Zrin was surprised. One moment the bugs had been attacking them, the next they had been decided to retreat. What had caused this change, he didn't know. Perhaps the Commander had found a way to stop the beasts' madness? Maybe whatever mechanism was driving them berserk had worn itself out?
Well, how this had happened didn't matter, the fact that it had happened did. The native fauna were retreating, leaving the Genetic Heroes and their allies alone.
With nothing left to fight, the healers among the motley team had begun treating the wounds of the comrades, attempting to deal with problems that could not be treated in the heat of combat. The humans were apparently calling their superiors, likely to ask for someone to pull them out now that the battle was over. As for Zrin, he began to search the area for anything to loot. While the Commander would probably gut this ship for all of its technology, Zrin wanted to have some trophy to remember this battle by, preferably a mechanical one in addition to the stuffed body of one of their foes.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
With the security systems down (which, apparently, also made the wildlife calm again), I was almost ready to leave the ship. First, though, I wanted to see if there was an artifact onboard. There was one problem, though: I had no idea where it might be, and the ship was likely a labyrinthine mess that would be difficult at best to navigate. Maybe there was a directory somewhere that I could use or-why is there another set of glowing arrows on the wall, and where are they pointing toward?
Wait, the last ones had led me to the security shutdown room, so maybe these ones would lead me to safety. Or to the artifact I was looking for. I doubted they would lead me to a trap, but I gripped my laser rifle tighter all the same. One day, I'd look back on this find it ironic that this whole fiasco was one of the least intense situations I'd been involved in, but that would be far away for now.
So, with no other choice, I began to follow the arrows.
XXXXXXXXXX
Finally, the ship thought, things are as they should be. The new one would follow the light and find the memory-holder, and its task would be done.
XXXXX
The ship I was on was absolutely colossal, so navigating it was a hassle, even with the assistance of whoever was putting the arrows on the wall, and it took me quite a while to reach my intended destination.
Most of which was spent idly chatting with my allies, subordinates, and Melissa. Especially Melissa. My kids and subordinates could only gush about how awesome I'd been, which was both gratifying and kinda annoying. As for my allies (currently amounting only to XCOM), well they, didn't have too much to say.
XXXXXXXX
"Greetings, Commander."
"Hello, Comammndr Flame. It seems your actions have managed to stop this catastrophe."
"I'm flattered, but your people certainly proved themselves today, holding back the horde of crazed wildlife."
"The compliment is appreciated, though I'd rather not talk about my men at them moment. We've just finished tallying our casualties."
"Oh. I' sorry... forgive me, but how many men did you lose?"
"None, actually, though we have twenty soldiers in critical condition. Unbelievably good for us, given the circumstances."
I'd almost forgotten that wounded and missing personnel were considered casualties in addition to the dead.
"True. I'm browsing the planetary communications right now, and your men are showing up on a lot of major media outlets."
"We were forced to battle several drones and enraged ground organisms that ended up attacking nearby stations and cities before the impact site could be properly surrounded and quarantined."
"Fair enough. How do you plan to proceed?"
"My own superiors put that to debate and decided that we are to go public on the XCOM project's continued existence."
"Really?"
"Yes. My superiors are all members of the colonies on this planet and have had to work very hard to secure funding from their own sponsors for the XCOM Project without being noticed. They believe going public after our recent actions will make it easier for us to secure funding, and hopefully allow us to return to our level of strength from before the great mistake."
"Interesting. I apologize if I sound prying, but what caused the Great Mistake?"
"I am not at liberty to tell you all of the details, but it involved the Tasoths and a crisis in the Middle East."
"Fair enough. Have a nice day."
XXXXXXXX
With XCOM busy preparing to go public, the genetic heroes trying to get trophies to remember this glorious battle from, and my son/wards/other subordinates gushing about my battle prowess, I reluctantly decided to converse with Melissa until I reached wherever the arrows were leading me.
"So, was that interesting enough for you?"
"Yes, actually. Bravo."
"Thank you," I responded. I doubted her last remark's sincerity, but it was probably best not to make her mad.
"You're welcome. Didn't expect you'd actually last long in a physical fight. Guess I was wrong."
"I take that as a compliment. Though, these machines certainly put up a hell of a fight."
"No kidding."
"Yeah... um, do you know who might have sent these Machines? I can tell you dislike them, so perhaps I could deal with their creators for you?"
I really wanted to know what made these artifacts, and if Melissa had a grudge against them, I could exploit that to learn their identities.
"I have no idea who made these things. Though, if I did, I would tell, no strings attached."
"Really?"
"Definetly."
"Why?"
"Um, because you're my entertainment? Because I put you in a Commander? Because I don't like others messing with my possessions? Only one multiversal entity is allowed to interfere with you actions as a Commander, and that is me. Don't forget it."
"I won't. Though, regarding my earlier question, do you have any possible guesses as to who made these Machines?"
"No, unfortunately. The technology doesn't match anything I've seen from examining the multiverse. It also doesn't match up with any technology that might have been innovated by a Commander like you. It's an anomaly, and one that you won't find an explanation to."
"Oh. Well, thanks for the advice. I do have on last question, though."
"And that is?"
"How long are you going to stay in the same universe as me?"
"Until I get bored."
"Oh. Ok."
Oh joy.
With that, I terminated the communication. I did not want to have to deal with Melissa for much longer. Things were tough enough as is.
Oh, and I had run out of arrows to follow, leaving me just outside a rather large door, which immediately began to open in my presence. Cautiously, I entered it.
The room behind the door was, for the most part, empty. All that was in it was a glass tube containing a pedestal. On said pedestal was gigantic dodecahedron.
One that was covered in symbols that match up with the other artifacts I'd found.
Looks like I'd found my Artifact.
Before I could retrieve it, though, a hologram appeared in front of my, startling me. I jumped back and aimed my gun at the hologram...which now to the form of several words written in English.
GREEETINGS
"...um, hello. What are you?"
I AM THE INTELLIGENCE OF THIS SHIP. YOU COULD SAY THAT I AM THE SHIP.
"I see. Did you lead me here?"
YES
"Thank you. Why did all of the wildlife attack?"
DAMAGE TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSED IT TO SAIDNALL NATIVE WLIDLIFE INTO A FRENZY IN ORDER TO PROTEXT THIS SHIP. THIS VESSELCWAS DAMAGED BU THE METEOR SHOWER AND WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE SECUROTY SYSTEM OFF. THAT IS WHY YOU WERE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SHUTDOWN ROOM. THE SHUTDOWN KEY LANDING NEAR YOU WAS UNEXPECTED, THOUGH.
"...how do I know you aren't lying?"
... YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO KNOW THAT.
That, I could believe.
"Who made you?"
I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT.
"Why?"
YOU ARE BETTER OFF NOT KNOWING.
"Fine .Can I have the Artifact?"
THE MEMORY HOLDER? OF COURSE!
Memory Holder? Well, now I had a name for that device.
"Okay. One last question: are there any more artifacts in this universe?"
I'd already found two, so it was reasonably likely there were more.
YES. THERE ARE SIX IN TOTAL. ONCE YOU ACQUIRE THIS ONE, THE NEXT ONE WILL BECOME ACTIVE.
I could deal with that. Also, I did want to know why they activated sequentially, but that was not a question I needed answered now.
"Okay. I'm sorry, but I lied earlier. There is one more question I want answered: is there anyway I can remove you from this ship?" After all, this was my first real source of intel on who made these artifacts.
To my surprise, instead of a reply, a new pedestal emerged from the floor, containing a machine on it.
MY MIND IS BEING DOWLOADED INTO THE PORTABLE COMPUTER ON THE NEW PEDESTAL. YOU MAY TAKE IT WITH YOU.
Well, that was easy.
I decided to approach the Artifact pedestal, only slightly surprised when the glass retracted to expose the contents of the container. I quickly grabbed it, then moved to acquire the computer. Once I had that, I prepared to leave, only for anothernhologrka to appear.
DO NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM. I WILL GET REMOVE IS FROM THIS CAVITY.
Then, to my surprise, the ceiling folded into the walls as the room began to move upward. Neat: a loft room.
When the room had finished its ascent, I noticed that I was not alone: another room had ascended, this one containing the genetic heroes and the XCOM team who'd followed me into the ship.
I stared for a moment, then called in a transport. Right now, all I needed was a break.
XXXXXXXXXX
AN: Read and Reivew! This is Foameal15k, signing off!