CHAPTER 6: INTO THE FOREST, AN OLD ENEMY, FUTURE TIES.

The walk was treacherous the snow made it hard to move, the bitter cold would most likely freeze anyone who wasn’t prepared. I kept going, I knew the king wouldn’t follow this far in a blizzard…unless he’s the one causing it.

The wind howled as the day went by, soon I found a forest and walked in. Trees that had long since lost their leaves and the smell of rot on some.

The smell reminded me of the things back at one of the cities, filled with the smell of the one thing that showed the cruelty of the elders…The Lost.

Nothing but husks of long dead humans, mutated to such a degree that made all of them unrecognizable to anyone.
I shivered, not of the cold…but of the memory of nearly dying in a swarm…took me 3 weeks to recover from necrophobia (Fear of the dead, ‘The Lost’.).

An Ambush went downhill countless Lost surrounded us, the Howls still fresh in my mind, the sound of gunfire and so much screaming from those around me.

*SNAP*, *SWISHHHHHHHHH*

A loud snap and the sound of fast movement put me on alert, raising the pistol I looked in the direction of the noise.

“Who’s there?” I got no response.

I moved slowly towards the spot I heard it from and found a trail that looked familiar.

‘Viper.’

‘You’ve seem to know how to track them.’

‘And you’re correct.’

‘Gonna hunt her down?’

‘I’ll do what I must.’

I saw blood.

1: ‘It has an animal.’

2:‘Injured possibly.’

I walked towards the source slowly keeping my weapon ready, soon I reached a cave blood continued into its dark passage.
With a breath I entered using my other senses to keep alert of the threat here.

*crumble.*

A few rocks fall and I turn to the source pointing the gun where I heard the sound.
The wind was blowing into the cave making it colder.

As I kept going I started to hear a noise…it sounded like panting, the noise got louder as I got deeper into the cave. Then in a split second the thing in question showed itself. A viper with a plasma rifle in its hands pointed at me.

It seemed like it was ready to fight not backing down from me.

I only stared at her with the plasma pistol aimed at her.

But as quickly as it came it fell, the weapon dropped to the ground.

There was a loud thud as the large reptilian hit the ground.
Deciding to make it easier to see I lit up the area with a bit of psionic energy, it gave a dull purple glow just enough to see better in the total darkness. I gave a glance to the Viper and I saw its form.

The big muscles of the creature made it a formidable and agile foe, not to mention the long tongue and poisonous spit it has along with a weapon.

But that was different to this one since it’s close to death.

Blood covered its entire body making it hard to see the normal yellow coloring of its skin, scratches were here and there, a very large cut across the chest was the source of the blood. I looked at its face and saw its red eyes staring at me.
I looked back into its eyes and saw something odd…at first it was anger…then sadness, all the way to plea filled. Using telepathy I could hear its thoughts.

‘P-please…’

That gave me chills, not the fear…but the emotional chills.

At first my gaze was hard and focused…but now I feel…sad…Why?

Why was I upset by this….this thing killed my kind like animals…yet here one lies asking for my help.

My mind started to go back and forth on what to do.

On one side I help it and possibly gain an alliance of sorts.

On the other I kill it and stop its misery and…well…fuck.

My pistol was aimed at its head the look it gave me was hard for me to not think for a moment.
Again using telepathy I heard its plea…

‘N-o…I-I don’t want…to…die.’

I griped the gun harder my mind swimming in a struggle. I looked at her eyes and once again it gave me chills…

A single tear rolled down her eye…

It was then something in me stopped my struggle. My gaze turned to something its side something that could’ve been a god send for me earlier.

A Nano medkit.

I gave a breath of air and I looked into The Vipers mind searching for any deceit in its thoughts…instead I saw an all too familiar sight. Her kind was brainwashed into serving the Elders like cattle to a slaughter house, a normal society that wanted nothing more than to live out their days…just like us.

That was the last thing I needed.

I lowered the pistol, the Viper just stared at me. I reach for the medkit, as I was doing so it tried to move away.

‘Do you want to bleed out?’

After I ‘talked’ in her head I got no response so I just grabbed the medkit and activated it.

The Viper looked at the device quizzically (I would imagine by appearance.)

I looked at the wound…it was bad…REALLY bad.

A sigh left me as I pondered.

‘Look.’ The Vipers attention went to me.

‘If I help you; you have to do what I say ok?’

I got a nod in return, I aim the medkit to the large cut on its chest.

‘This is going to hurt.’ I didn’t give less of a warning as I parted the torn flesh and sprayed the foam inside the cut…then to the outer part.

The Viper hissed in pain during the process. After the wound was sealed I put the medkit to my side and looked at the Viper.

‘Don’t try anything.’ I gave a warning as I left to get some wood.

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My arms were full of sticks and rocks. I got back to the cave to notice the Viper was curled up trying to stay warm,

‘To be honest I feel bad for i-her…’

‘I know what you’re thinking...’

‘Really now?’

‘Yes…you’re wondering why I’m being nice to i-HER!’

“Dammit”

The Viper looked at me with a hint of confusion at my sudden cussing.

I set the rocks down and got to work on the fire.

‘Before you ask why, I understand what situation she’s in, the only difference is, I’m trained to think on my own.’

‘I’m lost.’

‘She doesn’t know what to do…she has no training…no knowledge of what to do independently on her own…’
I look to the Viper who was still shivering.

‘She’s scared…and she doesn’t know why.’

‘Let me guess this relates to me and my brothers and sisters.’

‘Pretty much, you basically force her into fighting, relying on the Psionic Network to keep her alive…but as far as I can tell That Shit Ain’t Here.’

I could feel the elder ponder for a while but didn’t speak.

I grabbed my pistol and shot the wood pile setting it on fire…and the moment I did the Viper rushed to it.
Now that the cave was lit better I saw the Viper’s armor was badly damaged. The creature in question looked to me with eyes of thankfulness and it made me smile.

That smile didn’t last long.

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3 years ago
Operation status: COMPROMISED
Location: New Jersey, China town.

I ran for the hills in a matter of speaking but I kept running for safety.

“~SH~SHADOW 1 Do you read.”

Static ran in my ear.

I ran to the tallest building and radioed in.
“Central this is Shadow Actual responding.”

“Good.” A Sigh of relief came with the word.

“Where are you Captain?”

I look around. “Not exactly a good place but I seem to be in china town.”

“Were sending evac.”

“WHAT HAPPENED!” a voice came through…and one I dreaded to hear.

“Can’t speak right-*RAWR* NOW NORA!!”

I opened fire on The Lost swarm approaching. I fought for hours on end almost ran out of ammo but thankfully the ship came and dropped the rope, running to the rope I grabbed it with the intention of not letting go.

Tears ran down my eyes.

‘I’m Sorry Pearl.’

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Once on the Avenger I was sent to the medical ward.

2 minutes latter Nora, the one on that yelled.

She looked me in the eyes…and she cried.

Her sister…DAMMIT.

I only cried with her, as I got up from the bed and hugged her.

“I-I’m SO SORRY.”

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A hand snapped me out of my trance.

I shake my head and see that the viper was looking at me with concern.

‘I’m fine.’

‘You don’t look fine.’

The Viper stared into my eyes and she must’ve saw a tear since she wiped it. I smacked her hand away from my face.

‘Why are you being so compassionate?’

My question seemed to confuse her for a moment.

‘We’ll you…saved me…and I just thought you could use some comfort since you were crying.’

‘I don’t need comfort.’

I walk past her.

‘I need time.’

The night was starting to fall and the snow was starting to pick up. I stood at the entrance and watched the snow the wind started to pick up as well.

After a few minutes I went back into the cave. The Viper was curled up by the fire seeming to be at rest.

‘Time to rest…hopefully she doesn’t try anything while I’m sleeping.’

I pick a spot to lay down by the fire, the warmth relaxing my body. But the issue was I had no soft spot for me to sleep, so falling asleep would be difficult.

‘Going to be a looong night.’

I move around trying to get a comfortable spot.

After a few minutes I fell asleep…well half asleep.

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An hour pass and I’m still having a trouble staying asleep. Then as I was about to get up I feel movement around my body.
The feeling of pure muscle made me alert.

It was all too familiar…however it wasn’t a death grip. I open my eyes to see that the Viper was wrapped around me, I was elevated off the ground in a…more comfortable position.

‘What are doing?’

‘Making you comfy.’ Her tone was innocent…which made me even more confused.

‘…Why…Aren’t we enemies?’

‘Yes...No?’

I sigh.

‘Since were in this position...What’s your name?’

‘I…I’m…I don’t know.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yes…I don’t remember.’

I thought for a moment.

‘Well we can figure out when we get some rest.’

I found that she was pretty comfy…oddly.

‘Thanks…by the way.’

I only got a light hiss.

‘So…warm.’

I merely chuckled at her.

This Viper reminds me of Pearl, kind, considerate, and a big cuddler.

It was her that taught me to look for the best in everyone, like the skirmishers. At first I didn’t trust them but Pearl made everyone think otherwise.

She welcomed them with open arms and with big smiles. But when she KIA…everyone felt pain and loss everyone felt the sadness…And I could never forgive myself for what happened she could’ve survived if I had gotten there faster.

‘No-no…she wouldn’t want me to blame myself.'

‘You Humans are so emotional…this Viper is an enemy yet you try to relate.’

‘Shut it…you don’t have emotions you have endless hunger for power, for control.’

‘You truly believe that we don’t feel loss…we do, we lost one of our chosen…our children killed by your kind….by…you.’ The Elder in my head started to get agitated.

‘Like You didn’t kill someone’s child, or siblings or parents, SO I Don’t Want to Hear ANYTHING from you.’

With that there was silence and then I fell to a deep sleep.

Author's Note

Sorry this took a long time life has a funny way of throwing shit at ya. Hope you all enjoy.