ARC2/C37 – New Recruit

Korpos, wheeled around, clearly not palpable enough to those around him. The abilities of over two thousands Antragros shock troops, hit him from all directions. Causing him to momentarily shift his attention, giving Traksis enough time to reach the next MR and disappear.

That day the world was levelled.

As Traksis entered the MR she realised she had to make it back to Tartris to at least warn them. Or was it better that they didn’t know? At least Sarah and Maria had both left for their respective faction try outs.

Traksis came to from her reverie and saw she was wearing a simple illusionary cloak and hood and appeared to be waiting in a line with several dozen others. How had she got here? The whole evolution thing must have taken a real tol on her body and mind. She was losing her grip.

She had not slept in about a week, but that was only part of it, she didn’t even feel tired.

The hood was a good idea, as despite taking a human form she could see as she looked down at her hand that she still had a distinctively metallic look to her.

“I thought it best if we went incognito as it were” said a voice from nowhere and everywhere.

Traksis jumped being too highly strung, and practically bowled over several people. And then hid behind the nearest object, a building to her right.

“We really should sign up as soon as possible. A faction will provide cover and protection. Ok, well cover I don’t think anything can protect us against that thing. I wish I had more information. But my comm link seems to be down.” Continued the voice.

Traksis’ mind spluttered to a halt then she whispered “AF?”

“Yes?” replied the voice.

“How do you come to being here?” whispered Traksis, knowing no AI droid could match her speed.

“I’m here with you on Perathia, a Profoss faction stronghold. Should be safe for a while. The information said there were lots of high tier veterans here. So I thought this would be a good place for us to come to. Did I do right?” said AF.

Traksis used [Cryo Wave] causing part of the building she was behind to freeze solid.

“AF?” thought Traksis.

“Yes?” said AF puzzled.

“You’re, my third core.” Said Traksis outloud.

“I am? Now what exactly does that mean?” AF replied curiously.

“It means I’m not alone” said Traksis to herself.

The three soldiers who ran around to the back of the building found nothing but a wall crusted in ice.

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Terius Kimvelo, lay embrassingly in a pool of his own blood, slowly healing himself. It had been a close call. A very close call. Saya Ochalant entered the chamber.

Are yes he had sent for her, she was a good second in command, and had never failed him.

She looked around not seeming to notice Terius then drew an artefact from beneath her shirt. Terius paled but had little strength to resist as Saya, leaned down pressing the box shaped object into his core space. All Terius’ abilities deactivated and he slumped back, panting before uttering his last words.

“Good show, my successor” and promptly died.

She immediately left, for the Korinth Vanguard’s home world, hoping upon hope that she wasn’t to late. It would be a cruel fate indeed to be killed due to the buffoonery of that old idiot.

Also whatever ability that Terius, had used to block a killing blow from Korpos was surely in itself worth killing him for. Korpos who was believed to have the blood of a vore in his lineage.

---

Traksis found another city nearby and soon another line to join for inclusion in the Profoss faction. The try out was a simple affair and as it turned out she didn’t even need to take a test.

“A veteran, level 35, very impressive. If you have any comrades we will pay 100k credits if you send them our way.” Said the recruit officer, through his thick accent.

“No, well let me know if you change your mind” he said passing Traksis, an accreditation which would allow her to officially serve under the Profoss faction.

She would not be trusted with a leadership position until she had served on the frontlines for at least two weeks but that was more than fine with her. She just wanted to melt into the background where she could hide for the time being.

Her first detail came an hour or so later when she was sent to another homeworld that had recently come under attack. Being assigned a squad, she headed into battle. Yet another burning city, with smoke reaching the skyline.

Not feeling she could fly, not just because [Flight] was a rare ability in itself. But also it would be going against her group leader’s instruction to hold formation within their group of six. However her lack of mobility caused her to be swarmed by opponents.

She tried to alleviate this problem and the pressure on her group by secretly using one of her other abilities.

She could detect every life form in the vicinity, within at least three hundred meters, in all direction using [Absorption Field Projection]. She initially had problems with the sheer number of combatants on the field. Also combined with pinpointing which were friend and which were foe.

Until that is, she heard a now familiar voice. “I can help with that” said the voice, as her screen flashed and all combatants became selected highlighted in green.

“Not so fast, just select about a quarter or even a fifth. I only need to cut down the numbers a little, to avoid being swamped. Anymore will be to suspicious. I don’t want anyone knowing the full extent of my abilities” Traksis thought in a nano-second, before AF executed the ability.

After this the going was made a lot easier and as her comrades were fully absorbed in their own fight for survival she allowed her passive reactive ability to remain on while she cut through the opponent’s ranks.

They were large armoured beetles, but very fast and manoeuvrable despite the terrain. With her back to a large building they maintained their position for a time before moving steadily forward. Repeating this process did not seem to be an option though as her comrades SP seemed to be running low fact. They would have to rotate out soon.

AF drew her attention to her own stats. Skill Points: 21k as always.

“What exactly is your point AF? My SP always stays the same.”

“Ok. Stop using your absorption skill for a moment.” Said AF

Traksis indulged her AI counterpart. Using [Heat Absorption] which was becoming her go to, close combat skill.

“It’s still 21k, what is your point AF”

“Oh, I see. You can’t see. Your going to need to use it about twelve more times.”

Twelve downed enemies later. Her skill points showed as 20k.

“I’m no longer a vore” the thought rung out in traksis’ mind.