact with Yenta and held it as long as they could see each other.
As everybody began to disperse, Jackson went up to the Commander alone. "Sir, does this mean what I think it means?"
The Commander nodded slowly, folding his arms behind his back. "Yes, Major Jackson. Do you still trust me?" He asked him, staring past his sunglasses.
"Yes, sir. I used not to believe that we could work with aliens. Seeing how Yenta changed to fight for us was remarkable. Even if I hate losing, I still trust you, sir." Jackson said and gave the Commander a salute before walking away. The Commander returned the gesture.
Lazarus was returned to the cell-block. He slithered into his cell without issue. If he only becomes a method for X-com training, it is still a better fate than servitude to the Elders. His binds were removed, and he sat down on his bed. The viper pulled his white shirt off, which has some blood on it. Lazarus set his necklace on the table that he has and slithered into the shower. Turning the hot water on, it took quite a while to reach the desired heat. Lazarus sighed as she slithered into it.
Lazarus spends the time to wash thoroughly. He misses the luxury of the Star. Once he can, he is going to call his ship back to him. He at least wants his personal belongings from the craft, namely his clothing. All of these human outfits fit him poorly. He would never give the Star to X-com, as that is his home. He would never leave it in the hands of another if he could.
Lazarus closed his eyes as he felt the rushing, burning water over his scales. One of his few feelings of peace of mind. The viper scrubbed his scales thoroughly, making sure to remove everything from his body. He had not showered since that night in Ember-17; he desperately needed it. Maybe his wretched scent is what won that battle for him.
He continued to boil in the shower for nearly half a house. His strict military mind urged him to get out, but his aching muscles cried a different plea. After his musk was removed, he simply relaxed in the heat of the water. Fortunately, he has quite a lot of privacy here. Not like anybody else is in the cells, aside from him.
After almost an hour nighs, he turned the water off. Lazarus looked down for a moment, letting the water run across his hood and horns, dripping down to the floor, into the drain. His red bottom scale looks to have small stripes of white running along the edge of his colors. The colors dance between each other as it gets further down his coils. Lazarus lifted his head and shook his head.
Slithering out of the shower, Lazarus looked for something to wear. As he searched among the ill-fitting clothing, he used the bland, white towel to dry himself. He folded the towel neatly and replaced it on the rack next to the shower. He picked up his necklace and replaced it upon his bare chest. He sighed as he resumes his endeavor for clothing.
The viper was unable to find anything that would comfortably set with his scales. As he sighed and laid down on the bed, he heard the door open to the block. He sat up quickly and saw Yenta. He sat up and watched her come closer. She is wearing casual clothing, with no armor to speak of. She came up to the door and softly said.
"I watched the fight. Nobody likes the result." She said, almost sorrowfully.
"I know, Yenta. I don't care what people think of me. I went too long worrying about what the Warlock thought of me."
She nodded, looking back to the door for a moment.
"You fought well, so I thought to reward you." She said and reached out and unlocked the cell door. It opened just a few inches wide, and she slipped her hand inside, holding a small bag. The duffle bag was dropped inside, and she relocks the cell door.
"Clothing doesn't fit us all that well, but I found this during a mission."
Lazarus got up from the bed and lifted the bag. He set it on the table and unzipped it. Yenta smiled widely as she watches him open it. Upon opening the bag, Lazarus lifted out a long-sleeve shirt that looks to be the dimensions of a viper! He stuttered for a moment, wondering where this came from. "How did you-"
"I don't know if the Elders were going to try to humanize vipers to society and mix us in or not. Either way, I found this in a small facility. Thought it might be useful sometime," she said, crossing her arms behind her back. "There is not much in there, but I figured a few shirts would suffice."
Lazarus was still stumped, but he soon nodded to her. "Thank you, Yenta. A lot of my clothing is still at my home, as well as my stuff. Maybe someday I can go get them." He said, smiling faintly. Nobody has ever cared for him as X-com has already, and he is in a cell!
"I bet you will be free soon. The Commander was never one for keeping prisoners." She said, smiling and turning on her coils. She quickly left the block, with the door sealing behind her. Lazarus pulled the pleasant, blue shirt out and slipped it on. He found the dimensions to fit him rather well. The length of the sleeves was perfect for accommodating a viper's long forearms.
Lazarus sighed with happiness. He put the duffle bag beneath his bed and laid back down. He quickly found a comfortable position and fell asleep. Rest is much easier knowing that you are cared for. Before, he was always afraid of a knife being plunged into his neck in his sleep. His terrors and nightmares ever made any sleep he got to be miserable.
Lazarus fell into a restful sleep as the ship around him continued to buzz with life. Yenta returned to the bunk-room and found everybody at the table, awaiting lunch to be made. Yenta panicked for a moment, as she remembered it is her turn to make something for everybody. He made a brief noise of panic, something like a hiss, as she moved over to the stove. Everybody started to chuckle and laugh as she panicked to get something made.
Travis made the first tease, "Where were you, Yenta? Conspiring with the enemy, eh?"
Yenta's face lit up brightly with a blush as she started to prepare some chicken in a skillet. Jackson was sitting in his usual chair, with an icepack on his brow. "A leave the scales out of it this time, please." The teases continued to flow until she made the meal. She suffered through it, with her blush never leaving her face.
Travis quickly finished his food, as usual, and started to tweak with his rifle. He was slightly adjusting the fixtures on the gun. Michael and Richard finished their food simultaneously and moved over to their TV, quickly starting up the gaming console. Jackson was sitting at the table with Yenta, having noticed that she is eating rather slowly.
"Oh, hey, Yenta. Did you ever get that PCS training yet? The Commander mentioned it early this week."
"No, I have not. He must have forgotten."
Todd looked at Travis and shrugged. "That is a new one then. He never forgets something. Then again- when he wants to do something, he does it right then, like with you and Lazarus." He said and looked back at Yenta.
"I know. Maybe he changed his mind."
Travis replied, "Now that sounds more like him. The Commander never forgets anything, like strangely so. I once mentioned how I dislike shooting while the sun is in my right eye, and he has never forgotten that oddly."
Yenta nods, knowing full well about his mind. She looked over and saw both Michael and Ferdinand playing on the console and Travis messing with his gun. After a few minutes, Travis set his rifle on the table, and he stood up to leave. Yenta hissed softly at him, and he chuckled. He grabbed his rifle and leaned it against the table instead. She then returned to her regular scowl. They have come to understand the differences in her mood. The unreadable, harsh frown she typically has is still challenging to understand, but they know her mannerisms somewhat now.
Todd chuckled and the other two joined in. Michael shrugged and laughed. "Every woman has her peeves." Yenta chuckled softly as she took a sip from her cup. "I can handle boots on the carpet, but guns on the table- absolutely not." Jackson removed the pack from his brow. "Alright. Just don't shed in the food." He said, and everybody started to laugh. Yenta turned a little more upset, and she threw her arms up in gentle frustration. "It was one time!"
Since the Avenger found a home in the German forests, with trees as old as the mountains, both Kath and Travis decided to walk around some. With the Avenger scanning for the local cell, they will be here a couple of days. The dense forests make for excellent cover for their operations, even if the craft's upper half sticks out like a sore thumb.
Kath was slithering slowly along an old, stone path. Travis had his ShadowKeeper with him, just in case something were to happen. The old path winds through the forest, presumably leading to a town of some sort. They are several dozen miles away from one of the Lost Cities and even further from one of the ADVENT borders into a densely populated district.
Travis walks alongside Kath. "My father was part of NATO before the invasion. I got to see many countries, including this one."
"What is NATO? Sounds something like ADVENT." She said, turning her head and looking at him. The white and black viper being rather curious as to what it is. She knows little, if any, of human history. It is a confusing, difficult topic for her.
"North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was composed largely of upper-European countries and North American. Right before the invasion, it was wavering some from political strife. Many countries revoked their funding, forcing troops to withdraw from their posts."
"Sounds… odd. The only political thing I ever witnessed was when ADVENT tried to get more people to support them and reduce unrest. The Viper Queen was used too. She led the assault on Earth and then became a political figure. But I am unsure. Grunts were never told anything."
"Sounds like every kind of military ever. Commanders and admirals are told what to do; then they command the masses. But is that Viper Queen still around?"
"Maybe. Nobody sees her very much. Whenever a new generation of vipers are born, she comes and sees them, so I've heard. My clutch never got such a thing."
Both of them continued to move down the path, eventually coming up to a dilapidated town. Overrun by trees and foliage, it is barely recognizable as a town. Navigating along the trail was the easiest way to move into the village. They are only several hundred meters away from the Avenger, still on the base's motion sensors.
Moving closer to one of the smaller, less run-down buildings, Travis looked through the fogged, dirty windows. Everything is written in German, which is not a language he is fluent in. He was able to make out one word on the broken, half-rotten wooden sign. Waffenladen. Travis pointed to it, and he slowly enunciated the word.
"Ah! That means gunshop. My dad and I went in too many to not know that word."
"What language is that?" She asks, curious as mostly everybody speaks English now.
"German. Few people speak it now, sadly. ADVENT did push for one language." He said and pushed on the door handle. He only found resistance in both directions. Travis took the grip of his pistol and shattered the glass on the door. He reached in and unlocked the door. The door moved with great difficulty, having never moved in twenty years.
As they stepped inside, there were barely any guns or ammo to speak of. Travis turned on the flashlight on the end of his pistol to see better. Looking around, they did spot one rifle in the clutter. Cobwebs, dust, and debris litter the way to the rack, where broken glass would have protected. Travis reached in and grabbed the stock of the rifle. He pulled it out with ease and brought it out to the light. The flashlight revealed the gun to be an ancient gun. The weapon turned out to be a 1942 Mauser Karabiner 98. The rifle has several markings that are too hard to see in the dim light, even with the flashlight. He brushed it off and grabbed some of the ammo boxes which were in the case.
"What is that?" Kath asks, having almost no knowledge of human weaponry before what is used now.
"This was the main German rifle in a war that took place almost a hundred years ago. She'll need to be cleaned, badly." He said, holding the rifle.
"She?"
"Oh, that is just a human expression. We call weapons, vehicles, things after females. Well, the Germans tended to call their vehicles and weapons after males- so I stand corrected. He needs to be cleaned." Travis said, and chuckled. Right before he would exit the gun shop, he felt something odd. Suddenly, with slight pressure on his lower stomach, he was spun around.
He was spun around to be brought within a few inches of the face of the viper. Her expression was a chiseled as a stone and her scowl as firm as ever. Her coils bound him swiftly, making sure he could not escape her easily. "You humans are awful at making the first move." She said as her scowl shifted into a smile, with a glint in her red, crimson eyes.
"We- I- what?" He said stammering. His game is weak.
"Don't worry; it'll come to you." She said and moved her serpentine head closer to his, closing her eyes. She locked him in an embrace, with the rifle falling to the ground.
The Commander was at the bridge, and he turned to Bradford. They have not agreed on several things as of late, but Bradford cannot deny results. More and more ADVENT soldiers turn to the factions, and the Vipers are rebelling much more now. There are whispers of a viper resistance cell in the Peruvian mountains.
"Central, have we gotten word from Geist yet? Our covert operation should have finished by now."
"Yes, sir. They ran into some problems setting up the temporary data bank, but they should return by the time we find this cell."
"Good. Time is thinning."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Not sure yet. Once we find this cell, I want Alpha to be sent to that site the Blacksite led us to. And I want Lazarus to go with them."
"Sir, may I ask you something?"
"Yes, Bradford."
"Why do you trust them so much? Lazarus killed us in the past, and you treat him like one of ours already. I disagree with it."
"Allies unknown, Bradford. Any enemy of my enemy?"
"Is my friend, I know, sir."
"Then believe that. Lazarus could turn this effort around. Instead of running away at the first sign of heavy conflict, we can put more aggression into this, without risking the lives of the entire squad."
Bradford sighs, looking at the Commander. "There is no changing your mind, is there?"
"You tell me." The Commander chuckled as he turned to face the hologlobe.
Several hours pass, and Lazarus reawoke. Sitting within his cell, he groggily moved around for a few minutes. The first thing he noticed is that the cell door is closed but not locked. He pushed it open and looked around for a moment. He was unsure if he is meant to be out or not. Regardless of that fact, he slithered free from the cell's confines and moved around the room. The room is rather bland, with few things to speak of two other, empty cells and a flickering light in the corner.
Lazarus could work out, but his muscles are still denying that action. He slithered over to the door that leads out into the rest of the ship, and he hesitated. His long fingers softly reached out and pushed the button. It clicked with a gentle sound, and the door slid open. He stuck his head out and looked right and left. Hardly anybody is in the lower depths of the ship like this. He slithered over to the short flight of stairs and looked around. Up ahead, he sees a large workstation, with Shen working there.
There is a Spark unit, hanging from a cherry-picker, with a Gremlin repairing it. Lazarus gulped softly and slithered that way. Indeed there is no harm, right? Lazarus slithered up the stairs, barely making a noise. He watched as Shen was working on a new armor prototype. The first Warden model. She shocked herself and shouted in pain before continuing to use.
As he got closer and moved to the opposite side of the large table in the middle of the room, the Gremlin operating on the Spark turned and saw the viper. It exclaimed, in its robotic voice, causing Shen to jump slightly. She spun around and saw the viper there. She held her hand over her heart and gasped slightly.
"Don't scare me like that. I get enough spooks from these nasty things." She said, pointing the end of her welder at the Gremlin.
"What is it? A drone?" He asks, looking at the small, hovering droid.
Shen smiled, crossing her arms in pride at her creation. "It's called a Gremlin, my design. That is the second model of it. I am working on a new armor set, though."
Lazarus shifted closer slightly, looking at the shiny plate of metal on the table. "ADVENT alloys?"
Shen nodded, turning around and looking at the plate. "Yeah, it is going to be powered by an elerium core."
"You may want to shield the core, on the inside. Sometimes, when the core gets low on energy, it will leak, which can cause serious burns."
"I did not know that."
"I've worked with ADVENT tech my entire life; I understand it pretty well."
"Sure seems like it. Since you know all this, you should see Tygan in the research lab, with proper permission, of course. He is trying to figure out more about the Codex."
"I will do that, thanks," Lazarus said and slithered away.
As the day was coming to an end, many squads found themselves in the bar. The partakers were mostly from Alpha and Gamma squads. Both squad leaders sat next to each other and talked about more serious topics. Yenta looked at her drink awkwardly, watching it softly bubble in the shot-glass.
"Did ADVENT ever drink, Yenta?" Michael asks, sitting next to her.
"No. The most exotic meals we could ever get was what we could find on a mission, the same with drinks."
"Ah. We, humans, tend to enjoy such things," he said, finishing his shot. "But I don't blame you."
"We would enjoy it too if we were able to." She said, lifting her shot glass and looking into it. After a few seconds to ponder, she downed the shot. She blinked once or twice and set it down.
After a while, the drinks were set within the soldiers' bloodstream, including the squad leaders. Fortunately, it is the weekend. Surely they will not get in too much trouble.
Eventually, it devolved into having arm-wrestling contests. The majority of them were between Michael Ferdinand, the grenadier of Alpha, and anybody else who thought they were tough. At some point, the suggestion was tossed that Yenta should try it. Yenta, who was also getting drunk, agreed to do it.
Yenta moved to the other side of the bar and got ready to do it. Everybody around them was cheering loudly, half taking the side of Michael while the others supported Yenta. Her long forearm had to be set a ways away from his, as it is quite a bit longer. Eventually, their hands interlocked, and Todd clasped their hands together. He let go, and they started.
Yenta had turned her wrist sharply, getting the hook on Michael. Because of this advantage, she had just enough leverage to bring his knuckles to the bar. With an instant rematch, Michael prevented her from doing that, and he won easily.
Nobody has seen or heard from Travis and Kath in quite a while, but that thought has not passed by any of the drunken soldiers' minds.
As everybody returns to their bunks, Lazarus was still awake, in the lab with Tygan.
"So. You said that the Commander had one too?" Lazarus asks Tygan regarding the psionic chips.
"Yes, me as well. Yenta and Kath both had them as well. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was always told that I did not have one implanted, but ever since I rebelled, I get nightmares every time I try to sleep. Like my mind is telling me to go back."
"Most curious- we can do a scan if you wish."
"Yes, sir. I would greatly appreciate that." He said, following the doctor over to the large table on the opposite side of the laboratory.
Tygan picked up a large handheld device and gestured to the table. "If you would."
Lazarus moved to the table and laid down on it, lying on his stomach. Tygan activates the scanner and moves it along his spine. It took several passes before Tygan spoke. "I don't see anything- wait. There is a faint reading."
Tygan started to refine the scanning frequency, getting closer and closer. Eventually, they discovered another psionic chip, but this one is much more subtle. "Ah, hah. There is one in there. I can operate immediately." Tygan said, moving over and grabbing a large syringe.
As the next morning came around, Lazarus was returned to his room. Tygan was instructed to inform the Commander whenever he would operate, especially on somebody like Lazarus.
As everybody is in a drunken withdrawal the next morning, Travis walked back into the bunk-room, smelling horrendousl. Fortunately, nobody was awake enough to condemn him for anything of his actions that previous day. If anything, they may be glad he made it worth-while.
The sharpshooter instantly climbed into the shower. Kath was doing the same thing in her own bunk-room. She shares the same bunk-room as Firebrand.
The day had almost nothing happen, save for the resistance cell making contact with the Avenger and the covert operation team returning home.
With the final day finally coming to a rest, the next day came. Everybody has recovered from their night, and Lazarus from his surgery. Then the buzz came from the speakers, in both Lazarus's room and Alpha's. Both parties swiftly moved to the bridge, where the Commander and Bradford are waiting.
Bradford turned and faced the group first. "Well, team. We are deploying you to the coordinates where that vial led us to. We don't know what we are going to find there, so get prepared."
The Commander turned around and said, "You are going in as a six-man squad. Lazarus will be joining you on this one. Report to Shen for new armor. It is just a prototype, but this will greatly help us." Everybody gave the Commander a salute, and Lazarus did as well.
Within the hour, everybody was suited up in their Warden armor, even the vipers. The armor sets on both of the vipers are much more divided up to keep their mobility high. Their armor was much more expensive to produce, as they have much more surface area that needs to be protected.
As everybody loaded up into the Skyranger, it was awkward for a moment. Everybody had to maneuver around each other. Everybody had their usual loadout, minus Lazarus. Without his Chosen gear, he was given something different. Lazarus was given two rifles: a magnetic rifle and a gauss rifle. The mag-rifle hangs from his shoulder on a sling while he holds the gauss. It was given some extra length to make up for his body.
Travis looked over to Lazarus and asked: "So, Lazarus, what did you do in ADVENT?"
Lazarus turned his head and looked into his eyes. His chiseled scowl is just the same as the other vipers, if not angrier looking. "I did whatever they wanted me to do. I was meant to be the Elders' greatest warrior. All of the Chosen into one."
Yenta looked at Lazarus. She cannot describe what she feels. There is such mystery around the viper and such desire within Yenta.
Todd bumped Travis with the stock of his rifle. "Where even were you yesterday?"
Travis chuckled softly, "I was busy. Commander had me scouting the perimeter."
"Was a certain viper with you?"
"I can neither confirm nor deny that." The entire craft burst into laughter, save both of the vipers. Lazarus only blinked and turned to Yenta, tilting his head slightly.
The site they are heading towards is in the east, likely within the Russian woods. Fortunately, security is lower in that direction. Without any border walls to avoid, the Skyranger flew freely. The world is much more dangerous now. With chrysalids on the loose, the wilderness is much more unkempt. Whispers talk of how creatures of old now live within the woods, now free to roam the world again.
As the craft flew, many conversations were exchanged in the squad, with Yenta and Lazarus being quiet for the most part. Eventually, the flight did come to a close.
At the end of the craft, the holographic screen shows the data they have on the site so far: some scratchy satellite images and blurred pictures from the Reaper that scouted it out.
"Alright everybody, as I said at base, we don't know what we are going to find here. Expect heavy resistance. Move into the site and see what you can find."
The bay lit up with green lights, and the Skyranger came to a quick halt. The back opened up swiftly, and the ropes were deployed. The team all quickly rose from their seats and jumped. Grabbing the ropes and sliding down. Lazarus followed behind them.
As they landed on the ground and the Skyranger flew away, they were greeted with two small towers. The squad moved up to the half-wall that connects both of them. Far up ahead, they can see a bridge that leads into a large, white facility.
But between them and that building is many foes. This will be one hell of a fight.
Well, everybody.
I am a little disappointed with how this all turned out. Just... never really caught any steam. Needless to say, I am pretty bummed out about it. If I am going to continue this at all remains to be seen. Thank you all for the nice reviews so far. I will likely continue on my other projects, as I ponder on this one.
Anyway, stay safe out there, y'all.