Chapter Two

[Quantum Rain]

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As the forum auto-splits topics every 50 pages, the next topics will be named further chapters accordingly. This is chapter two, guys, KEEP IT UP!

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Reeds just kept on whistling as guards and crew cleared out of his path. Eventually, he stopped at a door, the label addressing it as 'Science Lab 2A.' He smiled as he opened the door and Lae saw that the science lab was not small by any means. It was massive, in fact, taking up at least five rooms and two floors entirely on its own. It also seemed to host a massive range of equipment, some of which were entirely foreign to him. With all of the technology, equipment, and stores here, one could only wonder what Reeds' intention was with this lab.

He rolled the cart up next to two others and then proceeded to rummage around for a datapad. "Sit down, my fine lab rat." He said friendly still as he finally found his desired object, turning it own and turning toward Lae, a mischievous grin on his face.

[Quantum Rain]

The brother looked at Lae, confused, then did so, only to see the one object that explained it all to him. A broken arrow lay there, taunting him. He looked back up in surprise, only to see that Lae had...

The kid was playing stealthy again, the demon thought. He followed him silently, phased out again. He was still curious as ever. The kid shouldn't be this reckless... or so he thought.

[Wynn]

The brother looked at Lae, confused, then did so, only to see the one object that explained it all to him. A broken arrow lay there, taunting him. He looked back up in surprise, only to see that Lae had...

The kid was playing stealthy again, the demon thought. He followed him silently, phased out again. He was still curious as ever. The kid shouldn't be this reckless... or so he thought.

Lae had walked away from the church and went across the city. As he walked, a storm began to brew thunder crashing with lightning flashes and gusty winds threw loose papers and leaves around. He went to the top of the skyscraper he had gone to before when he first jumped over the wall a short week earlier. He stood leaned up against a railing as the downpour began, and the lightning flashed more frequently. He seemed entirely oblivious to the torrential storm that was drenching him. He just looked down at the city below.

[Quantum Rain]

The demon stood there, leaning against a metallic pole for irony's sake more than likely. He didn't care if he got electrocuted, odds are he wouldn't. Still, watching the kid was proving more and more interesting. Why is he still standing there, overlooking the city? Is he hunting? No, there is no prey. Is he crying? That would be convenient. Humans are so overly complex...

[Wynn]

The demon stood there, leaning against a metallic pole for irony's sake more than likely. He didn't care if he got electrocuted, odds are he wouldn't. Still, watching the kid was proving more and more interesting. Why is he still standing there, overlooking the city? Is he hunting? No, there is no prey. Is he crying? That would be convenient. Humans are so overly complex...

Lae sat there for a moment, then moved his head slightly, then turned around. The wind blew the hood off his head now that he was facing the wind as a bright flash of lightning illuminated their faces. He saw the man and sighed. "I'm not doing this [censored] today." He turned around and just looked up at the sky. "If you're here for a fight, then [censored] off."

[Quantum Rain]

"Only if you start one." The demon said in reply, unsurprised at the kid's sudden awareness. "Though I would like it more if you left, for both of our sakes." He was lightly smiling. So the kid was getting better. That was a good sign at least.

[Wynn]

"Only if you start one." The demon said in reply, unsurprised at the kid's sudden awareness. "Though I would like it more if you left, for both of our sakes." He was lightly smiling. So the kid was getting better. That was a good sign at least.

"Im not welcome here, am I?" Lae retorted. "Throwing me out?" He seemed slightly annoyed. He still didn't bother to turn around. "A guy cant come to apologize for a major [censored] up?"

[Quantum Rain]

"Then don't make a major [censored] up again, especially not on my account." He said sardonically. He was actually somewhat tired of this human's morality and depressing attitude. It was definitely impeding on his progress, not to mention annoying and confusing in its own right. Just who does this kid think he is exactly?

[Wynn]

"Then don't make a major [censored] up again, especially not on my account." He said sardonically. He was actually somewhat tired of this human's morality and depressing attitude. It was definitely impeding on his progress, not to mention annoying and confusing in its own right. Just who does this kid think he is exactly?

He turned, and had a rather irritated expression on his face. Closed his eyes and shook his head. "Whatever..." He turned back around, climbed up on the railing, and stood crouched on it for a moment. He saluted him like a soldier would, but with only one of his fingers extended. "Thanks for your warm hospitality, [censored]." He opened the cloak, and the wind caught it. He was pushed backwards off the building, and he glided backwards over the city streets and over the city wall. He skidded into the mud on the outside of the city, and began walking away, down the same path he had used to escape the first time, ironically.

[Quantum Rain]

The demon watched from the edges, returning the salute in equal manner before Lae jumped off beforehand. "Hope you come back smarter, kiddo..." He said with a sly smile. How he hopefully anticipated that day's arrival... it is only a matter of time, for sure. "... and a little stronger." He finished, the lightning flashing once more, and him disappearing with it's blinding light.

He wandered through the shadow, arriving at his destination moments later. He keeled before the familiar face of his master, as was the custom. "I have good news, my lord." The other being smiled, his eyes glowing red as he looked to see the new arrival. "Indeed you do." The commander smiled again, thinking of how to say his report, though the truth was, this human was different. Smart, brave, arrogant, cocky but humble, compassionate, weak, but agile. He had to respect the kid's progress, from being unable to see him to knowing he was there. He was still impeded, though, by himself... humans are so complex.

[Wynn]

The demon watched from the edges, returning the salute in equal manner before Lae jumped off beforehand. "Hope you come back smarter, kiddo..." He said with a sly smile. How he hopefully anticipated that day's arrival... it is only a matter of time, for sure. "... and a little stronger." He finished, the lightning flashing once more, and him disappearing with it's blinding light.

He wandered through the shadow, arriving at his destination moments later. He keeled before the familiar face of his master, as was the custom. "I have good news, my lord." The other being smiled, his eyes glowing red as he looked to see the new arrival. "Indeed you do." The commander smiled again, thinking of how to say his report, though the truth was, this human was different. Smart, brave, arrogant, cocky but humble, compassionate, weak, but agile. He had to respect the kid's progress, from being unable to see him to knowing he was there. He was still impeded, though, by himself... humans are so complex.

Lae walked through the woods for a while, still waiting until he was sure no one was following him.

Xaldius: Quite a showy exit... life has no business being this theatrical.
Lae: I'd say I agree with you, but you're an [censored].

He walked a little further, and turned on an earpiece. "This is Lae, ready for a pickup." He said plainly.

[Quantum Rain]

--Three days later, Ultra Vires, IS HQ #3--

Rain was silently mulling through more datapads of information. Basic reports, troop deployments, various unimportant information. Though what did interest him was the report mobilization across all of the factions. Alliances were already being called on, secret meetings commenced, various intelligence and counter-intelligence missions initiated. To say the least, it was getting wilder. Then he came across the latest mission to be done. The investigation of Anima Prime was being turned over to him finally. He was also being assigned Regnum to close the case. Interesting... He stood up from his table in the mess hall and walked calmly toward his office. He might as well brief the remaining members of Dominae on this turn of events...

[Wynn]

Lae walked into Rain's office and closed the door. "You wanted to see me?" He seemed a little less broken up over the funeral from a few days ago, but Rain would still sense a shadow of uneasiness over the fact.

[Quantum Rain]

Lara was already in the room, smiling at Lae briefly before turning to Rain, whom just finished reading the final datapad of the day. "Yes, we have a new case on our hands." He didn't take notice of Lae's uneasiness. To him, the matter was concluded, all he had to focus on was the goal. Rain pressed a button on his computer, calling forth a hologram of the galaxy, zooming in on Anima Prime. "We have it on good authority that the demons responsible for the Anima Prime incident are still on the planet, after all of these months."

"Furthermore, we have managed to find a way on the planet, past the shadow cloud. We have developed a new frigate type for these situations as well, to which this will be its first test run. We will land here, at the abandoned military base just north of the first afflicted city. From there, we will reactivate the base and, hopefully, know more when we land there. We were given an entire battalion, two of the frigates, and Regnum squad to accomplish this goal. Any questions?"

[Wynn]

Lara was already in the room, smiling at Lae briefly before turning to Rain, whom just finished reading the final datapad of the day. "Yes, we have a new case on our hands." He didn't take notice of Lae's uneasiness. To him, the matter was concluded, all he had to focus on was the goal. Rain pressed a button on his computer, calling forth a hologram of the galaxy, zooming in on Anima Prime. "We have it on good authority that the demons responsible for the Anima Prime incident are still on the planet, after all of these months."

"Furthermore, we have managed to find a way on the planet, past the shadow cloud. We have developed a new frigate type for these situations as well, to which this will be its first test run. We will land here, at the abandoned military base just north of the first afflicted city. From there, we will reactivate the base. Hopefully, we will know more when we land there, but we were given an entire battalion, two of the frigates, and Regnum squad to accomplish this goal. Any questions?"

Lae grinned. "Just one:" He stated. "Why am I the guinea pig to ride this new craft on its first test run?"

[Quantum Rain]

Rain just shook his head and pressed another key on the desk, changing the hologram to a loosely detailed schematic of the new frigate. "The Audacious class support frigate is a new design, yes, but I have confidence Reeds wouldn't try to kill us in its first test run. Plus, it is the only ship we have that has been capable of bypassing the cloud so far, so we don't have much of a choice."

"Why are we being sent now, of all times?" Lara asked, curiously and skeptical of the situation. "I can honestly say that I don't know. Anima Prime should have been a top priority, being a major military installation, but between mobilization, espionage, and various other political crisis, I would wager that the bureaucracy and High Command had to shift their priorities. Not that bright if you ask me." The hologram fades away. "But we're just soldiers, after all."

[Wynn]

Rain just shook his head and pressed another key on the desk, changing the hologram to a loosely detailed schematic of the new frigate. "The Audacious class support frigate is a new design, yes, but I have confidence Reeds wouldn't try to kill us in its first test run. Plus, it is the only ship we have that has been capable of bypassing the cloud so far, so we don't have much of a choice."

"Why are we being sent now, of all times?" Lara asked, curiously and skeptical of the situation. "I can honestly say that I don't know. Anima Prime should have been a top priority, being a major military installation, but between mobilization, espionage, and various other political crisis, I would wager that the bureaucracy and High Command had to shift their priorities. Not that bright if you ask me." The hologram fades away. "But we're just soldiers, after all."

Lae listened to what they were saying and thought for a moment. "I want to be the first on the ground... at least twenty minutes ahead of the rest." He stated. This would probably be a bit of a surprise to them.

[Quantum Rain]

"I planned on sending you first, actually. Given the demons' interest in you, if you can draw them out, it would make our life easier. You will be hard dropped in, followed closely by a small squad after you clear the area. Then we'll get the main part of our force into the base once we're certain that it is cleared. Hopefully, the demons left some of the former equipment for our use." Rain followed up on Daniel's request. "Though ultimately, we just want to avoid problems with our landing."

[Wynn]

"I planned on sending you first, actually. Given the demons' interest in you, if you can draw them out, it would make our life easier. You will be hard dropped in, followed closely by a small squad after you clear the area. Then we'll get the main part of our force into the base once we're certain that it is cleared. Hopefully, the demons left some of the former equipment for our use." Rain followed up on Daniel's request. "Though ultimately, we just want to avoid problems with our landing."

"Ill take out what i can before you land." Lae said in response. "Or at least give them as much crap as I can before you arrive. Keep them off your LZ. Wait for a signal, though. I want to make sure we're not going to get the [censored] shout of us before we even land."

[Quantum Rain]

"Once you give the all clear, Regnum will hard drop in and see to securing the base for our arrival. Once that happens, I want you scouring the nearby city scape. Avoid contact with any enemies." Rain stated, emphasizing that last statement. "Otherwise, you all have your orders. We leave in one hour. Dismissed." Rain waited for the duo to leave, before grabbing his equipment and walking out of the door himself. This is dangerous and odd. We should be given more if we want to secure the planet from these demons... did they not read my report, or do they know something we don't...? He thought as he was headed towards his quarters for the rest of his weaponry.

[Wynn]

"Once you give the all clear, Regnum will hard drop in and see to securing the base for our arrival. Once that happens, I want you scouring the nearby city scape. Avoid contact with any enemies." Rain stated, emphasizing that last statement. "Otherwise, you all have your orders. We leave in one hour. Dismissed." Rain waited for the duo to leave, before grabbing his equipment and walking out of the door himself. This is dangerous and odd. We should be given more if we want to secure the planet from these demons... did they not read my report, or do they know something we don't...? He thought as he was headed towards his quarters for the rest of his weaponry.

Lae would make a trip down to Reeds' lab and knock on the door. "Reeds, I dont suppose I could ask you a favor?" He asked through the door.

[Quantum Rain]

Lae would see Reeds attempting to hold off a group of rats that were currently swarming him. "I'm in the middle of some viral testing at the moment... and being eaten to death, but mostly testing." He said, throwing one rat after another into their respective cages, slowly but surely. "What do you need?" He said after several minutes of trying to get the rats off of him.

---

Lara walked into Rain's quarters a half hour later, after getting ready for the mission. Rain was currently strapping his boots on, though such was a moot point really, due to his armor. "Do you need something, Lara?" He asked, looking up at her sudden arrival. She thought a moment before asking what was on her mind. "I... noticed that you still don't like Lae very much..." "... Yeah, what of it?" "Why don't you?"

Rain sighed, and then thought himself before speaking. "He is an arrogant, rebellious kid with a host of psychological problems." He moved to the next boot. "On top of that, he is far too independent for him to be a reliable part of the team yet. When it comes that the rest of Dominae is recovered, I predict more issues from him will arise, and that is not something I relish in." He stood up, putting on his belt and fastening it. "I don't trust him. Every part of him is odd in some way..." "... You've really given this some thought. But what about his compassion and occasional humility?" "What of them? If he weren't arrogant, he wouldn't have killed a civilian. If he weren't rebellious, he would be far better than he is now." "But that isn't who he is." "Then he's in the wrong army." Rain moved towards the door, only to be stopped by Lara's last words. "Maybe if you weren't so alike him, you would appreciate him better." "... Doubtful."

[Wynn]

Lae would see Reeds attempting to hold off a group of rats that were currently swarming him. "I'm in the middle of some viral testing at the moment... and being eaten to death, but mostly testing." He said, throwing one rat after another into their respective cages, slowly but surely. "What do you need?" He said after several minutes of trying to get the rats off of him.

---

Lara walked into Rain's quarters a half hour later, after getting ready for the mission. Rain was currently strapping his boots on, though such was a moot point really, due to his armor. "Do you need something, Lara?" He asked, looking up at her sudden arrival. She thought a moment before asking what was on her mind. "I... noticed that you still don't like Lae very much..." "... Yeah, what of it?" "Why don't you?"

Rain sighed, and then thought himself before speaking. "He is an arrogant, rebellious kid with a host of psychological problems." He moved to the next boot. "On top of that, he is far too independent for him to be a reliable part of the team yet. When it comes that the rest of Dominae is recovered, I predict more issues from him will arise, and that is not something I relish in." He stood up, putting on his belt and fastening it. "I don't trust him. Every part of him is odd in some way..." "... You've really given this some thought. But what about his compassion and occasional humility?" "What of them? If he weren't arrogant, he wouldn't have killed a civilian. If he weren't rebellious, he would be far better than he is now." "But that isn't who he is." "Then he's in the wrong army." Rain moved towards the door, only to be stopped by Lara's last words. "Maybe if you weren't so alike him, you would appreciate him better." "... Doubtful."

Lae kept his distance, not wanting to be infected. "I was wondering..." He stopped and squinted at all the rats. "...do you need some help?" He shook his head. "Anyway, i just needed some kind of cloaking device to hide my energy and life force, I dont want to be detected by demons on this new mission im going on."

[Quantum Rain]

"Hiding from a demon? That's quite a daunting task..." Reeds thought, he finally managed to get the last rat off of him, though his lab coat was thoroughly ripped and torn. "Well..." He started, pushing the broken glasses back into their original place. "I could hide you from the lower class demons, but as for the major ones, I can't do much to help you there." He stated, still thinking of how he could effectively do it within a short time frame.

[Wynn]

"Hiding from a demon? That's quite a daunting task..." Reeds thought, he finally managed to get the last rat off of him, though his lab coat was thoroughly ripped and torn. "Well..." He started, pushing the broken glasses back into their original place. "I could hide you from the lower class demons, but as for the major ones, I can't do much to help you there." He stated, still thinking of how he could effectively do it within a short time frame.

Lae just sat there for a moment. "I just need something that will block their ability to sense me without raising a red flag." He crossed his arms. "Besides, I don't recall you being someone to back down from a technological or scientific challenge." He continued.

[Quantum Rain]

"Are you playing to my sense of pride? Because if you are, you're one hundred percent correct!" He said, calling a datapad from its resting position. "However, under the time constraints, I really cannot give you better than cloaking from a lower class demon at close range. The further you are, the better shape you will be in." He explained, apparently already having an idea of what the device will come out to be. "Come back in an hour, I should have something for you, and if you see any rats on your way out, they're probably mine."

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