Chapter One

[Quantum Rain]

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----Intro post shall arrive later----

[Wynn]

--Anima--
The being leapt forth, grabbing Lae and tieing around him literally like
rope, binding his arms and legs at the same time. It was a black-skinned creature, or really, a thing, that he
couldn't tell, but it was slender, and moved quickly too, faster than even humanly possible. It didn't make any noise, or anything. It was like a snake, only worse...

---

--Hiigara--

The Primitus ships seemed to instantly react to Sajuuk's presence, as expected. Mercer takes this sudden development in stride, noting all of the sudden reactions to a weapon that's as powerful as they are. "...charge the main weapon. All Hiigaran ships, listen carefully. These Derelicts are acting strangely towards whatever weapon you've brought in. I don't know what it is exactly that you've brought in, but they're displaying a familiar pattern of caution, and whatever is coming is going to be equally as big of retaliation. Prepare yourselves and regroup. Don't bother with fighting the Primitus ships if they disappear, they'll just run far enough away..." The audio is suddenly cut again. "Get me a scan on their intelligence rating and how many ships are remaining. I want a full analysis asap." He ordered.

As he said this, all of the Primitus ships suddenly disappear, phasing and further cloaking away and moving at high speeds, as if predicting that Sajuuk could do the same. It was clear, they knew what that ship was, what it could do, what it meant. This battle became even more interesting.

"We have destroyed four cruisers and heavily damaged a carrier. Based on last known trajectories and known anomalies caused by Primitus phasing, we can venture that the enemy is massing into one large group, right at where the exit point is for the incoming enemy fleet." An officer said, loudly enough for it to be transmitted towards the Hiigaran command as well. "... Interesting... And what of the unknown signature?" "... We've confirmed it as the same ship from the Kurian incident that the 'Imperialists' reported." "Well now, aren't we lucky today... Karan S'Jet, I hope you got that. It's clear that we definitely have their undivided attention now."

---

--Aves--

The flames of the plasma didn't dissipate like normal, however, and started to spin rapidly, like a sphere. Faster and faster, as the flames jutted out and grew in intensity as the Spirit of Aves fired at its adversary. Something was definitely up, as energy readings started increasing at an unprecedented rate.

The cruiser seemed to ignore the airship, as suddenly, it phased out of view. Disappearing from Ironbeak's and the planetary gun's barrage. The assault units continued, pressing on against the Avian defenders.

While the main source of reinforcements was abruptly cut, one could tell that the Primitus forces were still growing. Furthermore, new units were being introduced. Large flying warships, far smaller than Primitus warships, but looked vaguely familiar to Avian airships in design. They flew rapidly towards their other counterpart, equally joined by groups of drones to support them.

Lae would be taken by surprise. He would look at it and struggle. "GRAH! WHAT THE [censored]!?" he screamed in rage. "GET THE [censored] OFF ME!!"

Xaldius: Shame you cant sense a thing...

Lae: YOU [censored] KNEW HE WAS COMING!?

Xaldius: You didnt pick up on what I said a moment ago?

Lae: [censored] YOU!

Lae glared at the being. "GET OFF ME, YOU [censored] TENTACLE HENTAI!" It would finally occur to Lae that this is a moment to call for help. He thought to Lara.

Not to interrupt anything, but I need help... like, now...

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Hiigara--

Karan S'jet: What this thing is is classified intelligence, Admiral Mercer, but thanks for the advice. *She cuts the line.* We've won a reprieve, but the next stage of the fight is going to be one hell of a [censored]-storm. Call in all available wings of the Navy within an hour's jump, and order the rest to make for Hiigara anyway. Prepare to fire more missiles and shift the shield's power to where the Primitus armada will reappear. Mass all remaining ships at the coordinates provided by Admiral Mercer.

*The defenders do as ordered, and several thousand Hiigaran warships arrive in good time to reinforce the battered local forces. They immediately join their brethren in preparing for the Primitus armada's assault. Sajuuk leads the fleet, watching and waiting for the arrival of the destroyers.*

Karan: We're still in the fight, you bastards. You hear that, fleet?! We're still in the fight.

--Aves, Farruvian--

Ironbeak: Coward...Ironbeak to all forces. The city's lost and we're needed elsewhere. All forces, pull out. Repeat, pull out.

*The surviving avian forces begin to regroup and leave the city with Ironbeak's airship running escort. Their morale is shaken, however, by the seemingly invincible warship that leveled an entire city in seconds.*

*The avians' dogged determination, along with the decrease in the invaders' reinforcements, allows them to hold out against the waves of attackers...for now. Ironbeak sets up a command post not far from Aves City.*

Generals: Ironbeak, we're encountering some new type of aerial enemy unit--like our own airships! They're supported by strikecraft!

Ironbeak: Order your airships to break off close ground support and engage them. Have the gunships protect them from strikecraft.

Generals: Aye, sir!

*Ironbeak resumes frowning at his strategic display as the orders are carried out. Things are not looking good.*

--Orbit--

Ackbar: What the--

*He does not wait as the plasma pyrotechnics take place, but springs into action.*

Open an FTL portal around that thing--suck the plasma away!!

Engineering: Around it, sir?!

Ackbar: Yes, do it and hurry!! Cease firing and divert the necessary power to do so.

*A few minutes later, a spherical FTL portal opens around the entire Primitus capital ship, at just the right distance to suck the plasma fire into its unstable vortex. The capital ship is quickly deprived of its plasma mischief.*

*Once the plasma has been cleared, the portal closes and the Spirit resumes firing at the vessel.*

[Quantum Rain]

--Anima--

Lae, calm down. I expected this, just keep acting... and I'm also a bit tied up at the moment, so we're already in this together. I can get us out, but we need to know whose behind this, alright? Lara replied back, and if Lae noticed, she was equally ambushed, only with other shadowy figures surrounding her. Soon enough, several shadowy figures also surrounded Lae, and the two disappeared in a cloak of darkness.

What felt like hours passed by before that veil was removed and the two were revealed to be on their knees, hands bound and unarmed. "Well. Cozy place, isn't it?" Lara commented somewhat sarcastically as the two would see dark, smooth walls, dim lights, and virtually no clue as to who these people were, save being far from normal. There were other guards, however, the same shadowy figures as before, blocking the only discernible exit and lined up along the dark walls of the room.

[Wynn]

--Anima--

Lae, calm down. I expected this, just keep acting... and I'm also a bit tied up at the moment, so we're already in this together. I can get us out, but we need to know whose behind this, alright? Lara replied back, and if Lae noticed, she was equally ambushed, only with other shadowy figures surrounding her. Soon enough, several shadowy figures also surrounded Lae, and the two disappeared in a cloak of darkness.

What felt like hours passed by before that veil was removed and the two were revealed to be on their knees, hands bound and unarmed. "Well. Cozy place, isn't it?" Lara commented somewhat sarcastically as the two would see dark, smooth walls, dim lights, and virtually no clue as to who these people were, save being far from normal. There were other guards, however, the same shadowy figures as before, blocking the only discernible exit and lined up along the dark walls of the room.

Lae looked at them with a "poker face" and observed the room around them. He would lean over to her and whisper, "Once the warden inevitably comes to orient us..." He looked around at the guards. "I say we take him hostage before he can even introduce himself..."

[Quantum Rain]

--Anima--

Think mentally, where they can't hear us as well. We have a plan. Once we get what we need from him, we'll take him down. She replied to him, staring intently at a blank wall. Or so it was thought to be an empty wall until it moved, rotating to reveal more guards and apparently their leader, whom was equally hidden by shadow.

[Wynn]

--Anima--

Think mentally, where they can't hear us as well. We have a plan. Once we get what we need from him, we'll take him down. She replied to him, staring intently at a blank wall. Or so it was thought to be an empty wall until it moved, rotating to reveal more guards and apparently their leader, whom was equally hidden by shadow.

You know you're an [censored] when you need a dramatic entrance to intimidate. Lae thought rhetorically, but Lara would still be able to hear his thoughts. He just sat cross-legged with his hands folded together in front of his mouth and his elbows resting on his knees. He just stared at them calmly.

Xaldius: Something tells me you are going to need some help...
Lae: Dont even think about it.

[Quantum Rain]

--Anima--

"I take it you're the leader?" Lara asked rhetorically, staring at the shadowed figure that was apparently leading the rest. "I hope you aren't as boring as the rest of your junkies, are you?" She continues in a falsely cute voice. The figure didn't respond, or even move as far as the others noticed. Then he spoke, his voice echoing across the room. "You are useless to us, female." He said, signaling to one of the guards to remove her from his presence. Well, so much for that plan...

[Wynn]

--Anima--

"I take it you're the leader?" Lara asked rhetorically, staring at the shadowed figure that was apparently leading the rest. "I hope you aren't as boring as the rest of your junkies, are you?" She continues in a falsely cute voice. The figure didn't respond, or even move as far as the others noticed. Then he spoke, his voice echoing across the room. "You are useless to us, female." He said, signaling to one of the guards to remove her from his presence. Well, so much for that plan...

"And you obviously have not been with a woman you havent paid." Daniel said, staring him straight in the "eye." He didnt change his calm and collected posture. He used his thumb to fumble with the key ring on his ring finger, although the men probably would not take note of such a small detail. He continued to stare at him with no sign of fear, or even any emotion.

[Quantum Rain]

"Coming from a pathetic excuse of an existence such as you? I doubt you are worth so much." The being replied sharply, as the guards grabbed Lara by the arms, lifted her up, and then suddenly dropped cold to the ground. Lara smiled as she popped her neck, revealing that her bonds were cut. "You boys always treat us girls badly." She said mockingly, still smiling as she entered a fighting stance. The man just laughed at Lara. More shadowy figures appearing from seemingly no where to replace the ones that fell.

[Wynn]

"Coming from a pathetic excuse of an existence such as you? I doubt you are worth so much." The being replied sharply, as the guards grabbed Lara by the arms, lifted her up, and then suddenly dropped cold to the ground. Lara smiled as she popped her neck, revealing that her bonds were cut. "You boys always treat us girls badly." She said mockingly, still smiling as she entered a fighting stance. The man just laughed at Lara. More shadowy figures appearing from seemingly no where to replace the ones that fell.

Daniel suddenly hopped up and put his left hand on the man's shoulder and put the right into a fist into his gut. Rather than a brute force blow, a rusty, jagged metal strip would slip out from under his sleeve and sink into the man's gut. It wouldnt be a lethal blow, but if the man struggled, it would only cause the cut to widen. He threw his free arm around the man's neck. "Call them off." He said calmly. "Call them off, or i do the same thing to you i did to my frog in Anatomy one-oh-one."

[Quantum Rain]

"You never went to school, Lae." The man said, as Lae quickly found out that the man was not really there. The lights flicked on revealing nothing but shadows, literal shadows. "Oh how uncreative!" Lara exasperated, kicking one of the shadows back. "And rude!"

[Wynn]

"You never went to school, Lae." The man said, as Lae quickly found out that the man was not really there. The lights flicked on revealing nothing but shadows, literal shadows. "Oh how uncreative!" Lara exasperated, kicking one of the shadows back. "And rude!"

"Tch..." Lae seemed annoyed. "Cowards cant even come themselves..." He walked twoards one of the doors.

Xaldius: You do realize it's not that simple, right?

Lae: I dont give a [censored].

[Quantum Rain]

"Lae, I wouldn't do th-" She started, but was interrupted when heavy steel blast doors fell down right in his path. "... Yeah, I forgot to tell you, they trapped the exits." She said matter-of-factually, entirely too calm about the situation. "I didn't expect him to be so cautionary..."

[Wynn]

"Lae, I wouldn't do th-" She started, but was interrupted when heavy steel blast doors fell down right in his path. "... Yeah, I forgot to tell you, they trapped the exits." She said matter-of-factually, entirely too calm about the situation. "I didn't expect him to be so cautionary..."

Lae just stopped in front of it and stood still. He obviously wasnt pleased. "Im not going to rot in this [censored] room..." He sighed. "If we cant find a way out of here, im letting Mr. Destructo go to work..." She wouldnt be able to tell if he was joking or not.

He looked down at the ground and saw his reflection grinning somewhat.
Lae: Make no mistake, in the event that I let you out, you better not cause more harm than necessary.

His reflection made an "innocent" shrugging posture.

Xaldius: Why, whatever do you mean?

[Quantum Rain]

"Eheh, yeah, that's not necessary." Lara said, particularly not liking such an idea. "Just relax, we'll be free within a couple of minutes." Suddenly, a loud bang was heard as the blast door seemed to vibrate a little, then shake, and finally, disintegrate. "Or seconds. I guess you don't want to keep a girl waiting, do you?" Rain walked through the dust cloud, seemingly annoyed but calmer than before at least. "... Did you find anything?" "Well, I can confirm what you thought earlier at least. They also seem to be telepaths as well, given that I couldn't read their minds at all." "Figures... Of course we would get stuck with the paranoid demon invasion." Rain said unenthusiastically. "And we don't even know what kind or who they serve."

[Wynn]

"Eheh, yeah, that's not necessary." Lara said, particularly not liking such an idea. "Just relax, we'll be free within a couple of minutes." Suddenly, a loud bang was heard as the blast door seemed to vibrate a little, then shake, and finally, disintegrate. "Or seconds. I guess you don't want to keep a girl waiting, do you?" Rain walked through the dust cloud, seemingly annoyed but calmer than before at least. "... Did you find anything?" "Well, I can confirm what you thought earlier at least. They also seem to be telepaths as well, given that I couldn't read their minds at all." "Figures... Of course we would get stuck with the paranoid demon invasion." Rain said unenthusiastically. "And we don't even know what kind or who they serve."

Lae simply stood there and crossed his arms. "Now what?" he asked unenthusiastically. He looked back down at the reflection and back to Rain.

[Quantum Rain]

"They're cautious. Even after we pretended to split up in such a manner, and when I was alone, they only tracked me, if that. I couldn't even sense them. Furthermore, most of our team is still missing..." Rain started, thinking aloud. "We don't know who they are, who they serve, or how many there are, and we especially don't know where the entire city's population went. We are at an immensely large disadvantage." "They also seem to be decent mystics as well." "Indeed..." He turns to Lae. "But they seem more interested in him than us." He said, studying Lae for a moment.

[Wynn]

"They're cautious. Even after we pretended to split up in such a manner, and when I was alone, they only tracked me, if that. I couldn't even sense them. Furthermore, most of our team is still missing..." Rain started, thinking aloud. "We don't know who they are, who they serve, or how many there are, and we especially don't know where the entire city's population went. We are at an immensely large disadvantage." "They also seem to be decent mystics as well." "Indeed..." He turns to Lae. "But they seem more interested in him than us." He said, studying Lae for a moment.

Lae groaned. "Seriously, would you all kindly back the [censored] off me?" he asked somewhat rhetorically, somewhat twoard him. He began to pace. "Why am i such a [censored] target to everyone?"

Xaldius: Having some mental troubles, are we?
Lae: [censored] off.

[Quantum Rain]

"But as for why..." Rain trailed off, unsure of the answer to that it would seem. He turned back to Lara, his thoughts revealing no new revelation or idea to use. "These demons have all the cards it seems." He stated, sighing his frustration. "We can't do anything now though." Rain finally admitted after several minutes of silence. "Not without back-up, a clear head, and when we can finally get him sorted out." He says, tilting his head in Lae's direction.

[Wynn]

"But as for why..." Rain trailed off, unsure of the answer to that it would seem. He turned back to Lara, his thoughts revealing no new revelation or idea to use. "These demons have all the cards it seems." He stated, sighing his frustration. "We can't do anything now though." Rain finally admitted after several minutes of silence. "Not without back-up, a clear head, and when we can finally get him sorted out." He says, tilting his head in Lae's direction.

Lae walked twoards the door, and peeked around it. He quietly sprinted down the hall ahead of them, hoping to beat the imminent [censored] to the exit. "Taking too long, damn it..." He grumbled.

[Quantum Rain]

"We need to find a ride out of here." Rain stated simply, walking past Lae as if he didn't go far at all. He was soon followed by Lara, who just smiled at Lae as they passed. "Coming with us, Lae?" She asked politely, despite knowing that ultimately, he had no choice in the matter.

[Wynn]

"We need to find a ride out of here." Rain stated simply, walking past Lae as if he didn't go far at all. He was soon followed by Lara, who just smiled at Lae as they passed. "Coming with us, Lae?" She asked politely, despite knowing that ultimately, he had no choice in the matter.

Lae nodded at her. "On two conditions. One: no stopping unless necessary until we have said ride. Two: No talking till were clear of this place, no offense, but i dont wanna be recaptured. Three," He points at Rain. "He doesnt talk to me period."

[Quantum Rain]

"Four, go [censored] yourself." Rain said simply, as the second door that blocked their path was blasted away and he kept walking. He looked to either side once outside of the building. Then he went left, towards the star ports. Lara just smiled at Lae and kept walking, keeping back enough to stay next to him.

[Wynn]

"Four, go [censored] yourself." Rain said simply, as the second door that blocked their path was blasted away and he kept walking. He looked to either side once outside of the building. Then he went left, towards the star ports. Lara just smiled at Lae and kept walking, keeping back enough to stay next to him.

Lae followed them closely and looked down at the reflection once in a while.

Xaldius: Aren't you worried this is a trap?

Lae: Im counting on it. Maybe then, youll shut the [censored] up... permanently.

Xaldius: Those are some harsh words, coming from someone whose "not like me."

Lae: Shut up.

Xaldius: Face it. You wish to see me die as much as you want to see him die.

Lae's next response would become verbal instead of mental. He cried out, "SHUT UP!" He was glaring at his reflection with his fists clenched. To them he would just look like a madman.

[Quantum Rain]

Rain and Lara stopped, looking at Lae. One with a concerned look, understanding partially what he was really doing. The other seemingly apathetic, more like an annoyed look asking 'Why are you wasting time?' almost. Rain sighed and turned back around, continuing forward. "Are you okay, Lae?" Lara asked, her voice somewhat softer than before. "Come on, we need to keep moving."

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