Queen's note: Oh look. Something is going on =3 bahahaha- wait, someone catch the bean!

B.F.D.G.

Chapter Six:

Scary Things!

He smelled the difference in the air, cracking an eye open to glance around. Only to almost sit up in the semi quiet room as the gravity shifted. The Slayer just managed not to but his eyes were open and he was looking around. Catching the reflections of the humans in the equipment around his sarcophagus.

The air was being more noticeably scrubbed in a closed system now. He could have sworn he heard something shift in that big door too. The Slayer took a good look at the room, the lid of the sarcophagus was partially above him, being held by machinery and away from the equipment in case it fell, but seemed pretty solid if left alone.

Glowing green eyes took in the laser drills that had been slowly working through his bonds. That drone was settled on the floor and seemingly dormant. Giving it a critical examination since the two humans with him were still in a sleepy calm state of waiting. He heard the little one mentioning an air breach code for outside, but with how calm the two humans were about it. It had seemed like they were used to this risk. Though they found emergency masks and small tanks nearby, they had that curtain type of calm of one who was used to and knew how to handle that same risk.

Margery had even encouraged the smaller one to nap and get some rest. Playfully agreeing to start reading aloud until Cassidy fell asleep in the uncomfortable back office. She only recently stopped reading aloud and settled into a content silence.

As much as he would like to know more about this Duke Morgan and the cook in the book he was now listening intently to. Stretching out his senses as something… Ran by on the other side of the reinforced wall to his right. The last sigel pulsed and tugged on his mind, but it was only one now and now that he was aware and paying attention…

The Slayer could sense something growing near. Something he could almost remember, the name to match the feeling was not coming out of the fog that clung to his mind. He remembered enough to know it was bad and debated on sitting up to start breaking the last bonds. Just four total left around his ankles and wrists. He glanced at the reflection of what was behind, then took a better look to see the still peaceful expression on the older of the two humans, Margery was smiling as she read on her data pad.

The other girl… birdie? She was laying down on the ground with a thin cushion from somewhere out of his line of sight. She was so scared of him, and he had yet to really move properly around her.

He would really scare her, likely scare both humans really, to sit up unexpectedly. The old being looked down, still trying not to make any sound to draw attention as he experimentally flexed his core muscle for the first time, his middle completely lost that slight soft look in the middle to show the abdominal muscles under. Not so slowly re-testing his body, flexing his muscles up through and in his chest, shoulders, down the arms until his hands closed into fists. Head tilted to watch, keeping half an eye on the reflections to show if the humans were paying attention. Thankfully not, Margery was still absorbed in her book and the little sleepy squeaks coming from the girl were… very cute, but also showed she was sleeping.

The Slayer looked down, watching his left hand give a tremble as his body fought the last two sigels. Then slowly, deliberately opened his hand as his palm openly bled through the last bandage his new humans had put there. He could see the pattern of the Sigel in his left palm, feeling it burning as the fog in his head pushed and flowed against his awareness. A last ditch effort of that seal to try and drown him in the confusion and nightmares.

He could smell the spilled blood, not of his but…but… Argenta blood. Not human blood, it was an illusion. The scent of his blood filled the air before something finally broke against his will. The Sigel burned and if his palm was exposed to open air, it might have sizzled. Only one left and he could freely flex both his hands as his palm started to heal properly.

He looked towards the metal that showed the reflection of the humans. Still thankfully distracted, but he was also moving slowly enough to not make any sound with the chains. The Slayer sat back in his sarcophagus for a few moments. Then started to test the muscles in his legs like he had for his upper body.

The Slayer could bend his right knee to the side, careful not to rattle the chain. The left leg was not fully responding just yet but the last Sigel was on that heel and trying to fight him.

There was no outside scents from this space, but his mind cleared a little bit more to recognize there was a danger near. Something that…. something he could almost name as the Demigod looked around. Checked that the two humans were not focused on him-

Margery had her head up, staring above them just before he heard the scittering above. The Slayer almost sat up again but made himself lay back, watching the ceiling too. Tracking the sound as a second sound came from the vault door, like scratching. Not claws, it was like bones scraping on the metal to him.

"Hmm?" The younger humans mumbled a confused sound that might be proper words at another time.

"It's okay Birdie, I just heard an odd sound." Margery started looking around, wondering if it was air coming back outside. Though there was an odd sensation the woman could not place. She looked down to see Cassidy stirring as her exposed arm flushed with sudden goosebumps.

"Rh?" Cassidy looked up from where she was laying down on the ground, looking puzzled for a moment before suddenly understanding something. "Oh… that's why I feel comfy."

Margery looked up from writing on her data pad, both were in the back office of the vault-like area. "What do you mean Birdie?"

"Gravity just shifted to Mars native." Cassidy said as she yawned, rubbing her arms before rolling over to settle on her side.

"Aah, now that you've mentioned it I can feel it." The older woman nodded, enjoying the feeling of being lighter. It was a nice change for a little bit, and could not have been longer than some twenty minutes- "Oh dear."

Both women sat up in sudden alarm, Cassidy scrambled a moment to stand. Bouncing in place to test that yes, the gravity was different. "Power is on though?"

"This is a vault, altered to accommodate the big guy over there, but still a pocket vault." Margery pointed out from where she sat. "You said the code Vega used to lock us in was an air breach right?"

Cassidy started to nod, but then paused, with an hour or so nap she felt a bit more aware then before laying down. She could think a bit more and climbed into a chair to pull herself over to the nearest computer. Logging in through her codes again and then as far as Margery could tell, dived metaphorically head first into the codes of the vault.

The older woman got up as she saw the suddenly pale look from Cassidy. Going a few feet over to grasp and rub the tech's shoulders, "What's wrong Cassidy?"

"Ummm… so, Vega has his own code so to say in the normal codes to help organize things." Cassidy started, bringing up a smaller window and showing three different four digit codes that were very similar. "See the middle one? That is the normal code for a breach to the Mars atmosphere. That's an un-override-able lockdown Vega can do to be sure anyone in that area is stuck, but stuck where there's air. The code to the right can be overrode with a high enough clearance, and is normally around the affected area to keep a chain reaction of decompression from starting."

Margery leaned forward, partly over Cassidy's shoulder. Taking a good look at another window that showed the building they were in. "And that first code? It's flashing on the building we're in?"

"...that is a breach code. But it's a rift breach code disguised as an air breach code that Vega uses." Cassidy said softly. Pulling her legs up in the seat to hug them for comfort. "There's either an uncontrolled rift open outside the building, or something got inside the building. I think it's the latter."

"What makes you think that Cassidy?" Margery asked gently, sitting on her knees beside the smaller girl, reaching to rub her back. "What's your reasoning? We are safe here, I know that much."

It took a few moments before Cassidy uncurled and then got into a different system first. "These are the doors that opened before the power drop. Those are all simple codes of high access. I know these are all Elite Guards, Mr. Winston's men that came in. The sensors had just enough power to recognize those codes even if all these doors were forced open. Looks like half an hour ago someone got enough power to some secondary systems, these here are all motion sensors. You can see a pattern of the guards moving as teams,"

"Well, you can see the pattern, I can't Birdie." Margery pointed out.

Cassidy paused, thought a moment and then reached over to activate one of the holo-displays. It took just a minute for the young woman to have it showing several floor plans. "Okay, see the red lines?"

Margery moved to be able to see as Cassidy triggered the rough program to show clean lines in the halls. Moving in time with each other, "Yes, those are the Elite Guardsmen?"

"That's my guess." Cassidy nodded, finishing up another program and several, far more erratically moving yellow lines started forming. Scattering in and out of the sensors that picked them up. "These… I… I don't know? They're moving all over the place and just… weird."

"Why are the lines stopping and appearing in random spots?" Margery asked, watching the lines both starting again. This time together, one spot definitely hunted at some sort of fight happened twice.

"Mostly those spots are where… whatever-it-is are dropping out of sensor range and coming back." Cassidy guessed, staring at the simple wireframe floor plans. She blinked and looked back at the smaller screen, "Is it… I wonder if that, those spots I mean, if the lack of sensors matches up with the air vents?"

Margery paused, glancing up, wondering if that was what she heard. It would have to be in the space between the outer vault walls and the floor above. The woman was about to mention it when there was a buzz from the vault door and a thumbing of a fist on the medal of the outside. Margery could not help the yelp and reached for Cassidy as the younger woman gave a short scream and launched out of her chair only to fall off of it.

Then there was a crack from the other area of the giant Slayer. The pumice stone broke again and there were a few confusing moments of ungraceful flailing. Then quiet before Margery peered over the edge of the safety barrier and eye the sarcophagus and who was inside. With the lower gravity she had stumbled and gotten a lot more distance than normal. The woman waited for movement as there was another buzz, this time the two were able to recognize it as the simple communications sound. The comms in the door itself had a request.

Cassidy hid under the desk for a few moments, eyes wide as her heart was somewhere in her throat. "Um… um… miss Margry?"

"...yes birdie?"

"Please don't tell Vega I did that."

"As long as you don't tell him that I screamed too, love."

"I can do that." Cassidy took a much deeper breath, slowly detaching from the desk's leg and looked over and up. She ducked down again and grabbed the mouse and then got into the door system to pull up what was the equivalent of a door camera for the vault. The light on her current computer's camera turned on. Two windows, the bigger one showing the three Elite Guardsmen, one facing the camera looked up. The other two were facing away as if scanning for threats.

The second window showed Margery standing back up brushing herself off as Cassidy peered over the edge of the desk. "...hi?"

The Guardsman, even with the fully enclosed helmet, looked momentarily concerned. He paused, took a really good look at them in the vault. Trying to sort out what might have happened, as they heard the sudden muffled screams. He spoke up, the man had a strong but not unkind voice, "I'm sorry misses, we didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay," Cassidy said, not quite getting up fully out from under the desk, "Are you here to get us away?"

"Yes, we're here to evacuate you two, do you have masks and air tanks in there?" The armored man asked, trying to see what he could of the room the two civilians were in. It almost seemed like there was a flash of green?

"Yes we do but we don't have any suits, other than the basic PPE for cleaning and working here." Margery said as she came over, coaxing Cassidy to come up and sit in her chair again.

"That's okay, we have a path that we can get you out," The Guardsman said, head tilting as if listening to something, "But we have to move quick. As long as you ladies can handle being cold for a bit."

"We're on mars, everyone is used to the cold," Margery chuckled, but was looking for that PPE over suit anyways as it did help retain some heat.

"I normally work in the Glaciers," Cassidy said, shifting and showing her over shirt, it had a little charge left. It also had what would seem like a sapphire gem of VEGA's emblem, though was just a crystal to look like ice. It had a hidden security code inside as well that only very few knew of, that let Cassidy into sensitive areas.

"You must be the Cassidy that Vega mentioned." The Guardsman noted, glad he did not have to find out a hard way. Seeing the woman look down in embarrassment he added, "It's alright Miss Hunter, either I or Jayden over there to my right will be personally escorting you."

"Vega told you that you might have to carry me, didn't he?" Cassidy asked in a soft voice, feeling Margery coming back to rub her back.

"It's alright Cassidy," the genuine warmth from the Elite Guard had Cassidy looking back up. He had to use his voice and body language to show his reassurance. "We're here to protect both of you, just because you have a different fear response than others normally, does not mean you are any less worth being protected."

"Are there a lot of creatures out there?" Cassidy dared to ask, and at the pause and head tilt she added, as she rubbed her arms to get rid of the goosebumps. "I work with Vega directly, I know most of his codes he uses for rift breaches. And from what I saw in the motion sensors there's something in the building."

"There's some strange possessed-like beings in the building." The Guardsman said honestly, "They seem to be focused on the other teams, Gerald's and Richard's on the lower levels. Can you bring up a map on this side? I can show you the route we'll take you two."

"Can you Birdie?" Margery asked, looking at the display beside them.

Cassidy fidgeted her fingers for a moment, taking several deep breaths as she had been taught how to do. She was still safe in here, despite the scare from a few minutes ago. She was safe. She could do this. Cassidy looked at the display and then worked for a few quiet moments. "Can…can you see it on the display on the other side of the door?"

"Yes," Came the warm reassuring voice of the Guardsman, it made Cassidy feel better. "Okay, can you see this line?"

Cassidy and Margery both looked at the display screen beside them as it now had the same display as there. The older woman nodded as a circle showed up outside the vault door. "We can now."

"It's just a second delayed." Cassidy said softly, feeling that odd still, but crawling feeling up her spine. Like she was sitting above something…bad. Like they should smell something bad but there was just the smell of stone, that metallic blood smell and petrichor in the vault.

They never did figure out where that last smell came from.

"Alright," The Guardsman said, and traced as a direct line to the shut down lifts, "We'll be going down to the south side lift here, and then the next level down. Unlike the tram on this level, the one on the third floor is enclosed. It will be cold but you two won't be directly exposed to the mars atmosphere."

"Doesn't that tram track lead to one of the kitchens and storage buildings?" Margery asked, watching the map then lifted her head to think of her own mental map of the colony.

"Yes, it's locked down as well but we'll be meeting Richard's team there as they need to get someone to the lower medical floor there." The guardsman said, "Once the vault door opens, we'll have to move really quick."

"We smell likely," Margery only half asked, more noted, looking down as she remembered reading a report that the demon creatures, or possessed-altered could scent better than normally humans. Plus she had been working all night cleaning here, and always needed a very long shower to feel clean after.

Cassidy blinked up at the older woman, blinked again and lifted her shirt to sniff at herself. Trying to sort out if she smelled bad this whole time.

"Yes, so get ready before the door opens," The Guardsman said with a nod, smiling in his helmet despite the situation.

"Um… may I go to the bathroom before we go?" Cassidy asked in a soft voice as her body woke up fully now.

"Go chica, I'll get your tank and mask ready." Margery said as the Guardsman chuckled but nodded.

Cassidy ducked her head, sliding out of her chair only after peeking that nothing moved on the other side of the safety glass. She felt better in the far back of the office like space and closed herself into the bathroom. The young woman swallowed as she made sure to do her business, but then once done took a moment to stand with her back to a wall.

Breath.

Keep breathing.

The technician rubbed her arms and shivered, unable to shake this feeling of crawling dread. Cassidy wished VEGA was still connected to the building, not sure why he was not. Even though the colony AI never had to, he was kind enough to normally help talk to Cassidy through moments like this. Even if it was just panic not related to a hell breach.

"I can do this," Cassidy whispered to herself, making herself stand up, shivering still and trying to shake it out of her. "You can do this, come on. You'll likely not touch the ground, the guardsmen are really, really strong and fast."

She came out of the small bathroom and then padded through the back office to find that Margery had set Cassidy's things on a table. That simple cardboard set up against the window to block most of the giant man from view. Cassidy gave a small smile. Grabbing the mask to put on. Her tool belt grabbed and she was taking another few deep breaths while Margery was opening the vault door after glancing back.

Just get the tank vest on, Cassidy thought as she started to do so, sliding it over one shoulder and paused at the door. Closing her eyes tightly so not to see the giant and the sarcophagus to her right. There was nothing between her and Margery, she could fumble the vest on and get to the door and the safety of the guardsmen.

Cassidy could hear them, that one guardsman they had been speaking to. Then the rasping voice of Jaydon, very much like Mr. Winston that it was reassuring.

"You're almost here, Mis Hunter." Jaydon spoke, his voice a beacon in the dark. "Mis Margery, you go with Gerald-"

She could do this, Cassidy started to open her eyes as she fumbled to get her right arm in the vest. Struggling to get the tank to not press against her Rig on her spine.

Something growled low and thunder deep.

The young woman looked up at the open vault door, and could only freeze as several voices screeched out screams. Staring as oily black forms both broken through the formally sealed vents and now launched out of at the Guardsmen. Cassidy could just barely realize that Margery was yelling her name. Brown eyes wide and staring almost unseeing as two forms smaller then Jaydon but bigger then herself were latching onto the man as he was trying to protect the door.

Cassidy felt the tank and vest fall off her left shoulder, hitting the ground and ripping the mask off her. Startling the young woman to stumble back, the awkward jump with the lower, Mars native gravity had her uncoordinated as she tried to get away. Wanting to not be anywhere near the big black thing filling up the opening of the door.

Where were the guards?

Why could she not see them?

The young woman felt herself going heady, her legs starting to lock up as she whimpered as glowing yellow eyes locked onto her. The black creature bared too human looking, gray teeth as metal clattered against metal and stone… behind her?

That thunder deep growl came again as Cassidy felt herself falling backwards. Her legs and body just… giving out. But she could see still, still watch as the creature that might have been human once lunged for her was screeching more than growling.

Cassidy realized she stopped, but did not hit the ground or even the side of the sarcophagus. It was like time stopped as she realized something was wrapping around her from behind. Wide brown eyes staring almost unseeing before Cassidy could just barely look down and found a massive hand was wrapping around her.

Her neck was wedged between two large, stained digits, could feel the thumb against her left side, and other fingers wrapping around and pinning her right arm down.

Oh.

Oh dear.

The giant not-really man had woken up.

Cassidy whimpered as she was feeling the dark crawl up her spine and around her as the woman's body fully went limp as the Slayer pulled her towards him.