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Mother Confessor:

Growing weary of waiting for this final test from Arinassi. I Politely excuse myself, telling her to get in contact with me once she is ready for me. She obliges with my request to leave, as I would much rather be busy.

Once back among the flow of soldiers in the hall, I felt anxious as I had no idea what the mature surgical tech was expecting me to do. Insides burning as I set about trying to find something to keep me occupied. That was one of Captain Graxis’s rules in the event that I could not perform my scheduled assignments in the event of my tutors being otherwise engaged. I disliked the fact that I could not continue my armor pilot training.

Having made no more than ten meters from the medical bay, I am stopped by one of the Captain’s eyes. He pulls me aside, out of the flow of the busy bodies.

“And what are you up too”, he asks me sharply.

Looking up at him as he is much taller than I,” Looking to be set to work, sir. I cannot complete my tasks in my med training. The Major is very busy, so I cannot continue armor training either.”

Keeping my eyes on his face. He glances at his watch, on his partially raised forearm. Stone faced he raises his gaze up from the time piece back to my attentive eyes. “

Well, Private,”, he starts all business in his tone, “Get down to the mess hall, I am sure they could use an extra set of hands.”

“Yes, sir”, I cut back at him respectfully,” Thank you, sir.” With that he left.

Merging back into the heavy foot traffic, I set off toward the tasks that await me in the mess hall. Not that I mind, at least I would be put to good use. I hold my reservation, on the off chance they expect me to prepare food, as I am not anywhere near even a fair cook. Despite this reservation I will do as I am told. Keeping pace with the others around me. Practically jogging to get my hands on task. They were eager to be put to work. My mind welcomes the distraction from Arinassi’s final test of me. The thought of labor started to subside the burning within. It was not knowing what it was to be. That is what sliced my mind with a small amount of fear. Sweating as I moved through the mass of bodies. Another part of me was afraid of failing her test. I took small comfort in her doting on me, though I do not know why she does. I am not perfect, despite the way she portrays her thoughts of me.

The burning renews, wrenching my nerves. I will face it when it comes time to, and not a moment before. My feet felt heavy, even though the menial toils are what I wanted right now. Rather be scrubbing scalding hot pots and pans, than worrying about the things that lay outside of my knowledge and control.

The closer I got, to the mess hall, my nostrils filled with the many fragrant smells inside. In an odd way this soothes my anxiety. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I set about seeing what needs to be taken care of.

Graxis:

Having broken the Ober-Commanders order a second time, I did not want to do it a third. Though with that last update from him, he seemed a bit nervous. Still trying to process the little detail about this mysterious being running around decimating all it comes across. Having passed the warning to the two teams, hoping they will not run into too much trouble, if the Ober-Commander is indeed correct about this mad cleaver.

Janxica and Steve were more than happy to be given rest from breaking down the transmission. I am quite impressed at the skill of Commander Kionxxia’s pair of men. Pushing aside the fact that their over politeness only adds to their uncomfortable taught skinned features. Each had taken up a side of the table, as the smaller pair rested on the edge, their small legs hanging off the edge. Watching the Uldivarions work the signal hard and fast with their dual pair of arms, and sixteen long slender digits tearing apart the signal with great ease.

A loud banging on the sealed hatch, startles all of us, except for my guests. The pair does not seem to care about anything other than their task.

“Open this door now”, an angry voice roars outside the bridge. I will not break the order a third, no matter what.

“Captain Graxis, I will have your head if you do not open this door immediately!” It was the Admiral, who was barking and banging just outside. Wish I could ,sir. Taking my eyes off the door, the Uldivarions had finished. The sat still, waiting for their next orders.

“Janxica, can you let us hear the culprits message”, I say to the small female, my mouth dry.

“Hinara, it is all yours”, she says having sent the transmission back to the Helmsman. Finally we shall hear the treasonous and tighten the noose upon his treacherous throat. The speaker crackles static, and the following is heard:

“To the commanding officer of the Confederation outpost in the Jupiter system.”

(three seconds of silence and static)

“Speaking. Who is this and what do you want.”

(another lapse of static)

“Who I am is unimportant, it is what I want that is”

“Continue, what do you want”

“I should like to warn you of an assault on your outpost”

“Really”

(few seconds of static)

“What do you want from me, in return for this information?”

“I want you to take care of a problem for me”

“What problem is that?”

“A rather arrogant nuisance of a Terran. Can you do this for me?”

“I might, but why should I?’

“Your life is at stake. This Terran means to kill you.”

“And why should I believe what you say.”

“He will be sending a spy in just ahead of the assault to weed you out, and cause chaos”

“Well that is a tale you tell. Thank you for the insight. I assure you we will be ready for this spy.”

(five more seconds of static, then the speaker goes silent)

The banging on the hatch continues. My knees felt weak, as I recognized both voices in the transmission. This was serious and needed to be taken care of immediately. My blood ran cold, as this was not what I had ever expected to do. My mouth now bone dry, I flushed with a building rage. I had my orders, and the evidence was damning.

“Get a security detail up here now”, I bark at the helmsman aggressively,” I want Admiral Santoth arrested now!”

“One, step ahead of you, sir”, Gentax swiftly returns icily. Still reeling from what we had uncovered, using the railing behind the helmsmen for support. The banging had ceased from the angry Admiral at the door. No doubt he had fled once I barked out my intent of imprisoning him for his treachery. Run you lecherous old man, you will not get away so easily.

Gaining power back in my slack knees, a scowl of contempt on my face. My thoughts mixed as I had served beside the Admiral many a year. Although I cannot overlook this blatant betrayal. Time to allow him to speak on behalf of his actions, as he must stand trial for them.

Marckus:

This is strange. Seems that everyone has hunkered down. Still holding the rifle as if it is my only friend. It was somehow comforting in my calloused hands. Still unable to shake the fear that someone or something was watching me in the shadows. Now on the second level, I was still having my suspicions. On more than one occasion, I almost put down my shadow in a fit of fear. Not liking the fact that there was another doing my job for me in killing. Sweat pouring into my eyes, I let it as I did not want to be caught off guard. Feeling a mix of sweat and tears on my cheeks, as my eyes burned from the saltiness.

Keeping to the shadows as I hunt for anyone. Nerves wound up in my hunter versus hunter search of the facility. Unable to put the image of the cleanly sliced bodies from my mind.

Gritting my teeth to stifle growing in pain as my eyes are red hot. I kept full alert, staying low and silent. Cautiously watching all sides of me continuing my search. Rifle ready in my white knuckle grip. As of yet I have not come across another soul, live or dead. Whatever is dismembering others has apparently not made it here yet. Or perhaps it had followed me. Then an almost silent swift breath of a breeze just behind me, as I peer around the corner at an outside intersection. Whirling around a hundred eighty degrees, taking in a sharp breath. More cold sweat drenching my body, a sharp icicle jarred up my spine. In my stinging tunnel vision through the night vision, I see nothing of what has breathily passed by me at such a speed.

Turning my head to check my back. Starting back down the corridor I had just come down. Sweeping every last inch in my return trip of the corridor. Leaving no nook or cranny from scrutiny. What the hell ! I cannot see it, this is impossible. Turning on infra-red, a quarter of the way down my slow trek. I catch the briefest hint of a heat signature, as it travels in a blur before my eyes. It is way down the far end, almost to the corner. Active camouflage, but how? Now able to see the rogue killer to some extent. Abandoning stealth, and going into a full fledge sprint charging after the fast moving heat sign. Echoing of my boots in the hollow silence of the large hall way. Pounding the metal beneath them with a new fury, as fear subsides.

Arriving at the far end of the hall, and training the assault rifle at the blur halfway down the next. Taking in a raspy breath, and firing at the small distant movement. Casings slamming into the wall, like metal rain. Emptying the remaining fifty nine rounds in a deadly ceramic composite hail at my target. Sparks fly as my bullets fail to find their mark, as they chase it down the corridor. Dumping the empty magazine, and slamming a fresh one into the catch. Priming the weapon for a second round of high velocity death rain.

The small heat signature stops a meter or so from the far corner of the next corridor. Keeping the replenished weapon on the small target, watching as it swivels in mid air. Remaining motionless as it appears to be looking back at me. Switching back to night vision, peering down into the deep recesses of darkness. I could see it for what it is now. Well at least it is a humanoid looking creature. Keeping it in the rifle sights, it begins to walk towards me. This was odd, it did not seem to care that I am trying to kill it.

Rifle snug in my shoulder a fresh bead on the other. Holding off on a new volley of bullets. Watching as it slowly approaches. The fear starts to creep back a little, a fresh cold sweat starts to bath my skin. Then for a moment or so the being disappears from sight. Only to reappear ten meters closer and at a different position down the hall. After catching sight of it when it comes back into view. Training the rifle on it when it does. Shit this thing is fast! It closes in another few meters at a walk, before dropping out of view again. My heart hammers against my ribs, throbbing in my ears. Reappearing again not more than six meters from my position. Standing directly aligned with me in the center of the hall way. It does not move or speak. Just stands there looking at me. Then drops out of sight, to reappear a meter and a half away.

Now face to face with the creature with the affinity for carving up people symmetrically. The stare it gives me is as dead and cold as the lack of sympathy it had shown to the others it had carved up so precisely. Why was it not finishing me off like them? Slowly and cautiously, I lower the rifle from the assassins face. Tilting their head to the side quizzically as I take a less aggressive stance toward it. Seemingly confused that I am not trying to kill it now that it is well within range of being an easier target. Swallowing hard the lump of fear caught in my throat. Come on, get it over with already. Feeling like an animal cornered by a predator as it savors the moments just before the kill.

Raising a hand from its side, extending it out to me slowly. The hand looks almost human, but instead of skin it looks like some kind of metal. The awkwardness was starting to change the tone of this encounter from one of killer versus killer into something very strange. Its eyes glance at the closed upturned hand then back up to mine. What have you got in your hand? As if hearing my thoughts, the slender metallic fingers slowly unfurl from the fist. There laying on the metal palm of the other, one of the rounds I had fired at it. Quickly glancing over its body to see if I had actually hit it. There is no indication that I did. However, from my quick assessment of the others physique, I did notice that it was awfully similar to a Terran female. With the exception of being covered in some kind of metal.

“Did I hit you in the back”, I ask the other in confusion at it displaying the ceramic composite bullet. Shaking her head in response. Then tossing the projectile into the air a little ways, before snatching it from its fall with the hand that had held it. She tore it from free fall so fast that all I saw was it go up in the air before disappearing. That is how fast she moves.

“You caught the bullet”, I asked her dumbfounded, as I slowly came to the realization that it was plausible based upon how fast she seems to move in general.

“Are you going to kill me”, I ask her feeling the odds against me at whatever she was. Knowing that there was not a chance in hell of being able to stop her if she decided to do so. Shaking her head, much to my surprise.

“Well that is comforting, I guess”, I start with wary relief,” so does that mean we are in some sort of truce?”

Taking her time I feel her looking me up and down with her eyes, her expression solidified in a flat state by the metal. Still keeping my reserve about this one’s intentions. I watch curiously as she ‘speaks’ to me. Nodding in a reluctant manner in response to my inquiry of her being a friend or foe. Her metal hands set to the task of conveying her thoughts as she has not actually spoken yet. Concentrating on her agile metal hands as she tries to make me understand her. She seems to be telling me a story, or more like acting one out. Using her hands, she curls them into tubular fashion. Placing them on her face to simulate either binoculars or goggles. Probably goggles. Following this up with the number four displayed with the fingers held up. Simulating at something that looked like a mental or unruly person strapped to a bed or table. Using her index finger she acts out a very complex series of precise mock incisions all over her body. Acting out the agony and struggle against this just after the complexity of the last action. Her full body arched backward in the throes of pain, limbs fighting against imaginary restraints. Running her hand up her throat and out many times, in silent screams. Why had they done this to you? They are bloody monsters of the worst kind! Watching the display of her actions, seeing the suffering of this poor creature. Her expression starts to change from agony, her head lowered and her eyes wide. They fill with a pure hatred as she did the symbol for, what by now I assumed to be a scientist. Following up with the rigid stature of attention, holding an imaginary rifle to rest against her shoulder. Slashing her finger across her throat, and sweeping her arms from being close together to stick straight out from her shoulders.

Going back to a more normal stance, her gaze upon mine. Taking a tentative step toward her. Removing my right hand from the grip on the rifle, and placing it upon her left shoulder in understanding.

“I want them dead too”, I tell her acknowledging her resolve, “They have taken from me as well, and I would do anything to get them back. This madness has to stop once and for all. You help me find mine, and I will do what I can for you, fair enough?”

Waiting for her response to my proposal. Glad to not have been carved up like the others in that creepy symmetrical fashion. Her hand on her waist, she displays an odd looking handle about twenty three centimeters long. It seemed the right size for the heat signature I had spotted. Without warning a seventy six centimeter blade telescopes from the handle in her hand. It glows a bright silvery white, radiating a high heat. Impossible! It was a prototype of a plasma blade. That would definitely carve up a body and not leave a mess beyond the severed parts.

“Take point”, I order her since she has active camouflage, “and by the way save a few Confeds for me will you”.

Nodding her acknowledgment, she disappears off into the distance. Setting off after her, I felt my apprehension subside about becoming a rendering of deco death. We continue our hunt for enemies, captives, and Zlada.