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** CHAPTER 45** The Hive Part III

After thirteen years, the doubts were finally cleared out. The Special Ops vessel commanded by Titan had made a breathtaking finding after they finally managed to infiltrate the Hive's systems. Taking control of all the optical scanners, they manage to locate the sector of the Hive which held the Evocanis captive since the last attack to Canis Major.

Hundreds if not thousands of Evocanis appeared in the screen of R105's bridge. The image was not fully clear but it was obvious that they were Evos. They were being held in strange cells; very small. Some had barely enough space to lie down. Some were apparently awake, but looked extremely disoriented like in some sort of trance. Others were apparently dead, but a close inspection revealed that they were still breathing. The images were horrifying.

In R105's bridge, some of the Evos had gathered and had the opportunity to witness these images that they probably wouldn't be able to forget for the rest of their lives.

"It's not fair." Ace the Doberman whispered. Her eyes were full of tears and so were the eyes of everyone there.

But those were tears of pure anger.

"Are you sure that these images are coming from inside the Hive, Titan?" Silver demanded.

"Affirmative, Captain." He replied.

"Can't we do something?" Fx yelled.

No response was given.

"Captain, we have to do something!" The orange Evocanis insisted.

"Calm down, Fx; for the last time." Silver ordered. She sounded doubtful and never faced Fx.

"I'm sorry, but my brother is right. They have been suffering for so long now. Is there anyway that we can rescue them? You have an army in here, I'm sure it's possible!" Husky then added.

"They are right, Silver. They can't wait any longer." Bo then directed towards Silver.

"Can everyone calm down please? We will have to wait until we get full details on what's going on in there. I won't accept any more Evocanis losses. If we will do this, we will do it right!" She yelled.

"But you did it before! You saved us that day from the machines, and we were talking about Canis Major which although was smaller than what it is today, it was still infinitely larger than the hive!" Fx yelled again.

"Didn't you hear what I said? I won't let anyone die this time. If your brothers have survived for this long, they can wait until we plan a way of taking them out of that place in one piece."

"My parents are there, Silver!" Fx yelled once again. Now even more frustrated than before. No one, not even Husky had seen Fx this way. He had completely lost control.

Silver walked to Fx and grabbed him firmly from his shoulders.

"I know, Fx. But understand that even though R105 has a large army and defenses, it won't be enough for such a large rescue mission. The machines outnumber us at least tenfold for what we've seen so far. Not only that, but the Evos are being held way too deep inside the Hive. If the machines decide to kill everyone, we won't be able to reach them in time."

"I owe them. They sacrificed themselves so I could be alive today. It's my duty to fly there and bring them back." Fx said. His strength was almost depleted. He cried of pure rage and Silver could feel it.

"Don't ruin that effort, Fx. They did it so you could be happy. What if they didn't make it and you end up sacrificing yourself in vain? Think straight Fx!" Silver tried to convince Fx. She wasn't being hard anymore and just wanted to bring Fx back to his senses being as gentle and motherly as she could.

"You are hurting Husky, Fx." Silver continued. "Hasky and Husky are your family and they would give anything for you. They love you as their own and you know it."

"I know and I'm sorry, but they need to understand that it's my duty." Fx insisted, now completely broken.

"Brother, I know." Husky interrupted. He was almost broken due to the situation but he still held the capability to think responsibly. "But listen to Silver; we can't do much without planning first. More than anyone else, I wish that your parents were alive so we can become a family, but if we act by impulse, the result could be disastrous."

"Fx," Silver said as she now held Fx in her arms. "One of my warriors, Tech, knew Hasky that very day. She saw how Hasky had given everything she got to protect you. When her energies and strength quitted on her she had no option but to use her own body as a shield to protect you. If it wasn't for Tech's group stumbling upon Hasky by pure luck, she would've been killed by that monster."

Husky listened closely in shock. Hasky was always very reserved when asked about what happened that day, so this was the first time he was hearing this.

"Hasky later told Tech her story and how your mother had given you to her when there was no hope anymore. Since that moment, Hasky took you as if you were her own. Hasky was ready to give not only her life for you, but also sacrifice Husky's since he hadn't been born yet. I don't know you three that much, but I imagine how much you love each other and how beautiful the life has been between you three in these past thirteen years. Don't ruin that for Husky and Hasky, Fx. You are being something that is called selfish, and that's something that we furred creatures aren't."

Before Silver could continue, Titan sent in more information on the Hive; the situation was more critical than they imagined.

"Captain; it's Titan." Bo said, interrupting the moment between Silver and the two Evos.

Silver made Fx promise her that he would control himself, be patient for the sake of their safety and trust her. Fx did agree, though not too convincing.

Things were getting out of hand in the Special Ops Vessel. Somehow finding the lost Evos became such a relief, but deep within they hoped they never witnessed what they'd discovered.

Going through the surveillance scanners and cameras scattered around The Hive, Titan and his team made a horrendous discovery. In a large and dark room, many figures were scattered around the floor. Upon close examination, they realized they were Evos. The most horrific scene was revealed before their eyes when they started noticing how these bodies were lifeless, some half decomposed, others just bones with remains of flesh.

Hasky stepped back from the screen and fell short of air in a seat. Her strength had completely vanished after seeing that. K9 just stood in front of the screen with a defiant stare, burrowing his claws deep in his hand-paw pads as his fist closed further than it would naturally go, leaving tiny droplets of blood in a panel. It was now anger what invaded the peaceful Evocani's heart; anger like no one had witnessed before.

The most atrocious thing happened after, when they saw a group of machines carrying three bodies and just tossing the in the pile. The Retcan warriors could barely hold K9 and a now infuriated Hasky from losing control since they were also full of anger and also hatred towards those monsters.

"Wait!" Doko yelled between all the confusion. Some movement caught his attention as they were about to turn around and return to R105. After zooming in, he realized that the three bodies were still breathing, though with difficulties.

But what could they do at that moment? It was obvious that those three Evos would die in that place. They were so close; they couldn't leave them.

"I won't let you return, Titan!" K9 yelled furious. "They are our brothers! We are so close to them and we know where they are! I'm not leaving them!" The beige Evocanis yelled uncontrollably as he scuffled with Titan.

No words came out of Titan as he tried to keep K9 from hurting him. The normally fearsome eyes of the beige Retcan were now full of fear and confusion. No one could dare to say a word since that would mean taking a wrong decision. Either retreat for the sake of the rest, but live with the fact that those Evos died alone in that pile of cadavers, or risk themselves and worsen things. None seemed like a right choice.

"We can't leave them... I won't be responsible for their deaths, knowing that we have the capability of saving them." Titan said. No one really dared to contradict him although they knew they probably should.

"Shadow," Titan said as he turned to the veteran Retcan warrior. He didn't say anything else.

"We can make it happen." The dark brown Evo replied as he closed his helmet. "But don't waste more time!" He then said as his team followed him to the rear deck of the ship.

"Storm," Titan yelled through his communication device attached to his armor. "Get us to the Hive; now!"

"Affirmative, Commander. Hold on." He replied.

The ship made a powerful grunt as its engines were taken at full capacity. Turning the ship to face the Hive, a blue glare covered the entire ship.

There was nothing to advice. They knew this desperate move had more chances of ending with deadly consequences, but the instinct of saving their friends won over their logic.

Barely having time to brace for the impacts, the ship literally broke through the asteroid barrier with its strong hull. Most fell to the floor while trying to maintain control of what was happening in The Hive. To worsen things, Doko realized that this room was a massive decompressing chamber. Apparently they had it open and cleaned when it was full enough. The actions of a small working droid that were being followed inside the room by the hacked camera made Doko realize with horror that it was heading to some sort of control panel.

"That thing will open the chamber!" Doko realized after examining what the panel did, thanks to them having full control of the Hive's systems.

"How much time?" Titan yelled as the noise of the impacts echoed inside the cabin.

"I don't know, but I don't think we will make it!"

"Oh yes we will!" Titan yelled as he pushed Doko aside. He made connection with the machine that they had infiltrated not minutes ago and took control of it once again. The machine pulled off its docking bay and jumped down the wall. Titan was being guided by Doko who had a map of the place in another screen. He controlled the machine through the labyrinth of corridors until it reached what he supposed was the chamber full of bodies. Titan only wished that their actions wouldn't take any repercussions as he attacked and destroyed various machines that stood on his way. By now, it was obvious that the machines knew what was going on.

Barely making it before the worker droid opened the decompression chamber, the Retcan controlled machine made it, slaying the little droid with its blade-like arms.

"Close it, Doko!" Titan yelled again. The access to the chamber was still open to the Hive. As the huge gate closed, they had a glance at a large group of those assassin machines heading towards the chamber. Thankfully, it closed in time.

"We have activity." Storm advised through the com systems. They had made it through the asteroid barrier and had a clear view of the Hive now. There were surveillance probes acting really aggressive as they had noticed the presence of the intruder ship. It wasn't long until the first rounds were fired at the Retcan ship.

"They are firing at us!" Storm indicated not soon before the first impacts hit the ship. "Shields at 88%; hull integrity at 92%." The young pilot informed.

"Team A; get to the turrets. Team B; follow me." Shadow ordered and his team got ready.

They were getting close now, and they soon realized how underpowered they were against this massive nest of mechanical beings. Hundreds of defense probes swarmed around them shooting fiercely. The Retcans who had control of the ship's turrets could do little to keep their numbers low. But finally, after what seemed the longest three minutes, they made it to the Hive's cluster, right where the chamber opened to space.

"Hang on everyone; there is no other way to do this!" Storm advised. Knowing that there was no way of getting into the chamber without compromising its atmosphere, Titan ordered everyone to brace themselves.

In a hefty maneuver, Storm turned the ship 180° at a very high speed, ramming in the chamber's gates in a massive impact.

Still dazed at the hard hit that tossed everyone around the ship violently, they stood up and continued with their reckless attempt to rescue those Evos.

"We made it through!" Storm indicated as his instrument panel showed how part of the ship had embedded itself inside the Hive. "It's loosing atmosphere at a fast rate. Whatever you are going to do commander, do it now!" The black Retcan said.

Titan and the Evos ran to the decompression chamber of the Special Ops Vessel, waiting for the doors to open. There was no time to convince the Evos not to get out of the ship.

"Get ready, everyone!" Shadow advised while his team of warriors got in position.

"I've marked the location in your visors. As soon as you get them, we head back." Titan ordered. The Retcans with the full armor would be able to see were the supposedly alive Evos were.

"You've heard the commander. No distractions, team!"

The heavy armored Retcans wielded large assault rifles and the rest just small E.M.P guns. Not two inches opened of the rear gate and they felt the loss of atmosphere already taking place. As they walked out what hit them immediately was a pungent smell of decaying flesh. Titan tried to calm Hasky and K9 as they walked straight forward where the signal indicated them until they reached it.

"Scanners don't indicate any signs of life in the rest, Titan!" Tech informed.

A shocking but somewhat relieving sight lied before Titan, K9 and Hasky. Three Evos in terrible conditions struggled to breathe as they were apparently unconscious.

The emotions that ran through everyone's minds at that moment were difficult to assess. They couldn't tell if they were happy or in the edge of a nerve collapse. They just did what they had to do. They took the three Evos and ran back to the vessel.

"Hurry up! The ship's shields won't take it anymore!" Storm's voice echoed on the warrior's helmets.

"Are you sure there is no one else alive?" Hasky asked, yelling nervously as she was almost dragged by force back to the ship.

"You'll have to trust me! There is no one else with life." Tech replied.

"Get in the ship!" Shadow then yelled as he saw the door that led inside the Hive opening. A group of furious machines ran to them. The warrior team opened fire at the monsters as they started running across the walls like the bizarre spider-like humanoids that hey were.

The team had almost emptied their first ammo magazines before they managed to reach the vessel.

"Move, Come on!" Shadow yelled and pushed everyone inside. As the last one made it in, he shot various rounds at a group of machines that reached them.

Before they could close the door, one of these machines made it in the ship, disabling the capability of the rear gate to close.

"Let's go, Storm!" Titan yelled as the team struggled with the machine that was half inside the ship, waving its blades everywhere.

"I can't! Atmosphere inside the ship had been compromised!" Storm yelled from the cockpit.

"Just do it!" Shadow then ordered.

Trusting his friend Shadow, Storm had no option but to obey. As the vessel accelerated at full, freeing from the Hive, a huge suction force invaded the ship.

The Retcans still struggled with the machine that was now almost loose after such brutal force of the acceleration and the vacuum of space. A well place shot by Shadow destroyed the machine's arms that were still making it hold on into the ship. They were finally free of it and the gate managed to close.

Oxygen levels stabilized, but that was barely the beginning of their problems. They still had to make it out of the Hive in one piece.

The swarm of defense probes attacked them relentlessly, lowering the shield strength considerably.

"Shields at 62%" Storm informed. "Hull was heavily compromised after that breach. We can't afford to loose the shields or we will be in serious problems!"

The Retcans in command of the turrets did a great job taking down the most probes as possible, avoiding terminal damage to the ship. Soon they reached the asteroid perimeter and went through it as violently as they did at first. There was no other way around it.

"Please hold together, baby." Storm talked to the ship that not only he was responsible of, but also a ship that he designed himself.

The Evos were on the floor of the ship, curled up in a ball, protecting the three that they had just taken out from that place as they just hoped for the tremendous noise of the impacts to cease. Thankfully, after what could've been their demise, they managed to exit in one piece.

Silence at last.

No one said anything. The only noise that was heard came from the numerous alarms and warnings that came from everywhere inside the ship.

"Don't stop, Storm. Get us out of here!" Titan ordered.

"Trust me, I won't stop. I'm opening the wormhole as we speak. Please hold on to what you can. The shields are down to 20% which will make our jump worst than what we just went through."

True to his words, the jump through the wormhole felt like if the ship was going to break apart. They could hear and feel a thunderous vibration through the whole ship. They also noticed with horror while looking though the corridor how the ship was literally twisting like if was made of plastic.

Thankfully, the jump didn't last too long and soon, it was peace and quiet again. But the thought that what they just did might've have terrible consequences with the captive Evocanis, would haunt their minds until they figure out what could be done to save them all.