Chapter 3: Wolves in the Murk
Soon, the operation of the Nova was returned to normal a bit, except the inclusion of the mech pilot, Alexander Tusken, as he wandered the halls of the Nova and took unique cautions to avoid the others, but Ghalt and Deande made it a point to be involved with him to ease him in, the trio sitting in the cafeteria as Alexander was out and the members could tell that he was not people material as Deande and Ghalt often made a comment and he just shook his head or nodded in silence, neither pushing it too much, but the banter was getting on the nerve of some as Montana adjusted his cap. "Hey, why are we not over there, talking to the little guy?"
"Because Ghalt thinks that Tusken has to be eased slowly in, given some anti-social BS." Mellka spoke as she crossed her arms. "We don't have time to babysit a wimp, we have to deal with the Varelsi and find out how this star managed to return from the dark."
"Come on, Mellka, give him a break, this is a lot to take, you were raised an awesome fighter, he's a guy out of time and place here." Mellka groaned as the chat continued at the table, Alexander poking his food with unease as he briefly removed his mask and ate, replacing the mask back as Ghalt spoke.
"Can you tell me or Deande the main purpose of that facility on Bogmire IV?" Alexander quietly nodded as Deande straightened up a bit and listened as he started, slowly eating and moving the mask like it was his lifeline.
"Bogmire IV was a arid landscape and ill-suited for active habitation for the United Peacekeeping Republics, however the commanding officers that took this mission decided to utilized the LLC's remaining fragments in the UPR." He straightened up as both leaders noticed his right eye having shifted to a line or string of data as he continued. "Mechanized Warfare selected amongst twenty-three different options, Gamma Corp created in effort to destroy joint force of Jennerit and Varelsi troops, however unaware of active plan among members to engage in blocking out solar star via a selection of..."
"Hey, focus." Ghalt snapped and Alexander returned, the string disappearing as he calmed down to the meek features. "The facility, what was its purpose for being there instead of Bogmire?"
"Bogmire is known for... abnormal transformations. It was once a uncolonized planet until a UPR colony ship crashed there, it had undergone a series of transformations of the local populace that rendered them mutants, creatures, and other things that is not possible, not even in the slightest." It was at this point that Beatrice entered, both arms moving with ease and both leaders surprised to the fact that she had two arms now as she inquired, moving past the two at the frame.
"But these transformations are experimental to the people or is it something else?" Alexander nodded a bit as she took a seat and he spoke.
"I don't know in recent years, but the planet itself exerted a type of toxic fume that quickly changed humanoids into savage creatures of varying appearance, the Eldrid sent a small team to find out if they could bring the transformed colonists into the fold, but nothing could be done, some did join, but the Eldrid also were trapped on the planet before long, whatever happened to them is unknown for the moment, but the UPR forces believed that the planet was cursed and settled on Bogmire IV with a facility that functions as an underground complex, enough room and space for garrisons to be trained and stored, but into the cryogenic treatment for the surviving members, it has been the empty tomb that you described." Ghalt nodded and Beatrice hummed at the thought before Deande asked.
"So there is possibility that some remnant of the colony may have also have been deserted or fostered in the shadows, we will need to collaborate with the factions to see if they can find some form of existence as Bogmire is the closest planet for the factions to hit up." The spymistress hummed as she stood up and went over her collected records. "I'll bring it up to the Jennerit Conclave and see if the Battleborn could look into the planet itself." She soon departed, but at the same time, Alexander stood up and headed away, his meal only half-finished and that hit a nail with Mellka as she sneered and pushed off, leaving the small gathering of people behind, Ghalt and Montana finally noticing when Beatrice debated something with them and left. The Red Observer fell into a swift march as she pursued the silent member, his walk solemn before she caught up and, without a thought, slammed him into the wall as she scowled.
"Look here, I don't give a damn about your dumb history, you pose an actual threat to the Battleborn, you are not walking off without a single word."
"No, ma'am..." Alexander gasped as the bio-gauntlet into his gut.
"Don't back sass me, you have stones and this is war, man up 'cause we don't have room for cowards, got it!?"
"Yes, ma'am..." Another punch flew and slammed as Mellka growled, Ghalt slipping into the hallway as he yelled, Montana behind him.
"Mellka, stand down, we can't be picky of our allies, you did the same with Deande when she joined, lay off!"
"Back off, Ghalt!" Mellka spared a glance to the First as she spoke. "Deande had a lot to make up, she played second fiddle to Rendain, but this chump is a blank, an unknown that we just decided to let on." Tusken choked a little as Mellka continued, none noticing the shift in eyes as they started to glow yellow. "It's only right that someone grills him over, got to make sure that he isn't hiding anything ELSE in his skull." Mellka pulled back and swung, but to the surprise of the trio, Tusken caught it and, with strength that belies his body, he twisted and Mellka clenched her teeth in pain and resistance when he spoke.
"Unknown Attacker present, CQC active at level four." An elbow slammed into the holding Mellka and she drew back, knowing that he hit a pressure point from how her arm now felt numb and he dropped before delivering an uppercut to her jaw, the pain intense as she laid on the floor and he spoke. "Attacker crippled, proceeding in termination of subject." Before he could, Montana slammed into him and hoisted him in a bear hug as he started to speak as Ghalt got Mellka back up.
"Chill, little buddy, Mellka was just..."
"Titanic Attacker recognized, engaging active search protocol for options of escape." The struggle was real as Montana held tight to the increasing strength that Alexander was mustering all the sudden, Ghalt cluing in on what was happening and why Alexander was attacking.
'He's depending on instinct and a built-in AI support to fight, Mellka must have driven him deep enough that it started to see us as threats, I have to snap him out of it.' He left Mellka against the wall as he spoke. "We got this, Mellka, don't strain yourself." He dashed forward as Mellka yelped for him to stop as he got in front of Montana as the giant was nearly at his limit when Ghalt spoke. "Alexander!" The struggle stopped and Ghalt looked into glowing yellow instead of radiant blue as he started. "I am disappointed in your management of emotions, you have to understand that Mellka was just looking out for the Battleborn, we have been through more than enough and we can't just suddenly decide NOW is the best time to go all rage on this ship, in this team." Montana looked surprised as the effort lessened as Alexander just looked at Ghalt. "I know that you don't have the training or the restraint as us, but believe me, not many of us heed well to orders or commands, so find it in your own heart to understand it from our eyes, in a new place and with no guarantees until we collect more data about this system." The yellow faded away as Tusken shook his head as he looked about.
"So... anyone else around that wants to wring my neck?" Ghalt chuckled a little as he added.
"Unless you are Klesse, you should be safe... for the most part." Mellka sighed as she walked over and spoke again.
"Look, I..." She groaned as she rubbed the back of her head as Alexander was lowered. "God, I don't often have to apologize, but Ghalt's right, you are okay, its just I have to be sure of whose my allies and friends and considering our first encounter, I guess I got something to establish."
"Y-Yes, ma'am..." Mellka rested her hands on her hips as she commented with a smirk to the sluggish stance of attention.
"At ease, kid." She smiled as she rubbed his head. "After all, if you are the guide, I guess we can call it even or maybe I would owe YOU a debt or something." She headed off as Ghalt and Montana watched her leave with Alexander before the First Battleborn spoke, turning back to the mech operator.
"With that done, I guess that, with her on your side, you have my approval to see this colony, but for further measures, I am going to need Thorn, Beatrice, and Benedict with you just to keep a wide range of details, is that clear, Tusken?"
"Yes, Sir!" Alexander nodded as he headed off, a spring in his step for a bit before Montana asked.
"You sure you want Bene on this mission, he's been..."
"I know..." Ghalt grimaced a bit as he continued. "Benedict has been moody for the past few days and I am sure that it involves his lost family, but all I can do to give the wise-cracker some peace is let him fly about, I just hope that he has the mind to keep his mouth shut long enough for the mission to be completed." The mountain nodded as the ship hovered over Bogmire and launched its pods down to the planet's surface, special requirements given to the members at Alexander's behest...
The pod slammed hard into the murky waters and its door was slammed open when Alexander Tusken stomped out, in his mech before the other pods landed and out came the rest, the change being that each one were wearing masks built to resist the toxic fumes and atmosphere that caused the people to change into their new forms, if they were still alive. Beatrice hummed as she questioned, her Injector reattached for combat until she inquired for a possible combination of hand and weapon. "You were not kidding, the air here is reading on a higher level of toxicity than what I had experienced, this could make for some excellent experiments if I can encapsulate some of it."
"I would prefer not being made into a spoiled egg here, little lady, ruffles too many of my good feathers." Benedict chuckled as he hoisted his rocket launcher and Thorn looked about before she smiled under the mask.
"Many creatures roam these woods..." A hand lowered and generated an arrow as she notched it. "This will be an excellent hunting ground for the young of the Eldrid."
"Cut the chatter, you guys." Mellka spoke as she readied her UPR machine pistol. "We have a mission here, to find out if there are any remaining on this planet and what else went on here, Tusken, can I trust in your guidance in this?" The mech raised its hands as jets of flames emitted from both and he spoke with swagger as the arms dropped.
"Ready and willing, Mellka!" The mech stomped forward as the four followed, the pilot adding to the journey with details. "Based on landing, I have a brief understanding of where to go first, the UPR colonists rigged up comm towers to detect incoming predators and handle them with ease, that was before they were exposed to the foreign gas that seemed to bubble up from the tectonic plates beneath the ground, three layers of the plates themselves often made up for preventing earthquakes or world-cracking tumors."
"And you are sure that a comm tower is in this direction?" Mellka questioned as she slashed through the foliage, it being less hostile to Ekkunar's own as Alexander answered, his mech unimpeded in the plant life.
"Certain, this comm tower is the Eclipse Tower, fashioned and titled for the sun shadowed over it every cycle and it is the first tower to the colony Minkula, titled for the founder and first-transformed member of the society." They plowed through with no sign of creatures or monsters before they came across the tower, its design that of UPR indeed, but Alexander hummed as he closed the distance and ran a metal hand over the base where claw tears and marks seared through the metal and riddled the tower itself like something vile. "This doesn't look good, the comm tower has been ravaged, but I don't recognize these markings, some sort of wolf beast."
"Can you get it fixed up or are we just POACHED?" Benedict laughed as some of the members groaned as Alexander spoke.
"Now I see where Circinae got that poor sense of humor." This shut Benedict quickly up as Alexander continued, heedless of what he even said as the other members were stunned of what he even said. "Getting it fixed is out of the question, but I can upload the basic layout and data to Nova for the Battleborn to sort through, the upload will take time, but what is a few seconds to a eternality of cryo sleep?" The machine hummed to his touch as the upload started, Mellka reacting quickly as she heard it, the howl of something else in the forest as Alexander commented, the interface coming online to the grid being filled with hostiles. "Heads up, we have incoming, I am not getting a reading off on them so prime yourselves."
"Don't need to tell me twice, ready up, we need to defend Tusken until we can get that data up to Nova and get a layout of this place." She whipped out her pistol as the nock of arrow, the load of rocket, and the bubble of chemicals sounded before the attack began, the attackers swift as they sprinted on all fours, many falling in the first volley, Mellka swapping mags as the next wave descended and there were more, she grimacing as she fired and spiked one charging before tossing it to the side, Thorn and Beatrice having a more difficult time as needle and palm were not fast enough, but they suffered no injury as they moved to the back and Benedict, needing no telling, took to the air and circled as he riddled the ground in his rockets before firing his Boomsday rocket and clearing a sizable chuck out, that had another effect, it seemed, as the creatures dashed away and howled as they disappeared from sight, Mellka breathing as Alexander completed.
"Upload complete, all of our data is now updated with current terrain and history here." All nodded, even Benedict as he looked at his map without a single word, all finding it easy to move through and track possible threats as Mellka sheathed his gun and strolled over to a still-whole creature, Alexander joining her as he hauled the beast up, posing it against a standing tree and all looked at it. Whatever it was, it had large claws, its face protruded out like a wolf and it had no semblance of being anything else, but it was able to stand upright and attack like a unarmed feral person with the more disturbing fact being that it was slightly dressed in a torn up fabric of clothing and the others seemed to listen to those looking like the one before them as Alexander extended a hand and plucked off the tag of it and read it. "Minkula Settlement Colonist #370, UPR." He hummed as Benedict asked to the meaning.
"Thing's got UPR on it, what the hell, they sure were feral for wearing something of the Republics, how do they even dress!?"
"Intriguing..." Beatrice whispered as she walked over and looked across the body in wonderment before she spoke. "An autopsy could give me a valid reason as to the creature's behavior and manners, but we need to take it with us for a proper discovery." Mellka spoke differently as she pulled Beatrice back a bit.
"Let's leave that to the retrieval team, we still need to find out more about this colony." Beatrice sighed at the loss of a research patient, but yielded as Mellka called it. "Ghalt, mind sending a retrieval team down to the comm tower, Beatrice wants to splice something that just attacked us."
"Got no problem with that, just make sure that she cleans up AFTER she is done, I don't want another crazy experiment roaming Nova."
"For your information, Captain, Cedric was NOT an experiment... he was a misled youth before his life."
"Not going to fight you, Beatrice, but I would prefer that Nova not get messed up again, the heads and I had to sort it out when it got into the armory." The comm closed and most of them sighed as Alexander just looked in confusion before he prioritized the colony again.
"If we head south from this location, we will make it to the colony in record time, if it is not fenced up already." All nodded as they followed the mech through, fighting through enlarged Swarmers that had long colonized in the planet itself and more of the wolf beasts before they arrived, the mech ripping open a wider hole in a mesh fencing and the group stepped in to find the colony ravaged and destroyed as Alexander grimaced deeply. "I had feared as much, this whole place has been razed and there is not one person still breathing here..." He looked about before Thorn paused, she glancing to the forest, her brow narrowing before her Arrow Volley were ready and she fired, the arrows bouncing before a whimper of several of such creatures sounded, the party turning as coming in as something different with a few of the wolf beasts surging after it, but couldn't get much as their oppression struck and ended them before a retreat could be called, the figure falling to the ground as Alexander stomped over and lifted it or him up, a young teen like him, but he was no longer an Aplian as his left arm were turned into the same limb of those wolf beasts with legs and tail to follow suit, his uniform torn and ripped as his breathing was huffed and sluggish as Beatrice checked him over before she spoke.
"I need my table to operate and assess, come on, the next team can check out this place for us, we have a layout, they will be okay, as long as they don't breath in this fume." Alexander nodded in the mech as he lifted, a large claymore with a barrel attached to the hilt hanging off the youth as Nova landed and retrieved the team, purging them of the toxic fumes before ISIC, Caldarius, Phoebe, Montana, and Pendles embarked out to search the colony while the first team got in and took to the recovery from the short, but still dangerous mission...
Beatrice worked as she opened up the wolf thing, pleased at least that it was still dead as Alexander watched with Miko, the Jennerit working swiftly as she detailed the effects and hummed as she stepped down with words on the mind. "Subject appears to have a similar biology to human members, but the difference is clear that exposure to this 'toxic' fog had slowly turned this one primal, a average beast of instinct, I'm afraid."
"What of the neural cortex?" Alexander asked as he motioned with a metal hand. "Had this agent also have regressed the subject to a canine type of mentality, its moves and commands out there shows that it relied on a pack mentality."
"Indeed, but unlike the Thralls, these creatures depend on a 'den', clearly someplace in the wilds that feels more home to them than the colony structures, some trace of Eldrid also seems to be evident to the small settlement, but nothing concrete to the notion." Beatrice hummed as Miko took over and worked as Beatrice washed up and walked with Alexander as both debated the idea. "While this shouldn't concern us too much, it makes me think that, maybe, the colonists were slowly reverted to a feral state of mind and our 'latest' recruit would yield knowledge for us to understand, but he will require someone of like stature to themselves." Alexander nodded as it was clear where he would have gone, but before anyone could do anything about it, Reyna suddenly declared him a new member of the Rogues and, considering the likelihood of him surviving the misfit band of bands and rebels was somehow slim and Alexander was seen, by Beatrice, Ghalt, and Deande, to be the only one to approach him while the rest are not likely as they were new faces, not the needed presence for the unconscious youth who rested in the infirmary next door as both stopped and Beatrice spoke. "Take care and don't mess this up."
"I may not know all the Battleborn yet, but don't fault me like I am going to encourage fault in myself and others." He entered and walked over, the youth resting before the tail started to wag and two different-colored eyes looked at him, an orange iris and a green eye as his voice, husky from both the transformation and his own growth, came out.
"Where am I and who are you...?"
"Well, that could take a while to explain..." Alexander spoke as he sat down in a chair pulled up. "...But know this, you were saved from those creatures on Bogmire, you don't have to trust us, but at least grant us the chance to know fully of what is going on, you are in no condition to continue the fight against whatever and I would hardly drag you in if you are not ready yet, but first would be your name." Tusken tilted his head as he continued. "I am Tusken, I will not use my full name until it is clear that you are I are on good terms, now what is yours?" The half-breed looked to the side before he groaned and turned back with his line.
"I am Kent Drake and I am part-human and part-Caninant, here's what I know..." Like that, they shared tales and exchanged information, more than enough for the operator to get a full grip on what was going on...