Enzokuhle- Threatening an Enterprise researcher as a convict, that warrants some level of repercussion…
(Enzokuhle walks over to Bobby and starts to beat him up)
Enzokuhle- Even though you all have gone through this do not forget your situation, if you step out of line I am contractually obligated to put you back into it, do not forget that *cleans off his bloodied hand with Bobby’s shirt*
(Bobby is on the ground with a bloody nose and a heavily bruised face. Sara, after witnessing the scene, remembers what Janis said…)
[Flashback:
Janis- Let me get something straight, I don’t care about any of you…
End Flashback]
Sara- *in head/sighs while looking to the orange-red sky* Guess that applies to more than just her
/////////////The Enterprise\\\\\\\\\\\\\
(As everyone clears out of D-15 after Gennady brings back the research specimens, everyone is subjected to a not so enthusiastic train ride)
Sara- *in head* This is getting old now…
(They all arrive back at The Enterprise. The squads begin to unload the specimens onto carts and wheel them to the research sector)
Gennady- All of you can have the rest of the day off, I’ll deliver these, take a break and Bobby go to the infirmary if you need, good job out there
(The squad begin to dissipate)
Gennady- Oh and Bobby…
(Bobby turns to him with a beat up and bruised face)
Gennady- …Please refrain from physical contact with Enterprise staff, I wouldn’t want anything worse to happen to you
(Everyone dissipates)
Sara- *in head* This place just…sucks
(Cut over to Akoni as he is treating Imran on one table and examining Ljubica on another. Black Tie Associate Shannon walks into the room)
[A/N- See Document 2 for Shannon’s description]
Shannon- So what’s going on here?
Akoni- Oh nutten much, jus a fiks sum injured subjects, wah duh yu want? (Oh nothing much, just fixing some injured subjects, what do you want?)
Shannon- Nothing it’s just that after my mission from this morning and the recent expedition, I wanted to see the aftermath of the event and it looks like it was quite the doozy *looking over at Ljubica’s body, then looking at Imran’s*
Akoni- Yeh Wi get sum noice specimens an ah research subject tuh ramp roun wid (Yeah, we got some nice specimens and a research subject to play around with) *cleans Imran’s wound*
Shannon- That great, anyway, everyone seems to be so down, like more than usual down, probably has to do with that expedition?
Akoni- Ding Ding
Shannon- Well then I better try to get the morale back up
Akoni- *waving her away* Yu duh dat Waail mi try tuh fiks up dis bastard yah (You do that, while I try to fix up this bastard here)
(Shannon leaves while Akoni continues to look at Imran’s wounds taking a couple of samples while he’s at it)
Akoni- Diis will com inna nicely (These will come in nicely)
(The next day)
(Sara wakes up and makes her way to the lobby looking for Gennady when she runs into Janis whose not with her crew)
Janis- Oh you’re still alive *sigh* shame
(Janis then walks away Sara gets pissed and flips her off while she’s not looking)
Sara- What a great start to my day *sarcasm*
(Sara sees the rest of Gennady’s crew off to the side)
Sara- Hey
Avrora- Hey
Sara- You guys heard anything from Gennady?
Avrora- Nah, were just waiting here for him to show up
(After a few minutes Gennady appears with a few new additions)
Gennady- Hello there my friends I see we’re up and at ‘em
Ragna- Who’s this?
Gennady- Oh this is-
Shannon- HI THERE I’M SHANNON EVEREST, RED AND BLACK TIE ASSOCIATE, PIANIST, TRACK RUNNER AND PART-TIME MONSTER SLAYER NICE TO MEET YOU
(Shannon comes right out of the gate with vibrant energy that unnerves the group)
Shannon- Now what are your names, or should I call you all troublemakers 1 through 4
Sara- Sara Lee
Avrora- Avrora Roy
Ragna- Ragna Láníková
Shannon- Oooh, I like your name
Bobby- Bobby Oswald Bannister
Shannon- Alright so that’s all of you now, *gestures to her team* introduce yourselves
Taylor- Taylor Abram
Jin- Names Jin Maki
Isidro- Isidro Santana
Nelda- *drowsy-fun way of speaking*Nelda Downer
(Sara gets accustomed to the new batch of victims colleagues she will be with for the following day)
Shannon- Now everyone I know you all are probably scared from yesterday’s exhibition but don’t worry I’m here to make sure you recover well, so onward to the Metrinite train
Sara- Hey, can I just ask…why?
Shannon- Hm?
Sara- I mean like, why are you doing this?
Shannon- Because the best way to get you all used to it is to take you through it again
(They all look at her like she’s crazy)
Shannon- Oh c’mon, trust me *waves them over*
(Sara mentally freaks then calms down)
Sara- *in head* Fuck this place, fuck this place, fuck this place
Shannon- C’mon everyone to the train *points forward* wait scratch that to Sector 5 *points in a different direction*
(Cut over to David who is walking through the Research sector to meet Séphora)
David- Yo! Seph, what’d you want to see me for?
Séphora- Hold on a second David! Be right there!
(David then looks around her lab at the new specimen she gathered from yesterday and so decides to just sit in a chair on his phone. Soon Séphora comes out to meet him with some trays that she sets on the table)
Séphora- Hey David good to see ya
David- Same so what’d you need me for?
Séphora- You still have those pieces from O-3405?
David- Uh yeah
Séphora- Good I’m gonna need you to drop those on these trays
David- Gotcha *lifts up eyepatch* Open
(Nightmare comes out of his eye and widens her body as it stretches to the ground. David goesand grabs a tray and heads into the abyss of Nightmare’s body.
David- *glare* Behave Nightmare
(He goes in and out a few times and at the end has 5 trays full of meat)
Séphora- Oh thank you I’ve finished examining the other samples so I’m trying to see what other things I could uncover from this
David- Aye do your thing I’m just here to help’
Séphora- Oh also I need another favor from you
David- Ok spit
Séphora- Let’s go over to Sector 7 cause we haven’t come up with a secure way to move it without severely injuring other personnel so we're gonna visit *finds a recording camera*
David- *nonchalant with a salute-wave* Lead away
(Séphora and David make their way to Sector 7 and, after an elevator ride and a walk, make it to cell “O-3407”)
Séphora- Just so you know this is a new one we got from the Chief yesterday
David- *stretching* So a newbie this should be interesting
(Séphora then opens the cell and it appears to be a lot larger on the inside than was previously thought. Inside they look to see the creature has woken up to their presence and starts to growl at them in an attempt to scare them away)
David- So what did you want to do?
Séphora- Oh simple, to take, combat data from this thing
David- Oh…oh
Séphora- Yep, get on in there pal *pats his back*
David- You’re lucky I like you, gimme the camera
(Séphora then hands the camera to David who then summons Nightmare)
Séphora- Tell me when you’re ready
David- I need you to fight that thing but don’t kill or severely injure it alright
Nightmare- Yes darling
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
David- *to Séphora* Alright were running
Séphora- K
(Séphora then goes outside and unlocks a box on the side of the door then pushes a button that releases the restraints on the beast. The feline starts to stretch a bit from its restraints and then locks eyes with Nightmare as she gets closer. It then decides to lunge at her clawing in her direction. Nightmare dodges the strike and goes in for one of her own, cutting the beast a bit and it decides to “charge up” a bit and fire lasers out of its mouth. Nightmare “opens” her body and absorbs the lasers, as she does that, the beast goes for tail strikes as it seems the puff balls at the end of its tails have straightened and hardened into spikes. Nightmare and the feline go at it a few more times then Nightmare grabs it’s tails and flings the beast into a wall)
David- *annoyed* Nightmaaare…
Nightmare- Sorry dear-
(As Nightmare is distracted the beast tries to go for David who doesn’t even flinch as the beast gets very close to him. Just then Nightmare appears right in front of him and the creature holding in a grip that assured its death if it didn’t follow instructions)
Nightmare- ✡︎□︎◆︎❼︎❒︎♏︎ ❍︎⍓︎ □︎◻︎◻︎□︎■︎♏︎■︎⧫︎📪︎ ●︎♋︎⍓︎ ♋︎ ♒︎♋︎■︎♎︎ □︎■︎ ❍︎⍓︎ ●︎□︎❖︎♏︎ ♋︎■︎♎︎ ⍓︎□︎◆︎❒︎ ♏︎⌧︎♓︎⬧︎⧫︎♏︎■︎♍︎♏︎ ⬥︎♓︎●︎●︎ ♌︎♏︎ ❒︎♏︎♍︎⧫︎♓︎♐︎♓︎♏︎♎︎ (You’re my opponent, lay a hand on my love and your existence will be rectified)
(The beast is scared stiff as it feels that it’s life is in certain danger, just then Séphora pops in)
Séphora- Alright David I think that should be enough for today, I want to get back to the samples you gave me
David- Aight *stops the recording* Nightmare put it back in it’s binds
Nightmare- *rage subsiding* Yes dear
(David and Séphora leave)
David- *to Nightmare* Close the door on your way out
(Séphora and David make it down the hall a fair bit as Séphora is rewatching the footage)
Séphora- *excited* Ooooooh this is just too good, such a magnificent creature I want to know more already
David- We can go back
Séphora- Maybe tomorrow I still want to examine those samples after all
David- Oh yeah *Nightmare returns to his eye socket* forgot
(They get into the elevator)
David- Hey Seph?
Séphora- Yeah?
David- You sure do get excited about this stuff every time, doesn’t it ever get a little dull to you?
Séphora- Neh, not really *reviewing the footage* everything we get here is unique and that uniqueness is exactly what I’m looking for in the things I research, it’s truly marvelous
David- *smiles/shrugs* Heh, whatever ya say
//BZZZ//
(Cut back to the large group Shannon is at the window of Sector 5, she hits the buzzer)
//BZZZ//
Avrora- *in head/looks at Shannon and her squad* They already have the weapons they need, could this be for a favor?
//BOOOOOOOM//
(Everyone except Gennady and Shannon flinch at the explosion that rocks the sector. Shannon just calmly hits the buzzer again)
Taylor- *in head* So that is more normal than I thought
(After a bit more time Estralza comes to the front wearing a welding mask and a thick welding apron)
Estralza- *taking off the mask* Well if it isn’t my favorite customer, what can I do for you deary?
Shannon- Hm, surprise me
(Estralza gets a wide smirk on her face as she goes to the back)
Avrora- So what exactly are you getting?
Shannon- *waving her hand around* Oh you know, a bit of this, a bit of that, a little dab of this, and another dab of that
(Everyone but her group is confused)
Shannon- You’ll see
(Almost on cue Estralza comes back with a large container with straps on it)
Estralza- There you go *heave* your “surprise”
(Shannon picks up the bag and straps it to her back)
Ragna- Ok I’m just gonna ask, what was that explosion?
Estralza- Oh that? That was just a failed test for my supercharged railgun, the thing shot well but the recoil was too great. So I’ve been trying to find a way to hinder it’s pushback as much as possible since it also messes up the controls when in use, I’ve only been able to do a test every now and then because of the high power costs and the barrels being destroyed
Ragna- *intrigued* Sounds pretty cool
(Estralza beams up at her inquiry)
Estralza- If you think so maybe I can bring you back to see both of them, I’ve been attempting to infuse some other weapons for a while-
Shannon- Thanks E, but we have to get going we’ll be sure to come back later on though
Estralza- Oh well, you don’t have to hurry you still have job to do after all
Shannon- See ya
Estralza- See you deary's
(As they leave Estralza cracks her back)
Estralza- *crack* Phew, I’m getting old, ALRIGHT EVERYONE GET READY FOR TAKE 2 READY THE COIL GUN *puts her welding mask down*
(Shannon and co go to the metrinite station and gets situated on the train)
Conductor- Where to?
Shannon- D-8 if you wouldn't mind
Conductor- *bows* At once
(As Sara sits down and just enjoys the short ride. Soon they reach D-8)
Shannon- Let's go everyone!
(Shannon excitedly hops her way off the train)
Sara- Oh yeah, back here
(The group gets to the bottom of the terminal and travels a good distance into the dimension before Shannon slams the giant container down and then pulls a whistle out of her pocket)
Shannon- *TWEEEEEEEEEET*
(Just then a bunch of canine-like and even humanoid creatures rear their heads from many different hiding places)
Shannon- *excited giggle* Here we go…
(Shannon then opens the container and closes her eyes)
Shannon- Eeny, meeny, miny, this one…
(Shannon grabs an ax from the container that has a turquoise edge on it)
Shannon- And this one
(She then takes out a gauntlet with sharp knuckles
Shannon- Oooh, I wonder what you guys do *puts the gauntlet on her left hand*
(Shannon then turns around to all the surrounding enemies and charges at them with both of her weapons readied)
Sara- *to Gennady* You not gonna join her
Gennady- No, she likes to do this a lot, every time she’s on a mission she plays a roulette with her weapon of choice, quite dangerous I may say
(Shannon uses the ax which cuts through most of the canines by growing larger in size as she sweeps in around the battlefield)
Shannon- Watch out heavy load here
(Ragna laughs a bit)
(Shannon then shrink the ax back down and throws it back to the group with Gennady catching it)
Shannon- THROW ME ANOTHER!
(Gennady grabs a sword and throws it to Shannon)
Shannon- Ooh pretty color
Sara- Why doesn’t everyone do this?
(Shannon is shown in the background to be destroying the landscape with her gauntlet that seems to have a double impact feature installed hitting the ground with double the force)
Gennady- Did Jacob or Estralza not tell you?
(Sara shrugs)
Gennady- *sigh* The reason is that not every weapon can go with any Associate some just don’t bond with everyone, Shannon here is a special case, as she is able to use any weapon without issue
Sara- That's pretty cool honestly
(Shannon then throws the gauntlet back)
Shannon- ANOTHER!
(Gennady then grabs a gun and chucks it over to her)
Gennady- We’ll go back to Estralza for a full explanation
Sara- No thanks I’m good
Gennady- *crossed arms/concerned* Nonsense, knowledge of this profession is imperative for survival
Sara- Ok ok fine *sigh*
(Shannon uses the sword in her hand to slash several solid sword beams that impart themselves in the surrounding area, disappearing after a short time)
Shannon- That’s interesting but not too surprising *throws the sword back*
(Shannon then aims the gun at the area as it charges up and releases a hail of bullets that multiply rapidly as they are fired)
Shannon- NOW THIS IS FUN AHA!
(Shannon lays waste to the area as the rest of the group just watch)
Bobby- So why the fuck are we here again?
Gennady- She said it was for hope but I believe it's just for her relieve some stress
Jin- *tired of this* That’s exactly the reason
Taylor- She does this everytime we have a mission I’m surprised she hasn’t run out of weapons at this point
Jin- *waving hand while looking up at the sky* Not really complaining though, gives us some time to rest after a job
(After about 2 to 3 hours of testing weapons, Shannon packs everything up and signals for everyone to leave with her)
Shannon- Let’s go everyone
(Everyone goes to the train platform)
Sara- So why do those things keep spawning here, it’s almost like a video game
Shannon- Oh that's because, well I forgot what number it was but there’s a Zer0 or “anomaly” in here that creates those creatures…
[A/N: “Zer0” is the term for any anomalous object, organism or oddity; “O’s” = “Zer0”]
(Sara has a flashback to the giant creature from chapters 4 and 5)
Shannon- I’m pretty sure they thought it would have been a waste to kill it so we kept it as a place to train up recruits in combat prowess with endlessly respawning enemies, so yeah, very much like a video game
(They all get back on the train and make it back to The Enterprise)
Shannon- Well I hoped that upped yalls spirits
Gennady’s group + Sara- *shared thought* We didn’t even do anything…
Gennady- They didn’t get to do anything
Gennady’s group + Sara- *shared thought* Exactly
Shannon- Oh I just thought you guys didn’t want to get your hands dirty so soon after yesterday's expedition, sorry if you wanted to join, you should have asked
Gennady’s group + Sara- *shared thought* Gotcha…
Sara- Anyway how about we just chill out for now, eh?
Gennady- How about we meet one more person I’m sure you would like her
Sara- Are you?
Gennady- Of course
(Gennady then pulls out his phone and makes a call)
Gennady- Hello…yes it’s me…I want you to meet some people…please if you could…great be right there *beep* come on everyone, to Sector 5
(Gennady leads them to one of the training rooms. As they open one of them they see 5 people in there: 4 recruits and one Red/Black Tie associate. All of them are sitting or lying down as the R/B tie plays a shamisen)
Gennady- Yuina! How are you?
(The Red/Black Tie associate, known as Yuina, gets up and introduces herself by moving her hair out of the way and has a bored expression on her face)
Sara- *in head* She’s so short
Yuina- So these are the people you wanted me to meet?
Gennady- Yep, how are they?
(Yuina looks over all of them and comes to one conclusion)
Yuina- Not impressed
Ragna- Hey!
Gennady- *optimism shot* Of course you’d say that
Yuina- Why do you have 5 of them though?
Gennady- Well this one, Ms. Sara here is actually under Mr. Maverick’s guidance
Yuina- What about the rest of his squad?
Gennady- You can probably guess that much
Yuina- Figures
(Yuina looks Sara up and down)
Yuina- You don’t look cut out for this line of work…
Sara- Huh?
Yuina- You’d be better of back in the shithole they pulled you from considering you’d just be a hindrance to Jacob anyway
Sara- Oh I can show you that I ain’t no slouch
(Yuina then gets up in her face)
Yuina- Is that a challenge?
Sara- I don’t know, is it?
(They both have a stare off until Yuina breaks it with…)
Yuina- I’m not interested in a fight right now so I’ll have you go against one of mine
Sara- What, are you scared?
(Yuina then grabs her shamisen and strums it a little casing a tiny explosion in front of Sara causing her to stumble back)
Yuina- No, but if you piss me off *glare* you should be
(Sara then gets up)
Yuina- Need to watch that mouth of yours I know many other associates that don’t take well disrespect, you probably already met one of them
(Sara then remembers Janis and flinches a bit)
Yuina- Now who would like to go first? *strum*
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The Enterprise
The Enterprise
Zer0 Derivatives
By: Estralza Gertrude (Sector 5 manager)
Classified
After many sleepless nights and testing I have finally uncovered the procedure on how to synthesize weapons with the properties of the Zer0’s. By extracting I have been able to create weapons able to use the abilities of a Zer0. I understand that this process is very demanding on Enterprise spending but it only seems to be that way because of the estimated power level of the base Zer0.
Though, through testing, there has still been the issue of compatibility as when a subject tried to use one of my weapons they experienced negative symptoms from derivative. This seems to correspond to the base Zer0’s power level; so, for example, if I were to theoretically synthesize a weapon with the ability of Associate Culann Rodriquez’s Zer0 it would probably kill whoever isn't compatible with it considering the strength of the base Zer0 itself. Though I hear from the research department that the side effects of non-compatibility in the derivatives is less severe than the base Zer0’s, so this might be mere conjecture.
Through testing, there have been rare cases where some were able to use more than one weapon at a time. Through study with the mathematics division, we have come to the conclusion that the reason why some are able to use more than one derivative may be due to that person’s “universal code” being more “flexible” than the average person’s giving them the ability to handle more “equations” than others. It seems though that this may not be attributed to the base Zer0’s considering the fact that anyone has yet to use more than one.