they both moved quickly as to not get spotted by any eruptides there was no real plan in Alexandroves mind, he was just trying to copy sarels movements which was easier said then done as sarel was a rank 6 stalker, wile he was just a malnourished rooky.
after about 13 minutes of running they came upon a some stones and fallen trees which made a semi covered area that they could stay and organize a plan.
sarels POV.
("ok we found cover, so we need to organize and find a lone terriad so that Alexandrove can become a stalker although...I don't know if he will be able to handle the changes.") thought sarel as looked at Alexandrove with worry.
("well if he succeeds I will have to take him to the stalker operating base so that he can get registered... and I really hope he succeeds that place is a prune fest").
Alexandrove POV.
("huh...this body is really not made for running, although we can hide here for a wiel I don't think it's safe")
" so what's the plan?" asked Alexandrove the anxiety was evident on his face.
" we find a straggler and lead it to an area were you can hit it, remember to aim at the joints for a guarantied hit...but jugging at your rifle it won't really mater"
looking at the rifle Alexandrove was carrying he understood what sarel meant, it wasn't a matter of IF it would hit but a how HARD it would hit and were so he looked at sarel and they both came up with a plan.
Alexandrove would take point on a hallow tree trunk wile sarel would lead a terriad to his position, a crude but effective strategy non the less.
so they started Alexandrove was waiting prone on the tree for sarel so wile he was waiting he inspected he's rifle.
it was bear bones a long metal tube with a gas mussel, wooden stock and hand grip with two thin metal legs, with a five 14.5mm round internal clip capacity it's sites were similar to AA sights, as he racked the metal handle he adjusted the sights that were surprisingly set for 900m, range he waited.....and waited...and after 25 minutes he saw sarel getting chanced by a 1.7meter tall terriad as well as a 1.3meter approximately 600m away, as he aimed he saw sarel do something superhuman weaving and strike at the 1.3 meter with his bare hand cracking the terriads breast plate and immobilizing it.
Alexandrove aimed at the 1.7meter that was now only 340m away and squeezed the trigger, now he wasn't new to firearms but holy mother of god did that rifle have a heavy kick, Alexandrove felt his torso go numb as the 14.5mm round sizzled trough the air and hit the terriad in the pincer.
the pincer disintegrated under the impact and the eruptid was slowed but still alive, Alexandrove heard sarel yell at the top of his lungs.
" HIT IT AGAIN"
Alexandrove didn't hesitate he used the last of his strength in his arm to rack the next round and fired.
the round hit the terriad on the head turning the once proud creatures head into teal mist as it's body went limp after half a second.
Alexandrove looked worse for wear, his malnourished body couldn't handle the recoil of the rifle his whole body felt numb as he got up with a lot of difficulty and went to were sarel was taking care of the 1.3meter.
and now it was time for the spoils, Alexandrove looked at the 1.7meter...or what was left of it and went to inspect it as he got near he bent down and looked at the exposed muscle, he exposed his forearm that had the cardinal and turned it on.
Sarel wasn't blind and saw the device on Alexandroves arm with curiosity, Alexandrove puled the cylinder with the bio-hazard logo and look at the blackish syringe for a second before stabing the exposed terriad muscle and puled back the plunger bits of teal flesh and blood were extracted and they looked almost like they fluoresced.
afterwards he took it out and placed it back into the cardinal which roared to life.
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[terra-aurora system V0.52.1]
[Analyzing sample :1/10]
[Analyzing sample :2/10]
[Analyzing sample :3/10]
[Analyzing sample :4/10]
[Analyzing sample :5/10]
[Analyzing sample :6/10]
[Analyzing sample :7/10]
[Analyzing sample :8/10]
[Analyzing sample :9/10]
[Analyzing sample :10/10]
[Analysis complete]
[probability of un-altered assimilation by host 38%]
[Do you wish to alter Y/N]
[Alexandrove: Y]
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Alexandrove was treeified and glad he had the cardinal the probability of success was so low it made his hair stand on end, sudering at the though of the unfortunate people that didn't know so Alexandrove choose to alter the sample.
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[Altering sample 1/10]
[Altering sample 2/10]
[Altering sample 3/10]
[Altering sample 4/10]
[Altering sample 5/10]
[Altering sample 6/10]
[Altering sample 7/10]
[Altering sample 8/10]
[Altering sample 9/10]
[Altering sample 10/10]
[notice sample Altering complete]
[NEW probability of altered assimilation by host 99.9%]
[host injection Y/N]
[Alexandrove: Y]
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as he pressed on yes the needles injected his arm with the sample slurry and as soon as that happened he felt like all of his veins were on fire for approximately 2 seconds.
and then he fainted from the extreme pain and exhaustion.
when he woke up he was siting at a bonfire in a shallow cave, looking around he both looked and felt really different looking around he found sarel was siting opposite him looking at him though the fire, he looked almost...scared?
" what happened, were are we " asked Alexandrove in a daze he felt hot yet cold at the same time his body felt off, it was a inexplicable feeling on the outside he looked almost the same there was no difference on his height or characteristics, but he felt...heavier, denser like his body got sturdier as well as stronger.
" I have witness many of stalker transformations in my life but I have never seen something that horrifying and grotesk, tell me Alexandrove...what Are you???."
" I don't know...but here is a question for you...are you even human anymore?."