Chapter 6: An Explosive Present
Piles of green bodies.
A roaring arena, with its audience demanding blood.
An ork boss watching with great interest, not minding seeing his own men being felled.
A strange psychic sidekick that has strange and unnerving senses.
A nob looking around for a snazzgun to shoot with.
And a blue power suited intruder, surviving and fighting for their life.
Cularities felt their body ache. They had never ached this much before. Cularities did feel a small amount of fatigue in their muscles as they constantly fought to prevent their death. However, a deeper kind of fatigue is starting to affect them. It was mental fatigue. Ork after ork came to them relentlessly, and there seemed to be no apparent end to them. Even when Cularities could restore their stamina just from draining the life force from their combatants, the prolonged battle, hours on end, without stopping, and with little time to catch a breath, was making it hard to continue. They felt that as more time passed on, there was an increasing chance they might slip up and bite the bullet in the end.
There has been countless orks they shot down with their arm cannon, while there have been some that have been pummeled to death, others that had their faces bombed into bloody paste, and few that had their own weapons used against them in one way or another. There had even been a time where an ork had actually grabbed onto Cularities' Grapple Beam and threw them at the wall. Cularities retaliated by reeling themself towards the ork to deliver a strike to their head, and then followed up with a fatal blow to their skull with a charged shot.
The worse kind of orks that Cularities had to face were the Nobs. Though there were few, they certainly had the combat experience to back Cularities to a corner several times. They also had superior strength compared to the other ork boys.
Cularities' upgrade menu had looked like this when they unlocked their Grapple Beam power-up.
Energy Part: cost 199
Energy Reserve: cost 499
Missile Tank: cost 499
Energy-to-Missile Conversion: cost 499
Aeion Tank: cost 199
Aeion Generator: cost 199
Cross Bomb: cost 399
Power Bomb: cost 999
Force Ball: cost 299
Death Ball: cost 449
Spazer Beam: cost 399
Wide Beam: cost 399
Laser Beam: Cost 399
Plasma Beam: cost 399
Wave Beam: cost 399
Ice Beam: cost 399
Diffusion Beam: cost 399
Accel Charge: cost 349
Spin Boost: cost 399
Scope Visor: cost 199
Thermal Visor: cost 249
X-Ray Visor: cost 249
Dark Visor: cost 249
Echo Visor: cost 249
Command Visor: cost 499
Powered Armorsuit: cost 499
Scan Pulse Radar: cost 499
Lightning Armor: cost 499
Beam Burst: cost 499
Phase Shift: cost 499
Phantom Cloak: cost 499
Flash Shift: cost 499
They had unlocked Energy Parts several times during this fight, especially during certain pivotal fights where their energy became dangerously low. Their Energy Meter had shot up to 1099/1099 energy, but they didn't dare get careless with the horde of orks that rushed to them in their battle frenzy. However, during the fight for their life against the ork mob that menaced them, Cularities also unlocked several other upgrades after getting Grapple Beam.
They had unlocked Energy Reserve, Missile Tank, Energy-to-Missile Conversion, Aeion Generator, Force Ball, Cross Bomb and Spazer Beam.
Energy Reserve acted like an extra Energy Tank, but in a different way. Only when Cularities' energy had completely depleted or if they had manually activated it can the energy inside of the Reserve Tank can restore their own energy. A mildly useless upgrade, unless they can get enough energy for a fourth Energy Part and then spring for a quick kill to fill up their reserves, otherwise the orks would damage them before they had the chance to fill it.
The Missile Tank upgrade unlocked the ability to fire missiles from their arm cannon. However, it was only when they later unlocked the Energy-to-Missile Conversion upgrade that the ork enemies began dropping things other than the dithering capsules of energy that Cularities could pick up. The missiles surprised the orks by a great amount when Cularities unleashed a volley on them on occasion. Cularities quickly found out that they could only carry five at a time, and figured that every expansion of their total missile ammo will cost them more energy in the future. Later on, Cularities noticed the orks carrying thick metal tower shields, as though adapting to Cularities' new arsenal.
During the fight, Cularities noticed that their Aeion Tank hadn't been filling. It was this reason alone that Cularities decided to unlock the Aeion Generator upgrade. Due to the nature of how slow it was recharging, Cularities quickly guessed that the generator power-up could be upgraded further, as with the Aeion Tank upgrade.
Force Ball and Cross Bomb had been a pleasant surprise to Cularities. Usually when Cularities attacked with their Boost Ball power-up, their inertia usually halts their speed when their morph ball form charges with kinetic energy and charges forward, damaging whatever they make physical contact with, such as an ork. But with Force Ball, Cularities could 'bounce' off of an enemy and retain their speed. The new strategies Cularities could employ made their head swim, though it heavily reminded Cularities of the metal ball bearing inside of the pinball machines. With the Cross Bomb power-up unlocked, Cularities could leave a trail of these bombs that explode in six directions of up down, left, right, back and forwards. Cularities could unleash a great swath of destruction wherever they went, and the path of death they would leave in their wake.
The Spazer Beam upgrade had certainly surprised Cularities as much as it surprised the orks. Cularities surmised that acquiring the Wide Beam later on would increase their arm cannon's overall lethality. Cularities was fortunate that they didn't need to aim as much when fighting off the orks that assailed them, since it meant less time wasted on careful aiming. Especially when combined with Rapid, Scatter, and Short Beams. The damage was absolutely outrageous, obscenely ridiculous, and extraneously dangerous. It was like looking at a miniature universe constantly exploding in front of Cularities, and every unfortunate ork targeted was in the way of its tiny 'big bang'. It was through these upgrades that Cularities were unlocking was giving them a fighting chance against the nobs.
Tarog was quick to notice that Cularities was quickly adapting against his army. Rather than being dissuaded from Cularities' growing power, Tarog hungered for it instead. "Right. I fhink it's time I stepped in. Dhis is gonna be LOADS of fun! Razza. You watch fer any openings." Tarog the Huntboss lumbered behind his throne before pulling a spear from it before making his way to Cularities.
"We'z gotta be lucky!" Razza shouted as he stabbed his staff into the ground.
And here comes what I was fearing. Let's get this over with.
Cularities barely dodged the spear tip in time. The huntboss jabbed with sheer precision and speed, as though the giant ork had either been training all their life to wield his spear, or extensively used his spear in much of his combat engagements or hunting big game. When Cularities aimed their arm cannon at Tarog, he would pull a nearby ork to absorb the shots. Anytime Cularities prepared their arm cannon to fire missiles at Tarog, Razza would zap them out of the air with his mind powers. When Cularities tried to disarm Tarog of his spear, they were pulled off of their feet every time as he swung his weapon with such force that Cularities was forced to detach. Anytime Cularities tried to get close to Tarog in their morph ball form, Tarog responded by coating the floor in what seemed to be flaming napalm. He had been patiently observing Cularities' strategies, and Tarog formulated his own plans to counter Cularities in turn. Cularities also noticed that any time they had to divert their attention to a nearby ork, Tarog would rush in and interfere. Tarog prevented Cularities from killing more of his orks, which prevented Cularities from absorbing more energy.
Cularities was at a disadvantage. It was as if every chance or small window of opportunity he could exploit had became narrower. Cularities had the sneaking suspicion that both Razza and Tarog's mere presence has charged the air within the central trophy room chamber. They knew then that they would quickly lose soon.
Despair forced Cularities to desperation.
Using much of their energy, they bought the Powered Armorsuit upgrade, followed by another Energy Part to completely top their Energy Meter, followed again by one more upgrade.
A flash of light was all it took for hard-plated armor to appear and encapsulate Cularities' Zero Suit.
Cularities punched at the nearest ork, and they swore they could have heard their bones crack from the blow. Cularities had became stronger.
Another ork in their blind spot tried to shank their side, only for the blade to scrape across armor. Cularities become damage resistant.
The offending weapon was pulled from the ork's hand for it to be used as a crude surgical tool to gouge their past owner's neck and slotted forcefully into their ear in two deft movements. Cularities became faster.
The light blue of the Fusion Suit had been replaced with white armor, at least as far as Cularities could see. The spines on their left arm became covered with a white gauntlet. Armor segments became magnetically fused between each other to form a defensive layer of protection that aided in shielding the wearer from further injury and attacks. Energy that was spent in repairing the Zero Suit and closing the gaps in the torn armor now adjusted to restore the solid metal of the armored suit itself. This is the Power Suit in its unlocked form.
It reminded them of Samus Aran's power suit, save for the coloration that was quite different from hers.
WAIT WAIT WAIT WHO IS SHE?!
Tarog blinked a few times before pointing at Cularities in an accusing manner. "Oi! Where did dhat armor come from?! It... It looks REALLY shiny!"
Razza growled in alarm. "I fhink I know what's happening! He's using our life! He used our life to grow his power! Every kill he gets makes him stronger! If dhis keeps going, we won't have enough boys to manage our home, or take Catachan!"
"Is dhat right?" Tarog growled lowly. "Dhen I guess it's time we end dhis fight, and get to dhe good bit where we take his shiny armor bits."
Tarog was a green blur as he pressed his advance against Cularities. Despite their newfound strength, defense, and speed, Cularities was caught off their guard from the sudden rush. On instinct, Cularities became a morph ball and rolled out of danger, only for Tarog to launch his mechanical hand at them. The sudden change in their tactic resulted in surprise as Cularities became caught by Tarog's iron grasp. The mechanical hand was also attached to some strong wire, which Tarog reeled back as quickly as he could. The ork huntboss then proceeded to slam the morph ball into the ground several times. Much to the relief and despair of Cularities, the ground was covered in dense ork bodies.
On the other hand, Cularities decided to try and absorb Tarog's energy directly through his mechanical hand. Tarog noticed this as it happened. "Haha! Kinda tickles! Like dunking a hand in cold water!" With a pull of a safety release, Tarog separated his mechanical hand from his arm, which left Cularities trapped in the metal prosthetic. Tarog then doused the morph ball in flames. The pain was agonizing to Cularities.
The spout of fire ceased, making Tarog look at his flamethrower on his other arm. "... Huh? Oh. Looks like I ran out of burna fuel. I thought I had more." He then looked down at the charred morph ball, burn marks having been scorched into their form. A wicked smile spreads across Tarog's face. "Heh. Looks like I won."
A cough emanated from the morph ball. "Worst... fight... of... my life..."
A surprised expression painted Tarog's face. "You're still alive after all dhat? Ha ha ha! You're a 'ard one, I'll give ya dhat! Especially when you're jumping around like dhe eldar! But I also gotta admit. You gave me a pretty good fight. Any last words before I krump ya?" Tarog asked.
Cularities was hoping to use their latest unlocked upgrade as a last resort. However, they were running out of options. "Would you like a gift?"
"A gift, eh?" Tarog parroted the word bemusedly. A chuckled escaped his lungs. "What could a punt-able little ball like you could give as a gift odher than a good fight?"
"It's small, but it is packed with power. Don't blink." Cularities then laid a bomb.
A Power Bomb.
One second later, the entire room erupted in a flash of white. The concentrated explosion had enough force to launch Tarog with tremendous force, making him collide with a wall with enough force to knock loose all of its trophies, which landed on top of the huntboss. A heatwave expanded outwards, burning bodies, both living and dead. Orks and gretchins alike fell backwards and clawed at the air before becoming completely vaporized. The victims further away from the center of the detonation were less disintegrated, but were otherwise in various states of burned and medium-well done. Ash quickly filled what remained of the central trophy room chamber. The mechanical hand that entrapped Cularities had vanished, as though it had melted and splashed away. Cularities stood up in their armored form to drink in the destruction they wrought. Whatever energy the orks and gretchins had now floated freely in the room, and Cularities, though exhausted from the constant fighting, used their Grapple Beam to quickly gather it all.
Afterwards, Cularities checked their upgrade menu. They noticed a few important and new upgrades to unlock.
Varia Suit: cost 599
Cularities felt sure that unlocking such a power-up could better protect them from high-temperature environments.
Spider Magnet: cost 199
The ability to climb on ferrous surfaces, though a slight downgrade from the Spider-Ball power-up, does enable Cularities with the ability to shoot from surfaces they could magnetically cling to. This upgrade might be something to consider acquiring soon.
Rare Energy-to-Power Bomb Conversion: cost 999
Alas, unlocking a way for this type of ammo to resupply Cularities was a hefty investment. Cularities didn't understand why it was labeled as a 'rare' upgrade, but he hypothesized that acquiring the energy to convert into a Super Bomb would be scarce to collect.
Speed Boost: cost 999
An incredibly pricey, but powerful power-up. This could be especially useful in evading especially fast predators and enemies. Or it can also be used to run straight through predators and enemies.
Spin Boost: cost 399
Cularities isn't sure what kind of power-up this is, but they felt fairly sure that it merely adds a double-jump ability to their repertoire of abilities, if they were already somersault-spinning in the air that is.
Grapple Voltage: cost 349
Cularities pondered on this upgrade for a bit before realizing it might have something to do with being able to drain energy, but doing so at a distance. Cularities also thinks that they can also empty their own energy supply and supply it to whatever the beam attaches to.
Accel Charge: cost 349
Cularities imagined that unlocking this power-up meant that their charge duration for their arm cannon would be reduced. They noted that it typically took three and a half seconds before the charge became fully powered. Remembering that, Cularities felt quite stupid that they could have focused on upgrading this more than any other upgrade.
Threat Proximity Radar: cost 99
This could be some kind of danger-sensing radar that would expand Cularities' spacial awareness. It would have helped them dodge attacks coming from different angles more efficiently, they thought.
MoveSense: cost 299
It was a type of dodging power that could come in handy. Cularities would have to remember to unlock it when they had the time. Used in conjunction with their melee counter technique, this power-up would become indispensable.
Super Missiles: cost 349
Freeze Missiles: cost 399
Homing Missiles: cost 299
And then there were the missile upgrades. They certainly seemed more affordable compared to every other upgrade, but also opened up a plethora of combat strategies. They were potentials and possibilities that Cularities was excited for, and they were eager to discover what they could develop into.
Zero Suit: cost 0
Cularities didn't know why this upgrade was completely free. Though it was free like the Energy Drain power-up, the name of the power-up itself seemed disconcerting. They felt that they would have to explore it later. If accessing this suit meant that they would have zero defenses to protect them, then it wouldn't be the upgrade to play around with while in ork-inhabited spaces when inside a dangerous subterranean secret base.
However, the name that popped into Cularities head during their fight with the orks baffled them to no end. Why did that name have any significance to them? Cularities' head began to develop another migraine, but they shook their head and decided that they would rather press on.
Who is Samus?
[Attention. Attention. This. Unit. Requires. Assistance. Broadcasting. On. Shortwave. Imperial. Vox-cast. Channels. Respond. Immediately.] A robotic voice seemed to have called out. Cularities could hear them despite the static in their voice.
Cularities blinked. They didn't know their suit had a radio. After fumbling on what to do, they decided to use their own suit to talk back to this rogue signal. "... Uh... I am receiving your signal. Who is this?"
[Serial. Number. C. M. E. 3. 5. 7. 4. Magos. Boltus. Albrakan. Of. P. O. R. Dash. 2. Auxiliary. Explorator. Temple. ... Respond. To. Our. Communique. With. Identity.]
"Oh. Uh..." Cularities wasn't sure how to respond to this new fellow. "My name is Cularities. I'm... new around here. Is there an identifier I can use when addressing you informally?"
[Boltus.] They answered.
Cularities breathed a sigh. "Very well. You are free to call me Cular. Now to the matter at hand. Are you in danger of some kind? Maybe I can help you out."
[Within. Mekboss. Machine. Workshop... This. Unit. Was. Captured. And. Detained. Interrogated. Probed. And. Partially. Dismantled... Require. Assistance... Auditory. Receptors. Detected. Conflict... Xenos. Orkoid. Organism. Population. Severely. Reduced... Assumed. Forces. Outside. Underground. Facility. Besieged. Xenos. Orkoid. Organisms... Calculated. Probability. Of Outside. Forces. Being. Comprised. Of. Human. Forces. At. 34. Percent... This. Percentage. Was. Viewed. As. Acceptable. Risk. Parameters. To. Warrant. Creating. Distress. Signal.]
"Really? What do you look like and where can I find you?" Cularities asked as they began jogging to the late Scraptooth's machinist workshop.
[Query. Suggests. Unfamiliarity. Of. Adeptus. Mechanicus... This. Unit. Is. Strapped. To. Xenos. Worktable... Mechadendrite. And. Extremity. Functionality. Limited. Or. Damaged... Seek. Unit. Wearing. Red. Robes... Current. Status: Immobilized.]
Oh wait. I think I remember seeing some metal man wearing a crimson tunic. ... I wonder how they will respond after seeing me again? I wonder how they'll react after I saved them? Ah! And didn't I share my name to that giant ork mechanic with him in the room? Hm... Oh well. I guess I'll cross that bridge and find out for myself.
Cularities began to run back towards Scraptooth's workshop. At least the map can help them trace their steps back easily enough. And since there was still some energy drifting in this chamber, Cularities might as well gather up some more and focus on buying some upgrades that they felt were much needed for their survival. "I'm on my way." Cularities replied as they made their way back to the mechanic workshop.
The halls of the underground ork base was eerily silent. The walls, floors, and ceilings remained mostly glass due to Cularities' power bomb being unleashed earlier. Being in an enclosed space, the hot heatwave unleashed by the power bomb flowed through the tunnel systems, killing and burning the vast majority of orks and gretchins that wanted to fight the intruder. However, being in such claustrophobic spaces had pressure-cooked them as a result. Stepping over body upon body, it made Cularities wonder how powerful their power bombs really are. They would have to find out what its effective range is in an unpopulated area at some point in the future.
Fortunately, the range of their power bomb didn't threaten the mekboss workshop since the air was heavily ventilated to the outside of the chamber. It didn't take Cularities too long to find the metal man strapped to the table. They cautiously approached the table, reached out for the metal shackles and banged at them to test their strength. Despite looking like it could cause several kinds of tetanus, Cularities was able to use their arm cannon as an effective shackle-breaking tool. Once the shackles were broken, Cularities took a step back as the robed metal man raised himself up from the table and stood up. He seemed to be favoring one leg over the other, using the table as a crux. The metal man looked at his savior. "Thank. You... You. Are. Not. Human."
There was a slight pause before Cularities shrugged. "I guess not. But I'm human enough to know that you need help getting out of here. Do you know where we can find an exit? The way to the upper levels are blocked at the moment. Huntboss Tarog activated some kind of lockdown."
"Assessing. Options... Calculating..." The mechanical man in red robes hobbled forward, despite their bad leg. Cularities saw that there were some extra machines that sprouted out of their new friend's body, but they thought it would be impolite to ask about such things at the moment. The metal man reached for a metal rod that they began using as a makeshift walking stave. "... Options. Have. Been. Calculated... Orkoid. Xenotechnology. Cannot. Function. Without. Orkoid. Presence... Psychic. Gestalt. Field. Of. Orkoid. Nature. Is. Needed. To. Power. Orkoid. Technology..."
"So what you are saying is that their technology can only work if they're... nearby? That sounds like an effective way to prevent your technology from being used by your enemies. But then again, these orks are dumb, angry, and only ever think about fighting." Cularities said, crossing their arms and looking at one of the gretchin bodies they first fought. They shook their head. "A pitiable and strange people."
"Proposal... We. Collect. Promethium. And. Bomb. Charges... We. Plant. Them. On. The. Ventilation. Devices. And. The. System. They. Connect. To... We. Can. Make. Our. Way. Out. Through. The. Vents." Boltus explained, pointing at the boxy highway of metal vents hanging above their heads.
"We can use my missiles." Cularities suggested.
"Where. Are. They?" Boltus asked.
Cularities demonstrated by priming their arm cannon to fire a missile, the nozzel of their arm cannon opened up to reveal the tip of the missile payload.
"... Interesting..." Boltus announced, staring at Cularities' arm for a long time.
Cularities felt slightly awkward. "... Uh. So. Want me to scout ahead of us as we go through the vents? I have the mobility for it."
"You. Can. Turn. Into. A. Ball. And. Roll. Through. The. Vents." Boltus added, not breaking their glassy gaze. After a pause, Boltus began pressing for information. "Explain. How. This. Spherical. Transformation. Is. Done."
"Do you really think that sort of question is more important than getting out of this underground ork base? Alive?" Cularities asked flatly.
There was another long pause. "Very. Well... I. Will. Follow. You... Assist. Me. With. My. Impaired. Mobility. When. Needed."
Cularities nodded before aiming their arm cannon and blasting a hole in the overhead ventilation system.
A pained groan disturbed the ash.
A charred body reached out of the ash piles.
Tarog, despite their injuries, was still alive after surviving a point-blank explosion of a power bomb. The trophies that covered him seemed to have protected him from the sudden 'surprise gift' that Cularities had given him. With armor burnt off and half of their skin gone, Tarog looked around his trophy room. "... Whoa. I survived dhis? I must have been really lucky. Razza. You around?" Tarog coughed as he struggled to get to his feet.
Silence answered him. Tarog painfully stood up and looked around the room, noticing how there was so much ash filling it. That was also when he saw the scraps of bones that littered the lower level hallways that snaked into the deeper cave systems, and the cooked bodies located further down.
Tarog went to the spot where he saw Razza last and scraped at the ashes with his last good hand, nearly falling down as his legs buckled from strain. A wicked, charred snarl cracked his face. "Oh Razza. You gave me all of your luck, did ya? We could have torn fhrough dhe cosmos, but dhat git ruined dhat plan. You were an odd weirdboy, even if I don't understand yer visions most of dhe time. You would ave' made me proud if ya still lived, and I bet Gork and Mork might have been proud of ya too." He then gently allowed the ash to pass from his hand.
There was a sudden thumping. Skark came running into the trophy room, brandishing an oversized, cobbled-together minigun. "I'm here! Is dhe fun... still... Going? ... Uh." Skark paused and looked around the room dumbly. A grunt of frustration followed. "Looks like I missed out on dhe fun. What dhe zog happened here?"
Tarog coughed, but gestured to Skark. "Over here."
Skark looked surprised as he approached the huntboss. "Whoa! Huntboss Tarog! You look like an overcooked squig!"
"I feel like one too. Get to me chair and deactivate dhe lockdown. I fhink I need a painboy." Tarog said with a slow and struggled strain as he tried to get up, only to waver weakly and fall to his side with a thump.
Skark nodded before going to the throne that now had all of its trophies burned away. With the lockdown lifted, the orks that had no way to enter the central chamber from the upper levels were now able to come through. What they saw surprised them. They quickly picked up their huntboss to deliver him to the ork equivalent of an infirmary. The gretchins were all tasked with sweeping up all the ash and picking up the dead orks and gretchins that clogged the tunnels leading to the lower chambers. The orks that have returned from their hunting patrols were now delegated to searching high and low for any armored men and conspicuous spheres that can climb on walls.
The painboys, orks that have a loose understanding of medical care, worked as quickly as they could to mend the burn wounds that Tarog had sustained. It would be a while before he would fully recover.
As the mad docs sowed new skin onto his body, taken from gretchins that 'unwillingly volunteered', Tarog silently swore that once he was fully recovered, he would find Cularities and get his revenge.
A/N: Did you know that the A/N: stands for 'Authors Notes'? They usually contain some kind of message that either has important information in regards to the story, or is a random message that contains whimsically shared thoughts.