The Hands of Science (Lukas)

[GEAR]

OE 102
January 5th; 11:08PM
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Dimensional Energy Institute HQ

​

"Freeze frame. Enlarge, please."

The image of a tendril of greenish light lancing down from the sky filled the massive viewscreen situated at the very heart of the Dimensional Energy Institute's Jeddah campus. All around it, scientists and administrative staff hurried back and forth in a storm, carrying documents, data drives, sheet upon sheet of statistics - as they tried to understand what was going on. The scene was the same everywhere in the world, but here, they were almost at ground zero, as hundreds of thousands of similar bolts had struck all over the continent, peeling off from the unearthly blast that had just turned a massive chunk of the Middle East into a swirling vortex of raw dimensional energy.

Cameras located outside the institute already showed the extent of the damage that had occurred only hours earlier, the distortions caused by the event only now starting to stabilize as reality groggily reasserted itself.

That, the man regarded, was the real secret of Dimensional Power that people often forgot: Reality was elastic - It could only be bent so far, and for so long, before it snapped back. Tremendous amounts of power were needed to keep it wrenched into whatever shape its wielder desired... And even with the force that had just struck the planet, wiping out millions of lives and thousands of miles in an instant, it had taken scarcely any time for the initial effects to recede.

Such observations occupied the forefront of his mind around the clock, as he made it his business to see that they were recorded...

But... He thought, it was the aftermath that was fascinating.

This man sat back in the command chair located at the center of the fracas, an island of calm in a sea of chaos, his hands folded neatly on his lap. His shoulder length blonde hair and feathered coat already made him stand out from the crowds surrounding him, but none stopped to chastise him for this seeming breach of personal attire. Seated beside him, a large black cat - a panther, by all appearances, watched the screen as well, its tail swishing carefully, back and forth. It tilted its head up slightly as the man's hand dropped down to scratch the back of its head, reassuringly.

His name was Bertram Kessler, Director of the Dimensional Energy Institute... and by association, one of the most powerful men in the world.

At length, he pushed a button on his armrest, bringing up the holographic face of his secretary. Without even breaking his gaze from the screen, he issued a simple instruction:

"Get me Doctor Couch and his team, please."

 

[Lukas]

Alarms blaring. Base under attack...? No. Schedule interrupt. Doesn't matter too much - wasn't close to sleep.

Ashley forced herself out of a bunk as the alarms went off, grabbing her equipment and suiting up. Whatever had woken her up was clearly important, so she shoved her lingering annoyance down for now until the issue was resolved. Her current resting area lacked a window, leaving her clueless as to exactly what was going on outside until she'd already started heading to the command centre. The horrific sight made her stop dead with an audible gasp as she entered the room.

Natural disaster. Unnatural disaster. Why was I called in for this?

Lacking guidance, she lurked at the back of the room for now until the remainder of her team arrived.

---

Who ever said tragedies couldn't be beautiful? Sure, thousands of lives were probably lost within the rift, but that didn't make it any less worthy of Dylan's appreciation. Well... that and a hint of jealousy. Whoever or whatever had done this had clearly outdone him, and that wouldn't stand. His brain went down that path for a bit before the insistent ping of a communicator forced him back into reality.

"The director? Yes, I'll be along soon." Dylan set off with a spring in his step, sending his own 'reminders' to Katri and Ashley.

---

"So many dead... " Katri turned off the screen she'd been watching the disaster unfold from, muttering to herself. Her instincts were screaming at her to fire up the MARV and take it into the storm to find survivors, she knew there wouldn't be much point until the storm receeded. Dylan's message wasn't helping matters either. Asking someone several years his senior to 'provide moral support' was at best rude, but she'd humour the mad doctor for now. Maybe it'd encourage him to put his research to use saving lives instead of making another ridiculous weapon.

The two met up near the entrance, Dylan giving a thumbs-up and waving her over.

"Captain, a pleasure to see you. You got my message I take it? The pilot's probably already inside knowing how punctual she loves to be." He kept on walking, leaving her to roll her eyes and follow behind him.

"Dylan, your reminder was at best unneccesary and frankly insulting. If the DEI wanted me to be here they-" Katri stopped talking once it became clear she was being ignored, and resolved to try and beat it into him later. Literally if need be.


"I have arrived, director! What unsolvable mystery necessitates my genius?" Dylan shoves the doors to the control centre open with an unnerving degree of cheerful arrogance, beckoning Ashley to follow like a man might order around a pet.

 

[GEAR]

The Director swiveled about in his chair to greet the group. His eyes moved from Ashley, with her terrified expression of awe, to Katri, whose eyes were currently burning a pair of holes into the back of Dr. Couch's head, and finally to the good doctor himself. The two had a curious relationship - Kessler seemed to happy to keep the madman on a lengthy leash to do whatever he pleased, so long as he continued to produce outstanding work for the Institute, and he was a strong contender for the position of Head Researcher.

He rose with a slight groan, and waved the associated group forward.

"Doctor Couch." He said; "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

The panther stayed where it was, seemingly uninterested in the new arrivals, as it continued to watch the monitor. Bertram gestured to the monitor behind them, data being piled high on its corners even as they spoke, his features lit by the dim emergency lighting currently filling the base. The forms of multiple Cornix automated Mobile Weapons could be seen as well, scouring the fringes of the storm, their wings beating against the turbulent winds, as their camera eyes sized up the situation on the ground below.

"I take it you've been familiarizing yourself with the data as it was made available?" Said Bertram to Couch, placing his hands in his pockets as he did;

"What's your opinion on this... Phenomenon? I've never seen anything like it."

 

[Lukas]

Dylan took a deep breath and gestured impatiently to Ashley again as he approached the director. She rolled her eyes, keeping a safe distance from him and focusing on the panther more than the discussion occuring around her.

"Well... it's hard to say, really. The dimensional vortex is already breaking down but definitely hung around long enough to cause permanent change. It didn't just cause a temporary shift for long enough to affect something, it broke reality so hard that it won't just bounce back when the power runs out. Assuming it is powered of course. This could be a first strike, or just a natural disaster - like a gamma ray burst but through realities. But how would that even be caused... a big bang? Death of a black hole? Planet-sized DAMON? But that's just a theory unless we can obtain a solid point of origin." He went off on a temporary tangent, talking faster and faster as ideas forced themselves into his brain and out his mouth. Katri interrupted him with a loud cough, gripping his shoulder tightly and shaking him to break his train of thought.

"Buuuuuuuuuut I'm getting ahead of myself. No matter what it came from, the real question is what came through. Sure, it probably killed a bunch of people and altered geographic and seismic data for centuries to come - but just because it's simple to kill people and disintergrate things with dimensional energy doesn't mean it's the only thing it can do. A blast that big would have reshaped reality, and if my theory about the band of reality snapping is true then whatever is in there wouldn't be of this world. Perhaps even could BE another world."

 

[GEAR]

Director Bertram stood, folding his arms as he listened to Dr. Couch ramble on, nodding in agreement. This, he thought, was what he paid the man for. Some might have been aghast at his seeming complete lack of care for the millions now dead as a consequence of what had occurred - but Bertram was of the same mind, in that regard, his own thoughts fixated prominently on the cause of the event.

"Excellent observations as always, Doctor." He said as he turned back to the map. From his pocket he produced a pointer, and with it, he highlighted an area not far from the base, where the shape of several buildings was beginning to become visible from the cloud, reality reasserting itself at a rapid pace at the fringes.

"I'd like you and your team to head down and inspect the area indicated here, so we can get a better look at what's going on. If we can find a stable pathway towards the center of the mass, where we might find the cause of all this... then all the better."

He clicked the remote again, and a familiar design would have appeared - that of the MARV, one of Couch's various projects, albeit one that hadn't been expected to see use Earthside. Bertram turned back to them, a thoughtful look on his features.

"This vehicle..." He said, "Could it be modified to traverse the storm?"

 

[Lukas]

Dylan goes silent for a moment, running some numbers in his head. Katri took the chance to explain instead.

"The MARV can be vaccuum sealed - as long as the plating holds out, it shouldn't have a problem. Both Riots are also equipped for such enviroments. They'll be deployed if needed to combat any... extradimensonal threats." She nodded to Ashley, who practically snapped to attention when her machine is mentioned. Ashley finally opens her mouth afterwards as well, clutching a small bottle of pills close to her with one hand.

"Understood, Captain. I'll check the seals before we deploy." She turned to leave and paused, a thought coming into her head. "...Actually. Have you confirmed the copernici can survive the storm? If not, we could unload them for extra supplies or mech space."

"Good question, Alicia! May as well toss one in now to check, Director. Assuming nobody else had already thought of that. As for the plating, my MARV should stand up to anything that storm can throw at it - it was designed to ensure the Dimensional wave cannon stayed safely contained. Even if the air is toxic and gravity is upside-down, my machine will be sure to make it through without harm. The only failure point is the crew!" Dylan seemed happily oblivious of the two women now shooting him death glares. Or maybe he just didn't care.

 

[GEAR]

"Excellent."

The Director turned back to the screen, arms folded as he continued to soak up more information. Normally, he thought, he would had dispatched Eliza for such an errand, but the young woman hadn't been heard of since her earlier departure. The cargo she was overseeing was of vital importance - even this event could not distract him from consideration of its well being, and he had dispatched the Cornixes to find out what had happened.

"I'll leave it in your capable hands then, Doctor. Do your best..." - He folded his arms behind his back, his clean-cut features illuminated by the glow of the screen behind him, giving a wry smile.

"...For our cause, of course."

 

[Lukas]

"Of course! We'll be in and out before the Directory can get their pants on." Dylan gave a rather melodramatic bow before leaving, snapping his fingers under the assumption his subordinates would follow.

---

"All hardpoint connections confirmed. Seals are holding fine. All hands, please brace for deployment. Accelerating in Five... Four... Three..." Katri's voice came out of several speakers, quickly being drowned out as the engine roared to life. The MARV stormed out of the hangar, smashing through a small hill like it was nothing as it advanced into the storm. Lighting struck the machine and arced off, leaving nothing but minor burns on the paint.

The soft green glow of the reactor went out as the final sheet slid into place, the tank now entirely sealed from the outside air.

Message to Jeddah command

The MARV has deployed successfully and is en-route to storm. Internal Oxy supplies presumably good for full journey, but will switch to outside air if the breach is confirmed safe for humans.
-Katri

 

[GEAR]

The MARV surged forward into the storm. Overhead, the scant form of a handful of accompanying Cornixes were visible, keeping a low profile, the avian mobile weapons seeking to keep out and away of the bolts of emerald lightning that still intermittently slashed down into the earth around them, gouging glassy pockmarks across the sand. Its travel to the edge of the Dimensional Storm was otherwise uneventful, the transport's sturdy frame and rugged construction proving its worth against whatever was unfortunate enough to get in its way, be it debris, landmarks, buildings, or otherwise.

Following the directions given by Jeddah HQ, the MARV would have pulled through the Makkah Gate, north of the city as it trundled through the desert sands. At length, it would have come upon the very edge of the storm, only a handful of miles from HQ itself. It was as if a curtain of flickering, warping smoke had been hung across the sky, as far as the eye could see, dividing the world in front of them from that behind - bursts of the emerald lightning crackled across its surface as it whipped unnaturally in the air, the otherworldly power that strayed too close being pulled violently into the vortex, until it vanished out of sight.

Sure enough, one slim section of the cloud appeared... Comparably stable, having taken on a semitransparent composition. Above, the assembled Cornixes, already struggling to stay airborne in the storm, continued to circle, scouting the area, gathering data, searching for additional openings. The choice as to whether to proceed, or perhaps to seek another point of entry... Was in the hands of the Couch Team.

 

[Lukas]

"Captain, I'm getting some weird readings in the storm. Weren't Dimensional Energy Crystals something Dr.Couch and the rest could only make in a lab?" Ashley's voice came out of one of the many screens mounted in the MARV's central control chamber, giving Katri and Dylan something to focus on besides navigating the storm. The man himself nearly fell out of his chair upon hearing it, grinning maniacally and pulling up his own scans.

"Oh? Fascinating! While the presence of DEC makes sense in a storm of dimensional energy, it was not something we could have predicted. I'll send a report back to the Director about Alexis's discovery immediately." Dylan began to type frantically, preparing a detailed report for later.

"My name is Ashley. Use it." She spoke up again, sounding considerably more irritated.

"Yes, yes, that's what I said. Move us into that clear point of the storm, captain! Science can't wait and neither should we!" Katri rolled her eyes and pushed the MARV onwards, leaving a trail of destruction behind them its treads traced a path into the center of the cloud.

---

Message to Jeddah Command

Entering storm through opening at Dr.Couch's request. Ashley reported DEC on the MARV and Riot Beta's scanners, will attempt to retrieve a sample if possible. Further reports may be delayed, unsure of communication ability in storm.

-Katri.

 

[GEAR]

Acknowledged, MARV Team. Conditions inside the storm are unknown, and communication may not be possible. Go with God.
- Jeddah Command

The MARV trundled through the sand, and as it plowed through the wall between worlds, the semi-translucent barrier parted, and those within would have felt the unsettling, slightly hair-raising sensation of the reality about them giving a treacherous rattle... But, just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Such was the case with the experiments conducted by the Institute, and their overall effects on the wellness of human beings was... a subject of much interest and debate, to say the least. Still, nobody had managed to grow any extra limbs, tentacles, or become otherwise malformed...

Not yet, at least.

For a few moments, the space around the MARV shuddered... and then it pushed through, reality forcefully regaining its footing as the sights beyond reassembled themselves before the crew's very eyes, and the external cameras began to once again feed their precious data to Doctor Couch and his research team.

But... What awaited was another world entirely.

Where there should have been the familiar Arabian deserts of history, instead, overcast skies hung over a landscape that had been sharpened and polished, the dark light gleaming and glittering from almost every polished, warped surface. Mineral structures jutted out from the earth in great, sapphire blue clusters, the occasional crackle of unearthly energies flickering across their pristine forms. Tremendous, almost tree-like protrusions had burst out of the earth, clawing up at the sky, their obsidian branches full of alien, sprouting buds of delicately warped pellucidity, forming diamond canopies that refracted the bizarre light even further upon those below.

Dimensional Energy Crystal... More than had ever been seen in the entire history of man, stretching for mile upon mile upon mile without end... in a crystalline forest. Only hours earlier, an ounce of the material around them would have been enough to afford a man a comfortable life, were he willing to part with it, but now? It was omnipresent, the air even thick with its particulate, as the MARV's sensors would have immediately alerted its crew.

The group had emerged into a field of this material, the sound of it crackling and shattering under the wheels of the MARV filling the air as its instruments winked to life, telltales blinking in the dreary surroundings. Before them stretched out only the canopied "forest", and the winding paths within - yet it seemed, for the time being, large enough to accommodate the MARV's own form...

 

[Lukas]

"Oh... oh my. This is beyond even my predictions." Dylan's eyes practically popped out on stalks as he observed the crystal formations. "Send Amy out to grab a chunk while we push towards the center - the market might crash the moment the storm dies, but that shouldn't stop us from getting some first!"

"My name is Ash-" Ashley started to complain, but was swiftly muted before she could insult him. Katri sighed and started sealing off the mech bay.

"Ashley, deploy the Riot and try to cut off a sample that isn't load bearing to be placed in the bay. You'll be deployed until we move to breach the storm again, so keep your mech's cockpit sealed - we're assuming airborne DEC is toxic until proven otherwise. We don't know what to expect, but it seems likely there'll be DAMONs at some point." She kept the MARV moving forward even as the back bay was opened to allow the Riot access, typing out a single message on the off chance Jeddah could still be communicated with.

Entire environment appears to be made of pure DEC. Retrieving samples, but once storm ends DEC will no longer be a limited resource. Status of outside storm?
-Katri

---

The Riot B stepped out into the crystal wasteland, igniting one blade and looking at it for a moment. In a single smooth movement it sliced one of the spires in half and grabbed the falling crystal with the other hand. "DEC retrieved. I'll toss it in the back then try to grab one of those... plants?" Ashley trailed off as she looked up, her mind struggling to understand the environment around them.

 

[GEAR]

Ashley's Riot reached down to retrieve its chosen sample, the glowing proton blade cutting cleanly through the roots of the growth. The crystalline object came away cleanly, its interior almost hollow, save for a series of interwoven crystal veins, through which beads of light occasionally winked, like fiber-optic cables. As she did, however, there was a faint hissing coming in over the machine's speakers, like a gas leak. Craning the Riot's camera down would reveal steam flowing gently out of the bottom of the machine's foot - a kind of corrosive substance had leaked out of the "plant" as it was pulled free, and from its severed roots a kind of clear, oozing material now boiled away at the ground. Fortunately, it seemed to barely affect the Riot - but for an ordinary human being, it appeared, the effects would have been both immediate and dire.

No response was forthcoming from Jeddah command, only static greeting their comminuque. The dimensional barrier had effectively isolated them for the time being, and there was no telling for how long.

Their remaining instruments, however, were working overtime. The Dimensional Radar, for example, perked up, detecting several kilometers ahead a powerful energy reaction, distinct even in the heart of the storm's interference. More to the point, it was detecting several... Moving entities in the same direction, their signatures similar to what had been recorded prior at Munich: Dimensional Beasts.

These signatures were located directly north of them, through the canopy, heading towards the center of the mass.

To their left, the earth itself had been shorn, terminating into a series of uneven cliffs. It would be ill suited for the MARV, as the ravine seemed to widen and narrow randomly, but exploring them may still have been possible for the Riot.

To their right, the warped expanse spread out, bordering the forest. While nothing immediately came into view, or on the vehicle's instruments, the shimmering haze present masked whatever might have been lurking at the fringes - as well as anything that may have been worth an investigation.

The choice of how to proceed... Was theirs.

 

[Lukas]

"Eurgh. Crystal was hollow, there's some sort of acid down there. Make a note of it, I'm not sure I have any way to safely sample that." Ashley's voice echoed through the landscape, and she returned to the MARV and gingerly placed the crystal in one of the mech comparments. "Where to now, Captain?"

"Stay close for now. We've got several different options, and I need some time to co-" Katri starts to respond, but is almost immediately talked over by Dylan and eventually gives up.

"North! Group up with the MARV, and prepare for battle. I'm seeing four DAMONs and an energy reaction. Could be the core we're looking for, but even if it isn't we need to get there first! Oh, and we've lost contact with Jeddah. I'll try to fix it later, but for now we're probably alone until the storm resides or something makes us leave." The MARV's cannon lit up as Dylan jabbered away, warming up in preparation for the battle to come.

Damons. Four on one isn't bad odds with the riot. Blades do well even against the big ones, but might need an edge... Ashley's right hand tightened around a bottle of pills for a moment before relaxing. Too soon. Wait and see what types show up. Might not even need a dose. She put them back into a cup holder before responding over the radio.

"Understood. Riot Beta moving north to engage hostiles. Will I have you backing me up, Captain?"

"Yes. We'll open with a barrage and let you clean up." Katri's voice came through as the rest of the MARV's weapons activated. A pair of missile racks occupied the back hardpoints for this occupation, with two large Vulcan machine guns at the front. Not exactly the best anti-DAMON loadout, but the D-Cannon and Riot could more than cover for any holes.

 

[GEAR]

The MARV trundled northwards, at the behest of its crew, into the forest. As it traveled, the path wound and contracted, so much that it brushed the side of the tank, and the ground sloped and turned in unnatural ways. No other living thing emerged to menace them - entities on the scanner appeared at the fringes, and then just as quickly receded, with no sign of anything appearing on the cameras. Clearly, they were not alone, yet whatever else was sharing this warped space was hesitant to confront the newcomers and their armored behemoth as it ran roughshod everything in its path.

Eventually, several kilometers out as they began to near the epicenter of the impact, the dense crystal foliage parted before them, opening into a clearing...

Perhaps a more accurate description, however, may have been "crater".

The ground sloped sharply downwards, spiraling in an unusual shape, as if the earth itself had been gouged out by a massive drill. The roots of the "forest" were exposed, running together in thick bundles towards the center of impact point, where they met. The various cords curled up around something at the bottom of the crater, which pulsed with an eerie emerald glow, like the beating of a strange, crystalline heart. Each "beat" sent a wave of light into the roots curled up about its indeterminate form, which sent luminescent winks cascading through the roots at regular intervals. Perhaps this was the source of the strange foliage about them?

Of more immediate interest to the expedition was the presence of several DAMON, their gray forms... Surprisingly inert. They stood arranged about the object, facing it in steely silence uncharacteristic of their breed... as though transfixed by its glow. For the moment, they seemed to not even notice the approach of the MARV, though there was no telling quite how long this would last.

 

[Lukas]

Katri's Log - written in lieu of being able to send messages to DEI command.
This place is alive. It's like an entire ecosystem built around DEC. Dylan wants to send the Riot and 'Amy' out to retrieve samples from them, but the mission is our priority. Muted communication between them before things turn violent. Thankfully most of the wildlife seems scared of the rover, and we haven't been troubled yet.
-
Gray DAMONs spotted seemingly worshiping an object in a crater. Unsure if they're being empowered or guarding it. We will attempt to retrieve the artifact.

The MARV grinded to a halt upon entering the clearing, training its main gun on the closest DAMON. Katri's voice came through the Riot's comms once more.

"I think we've found what we're looking for. Ashley, move into the crater and get us a better look. Be prepared for combat, those DAMONs should have seen us by now." The Riot went into action with a nod of confirmation, keeping one blade active as it followed the roots to the center of the crater.

---

"Any theories, Doctor? I'm not quite sure what we're looking at, and any theories you have might be useful for a combat plan." Katri turned the transmitter off and sat back in the MARV's command chair, taking a moment to relax while they waited for things to go wrong. Dylan finally looked up from his notes, having been typing furiously for most of the journey.

"Well... it's obviously a power source. The real question is if it's powering the entire forest or just a node created to transmit that power. Either would be interesting, but without a better idea of what this new environment looks like I can't say for certain. Either way the DAMONs are attracted to it. I doubt their primitive brains are capable of worship, but perhaps they're feeding off it or guarding it? Perhaps both. Either way, I suspect they'll be less than pleased with our attempts to steal it. Not that they can stop us!"

 

[GEAR]

As the Riot descended, sure enough, the attraction of the DAMONs seem to finally turn as one to the interlopers. The nearest DAMON gave an unearthly, reverberating shriek that caused the air around it to tremble, before charging directly at the Ashley's machine, its head bowed low, like a massive battering ram. The remaining creatures began to close in as well, spreading out, beginning to circle their prey. From this close, she might have been able to determine an unusual detail - their features were different from the usual DAMONs previously encountered... They seemed slightly... Melted, corroded, almost, as if they had been standing still, simply content to waste away before the radiant green light.

And... To Dylan Couch, as the MARV closed in on the lip of the crater, the Psychodriver may have felt... A warning twinge, courtesy of his abnormal psychic connection - the sixth sense that all was not right. A kind of heat haze was present over the crater, an oppressive... "presence", for lack of better word, whose essence was perforating not only the immediate area, but had been lingering in the forest as well.

What in the world had the stars disgorged unto the Earth? Had it simply displaced the local dimension, and instead exhumed a chunk of this strange, alien habitat? No answers were forthcoming as the DAMON began to tighten the net...

 

[Lukas]

The Riot dived out of the way at the last moment, using its single blade to slice at the DAMON while it passed. Ashley popped a pill, her pupils dilating as the drug took effect.

DAMON mutated. Corroded. PossiblyEnhanced. CantbBeSureUntilTested... Notascientistleaveittothem. tailfirstthentakeflight-letMARVhandlerest. The Riot leapt over the DAMON, igniting both blades and trying to slice its tail off first.

---

"FIRE!" Katri called out as the DAMONs started to move, all three barrels of the D-Cannon launching out a burst of pure dimensional energy. Space warped around the turret momentarily as it cooled, encasing whatever it hits in a translucent crystal formation. It would begin to crack almost immediately, violently detonating in a rather spectacular green explosion soon puncutated by a barrage of missiles. The Vulcans were spinning up as this happened, firing a cautionary barrage at one of the other DAMONs to ward it off.

"All systems are still green, just some minor overheating... I think we can call the first combat use of the Dimensional wave cannon a success! Although we should speed up. Some thing is pressing down on me, and the MARV isn't equipped with the normal psychodriver measuring technology we use at the institute. Kill the DAMONs, retrieve what I'm going to call a core, and then I'll consider whether to analyze it and move on or withdraw." Dylan was still grinning like always, but there was a hint of concern in his voice for once.

"We'll consider, Dylan. Your research won't save you if a DAMON rips its way in here." Katri shot him a glare, swiftly returning to managing the onboard weapons.

DAMONs attacked upon approaching Dylan's Core. Engaging.

 

[GEAR]

The Riot's Proton Saber dug deep into the flank of the DAMON, severing the creature's leg at the thigh as it passed in an explosion of sparks. It smashed into the ground with an unearthly shriek before its entire form rippled - and collapsed into a small scale singularity, reality yanking it back through a tiny pinprick to... Wherever it was that they came from.

The group that remained were caught by surprise as the beam from the MARV flashed into existence, catching one of the creatures dead on as it pivoted sluggishly towards the source of the energy. It barely had time to flinch as an emerald wave flowed over it, transforming it into a living statue. For a moment, it simply stood - before disappearing in a fashion similar to the one before it, prison and all, across a miniature event horizon.

Three of the monsters remained, and they cowered as the missile attack from the MARV rained down around them, bellowing threateningly - but for now, refusing to advance.

That changed almost immediately as a wave of power pulsed out from the "core", as described by Dylan. Tendrils of multi-hued energy peeled off its obscured form, and the MARV's sensors would have detected a powerful dimensional energy reaction. In a moment, a trio of bolts of light lashed out into the surrounding DAMONs, illuminating their lizardlike forms. They writhed in clear agony - but so too, did they begin to change.

Grey armored protrusions began to lengthen and sharpen. From their backs, a pair of long, cruel tendrils burst from between the shoulder blades to lash forward, threateningly. Biomechanical musculature pulsed and bulged, vaguely formed feet extending into curved talons. Their webbed mouths curled back as armor plates burst from their features, revealing twin rows of keen, predatory needle-like fangs.

The light began to fade... And what was left should have been impossible. The evolved DAMON that had only, until then, ever been reproduced in secret tests, unknown to the public were before them, steam rising off their bodies as they rose from their haunches, forms glistening with raw power as the glow from the "core" faded,

Code name: Bull DAMON.

 

[Lukas]

"They evolved? Fascinating. I've always wondered how a Bulldamon would manifest in a natural environment.. if this counts as natural anyway. No normal species evolves by being struck by lightning." Dylan starts scribbling notes with one hand, using the other to switch between cameras and imprint the situation on his mind.

"You knew they could do that?" Katri actually turned to stare at him for a moment, but quickly returned to managing the MARV. "Nothing close to this is in any of the records." This drew a laugh from Dylan.

"Of course not! You think the DEI would publish that they've summoned and created a new species of DAMON? The directory would have mechs kicking down our doors faster than you can say 'Endangering the public'. Not to mention the fact they'd want copies of it all. We should be fine - Aino's seen them in action before on security duty, she can fight one just fine."

---

Jeddah labs - Some time in the past.

"All systems are fine with increased output... commencing summoning in ten."

"Readings are stronger than normal but within tolerance. Security be advised, it may attempt to breach." Ashley was filtering out everything else she heard, but that last part was worth noting. Control stick in one hand, pill in the other.

"Five... Four... Three..." Space began to distort inside the glass 'cage', the minature dimension shock taking form. At the count of 'one' the DAMON tore its way into reality, glaring at the crowd of scientists and trio of mechs surrounding it. But this wasn't just a normal damon. This was... bigger. Deadlier. The bulldamon slammed its horns into the glasses inches from Ashley's Gespenst, leaving a noticable crack. She jerked back and the machine followed, both sets of stakes igniting as she popped a pill on reflex.

"Possible breach on my side. Igniting plasma stakes fordispo-" Ashley did her best to speak slowly, but the drug was already speeding her up. She was cut off halfway by the intercom, Dylan's voice loud and clear.

"Denied! Let's see what this new type can do." He still seemed chipper as the bulldamon slammed itself against the glass again and again, each hit getting the cracks larger. It fell back right before the glass broke, whipping it's tail around as the remaining two axios stepped into position behind Ashley. With one last swing the Damon's tail tore off with an audible ripping sound, smashing right through the weakened glass and apparently growing a mouth mid-flight. It bit right into the head of the left Axio, the machine flailing around blindly in a panic until it exploded and took the mech with it. The right axio opened fire on the damon, buring it in machinegun fire that almost seemed to be bouncing off. It charged out of the cage, imapling the Axio's chest and causing lightning to arc between the machine and the various pieces of observation equipment.

"Engaging!" TooriskyPeoplewillDieDylancangosuckaboxofcocks The stakes on the Gespenst's arm shone brightly as they were extended, almost immedaitely being slammed into the damon by Ashley. They stopped about an inch from the damon's head, power crackling against the barrier before it finally shattered and allowed the fist through into its skull. The second set of stakes soon followed, pinning its chest to the ground and allowing the injured axio to put several dozen more rounds into it until it stopped moving.

DEI report on first 'Bulldamon' summoning:

Casualties: Two scientists hospitalised from broken glass. One member of security staff dead, one hospitalised with third-degree burns. Two Axios rendered inoperable. DAMON containment cage destroyed, recommend stronger mesh in the glass next time. Gespenst undamaged.

Test result from Dr.Couch: Fantastic Success. More summonings recommended.
Recommendation from HR:Remove Dylan from command role due to flagrant disgregard for safety. If security staff had been permitted to intervene earlier lives could have been saved.


---

Ashley snapped herself out of the memory as soon as it arrived, refocusing herself on the Damo-Bull Damons surrounding them and formulating something that might theoretically count as a battleplan. Barrier. ExplodingRegrowabletail.Electrichorns.DangerousHitthemfirst.Hardestshottobreakbarrier-DPS. The Riot's hands were slammed together and connected, a longsword of pure energy splitting the air in front of her. She leapt into the air, bringing the saber down as hard as possible on the furthest BullDamon.

The MARV set off with a lurch, headed towards the two other bulldamons and building up speed. The D-Cannon was still recharging, but both vulcans and the missiles kept up their barrage of supressing fire. It was accelerating in an almost completely straight line towards them, as if daring one of the bulldamons to try and charge it right back.