Underground – Part 1
Disclaimer: Monster Hunter is copyright Capcom. All the characters in this chapter are mine.
Edited by: Hoenn Master96 and Thomas A. Hawk
This one-shot is CANON with The Lost Civilization
Inspired by A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Five Years Since the Fall of the Alatreon
"We've found another brazier, sir!"
"Wonderful! Is it fueled?"
"Hold on… yeah, it is! Wood and that weird grey coal, just like the others."
"Excellent! Ignite it!"
A torch was lowered into the ornate brass bowl, and Heine blinked as the kindling inside blazed to life, illuminating a stretch of the dark pathway before him. The strange grey coals flared brightly inside their containers, flickering with flames producing a minute bluish tint, and a small cone of fire stretched up into the darkness. There was a bustling of motion as people around him began to spread out, investigating the immediate area surrounding the newly-illuminated brazier. But Heine watched idly as the cinders spiraled upwards, twirling through the stale air and standing out against the darkness like stars. No real stars could be found above him, however, not in the calmest, clear-skied night; not here at least.
Not in the darkest depths of the Meridian Tower.
Heine Blackwater wasn't sure how he'd been roped into this whole business… He was just a courier! Compared to work like this, all he did was accompany the trade caravans for Geisel Sundries, helping to off load and reload goods into the wagons. How did he get suckered into some big exploration of the inner depths of the Meridian Tower north of Nastre? It probably hadn't helped that Rena had been excited about the whole prospect… likely she'd 'volunteered' his services without his consent, getting him pulled into the whole mess, and his boss, Eleanor Geisel, wasn't averse to letting her friend Harker 'borrow' some of her employees for work like this.
The discovery of the Meridian Tower was nothing new. Its existence had been revealed around six or seven years ago, when a Silver Rathalos that had appeared and started raiding Nastre's supply of Aptonoth was slain. But the whole structure was sealed up, top to bottom, with no discernable way in, no matter how many exploration parties went looking for one. Since the death of the Alatreon, Harker Renfield, a renowned former hunter who had helped slay the elder dragon, discovered the Tower, and coined the term 'Meridian' among archaeologists and researchers, had been trying to find a way inside to learn the secrets of those who built it. In the meantime, he'd busied himself on his experiments with his wife and his… what, five children or something, in some fortified bunker of a house a few hundred yards outside the walls of Nastre.
But apparently, just a couple months ago, he'd finally found a way inside the Tower. Or rather, blasted his way in, if the stories were true. Some experiment of his had inadvertently 'opened' the well-hidden doors at the top of the Tower, right off their hinges. Ever since, there had been a flurry of enthusiasm amongst the researchers and engineers in Nastre in preparation for the journey within. The excitement had spread all the way to Perir, where Heine had somehow gotten roped into the adventure.
Looking up, he could see the spiraling trail of lit braziers twirling up to the top of the Tower. The interior was rather simple in its design, if massive in scale. Within the pale, near-indestructible white stone walls, right at the center of the tower, was a vast, circular hole which dropped straight down into the earth. Two wide ramps, almost two dozen yards wide, formed a double helix along the walls, sloping deep into the earth. Dozens of bridges cut across the center of the tower as well, spanning the expanse and allowing quick access to the opposing side.
The company of researchers, hunters, and adventurers, nearly a hundred strong, had been proceeding down the ramps slowly, taking their time in their slow exploration of the structure. The Tower simply seemed endless… They'd been lighting the braziers they'd found, somehow still filled with fuel to burn, before scouring the nearby rooms for information on the Meridians, and whatever they created within these pale walls. Here and there, a hallway or door branched away from the central ramp, leading into chambers and barracks which had laid dead and silent for who knows how many years. All the eggheads and archeologists, and whoever else had come along to explore, seemed to be fascinated with the strange objects and machines they were finding, and every room seemed to offer them even more.
The walkways were spacious enough that the research crew had even brought a few Popo-drawn wagons inside with them, carrying a majority of the supplies they needed. The expedition had needed to fly everything in via airship, thanks to the Tower sprouting from the earth near the mountain peak. Since Aptonoth were so heavy, they had also needed to rely on Popo steeds for transport, but the furry creatures seemed perfectly content with their work in the darkness, even if they seemed to get skittish the further down they went.
They'd been traveling for a long time now, coming close to a mile deep, judging by how far the furthest burning braziers above them were. It had to have been almost two days now they'd been inside the Tower; way at the top of the spire, Heine had seen the sunlight, filtering in through the single entry, fade to night and back to day again since they'd continued their trek downwards. Small groups had even been left behind to man base camps in the larger rooms they'd discovered, but still the main expedition was still descending, heading into the darkness below. The researchers didn't seem to mind, but the hunters and guards who had been hired to accompany them were getting a little fidgety. Heine didn't blame them; the Tower seemed empty so far, but if something was alive and dangerous down here, it was a long way to the exit…
He sighed wearily as shouts of excitement came from one of the nearby rooms, where Harker or one of the other researchers was likely discovering some new amazing find for the hundredth time today. Heine wasn't made for this type of work. He had neither the build of a hunter, who were needed to provide defense in case they came across something nasty, nor the enthusiasm of the researchers who were here to study whatever it was they were hoping to find.
Heine was one of the Lost, and a shorter man, the shortest in this adventuring party. He looked rather lanky as well, though he wasn't as weak as his appearance suggested, thankfully; he'd been building some muscle since beginning work as a courier, hauling boxes back and forth from wagons and keeping watch over them during long caravan journeys. But it didn't really make him appear much sturdier than he had been when he'd first 'awoken' in this world. His face didn't help, being rather thin and pointed, and he completely lacked the ability to grow more than a few hairs on his face. He had thought growing his black hair long, and tying it back, would help, but it apparently only seemed to make him appear more frail than before. At least his vision was good enough that he didn't need glasses (and wouldn't that have been the perfect capper on his appearance, he wondered wryly). Actually, that seemed to be his only redeeming quality: his dark green eyes were sharp, probably the best out of anyone here, hunter and researcher alike.
He hadn't known what to wear when he'd gotten drafted into this work, so he just wore what he always did during his work in the caravans: leather pants, made from dull gray Aptonoth hide, old work boots he'd had since before getting swept up in the Lost crystal and managed to keep intact, and a comfortable cotton shirt that was nice and loose, disguising his thin frame. He was thankful that he'd been able to find someone willing to make cotton clothing; it seemed like monster hide was the fashion of the day in this hunter's world, with everyone and their mother wearing skin-tight leather clothing unless they lived far enough north to warrant fur coats. At least Perir was further inland than the coastal cities, since it seemed like everyone in the fishing villages prefered to wear speedos day in and day out… or at least the men all did…
"Hey, Heine! Whatcha doing just standing around for, you bum?"
Heine grinned wryly at the friendly voice, and turned as a huntress approached. She was tall, almost a foot and a half taller than he was, with rich dark skin and a powerful, sturdy body. She was exceptionally strong; you could tell with just a glance, even at a distance. It certainly made it easier to figure as much, considering the massive, double-edged slab of metal she had slung across her back: her personal great sword, a broad blade so large its tip nearly scraped the ground behind her while its hilt simultaneously stretched a few good inches over her head. She had all that weight carried in a single weapon, and still had the strength and endurance to carry a wide barrel under one arm and an armored Felyne sitting comfortably on her shoulder.
Heine's gaze dipped towards her body; it was a challenge not to do so, considering the glaringly vibrant hues of her armor set. Brilliant, blinding reds and blues flared brightly across her chest, arms and legs, shifting and fluttering with every step the huntress took. It was one of the new armor sets developed in recent years, made from the materials carved from some new creature. Or rather, a subspecies, they'd been called. It was made from a creature called the Crimson Qurupeco, a previously unknown, lightning-slinging variant of a normal Qurupeco, which managed to have an even more vibrant palette than its green-feathered brethren. The armor had been designed with little to no effort taken to dull the blinding hues.
There were other issues with the armor, too, ones Heine knew he should have problems with, but his brain seemed to refuse to allow him to figure why said problems were really so bad. The armor (a Lost design, he'd been told), seemed to have ignored any attempts to cover the abdomen, and did about as much to protect the upper legs. Both were clearly uncovered, and Heine found his eyes lingering intently on the huntress' toned abs and thighs, glowing in the dim light of the torches. Several old scars lined her flesh, lingering proof of her profession, but they certainly didn't lessen the huntress' attraction… not in Heine's eyes, at least.
A wicked giggle snapped him out of it, and his eyes darted to the huntress' face as she swept towards him with an amused grin.
Her face was just as vibrant as her clothing, with an amused, cat-like smile on a round face as she looked down at him. A couple scars lined her face as well, including a rather notable one over her left eyebrow. Her short brown hair was held back by a headdress of sorts, made from the same colorful materials as the rest of her armor, and her bright grey eyes were alight with humor while she smirked at him. As she neared, the Felyne on her shoulder leapt off, dropping to the ground and adjusting its armor. "Enjoying the view, Heine?" the huntress purred in amusement.
"I wasn't- Erm, well, I won't say no…"
"Aha! He's getting bolder! Go ahead and look!" the huntress said proudly, puffing out her impressive chest. "I've spent years training to be a hunter, and I want people to know my work has paid off! I'm proud of my body, and I don't mind showing it off a little."
"I think you're showing off more than just a little, Rena," Heine noted pointedly.
"Such a prude," Rena giggled. She swung an arm around Heine's shoulders, pulling him close; not exactly a difficult task, considering she was taller and much, much stronger than him. "You know, ever since those Nargacuga have been migrating up from the south, I've been meaning to get a set of armor made from their materials. I'm sure you've seen displays for their design in Perir."
"I've seen how they barely seem to qualify as armor at all, save for the arms and legs…" Heine muttered quietly, and Rena laughed at the words.
"You'd be surprised! That mesh which wraps around the body certainly leaves little to the imagination, but it's actually fibers made from tightly-bound Narga fur and medullas. Much tougher than they appear, I'm sure. I wonder how I'd look, wearing something like that…"
Heine had certainly wondered as well, many times since he'd first seen the ridiculously shameless armor design on display in armor shops. The thought of Rena is such an outfit had appeared numerous times in his mind… and occasionally in some very vivid dreams. Not that he'd ever admit it, of course. Considering Rena's… playful nature, he'd gotten quite good at keeping his pokerface during the course of their friendship.
He demonstrated such by giving Rena a flat look. "You should try to be more pragmatic," he told her. "Even if that armor can take a few hits, can it take fire, or lightning? What about claws or fangs? They'd just go through the holes in the mesh."
Rena never made it any easier for him, though; his improving skill at keeping a stern face only seemed to encourage the huntress to try harder. Considering his admittedly subdued, sober personality, she seemed to enjoy the challenge of flustering him. She smirked at him wickedly. "You know what? You're right."
Wait, what? He was? He hadn't expected that.
"Such a flaw in the armor is completely unforgivable," the huntress continued, creating a falsely concerned expression. "Why, it's as though the smiths and armorers don't even realize they're putting such glaring vulnerabilities in the armors they make! Something must be done!"
"…Like what?" Heine asked cautiously.
Rena cocked her head thoughtfully, and a devilish grin crawled across her face. She leaned in close, and lowered her voice to a husky growl. "Perhaps… Why don't I get myself a set of the armor, and I'll wear it for you. Then you can look me over, and help me find all those troublesome gaps in the armor so we can… make note of them. Every. Last. One. No matter where they are."
With that, Heine's attempt at keeping his expression impassive failed, and he felt his face flare as a profound mental image of Rena burst to life in his head. He turned his head to face away from her, but it was too late. The damage was done, and Rena laughed at the sight of him sputtering in embarrassment.
"You're making this harder for me, Heine! We've only known each other half a year, and I have to try this much to get a reaction out of you! Just imagine what kinds of things I'll have to do to get you embarrassed in a year or so!"
"I'd rather not…" Heine muttered. If Rena's teasing kept going like it was, he was going to have an aneurysm before winter. He looked up as a trail of torches began to branch out, scouring their way into unexplored rooms and passages. "Shouldn't you be out at the head of the group, acting as a guard or something?"
"Trying to get rid of me so soon?" Rena chuckled. "Don't you worry, Heine. A bunch of higher-ranked hunters than me are at the head right now, so we don't need to worry about that. Besides, they sent me back to collect some Anti-Dragon bombs from the wagons, in case we need to clear a collapse again."
"They trusted you with heavy explosives?" Heine asked fearfully, and Rena snickered.
"They haven't known me as long as you have. Besides, have you met our employer? I'm surprised the Guild let Harker use these in the first place. It's not like I have the igniter fuses, anyway; I just carry the barrels. Besides, someone has to come back and watch the rear. Though I know we'll be safe, as long as Mr. Deadeye here is around to watch our backs."
Heine sighed at the words, shrugging to adjust the straps over his shoulder. Slung to his back was an old, worn rifle, with a marksman's scope affixed to the top, a gift from his father when he'd been younger. He had been at a shooting range when he'd been wrapped up in the blue light which had carried the Lost to this time, and had somehow managed to keep his weapon with him through the years, as well as a fair number of bullets. He'd done his best to keep it clean and in good condition since arriving in this 'hunter's world,' if for no other reason than in memory of his father, but it had gotten quite battered now that he'd used up his maintenance materials; the barrel was clean for now, but the stock had gotten a bit rough for the wear. After centuries, maybe even millennia spent sleeping in those blue crystals, the weapon was technically thousands of years old, and one of the few working Lost weapons which existed in the world. And it did work, Heine had proven that…
But he was just an average shot, not like Rena claimed. "I'm no deadeye," he muttered, though the huntress laughed at the words.
"That's not what I remember!" she claimed, grinning at him. Heine groaned; he knew that tone. Rena was getting into her storytelling voice, something hunters seemed far too eager to use on a regular basis. It was a common enough trait that those around the pair began to look on eagerly, grinning in anticipation of a story, and Rena was more than willing to provide.
"It was just outside of Perir Town," the huntress began, raising her voice for the people around her. "I had taken a job protecting a caravan as we passed through the mountains from the Loc Lac desert to the western forests. I was only a two-star hunter at the time, but it was a simple job, nothing more dangerous than maybe an Arzuros. My brother, Rube, was part of the caravan team though, and I liked to travel. This guy right here was part of the caravan too," Rena said, patting Heine's shoulder with such force, the man nearly lost his footing, "but I hadn't really talked to him before. Anyway, I'd managed to chase off a few nasty little monster during the journey: a pack of Jaggis, a particularly aggressive herd of Bullfango, and so on. But there hadn't been anything really dangerous the entire trip.
"But disaster struck, right at the end of the journey! We were in sight of Perir Town, not a quarter mile away from the walls, the last leg of the trip. But there had been a lot of rain in the area the last week or so, so the ground was wet and muddy. My brother's wagon slipped, and ended up getting a wheel stuck in a huge mud slick, deep enough that the Aptonoth on the yoke weren't able to pull it out without some work. He told the rest of the caravan to pass him and go on ahead, while he tried to wedge the wheel loose. So we did. We pressed on, thinking he'd follow right behind once his wagon was free. We didn't think there'd be any danger, not so close to Perir. Looking back though… I should have stayed with him, just to be sure. It was a bad call I made, thinking we were safe… Lone wagons are far more liable to be attacked than caravans.
"Right as the rest of the wagons got to the city gate, a Great Jaggi and its pack burst out from the woods, attacking my brother's wagon! We almost didn't hear the shouts, thanks to the gates of Perir being so creaky, but by the time we caught on to what was happening, the pack had already killed the Aptonoths drawing the wagon, and were coming after my brother. Rube was smart enough to book it rather than try and fight or hide, but the pack leader was coming after him itself, and was gaining ground fast!
"By this time, I'd turned and was running back to help, but there was no way I was going to be able to get to them before the Great Jaggi ran down my brother. I was still eighty yards or more away, when my brother suddenly tripped and fell to the ground, with the Great Jaggi and its pack right behind him! I felt my heart freeze in my chest, certain I was going to watch Rube die right in front of me…
"And then, bang! Heine here jumps off his wagon, swings his rifle off his back, and fires before you could blink! He had to be a hundred yards away at least, down with one knee in the mud and barrel smoking. One shot, and the bullet went straight through the Great Jaggi's eye! The beast stiffened for only a moment, and then it dropped, dead in a second! One shot, one kill. The pack didn't know what hit it! One second they're attacking, the next their leader is dead, not a mark on it save its bleeding eye. They couldn't have scattered faster! My brother was saved, thanks to one amazing shot from this guy right here!"
There were a few whistles and laughs as several of those around them applauded the story. Some of the hunters gave Heine disbelieving looks, clearly having trouble accepting the tale considering the courier's small stature. Others gave wondering looks at the rifle slung over his back. A few of them patting Heine roughly on the back in congratulations, however, before their attentions returned to their work.
"It was just a lucky shot," Heine muttered. Rena smiled at him, but this time it wasn't teasing or sly. This time she looked at him with genuine affection and squeezed his shoulder a little tighter.
"Well, lucky or not, it's thanks to you my brother is still alive." The huntress reached into her chest piece and pulled on a small copper necklace hanging down under her armor, lifting it out. At the end of the small chain was a brass cartridge, the very rifle shell which had held the bullet that killed the Great Jaggi. "And I've got the proof of that luck right here."
"If it's lucky, then I used up all of my luck in that one shot," Heine said, shaking his head. "Seems like my life's gotten infinitely more hectic and dangerous, thanks to a certain individual."
"Sorry," Rena replied with a short laugh, sliding the necklace back under her armor. "But if that's the case, then all your luck is kept safe in my cleavage. I'm sure there are a fair number of men, and women for that matter, who wouldn't mind having their own 'luck' in the same place, eh?"
Heine bristled at the words, and Rena laughed again, before squeezing his shoulder a little tighter. "But as for the business of danger, you needn't worry a bit, Heine. Just make sure you stick close to me, and I'll make sure you're safe, ok? I plan on protecting you, just like you protected Rube, and I'll do it until all the luck you've given up is returned. It's the least I can do for my sharpshooting hero, after all."
Heine smiled slightly at the words. He did have to admit, it had felt good saving Rube's life, even if doing so had scared Heine out of his wits. It made him feel as if he'd really done something with his life aside from hauling boxes, even if it was just a fantastic stroke of luck. Rube had been immensely grateful as well, and the two couriers got along swimmingly after that, becoming good friends. And Rena, despite her overbearing personality, had been eager to befriend him as well. It felt odd having people befriend him for saving a life, but still…
"We have a rockslide!"
Calls began to come up from below, and Heine could see a collection of torches gathering together under a tall arch further down the ramp.
"Welp, that's me," Rena said with a smile, hoisting the barrel under her arm, and Heine nodded.
"Be careful. Try not to get caught up in the explosion… again."
"Aw, are you worried for me? Such a sweetheart," Rena smirked. "Besides, that only happened once, and it wasn't my fault! Well… not entirely my fault. But don't feel too lonely now! You just wait here, and I'll be back before you know it."
Heine grimaced as the huntress gave him one last squeeze with her arm around his shoulders, before releasing him and darting down the ramp, Anti-Dragon bomb in tow. Heine sighed, reaching up and rubbing his shoulder. Rena tended to not keep her strength in check, and her vise-grip on his arm would likely bruise, as strong as she was. Encounters like this were half the reason Heine was trying to gain some muscle, if only to be able to survive Rena's rough, rambunctious treatment.
"You okay, lad?" one of the nearby researchers asked, some older man wearing thick spectacles. "That lass looked half like she was dragging you along with her."
"I'm fine, don't worry," Heine assured him, though he grimaced again as he rolled his shoulders.
"Hmph. 'Fine' doesn't leave bruises, lad. A lass like that… boisterous and reckless don't exactly fit in with a research expedition like this. Besides, you looked like you were trying to push her away back then. If the lass is a bother-"
"She's not a bother," Heine snapped. "She… Look, I know what kind of person she is, okay?"
The researcher frowned uncertainly, but nodded, turning away to return to whatever study he was conducting. Heine watched him go, and shook his head wearily.
Despite what outward appearances might make people think, Heine really did enjoy Rena's company, and found her to be the closest friend he had, except for maybe Rube. Though their physical appearances were drastically different, as well as their personalities and occupations, they had quite a few hobbies they both enjoyed. When she wasn't ruthlessly teasing him, he found her presence rather relaxing. Rena had been quite taken with Lost music, and though Heine wasn't the best vocalist, he knew a fair number of songs from before he'd gotten caught up in the blue crystal, and she would frequently pester him to sing her something new. Books were growing more popular since printing production had boomed in Perir as well, with the introduction of better printing presses, and they had similar tastes in stories. She frequently volunteered to guard his caravans when Geisel Sundries sent him and Rube traveling across the country to trade their wares as well. All in all, since they'd met six months ago, it seemed like they hadn't been apart for over a week at the most.
He even liked her excitable, adventure-seeking nature, to a certain point. Though in times like this, when the huntress' eagerness for adventure got him pulled into strange, unfamiliar situations, he wished she was a bit less enthusiastic. It certainly wasn't the first time it had happened, like that time with the Bullfango that got loose in Perir, or the hunting horn incident…
When it came down to it, though, Heine considered Rena one of the best and closest friends he'd ever had.
Rena was one of the growing number of people who not only accepted the Lost, but openly seemed to revel in their culture and company, and music and literature weren't all there was to it, either. Lost culture had started mixing with hunter culture, as made clear by Rena's vibrant, exhibitionistic armor set, as well as her weapon, to an extent: her great sword, while not Lost-made, had been refurbished by one of the Lost.
It was actually a slab of intricate Meridian metal she'd found during a hunt, and rather than offering it up for study, the huntress got to thinking that Meridian materials might be better used as a weapon than for research. So, when one of Heine's caravans had taken him down to Frost Town, a popular smithing village, she'd tagged along, dragging that massive slab of rusted metal along with her. She'd managed to find a Lost artisan who had been able and willing to mold the slab into something sharp and powerful, and now she had it slung proudly across her back, naming it the Epitaph Blade… or Epitaph Sword, or Epitaph Eternal (Heine didn't remember the exact name, and Rena regularly changed it to something she thought was more powerful-sounding). The whole blade was coated in old writing and ancient symbols, and somehow the letters and images seemed to glow with a pale, yellowish-green light. Several researchers and scientists had asked to examine it since she'd started using it, but it turned out there was little information to actually be gleaned from the runes. It was quite menacing though, and a hell of a weapon by hunting standards, and that was all Rena cared about.
"You coming, nya?" Heine looked down at the words, meeting eyes with the calico Felyne who had been perched on Rena's shoulder earlier.
"Yeah, yeah, just give me a moment," he said, adjusting the rifle strap on his shoulder. "What's your hurry, Cait? I didn't think you'd be one to want to rush down into the depths."
"I'm not! Never, nya!" the Felyne replied, shaking its hands and arms wildly to exaggerate his point. "I'd rather be topside, in the sun! It's dark, and creepy, and scary down here, nya!"
Heine chuckled at the words as Cait glanced about nervously, before leaping up and crawling up onto Heine's shoulder and scanning around nervously. Heine groaned a bit under the weight; the Felyne was wearing full Felyne-sized armor, made of Crimson Qurupeco armor like Rena's, but he bore with it. Cait seemed to enjoy riding on people; maybe he liked the view his Felyne height didn't offer.
Cait was a hunter-Felyne, a rarity in Theron. Felynes going out to hunt monsters was a fairly common practice in other countries, but not so much in this one; most of the time, they simply worked in cities and towns. There were actually more Shakalakas working for the Guild in Theron than Felynes, despite the mask-wearing creatures being considered tribal weirdoes by most people. Occasionally a Felyne would gather up the nerve to become a hunter themselves, though most of the time, they usually acted as a sort of lackey to human hunters. Heine had heard tell of Felyne hunters who were just as revered as human and Wyvernian hunters, but he'd heard that from Cait himself, so it may not have been completely true…
"So why'd you join up with this expedition?" Heine asked.
"Rena made me-ow…" the Felyne replied sourly, and Heine nodded. That sounded familiar.
"You are her partner in the field, after all."
"Hrm. Didn't know what I was getting myself into," Cait sighed miserably. "They don't tell you about the hunter you're being paired with when you sign up to be a hunters' comrade, nya… Figures, I'd get purred up with a huntress as excitable as her."
"You seem to be surviving well enough."
"No thanks to her, nya… I'm lucky I've got some skill playing health horns. I've broken at least twenty of them working for her alone, and they're not cheap, you know?"
"Well, keep it up. If nothing else, all this work as a hunter's comrade is sure to get you some acclaim. You and her did capture that Crimson Peco, after all. Maybe you'll be able to switch to a cushier job in the Guild one of these days, once you've got some more experience under your belt. And mercy knows Rena could use someone like you keeping her down to earth out in the wilds."
"Nya… you may be right," Cait muttered. "You know, I don't know why all the other Felynes keep away from you. You seem like a pretty agreeable person to me, meowst of the time…"
"They stay away from me? I never really noticed… Maybe it's because I was always more of a dog person than cat person back home."
"…I take it back. You're a monster, nya."
Heine chuckled as a loud, rumbling boom shuddered through the tower interior, followed by the sound of collapsing stone and rubble. Shouts for workers began to come up from below, and Heine sighed wearily. "Well, at least there's something for me to do down here."
"Just think: all your work as a courier is paying off, nya!" Cait said merrily. "You've spent so long hauling boxes, now you've been purrmoted to hauling rocks, nyahaha!"
"Oh, shut up, you stupid cat," Heine muttered, striding down the walkway as Cait cackled on his shoulder.
Making his way down the ramp, Heine quickly found where the explosion had come from. A wide hallway, one of the larger ones he'd seen here in the Tower, had suffered a rather notable collapse within it. It was an impressive tunnel, at least thirty yards tall and just as wide, big enough for an Uragaan to stride through easily, the way the researchers were talking. There were also several grooves on both sides of the tunnel, suspected to be used for transport wagons or whatever sort of vehicles the Meridians had at their disposal. A ripple of excitement was going through the researchers now; such grooves seemed to indicate a long tunnel, perhaps even an underground road. There was certain to be a lot to discover beyond the fallen stones!
But first they had to get inside. The bomb blast had managed to unearth a good amount of the debris, and a thin gap had appeared through the cave-in, revealing a long tunnel just beyond the rubble, but the gap was barely wide enough for even the smallest of them to crawl through. Heine sighed again; that's why he was here, he supposed. Several hunters, including Rena, were already pushing stones and small boulders out of the way, as were several men and women like him, hired for grunt work. Calls were going out for more bombs to be brought in, and he could see a couple were being carried down the ramp towards them. Rolling his shoulders, and allowing Cait to leap off, he began striding over towards the rubble, to help the others move the debris out of the way.
"Ah, Heine! There you are!" Heine paused at the familiar voice of his current employer, Harker Renfield.
He hardly seemed the type to be declared a famous hunter, considering his physique. The madman may have been only a few inches shorter than Rena, but he was far lankier, almost to the same degree as Heine. He certainly fit the appearance of a researcher though, wearing thin frameless glasses under a mop of messy blonde hair, which had grown long enough to tie back. He always seemed to have a notepad filled with writing, though how exactly he managed to take notes, Heine couldn't guess; the man's right arm was always kept in a makeshift sling under his coat, hanging loosely over a wide sash he kept wrapped around his midsection. But despite his appearance, and despite his injuries, he somehow managed to command the respect of the other researchers, and even the hunters, and Heine was certain it wasn't just the reputation he had for helping hunt the Alatreon. That accomplishment wouldn't have mattered quite as much to the researchers, and yet they all jumped at his commands.
"I see you're still wandering around," Harker said with a grin. "I'm glad to see Miss Rena hasn't run you into the ground quite yet. She is one of my more… enthusiastic subordinates after all, though I'm not a fan of the danger I put her in sometimes for the sake of my work."
"I'm fine," Heine replied. "And Rena says she likes the work you give her. Not many hunters can say they were the first ones to hunt and kill a new monster after all."
"Ah, yes, the Crimson Qurupeco. Quite the interesting specimen… and she was able to bring it back for study in fairly good condition! Not bad work for a great sword wielder, I must say; their hunts tend to end with the carcass coming back rather brutalized. I'm not sure what to make of how she designed her armor from her reward materials, though. A shame you couldn't have accompanied her though. If Rena's stories of your aim are even half true, you might have been able to kill it more cleanly than she did, and gotten me a better specimen to study."
Heine groaned at the statement, causing Harker to chuckle. "I'm not as good a shot as she says! It was just luck… Besides, it's not like the bullets would really work well anyway…"
Despite the good condition he kept his rifle in, the weapon was essentially useless against most large monsters any half-decent hunter was able to take down with ease. They were just too big, their hides and plating too thick, their pain threshold too high, for a single hunting rifle to be any good. If he had a heavier caliber bullet, or something designed for larger creatures, things might be different, but not with his old gun. Most dangerous monsters had thick plating covering their skulls, so a headshot was about as unlikely to kill a beast as anything else. Heine had gotten lucky with the Great Jaggi, and maybe he could manage to bring down another monster if he hit it in the eye, but chances were good the pack leader would be the only real beast he would manage to take down. The rifle would only work against smaller creatures, like Kelbi, Popo, smaller Aptonoth, Jaggis and their ilk, and maybe a Bullfango if he managed to hit it somewhere its fur was thin.
And humans. They still worked against humans. That had been something Harker had made note of when Heine had met the man, to keep the idea of using rifles against other people from becoming popular. Heine had never fired on another human being, and the thought made him sick to his stomach. But Lost weapons had been made to kill other humans for the most part, and they needed to snuff that idea as best they could. They could curtail their value by declaring how useless firearms were against large monsters, since that was the main concern in these times, though it wouldn't last forever… but it might keep those who would abuse such dangerous weapons from discovering their real value too quickly, and thankfully it seemed to be working so far.
"You had best get used to it, Heine," Harker said, smirking. "If there's one lesson I've learned from my time as a hunter, it's that nearly all of them will use an opportunity to brag about their adventures and achievements. If they don't, they've certainly got a friend or two who's ready and willing to do their bragging for them, whether they want them to or not. And the stories will only get more elaborate over time; just imagine what laws of physics her tale will be breaking in another year or so!"
"At least you're enjoying yourself," Heine replied sourly. "You and everyone else seem to be having the time of your lives, but Rena roped me into this before I knew what was happening."
"Well, at least you're not lacking in friendly company," Harker replied. "But I fear that, for the rest of us, it's not all adventure and discovery. I am… I admit I am worried about what we've found here." Heine was shocked; the researcher hardly seemed to show anything but the most boundless enthusiasm and optimism when it came to his work and research. "The further into this tower we go, the more… concerned I become over the Meridians."
"What do you mean?" Heine asked. "I've seen the rest of the researchers talking, and they're nothing but excited about whatever they've discovered."
"Ah, perhaps," Harker replied with a nod. "I don't blame them either. What we've uncovered of the Meridian's technology and science is certainly something worth getting enthusiastic about. Yet, while their advances may be noteworthy and exciting, what I am discovering about their social structure is… for lack of a better word, concerning."
"What do you mean?"
"I… The evidence is inconclusive. There is little information available about what the Meridians did outside of their work to slay the Alatreon, and overcome the challenge the world presented them. However, some records have been found, and they have not been encouraging. Were they contained incidents? Was what I've read on these walls the result of necessity or need, forced upon them by desperation? Did they choose that way of life, simply because they could? I simply don't have enough information."
"What exactly did they do?"
Harker turned, looking uncertainly at Heine. "They… I shouldn't say, not without more complete information. The data I've collected is inadequate, and I will not allow myself to jump to baseless conclusions. I won't assume what I fear about them. However… I can, with certainty, say the Meridians became involved in a widespread, devastating civil war close to their civilization's end. It may have been why the Alatreon was able to so efficiently destroy them."
"A civil… How did you figure that out? I've been listening to the rest of the researchers prattle on for the last two days and I've never heard anything like that."
"Of course you haven't. They're not looking for it. Those who volunteered for this expedition aren't here to dig up information on the Meridian's culture. They're here for the science and technology, which can be quite fearful in itself. Anything else to them is not worth the time, or can be put off until later." The madman scoffed at the thought. "It's foolish! You cannot just ignore the reasoning behind why such technology was created, or you risk… well, you risk much. But you shouldn't worry, Heine; leave such thoughts to me."
"Personally, I'm more worried about more immediate dangers than the fruits of this expedition's labors…" Heine muttered worriedly, glancing into the darkness of the tunnel the other workers were laboring to open.
"Well, you needn't worry if that's all on your mind, Heine," Harker said encouragingly. "I promised my dear friend Eleanor I'd have you back to her in one piece, and I intend to keep that promise. You have a better head on your shoulders than some folk."
"I guess," Heine replied, slightly flustered at the praise. Then something clicked in his mind, a small warning alarm at Harker's words. "You said you'd get me back to Mrs. Geisel 'in one piece'? Not 'safe and sound'?"
Harker chuckled sheepishly, tugging at his collar. "Erm… ah…"
"Because 'in one piece' isn't exactly the same as 'safe and sound', working for you."
"You really do have a good head on your shoulders," Harker muttered sourly. "You're getting as skilled as Levin is at picking those out…"
"I've done enough jobs for you that I've learned to pay attention to what you say, and how you say it. I still remember the hunting horn incident, you know, even after the concussion."
"Aha… Well, in that case…"
A rumbling noise, accompanied by harried shouts, cut the researcher off. From within the tunnel, a large section of stone and rocks had come loose, tumbling free and rolling across the Meridian stone floor. Several hunters and workers were darting out of the way, trying to avoid getting hit as the wall collapsed outwards, and a couple men carrying barrel bombs darted away, leaving the incendiaries for fear of being crushed.
But thankfully it wasn't too bad, and after a few moments, the collapse ended and the mood of the expedition began to calm down again. Calls for the injured went out as the dust settled, and it seemed they'd escaped with little more than a few scrapes and one twisted ankle. However, once the debris had dwindled, it was discovered the collapse had managed to open up the path they'd been trying to get into. At least, it had widened the gap to a few yards wide, more than enough for people to go through, if not the wagons. Harker's eyes lit up at the sight, and he motioned to Heine to follow him as he approached the opening.
"Wonderful! An entirely new section to study! Heine, see if you and the other workers can move enough of the rocks to get one of the wagons through, so we can-"
Harker's words caught in his throat, however, and his eyes widened in shock. Heine turned, following the researcher's gaze into the darkness of the tunnel. At first, he saw nothing, but after a few moments, he caught sight of a pale light glowing deep within the shadows, a greenish-blue hue which shifted and danced against the rocks. A low, throaty hissing noise began to reverberate across the walls, and it was coming closer…
"Pull back," Harker hissed quietly. Heine blinked in dull confusion, but the researcher motioned frantically. "Now! Get away!"
But before Heine could take a single step, he felt his hair stand on end. The air around him seemed to grow charged, and jolts of static snapped at his fingers as they brushed against the barrel of the gun on his back. There was a wet, snapping sound which began to echo through the cave, and the bluish-green light swelled forward in the darkness. In a few moments, two glowing orbs of light swept into sight, and the raspy breathing grew faster and louder. One of the other researchers yelped in fright, stumbling backwards and dropping her lantern, shattering the glass orb on the floor. The oil inside ignited, sending a small column of flame into the air, and light flared through the tunnel. The glowing orbs froze, the raspy breaths hissing in surprise as the flames lit up the walls of the cave, revealing the creature before them.
It was a Gigginox… or at least, it looked like one. Heine had always thought Gigginox flesh was white, but whatever this creature was, its skin was a sickly goldish-green color, and its eyes glowed an eerie aquamarine, rather than the purple of a regular Gigginox. And in its mouth, rather than hissing puffs of purple, poisonous haze, sparks and shoots of voltage were jumping between the creature's teeth.
"A subspecies!" Harker gasped in awe. "Fascinating! And it controls electricity? I wouldn't have thought-"
"Get back!" Rena shouted, appearing behind them and grabbing Harker by the collar, physically tossing him back. One of the other hunters yelped in surprise as the mad researcher slammed into him, sending him sliding backwards as he grabbed hold of Harker. Rena pointed back at the hunter and snapped at him. "Get him and the rest out of here!"
The other hunter nodded, wrapping his arms around Harker and dragging the researcher back up the ramp. Harker was protesting profusely, demanding to watch the monster in action, but to no avail. Heine jumped, however, as Rena's eyes snapped towards him next.
"You too! Get out of here before-"
A squeal from the subspecies, and the crackling of static pulled the huntress' attention back to the Gigginox. Lightning jumped along the creature's countless fangs, and arcs of energy began crawling over the beast's body. A strained hissing noise curled from the creature's sickly maw, and a swell of energy gurgled up from the monster's belly. With a retching sound, the subspecies disgorged a glowing, crackling ball of yellow energy, which flew through the air towards Rena.
The huntress moved to dive out of the way, but the electric orb dropped to the ground faster than expected. Rather than bursting, however, as soon as the ball touched the rocks, it split apart into three separate spheres of electricity, which crawled across the ground like insects. Rena yelped in surprise as she found one of them heading in her direction, and swept her great sword around, slamming it into the earth and bracing herself behind the metal slab.
The orb crashed into the great sword, and Rena cried out in pain as the electricity jolted through her blade. While a lot of the voltage shot through the metal and into the soil the tip was embedded into, quite a bit also shot up through the hilt of the blade. Electricity arced across Rena's arm, punching into her chest piece and knocking her backwards. Her vibrant Crimson Qurupeco armor seemed to catch the voltage, however, dissipating much of it and sending the rest sparking down into the feathers protruding from her leggings, discharging several small arcs of electricity into the dirt.
Rena was left gasping for breath from the strain of the attack, and the Gigginox hissed in frustration at the huntress, lurching towards her. Rena recovered quickly enough, leaping out of the way as the beast lunged, its rubbery maw trying to snap down around her. With a quick spin, the huntress leapt towards the Gigginox's tail as the beast tried to skid to a halt, swinging her great sword down onto the subspecies before the creature could react.
However, with a loud, ringing sound, the thick great sword ricocheted off the creature's tail, the Gigginox's rubbery hide turning the blade aside. Rena yelped in shock as her weapon rebounded, sending her nearly toppling onto her back as she struggled to regain control of the heavy blade. The Gigginox hissed venomously, twisting its head around to glare at the huntress with its glowing green 'eyes', before its tail began to twist about, snapping out to a ridiculous length and cracking like a whip towards Rena. The huntress had barely managed to pull her weapon into a proper defensive position when the surprisingly sturdy appendage smashed into the flat of her blade with the force of a cannon, sending her flying backwards.
The lightning-slinging subspecies twisted around, turning to face Rena again as the huntress tumbled over the rocks, but before it could, it caught sight of Heine. The courier froze as the beast's pale green sensors honed in on him, and the creature growled hungrily. Heine found himself paralyzed in terror as the Gigginox advanced, its mouth widening as the beast prepared to sink its fangs down around him and devour him. His hands shook violently on the stock of his rifle, quavering uselessly as the beast bore down on him.
A loud yowling snapped him out of his terror, as a small, neon red and green object lunged through the air towards the Gigginox' face. Cait howled fearfully as he slammed into the subspecies' head, swinging wildly with the small sword he had in his hands, and the creature screeched in shock, twisting its head to shake the furry hunter loose. The blade was made of Crimson Qurupeco materials, however, so even as the Felyne-sized weapon cut into the Gigginox's hide, the sparks it sent up with each swing only seemed to agitate the subspecies as the creature snapped its head around, trying to dislodge the Felyne.
In its wild swinging, the Gigginox managed to kick up a few stones, one of which smacked Heine in the thigh. The small jolt of pain was enough to knock the courier from his petrification, and in a flurry of terror, Heine turned and bolted. His mind was still muddled out of fear, so it didn't really occur to him to run back towards the expedition group, but instead he ran towards a large boulder which had fallen from the wall, sliding behind it and hoping the creature wouldn't catch sight of him.
The sounds of battle and his worry for Rena forced him to at least peek around the corner to see if his friend was alright. From the looks of things, the fight was turning sour. Cait had finally been dislodged from the creature's head, but a couple other hunters had entered the fray by now, and were trying to get in close to attack the Gigginox.
Every attempt was met with opposition by the creature, however. The beast had some sort of discharge attack which sent a short blast of electricity out of its entire body, electrocuting and paralyzing any hunter who got caught up in it. None of the hunters were ranged attackers, so they had no choice but to try and get within striking range, while avoiding such area attacks. One huntress with a short sword and another with dual swords were able to rush in and cut at the the creature's wings, but the subspecies seemed capable of unleashing its discharge on a moment's notice. Also, when it snapped its neck or tail at its assailants, it was able to cover a wide area, pushing them back even further. One of the other hunters dropped to the floor when he'd been shocked, and only survived thanks to Rena slashing out at the creature, which let another hunter grab the fallen one and retreat.
What little they could do when the opportunity to attack appeared seemed to be mostly ineffective. The subspecies' hide, despite wriggling and stretching like rubber, was hard enough that even Rena's powerful great sword had trouble cutting through. It seemed all their efforts were managing to do was make the Gigginox angrier with each passing moment, as the beast's movements grew wilder and more aggressive.
Then they finally seemed to push the beast over the edge. One of the hunters managed to strike the Gigginox in the head with a large hammer, nearly stunning the creature and sending it stumbling backwards, shaking its head. Rena charged in, using the momentary break to try and strike the beast with an exceptionally powerful blow, bringing her great sword crashing down onto the subspecies' wing. This time she managed to deal a decent strike, tearing into the creature's flesh and sending the beast squealing backwards in pain.
But as the hunters charged forward to attack again, the Gigginox leapt backwards, pushing itself with its wings and sending a small gust of wind which staggered the hunters. It landed near the collapsed entry to the tunnel it had come from, its glowing organs flaring. It hissed aggressively as its skin rippled, spontaneously shifting from its goldish-green to a violent, dangerous red hue. The creature seemed to inflate slightly, planting its feet firmly on the ground around it, before its head and tail both snapped out, and the Gigginox unleashed a devastating, ear-splitting screech.
Heine cried out in pain, clutching his ears as the noise rattled his skull, making the rocks around him shiver. He'd never heard something as painfully loud as this! He'd heard Great Jaggi cries, and even a Rathian roar once when Rena had dragged him off to see an arena fight, but this was something on a completely different level! He nearly passed out from the intensity of it, but somehow managed to keep himself conscious as the last dregs of the roar faded away.
Some of the hunters took even longer to recover, however, and the moment the creature cut off its terrible screech it lashed its head out, swinging at the hunters with two swift swipes of its stretchy neck. Three of the hunters were struck by the beast's skull, sent flying backwards across the stones by the force of it. Only Rena had been lucky enough to have a weapon which could block the blow, and even then, the huntress was knocked completely on her back, scrambling to get to her feet.
The beast hissed viciously, lightning crackling over its body as its glowing sensors snapped between the hunters. It stalked towards them, but the creature crawled too close to a trio of bombs left behind when the monster had appeared. A stray bolt of electricity lanced out from the Gigginox's maw and struck one of the bombs. With a thunderous blast, the barrel detonated, sending a shockwave and rush of fire across the rocky tunnel. The electric subspecies squealed in pain, reeling back as the fire washed over it.
The bomb was close enough to the rest of the explosives to detonate them as well, and with a drumbeat of detonations, the other two Anti-Dragon bombs erupted almost simultaneously, ripping through rock and stone and blasting apart the walls and floor of the cavern. A wave of fire and stone rushed through the cavern, and Heine yelped in fright, pushing himself further behind the rock as the devastation blazed past him, singing his clothes and sending rocks and small boulders smashing against his only line of defense.
The Gigginox squealed in pain as the blasts nearly knocked it completely on its back, but it managed to stay upright, wheezing in pain as it staggered away from the hunters and blast zone. As the flames died away and the debris settled, the creature's flesh shifted colors again, switching back from red skin to sickly green. The hunters were recovering as well by now, and Rena and the others were approaching the subspecies again, feeling more confident now that the monster was injured.
The Gigginox hissed menacingly at the hunters, and lightning began to dance in the beast's mouth. A swell of yellow electricity began to grow in the creature's maw, and the hunters braced themselves in anticipation of the attack. However, the moment Heine assumed the Gigginox would unleash the lightning orb, the voltage in its throat fizzled out. The hunters looked at each other in confusion, and in that moment of hesitation, the creature spun about and bolted, crawling away from them as fast as it could manage, slithering over the rocks and boulders and making its best effort to escape.
The hunters were so dumbfounded at the sight of the fleeing Gigginox that it was several seconds before they snapped back to attention and rushed to chase the creature. By then, however, the beast had long since crawled away into the darkness, and while the glow of the creature's organs could still be seen, it was moving too quickly through the dark cavern for any of the hunters to catch it. Disgruntled muttering began to echo through the tunnel as the hunters broke away, realizing they'd missed their chance to slay a new beast, though some seemed secretly relieved the creature hadn't kept fighting.
"Heine!" The courier nearly jumped out of his skin at the shout, flailing about in terror. But a pair of firm hands grabbed hold of his shoulders, and Heine looked up fearfully, meeting Rena's gray eyes. She was looking at him worriedly, eyeing him up and down. "Are you alright? You're not hurt are you? You should have run when I told you to!"
"I… I… I'm sorry, I…" Heine hung his head ashamedly. "I just… I couldn't…"
Rena smiled at him, squeezing his arms comfortingly. "Don't worry, Heine. I know. It's always hard the first time you see something that dangerous. I'm just glad you're okay." She patted his arm and helped him to his feet. "Come with me. I'm sure none of the researchers will need you for a while, especially with the hubbub of a Gigginox subspecies being talked about. I find there's one good way to calm down after something like this: alcohol. I know for certain a couple of the other hunters have a few bottles of distilled Nulberry wine hidden in the back of one of the wagons. That'll knock you on your butt in a hot minute. And it'll get rid of the jitters too; they don't call it liquid courage for nothing!"
Heine nodded dumbly at the words, but allowed himself to be pulled to his feet by the huntress. Rena turned, motioning towards the caravan and heading that way. Nonetheless, Heine still needed a moment to catch his breath and calm down a little bit longer, and remained next to the boulder he'd hidden behind. He glanced over to where the Gigginox fight had taken place, where singed lines cut across the earth following the trails the lightning orbs had left, and the wide crater the Anti-Dragon bombs had blown into the earth, actually fracturing the near-impenetrable Meridian stone. Heine shook his head and sighed as he began to tail after Rena, his thoughts a clutter of jumbled emotions.
Heine felt his heart leap up into his throat, however, as the rocks under him shifted. The path began to splinter and break into pieces, collapsing downwards as a deep groaning reverberating through the tunnel. Shouts of fear and confusion began to come from the wagons, and several of the Popo pack animals began yelping in terror as people scrambled to get away from the tunnel. From the center of the blast zone where the Anti-Dragon bombs had detonated, the earth began to crumble, collapsing into the ground. Heine yelped, scrambling to escape the cave-in, but he wasn't fast enough. The collapse caught him in a couple moments, and the earth gave way below him.
"Heine!" The courier looked up, spotting Rena dashing towards him, her eyes wide with horror. She reached out to grab his arm as Cait clung to her shoulder, yowling fearfully. Heine stretched out his hand, but knew immediately the huntress wouldn't be able to pull him to safety. The stable earth was still fifteen yards away, and as the rocks dropped out from under him, he knew he'd never make it.
To his shock, Rena dashed forward anyway, leaping across the crumbling earth and grabbing hold of him. She spun about, making as if to throw him to safety, but before she could, the earth dropped out from underneath them. Rena gasped in horror as they dropped, sweeping an arm around him and clutching him tightly as they fell into darkness.
Above them, the lights of the fires and those of the research expedition faded away as the earth swallowed them up, pulling them down into the depths of the earth.
Author's Note: Please Review! Chapters will be released on a bi-weekly basis from now on, at least until the end of Underground.
So, yeah, new characters! You'll be seeing a lot of Heine, Rena, and Cait over the next few chapters, just to let you know. I was tempted to name Heine 'Simon', after Simo Häyhä, who is a rather impressive person, but I just honestly didn't think it fit. And as for Cait, it's been pointed out that I really didn't mention the Felynes all that much in TLC, and I'm trying to bring them more into the story than they were in TLC.
I always like to contemplate, when I read a story, what sort of things the writer has typed into Google to help them research what they're writing. I mean, for Underground, I had things like 'parts of a dam', 'wagon trains', 'Panama Canal', 'parts of a castle', 'how much blood can a human lose before dying'… and so on. Anyone else out there have to type in stuff like that?
One more thing... I actually have a place in the story for a couple more OC characters! This time I'd appreciate ones with personality, rather than just appearances and armor/weapon selections. I apologize to those that sent in more simple characters, but I didn't need anything complex for those. But yeah, if you've got a character with a little more depth to them, send them in and they might make an appearance.
Reading: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki (WTF THIS MANGA IS SO WEIRD), Maoyuu Maou Yuusha by Touno Mamare, The Hunters Oath: Master Corps by Thomas A. Hawk
Playing: Pokemon X, MH3U, Animal Crossing New Leaf, Pathfinder, Bastion
Listening: Crit Juice Podcast, Hello Internet Podcast, Welcome to Night Vale Podcast, Relient K, CatHatFiddle, Poets of the Fall, Cake, Pet Shop Boys
Watching: The Prince of Egypt