I noticed how my appetite had dropped tremendously but Khai-Ja assured me not to worry.
I was right about not needing food to survive. My new 'body' restored my energy and removed all negative [hunger] debuffs when I went to sleep and woke up the following morning.
She was sitting bolt upright on the old, broken couch. She rarely felt the need to sleep those days and used the couch more as a convenient charging point than she did for rest. However it's hard to just stop doing the same things she was taught to do at home, yeah home, not anymore. She was free now, yet the scars of her old life still were actively coming back. She would go to the same corner every time, the same hours she would in her home, struggling to sleep in that form. Whenever she would wake her, her brain would remind her to make breakfast for her parents and give her father's medicine. Now that she knows that those people weren't biologicaly related to her, she felt as if she was thinking about strangers- and they were.
Sighing regardless, I grabbed the two items and placed them on the floor. The total sum of the items in front of me, six eggs, half a carton of milk, half a box of corn cereal and almost empty tin of oatmeal, brought my mind back to the issue at hand, the issue of getting enough money to move to another country and start a new life, forget about every shitty thing that happened in this life and have a fresh start. But how can I even began my 'mission' when looking like this? The alien's weird technology has started acting very strange, not 'strange' as it was, but more bizarre. Even Khai-Ja has no idea what is happening, though 'she' as I rather to say, because of the scarab's female voice, is saying that I should remain calm and let whatever is happening to continue and observe. You're probably thinking? What is happening to me, well, I don't know how to explain this but the bugsuit it changing, adapting? I think... my armor started to grow more feathers and the Scarab's symbol has stopped resembling the bug but rather... a bird? But you know what's worse? I can't take off the armor, It's like glued to my skin, to my body. It dosen't want to get off, and more I am in it, the more it feels as it was how my body always used to look, like there was nothing wrong with me. Like I wasn't a freak, people call me to be.
The armor truly has become part of me or rather my body.
Thought, I don't need to sustain myself anymore, the feeling of hunger is still there, making me crave for any food like a normal teenager. Khai-Ja said, that the feeling will soon fade away, probably after one week as my body is still adjusting to the new organs.
The burning anger I had felt had eventually cooled down, and with that cooled anger, returned my ability to reason- my ability to think clearly and objectively.
What would people do in my situation? I have ready plenty of books to know that the first thought of the main character would be to become a hero, to use the power responsible. A famous fiction super hero once said, 'with a great power comes great resposibility.' But It's all in the comics and books, and I am stuck in the real boring life. Becoming a hero or a vigilante was an interesting prospect, a prospect which I had realized was counterintuitive to my goals of creating a new life- and let's be honest I wouldn't survive even a day playing a hero. Superheroes or supervillains had a history of loved ones being held hostage (Lois Lane), or murdered (Jason Todd), or mutilated (Barbara Gordon), or worse- and that was the last thing I wanted to happen to me.
Yes, I am big Dc fan and no one will ever change that.
No- being a superhero or a supervillain would get me killed, one way or another.
Khai-Ja keeps talking about my suppusedly powers that I definitely not have, I'm just a 16 year old, a very smart 16 year old that got attacked by my parents that apperently weren't my biological ones, meaning that I have been living a life made of nothing but lies, and then saved by an alien. A story worth an Oscar.
Instead, I would focus purely on getting rich, rich enough to live a life that would make it seem as though the Kardashians were starving street performers in africa.
Of course, as geared up as I was, I realized that I actually had no idea as to how to go about legitimately getting large sums of money, in legal ways. I didn't want to suddenly become a criminal, even a minor one, because I didn't want to end up getting unwanted attention from so called 'Overwatch', and have me on record forever. Or worse, with that scarab they would technically want answers, which believe me I had none, I would end up probably tied to one of those chairs that they do all their evil experiments. Let's be honest, the whole organization is not some angel descended from heaven, they definitely did a lot of sick stuff in the past.
Another passive skill drew my attention, I mean my not-so-bad cooking skills, combined with the memory of my ability to keep my house clean, gave me an idea to seek some form of employment as a cleaner or a cook. Of course, I realized that this would never work because no one would want to hire a 16 year old looking like a hybrid between human and omnic.
And with the problems the Null Sector is causing, people and omnics are not in the best relationship right now.
I am not willing to take that risk.
Even the criminal means were somewhat impossible to properly attain- picking pockets would never make me a millionaire, robbing a bank would be simply a suicide for me. Let's not even discuss anything more complicated like fraud, money laundering, extortion or betting. Only possible avenue I could think of was shoplifting- that is, stealing items using the scarab's ability to absorb anything to it's own void, or as I like to call it, inventory, because they would never be able to realize that I was actually stealing anything, when it was stored in my own personal dimension. Expect, the plan also had hiccups, in the fact that my face would be on camera, and there was no way I could 'hide' the theft of an item on camera. Unless of course, I disabled all the cameras before hand- which came with It's own set of problems.
Still my look, would alert people around me. If there was a way I could just mimick clothes or I don't know, look more human...
But the money weren't the only problem. I didn't remember who I was, back in my old life. The memories were slipping, like smoke, or like trying to remember a particular dream that you just had. My orginal name, my parents or my siblings, were all wispy in my memory. Maybe that was why I felt a strong connection with my adoptive parents, even if they didn't share the same connection with me. Absence of my memories from the previous 8 years of my life were still missing, and my stupid mind wasn't making it more easy to remember any of this. Expect that when I closed my eyes and sat still for too long, as Khai-Ja explained, mechanical interference melded with memory and pulled up HD flashes of the last imprints my organic part of my brain had experienced. Thanks to that unpleasant experience I wasn't able to have a good nap for many weeks as the memories of my not biological parents were instantly showed into me. Although sometimes, there were moments where I could see blurred faces of my real parents and two older male's that I am now sure are my brothers. I wasn't able to see their faces nor hear their voices, same with my parents, I was able to see other things like the beautiful garden I would mostly spend time alone, or the huge library, where I would sit with them and study, I think.
Those people were her family, she wasn't an only child, she had brothers, isn't it great? She's not alone, somewhere in the world are people she grew up with!
The aching in her heart grew stronger as she thought about them.
But how long has it been since they were separated? She's 16, how old would they be now, would they recognize her? Or worse, are they even alive?
What would they think if they saw her now, of what she has become. Did she got that weird aura surrounding her from them?
Shaking my head to stir away the thoughts I looked at my hands that were covered in black armor. Flexing my fingers, I narrowed my eyes at the sound the claws were making as I moved them on the ground.
Was that the strange aura around her the thing that made her parents give up her to the people she used to think were her real parents? No, she has no powers, she's just a normal teenager that got an alien inside her, they couldn't have give her up for adoption, could they?
Of course they could, she dosen't even remember them, she dosen't know them.
They can be in her memories but in reality they could be the same as the people she used to live with.
Was searching for them worth it?
Yes and no.
My mind had momentarily for a brief second blanket out at the information Khai-Ja was able to gather from my constant flashbacks. There was a sensation drawing up in me, compelling me and telling me that I should take vengeance, revenge for everything that has happened to me, for my real parents and brothers I had never known, and would never known thanks to the scarab that killed my other parents, taking my chance to kill them myself, or at least to force them to tell me everything they have been keeping hidden from me. Yet, ironically, if not for Khai-Ja actions, I would be already six feet underground, my adoptive parents would continue their lifes as normal, and I would be dead believing that I have been killed by my real parents, betrayed.
Even after they did what they did, I couldn't get myself to hate them when they are the only close people I had.
Hence, those people had died, by my hands. I failed them, but, they would die eventually too. If not for me even quicker.
And if not me, the people that used to harass them would continue their doings.
New objective has been added.
Due to the host's tragic backstory, it is only fair that you return the favor.
"Deep breaths. Deep breaths." No going all 'avenger' mode. You don't have red spinning eyes (yet...).
Kill everyone? That was well, a bit too much. I couldn't just slaughter all of them like I was Sasuke-fucking-Uchiha on a revenge spree. Besides, this wasn't my fight, these people also have enemies and are probably on police raports, they would bring them to justice, sooner or later.
The host has declined the revenge mission. Due to the extended time limit, the mission has been stored in the Codex Library, and host may choose to continue it at a later time.
I highly, sincerely doubted it- but still, I suppose having the option was good... just in case. Ignoring that rather grim idea, I decided to only focus on finding any informations about my biological parents, thought my attention now was at the word Khai-Ja used- tragic.
What.
My life wasn't that tragic right?
Sure I was poor, and my mother was probably a stripper while my father was dead drunk, always on the verge of unconscious. I didn't have any friends or acquaintances my age, because of my mother being afraid that I would bring them to house an they would see my horrible living conditions, and there was a big chance that my parents abandoned me with their free will, I hope not... But how can be that tragic? It sounds like every superhero backstory that would determinate them to become-
...
Oh-
Well, fuck.
Congratulations for realizing the true nature of your life.
I felt like slapping myself. Of course, with my family history that is almost impossible to remember, It's like the world is expecting me to become a hero, trying to safe everyone from the same fate.
Like I'm going to become a new Batman just because my parents died... by my hands, but it dosen't count-
Did it?
Probably yes, according to scarab's system.
Huh.
"Eat your fucking heart out Bruce Wayne." She cursed in japanse under her breath. "You'd have died at six fucking months old if you were to have lived as me."
The smell of not so perfectly fried eggs, and the aroma of burnt oatmeal wafted around the building, while I panickedly waved my hand around as the fire emitting from the lighter that scarab gave me access to, began to grow even more. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WEAK LIGHTER, WHAT IS THIS, ANOTHER WEAPON?
This is your flamethrower. Khai-Ja said calmly.
"I asked you for a lighter, not a fucking flamethrower!" I yelled as the couch caught on fire.
The huge fire decreased, leaving a weak bright flame on It's place.
Why are you preparing a breakfast anyway? Is host unaware of the fact that you do not need to satisfy your hunger anymore?
I covered the bowls as the strong scent of burned eggs and oatmeal begun to annoy my sensitive nose. Curse you scarab and your stupid modifications.
I shrugged and made a pathetic fist of my left hand, audaciously raising it in the air and grinning, "You see these thin arms, I gotta get some good fucking food to keep that weak body working, ha ha..." I tried to joke but Khai-Ja only sighed, it sounded like an overheating computer.
Thinking that eggs might have been too heavy for my stomach to bear, I tried drinking some of the oatmeal. By holding my breath I avoided the smell and brought the hot bowl directly to my lips.
Don't do it, you won't be able to keep it down.
The moment that the hot oatmeal leaked down my throat I knew I had to vomit. In a swift move I threw the blankets of my legs and ran to some random corner. I threw up much more up than I could possibly had swallowed just some seconds ago and it kept going until my stomach was as empty as the bowl of oatmeal I had thrown on the ground in my desperate rush. I kept gagging even when nothing came out until the weak sore muscles covering my stomach couldn't contact anymore. A horribly desperate groan left my lungs as I tried to stand up but failed as my body fell onto the ground, my arms trembling like as If I just woke up from another nightmare.
"It all tastes like oil!" I cried in a hoarse angered voice, followed by a bunch of curses I didn't even know that existed. Apperently, Khai-Ja also didn't know them, I could see by it's stunned voice.
Finally my body stopped reacting to the food and I was able to pull myself up.
I believe that was the very thing I told you not to do so.
"Did you really think I'd listen?"
Scarab rolled it's eyes or should I say mine?
This is gonna take a lot of time getting used to.
I walked forwards, the clearly too big hoodie covered most of my face as the arms. Keeping my hands inside the main pocket I wandered mindlessly around the city, trying to keep the only thing that could bring any attention towards me hidden- my yellow electric eyes that would whirl around, scanning everything.
It was truly irritating.
Hundreds of different emotions and descriptions of the people she didn't even know at lighting-fast speeds. The informations were mentally forced into her brain, or what was left of it. The outside noises were muffled, the scarab's scanner and explaining every little thing she didn't understand were only noises in her mind. After minutes of agonizing thoughts, her mind went blank as she looked at the small store, triangle frozing in one place as if not sure if it's supposed to continue what it was doing previously. Those few moments of peace felt like a gift from heaven, everything was like someone has turned off the volume.
Query: Why is host here? Khai-Ja spoke, breaking the silence.
'I told you, bugsuit, I had to get away from that place as fast as possible, from the center of where it all began. From my family, from the people that could recognize me and the school and whoever those people with that weird logo are, they were getting too close to us.'
Clarification: Why this city?
'Kanezaka is a quiet town compared to Hanamura. It's like a shadow over the glory of legendary Hanamura, or used to be.'
Explain.
Alice looked around. The area was full of traditional and modern buildings, this place used to be quite popular in her young years, when the Shimada clan was still in the control of Hanamura, but nothing good stays good forever. Kanezaka was left unkempt, most of the buildings were old and looked the same as she remembers, some of the walls had painted grafiti and other... not kid friendly things. Much of it's economy was kept afloat by tourism, but not anymore. It's a rare sight to see one actually.
'One. You made it impossible to stay in Hanamura. You put anyone that is around me in danger and here even if you go crazy, there will be no people for you to hurt or at least no good people.'
'Second. If not for you, I'd be in my home right now and my biggest worry would be flunking trigonometry! Not some weird suspicious people that are probably working for some evil organization! What are you expecting me to do than just running away?'
I shook my head as I ultimately strolled through the Departament Store that was quite a reasonable distance away from my house. Of course, by reasonable distance, I was talking the distance of about twenty blocks, which, made me realize how my stamina didn't even faded. Although I walked over one hour, I felt as it was just three minutes.
So... what to steal?
My eyes turned to the left. There, standing, was a refrigerator. Within bottles of chilled liquor, ranging from brands like Guinnes to Jack Daniels, stood, uniformed. Side by side, with a small layer of glazed frost over the glass, they beckoned.
Besides the refrigerator, crates of cans of beer. Neatly packaged in four-rows, waiting and expecting to be purchased.
My eyes flickered over to the right. Aisle six stood, with cooking equipment, toasters, microwaves, pressure cookers, blenders, pots and pans.
Behind me, a rack of sunglasses. Beside the rack, cheap, easily made, hats and baseball caps hung quietly. To the right of that, lay an area for jeans, t-shirts, and clothes that were made more of practical purchase reasons than for any sense of fashion. Then, finally, behind that, was a display case for faux-golden wristwatches, and Made-In-China Rolex knockoffs.
I couldn't take everything. There was no way that they would fail to notice the significant number of items gone missing. Instead, I needed to weight my options to figure out which of these things would be the best I could steal and pawn off to raise over six hundred dollars, maybe more. The liquor was probably one of them, the microwaves and cooking equipment were another, and the wristwatches would be a third and final option.
I decided that the wristwatches would be the best bet, they were small and inconspicious enough, and then the liquor would be the next thing I could go for. I highly doubted that people would fail to notice a missing microwave.
My feet moved over to the display case, my eyes roving over the different collections and sizes, for men, women, and people of unfortunately diminutive heritages.
All I would need to do, would be to extend my hand out, and do the funny trick where my hand melts and absorbs the item to the armor's inventory.
Yep.
That was it. Simple.
Seconds ticked by as I continued to stare.
It was an easy task, no one was looking in my direction and there were far too few people here to notice the theft.
Yet, I stood.
Retrive the items now. Khai-Ja's voice echoed emptily through her head.
Fake silver and phony gold stared up at me, the seconds of the clock ticking in reminder of the non-stationary nature of the universe. My eyes could see them, recognize them, understand the value of them, realize the importance of them. My hands and fingers however, were magnetized to my sides. It was as though there was a kinetic force compelling them to refuse my mental commands to rise and pilfer.
Why?
A spark of emotion followed. Irritation, I could recognize with ease, annoyance came second, the two primary entities which were the inhabitants of my subconscious.
Why?
It's just pickpocketing, my mind rationalized. There was no need to be overly dramatic about it, and almost everybody had done it at one point or another.
You need this, my mind tried again, harder, when my hands still rebelled against it. You need to steal this to get money, to become rich, to find your family, real family.
And what will you say to them, if you eventually find them, what would they say if they saw you... looking like this? Like an abomination.
Will you tell them the truth? Or lie to their face?
Or maybe it will be the opposite.
What does that matter? It's not like you're gonna get rich and find them instantly, they are probably dead anyway.
YOU! NEED! THIS!
I took in a deep breath, shaking my head to clear it. A snarl escaped my lips without me ever intending to, I could feel how my facial mechanical muscles contorted into an avatar of disgust and uncertainty. Why I had chosen now, of all times, after walking twenty blocks, after making such badass claims and boasts, why I had chosen now, to develop a fucking moral compass?
It was stupid. Naive. Absolutely ridiculous.
I could watch people get murdered and assaulted without batting an eyelash, yet, the thought of entering into the world of crime made me hesitate. Hanamura city wasn't a place for bleeding hearts who were unable to do what needed to be done. It was not a place that would reward you for your humanity and munificence. No. Not anymore.
DO IT!
JUST DO IT!
WHY WON'T YOU DO IT?
STOP BEING A PUSSY AND DO IT!
Some people would claim that you could become a petty criminal all your life and never kill or get into anything serious or major. There were most likely individuals in the world who fitted that description. However, I knew that it could not be the case for me. Any criminal activity I partook in would eventually lead to a serial escalation, no matter what.
Shoplifting? Oooh! Take now whatever you want and improve your stealing skills, that would make you the best. Oh! You could even upgrade this into direct armed robbery.
What if I would start to actually enjoy murder? A skill particularly designed just to kill people in the most imaginative ways possible like I was in a hack-and-slash game.
...
Didn't I already commited multiple murder? Oh, right... thought it wasn't really me in the first place but Khai-Ja but who will believe me anyway, just look at me, I don't even need to hide anymore, I look like a freaking omnic.
"Fucking hell!"
I found myself turning around, ignoring some of the stares I drew from my potty mouth, and immediately rushing out the door of the convenience store.
Good and evil were arbitrary, and there was no definite source on what morality was or should be. My standard however, was simple: don't do anything to others that you wouldn't want done to you.
I wouldn't want to be killed, or burgled from, or sexually assaulted, or sold into slavery, or blackmailed, so, why then should I do the same thing to anyone else?
At the same time, there was the realization that just because humans did not eat lion meat, did not mean that a lion would spare you the same gesture should you encounter one. In essence, any and all of those things could happen to me, whether I liked it or not, or whatever I did it or not.
"Gods I'm such a fucking pussy."
Definie: Pussy.
Silence.
"...Fuck, where is that grit and determination I had this morning."
Recorded. 'Pussy,' is definied as 'fuck'
Oh.
'KHAI-JA DON'T! CONTROL ALT DELETE! DELETE!'
Was that incorrect?
It took a moment, but she managed to fix the situation.
Alice took a glanced and made sure that no was following her or watching her in suspicious way and climbed on one of the rooftops, high enough to see the whole town. She didn't expected this to work but it seems that whatever the scarab is producing is enough strong to keep her glued to the walls. She made a little test and lifted both her hands in the air, for moment thought she felt like she was going to fall but both her feet stayed glued to the wall.
She was standing upside down on a wall.
She looked in both directions again just to check if anyone is looking and smiled excitedly. She started throwing her hands out in different poses.
What are you doing?
'Khai-Ja... can you create webs similiar to spiders?'
Scarab was quiet for a minute, searching through It's weapons details.
I believe, yes. I can use a variety of different materials to create synthetic webbing. Although it will be made of my own techno-biological materials.
'How do I bring them out?' She thought while looking at her wrists.
Scarab finalized in arching her middle and ring finger to her palm and pointed at the plastic bottle. Alice laughed quietly as the black substance came out of her wrist and landed on the bottle, she grabbed the web and pulled it. The bottle was sent flying in her direction and she caught it, the black goo felt hard as metal but light and sticky like a spider web.
"That feels weird." She said as she throwed the bottle to the trash. The parts of the substance melted as the bottle disappeared inside it.
It's a synthetic webbing I concocted. It's made out of the most commonly used materials that orginate from your planet, include high-strength polymers, such as Kevlar, nylon or even carbon nanotubes. Then I have combined these materials with other substances, such as adhesives, to create a webbing that is both strong and sticky. Additionally, I can alter the chemical composition of the webbing to provide additional functionality, such as cooling or electrification.
I climbed back onto the rooftop, and looked back at the town.
"Can I... use this web to swing around the city, like spider-man?"
Affirmative. My synthetic webbing is extremely strong and durable, and capable of supporting far more weight than a human could ever carry. Unlike organic webbing, which is composed of proteins and has a limited lifespan, my synthetic webbing can be used repeatedly without deteriorating
...What is Spider-man exactly?
Alice gasped in horror, "How can you not known who is spider-man! This the most known marvel character--oh, right you're not from here, nevermind."
Researching everything that is linked with marvel and spider-man.
.
.
.
Scann complete. Marvel: an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. Spider-man: is a famous superhero who appeared in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A high school student who develops spider-like abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider.
.
.
.
There is no such thing as a "radioactive spider", exposure to ionizing radiation can cause serious health effects. If a spider or any other living creature were to be exposed to ionizing radiation, it could experience a range of effects including illness, changes in behavior, mutations, and potentially death.
"Wow, you take everything too seriously. It's called fiction for a reason, nothing of this is real." I said with a sight.
I am only doing my research. Unlike you, I have been living in this world for exactly six months, not being able to move or do anything. Of course I will take everything seriously.
Shoting the web towards another, taller building and polling it few time just to check if it's safetly attached, I walked towards the end of the rooftop. My whole body froze in place at the sight in front of me.
The town of Kanezaka stretched out in front of her as she stared out from the rooftop. Buildings so tall they were lost in the dark clouds, countless people rushing through the streets on their way to live their own lifes.
The view was truly worth of admiring.
It is peaceful up here. Scarab's female voice said.
"I'm not very good at heights." I said while swallowing nervously.
Your world is not so ugly after all, makes me almost sorry to see it end.
"End? What do you mean-"
Organic host Alice Smith, it is time you learned the story of my creation.
"What-" Her view suddenly become blurry. Everything around her felt as if it was spinning, just as if she'd walked into a carousel that wouldn't stop or slow down... it was exasperating.
When she opened her eyes, she was meet with well... how do I make it sound like I'm not crazy?- A pink, four armed bug-alien, with huge green eyes similiar to flies. It was working on something. This whole place looked like a lab but more technology advanced than the ones from the Earth. She almost fell down as the thing turned to her, for a moment she thought about running away, but let's be honest where would she ran? The idea of running was simply pointless. Alice looked down at her hands and realized that armor was still on.
Commanders observe! The creature said, breaking the girl out of her thoughts, the voice of the bug was clearly a male but sounded almost the same to her companion.
She froze when she felt a cold feeling as if something was behind her, and as she was about to turn two bug-aliens wearing similiar armor to hers literally walked through her as if she was a ghost.
The alien that seemed to be working on something, turned on the machine and a displayer of a bug looking brooch appeared on screen
These are the insects I discovered on planet four. They burrow into larger organisms and commandeer their nervous systems. A unique adaptation that I have developed into a new class of bioweapon.
The scientist pressed few buttons and some sort of electric blue ball came out of a hole.
Within this containment dome is the prototype that will extend our Reach across the known universe.
I have designated it "Khai-Ja" He says while pulling out from the containment the weapon.
You gave that thing a name? One of the commanders says as he leans closer to inspect the weapon.
The scarab unit is a living, sentient being, command drone Lu-Vantis. Soon, it will be our most powerful soldier.
Once introduced to the target world, the scarab bonds with the dominant life form. The resulting scarab warrior uses the host's knowledge of it's own world to destroy the planet's defenses. Care to see a demonstration?
You are authorized for a live-fire test.
As the scientist was preparing the scarab to be launched, the whole ship shook, causing the equipment to fell and break.
Commanders! Another bug looking alien came, breathing heavily as he just run a marathon.
We are under attack!
Another more stronger explosion erupted outside, visible from the ship windows.
A battle waged on in the void of space. Among the stars, advanced ships of insect-like design were firing upon one another.
One such ship was not faring well. It was under barrage from three different attackers at once. While the ship was doing it's best to fire back at it's enemies, it was clear who the victor would be. It would not last much longer.
It was the ship your character was stuck in.
Both commanders stood within the command center, they were trying to minimize the danger of the situation they were in.
Science Councilor! Is the scarab ready for deployment?
Yes, commander. But-
Launch it immediately! He shouted, We cannot risk the enemy getting their hands on it!
But sir! Khai-Ja has not finished configuration! It's protocols have not all been set! The scientist warned. Not only that, but there are no destination coordinates set in place! If we send it now, it could wind up endlessly wandering the void. We may not be able to retrive it!
That dosen't matter! The loss of this weapon will be worth it as long as the enemy isn't able to take it! Am I understood?
The Reach scientist sighed, Yes, sir.
The scientist pressed some buttons on his pad. The ship responded by opening a new hole in it's back. This hole took a form of a cannon. The cannon fired and launched it's content into the void.
A black scarab with golden markings floated through the void. It continued it's voyage, even as the ship it was launched from was destroyed.
For a moment Alice was again embraced by blackness before again her sight came back, although it looked quite different. Her eyes widened as she saw the trilions of starts, big and small, everywhere.
It was beautiful.
So that's how the space looks like...
SkZz*...Escape... jump... *SkZz... successful...
She flinched at the very known to her voice.
The scarab floated as it was trying to proceed another jump, through a wave of meteorites appeared out of nowhere. Huge rocks began to fly with incredible speed a the machine, damaging it badly. All the power was redirected to a new objective: survive. Although Khai-Ja managed to escape from the death trap, it was now running on a low energy, and with that it means that it will be not to auto repear it's injures.
Central processing unit damage. Memory files- Error. Error. Error- damage. Error.
Spinning uncontrollably through the space, the scarab's all systems slowly shut down to save the rest of it's power.
Previous mission: infiltrate target world. Disable planetary defenses and prepare world for conquest.
New objective: Unable to return to the homeworld due to the constant threat of the unknown enemy and steady increase in external damage and high probality of permanent shutdown while trying to process another escape jump, Scarab unit: Khai-Ja has to find any new target world and bond with a host to increase it's chances of survival.
Lowering power levels.
All of the small lights that flickered on it faded until they cut off completely.
Again everything went black for the girl, two minutes passed until everything went back to normal. Alice looked around surprised to find herself standing in the room she used once to sleep in. She never thought she would be back in this place again. Is this supposed to be some kind of bad nightmare?
In the building the female used to call her home, something comes online. The gears within it's mechanical shell begin to slowly turn, and small lights begin to flicker weakly on It's body.
Alert: Emergency shut down has caused system damage. Core functions not responding.
Attempting Reboot...
12%
55%
100%
Reboot successful! Core functions now 10% operational. Running diagnostic.
Scanning...
Scan complete!
Prototype model: unit- Scarab Khai-Ja.
Designation: Error.
Status: 10/100
Energy: 0/1000
Protocol one: locked.
Protocol two: locked.
Combat systema: locked.
Core programs: Operational.
Self repair data: Undamaged.
Medical data: Undamaged.
Fauna and Flora data: Undamaged.
Regional data: Error.
Memory data: Error. Severe damage detected.
Attempting data recovery...
Excessive damage detected. Energy levels are too low to reset damage. Damage prevents this Scarab from entering power saving mode. Distress signal has been broadcasted. Response pending... Error. Unable to pinpoint any of the Reach locations.
Alert: Life signs detected. Searching fauna data for life sign match.
Searching.
Match found: Human. Threat level: unknown. Attempting to move Scarab Khai-Ja: successful.
Six legs emerged from the machine.
Restoring mission data... Successful.
The scarab hearing noises turned around quietly as possible towards the creature. A female target, standing upright- a sign of evolution. The female was speaking with two other organisms, a clear sign of having a system of communication. These creatures possess intelligence. Perhaps one of them could be a host.
The scarab scanned the male first: It's genetic code. The brain size and function suggested a very low intelligence. Detecting a high presence of life threatening substances, same with the other female adult.
Both human adults were under effect of some sort of unknown substance. Alert: detecting increase of agression from the female organism.
Both hosts are incompatible.
The scarab's eyes landed on the young female.
Intellectual level higher than the previous ones. The potential host intelligence level should not be that high in such young age of the creature.
Alert: Anomaly detected- powerful power sources radiating from the creature. Effect: unknown. Emotional instsbility identifed: the human is afraid, future host potentially in danger.
The little bug frozen in place as the male human took him up, unable to combat, the scarab could do nothing but pretend to be "dead."
The human was too affected by the substances in his system to see the scarab's weak movements and so the scarab was put down on the desk again.
As the humans left, only the young one stayed, the female was staring at the unit confused but soon followed the other two. Not wasting any more time, Khai-Ja climbed onto the female's shoulder and made it's way towards the center of her back.
Because of the low energy and unable to use any of it's weapons to break through the cloth, the scarab will have to find another way to get under the soft material. With the low energy, the bonding process with also be slower and more painfull. The host might gonna need to be knocked out to fully bond with.
Perhaps it was the damage inflicted by the wave of meteorites, or the harm I received during the launch- or both. Whatever the cause, I could not control my organic host.
"What the fuck is going on?!" She yells as everything began to spin again.
"Ugh." Beginning to gain consciousness, Alice began hearing a humming noise. Although extremely dazed, Alice forced herself to open her eyes.
How the heck is she floating in air- it has to be a dream, yup, definitely...
Wait- I can't sleep-
"THE HECK?!" Upon discovering, that she was indeed flying, the first questions immediately took priority. To say she was surprised and scared would be an understatement.
Suddenly, the humming noise become more erratic as her body began shaking. Jolting a bit, Alice began falling from the sky.
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!" Closing her eyes, the girl feebly placed her arms in an x-shape, hoping that this would somehow save her life. The humming noise soon came back, and the girl noticed that she was no longer falling. In fact, she was slowly flying upwards. Opening her eyes, it was then that Alice finally saw her arms since she was unconscious. Upon seeing the familiar armor she calmed down a bit.
"So it wasn't a dream." She muttered to herself, But still dosen't explain why is she floating in the air, and not able to move at all...
My apologises, I did not expect the host's brain to react this way towards my memories. The feeling of nausea should soon fade away.
"You know, you could havd warned me atleast. What was that anyway?"
I was sharing my memory data with you. It was the only way I could show you my story.
Alice chuckled nervously, "You could have tell me in words, it would definitely be more safier than having my brain electrocuded."
I did not-
"H- hey, it was a joke! You wouldn't electrocude me, wouldn't you... right?"
Now it was the scarab that chuckled nervously at the memory when it did indeed electrocuded her.
It is important for you to understand why I am unlike other scarabs. It said
"That still dosen't explain how I am able to fly."
I have selected another urban center.
Khai-Ja said as it landed on another rooftop. For the first time Alice was able to see the scarab's wings. Four pair of large, strong wings with a metallic finish that makes them mirror-like in reflection. They have a unique design, with thin, sharp edges and intricate patterns etched into the surface.
She sighed as she looked up and spotted a building. It was small but the title piqued her interest. It was a homeless shelter. She groaned. This can't be happening. Alice narrowed her eyes as her body flinched, she felt her hairs standing up under the armor. Her senses flared and she immediately ducked, she spotted a police car on patrol.
If she's going to stay in this town for who knows long, she has to go to the homeless shelter. At least until she finds a job and a place to stay.
Just as the cop left, she jumped out and stared at the building then at her hands.
'Can you... get off me, please?'
"Ow- Ouch, dammit." She said as the armor melted and formed into more human friendly looking. Although the armor was still on, it was able to mimick and shape human clothing- "Now you're telling me this? Yes that would be really helpful."
"Bugsuit are you sure this is a good idea? This is prodigal house, shelter for homeless and runaways."
Positive. Sensing a high level energy source on top floor.
"Okay, okay. We'll sneak up there somehow."
She grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Her eyes widened as the knob broke out of the door.
"No, no, no, no..." She tried adjusting it back but the door flung open, revealing a tall old woman. She seemed to be in her fiftiess but looks young nonetheless.
"Can I help you?" Her voice was strong. Almost dominant in her part.
"I, um-" She tried but stopped as the woman stared her down.
Alice could have sworn, she never met someone this intimidating in her life. Probably her math teachers but this was on another level.
"Well?"
Alice cleared her thoughts and coughed.
"Yeah, I uh... I ran away from home last week, and um..."
The woman raised a eyebrow looking at the girl once over. The girl looked like she had just come from a battle. She smelled horrendous and her clothes were dripping wet. The woman looked into Alice's eyes. Yellow electric color was very much the only unsettling thing, the eyes almost reminded her of the omnics.
'She must be those girls who run away from home to elope.' The woman's eyes twitched and shook her head.
"I apologise, but there's no more room here. Go back with your family." Alice stopped the door from closing with her foot.
"Ma'am, please, I..." Alice stopped and closed her eyes.
"I don't have anyone."
The woman stared, trying to find anything suspicious from the girl other than her... appearance.
"One night."
One night turned to a week for Alice. During her first night she had meet three younger than her boys that also runaway from their homes.
"Guys, this is Stephanie," I couldn't tell the miss. Getrude (she owns the shelter) my real name, because of an alien that constantly would warn me about not revealing any personal informations, and even when I tried, the bitch made me vomit and I was stuck for nearly 2 hours in the toilet negotatiating with that bug.
Funny. I wonder if anyone heard me then, talking to an alien insect.
"Right, so what I'm trying to say-" Negative, "Where's my-" Stop. "Look, I know I'm covered in this stuff-" Silent. "But, I'm, *cough, I'm really... Shut up and let me tell them!" Negative, you will compromise the mission and lower our chances of survival.
"What're you doing to me..." Protecting us.
Yea... two hours in the toilet, constant vomiting and listening to the scarab's lecture. Very pleasing experience...
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, shaking a bit. Thought the details of the incident evade her memory, the fear still lingers.
"Look, you keep mentioning your mission, even thought you haven't said what it is. Well, you definitely won't get it done without my cooperation." I said annoyed.
"You do understand that word, right? Cooperation?" The organic host must not reveal personal informations.
"Okay, first, stop calling me that. It's creepy. And second do you really expect me to be your puppet? You are not in charge, at least not totally, and unless you're willing to let me go, then you need me."
"So here's the deal, you let me live my life and I'll help you with whatever your thing is, okay?"
Negative. I cannot service your priorities.
"Yes, you can. You've just never tried. All I'm asking you is to free up one hand at first... one lousy little hand."
The armor like water, melts from her hand but instantly comes back.
"No, no, you've gotta trust me. Stop trying to control everything!" ERROR. ERROR.
The armor leaves both her hands and rest of the body as her face but stays still covered on her chest.
"That's definitely a progress." I said as I lift my hoodie up.
The armor on the chest then was absorbed back, leaving the open skin. Alice almost screamed when she saw the large scar resembling a dragon. It was deep, and distorted, covered in old blood.
"W- w- when did I got it, how-" The scar has been formed by a kitchen knife. It was used by the parents, specifically the male.
Then she slowly turned around to look at her back.
Do not panic. Scarab Khai-Ja has fused to your spine.
"Woah..." In the centre of her back was a small symbol of the scarab, It's six legs were under her skin while the rest of the body was still visible outside. It was emitting a low almost white light from the golden parts of it's body.
She sighed, "Well, if we're stuck with each other like you say, then start working with me, not against me." Elaborate.
"For starters, that thing you do when you won't let me talk really pisses me off." Then do not force things me to do so.
"You're missing the point. I mean, I don't know why you feel so threatened by anyone finding out about you. You have to let me tell someone!"
"Hey, uh, Stephanie is everything alright?" Marcow said, "Yup, I'm fine, just- feeling sick!"
Marcow, one of the runaways I met here. He's only three years old younger than me and has been living here the longest from others, didn't tell us how long exactly. He comes from a abusive family too, atleast that's what I heard from others, he dosen't speak about his past nor family so freely like the rest. Maybe that's why I enjoy talking with him so much, I didn't told anyone about my reason to come here too, although I would if not for certain someone.
Making sure that there are no traces of the armor on any parts of my body, I finally leave the toilet and walk to the kitchen where everyone should be.
Marcow looks up at me and smiles, "Took you long enough, Jason thought that you drowned in the bathtub." He says and Jason hits him lightly in the head, causing him to laugh even more.
I only roll my eyes at them. Looking over the table, four bowl full of cereal are, stand untouched. "Hey, where's Tommy?" I ask while turning my eyes back at the two boys that were now fighting with each other over the last chocolate cereal. Both of them turned to me confused by the sudden question, "Oh, you didn't hear? He reconciled with his parents and is coming back to them. All his things have disappeared since mr. Morris said that he left early this morning with them," Jason said while pouring the rest of the chocolate cereal into his bowl and smirking victoriously at the Marcow who was sticking out his tongue at him.
'Wasn't Tommy an orphan?' They are not lying.
The homeless and runaways shelter was also cooperating with orphanages that didn't had more rooms for more children, so kids like Tommy are sent to normal shelters where they stay until a free room is avaible.
So hearing about those news made me suspicious but I didn't showed it of course. I side-eyes the hidden camera that no one in the shelter seemed to known about and looked back at they boys, they were clearly close with each other, almost like brothers.
I shook my head a bit. Brothers? Is that how brothers are supposed to act? Stupid...
I sat down in the middle of the table and pulled the bowl of food closer to me, staring at it as if it was druged. The memory of me vomiting the oatmeal was still lingering fresh in my mind and I wasn't going to take the risk of eating it then having to stay in the toilet for another two hours again. I shivered at the thought of it.
Marcow noticed my unsure look, "You don't have to eat it if you are feeling unwell, I can always have your portion." He said with a mischievous smile and Jason glanced at me while taking another full spoon of the cereal and shoving it into his mouth.
"It's all yours," I said while standing up, "Jason, don't stuff yourself with all that cereal, you don't want to choke on it."
"Okay, mom~." He says and basically starts coughing, Marcew to the rescue hits his back few time, causing the boy to breath again.
Leaving the kitchen I walk straight towards my little room, that looks almost like a basement but hey, I don't complain.
Checking If I closed the door's correctly, I grab my backpack and take out a poster of missing children. I frowned at it more as the fliers contained five children of 10-16 years, but it wasn't just human children but omnics too, although they were pictured in the last line as if the people that made this poster didn't want anyone that saw it to care about the robots.
What's worst is the fact that most reporters that were speaking about the situation in the news were also skipping the omnics as if they never existed.
It's pathetic how before the omnics were even created we were fighting about the skin color difference between our kind, like how white people used to have problems with black but now It's like everyone in the world teamed up just because of a human creation gaining awareness. Not mentioning the fact that the robots at first were basically built to only satisfy our needs, they were created to work for us, to be our slaves... Wasn't the same thing happening once in the middle ages?
We just don't learn, don't we?
"They started disappearing little by little yesterday." Negative, "Right, this started happening few days ago."
"And they're putting fliers now, so that means that the police haven't found them yet."
Electromagnetic waves and thermal energy visible on the top floor.
"You keep telling me about this thing since we arrvied here, is that bothering you so much?"
It has been increasing since our first night here. I believe that if I would to be able to connect with the source I could transfer all the energy to the main core.
"Is that how you feed? Are you hungry-"
I do require a power source to function, but because of your planet's weak technological state, I am left with only few options. Although as long as I am bonded to a host I don't require as much energy as without a host. I can recharge when the host's body is resting. But it would be nice to feed on something more providable than a weak phone charger or a piece of bread.
I sighed, "So you brought me all the way from Hanamura to this place just because you don't like the food I eat."
Positive.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
.
.
.
'It's locked.' Breach it. 'I'd rather avoid making noise-'
"There you are!" I jumped from the voice and looked at the person that just destroyed my whole plan on how to break into a very suspicious looking office that definitely wasn't a villain hideout.
Threat detected. I felt my left hand cover in armor and a wave of hot energy move under my skin. 'That's not- It's just Mr. Morrison, he's not a threat, calm down!'
"Read the sign, Stephanie. Off-limits means off-limits."
"R- right, sorry-"
"It's okay. Two or three kids a week try to sneak up there. You have to go outside if you're gonna smoke."
"Anyhow, there's plenty of missing person reports everywhere. The police is going to investigate our building just for any clues so if they want to look into your room, don't hesitate to show them around."
Alice felt a little reliefed that they are taking this seriously.
As she was following the man, she couldn't help but notice a poster with a picture of her face lying in the corner with the others. Although her face was looking different, thanks to the scarab, she still felt as if with a single glance at her they would know immediately who she is and put her into the system.
Do not worry. I have changed your whole structure. Chances of anyone finding about you are almost 0%
"Till then, for your safetly and the others no one is allowed to go outside, not until everything goes back to normal." With that he left her standing next to the entrance to the lobby.
That didn't make sense to her but she chose to ignore it. Why would the police want to investigate the shelter for runaways... unless-
Shit.
One thing she knew about Tommy was that he was an orhpan, he said it when they first meet. He also would go to school a few blocks away from the shelter everyday with Marcow and Jason. Of course, he didn't have the same schedule as the other two but still managed to catch up with them, so he didn't usually returned alone from school.
But he didn't come back with them yesterday.
"Oh, I am so going to regret it later." As soon as I entered my room I opened the windows, letting the cold breeze hit my face.
'Khai-Ja, enable flight mode.' Four pairs of large wings were released from my back. I didn't had the chance to do the trick with the web, maybe I can try something else. I live in on the second floor, it can't be that high.
I look down through the window, nevermind...
The host must not hesitate in such little things. Khai-Ja said, and literally pushed me through the window.
"WAIT DON'T-" Slowly opening my eyes, yet again I found myself floating in the air. Both wings stretched, while the other two is hidden under the first two, making it look like there was never four in the first place.
This is definitely awasome. Not for my fear of heights
Slowly flying upwards, I immediately put my feet on the roof when I got the chance. I sat down behind a wall and pulled out the poster again. It was strange that suddenly out of nowhere kids were disappearing. One would assume that teenagers would just run away from their homes. But five 10 year old children and three omnics? I narrowed eyes at a certain omnic that wore a blue shirt, he looked sickenly familiar... OH! He's the kid of that famous fashion designer, we talked about them in school, or rather other students would usually talk about them.
That would explain why there were so many posters with his face on it in the mr. Morris office.
Alice winced as hail started pouring on the concrete. She stretched one wing and used it as umbrella. She sighs as the rain didn't pour on her anymore.
She thought back to the topic but shook her head, "The police has it handled. Don't get in their business."
Looking around, there was no person in sight. It was too blurry to see. She'll just have to wait until it let's up.
Senses spiked when she heard pitter-patter not too far from her. She walked towards the end of the roof and lifted her hood back to see better. Looking down at the streets, she saw a figure hunched, speed walking to a destination. She goes to ignore it when she saw that it was a boy in his teens.
She narrowed her eyes when he kept looking back nervously. Something is definitely going on. She kept observing when she saw a white van driving, following the boy.
Alice immediately crawled down from the roof. The boy glanced at her and immediately started running, causing the white van to drive faster to follow. Wouldn't you start running too, if you saw a fucking humanoid bug crawling towards you from a wall?
Her eyes widened and she spread her four wings wide. Just the van stopped in front of the boy, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him into an alleyway. He screamed and tried pulling his wrist but she kept hold of him and hid him with her, closing his mouth with her metallic hand.
His back against her chest, wings covering both of them protectivly as she glanced at the street. The white van was gone. She frowned at that and turned to the boy who was sobbing in her hold.
She gently let go of him and made him turn to her. He sobbed and tried to get away but she grabbed his hands gently, not wanting the kid to freak out even more.
"Hey, It's okay. They're gone." She whispered.
He shook his head, making his cap fell off to show his blond hair. "Leave me alone!" He sobs but she kept hold of him.
"Tell me what happened?" She asks.
He tried to talk but he would stammer with his words. The rain and hail slowed down, making him calm down too. "I was being followed," He cried.
"How long? When? Were you alone?" She frowned.
He nods, "I was walking home from my friend's house when that white van came out of nowhere."
"Do you know who was driving?"
He shook his head, "It happened too fast."
Alice thought of not asking more questions. This is way serious. There haven't been any attempts of kidnapping in Kanezaka when she arrived. Were they targeting the boy for a reason? She shook her head, standing up.
"Come on, I'll take you to the police station." She took her hand out.
The boy stared for a moment at her hand that was covered in a strange black substance, it was moving and spreading through her hand and under her skin as little vines. He complied, grabbing her hand hesistantly. More cautious in his surroundings. Alice was more alert in case she sees the van again.
"Excuse me, miss, but- are you an omnic?" The girl looked at him confused before noticing the black armor moving on her hand, 'Bugsuit-'
The armor retreated through her skin rather slowly.
"Me? An omnic? No, nope! You know what, let's get you to the police station faster!" She lifted the boy in her arms and started running.
The station was quiet, a few officers on their desk doing whatever they were doing. All of them jumped from their seats when someone bursted through the door, making a loud noise. Some instinctively grabbed their guns while the other looked triedly at his spilled coffee.
Alice cleared her throat and put the boy down. One of the officers walked over to them. He frowned seeing two kids soaked and standing in front of them.
"Is there something the matter?"
Alice spoke as she noticed the boy was too scared too speak, "Can you call his parents? It's urgent."
"Is there something wrong?"
"P-please, I want to call my parents," The boy whimpered.
Officer seemed unsure but called his parents seeing the boy trying to hold back his tears. He was terrified. Once he called the boy's parents he sat in front of them, handing them hot chocolate and blankets.
Alice grabbed them and wrapped the two blankets around the boy and gave him both cups of hot chocolates. Although the smell wasn't so bad as she thought would be, she didn't wanted to explain to the officers her problems with food.
"Are you two siblings?" Officer asked.
Alice shook her head, "I'm just here to see if his parents would arrive."
He nods, "Can you tell me what happened? The boy is scared out of his wits here."
Alice glanced at the boy but nods. She notices the boy thightening his hold on his cup. "He was being followed. I was able to take him out of the situation."
"In the middle of the rain? Was he alone?"
She nods, "A white van-"
"Carlos!"
They stopped their conversation when two adults were rushing over and hugged the boy. They sighed in relief before checking on him. "Are you okay? What happened?"
The boy cried and clung to them, not being able to get a word out. Alice sighs in relief to see the boy being taken care of before turning to the officer.
"Don't stay out late, kid."
The parents thanked him and left the station with their son. Alice frowned as the officer couldn't get much information out of what happened.
"Are you going to investigate more of the white van?" I asked.
"What white van?" He asked while putting the papers away.
"The white van that was following the boy. He was terrified."
"I'm sorry kid, but we already have a lot on our plates about the teenagers disappearing." He apologised before grabbing his keys.
"What? You're not even going to investigate who tried to kidnap a teen?" She blinked in disbelief.
"The kid is safe. Case closed. I'll take you home."
Alice shook her head, "So, you're not going to do anything?"
He tiredly sighs, rubbing his nape. "Once we find out the disappearances. I'll make sure to help but this is our top priority."
Alice sighs, seeing their point. "I'm fine. I'll walk home."