Aches cascaded through Vern’s body, jolting him awake with a groan. This was getting tiresome.
“Finally, you’re awake humaloid.”
It took a moment for the blurry world around Vern to refocus. “A temple?” He mumbled, looking up at the familiar, yet different brick facade.
“It appears so. This species, whatever they are, seemed to have placed these temples all across this world.”
Vern nodded, remembering the imagery from the previous temple. “I think I might know why.”
“They planned on consuming the pygmies, and potentially other species to feed their young. Don’t get confused, humaloid. If you’ve figured something out, I likely did long ago.”
Of course, she had, Vern groaned internally.
“We do have some good news, though. Whilst you were resting, our quest was completed.”
Eyeing the cocoon still carried by Dez, Vern’s brows raised. “That's the artifact?”
“I believe so. There is something special about it. A sentience beyond most simple mortals.” Dez replied, her gaze landing on Vern.
“Okay,” Vern nodded with a sideways glance and opened his status screen.
Infested-Human – Blood Devil – Level 17
Strength 30
Luck 6
Perception 10
Constitution 20
Dexterity 20
Mana 8
Endurance 16
Health 30
Wisdom 8
Tech 16
Intelligence 10
Charisma 8
Toughness 20
Willpower 10
Spirituality 4
Speed 30
He hadn’t gained another level yet, unfortunately, but felt it was close after the quest experience he gained.
However, a new icon appeared at the top of the screen, modeled like a globe. With a simple thought, a map appeared across Vern’s vision.
A single, tiny blue dot was marked on the map, and Vern assumed that must be where he was, since it appeared nearby some vague square structure, which the alien temple would likely look like from above.
Forest seemed to cover most of the planet from what Vern could see, save a few clearings, one of which must have been where he came down.
There also appeared to be a giant canyon that split the land in two, not too far from where they currently were.
Unfortunately, there didn’t appear to be any obvious signs of civilization, and the map didn’t really provide any hope of solving their problem.
“Figured it out yet, humaloid?”
Downcast, Vern nodded.
“There is one string of hope.” Dez continued. “Those two aliens that attacked us back at the other temple, I don’t believe they are like us.”
“What do you mean?”
“They attacked with purpose, did they not? They weren’t some wandering strangers, flung here by the system like us.”
Vern nodded. He hadn't had a chance to put much thought into it and had quite honestly just assumed as much; not that he was willing to admit that and face potential intellectual mockery from Dez.
“Well, if that’s true, then they likely have their own ship.”
“You want to become hijackers now?”
“Now, you have morals, humaloid? After slaughtering and draining a village of technologically impaired creatures of their very own blood?”
“It wasn’t by choice!” Vern protested.
“I’m not here to judge you, humaloid. It is what it is. And now, we need to find a way off this rock. Look.” Dez went on to explain points on the map, describing where she believed they had been, and how best to trace their way back - without going through the rockpools and running into the off-world aliens.
“Sounds like as good a plan as any.” Vern agreed.
“Right then, we should move. Those two could show up at any moment.”
----------------------------------------
“Captain Jobbin’s always said scoring a 5.6 on the fitness test would come back to haunt me,” Odis grumbled as he forced himself up and over another rocky ledge.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Well, maybe I’ll see you in the training hall a little more often after this,” Kuul replied, bounding over another rockpool.
Emerging from the dark waters, Kuul and Odis – (who was trailing behind) stood before the tomb’s stone doors.
“A hive commander's birthing chamber,” Kuul mused. “Seridian rock, impressive.” Turning a dial on his pistol all the way toward one end, he nodded at Odis, and the two rangers took several paces back.
“Ready?”
“This thing better not be awake.” Odis moaned and nodded at his companion.
The crackling red energy filled the pistol once more, but this time the weapon itself vibrated and as the stream of red energy erupted from it, cracks snaked across the barrel and down into the handle.
The beam was several times the width of the one that had blasted Vern, and it smashed against the rock with a furious roar, spitting debris across the pebbled beach as it exploded into a fumy mist.
“Did you get it?” Odis asked, peering out from under his arms.
Kuul crept forward, his eyes narrowing on the spot where he shot, smoke still shrouding the area. Gradually it cleared.
“Bingo,” Kuul confirmed, a moist grin creasing his face as a man-sided hole was revealed.
The two crept through the hole, their lights automatically brightening as the yellow crystal light faded behind them.
"What is this thing doing here, anyway? Skard aren’t even meant to be in this sector.”
“That’s what I’d like to know. We’ve barely enough manpower to cover the sector as it is, and being five years of FTL travel from Dreaux Prime, well...”
Odis nodded, his eyes scanning the intricate carvings marked across the tomb’s walls as his torch drifted across them. “You think the Skard could have invasion plans?”
“Well, If the hive is dead, that’s a good sign. Hopefully, it's just a failed colony.”
Entering the chamber, Kuul’s eyes floated forward, and their moist membranes flickered. “That’s not good.”
Shattered glass surrounded them, and the rangers shared a horrified look as they peered into the unsealed hatchery.
“The anomalies?” Odis asked.
“You think they could be related to the Skard?”
Slowly, Odis nodded.
“Across the entire sector?” Kuul’s toothless mouth drooped open. “What if the Skard are coordinating a massive invasion with the help of these anomalies? We gonna need to report this in.”
Odis tapped the communicator on his wrist, bringing up a digital screen.
“Requiring emergency communications with Commander Fais.”
“Emergency code,” came the droning response from the operator.
“B7HH1182,” Odis replied, reading off a prompter below the communicator screen.
“Patching you through,” the operator sighed.
Static flickered across the screen and a moment later, the commander appeared, dressed in his naval suit.
“Commander Fais,” the rangers saluted.
“Rangers,” the commander returned the salute.
“I'm assuming there’s a good reason you called through an emergency related to explosive bovines?”
Kuul’s hand slapped the back of Odis’s head.
“Apologies, commander,” Odis replied, rubbing at his head. “I must have got a digit wrong.” Hurriedly, Odis began patching in the emergency warning again.
“B7HHI182, you’ve come across a Skard invasion hive?” The commander said, his voice heightening with a sense of trepidation.
“It seems to be dead,” Kuul interjected. “But the commander is missing, and we believe the anomalies are related somehow.”
“Wait, anomalies? This is the first I’m hearing of this. Weren’t you two instructed to inform HQ the moment you made contact?”
A moment of awkward silence followed.
“Never mind,” the commander sighed. “What of the Skard commander then, have you been able to track them down?”
“Well, not yet,” Kuul replied. “We were worried about the implications, the possibility that something bigger is going on.”
“We have hundreds of anomalies in custody already, with no signs of Skard collusion. However, you are correct to be concerned. If the Skard are behind this somehow, no chances can be taken. Retrieve and destroy the commander at all costs. I shall send out a ranger squadron to assist immediately. But with our distance from you, they will be several hours away.”
“Affirmative, commander. We will track down the Skard and eliminate them. The anomalies too, if needed.”
“You have your orders then.
“Yes, commander.”
As the line went dead, Kuul turned to Odis. “I can’t believe you sent through the wrong emergency code. We’ll never live this down, you know?”
----------------------------------------
“Are you sure we’re going in the right direction; Shouldn’t this thing be here, and this over there?” Vern asked, pointing to spots on his system map as they walked through the jungle.
“Must you always talk, humaloid? Learning to read maps is a rudimentary part of becoming a knowledge keeper.”
“Fine,” Vern rolled his eyes. “I was just saying, kinda looks like we should be headed-”
“Shhh,” Dez interrupted. “Just kee-”
Vern stopped, extending a hand across Dez's path.
“Not one of these bastards,” he groaned as a tree several feet from them came to life.
Razor-sharp pincers swooped down on the duo, and for once Vern felt that it was as important for him to dodge as anyone else – there was no way he had enough blood in reserve to heal himself.
“Damn this planet!” Dez cursed as she rolled away from an attack just in time.
Bouncing backward, Vern managed to avoid another strike nearly simultaneously as Dez dodged and brought his claymore down as he landed just out of reach of the deadly pincer.
Unfortunately, the thick carapace that covered most of the oversized insect harmlessly ricocheted his attack. “Really?” Vern groaned, jumping back behind a nearby tree as the stick insectoid lunged forward.
Be ready, came Dez’s voice within Vern’s mind, and he jumped back out to face the giant insectoid as Dez appeared several meters away, on the other side of the monstrous insectoid.
Placing fingers against her temple, Dez focused her energy on the insectoid. A second later, it bucked upward, expelling a noise that sounded somewhere between a screech and a twitchy echo.
Vern didn’t know how long Dez would be able to distract an insect and sprung forward as quickly as he could.
Ribs lined the thick carapace, and Vern spotted a soft-looking spot between its abdomen and thorax and charged for it with his claymore extended like a lance.
Green, acidic blood spilled forth as Vern’s sword stabbed straight through the weak opening, and Vern felt himself drawn to it with an intoxicating thump.
Vern’s eyes glazed over, and he released hold of his claymore as his hands reached out for the wound. Within seconds, Vern felt his veins filling, his strength returning and his hunger subsiding.
Releasing a strangely sensual groan, Vern cupped his mouth and looked around as the last ounces of life left the insectoid, and it fell to the ground.
“I heard that,” Dez grimaced with a shake of her head. “Disgusting.”
Flashing a curt smile, Vern hung his head in embarrassment.
“Duck!” Dez suddenly shouted, diving out of the way.
Vern’s eyes widened and he instinctively fell into a roll with barely an inch to spare as the twitching pincer flung overhead.
Panting, he pushed himself back to his feet. It seemed to only be some kind of death throw from the still-twitching insectoid, and he sensed no life force remaining in the broken creature.
“Dez, you okay?” Vern asked and turned toward her when he received no response.
Lent over, face toward the ground, Dez remaining perfectly still on her knees and palms.
“Dez?” Vern repeated, eyeing her as he slowly walked over.
“I think it’s hatching,” Dez whispered, her face still glued to the ground in front of her.
Approaching from behind, Vern looked over Dez’s shoulder. Something was moving within the cocoon, stretching it from the inside.
The movements grew larger, expanding the size of the cocoon as its integrity was tested, and a second later, it tore.
A gooey, viscous fluid oozed out – like thick, sticky saliva.
“What the...” Vern mumbled.
Transparent, fly-like wings then pushed out and tore what was left of the cocoon apart.
Fighting against the gooey substance, the wings fluttered open, and a second later, legs or maybe arms, sprung free, sending gooey droplets flying.
“Gross.”
“It’s a baby, and it's communicating with me,” Dez said, in an uncharacteristic motherly tone that made Vern more than a little uncomfortable.
As it stretched out its limbs, the little alien took the semblance of a giant dragonfly, save for the fact it stood upright, and a maw filled with tiny, razor-sharp teeth sat beneath its uncanny eyes.
“My metamorphosis is complete!” A whiney voice proclaimed as the little insectoid stretched out its arms triumphantly. Seemingly just noticing Vern and Dez, the little insectoid tilted its head. “Who the heck are you two?”