Peers and Prototypes
Flair's Point Of View
Date: 2343, March 17th
Flair, 17, Dragon, Male
I felt overly drowsy like I'd just been down to the local bar on a Saturday night. I couldn't move either. My vision was blurred as I opened my eyes and saw a dragon, brilliant blue, leaning over me. That's when I realized I was moving. Being pulled along on a hover stretcher by the blue one and another medic at a sprint. How had I gotten here? I was supposed to be dead. Ah god my head hurt like hell was boiling over. The surgeon was yelling at the top of his voice. "Coming through! Move it! Hey, are you deaf! Get the hell out of the way!" I groaned in pain and confusion and the doctor took notice of me being awake. "Lie down Flair, everything's going to be fine." He said, nearly out of breath. I barely took notice as we raced along metal passages and windows displaying the blackness of space. After a few hair-raising turns and near collisions we finally pulled into a large room with many surgeons and engineers crowding around to examine my limp form sprawled across the stretcher. "Okay! His legs!" I heard as a marine took position in front of me and another one came up behind me. They lifted me up in unison onto the adjacent operating table where they carefully set me down again and the doctor leaded in close over me. He took an overhead light and switched it on, preparing to try and save my life. The mask went on and the rest was the back of my eyelids as the surgeons and technicians worked around the clock, replacing, cutting, injecting, molding, welding, sweating, worrying and fearing. Yeah welding.
I woke up as I noticed I was in a bed in some kind of hospital wing. I was wearing a white robe and had electrodes glued to me and plastic tubes leading to my veins. The blue dragon stepped away from a file cabinet and noticed I was awake. "Ah, Flair. You are finally awake. I had feared that the project had failed all together. Now you'd probably like some answers." Damn right. Then I noticed I felt different. I had wings, spikes and horns like the doctor punching something into a computer. All the equipment attached to me suddenly disengaged with a hiss and slid back into the wall. I got up and flexed my new muscles, stared at the doctor disbelievingly then fell back on the bed. "Oh god. This can't be real. It isn't real. I'm dead! I got hit by a bomb! I'm screwed!... wait, who are you and how did I get here? Where is here?" The doctor chuckled and said, "I'd think your reaction would be like that. As for my name, you can find out right now. This would be a good test." I look down at my arms to see veins of glowing blue bio energy coursing through my body. I was different. Much different. "Flair, I want you to focus. Think of what you want to know and… well, you'll see." I screwed my eyes up tight and concentrated my thoughts. I opened my eyes again and looked at the doctor but this time my vision was tinted blue and I could see a reticule locking on the dragon followed by readouts of his name, age, species, gender and loads of other stuff. Dr. Winters, 44, Dragon, Male… This was all too much. I flopped back on the bed again. My god… this is unbelievable. "Ah, so I'd thought this would be hard to take in. I think id better call your friends and tell them the good news, maybe they can explain it better." "MY SQUAD SURVIVED!" I suddenly jumped up from by bed. I had completely forgotten about my team. "Thanks to you, yes and many others aswell. The building kept firm and no casualties were incurred though I do believe a certain Aurora Calhoun was particularly concerned." He said before speaking calmly into a mic. "So, let's get on with the testing. The sensory implants seemed to have worked flawlessly… Ah! Now on to Ballistic Shielding! A masterpiece in modern cybernetic combat systems." He then spoke into a headpiece and two, armed marines walked into the room. "Sir, please stand against that wall." One said, indicating to an area clear of medical equipment. I walked up to it confused, and with my back to the wall the marine raised their weapons. I yelled in shock but it was too late. I shielded myself with my arms hoping somehow that it would stop the incoming bullets. They struck me and a white, shimmering force field protected me from the blasts. Noticing that I was still alive I checked myself. Not a scratch. "Whoa…" I say, speechless with awe and confusion. The soldiers lower their weapons and march out of the room as I stare at Dr. Winters. "Well I might have guessed that was too much of a first hand experience. Now proceeding to Optical Camouflage… uuuhhhh…. Optical Camouflage!" he says to another marine operating a control console. "Sir? We couldn't get Optical Camo online… there were complications…" "Excuse me?" the doctor said in an exasperated voice before sighing. "Uuuhhhh…… yeah…… I'll be someplace else now." The soldier mutters worriedly before scurrying off. "Forgive me Flair, there are still a few kinks in the system. They should be sorted out as soon as you get accustomed to your new powers. Speaking of which…" he was cut off by the pounding of footsteps against the porcelain-tiled floor and the exited voices of 5, armor clad BiDra commandos. They rounded the corner at a run and came to a stop in front of me, staring in stunned silence at my full dragon physique. Then App said, "Wow. What a way to cheat death boss!" "HOLYCRAP! That was awesome! How'd you survive?" Mako exclaimed. "The last time I saw you, you were just a pile of blood captain! Nice to have you back!" Bower. "I thought you were a goner out there leader-man! Nice heroics too, really impressed the big-brass upstairs." Cypher stated while Aurora just kept staring at me in shock. She continued to do this even while the rest of my teammates came over and patted me on the back, complimented me some more, asked a bunch of questions, swore in awe and repeatedly poked me testing for injuries. I ignored all this, just looking back at Aurora with concern and confusion. Cypher, noticing that I was stiff as a board and had my eyes fixated on my girlfriend, motioned to the others to step away. At this point Aurora was probably just as dumbfounded as I was about me being here. The others didn't really seem to care as long as I survived. We slowly walked towards each other still entranced in seeing that the other had lived. We held in an embrace that seemed to last an eternity, then with one kiss, I answered one question. I'd always be there for her.
FLASHBACK
Flair, 13, BiDra, Male
I clung onto the support rail of the gunship, awaiting deployment. Me and a platoon of other soldiers were soaring high above our target. The Biolab in the depths of the Mayazaraian tropics of Kaarltk'Rhhtgoth. "THIRTY SECONDS!" I hear Sarge scream from the back.
They fall in line, one at a time, ready to play, I cant see them anyway
I hear the Clinks of priming weapons and a Klaxon sounds indicating that we were about to drop over 15,000 feet into a base inhabited by enemy troops. The bay door opened and we leaped out, hearing GOGOGO! From the Sergeant as he too leaped into thin air. I see Azrael and Smaz pass me on the way down, cheering at the thrill of the HotDrop. No parachutes.
No time to loose, weve got to move, steady your hand, I am loosing sight again
The ground was coming up fast as I silently angled my way through the air and picked a relatively clear spot to land on. Wind whipped past my helmet, I took a deep breath as the ground was only a few meters away now. I crash into the ground in a kneeling position and I noticed my armor had a mall dent in it from the impact. "Lousy prototype Inertial Dampeners." I mutter as I draw my weapon from my holster and let loose on the startled enemy troops.
Fire your guns, its time to run! Blow me away! I will stay unless in the mess I made
Bullets scream past us as we charge up and secure the flank, firing off all the way. I take down two more mercs with my rifle. My allies backing me, we scream in rage and tear up the oncoming line of troopers with flying lead teeth. My aim was true as I blew another guys arm off with my shotgun then knocked him dead with a crushing blow from my fist.
After the fall, we'll shake it off, show me the way!
I grabbed another and raised him high, using him a bullet magnet to demoralize enemy troops seeing his bleeding corpse being rocked by bullet impacts. I threw his body at a group of soldiers with terrified looks on the faces behind their masks.
Only the strongest will survive,
Lead me to heaven when we die,
I am the shadow on the wall,
I'll be the one to save us all
Fury building with every kill, I grab a mercs gun, elbow him in the gut and flip him onto his back and using his own weapon to bury 16 or so 9mm rounds in his stomach. Gripping the trigger, two more were shot dead. The Coalition was winning the battle against the Red Hand holed up in this base. I cheered in victory as I felt three small, metal objects lodge themelves in my flesh. I dash backwards noticing that I had been shot three times with a sidearm. I swore at myself for letting my guard down and that I would brutally kill the jackass that landed those shots. I didnt feel much pain, just shock but that wore off soon enough. I grab two pistols and wield them akimbo as I simultaneously dispatch two mercs at once with shots to the head. Then I noticed that they were retreating, breaking up, being captured. Soldiers started cheering in triumph and waving their hands up in the air. The courtyard was clear and I could have a proper look around. There was a heavy metal gate behind us that led outside. There were 3, now empty barracks, a motorpool, a med center, detention block and research facility. All the guards had been cleared out but I then heard the unmistakeble rumble of a tank rounding the corner. It turned its cannon to take in the surprised and terrified looks on the BiDras faces then opened fire, blowing apart the main line of troops. It briefly started to percipitate limbs and gore and then finally a hail of rounds as the rest of the startled Coalition troops ducked for cover as they were blown away. I saw a man crawling with both hands toward me, crying out for help for his legs had been blown off and he was drowning in his own blood. He then screamed AAAAUUUUGGHHH! as he was crushed by the tank treads, his skull exploding in a shower of brain matter. I was enfuriated. I jumped, screaming with pure rage on the turret and flung open the hatch. The occupants didnt have a chance. I grabbed the first one, lifted him up to eye level and slit his throat, agonizingly slowly, watching him struggle for breath and finally die in my hands and I grinned displaying lethal fangs. I pulled the next poor SOB out of the tank, dug my left hand into his addams apple, placed my right hand on his forehead and snapped his neck instantly killing him. Then I tore out his spinal coord and beat him with it, each dull THUD echoing in the lack of my conciousness. Blood now spilling down the sides of the tank, tinting it red. Finally I pulled out the driver and bit his head off followed by pulling both his arms out of their sockets and kicking the lifeless body down the hard, bloodsoaked outer chassis of his own vehicle. I dusted my hands off and piled the dismembered crew into a stack and poured gasoline over the bodies then lit the whole pile ablaze, sighing with relief. This is how much I hated the Red Hand and how much each and every one of them deserves for what they've done.
There's nothing left so save your breath, lying in wait, caught inside this tidal wave
These were just the guards. This is a big complex and I go in alone while the rest of the force secures outside. I bypass the door with a security worm and march inside, ready for anything... or so i thought. The base from the outisde, to say the least looked like a big white cube. It had all the standard though. Vehicle deployment rack, storage area, supply intake chute, landing pad... Inside it looked just as white and dull. Sterile white passageways and coridoors leading to heavy doors with sidepassages stretching off into other unseen wings and sections of the facility. No one around to alert the base of my presence. Its like everyone just fell asleep. I cautiously walked down the halls and kept on the lookout for any enemy presence but there was none. I proceeded directly towards the detention facility and come upon a large blast door identical to all the others that i passed and it read "Detention Block ZT-1200" in large holographic letters on the front of it. I checked my ammo. Full. I placed a sequencer on the door lock and busted it open and charged inside but I didnt even need to raise my weapons. Void. The detention block was empty of guards or even cameras. The captives, or in some cases what was left of them were blocked off behind blue barrier shields and looked like they were about to die of starvation. Most of them were Coalition elite but some i've never seen before. Something was very wrong here and I knew it. I heard a muffled cry from a cell near the end. it was a male BiDra, maroon in color and was lying on the cell floor, clutching his side and brething heavily. "You..." he wheezed, "They took her! You must help me find her!" the soldier continued as I shut down the barrier seperating us. "Who? What are you talking about?" I reply as I see other captives starting to stir in their cells. I lift him upout of the dim, dank prison cell and free the others who then grab weapons and roar in anger. "Now things are starting to look up." I say as I load a shotgun. "So, who took what?" I say to the squad captain. "Our medic! Aurora Calhoun. I heard off one of the security troopers that everybody, and I mean everybody assembled in the main hall for some kind of sick ritual... and they took Aurora with them!" I then try to radio the main force to report in. "This is Delta 236 to Platoon 658 I have found the prisoners, requesting reinfircements. Do you copy?" There was a strange buzzing static then a muffled voice. "Delta! ffzzzhht we are unable to reinforce... copy tha--? orders are to exf--static there will be a class 5 satu--fffzzzht--ing! get out of...! (connection drops dead)" "DAMNIT!" I yell, pounding my fist on a control panel. "Okay, do you know where they took her?" "The center if the building! There is little time!" We make our way carefuly to the center of the facility and we came upon a long hall leading to a grand double-door engraved with many strange symbols and depictions that I could barely make out. It had no lock and heavy metal handles and I could sense something strange about it but I couldnt place my finger on it. The captain walked up to it and tried to open the doors but my cry of warning came too late as tendrils of dark energy raced from the door frame and struck the captain, electrocuting him with a horrifying YEEEEEAAARRRGGGHHHHH! there was a bright flash and all that was left of the commando was a smoking BiDra skeleton slumped on the floor. Even the armor had vaporised. I hear HOLY SHIT! from the back and I stepped away in shock and rage started filling every gap and crevase in the soon-to-be killing machine that was my body. I throw a charge on the door and everyone ducks. It worked and the door was blown off its hinges and I stalked into the corridoor with two very shocked guards standing guard at a blast door leading to the assembly area. They raised weapons but they didnt even have the chance to fire. I grabbed the first ones face with my foot and slammed him into the wall, utterly crushing his skull (like general grevious). I narrowed my eyes and grabbed the second one, squeezing his throat. Under my grip, flesh gave way and bone shattered and he dropped to the floor, his neck bent at a irregular angle. There was a vengeful fire in my eyes and I knew it. The bastards would pay.
Your covers blown, nowhere to go, holding your fate, knowing that I will walk alone
I walked inside a circular chamber with a raised platform in the center displaying Aurora bound to a steel table with a swirling vortex of dark energy just below her. She looked bruised, battered and bloody with hostiles cheering on around and chanting in another language. Sofar, no one had noticed that we were here or priming weapons.
Fire your guns, its time to run! Blow me away! I will stay unless I may
I gripped an assault rifle in each and and then blindly ran straight forward yelling in rage at the monsters that would dare exist to defile this universe. I didnt even need to aim, there were so many and clustered together that all I needed to do is aim in their general direction then spray and pray. It payed off as my guns went ClinkClinkClink signifying lack of ammo so I immediately disgarded them, and now most of the stunned mercs in the stands had been overdosed with lead. My teammates were taking down the rest that did survive as I ran up to the platform and broke the chains binding Aurora to her post. She fell to the floor, weak from torture and I heaved her over my shoulder and pelted for the exit screaming "GET THE HELL OUTA HERE!". We sprinted across the base for the exit, mercs popping out of doors to our left and right trying in vain to prevet our escape. The exit was just ahead and so I ran faster than ever.
Only the strongest will survive
Lead me to heaven when we die
I am the shadow on the wall
I'll be the one to save us allllllll!
We reached sunlight and tripped over, panting. Then i noticed something was wrong, the platoon wasnt there, they had deserted us. The sonic turret slid out of the roof and took aim at us. "NO! GET DOWN! NOW!" I yell to my teammates who had just noticed the deadly cannon. Energy arced down its sides and the barrel turned a shade of blue, then a sonic beam blasted out of gun, kicking up dirt and sand and blood to form a sick rain of gore. My squad was scattered and I saw Aurora ducking behind a piece of a tank and... It was turning to fire at her! I throw myself in her direction and roll to a kneel, get up and ran straight for it. (slow motion) I tore a greande out of my belt, with one hand knokced the pin out and drew back my arm to throw it. I saw the charge arc through the air, hoping that it would be a hit. If not Aurora would shortly be in 5 pieces or more as I saw the cannon warm up again and heard the hum of the turbines charging up to deliver the crushing beam of sound. The grenade sailed straight for the operators view hatch and dissapeared inside, following was a panicked scream and a explosion of plasma and coolant as I saw a enemy helmet go flying out of the control centre and land at my feet. I sigh and pick it up. The pilot was dead and the cannon destroyed. Better yet i saw a gunship coming for us from the horizon as we cheer and yell and wave our arms high in the air to get its attention. "WWOOOOOOHOHOOO!" I yell, punching the air with my fist, but just then I heard the base door oepning behind me with a hiss and I didnt have time to turn around. Then I felt 12 petal projectiles embed themselves in my back and I sank to my knees, and fell to the floor.
The next thing I knew I was flying over the sea in a gunship with aurora leaning over me. Turns out she saved my life. That how we met and thats how I found my squad too. And ya know how we got our squad name The Deltas? Well that fateful mission was carried out on a ring world more known as Delta Halo.
FLASHBACK ENDS
We break and I start smiling, seeing that this is not some dream, this is real. Unnoticed by me or my girlfriend, Cypher being the dumbass that he is was mouthing the lyrics to "I lost my heart to a Starship Trooper" while preforming a little dance, with my teammates rolling on the floor with laughter. To my gratitude, Doctor Winters interrupted, "(clears throat) AHHEM. Well Flair I would think you'd like an explenation for all this. let me take you to the man behind it all... maybe he could explain it better." We walked in silence with the doctor past more wards, laboratories, a few barracks, armories and windows displaying lush green plains and large mountains stretching of into the vastness of the planet. Where were we? We then approached a large tech door with top security as the doctor had his palm scanned, his iris checked, his voice print confirmed and his face scanned into the system. the door hissed open and we entered a circular control room filled with personell at work infront of consoles, computers and holodecks. There was a large holomap on the wall where a dragon, purple in color was eyeing over, indicating his hand to certain continents and readouts to plot tactics and whateverelse he was doing. He looked similar to me in many ways but much older and had a sad look in his eyes, like living barely had meaning anymore. Dr.Winters cautiously approached the dragon and signalled for us to enter, then spoke rapidly do him before coming to a stop behind us. He turned aroud to face us, stony-faced and grim, looked down to us and we raised our hands to our helmets in salute, stamping our feet to the ground as we lowered them. I had no idea at the time though. I was stiff as a board as he looked me over, and smiled. Then he turned over to Winters and aid "You've done a good job with him doctor. I take it the project was a success?" "Yes, absolutely sir. The systems integrated with his physiology very well." Then he turned to me and said, "Meet me in the training room Flair, I have something to show you." I was completely startled at this but remained like hardened concrete, balnkly staring out infront of me before replying, "Yes sir!". I was led by Dr.Winters to the training room where the commander wanted to see me, my squad left behind ofcourse. We entered a vast room with steel walls and a control center up above but apart from that, it seemed completely empty. The door behind me slid open and the purple dragon stepped inside. I turned to face him, my mouth itching with questions. "Why am I still alive? Whats the deal with my new powers? Who are you?" I just burst out. I couldnt take it anymore. This was crazy. He just looked at me, amused and laughed saying, "There will be plenty of time to answer those questions, Flair. Try and guess." I remembered something... the implant. I screwed my eyes up tight, focused and my vision was tinted blue yet again but when the reticule locked on the figure it desplayed no identification whatsoever. My eyes blinked back to normal and I put my head in my hands. What was going on? The dragon walked up to me and said something that blew my mind. "Flair, you are part of a top secret military project codenamed "Guardian". The Coalition noticed your exeptional skills over the years and selected you for the job. You were injured in the field and we saved you by integrating your body with advanced cybernetic combat systems and advanced nanite technology. It was a unique opertunity." "WHAT!" I yell, completely dumbfounded. I stare at him with total shock, my calm, straightforward soldiers demeanour was gone. "You are no longer fully dragon. You are part machine." I look my limbs over, nothing. No robotic replacements whatsoever. Visible ones anyway. "You wont find them like that." he then said. "My suit is not one that you put on Flair." "Waitaminute... YOUR suit!" I say, very confused. "Yes I created the X69 Crisis Suit along with other pioneerings of fusing dragon and machine. I am a high ranking member of a secret militaryorganization, the Legion Ex Drakena that specialize in this sort of thing. You see... after my homeworld was crushed, my heart was anihilated. I felt that I failed my family. Failed to protect them. I was even the previous great Guardian of the dragon worlds. From that day on I've dedicated my life to defending my only son, and the project succeeded. Now do you know who I am?" This couldnt be real. He was Spyro, the last Guardian of the dragon realms that had dissapeared years ago and I was Flair the Bioengineered Draconic Commando. This just could not be possible, yet it just seemed to make sense. He came over and tenderly laid a hand on my shoulder and it felt strangely warm and comforting just like a real dad's would. This completely confused me. "But what about these?" I say indicating my new horns and wings and spines. "And my new powers?" "I made a deal with the Coalition that I would work for them if my son was enrolled there as a BiDra. They purposely withheld the genes that grew wings and spikes and horns, thats how you ended up as a soldier. They reintroduced the genomes and they grew from that. Your new powers are the cybernetic implants fuled by bio-energy, a true advancement but thats only the tip of the iceberg. You are very special Flair, destined to be the next great hero of the Draconic Empire." he indicated to my waist and for the first time I noticed that I had a silver belt with a small etching of a dragons face, half flesh, half machine, what I guessed was the Legions insignia. Instinctively touched the picture on the belt and a surge of energy rushed through me. It was the starangest thing I had ever felt. No pain... just a strange tingling feeling as my body started to give off a white aura. I started to panic as I felt nanites chipping away at my flesh, reforming it atom by atom into what would be my new form. My veins started glowing brighter than ever and my eyes turned a mezmerizing blue. There was a surge of energy and my body was encompassed in energy followed by a flash and in my place stood a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier clad in shining white plastoid armor. My joints and neck composed of multiple strands of thick electric cables and artificial tendons pulsing with brilliant blue bioenergy. There were razor sharp metal spikes along my back angled downwards too. This suit was like a second skin if not a second body. My head was encased in a flexible armor faceplate down to my mouth and my lower jaw was armord too and held tightly to the rest of the suit by a flame-resistant black fabric. My wing membrane was also covered in this protective black fabric and the wing bracings were the same reflective white chromosheath armor plating as most of my body. I was basically a Dragon Grevious with bioenhancements and weapons. "You are a prototype supersoldier who is plated like a tank, can move like a clone assassin, think faster than a supercomputer, aims like a Mjolnir 117 and is loaded with state-of-the-art weapon systems!" he says with great pride in his voice. I tap my belt again, reverting to my dragon form. 'Man will my squad be freaked about this' I think, grinning. "So, you're Spyro, my father, the legendary hero who saved the dragon worlds so many times?" I say, daring to believe. He nods sadly, "It must be very hard for you to take in, or accept im sure but there was no other way. They were out for revenge. I had to hide you or they would have taken you too. I couldnt let that happen. I have already lost so much dear to me. My planet, my friends, my family... That was in the past." he say sadly, the explenation bringing back sad memories. "Times have changed. Chaos dominates in this lawless galaxy. It is your duty to bring peace and justice, your destiny. I have poured my heart and soul into this project and would hate to se it fail. You WILL achieve great things Flair. Make me proud son." he said affectionatly. I am Flair Selinar, son of a hero, and a great man.
