#5 Transaction – Corpus Machina

[UrJounal.exe /run]

[Executing…]

[Notification: Signed audio file detected in main memory – Signature decrypted: ‘Data Log: Scouting Unit B-349Y’ Please select from the following:]

[X] [Playback
[ ] [Delete]


[UrJounal: Initiating data playback]
[UrJournal: ‘Data Log: Scouting Unit B-349Y’ /run]


[Log #1]

“Is this thing even on? There’s no indicator…dammit, why does Atlas app support have to be so fuc[DATA EXPUNGED]


[Log #2]

“…Finally. Okay. This is Log #2 of Scouting Unit B-349Y, currently dispatched on reconnaissance operation Delta-5 by order of the Atlesian Defensive Intelligence Computer. The date is [DATA EXPUNGED] and I have…a number of things to report. Firstly, that the immediate environment surrounding the Facility is not strictly accurate to what is depicted in the Central Computer Database. It seems that the database is…outdated. To put it mildly. The statistics in the database indicate rainfall of within normal pH levels, whereas the rainfall I have observed seems to be heavily caustic in nature. The pH levels I’ve tested indicate nothing greater than 2; the rain seems to be contaminated with hydrofluoric acid and has an unusually high dustpeter content…anti-oxidising sheetoil coating would be my best recommendation for any units dispatched beyond the confines of the facility.

Secondly…the flora of the environment, while consistent with that stated in the database is…wrong. Ah, for fuck’s sake…*sigh*…as a scouting unit specified for multi-purpose scientific fieldwork, this is nothing if not humiliating to say, but…it doesn’t make any sense. The trees, grass, all the fungi and plant-life…they shouldn’t be able to survive in this caustic environment. But they have. I thought the damn things might have been constructs…they’re not. There’s no indication from what I’ve been able to analyse them with that they have changed at all since the previous database update…which is also strange, since there should have been growth, if nothing else. It’s like they’re…suspended, somehow. This is a minimum priority case study that will have to wait until primary objectives have been met, but I’ll be damned if I don’t get to the bottom of this somehow.

I have established a base of operations at the attached co-ordinates. The hill provides a passable vantage point for surveying the immediate landscape…and, as indicated by the database records, the facility site does indeed seem to be distanced from human civilisation. It may be some time before I make human contact…assuming that I ever do. Submitting all of the above to the A-DIC database. End Log.”


[Log #3]

“Okay…lots to report today. The date is [DATA EXPUNGED] and I’ve made quite the discovery. To summarise, this is largely a case study on Grimm behaviour. Upon reaching the attached co-ordinates at 0900 hours yesterday, I came upon a pack of ursi. Five of the specimens were adult males and one was an infant female. The adult behaviour is typical of a post-Eridu, non-Abomination Grimm…they are entirely dormant. The infant female, however, is not. It’s behaviour…doesn’t match anything on record, not even alluded to in all semi-expunged files. It’s not dormant, it’s entirely active, but…it’s non-aggressive. On the contrary. It’s…doting. Not just to its own kind, but even to me. If I had to make an assessment at this stage, it’s almost as if…no, no. It’s just not professional to make that kind of assumption at this stage. The infant Grimm is entirely mobile and seems capable of following me throughout the mission…whether I want it to or not. Barring any orders from HQ to dispatch it, I intend to allow it to accompany me for observation purposes. Naturally, I have taken the precaution of ingesting anti-Corruption nanomachines, as is standard for all scouting units. Please advise further if necessary. Submitting all of the above to the A-DIC database. End Log.”


[Log #4]

*rustling sounds*

“Um…the date is-”

{YAY, YAY!}

*rustling sounds*

“Keep still! Good grief…Um, yes. The report…following on from the previous Log, as I’m sure you can hear-“

{Yay, yay! Bertha love Bertha!}

“-the female specimen, I have, er, affectionately named ‘Bertha’, has begun to demonstrate further unconventional behaviour-“

{This Bertha soft! That Bertha hard! Bertha love Bertha!}

“…while it is not unusual for Grimm to demonstrate near-human intelligence in Abomination cases, this particular instance…is capable of human speech. Having apparently developed it after a mere five days of travelling with me…”

{Bertha want upsies! Bertha want upsies!}

“-Furthermore…alright, alright, just…come here…good girl. Again, from piecing together existing records, I believe it is possible that cases of Abomination-class Grimm having developed human speech were originally documented…but likely expunged. But for one to have developed it in such a short space of time, and one with such disposition…it seems unprecedented. I am updating the specimen to a high-priority asset, and I am requesting a further investigation into the remaining pack. My reasoning…it is possible that I may never encounter a living human. In such an event…I would propose that this particular specimen…and possibly the others…be studied and assessed for human nurturing protocols. It may be the closest thing we have left. I eagerly await confirmation from HQ for further instruction-“

{Bertha love Bertha! Bertha love Mummy!}

“…er…Submitting all of the above to the A-DIC database. End Log.”


[Error: Logs #5 through #8 cannot be found. Proceeding to next extant Log.]

[Notification: The following Logs have not been registered in the A-DIC database. Transferring to database…transfer complete.]


[Log #9]

“Haaa…Okay…okay…everything is going to be…just fine…”

{Mummy, Bertha scared!}

“It’s okay sweety, it’ll be okay…The date is…I’m not sure, actually. Calendar app failed. Useless thing…not that it matters. My comm-link with HQ has been damaged and I’m in no condition to send a signal regardless…so I’m not sure who I’m even talking to. Myself, I suppose? Heheh…So…if anyone else is listening…hello. The anomaly has been tracking us for some time now…I’m trying not to scare Bertha, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it. On the more positive side…I successfully finished constructing the program. It…could save everything. In theory. I tried running it on myself, but…I simply don’t have the capacity to run it correctly…in the end, I was only able to put a crude backup of myself as the supporting AI. I’ve embedded the code and installer into my nanomachines…but the anti-Corruption will likely keep it suppressed…I suspect some sort of Corruption is the only thing that will get it to run correctly…pretty big design problem. If nothing else, I must get back to HQ and deliver all the findings and especially the program…and Bertha. End Lo-”

*Distant rumbling*

“…Oh no…”

{MUMMY!}

*Guttural roar*

*loud rustling*

*static*


[Log #10]

*static*

{…haaa…haaa…}

*fumbling noises*

{…To whoever finds this…this is, I fear…the last will and testament of Scouting Unit B-349Y. I may have made…a slight lapse in judgement. We managed to escape our pursuer, finally making it back to base camp…it shouldn’t be able to follow us here…but I sustained critical damage…could barely move…and Bertha was on the brink of death. I made a rather snap decision, I’m afraid, and I’m not sure if my consciousness will function much longer…never did figure out those stupid trees…managed to get the ursi to move a bit though…It should be rather obvious, I’m sure. I…rejected my anti-Corruption nanomachines. Hehe…I’m sure A-DIC would have me court-martialled and decommissioned if he found out…fucking asshole. But…I won’t apologize for my actions. It was the right thing to do. I’m sure A-DIC would drag up all the old Corruption cases, curse me and call me a hypocrite. But I’m not wrong. The program should work now, given a suitable user. And it’s possible that Bertha isn’t all there is left. It’s possible. But even if she isn’t, she’s still the one hope I’m willing to gamble on. Sorry. So for whoever finds this final Log, as a last request from me…please take care of her for me. She’s a good girl…she’s just easily scared now…BERTHA WILL SAVE MUMMY FROM BULLIES!...shh, be a good girl now…she just needs a someone to look after her now...and so, I leave everything to you. Sorry to be such a burden…this is Scouting Unit B-349Y…End Final Log…farewell…I’m sorry, Bertha…MUMMY DON’T GO! PLEASE DON’T GO! BERTHA WILL BE A GOOD GIRL SO PLEASE DON’T GO!...don’t leave me…I’m sorry…mummy…}

*Incoherent sobbing*

…

*static*

[End of final Log]



<NickelQuest: #5 Transaction – Corpus Machina>


Sunlight…

Your eyes creak open in tandem with the breaking of the clouds, and the rays of heaven shine down upon the silent world…

Only…it’s not that silent…

{Come on! You can do it!}

{…too tired…bugger off…}

{That’s no way to behave! You’ve got to stay positive!}

{…what’s the point?...whazza point of anyfink…zzz…}

{…Haa…I guess he kind of has a point…}

In the break between the voices, you hear some strange whirring noise…it’s not entirely unfamiliar…

{…Bertha’s journal…The date is…I don’t know how to read this thing…Never mind! It’s a bright sunny day and everything is wonderful! Bertha isn’t sad at all! Not even being shot by bullies can ruin Bertha’s day! Hahahaha! Ha…ha…}

The overly enthusiastic voice dies seems to deflate, now only sighing in despondency. It’s definitely that gynoid that bit you…you glance over at your arm…

Yep. That wasn’t a dream…your arm is…what’s even wrong with it? It doesn’t look like it’s been turned into a Grimm arm, exactly…it’s just turned black with tasteless markings placed on it…and the panel is still there…’Grimm Summoning Program: Welcome, Nickel! Press anywhere to continue.’

What the hell is that thing? You’re not sure you even want to know…

You glance around. The ursi are still dormant, and Shizune is still nowhere to be found.

But lying here isn’t going to get you anywhere. No one seems to have noticed that you’re awake yet…

[ ] Try to sneak up on the gynoid and restrain it.
[ ] See if you can sneak away and find Shizune
[X] Quietly try to get a signal out to A-DIC or Shizune (specify)
[ ] …Maybe the Grimm Summoning thing can help you somehow?
[ ] Other

>Ask for Shizune's coordinates
>Inform A-DIC of the arm

>Calm yourself
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3F7J2PeYU [Embed]


You quietly try to activate your comm-link and attempt to patch through on Shizune’s signal, making sure your comms are set to internal only…

*static*

“Shizune!” you hiss as quietly as you dare. “Please come in! Are you there? Do you copy?”

The static breaks up…

“…Who are you?”

What?

“It’s me, remember? Your escort unit? P-3371? Did you hit your head?”

“I have no such recollection of an escort. You must be mistaking me for someone else. Goodbye.”

The static resumes. What the hell, Shizune?!

You try again…

“Shizune! Sir! Sarge! Seargent-Major Shikinami! Shii-cha-“

“I told you, don’t call me Shii-chan! For fuck’s sake, Unit…”

…Is she fucking playing with you? At a time like this?

“…What’s the big deal? Why were you acting like you didn’t know me?!”

“…Because, Unit, I had to make sure you hadn’t succumbed to the Corruption. I’m still not sure that you haven’t, Corrupted units have been known to retain almost all their original memories and part of their personalities intact…”

You hear a shifting noise ahead of you. You glance around…phew. The gynoid is just tinkering with…something…?

“…Well gee, Shizune, I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve known you for all of a few hours and for almost the whole time you’ve done nothing but insult me, order me around, play hard-to-get and then apparently abandon me the instant I get attacked. So excuse me if I don’t know how to convince you that I’m perfectly fine, apart from the fact that I’m pissed that you ran off on me!”

…That might have been a little louder than you intended. Fortunately, the gynoid’s tinkering drowned it out…

“…I’m sorry…”

You sigh.

“…Look. I fucked up and took a hit. But I need your help right now. So please just send me your co-ordinates and patch me directly to A-DIC, okay? There’s something I need to ask him. Please, sir?”

“…Permission granted, unit. I just sent the co-ordinates through your comm-link network. Patching you through to A-DIC now…”

You glance at Shizune’s co-ordinates…they don’t look to far from here…

You sigh, trying to calm yourself. You run through your playlist and put something on internal speakers to keep yourself at ease:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3F7J2PeYU [Embed]

<You’re through to A-DIC. Copy, Unit.>

“Sir, P-3371 reporting. Our party encountered an…unusual obstacle. I may have been infected with something. My arm has been…warped.”

<…>

There follows a series of whirrs and hisses down the line…

“Sir? Do you copy, sir?”

<…Yes, Unit, I copy you. Pardon the momentary delay…I had to ensure that the line was secure. Depending on the ‘infection’ in question, it could have spread down the line.>

“…I’m sorry sir. I didn’t realise.”

<…It was lapse in judgement on my part. I didn’t take proper precautions to confirm that you were fully updated on Corruption and corresponding protocols. Well…the damage is done now. What is the status of the target? And the ‘obstacle’, as you called it…is it still active?>

…

[X] Tell A-DIC that they’re one and the same, and that it’s still active
[ ] Tell A-DIC that the obstacle is dealt with, and that you are approaching the target
[ ] Tell A-DIC that you are uncertain about either
[ ] Other


“Sir…the obstacle and the target…are the same entity. I’m sorry, sir.”

Silence follows down the faint crackling line…

A-DIC sighs. Why does a computer even need to sigh?

<…I was afraid as much. I suspected that B-349Y had grown too attached to her…pet project. Though if her reports are to be trusted, it may yet be worth our while to retrieve her unmolested, if possible. What is her current location? And how is your functionality? Has the infection impaired your abilities?>

“…Right in front of me, sir. She isn’t aware that I’m awake yet. And…”

You give yourself a quick full-system assessment…databanks intact…armour is functional…your legs are okay…only your bitten arm is indicating ambiguous data…but you can move it just fine.

“…I believe I am functional within reasonable parameters, sir.”

<I see…that is very good news. So she left you unrestrained and undamaged after the initial assault…how peculiar. This could prove advantageous. Even though she is Corrupted, she may yet be docile enough to retrieve…Your orders…remain unchanged, P-3371. Retrieve B-349Y by any means necessary…fully functional, preferably. Also, I am sending you essential Corruption and Abomination details. Be sure to read them well…when you have the opportunity. That is all. A-DIC out.>

You hear a series a pips and beeps…your protocols and references have been updated…and then the radio goes silent...

The gynoid is still tinkering with...whatever it is.

You could probably subdue her whilst she’s unawares…but remembering her rapid movement from before…maybe you should’ve invested more in your dexterity…ah well.

[X] Sneak up on the gynoid and subdue her
[X] Request support from Shizune
[ ] …Attempt to talk to the gynoid. As erratic as her behaviour was…it’s possible she could be reasoned with…
[ ] Other

[X] Sneak up on the gynoid while informing shizune that youre going to do just that


You don’t want to take the chance…there’s no telling what she’ll do if you draw her attention to you. Best to take her down quietly…

Over the noisy tinkering, you can just about hear her…singing?

{…Today’s the day the teddy-bears have their picnic! Yeah!}

You draw yourself up to your feet, slowly…you can see some kind of wire fibre lying near the bench she seems to be working at…you reach down and take it…

As a final precaution, you silently call in to Shizune, whilst carefully removing and prepping your shotgun…lucky that it’s still there…

“Shizune, sir? Do you read me?”

“Copy that, unit. Talk ta me. A-DIC filled me in…I take it ya going to try and take it down?”

“Yes. I have the jump on her. If I don’t radio back within one minute…well, it’s your call…”

“Got it…be really careful, Unit. I don’t think you realise how dangerous those things can be…I know I panicked before…but it wasn’t without reason. Good luck.”

“Thanks…sir.”

You creep up on the gynoid…and, with one swift movement, loop the wire fibre around her arms and legs, and, kicking her in the back of the knees, force her to the ground!

{OWEEE?!}, she cries out, startled.

…you hold her down with one hand, whilst carefully keeping your shotgun pressed against her back.

“Don’t move. Unit B-349Y, I’m here to retrieve you. You will accompany me back to A-DIC for debriefing. Do you understand?”

Her head…twists all the way around, a full 180 degrees…and looks at you. She’s pouting.

{...Oh, it’s the bully. You’re with the big green guy?...I was supposed to go see him…it was really important. But I need to look after these little guys. Can they come too?}

{Fuck orf…I ain’t movin’}

Great. She’s not completely unreasonable, but the ursi are…why the hell do you have to worry about those things anyway…And…actually…you can hear them?!

You turn to the ursa that just spoke.

“Hey! How come I can understand you? How come you can speak?”

{…fuggin doll-humans…why can YOU speak, eh?...not an emotion among you worth ‘avin, I swear…}

…

This isn’t getting you anywhere.

[ ] Interrogate B-349Y
[ ] Disregard B-349Y’s request, attempt to take her back by force
[X] Try to convince B-349Y to come with you
[ ] Try to convince the ursi to cooperate
[ ] Other

("See, the little guys don't want to come.")


Well, the ursi clearly don’t want to move…there’s probably not much point in trying to convince them.

You hold out your arm to the one who spoke to you, emphasising for the gynoid.

“See? The little guys don’t want to come. Why don’t we just take you back for debriefing, then you can come back and take care of them again. How about it?”

She remains pouting, slightly…but her expression softens a bit.

{…You’re not so bad, for a bully. And you’re not wrong…they never want to move…}

She sighs. There’s something slightly off about her behaviour…her tone…but maybe you shouldn’t be surprised about something like that from a Corrupted unit.

“…Then you’ll come along quietly?”

{…Use your arm. They won’t have to move, and they can still come along. Everyone wins.}

…What? Your arm?

You briefly glance at the weird display…she wants you to use it? How? And even if you did…is it even a good idea?

“What do you mean, ‘use my arm’? You gave me this thing, I don’t even know what it does!”

She gives you a withering look. It ticks you off.

{…It’s a Grimm Summoning Program, it says it right there. Just access it and you can store them as data. It’s not rocket science, you know. It’s grimm science.}

…that sounds both implausible and really suspicious…should you actually do it?

[ ] …Try and run the program
[ ] Refuse, try to convince her another way (specify?)
[ ] Refuse, try to take her by force
[X] Call in to A-DIC/Shizune and ask them about it (specify)
[ ] Other

>[ ] Call in to Shizune and ask her about it


You really don’t want to run suspicious Corrupted software…you haven’t even had a chance to check your updated protocols on it yet. You’d best call in to Shizune and ask her about it…and also to give her an update on the situation.

“Shizune, come in. Do you copy?”

[…I’m right here, dumbass.]

The unimpressed voice comes from your left hand side. You look down.

“When did you get here?”

[You said ‘if I don’t radio back in one minute…’, right? Well, I’m here. And you’re doing just fucking fine, so why didn’t you radio in?]

“…Whoops.”

[Whoops?]

{Whoops!}

[Shut up! No one asked you!]

{…you’re no fun.}

[…Just keep that thing away from me, Unit, it freaks me the fuck out. Now what did you want?]

You shift your afflicted left arm slightly, not enough to allow the gynoid to move, but just enough to show Shizune the affected area.

“Any ideas of what this is? She says I should use it to take in the ursi.”

Shizune flinches in shock, and actually falls back over, backing away from it .

[Fucking hell, Unit! Don’t just show that thing to me without warning!]

Right…you forgot that she’s terrified of Corruption. Whoops…

“Sorry, sir. But seriously, I need to know what it is. She says it’s a Grimm Summoning Program.”

Even as you say the words, a look of utter incredulity come across her face.

She turns to the gynoid.

[…You made this?! How?!]

{I didn’t make it. Mummy did.}

[Who the fuck is ‘Mummy’?!]

{Me….the previous me, anyway.}

[You…fuck it. I need to report this in. Keep her in place.]

“Sir, yes sir!”

After a moment of heated whispers over the radio, Shizune turns back to you.

[…We need to get that thing analysed ASAP. In the meantime, we need to get her back to base.]

{I’m not going without them!} says the gynoid, stubbornly.

[Oh yeah? I beg to differ. Unit.]

“Sir?”

[…Try using it on her.]

{EH?!}

“…Are you sure, sir? Is it even safe-“

[I’ve analysed it. It does exactly what it says on the tin…er, panel. You should be able to use, no problem!]

Shizune is grinning fiercely. You haven’t seen her with that expression since you first came across her…the gynoid by comparison looks a little uneasy.

What should you do?

[ ] Obey orders, use the DSP on the gynoid.
[X] …Ask her if it’s okay first?
[ ] Use it on the ursi and the gynoid
[ ] Refuse, suggest alternative (write-in)
[ ] Other


She looks rather uncomfortable about it…Maybe it hurts?

You look her in the eye. She looks back, somewhat timidly.

“I’m sorry. Is it okay if I do this?”

Shizune scoffs at you.

[Don’t ask it, Unit, it’s fucking Corrupted! It probably doesn’t even know what it wants!]

{…You are the worst kind of Barbie doll and I don’t like you.}

[Get fucked.]

You look at the gynoid sincerely.

{…Promise me we’ll come back for them.}

You look to Shizune. She throws up her arms in the air and turns, washing her hands of the matter.

“…I promise.”

{Okay then…}

You glance down at the panel. Any key to enter?

You tap the screen. It shimmers slightly, sending out ripples as though it were liquid…

You hear a voice inside your head…

“Hello. Thank you for activating the Grimm Summoning Program. Please place your summoning hand on the Grimm to be incorporated.”

A friendly-looking and informative animation consisting of stick-people and stick-Grimm begins to play on the panel.

“-Once placed, please confirm the incorporation on the panel to complete the transaction. You can then summon your Grimm at any time! Have a nice day. And thank you for using the Grimm Summoning Program!”

Some tasteless jingle fanfare plays as the animation concludes. Why.

[Wow. That was a really inane tutorial.]

{Don’t badmouth Mummy!}

Well…there’s nothing else for it…

You reach out with your left hand towards the gynoid…she braces for impact…the panel begins to flash as you close in…and…

A horrific roar cries out across the wasteland!

[…What the fuck was that?!]

{…Oh no…No, no, no, NO!}

The gynoid panics. What the hell is going on?

It came from the other side of the hill…you move to the top, and look down.

The hill appears to end in a cliff, with a steep drop falling almost 50 feet down…

But that’s not what worries you.

{…Ah…the Residuals…I have found them…I have found the Sanctuary! Gahaha! We will feast well tonight!}

…It’s a Grimm…you think. Not one of any kind you’ve seen before…like some kind of giant alligator…and it’s actually climbing up the side of the cliff. Fuck.

What the hell should you do?

[X] Grab the gynoid and Shizune and run
[ ] Try and use the GSP on the gynoid, grab Shizune and run…maybe use it on the ursi too…
[ ] Get orders from Shizune
[ ] …Fight the bastard (plan of action?)
[ ] Other


Shit…you don’t want to fight that thing. You need to get out of here as soon as possible.

You turn as fast as you can, make a grab for the gynoid, lifting her clear of the ground and carrying her in a fireman’s lift, and then pick up Shizune and stuff her back in your top, between your breasts.

[MNNN!]

“Sorry sir, safest place for you!”, you manage and you dash away from the cliff-face.

You make a beeline back towards the facility…but then you remember...

Shit! There’s a massive hole in the roof! It’s not going to be safe to go back there…

You begin to turn a different way. Maybe there’s something you can find in the woods...it might not be able to move so easily in there, it seems too big to fit between the trees…

{GRAH! You cannot escape, Residuals!}, you hear the roar…and the crashing of trees falling to the ground. Shit.

Shizune pops her head out of your top.

[What the fuck are you doing, Unit?!], she yells right in your face.

“Getting us out of here!”

[Get us back to the damn base, dumbass!]

“The one with the huge fucking hole in it, you mean?!”

[Yeah, the one with the HUGE FUCKING ANTI-GRIMM ARTILLARY SYSTEM!]

“…What? We have that?”

[Yes, you dolt! Don’t you even read your parameters.]

“…I don’t think that was mentioned…”

You make a swift turn and bear down towards the base…you hope you can make it…

The crashing off the trees is getting closer…it’s slowly gaining on you…if only you’d put more emphasis on your dexterity and energy output…

But then…

There!

The facility is directly ahead of you! And you can see the gigantic cannon. You can make it…

The crashing is right behind you…

{No more running, Residual doll. Your carcass is ours for the feed…}

Fucking hell…just a little more…

[Grimm detected. Activating main cannon.], chimes a nice-sounding lady’s voice, from the cannon ahead of you.

You feel a swiping motion narrowly miss you from behind…

{Pah! ‘Tis the sport…no matter…}

Wait…hang on…Grimm detected…? of course it’s being detected, there’s one right there…but…

You feel an extra sense of dread. As if you didn’t have enough already.

[Firing main cannon], says the nice cannon lady.

…

[ ] Make for the hole in the roof. It’s your best shot of dodging the grimm
[ ] Make for the main door
[ ] …Stop and hit the ground
[X] Turn and hit the grimm with the GSP
[ ] Other


FUCK IT

You turn on the spot and prep the GSP

[WHAT ARE YOU FUCKING DOING?!]

“My job, sir.”, you respond, coolly.

The gargantuan Grimm ploughs into your arm…

“ERROR: Grimm detection failure. Please try again!”

…your hand is halted by an auric field…fuck.

Is what you'd ordinarily say…but the Grimm had a lot of momentum when it ran into you.

Between the gargantuan lizard and you…You weigh more. A lot more.

The auric field slides over your head, as the entire mass of the creature rolls over you like a fucking idiot.

You take 2 damage. Apparently you’re not totally invincible.

{What in tarnation!!!} roars the Grimm, as it passes between you and the cannon…

Which fires…

{GRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!}

The entire mass of the beast is bathed in an incandescent glow from the colossal laser…which fades to black…as it promptly disintegrates to its elementary particles.

[Primary target missed. Secondary target eliminated. Resuming targeting of primary target.]

Wait. What?

The cannon is pointing straight at you. You don’t have time to dodge.

[Firing main cannon]

Oh, son of a bi-

…

Nothing happens.

You look up.

[Anti-Grimm Artillery Cannon is now offline. Thank you for using the Atlesian Artillary-]

You feel a tiny presence on your shoulder. You turn.

Shizune lowers her arm, having apparently deactivated the cannon.

[Am I good or what, Unit? No need to shower me with praises or anything.]

“Shizune…Why was it about to shoot at us?”

{Er…sorry…}

You glance at the gynoid over your shoulder. She’s looking rather sheepish. Well, bear-like really.

You turn and glare at Shizune.

“It was going to fire at us first, wasn’t it?”

Shizune’s smug expression is frozen in place.

[…It’s possible.]

“No. It’s not ‘possible’, sir. That’s what was going to happen. Because I flipped that damn lizard over me, we survived!”

[You didn’t flip it, you stood there in a stupid pose whilst it rolled over you, you spazz!]

“I’m not the military expert with decades of experience! I don’t need to make the strategic decisions!”

[I’m sorry, I’m not perfect! It’s only armament protocols, not actual experience!]

“Then why are you in charge?!”

<Because I say so, Unit. Though, I have to admit, that was interesting improvisation…even if it was a complete fluke. I suggest you all come inside now…>

A-DIC’s gloomy face floats back inside the facility.

You glare at Shizune.

“We’re talking about this later.”

[…Whatever…]

You carry the two of them inside the facility...and prepare to face your debriefing…

-----

Elsewhere…

In the darkened hall, the crude flaming torches cast shadows about wildly.

A figure approaches the dark throne, her ashen skin and crimson eyes flashing in the torchlight.

{My Lord. The Sinensis has failed...but the Sanctuary has been found. Should we proceed?}

The glowering king upon his throne stirs for merely a moment, his giant claws lightly tapping cold stone.

{…No…The Sinensis has not failed, not yet. We will grant it one last chance. Rally the forces. If he fails…we march.}

{By your decree, My Lord.}

The Abominated woman leaves the cursed throne room. The beastly king’s wicked yellow eyes pierce the dark in thought.

{Sanctuary…after all this time…we will have what is rightly ours…}



</#5 Transaction: Corpus Machina – End>