Warring Enigma: Blackstar Emergence
Chapter 3: Arrival from above
Its caw echoed above like thunder. The flames it napalmed, spread rapidly across the forest interior, the intensity of heat caused a thick haze and smoke. More and more it was appearing like a fiery maze straight out of hell.
"This bastard bird isn't going to stop chasing. It'll be burning a trail by the time I hit the city." Now and again, needing to adjust my path and footing from wild spreading flames and ballistic fireballs exploding nearby.
I had covered close to 10 kilometers at this point, not just cutting straight through but numerous back and forth trying to get cooked like a Thanksgiving turkey. It did not ease the mind any better knowing the majority of my loadout was essentially useless - the damn thing was literally a bird of pure fire and hatred. In the back of my mind there was a potential idea brewing regarding my psionic emission, though not exactly a direct use.
Maintaining a northerly heading, the nav-map layout overpay on the motion tracker was starting to update. As I moved, a crack whipped to my flank - nearby a fireball had struck the ground, causing a mass of fire to violently spread. I pushed forward, sprinting and leaping over at the last second as the wall of flame curved and nearly trapped me in.
Up ahead, the typical layout of the interior changed from the previous gap pattern to a large, open space - undoubtedly a field of some kind. Starting to close in, I felt myself occasionally beginning to falter; the strange tingling followed by an extremely oppressive headache - the hallucinatory episode returned, the environment warped and that damned familiar whispering.
" Fuck. In a time like this?" I muttered, feeling like my composure was grasping by a thread. Flames continued to burn around, wafting precariously on the flanks. The haze from the heat and my warped perception bleeding together.
A faint static, almost rip of space and time crackled in the background of the mind and seemingly reality. An eldritch, unfathomable eloculation rumbled, then the discernable cadence of humming. "I have not lost your progress, wandering one. More of this reality you stumble on its ebb and flow." The monstrous yet eloquently articulated voice spoke. "Now, an entity, guardian of the extraordinary and the unknown, a tomb of which it holds and one trespass - tendrils of oneself curiosity roots. How far will you endeavor? What lengths that those paths cross with what you reap will go? A partial encounter with one of this - reality's - champions may tell. Do not relent in this crusade of discovery - bastion yourself, wispful one." The voice chuckled, the tear of spacetime cracked and faded, soon, the senses and environment normalized.
I started to pick myself up, shaking my head as I let my senses return. Every time that happens it's akin to a bad hangover - though I've never drunk to know. The fires around continued to burn, spread as they have and the firebird soaring above. Curiously, I still had a wide berth to pass despite the flames crackling. Still, I found myself lumber slightly as I approached the field. Not long after I'd find the HUD light up.
[TRANSMISSION INCOMING]
Naturally, I raised a brow in question, especially in regards to the precarious circumstance and less than stellar timing. The IFF tag remained neutral and the ID code unidentified as well as encrypted - though untraceable, the pattern of wavelength frequency emission was partly recognizable. I think a certain asshole that contacted me earlier seemed to be a good guess - wild suspicion, but maybe the big ass burning phoenix drew their attention. Wonder why.
Quickening pace, ripping and clambering through notably dense foliage, I ended up at a large gap in the trees, almost looking like a door frame. Passing through, I set foot upon the visibly thicker grassy ground of a roughly football field size area, 100 or so meters. Slowly walking out further, I scanned around the area for any noteworthy or a potential threat - aside from the obvious, it was merely earth and some clusters of various sized boulders around the border and near the center. There were very weak EM emissions detected and the arrangement of rocks looking curiously something like Stonehenge or some form of sundial. Unfortunately I wasn't in the position to properly investigate.
Soon, I heard the motion tracker beep, movement triggering it as something entered detection range. Nearly catching me off guard, a caw boomed out, this time being much louder and pronounced - significant air current disruption was picked up, the sound of a large body flying above. It cawed again, like a beefy clap of thunder. "Shit. Really sounds like it's danger close now." I cursed, almost in a raised voice. Snapping up, I drew and trained my ARM-11 to the sky - my eyes widened, heart pumping slightly faster as I got a much closer view of the large flying creature in question. Damn thing burned intensely, like peering into the sun, very bird-like but also draconian in features, especially its long spanning tail feathers, spiraling like fiery ribbons.
"Fighting this thing here is not ideal. Especially a big open area like this." Expressing my grievance, equally annoyed and very much conflicted - I contemplated why I bothered coming here. "Hopefully I can pull something out my ass soon. At this point, I may as well be stuck here."
An orange haze began to develop as the trees around burned brightly, smoke spiraled and wafted upward, the sky itself once blue, now matching the fiery hell that had grown. My eyes continued to be locked on the fiery bird circling above, feeling akin to an animal caught in the corner having fled from a bird of prey. Was wondering why it continued flying in circles, not seeming to show signs of attack - possibly someone or something caught its attention.
[TRANSMISSION INCOMING]
Continued to blink on the top middle portion of the visor HUD. Admittedly neglecting to respond or briefly acknowledge it, the circumstance swaying my attention. I decided to open access to the channel - still very much encrypted and timed in shutoff - given the situation.
Curiously, the channel feed seemed to be silent momentarily. Confused, I looked around in the sky as I instinctively expected to wait for something to pop up - after some time of no response, through the chaotic crackling of the burning ring of fire around me, I started to notice what sounded like burning afterburners gradually breaking through the background. Something was in flight somewhere in the sky.
"What the hell?" Narrowing my eyes as I looked to pinpoint the source, several metallic thumps faintly echoed, quickly followed by multiple thooms as a series of explosive canisters impacting the phoenix, appeared to detonate and release rapidly expanding, thick pluming gasses . The unknown, Helium based carbon mixture started to swirl and visibly condense into itself. The gaseous based mixture seemed to quickly pull moisture from the air akin to a vacuum bomb and rapidly decrease temperature - suddenly, after the mixture compressed to a critical point, reaching near absolute zero in Kelvin, a piercing, almost ear-splitting bang echoed as the rapidly freezing process violently expands into an explosive ball of boiling steam and somehow, near-zero Kelvin ice particles.
I blinked a few times in surprise and, admittedly, suspicion as I looked at propellent trails in the skies to trace where the missiles were fired from. Something hinted that the one contacting me was behind it.
"Like a small, woodland creature caught in the opening. Next of prey for the raptor that hunts from above." A voice comments, sounding similar but much more modulated and notably robotic, with a metallic resonance. "A consequence of prodding too far, at the place and the wrong time."
Contorting an annoyed scowl at his clear, metaphorical jab I keep sight at the sky as I hear and follow the movements of something very clearly burning in flight above. Drone? Jet fighter? Experimental mech suit possibly?
As I scanned above to the sky, the sound of rocket propellent crack and boom briefly overpowered the previous explosion, as something was in flight at high-speed in the distance and closing. Trying to pinpoint the location and direction, a blip briefly appears on the motion tracker, southerly heading, before quickly direction and suddenly appearing at a new location. Feeling the ground physically vibrate, a new yellow IFF appearing on the tracker, I glanced behind me and saw a large, humanoid robot land. Was gonna take a wild guess and say that was the source which those missiles were launched from. Bulky, heavily armored, made of some unknown chrome based alloy; a tri-barrel, naval type cannon platform mounted on its back, three red optics glowing prominently in a triangular formation atop an otherwise featureless head.
"It appears this weapons test was a success. Development of such a warhead shall be further implemented. My sensors detect no visible life signatures." The robot spoke, the same voice that I had heard before. "Unwise to stumble upon such an investigation so woefully ill equipped."
I peered at the 4 meter tall mech in question, mostly expressionless, though slightly annoyed at his misconstrued judgment. "Well, I wasn't exactly expecting to find a massive firebird from hell to rain scorched earth out of nowhere." I calmly retorted, glancing at the cloud of steaming Hydrogen and Nitrogen crystals, slowly dissipating. "Let me take a wild guess - you're Metal Knight. But, that's just the broadspanning title - you're actually a man behind that robot. This one is your favorite to pilot, no?"
The large chrome robot turned its head, its scarlet glowing eyes piercing at me. It, or well the voice, lightly chuckled, almost snobbishly. "You're quite the perceptive one I see." He replied, looking back up to the sky, as though to admire his work. "Something tells me you don't quite know where you are - you are not from here. Most of your gear is nothing extraordinary - however, that cloaking mechanism and energy barrier is quite impressive. That aside, there is something odd about you - you are - different."
I wasn't certain if he was complimenting me or if it was some form of subtle insult - still, it seemed he suspected my true background. "I'm not going to thank you for saving my life nor am I going to pretend that's why you attacked it." I remarked, speaking matter of factly. "You want the same thing I do and remove a clear obstacle. Question is - what's stopping you doing the same to me?" After I asked, I noticed my sensors were starting to get triggered again despite no visible life signatures. My glance drifted to the dispersing cloud of ice and steam above, concerned slowly growing.
"Perhaps I may have some degree of use for you. Not a hero or a civilian nor ties to any civilization - a complete anomaly." He states continuing to eye above, his longer period of fixation almost implied he picked up something was wrong. "By no means an ally, but perhaps a limited and no affiliated mutual interest could be arranged. One thing is for certain - I do not trust you. Or anyone for that matter."
Someone as distrusting and paranoid as me? Haven't seen that in a long time. I thought, lightly chuckling in irony. "Feeling is mutual." I simply replied, my sight now much more fixed on the sky - activity picked up on the sensors more frequently. Previous EM signatures that had disappeared are now rapidly returning.
Rupturing through the silence like an atom bomb, a thunderous caw boomed out. Suddenly, there was a rapid escalation of temperature as the once thick, gray-white steamy ice cloud was instantly vaporized as a massive fireball expanded, sending a wave of superheated air in all directions.
The robot raised its arm to cover its face in response, briefly doing the same as my energy shield condensed immediately upon impact. The shield glowed as 2000 plus degree Fahrenheit burning air blew over like a fiery gust of wind, torching the ground and everything within vicinity to a smoldering crisp.
"Appears the nature of this creature rendered such weapons ineffective - this clearly is no typical lifeform or monster for that matter." He spoke, monotone, but I could tell from the cadence he was surprised, even very annoyed - I certainly would be.
"Using a vacuum bomb was a smart move to extinguish the flames and freeze it to death - only problem is this thing isn't just made of fire." I pointed out, glancing over. "There is definitely a source generating these flames- if they even are true fire and not outright plasma. Must be capable of some inert state then regenerate superheated air at will."
"Are you suggesting this creature has a main physical, potentially organic body at its source?" The robotic voice questioned, not quite dismissive though uncertain. The idea did seem to stir curiosity.
"Something like that. But it might not simply engulf itself in flames - but rather alter its form and state of matter." I added, the data seeming not to show anything refuting the possibility.
As we spoke, the Phoenix, now in broadview, hovered high above in the sky like a burning angel of vengeance. Bellowing another thunderous caw, it had to break off as it released a thick jet of superheated plasma from above into the forest below, narrowly avoiding it napalming the area.
"I will take note of this encounter and develop new weapon technology to counter such a creature next time. Unfortunately, I have exhausted the munitions of my current loadout. This was a test after all." The voice said, the robot now hovering above after lifting off from the ground, its jet thrusters burning. "You are on your own. If you are as capable as you may potentially be, you will survive and possibly defeat this creature - preferably before you reach the city. For now, this is farewell. Good luck." Turning around, the robot drone launched off back into the sky as suddenly as it appeared, completely disappearing from the sensors again.
"Thanks for the assist, asshole." I calmly remarked, scoffing. Wasn't certain if I should be relieved or damned my luck. At least I was left to my own devices - but now I really needed to find a way to deal with Satan's pet bird.
It cawed out again, the ground seeming to vibrate subtly as the sonic waves hit the air, flapping its wings as it hovered in place. Appearing in its upright position the sky signaled it was prepared to attack any moment. Had to do something.
Fire all around me, I couldn't help but look ahead to the boulders in the center of the field. No expectation of killing it - but maybe I could catch it off guard. Watching as it was about to belch its flame attack, I quickly grabbed the largest boulder with psionic - just as I lifted and launched it, flames from the phoenix jet from its maw mere milliseconds after.
However,
I did not aim for the phoenix itself - melting rapidly from the heat, the boulder managed to maintain velocity and momentum, the strong gust from the air it pushed dispersed some of the flames engulfing its body as it passed before completely vaporizing. Picking up a brief reading of biological anatomy, I caught a glimpse of an open patch, exposing charcoal colored feathers and presumably flesh beneath. Not wasting this opportunity, I raised my left arm and fired off the grapple head into the open patch above - hopefully it landed its mark. Uncertainty briefly clouding my mind, I see the titanium cord become motionless and tense.
"Well, I think that hit." I watched the wire start to move about and tense, becoming more frantic as the Phoenix descended into a more agitated state.
Dominate, almost prideful caws became much more high-pitched, piercing screeches. Miraculously, the grapple remained in place, however, the Phoenix really began to rile up, fluttering its wings wildly as it flew frantically side to side. More and more I'd find myself instinctively attempting to remain anchored, resorting to my own physical strength - combined with the bird's own incredible strength and the lack of proper leverage, I only dragged back and forth like a pendulum. Flapping its wings in one significant flush of motion, it propelled from its position, almost Launching off like a pissed off missile - in an extremely brief moment of weightlessness and suspended sensation I'd soon be airborne.
Step one worked better than expected - still had to actually kill the fucking thing. 50 meters below, I hung from the anchored grapple cord, now over a 1000 meters above and slowly climbing. Air rushed in howling wind, the forest below running together as the Phoenix rapidly reached and broke the sound barrier, nearly level as I was dragged behind.
"I need to find a way to waste this fucking bird. Might not be long before this titanium weave cord melts from the heat." I eyed ahead, watching as the grapple cord gradually reddened, starting to warble as it became strained from both tension and heat.
Getting a bead of where I was, I saw on the HUD it was heading North. Initially, it would seem there was no specific direction it had been heading - it wasn't long though before I saw a marker point pop up on the motion tracker nav-map. Despite being nearly 4000 meters up, I see and make out the layout and texture of a city below; U-City, according to archived data displayed, is visibly massive, spanning for miles, possibly dozens or so. No way this wasn't intentional. Couldn't shake me loose but I guess intended to force me in a difficult situation.
It was pretty clear at this point it was going to take drastic measures in either trying to kill or remove me, if not both. Fluttering its wings in multiple, rapid motions it reached a height of 6000 meters until it stopped for a moment, the momentum carried me up over it - suddenly then, like a switch, it folded its wings in and nosedived toward the city.
"Fucking thing is gonna reek havoc to try and get me off - this isn't good." My eyes widened, jerking violently as I was dragged to earth with it. Collateral damage didn't particularly bother me, however, my potential operation status could be greatly compromised if shit goes south.
The speeds it moved, it quickly bypassed the sound barrier, air around beginning to heat up from both friction and the flames generated from the bird. I had only less than a minute to act before matters really escalated. Like a warcry, it cawed out as loud as it could, echoing like a clap of thunder from hell.
Only a 1000 meters and closing, I thought of the only thing I could do. Reaching for my utility belt with my free right arm, I grabbed a grenade - cooking it, I threw it as hard as I could in my awkward position down at the Phoenix's exposed patch of body. A slightly dulled explosion popped as the frag detonated, the Phoenix screeching in pain as a meter sized chunk of its body was blown to bits, more of its real body exposed.
Briefly coming to a dead stop, it appeared to be momentarily stunned, much of its once untouchable main body now fully visible, along with its head. Retracting the grapple anchored to it, I quickly unlatched my anti rifle and aimed for its head and neck- firing multiple shots, the 1100 grain tungsten carbide slugs cracked as they left the chamber and punched into the bird's flesh; one by one, half a meter sized bullet holes were left in its head and along its neck. Soon, any life signatures or EM emissions it gave off were gone.
"Think that did it." Chuckling, almost triumphantly. Of course, I realized I was still hundreds of meters in the air and now completely in free fall.
Slowing, but still very much in free fall - the bird, now dead and I, we're falling. Gradually, our trajectories drifted from another until dozens of meters apart. It would only be a few moments before impact.
"Fucking A."