Chapter I - 1: Heat Signatures

On an arid planet, where strong wind blew, stood a dune.

Atop this hill of sand, prone, was a lone seventeen-metre-tall female Gigan clad in dark green full-body armour.

She was reconnoitring the sand-covered ruins in the distance using her rifle's scope.

"Central, you're sure there wasn't any mistake? My scope's thermal vision still detects nothing - there're only the leftovers of the old colony no matter how long I look."

"Lieutenant Armiger, the data received from our satellite is fully credible. Just keep scouting out the perimeter for a while longer. And you know the drill: if it's hostile-."

The giantess sounded upset, "Yes, you neutralise it, I know. I also know that the HGCO is about using the latest tech and all but I can't imagine any alien species would launch their invasion in the middle of a barren wasteland. Besides, I've been here for half a day already, a third of my supply's gone too."

The reply was tonally flat, "You'd still have four rations left. Long enough for one or two days, dummy."

"Ahhhh. If it weren't for the mission, I'd rather just simply hang out with you tinies."

"Yes, yes, Alice, you can do just that when you return, " Command's voice marginally softened before being stern once again, "But for now, you ought to do what you've paid for as an HGCO operator. Which. Is. Reconnaissance."

Sheesh, okay, okay.

Focusing herself, she coolly replied, "You're right, I should just suck it up and -."

Two red silhouettes could be seen on her scope.

"Lieutenant? Do you copy?"

"I copy, Central… Confirming two heat signatures. Appears to be Gigans."

"Roger that. Sending in Epsilon. Remain on standby."

"Negative, Central. A sandstorm's heading this way and I'm losing sight of the target."

Alice slid down the hill and ran towards the fallen city, much to the protest of Central, "Lieutenant, this is ill-advised, reinforcements are on their way. Just-"

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Only crackles could be heard by Alice as she started to push through the harsh weather.

Damn, such pressure… No wonder the planet was evacuated. At least, the suit's insulation and oxygen level should hold up long enough.

As she trailed her targets, she used her scope's thermal vision to have relatively clearer visibility. It was obvious both were armed by the looks of it.

Soon, they reached a Gigan entrance that led to the underground.

I don't remember this being in history books. Oh well, as much as I'd like to meet the Epsilon crew again, I guess they'll have to catch up to me instead.

Alice stalked the two as they headed down a stairwell. The howling winds covered any noise her suit could make. Still, the duo talked loud enough for her to hear.

"You're sure nobody will detect the ship?"

"It has a stealth module."

"Yes, but the storm may damage it, decloaking it."

"No worries, the task's a simple in and out. Things won't take too long."

"If you say so... You have any idea why or how it got reactivated?"

"Well, that's why we're here: to check it out."

"I guess you're right."

They spoke no more as they reached the end of the stairs and walked onwards.

As Alice followed through and proceeded to a small research lab, she magnetised her plasma rifle to her back and switched to her pistol.

The place was dusty and the air was stale from the lack of maintenance and aeration.

The place seems accommodated to both Humans and Gigans... The hell is this place?

At the end of the lab, an opened doorway revealed the Gigans. The room they were in was pretty lit up, a stark contrast with the rest of this small facility. The latter two seemed too busy with something to notice her approaching them.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

Turning the pistol's safety off and pointing it forward, Alice slowly crept into the room. One was at a panel, examining a monitor, while the other stood by an observation room's entrance looking through the window. Subsequently, she calmly ordered, "HGCO. Drop your guns."

Both stiffened. Now, Alice had a clear view of them. They wore standard Gigan scavenging gear with no factional markings on them.

The Gigan next to the controls obliged but kept looking at the screen. Meanwhile, the other did too and turned to face her. They kept silent. Alice slowly approached and asked, "This planet's currently off limits Who are you? What's going on here?"

The one at the monitor merely said, "I'm afraid that is classified."

Behind her polarised helmet, the HGCO operator frowned. Her eyes widened as she glanced through the observation window. Inside was a barrelled machine that held. On top of it, it held, within its small gravitational field, a Human-size crystal in a Gigan-sized sealed vial.

"What's- Argh," As she momentarily let her guard down, one grappled her back as the other reached for the gun on the floor.

With a downward thrust of her arms, she freed herself and aimed for the gunner. Her shot missed as the grappler pinned her to the wall. The control panel was instead hit, causing an explosion that made the former drop the weapon. Discarding the long-range option, the Gigan rushed to aid his comrade.

As the three struggled, Alice's assailants managed to make her drop her pistol as one slammed her head to the wall.

Concussed, they shoved her into the observation room and locked the door shut. Her vision was blurred as she faced the ceiling in a daze. She could barely hear what was happening on the other side.

"Control's fried! It's destabilising!"

"It might blow up! We have to-"

"HGCO! Freeze!"

Pang. Pang. Pang.

"Armiger's in there!"

Beep. Beep.

"It's locked!"

Bam. Bam.

"Shit! Window's reinforced!"

Epsilon? Huh, the cavalry's always late.

This was Alice's last thought as she was submerged by a bright white light.

Light in Abyss

Act I - First Contact