Trials of Beta

Chapter Two: Relinquish The Soul

Three days of intense physical training pass in the forests around the Central Dome on Ragol's largest continent. Alex was helping me become physically stronger. It was nightfall on the fourth day when I received a disturbing Simple Mail...

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Beta voraciously tore into the hot cooked meat, tearing the flesh off the bone and chewing it. Five days ago he wouldn't have been able to even think about dining on the flesh of a Booma, one of the more common monsters that inhabited the forests. The Booma was an odd sort of animal. It was man sized, walked up right, covered in thick brown fur, and had three long claws on each of it's hands. Like all the other creatures on Ragol, Boomas are very vicious, attacking without warning or provocation. It was one of these Boomas that Alex and Beta converted into dinner.

Alex chuckled, watching the FOmar stuff his face from across the campfire he had made. He too had a leg of the Booma. It yielded lots of meat, most of which Alex was smoking to make into beef jerky. Maybe he'd sell the smoked meat on Pioneer 2 and make a nice profit. Smirking, Alex followed Beta's lead, digging into his dinner before it got cold.

"Oh God, who knew something so mean could be so delicious?" Beta exclaimed as he tossed aside the strip leg bone, "Wow, you gotta teach me how to make that some time."

"Maybe. Heh heh heh." Alex chuckled thoughtfully, using a splinter of bone to pick some chewed up meat from his teeth. "Hey, not to be rude or anything, but what's up with the veil?" He asked the other as he return the black silk veil to his face.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Beta asked innocently, attaching the clasps which held his veil securely.

"Why do you always wear it?" Alex probed.

"I just do." Beta retorted with just a tad touch of attitude as he fed a small chuck of meat to Kilala. "Why? Does it creep you out or something?"

"No, Just curious. That's all." Alex replied with a shrug.

"Hmmm... Mind If I ask how you got that scar?" Beta motioned with a fork towards Alex's right eye.

"Oh, this? Got it from a Booma my first day on Ragol. Heh! I was lucky it was just a little scratch." Alex chortled as nostalgia set in. "I can still see out my right eye, just not as good as it used to be."

"Um... Why don't you get cosmetic surgery to cover it up, or something?" The question was legit. Beta figured Alex kept the scar for some macho reason.

"Hell no. Women love scars. It makes them sympathetic!" Alex explained, his Bana Mag making a mechanical whirring sound resembling a laugh.

Beta's eyebrow twitched. "Um... Yeah... Sure, if you say so..." Beta shrugged, stroking Kilala's back with one hand. The Sato purred pleasurably. A sudden double beep interrupted their conversation. Beta's Simple Mailer was chiming, alerting him to a new message. Curious as to who would send him mail this late, Beta dug in his Item bag and fished out the small Mailer. Pressing a button on it, a holographic image popped up from the center of it. It was Lunehhy! Beta's eyes widen as he noticed how she looked. Her face was covered in sweat and grimy with dirt, her hair dirty and matted, and she had lost her beret. She looked like she's been through hell and back. Lunehhy spoke, her voice trembling and full of fear.

"Beta! Please get this soon. We're in trouble! Come, quickly! Go to the Central Dome, and search for a cave near it. I left a capsule in that cave, it'll tell you how to get to us. We're UNDER the Central Dome, in some sort of mine... Beta, get as- SHIT!!" Lunehhy exclaimed, drawing her Bravace pistol and shooting at something he couldn't see. The message abruptly ended. Beta's face was white as a sheet, all the color drained. Lunehhy and HK-55 were in trouble!

Alex too saw the message. He had a serious look on his face. "We have to help them. I'll go with you, no charge." The Hunter offered. Beta numbly nodded.

"Lunehhy, HK... Hold on! I'm coming!" Beta shouted as he jumped to his feet, grabbing his Shadow Rod. "Where's the Central Dome?"

"It's not that far from here. Follow me, I know the way." Alex said, stomping out the fire and igniting his Photon Saber. "Let's go!" He shouted as he started full tilt into the wilderness, Beta at his heels.

The Central Dome used to be Pioneer 1. Pioneer 2 could also turn into a structure identical to the Central Dome. The large pyramid like structure was locked tight, and nothing could be done to open the main doors or any of the secondary entrances. Explosions were ineffective. But the government was working on a way of bypassing the problem to gain entrance to the Dome.

Just as Lunehhy said, near the main entrance to the dome was a small cave. Granted, the opening to the cave was a small hole, which Beta and Alex had to squeeze through. The squeeze was tough, Alex had to take off his armor first and pass it through to Beta. Once both were inside, Beta and Alex journeyed deeper into the cave, searching for the capsule Lunehhy had left. About thirty yards from the cave entrance was a large hole in the ground, the capsule next to it. Beta activated the capsule, seeing Lunehhy's holographic image appear.

"Ahem! This thing on? Cough! Um, my name is Lunehhy, Section ID Blueful, Class A Ranger. With me is HK-55, Section ID Yellowboze, Class A Hunter. Together we are going to be the first people to gain access to the Central Dome. If you are seeing this, then obviously you found our little hole. To follow in our footsteps, just drop through this hole and follow the trail of capsules I'll be leaving. Good luck! Hope you like our sloppy seconds! Nya nya!" She stuck her tongue out and the message ended. She was clean in this recording, voice cheerful and bright. This message was eight days old...

Beta and Alex dropped through the hole. The fall was short, and they found themselves inside a large, spacious cavern. In the center of the cavern was the carcass of a dragon! The thing was huge! Even at this distance, Beta could see areas where HK-55 had cut it with her Soul Eater, as well as holes were Lunehhy had shot it. Next to it's corpse was another Capsule. Beta immediately went to it and activated it. Lunehhy's image appeared. She was panting.

"Who the heck would have imaged this thing would be under the Dome? Well, me and HK killed it. It won't be bothering anyone else. Boo yah! Girls rule!" She grinned a cheeky grin and flashed the 'V for Victory' sign, then the message ended.

Alex shook his head as he sniggered lightly. "She's not only cute, she's tough. My type of girl." Beta gave him a disgusted look. Kilala seemed to share Beta's feelings, displeased with Alex's attitude.

"As if..." He said in disgust. "Come on, I can see an elevator over there."

Beta pointed towards a large, cargo elevator set into the wall of the cavern. There was another capsule next to it. Developing a habit, Beta went to it and activated. This time it was HK-55.

"I am HK-55. This elevator only goes down. Lunehhy wants to explore what's further below us. I think that perhaps there will be another way up into the Dome if we go down. So that's where we're going." The message ended. Beta smirked. How typical of HK-55, short and to the point.

"Well, after you." Alex motioned towards the elevator, which Beta stepped into. Alex followed suit, then closed the gated door. Beta mashed his thumb on the down button, and the elevator rumbled to life, descending into the darkness below...