Okay, here we go. Sorry for the long wait :( Hope it was worth it though. This chapter will be broken up into (at least) two chapters since apparently outlines for me go down the drain after the third chapter ;D Hope you enjoy!
At the same time...
Sprinting down the hallways, night vision revealing the dilapidated faults of the laboratory, Wrecker was following the red line on his HUD's map when all of a sudden the lights flickered on. Halting in surprise, he heard the faint echoing of heavy doors slamming shut, almost drowned out by the sound of blaring sirens breaking through the stillness.
What was going on? Had the guys tripped an alarm? But wait...what was that that Joan had said?
Just that! There's no one here...Whatever we were expecting to find doesn't exist. All the normal functions are appearing as 'disabled' or are sending me 'error...error'...Maybe it's just this terminal and we need to head in more...we're basically standing in a grave...
If they had tripped an alarm when there wasn't supposed to be one then that meant...
Oh no.
Running again, he gripped his DC. He had to reach the others. If they weren't caught already, then there might still be time to warn them about the trap they had stepped into...
Time: Unknown...
Region: Outer Rim, Cademimu sector
Location: Ajan Kloss
His head was pounding when Hunter's eyes fluttered open, squinting at the harsh sterile light that seemed to be glaring down on him. His breath came out in short, sharp gasps, shivering with cold. How had he gotten here? Where was here?
Given how gravity felt, he could tell he was upright, tilted slightly forward on a modified torture table, and strapped down tightly. His armor was gone and his sleeves had been rolled up passed his elbow; probably for either an injection or blood sample if the slight chilled prick he felt was anything to go on. Careful not to make any obvious moves lest he was being watched - which was probable, he carefully tested the straps; but from what he could tell - both by how rough they were and by the slight electric pulse he was sensing - they had microscopic shock emitter.
In other words, push too hard and he could possibly get shocked with enough voltage to knock him unconscious again. Course, he couldn't have that now could he? Rather rude to be fainting while someone's unwilling guest.
''Hello, sergeant,'' a soft voice greeted him.
Lifting his head, Hunter blinked in surprise, trying to decide if he should be relieved or terrified. Standing in front of him was a tall, Dathomirian woman in a lab coat, her slight smile and gaze almost curious as she studied him.
''I've been waiting to meet you. Welcome to Muutmine Laboratories.''
Hunter just nodded once in greeting, scanning his surroundings now that his eyes had adjusted to the light. Like the other lab room back when he was still with the squad, it was...Wait a minute...the squad! Where the kriff where-
''Where are the others?'' he demanded, glaring daggers at the woman in front of him.
She just smiled calmly, ''If you are asking whether they are caught yet, then no.''
The woman paused, glancing him over, ''Interesting how the first thing you asked was about your squad and not demanding about your whereabouts or how you got here. No matter. My medical droid has already prepped your DNA samples and physical evaluations for me to glance over to see if you are compatible for the experiments and I will check them, but I doubt there will be any complications. You are a Republic Commando after all. Supposedly, the perfect soldier.''
At that, Hunter snorted in ironic amusement, thinking back to his training years, ''Yeah well, 'perfect' is a matter of opinion.''
Ravyn raised an eyebrow. ''You are a commando? That is the best class of the GAR military. They're trained to-''
''Seems you don't know that much about military training then, do you? Cause if you did, then you would have already known just by looking at me that I'm no where near the 'perfect' trooper. Probably just the opposite.''
''I don't understand.''
''Probably better if you don't.''
Frowning, Ravyn turned to the screen, her eyes scanning the medical data as she stood in front of the monitor, hands clasps easily behind her back...then paused, frowning. Grabbing the datapad from the table, she feverishly scanned the contents, eyes racing over the words in disbelief. When she finished, she stopped...Turned slowly, peering up from her datapad...Their eyes locked and Hunter didn't like the way she was looking at him, those piercing multi-colored orbs searching as a nexu's.
''You're a flash clone,'' she breathed, eyes sparking in fascination as she strode over to lightly touch his cheek, whispering almost too low to hear, ''A flash clone with stretched DNA. Normally that would result in madness...Nala Se, how did you do it...?''
Behind her, the medical assistant droid held up a hypodermic needle, floating closer.
''The serum is ready for injection upon your- ''
''Wait,'' she held up her hand to the droid, eyes never leaving his. ''Not him...not yet.'' Leaning in till her face was less then an inch away from his, she reached up to gently stroke his jaw, ''This development could be a breaking point for the test. This subject is different from the others; and if he is, than it is likely the others will be as well. Whatever data we receive from them may not be combatable with the others clones for the end product as their genetic make-up is different - albeit slightly. We'll hold off on the serum for now; but...until then, I'm sure I can find another...use for you.''
As she said the word 'you', Hunter felt his skin crawl. For some reason, he didn't like how he got the impression that that 'you' had been singular as opposed to plural. Trying not to squirm, he curled his lip in distain, tensing his wrists again to test the shock straps.
''And if you can't?''
''We'll test you any way. I'm sure there will be other simulations I could run in which you would be of use. After all, with such congenital traits as yours plus your modification, the CIS could use any information on flash cloning...Especially if the results are as...as I hinted earlier, ideal as yourself.''
Hunter scoffed, trying to buy time by keeping her talking. Typically the more one talked, the less they thought.
''I told you perfect was a matter of opinion. By all 'opinions', I was a defect and therefor just about as far from 'perfect' as you can get.''
To his great disconcertment, her smile only widened a little as she took a step back to show him the monitor.
''No.'' she cooed softly, ''You're no defect. In fact, because of how stretched the DNA was, the remnants of your former genial identity show through despite the modifications. You may not believe this, but you're as close to normal as a clone can get.''
Okay, now he was unnerved.
''Have you ever considered how that could effect the results of...whatever twisted escapade you've been working on?''
''Yes, as a matter of fact. I have.''
''Really? Then did something happen to the first GAR prisoners that made what ever they were tested on not work well enough? If so, then where are they?''
She was quiet for a moment, liquid eyes softening slightly, ''I'm looking at him.''
Hunter felt his throat go dry.
''What happened to them?''
Gliding over to the large medical screen, she keyed a command that brought up several diagrams and records.
''They did not...turn out quite as I expected. After they had been taken, the wounds they had sustained had been to much for the men to handle and it later rested in their death.''
''But it served you in the end?'' Hunter spat.
''To a certain extent, yes. I suppose next you are going to accuse me of refusing aid to the men which would have resulted in their slow painful death, am I correct?''
Feeling the air grow thick with tension as he felt the conversation coming to a close, the sergeant didn't answer, unwilling to give her the pleasure of seeing she had already asked his next question.
Not that it mattered anyway. She already knew. And Hunter was running out of stall time...They both were...
Meanwhile...
''Joan, where's the next console so I can plug you in to take control of the systems? We need to get these doors raised.''
''I'm working on it,'' she growled, ''Give a girl a minute, will ya'?''
''We probably don't have a minute,'' Tech retorted, rapping his knuckles against the crashed doors where his squad mates had been standing not a few minutes before.
When he had rapped on Crosshair's barrier, he'd received the tapped code message that Crosshair would try to find another way around to him while Tech checked on Hunter. After that, however, Tech had gotten no response from the team leader. Another few minutes of trying to communicate with the other side with no reply and Tech could feel his gut start twisting in knots as he realized the situation they were in. Underground in a locked down and degrading facility with little to no power and potentially dangerous creatures...or creations, rather, with fresh blood on their minds, assuming they had any. Until more favorable circumstances prevailed, he was alone save for Joan who could do nothing but watch if something would happen...
Logic was telling him his fears were playing with him.
His fears were telling him the walls were closing in and it was only a matter of time before he was one of the corpses hidden in the darkness...
''Joan...'' he tried again, edging his way backwards, adjusting his grip on his pistols as his eyes scanned the darkness for any shift of movement.
''Head back down the corridor. I'll tell you when to turn.''
''Shouldn't we wait for Crosshair?...and wouldn't you telling me a basis of directions right now be more logical should something happen to you between here and there?''
''Tech, if you are suggesting that something could happen to me between the couple hundred or so feet it takes for you to get there, I sincerely hope you are preparing to die...because either way, that would be the situation. As for the Toothpick...you really want to wait around here for him to catch up if you could do it in a better place?''
Pausing for just a moment, he huffed.
''I believe I would be surprised if it were any other way with you.''
Now it was the AI's turn to huff.
''Do I seriously have to add 'teach the boys how to say a decent compliment' to my list of chores too? Because you and that commander of the 212th just can not seem to compliment a lady without there being some twisted meaning inside of it.''
''That would also be assuming we would be talking to a lady, Joan. We have yet to see any indications of one.''
There was a pause for the entirety of four seconds...then Joan said flatly, ''Ouch.''
He just gave a not-too-innocent shrug.
''Facts.'' he replied, the hint of snark in his voice not lost to the Chiss.
''Keep going down this hallway,'' she demanded, sharply changing the subject. ''I'll tell you when to turn...''
''There. To the right.''
Carefully hopping over what seemed to be a fallen piece of the doorframe, Tech bit his lip as he entered the new room. Inside was pitch black as the others, the only light coming from the glow of his yellow visor; though, for what good it did him, he wished there was a way to turn it off as it affect his night vision's quality and would likely serve as a beacon for anyone or thing that could be hunting him.
He edged towards the wall, suppressing a shudder as he stepped over more debris. The air was freezing. Ice crystals delicately spidered across the walls and observation window on the far side. Computers and data stations sat abandoned, collecting dust; screens dim and motors silent. Pulling the chip out of his helmet, Tech plugged Joan in, taking a step back as he glanced around again. For some reason, this place wasn't easing his sense of security despite being out of the way and unlikely to contain any of the screaming creatures from earlier.
''Okay, I'm in.''
''Good. Keep looking for what happened to this place while locating everyone and finding a way to meet up.''
''Right.''
Her faintly glowing avatar bowed her head, eyes closed as the data raced across her body. Tech watched as her brows furrowed...then she frowned, straightening. The Chiss tilted her head, peering around the room as her red eyes widened in shock.
''Tech..?''
''Yes, what is it?''
''You want to get out of here.''
''Of course I want to get out of here. I thought that was rather obv- ''
''No, you want to get out of here, now.''
''Why?''
Her eyes flashed to his visor, then trailed over to the broken observation window and nodded without a word. Raising an eyebrow, he obeyed, flicking on his searchlight as he wiped away the frost to peer into the other room...Then he froze, staring.
''That, Tech, is why this place is a mess.'' she said solemnly. ''Those troopers we came here to find?...We won't be taking them back with us. That thing we heard screaming? It wasn't an animal...and now there are more of them.''
Tech didn't respond, staring through the glass at the blood-trails that crisscrossed the lab. An operation table with its sheets scattered lay cracked on its side. Medical equipment and sparking monitors balanced precariously on the shelves and walls, merely a handsbreadth away from falling; Many already had and were shattered.
But for all that, despite all the evidence that there should be, the room was empty of any organic body.
''Where did they go? What did you mean by 'that'?''
''That serum I told you about? It wasn't meant to kill people. It was meant to control them...But it says here in the files that there were unplanned side effects. For one, it did end up killing the test subjects without the control...but apparently...it turned into something much worse...''
Turning back to face her, Tech saw Joan staring at the floor, fist clenching and relaxing spasmodically.
''And what would that be?''
Lifting her eyes, she cocked her head, ''Tech, you do know what a hivemind is...right? How it works? How it overrides organic matter to order the dead around?''
Before he could respond, she added, ''I know what you're thinking. There's no queen to control them. That's what I'm worried about...If they don't have something controlling them, then what would be holding them back from mindlessly tearing this whole place apart? What would hold them back from uniting to hunt after any and all beings here on this planet if they escaped? There's no telling what could happen. Tech, this mission isn't just retrieve and return anymore. It's blown far beyond that. Everything we've been seeing so far? Why this place is deserted? Well...it's not. They were all turned. Sep or Republic - it doesn't matter any more. That's why that room is empty and why this place was locked down. And now they're free.''
Peering around the lab, Tech frowned, thinking.
''Then why was this particular wing of the laboratory locked off and frozen if this was widespread? What would the cold have done?''
''Pull me, and I'll tell you on the way to finding the others. I think I have a lock on their signals from here.'' Her eyes narrowed, ''And now I know where the good doctor is as well...and just what's she's been doing to Hunter...''
''Droid, is his armor locked securely in the cabinet?''
''Yes, mistress.''
''Good. You may now remove the gag. I have more questions.''
''Really?'' Hunter scoffed, spitting the gag out the moment it was loose, ''Well so do I. If you're so good a chum of Durd's as you've been saying you are, then what happened to this place? Part of the 'complications'?'' Hunter challenged.
''Yes.'' Revyn replied slowly, ''It was. See, I needed a group of commandos; but unlike other scientists in the CIS, I was given only a limited amount of droid guards to utilize meaning that I had to worked my resources differently than others. When it came to capturing you...Well...I needed this to look less like a trap, and more like an evacuation to draw you in.''
She smiled, ''And it worked...''
Crosshair skidded to a halt, dropping to one knee as he waited. He could hear it coming for him. After he had avoided being crushed, he'd ran down several corridors in the general direction of where they had come from in the hopes of finding a connecting hallway. It had worked for the most part for the first few halls...That been when he had run into that thing.
The darkness could hide a lot, but the scream that had cracked the air wouldn't have been held by the shadows. He'd done the only thing he could. Running back the way he come, he darted down the halls, dove into a break in the wall, and got into position, waiting. There was another shriek, then the sound of heavy feet running.
''Keep coming, sweetheart,'' he whispered tauntingly, peeking around the corner to sight down the target.
Lump...Lump...Lump...
Inside his helmet, he could practically hear his heart pounding in his ears. Could the thing hear it too? Or was it just his imagination?
Doesn't matter. It wouldn't be long before that demon chasing him would be a thousand splatters on the floor.
Lump...Lump...Lump...
He waited...waited...
...waited...
He waited until he knew the beasts could be no more then fifty feet away...but there were no heat signatures. His scans were coming up empty...
What the frik?...
That split second it took him to look up was one second too late before lights exploded in the back of his eyes, and he felt his head crack against the floor...
He hadn't heard the one coming up from behind him...
''So you see, sergeant, you and your men may have expected to come here and return with two men in tow...and you still might,'' Ravyn cooed, leaning in again, ''but not the way you expect...''
''Tech? Crosshair? Hunter?...Guys, come on, you know I don't like dark scary places like this!''
Wrecker paused as he peered between two hallways, trying to figure out which one the others would have taken.
Echoes and whispers of fears were all that answered him.
''Guys? Come on...This place is...a...''
Lump...Lump...Lump...
''Trap...'' he finished, turning.
In his night-vision, all he could see was a pair of glowing eyes on the backdrop of a crushed face, the entire right side crushed in. Wrecker felt his gut twist...then opened fire as the form charged him...
''You...your squad...the men...You may all leave...Once I have what I want.''
''And that is?''
Ravyn smiled slightly, chuckling in a amusement as she traced the outline of his skull tattoo with a delicate fingertip, apparently enjoying how he jerked, trying to break contact.
''My experiments to work...and four men under my control via my success...''
I'm not sure, but Hunter might have been OOC during the 'interrogation' scenes. I promise, I did try the version where he doesn't say anything (where he pulls a Jango during Vosa's interrogation like in Bounty Hunter) but it wasn't getting the same impression I was hoping for...and just for the record, I don't like Ravyn either.
Also, note on the flash cloning thing. I was trying to go off what little I know about the Legends where flash clones often went mad because of...it was either the growing process was too fast or something usually went wrong with the genetic make-up to make them that way.
This chapter didn't turn out quite as I had hoped so now we'll just have to see where this goes from here. :D Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading! Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews! :D