Chapter 20: Major Battle 2: Attempt at Diplomacy
Kay overlooked the behavior of the new strains introduced to his swarm of zerg. Overall, he was impressed with the new additions when the new zerg strains mingled with the pre-existing organisms.
The multitude of hydralisks were welcomed by the elder hydralisk, allowing them to join him in swimming in the freshwater spring or basking in the sun next to the extractor. There was little room next to the extractor, so many of the hydralisks opted to bask on the creep covered banks of the spring. They even joined in on the elder hydralisk's favorite pastime of chasing away the zerglings that drinked from the spring, or tried teasing them by nipping at their tails.
The lurkers were also welcomed at the spring pool, and they spend much of their time basking in the sun with the hydralisks, resting at the banks of the freshwater spring. The zerglings would pick on them by gnawing on their new, spindly legs. To escape them, the lurkers would burrow into the ground and avoid their bullying. But they also joined with the patrols of the roaches, though they were unable to burrow-move with them.
The ravagers, the evolved form of the roaches, joined with the lurkers and roaches in the roach patrols. Despite having weaker armor that the roaches, they had their impressively destructive bombardment weapons, their plasma discharge and corrosive bile attacks, to aid in striking groups of foes with massive damage. Even if they lost the ability to burrow-move, they often paired up with the lurkers.
The swarm hosts were an unusual bunch. They seemed to enjoy being in the company of the infestors the most, likely being that they share common ground with their origin of the infestation pit. They cannot burrow-move like the infestors could, but they did mingle with the lurkers and ravagers in their patrols with the roaches, mainly near the outer border of the most recently established creep fields. They produced locusts from their bodies regularly, compared to the infestors that had stopped producing their infested gilanians a while ago. The locusts would flit away from their host or stay with it, even though their lifespans were incredibly short anyway. But they happened to be the only kind of 'prey' that the zerglings could hunt without costing the swarm resources when killed, so they were hunted by zerglings rather extensively. The locusts were used as the main prey to the zerglings' playful practice to a deadly game. The zerg needed to adapt their strategies in any way they could.
Mutalisks flapped around and screeched loudly overhead, adding to the already large cloud of overlords. They seemed to love to chase each other around in a fashion similar to the zerglings, even forming packs of their own numbers. They also tried to rest themselves on the floating 'heads' if the overlords, which made the overlords grumble in complaint. If a mutalisk tried to lie on an overlord for too long, the overlords would assist one another and 'nudge' the overstaying mutalisk off.
The corruptors also chased each other, as well as practiced their dog-fighting and perfecting their aerial moves with themselves and the mutalisks. They also flew over the roach patrols regularly, seeming to provide them a defense against airborne enemies that would otherwise target the roaches with impunity. The ravagers did have a limited ability to damage flying enemies, but it was the corruptors that were the kings of the sky, and any that dared challenge their rule would meet their wrath.
And with a spore cannon now developing, Kay knew that he was going to become more powerful soon.
But his grin became a frown when a familiar presence entered his territory. Gollog, the emperor of the gilanian empire known as Golden Star, trespassed into his creep fields. Kay sighed. "What the hell does he want?"
Gollog kept on approaching the southwestern hive cluster, looking as though he was unafraid to pass through creep dominated territories, and seemed to be carrying a copper and green suitcase with him. He must have not known that the ground he walked on was zerg infested territory! A hydralisk popped out of the ground in front of the emperor a distance away and hissed lowly at the royal intruder. Kay wondered if Gollog's own soldiers would fire at that hydralisk from such a distance away, if such an act would involve protecting their precious emperor in hopes of gaining a reward for their efforts.
And yet, Gollog strode forward with a bemused smile as he passed the hydralisk. Another hydralisk popped out of the ground and joined the first hydralisk that was tailing after Gollog. After walking for such a long while, seeming to be unimpeded by the creep, Gollog eventually arrived at the southwestern hive cluster expansion, ten kilometers away from the main hive cluster. The queens and drones stopped their work to analyze their intruder, as he scrutinized them back in the same way. He then took a deep breath after he was done scrutinizing. "I REQUEST THE BUG-MAN BEAST-MASTER OF THE ZERG SWARM TO GRANT ME AN AUDIENCE! COME ON OUT, KAY! I KNOW DAMN WELL THAT YOUR BEASTS ARE CONNECTED TO YOU, AND THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF MY PRESENCE THROUGH THEM! WILL YOU GRANT ME ANOTHER AUDIENCE SO THAT WE CAN DISCUS AN EXCHANGE? I MADE THE EFFORT TO CARRY MY RETURN MEM DEVICE HERE, AND I WOULD SURELY BE DISAPPOINTED IF I HAD TO USE IT SO SOON!"
After a few seconds of time passing, Kay had emerged from the 'under beast', a name that the gilanians used to refer to the nydus worms, and walked toward Gollog with a scowl. He popped his knuckles and cricked his neck. "Hello again, Gollog. Still using your answering machine to send your messages? I don't really care at this point. You attacked my zerg, and now I have to teach you a lesson."
Gollog smiled. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha~! Is that so?! Well then! Feel free to deliver the first blow! Deliver many if you need to!" He said, spreading his arms wide and making himself open to Kay's attacks.
Kay raised his eyebrow, but he kept walking forward and jabbed a wing straight through Gollog's right arm. Kay didn't feel the warmth of blood, or cold, mechanical cogs of a machine. Instead, Kay could feel some resistance but... there was nothing past the skin and cloth! When Kay removed his bladed wing, the wound he was expecting to see didn't appear. Raising an eyebrow even further, he poked at the arm he supposedly 'attacked'. Kay could tell that his claws can go through Gollog's cloth and skin like it was cloth and skin, but... there was no flesh, and the skin and cloth turned into mist before reforming back into what it was before. Kay even tried to hack the entire arm off, only for the arm to turn into mist and reform back into an arm that was undamaged and un-severed by Kay's attack. Kay sighed, feeling as though he was cheated from what might have became a simple pleasure, only to be robbed by this strange illusion. "... Huh. You know, if you really were real, then this would turn out very differently."
Gollog chuckled. "So you say. Why must it matter if I was real to you? I am still an immortal! I just happen to be in a higher plane of existence that enables me to transcend death. No matter how many times you attack me with your little wings, you can do no harm to me."
Kay sighed and crossed his arms. "Doesn't mean that I can't try, just so I see for myself. Why are you here?"
"Simple, really." Gollog said, pleading his fingers. "I came here for the location of the Hidden Water Spring Tribe. Finding out where it is located happens to be an objective that's important to me."
"Why?" Kay asked.
"It just is to me. You can't possibly understand the musings and thoughts of an immortal. You said so yourself." Gollog said with cockiness in his voice.
"No, I said that you're not real. That doesn't mean you're immortal. You're just using some kind of illusion to hide your pathetic self from real danger. That alone makes you a very inventive coward." Kay growled.
Gollog immediately swung his hand out and slapped Kay's face with a depreciating frown. The pointy fingertips of his gauntlet grazed Kay's flesh, but Kay didn't take his eyes off of Gollog. Gollog then gently retreated his hand and smiled again. "Illusion. A funny word, that. Did you know that everything is literally an illusion? Time, space, life, death, dreams, nightmares, thoughts, emotions, matter, energy, literally everything is an illusion! But the best thing about illusions? They can be controlled." Gollog said, raising and clenching a hand into a fist.
Kay sighed. "Get to the damn point or I'm going to have my zerg deal with you."
Gollog paused, but smiled as he lowered his opalescent gauntlet. "I have told you before, I merely wanted the location of the tribe."
"... If I were to guess, you want something that can be found there. Is it an illicit photo of you doing something perverted?" Kay teased.
Gollog scoffed. "Normally, I would have you put to one hundred years of hibernation in a cold-pod as punishment for that comment alone. I am now seeing that coming out here was a mistake. I shall see to it that your death is quick, and your body shall be studied for science." Gollog said, placing a copper suitcase down.
"Or perhaps it is 'someone'?"
Gollog paused.
Kay nodded. "Mm. I see. So there IS someone that you're looking for. Let me guess... You are trying to find this person after disappearing... eighty years ago, correct?"
Gollog blinked a few times. "Do... you know this person?"
"And now that you have gotten so close to achieving your goal, you are willing to sacrifice your soldiers just to capture that one person. You have narrowed your field, and now you have summoned nearly all of your forces just to take control of a small, small village that can't be seen above ground. I can already tell that you were holding back your power just so you don't damage something, or you would potentially accidentally kill that special someone you have been searching for and live to regret it. Tell me, am I close?" Kay said with a smirk, crossing his arms.
Gollog paused for several seconds before smiling. "Sounds like you found a very important person, seeing as though you yourself are gloating an awful lot."
Kay smiled and waved his hand. "I got all the information I needed from you anyway. Now get off my property." He said as he turned around and walked away.
Gollog turned red and stepped forward. "YOU DARE TURN YOUR BACK ON ME A SECOND TIME?! YOU PLAY A DANGEROUS GAME, BUG-MAN BEAST-MASTER OF THOSE ZERG MONSTERS! I SHALL SEE TO IT THAT YOU WILL LEAVE AN UGLY CORPSE AS I FORCE YOUR LIFE FROM IT! BUT THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING SHALL BE FORCED FROM YOUR HOME AND INTO MY CARE! AS OF NOW, I AM DONE BEING LENIENT WITH YOUR INSINCERE RUDENESS!"
Kay stopped, then slowly turned around and smiled. "I didn't say it was a he."
Gollog frowned even more, his right eye twitching. "AND YOU STILL MOCK ME?! I WILL SEE TO IT THAT I WILL MAKE YOUR EXISTENCE A LIVING HELL, BEFORE I END YOUR LIFE! MARK MY WORDS, KAY! I WILL DESTROY YOU, AND YOUR ZERG CREATURES!" Gollog shouted, pointing at Kay.
Kay scoffed. "And I didn't hear you deny that he is a male. Funny thing, anger. You might say that emotions are illusions, but anger can be easily controlled if you know what kind of buttons to press. In fact, they can be controlled so well that you can gather information without even asking direct questions. Now, if you don't mind, I have a brood to prepare. And don't worry. He's been keeping me very well entertained. But now, I must bid you adieu."
"AH...ADIEU? WHAT-WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!" Gollog shouted.
"Your time is up here. I would kill you, but it looks like I can't. Instead, I'm going to move you off of my property by force. And since I can't kill you by my own clawed hands, I think I will settle for killing the people in your empire. Or at least the people that are most loyal to you. I hope that you don't come here to see me ever again." Kay said, snapping his fingers and turning away. Once he turned to walk to the nydus worm, several roaches popped out of the ground and used their sickle-claws to try and make Gollog back away, whilst the hydralisks used their scythe-claws to guide him back to where he came from.
After a hurried pushing and shoving by the zerg, Emperor Gollog was transported to the place where he had approached from. The gilanian soldiers shouted indistinctly as their emperor was being pushed toward them. It was only when Gollog was thrown at the ground in front of the perimeter defense, and the zerg going back to their territory, that the soldiers fired at the retreating zerg organisms. Some of them died, but many fled.
"That is the darnedest thing I have seen all day! Jags done threw our emperor out of their home and onto our doorstep!" One of the soldiers reported.
Kralluf appeared and pushed aside the soldier before meeting with Gollog. He bowed to his emperor before speaking. "My liege. It is good to see you well. I was worried that these monsters might inconvenience you further! If you don't mind me asking, why have you not used the MEM device?"
Gollog got up from the ground and hissed madly, his eyes and posture displaying incredible anger. He boomed his outrage. "THEY HAVE DONE FAR MORE THAN INCONVENIENCE ME, KRALLUF. KAY HAS INSULTED ME FOR THE LAST TIME, THE ZERG HAVE POLLUTED THESE LANDS FOR FAR TOO LONG, AND THE PRIZE STILL REMAINS OUT OF MY REACH. I SHALL NOT DELAY MY WRATH ANY FURTHER! COMMANDER KRALLUF OF THE CRESCENT ARMS DIVISION!" Gollog yelled. Kralluf straightened his posture. "YOU ARE TO ERADICATE ANY AND ALL ZERG ORGANISMS, IDENTIFIED OR NOT, AND TAKE THE HIDDEN WATER SPRING TRIBE'S ANCESTRAL HOME BY ANY MEANS!"
Kralluf bowed. "Yes, my emperor! At once! Shall I commence the attack by moving the perimeter defense upward?"
Gollog took a few breaths before speaking. "No. I shall make a way for your forces with my powers. As of this moment, I shall allow you to use my divine resources in a less frugal manner. No longer must you send a sacrifice or offering to summon my powers regarding the destruction of these insects. I shall allow you to use my divine powers freely. My heavenly smiting bombardment shall make it easier for you to conquer our enemies." Gollog said, then he tried to find something on his person. His face filled with rage a few seconds later once he remembered Kralluf mentioning something about a MEM device. "THOSE ANIMALS! ... Kralluf, I have need of a MEM device as of now. May I use one of yours?"
Kralluf saluted. "Of course, my lord! My resources are yours to use too, sir!"
Gollog nodded. "Very good. I shall tell you of the coordinates I need to get to."
As Kay came back to the underground village, carrying a MEM device over his shoulder, he was greeted by Virid. She hissed in excitement. "We are going to fight again?"
Kay nodded, setting down a copper colored suitcase and looking at it. "Yeah. How far along is that spore cannon developing?"
"The spore cannon will finish in five more minutes." Virid replied.
Kay nodded. After taking a long pause, he made up his answer. "The time has come."
Once the beams of death rained down from the sun, five in total zipped across the surface of zerg territory like a deadly laser-disco party. The zerg initiated their counter-attack.
The zerglings were called by their masters and were given the order to rush into battle. They trilled and roared their war cries as they swarmed toward the closest defense line created by the gilanians. The mutalisks were also joining with the zerglings that sprinted below them, as they were also itching for a fight. Once the mass of zerglings started emerging from the ring of crawlers and rushed toward their enemies, they were fired upon. It did little to deter the single-mindedness of the zerglings, but the perimeter tried it's best to vanquish any mutalisks that hovered over their airspace. Many scores of zerglings and mutalisks were reduced to nothing when the beams struck them, yet the zerg organisms continued without pause. Once the zerglings reached the maximum sensing range of the seismic sensors, another tactic was brought into the mix.
All of the roaches that have gotten close to the defensive perimeter without triggering the seismic sensor equipment rose up from the ground and rushed forward with the zerglings. Their shells were pelted by turrets, both automated and manned. Even focus fired artillery cannon shells launched by the soldiers and the lasers coming down from the sky reigned down on the mass of roaches. Even aiming slightly above their targets was liable to hit something from behind the zerg lines! The acids of the roaches burned and melted anything they spat on, and it was soon discovered that their main target was the seismic sensors.
But the Crescent Arms gilanians were soon pelted by spines, coming in the shape of thin needles several seconds later. Hydralisks, way behind the platoons of roaches, rose from the earth and began launching spines at their enemies that were a great distance away. There were many hydralisks, and their spines rained down on their enemies like many painful raindrops of death. Soon, the hydralisks became more and more accurate as they launched their long-range attack, but their numbers were slowly lessened and vaporized by the sky laser.
"Blade hounds, pukers, and now some kind of spine serpent-looking things are hitting us from long range! What the hell?! I really hope this doesn't get worse!" One of such gilanian soldiers complained. When he looked up upon hearing leathery wings beating in the sky, he was rewarded with his chest developing a deep, oblong oval cut passing through him, filled with a silhouette of acid. This killed the soldier.
A command was then called in by Kralluf. [I NEED ANTI-AIR DEFENSES READY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, NOW! TARGET THOSE FLYING THINGS! THOSE... BAT THINGS IN THE SKY THAT'S LAUNCHING THOSE RAZOR DISK THINGS! FUCK THEM RIGHT UP!]
The gilanian defenses that was aided by the beams of death and light were holding up somewhat well, but the casualties were very evident. Of the three thousand desert platforms that were deployed at the edge of zerg territory, 17% of Kralluf's entire deployed forces had perished to the zerg so far.
[Sir! New organism detected! And it's big! Looks like some kind of shelled lizard insect hybrid.] [... What the hell is that?! WAIT! IT'S LAUNCHING SOMETHING FROM IT'S BACK! THERE'S MORE OF THEM! THEY'RE COMING AHHH~!*static*] [THEY'RE SWARMING! THEY SPIT ACID LIKE THOSE PUKERS! THEY FLEW OVER THE FRONT LINES AND THEY'RE COVERING EVERYTHING IN ACID! AAAUGH~!*static*]
Kralluf gave out his commands, showing no fear in the presence of his men. [TARGET THE ZERG CARRIERS! THEY ARE BREEDING THE PESTS! KILL THE PEST CARRIERS!]
[FRIENDLY FIRE, WATCH IT!] [FoR tHe SwArM~!] [Why is one of our desert platforms attacking each other?!] [Oh gods! one of our own is killing friendlies! Stay alert!] [What is that thing sticking into the computer drive?] [Automated defenses not responding! Someone hacked into their command pathways!]
It was at this moment that Kralluf was feeling his own hope wither away when he saw an infestor approach the perimeter defense, shooting its neural parasite at its target, then burrowing into the ground. Kralluf was unsure on why an automated turret malfunctioned and shot at the soldiers, until now. He barked further orders. [MEN! THE ZERG ORGANISMS IDENTIFIED AS SPAWNERS ARE USING SOME KIND OF THIN TENDRIL TO MANIPULATE OUR MEN, MACHINES AND VEHICLES! TRY AND TARGET THE SPAWNERS! THE THIN TENDRIL IS A GIVEAWAY TO THEIR POSITION UNDERGROUND!]
[More organisms detected. ... What the... WATCH YOUR HEADS! ARTILLERY!]
Kralluf noticed yet another new organism. He watched in awe and horror on how it discharged its plasma at faraway enemies. Kralluf was losing his men, and fast. "ZERG BOMBARDIERS?! Uh... DAMMIT! FIGHT THEM BACK, MEN!]
[Spikes?! Why are spikes going through the- *static*] [Something's coming! Wait... It burrowed? WHOA! BE ADVISED, BE ADVISED! THERE ARE ZERG THAT ATTACKS THROUGH THE SAND!]
Kralluf was beginning to feel like he was at his limit. [THEN USE THE GODS-DAMNED SEISMIC SENSORS! TRACK THE... What the hell would I call these? ... AMBUSHERS! USE SEISMIC SENSORS TO DETECT THOSE AMBUSHERS!]
It was at this point that Kralluf's command over his forces was waning quickly. With the inclusion of the new zerg organisms, 46% of Kralluf's deployed forces in the defensive perimeter were being quickly vanquished. Emperor Gollog's beam weapon was indeed powerful, but the day continued to slowly turn. Soon, when it became night, Gollog's greatest attack would be rendered useless.
[Incoming! New zerg organisms!]
Kralluf almost had a coughing fit. [M-MORE?!]
The corruptors came into battle and focused on the massive desert crawlers, quickly damaging them with ease and forcing Kralluf to feel uneasy. Anti-air was focused on the 'bat things' in the sky, so the corruptors had an easier time attacking the desert platforms. Their parasite spores were launched with deadly accuracy at the giant vehicles that were once the pride of the empire gilanians.
[We're being slaughtered here! Focus anti-air on the- *static*] [It fell in twenty seconds.] [Man that turret! Shoot at everything!] [It fell in twenty seconds.] [GAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGH!- *static*] [It fell in twenty seconds.] [Can someone shut up that channe- oh OH OH NO- *static*] [It fell in twenty se- *static*]
The loss of Kralluf's forces jumped from 46% to 83% and rising. Kralluf slammed his hammer down. [DAMMIT! THOSE NEW ZERG ARE DESTROYING US AND SLAYING OUR DESERT PLATFORMS! I'M SOUNDING THE RETREAT, EVERYONE! PUT YOUR DESERT PLATFORMS INTO AUTO-ATTACK AND DRIVE THEM FORWARD! USE YOUR MEM DEVICES TO ESCAPE TO YOUR RESPECTIVE BARRACKS! SHIFT THREE PEOPLE PER MEM DEVICE WHEN YOU COMMENCE EVACUATION OF YOUR DESERT PLATFORMS! THIS IS COMMANDER KRALLUF, SIGNING OUT!]
Gollog's voice could be heard in the radio transmission. [A very powerful enemy, to be sure. I am certain that if these monsters are not stopped soon, then my empire will become empty and hollow of all subjects, servants, and loyalists. Today is a sad day.]
Kralluf sounded as though he gasped. [My emperor! I apologize for my defeat, my lord! These zerg monsters are very dangerous. Especially with their new flying creatures.]
[Which ones are these again? Drifters? Wait, no, those are the ones that like to drop the bursters. The bat things in the sky? Oculars? Those oculars sure are very strange ones. They don't attack, much like the drifters, but they do seem more speedier. And they sure do like to poop a lot, much like those drifters.]
Kralluf sighed. [No, my lord. It was the new flying zerg organism that are destroying my desert platforms and the fliers in the air.]
[Mm! I believe you said that they were 'slaying' them, correct? Well, have that be their new name and be done with it.]
[... Slayers? Uh... Very well, my lord. They shall be named 'slayers' from here on out, by your command.]
An audible sigh was heard. [Kralluf, I want you to go to General Pallax and submit yourself for disciplinary action. I shall continue smiting these monsters when there is still daylight to be had. There is a chance that some may have escaped, but defending this area has proven to be incredibly disastrous for our efforts. And yet, we must keep our focus on curbing the zerg. I'm afraid that if this gets any worse, I might have to enact the machine sentinel protocol.]
Kralluf paled and paused. [... You don't mean to summon the Kiln Keepers?!]
[Yes. The same ancient prison guards of our world and our ancestors. They may have the means to stave off these monsters, but to summon them is a heavy burden to bear. I shall continue eradicating the zerg infestation. You go to Pallax. Understood?]
[... Yes sir. Going to Empire Capital now.]
Once Kralluf issued the retreat, many empire soldiers escaped out of the battle using each of their desert platform's MEM devices. After that, the desert platforms were programmed to drive forward and run over as many zerg organisms they could. They squashed many zerglings, roaches, hydralisks, infestors, swarm hosts, lurkers and ravagers in the machine stampede. The corruptors and mutalisks had put them out of commission violently, and the banelings reduced their wheel-towers to nothing. But there was still the five beams of death that still danced on the ground. Several zerg were smote by the ultimate orbital weapon, which was something that the zerg would not normally have a defense against.
During the battle, however, the zerg had gained the means to attempt that.
The spore cannon was sending shot after shot of the altar element, and genetic information on how to use it, to the hive-cluster established on the hexagonal moon. Once the day ended, the zerg there will be able to spread at incredible speeds on the artificial moon. Once several of the spores were launched, though some did not survive the beams of light and fire, their flight path was projected to hit the hexagonal moon at the end of the day. After that, the spore cannon was now focused on shooting Kiln's only sun. Kay was unsure if shooting the gilanian's sun would do anything, but he had to at least try!
But to spread the zerg to farther territories, other agents will have to be put into affect with a certain mutation that was needed. Specifically, one that is contained at a research facility. Despite Kay and Virid's defending forces having suffered a 91% mortality rate, they still won against impossible odds with another pyrrhic victory. But they still needed a unit that can infiltrate the enemy forces without having to concern themselves with a temporary lifespan.
"Any symptoms?" Faddoh asked Hektar as he went through his notes. Faddoh was going through his own notes as well.
"I think there are a few I can count that are readily observed." Hektar began. "It appears as though the subject as developed several maladies after being injected with the corpse fluid. The first observable symptoms in the first few minutes following the infection, or injection of the zerg virus, relates as follows: angina, costochondritis, bloating in chest and intestines, hemoptysis, and seizures. After two minutes of ongoing symptoms, symptoms completely disappeared and patient appears to be fine. Neural oscillation is somewhat disrupted from the initial symptoms, and could be yet another symptom in itself. Blood samples taken from the gilanian patient 'Polteg' has revealed that he now has similar viral agents within himself which almost exactly matches the viral agents inside the blade hound specemin, known as subject 'Blixon'. Polteg has then began displaying lethargy willpower several minutes later. This malaise is regarded as possibly another symptom. Patient Polteg might develop into a despondent state. We are unsure if the patient will develop more symptoms at the moment."
Faddoh nodded. "Very good. It seems like we have been making progress here. Good progress, in fact. Good progress indeed!"
Hektar sighed before speaking. "I have also detected that the neural oscillations in patient Polteg is creating an abundance of delta waves. Surprisingly, there is also a higher amount of delta waves detected in the blade hound's neural oscillations as well. Theory: Perhaps the virus somehow alters the brain and changes its chemistry, targeting the infected host's anterior insular cortex, the part of the brain that determines empathy? There must be more tests to determine if this viral agent can be controlled, or cured. As per the original hypothesis that pertains to the parasites and viruses that could 'melt the gilanian host', its starting to become doubtful, since the supposed duration for a gilanian to melt has surpassed the assumed period of expiration. The virus and parasites seems to be transferable through contact of open wounds, or in water soluble environments. More ideas for possible research projects regarding patient Polteg, or research specimen Blixon, is pending with think-tank at cube facility S-01."
Faddoh's LED face smiled. "Excellent. Excellent. The correlating data between Polteg and Blixon is astoundingly fascinating! The organisms the zerg faction employ seem to house and spread viral agents as they combat their forces. What might be a slight wound would turn out to be an egregious disadvantage for any gilanian warrior that sirvived a fight with the zerg. I will have to submit this document to everyone at facility S-01 as soon as possible! That is, until your researchers try and discover the gender of the other organism. That or the technicians have figured out the problem why the MEM devices are unable to shift zerg-related biological materials."
Hektar sighed again. "Yes sir. May we see my team and listen to their progress?"
Faddoh looked up and turned to Hektar. "... Hmm. Oh, I suppose so. But this will count as your break period. Understand?"
Hektar bowed and nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good. Let's visit your research team!" Faddoh exclaimed happily, getting up and leaving for the short hallway.
Hektar got up and followed after Commander Faddoh, leaving Polteg in the modified slave cage he was forced into. Hektar walked behind the mechanical footsteps of the copper and green colored robot that was the commander of the Cube Research Division. Hektar was unsure if the machine was a robot that was an extension of his control, or that the robot was a cyborg that contained his brain, and that his face was a digital analogue constructed to emote his emotions to other gilanians. Or that it could have been a robot the entire time. Hektar wondered which was the correct answer, but he was too polite to ask. When Faddoh and Hektar came into the room where the research team was going through their notes, Hektar's researchers looked up and saluted. Hektar raised his hand. "At ease, lady and gentlemen. I and Commander Faddoh are taking a break from our work, and I suggested to see you. Can you report to us what data you have collected so far?"
Faddoh clapped his mechanical hands together. "Yes yes! Please do share with us your findings!"
The female gilanian scientist with the orange copper and green scientist coat came up to her head biologist and commander. "Yes sirs." She said, saluting and turning around to walk to the cage that had a zergling pacing back-and-forth. Small segments of the cage had holes, which signified that the zergling tried to escape from its confinement. It gave a mean look at Hektar and Faddoh before giving them a lowly snarl.
"Now now, Blixon. Behave, or you will not be rewarded with treats." Faddoh said, replying to Blixon's snarl.
Blixon did not care, and it kept snarling.
"If I may grab your attention, gentlemen?" The female gilanian said. Faddoh and Hektar redirected their attention to her. "Thank you." She pointed to the zergling. "The blade hound, affectionately named Blixon, has displayed several irregularities as time passed. The medical micro-machines we have injected into the specimen minutes ago had completely broken down, preventing us a means to actively scan his biological processes. However, in the scant last seconds of analysis, we have detected several specialized cells that have been developing within its fatty tissue. These cells seemed to have developed the ability to store or release electricity. These 'electrocytes' may have been the means to short-circuit our micro-machines, but I theorize that they might be a defense mechanism that was created for the purposes of counteracting the modified slave cage's means of electrical containment."
Faddoh furrowed his brows. "Wha... Are you saying that Blixon could create new adaptations in seconds when he is subjected to some kind of environmental stimulus?"
The scientist nodded. "Yes sir. I believe it's a product of rapid evolution."
Faddoh scoffed. "My dear... Er... I don't think I have your name."
"It's Braif, sir."
Faddoh nodded. "Braif then. Please, my dear. Explain this rapid evolution to me."
Braif nodded, then held up two fingers. "There are two types of cells that we have identified, of which enables this rapid evolution. One of such cells that we have identified has been labeled the 'zerg M.F. cell'. This zerg M.F. cell, or mutation-factory, creates several different strains of DNA and RNA viral agents that affects the blade hound's genetic code."
Hektar raised his hand. "But wait... If that were the case, then wouldn't the mutations that the 'mutation factory' cell produces destabilize the zerg organism? I could see that as a liable means a victim to die and turn into a puddle."
Braif shook her head. "There is another cell that prevents complete cellular and molecular breakdown in the assumed scenario of over-mutation. The key lies with another cell that hunts down those mutations. These other cells has been labeled the 'zerg M.P. cell'. M.P. is an acronym that, in this case, stands for 'mutation predator'. Apparently, its role is to hunt down over-redundant, useless, or recessive mutations that would not advance the evolution of the blade hound, Blixon. I will assume that the other zerg organisms may also contain the factory and predator cells as well. In short, I estimate that every hour that passes will result in four thousand generations of this blade hound's evolution, compared to the normal generational evolution of gilanians."
Hektar paused before turning to look at the baring teeth of Blixon. "... The zerg are far more dangerous than I thought."
"There is more." Braif said, making Hektar turn back to her with a perplexed glare. "The creature contains millions of tiny muscles that 'vibrate', and enable it to quickly burrow into the ground. The blade hound also contains a unique set of dominant R group amino acids. From what I can tell from the damaged tissue our blade had sliced into, the zerg amino acids enables any damaged or dead flesh to be reabsorbed and remade into living cell matter. In short... This blade hound is effectively immortal. It can't die of old age, it won't ever get sick, or suffer from fatigue or starvation."
Hektar was now shaking his head. "I'm starting to think that you're making half of this stuff up! Please tell me you're making this up!"
Braif looked at Hektar with a stare. "... Head biologist Hektar, may I continue please?" Hektar paused before taking an inhale of air and sighing, nodding at Braif. "Thank you, sir." She nodded back before continuing. "The micro-machines have also detected unusual activity in the central cortex of Blixon. From later tests after the discovery, using a device that had an artificial means of replicating the theta waves of brain activity, the specimen had an immediate reaction. The claw marks that you saw on the cage was one result of such a test."
Hektar nodded. "What's your conclusion of your test?"
"That this blade hound has the ability to receive and send theta waves, and other brainwave signals, to other zerg organisms or any organism that are sensitive and receptive to externally transmitted brainwave signals. In simplified terms: Telepathy."
Hektar paled even more.
"Like a hive queen marcher insect using pheromones to control the workers and soldiers to do her bidding, these zerg organisms use telepathy to guide their actions. I have to admit, it's a very effective method than implanting transmitters as a means to command your troops into battle." Braif reported.
Faddoh raised his hand to speak up. "Is Blixon male or female?"
Hektar and Braif paused to stare at Faddoh when he asked his question. "... Uh... The medical micro-machines did not detect a possible sex dichotomy of Blixon's physiology. It has no reproduction organs, nor does it have sex defining genomes." Braif answered.
Faddoh, Braif, and Hektar paused for a long time. Faddoh decided to speak up again. "So uh... Do you think we should keep calling it Blixon, or just Blix from now on?"
Braif paused before shaking her head and sighing. "I don't think naming it is important, sir. What matters is that we send the data to cube facility S-01 immediately."
Faddoh nodded and sighed too. "You are quite right, Braif. T'gai. Send all accumulated data of patient Polteg and specimen Blixon to cube facility S-01."
[Command detected. Sending data.]
Faddoh nodded, walked forward to Braif and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Braif, I have to admit, you are dedicated to your work. I think you and your team of scientists shall be heavily rewarded for your efforts here today. How does being an operator of a new experimental cube facility for each of you sounds?"
Braif paused, but then smiled. "Ah... That sounds wonderful, Commander Faddoh, sir!"
"Good!" Faddoh said with a smile. "Every one of you will receive an experimental C-series, mobile floating cube facility. Except for Hektar."
Hektar turned to stare at Faddoh. "WHAT?!"
Faddoh turned to Hektar and smiled. "I can't have someone taking the initiative. That is where I come in. I don't need an upstart, like you, to do my work for me, so consider this a lesson in manners. Sound fair?"
Hektar paused with his mouth opened, but then sighed and nodded. "Yes sir." He said, dejectedly.
Faddoh clapped his coppery hands together. "Right. I think all of us shall take an extended break. Bring out the Krell eggs and a water boiler! I think we shall celebrate our speedy research progress with a snack!"
Suddenly, T'gai had ruined the celebration before it began. [Failure detected. Radio transmitter offline. Data cannot be sent.]
Everyone paused. After the pause, Faddoh looked up. "What?! What happened to the radio transmitter?!"
[Query detected. Radio transmitter was deactivated.]
Faddoh looked like he was about to blow a fuse. "Who the hell was responsible for deactivating the radio transmitter?!"
[Query detected. Biologist Polteg was responsible fororororororrorororororoooo-forforforforforforforfor fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-fo-or *static* Failure detected. Failure detected. Failure detected. Failure detected. Failure detected. Fai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai- *static*]
After another pause from the computer AI, T'gay finally silenced itself and the entire interior of the research station became blackened by darkness. Only the phosphorescence of the green patterns in the walls of the copper science cube glowed a soft green color, and Faddoh's LED face emitted the only bright light within the building. Faddoh's face changed to that of concern. "... Well. This is, um... Unexpected."
Hektar decided to speak next. "Are we being attacked?"
"Maybe." Faddoh brought his right arm up. "Beenglin. You're my bodyguard that is meant to protect me. Have anything odd to report?"
[I have been trying to get into the cube facility ever since I learned about the radio transmission going out and getting disrupted. Other than that, the emperor is smiting something fierce someplace a few miles away from our position. Five rays of wrath, and it's been going on for a good minute. Someone must have insulted him to his face or something.]
"If anything, you are our only contact to our headquarters now. Relay a short-range message using the recording of the encrypted code I have given you. Think you can do that?"
[Uh... Does this mean that the backup power inside the station is off too?]
There was a sudden crash and a wrenching of metal. Faddoh, Hektar, Braif and the other researchers turned around to see that a modified slave cage was empty. A hole was ripped open from its side, and the patter of claws clambered onto the ground. Faddoh ran up to the cage and inspected it. "Dammit! Our specimen has escaped! Beenglin, I need you to get us out of here, and I mean NOW!" He turned around to face the science team. "Everyone! Gather yourselves and find some weapons to use! I have my magic armor and manipulator tech, so stand behind me! If we find either Polteg or Blixon, I'll only be able to subdue one of them. It's sad, but we may have to kill them both. Our priority is to get our computer back online, and reactivate the radio transmitter. Got that?"
Hektar nodded. Braif nodded. The other scientists, of which there are nine in total that included Hektar and Braif, also nodded and accepted Faddoh's instructions. They quickly armed themselves with the weapons they carried on their persons, consisting of either knives or pistols. For optional weapons they improvised on, they had decided to wield chairs, or use a beaker of acid to throw at a potential target. One scientist, Braif, had opted to use a thin chain with a weight at the end. Many of their tertiary armaments consisted of flashlights.
Once everyone looked prepared, Faddoh walked in front of everyone. "Okay everyone, behind me. No heroics. We will slowly make our way to the main power generator and backup power generator. We'll fix the problems with the generators, go to the radio transmitter to reactivate it, then send our distress signal to Kralluf. We'll then tell him that our blade hound specimen is loose."
"What if the blade hound destroys the generators? And what about Polteg? Why is he a threat to us?" One of the other scientists asked.
"Well... Let's hope that the blade hound doesn't, and hope that Polteg is finding a quiet place to refrain from bothering us." Faddoh said, moving forward. His LED face display was brighter than any of the scientists flashlights, and he had a powerful mechanical body, so he lead the way. They walked forward with careful trepidation, looking at every shadow and at every distant noise. The copper science cube might have been a forward research base, but in its powered down state, it looked completely different. Like something out of a horror film.
Their progress was slow, but they could see the generator when they turned the corner at the end of the short hallway. It was ruined, as the telltale signs of destructive and animalistic tampering was seen. This panicked one of the scientists.
"Polteg, what the hell are you trying to do?" "Shut up." "But it has to be him, right? I mean, you heard what Braif said. They have telepathic powers!" "Shut UP, Qufus." "It's a theory, I know, but... What if I'm right?" "Polteg couldn't have done it. How did he get out of his cage?" "Maybe with his mind powers?" "Shut the fuck up, Qufus."
"Actually, Qufus might be right." Hektar said. Everyone turned to him. "My research has discovered that both the blade hound and Polteg can produce a high amount of theta waves in their neural oscillations. I think, somehow, Polteg relayed the information he knew about the ins and outs of a B series research facility to the blade hound. The damage looks directed, like it was specifically attacked with the claws of a blade hound."
"Would that mean the backup generator is damaged too?" Braif asked.
Faddoh sighed. "We'll have to assume so. And if that is so, then the MEM device might be put out of commission as well. Armed with that knowledge, we may have to find the radio transmitter and create our own makeshift generator to supply it energy."
"Where do we get the parts to create our generator? This isn't a junkyard." Braif replied.
The zergling rushed at them and attacked the scientists when they weren't paying attention. Qufus had his neck fatally gouged with a claw, and then the zergling quickly darted away. The 8 scientists armed themselves, whilst Faddoh tried to catch the zergling with his arm, firing a type of distortion of air that hummed. A chair was caught in its hold and it floated in the air, while the zergling got away. It went down the corridor that they came from.
Faddoh sighed. "Dammit. We'll have to adapt. Let's continue going to the radio transmitter now. And let's not dawdle."
"tHEy are comINg."
Faddoh turned to look at the distorted and strained voice. He saw a face peering out from the corner. Everyone looked at where Faddoh was facing and they saw Polteg. Faddoh scrunched his face into anger. "Everyone, back up behind me, and keep going for the radio transmitter. Polteg, are you responsible for the blackout?"
Polteg didn't come out from his corner, his face still halfway exposed to them. "YeS."
"How did you do it?" Faddoh asked.
"T'gai, open modified slave cage 02." Polteg answered, copying Faddoh's voice perfectly, even the mechanical hum that occurs when he stopped talking after a long-winded topic. Polteg then growled. "I then tOre Out t'gaI's bRAInS. I ThEn Destroyed YoUr GeneRATors. i tHEn ruInEd yOur RADio TrAnsmItTEr. thE Swarm IS COMINg. anD ThEy WaNT yoU."
Faddoh cocked his head. "Why?"
"i heAr tHeRe ThoUGhTS. tHEY Know THaT yoU hAvE INjeCted ME wITh THat FlUiD. i Am turnINg inTO ONE Of theM. ONE OF tHe ZERg."
As Faddoh backed away with the researchers behind him, he heard Hektar speak. "The transmitter is over here, commander. Looks like Polteg ruined it. He must have had abnormal strength to rip off the panel! What do we do now?" Hektar asked, which told Faddoh that Hektar had checked the radio transmitter of its damage.
Faddoh paused. "... Polteg. You can talk with the swarm, can't you?"
Polteg hissed lowly. "ThEY DoN'T tALK With me, I Listen to ThEm. their VOIcES aRE BEAuTIFul. THeY wAnT ME tO sTOp YOU. YOu Are An eNeMy To tHE SwArM."
"OH GOD, IS THAT HIS HAND?!" As a scientist shouted that, a triangular, sharp object that looked like it was made of ivory came into view.
polteg's eyes looked like they were bubbling. "yOU arE our enEmY becAuSe You SidE WItH GoLLog. YoU ArE oUr EnEmY BeCausE yOU aRe allIEd With the EMpIrE. yoU aRE OUr eNEMy becaUsE YoU HAvE TRIED tO sHare inFormAtIon oF oUR WeaKnESsEs. YOu WiLl Be DEvOured BY the SWARm!" Polteg leaned out and shot a pistol at the group of scientists.
"HE'S GOT A PIECE! BEHIND ME!" Faddoh shouted. The scientists huddled behind the metal commander as bullets whizzed past or clanged noisily on Faddoh. Two were shot in the head and fell to the ground, reducing the scientists numbers from eight, to six. The pistol that Polteg had brought with him eventually made a 'clack' noise, which signaled to them that the gun was out of ammunition.
"Dammit!" Hektar cursed. "He must have found a place to hide a weapon! Whatever that bony blade was, it only distracted us!"
"Hektar, there is something worse than an empty pistol to worry about." Faddoh said, turning. Several bullets had impacted his face, and the LED display was showing a static signal. "I can't see."
Hektar paled. "Then what the hell are we supposed to do now?!"
Faddoh gestured with his hand, nearly hitting Braif in the head. "Calm down. We can still send a signal to call for help, if we can use an energy source to power the radio transmitter."
"We can do that?" Another scientist asked.
"Yes, indeed!" Faddoh replied. "But you will have to be my eyes. If you can rig the radio transmitter cables to my wires, the battery in my mechanical body can power the transmitter. After the transmitter has been powered, we have a limited amount of time to boost the transmitter signal to send out a message. The external systems of the radio transmitter should still be operational. Here." Faddoh reached toward one of his arms and detached it. He then held it out with his hand supporting it from underneath, its wiring attached by a bulky, curly cord. "This is my manipulator. The green button inside toggles the activation of the manipulation field, while the slider increases its range. Try and catch Blixon or Polteg with it. Be aware though. If it activates, it'll drain my body's battery. The drain will be faster while I'm hooked into the transmitter. Use it sparingly."
Hektar nodded. "Alright then. I guess I'll hold on to it." He said, grabbing onto the arm and lifting the copper colored weapon. It was a little heavy, but Hektar would try to use it only in urgency.
Faddoh sighed. "Alright then. Now direct me to the transmitter. Are we close to it?"
"Yes." One of the scientists said. "It's around the corner."
"LOOK OUT!" A scientist announced when a chair was flung at the group. Hektar fired Faddoh's arm at the incoming furniture, but it proved to be a distraction. Blixon zoomed out again at the fleeing scientists, but was knocked in the head by a weighted chain. The chain broke when it snagged in the zergling's jaw, which ended up destroying Braif's weapon. Polteg came out of view and rushed toward them, brandishing a huge organic bone knife that jutted out from his arm where his hand used to be. Striking quickly at a scientist's chest, Polteg then quickly ran away from their sight, going around the corner and trailing drops of red. Five, and Commander Faddoh, remained.
"What happened?!" Faddoh exclaimed, using his only arm to protect himself.
"The gods-damned jag blade hound broke my weapon, that's what!" Braif complained.
"And another scientist is dead. Poor Kardeen." Hektar said, slowly getting used to the manipulator arm, but his strain in wielding the weapon could be heard.
"Then I still have five pairs of eyes to help me." Faddoh said with urgency. After they rounded the corner, the group stopped at the transmitter that was on the wall. "Now then. I'll open my back panels so you can access my wiring. Do not touch the black wires, or red wires that connect to my power unit just yet. Instead, reach for a green and blue wire. Those should be to your right."
"Got it." A remaining scientist said. After opening Kralluf's back panel and the transmitter's access panel, the scientist listened for further instructions.
"Attach the blue wire to the computer relay conduit and attach the green wire to the radio receiver. I need the relay conduit to have some of the subsystems activated, but I also need the radio receiver to receive a message of confirmation." Faddoh instructed.
"Okay... Uh..." After a few seconds of pulling wires and attaching them to different devices of the radio transmitter, there was a beep. "The interface has been turned on!"
"Not good enough." Faddoh explained. "That's just the subsystems activating. The tricky part is to boost the radio signal. Now, listen to my next step. I need you to CAREFULLY remove the two red wires that are located at the right of my power unit. Strip the wires if you have to. Now, connect the wires to the exposed machine parts. I will tell you if I am able to send a signal."
"Help. *cough*"
Everyone's attention was drawn to a new face. Technically, it was a face they remembered. Hektar was the one who recognized him. "... Qufus?!"
Qufus was limping forward and holding a tightly bandaged neck that was red with his blood. "When that *cough*... When that jag blade hound got my throat, and you guys left me, I tried to play dead. *cough* I think that worked."
"Is that Qufus? Didn't you die?" Faddoh asked.
Qufus shambled forward toward the scientists and Commander Faddoh. "It was just a superficial wound. My throat was almost torn through, but I bandaged it back up. I *cough* fooled you guys pretty good, didn't I?"
Faddoh sighed. "In any case, arm yourself with a weapon. Ah! Right there!" Faddoh shouted behind himself. "That was the exposed radio transmitter wire we needed. Firmly place the red wires on that and it will boost the radio transmitter enough for me to send a signal."
"Got it." A scientist said.
"YOu WIlL aLl dIE!"
Qufus yanked Hektar's borrowed manipulator, knocking Hektar down in the process, and used it to launch a scientist down the corridor. Frantic screaming and zergling growling was heard later. Immediately after, Qufus sprouted a bone blade and stabbed it at another nearby scientist. It would have went for Hektar, but another scientist decided to be a hero. Qufus then yanked the manipulator curled wire from Faddoh's person and made off with the arm, despite a scientist managing a lucky pistol shot to his shoulders. Once he escaped, Hektar got up and stared at the absconding Qufus. "QUFUS, WHAT THE HELL?"
"What?! What happened?!" Faddoh exclaimed.
Hektar looked at the crumpled corpses that was the recent victims of Qufus' assassination. They did not move. "Qufus took the manipulator arm and killed two scientists." Hektar replied.
"I don't think that was Qufus anymore. Didn't you see his bone blade coming out of his hand when he used it on Tradar?" Braif answered, breathing deeply.
"Hmm... Then there is the possibility that Qufus is not Qufus." Faddoh theorized. "Our recent studies have shown that a host's infection to the zerg virus doesn't occur that expediently. I theorize that it was Polteg all along, whom has somehow changed the appearance of his face. It would appear to me that he has developed an ability to assume the guise of another. To think! A zerg organism that is capable of being an infiltration specialist! Commander Kralluf will have to be warned."
Hektar picked out a knife from his person and handed a pistol to Braif. "Request help first, then have a pleasant conversation later, please. Time is a resource that is not in our favor." Hektar hissed.
"Actually, I only needed the radio transmitter to send my consciousness to another avatar body. As of now, you are on your own!" Commander Faddoh said, his green static LED face blinking off and his body crumpling over. Hektar and Braif had never felt so betrayed before.
"yOu wilL aLl DIE!" Polteg/Qufus screamed as the zergling named Blixon came out around the corner. The zergling was shot at a few times from Braif's pistol, which made the beast flinch and hide behind the emptied commander's copper body, which was still connected to the radio transmitter, which was also devoid of consciousness.
This made the last scientist, Braif, and Hektar, back away from the zergling and the infested/changeling hybrid. "RUN!" Hektar shouted, prompting the group of the remaining three to run to an enclosed room to barricade themselves inside. The claws of the zergling and the bone blade of the zerg infiltration specialist were struggling to find their way past the barricade with little success.
As several cabinets were put in front of the only door to the storeroom, Braif panted heavily. "Faddoh's bodyguards must have gotten into some kind of trouble if they haven't found a way inside this facility yet. Something must have happened to them!"
Hektar used his own weight to keep the doors from opening. "And you're only realizing this now?!"
"We were under a lot of pressure!" Braif shouted back.
Polteg decided to add to the chaos. "YOu ARe OUR enemy becAuse YOu sidE WiTh golLOg. YoU ArE our ENEMy BecaUsE You ARE AlLIEd wITh The EMPiRe. YoU ARe OUr EnEMy becAUse You HAve trIED TO sHare INfORMatIon Of OuR WEAKNeSsES. YOu wiLl BE deVourED By tHe SwArM!"
"Gollog is going to kill all of you, you goddamn jags!" The last of the three scientists said, counting Braif and Hektar. A thin needle suddenly embedded itself into his skull, prompting him to fall backwards and die before he landed.
More tougher beasts broke apart the barricade, and both Braif and Hektar could see the monsters coming through. They both slowly walked backward as more zerg organisms came into view, ranging from hydralisks, roaches, and several more zerglings. The gathered zerglings, roaches, and hydralisks followed behind Polteg and matched the scientists backpedaling speed.
Braif's panicked breathing did not help. Hektar only watched in complete horror. "Please don't do this, Polteg. I knew you before you turned into this. You don't have the heart to betray science! Would you sacrifice your gilanian sympathy to hurt your colleagues?!"
Polteg slowly shuffled forward. "I aM noT GilanIaN. NotaNYmOre. I AM PaRT OF thE sWArm nOw. You are OuR ENeMy Because yoU siDE witH gOlLOg. You are our eneMY BecauSE YoU Are ALlIed wITh tHE EMPIrE. You aRe Our EnEmY BECAusE you haVe tRiED to sHarE INFoRMaTIOn of Our weAKnEsSeS. be DEVoUreD bY THE SWARM!" Polteg said, raising his bone knife as the other zerg organisms got ready to attack.
That was when Hektar had developed a crazy idea at that very moment.
He went to his knees with his arms stretching out widely. "THEN I DENOUNCE MY LOYALTY TO GOLLOG!"
All of the zerg organisms stopped. Polteg was centimeters close to cleaving Hektar's head, but the blade was slowly pulled away. Polteg tilted his head. "yOu dEnouNcE yOuR loYaltY TO hIM?"
Polteg turned his head to look at Braif. She looked down at Hektar with bewildered eyes for a few seconds, and then matched his posture. "I-I denounce him too! Please don't kill us!" Braif said, practically begging.
Polteg pointed his blade at Braif. "That rEMAinS tO BE sEen. my NEw mAstER wisHes tO SEe yOu."
A low rumble and a roar sounded in the distance, which shook the facility slightly. Several minutes later, a set of footsteps echoed in the halls of the cube facility, while the zerg organisms remained silent. The footsteps got closer and closer until a carapaced bug-man walked through the walls of the darkened facility, coming into the storeroom that Hektar and Braif had barricaded themselves inside of. His presence bellied respect from the other organisms as they parted and allowed him to enter. He clapped his hands together when he stood before the last two scientists in the facility. "So! I heard that there is someone here that needed to be extracted! Polteg, was it?"
"I Am HiM. i waS Him." Polteg answered, bowing to the bug-man.
Kay pointed at Polteg. "Go to our evolution master. He's going to incorporate your adaptations to the swarm."
"I obeY." Polteg said, walking away from a confused Hektar and Braif.
"Uh... What's going on?" Hektar asked aloud.
Kay turned toward Hektar, staring him up and down before sighing. "I am judging whether or not I should let you live or die."
"You-you command the zerg organisms?" Braif asked, her perplexed gaze telling Kay that she was finding it hard to believe that someone as lax as Kay could command such dangerous beasts.
"Duh." Kay simply said. There was a long pause that lasted for many seconds afterwards. Kay decided to break the monotony. "Let me guess. Are you underwhelmed of my presence? Or are you just... I dunno... riding off of the high of survival and are now realizing that you have a chance of surviving?
Hektar paused for a long time. "... Uh... I think both."
Kay paused, but then nodded at Hektar's response. "Good answer, I guess... Listen. I want you to do something for me. Could you, possibly, maybe, eventually, destroy all of your research notes regarding my zergling and the infested gilanian scientist?"
Braif paused. "Z...Z-zergling?"
Kay sighed. "The creature whom you have named Blixon."
Braif spoke slowly. "Why do you want us to destroy our research?!"
Kay approached Braif and leaned down. "Consider it an act of trust." He reached out and firmly grabbed at Braif and Hektar's shoulders. "I want you two to destroy all of your research, and forget anything important you may have discovered about my swarm. Do this, and I will consider your denouncement to Gollog to be complete. Will you do this?"
Hektar thought about his decision hard before he spoke. His scales felt like it was crawling when he decided on an answer. "I accept the proposition. But, what happens if I didn't agree to this?"
Kay looked at Hektar, raising his eyebrow. "... Hmm. Do you really want to know the answer to that question?"
Hektar paused. "... It'll sate some of my curiosity."
Kay smirked. "Then... I guess I'll have to remove your bone marrow."
"Hektar, say yes to his proposition." Braif urgently insisted.
"Listen to her, Hektar. I'd hate to get my claws even bloodier today." Kay recommended.
Hektar nodded rapidly. "Yes yes yes, absolutely! We will forget any data we recorded about you and we will destroy our research notes about the zerg organisms we researched!"
Kay stood up and clapped his clawed hands. "Very good! I guess I'll leave you two lovebirds to your own devices then." Kay turned and made his way to the only entrance into the storeroom. Kay then stopped, chuckled, and then turned back to Hektar and Braif. "Oh. And before I forget, I should tell you. I will find out if you tell anyone that you talked to me here. So much as BREATHE a word that'll give Gollog and his empire info that inconveniences me in any way, and I will come after you. Understand?"
Both Hektar and Braif quickly nodded.
Kay smiled and waved his hand. "Then I'm done here. Goodbye. And congratulations on surviving this far."
Once Kay said his salutations, he walked out of the storeroom while the zerg organisms followed him out. Both Hektar and Braif were at a loss of words. Despite all odds, they somehow got out of a hairy situation. Or 'molty', if Kay recalled correctly from a past gilanian exchange. In any case, both Hektar and Braif would be happy, knowing that they were very lucky to be left alone alive and unharmed.
They were unaware of the parasites that were recently implanted into them, however.
A/N: And now Kay and Virid's brood have the means to spawn changelings with infinite lifespans. Changelisks! :D