Chapter 6 - Kidnapped
The New Ones were a curious breed. At first they seemed like any other race, though with a certain cleverness when it was needed. The Uber Ethereal watched impassively at the smoking remains of the Psi-center. In his hidden city ship, the Temple of the Elders. He saw the New One called Annette Durand, and watched the human destroy the center.
It would do nothing in the end. Many Psi-centers were build all over the planet, and the New Ones showed that their gift nearly rivaled the power of the Elders. Earth was not chosen by accident, but because of the humans form of transmission.
Radio waves showed their history, and the Ethereals were able to separate fact from fiction. These humans showed themselves to be a contradictory species, unlike any other. When one finds a Parasite, they can expect the insectoid horror to implant their eggs within, when one finds one of the Tribal Ones, it can be guessed they are violent and easily agitated.
However unlike any other species, when one finds a human, one cannot know what to expect. The human may be a fool, but strong. The human may be weak but clever. The human may be both or neither. Theirs was a curious species, one that was unlike many of the others the Elders had found in their travels to prepare for what lies ahead.
It was because of this contradiction the Ethereals chose the humans. Allowing them to fight a weak but ever growing force. The Uber Ethereal was somewhat surprized at how fast these New Ones integrated their technology into themselves, and even more exciting, their possibility of holding the Gift.
When the Humans proved their worth, but hanged on the edge by their own leaders, the Ethereals acted, taking control to stop a threat proved to powerful to control. It was only luck their leaders were close to giving up on this XCOM, who had come so much closer than any other race in the long history of the Elder race.
It was simple, without XCOM protecting a country because it choose not to help the organization, the Crawlers, called sectoids by man, were able to locate the other leaders. And they brought down the great threat, before it got to strong. Though looking at the remains of the Psi-center, it was clear that they still chose to fight.
The Uber Ethereal would have to do something about that.
Ares was perhaps the most advanced robot on the planet, the best hardware humanly possible. Similar to a standard Hover SHIV, with cloaking technology similar to the aliens, and retractable mechanical arms allowing it more freedom than most SHIV's. It's 'head' was a heavy plasma cannon with sensors allowing sight into the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum through mechanical means. Not to mention the latter upgrades Dr. Shen hoped adding to it.
It's software was a self aware AI, bound by the Three Laws of Robotics and given the entirety of human knowledge in it's memory. It's mind if it can be called such was designed to learn, adapt, and evolve to a somewhat limited degree.
Right now the worlds most advanced AI with the best hardware was playing chess. Dr. Shen was his opponent. Shen liked to think he was good at chess. Currently he was down to a rook and his king, Ares had six pawns, both knights, a rook, both bishops, his queen, and king. Dr. Shen should rethink his chess skills.
"Perhaps something else would be better to understand the limits of your mind", said Dr. Shen.
"Father, these aliens. Why do they invade us", asked Ares.
Dr. Shen leaned back in his chair.
"I do not know son. Their technology is centuries beyond ours, even taking XCOM into account, we do not have FTL travel, even the firestorm isn't that fast. It's close, but not that close. They have ships massive in size, and a seemingly inexhaustible army. If they wanted to invade us, we would already be slaves, or dead. All I know is whatever they have planned Psionics are involved", said Shen.
"Perhaps they seek powerful slaves to combat against something unknown"
Shen put his hand to his chin as he thought on that.
"If so, they could have attempted peace, and asked for aid against this unknown threat", said Shen.
"The invasion could be a form of a test, to see how powerful you are. By allowing humanity to gain their technology this way, they both get to see how powerful humanity is, all without 'contaminating' the experiment, so to speak, that could not have happened simply by handing out their technology. It also allows for the entirety of humanity to unite against a common enemy. They would see you at your best. When you have nothing to lose", said Ares.
"Do you think that is the point of this invasion", asked Dr. Shen.
"It is possible, though given that the aliens themselves took XCOM down it is unlikely, or they have changed the experiment. They could have seen humanity as a threat and destroyed the threat before it became to great", said Ares.
"Then why attempt a false peace afterwards", asked Shen.
"The experiment is not yet over, only changed when new data presented itself", said Ares.
Dr. Shen chose not to speak after that.
The Furies were sitting in their new sports car, courtesy of whatever rich bastard decided to part three blocks away from the ruins that was the Psi-Center. At the moment, they were ordering fast food.
"Yeah, I'd like a number one without cheese, two double cheeseburgers, a fish sandwich with extra pickles, a number six, and four large cokes", said Alecto.
"Seriously who doesn't eat cheese", said Megaera.
"Bite me, I hate cheese", said Alecto.
"Don't forget my fires, I want mustard not ketchup", said Tisiphone.
"Can we get some mustard for one of the fries to", said Alecto.
Annette sighed.
"I'm the one driving, isn't it my job to order"
"Yeah, but Alecto here had the biggest mouth, want to make sure they have those extra pickles", said Megaera.
Annette sighed as they waited in the drive-tru. It wasn't long until something caught Tisiphones ear.
"You guys hear that", asked Tisiphone.
Annette looked around before seeing the familiar chopper of EXALT moving towards them.
"How the hell did they find us", asked Annette to herself.
Looking above them, a very low flying helicopter was hovering with men sliding down ropes.
"I guess we eat later", said Alecto.
"Damnit, and this was such a nice car", said Megaera.
Annette was the first to leap out of the car. Spying an EXALT operative, she destroyed his sense of reality causing him to let go of the rope and fell head first onto the pavement. Annette instantly grabbed his laser rifle and began shooting.
"What are you waiting for, grab a gun and start shooting", said Annette as she shot the head off a heavy.
As they were getting situated trying to grab what guns they could Howard glided down and landed with ease. He looked to the others.
"Remember Doc wants them alive, you know what to do", said Howard.
They nodded before taking cover. Howard flexed his fingers before taking off full speed towards Tisiphone. He leapt, dodged, and ducked past shots before he violently ripped off his bandana. While they were shooting at him, Annette froze in horror when she saw his jaw split open and become some nightmarish mouth that would fit on any of the aliens.
Tisiphone was wide eyes as he pried a laser sniper rifle from one of the corpses.
"THE FUCK IS THAT"
Too late as Howard grabbed Tisiphone by the neck and already bit into her shoulder. He simply dropped her before looking down at her slowly unconscious form. Her eyes glowed purple ass she attempted to mindfray Howard.
The moment it made contact, Tisiphone fell unconscious, aided by Howards Neural feedback gene mod, he knew she wouldn't be up for a while.
Howard turned to Megaera who was charging him with rage in his eyes. His rifle blazing with the red hot beam of light. Simply by looking at the gun, Howard was able to see where the shots from the laser would go, allowing his beyond human reflexes to dodge each and every shot. He roared a sound that was not quite a roar and not quite a screech before his jaw fixed back into place.
Annette was much too busy dealing with EXALT forces to Stop Megaera from attacking Howard in melee range, swinging the now dead rifle like a club at Howard. Howard chuckled as he dodged.
"Said Tariq, I remember you", said Howard as he bent out of the way from Megaera's swing.
"Then that makes this Fatima Tariq, unless I am mistaken, she is your sister", said Howard.
Enraged Megaera threw the rifle at Howard who caught it. Howard examined the rifle before he reloaded it. Then threw it back to Megaera. Megaera caught it with some confusion. Howard smiled when he paused before his jaw split again and he grabbed Megaera, biting him in the neck.
"MEGAERA", screamed Alecto who took aim at Howard.
Howard looked to Alecto before smiling and pointing behind him. It was too late when the fangs and maw sunk into Alecto's neck and he fell unconscious. The EXALT Medic behind him wiped his maw before it closed shut.
Annette reloaded her rifle, only to find she was surrounded by EXALT, ech and every one of them showed their Reaper Maw, and were hissing and growling at Annette. Howard took a step forward.
"It's over Durand, why not just give up", said Howard.
Annette snarled as she spun looking at the agents around her. There were ten left, and each was snarling with their inhuman mouths.
"Not like it matters anyway", said Howard.
Annette turned to Howard and aimed her rifle.
"Shut up", said Annette.
She pulled the trigger. She watched as Howard bended around the beam before smiling.
"See you can't focus on just me when you are surrounded", said Howard.
Annettes eyes widened, but before she could turn around the hands already grabbed her and she felt the teeth sink into her skin.
"Because then you forget the guy behind you, goodnight Durand", said Howard just before Annette fell unconscious.
Howard took out a pack of cigarettes before smiling to himself. He hears the sounds of sirens in the distance as he lights the cigarette.
"I think we all deserve a smoke break after that, but first get these guys to the chopper, don't want the law making things difficult", said Howard.
Jake got off the bus and aimlessly walked around the small town. After asking around he was reasonably certain this was Bradford's home. He did not expect a massive three-story house on the outskirts of town.
"Damn, dude must be loaded", said Jake to himself as he walked to the gate.
He hit the buzzer before a voice came from the speaker.
"Hello, How can I help you", asked a feminine and Automated voice.
"Yeah, uhh. My name is Jake Phillips, I worked for Bradford a while ago. I need to talk to him"
"One moment please"
Jake waited for several minutes before the voice came on.
"Hello"
"Bradford, is this the Bradford who worked for XCOM", asked Jake.
"Who is this", asked Bradford suddenly sounding very threatening.
"Names Jake Phillips, I was a sniper for XCOM. I was sneaking around EXALT when XCOM went belly up. I have information on EXALT's location", said Jake.
It was quiet before a buzzing came from the gate and it opened.
"Go to the front door and wait until I answer it"
Jake nodded before he walked. He heard the gate closing behind him. It was a needlessly long walk. The guys yard was massive by anyones standards. It took five minutes to actually make it to the front door. Jake Waited for the door to open. Instead he felt something cold touch the back of his head and the sound of a gun hammer being pulled.
"Don't move"
Jake raised his hands. He knew better than to mess with a guy whose gun was ready to tear you brain a new one. Bradford took his pack and looked through it with one hand, his other never moved from Jakes head.
"Plasma Pistol, EXALT laser sniper rifle. That second one concerns me", said Bradford.
"That's just Judas, Took it from one of those bastards while trying to get away", said Jake.
The gun left his head but Bradford did not point the gun away.
"Turn around slowly", said Bradford.
Jake did. He saw Bradford looking in his eyes. Other than the gun pointed at his skull it was good to see a familiar face.
"You don't look like you are under Mind Control", said Bradford before he tapped Jake on the arm. The sound of tapping on metal could be heard.
"You one of the boys who Vahlen changed. Gene mods, which one do you have", asked Bradford.
"Hyper reactive pupils, Neural feedback, second heart, invisible skin, and super leg jump", said Jake.
Bradford lowered his pistol before presenting his hand. Jae grabbed it and shook.
"Good to see you made it out in one piece. So you say you have info on EXALT", asked Bradford.
Jake smiled.
"I got better, I know where their base is"