Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 47

We skid to a stop at the dig site, collapsing a tent in the process. Etirn gets out first and pulls his weapon. While part of the camp took notice of our dramatic entrance, the loud report of a shot into the air freezes everyone in place. HEY! I don't give a damn what the principal says. This is an emergency. We need to get everybody out of the ruins an hour ago! Break into teams of three and find everybody who's working inside. We're going to the computer core. If anything goes wrong, just get out. MOVE! The Motavians and Parmanians scramble at Etirn's crude speech, and start filtering into the ruins to remove the workers who were already inside. Etirn turns to Demi. What can you do about security in Nurvus right now?

I can mark elevated priority enemies as a command unit, but I'm unable to mark allies without entering the core.

Then mark me as a top priority target.

WHAT?! You're out of your mind! I can't believe he just said that!

Demi adds, You will surely die if I bring down the brunt of security on you! We're literally talking about a garrison of over a hundred attack units hunting you.

Etirn looks grim. We need to pull that security away from everyone else to minimize the chance of casualties. I will not tolerate anyone else dying here.

Etirn.... I wish I knew how to talk him out of this state of mind, but I can't find the words to do so.

Ray grabs Etirn's shirt. Don't you care about your life? Use me as bait instead!

If I'm gonna die, I'll die with my boots on and my weapon in hand, not cowering behind the backs of my friends. Ray, help Marika.

A couple yells of pain echo from inside the ruins. Jeetoh raises his staff in a defensive gesture. Now is not the time to argue. Decide on a plan and execute it.

Demi, do it.

I feel a tear on my face as Demi begins talking into the air. For some reason, her voice doesn't echo on Etirn's radio. Attention Nurvus Security, this is Zelan Control. Mark new target, Male Parmanian, Blond hair, Blue eyes. Equipped with firearm and extermely dangerous. Priority 1 target. Eliminate regardless of cost or consequence. A nondescript voice echoes orders through the ruins below.

Etirn wipes away the tear on my face. Marika, be strong, and stop Dora from reaching the core. I'll get out one way or another, even if it kills me. I'm unable to appreciate the humor in his words. I simply watch as Etirn spins around and runs into the facility, firing his weapon into the ceiling. Time to rock, baby! C'mon, you rusted fucks! Come get me!

As the shots begin to fade into the depths, Demi takes the lead. The sooner I can enter the core, the sooner I can disable security. We continue to hear distant shouts as we ran through the ancient complex, Demi showing us the fastest route.

As we cross the final bridge leading to the computer core, all the lights suddenly turn red. I look at Demi, and see that she mirrors my worried look. We sprint the last few yards, and see Dora, alone, looking at the alarm lights flashing. She turns to us as we approach. Marika? Ray? What are you guys doing here?

You're in danger being here!

Demi runs to a terminal on the core. She slams a fist on the keyboard after trying to use it. No! I can't remember the code! You guys need to cover me while I crack it.

The sound of something heavy coming brings us to attention. No, wait. Several things are coming! Three machines, each twice as tall as me, roam out from the shadows. They appear built to move heavy objects, but on each arm three nail-like claws are folded flat against the "hand." I feint a charge at one, and it flashes out the claws, wielding them like three large knives in a blur that clearly would've put me on the ground, if I had followed through. Loaders are normally just movers. Try to get behind them! Demi looked up for only a second.

Try this! Ray throws a slasher, and I use the distraction to slip by. As one of the brutes punched the weapon to the ground, I slide between its feet, claws out. What the- all I did was scratch the paint! It turns around as I can get up. I raise my claws in defense, but its blows strike so hard that it just brushes my guard aside and buries its fist in the side of my face. I go flying, but I roll to my feet.

Flaeli! A fireball blasts into the back of my attacker, and it falls to the floor in front of me. Without thinking, I jump onto its back as it clambers back to its feet, driving a claw into a data port to hold on. I begin using the other claw to look for a weakness.

Dora pulls out a massive battle axe and swings it at her closest target. A claw blocks the blow, but I spot the resulting dent on the machine. Dora winds up for another swing, but gets a nasty slash on her arm, and a parting gift of a punch that nearly snaps the axe handle in half. Ray! Help her! I point at Dora, and Ray draws a claymore to match the heavy blows. Realizing where I was, the loader I was riding suddenly runs backwards at an insane speed into the metal wall. I felt something crack as I began to taste blood. It continues to push me deeper into the wall, the sound of steel bending filling the air. In desperation, I stab my claw at the front of the loader. A crunch, and it suddenly stops moving! I pull my hand back to see pieces of glass fall to the floor. Whatever that was, it's an advantage! I somehow scramble out from behind it and drop to the floor. A sharp blow sends me reeling... it must've heard me hit the floor!

I look over to see Ray trying to protect himself from the other two loaders while Jeetoh keeps slinging spells at them. I have an idea... Hey, over here! My blinded loader charges at me, and I roll out of the way as it runs past. C'mon, get over here! It skids to a halt and runs back at me. I step aside, and watch it go exactly where I want. I thought you wanted to fight? Once more it charges, and I let it by like a missile. It keeps running until it crashes into one of the other loaders, smashing it into the wall with unimaginable force. In retaliation, both the functional loaders promptly double team my toy, dismantling it like a pen. Dora raises her hand, frost beginning to circle as she began into Wat.

Tandle! Jeetoh begins casting his own spell, but I feel the energies of the room intermingle in a strange way. Suddenly, columns of pure cold flash around the brawling machines, followed by some of the most violent lightning I've ever seen. When the indoor storm subsides, all three machines are motionless. I look over at the computer core to see Demi walking into a hole that opened where the terminal was. It closes before I can follow.

Abort all alerts! Suddenly, hidden speakers begin announcing orders to all the machines still moving out of sight. Clear target spool. I watch as the red lights turn off and more machines travel by us, apparently oblivious to us as they drag off the broken Loaders. I see Dora caressing her bloodied arm, and cast Res on her, to soothe the pain.

You okay, Dora?

I've had worse. That junk pile just managed to catch me off guard, is all. What brings you here on this crazy day?

That Zema site was still pumping out monsters. We came here to stop it.

Demi steps out from the core. Jeetoh looks up. Did we succeed?

Bio plant is no longer responding. I do believe that it's now disabled.

Ray looks at the damage his weapons received from striking hardened metal. Do you happen to know how Etirn is doing?

Demi thinks for a moment, but her expression suddenly changes. I get up and face Demi, Please, tell me.

There are... over thirty successful hits reported against him. Believed to be critically injured, but current location is unknown at this time.

The weight of the words hit Dora. Did Etirn...sacrifice himself to save me?

Ray slowly nodded, solemn in expression. Jeetoh closes his eyes for a moment. He's waiting for us just outside.

How does Jeetoh know? Given that Demi seems to be done here, I start leading my group outside, setting the pace at just short of a dead sprint.

As we climb a set of old stairs back out of the ruins into the hot desert sun, I spot a corpse riddled with holes on the ground.... Wait, did it just cough?! I run over to help, and realize it's Etirn. He resembles a slaughtered animal in his current state. Deja vu... I barely register Ray's comment.

Etirn, talk to me! I run over, and start digging through my pockets for anything still resembling medical supplies. Ray and Jeetoh seem to be talking as I begin to inject my only Trimate.

He'll be fine. He isn't ready to die yet.

You've grown cold from living in the cold?

Interesting conclusion, but we need to appear concerned for his health, for the girl's sake.

I am concerned, I just don't know squat about healing anything worse than a punch in the face.

As I check the pulse, Etirn opens his eyes. I... gotta admit... That really hurt.

Demi takes over the first aid. I've never seen anyone still breathing after such extensive injuries...

I said I'd get back.... Etirn starts into a fit of coughs that I guess could've been laughing, if his condition wasn't so grave. Demi starts unrolling gauze for his wounds.

We need to get him to a bed.

Etirn struggles to pull out the key to the Land Rover. He drops it by my knee. Don't... wreck it.

Someone walks up behind us. Dora?

We're a little busy right now. We turn to see a young Motavian holding a headset radio.

The principal heard reports of a work stoppage from Kadary. He insisted he speak directly to you.

Dora flips a switch and holds the headset like a microphone. Hello?

Could you explain why you and your team have disobeyed a direct order and stopped the dig?

Something bad just happened. Everything went to Hell in a fucking hand basket. I'm currently in the process of stabilizing the injured for transport to Piata.

A silence echoes over the radio. What is the cost to life?

Dora looks at her team. Some minor injuries, a couple broken bones. No deaths, but I have one guy in really bad shape right now. He has more holes than a sieve. The machines that did it are still moving around in the ruins.

You are to evacuate the injured to Piata as soon as necessary. The rest of your team is to remain on site for when we are able to continue the excavation. I want you, Dora, to come with the injured so I can get a better picture of what happened. Who is the critical case?

One Post-Graduate Bay. It's pretty hard to recognize him right now.

Another pause. I see. I will meet with you when you arrive. A doctor will be waiting in the dormitory. End.

Demi stands up next to me. Etirn appears stable enough to move by stretcher.

Dora turns to face her team while I fiddle with the key Etirn gave me. EVERYONE! If you need a doctor, head this way. We have a transport starting up. Everybody else, make sure nobody enters or leaves the ruins. I'll return soon. About half a dozen Motavians and Parmanians climbed into the Land Rover with us, as we carried Etirn aboard. I have Demi gently drive us to Piata, and we arrive around dusk.

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