Carmen regretted travelling by foot. Reaching this far through the outer city wastelands had called for a several-hour travel through sunrise, and the barren landscape and temperature did not make it any more enjoyable. But time was never a problem for an ageless being, and thus her safety was a more pressing concern; if her somewhat shady goals were to be carried out, her energy would best be saved for the return trip.
The young woman was uncannily flawless in appearance, with tanned skin and neck-length hair which hung in waves down to her neck. A beige longcoat trailed behind her in light winds, with loose matching trousers and a grey top beneath. Her height was modest, but certainly did not impact the confidence of her strides, and nor that of the two companions which loyally followed after her.
Neither of the pair seemed to mind the journey - nor much else for that matter, as they lifelessly tailed behind in servile silence. To the left of Carmen, a 7-foot-tall, monstrous humanoid creature edged onwards with an uneven gait, its slit eyes held emptily upon its master. At first glance, it bore resemblance to a shark, complete with leathery skin, fins running down its back, a matching tail, and exposed gills stretching over its large biceps. Five of the creature's six limbs terminated in sharp, bone-white points, and bone-like plates of identical colour coated the entirety of its underside. Its remaining limb, specifically its right arm, supported a bulbous 4-foot crab's claw attached to the joint - or rather appeared to be supported by it, given its huge weight and lack of bipedal feet. The inner of the claw was laced with living gums - withholding rows of serrated teeth, further complimenting its predatory appearance.
Her second companion was more focused on the trio's surroundings, hovering a few feet above and opposite the shark-like creature. It appeared to be a cross between a rabbit and a dragonfly, possessing the body of the former, yet the wings and abdomen of the latter. A pair of mandibles fitted grotesquely beneath its pink button nose; three small ocelli rested above it, and two reddish eyes were planted obliquely on either side. Its elongated, gangly legs hung down from where it floated, and a feint purple sheen glistened beneath its dusky fur.
"Three ships tracked... and all of them got totalled?" Carmen sighed upon reaching her destination, laying a hand upon the what remained of the recent crash site. Molten metal and charred dirt surroundings encircled a damaged, single-manned spaceship, an event which had occurred no more than half a day ago. Indeed, this was not the first misfortune she encountered since her arrival on Mystique; by their frequency, she suspected it was the planet's atmosphere that caused foreign crafts to malfunction. "But," she voiced cheerily to herself, "this one has led me somewhere interesting."
The young woman helped herself to climb atop the wreckage, a feat she performed effortlessly despite her small frame. A quick outer search was enough to confirm anyone inside there had since evacuated, which was somewhat a relief. But more importantly, it gave a clear, spectacular view of what laid ahead; something which could just make her journey worthwhile after all.
If she didn't know any better, it looked as if she had encountered a war fleet, and a particularly modern one at that. Their designs were distinctly different from those which frequented the city, suggesting they were not affiliated, but their proximity to the city determined they were not enemies either. It was a longer shot than she anticipated, but she was sure to have a better chance negotiating here than with official transport.
What she assumed to be the fleet's base was nearby, an eerie structure held firm by webbed walls and supports. She was hardly hiding atop the shipwreck; if the locals were hostile, they likely would have fired at her already, but not before her flying accompaniment spotted them first. Developed as a scouting creature, its eyesight and hearing were more developed than most other lifeforms, detecting the slightest of changes in its environment. So far, no actions had been shown that warranted its attention, letting Carmen assume she was free to approach.
And so she jumped down from the craft's cockpit, and the trio headed calmly towards the fort in search of an entrance. Judging by the size of the fleet, they were greatly outnumbered here, enough to make her dismiss the idea of a silent infiltration. Rather, she would aim to keep this a peaceful visit - at least, for precisely as long as her hosts were willing.