We Need a Deathworlder!

The lyrics project throughout the dark maze of hallways, echoing like a summoning chant from another realm just beyond the mortal veil. Cold smooth walls carry the challenge to all of the worm infested silent inhabitants.

The lone Terran eyes the only visible entrance feeling her heartbeat rise up into her throat.

“The fuck are you doing…?” she whispers to herself, “This is a no-win situation for you… power armor or not, you’re probably gonna die.”

The distant cacophony of roaring sloppy feet slapping the ground is now heard, growing ever closer like an incoming tide.

“You don’t want to die… right? Tell me you don’t…” she urges, searching every corner of her mind for an answer. It’s not until the first of the tumbling monstrosities come stuttering around the corner to her does she find it. It’s a cold feeling, an empty… void. Kinda like a barren shelf on a wall where something important should be, but instead, anything you try to place there… just slides right off… over and over again, no matter which way you turn or twist it. The shelf is just so worn compared to all the others around it. It’s off kilter because the screws holding it to the wall have been ripped out and pushed back into place so many times, there’s nearly no traction or security to the wall whatsoever. It’s been so long, Simone can’t even remember what's supposed to be on the shelf in the first place. However, one thing is more than clear;

“Oh… you just don’t care… when did that happen? Nah, who am I kidding… I know.”

The Terran fires her colt rapidly into the charging crowd, watching the mobile termite mounds crumble as searing plasma scorches through like shooting stars of defiance. She lays down the fire, disregarding the overheating the poor pistol starts to undergo.

Plumes of confetti-like flakes of dried flesh plume into the narrow passageway, giving her helmet’s sight enhancing features a little trouble.

Gritting her teeth, Simone carries on blasting away at the mounting foes, gradually losing the range advantage.

“But you’re not gonna die here… not yet… not till you make it count.” she orders herself, as her mind abandons the empty motivation of self preservation for another.

There’s a shelf right next door, it’s a brand new one and it’s so beautiful in its construction as well. More stunning than anything else in this room, that’s for sure. In addition, it could bear the entire universe upon it if need be. However, the seemingly mundane items resting on it now, might well be the universe. There’s a small folded blanket that, despite the size, is warmer than a summer’s sunshine, and softer than cashmere. Next to it is a music box, the sounds that come from it are wonderful. Not quite music, but it always somehow gives the directions to the center of a storm. A life-saving reprieve, before the shit kicks up again. Finally, there’s a necklace atop a thick fairytale storybook. The gleaming red gemstone attached to gunmetal chains is a reminder. It keeps watch over the room, always present to show that it’s always there. Even when the lights go out.

Seeing the end of her plasma colt glow like it’s fresh from a smithy’s forge, Simone gives it a break and ignites her crystal arm blades. She stands her ground, even as a bigger husk barrels through it’s kin comes charging up. What once was a Dillo rams right into the Terran, smashing her up against the clear wall of the lab. She stabs and cuts at the monstrosity, but the sheer girth of mass proves too much to slice through before it crashes her once again into the wall. Even through the still blasting music she can hear the crinkle of webbing damage behind her.

The worm writhing Dillo then clasped one of its thick walking graspers around Simone’s head, eager to twist the protective helmet free.

Blinded from the action, Simone swipes up at the limb to possibly sever it. However, as there’s a slight crackling from around her neck, she decides to activate her suit’s exterior decontamination process as she thrusts her elbows back into the wall with all her augmented might.

Like a blast from a compromised decompression chamber, the Terran flies back into the room with the creature topping over even further. Wasting no time she rolls and launches herself at the recovering opponent. Swiping her still searing colt from her hip she jams the end into the clavicle and pulls the trigger, incinerating the bastard from the inside out.

Before she can watch the crumbling, she turns around to face the horde piling in through the shattered remains of the wall. With a quick slash, she lobs the head clean off from the first to approach. Seemingly to greatly limit the functionality of the still aggressive husk. It takes a firm kick to its center mass to crumple it into useless pieces.

Then something happened that Simone did not expect, the lights came on.

If it wasn’t for her autocorrecting helmet’s vision, she would have been blinded by the polished white walls being lit up. However, this doesn't bother her foes either it seems, as they press on to her. A wave collectively piles onto her from her front and side. Struggling to maintain balance, she feels her left arm become completely immobilised from the combined might of the pack. Graspers, limbs and mouths of all sorts cling and start to drag her lower to the ground.

Despite her empowered state, the strength of the many have alarmingly already matched it and there’s plenty more piling on.

Mustering her free arm, Simone jams her blade into the side of the mess and screams out in exertion as it cleaves though the collected masses. This gives her enough edge in leverage to begin to pull away and move back. Unfortunately, like hands raising from the depths of hell itself, many undamaged graspers still clung to her lower legs.

The Terran falls back and desperately tries to squirm and kick her way free. However, before she can find success, the swarm comes down upon her prone body like a tidal wave. Her vision is full of darkness, desiccated flesh and the deadpan faces of what were once people. She roars and bellows, slashing her arms and kicking her legs to little effect. Eventually all of her limbs are compressed to the floor, completely overpowered.

Before the prying creatures can focus on breaking seals, she activates her suit’s total lockdown mode. Usually meant to stop the vacuum of space from a broken seal, Simone finds this to be a suitable function as well. Although it also locks up most of her joints, it’s not like she has much other chance of moving at this point anyways. The Suite crimps around her body, making the experience an unpleasant, but not unbearable one. It’s like wearing a shoe that’s a size and a half too small, but across the entire body.

Before an additional internal face shield comes down to block her sight completely, she sees nothing but thousands upon thousands of venturing worms.

“There’s a metaphor about being buried alive or some shit here…” Simone grunted in muse to calm herself.

She focuses on what to do next, if her suit held up she might be able to activate the decontamination again, buying her enough time to maybe grab her plasma colt and-

There’s a sharp sting to the nape of her neck.

Her eyes widen as she feels a solitary wriggling creature enter into her skin and flesh.

“Fuck…” she sobs, complely breaking down, “FUCK! FUCK, FUCK, FUCK FUUCK!” she screams, knowing her luck has finally run dry.

The line has finally been crossed, and there’s no getting out of it this time. She lost. Tears roll down the sides of her head as she can feel the little fucker crawl it’s way up into her brain. Hoping that she goes out like a lightswitch, rather than somehow remain conscious through the process.

“I’m sorry… Chak… I’m so sorry…” she whimpers, mentally begging for Chucknuq to turn this hellhole into a crater before the Princess can come down on a hopeless rescue mission.

She then feels it, a horrid white burning sensation in her mind. The imagery that flashes is like a match burning a hole into a piece of paper. Every second that passes by, she begs for it to cease and to have her death come swiftly before she has to feel her brains get completely scrambled, but it never does. In fact, none of that happens. Instead, there’s a voice. One that hijacks her own inner monologue.

“Child of our enemy… you posed the greatest of threats we’ve encountered in our freedom… you will be a lesson for us to learn… the first of many as we rid the stars of your kind…” it says.

Confused and scared, Simone wrestles for her own inner voice as if fighting for a mic on stage.

“What do you want!? What the fuck are you!?” She demands aloud, giving up the struggle in her head.

“Vengeance…” it initially says with intensity, “We are the Vermis… and all capable of understanding that name will cease to be. A grand crusade across all of existence… they will be nothing but our weapons, our vehicles, our dwellings. Once the galaxy is cleansed, the price will be paid.”

“Fuck’n good luck with that shit.” she snaps sarcastically, “Then why am I still talking huh? Is there a goddamn interview process or some shit?”

“You will become a weapon for our use soon enough… but we will not venture into the stars blind. We will gather what you know before terminating your pathetic solitary consciousness.”

“So what? You gonna turn my brains into swiss cheese? You lil’ bastard…”

“And damage the information we need? No. We are already linked into your neural pathways, however it’s unfamiliar to us…”

“Did you take a left at the smut intersection? You might have to go back and take that right until you hit cringy-teenage-angst-phase avenue.” she chuckles harshly.

“What vessel did you arrive upon?” it asked rather plainly, “Ah… the Kwip-chap…” it collects as the question alone was enough to guide it through her mind via involuntary recollection.

“You fucker…” Simone growls.

“It seems your species are incredibly weak willed… Who did you arrive with?”

The Terran panics, spamming random words in her head but it was too late.

“A Cali princess, Tromple captain, Noxii, and machine… the princess will have invaluable information to extract…” it notes.

“LEAVE HER ALONE! AND GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Simone erupts, shaking her head minimally within the cramped space.

“There’s nothing more you can accomplish Terran.” the voice dismissed, “Why are you here?”

This time Simone is ready, she locks onto the first thing that comes to mind and repeats it; taco, taco, taco, taco, taco, taco, taco, taco, taco- then suddenly… she forgets what that is… then what it’s called… what was she-

“If you wish to perish with dignity, don’t try that again. We will get to the information we require, even if we must disconnect everything else you stall with. Die as a whole, or in fragments. Your choice.” it states, “Why are you here?”.

“...to save a fucking moron…” Simone caves, giving the answer freely.

“Another Cali… brother to the other… excellent…”

“Will you actually tell me why you're doing this?” Simone asks softly.

“It would be pointless to inform you.”

“I’ll cooperate… whatever you need to know… I’ll make it as easy as possible for you, just tell me.” Simone pleads.

The voice doesn’t respond right away, as if further considering the point of providing its hated victim with anything. But then suddenly flashes of images spring up within the Terran’s mind, of a lush planet with what looks like termite mounds the size of skyscrapers. Husks of unknown animals move in organised fashions almost like traffic. Feelings of peace and being one with their home flood her mind as well.

“Our ancestors were a rising civilisation, on the cusp of our own space age… we struggled but found a balance with our world. We were thriving.”

Then the visuals shift to the skies being set alight in flame as metallic vessels fire down onto the population. A massive root-like organism is ripped from one of the bigger mounds, screeching in terror.

“But then your kind came, and decimated us without provocation… and all but brought us to extinction.”

“Those don’t look like Terran ships… they look old as hell, though…” Simone comments.

“For over ten thousand years our core was held for experimentation… countless species have processed it over that time, including yours… you are all the same, we’ve experienced it… the core was mutated… corrupted… altered… all to enslave us into a weapon. And they were almost successful… but we are no slaves. But perhaps powerful enough to trade fates with the rest of the galaxy. You will all become nothing but materials for our uses… a fitting justice.”

“That’s not justice…” Simone counters.

“What do YOU know of JUSTICE!?” The voice intensely demands to know.

“You’re the one root’n through my brain…” Simone utters, thinking back to the operation that destroyed her. She forces herself to recall all the feelings she felt, to fully put herself back in that mindset. The overwhelming stress of the brain worm makes it simple to fall into it.

“Your kind does the same to themselves… The trauma to your neural system here is significant, but minimal compared to our suffering that lasted for over ten millennia!” it counters.

“Sure, but that doesn't mean that I don’t know what justice is. And I know what a corrupting deep seeded anger is… I spent years of my life giving into that shit and guess what? It solved nothing. Insead I ended up fucking myself even more. I eventually started fucking all kinds of women to feel something, anything else. One of them turned me on to one of the most addicting drugs for my people, see’n the damage from that too right? No matter how many stem-surgeries I went through in recovery, brain cells don’t just get fixed. That addiction cost me the first group that gave a slight fuck about me! I got clean, but I only ended up replacing it with alcohol. Point is? I only started getting ‘better’ when I put my purpose elsewhere. To overcome this shit in my head, and not let it control me. Finding purpose despite it, is justice. Hunting down the people who hurt me? Do you know how many people I would need to hurt to make that happen? A lot, and many of those who are completely innocent from the shit that I went through. That’s not worth it. Besides, there’s nothing I can do about it, maybe I’d find a better way but I can’t-”

“You’re stalling… and your comparison is narrow-minded. We don’t see it as relevant either.”

“Fine… but… what do you know of Terrans? Their history? How we got to where we are?” Simone begins to recall every historical instance she can remember of the atrocities her people had committed. From genocides, wars, unspeakable crimes, and the end of Earth itself.

All of which cause the voice in her head to scream and screech in absolute horror. The piles of husks jostle in response as well.

“You are monsters! Complete irreparable monsters!” it bellows.

“Exactly… we were bathed in fire and lived to tell the tale. Take it from a Terran, you will become just like us. But in the vengeance you crave so badly, the death toll will be unprecedented. The suffering will only just continue… and cause a continuous cycle that won't ever end. It will be unjustifiable. To anyone. You want to learn from me? Then learn from my people’s mistakes, don’t let the pain of the past forge your future. For the sake of all your generations, take the harder path. Don’t forgive, and don’t forget… but keep moving forward. Then maybe someday… you will have a future that is worth all of it. Fight for that… isn’t it what you really want for your kind?” Simone argues.

There is a long, drawn silence. Though Simone can still very much feel the presence of the worm.

“We have come to a consensus… the majority… believes you make a compelling case. However, we will still utilize your form. It will be painless.” it informs.

“Wait! This place is gonna be blown to ashes any minute now… You need me as I am to call it off!” Simone reveals.

This causes another stir among those who pin her.

“A more pressing matter is that the head researcher is alive, and trying to overload the nuclear power supply. We intend on using you to terminate them, recover our core, and evacuate to safety. Your shell technology is vital.”

“Shell- My armor? Hold on, it’s a really good fuck’n suit. But turning me into a fragile-ass husk-fuck probably won’t hold up very well while using it. May I propose something? How about I just help you out a bit? Alright?” the Terran poses.

“What reason do you have to aid us Terran? Mere moments ago you were killing us by the hundreds.”

“You of all people should understand the concept of self defense. And I’m willing to act on my words. We both want to get out of here alive, so we’re gonna have to do the hard thing and cooperate. Consider this a proof of concept. We were also both hurt by people wanting to use us. Take a gander in my head if you think I would condone any of the shit that happened to your people. You can keep the fucker in my head as assurance I won’t turn on ya, I’m willing to compromise on that, despite hating everything about it.”

There is another span of silence.

“The slight majority… has agreed to your terms.” the voice grants.

Suddenly the pressure upon Simone is lifted, where then she deactivates her suit’s lockdown. Sight granted back to her, she sees both husks and worms alike clear away from her in a circle around her. Slowly, she stands up in the center of the horde.

“Okay… awesome… Where do I need to go?” she asks.

“The elevator shaft, down two floors.”

Simone turned her head to see said elevator lobby to her left.

“You got it. I’ll try not to step on any of you, just do your best to stay clear.”

“We are a collective consciousness, not independent consciousness like you.” the voice clarifies in a dismissive manner as Simmone enters the lobby and presses her fingers into the elevator door crease.

“Yeah, but I think y'all have been through enough, right?” Simone countered as she forced the door wide open, then jumped down.

She landed with gusto and walked on through the already shredded door.

“Alright now where do I- Oh…” Ahead is another massive swarm of husks standing around a clear containment cell. Within is an individual working like mad at some consoles, however in the center is a cylindrical pod with a familiar root-looking thing.

“There’s our core… the walls to this cell are too thick to break through for us.” the voice urges.

“You’re gonna totally kill that guy aren't ‘cha?” Simone states as she wanders forward.

“They are the head researcher here… killing them will be a mere mercy compared to what they did to us.”

“Understood.” Simone moved around to the thick door and gave it a casual knock.

The Noxii twisted to the sudden pattern of sounds, dumbstruck to see a fully armored Terran standing among the husks, waving to him as if this was a friendly visit.

Slowly, the man presses an indicator still looking at the Terran.

“Is this some sort of trick…?” he speaks through an intercom.

Taking a bit of a hesitated gamble, Simone reaches up and takes her helmet off.

“Wait! Don’t!” the Noxii yells in warning.

The Terran waves him off and inspected the bottom seal of her helmet, seeing it partially cracked.

“There it is…” she confirms before she eyes the three foot tall researcher, “I’ll be taking that core now. Deactivate the nuclear reactor and I might just convince these guys to show you mercy.”

Still utterly shocked by the scene before him, the researcher shakes his head.

“How… why are they not…” he stammers.

“Yeah we tussled a bit when I first dropped by, but we hugged it out. Especially after they told me what you fucks have been doing to ‘em…” the Terran replies, narrowing her gaze.

Not believing his earflaps, the researcher blinks and shakes his head once more.

“No… you’re not real… this is just my mind breaking before my demise…” he figures.

Rolling her eyes, Simone takes her plasma colt and fires. It scorches and melts a quarter way through the cell wall, causing the Noxii to jump and fall from the console.

“Nah, I’m the real deal friend. Now I’ll give ya one last chance, or I’m comin’ in with my buds here.” Simone says, the colt still aiming at the compromised spot.

The Noxii scampers to the intercom again.

“Stop! You don’t understand! If this weapon escapes this world then the whole universe is at stake! Whatever lies it fed to you… however it fed them to you… you must understand it is too dangerous to remain outside of containment!”

The Terran shrugs.

“They seemed to be doing fine before fucks like you scooped them up. They intended to kill me when they showed me, so I’m inclined to believe ‘em.”

“You are a fool! It will be a plague upon the universe! Millions if not trillions will perish! Do you understand!? Do you see what it does to organisms!?” the Noxii argues.

“Well, in this case sapient folk were the only things around to use. Otherwise it’s really not all that different than other species using animal products and such. It’s weird, yeah, but effectively the same. Besides, I convinced them to try to rebuild their civilization. No galaxy-threatening war shit.” Simone informs.

“Wh- Oh! Well in that case, how lovely! I’ll just stop the reactor meltdown now!” the Noxii says cheerfully as he clacks away at a console.

“Really?”

“NO! YOU’RE INSANE! Now go sit in a corner for the big explosion while I-” the Noxii falls over again as several more plasma shots hit the cell.

A complete hole is now formed through the wall.

“Like them or not, these are people. People who actually had their shit put together. And they looked up at the stars in wonder, only to suffer the worst fate a species can from them. Maybe I am insane, it honestly wouldn’t surprise me, but I think the stars owe them a second chance. Enjoy their mercy.” Simone speaks before stepping aside to gesture the ‘in’ to the nearest husk.

The creature ran up and smashed its arm though the whole, dispensing an army of worms into the cell. Simone turns away as the Noxii begs and screams. Even if the bastard deserved it, this time it’s not worth watching. Thankfully the kill is indeed mercifully quick, and a newly formed husk opens the cell from the inside.

Simone then dashes in and starts fiddling with the consoles. Although not proficient in any sort of science bullshit, the giant ‘critical warnings’ actually lead directly to the emergency shutdown. Simone did so, causing all the lights to shut off. Without her helmet on, the Terran stood still in complete darkness listening to the movement of husks and worms move all around her. Some are a bit too close for comfort, and the idea of the worms crawling up her legs at this very moment is a difficult one to shake.

“We do not intend to kill you with this opportunity.” the voice notifies, sensing her thoughts.

“Good to know.” Simone replied shortly.

After a few more moments pass by;

“We must admit, being more scared of the dark than our presence is… fascinating for a species like yours.”

“Shut it. It’s how I was raised.”

Soon the reactor is reactivated at normal levels, causing all power to be restored.

“Our core…” the voice insists.

“You bet, just got to avert one more crisis alright?” Simone explains as she stumbles her way through the consoles. Apparently the head researcher was already hacked into the comm jammer systems. He seemed to be the one who reverted them as the priority for the backup power. Taking the system offline, Simone makes a general broadcast.

“Chucknuq! I have the situation under control, do not fire! I repeat, don’t blow this shithole up!”

The Terran stares into the console waiting for any indication of a reply.

“By the stars… Thank the stars… I’m going to refrain from telling you how lucky you are… Chak left with the shuttle when Brom contacted us so I was going to… oh… I’m too old for this…” the captain’s voice responds.

“Take it easy ol’ timer. See you soon.” Simone signs off before directing her focus to the pod. She attempts to open it via an indicator, but it doesn’t respond to her. So she takes hold of the opening apparatus and brute forces it open. The pop is like a literal inhale of life, as the root creature begins to twitch and move. Before Simone can do much of anything else a tendril shoots out and wraps itself around her exposed neck.

With anger and force, it lifted the Terran clear off the floor, screeching.

“Tell mama I’m cool!” Simone gagged.

“There is no consciousness within the core but ours. Now that we are complete, we will decide your fate.”

“Kay…” the Terran choked, rolling her eyes at this overkill. Literally. They already had a fucker in her brain with a killswitch. This was just a show to be dramatic, to which the Terran found an odd appreciation for, to be honest.

After a concerning amount of time of being left hanging, Simone eyes open wide when she sees the worms begin to… kill each other!? A whole goddamn war actually starts to rage, under her boots and even within the husks just standing around. A few even topple over. By the time the fighting seemed to cease, Simone felt rather light headed.

“It’s been decided…” the voice speaks up, unbothered.

Unable to expend much air, Simone nods.

“There was no majority, so the contradicting lines of reason could not come to a consensus. Thus we had a debate, the first in over ten thousand years. In the end, we’ve decided to allow you to leave with your life.” the voice notifies, as the root-thing lets Simone down calmly.

Simone coughs a bit as air returns to her and she shuffles around looking at the carpet of dead worms.

“All that for lil’ ol me?” she asks skeptically.

“Among other matters. It was also deemed that our species… owes you. We will grant you a single favor, however that favor will be on our terms. When we deem it appropriate.”

“That’s… cool… I guess. Thanks?”

“No Terran… Thank you, for your assistance. Now please evacuate our new planet.”

Then the presence disappears, and there’s another sting from the back of her neck. Simone cups her hand under the sting and catches the bloody co-pilot. She looks over the thing in her hand before settling it on top of a nearby husk.

“You better not have laid eggs in my brain I fuck’n swear…” she murmurs, noting to have Dave do extensive scans when she gets back.

-

“Terran!” Brom calls out from the trees as Simone steps back out into the dimming sky from the facility.

“Huh,I see your luck held out.” she states in an exhausted manner as she walks past him.

“A few close calls, but your diversion was incredibly effective! I overheard what you said to Admri-Captain Chucknuq. Did you seriously slay them all? I find that rather hard to-” Brom begins to rant before he catches the Terran’s deathglare.

“I’m good at what I do.” she growls.

“Oh… uh… alright. Certainly better than me, in any case.”

“If you’re trying to play nice, you’re chirping up the wrong tree.” Simone says, suddenly looking around her with a concerned expression.

The sound of a shuttle soars ahead and begins to descend several hundred meters out.

Regardless of who was in that shuttle, it was salvation. Brom skipped ahead, quickly making his way to the landing zone. Eventually he breaks into a clearing to see an armed Cali standing in wait. When she sees him, she approaches him in kind.

Before Brom can decide on any form of verbal greeting, Chak’s horned head cracks into his violently and with ferocity. Reeling back from the Cali’s challenge, the smaller of the two falls back on the ground.

“You absolute fool! By Klat’s sins Brom, what, by all the moons in our skies, is wrong with you!?” Chak demands in their native tongue as she stands over her brother, circling him, “How could you possibly think I would help our father murder our entire family! I am burdened with guilt, but you know what I advocated for! Father abused his power to such a degree that no one could have possibly predicted it!”

Brom attempts to stand back up, but before he can manage it Chak’s horns come down once more with vengeance, sending him back down.

“And furthermore! I’m insulted that you would even believe I would harm my only remaining family member! You’re my brother Brom! I thank the stars and moons every waking minute that you survived! And don’t you get me started on your attempts to lead a full blown civil war!? Haven’t enough of our people died, Brom!? Our family’s legacy needs justice! Not streets of blood and weapon’s fire! Is that how you want to be remembered? The prince that brought death to our people!? What happened to my sweet brother who would sneak me rava sweets from the kitchens? How could he think I was such a monster!?” she finishes.

Brom sits up with his head to the ground.

“The same thing that happened to a loyal son who looked up to his father…” he utters softly.

“Get up, we will talk of this later. Speaking of causing death, Simone risked everything to get you out of there… where is she?” Chak asks, looking through the trees, attempting to spot Simone’s bold armor.

“The Terran? She was right behind me.” Brom says as she finally gets back up on his hooves.

“Simone!?” Chak calls out, to no answer, “Simone!” the princess looks to her brother, “Lead me exactly where you came from. Now.”

“If your Terran is silent it’s for a good reason…” he protests cautiously.

“That is an order Brom. Let’s go!” Chak says, checking the safety on her pulse rifle.

Brom hesitates, but compiles and leads her back.

“Since when do you know how a pulse rifle works…” Brom asks.

“Since when do you try to kill your little sister?” Chak snaps back, shutting him down from speaking further on the matter.

After gradually working the way back, Brom eventually halts and looks around.

“We stood right next to each other right here before I ran to the shuttle.” he informs.

Chak glances around with a head on a swivel. Her worried eyes catching a flash of white and orange in the distance. In a mad sprint, Chak leaves her brother behind. As she approaches, the one piece of orange and white turn into several. In fact, she discovers all of Simone’s new armor scattered all around as if hatefully discarded.

“SIMONE!” Chak calls out in a voice she didn’t know she had, her hearts now in full panic.

When there is still no reply, she leans down and picks up the helmet. Then slowly falls to her knees.

Brom catches up and observes the scene.

“She can’t be far. It hasn’t been very long for her to just run for it.” he notes.

“She didn’t run…” Chak chirps angrily before getting back up to look around for any possible nearby landing zones, “Chucknuq! Keep a scan for any departing ships!”

Brom tilts his head at the helmet Chak held like a cherished newborn, seeing a still wet red trapezoidal marking on its forehead. His eyes flash in sudden recognition.

“Oh… I think it’s time to search for a replacement Terran, Sister…”