Xeno Core

Twin bursts of laser fire light the creature up.

The liquid metal dripping from the behemoth absorbs the attack, leaving the monster unharmed. Han curses, but continues firing.

Bruen, however, tosses his laser aside and tightens his grip upon his spear. "Soldiers, spread out!"

Gelly and Yosip circle around the behemoth, dodging tentacles long enough to wrap around a shuttle. Spasms shake the towering creature, and the soft carapace bulges around the base. It swells grotesquely, stretching out before bursting. From the wounds crawl fresh monstrosities.

Even as we watch the creatures sprout their characteristic crystalline tumors. Creatures with mismatched limbs and blank stares twitch as they become aware of the outsiders among them. The holes they crawled out of heal behind them but before they do I can just make out corrupted circuitry within the tower of flesh.

Gelly doesn't wait to be attacked, stabbing the closest creature in one of its necks with his knife. Not to be outdone, both Yosip and Bruen impale their own beasts. Another barrage of crystals harasses Han, but his armor withstands the beating.

Two soldiers stay back, guarding Somner Zek where she lays on the stone floor. The other two support Drev as the casteless officer tries to draw the enormous creature's attention. With eyes of various sizes dotting its monstrous bulk, it assuredly is aware of them.

As if to prove it, a maw opens high up on the creature. Onyx blades rain down on the trio of warriors, shredding their fine tunics and scoring their carapaces. Blue drips from the torn black of their uniforms.

The soldiers stagger under the assault. They manage to remain upright despite their wounds and continue harassing the enormous creature. It might indeed be more focused upon the three of them, as the creature doesn't react to Bruen drawing closer.

The veteran general, spear clutched low at his side, stalks slowly closer to the misshapen pillar. A blast from Han's weapon lands directly upon one of the creatures faceted eyes, and it bellows. The reverberations carry with it an energy pattern that reacts deep inside my own crystalline matrix.

My connection to the systems housing me fades. With my native senses I hear Somner Zek issue an answering moan from where she lays upon the hot stone. It's hard to concentrate.

Chaotic energies fills the space. Noises, screams and cries echo off the stone walls. Small heat sources, living creatures, dance around me.

They clash with one another again and again. Some fall, and more join the fray. At first, I don't notice, but I soon realize that some of the creatures are filled with the same flavor of energy as that which courses through me.

I try to thrash about but accomplish nothing. No limbs respond to my frantic efforts. I quickly remember that I lack such extravagances as limbs, or organs, and cease my useless efforts. What I find when I reconnect to my systems is shocking.

On either side of me are monsters. Built to no plan but madness, these creatures swipe their claws at Han, scoring gauges against his patchwork armor. He shouts incoherently, more roar than battle cry, and flails around, swinging the laser as if it were a club.

Yosip and Gelly both look at the source of the roar but are unable to come to young Han's aid. They too are surrounded by slashing claws and snapping jaws. I cannot see Drev through the press of bodies, nor do I immediately see my Bruen. Drev and the other casteless are backed against a large outcropping, surrounded by twisted bodies.

Many-clawed corpses sprawl across the battlefield. A single gargantuan tentacle, still twitching spasmodically, lays upon the stone. Among the dead I see two soldiers of the Spanless Empire.

As the monstrous claws of the horde close upon Han and me, I finally gain sight of Bruen. Han holds his overheated rifle in two claws, keeping it between the ruby jaws of one beast and himself. That does nothing to keep the creature behind him from ripping into the joints of his armor. Sapphire splinters from the creature but it sinks its curling claws into Han's delicate shoulders.

During the brief instant that I see Bruen, climbing up the enormous tentacular horror, he turns his head to look at Han. The rear camera goes dead, torn apart by the blue studded monstrosity in its frenzy to kill Han. From the helmet view I see crimson fangs piercing the power cell of the mining laser.

The explosion blasts the thing's head apart and sprays us with ichor. It also knocks Han back hard enough to dislodge the other beast. It falls and lands amid the bodies.

"Han, listen to me," I say, trying to get his attention. "Bruen's weapon is on the ground near your left foot. You need to pick it up before the creatures recover."

"Wh-wha?" Han staggers drunkenly. His foot kicks the discarded combat laser farther away.

"Focus, soldier, this is important."

I try to highlight the weapon on his visors display, but nothing happens. I rapidly check, continuing to try to get Han to focus, and discover that while I'm able to access the visual display I cannot affect it in any way.

The creature behind us starts making noise again. "Han, on the ground in front of you, do you see it?"

"Yeah, there's a pretty rock," he answers, slurring his words. "I like blue."

Inspired, I concentrate upon the laser rifle. Drawing from the energy plentiful in the accursed place, I convert it into photons. Photons bathe the weapon, and it shines a brilliant blue.

"Grab the pretty blue gun, Han."

"Yeah," he replies absently.

He bends down to claim the weapon. Just as his claws close upon it we're sent sliding across the ground. Thank the tides the youth keeps his claws upon the laser. Jagged blue claws swipe fractions of a bit from the youth's visor as the monster slides past us.

At the edge of the display I see Bruen, leaping down the writhing monstrosity. The enormous beast's thrashing is more intense than at any point in the battle. The force of its flailing tentacles shakes the cavern around us. Hunks of stone fall from above.

Small rocks ping off of Han's armor. His movements become a little more controlled, and the camera stops lolling to the right.

"Are you with me, soldier?"

"That's Operative, get it right," he snaps with his usual bravado.

"Good. Your suit's taken heavy damage. How are you feeling?"

Han grunts as he moves, testing his mobility. "Bad."

"You're going to have to tough through it, Operative. There's an enemy soldier coming closer."

"Yeah," he grunts, levelling the weapon at the monster. The shaking causes him to miss his first shot, but a second try burns a hole through the creature's torso. A third shot finishes it off.

Han dashes closer to the main combat, angling around fallen debris. He only makes it a few steps before sparks erupt from his suit. The damaged arm hangs uselessly, dripping blood and hydraulic fluid. He chokes, the black fumes his suit is emitting must be making it inside through the rent in his armor.

Another malformed creature notices us and moves to intercept. Han is in no condition to battle it, doubling over from the pain and wheezing painfully. The creature never makes it to us, as turning its back on Gelly only makes it an easy victim. The grizzled operative sees us and leaps over the twitching corpse. Gelly sprints to Han's side, concern all over his face.

With a grunt of exertion, the wiry operative drags us behind cover. The behemoth in the center of the chamber roars again, and it is some time before I regain my composure.

The battle field around us is quiet. Badly made bodies lay everywhere, mixing with rocks and computer components. The survivors of the battle gather together, off a way from where Han sleeps.

Bruen and his dust eater are the first that I spot, next to Gelly and the casteless officer Drev. Three other soldiers are with them and all are weary. Their bodies sag, no longer primed with adrenal compounds.

I don't see Yosip within the limited scope of Han's helmet camera, though I hear him grumbling nearby.

"Yosip, are you there?"

"Yeah, Mos," he replies quickly in a low voice. "Keep it down, would you? That Zek says Han needs to rest."

"Of course," I answer, slightly quieter. "It's over?"

"Yeah. The thing's dead," grunts Yosip. "Your Bruen wants to set up base here, take over the territory for some Spinning Empire."

"Spanless," I correct him gently. "An interesting proposal. He would need a qualified staff to help him safely navigate these unknown currents. Perhaps someone already experienced with running a multi species facility could be found, if Bruen were to inquire?"

He grunts and stomps away.