Alrighty, so lets get to the point, this is taking far longer to upload than I ever imagined it would. It isn't bad since it means I get to review this stuff thoroughly. (By which I mean re-writing the whole damn thing!) so updates will be a lot less frequent with life and school and all that good stuff.
I'll try to keep this going, and hopefully it will continue to be enjoyable to those who read it.
Now, time for the good stuff... Character development!
For Phil, finding anything that would equate to a suitable home by his standards in this world would have been impossible, and as such they had to make due with one of the dozens of caves peppering the jungle. An hour passed by before they all agreed on one that the boys had found along a cliff, the ground-level entrance drilling directly into the side of the plant-infested rock. Water trickled down a short grove in the middle that weaved itself between the short stalagmites and stalactites that were like the maw of some massive creature from one of Hinobi's video games. Dark grey stone was mixed with rocks of different color indicating the variation in the makeup of the surfaces, some reflecting more sunlight than others in a way that made the first two or three yards of the entrance navigable without the assistance of artificial lighting.
Beyond that darkness consumed the rest of the tunnel, forcing anyone desiring further entry to bring a flashlight. The Glitch Techs had no such issues thanks to the flashlight built-into each of their gauntlets, providing them the needed visibility to avoid tripping or otherwise injuring themselves on the uneven ground. Twenty yards in and past the set of stone teeth jutting out from the surface was a chamber about forty feet in diameter, large enough that both Miko's and Five's companions could be released from their gauntlets while not taking up too much space. The floor was largely free of any of the rocky outcroppings that had plagued the ceiling and floor of the tunnel, courtesy of Alpha for having bashed them down enough to allow for adequate housing. The cave walls housed rocky outcroppings that Phil had quickly decided were adequate for sleeping on, given the floor still having short streams of water running throughout the chamber that would soak into someone's clothing. The source of these streams was easy to conclude, the liquid having cut grooves into the rock that led up towards another tunnel, from which small beams of sunlight were visible even with the artificial lighting from their equipment.
Working as a store manager was serving him well here, and put the skills obtained from it to use by organizing the items they had salvaged from the pod and ship into piles on the stone floor to see what they had to work with. It was a task completed in quick order, the myriad of survival resources and weapons falling into categories that would allow quick access if needed. Lanterns they had recovered were set up to provide lighting within the darkened space, placed mindfully of how much area they covered to ensure most of the cave was adequately lit.
Settling down entirely was not something they could do immediately, however, with Zahra pointing out that the entire group had suffered injuries that needed to be properly checked and the risks of unidentified parasites. Phil had dealt with ticks before, and the idea of having space-born versions of them lurking within his hair was bothersome enough that he allowed her to systematically check him and everyone else. The physical injuries Phil sustained were minor, a few scuff marks here and there and the occasional cut or bruise were the only wounds he or the team's support noticed and subsequently decided were minor enough to need minimal treatment.
Yet nobody could deny everything that had taken place mere hours before was unlike anything they had ever experienced. All of the blood, screaming, pain, and suffering having been pushed to the back of their minds while they had been fighting for their survival. The adrenaline faded away eventually, however, and everything came rushing back in like a tsunami of emotions and memories that came in such a way that threatened to drown them in their emotional sorrow. For Phil, stress was a regular occurrence with his job, and he had long ago learned how to control it with an iron fist and conceal it beneath an unwavering mask of neutrality. In the wake of the nightmare that had just occurred, however, even he found himself overwhelmed as he rested his face in his hands, trying to pull any sense or logic out of the storm they had emerged from.
If he was having it rough, the young members of the team were emotional wrecks in comparison. Their young age, relative lack of experience, and the sheer weight of what was occurring being enough to break them down entirely psychologically. For Miko, the pain was plastered on her face and in her sobs, staring into the stone ceiling with tears running down her cheeks, easily solidifying the fact that she was mentally wounded. Five rested atop Alpha, his behavior more controlled yet was undoubtedly pained within his mind in a way that was unclear to Phil, much to his frustration. A cocoon of limbs curled up in a defensive ball was what remained of Zahra, having been the first to break down while finishing up checking on Miko for her physical injuries. All the while, Haneesh was absent, having left to head down towards the tunnel in order to have some room to himself, yet the distant echoes of crying and the occasional shattering of stone reached his ears regardless of the distance.
The results were clear; even if those monsters had not killed or severely injured any of them, the psychological torment they were suffering easily compensated for it.
If they wanted even a slight chance to survive this, they needed to get their act together.
"Okay, time to the big man." Phil thought as he raised himself to his feet, a deep breath escaping his lips before speaking.
"Look, I think we all know how bad this is. We have no idea where we are, and we are being hunted, but sitting around like the situation is hopeless is not going to help."
Zahra's head rose from her knees, her reply indicating the same thing as her posture did. "Sure as hell feels hopeless."
"I get that, I don't feel very good about this mess either, but moping around won't do us any good." Phil's footsteps echoed slightly as he walked over to BITT, the robot having been sitting on one of the cave's outcroppings for the duration of their time within their temporary home. "BITT here is a lucky break, however, and I've made upgrades in some functions other than increased processing speed or firepower." His hand tapped the robot's domed head. "BITT, activate solar panels."
Upon the command, Phil's had moved clear of the robot's head, which opened up before four circular rods extended out from it. The rods tilted over until they were parallel with the floor, unfurling into a quarter circle each and being divided up into dozens of thin, navy-blue trapezoids outlined in metal wire that started narrow at the center before becoming wider towards the outer edge.
It certainly had been a conflicting thought when Phil got the idea to install solar panels into BITT, as even with the robot having a largely-independent power system there was nothing ever wrong with redundancy. This was coupled with the fact that the robot was occasionally used to rapidly recharge gauntlets in the field, which drained a sizable amount of power from the robot's batteries depending on how low the gauntlet was on power and how much BITT had in reserves. However, BITT rarely found itself far from a power source for any length of time whether it was a vehicle or building, so under most circumstances such an upgrade would be pointless. Either way, Phil installed the panels, mostly since he figured it would be smarter to be safer than sorry and to give him some way to pass the time. Reflecting back, he saw no reason to regret his choice in the matter.
"These things should allow BITT to remain functional regardless of where we are, best deployable solar panels on the market I could find. I added some additional charging ports to allow more techs to plug in their gauntlets and charge them too, so in theory as long as what I will for now be referring to as the sun keeps shining, we should be able to defend ourselves effectively."
He got response, albeit not what he had hoped for.
"So, we get to commit more murder, great!" Five jumped off of Alpha, who took notice of his owner's venom-filled tone.
"Look, Kid, I-"
"Yep totally okay with going around murdering people, and even with that we are still stuck on this rock with little chance of actually getting THE FUCK OFF IT!"
He let out a deep sigh, squeezing his forehead with his hand. "I just- I just need some time to myself."
The teenager turned around and hastily walked towards the topmost entrance, quickly disappearing beyond the store-managers line of sight. Miko and Zahra went back to their respective places and looked a bit better since the former stopped her sobbing and Zahra sat down and stared into her gauntlet. The pain on their faces did not subside regardless, continuing to remind Phil that what they had suffered would possibly have long-term consequences for their mental health. Fighting and combat was anything but alien to anyone of them, with the average Glitch Techs spent more time in combat than even fully-trained-and-equipped military personnel per year. Generally speaking, it meant they were better experienced in fighting that said soldiers, gaining skills such as hand-to-hand and weapon combat techniques, shooting skills, tactical knowledge, and exceptional physical fitness that regularly saw use as not to go to waste. They could not surpass the military in all things, however, and while Techs certainly had the capacity to gain more combat experience, true soldiers had something else. They were mentally hardened, their minds reinforced from the training they endured to make them ready and willing to kill the human enemy before them. It was something that no amount of glitch killing could ever prepare the kids for, as even the most dangerous glitches were able to be taken out with the right measures and generally were about as common as a needle in a haystack when compared to their brethren. Such programs did not show any degree of high intelligence, almost always being little more than single-minded pieces of loose code that generally did not think or display anything beyond that. Humans were anything but that, even the dumbest brawler and the most arrogant politician having some degree of intelligence that gave them the ability to think unconventionally and adapt to a situation as needed.
He sat back down on one of the rocky outcroppings, unsure of what else to do given the circumstances. Footsteps from the lower entrance signified Haneesh returning, his hands and face slightly coated in dust, the former having noticeable minor cuts and bruises. In all likelihood the result of him using his gauntlet's items to break up the million-year old rock formations in his anger that had there been a geologist among them would have likely caused them to suffer a panic attack. He did not say a word to anyone, letting his actions speak for him as he sat down in the corner of the room that was filled with the shattered stone from Alpha's cleaning operation.
The mood did not improve with the weather, which as Five had predicted, quickly entered a thunderous torrent that caused the small streams of water within the cave to behave more like raging rapids from the extra water now flowing in. It was bad enough that they had to move a few items around to make sure they did not risk getting wet, the water seeping well past its previous boundaries, but it was worsened by the notion that Five continued to remain absent even twenty minutes after the roar of the storm had begun. Even though he hid it well, Phil began to worry for the boy's safety, well-aware of the hazards and demons that lurked beyond the walls of their shelter in the hell that was the jungle.
He let out a short sigh. "I'm going to check on Five. everyone else should try to get some sleep."
He stood up, quietly stretching out his legs and arms before making his way towards the upper entrance, the steady breathing of an already-asleep Miko gradually being replaced by the liquid life that poured forth from the tunnel. As with the previous entrance, stony teeth jutted from the floor and ceiling, meaning that navigating through it was a challenge complicated by his large body size and mass. He knew he had been slimmer at a point in his life yet over the years he gained muscle mass that exchanged the smaller profile for more physical capabilities including strength and agility. It wasn't the only benefit, also giving him that much more of a physical presence in a room that proved more than helpful on certain occasions.
It was something that proved largely inconsequential, managing to squeeze through the tight spaces and make his way towards the light at the end of the tunnel that was paired with a familiar drizzle that grew ever closer and signified the storm that awaited him beyond it. Thunder and lightning occasionally went off, the bursts of light illuminating parts of the stone passage that otherwise would have remained consumed by shadows at this hour. The tunnel ended with a few rocks lined up against the side in a manner not too unlike that of seats, a sigh of relief escaping Phil's lips as he noticed Five sitting on one and staring into the distance.
There was no shortage of interesting things occurring that would be worth observing if one so chose. The rain pummeled the tall trees that even in the late evening darkness retained their color in a shadowed green to observers, their branches and leaves waving in wind that rushed across the planet from changes in pressure. The clouds above largely concealed the setting sun which provided what little light remained, moving across the sky as the high-altitude winds commanded them. The centerpiece of this display of natural power came whenever lightning felt ready to strike from the air, briefly illuminating the entirety of the forest and starting a brief fire wherever they struck that quickly faded away from the rainfall. Wherever and whenever the lighting stuck, thunder always followed like the smoke behind every fire. Perhaps the most sinister part of this display came from the power of machine and men, never originally part of this orchestra of life yet having become a part of it in a way akin to shoving a jumble of notes into a masterful pierce of artistic expression through sound. Such interference was shown through the fury of the two sides hunting them down, weapons of both green and orange beams of power lighting up the forest in the distance with unrelenting rage. Bursts from flamethrowers stood out the most, vastly surpassing the energy bolts in terms of brightness, the fires from the artificial dragon's breath lingering far longer than the laser weapons before it dimmed out entirely. Light from the sky did not solely come from the spears of energy that lanced from the grey storm clouds, explosions above them from weapons and destroyed craft varying in duration and brightness, the brightest of all coming in the destructive form of a destroyed ship crashing down from the heavens, obliterating whatever rested around its impact point before becoming another casualty of the battle that joined hundreds if not thousands no less different than it.
The former store manager took a seat on one of the rocks next to the teenager, remaining quiet before deciding to try to break down tensions with his employee.
"Quiet the light show those guys got going on out there." He said, his eyes drifting towards the battle that was largely concealed beyond his view, the trees obstructing most of the fighting. It was something that went two ways luckily, with less of a chance of the combatants spotting the duo.
Five initially did not flinch, likely guilty of his sudden outburst that even Phil found unfamiliar. Five was an opposite to Miko in most senses, whereas she often would be the first one into a fight, guns blazing and weapons swinging, he always acted as a counterbalance providing her with tactical data and planning skills that she oftentimes lacked. It was a skillset that helped him remain on par with his teammate, who's superior capabilities in gaming set her far above him otherwise when it came to glitch hunting. It came as no surprise then that he held a firmer grip over his emotions and actions in such a way that he rarely had mental breakdowns in tense situations, instead viewing the situation from as many angles as possible before deciding on how to proceed. Like any human, however, he had a breaking point that had undoubtedly been reached via the recent and nearly fatal events.
"Look, we are all in bad shape about this whole thing." Phil took a deep breath. "Killing people and aliens was not on my agenda for the day, and the thought of taking lives hasn't sat well with me. I'm not cruel, but those guys were going to kill us either way, so we were left without a choice."
"It's not just that." The teenager said, the strain evident in his voice. "While all of this is bothering me I'm more worried about how my uncle and aunt are taking this." He let out a hollow chuckle. "Probably worried sick about where the hell I've disappeared to."
It wasn't surprising all things considered, given Phil had a list of things that he was missing even though they had barely been aware of being off Earth for more than a day. Even though he remained single he did find the company of Barbara, officially Hinobi Inspector seven pleasant when compared to other people he often dealt with in his line of work. He had friends, Jimmy, who ran the town's pizza arcade, and others who he occasionally visited for a night of video gaming and food on the weekends. The thing that stung the most for him, however, was predictability. As a store manager he wasn't burdened with things suddenly changing at the drop of a hat, with any major changes announced well ahead of them actually taking effect. He used this time well, making any changes to glitch hunting routine, the store's stock, and anything else along that line in a manner so any adjustments smoothly integrated itself into the existing system.
"I've got a list of things I miss too." the former store manager responded. "Miss home, some decent food, and a lot of other things as well. You're not alone either, everybody is probably missing their family and friends. We need to give everyone some time to recuperate from this." His face turned towards the raging war in the distance. "Even though I'm unsure if we have that"
Almost as if on a cue, the sound of an airborne rocket engine became audible over the storm, one section of sky glowing brighter until a single object tore through the cloud cover. Phil was barely able to make it out from the distance, much of it obstructed by the rain and clouds that cast a dimming veil the further he looked, yet what followed told him everything he needed to know. From the impact an explosion bigger than anything Phil had ever personally witnessed burst forth from the forest. It was radically inferior to a nuclear bomb in sheer power yet the results were eerily similar, with a mushroom-shaped cloud rising hundreds of feet into the storm-ridden sky. The shockwave that followed swept across the trees, the ones nearest to the source undoubtedly being obliterated while ones closest to the cave the humans resided in simply waved more intensely for a brief second, the light gust of wind sweeping the stench of some unfamiliar chemicals up Phil's nostrils while the sound was no worse than the crack of a low-caliber rifle.
He took the moment afterwards to continue speaking. "Look, we need to keep ourselves calm and collected, and hiding out isn't going to work towards that. If we don't we are going to pose a bigger risk to ourselves than those pirates well." The memory of Haneesh's state after returning from the lower entrance immediately flew through his head, a mild example of what could have been an attempt at suicide.
His hand fell on the boy's shoulder, an action that Phil wasn't entirely certain he was comfortable with even with the circumstances. "Just try to keep it together, and help your friends out too since they seem to-"
What he found even less conformable was when Five lunged and pulled himself into a hug, instantly conflicted as to how to proceed. He had been attacked in this manner before, typically shrugging it off and enduring it without a problem, yet this particular situation, dealing with an over-stressed teenager trying to express it through physical contact, was an entirely different situation when compared to him and his partner hugging him out of compassion.
For now, his best option was to go along with it, doing otherwise would not help anyone here.
As such, he reluctantly found his arms wrapped around the youth, quite frankly wishing that the duo could be a bit more respectable about personal space when it came to displaying their feelings. However, something in the back of his head told him to keep hugging, and it gradually faded away until he had the sense to pull himself out of the embrace.
"Okay then…" He trailed off. "Now, do me a favor, that never happened." He added enough authority behind the words to make sure Five got the notion but at the same time did not interpret it as being outright hostile.
It seemed to be enough, with the teenager grinning slightly now. "Sure thing."
"Good, you try to get some sleep while I'll take watch and make sure those guys don't get the jump on us if they get suspicious."
The duo's feet hit the dirt ground, turning as they did before moving down deeper into the tunnel from which they had emerged. The tension in the air that had previously resided within the cave and tunnels like a heatwave seemed to have dispersed down to cooler levels that Phil found reassuring to say the least. The raging storm of both natural and sentient wraith grew more silent the further they moved their way through until it was but silent enough that it could be neglected and slept alongside with. The scenery that greeted the duo was better than what he had left with, everyone having taken Phil's words to heart and granted the luxury of sleep to their aching bodies. The light from the lanterns had since dimmed, likely from someone having turned them down rather than low charge, but regardless he was able to make out everyone within the chamber. Miko caught his eye first, who's resting place was adjacent to the cave entrance and consequently nearest to him. Her position remained the same as when he left, her face turned towards the ceiling with her arms resting limp to her sides while her legs were curled up and twisted to her right. Zahra was next in line, her hands beneath her head to cushion it against the hardened stone while the rest of her body rested sideways. The pillow in the distant end of the room housed Haneesh's head, his body facing the ceiling with his arms resting on his stomach in a manner not unlike a person staring into the night sky. All the while, Alpha remained within the chamber, his singular, orange eye immediately darting towards Phil and Five upon sensing their presence. Having been alert for potential threats that may have come for the group while they slept with the intention of driving blades into their backs.
The robot's eye fell on Five the second it knew they meant no harm to those he defended, and even without a face Phil could not help but feel like the machine felt a sense of relief upon seeing his friend in one piece. Phil could not help but grin slightly, watching as Five gave the robot a brief hug before saying something that he could not make out over the roaring storm behind him. The teenager took a resting position next to Alpha, his body relaxing as he worked his mind towards drifting into a peaceful darkness that was the polar of the unconsciousness they had awoken in.
He had a job to do, however, and shot a fleeting glance at the resting youth before moving his way back towards the entrance that was no less than ten minutes before he had been moving up in much the same manner. As with before, the relative silence of the cave was rapidly replaced by the drums of war that emanated from the sky and ground, the unnatural aspect of it having undoubtedly increased in volume and ferocity.
The sight before him confirmed this factor, with another aircraft tumbling from the sky no less than ten seconds after Phil had arrived. The crackling of splintering and breaking trees could barely be made out over the hellish display before him, better noted by both the explosions that ripped them apart or the wooden plants simply collapsing out of nowhere in a manner not unlike that of being plowed over by some mechanical monstrosity. The eruptions of fire continued to erupt like the fury of the mythical beast they so often reminded him of, consuming everything within their path beneath the thirsting tongues of the flames that desired nothing less than pure destruction. These paled when a single, massive purple and blue flame burst forth, however, not simply burning but outright incinerating or liquidating the trees in its path and whoever had been foolish or unaware enough to hide behind them.
It was a sickening sight, truly the most terrifying thing Phil had ever had the dishonor of witnessing in both mind and body. Such feelings were shoved aside, his body laying against the cold stone while his eyes stayed alert for anything that could threaten him or the kids he now protected.
He knew it would be a long night, but the feeling that this battle was nothing more than child's play in the bigger game of the universe did not subside. It was something he was grateful for because like it or not, he knew it was right.
I am brutally proud of the last paragraph and sentences... just saying.
So yeah, I'm doing my best to imagine how they would react in this type of situation and the aftermath of it. Cuz, well, if you got abducted, killed a few dozen guys, how would you be mentally trying to comprehend those actions?
I'm hoping that realistically I can depict it without repeatedly shoving the fact that they don't enjoy killing and that bullshit in your faces over and over again to the extent that it gets annoying since I would HATE doing that to myself and more importantly to you guys.
Anyway thanks for reading!