Location: Appalachian Mountain Range, Former State of Virginia
A telekinetic blast ripped through a group of bugs, leaving them nothing but paste on the ground and surrounding forestry. The attacks had started around an hour ago, and they didn't seem to be stopping. Sure they would get some time of reprieve when they managed to kill enough of them for a while, but then they would just regroup and try again. Elijah decided that he didn't really like these fucking bugs, he could see why Jackson didn't want to waste any time leaving.
When Jackson had finally broken it to him that two hundred years had passed, he was surprisingly relieved, even to himself. There was a nuclear war that wiped out civilization for fucks sake, but he was never really part of that civilization was he? Two hundred years passing meant that the people who… did… things to him, were long dead, they couldn't hurt him anymore.
Elijah sensed a bug hiding in one of the bushes, wasting no time, he psionically crushed its head in a sickening crunch. The bugs seemed to have little in the way of self preservation throwing themselves at them with reckless abandon. What he managed to gleam from their thoughts was that they served someone known as the White Queen, the monarch of a state known as White Nest.
Whoever this monarch was had trained a warrior caste from birth, they were told little, they didn't know much, other than how to swing a sword, or… nail, as they called them. There wasn't a lot of information to go off of, other than their language, some basic facts about their government, and how they fought. It was the part about the government that intrigued him the most.
There were human nobles that made up an integral part of their bureaucracy, apparently humans were a sought after resource, even these uninformed warrior castes knew that. Apparently they thought our brand of human were 'uncivilized' and had to be 'civilized' in order to properly serve their oh so wonderful White asshole Queen.
A hail of supersonic bullets rip through another few groupings of attacking bugs. The regular mix of professional training, along with their genetic augmentations and targeting computers let them kill any bug before they can even get close to them. The regulars had set their weapons to semi automatic, trying to kill the bugs with as few bullets as possible, so far their ammo reserves are fine, but that may change if the bugs keep it up.
The monarch had relayed that they had landed a ways outside the valley. It would take them maybe a day's trip to get there, and there was still the issue of the kidnapped regular. Morality aside, regulars are too valuable just to squander, they couldn't afford just to leave him behind, especially not in a world where their skills would be needed.
Jackson was currently hiding behind a rather large rock on the ground. He would emerge sometimes and fire a few shots from his pistol at a few bugs, but… he wasn't a very good shot. He never even fired a pistol before, he was a scientist! He never served in the military.
Jackson was amazed at Elijah's performance though, he had really improved since last time he saw him. However… he wanted to know more about what caused the deaths of his peers. It was clear that the one who came after him in the goings on at 492 were responsible to an extent. Though to what extent Jackson had no idea.
Jackson reeled back in surprise, covering his face as Elijah fired a kinetic blast at him. The impact never came, Jackson wondered why Elijah would do that, until he turned around, and saw a green smear of what used to be a bug behind him, sneaky bastards.
The bugs attacking them appeared to be a mix of what looked like mantises and beetles, decked out in some shining white armor. The armor luckily made them fairly easy to spot. This White Queen appeared to favour the aesthetic over practicality. This Queen also thinks its worth throwing hundreds of lives away just to get them, Jackson had long since lost track of how many they had killed, but no matter how many they did, they just kept on coming.
Location: Pale Palace Holding Cells
The regular was coming to, he felt like he had just been hit with a truck.. No.. make that a MacArthur tank! His head hurt like hell, and he was sore all over. He sat up, stretched his augmented muscles. It was then he noticed where he was, it was not familiar, the memories of what had happened earlier came crashing in. He had been knocked unconscious, and by the looks of it, captured, and was in some kind of holding cell.
"Ooooh, look who's awake" An unfamiliar feminine voice came from the regulars side.
The Regular reflexively got up, his suit and powered exoskeleton was surprisingly still on, guess the bugs and the four humans helping them didn't know how to get it off. He turned to where the voice came from. A bug with a white shell and 4 horns on its head, making a shape that resembled a crown stood on the opposite side of the metal bars on the holding cell.
"My my, the nobles were not joking when they said you were large" The white bug giggled.
"How can I understand you" The regular asked flatly
"I am well versed in human tongue, as dirty as it is, peh, for such amazing creatures… your ways are utterly barbaric" The bug stated
"Who are you?" The regular asked, again flatly, though with a hint of offense in his voice.
"I, my dear human, am the White Queen of most sovereign kingdom of Whitenest" She said, raising her arms above her head a bit.
"Why did you initiate hostilities?" The regular once more asked in an equally flat tone. The situation may look bad, but he was a regular damn it, it would take much more than this to make him lose his cool.
"Oh my, the nobles were correct about your articulation as well" The White Queen said in mild surprise.
"Well my dear human, you misunderstand, this wasn't hostility, it is merely us doing our sacred duty and enlightening you kindly into my service" She said with… no arrogance in her voice, though it wasn't needed, the mere contents of the sentence were enough.
"What about my vocabulary makes you believe that I am 'strangely articulate'?"
"It's just… well… how do I put this without being impolite… you uncivilized humans tend to be rather… unrefined in your ways of speaking" The White Queen said.
"I received a proper education in my youth" The regular said. This caused the White Queen to look at the regular confused.
"Education? From where? How? You can't have been in the service of another higher being, your soul is still a chaotic mess!"
"The learning institution I had received my education from has… long since stopped existing, for reasons of it being destroyed in warfare" The regular said in his unceasing flat voice.
"Also, what do you mean my soul is a mess?"
"It means my dear human that your soul is full of contradictory elements that are in constant unceasing battle with one another. One never gaining the advantage over the other, this chaotic nature had led many of your kind to violence, and the reason such a mighty species as your never is able to establish a kingdom of its own" The White Queen said the last part a bit solemnly. In truth she was glad that they were never able to, they would make formidable opposition.
The regular stood there listening silently. It was best to keep his mouth shut, less of a chance of accidentally dropping sensitive information. Though what the self proclaimed White Queen was telling him was useful information, information he was sure the Bunker could use once he... if he got out. So he just let the White Queen talk until addressed, or had a question he needed answered.
"What realm did you come from, human? One that somehow educated you without purifying you?" The White Queen asked, what kind of higher being would be so skilled yet foolish she wondered.
"A realm time has long since forgotten, myself being one of the few remnants of such a realm still existing" It was truth enough, but cryptic enough not to raise any alarms
"Is that where your flying machine came from?" The Queen asked.
"Correct" The regular responded flatly.
"Hmpf, you know if I didn't know better, I might have mistaken you for a civilized human, alas I do know better, and you will be joining my glorious kingdom as an illustrious servant" The White Queen said giddily.
"Now hold on your highness" The regular said professionally, to see if the White Queen would respond a bit more positively.
"Oh, ever so polite, I like you already" The White Queen said as if she was praising a child.
"Why, if I may ask one such as yourself for information, will this process of purification entail?" The regular asked with the same amount of respectful professionalism as before, even if it was not genuine.
"Well, if you must know, it expunges your previous uncivilized identity, rebirthing you as a new, civilized noble, ready to help lead Whitenest into the future" She said as if she was trying to sell the prospect to him.
"You wish to remove my memories?"
"Why yes, it is not as if they are of any worth, they are better off forgotten, I say in my divine wisdom" The White Queen stated, the arrogance was palpable. It was clear to the regular that this White Queen likely also had extra sensory powers of some kind, like those white robed humans and the white bug in near the Bunker that looked similar.
"You see, oh divine sovereign of this most sovereign land, I have a rather large attachment to my memories, they quite literally make me who I am" The regular explained, trying to keep the respect in his voice.
"Oh but you see my dear human, that is the problem, they make you who you are, you and your uncivilized self. I can remake you into something better, into someone better, your memories must go, if you are to be what I and my kingdom need. You however, will receive great power, and luxury beyond your comprehension, think, you will be able to eat well every day, attend royal balls, hold power in my kingdom. The White Queen said, and DAMN, is she trying to sell this as hard as she can.
"Oh Queen of Whitenest, may you in your infinite kindness, allow me to leave, I have no wish to lose my memories, and the noble life doesn't feel like it would suit me"
The White Queen giggled at this.
"You do make me laugh human, but no, I don't believe that in my infinite kindness that I should allow you to continue on with your chaotic and uncivilized existence, not when I can offer you a much better alternative."
"You really believe that don't you?" The regular asked flatly.
"Yes, I do, when… you are made pure, you will understand as well" The White Queen stated.
"Why tell me all of this if I have no choice in the matter, and my memories will be erased anyway?"
"Heh, I suppose I just like to have a chat every now and then , with one who does not yet view me as divine. Though this one has been quite enjoyable, I have never met an uncivilized human who can articulate sentences as well as you can. I believe you will make a fine addition to the nobility" The White Queen said with a bit of joy in her voice.
"Very well, my queen, when will this purification be taking place?"
"Oh so enthusiastic already! Well if you must know, in about a week's time, that is where I will personally bring balance to your soul, rebirthing you as a new, civil human" The Queen said with glee.
"Very well my queen, may I be left alone to rest, being knocked out has… drained me" The regular said respectfully.
"But of course my dear human, I will allow you your rest" The Queen said as she turned 'heel' and walked out of the regulars line of site. It wasn't long until the regular heard a door open and shut, signifying the Queen as left.
"So I have a week to escape, good to know" The regular thought to himself.
The regular took a better look at the area he could see outside the cell. There was a line of cells on the wall opposite of his cell, and he could only assume the same for the wall his cell was located in. Only one of the other cells were occupied.
A small figure curled up into a ball, shaking. It wore soft and fluffy looking clothing.
"Hello" The regular said to the small shaking figure.
The figure's head shot up, revealing it to be a little human girl, though her eyes were glowing a soft yellow.
"H-hello, mister, did the human catchers get you too?"
"I… guess, are you okay?"
The girl sniffled, tears beginning to run down her face "I-I miss mommy a-and daddy, a-and Corona!" She said, trying in vain to hold back a sob.
"Who is… this Corona?" The regular asked.
"Sh-she would s-sing us lullabies to help us s-sleep, a-and take care of us, a-and, protect us against the bad bugs. Th-then I got curious about a cave, a-and went away from m-mommy, and that's h-how they g-got me" The girl was crying the whole sale now.
"Ok ok, calm down kid, I am going to get you out of here, I just need time to plan an escape, and we can leave these bad bugs behind. Yea?" The regular said as comfortingly as possible.
"R-really mister? You mean it?" The girl said, her crying ceasing somewhat.
"Yea kid, I mean it" The regular said with determination.
The world as he knew it may have ended, but that didn't mean his humanity went with it.