Rachel's ears stiffened as she heard hurried footsteps nearby; mind rousing, she recognized Special Agent Johnson's muscle movement. He was breathing heavily as he rushed past two office workers, causing them to press against the wall to give him more room.
Opening her eyes, she assessed the area; Serah had taken Bree's bed, already swapping shifts, and Maria wasn't there. Scarlet and Fiona were sleeping next to her, sound asleep.
Johnson was one hallway away, but this section of the building wasn't traveled much since it was at the tail end of the front, so he didn't have many obstacles in his way; he had to be running to get them.
Broadening her hearing, she determined it was nearing nightfall by the conversations, and it seemed as if a few cities were coming back under local policing control as Martial Law was lifted. A helicopter was nearing the building, and Tom was on the roof, preparing for departure.
It was clear that something had changed. A group of agents was already going to grab Maria from outside; apparently, she'd only slept a few hours before going out to sunbathe.
Johnson addressed Bree as he rounded the corner. "The General—he needs them r-ready—as soon as possible!"
"Huh?" Bree sounded confused as she turned to face him, pulling out her phone. "What's going … oh, your text just got to me. Alright," she mumbled. "I'll go in and wake them up."
Rachel was already ahead of her. "Hey, Scarlet."
The Vampire groaned, sitting up as she blinked, looking around. "Rachel … what's going on?" Fiona stirred next to her, stretching out atop her pillow, and her napkin blankets shifted off her naked body.
"It seems it's time to go. Tom sounds pretty stressed; he's making plans for us to board a jet at the Fort Lauderdale Airport."
Bree knocked on the door before cracking it, the hallway lights illuminating the dark space. "Hey, I think…" Rachel cut her off.
"Thanks, Bree. We're getting ready. Is the sun down?"
"Umm—give me a second." She shut the door before running to the window to look outside. "It looks like there's just a bit of orange in the sky left." She said, knowing Rachel could hear her.
"Scarlet, I think it's dark enough for you to go out if we teleport into the helicopter. Can you get us into it before picking up Maria?"
Getting up, Scarlet looked down at her undergarments with a slight frown. "Can I get dressed first?"
"Of course," Rachel chuckled.
Fiona's wings appeared as she groggily floated into the air. "Wow," she yawned. "We're going in hot, huh? I hope they have some sugar on the plane … I'm a little hungry."
"It could have been the alcohol yesterday," Rachel mused, throwing her blankets off to get ready.
Johnson stepped up to the door, but she responded before he was able to knock, and Serah began to stir. "Yes, Johnson, we're getting ready. We'll just teleport up to the helicopter. Thanks."
He cleared his throat. "I—I see. Alright, then."
He briskly walked back the way he'd come. Bree ran back, coming in as they were getting dressed. "So, umm … I guess this is goodbye."
"Huh?" Serah rubbed her eyes, glancing around the dark room. "What's—going on? Is it already time?"
"Seems like it," Bree sighed, flipping on the light. "I kind of enjoyed hanging out with all of you … I can't thank Maria enough for what she did for me." She mumbled.
"I had a lot of fun too," Fiona said, landing beside her dress to slip it on. "I hope they have barbie clothes I can change into once we get there; jungle exploration doesn't sound great wearing this."
"I'm sure Tom has that all figured out," Rachel replied, flipping out her hair after putting on her shirt.
Serah rose to help zip the back of Scarlet's gown up. "Yeah … it's been a little crazy with all of you around, and you're leaving us with that Succubus." She moaned.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Scarlet muttered. "She's a real piece of work."
"You sure you can't suck out her blood before going?" Serah asked with a forced chuckle. "Make the world a little bit of a better place?"
Fiona gasped as Bree helped her tie up the back of her dress. "That's—a little tight—Bree."
"Oh—I'm so sorry," Bree apologized, hurrying to undo the knot.
Scarlet groaned as she brushed out her hair with her fingers. "I wish I could, but … yeah … I can't. We aren't going to go see her—right, Rachel?" Scarlet pleaded.
Finished putting on her shoes, Rachel shook her head, pulling her hair to her back after rising. "No, we're on a clock; I get why you two don't like her, but she's not as bad as you make her out to be."
"She's not that great," both Scarlet and Serah whispered.
Bypassing the comment, Rachel put a hand on her hip, ears still scanning for helpful information. "We ready?"
"I guess," Scarlet sighed, turning to hug Serah before turning to do the same to Bree. "Thanks for keeping us company … and guarding us," she chuckled. "I know we haven't known each other long, but I enjoyed it."
"Same," they both replied, returning the embrace.
Fiona hovered in the air, grinning at them. "When we come back, we should all hang out again. Maybe I can do an FBI stream! I'm sure my audience would love it … Rachel would probably have to hold the camera, though."
"I don't mind," Rachel chuckled, "but I'm sure we'll need to get Johnson and probably Ruth's permission to do it; Security and the head Director over the building."
Fiona waved her hand dismissively. "Bah, it shouldn't be that hard!"
Scarlet moved around Bree and Serah to stand next to Rachel. "So, we leaving right now?"
"Yup, the helicopter is about to touch down."
Scarlet looked up at the ceiling, eyes turning void black with red halo irises. "Ah, I see it. I'm guessing shadows, not blood, right?"
"Yes," Fiona nodded vigorously. "Shadows, please!"
"Hmm—yeah, I'm not petrified to use your blood portals, but it's not on my preference list," Rachel mumbled. "Shadows would probably work better since it's still in motion."
"True," Scarlet whispered, motioning them to get closer; Fiona landed on Scarlet's shoulder, and Rachel pressed in, close to touching Scarlet. Bree and Serah waved as shadows surrounded them.
The sounds of the two beating blades spiked in Rachel's head, making her wince as she adjusted the volume. No one was in the back of the helicopter as it descended to the rooftop. Rachel pulled her hair over her shoulder, quickly dropped into a seat, and Fiona fell into her lap, releasing her wings.
They glanced around the dark interior; it was bigger than the last one. The sides had gray padding, and there were headphones attached to the long poles on either side of the walls that held orange straps. The seats weren't padded, they were only orange stretched fabric on a metal frame, and things could be slid underneath if needed.
A large American flag was attached to the ceiling, fluttering slightly with the changing wind pressure that shifted their hair. They could hear the pilots up front, speaking to their command; it didn't seem like they'd noticed their intrusion.
"Alright, I'll go get Maria," Scarlet said, vision already scanning the building below them. Rachel nodded, and she vanished. Before the vehicle touched down, Scarlet was back with a confused Maria.
"Que mierda? Warn me next time, girl! Damn … that scared the … gah, I can't even say that anymore." She mumbled, pulling around her hair to sit next to Rachel.
Scarlet took the opposite seat. "Sorry, Rachel said we were in a bit of a hurry."
"Sounded like it," Maria sighed. "The tipos that came to get me were antsy."
[i.e., types]
One of the pilots took off his harness and shifted to get up, freezing as he caught sight of them. Fiona waving from Rachel's lap. "Hey! We're all ready to go." She said with a thumbs up.
He paused, trying to work through the situation.
Rachel pointed to the door. "General Dallas is outside; once he's in, we're ready to head over to the airport. I know you have orders afterward to pick up some soldiers at Homestead and need to hurry."
"Right," he muttered, moving to open the door. "You certainly look like what I've heard."
"Was that a compliment?" Scarlet whispered, brow creasing.
Maria shrugged in response.
General Dallas stepped up, and the pilot explained the situation. He straightened, walking down to meet them as the pilot returned to his seat, preparing to take off while doing checks with his co-pilot.
Tom's dark eyebrows rose as he glanced between them, shifting the bag on his back with a grunt. "I'm glad you were able to get ready so fast."
"What's going on?" Rachel asked. "It sounds like something's changed; I heard that Martial Law is being lifted in a few cities."
He sighed as he dropped the bag he was carrying at his feet, sitting next to Scarlet. "Yes, well, that was more of the state Supreme Courts, but no, that's not the issue. Five hours ago, the crystal's glow changed colors."
He pulled a small tablet out of a pocket on the side of the military bag, inputting a few phrases and scanning his finger, and unlocked the device to show them something.
"As you can see," he pointed, voice rising as the blades pick up, "it still oval-shaped and still hovers slightly off the ground; the color of the crystal itself is the same, dark green and brown, but the dim sage glow had changed to a mustard yellow. There are some problems on the other side too."
He handed the picture to Scarlet; she took it and passed it around as he explained.
"I sent in more men … it's uncertain what happened to the men that went in before, but they're presumed dead; they failed to deliver their hourly report at eight P.M. We were able to send in eight more soldiers. They came back and gave this report:
The forward base established was destroyed; most of the technology they brought with them was either damaged or taken.
"Swipe the image to see more … you see that image. It's what we were able to recover from the previous expedition."
"The sky," Rachel muttered, shifting as they left the ground. "It's almost exactly like The Oscillation … it's … is that two moons in the sky?"
"Yes," Tom sighed, scratching his bald head. "It'll be interesting to see how your powers function under two moons. Anyways, it seems like this crystal is either a gateway to another world or another dimension, and the dome expanded … it's bigger than it was at the start.
"Here's a picture of how the dome looks after the color changed; it's higher, considerably higher. Some of the wildlife observed were very alien; it appears many of the creatures are more insectile-types. We don't know the significance of the crystal itself or why it's in that specific location; there aren't any clues to be found on the other side.
"However, we can assume there are hostile bodies on the other side; there were signs of a struggle. The soldiers opened fire on an unknown target. The shells were left behind, but the weapons and remaining ammo are gone. There was an unknown blue liquid at the scene that appears to be some kind of blood. No bodies were found, and there's no human blood to be seen."
Rachel examined the blue liquid shown in the video recording from the second investigation team; Fiona swallowed nervously. "Yeah, you know … I have blue blood. That's not creepy or anything."
"What kind of weapons did they use?" Rachel asked.
"They held a defensive position using M240L machine guns with support fire from two other soldiers with M4s. Two grenades were used, and claymores were planted as part of the defense, but they weren't triggered."
Tom scratched his arm nervously. "If two M240s can't take the enemy down … the team that's in there right now have two Browning M2 fifty-cals. Damn … we just need to know what we're dealing with. None of the footage recovered from the cameras of the first unit shows anything particularly hostile … nothing that they couldn't handle."
"Eight can enter," Rachel hummed as she slid through the pictures. "The limit was five originally, but with the color change came the expansion of both areas and how many people could enter. The other men could still be alive."
"Yes, but there's no response on radio, and with how many tracks are around the site, and with how cautious we're being, we don't know where they could have gone. If you can hear them, then we'll mount a rescue immediately, but until we have confirmation, we'll play it safe."
Rachel nodded. "I understand; does that mean four men will be holding the crystal while we investigate?"
"Yes, and you'll be given a radio with other supplies before entering; there's a supermarket nearby where you can grab what clothes you might need. We have blood packs on-site for Scarlet; she can take however many she wants. We had more supplies on the other side, but much of it was taken, including the rations."
Scarlet licked her lips eagerly. "Now you're talking," she chuckled. "I don't know how much energy I can store. I'll go in like Rambo!"
"Sugar?" Fiona asked.
"Plenty."
"Perfect!"
Rachel hummed darkly. "So … you think we're dealing with something that is at least semi-intelligent?"
Tom nodded before rubbing his nose. "The videos the second team brought back shows displacement in the dirt; the tracks appear to have two long toes and a sharp point that protrudes at the back of the foot. It's theorized by the shape that they might act like talons.
"There aren't many, and there are other tracks shown in the photos. However, they could be days old, and we don't know exactly which ones are predators or prey … there were tracks when we first stepped through, but the original footage the first team had was destroyed."
"What about sunlight," Scarlet asked.
"As far as we can tell, the sun should set near the same time as our own."
"Let's hope," she muttered. "I don't want to be a barbecued Vampire."
"I see," Tom frowned, folding his arms as he shifted to look at her. "You really do burn up in sunlight?"
"Let's say it's not pleasant," Scarlet sighed.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you much about the planet," Tom growled. "We tried launching a drone past the barrier, and it teleported to another part of the closed-in area; we made a rough map of the ground from the pictures, but the drone was taken out by some large dragonfly-looking creatures with stingers."
"These things?" Maria asked, pointing at one of the pictures; the creature had a long red body with a thick black stinger at the end of its butt, similar to a bee. Its four arms were thin and shiny blue. Its head seemed closer to a termite than a dragonfly, but its four wings seemed to flap at a fast rate. "It's disgusting…"
"From what we've determined, they're more animalistic in nature, no different than a falcon. They seem to respond to sound, which is likely why it went after the drone; they're fast. They've been observed to mostly live high in the treetops."
"The drone test was done on the first trip, correct? Have you done a second one since the area expanded?"
"Not yet, we've put a priority on securing the immediate area; one of the soldiers is checking in every ten minutes, but currently, we have six soldiers guarding two environmental chemists that are bringing back contained samples from the site. They're under strict orders not to leave the immediate area."
Rachel scratched her left ear, eyes scanning each image; the environment was very jungle-like, and the creatures were very different. It seemed like this area had few animals; as Tom had said, almost everything was insect-based.
"Have you marked any dominant predators?"
"We haven't left the crystal area, and from what we know about the previous crystal event, it seems to release a pulse that repels creatures nearby, which it didn't do on our side, instead drawing citizens toward it. However, the drone was able to capture images of a few creatures while it was active, as you've seen. We don't know how their food chain works."
Rachel nodded. "Alright, then I think we should relax until we get there. It won't do us much good to feel nervous about what we don't know. What I would like to do is talk about our objective."
Her eyes rose to meet Tom's, still studying the pictures with her wide field of vision. "Off the top of my head, I can imagine a new place with resources is optimal; this discovery could change everything … more real estate, possibly oil and coal, etcetera."
Tom leaned his head back against the straps, releasing a long breath. "You're not wrong. Resources are the actual value of this discovery, but the primary objective is control. Why waste so many resources going to space to get them when we could just use these crystals? However, if we cannot control an area, then devoting resources is a waste, and if it is only temporary, then it changes how we would proceed.
"As I said before, what we need is information. You're stronger than a human, more durable, and have many utility-based abilities to help you survive and scout. First, we need to know threats; second, we need to learn how these crystals function.
"If these crystals only go to a single planet, then that also changes how we will proceed. We just need information, period … it'll be optimal for you to bring a camera with you. We can't transmit signals through the crystal.
"It might be possible to run a wired connection if we have a really long cord, but the speed at which it expels increases the longer something is in contact; it's a problem for the tech department on-site. What we can do is bring radio tower equipment there and use that to run a short-range transmission to direct your search. You could provide info that could be quickly brought back."
"You want us to follow directions? We aren't soldiers that will follow every order given to us … we're contracted to get you information. If we feel like we should do something other than what is directed, are you fine with that?"
"I understand the position you're in, and I know risking your life for my support is uncomfortable. If you feel uneasy with an order or request, then I understand. I want you four to know that I have your back; whatever happens in there … all I need is actionable information."
Rachel smiled. "Then we will do what we can." Looking back down at the image, she bunched her lips to the side, examining the crystal again. "Have you considered the possibility that the color could mean that the crystal is breaking, similar to the High Rollings crystal?"
"Yes, however, that doesn't account for the expanded area … the other crystal didn't seem to function like that. It must have something to do with how long it's been open. We have no clue how the crystal actually functions, though."
"Okay," Rachel passed the tablet to Maria. The Unicorn made a disgusted face at the next few creatures she slid through as Rachel said, "It seems like we're coming up on the airport."
Once landed, they got out of the helicopter, transferring to the small jet before it took off. Rachel and Scarlet sat next to each other; Fiona sat on a table with a spoon of sugar in front of her.
Maria had given the tablet to Scarlet and had taken the opposite couch to sleep, feeling a bit tired. Scarlet was studying the scenery while Rachel leaned back, eyes closed as she rested. Tom was near the front on a laptop, reading reports and giving orders as they flew.
Scarlet nudged her.
"Hmm?"
"What do you think about the map?"
Rachel yawned, stretching out her arms above her as she glanced down at the wide-shot pictures taken by the drone as Scarlet swiped through them. "It's really green, but that area on the last picture that's burned … beyond the boundary. There could have been a fire."
"It wasn't that recent, though, right?" she asked, going back to the image.
"Maybe not, but recent enough to still be black … if it was a fire at all. That section is fairly blurry, but it'll be in the newly expanded area. There are the cliffs up here too," she muttered, pointing at the screen. "It might be good to first head there to get a better understanding of the area, but the images aren't really that helpful; a little, but not much."
"Yeah," Scarlet pulled a loose section of her bangs back behind her left ear. "Once we get there, I can look around, and you can listen to see if there are any dangerous things nearby."
"Everything will change the moment we step foot on this new planet," Rachel said, closing her eyes again. "Tom asked the pilot how long it would take to get there, and we'll be there within four hours … we're going pretty fast. The first thing we'll do when we get there is search for a cave, in case the sun rises sooner than expected. We need a place where you can go and not fear turning into charcoal."
"Thanks," Scarlet whispered. "I'm kind of the weak link, huh?"
"You kidding?" Rachel chuckled. "You're a powerhouse, but that comes with some weaknesses. We've all got them."
"I guess … thanks for sticking with me."
"C'mon," Rachel groaned. "Everyone thinks you're awesome; why don't you? Have a little confidence in yourself."
"Teleporting is kind of awesome, isn't it?"
"Super awesome!" Fiona agreed, giving her a thumbs-up as she got up. "Umm, my wings kind of don't really work that well in planes … could one of you help me sit down by you guys?"
Scarlet chuckled, getting up to help her. "I got you."
"Alright," Rachel shifted in her seat, leaning back. "Let's get a bit more rest. We need to be ready for this new place. There could be some real threats waiting for us on the other side."
The four of them rested until they neared Billings Airport.