AN: If you haven't seen my updated note, it's at the last chapter. I've done a few changes with the Orks.
Baldur Romano: Thank you for the comment.
NOOSPHERE LINK ESTABLISHED
MAINFRAME UPDATE SUCCESSFUL
SCANNING COGITATOR FOR UNSANCTIFIED DATA
DATA LOGS
RETRIEVED
SCRAPCODE
CLEANSED
NO WARP TAINT PRESENT
ERROR ORIGINATION FROM MALFUNCTIONING COGITATOR HARDWARE
UPDATED MAINFRAME
BLESSED AND REINFORCED
DATA
VISUAL PROGRAM RECEIVED FROM DREADZONE ARCHIVES
CURRENT EPISODIC LORE
CATACROM 4
CAPTAIN STARSHIELD
ACE HARDLIGHT
PLAYBACK RECORDED LOG
In the scrapyard valley of Catacrom 4, 3 DZ Strikers were on patrol. Floating cameras follow them as they scanned their surroundings. Nothing but the moss covered earth and the rusted remains of earlier wars within the planet. As they trekked slowly, steadily, one of the Strikers was struck, exploding completely. Soon, a second was eliminated, shocked to see the attack from an unseen assailant. All that's left from this squad was a confused bot who looked behind, wondering what happened to his group.
He got his answer in the form of a whistle. The robot screamed as the last thing he was, a blast of energy destroying him, leaving only a bisected body.
Captain Starshield grunted at this little victory. Twirling his energy pistol before blowing the smoke coming out of the barrel. Showcasing his style and skill to the trillions of fans watching. As the cameras twirled around for a good shot at the gladiator, he surveyed the valley for any more DZ Strikers or possibly and, more disturbingly, the risen robotic dead from this graveyard planet. Unfortunately for the seasoned gladiator.
"Gotcha."
"Huh...?!"
Disintegrated in mere seconds following with a dying scream, all that was left was his blaster laying on the dead ground. The cameras saw it all before they turned to an athletic humanoid in a red-orange suit and silver body armor with his gun directing at where Captain Starshield once was. The spotlight suddenly shifted to...
"A dramatic conclusion to one of the most exciting episodes of Dreadzone I have ever seen!" A thin, green humanoid in a suit appeared in a floating announcer chair, cheering onto the microphone as he laid the finale in true anchorman fashion. "Captain Starshield, the #1 ranked gladiator, has been terminated by Ace Hardlight!"
All the camera drones in the vicinity pointed to Ace, who rose his arms in triumphant splendor as the anchorman continued. "Ace has now eliminated a record 13 contestants in the regular season!"
"Hahahaha!"
[LOG ENDED]
ADDITIONAL RECORDS ACHIEVED
VISUAL PROGRAM UNDETERMINED
AUDIO LOG ACCESSED
GLEEMON VOX IDENTIFIED
[DREADZONE HEADQUARTERS]
PLAYBACK RECORDED LOG
*Beep*
(Yeah?)
(Subject 101 is active for combat, Mr. Vox)
(Excellent. Send him in)
(Yes, sir. What about the other strays that were with the Subject, should we terminate them?)
(Let those girls stay with the Orks and see if you can get some work out of them first)
[LOG ENDED]
VISUAL PROGRAM ASCERTAINED IN ARCHIVES
COGNIFIED HELM SENSORS
TRANSMITTING BEGINNING STAGES OF MARSHAL RECOURSE
STATUS
..
SET FOR EXTERMINATION PROTOCOLS
..
..
..
(.44cy8/'re57$@tu4"rnq359o,)
..
ERROR
PROCESSING SANCTIFICATION SCRIPTURES AND RITUALS
HIS WILL BE DONE
..
..
PLAYBACK RECORDED LOG
Silence let out a quick yawn before she lifted the totemic war mask of a skull themed helmet with various additions on it until fully open. It was redone to have it cover the entirety of Doctor's head while also sealing it tight for whenever he enters the vacuum of space. The rest of his black armour was made like that as he was to become the greenhorn gladiator for a psychopathic death course. As the mask flipped on his head, she immediately took care of his vitals, realigning the medical bed that he's currently resting on so that he's in face-to-face distance. Starting with...
"Breathing is normal. Pupils reacting fine. Pulse is stable."
"..."
"Doctor? Can you hear me?" Olivia asked the unresponsive Commander. A hint of worry was visible in her tired expression as she stood in front of him. "I know you've been unconscious for almost a week, but I need a response from you." Extending a few fingers out, she asked. "Look, Doctor. How many fingers am I holding up...?"
"...Uhhhh." Doctor moaned in discomfort. He felt the whole world spinning and shifting as he felt something coming up his throat. Silence immediately picked up his woozy, nauseous demeanor. Stepping back a bit, she turned her head, cursed, and shouted.
"Oh damn... Muelsyse! Get Doctor some Admylladox, now!"
"Got it, got it! You don't need to shout!"
He heard the elf from across the room they're in, obviously exasperated at the rushed tone of the owl. The Doctor saw Silence let out a sigh before going back to him. Giving him a quick verbal note.
"I'm going to step out and get Mr. Orkimedes. I'll be right back."
The scientist left his sight. Going to the Mekboy for reasons unbeknownst to him. As she did, another Rhine Lab scientist appeared. This time, an elf with a bright smile on her face.
"Hiya Doctor~! Has Silence been treating you good recently?"
"..."
"Oh, she went to see Mr. Orkimedes? Hasn't said when she gets back yet?"
"..."
"Haaah... Figures." Muelsyse sighed out in disappointment. However, it soon shifted when she got closer to him. Her hands caressing his cheeks as she lined his head straight. "Guess I have to make this quick then..."
"...!"
"Mmmm..."
She was kissing him. A deep, long, passionate one at that. Entering him with her tongue to explore the whole inside of his mouth. Muelsyse returned to his lips, savoring this short chance of a moment before anyone disrupts them.
"He's starting to wake up, though a bit nauseous. I've had Muelsyse give him some medicine before we can continue his armour modifications." They both heard Silence from down the hall talking to someone.
"Long as I getz to 'iz gubbinz, itz all dat matta. Needz da Green light an' all for Vox."
"Hmmrgh..." The elf pulled away from the kiss with a frown on her pouting, flustered face directed at the entrance of the room, a single trail of saliva connecting their mouths. "Too short." Looking back to Doctor, she quickly gave him a cup filled with some sort of syrup. It was smooth for him to swallow it easy, but Muelsyse gave him some water regardless. "But complimentary, regardless." With that done, she laid a single finger on her sly, smiling lips. "Let this be our little secret, Doctor~"
"...Mu."
"I take it you're done with giving him the medicine, Muelsyse?" He saw Silence with her arms crossed and a stern look patterned her face. It was much a harder look than usual. Muelsyse simply had her hands behind her back as she looked to the side, her head tilted upwards.
"That's right. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Truly?" Even the owl's raised eyebrow was intimidating. "Given that the Doctor appears more animated, albeit slightly, I'm assuming you might've given something unnecessary to him, one that I did not request you giving."
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Dr. Silence." The Elf huffed as she closed her eyes in defiance.
"Alright, alright, breaks it up ya lovesquigs." A new deeper voice spoke up to stop any confrontation between the Liberi and Elf. Coming into view is a large green skinned bipedal mechanic hidden in the shadows. "Now den Dok. Da zoggin' git, Vox wants ya in da arena right pronto, what." The Ork explained, his cumbersome hand patting his shoulder guard in an act of encouragement.
"...Wha-"
""WHAT?!"' Both the Originium researcher and ecologist shrieked in horror with Silence adding.
"B-B-But Doctor is barely awake! He isn't in the best shape to be fighting now!"
"Says who? All of you's told me dat Dok got stabbed 'frew 'is chest by a burnin' stabba and he'z still alive. Plus, a little tin in 'im kan go a long wayz an' he needz if hez gunna be out stompin Dreadzone gits, just ask Ugrak." The large Ork patted his torso as he briefly remembered the searing pain from before.
"...Ta" When he tried to speak in fondness of the one responsible, he was cut off by a loud noise in sync with another loud noise coming from his Rhine Lab associates.
""YOU PUT BIONICS INSIDE HIM?!!!"" Both researchers screeched at the horrendous revelation that befell Doctor when Orkimedes was operating on him without their knowledge.
"I've had 'is 'ole spine replaced. And da rest uv 'is bones... But dere was enuff Imperial 'umie an' ovvur alien tek lying around for me to shove it in 'im or snazz up da rest ov 'is armor." The aforementioned Ork pointed out, his demeanor quick and to the point.
"You!" Dr. Olivia Silence tried her damndest to make sense out of the Ork's logic. First, he wants Doctor awake for the coming Dreadzone course, and now he's telling her that he had essentially experimented on him, to have his crude mechanics in place of his neuro-skeletal system. Slamming her hand on the medical bed she vented her frustration. "He's not leaving this room! We're staying here until he receives a full diag-" Unfortunately for Silence she was cut off by the hasty Mek who picked her up by her head with one of his hands.
"Don' you lot know wez need Dok to be up and runnin'?! Now just sit dere and let Sniklaw give 'im a kick so we kan get 'im up for da fight!"
The Big Mek stepped aside to let another Ork forward as he brought out his "medical" tools to the armoured man for the upcoming mechanical operations. With Silence struggling to be released until she was dropped to the floor like a sack of Food Squig, the paralysed neurologist can only look in horror at the Orks showcasing a glowing yellow contraption and the Painboy's bloody utensils. One thing to note about Orkimedes' contraption was its unstable nature. Given that it was overflowing with arcs of electricity and was blowing out smoke, it looked like it could incinerate the poor sod that's on the receiving end.
"Don't ya worries nun Dok..." Before he pressed the big red button, Doctor felt something stabbed through his neck. A warm concoction flowing inside his carotid artery before the Painboy closed his helmet. He then saw in green hands a now bloody syringe with red tape on it that says:"Frenzon-Stimm Fightin' Juice Mix"in scratchey marker ink and a scrawled skull with x's on its eyes. "Me kustomized tellyporta nevah failed me yet, if it doez today den itz been nice knowin' ya!"
It turns out that he was that poor sod...
""Doctor!""
All he saw was a golden flash.
"Fuck..."
Looking through a clear visor without any hindrance to his eyes, Doctor found himself in an open crimson metallic room with some ledges in front of him and a wide, triangular insignia of some sort in the middle of the room. He looked down to see he was standing on a black platform and that he was wearing a different suit of armour. Over some fatigues is a suit of advanced yet customized-experimental heavy combat armor, reminiscent of the ones used by Patriot's Guerillas, with large rigid plates of some strong material molded to fit parts of the body, and the main vest piece having an eerie black sheen. Though he couldn't recollect wearing such a bulky suit of armour, he felt a sense of familiarity in it. As if he was accustomed to don such a thing.
"Good morning, Doctor."A woman's voice radioed in from his helmet.
"Saria? What's going on here?"
"Simply put, you are chosen to be a contestant for an underground gladiator tournament."
"Contestant? Tournament?"
"I'll explain everything soon, Doctor. But right now, you need to complete Dreadzone's qualification course, otherwise... we'll end up dead."
"...Shit." He then flinched when a louder, gruffer voice jumped in from a ringing feedback.
"Dok? Saria? 'Ello...? Iz dis fing on?"
"What is it now, Orkimedes?"Saria frustratingly sighed out at the sudden interruption by the Ork.
"Just ta let your Dok know dat 'is skullcap kan bring out 'is Dakka wiv just 'is mind. A little 'andy piece of tellyportin' tek from da Blue Beakies."
"...Explain."
As the alien engineer started to summarize the machinations of his helmet to Saria, the Doctor saw his headgear's display suddenly showing a clear-white box like inventory. As his eyes drifted to a blocky icon on the top right screen, it disappeared and out came in a flash his weapon: A black and bronze, quad barreled scoped machine gun, with the top pair constructed to rapid fire large caliber projectiles and the bottom being slimmer, having a red hue and a hot haze coming out of the barrel. As is the case with his armor, it was his first experience seeing such a large weapon, especially since it looks like a masterpiece of a weapon, yet it felt as if he had held this gun at one point.
"Woah..."
"Hur hur, looks like 'e got da hang ov it. Dat right dere Dok iz probablee da Flashiest, Snazziest, Dakka'iest Bolta I've ever seen wiv me own Cybork eyez sittin' in your 'andz."
"Bolter?"
"It's the classification of the weapon, Doctor."
"I see..." He murmured, still looking at the gun some more. Seeing its receiver and ammunition port, noting all details so he can make use of it easily. He finished by tinkering with the scope a little.
"Now den, Dok, Silence needs ya to move around a bit."
"Huh? Why?"
"She needs to make sure that your bionics are in peak condition. Yes, bionics, we'll, again, talk about it later. Otherwise, she'll be in hysterics if she finds out that you're disabled because of the Orks...*ahem*"procedures" on you and will threaten both of us in the process once she does."
"...!" Not wanting to have the worst to happen for the dragon, he started his calisthenics. Turning his body and head, trying to find anything out of place within his body. So far, there isn't any noticeable change other than a lingering back pain that dissipated for a short few seconds. After a minute, he let them know. "All set. I'm alright... Nothing out of the ordinary, at least as of yet."
"See? Ain't nuffin wrong wiv me surjeries if hez up an' kickin' about!"A second Ork's voice gloated through the radio device in Doctor's head but the other receiver wasn't having any of it.
"Tell that to Silence, Sniklaw. Ok, Doctor, now that we know for sure your motor functions are optimal, you should get to the platform underneath the Dreadzone logo."
"The sharp, mask design, right?"
"Affirmative. Once you head in, it'll teleport you to the next stage of the qualification course."
"On my way." Stepping out of the black platform, he climbed up and over the ledge to the other floor. Walking past the flanking pillars to a set of stairs, stepped on a yellow glowing base and waited before he saw that glowing golden light once more.
Doctor emerged from the teleporter to a larger room. Across the bridge from where he stands were barricades laid in a circle beneath a cross of lights. Before he could cross over, a monitor appeared in front of him. It activated to show a humanoid with shark-like green-turquoise features. He wore a red suit with orange and yellow highlights and a golden cybernetic left arm. Speaking through the monitor, he welcomed him in.
"Greetings hero... and welcome, to Dreadzone!"He introduced with a buoyant, snobbish demeanor and movement."Rest assured, you are now far beyond the reach of hope. There will be no rescue, no pardons, no possibility of escape."
'Where the hell am I...?'In the eyes of the commander, this whole place doesn't seem like anywhere native to Terra. The man on the screen showed his arms, pointing towards the Doctor as he continues.
"You are now a contestant on the greatest holovision program the galaxy has ever known! A celebrity gladiator, battling for the pleasures of a billion screaming fans across the Shadow Sector and beyond!"He proclaimed after he raised his arms at the grandeur of the arena in addition to a punch at the air."Chances are, you'll be dead by tomorrow... But! Those of you who play the game with skill and strategy will earn a chance to win your freedom!"He then finishes off, brushing the top of his head and clutching his suit."So good luck, hero! We'll be watching you..."
Ending it off with a wheezing laugh, the monitor disappeared. Cursing under his breath, he contacted Saria through the unique communication line in his helmet.
"Who the hell was that?"
"Gleemon Vox, the architect of Dreadzone."The woman answered with a venom that was rare in her dialogue."I promise to inform you of everything, Doctor. To keep it brief, he is the reason why all of us are here in the first place, as well as your entrance in the qualification course."She said while Doctor crossed over the solid light bridge to the course's center. He noticed that outside the metal flooring is a stream of flowing orange lights, odd..."However, the Ork you heard from before, Orkimedes have figured out a way for us to keep in communication without Vox knowing. I'll try to relay valuable information to you as clear and concise as I can."
Said Ork added with a cringing feedback ring popping up from the comms."An' I'll givez ya your status reporta wiv whateva gear you have in stock."
"Can you fix your goddamn-!"
The call cut abruptly during Saria's annoyed shouting. As it did, a swarm of metal floating orbs with glowing orange bulbs appeared, opening their abdomens to reveal a spiral of blades. Doctor lifted his quad barreled machine gun and said...
"Let's do this..."
He pulled the trigger, it's recoil was to be expected for a weapon this size but the damage was enough for the orbs to be turned into burning chunks of metal by the mass-reactive heliothermic warheads. The contestant kept his distance, shooting at them whenever they got too close so as not to waste any ammo while they were buzzing around. When a number of them were destroyed, they were reinforced by similarly sized bipedal bots with their maws being larger than the rest of their bodies. Just like with the whirling blades, these little guys were easy to be incinerated from the precise upper barrel barrages. Before more can appear, he was greeted by Orkimedes except without the piercing feedback ring.
"Oi Dok, try to keep movin' or get behind any mess you find while fightin'. Dem Dreadzone deffbots got sum gud Zzap-Dakka but they'z hit lik Slugga Boyz drunk on Fungus Beer."
Doctor ducked when he witnessed energy trails pass by him and a trio of DZ Strikers teleported in. He hid behind the barricade as more energy rounds were fired at him. Peeking out, he fired a few more rounds at the bots, blasting them open with white hot craters. It wasn't over though. More of the diminutive Swarmers teleported from the other end of the arena with additional new fighters. A group of tall insectoids with protruding boneblades coming out of their arms charged from the sudden entrance. Doctor removed himself from the barricade to get some distance away from the Tremors and when he aimed at the rushing slashers and chompers, the Bolter's secondary weapon ignited. The only evidence that the group existed is a flaring after-image of what the Tremors and Swarmers were, its black ashes laying on the metal ground.
With no other enemies in sight, Doctor waited by leaning on another barricade, his gun arm ready for any more Dreadzone goons to be disintegrated. Yet this won't be the case when Vox's monitor comes into view once again alongside two bots that look more like test dummies than the militant DZ Strikers.
"Note the deadlock collar securely fastened around your neck."Doctor reached to feel the collar underneath his armour."This collar cannot be broken or removed. Should you stray into any restricted area, the collar will administer an extremely painful shock. Observe."Vox gestured to the two dummy robots with their own set of collars.
"I hate this job..." One of the dummies said as he turned around and was ruthlessly electrocuted. The bot screamed for a minute until he eventually collapsed from the sheer overload of the collar. Doctor's eyes were in shock at the example as Vox progressed with more of the collar's failsafes.
"Should a contestant become uncooperative or worse... Boring. His or her collar can be detonated at any time with the push of a button."After he rolled his eyes, the arena owner brought out a remote and, as he described, pushed the red button which the remaining test dummy waved goodbye before his head exploded."Well, there you have it! Nothing to lose your head over, hehe, right?"Vox concluded with a demented joke and the monitor closes the video message.
"Asshole." Doctor commented as he looked at the sorry bots remains. Now he's starting to understand Saria's caustic attitude towards him.
"Congratulations, Doctor. You've completed the first stage of the qualification course."Speak of the Sarkaz and she shall appear.
"That was the first stage?!"
"I'm sorry to say this but yes. There will be more in the near future. However, we can finally discuss our Dreadzone circumstances within the confines of our containment area. Check around the arena. You should see the same teleporter that brought you here. Use it and we'll meet up shortly."
"Gotcha..."
The call ended there.
Doctor walked towards the center of the arena where he saw a similar yellow platform. Stepping on it he was transported away in a golden light.
Saria tapped her foot as a way to pass the time. She's currently standing at the edge of the containment area's hangar. Looking at the stars and ships that returned from the outer reaches with the probable case of no survivors or ships going to that same location the last contestants were sent. Such is the life of a Dreadzone gladiator... To be sent to their deaths as a way of entertainment.
The Vouivre didn't wait long for Doctor to arrive. A whirring sound and a flash of light behind her. She turned around to finally meet him after almost a week of unconscious reconditioning. She saw him gaze at the otherworldy scenery around them. Taking in the insanity of a realm beyond their imagination.
"Woah... Saria. I've a feeling we're not in Columbia anymore..." Doctor murmured in astonishment to which she shook her head in minor amusement.
"Indeed we're not." Saria paced in front of him with her arms crossed. "Now, we can talk."
"Yeah... Where the hell are we...?"
"As you said, we're not in Columbia. As a matter of fact: We're not even close to Terra." Doctor was shocked to hear that new piece of information.
"What...!"
"Apparently we're in a space station, not much different than the Arc-01, albeit technologically superior. Not only that but we're in a lawless region of space, known as the Shadow Sector on the fringe of that isn't our own..."
"So we're in a galaxy far, far away...?"
"It would seem so Doctor. The esoteric machines that we've encountered during Little Saturn are the root cause of our insertion. The Orks describe it as: Teleportation."
This was the last thing he wanted to hear. Little Saturn was supposed to be a get in, get out scenario in Trimounts and a closing page on the whole Kristen Wright/Rhine Lab situation that was brought to Doctor's attention a while ago by Saria herself. With him, Patriot and Kal'tsit in charge, Little Saturn was meant to be a clean operation. Now he's in another galaxy, in part of some faulty teleportation devices.
"Did anyone else arrive here?"
"Other than Silence and Muelsyse, both Ifrit and Rosmontis are currently held in the juvenile wing of the containment area." She pointed at the other side of Dreadzone Station, many kilometers from where they're standing. Turning his head back to face her again, he then asked.
"About Dreadzone...?"
"You've seen and heard Vox. According to the accessibility of information I've dug into via their own version of our networks, Dreadzone is an illegal combat sport. Everything else in and between is what you would expect in a gladiator arena. Right now, Vox is holding us captives and he wants you to be the newest contestant on Dreadzone." Him?
"Is there a reason why?"
Saria simply shrugged as she answered. "My hypothesis would be that since you've first arrived here gravely wounded, it would be an easy show for his audience to see. I wanted to volunteer in your stead. However, he declined and gave us a two week headstart for us to have you in prime condition. We had to work with the Orks due to Vox's proclamation of"living arrangement issues"." The silver haired woman quoted the Dreadzone higher-ups with her fingers; giving off a vexed demeanor that Doctor quickly noticed. He then went back to the aforementioned species that they're now working alongside.
"And these... Orks?"
"First time seeing them myself. From what Orkimedes, the de facto leader of the Orks, told me: they were originally from a global war known simply as"The Big Scrap"until they had a similar experience with some malfunctioning teleportation technology that landed them here. Vox had them rounded up and placed as new contestants. Normally, this would garner some sort of hostility given how they acted when they first saw us but when Vox mentioned some combat involved in Dreadzone. This made the Orks quell their anger for the time being and we now have to be in this tense alliance with them."
"In practical terms: We're all stuck on the same boat."
"Exactly."
Doctor took in all the information he was presented with. It was a lot to absorb yet he managed to comprehend the situation at hand. Trapped far from home to be fighting in a felonious combat course with his allies and a group of insane, warlike aliens. He sighed out at the asininity of it all. The Orks' very nature was the cherry on top.
When had things been normal?
"So... what now?" He asked but before Saria could answer the whole containment area speakers activated and Vox's voice denoted the Doctor's appearance.
"Welcome hero to your new living quarters. Your luxury containment suite is equipped with everything you will need as a contestant on Dreadzone. Please, make yourself comfortable. You'll most likely be spending the rest of your life here."
The chatter ended, causing Saria to curse the damn announcer under her breath. Brushing the introduction aside she returned to answering Doctor's question.
"I suggest you talk to Silence and Muelsyse. They have something to show you after you've completed the first course." She then pointed with her thumb at three bridge extensions of the containment area, leading to a large building from each bridge. "Silence will be at the Mekshop on the far right while Muelsyse will be at the neighboring Medical Hut. I will be at the Field Command Center on the other side if you need me."
"Mekshop, Medical Hut, Field Command Center. Got it." Before the Vouivre could leave she was stopped by Doctor who grabbed her hand. "Wait, Saria."
"Doctor?"
"I just... want you know that we'll get through this." He squeezed her hand a little tighter. "We won't let Vox get the better of us. When we take him down, we'll all go home. All of us..."
She didn't react at first. Only when he grabbed her did she feel temporarily startled. After his declaration of freedom, she gave him a small smile, gripping their hold in response.
"Thank you, Doctor." Damn, he wished he could've taken a picture of that smile...
Letting the horned woman go, Doctor headed to the Mekshop first. At a workbench, he could see sparks coming out and short brown hair behind a welding mask. She stopped to seal off another gap on a metallic figure, letting off another stream of sparks across the shop. As soon as she was done Silence allowed a handful of drones to run minor diagnostics on the constructs. She sat down on a chair to wind down. Removing the welding mask to wipe off the sweat from her brow.
"Hey Silence!" She heard Doctor call her from the entrance of the Mekshop. He made his way to the workbench and met with the owl who he noticed her fatigue on top of her relief.
"Ah, Doctor... *yawn*Welcome...
"Are you okay Silence? You seem exhausted..."
"I'm alright, really..." Quickly waving her hand she motions Doctor to the side of the bench. "Here, let me show you this." Sliding with her chair, she pulled down the curtains to reveal two heavily armed robots. Standing as tall as he is, the robots have obvious tinkering from the Orks. Thick, sharp and mismatched plates of welded steel as an added bonus to the robot's metal construction. Black and white checkerboard patterns with Ork glyphs. Still running exhausts and other engine parts on their backs.
"These are your new battle bots." Silence introduced the two bots.
"Call me Merc, this here's Green."
"Uhh... hi sir..."
'Yeah... their names sound about right.'Doctor noted in his head at their demeanor. Merc was seasoned, confident and gunready. Green, as his name suggests, was fresh off of the military and still harbors some timidity. "How did you get them?"
"I had them requisitioned from Dreadzone's...*cough*Contestant Resources Department after their former owner was found deceased in another planet's arena..." Silence explained in a morbid way. She was way too tired to be chary about her words.
"Don't worry Boss!" Merc patted his new superior's shoulder. "You won't end up like that last guy."
"I hope not..." Green added. Shrinking himself down when his fears started to return. "I still have nightmares about it..."
"Oh suck it up Green...!" Merc smacked his compatriot in the chest, clearly annoyed.
"Given enough time, we can upgrade them to better suit the two for the more difficult challenges up ahead." Silence brought up the potential enhancements as Merc tried to keep his shoulderguard down with Doctor having to eventually press it down for him. The owl then immediately laid her head on the bench as she closed her eyes, readying for her much needed deep sleep. "*yawn*...You can speak more to Orkimedes about it. I'm going to rest for a short while, Doctor. I'd like to hear from you again... after I wake up..."
And thus she snoozed. Soft breathing against the cold, charred surface. Doctor removed the coat from her seat to cover the sleeping scientist as a replacement blanket.
"Me too, Olivia. Hopefully soon..." He said while resting his hand on her head. Turning to the bots. "Can you guys wait outside? I'm gonna talk with Orkimedes about your upgrades."
"Not a problem Boss!"
As they stepped out Doctor went to a room covered by a symbolized red bull tarp. Inside he saw the shadows move. Someone grinding and slamming metal together. Cultivating a probable new technological project. Doctor stopped at a distance and said the name.
"Orkimedes?"
"Dok." The Mek stopped in his tracks and turned to face the Doctor, though for the latter he can only mark out his shadowed outlines and red eyes.
"Not gonna take too much of your time. Just need a few answers."
"Right... Vox wonts us to be cooperatin' for 'is puny little Dreadzone scrap."
"Until we scrap his whole conglomerate."
"Hur hur... Now I seez why your mates holdz ya valuable. You iz right n' az wez get a gud fight and sum gud loot out ov it, so wez wont be breakin' 'eads. Now den, wot kan Ol' Orkimedes tellz ya?" The Ork shifted his posture as Doctor casually leaned on the black metal wall.
"Saria told me that you were all teleported here just like us."
"Yeah, wez were in da biggest fight known to Orkind since wez last landed on da same planet. Da Big Scrap, Ragnarork, or in 'umie speek: Armageddon. Evry Ork wantz a slice of da scrap but wen Gork's Grin split da stars open, all me tellyportas got naffed den zzaped the zog out of us to dis 'ere Dreadzone."
"Gork's Grin?"
"Dats wut da Warp'eads sayz. Itz where da Daemons come from to hack n' make weird of da wurld."
'Collapsals...'Doctor paid in mind the similar nature of these Daemons to the eldritch abominations of northern Ursus. Moving on, Doctor gestured to his new attire.
"What can you tell me about this armor."
"Nuffin' much. All of da best scrap n' snazzy gubbinz me Grots found around da galaxy. Ooman Karapace, Greyskin T'au 'Xperimentin' suits, n' sum Necron tech dats been in 'em. Iz void sealed, got sum recoverin' gubbinz for wenz you go down n' dat skullcap iz made for ya to hit betta dan a targetin' squig. Course, dat 'Eavy Armour of yourz don't fit around us Orks so iz only for you to be fightin' in it."
Hmm... An alloy of various materials and technology for his armour. Apparently the ones his lackies found weren't made for his fellow Orks. So he was the second option.
"Anything I need to know about you Orks?" He continued after which Orkimedes held up two shadowed fingers.
"Two fings, wez lik fightin' and wez lik winnin'. We iz Goffs, and we wuldnt settul fur anyfing less. Course wiffout our Warboss, wez just stuck 'ere n' I'm leadin' deze Boyz til wez smash Vox n' take Dreadzone."
"And who's your Warboss?" Doctor asked in earnest to which the Ork retorted in a venerable manner.
"Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, remember da name." The neurologist simply nodded his head.
"Noted. I'll end it with upgrading the battle bots and what you need for it."
"Dem tinboyz? Any Dreadzone tek. I'v already given dem proppa Orky Shootas but more shuldn't hurt der enginez. Any scrap you find, youz bring it to me n' I'll juice em up."
"Gotcha, thanks for the rundown. I'll leave you to your devices."
"About time. 'Ere." Orkimedes threw a bundle of items at the Doctor. First was a holster made out of squig leather and the other was a large pistol with three barrels. A collection of blue coils on the upper barrel and a series of vents on the muzzle of the lower barrel. The pistol looks to be created as archaic and master crafted, bearing red winged teardrop insignia reminiscent of old Laterano artistry. Almost reminds him too much of his Dead Man's Gun. "Don't let itz size fool ya. Dat Kustom Mega-Slugga maybe from da Blood Beakies n' Imperial Gard but it gotz da same Dakka as da Wurld Killa's biggest Zzap Kannon, so use it wizely."
Doctor nodded at the Ork's warning. Seeing how outwardly cautious this Mek is, he's going to have to be careful with this new sidearm. When he left the Mekshop, locking in the holster to his waist and tucking his new weapon away, Orkimedes returned to his spot. He brought out a severed, triclopian mechanical head still irradiating an eerie green light from its eyes.
"Youz n' I got our work cut out fur us..."
The head whispers an arcane dialogue, only spoken to those within his circles, current or otherwise. Orkimedes set it aside to see the cogitator connected to the head's chords as it says one sentence.
[21*THE DESTROYER LIVES/-12]
Doctor walked alongside the two battle bots, heading to the Medical Hut where Muelsyse resides. While doing so they had a small conversation along the way.
"You ever been in country? Y'know, seen combat?" Merc started on the nose.
"Me? Err, yeah! Before I came here I saw a little action... Didn't end too well... Heh... I got my legs blown off before the Orks gave me these new ones. Ah, but I was top of my class at boot camp!"
"Long as you got my back guys, hopefully we won't need any more prosthetic replacements."
"Of course sir! ...What about you Kap? If you don't mind me asking..."
"Not at all Green, not at all. As for me seeing combat? Well, let's just say..." He rubbed his armoured wrist gently where his tattoo from Acahualla lay underneath. "I've been in hell once or twice in my lifetime..."
*snarl*"'Ow much zoggin' longa?"
"Easy! I just need to add one more stitch..."
Doctor heard another annoyed growl as they reached the Medical Hut. Pushing the red crossed tarp aside, he saw Muelsyse in medical robes suturing an arm of a larger, scar covered Ork encased in all black armor. He could see more Orks in similar medical attire, i.e. Painboys, tending to their patients. Some were bleeding in a disgusting, gory fashion. Tremors splitting their arms in hald and in need of a new one, either from an expired Ork who won't be needing his anymore or have a Mek craft him one. Others were treated from DZ Striker blast wounds, which was a much more unpleasant experience for the wounded Orks as they were subject to skin grafting as the affected was then replaced with metal plates drilled into them.
When Muelsyse cut off the excess thread, she hopped down from the stool and saw the Doctor with his new mechanical escorts. This brightened her day as she ran to greet him in the form of a launching hug. Covering the black armor in Ork gore, fresh off the recent surgery.
"Doctor! You're up!"
"Hey Muelsyse, you've been busy." He commented while patting her head.
"Hehe~ We had some injuries here and there." She snuggled in closer. Clearly happy to see him again.
"Not that I don't mind this but I would like to speak with your patients about Dreadzone."
"Muu... Can we stay like this a little bit longer..." Of course she has to resort with pouting regardless of the surgical mask on her face.
"Sorry Muelsyse. I have to speak with the Orks about the upcoming Dreadzone events. We'll continue this later, promise." He says while caressing her hair and looking at her face to mask.
"Hmph... Fine." Muelsyse crossed her arms after she let go of the Doctor. Though she did one little tidbit of information to the commander. "Doctor, there's something you need to know about the Ork's anatomy."
"Their anatomy?"
"It's bizarre. The Ork's anatomy shows a unique epigenetic construct that is only found among them."
"Show me." Now he's curious as to why their anatomy caught the Elf's attention. Beckoning him to come closer covering their secret conversation with a clipboard. The elf started, speaking as briefly as she could.
"As a biologist, Ork physiology is both fascinating and terrifying in equal measure, demonstrating inhuman degrees of resilience to the point where they can withstand seemingly fatal wounds with little apparent long-term consequence." She showed him the paperwork of her examinations and several other medical records from the various Orks that had been fighting in the area. "These Orks will suffer fatal wounds in the midst of heavy fighting and will continue to do so with little regard for themselves. I've also noticed that they can grow larger and stronger than they were before their injuries and with no sign of those wounds save for some largely superficial scarring, which can easily be remedied with some sutures."
"I see." Doctor looked at one slip of paper that has a certain detail which caught his interest. "Says here that they're a fungal species?"
"Fungal with animalistic traits in their genetics." Muelsyse scratched her head when she said that. "How this is even possible is beyond me Doctor."
"I don't think we'll have to worry too much." He saw one of the Orks smack another with his own severed arm. "Far as I know, all they want is a fight and someone to point where."
"Oi Dok!" The large Ork that Muelsyse was treating called him out. He marched up to him, clamping his claw-like gauntlet to his left, stitched arm. "Orkimedes sayz you iz gunna be leadin' us to da nearest fights. Juzz so ya know, you betta giv us Goffs a winnin' fight in da arena ovverwise..."
"I'm a dead man." Doctor finished for him, which the Ork snarled in agreement at their shared mindset. "You seem lenient for allowing someone like me to lead..."
"Youz da Force Kommander, not da Boss. Deres a diffurunz. And from wut Boss Ghazghkull taught us: If you lot get stuck in a rok n' a 'ard place wiv sum 'umies, smash da rock. If dat dont wurk, smash dat same rock wiv da 'umie."
Doctor had to contemplate the context of the Ork's idiom. His hopeful, more optimistic side says that the Ork, whenever cornered in a precarious environment with someone outside his species, will have to work as a team to escape.
Or, in more plausible terms, use him as a bludgeoning tool.
Nevertheless, he played it safe.
"...Given the first stage of the qualification course. I'm sure getting Vox's head on a platter will be a cakewalk." The Orks behind the bigger chuckled in anticipation. This one will lead them to a nice scrap. However, the same large green menace wasn't moved.
"Yeah, but youz gotta be tuff like an Ork. Once we seez you ain't n' got da gutz nor spine to get duffed by dem Dreadzone gitz, Iz taking over your place."
For the newest contestant, he's praying that it won't come to it.
"Deal. Can I at least some names?"
"Da namez Gurk, youllz figur out da rest ov da Boyz' names latur." The now named Gurk says before a random explosion occurred behind the three.
*BOOM!*
"AHH! ME PEEPERZ! THEY'Z BLINDED!!!"
"Oh for the love of-CLEAN UP ON ICU #1!" Muelsyse sighed out in frustration prior to screaming out to the clean-up crew. "I'm going back in there Doctor before I get anymore shrapnel decapitations!" She shouted once again, running into the thick of it, as if the Orks getting their heads lopped off was a common theme in the Medical Hut.
"She dun't need me in dis Medhut, Dok. I'llz wait for ya at da arena loadin' dock." Gurk added with a crack to his neck before he exited the chaotic hovel. As he left, the Doctor felt someone grab his hands. Muelsyse returned with her mask down and a show of concern.
"Doctor. Promise me that you won't let me find you here..." She says, bringing their hands together. He responded by clutching hers softly.
"I'll try. If anything happens, you'll be the first to patch me up." Even if it's not the concrete promise that she wanted, the Elf is still content with his answer.
Doctor excused himself. Heading to the other side of the containment area. There, he met Saria at the Field Command Center. She was equipped with a headset and sitting on a hovering recliner with several monitors in front of her and a hand of drones floating around.
"Hello again, Doctor."
"Hey Saria." They both greeted once more as the neurologist dodged a passing drone. "What's all the hardware for?" The Vouivre pushed her keyboard attached to the seat away to bring out a data tablet filled with text.
"According to Dreadzone regulations, if we can call it that, each contestant is assigned a mission engineer to monitor and assist in their progress." She tapped the screen of another tablet carried by a drone before it flew away.
"And the drones?"
"They act as an additional hand, scavenged by the Orks."
"You'd think Vox would make it harder for all of us, with all this equipment here."
"Let's not give him any ideas, Doctor. We have an incoming call from him." She warned as she pressed a button to allow the owner in from her monitor.
"Alright, fresh meat, enough chit-chat with your girls! You and the Orks are next up in the Battledome, after "Mobius Man" and from the way he's fighting it won't be much longer. Now move it!"Vox said snidely as he rushed the Doctor into his new challenge.
"Asshole..."
"Don't let him get to you, Doctor." Saria said with her hand on his armoured shoulder as she typed on her keyboard for a quick moment. "I will aid you in any way I can from here. Gurk has already informed me that he will meet with you at the Battledome Transport Shuttle near the Medical Hut."
"Thanks Saria, wish me luck."
"Of course." She saw him walk alongside Silence's battle bots to the shuttle's loading dock. The silver haired woman can only hope and pray to any higher being out there for Doctor's safe return.
Unbeknownst to her, the station was shined by a black sun nearby.
"Can we really fit in there...?"
Gurk can only grunt in response as he pushes Merc inside the shuttle that had a small enough occupancy for the four combatants. He then grabbed Green, who was hesitant to enter, and shoved him inside before he and Doctor squeezed themselves through. They all took their respective seats as the shuttle headed towards the Battledome. During their ride, they were met by a still image video of a smiling Gleemon Vox.
"Greetings hero, or heroine! We thank you for choosing Vox Airways for your traveling needs. We do hope you have a pleasant flight. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our in-flight entertainment, courtesy of the Vox Network."
*SMACK*
The video ended with Gurk smashing the projector with his Power Klaw.
"We dunt need to see dat rubbish."
The rest of the group said nothing in like-mindedness.
The ride wouldn't take long as the Battledome anchorman Dallas Wanamaker announced the conclusion of the recent Dreadzone game while his co-host Juanita Alvaro simply looked for irregularities on her portable mirror.
"Oh...! And that's it for Mobius Man, ladies and gentlemen! That is the Eviscerator's fourth victim already this season! Next up, we have..." He checks his papers quickly. "Uhh... let's see here... And more Orks! We have a big, green and mean special today, folks! Though the usual quick material but don't worry! We have Grey Thunder and Hydro-Girl coming up later, so stay tuned to Dreadzone!"
The two announcers looked at the descending transport shuttle arriving at the perfect time. Once it landed and opened its hatches: The crowd cheered as a hulking Ork and two"upgraded"Battle Bots emerged with their weapons drawn-out before the newest contestant stepped out. An imposing figure, a smaller yet brutish Goff with thick black and white checkered armor and a serrated steel-like skull mask, spattered in the dried blood of the most recently defeated Orks from the Medical Hut. His hand glowed for a split second before a large quad-barreled, black and bronze machine gun appeared in his hands.
"Huh, the new guy is smaller and slimmer than the rest of the Orks... Well, maybe it'll be a shorter show than expected, folks! So don't bother getting up for drinks. This guy won't last two rounds." Dallas commented as Doctor stared at the floating booth with his tactically macabre helmet, one of its eyepieces slid outward slightly.
"We'll see..." The droning vocal effect from his helmet added to the dread.
A pair of heavy boxes fell from the sky and landed on the arena floor. It cracked open, revealing a pack of Swarmers before a dropship arrived to dispatch a squad of DZ Strikers for the group.
They were the first casualties.
Merc gleefully open fired with his triple-barreled Shoota, bullet casings sprayed all around while Green took more accurate shots with his iron sights, single barrel Shoota. Gurk, as any proper Goff should, charged head on at the Strikers. Cleaving one and bashing the other with his Klaw. He was supported by Doctor who fired thermoactive rounds at the Strikers shooting at him. Blasting them to burning pieces of bisected slag and taking pot shots at the swarm of incoming Bladeballs.
"Dreadzone fans! This. Is. It!"Dallas made a sudden proclamation."Let's introduce our new contestant! He's recovered friend of the Orks from a distant planet known as "Terror." He chops worlds and kills his foes in his spare time. Let's give it up for Gordrakk Ironhide and the Goffs!"
Gordrakk Ironhide?
"Is that supposed to be my stage name Gurk?" Doctor commented as he destroyed two more Strikers with bolt rounds.
"Waz Orkimedes' idea. Giv da audienz a name to rememba." Gurk answered, firing his Slugga at some pesky Bladeballs. When the dust settled and pieces of metal remained on the ground from the onslaught, they were going to proceed before.
"Merc!" Green exclaimed when he saw his companion suddenly collapse for no reason.
"Bloody 'ell..."Orkimedes called in, seeing the events from his quarters."Sumfing in da Tinboyz wirez must've been shoddy."
"What should I do?" Doctor kneeled in front of the down Battle Bot. As soon as he did, his helmet displayed a cross with a lightning symbol over it. When his laid his eyes over it, the bot started to spark in green electricity and rise. Merc finally stood up, fully recovered and pointed his Dakka-Shoota in all directions. "Cancel that..."
"Woah! What happened?! Did we win?!" The veteran machine said aloud. Before his leader could answer, a bridge emerged from the lava outer circle that leads into a tunnel. Doctor, now the named Gordrakk Ironhide, responded to Merc's questions as he reloaded his bulky firearm.
"We're just getting started."
They quickly cross over the bridge and were met by a teleported flurry of Bladeballs and Strikers. Standing their ground, the Goffs unleashed a storm of rapid firepower."Gud Dakka."As Gurk would put it. Exiting the tunnel and walking across another bridge, they came into contact with a different section of the Battledome retrofitted with a larger stadium alongside a mechanical bonfire dotted on each corner of the arena. Waiting for them are more Strikers and Bladeballs coming in via their own teleporters.
The Battle Bots started with a hail of Shoota rounds to the Bladeballs. Clearing a path for Gurk and Doctor to cleave or tear open with Klaw and Bolter the coming Strikers.
"Sir! Dropships inbound!"
Sure enough, a pair of Dreadzone came from above and quickly disembarked a horde of bloodthirsty Tremors. They leaped out of the cabin, running forward to impale them with their sabers, which the Ork gladly riposted by slamming his Klaw down on a Tremor and gutted a second which thrashed around in agony, landing a few cuts on Gurk's armor. The others kept their distance, huddling up back to back; laying suppressive fire from all around and even firing from their comrades line of sight without any hindrance.
With their bodies drenched in insectoid gore from Tremors being skewered, Klawed or blown to bits by higher-grade firepower, the Goffs proceeded to the other side of the arena. In the center lie a large bolt crank. The bolt was protruded outward and both Gordrakk and Gurk were stumped on what to do. However, for the Battle Bots.
"This node will be ours in a sec sir!"
Green pulled out a large wrench and began to turn the bolt with his full body as Merc kept watch. The timid bot was protected by a swirling force field emanating from Merc's back module. This confused the Doctor when he saw their actions before he was clarified by...
"Doctor, it's Saria. Dreadzone challenges will utilize bolt cranks to activate devices or open pathways. The downturn is that they will trigger incoming waves of enemies."
"Got it." He then tells the Ork. "We got more coming, stick close to the bolt!"
"*growl*Let 'em come! My Klaw'z gettin' itchy!"
His wish came true. In the form of more dropships filled with more Tremors and a flurry of summoned Bladeballs. The latter only needed a few shots to be turned into fiery balls of scrap. As for the coming aircraft, Doctor aimed high. A torrent of crimson disintegration light flashed. Whatever endured the direct energy beam flew off into the lava as the severed, burning cockpit was all that's left. While the second squad of Tremors who jumped out of the ship, its pilot went into panic mode after seeing its fellow flyer turned to ashes, had their bodies smashed, cut open or torn into ribbons by a blackened gored Power Klaw.
"Node's done sir!"
With that being said a bridge appeared to cross over the gap to a large structure ahead. When they marched forward a stream of laser fire was directed to their position. The group quickly ran to the barricades ahead. Taking cover behind the placed walls at the smaller of the arena, he was then notified by Merc.
"Bossman, that's a Stalker turret with a shield upgrade!" He explained their circumstance before showing him a metal stick attached to a green orb. "We can fry that thing's computer with our EMP and Green can give him a nice care package!" He pointed to other bot holding a manhole cover sized bomb. The heavy laser fire soon began to chip away their cover as Doctor gave the order.
"Do it before we're out in the open!"
Merc shifted away from his cover with Doctor. He went to Gurk as he saw the turret only aiming at the previous position. Pulling the pin he threw the shock explosive at the Stalker. The turret sparked and stopped firing, allowing Gurk to run forward, open the Stalker's hull with his Klaw, making way for Green to toss the Tankbusta Bomb in. The commandeering Striker can only look in horror as it was magnetically clamped to the explosive before the Ork closes the hatch and stood back to watch the fireworks. The Stalker cockpit blew open, its weapon pieces flying in all directions. Some lodging deep into the arena walls.
Doctor gave them all the thumbs up with the crowd cheering them in awe and grandiose music playing for their completion of the qualification course.
Soon Dreadzone and all of the Shadow Sector will know the force of destruction coming from the Goffs, led by Gordrakk Ironhide.
"Little victories..."