Oh, right… that fateful mission in the underground base.
You want to know what else happened, huh?
Yeah, I get it. I'd be pissed too if a story just ended like that.
I'll start a little earlier, then. Just for some context.
I'm sorry to say we blew our cover pretty much immediately. But it ended up not being so bad, somehow. Between me, Rurin, Diantha and Angelina, we're a tough enough crowd that things are still going smoothly. Too smoothly, maybe? Not that I'm complaining.
Like, what's with these earthmovers? They're so slow. Did they slack on their training or something?
"Maybe we just caught them off guard," Ru figures. "They're more relaxed here, plus our disguises are probably making them hesitate."
"Nah, they're just wusses," Dia confirms. "I punched one in the face, and he actually fell down."
"A far cry from the guys who jumped us in Minoaoa Village, that's for sure," Ru wryly states. "At least I won't have nightmares about 'em anymore."
I dodge and slash at the last earthmover with my laser sword, forcing him to his knees. "Ugh, you guys all move the same. Like, lower-level mooks to pad out the endgame content before the final boss type rap."
"I… find that offensive," the earthmover grunts. I roll my eyes and knock him out.
A glint appears in my periphery – Bluebell?
What you got for me?
Issa stairs. Thata way. Heavy metal barriers, no is good for break. Is maybe good iffa mean kicks friend is here?
Don't worry about that. Just stay with me for now.
"This way, guys." As Bluebell settles on my back, I lead the team further into the south wing, and soon the stairs come into view.
"Huh. For some reason, I thought this place would only have one story," Rurin mutters. "Wishful thinking, right?"
The lower level is a dark corridor lined with dim lights. So far there's only one door, and it's really big.
"Blast chamber," Angelina says. "Further down, two more."
"Curious," Diantha mutters. "What could they have here that runs the risk of exploding?"
"Or going ballistic," I correct. "Most of the contained subjects were probably biotools."
"Hmm… here's a smaller door." Rurin touches the handle on a door between the first two blast doors. "Locked. Maybe it's the monitor room."
"Let's see." I activate my electromagnetic wave projector with a click, and the lock malfunctions and disengages. "Hehe. Open pumpkin."
The door swings open, revealing a row of monitors showing what's inside the three blast chambers.
I scrunch my eyebrows, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. "What are these… um, things?"
"Cute," Ru says.
"Creepy," Angie mutters.
"Aw, what? Look at 'em," Ru objects.
"I've never seen animals like these before," I observe. "Not even in encyclopaedias."
Yo Bluebell, what about you?
Eee. Eeeeiiaa… scary. Issa big troubling.
Troubling how?
No is native to world. No is natural born. Vibes of weirding and mutation.
You mean… these things are mutant aliens? Or alien mutants?
Is good for describe maybe. Smart dark pixie girl.
"Hmm, wait," Ru suddenly says. "Remember when Kit described the protoforms Pex rescued?"
Angie's eyes widen. "Eh? Protoforms, you think these are…?"
I look back at the monitor. "Huh. Now that I look at them… they do kind of fit the bill, don't they? I mean, most of these things don't seem to fly, but…"
"I get it now." Dia slams a fist onto her palm. "The earthmovers, aquanauts, and firemen were also spliced with protoforms, yeah? These must be extra specimens! Or maybe material for future biotools."
"In Chamber 2… wings, some of the creatures have them," Angie points.
"Come on, we've gotta set them all free! They don't deserve to be locked up like this," Ru proposes.
Meanwhile, I'm starting to sweat. "Ru, wait. We literally have no idea what these things really are. Like, what if they get into the sewers and… supermutate?"
"Don't be like that; we're biotools, too! Maybe they'll feel a sort of kinship," Ru eagerly replies.
I rub my face. Alien mutants… spliced… kinship? If I remember correctly, that armored exec Crano Mathis had likened us to chimeras more than once… the more I learn, the less sense everything makes. But there is that saying – nothing ventured, nothing gained. "Fine," I concede.
Rurin excitedly hits some buttons, and the three blast doors hiss open.
As we exit the monitor room, the protoforms also exit. They seem excited and curious as they crowd around us… and thankfully, not hostile. I'd hate to have to put these creatures down.
Dia stumbles back as several protoforms pile onto her. "Whoa. Some of these are… really big. And heavy… oof!"
"See, they like us! Haha, who's a good creature?" Ru is the happiest I've ever seen him. I always had him pegged as a pet person.
"Hard but smooth, their skin," Angie observes. "Some kind of energy, too, I sense it in all of them."
I let a limbless protoform slither onto my arm. "This one's tail looks like a nozzle. Or maybe some kinda gun?"
"Glblbgb," it gurgles.
Then a protoform with raised plates on its back walks over to the corridor's side wall. "Shk! Shfhfhs."
"Shsas," the biggest protoform hisses, getting off of Dia. Then the pointed mound on its head starts rapidly rotating as it rams itself into the wall's steel surface, causing sparks to fly everywhere.
"Whoa there, buddy! Let's not get too excited," Ru says, patting its back.
"Nah, this is enemy territory," I reply. "I say go ham."
"Skwkwk." Another protoform has climbed the wall and is now chewing the wires. The lights begin to flicker.
The plate-backed protoform looks up at the wire-muncher. "Skak. Fhsfs."
"Wrkrk." It scuttles across the ceiling to another set of wires and starts biting those. The flickering lights completely shut off, triggering the emergency lights.
"Communicating," Angie observes.
"I knew it," I grin. "Hey, if we're related somehow, you think we can communicate?"
"Know what we're saying, they know at least," Angie confirms.
"Man, there are quite a few… fifteen, twenty?" Dia still has protoforms on her back. They really seem to like her. "You think they'll be fine by themselves? They aren't technically free yet, y'know."
"It will be hard to wrangle all of these fellas if we want to rescue them," Rurin mutters.
That's when the drill-headed protoform finally breaks through the wall. Instead of stopping, though, it burrows straight into the bedrock, making a decent-sized tunnel.
"Whoa! That was solid steel," Ru gapes.
"Well, that's what the blast chamber was for," I deduce. "Though, hmm, would that have even stopped it?"
An intercom blares to life. "Attention! A breach has been detected in south wing, sublevel two. Please investigate. I repeat…"
"Oh." Angie starts looking around. The protoforms are all moving single-file into the tunnel. Surprisingly orderly.
Diantha looks between us and the protoforms still clinging to her. "You guys keep moving. I'm… uh…"
"You don't wanna abandon them, right?" Ru gives her a knowing look. "I knew we had something in common!"
"Don't worry, none of us here will object," I assure her. "And hey, when we blow this conspiracy wide open, these guys will prove to be invaluable evidence."
"Wow. I can't believe you made my excuses for me," Dia smirks. But I can see the traces of embarrassment on her face. Heh, maybe I'll tease her about it later.
"A place," Angie nods. "For them, you go find one."
"There goes that moment." Dia exhales. "Maybe for kicks I'll give them all cute names."
As she enters the tunnel with the remaining protoforms, lights shine from down the corridor.
"Here they come. Let's move," I say, pointing the other way.
"Dang it. Take care of the little fellas for me, Dia," Ru calls. I can smell his cat-filled house already. Well, not really, since I don't know what cats smell like…
Hey Bluebell, what do cats smell like?
Ehm? Mehmehm??
Er, nothing.
Past the blast chambers is a connecting hall lined with smaller doors of varying colors. I can't detect any movement or noise behind them, which means they're either vacant or really well-insulated.
Closer to the end of the hall, a door opens. Looks like one of the rooms did have someone in it… wait, I know this person!
"Pex!" I run towards the somewhat scruffy-looking Gen 1 aeronaut: taller, but packing far less muscle density. Four winged protoforms are also with her – the ones Neocon was holding? Why does Pex still have them? Actually, why is she even here?
The three of us stop in front of her. I wasn't seeing things after all – she's wearing battle armor! But it's dented, scratched and stained, like she just got back from a rough mission. Does that mean…?
Pex gives us a somewhat vacant look, then points at a wide set of double doors behind her. "Those are the stairs to sublevel three," she explains, "but if you're special personnel, they'll shift you to sublevel four. I've never been, though. Not special enough, I guess."
I shake my head and step closer. "What are you talking about? Pex, we need to talk. It's me, Vernicia! And Rurin too, remember? And this is Angie."
Pex nods sagely, but her gaze remains unfocused. "I dunno, I think this place has roomier dorms. But then, Qinn has tastier food. And Metacorp has those arcade machines. I don't really know about their beds though, 'cause I was stuck on some table the whole time…" Those last words cause her to vibrate strangely, then stiffen. "Anyway, as you were. It'd be bad if I were to recognize you, hehe."
I blink a few times. "Uh…?"
"Right, I should introduce you." Pex points at the four protoforms. "These fellas are Nubbin, Bubbin, Spunky and Quigg. Say hi, you four."
The protoforms remain silent, staring down the hall. We also remain silent, staring at Pex in confusion.
Then the doors behind Pex open, letting in an unfriendly-looking black-haired woman holding a large tablet. She immediately speedwalks up to Pex and grabs her ear.
"There you are, you sneak! What are you doing bothering these guys?" She lets go and smacks Pex on the head, but she barely reacts. "I told you, Atticus wants your armor cleaned BEFORE he returns."
"Hueue." Nubbin's tail flicks.
"What's that? You smell something?" Pex looks focused again, but only on the protoform.
"Ueueuu!"
"Ohh, how delightful," Pex smiles. "Wanna meet them? I wanna meet them."
The three of us remain stock still. Like, what do we even do here?
"181-AB! Listen when I talk to you," the unfriendly woman fusses. "Don't make me confiscate your buddies again! You don't want that, do you?"
"No," Pex pouts, now as demure as a child.
"Then do as I say! Make things easier for all of us, yeah? I swear, it's pets walking pets."
"Um. Pardon us," Rurin says.
"Shut. Actually important discussion happening right now," the unfriendly woman cuts him off. "Now, 181-AB, if you've managed to process that information, then get going to the green room. Your armor is supposed to be silver, in case you forgot."
"Juwuww." Spunky buzzes its wings while glaring at the unfriendly woman.
"Aw, look, you made Spunky mad," Pex complains.
"Don't care! The room is that way, behind the green door. Big green door, got it? I've got things to do, so get moving!"
"Okay…" Pex walks down the hall.
The unfriendly woman then turns to us, eyeing us up and down. Her name tag glints, now fully visible – Melania Keefe. "Mm… you came with the Gunn twins, right?" She returns to her tablet. "Now's not a good time to be wandering, on account of the intruders on sublevel one. Judging from the reports, they're likely the sort to kill on sight. Get back up to your AEs if you wanna make it home today."
"Not worried about yourself? There was a breach on this sublevel," I tell her.
"P165 probably escaped again," Melania sighs. "He's our problem child. Intel suggests that the intruders haven't made it down here yet, so we should be fine for now."
Angie crosses her arms. "Fine, huh…"
"You think there's a chance the intel is outdated?" Ru asks.
Melania raises an eyebrow.
"I heard that the intruders were A-Tech biotools, after all," I continue. "Aeronauts, I believe they were called? They can act really quickly if they need to."
We're now surrounding her, weapons drawn, eyes glinting red.
Melania finally seems to get the hint and starts backing up. "Look, I'm a systems manager, not a fighter. You want to kill me? My father will have your heads. He runs this whole mess, you know! H-he'll sic all the biotools and mages in the region on you!"
"Your father." I point my black sword at her, the blade's tip centimeters from her neck. "Who and where is he?"
Melania's back hits the wall. "Ah…! Uh…"
"She won't shoot if you tell us," Ru says, pointing at Angie's precharged rifle.
That's when Melania faints, slumping down to the floor.
"Huh…" I lower my sword. "All bark, no bite."
"You think she was bluffing about her dad?" Ru wonders.
I shrug. "Let's lock her up and interrogate her about it later."
"Might as well." He plucks the comm from her breast pocket. "I wonder if she sent a distress signal already."
"Her hands, I was watching them," Angie says. "Death grip on her tablet."
Rurin takes another look at her name tag, then straightens. "I remember now! The Gunn twins mentioned a Melania. Like, in passing."
"Oh?" If Ray and Bebe know her, then maybe she isn't lying. "She might be the one. Let's put her in a blast chamber," I decide, picking her up. She's about regular-sized for a human, if a bit overweight. 75 kilograms, maybe?
Blast chamber 1 still has some sleeping protoforms inside when I toss her in. If they're asleep, it'll be fine, right? No real danger here.
GA-CHUNK. The door seals shut. Next on the list is Pex… I'm a tad worried, actually. Something seems wrong with her, but I'm not sure what.
Angie points. "Green room, that way."
Rurin silently nods. I can tell he's concerned too.
The green room's door swings open. Three researchers are hosing down Pex and her protoform buddies with a pleasant-smelling cleaning solution.
"Hiii, guys," Pex drawls. "The weather's lovely this time of year, isn't it?"
Researcher1 looks up at us, startled. "Who… oh. What're you folks doing down here? An alert's out," he says.
"We heard," Rurin says.
"Hobb, look." Researcher2 points at us. "They're Qinn guys. See their weapons? They can handle themselves."
"Yes, we were hoping to discuss something with Pex, if it isn't too much trouble," I calmly reply.
Researcher2 looks back at Pex. "You mean… 181-AB?"
"Told you she had a name," Researcher3 declares.
"Oh, can it," Researcher1 grumbles, handing over some cash. "Just give us a sec here. We're almost done."
"Muhmuhrm… heh!" Pex starts flapping the liquid off her wings, and the protoforms all excitedly join her.
"Hey, stop getting us wet!" Researcher1 tries to shield himself from the spray. "We're going to blow dry you next, so hold still."
"So…" Rurin points at Pex's still-damaged-but-now-shiny armor. "About what you're doing…"
"Yep, she's our problem now," Researcher3 sighs, wiping off her face. "I swear, the AEs always get away with stuff like this."
"Is… she okay? She seems a little… um," I mutter.
The researchers look at each other. Then Researcher1 speaks up: "She can still fight, if that's what you're wondering."
Pex starts vibrating strangely again, then assumes a fighting stance – "Huh?! Quigg, did you hear that? I told them I'm not coming home!"
"Gugb?" Quigg isn't paying attention.
The researchers all remain silent, almost forlorn, as Pex vibrates again and starts punching at the air. "I don't have a home, stupidheads! Looks like the joke's on you, hahahaha! Ugh!!"
After a moment's silence, Pex sits down on the floor, now calm. Researchers 1 and 2 begin airhosing her, blowing off the remaining fluid.
I tap my chin. "If I recall, the integration process failed on her."
Researcher3 nods. "Y-yeah… I was there for that, actually. I don't know what was scarier – Mathis's face, or the girl's screams…" She shakes her head, as if trying to dispel the memories. "Ahem. After he finally gave up, he transferred her here. From what we've observed so far, she seems to have undergone some type of mental regression."
I grip my black sword's hilt. "I'll never forgive them," I growl.
"Right? It's inhumane, even for us!" Researcher2 angrily tosses aside her airhose. "He should know there are limits to such things!"
I throw Ru and Angie a look. "Verdict?"
"Leave now, all of you should," Angie requests. "With Pex too."
Researcher1 drops his airhose. "Why, what's up?"
"The intruders upstairs, remember? Maybe the situation is getting worse," Researcher2 says.
"You could say that. Just get out of this facility, and quickly," I instruct. "Tell anyone else working here to evacuate as well."
"But… I still need the hours," Researcher2 mumbles.
"You don't need them that badly. Come on!" Researcher3 grabs her hand. Soon the green room is empty except for the three of us. Doesn't look like there's anything of value or use here either…
"Looks like we're still clear," Rurin says. "Honestly, I'm surprised at how well these disguises are working."
"That's what I'm saying." I rub my uniform skirt – chic and comfy. I don't care what Ray and Bebe say, I'm keeping this fit. Maybe I'll trim the top a bit, remove the labels…
Angie looks back towards the doors leading downstairs. "Sublevel three… sublevel four," she mutters.
"Um, you sure that info isn't… y'know… garbled?" Ru asks.
"Only one way to find out," I shrug.
Rurin nods. "Right. To the stairs!"
"What? Ru, I meant Melania," I correct. "She's probably a wellspring of valuable info."
"Oh. Of course," Rurin nods.
"You forgot about her, didn't you," I snicker. "Not your type?"
"Shut up," Rurin grumbles. He doesn't deny it, though.
In the monitor room, we observe Melania calmly sitting in the middle of the chamber. The three protoforms are clinging to her legs.
"Allow me," I say, activating the intercom. "Melania! Can you hear me?"
"What now? I just calmed these guys down," she snaps.
"You can talk to them?" Ru asks.
Melania scoffs. "Don't be stupid. Protoforms can't talk. Well, most of them can't. I learned how to pick up on their feelings, is all. And right now…" She throws us an accusatory glare. "They're scared because you cut them off from their family."
I keep my gaze level. Most of them can't… so some of them can. Just how buddy-buddy is she with these creatures? Well, first things first.
I pick up the intercom again. "What do you know about your father?"
"What kind of question is that? Just because you didn't grow up with parents doesn't mean it's a universal constant," Melania replies. "Hmph, not that you know anything about the world outside your safe houses anyway."
"Hey! We've been places," I retort.
"Who cares where you've been? You can travel this entire world, but you'll never be part of it," Melania shoots back. "You're living weapons, remember? Assets to be used and discarded once they break."
I drop the intercom. "I want to stab her."
"Hold your horses, Verni. All bark, remember?" Ru picks up the intercom. But before he can say anything, Melania continues.
"Have you guys seen 181-AA yet? Sorry, um…" She taps on her tablet for a moment. "Larry House. That's the vibe my dad is going for; really leaning into that "living weapons" angle. A bit too much if you ask me, but hey. Not my jurisdiction."
"Crap, right, he was caught," Ru remembers. "So you really…?"
"I didn't stutter. Take notes," Melania curtly replies. "Anyhow, the next generation will be integrated the moment they get out of training so this junk doesn't happen again. It'll be worth the effort, apparently."
I snatch up the intercom, now heated. "No! There won't be a next generation," I yell.
Angie looks surprised, but Ru simply nods. "I like that look in your eyes. We'll end it here, then?"
"Yeah." I tap the button, and the blast door hisses open. The protoforms immediately scurry into the dug-out tunnel, but Melania remains seated.
I walk in and stand in front of her, my laser sword active. "Where's your dad right now?"
"Not here, that's for sure," Melania replies. "Only Atticus has an office in this building, 'cause, you know, Torblan is his company. Atticus's, I mean. And this is a shared facility. Dad only pops in for, like, meetings and evaluations and stuff. And I work here, so…"
I deactivate my weapon. "Find a new job. We're gonna destroy this place."
Melania narrows her eyes.
"Don't believe us? It'll be your funeral," Rurin warns. "Um, literally."
Melania looks down for a moment, then silently stands up.
As we watch her run down the hall to go upstairs, I mutter, "Just what is her deal?"
"Eh, I wouldn't worry about it," Ru tells me. "Come on, the next sublevels await."
Sublevel Three is better-lit, but more sterile. Nothing of note so far.
Then we run into a small squad of earthmovers.
"Oh hey. Qinn guys, right?" The lead earthmover looks us up and down. "Yep, you're Qinn guys. The conference room is the other way. Er, unless you're with the other crowd?"
Rurin nods. "Yeah, we're special personnel. But since we aren't regulars here, we aren't too familiar with this—"
"Found 'em. Small, armed, disguised," a guard's voice says from behind us. "Don't let them escape, earthmovers! They're the intruders!"
"Tch." Angie raises her chargebolt rifle. "Ratted us out, that woman."
"So she's that kind of person," Ru sighs. "Honestly, I had a feeling."
I shrug and draw both of my swords. "Fighting's funner anyway."