Azura stood above a watchtower overlooking the construction of the city's defenses. She pulled out her spyglass to scan the perimeter. If the enemy charged at them with cavalry with the addition of artillery support they might not survive the first wave. They had guns and automatic crossbows, but nothing substantial that could really make a dent in the enemy's numbers. The first option would be to make some catapults, but they lacked the proper materials to do so.
"It is not an ideal situation." Said Y'noch as he came up the watchtower.
"And yet Dawon still moved everyone here. Do the Zulamarians suspect?"
"As far as they're concerned we're a traveling band of renegades. They don't come out here because they know nobody in their right mind would settle here."
Azura sighed. "Any word on our raiding party?"
"Nothing yet."
"Don't suppose you would know where the Zulamarians keep their artillery would you?"
"I may know a place or two."
Tykal used her spyglass to scan the surrounding area as the sky sailor soared through the skies.
"See anything?" Asked Onyx.
"Nothing yet. I'm a mazed this thing can hold eleven people all things considered. It is rather small."
"Yeah well once you get rid of the extra luggage I suppose it makes it easier."
"Gotta say with a fleet of these… There'd be nothing to stop you." Said Dawon as he sauntered to both of them.
"We used to have three. Then a zabrak came swooping down on us, and decided it wanted to have some lunch. So we only have the one." Explained Onyx.
Onyx and the rest of them knew that they would not be able to keep quiet about the sky sailor for long. Especially since they brought Irene with them on board on their journey to Berwick. For now at least they would have to use it to for infiltration missions.
"Hey what's that over there?" Said Lyo.
Everyone peeked through their spyglasses and saw a building that resembled a small outpost.
"I thought you said the Zulamarians don't come out here."
"They don't." Said Dawon as he scanned the outpost with his spyglass. "Take us in for a closer look. We need to see if that's really them."
Embry glanced at the outpost one last time. "No… It couldn't be." She muttered to herself.
They found a small clearing from where they could disembark. Two animalists stayed behind to guard the sky sailor whilst the other nine walked towards the small outpost.
"We'll split up into four groups, and approach it from all sides. Maybe we can even find a way to sneak inside." Said Dawon as he dipped his claws in poison.
"Alright then. Embry with me. Tykal and Lyo approach from the right. Tigris with Irene and Dawon." Ordered Onyx.
"Lucky me." Quipped Tigris with a sense of dread.
Embry stayed close behind Onyx as they approached the outpost from behind. They found no signs of an entrance that they could use. The wall itself was covered with moss and roots. If it was a military outpost they would keep their facilities properly maintained. Embry had a strange sense of foreboding. She felt a knot in her stomach as she feared the worst.
"Well since there's no way in let's circle back to the front."
"Y-yeah." Answered Embry with a stutter.
"You alright?" Asked Onyx with concern.
"Yeah it's just… Being out here without proper reinforcements you know?"
Onyx did not seem satisfied with her response, but for the moment it would have to do. "Yeah I know what you mean."
The others were gathered in a small courtyard looking at the remains of some wild animals.
"How long do you think Irene?" Asked Dawon as Irene held an animal's bone.
"Eight days maybe… Hard to say. A lot of these bones have been picked clean though. I'd venture to guess something is using this place as a nest."
"So I guess the Zulamarians did abandon it." Said Tigris as she looked at the main building.
"Yeah but what's it for? It's not built like an outpost. This place couldn't withstand an assault." Added Tykal as she looked at the dilapidated walls.
"Whatever it is we'll have to go in and take a look."
"Yeah okay. Tykal and Lyo stay here. If the animal comes back, and it's too dangerous head inside and call for help." Ordered Onyx.
"C'mon how bad can it really be?" Smirked Tykal.
"Let's go." Ordered Dawon as the rest of them headed inside the building.
The inside was completely dark. There were a few holes where the light seeped in, but that didn't provide much light. They popped flares, and looked for torches they could burn. There were a few torches that were still placed in their sconces that they lit up. As they did they saw the rotting furniture, the moss covered walls, bones of dead animals, and a stairwell that led to the basement.
"Irene stay here and cover the stairs." Ordered Dawon.
"Tigris stay with her and do the same." Added Onyx.
"Aww I wanted to see what's down in the spooky basement." Quipped Tigris.
"With our luck you just might." Retorted Embry.
"Hey if it's a chance to get with you in the dark…" Tigris began.
"Grow up." Said Dawon with dissatisfaction.
"How about you get fucked!" Replied Tigris as she flipped him off.
Dawon ignored her as the other two animalists, Onyx, and Embry investigated the basement.
"Do you always have to pick a fight with him?" Asked Irene.
"He started it." Groaned Tigris as she mimicked a small child.
"Ugh."
Darkness was fast approaching. The two animalists that guarded the sky sailor transformed to heighten their senses.
"You know it's weird. Ever since we got here there's been nothing but… nothing. Not even birds or nothing."
"Who knows. It can get awfully cold here during Bounty and even worse during Frost."
"Yeah I guess so. Still you figured we would've seen, or heard something by now."
"Yeah I guess. I'm gonna go take a leak."
Just as the animalist was about to leave the immediate area a snap sound filled the air. Both of them raised their weapons as they scanned their surroundings.
"Back to back. Let's not let it get the jump on us."
"Yeah."
Both animalists turned their backs towards each other as they tried to pick up the creature's scent.
"It's gotta be really confident, hungry, or stupid if it thinks it can kill us both."
"What do you think it is? Foetodon? Wyvern? A fucking wildabeast!?"
"No clue. It doesn't smell like any of those. Could be some other new animal."
"Yeah, but what?"
Suddenly another branch snapped. Both of them gripped their weapons tightly as their anxiety grew. Suddenly a human like figure leaped from the bushes. Upon a closer look the creature was human in appearance, but it had no eyes, its limbs were rather long, its nails resembled claws, and it looked rather gaunt.
"The fuck is that!?"
"Kill it!"
Both of them charged at the creature. The creature leapt on top of one of them as his sword swing missed. Then the creature's lower jaw split in two, and revealed several razor sharp teeth along with an odd looking tongue that looked like a snake. The other animalist stabbed the creature in hopes of freeing his partner, but to little avail. The creature's tongue penetrated the animalist's eye effectively killing him. As it did the other animalist took a swing at the creature's head with his sword, and cut the creature's head off.
"Son of a bitch!" Cursed the animalist as he gazed at his dead friend.
The creature's tongue was still lodged inside the animalist's eye. Suddenly the creature's head grew small legs, and dislodged its tongue from the animalist's head. The animalist was stunned as the creature's head was about to reattach itself to its body. The animalist then sprinted to the building where the rest of the party was located as the creature was about to give chase.
They found a door that had been torn of its hinges on the floor. Onyx and Dawon placed their torches above it to see the scratches on the rotting wood.
"Looks like something tried to get out." Started Onyx as he pulled out a splinter from the door.
"Yeah, but the question is what?" Asked Dawon as he looked for signs of blood, but found none.
"Maybe we'll know in there." Said Onyx as he pointed towards the room.
"What is all this?" Asked an amazed Dawon as they encountered several large glass cylinders containing some abomination made of flesh inside.
"Looks like a laboratory. But of what kind?" Said Onyx as he looked at one of the cylinders.
"Hey there's some small ones over here! They look like… Babies? I dunno, but they're the size of rats." Said one of the animalists as he glanced through a shelf containing smaller glass containers.
"They're most likely fetuses." Answered Embry as she glanced the tables for any papers or journals.
She eventually found one with the writing faded, but some of it was still legible.
2237 A.D.C. Frost
The subject appears to be nothing short of a complete failure. The DNA extracted from the parasites Abathur procured from the… Will require fresh material. In the meantime the biggest obstacle yet to come is the Genocidal Organ. I just need to… Sovereigns are all the same. I know that with a little more time I'll be able to do what Khemmel once did. Then I shall become…
The writing fades after that, and what followed were chemical equations. There was no mistake about it though. That handwriting. It belonged to him.
"Father…" Muttered Embry.
"You say something?" Asked Onyx as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Just a bunch of gibberish I'm afraid. It's legible, but it's a bunch of nonsense."
"Hmm… Is it Zulamarian? Or…"
"This far out of the way? No way the Zulamarians are involved. No… This is something else." Interjected Dawon as he glanced at the last of the glass cylinders. "This one's broken."
The other four looked at the shattered cylinder. Dawon picked up one of the broken shards of glass, and smelled it. He scrunched up his nose in disgust at the smell.
"What is it?" Asked Onyx.
"Smells of death and decay. Whatever was in there… Was quite dead."
"Then why is it broken?" Asked one of the other animalists.
"Beats me. Let's go back up and regroup with the others." Said Dawon.
"I'll stay here and keep looking for clues." Added Embry.
"Okay then you stay with the legionnaire."
"Will do." Said the other animalist.
The trio left whilst Embry and the animalist kept searching the laboratory for clues. Embry searched the drawers for anything that indicated if he was still alive.
"What's this do?" Asked the animalist.
Embry turned to look at what he had found, and saw a lever. She looked around for whatever the lever activated, but found nothing.
"Only one way to find out. Pull it." Said Embry.
"Here goes." The animalist pulled the lever and suddenly one of the bookshelves moved revealing a hidden passageway that led deeper underground.
"Now to see what's down there." Said Embry as she used her torch to light the way.
"Something about this place feels off." Said Lyo as she scanned the surrounding walls.
"So it's not just me." Retorted Tykal.
"Why would anyone build something all the way out here?"
"Only someone with something to hide." Answered Tykal.
"Help me!"
Tykal and Lyo turned their attention towards the screaming animalist headed their way. They had their weapons at the ready as they looked past him to see what was giving him chase. However, it was too dark for them to see. Suddenly a dark figure emerged from behind the animalist's back and jumped on top of him. Tykal fired her crossbow at the thing's head giving the animalist a chance to free himself. However, the creature's tongue caught up to him, and wrapped itself around his neck. There was a loud snap, and suddenly the animalist went limp.
"Shit! Lyo get the others I'll hold it off." Yelled Tykal as she fired a volley of arrows at the creature.
The creature charged through Tykal's arrows without a care for its own well-being. Tykal then retreated as the creature was closing the distance between the two. Lyo held the door open for Tykal as she threw herself inside while the others scrambled to barricade the door.
"What the fuck did you guys do!?" Asked Tigris as she held the door closed whilst the creature threw itself at it trying to break in.
"I have no fucking idea just keep it contained." Said Lyo as she pulled some old furniture, and pushed it against the door.
Onyx, Dawon, and the other animalist quickly met with the others as soon as they heard the commotion.
"What's going on?" Asked Dawon.
"Something out there's trying to kill us." Grunted Irene as she stacked more furniture on the door.
"Alright then everyone barricade the door now!"
Just as they were about to add more weight to counteract the creature's strength it broke through the door, and began tearing the furniture apart. Tykal shot a few arrows at the creature's head, but all it did was anger it more. Then the creature whipped out its tongue, and grabbed Irene's arm. Tigris pulled out her knife to cut off the tongue. As her knife sliced through its tongue the creature howled in pain.
"What's the matter asshole? Don't like the taste of your own blood? Ha!" Yelled Tigris as the creature backed off.
"What the fuck is that thing!?" Asked Dawon hysterically.
"Don't know… It just came out of nowhere. It killed the two guys out in the woods." Said Lyo as she caught her breath.
"Shit! Any ideas?"
Onyx looked at his team, and they all shared the same look. "Fire. We kill it with fire."
The passageway revealed a hidden room that was most likely used as an emergency exit.
"I'll go up there and see what's up there." Said the animalist as he climbed up the ladder.
Embry nodded in agreement as she searched the room for any hidden clues. She noticed a small journal. She picked it up and looked at the final entry.
2238 A.D.C. Bloom
I have hit a wall as much as it pains me to admit. Abathur has denied my requests for fresh materials. He is nothing if not shortsighted, and it will soon prove to be his folly. In the meantime I have secured safe passage towards Karash. I'll restart my investigations there. Perhaps Colonel Dunam and the legionnaires might be more welcoming. Once I show them my research they'll undoubtedly support my endeavors. For now this little hamlet shall remain abandoned until I can secure a proper laboratory in Karash.
"Dunam? Was he the one who…"
"AH!"
Embry's thoughts were immediately interrupted by the sounds of screaming overhead. She peaked her head, and saw a strange creature covered in blood crawling down the tunnel. Embry grabbed the journal, and ran as she hoped to seal the creature. However, the creature proved to be too fast for her and, caught her leg with its tongue. Embry fell down hard as she flipped herself around, and saw the creature already climbing on top of her. The creature's face was only a few inches away from hers. It opened its mouth, and dragged its tongue across her face.
"Embry!" Yelled Onyx alerting the creature to his presence.
The creature tackled him, and clawed his face. Embry pulled out her sword, and cut off its head. The creature fell limp to the ground as Embry looked at Onyx who was clutching his wounds.
"Fuck!" Yelled Onyx.
"I need you to move your hands so that I can see."
Onyx removed his hands from his face. Embry's eyes widened with shock as the creature had torn off almost half of Onyx's face. However, underneath were more black scales. He looked more like a lizard than a person.
"How bad is it?" He asked as Embry was simply dumbfounded.
"You'll be fine. No permanent damage."
Embry helped Onyx to his feet as they looked at the creature's decapitated corpse.
"Nice swing." Commented Onyx as he tapped the creature with his foot.
"Ever since Sloane… Well you know the rest."
"Yeah… Time to go meet with the others. They're gonna be pissed when they find out we're gonna have to remove the barricades."
Unbeknownst to either of them the creature's head grew legs once more, and crept up the walls following both of them. The creature could sense several people all gathered as its face opened revealing a throbbing organ that could see heat. It detected eight heat signatures all gathered at the main entrance. The group talked for a while then split up. Four of them returned back to the basement with lit torches in hand while the others tended to dismantling the barricade they had built.
Onyx, Dawon, Tigris, and the other animalist got to work dismantling the barricade.
"Shit… You guys go on ahead I'm gonna go find a toilet." Spoke the animalist as he broke off from the group.
"You best be careful now. No telling what other traps may be lying in wait." Warned Dawon.
"You got it boss."
The creature followed him as the animalist walked along the halls and inspected every room. Then it seemed that he found what he was looking for. The creature waited until its prey's guard was down. Suddenly it wrapped its tongue around the animalist, and broke his neck. The creature then began to slowly tear off his head, and separate it from its body.
"Damn Embry can't believe you actually killed it." Said Tykal as she let out a whistle.
"Wasn't easy. If Onyx hadn't walked in… Who knows what might've happened?"
"You can say that again." Lyo began as she set fire to the creature. "Did anyone find its head? I can't seem to find it."
"Must be around here somewhere. Keep looking! Maybe it rolled under one of the tables." Ordered Irene as all four of them scoured the laboratory for the missing head.
"There we go that oughta do it!" Exclaimed Tigris as she threw the last piece of furniture.
"I'll bet if we fortified this place it could serve as an outpost, maybe even a hideout between raids." Said Dawon as he scanned the inside of the building.
"Oh yeah it'll be a fantastic bachelor pad. If you're into fixer uppers that is." Retorted Tigris.
Dawon glared at her. "Yes because if there's one thing you're terrible at it's commitment."
"I take offense to that I'am committed. Isn't that right Onyx? Go on tell him." Urged Tigris.
"She certainly is committed to eating pussy." Said Onyx as he caught his breath.
"Thanks a lot lizard face."
Onyx simply just flipped her off as he did not have the strength to join their banter.
"You are nothing short of a disappointment. Would've been easier to just kill you when I had the chance."
"Well it's just you and me right now."
"Ahem." Onyx coughed reminding them that he was there with them.
"A later time I suppose. Until then…"
The trio heard footsteps coming down the hallway.
"We're done. Did you find anything else?" Asked Tigris as she approached the hallway.
Dawon put his arm in front of her stopping her dead in her tracks.
"Aww you do care."
"Look."
Tigris looked again and saw the creature's head attached to the animalist.
"Huh… That's… That's a new one. Even Sloane couldn't do that."
The creature howled as it lunged at the two. Tigris and Dawon split up as the creature ran past them. Onyx pulled out a knife and threw it at the creature's head. The creature howled in pain as it flailed its arms around trying to grab hold on anything. Dawon pulled out his mace, and smashed it against the knife driving it deeper into its head. The creature separated itself from the body as it tried to skitter away. Tigris stomped on the head as it barely made its way outside.
"Plus there's all the nasty bugs you have to consider." Said Tigris as she looked at her boot.
They decided to set fire to the whole place rather than establish an outpost. They all set camp near the sky sailor, and retired for the night. Onyx took first watch as he gazed at the stars. He looked at his arm, and wondered just how much more would change. For now it would have to wait as they had to carry out their mission first.
Embry stowed away the journal and some of the notes that had survived. She wandered around camp for a bit when she noticed Onyx all by himself. She slowly walked up to him as to not startle him.
"So… You ready to tell me what's really eating at you?" Said Onyx as Embry stopped dead in her tracks.
"I… It's complicated."
Onyx turned around to meet her gaze. "Try me."
Embry saw how much he had changed since then. She supposed there was no point in hiding it. "It's… My father. That was his laboratory back there."
"Oh… That does sound… Complicated."
"Yeah… When I met you… When you asked me if I was alone in Tofar… When you said not anymore… I want you to know that… That was the happiest day of my life."
"I'm guessing your father had something to do with why you ended up there in the first place."
"Yeah."
"Well for now. There's nothing we can do, but take it one step at a time."
Embry smiled slightly. "Yeah. One step at a time sounds good. Can I join you?"
Onyx smiled. "Sure."
Embry leaned on Onyx as they looked up at the starry sky. "So… If we did get a house…"
"Beach house with a boardwalk for fishing. It can also be a lake house too. Just so long as it has fishing. Gotta pick a place that's near a food source." Explained Onyx.
Embry chuckled. "Uh huh."
The One Eye gazed at the two legionnaires from its tree. Its grin growing ever wider as the two of them shared a kiss.
"Truly a tragedy of love and sorrow."