Irradiant
Sky Blue
Ivar
AtomicEmperor
Audacious
Shin Ghost Note
NoriWasHere
FernStone
LimeTime966
AThousandCursesAbandoned Facility, Five Hours South of Ehlm
@SporkoBug
Ivy stared at Wren, then at the worried faces of the soldiers. They were expecting her to make sense of this, but even she could barely grab what they were actually looking at.
She had to keep it together, for them.
“From the data, it looks like Umbra is making some kind of Wild weapon. Something we've never seen before. A living, breathing weapon. How far along this project they are, I don't know. Where they're going to strike, I don't know either…”
A hand pressed to her chin in thought. “...Mr. Solen will know what to do.”
Back at the Ghost Corp Head Quarters, Three Hours East of Elhm
General Solen stood in the war room as Ivy, backed up by Wren and the soldiers, told him what had transpired. The computer chip was handed over, and the general inspected it before passing it to one of his researchers.
”Scrub it for data, leave no digital stone unturned.” He said quietly, before turning back to Ivy.
“You've done well. Take some rest, Miss Tenebra. I won't disturb you from your research any further.”
Ivy nodded and turned, taking her leave. So too did most of the guards. That left the general, Wren, Mimi if they came with, and a few dedicated captains of the council. The general gestured for Wren.
“Come here, I need to show you something.”
They circled the holographic table in the center of the room, lit up with blue buildings of Elhm. The map shifted, revealing the edge of the city, and a tracked projectile that appeared to have fallen from the sky, and impacted the outskirts of Elhm.
“While you were on your mission, we tracked a pod from the Umbra space station that landed just outside Elhm. Three signatures left it, but one went offline in the first few minutes of landing. We tracked the two remaining signatures to a building just within Elhm.”
The general glanced up to meet Wren's. “With the new intel you and Miss Tenebra brought in, we scanned their signatures. They have Wild hearts, which makes them fit the description of being these super soldiers Umbra was developing.”
The map zoomed in on the signatures. The general gestured to them. “What we need to know is if they are, in fact, the same project as denoted in the Umbra research notes. We also need to know how dangerous they are.
“Of course, entering Elhm as a battalion will only bring unwanted attention.”
General Solen's steeled gaze glanced at one of the captains of the council standing at the table. “High Captain Le Fray?”
Le Frey, dressed in soldier garb and a mask over his face, stood at attention. “Yes, General?”
“I'm teaming you up with Wren. You both will capture these signatures, and bring them back to our headquarters for a full analysis.
“Understood?”
Le Frey nodded. “Yes, General.”
The general nodded back, before coming around the table to stand in front of Wren. He clipped a small pin to Wren's shirt. Denoting an elevation of status and rank.
“I'm promoting you to captain, Wren. You've served us faithfully, and you deserve it. Now you will be able to command soldiers in your battalion, when the chance arises. You will also be afforded more expensive equipment.
“I hope you'll serve me faithfully.”
North Ehlm, Val's Safehouse
@rabidbacon, @Herald, @Qia, [@AbstractProxy]
"For now, maybe you can tell me a bit more about what the Dust is going on with you two Oh, and if I die on this little trip. Your asses are haunted. Just a disclosure.”
VV nodded, unsure if the man was trying to tell a joke or not. “I'm already haunted, so another ghost won't hurt.”
“We were part of an experiment. Umbra Corp. They did something to us, changed us. We don’t know the full extent of it, but that's why those raiders were probably after us.”
VV nodded as A recounted their short tale. ”I've tried to remember more beyond the past few days, but beyond a few scant memories, we're both uh, pretty empty. The scientists were pretty cruel. Said they enjoyed whatever they were doing…
“Not that it ended. Apparently if we get off track, they'll shoot us from the station. I don't want to put you in danger, but we should be fine as long as we're heading towards the King.”
“Var mor, var hal, Coronal ik ar! Sal linta val mor. Deshu... sal wenta. Teshuel arael.”
As the Wild within VV's mind translated, a look of horror overtook VV's face. It was hard to dismiss his words when the Wild took up the entire space to the ceiling. She was stuck craning her head up to him, and couldn't help but shiver at his teeth.
So the Wild wouldn't betray his King, but wouldn't attack them right then and there. It was comforting, in the same way a barbed wire fence was against the skin. Without his help, they would be quite powerless. But… This was the only way forward. VV just had to convince herself that they would figure out something, even if the Wild would be able to tell that her hope was constricted by fear.
Then, a miraculous event took place. Something VV had never seen before, and could barely understand. The massive Wild and Val stared at each other for a long, long moment, before the Wild disappeared. Into thin air!
“He has moved to possess your friend. He resides within him now. And your friend is now burdened with a double-edged power.” The shadow said within her mind.
VV's head tilted curiously, before her eyes widened in alarm as Val collapsed. “Val?!”
“He’ll be fine. Instead, you should greet the new Wild here.” Said the shadow.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
Val was faster than her on the draw, rifle already pointed and waiting while she fumbled with her new-found pistol.
"Uhhh... friend of yours, ladies?”
VV stood there, gun pointed at the masked Wild, staring for a long moment.
“I have met her before. She is an old soul. Changer of Forms. She's a healer, not a fighter.” The shadow offered VV in her mind.
“You sure?” VV thought back, her inner voice laced with anxiety.
“You really think it wise to doubt me?”
VV pursed her lips, before she lowered her pistol. “Yeah… Yeah, she's our friend.”
She, instead, took a step forward and offered her hand out to Teresa. “We have space for another by the fire. Why don't you come join us?”
The Next Morning
The group were once again gathered by the fire, swapping stories and making plans as the storm outside howled. Eventually, everyone took rest, sleeping while the storm raged.
The bright red skies of the morning greeted them, clear as could be save the standard dust flitting around. The storm had tuckered itself out and withdrew from their area of the world.
The group, exhausted, were still tucked away in their tents. They were, at the moment, unaware of their ‘guests’.
Le Frey had led them, leaning up against the wall, peeking out to spy on tents. His eyes quickly darted down to a GPS-like device, with signatures highlighted right in front of them. They were in the right spot. Now they just had to figure out how to take them.
Le Frey and Wren were well-armed. Disguised like Lawless, but with Ghost-manufactured bullet-proof vests on underneath. They held AE rifles, pistols, and AE EMPs (from their cousins on the space station).
Le Frey spoke low through his mask to Wren. ”I vote we arrest them one by one, as silently as possible. The marks and their friends. If you're ready, let's go. We'll take the first tent together.”
