The security systems of Hub Seven pulsed with angry red light as Mikhail and Aurora made their way through its frozen corridors. Ancient defence turrets tracked their movement, their crystalline barrels humming with barely contained temporal energy.
"Help! Is someone there!?"
The cry echoed strangely through the facility, seeming to come from multiple directions at once. Aurora's light dimmed cautiously as they followed the sound.
They found her in what appeared to be a research chamber, surrounded by flickering temporal distortions.
Mikhail's breath caught in his throat. Dr. Sarah Chen was strikingly beautiful in her sleek research uniform, her features perfect in a way that spoke of generations of genetic engineering. Her disdainful expression as she noticed him did nothing to diminish her beauty.
"Oh." Her lip curled slightly. "A primitive. How... quaint. Even limited assistance is better than none." She brushed a strand of hair from her face with an elegant gesture.
[System Alert: Compensating for language barrier. System will use Host's mana to translate your words for Dungeon residents.]
Despite her tone, Mikhail found himself studying her more closely than he should. The way she moved, even trapped in temporal distortions, spoke of a perfect understanding of her physical charms. "I could leave you to your temporal trap if you want," he managed.
"Don't be absurd," she said, as if speaking to a child. "Even with your... limited cognitive development, surely you can recognise the importance of saving a human life? Now, approach slowly. Try not to touch anything you don't understand - which I assume is everything."
[System Alert: Divine Insight activated]
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Subject: Dr. Sarah Chen
Title: Advanced Temporal Research Director
Status: Temporally unstable but intact
Physical Enhancement Level: Generation 12 Genetic Engineering
.
Warning:
- Subject exhibiting signs of deception.
- Temporal instability is self-induced.
- Uses potent pheromones and enhanced appearance to manipulate men.
- Extreme temporal corruption detected beneath surface appearance.
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"How fascinating," Dr. Chen mused, watching him analyse the distortions.
Her perfect features arranged themselves into an expression of amused condescension. "You're displaying signs of basic temporal awareness. Perhaps your race isn't completely hopeless after all. Though I imagine you think it's some kind of 'magic.'" She laughed musically at the word, the sound designed to entrance even as it mocked Mikhail.
Mikhail found himself wanting to prove her wrong, even as her condescension grated on his nerves. The way she moved, the subtle shifts of her expression - everything about her seemed engineered for maximum impact on the primitive male psyche - and it was working on him, he deeply felt its effect.
"The temporal field isn't exactly stable," he observed, trying to focus on the technical aspects of the situation rather than the way her uniform caught the light.
"Oh, look who knows big words!" She clapped her hands in mock delight. "Next you'll be discovering fire. But yes, my precious man, the 'temporal field' is unstable. The security systems have malfunctioned, you see. I don't expect you to understand the quantum mechanics involved - just focus on helping me break free. Try to think of it as gathering berries or whatever it is your kind does."
Aurora drifted closer to the distortions, her light revealing complex patterns in the energy field. Dr. Chen's eyes widened slightly, genuine interest breaking through her mask of superiority.
"Now that's interesting," she said, her tone becoming more professional. "Your little light pet seems to have some grasp of quantum interactions. Much more impressive than its master, I must say. Though I suppose that's not saying much." She turned her perfect smile on Mikhail. "No offence intended, primitive. You can't help how you were born."
Despite her words, Mikhail began carefully probing the temporal field with his magic, noting how the facility's systems responded.
Each time he probed at the energy with mana, defensive turrets adjusted their aim - not at him, he realised, but at Dr. Chen. Still, he found his concentration wavering whenever she moved, her perfectly engineered grace demanding attention.
"Careful, primitive!" she snapped, though the musical quality of her voice remained. "These systems are far beyond your comprehension. One wrong move and you'll probably erase yourself from existence." She paused, then added with a dazzling smile, "No offence, of course. I'm simply being objective."
"The systems seem rather specific in their targeting," Mikhail observed, trying to ignore both her insults and her distracting perfection.
"Of course they are, my dear. They're quantum-calibrated temporal containment measures." She spoke slowly, enunciating each word as if teaching a particularly slow child. "But I don't expect you to understand such advanced concepts. Just focus on following my instructions exactly. Think you can manage that?"
She watched intently as Mikhail merged magical and technological principles to manipulate the temporal field. Her condescending demeanour slipped occasionally, replaced by genuine interest, making her even more beautiful in her momentary authenticity.
"Remarkable," she murmured. "You're achieving direct quantum manipulation through... but no, it must be a fluke. Your kind simply isn't capable of understanding these principles. Like a monkey randomly pressing buttons and somehow achieving a result."
"Having trouble maintaining your act, Doctor?" Mikhail asked, even as he found himself admiring the way the temporal distortions seemed to make her glow from within.
Her perfect features arranged themselves into a patronising smile. "Poor primitive. Is all this technology confusing your simple mind? Should I use smaller words? Perhaps some interpretive dance to help you understand?"
A security turret fired, its temporal beam passing harmlessly through Mikhail to impact the containment field around Dr. Chen. The field rippled but held. Even in apparent danger, she maintained her poise, as if the threat of temporal dissolution was beneath her concern.
"Odd," Mikhail noted, forcing himself to focus on the technical aspects of their situation. "The security systems don't seem interested in me at all."
"Yes, yes, very observant," she said with exaggerated patience. "Gold star for the primitive. Now, that device you're using..." Her eyes fixed on his repurposed weapon, real hunger breaking through her mask of superiority. "Hand it over. Carefully. Try not to drool on it."
"I don't think so." Mikhail took a step back, fighting both his attraction and his growing irritation. "Why don't you tell me what you're really after, Doctor?"
Her beautiful features hardened, though somehow the effect only made her more striking. "You really are smarter than you look. Though that would hardly be difficult." She straightened, dropping all pretence of weakness while maintaining her air of superiority.
"I'll use small words so you can follow: You've done something we thought impossible. Somehow, your primitive brain has managed to merge quantum manipulation with biological energy projection."
The temporal field around her pulsed as her control slipped. For just a moment, Mikhail caught a glimpse of something beneath her perfect exterior - a writhing mass of temporal corruption that spoke of centuries of dangerous experimentation. The sight helped clear his head, though her engineered charisma still pulled at him.
"Help me reach the central core," she continued, her voice taking on an almost hypnotic quality, "and I might even consider allowing your species to survive when we perfect the integration. Under proper supervision, of course. We could be... very good friends." The last words carried implications that made Mikhail's pulse quicken despite himself.
"The Oracle tried to stop us," Dr. Chen continued, pacing within her temporal field with predatory grace. "Such a limited perspective. She couldn't understand that some sacrifices are necessary for progress." Her perfect face twisted into something cruel, yet somehow remained beautiful. "Just like your primitive mind can't grasp the bigger picture."
"The security systems seem to grasp it pretty well," Mikhail observed, gesturing to the turrets still tracking her every movement.
She laughed, the sound like crystal bells with edges of steel. "Oh, you really are precious. Using the facility's defensive protocols to try to understand the situation? Like a child learning to read from warning signs." She shook her head, her perfect hair catching the light. "Though I suppose that's about your civilisation's level of comprehension, isn't it?"
Despite her mockery, Mikhail found his eyes drawn to her movements. Every gesture was a masterpiece of genetic engineering, designed to command attention and inspire awe. Even knowing it was artificial didn't completely negate its effect.
"You still haven't explained what you're really after," he pressed, forcing himself to focus on her words rather than her appearance.
"No, I don't suppose you'd understand even if I did explain." She sighed dramatically. "Let's keep it simple: That device you're carrying - and your primitive but surprisingly effective integration techniques - could advance our research by centuries. Now, be a good little savage and hand it over."
When Mikhail didn't move, her expression shifted to one of exaggerated patience. "Look, I'll even offer you a reward. Once we perfect the integration, you could be... upgraded. Imagine it - no more living in caves, no more hunting with pointy sticks. We could make you almost civilised."
The temporal field around her rippled again, and this time the glimpse beneath her perfect exterior lasted longer. Mikhail saw centuries of temporal energy eating away at her very being. Yet somehow her engineered beauty remained intact, like a perfect mask over rotting flesh.
"Last chance to cooperate," she offered, her voice still melodious despite the threat in her words. "I'd hate to damage such an interesting specimen. Even primitives can have their uses."
Aurora suddenly flared bright, her light revealing the true nature of Dr. Chen's temporal distortions. They weren't a trap she was caught in - they were a weapon she was preparing to unleash. The sprite's reaction helped Mikhail shake off more of the doctor's artificial charisma.
"So be it," Dr. Chen sighed, her perfect features arranging themselves into an expression of regret. "Such a waste. You could have been my perfect pet project." The containment field exploded outward as she released her gathered power. "I'll simply have to take your abilities by force. The integration must be documented... studied... replicated!"
The chamber erupted into chaos. Dr. Chen's temporal manipulations shattered reality around them, each gesture sending waves of chronometric energy that aged or reversed small sections of space. The security systems responded with concentrated fire, forcing her to divide her attention.
Even in combat, she moved with inhuman grace, her attacks as beautiful as they were deadly. Temporal energy swirled around her like a deadly dance, her perfect form unchanged even as reality warped and buckled under her power.
"Fascinating!" she called as they fought, her voice still carrying that musical quality that pulled at Mikhail's instincts. "Your defensive techniques... the way you're combining magical barriers with temporal displacement... I simply must understand how your primitive mind is achieving these effects!"
She was brilliant, Mikhail had to admit, and not just in her engineered beauty. Centuries of research had given her an understanding of temporal mechanics that bordered on artistry. But he could see now that her perfection was a shell, a last remnant of humanity covering something that had ceased to be human long ago.
"The Oracle was right to stop you," he realised aloud. "You never cared about understanding the principles. You just wanted power."
"Understanding IS power!" she shrieked, though somehow her voice retained its musical quality even in rage. "We spent generations being limited by superstition and fairy tales about 'natural law' and 'harmony with reality.' Such primitive concepts, like your quaint little 'magic.'" She unleashed another barrage of temporal distortions. "No more! I'll tear the secrets from your primitive mind if I have to!"
Her attacks grew more erratic, yet she maintained her perfect poise. The constant temporal manipulation was destabilizing her existence, causing her form to flicker between different states of being.
In some moments, Mikhail caught glimpses of her true form - a horror of twisted time and corrupted flesh, centuries of impossible experiments written in her very being.
The security systems pressed their advantage, their coordinated fire forcing her into an increasingly smaller space. She responded by drawing more power into herself, heedless of the damage it was causing to her temporal coherence.
"Dr. Chen," Mikhail called out, still feeling the pull of her engineered charisma even as he recognised the monster beneath. "Stop this! You're tearing yourself apart!"
"I'm on the verge of the greatest breakthrough in human history," she laughed, her voice distorting as she phased between moments in time. Her perfect features began to slip, showing more of the temporal horror beneath. "A little temporal instability is a small price to pay! And you, my precious primitive, will help usher in this new age - willing or not!"
Her power reached a critical threshold. Reality itself seemed to scream as she drew more temporal energy than any human was meant to contain. The security systems redoubled their efforts, but it was too late.
"I'll show you true power!" Dr. Chen's form began to fragment across multiple timelines. Even as she came apart, her genetic engineering struggled to maintain her perfect appearance, creating a grotesque display of beauty dissolving into chaos. "I'll... wait... something's wrong... the calculations... they're..."
Horror dawned on her perfect face as she realised her mistake. The temporal energy she'd gathered wasn't empowering her - it was erasing her from existence. The mask of beauty finally cracked completely, revealing the true cost of her centuries of corruption.
"No... NO! The integration patterns... they're not... I can't..." Her final scream echoed across multiple timelines as she shattered, her consciousness dispersing across countless moments in time. Where she had stood, reality slowly knitted itself back together, erasing all trace of her engineered perfection and the horror it had concealed.
Silence fell in the chamber. The security turrets powered down, their work complete. Mikhail found himself strangely shaken, not just by the battle, but by how long he'd let her artificial beauty affect his judgment.
"Well," he said quietly to Aurora, "I suppose that explains why the facility was abandoned."
The sprite pulsed in agreement, her light reflecting off the scored walls and frozen temporal distortions that marked their battle. Her simple, natural radiance seemed especially comforting after Dr. Chen's artificial perfection.
"Welcome, anomaly," a new voice echoed through the chamber. "You present a fascinating paradox."
Mikhail turned toward the sound, preparing himself for another potential threat.