Now
Cal let the hot water wash over him. Let the steam work its magic. He felt the stiffness from an uneasy sleep melt away a little. Making hot showers, along with a reasonably-close facsimile to an all in one soap and shampoo was possibly the best thing he had ever done, next to the ice cream machine. The Threnosh’s strange body cleaning booth was more efficient, but completely unsatisfying. Actually, he couldn’t take credit for it. The fabricators made it all happen with only his descriptions and terrible drawings to go by.
It still wasn’t enough to clear his throbbing headache.
“Shower off. Dryer engage.”
The water from above dwindled to a trickle then disappeared. The steam was sucked out. He held out his arms as a warm, continuous gust of air hit him from all directions. He ran his hands over his buzz cut to speed the drying process. The hair was again thanks to the fabricators making him an automatic clipper. They even made the set of guides to control the length. With the superior Threnosh metal and composite materials in the clipper’s construction he figured that he probably could’ve named his price back home if he wanted to sell it. Government and corporations, everyone would’ve wanted it. Of course, that was all before the spires messed the world up.
He stepped out of the booth and pulled on the super awesome Threnosh-made onesie. The material was super tight, but it felt like wearing nothing at all. It kept him at a comfortable temperature in nearly all situations. Over that went the inner suit that the unpowered armor pieces went over or attached to. This layer provided a measure of protection that was superior to anything humans had produced in their long history. It was more bulletproof than the ceramic plates that modern soldiers used. It stopped piercing and cutting damage beyond what the best knightly steel plate armor could handle. He attached more armor plates and pulled on his gauntlets and boots.
He grabbed his PID from its dock on his tiny desk at the foot of his utilitarian bed, another thing he had to thank the fabricators for. Unlike the Threnosh, he couldn’t nor did he prefer to sleep in his armor.
He synced the PID to the control panels on his gauntlets and stuck the device in a protected compartment at his belt. He checked the clock to confirm that he was right on schedule.
He had an all hands briefing to conduct. Most of his base camp was going to be there. He had made the decision to stay in the fortified camp outside of Orchestral Meridian for the time being, even though they had reclaimed a small section of the city.
The security station was already churning out defense drones. They were of an older vintage, designed and made in the time before the spires. They were inferior to the modern designs, but made up for it in numbers. They were already patrolling the section for any corrupted. The fixed defensive emplacements, such as automated turrets were slower to come online. They’d need to personally check those to make sure that their machinery was still functional and ammunition reloaded.
Cal stood at his door and took a moment to make sure that the telepathic sphere that protected his mind was intact. He stepped out of his room and into the bright glare of the sun.
He made his way to the commend center without stopping to chat with the assorted Threnosh that crossed his path, as he usually liked to do. Even if they found it strange and disconcerting.
“Alright, let’s get the briefing started,” Cal said as soon as he stepped through the automatic sliding door into the briefing chamber. The cameras broadcast his holographic projection to each Threnosh in the base camp no matter where they were. Much better than the waste of time all hands meetings back on Earth when he still had a job.
Cal took a moment to acknowledge the T-men, the subcommander, the head researcher and the lead interceptor physically present in the chamber.
“Right, I know you’re all busy. I’ll try to make this quick. There won’t be a question and answer session, not that there are usually a lot of those. We have yet to complete a visual inventory, but according to records and a preliminary check through remote surveillance the supply of raw materials is close to capacity. It seems that choosing this section as the incursion point was a good call, since it contains several storage facilities.” Cal paused to bring up a holographic projection of a large building. “This is the next priority. We’ll get the fabrication facility up and running. Our fabricators tell me that they believe it’ll take some time and work to modify it to produce the equipment we want. It can churn out old designs easily enough, which doesn’t help us replace our gear and ammunition.” He switched the image to an overhead, three-dimensional map of the Section 115 and the adjacent sections. “The next potential targets. A decision hasn’t been finalized, yet. I hope to have one by the end of the day. For the time being, we will continue to scout the city with remote drones. If we discover the corrupted base or their source we will prioritize its destruction. That is all for now.”
The broadcast shut off and Cal sat down in his chair. Until like the Threnosh, he didn’t want to stand up for the duration of the rest of the briefing.
“So, who wants to start?”
Cal was met by silence.
“Okay, I guess I’ll go first… like always,” Cal said. “I’ll address the elephant in the room.” He paused to let several of the Threnosh look around. No doubt searching for the word that they didn’t recognize. Was it childish? Yes, but he needed the humor to stay sane. Even if he was the only one who understood it. “Something unexpected happened in the battle yesterday. My abilities failed in a critical moment and I acknowledge that it could’ve been disastrous.” He chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to disclose the true nature of his telekinesis and telepathy.
“Honor, once again I request a full accounting of your abilities. My team will not be able to diagnose the problem and discover a remedy without data,” Head Researcher Alluvial Fan 24198 said.
“Denied… sorry,” Cal shrugged. “I’ve thought about it and I’ve got something I can try. Except it’ll limit what I can do from a logistic, strategic and tactical standpoint.”
“Those cover every aspect of this operation,” Telatrine said.
“Are you able to detail these limits? The knowledge will be necessary to alter our current operational plan,” Salamander said.
Cal thought it over for a few moments. How was he going to share enough information to avoid hurting their goals, while keeping his vital secrets safe?
“It’s like being in a tank—” He was greeted by blank faces. “A tank is a vehicle of war from my world. Thick armor, with relatively small windows to look out of. Basically, I have to put myself inside a tank,” he mimed putting a miniature version of himself in one, “and I need to keep it buttoned up. Nothing open to the outside. All the view ports sealed tight.”
Blank looks.
“Let me back that up. I have no idea what hit me yesterday, but I think putting myself in a figurative tank might block future attacks. Unfortunately, since I’ll be sitting inside a tank, completely cut off from the outside world…”
“You will be unable to see or act in the outside environment. I believe I understand,” Salamander said.
“To keep myself safe means I won’t be able to utilize a large portion of my overall capabilities. So, that removes my ability to fly, scan for threats, distance attacks, crowd control and team defense.”
“That is a significant amount of your overall combat power and utility.”
Telatrine’s words echoed the open looks of concern on all of the Threnosh’s faces.
“Sorry, guys. I’m basically a brick until I figure out what’s going on. I can’t take the risk of failing at another critical juncture. What if it had happened while I was providing aerial transport?”
“It depends on the individuals you are carrying and how high. You will likely survive. Also, I do not understand your words. What is a brick?”
“That’s not the point, PJ15.”
“Does this tank method impact your overwhelming physical superiority?”
“It doesn’t, Salamander. My physicals aren’t connected. Still strong, fast and durable.” Cal turned to PJ15. “That’s basically what a brick is in this scenario.”
“The loss of your ability to provide rapid deployment and retreat cannot be replaced with the transports. Their size limits the locations they can enter,” Telatrine said.
“We will need to select points that the transports can reach,” Salamander said.
“There are a few transport landing zones in each city section. We can utilize these. However, I am concerned that the corrupted will eventually take note of these sites if they have not already and prepare ambushes,” Telatrine said.
“Their actions have demonstrated a level of intelligent thought atypical of monsters,” Salamander said.
Cal pointed to the head researcher. “Any thing on that front?”
“We have yet to receive word from the Great Archive,” Head Researcher Alluvial Fan 24198 said.
“PC3 told me they passed the request along. It’s been less than a week. How long does this usually take?”
“I have never requested anything from the Great Archive before. I do not know the answer to your query.”
Cal scratched at the stubble on his chin. “Alternatives? Got to think outside of the box, Alluvial.”
“I have never been inside of a box.”
Cal resisted the urge to palm his face. The head researcher was new-ish.
“I’ll rephrase that. Do you have an alternative idea that we could try in regards to determining the origins of the corrupted?”
“This was discussed with the research team in anticipation of your question.” Perhaps the head researcher was learning after all. “We believe that access to Orchestral Meridian’s birthing creches will allow us to obtain the same data as contained in the Great Archives.”
“Why didn’t you say that sooner? I could’ve flown to one and grabbed the data earlier.”
“Pardon, Designation: Honor. The data is stored in devices that take up entire chambers and only the Creche Administrators had access.”
Cal figured he could’ve probably carried them out of there with his telekinesis or pulled them on a makeshift sled. That was moot now. “Those administrators are probably gone. I see the problem.”
“Just so,” Head Researcher Alluvial Fan 24198 said. “However, we believe that Adahn is capable of extracting the data.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Cal conceded. “Good idea, Alluvial. Tell your team. And make preparations to receive and study that data.” He turned to Salamander and Telatrine. “Add that to the top of the priority list.”
“The nearest birthing creche is seven sections away from City Section 115.” Salamander switched the holographic projection to outline the location. “As you can see it is deeper within the city. In elevation and distance. The nearest transport landing zone is here.” They traced the route from the massive birthing creche facility deep underground to a location in a roughly straight line above ground.
“Looks like there are a couple of vertical lift platforms that are pretty close to the creche facility.” Cal burned the image into his memory. “Straight shot. This one lift looks big enough that we can take a bunch of automated turrets with us.”
“Yes, however if we operate under the assumption that the corrupted are intelligent. Then when they see our transport landing the lifts will be an obvious target. There is a lot of distance to cover going down on the lift. Plenty of time to set up ambushes along the way. Furthermore, logic dictates that if the birthing creches are involved in the creation of the corrupted then they will be defended,” Salamander said.
Cal shot at Salamander with a finger gun. “Good one. If that’s the case then this isn’t just an information gathering mission. It’s a sabotage one too.”
Every Threnosh suddenly stilled. They didn’t breathe.
“What’d I say?” Cal frowned. “Wait,” he held up a hand. “Birthing creches are very important and under no circumstances must they be damaged?”
The Threnosh exchanged looks, which was telling, before Brightstrike spoke up.
“Designation: Honor is correct. There is no greater evil than intentionally bringing harm to even the smallest birthing creche.”
It was saying something that the Threnosh with a biological defect that made them unable to feel fear was the one that spoke up.
“Oh… my bad. No sabotage,” Cal said. “Except… if the creches are involved in the creation of the corrupted then haven’t they already been harmed? In this case isn’t a cleansing series of explosions a good thing?”
“The creches must be repaired if possible,” Brightstrike said.
“If not?”
“Only the Collective can make that determination.”
“Okay, no boom.” Cal tried. If he was lucky than maybe the corrupted would scuttle the creches if it looked like they were going to loss control. “Well, this is all supposition anyways. We need to determine if they have something to do with the corrupted in the first place. Otherwise it’s a waste of time and resources.”
Stolen story; please report.
“I concur. If the birthing creches are unrelated to the corrupted’s origins then I prefer that our operations maintain sufficient distance.” There was a hint of fire in Salamander’s voice and eyes. It was small, like smoldering embers.
Cal smiled. “Ideas?”
“It can be done with a small team, prioritizing stealth,” Telatrine said.
Could he do it himself? At least scout it out. Maybe it’d be better to provide a one man distraction. Leroy Jenkins a train of corrupted away from the rest of his team, while they went in to assess the creche and get the data out.
Success hinged on too many variables. Could his telepathic shield keep him safe? Were there other monsters lurking that he couldn’t rely on his physical abilities to overcome?
“I think we need to maintain control of the intelligence battle. We keep sending out drones and planting surveillance equipment. However, we do it in a way that doesn’t reveal our intentions,” Cal said.
“We do not reveal the significance of the birthing creche facility to our goal,” Salamander said.
“Once we have more information about the creche and its surrounding area,” Cal gave Telatrine the finger gun, “we give your idea a shot.”
“If the Greater Archive provides the information we need then an operation to obtain the creche data will not be necessary.” Adahn’s voice was hopeful.
Cal was looking forward to bursting their bubble, when Telatrine beat him to it.
“Irrelevant. If the archive reveals that the corrupted are a product of the creches then we will need to address them. All of the creches throughout the entire city.”
Adahn’s eyes grew wide.
There were a lot of birthing creches in the city, scattered among dozens of massive facilities in different locations.
----------------------------------------
Unseen stood in the berth of their power armor’s maintenance bay while the technicians ran diagnostic and readiness tests. The scouting mission to the birthing creche facility was finally set and Honor had wanted them all at their best. The human was more focused and serious than he usually was. There was good reason for that.
Drega Tali entered through the door of the temporary maintenance chamber and walked to the front of Unseen’s berth.
“I am here to perform the repair as requested,” Drega Tali said.
The technicians had already made space for them to reach into the berth.
Unseen held their right arm out. “A corrupted cut through the armor. The technicians repaired the structural damage, but they lack the means to fix the adaptive camouflage skin.”
Drega Tali held a hand out. A small, thin, mechanical arm unfolded out of the back of their gauntlet. Three thin needle-like fingers emerged from the end of the arm and touched down on Unseen’s gauntlet. They started to weave back and forth over the surface.
Unseen was intrigued by what they were watching. Drega Tali’s mechanical arm’s fingers were repeatedly going over the exact places that the corrupted had damaged on the gauntlet. Even though the technicians had repaired the damage and it was impossible to detect with unaugmented vision.
“I have finished. Please test your trueskin,” Drega Tali said.
With a thought Unseen willed themselves to blend into their surroundings. The cybernetic command was received and their power armor instantly disappeared from sight. They were indistinguishable from the inside of their berth. The moved their arm closer to the side of the berth. The arm mimicked the sleek metallic surface. The adaptive camouflage was different from their power armor’s invisibility ability. It relied on the surface layer of their armor being intact.
Unseen disengaged their camouflage. “Thank you, Drega Tali. It is functioning within parameters.”
“May I ask you a question?”
“Yes.”
“You have been under Designation: Honor’s command for longer than any of the others with the exception of Salamander. Does working directly under his command always contain chaos?”
Unseen thought about it for several seconds. “Yes.”
Drega Tali nodded. Their face betrayed nothing.
“Although, Honor has been focused during this particular task.”
“I will adjust my expectations.”
“You were not able to participate in a secret boss fight, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Honor had the same demeanor for those.”
“I suppose that indicates the importance and difficulty of this task,” Drega Tali said. “I had heard about the secret boss fights from several of those that preceded me. I was looking forward to the opportunity.”
“I suspect that you will be faced with an equivalent experience.” Unseen stepped out of the berth. “I am finished here. Would you like to hear about my secret boss experience? I have the recording if you wish to view it.”
“Agreed.”
The pair left the chamber and headed for the chamber that Honor had dubbed the Officer’s Lounge. They crossed paths with Brightstrike and Maul.
“Are you not concerned?” Maul looked up at Brightstrike.
They were out of there power armor. Even in the crude, Threnosh-made exoskeleton they were barely 1.2 meters tall. The latter was in their power armor and towered over the former.
“I am concerned about performing to an adequate level. Designation: Honor is part of the infiltration team. I have not fought with him as part of team before,” Brightstrike.
“I am not referring to that. The team is going deep into potential hostile-controlled territory without support. Honor will not be able to perform an emergency retreat without great risk. If there are difficulties the team will be alone.”
“Those are none of my concern.”
“How can you not feel concern? Death is a probability. Even Honor has said so.”
“That is what we do. It is our purpose. It doesn’t concern me.”
“You truly do not feel the fear? I do each time I face monsters.”
“I am incapable of understanding your words.”
A confused look crossed Maul’s face.
“It is my defect. I cann—”
Maul raised a hand. Shocked. “We do not openly speak of that which made us Defective,” there was an uncharacteristic edge to their voice, “Honor’s words.”
“Acknowledged, but Designation: Honor left the determination to us. We can speak of it as we chose,” Brightstrike said. “I am incapable of feeling fear. It is a biological defect.”
Maul stopped.
“That is unfair,” they pointed to the single, cyclopean eye in the middle of their face, “I have difficulty perceiving depth, while you are adapted perfectly to our purpose. You can fight without doubts holding you back.”
“Not entirely accurate. I may not fear injury and death, but I am still concerned about performing adequately. Enough to prove worthy of being a part of the team.”
The pair walked into the maintenance chamber in silence.
“I often wonder how Maul does not walk into things more often,” Winding Myriad said.
“Myriad, Honor stated that we are not to ridicule each other over our defects,” Adahn’s eyes widened. “I was not to say that word.”
“Honor didn’t teach us to fear the word or what it means. His teachings lead us to succeed regardless of our defects. Some of us even turn their defects into an advantage. Although that which makes me a defective,” Winding Myriad gestured to their atrophied lower limbs that hung close to ground while their anti-gravity harness held the rest of their body up, “is not something that can possibly turned into a benefit.”
Adahn fell silent. They had not shared their defect with any of the others. Only Honor knew that their mind was trapped in a biological body that completely ignored their brain signals nor responded to external stimuli. If not for their power armor they would be imprisoned. The glowing lines of shifting color that traveled underneath the surface of their power armor dimmed.
“The rest of your body is longer and stronger than the proper Threnosh,” Adahn said. “Perhaps the advantage lies in that… somewhere.”
Winding Myriad shrugged.
It reminded Adahn of Honor. In fact many of the T-Men that had been with Honor the longest had copied some of his mannerisms. Whether they did it unconsciously or deliberately, they didn’t know.
“You are troubled?”
“I am concerned at the critical nature of my role to this entire Task,” Adahn said.
“Yes. The instinctive nature of your trueskin’s ability to connect and control to the city’s control mechanisms make reactivating them easier,” Myriad said. “To play such a vital role… I understand your concern.”
“Then you have insight into how I can allay my concerns,” Adahn said.
“Trust in Honor to put you in the position to succeed. He is not a Threnosh, but he has demonstrated that he plans for us to triumph over our challenges. Do not doubt that.”
Adahn nodded, although the lines dimmed again.
“PJ15,” Winding Myriad inclined their head.
“Myriad, Adahn,” PJ15 returned the greeting, but didn’t stop to interact. They had to speak to Rodinian.
The overhead map showed Rodinian inside the temporary fabrication chamber. Which was more of a tent than a proper building. There were several sections devoid of walls. Rodinian was in one such area.
They had detached the hard backpack from their power armor. It was open and sitting on the ground. Rodinian was standing over it, while manipulating the holographic projection emanating from it.
“Constructing new traps?” PJ15 said as they approached.
“Yes,” Rodinian said flatly. They didn’t look away from their task.
The surface of PJ15’s power armor-covered arm bristled. It took an effort to calm it down.
“You are not doing as much as you are capable of.”
Rodinian stopped and turned to look at PJ15 as if noticing them for the first time. “I have fulfilled Honor’s orders with exactitude.”
“Yes, but I believe you know that you can do more.”
“Correct.”
“Then why are you not doing so?”
“Honor has not ordered it.” Rodinian turned back to their work.
PJ15’s power armor started to form spikes that reached out toward Rodinian. It took more effort to rein them back in. Fortunately, they went unnoticed.
“You are not willing to put all of your capabilities toward the benefit of our team?”
“I care not. I will do as ordered. And only Honor can command me.”
“If I inform Honor that you can do more?”
“What you do is no concern to me.”
PJ15 said nothing. Rodinian’s lack of concern for anything other than themselves was an injustice to the maximum effort that every other member of the team contributed. They felt their feelings bleeding into their power armor. They needed to move away from their teammate immediately. They would inform Honor at a later date. It would be unjust to add a new concern on the eve of an important and dangerous mission.
“Rodinian, it is only fair to work as hard as everyone else. We are all on the same team,” PJ15 said.
“I cannot comprehend your words,” Rodinian said.
----------------------------------------
Then
Detective Ordonez shut the door to her office.
Cal took his phone out of his pocket and put some music on.
“Sorry, just want to make it harder for listening ears.”
“Paranoid? You’ve got all that power,” Detective Ordonez shook her head. “Imagine what it’s like for the rest of us?”
“That’s what I’m doing. This is mostly for your benefit.” Cal placed his phone on the desk.
“I’m listening.”
“It’s about your super girl. Have you given what I said some thought?”
Detective Ordonez’s face looked like she had taken a bite out of a lemon.
“Come on. I saw your face last night. You were thinking something was up with what went down. Flo—”
Detective Ordonez held her hand up. “Don’t use names.” She paused. “It didn’t add up.”
“Okay, so you’re a Detective don’t you have investigation skills or like enhanced intuition or something along those line? Why not use them?”
“Something like that and I did, which is the only reason I’m giving you this conversation.” Detective Ordonez closed her eyes.
“Um… what’re you doing?”
“Shut up.”
The silence carried on for about a minute before the detective opened her eyes. “It should be safe to talk. When she first got placed on my task force, I did some asking around. The official story was that she lost her family a while back, before she got her powers. Apparently, she showed up in front of the interim governor. Richards signed her up on the spot. They’d been mostly using her as a bodyguard for Richards and as the point person whenever they had to take on one of those big monsters.”
“That’s pretty vague… and suspicious,” Cal nodded sagely.
“That’s all I’ve got right now. Your turn.”
“The biggest, most obvious thing is that when I was about to kill the mauler. She chucked a fridge at me.”
“It was dark, maybe she thought you were in trouble.”
“Here’s a little secret. I can’t quite see in the dark, but I can see a lot better than I used to. If I was in her position, I wouldn’t have made the same mistake.”
“You don’t know if she’s got the same eyes as you.”
“Everything about my physical body got improved when the spires appeared. I’d bet a million dollars that she got the same overall package.”
“That’s not saying much since money is worthless now.”
“Fine, I’d bet points, whatever. Point is, probability says she saw it right. She saw well enough to chase the mauler, didn’t she?” Cal challenged.
“I’ll concede.” The scowl on Detective Ordonez’s face smoothed as she fell into thought. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her use a lantern. Anything else, Cruces? We need to head over to the other scene soon.”
Cal made a face. “Jesus, it’s hot today. Those bodies are going to be bad.” He sighed. “Last thing. My associate,” he chose his words carefully, “detected a third source of blood on her last night. Distinct from the apartment complex and the townhouses.”
“From the mauler? Or maybe you?”
“No, he was adamant that it was from a place that we hadn’t been to. And, I find it suspicious that there was a different massacre miles away from the site where we actually found the mauler.”
“The little monster moved fast. It could’ve done the one we’re about to check out then moved on to the townhouses.”
“One question then. Where did she vanish off to?”
Detective Ordonez’s scowl returned. “I’ll look into it. You do not do anything. Understand?” She jabbed a finger at Cal. “This is an internal matter.”
“Right, I’m an outside consultant,” Cal raised his hands in mock surrender. “I want to make it clear that I intend to protect innocent people. On both sides of the river. Gangbangers are one thing, but those people in the townhouses? The mauler became a graver threat last night.”
“Agreed on that point. It went from isolated individuals with magic or skills to large groups of gangbangers and now a group of innocent people with children,” Detective Ordonez said. “I’ll look into what you’ve brought me. Any chance you can bring Bennett? We need his tracking ability.”
“He only works nights.”
“Shit. I don’t want to leave those bodies out there all day.”
“I’m pretty sure you can move them. Just don’t clean up the blood… and guts. Just to be on the safe side.” Cal reached out for his phone. “I can’t believe I just said that.”