Alpha's bunk room is silent. Not a single snore or breath out of rhythm, all in gentle cadence to the hum of the ship's engines. The pitch blackness of the room helps them all to sleep, save for the light from the intercom system. It is not bright, but the red light sometimes would fright Alex in the night, if she was awoken during the night. All is at peace until- all the lights blaze alight and a gentle buzz permeates the silence in the room. The slicing buzz awakes everybody from their slumber. Shooting up from their bunks, Todd ran to the intercom and tapped the button after several failed attempts. "Yes, sir?" Central Officer Bradford's voice came through the speaker, with the digital clock above the intercom showing the time to be 4:36 in the morning. "Get your gear together, and get to the hangar asap." Jackson replied and issued the order to the squad. Their first mission without Alex on the team. They lost Alex four days ago. Michael is still in the infirmary, recovering from the plasma wounds he got riddled with. Travis was far more fortunate to recover swiftly. He stated he was too dumb to die yet. Cunningham did not take any wounds, so he and Jackson were the only untouched soldiers. With the three-man squad ready to go, they hustled towards the hangar. Passing the metal threshold to the hangar, they are met by Bradford and the Commander next to the Skyranger. The Commander turned and faced the skeleton-squad. With a bit of a chuckle, he spoke. "Alpha, I am sending you to assist Beta squad in an ambush. As you know, they are not proficient in stealth, so you will properly compensate for that. They are going to ambush a supply route. I will give more orders once you arrive but remain hidden as long as you can. A surprise will be your greatest weapon, as I try to strengthen your squad more." They all saluted, but Jackson probed the question. "Will we see that… Lazarus again?" The Commander was silent for a moment but returned. "I do not know, Jackson. Whatever comes your way, I will lead you the best that I can." With a soft smile from Jackson, he turned to join the squad in the Skyranger. With the large metal pad raising towards the ceiling, he walks up the ramp into the craft. It only took a few moments for the Skyranger to get completely in the air and heading towards their destination. Jackson sighed as he put his hat over his eyes and tried to sleep a moment or two before they arrive.
Hundreds of miles away, the same Star rests upon the ground in the valley. With the ship hidden nicely away from any civilization, Lazarus awakes within his ship. With the gentle prodding of his alarm clock at 5 in the morning. The serpent writhed in his bed for a moment, sighing as he lost all feeling of being comfortable. Tossing the blanket off of him, he sat up and stretched. With a yawn, his long fangs revealed to the world. The large Viper rubs his eyes for a moment, before sighing again. Maneuvering his coils off of the bed was easy, and moving towards his small rack of clothing. Grabbing out a simple dark purple tunic and sliding it over his bare chest. Lazarus had never removed his necklace, choosing instead to sleep with it on. Slithering his way around his ship. Avoiding items on his floor, whatever it may be. His coils navigate him towards his prayer room, and he sighed softly. The serpent does not exactly enjoy showing up before his master's in prayer. Leaving always leaves him drained and tired, even sometimes with a burning sensation beneath his scales. The price of devotion, he supposes. Once again returning to his pose in the room, the flames glow once again. With a deep breath, he returns to the Fortress. It took a moment for his tired eyes to adjust to the bright flames around him before he could even see his master. Lazarus saw that his master was not praying, but interacting with an alien data-pad, perhaps issuing orders. Lazarus spoke to him, trying to remain respectful. "Master? I thought about the viper in my rest." "Well?"
There was always one thing he could count upon, his master was not one to cut around the bush, always cutting to the matter of fact. "I am going to test her. I have her assigned to defend a supply train. Through my testing, I will know if her chip is malfunctioning, or something dire. If her chip alone no longer works, then her being sent to Ember-17 is beneficial. I will have the truth, Master." The warlock nodded, with his dimly glowing eyes bouncing about upon the screen. "Good. And what will you do if it is not her chip? Will you slay your kin?" The question prompted something that Lazarus had not considered. Would he have to kill his kind to serve the Elders? The large serpent was silent for a moment before replying. "I do not know, Master. Knowledge is a great tool, yet a terrible master." Lazarus's mind danced about between those ideas. Why is this serpent so different from the others, and what will he do when he finds out what he already knows? In his heart, Lazarus already knows the answer to this investigation. Shaking his head softly, "One way or another, I will find the truth- regarding all things." Not wishing for a return from his master, he pulled his connection from the Flow, bringing him back to his body. With a gasp and heavy breathing, Lazarus shoots his eyes open. Groaning as he gets back up and slithers out of this painful place. Slithering back into his room and placing himself upon the cushion before his desk, where the computer lay. Lazarus confirms the order to send the viper squad to Ember-17 for testing. After all, he was told about a new project aiming towards uplifting one of the races. If he does not get the answers he seeks, at least some good may come out of this. Slithering back into the large bed, the serpent burrows his head into his pillow, trying to catch some last few winks of sleep. After spending the last few days with intensive exercise and deep meditation, rest has become a precious thing. The muscles of the serpent ache softly as he tries to sleep. With the lights turning off again, Lazarus tries his luck at sleeping.
Not too far away is the standard facility that Yenta has found herself living in for the past few years. ADVENT does not exactly provide excellent living conditions to her soldiers. Her troops are laden with heavy duties and intensive exercise. Fortunately, their mind-chips keep them from complaining too badly. Yenta excels in endurance, while her sister was much stronger than she was. Naturally, exercise takes much longer to wear her out or cause her muscles to ache. Already awake within their pod-room, the serpent unit is buzzing about within. Yenta was busy reading the details on their transfer. It is… ambiguous to say the least. ADVENT is never straight forward in their intent, Yenta has found. The longer she serves, the more holes she finds. Most of her unit is either exercising, training, or meditating. None show the personality that Yenta does. Most are far too concerned with being the best that they can be. On top of that are their psionic chips. Their mental processing incredibly limited, taken up by the Elders. Yenta is different. Either her chip is malfunctioning, or as Lazarus put it, something dire. The train that they will travel within departs tomorrow. Yenta sighed in her place, placing the tablet down. Knowing she cannot express her worry to her sisters, she decides to leave the room.
Slithering between the towers of crates and alloys was simple. Her coils move her about with grace and wonder. There is no question as to why the Elders use the vipers. Their agility unmatched and accuracy are unchallenged. The project at Ember-17 was to seek for improvements upon the serpent species. Of course, not a single voice spoke against it, as they do not know what they are even doing. Slaves to the Elders.
Yenta slithered outside to the large landing pad. Hardly a thing is happening. With a few mutons scattered about, guarding the facility during the day. The forest surrounding the facility provides great beauty, and Yenta many times finds herself roaming the woods. The reprimanding from her superior has made her reluctant to venture out in recent days, but her curiosity still drives her. With a sigh, she returned from her daydream of trees and reverie. A bored layer glazed over her eyes as she slithered back inside to continue with her training. Yenta typically has time like this to do what she wants. With everybody else being little more than biological war machines, nobody confronts her, save her superiors who have either stricter mind control or freedom. Her elder sister, Jensa, was one such superior. As to why she was able to act freely, yet still beneath the chains of the Elders, is unknown to Yenta. With her scales gracefully gliding across the metal surface, she returns to the cool of the base, instead of the warmth of the bright Sol. A beacon of life and a giver of much-needed warmth to Earth. The sun is one of the final certainties to humanity. Assurance that she will rise on the dawn, to give her gift of light.
Back to the Skyranger, with the squad leaving their faithful transport. They were greeted by Beta squad happily. The older squad leader, with hints of grey in the scruff of his beard. Jackson and Riley, the squad leader of Beta, grasped each other's hand in a hearty shake. Riley spoke first, with great hints of an Irish accent, flowing with life. "Long time no see, 'ackson." With a chuckle, they walked towards their small ambush camp. The mixture of grenadier soldiers and specialists, with a spark too, is a rough-looking bunch. The squad leader has red hair and wears a nice overcoat atop his armor. The squad all got comfortable in the little camp in the forests, close to the magnetic rails. The spark is shut down, with a large camo tarp over him. They tend to burn through energy cores, so they are conserving his power. Helix-002 was a recovered Spark, that Shen himself designed. Or course with upgrades to his chassis and weaponry.
Sitting down on one of the several logs lying around, both Jackson and Riley spoke. Both are the most experienced men around, being some of the first recruits. Riley was fighting before Xcom was even reformed. "So, Jack, what brings you to my little operation, 'ere?"
"Commander thinks you need support. Said you are as sneaky as a cow." Jackson chuckled heartily while sitting his shard gun down to his side.
"Oh, sure. I can't even start a mission, without you Alpha-folks showin' off." He shook his head, leaning toward softly, with his elbow meeting his knee. "But seriously, we could use some aid on this ambus'. We have the c'arges set on the rails. If you guys sit down on the south tree-line and attack once they target us, it'll be golden."
"Works with me, Riley. Commander wanted us to be your stealth tools-"
"Ugh! Stealth is only for Gamma. Why didn't he just send them? Isn't your squad really weak now anyway?"
Jackson shrugged, not knowing why his skeleton crew was chosen for this. "I won't argue to get some easy kills, but these missions are tiring me out, man."
Riley pats his friend on the back, "Well, you 'ave until tomorrow to rest, my friend. The cargo of the train is unknown, but I'm certain it'll be worth sitting out here for three days!" They both chuckled as the squads conversed.
With the final day of rest ends, all souls rest one last time. Alpha squad resting within the camp of Beta squad, in the humble company of the trees and fauna. A modest resting place on the grass and leaves, with the quiet crackle of a fire. Cunningham never enjoys camping, but both Lewis and Jackson do not mind, as both grew up in such conditions. The Beta squad is never one to complain, so they were naturally quiet about their living conditions.
Hundreds of miles away, slithering into her sleeping pod, nearby her sister vipers, Yenta tries to make herself comfortable. In recent nights her mind had been plagued with thoughts and dreams, never finding rest. The serpent of yellow and orange tries her best to fulfill her duty, but she feels a pang in her heart with each passing day. With the glass hissing shut, she is concealed within the large pod. Her emerald eyes veil behind her eyelids as she attempts to sleep. Her tail curls softly, trying to find the perfect resting position. With the lights shutting off, it makes the journey to sleep much easier. Her dreams are of stars, and the sky above.
Within the Star, is Lazarus. The massive serpent finding it hard to ease his mind. Too many things to worry about. His usual duties as a commander, but now this viper issue. His heart is heavy with worry, and his mind gives his heart company in the gloom. The male serpent groaned as she finished one more pull up, with his huge coils squeezing something of a spring. The serpent dropped down from the hanging bar and groaned softly. His black back and red front showing to nobody. Being entirely alone, he exercises without the burden of clothing. Wearing only the necklace of the Elders. Lazarus is wide at the shoulder and narrow at the hip, with his chest being defined by pure muscle and tough scales. His biceps are large, with very defined muscles. Having to constantly be in shape has allowed him to sculpt his form into the best that he can. Lazarus reached his peak long ago, always spending time training or exercising. Removing his coils from the spring and slithering to a small table. Taking a drink from the large container of water, he lounged on the table, prompting for a groan from the metal legs of the table.
Lazarus sighed as he stared into nothing. With his emerald eyes snapping back to reality, he took a deep breath. Taking another drink, he slithered over to a shelf in this room. The shelf is adorned with human items. From an old comic book to an old knife. "Now where did I put it…" He said to himself as he looked around the cluster of items. It took his eyes quite a several searches to locate what he was searching for. "Ah, there you are." Lazarus smiled as he picked up a small square device, with a pair of wires hanging from it. Holding it up, he pushes a button on the bottom and it lights up. Turning out to be an entertainment device, much like an iPod. With alienization of human culture, it no longer bears that name but instead adorns the glorious title of 'Sound-Cube'. Lazarus finds it to be a silly name, but it serves him well. Sliding through the many playlists he has on the device, he soon decided upon an older artist. Tennessee Ernie Ford- Sixteen Tons, 1955.
Placing his earbuds in his ears, he slithered over to his seat. Placing his form down there sighing. Pushing play on the sideways arrow, and closing his eyes.
"Sommmme people say a man is made out of mud-
The poor man's made out of muscle and blood…"
Lazarus drifted off to meet the others in sleep, even though intending to sleep in his bed.
The following day…
With the sun reaching her peak in the sky, all forces were moving towards their interests. The train had departed hours prior, with the Viper squad loaded aboard. The sleek, black train blasting along the flat track. The metal beams cut through hills and forests, moving at the speed of lightning. The train was the moving home of the Viper squad. Yenta and all her sisters adorning their combat armor, just in case. One time out of a thousand would a train be stopped by anything. The entire reason that Beta is destroying the track entirely. The serpent felt a strange feeling in her chest. Perhaps just anxiety of uncertainty. But she just felt off, while the windows show the ever-moving ground. She couldn't quite place what her feeling is. Leaning against the crate, she tries to ease her mind. Her sisters are all uncomfortable. This cart was not made to transport soldiers, at least comfortably. A black and white viper slithered up to Yenta and smiled toothily. Yenta smiles back at the younger sister. Black swirls inhabit her hood, with little spots along with the swirls.
"Hey Yenta, I was talking to my sister and I was wondering- are you alright? Ever since we lost Jensa, you've been rather quiet." Yenta was surprised that her sister-viper was talking to her. She just figured that nobody would talk to her like Jensa did. Yenta shook her head, before thinking of a response.
"I do not know, Kath. Maybe just everything that has been happening…" Yenta said, with her drifting off at the end. Her heart still hurts for Jensa, and her loss. She doesn't know what she'll do if she runs into that human...
"Don't worry, Yen'. We're here for each other. We may be quiet, but we are sisters." Kath said, with her squadmates looking at her. The total serpents total was 6 souls. Most of them are around Kath's age. Being younger than 20 years old, with Jensa being barely older. Jensa was, by far, the oldest. With a faint smile, Yenta nods, before a rumble from the front of the train drains her smile.
The ambush squads were all in position when the orange flames erupted upon the tracks. Even before the train reached the spot, the track was destroyed. The huge metal beams being split in twain and melted from their joints; the magnets discharging into the air and the train. The head of the train comes barreling off of the tracks, flying from the tracks. The bullet-shaped head smashing through several large stones before carving a stopping place in a hill. Alpha Squad is currently in the southern forest, remaining hidden. Beta started to pepper the train with magnetic bullets and explosives. The defensive turrets being dismantled in mere seconds. Armor plates flying and the train breaking. The carts start to open, with the soldiers exiting. This is almost entirely cargo, with few troops to speak of. Three squads in total. The viper squad, an officer with his three troopers, and a sectopod in the cargo cart. None dared to venture into the north after one trooper dared and was torn by dozens of rounds.
Orders were coming through by the Commander, making this easy. Alpha remained silent, watching the train get battered. Within the train, is the Viper squad, not daring to leave their alloy fortress. Lewis had climbed into a tree, watching the battle through his scope. Jackson was watching from behind a large boulder, next to Cunningham. They are much shorter range, thus not even trying to watch from the sights of their weapons.
Lazarus is nearby the battle, within the Star. The ship was landed, ready for combat. The serpent within was fully dressed for battle. With the black alloy armor up in his body. In the middle of his large control room, is a holotable. Much like the one in the Avenger, to direct his troops. The Chosen are unlikely to show, as Lazarus requested to oversee this mission. The emerald eyes of Lazarus dance about the table. Watching it unfold in real-time. Deciding to move the Captain, they pushed out of their alloy fortress. Leaving caused a trooper to get injured, but not fall. The serpents left to the south, prompting Lewis to speak.
"Got some vipers. 5 of 'em. No, six." He said, putting the stock of his rifle against his shoulder, getting ready for a shot. The range and foliage have him concealed completely, with the element of surprise on the flanked serpents. The Commander gave the order for him to fire, as Jackson and Cunningham moved forward. The magnetic bullet ripped through the air, meeting the neck of a viper. Neither Yenta nor Kath. Falling over lifeless, the serpents instantly caught on. "Five more t' go." As they pushed toward, the back car of the train burst open with the sectopod revealing itself. Beta squad started to target the sectopod, but the hulk of metal and wires is no easy target. The huge beast of alloy thundered to the north, fighting Beta squad wheel and cog.
Jackson moved to a fallen tree and fired his shard gun at a viper, who was still moving to an alloy cover-wall. The shards killed her mercifully, with her not even feeling the wound in time. Yenta felt fear rush through her veins, watching her siblings perish. Kath and another viper postured up and fired. The one next to Kath got hit by a gauss rifle around, killing her instantly. While Kath's plasma beam surged through the sky, hitting the tree Lewis is in. The plasma bolt hit the trunk and the base of the branch that he is resting upon. The bolt melted the entire base and caused him to plummet from the tree. Comically hitting branches, and falling on his back, fortunately behind the cover of the branch that fell with him. Kath felt much more confident after scoring the hit and pushed forward with another sibling. Yenta fired at Jackson, knowing he is the one who killed Jensa. She felt hate in her finger as she released the pulse of energy into the air. She grazed his armor, doing little more than stripping the layers away. Kath moved to Cunningham, as he took a shot at the last sibling. She took the hit but survived. Jackson drew his ax and dealt the finishing blow to her when she got close enough. With the crossbow Cunningham wields being out of ammo, Kath simply bound him up within her black and white coils. He felt his armor crack, as she squeezed tighter. Jackson rushed forward, with the intent of freeing his comrade. Yenta panicked, seeing him rush her sister. She knows what he did. Knowing that she cannot do much more, she removed herself from her cover as Jackson got within a few yards of Kath.
Yenta yelled while holding her hand and rifle in the air. "Stop, please! We'll surrender, just don't kill her!" All minds stopped, including Kath's. Jackson noted her surrendering stance, with the lethal end of his shotgun, pointed at Kath. Kath raised her eye ridges, as she remained bound around the dark-skinned human. Jackson could hardly find the words as he listened to the Commander.
'You want me to… what?"
'You heard me, Alpha.'
With a sigh, and his bright blue eyes glazing over with worry, Jackson stepped closer to Yenta, with Lewis sprinting towards them to help Cunningham not get crushed. Pointing the ShadowKeeper at Kath's head, she soon dropped her rifle, hissing loudly. Resisting to let go of Cunningham.
Jackson inched towards Yenta before knocking the rifle out of her hands and she got much lower. She is quite tall when postured up like that. Pulling out several zip ties from his pouch and putting them around her hands, and some cloth around her muzzle. The same thing was done to Kath, with more resistance.
The thunder of the sectopod exploding in the far distance, Jackson looked around. "Anybody else?" He chuckled, with Lewis shrugging in return. Their answer was soon answered with a double pair of energy walls appearing, maybe a hundred yards away. Typically only one commander appears in a battle, but this time is different. When the flames cleared, revealed to be the Hunter and Lazarus. The serpent looked to be just surprised as the humans, at least, he acted. The visor prevents any sign of emotion from being shown. The massive serpent looked at the Chosen and they spoke.
"You lost your claim, Laz."
"I'll split your skull if you take one shot, Hunter."
"In your dreams, kid."
The serpent looked to split directions from the Chosen, vanishing from sight. The hunter cannot hide, given how much he talks. The hooded Chosen grappled up to the top of the train and pulled out his rifle, instantly targeting the captured vipers. The purple stream of bullets tearing through the air. Any resistance that was given by the serpents was instantly ended, taking cover with their old foes.
"Making friends, Xcom? Be a shame if something happened to them."
Jackson pulled Yenta along with him, preventing her from taking a direct shot. Kath with Lewis. "Just stay low!" Jackson barks at his squad, with the Commander already giving orders. Yenta and Kath did just that. Staying so low to the ground where low cover is a high cover, and full cover as though a mountain was between them. Jackson moved from his cover, about to take a shot when he saw the Hunter aiming right at him. He could feel the end coming, even before the trigger was pulled. In a flash atop the train, he closed his eyes. He didn't feel anything? Looking again, he saw Lazarus next to the Hunter, with his blade falling upon the arms of the Hunter. The flash was Lazarus revealing himself, as his energy blade tore through flesh and bone. The rifle clattered to the ground, as forearms followed in descent.
"You'll… pay… Lazarus.."
With a chuckle and a swift slash of his blade to the neck of the Hunter, Lazarus returns:
"In your dreams… kid."
The familiar pillar of fire taking them both away, leaving nothing behind. Jackson radioed back to Avenger and says breathlessly:
"We've got some new intel.."
Hey, everybody. I plan to continue this story for several more chapters. This one, I decided to fast forward some to this point. Let me know how you think it is going! Stay safe! -Helix