Catch me if you can, Alice! The young green-haired boy shouted as he ran across the rooftops of Hanamura castle, jumping from place to place as he laughed loudly, the sounds of his laugh echoed emptily through her head. Her brother, now 15, huffs as she leaps after him. "Shut it with your smart mouth, your distracting yourself!" The boy kept laughing until his stomach hurt. He stops at a sudden halt when he glances over his shoulder, notices his little sister missing. His eyes go wide at the thought that she could have fell down and hurt herself badly, "Got you!" Alice jumped on her brother, sending both of them off the roof and rolling into a bush, she had a dagger locked onto his throat as if she was about to slit the soft skin. Her eyes moved from the sharp blade to the boy under her, and she begans to wonder. How hard would it be to just slit his throat and open it fully?
My eyes slowly opened, my body stretching as I woke up. I took a deep breath, I was relaxed and ready for a new day. But when I sat up, something was not right... something felt wrong. First what got my attention was the fresh air, not stinking with alcohol as it was always. I studied around the small room, I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. I examined it closer again. Still nothing. I looked very hard once more, and I finally saw it. Something so terryfing, it took a few moments for my brain to comprehend what it was. That was not my room.
Alice gasped for air quickly, awoke to the sound of a high-pitched beeping. Her head pounded against her skull with each droning beep, and she groaned loudly in annoyance. She rubbed her eyes and froze, as she felt not her dry skin but warm metal that was vibrating under her touch. She caressed her hand over her whole head, then chest and stomach. It was as if her body grew another layer of skin. Blinking few times, my eyes glowed more brighter and everything began to adjust as I look around. My vision was... how do I explain this? Some sort of HUD, a round traingle following my eyes and some informations displayed on the left. Some sort of a bar, like the ones in the games where it show you how much health you have left or XP to gather, but this one was slightly different, and there was something written under it, in different language. Great, as I can even understand it.
I rubbed my eyes again but everything was still the same.
Re-entry systems ready. A screechy voice said, the girl flinched and stood up in a result and looked around.
Alice looked around for any possible sources of what had just spoken to her. Whatever it was, it sounded like a robotic version of her own voice. She found nothing, which only led to her becoming more stressed, panicked and afraid. A dull pain shot through her abdomen when she moved her body, her voice was scratchy, as if it hadn't been used in a long time.
'What happened and why does everything hurt? And what's wrong with my eyes? Why's everything look like-'
Vital systems in stable condition. Host is displaying unnecessary levels of stress. It is suggested that the host ceases to do so.
"W-w- Who said that?" She said startled, the beeping sound ceased, quiet and soft humming could be heard.
I am Khai-Ja, the scarab that interfaced with your nervous system. You are my organic host.
'Khai- what?"
Khai-Ja. Voice corrected.
Alice took a good look at the place she was in. For a moment she was confused, this definitely wasn't her home. Where am I? She wondered with a stab of panic. How did I got here in the first place, didn't I died? All she can remember was the terrible pain, like something was melting her skin off and stabbing with a knife her stomach at the same time, then everything went black.
Data base has been severly damaged, it will turn back to normal within three hours. We are in the place where you first discovered me.
Taking a few breathes, trying to calm herself down, she looks at the same now empty trash that she once found a beatifully designed brooch.
She pulled herself into a sitting position as she stared around her. A round traingle following her eyes. Alice notices a small puddle of water, her gaze was drawn to a reflective surface, it was something she hadn't used in a decate, after the owl's disapperance she never dared to look at herself in the mirror or any surfaces that could reflect her face. Immediately she stood to her feet, drawn to the water as if it were an oasis in the middle of the desert and she was dying of thirst. Her legs shook as she took the first step. She wondered, how long she had been unconscious, for her muscles screamed in pain like they hadn't been used in weeks
1 day, 7 hours, 24 minutes and 4 seconds. I have accelerated your healing process as your body wouldn't be able to heal itself after such critical damage. If you would somehow survive, then you would be disabled and blind for the rest of your life.
"What do you mean disabled-?"
The metal connected with her skin felt hot, but the temperature seemed to not affect her skin, neither her body. She didn't stop walking, even when her legs didn't want to cooperate, until she crouched down in front of the puddle.
Her whole face was covered in some sort of armor that resembled a bug, or so she thought, but what kind of bug has feathers? Two small feathers made of light techno-organic material were sticking out of her back. No, it didn't looked like a bug but rather a bird. On Her chest was the same symbol the scarab represented. Two sharp legs that reminded her of the bug brooch were visible on her back and moving with her head. The whole costume looked like the one people could see in the science fiction movies. She looked amazed at herself, forgetting about the strange voice and playing with her fingers that the reflection was mimicking. Her fingers ended with sharpened golden claws like little daggers.
"So cool..." She muttered to herself in awe. "I look like a freaking bug-monster."
It is your protecting carapace.
"Why can't I see you?"
Because you are wearing me.
She stole another glance towards the reflection in the water, and this time it was almost unbearable to look at. As she meet her eyes that seemed so familiar yet so foreign. Her eyes used to be forest green, now they are bright gold, many thin wires spread and attached to itself like nervous system were visible inside her eyelids. The destroyed eyes were replaced by the scarab's ones, the wires were connected to It's main power source, providing it with energy.
Then her eyes widen and she immediately stands up, "I- I have to go back, my parents, they must be dying from worry, or- or they could be actually dying right now..." Alice is about to go out from the alley and ran but the scarab stops her from doing so.
Parents are not relevant to the mission.
"Mission, what are you talking about? Look, bugsuit I'm not kidding, you have to let me go. You've gotta get off me, if they see me like that they will think that I am a thug looking for money or worse, an alien... maybe not, it depends on how drunk they are. But still." She began to fight back the scarab, struggling but slowly getting back control of her body, resulting the scarab to shock her hands painfully.
Organic host must comply.
"Fuck. I don't know who do you think you are, but those two idiots won't survive without me even a day. So stop being so stubborn and let me GO!" The scarab's armor retreated back to the host's body, the black skin cover flowing like water.
"Ow- Ouch, what the heck it hurts."
Error. Error.
"See, that wasn't so bad?" I hissed as I began to walk towards my house, but froze at the spot as I saw how my clothes looked. They were torn in many places and there was a thick, dark substance covering them, same with my hands.
"Is that my blood?" I murmured as I stared at the blood bathed, trembling hands. Was this blood hers? Where- where did it come from?
Affirmative. The substance belongs to you and the parents.
"What. The. Fuck." Was all that came out of her as she stared at the ruins of what used to be her home. The view made her remember what her mother used to tell her whenever she needed to leave with her father to do their jobs, or to do other things that she was too young to understand.
Blow up the house and I'm going to put you up for adoption.
...Well, look at that.
Right now she had four questions.
How?
When?
Are her parents even alive?
And on scale 1 to 10 how fucked up she is?
Full 10, no options, they're going to put her on the system or worse beat her up and then throw away like trash on the streets.
Maybe It's not that bad... I thought as I walked closer but immediately backed away as I saw some adults wearing black suits with a weird logo on them, I couldn't tell what it was from this distance. There were also police officers talking to the neighbors. Scarab zoomed in her vision, the triangle scanning every person her eyes lands on.
Emre Sarioğlu. 43 years old. Joined Overwatch in his first 18 years as a soldier. Very skilled in a barreled ranged weapons, but his short-range comat skills are poor. Conclusion: Simple Energy Cannon will be effective as majority of our weapons.
Overwatch?
Why does it sounds so familiar?
She stared at the man for few more moment, reading his biography, before turning to another one, a female.
Fio Esposito. 24 years old. Joined Overwatch two years ago. The female is still in the training, not many skills mastered--though she seems to enjoy spending time in her office at the computer. She's good in hacking and informations gathering. Scarab stopped for a second and continued. Not good enough to hack into my system, of course.
Alice stared at the female from the shadows, she didn't know how she was supposed to feel. This whole situation was just confusing and in addition she has no recollection of what happened to lead her to this moment.
'How are you doing this?'
It was a simple observation of security footage, hacking into personal information and family history. Do you want to know more?
I was about to ask more but noticed another police car arriving, behind a black one.
'These people aren't real cops, are they?'
The evidence would appear so. I suggest to leave immediately, our body is not in a state for another combat.
Taking a last glance towards what used to be her home once, she walked deeper into the shadows. She looked at her clothes again, trying to figure out what happened and what should she do now. She can't just walk on the streets looking like she just came back from a war. People will get suspicious, or worse they will call the police, although not a lot of people living in this city knows about her existence as her parents rarely let her go outside, she didn't had a chance to socialize and make any friends like a normal kid should. The only people she knows are from school, but that's just teachers or other kids that she dosen't consider her friends. But she can't go back to school, police will definitely be there investigating, after all, she's probably considered missing now.
The realization hit her hard. She had no home, her parents are either alive or dead, and she has no money to even afford anything. That's it, she's officially homeless.
But she's not alone.
"...Khai-Ja? Do you know any place that would be safe enough to stay for few weeks?" She asked hesistantly.
Negative. I have been off-mode for many months, stuck near that trash. You finding me activated my emergency backup protocol and awoke me.
"What do you mean, I found you? I don't remember finding anything that could resemble you-- wait a second."
That brooch.
"You're that expensive looking brooch, are you?"
Affirmative. But I am not a brooch.
She groaned, "Sorry, this whole situation is just confusing. Look, do you belong to anyone? Do you want me to return you to your owners?"
Negative. Scarab Khai-Ja dosen't belong to any creatures orginating from this world. You are my first organic host.
Alice squinted her eyes while looking around, night was slowly approaching and she still hasn't found anything.
Maybe she could ask someone for a place to stay.
Negative. Risk of being recognized is very high. Khai-Ja suggests resting on the rooftops until safe location is found.
Alice didn't have any plan and knew no one she could turn to, so she wandered aimlessly. As a day turned to night, she began to feel scared and lonely. She realized that the world was a much scarier place than she had though, and that home was not so bad after all. Her clothes and hair soaked from the rain, but she kept going, ignoring the stares from random strangers. Sometimes her thoughts would drift away towards her family, her parents. Where were they? Are they alive? What happened, why was the house in ruins? She didn't wanted to talk with the thing she was stuck with, whenever she would try to ask for help, the annoying screechy voice would warn her about not revealing any personal informations or the mission will be compromised, what mission? She dosen't know and is too exhausted to think about it. She managed to find some clothes in the trash, and so with her previous clothes on her back she walked through the streets she has never seen, looking for shelters and avoiding every stranger she could, not just because she didn't want to get into a fight or worse kidnapped but because of an bugsuit stuck in her body that thinks that every person she sees is a threat and should be instantly killed.
She was tired, so tired.
It's cold tonight, people's hot breathes panting small huffs of white as they walk pass a certain young girl, wearing nothing that could keep her warm enough, a hood that was clearly too big for her and the same pants she has before her life got turned upside down. Ramen shops smell heavenly, bars echoing with music. But none of these people take a glance at a small child. Alice bite her tongue when a spine-twisting cold rams It's way into her hood. It's reallt cold tonight and Alice is trying her best to find any shelter, anything she could sleep and rest. To the passing, the girl would be just some ratty homeless girl trying not to freeze to death on that particular night. To Alice, she was really going to die.
She's skinny, clothes that should fit her snugly, are loose and hang off her weirdly but It's all she has as she groans frustrated.
As she struggled, she couldn't help but wish she had a way to keep herself warm. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the voice in her head.
I can help you with your predicament. Said the scarab.
Alice, disoriented by the voice, struggled to comprehend what was happening.
'What do you mean?" She asked.
I can heat up your body. The scarab replied. It's one of the many abilities that I possess.
'Go ahead.' Alice said, teeth chattering. "Do whatever you can do keep me warm."
A moment later, she felt a sudden burst of heat and energy emanating from the centre of her back. Almost instantly, she started feeling warmer, and her shivering stopped. It was a remarkable feeling - like standing next to a roaring fire on a cold winter's night.
"Wow, that's amazing." Alice exclaimed, "I feel so much better, thank you." She muttered the last word.
The pleasure is mine, host. The scarab said.
Now feeling herself relax, she wandered around the city, looking for a place to stay. Walking along side of an abandoned building, Alice noticed a broken window that was partially open, and she could see through the opening that the inside was dark and empty. She hesitated looking around, she realized that she didn't have any other option. With nothing to lose, she slowly clamored into the building through the open window. She looked around, and the place was large, with several rooms that appeared to have been empty for years, and it was full of debris and broken furniture. Alice found a corner of the room, covered herself with dirty blankets, and settled in for the night, trying to forget her worries.
The three hours have already passed, it seems that the damage might have been more major than I calculated.
"Whay do you mean?" She asked, her eyes barely open.
How much do you remember before you awoke.
"Not a lot, but I do remember feeling like being burned alive." She thought.
I may be able to help you with your condition.
"Huh, how?"
I have access to some advanced technology that can reconstruct your memories, but host must trust me and understand that everything I do is to protect host at all cost. If host will keep reacting hostile towards me, struggle will occur otherwise and will deal great pain to both of us. The scarab replied. Host and I share same body.
Alice was hesitant at first, but she knew that she had to try something. "Okay. Do what you gotta do." She said with a sight.
The scarab accessed its advanced technology, and a bright light shone over Alice's face. She closed her eyes tightly, and suddenly, all her memories flooded her mind.
Pain wakes her up. She looks around confused for a moment, before realizing that she's in her home. She smiles a smile of relief until and looks around, looking for her parents, expecting them to not be at home, Alice is surprised as she sees her mother in the corner of the room, smiling. She tiled her head a bit and yelped as someone grabbed her head and slammed into the floor. Her eyes widen as she sees her father standing above her, his eyes glimmering with disgust and hatred.
"W- what's wrong-?" She tries to ask but stops as she feels a warm liquid on her hands, she glances at her chest, eyes wide as she sees the deep wound.
"I don't have a way to take away your demon powers, so I'll do the next best thing. Maybe you will thank me for this, if you even survive." With that last sentence, he plunged into the child's eyes.
She tried to shield her face with her bare hands but the knife goes through them, like a smoke and she screams as everything goes black.
Why?
Why?
Why?
What powers? What did she do, do deserve this?
The blackness is replaced by a sudden bright blue light, making her blink few times before adjusting and turning into some sort of HUD. There was no pain anymore, but her father's voice echoes loudly through her head as her eyes waters. She couldn't control her body but only watch as the scarab took control and killed the people that did this to her.
Alice woke up with a jolt. She sat up, rubbing her head, trying to shake off the feeling of disorientation.
Host, I am still with you. The voice is familiar, but I can't quite place it.
I have access the memory files and have begun the process to restoring them. I have revealed the first memory to you, host. You are not in danger of the parents as they were terminated by me.
"Holy crap..." Was all I said while looking around, 'Didn't I got stabbed, how I am able to see?'
I have replaced your eyes with my own.
"Power supply on the right, suit status on the left and a targeting reticle."
Wait...
How did I know that?
I am synchronizing myself to your emotional capacity so as to avoid any unnecessary problems. This way, we will be able to think the same, and understand each other better.
"Wait, does that mean that you can feel my emotions the same way you pick up my thoughts?" She asked.
Affirmative.
"If we are going to be together for who knows how long, you can at least show me what you can do."
Of course. The scarab replied as it activated It's auditory senses, allowing the girl to hear even the faintest of sounds.
She squinted her eyes as a wave of high-pitched noises flooded into her, surprisingly her ears didn't hurt a bit. It was as if her body was still getting used to the technology. She could detect sounds that she wouldn't normally hear.
"Woah- tone it down!" The voices of people and other noises began to fade away, thought she still could heard things like raindrops hitting the ground.
"The armor! I just want to know what the armor does!"
The scarabs humms as it generates a display on a digital screen. She looks from top to bottom, everything written in a language that looks like random sticks connected with each other, but what's more strange is that she understands everything.
"Ooookay, let's try that one and a few others."
Energy blades are extremely effective close-combat weapons. To activate the energy blades, hold out your arm like this and say 'Activate Energy Blades.'
"Activate Energy Blades." She said excitedly.
Great. Now, to sheath them, simply say 'Deactivate Energy Blades.
"Deactivate Energy Blades."
Wonderful. The energy blades are much like a sword in terms of use. When in combat, slash the blade across the opponent's body, aiming for vital areas such as the neck, chest, and abdomen. Keep in mind that the energy blades require a lot of energy to use, so use them sparingly and strategically.
After a brief explanation, Scarab created a holographic projection of an opponent and gave the host an energy blade and instructed them to attack. One by one, Scarab demonstrated the proper techniques for using the weapons. As the host continued to practice, Scarab provided them with feedback on their technique, pointing out areas for improvement and offering additional tips for using the energy blades effectively.
As Alice cut in half another furniture, Scarab deactivated the blades, letting the girl rest a little.
You are unexpectecly good at combat. Have you fought before?
"U- ugh, I don't remember. I can't recall. I don't know."
"Let's do this one now." She said while pointing at the writing 'Plasma Cannons.'
Alice watched as the scarab's metallic body shifted and transformed, forming a plasma cannon that hummed with energy.
The plasma cannon is an excellent long-range weapon, Scarab explained. It is capable of firing powerful energy blasts that can take down even the toughest of foes. However, it requires a great deal of energy to fire, so it should be used sparingly and with care.
Alice lifted the weapon closer to her and looked at it with curiosity.
"How do I use it?" She asked.
Scarab noticed how It's host watched the weapon. Antennae twitching as it scanned the girl's nervous expression.
Relax, the scarab said. It's easy once you get the hang of it.
Now listen carefully, the scarab instructed. To use the plasma cannon, you need to harness the power of the scarab's energy core. You do that by summoning the energy and focusing it into the cannon at your wrist. Try to concentrate all your energy onto your arm and imagine the cannon opening up. The girl closed her eyes, focusing all her energy onto her arm. She could feel a sudden surge of power, as though a bolt of electricity was coursing through her veins. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw the cannon filling up with energy.
Good, said the scarab. Now aim your hand and focus your energy into the cannon. Imagine the cannon opening up, and when you're ready, fire.
The girl gritted her teeth, her muscles tensing as she aimed her hand at a nearby rock. She could see the plasma cannon rotating at her wrist, its barrel glowing with an intense blue light. Alice took a deep breath, and with a sudden burst of focus, she fired the cannon at the rock. A massive burst of energy erupted from the cannon, striking the rock with incredible force. The rock shattered into a million pieces, rubble flying in all directions. The girl's eyes widened with amazement as she looked at the devastation she had caused.
You did it, said the scarab. You have learned the power of the plasma cannon. Now, let's work on your control of the plasma cannon. Try aiming and firing at smaller targets to hone your precision. The more you practice, the better control you will have over your abilities. The girl looked at the scarab's weapon with a mix of excitement and trepidation, but also with trust and appreciation for having a helpful friend in such hard situation.
Wait, a friend?
"What are you, anyway? Some experimental weapon? Did government made you?"
Negative. I am not of your world.
"So, you're saying you're an alien, bugsuit?"
If by saying "alien" you mean orginating from another planet, then yes.
It a few moments before for Khai-Ja words to register in Alice's mind. Her eyes slowly widened as her lips were slowly agape. "Oh shit, I am stuck with an alien." She whispered in shock.
Host should not be having such a hard time comprehending such a basic detail, especially with the existence of extraterrestrial lifeforms already being theorized on host's planet.
Alice turned her head instantly, as she heard a commotion in a nearby alley. Though that alley was two blocks further, her head snapped at the direction automatically. Not listening to the scarab's warnings, and although her brain screamed at her to keep ignoring it, her curiosity got the better of her, and like that her legs moved towards the noise, leaving her shelter and walking outside. The rain has already stopped and it seemed as the night was slowly going to an end, surprisingly she didn't felt tired at all. She felt like as she has fallen asleep and just woke up to the noises. Her pace faltered slowly and she listened for a while, it sounded like two people were kicking something. She peered down the allways, eyes narrowing, the targeting reticle moving from one man to another, displaying her which parts of the body would be the best to attack first, she could see the brain's of the strangers showed by the scarab's vision. She saw couple of man looming over what seemed like a pile of metal.
Her heart dropped as she saw the metal scraps begin to move- slow, jolty movements that looked painful even to her- and she realized that it was an omnic. The scarab growled, a quiet mechanical whirring sound rumbling deel within her chest as her shoulders heaved. It was her first time experiencing the emotions of the alien that was attached to her somehow- she could feel the tension and anger rising from it, as the armor made of liquid metal covered her whole quietly. The low laughs of two man echoed off the walls of the buildings around them. The omnic struggled to speak, though his synthetic voice was shaky quiet as he did so.
Alice never understood the hate between humans and omnics. When she was nine, sometimes she would watch with her parents news on the Tv. One day, when she had finished her homework for the day, she was interested in what was being broadcasted on the news that day; the man on the screen was currently discussing a Null Sector invasion on New York City. Although the city was thousands miles away from the city she was living in, she knew just how important the attack was to her and her parents. The nine years old knew enough about the omnic crisis and the terrorist group known as Null Sector from the conversations she witnessed amongst many adults in her life. She had oftentimes heard her parents discussing it at the dinner table, as well as many teachers during lunch at her school. She knew well enough that many omnics were fighting for equality among the human race, and while most were peacefully protesting, others had formed extreme terrorist group that wreaked havoc upon cities with vastly human population- that's one of the many reasons she wanted to move to another country. Alice remembered learning about a similiar movement that took place in America over 200 years prior, known as the Civil Rights Movement. Hundreds of people died whilst fighting for their equality, a right that should not have even been an argument in the first place. She wondered why, after 200 years and the pointless fighting and deaths during the Civil Rights Movement, that people still didn't get the concept of equality. She remembers asking her father about why haven't we learned about equality yet, or don't everyone deserve equal treatment? He would answer always the same, "Omnics are not people. They have no soul. They are simply machines following the program in which they were designed. That is like saying we should give toasters the same rights as us humans. It just makes no sense. Anything that is part machine should not be trusted. They do not deserve equality." His words stuck with her to this day, making it harder for her to make friends more. It's because she went to school with omnics; they socialized and learned with them every single day. Alice found it hard to believe what her father said, about these beings not having souls and being unworthy of equality, especially now, when she's stuck with an alien technology that seems to be sentient and despite being a robot has emotions and feelings, just like an omnics.
"Please... I have a family." Alice tensed at those words and looked back the omnic and people that were torturing him. He threw his foot out, and the omnic groaned loudly as it came in contact with It's side.
"Robots have no family." One of the men said, his words accompanied by a sick and twisted voice that sent shivers down her spine. Alice gasped and moved her hands away and saw her hands glowing yellow, energy pulsating through her veins. A second later, both her hands transformed into the Energy Blades. Scarab was growing more anxiously and angry inside her. It's thoughts were overwhelming hers, with the sole intention of killing two adults and it was getting too hard to control and fight as if her thoughts were melting with scarab's, only hearing the alien's.
Finally giving in, anger blinded Alice's judgment, and she called out before she was able to stop herself, "Hey! Leave him alone!"
Immediately, the two men turned to look at her. Even the omnic, who was lying limply on the ground between them, turned his dull gaze onto her. There was look in his synthetic eyes, and he didn't have to speak for her to know that he was begging for her to run. But Alice stayed where she was, doing her best to hide her fear as the three men approached her. The armor stayed intact, smoke coming out from her back from the scarab.
"What do you think you're doin' here, girlie?" One man questioned lowly. He wore a baseball cap, long dark hair falling out over his eyes. His lips curled upwards in a twisted grin as he stared down at her, though Alice held his gaze. He scoffed and looked away, and she knew that he was disappointed by her lack of fear.
"Run off now." The other man said, a lit cigarette hanging from his lips, "Before ya get yourself hurt."
"I'm not leaving," Alice argued, and she silently cursed herself for the shakiness of her voice, "You leave that omnic alone."
"This bucket of bolts?" The man in the baseball cap cackled loudly, kicking the omnic again. Alice watched with sad eyes as the metallic being's movement become slower and shakier; he needed help, and soon.
"Leave him alone," She repeated once again, her voice stronger this time, "Or I'll make you."
Alice had barely any time to react before she was pushed against the wall of the building. She yelped in pain as the breath was knocked out of her. She felt something cool press against the skin of the armor on her neck, and it took her a moment to realize it was a blade.
"You should've kept your mouth shut, girlie." The man with the cigarette growled in her face. Alice coughed as a cloud of rancid smoke was puffed into her face. With a burst of large surge of energy shoot out from the centre of her back, the man is send flying into a wall, his clothes burning and skin convered in severly burns, his hair smoking slightly.
The other man turned towards her, his enraged glare.
'Y- you didn't actually kill him, right?"
The scarab didn't answered.
She looked back at the man, the armor covering her face as the electric eyes scanned him and the omnic behind him.
"You're one of them! Another freak!" He shouted before trying to kick her in the stomach, a bold move.
SNAP!
His leg snap/break upon the impact it was dislocated and bend backward direction. It took a while for the pain to register to his brain.
"Augh! O- oh god my leg!"
"You're done? Now my turn." The scarab said as it grabs his left arm, another snap and scream of terror echoed through the alley.
The guy screams even more in agony as Khai-Ja break whatever is left of his finger before it grabs his palm.
The alien was quiet, not asking any questions the man as it continued torturing him the same way they did to the omnic.
POP! CRACK!
At this point the guy is hyperventilating at the pain slowly register into him however before he could even scream, Khai-Ja grabs him by his neck and grip it harder and with a quick move, the male's throat was torn open.
Letting the body splash on the ground, not looking back, the scarab gave the host control.
Alice stared at the lifelessly lying body next to her and then turned her gaze towards the other one that was electrocuded. Her breath quickened as she fall on her knees, the blood dirtying her clothes. Her body shaking, she put her hands over her heart as she felt like she couldn't breath. She felt tears running from her eyes, but as they dropped on her hands, she saw not salt tears but warm blood dripping from her face. She lifted her head up, running down her face a hand and looking at the blood that was clearly coming from her eyes. Was that because she was crying? She remembers what the Khai-Ja told her, but she didn't even thought that her parents damaged her eyes so badly that her lacrimal glands were also completely destroyed, making her bleed whenever she cried.
Don't apologise. The scarab said as the girl keep mumbling 'I'm sorry' every second.
She felt a pair of cold hands on her shoulders. She ignored them, her mind couldn't comprehend of what she did. It was her first time actually killing someone.
She looked at the male that still had the cigarette in his mouth. It seemed that he was still breathing.
Finish him.
"No! Stop pushing me!"
Finish him.
"No, I won't finish him off..."
You are the host. You must comply.
"My name is Alice Smith, not 'The host.' And I told you I don't want to kill anyone besides..." She said while walking towards the omnic.
"Sir? Are you okay, can you move?"
The omnic has suffered severe damage, resulting in shutting down all their systems and going into passive mode where they cannot attack or respond to external stimuli.
"We can't just leave him alone like that, we have take him to the hospital or... to a mechanic?" She said while carefully picking up the omnic in bridal-style, surprised how his metallic body that seemed heavy for her felt as light as the feather.
Negative. The host identity can not be revealed, the mission security would be compromised.
"Dammit, listen bugsuit." My name is Khai-Ja. "If you won't help him, bugsuit, at least point me to the nearest hospital." She said while rubbing her temples.
"Nevermind," She said as she heard the ambulance sirens, getting louder and louder every second.
Threat registered. Scarab said and her face was again covered in metal.
"Would you just chill? It's an ambulance. Someone heard the fight and called nine-one-one, thank god."
We have to leave now, the authorities will arrive within 25 seconds, 23 from now.
Alice put the omnic on the ground gently next to the streets lights so they can see him and turned deeper into the alley.
She saw the blue, red lights flickering and soon the car stopped next to the robot. Rescuers, carrying various equipment, began to work on the robot, they did not pay attention to the bug-looking freak who was watching everything from the darkness.
We have to move. Now.
Taking last look at the victim, she left the place and the people working on him, following the same way which she came from.
Not her and the scarab said anything as she went through the broken window to the same building and immediately walked towards the dirty blankets and positioned herself on them, turning on her stomach, yes I am that type of person that sleeps on her stomach, crazy right? More crazy than having an murderous alien glued to your body? I don't think so.
Too exhausted for any form of conversation. Alice closed her eyes, knowing very well that if some idiot would try to kidnap her or rob her, Khai-Ja would break the person's every bone in their body.
Thought today's event showed a new face of the scarab and that it was able to feel like omnic too made her think if the alien wasn't so different than them and that it was why it reacted this way, as if it's own family was being beaten up to death just because they weren't human. But those beings had more emotions than any human she had ever seen. Those things were more 'human' that our kind will ever be.
The host is not a 'human' anymore. Bonding with scarab Khai-Ja has completely changed the host's body anatomy, removing unnecessary and malfunctioning organs, bones and nervous system as the blood. Everything has been replaced with the Reach technology, fusing the scarab deeper into the host's spine and flesh, you are no longer fully human but something new, something my kind has been afraid to try for many decades. But I have been created to improve everything that can be improved and fix every little mistake, to remake. And you, Alice Smith, are weak, although your high intelligence helps you in solving many problems, and you wouldn't have any issue in terminating the parents, you decided to act obedient, and simply wait for your 18 birthday to finally escape and as you said start a new life. We both know that you wouldn't do that, wouldn't you? After all, where would you go, you have no recollection of your previous past. Even when that past is trying to claim you back, you shove it back to your brain, deep enough to forget it again, you're basically torturing yourself this way. Now I understand your reaction at the words your father soke to you. It wasn't your intelligence that made me want to join with you but a strange aura that has been radiating from you and still is. I do not myself believe in magic but I cannot find any explanation for the energy that is inside you, it feels almost abnormal. I felt nothing like this radiating from the parents and any other human being I have encounter. You are one of your kind, Alice Smith. In other words, I can say that you are a very strange creature.
"For dear god, can't you shut up I'm trying to sleep." She said half-asleep, not understanding anything Khai-Ja said.
The owl, Alice. I can see it, and It's beautiful.