The sky had turned a murky gray, casting an eerie hue over the ruined landscape. Brady stood outside the workshop, scanning the horizon with a weary gaze. Caleb was inside, tinkering with the Sonic Steel Hive, while Jason prepared their defenses. The air felt heavier than usual, and an unsettling quiet had settled over the area.
"We should've seen patrols by now," Brady muttered under his breath. He tightened his grip on his electric batons. The stillness was unnatural, and his instincts screamed danger.
Jason stepped outside, his expression grim. "It's too quiet. They're planning something."
---
Brady nodded. "You think they've noticed what we've been up to? The Sonic Steel Hive alone would've made us a target, but after yesterday's scavenging trip..."
Jason's eyes narrowed. "They know. The Periclusapiens are many things, but stupid isn't one of them. If they're not here yet, it's because they're waiting for the right moment."
Inside the workshop, Caleb emerged, wiping grease from his hands. "I've boosted the Hive's energy efficiency. We should be able to sustain the Steel Queen for longer now, but it's still a massive drain. Don't use it unless you absolutely have to."
Jason crossed his arms. "Good. We might need it sooner than you think."
---
Before they could discuss further, the ground trembled. A distant, guttural screech echoed across the landscape, sending a chill down their spines.
Brady turned toward the sound. "That's not a patrol..."
Jason cursed under his breath. "No, that's worse. It's a rogue."
"A rogue?" Caleb asked, his voice tinged with unease.
Jason nodded. "Not all Periclusapiens follow orders. Some of them break away, either because they've gone insane or because they've evolved beyond the need for hierarchy. Rogues are dangerous—they don't follow the usual patterns. And they're stronger."
---
The rogue appeared moments later, a blur of motion that stopped a hundred meters away from the workshop. Brady's stomach dropped as he got his first look at the creature.
The Periclusapien was taller and more muscular than any he'd seen before, its dark skin shimmering with an almost metallic sheen. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, shifting colors as it scanned its surroundings. A rank-4 energy shield flickered around its body, and it carried a horrifying array of weapons: energy blades, plasma rifles, and grenade launchers strapped to its back.
"Stay calm," Jason said, though his voice betrayed his tension. "We can handle this."
---
The rogue lunged forward with a speed that defied comprehension, covering the distance to the workshop in seconds. Brady barely had time to react as it unleashed a torrent of acid from its mouth, the corrosive liquid sizzling against the forcefield protecting the workshop.
"Get inside!" Caleb shouted, dragging Brady back as Jason activated the Sonic Steel Hive.
The drones swarmed the rogue, their energy bullets pelting its shield. For a moment, it seemed like they might hold it back. But the rogue roared, slashing through the drones with brutal efficiency.
---
"We need to weaken its shield!" Caleb yelled, grabbing his impact hammer.
Brady nodded and activated his electric batons, charging at the rogue. Jason's remaining drones provided cover fire, giving Brady just enough time to land a hit on the rogue's shield. Sparks flew as the shield wavered but held.
The rogue retaliated with a swipe of its claws, sending Brady sprawling. "Damn it, this thing's a monster!"
Jason fired up the Steel Queen, a larger drone emerging from the Hive. The queen unleashed a devastating blast of energy, momentarily stunning the rogue.
---
"Now!" Jason shouted.
Brady and Caleb rushed forward, their weapons striking the rogue's shield in unison. The barrier finally shattered, leaving the Periclusapien vulnerable.
"Keep pushing!" Caleb yelled, swinging his hammer with all his strength.
The rogue roared in pain, unleashing another acidic attack. The workshop's forcefield absorbed most of the damage, but the energy drain was too much. The barrier collapsed, leaving them exposed.
---
Jason stepped forward, his Steel Queen charging another blast. "This ends now!"
The queen's energy cannon fired, hitting the rogue square in the chest. The creature staggered, clearly injured. It hissed, its eyes narrowing as it calculated its odds.
"It's retreating!" Caleb said, disbelief in his voice.
The rogue snarled one last time before disappearing into the distance, its speed carrying it far beyond their reach.
---
The three of them stood in stunned silence, the aftermath of the battle sinking in.
"We survived," Brady said, his voice shaky.
"Barely," Jason muttered, surveying the damage. "The forcefield is gone. We're vulnerable now."
Caleb pointed to the rogue's discarded weapons. "Not entirely. Look at this haul."
They collected the artifacts left behind: two Rank-3 Impact Spark Shooters, a Rank-4 Impact Dense Energy Hammer, three Rank-3 Cryogenic Steel Suits, and a Rank-5 Chlorophyrite Food-Energy Generator.
---
Caleb examined the generator with awe. "This thing is a game-changer. It can generate food, and energy from sunlight and water. We won't have to scavenge as much anymore."
Jason picked up one of the Cryogenic Steel Suits. "These are defensive artifacts, but they require ice to function. Useless, unless..."
"Unless we use the Steel Queen's fabrication ability," Caleb finished. "With enough energy, it can turn water into ice. And now we have the generator to supply that energy."
---
Brady took the Impact Spark Shooters, feeling their weight in his hands. "These are a pair, right?"
Caleb nodded. "We can fuse them into a single weapon—an advanced-stage Rank-3 Impact Zap Shooter. It'll be perfect for you as a ranged weapon."
Jason hefted the Impact Dense Energy Hammer. "And this will be mine. A Rank-4 weapon like this could make all the difference."
Caleb looked at the damaged forcefield generator and sighed. "We'll need to replace this. But for now, at least we've got new tools to work with."
---
Over the next few hours, they worked together to fuse the artifacts and prepare for the next attack. The Cryogenic Steel Suits were fitted for each of them, and the generator was set up to provide a steady supply of energy and food in the form of glucose that they could inject right in.
As they sat around the workshop, recovering from the ordeal, Brady spoke up. "That rogue was like something out of a nightmare. If more of them show up..."
Jason cut him off. "We'll deal with them. Together. That's the only way we survive."
Brady nodded, feeling a sense of determination. They had faced impossible odds and come out stronger. But he knew the battle for survival was far from over.
---