Raptor One – Chapter 70
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Sitting in silence amidst the howling of wind and rattling of metal as the bullet train resist being pulled out of it’s tracks, the small and recently born primal zergs, small and somewhat cute fluorescent beings that looks like a mix of wolf and alien appearances alike rest beside my sitting frame, my left arm exposed to the ambient while small electric arcs disperse from the damaged area.
I sigh while contemplating about my choices, I don’t regret any of it, but I think I can do better, at least when fighting, but for that I need to rearrange my equipment, adjust my armor, and forsake parts of my old life.
“*Gamma Core Scanning compeple.*”
I hear Sigma say before appearing in her small form on my shoulder, my helmet dismantling in seconds before being hidden inside the armor on my torso.
“What did you find, I'm worried because Lemi’s not responding.” I ask Sigma, each word giving a different growling noise.
“Your making is somewhat... Let me try again...” Sigma try to reply but is somewhat confused at how to answer.
“Don’t be in a hurry, take your time.” I sigh out and close my eyes.
“Okay... Your core is having a lot of problems, from genetic makeup to plain disruption due to incompatibility, you need a major update.” Sigma manage to reply and sigh. “You need to optimize, defragment and reorder all of your functions to resume back to your full potential or better.”
I listen and nod as Sigma finish talking, due to all the history I had to pass to reach here made me a mess, I solved my nanite problem, then solved my mental problem not long after getting to know my current pack, but there’s still a lot to solve, the fluctuating emotions is a sign of that, I feel much more irritable for some time now.
We stay in silence for a moment, the primal puppies also taking the opportunity to relax and recover some of their lost energy, leaving only the rattling of metal and the sound of strong wind.
I sigh again before talking. “Sigma, I think my way of fighting is no efficient, and the way my armor is used is being more of a hindrance than help, can you advice me on this?” i ask Sigma and she respond with confusion.
“What about your way of fighting? Yes I do think it can get better but for me to help I'll need some foundation data to work from.”
“Da, use my knowledge on ‘Panzer kunst’ as foundation, introduce the current armor and modify it for permanent use, the less armor hindering me the better.” I give the initial parameters for the optimization.
“Sure, how you want the armor? Detachable, lock on, augmentation? As for the current weapons and equipment, I can remodel it for better usage.” Sigma reply with a nod, asking for some more inputs.
“Da, use the augmentation factor, it will be more useful due to my body composition, what do you have in mind?” I ask Sigma.
“One moment, I'm linking to your research data from your personal tricorder..... Done, I have the perfect fit for you.” Sigma say with a smile.
I open my eyes and watch as the simulation of my body appear in front of me, the bulky Avali power armor is almost completely gone, in it’s place is a very trimmed down version lacking most things.
“This is?” I ask Sigma.
“Just watch, I'll show how each part works.” Sigma reply before focusing on the simulation.
“*Neck sensor removed for better auditory movement, Torso armor trimmed down, front keeping deflection plates, back now only retains alpha core and emergency energy source in case of augment port damage, medic gun removed, portable medicine maker moved.*”
“So you separated the armor into parts, wont it hard to move? I like the new sleek torso armor, but what about the helmet?” I ask Sigma and she focus the image on my head.
“*Head protected by energy deflector located on the torso, arm armor deemed too cumbersome, thus trimmed down, result: Extended gauntlet like appearance, each side having the same defense, offense and utility.*”
I get a close in on the new simulated gauntlet, they are somewhat bigger than the current ones i use, but with a lot more usefulness, the claws was changed into artificial ones with a built in toxin release on each tip, the upper part of the arm have the portable tower shield, under the arm, close to the wrist is the new pistol for easier handling, and lastly, between my feathers lie the portable medicine maker, all of which is fed by two liquid organic matter, and a liquid metallic matter.
“I see that this setup is very good but what about melee combat?” I ask Sigma.
Sigma makes the feathers on my arms flash.
“Are you saying that I should use my wings for combat?” I ask sigma Surprised.
“Just like you used to when you rescued me.” Sigma reply before showing my legs in the simulator.
I nod and focus on the simulator.
“*Leg armor deemed too cumbersome, trimmed down, result: Slimmed down Avali shaped boots with built in anchor module and gravity actuator.*”
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I look at Sigma on my shoulder. “Inst the gravity actuator very expensive?”
“You did research similar technologies in order to rebuild ISS – Tenacity, so you have the means to build it, only need the resources.” Sigma reply.
I sigh in defeat, she does have a point, and I do like the new look, but there’s a last question. “What about all this nudity?”
Sigma look my way, her face showing a ‘are you serious?’ look, i give wry smile and she sighs.
“Avali fur and feathers along with the internal reproduction organs, which are so hidden that other races need to... get intimate to discover deem your race as non nudists even if you parade with no clothes. It would not be advised if you lost your fur and, or feathers.” Sigma say before continuing. “Avali society use of clothes are deemed as accessory or utility, a good example are the survival armor composed only of a torso bound life support system and a pair of magnetic boots.”
“Point taken.” I grunt out, she does have the truth on her side.
Most of the Avali i encountered was moving about while nude or half nude don’t help me.
“Da Sigma, make a list of resources I'll need and send it to my personal tricorder, I'll buy it if available later, for now, lets finish this mission, I'm not hearing the strong wind anymore.” I say and get up.
“Understood.” Sigma say before disappearing.
“*Scanning for communication strength... Communication re-stabilized.*”
I hear Sigma say while I move out of the train, my helmet folding back into my head automatically as I walk out of the train, followed by a herd of primal puppies.
Looking around I find that the weather stabilized enough to resume the mission, my pack exiting the drop module with Zu on the lead, after seeing me surrounded by small primal zergs they come over as close as they can while not aggravating the small ones.
“How’s the pack?” I ask out while looking at Zu and the rest.
“We are fine.” Su’ra reply along with Su’zu.
“Me and my sister got some small wounds, but nothing serious.” Li’luk say after looking at her sister, Li’lak.
“And you love?” I ask Zu.
“I’m fine, i got hit while running but it was a grazing hit.” Zu reply to my answer, but I feel that her voice seen strained.
Approaching Zu I look for the wound, she already patched it, but the readings I'm getting don’t seen right, so I decide to test her for ailments...
I find out she’s badly poisoned from the readings I receive, so I start giving immediate health care, after some basic treatment and giving a detox serum to her blood stream Zu recovers to her top shape.
Not wanting to risk the lives of my pack I treat both Li’luk and Li’lak.
Li’luk is in top shape, I just needed to give some better treatment on her outside wounds, Li’lak however was also badly poisoned, needing better care.
“Done.” I say and take a step back, the small ones being somewhat obedient and not making a fuss.
“Thanks” The three girls say.
“Boss! Let me give you armor a small shine!” Li’luk ask while jumping, some of the primal zergs jumping along with her.
“Da.” i reply, trying not to chuckle as I sit and show the damaged parts of my armor to her.
Li’lak also join and help as they try to repair my power armor.
“What do you think we should do? The left arm took too much damage.” Li’lak ask her sister.
“The best we can do is recover the battered armor plates from the portable tower shield and use it to repair the left arm.” Li’luk reply.
“Good idea.” Li’lak reply as they resume working with purpose.
In no time they manage to repair the left arm of my power armor, after some small test I see it’s looking brand new, however my portable tower shield have no armor plates left.
“Here, I got news of your engagement with rogue enemies.” Su’ra say and bring a small avali container with slugs, I give him my half empty magazine and take the empty one for reloading.
After we are done I reload my pistol and place the now reloaded magazine into it’s belt.
“Spacibo, get the others to repair the rails, I'll finish my end of the bargain.” I say to Su’ra while getting up.
“Understood Captain.” Su’ra reply before leaving back for the drop module.
I take off in a more comfortable run, my destiny being marked to the east, closer to the valley between the ice mountains.
From where I am, I need to take a detour to the other side of the train before I can head east.
As I was running along with the small primal zergs I receive a heads up.
“White? Something’s off. I’m detecting tremors close by.” Zu say on the comms.
“Red alert, guys, the only why this is happening is only one thing. Nidus.” I reply back on the comms while speeding up my running pace, but the newborn primal zergs can’t follow the speed forcing me to slow down to a better pace for the small ones.
As we run on the ice plains, the distinct feeling of tremors arrive close to us but feels somewhat distant.
There’s a nidus worm close by, I can’t escape with all the newborn primals like this.
I halt my steps and give out a psionic growl, trying not to give out our location.
The small ones understood and got silent while keeping some distance from one another, only the sound of wind can be heard as I kneel down and feel the tremors...
A very tense and pregnant silence ensued as the tremors got slowly worse, after thinking the tactic did not work I felt the ground give in, but luckily it was not under us.
A mighty roar resounded some distance from us, a very, VERY big Primal Nidus worm burst out of the ground, it’s rows upon rows of sharp teeth clear to see.
It looked around for a very tense minute before diving down into the ground again.
Another very tense minute later the tremors ceased, a tense sigh leaving my mouth as I look at the silent primal zergs.
They are ok, most are somewhat terrified, I would be too if that thing managed to sense us.
Getting up i release another psionic growl and depart, the destination now close.
“Zu, you guys ok?” I ask on the comms.
“If you ignore the giant murder worm? Yes.” Li’luk is the first to reply with a shaky voice.
“Should I feel lucky for not having pants?” Su’ra wonder out loud.
“Yes, we are good as you can hear, we got the first rail repaired, got contact with four groups, all primal zergs, no hostility, proceeding for the second rail.” Zu reply.
I chuckle before replying. “Keep a eye for hive zergs, shoot on sight, retreat if the area is deemed too hot.” I reply before focusing on the familiar landscape, slowing down to a fast walk.
“Okay love. You heard him, lets go.” Zu reply before going silent on the comms.
Finally arriving at the place I feel the ground shake in various parts, I get tense for a second before understanding it was only the Alpha and it’s pack leaving their burrows.
“*I completed my part of the deal as promised.*”
I growl out to the alpha and encourage the small ones to join his ranks, but for some reason only one third of the newborns joined his group, the rest kept their ground.
*I see you earned the respect of the small ones... Thanks for honoring your part, I see you are no longer Packless...*
herm... Did I translate his words correctly?
“*They are children of your pack, I don’t deserve nor have the capacity to keep these small ones, take care of them*”
I reply and low my head at the Alpha before walking back.
The primal zergs that chose to follow me tried to follow, but a growl of the Alpha stop most on their tracks, a small group of more developed primals ignored his order however.
I look back and see the group of six teenage looking primal zergs following me, making me sigh.
With no option i extend my wings and activate the hidden boosters, launching myself into the sky and disappearing from the area very fast as I fly back to the bullet train...