Well, here we are.
This is it.
This is where things... well, changed.
Well, not really, but if I had a chance to go back to this point in time, really would've taken what happened more seriously. Because if I did, and hadn't tried to ignore it out of fear and confusion, well, things might be different. But those are things I can only ponder now.
So, here's what happened.
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After I returned to my hub, I placed the box on the ground, transferred back into my commander body, and started examining it with some doxes. I wanted to see all of the details before I scanned it, in case it ended up destroying the box. This revealed a bunch of strange markings on it, but nothing more.
Okay, time to analyze.
During the party, I had added a scanner to my commander, which I activated and started scanning the box. According to the preliminary findings from the scan, it was made primarily of titanium, with trace amounts of other materials, including a rather large amount of Gallium.
It was also emitting energy in pulses that were getting... stronger?
Suddenly, the box start shaking. The doxes I'd sent to look it over were ordered to back off, but some got hit by the box and sent flying away. As I tried to gather more information on the box, it suddenly began levitating into the air. WTF?!
Now the box had stopped shaking, instead it was spinning around like a top. As I prepared my weapons systems, a line of light formed at the top of the box, which soon formed several edges along the top of the box.
Just as I was getting ready to fire, the box opened along the lines, with a stange object floating out of it. I'm not really sure how to describe it, except that it appeared to have crystals in it.
As I was wondering what it would do, the object shot out a beam of light at me. According to my sensors, it was some kind of scanner. The object that I had been scanning was now scanning me.
Okay, time to shoot it down.
Then, suddnely, the object made some kind of roaring noise as a shockwave of red light shot out from it.
The shockwave took only a couple of seconds to hit me.
Then everything went black.
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When I came to, I was in the middle of a pile of rubble, with fires burning around me. I heard some anguished sounds in the distance, so I assumed that there were some animals that were trying to escape the fire. I sighed then I put my head in my hands.
Wait. I had been in my commander body. I didn't have hands or a head at the moment.
Suddenly, I heard people screaming. I turned my head and saw people running toward me. Some were human, but others were not: I could make out what looked like an Elf and a ... hanar(?) among the crowd.
Okay, having a bad dream, wake up please.
Just then, I saw a small piece of debris fly past me. It nicked me on the shoulder, which stung quite a bit.
Wait, you can't feel pain in dreams.
Which means this is real.
...OH SHIT, RUN!
I started running, Justin time to avoid being trampled by the crowd. While they managed to overtake me, I avoid death by panicked civilians.
Then, I heard something behind me. It sound like a high pitched whine.
Turning, I saw some kind of giant machine, with crab like legs.
And it was charging a weapon of some sort.
Panicking, I looked for a way out of the crowd. I noticed an alley way and dived into it as soon as possible.
Just in time, too. The minute I got to safety, a huge beam of light traveled through the crowd, reducing them to ash.
Then, I heard the sounds of metal footsteps, growing every closer.
I hid behind a dumpster, trying to make myself look smaller. I noticed a discarded box nearby and put it overtop of me, desperate for any form of shelter.
Soon, the foot steps stopped. Then, As I wonder what would happen, I saw a tendril pass with a light at its end pass by me, looking for people. It looked right at me, making me glad that I could only see it through a set of tiny holes in the box. The light soon lost interest and left , as did its body.
Once I felt safe, I exited my hiding spot and tried to get some feel of the situation. I used the dumbster to reach the roof of a building, then observed the rest of y surroundings.
And they weren't pretty: Fire was everywhere, while more machines, some ground based, some flying, were attacking targets everywhere. In the distance, an absolutely colossal machine was engaged in battle, one it was clearly winning.
And the bodies: so many bodies. I could see them piled in nearby allies, in very sates of intactness. Men, women, children, it didn't matter: all were united in death.
Most terrifying of all, though, were the creatures: monsters that made chaos spawn look well made, these things were hunting people down, killing them, and EATING THEM. And some weren't exactly interested in the first two. And then there were some that were pinning people down and... ugh.
Then, a plane passed overhead and dropped something. I watched the object fall and was almost blinded by the flash of the explosion.
The shockwave of which was headed right at me.
Panicking, I looked for shelter and noticed an open sewer point. Hastily, I ran in, taking pains to cover the surface, trapping me in darkness. A few moments later, My world was illuminated by a ring of light around the entrance to the sewers. Then, once again, I was in darkness.
Then, suddenly, A source of light appeared. IT resembled a huge mass of red lightning.
Then, it SPOKE.
"It is done. They have won."
Huh?
"I have hidden us away, scattered us across reality. Hopefully, someone shall find us, unite us once more, learn our secrets and oppose them."
What?
"Now, though, I must rest."
Then, the lightning disappeared, leaving me alone once more.
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[WARNING: SYSTEMS_OFFLINE]
[REBOOTING]
[REBOOTING]
[REBOOT: SUCESSFUL]
[REACTIVATING: CMDR_FLAMEAL15K]
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"...ne?!"
Huh?
"...at one?!"
What?
"GREAT ONE! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"
Finally coming to my senses, I took a moment to look around. I was back in my commander body again. A quick examination of my internal clock revealed I'd been out for 10 minutes.
Okay, I'd been out for 10 minutes. BUT WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SEE?
"Great One!"
"I'm fine," I said. Tylos seemed to calm down after that, if only marginally. I couldn't blame him: the poor guy had just seen his god feint and didn't know what to do.
"Okay. Is there anything I can get for you?"
"I'm sorry, but no."
"Okay... um, someone came here and gave me something."
"...What?"
"Yeah, um, well, your eminence, they said it was for your eyes only. I don't know how they got here. According to them, it was 'a perk of being a friend of ROB."
"...Can you show me what they gave you?"
"Of course."
With that, he presented me a large box. According to my scanners, it was a container for several other boxes and bags, which, in turn, each contained an object within them.
What could they possibly... oh.
I checked the relative amount of time I'd been in the commander chassis. Then I matched it up with the date I'd been abducted from home.
Yep. It was that day.
"Thank you for watching over this, Tylos."
"Of course, my lord."
"Yes, well... you know my early comment? Rescind it. There is something you can get for me."
"And what is that?"
"A cake and 19 candles."
"Of course, sire."
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That may have mostly been a distraction to let me focus on what I'd seen, but there were times that being in a place where no one really knows you sucks.