FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

** CHAPTER 61** Lost in Nightmares Part IV

The sight of his brother being barely alive in front of him made the young husky's heart twist in pain. This changed everything, but not necessarily for the good. Anubis and Husky had gone deep into the machine's ship in search of Fx, but now that they had found him, reality soon hit them hard. What should they do now? Even if they managed to reach the hangar, what would be their next move?

"We have to get him out of here, Husky!" Anubis thought quickly. "We don't know what kind of internal injuries he might have. We need to get him medical attention now!"

Husky didn't react. He just kneeled next to Fx, caressing him while his whole body and arms shook nervously.

"Husky!" The yell of his Great Dane friend made him react at last.

"Yes, Anubis..." Husky responded still in a daze. "Let's get out of here."

But it wouldn't be as easy as said. They ignored how deep they were in the machine's ship, or if it was even possible to reach the hangar from where they were. Worse yet was the fact that they were now carrying a very delicate Fx, knowing that those monsters could ambush them at any second. They didn't want to admit, but they knew the odds played heavily against them.

"Listen to me, Husky. You're better at shooting than I am. I will carry Fx, but you will have to be our eyes, our claws and our fangs." Anubis spoke seriously as he gently picked Fx up. Poor Fx let out faint yelps of pain when he was moved, but there was no time to be gentle. They just hoped he wasn't as bad as he looked.

Husky stood blank for a second again.

"Husky! Listen to me!" Anubis had to bring Husky back from his stupor. "I need you fully aware. We can do this, but I need the strong and determined Husky back. Your brother and I need you."

A sudden noise a few corridors away from where they were caught both Evos off guard. The adrenaline again flowed through their body. This was what Husky needed.

"I'll cover you. Let's go back home." were Husky's last words. He wielded his E.M.P gun and led the way.

It was uncertain where they were heading, but at that time the priority was to get as far as possible from the commotion that just happened. There was no doubt that the machines might've been connected somehow between each other and that noise they just heard were reinforcements approaching. The last thing they wanted was another confrontation while carrying Fx with them.

The endless and asymmetrical corridors were once again the only thing they saw. How much deep they were getting, they ignored. Every time they reached a corner or junction, their hearts threatened to burst out of their chests, when they felt that one of those monsters could jump out of the darkness and attack them once again.

Somehow, vaguely guided by the rough map that the ComPod had built, Husky managed to guide themselves into a larger area, finally out of that series of tight corridors.

"Now what?!" Anubis urged for an answer of where they should be heading.

Looking at both sides of this large area, Husky checked on his ComPod.

"This way!" Not entirely sure, Husky guided Anubis further into this large area.

This section of the ship once again heavily contrasted the rest of areas they've been. They walked into an open space were they could see a couple of levels below them through a balcony. This almost looked as a colony. Very small indeed, when compared to Canis Major or even R105, but it did give them a feeling that this ship was once populated by an intelligent species.

"Where, Husky?" Anubis asked.

"We need to get to the other side." Husky replied. Easier said than done when in front of them there was nothing but a big fall into lower levels of what was left of that ship. They needed to get the area of the sector in front of them, but jumping from that balcony to the other wasn't an option. There was at least a gap of almost ten meters separating both balconies. They had to go around somehow.

"How are we supposed to gain access to the other side?" Anubis asked anxiously. He constantly watched over his shoulder in fear that a horde of those things might've been coming after them.

"We have no choice. We have to go back and look for an access to the other side of this sector." Husky replied after briefly reviewing his ComPod. Anubis didn't like it one bit, but there was no choice. The access to the hangar that Husky predicted thanks to the rough map was at the adjoining sector in front of them.

Going back, they took a different path this time. Soon they felt they were heading the right way, and the ComPod confirmed it. But they had to go through some strange facility before. According to the map, this facility was big enough that conjoined the sector where they were to the one they needed to go to.

"This is the only way." Husky said after double checking. In front of them stood a barely opened gate that was access to the mysterious place; beyond it, only darkness could be seen.

"I'm not sure about this, Husky."

"It's the only way. I'm not going back, and you know there is nowhere else that we can go."

Husky cleared the debris surrounding the gate. A cloud of dust rose from the ground as the fallen wall panels and other trash was placed aside. With a strength that was rarely witnessed within the gentle and apparently delicate Evocanis, Husky forced the heavy metallic gate open just enough so they could continue.

With the same impressive strength, Husky managed to close back the gate as much as he could to conceal any evidence that they took that path. Peeking through the gap that the gate inevitably left, Husky didn't notice any movement outside in the large area from where they came.

Once again, silence and darkness surrounded them.

"Where are we?" Anubis whispered as they cautiously continued. The place had a very disturbing calmness to it. This complex felt like a living sector of some sort. They weren't sure, but it must have been, considering the sound insulation that miraculously still took effect.

"I don't know, but there should be an exit that gives access to the sector we need to be in."

At a very slow pace and with a crunching that came from beneath them every time they took a step in this dusty and eroded floor, they continued for a few meters. They were in what seemed to be the reception area of a living sector or a training facility of some sort.

"Husky, wait." Anubis whispered. He gently kneeled down next to what looked like a reception desk; or what was left of it. Fx seemed to have gained a bit of consciousness. In the darkness of the place while gently illuminating his brother, Husky noticed that Fx's eyes were barely open.

"What is it, buddy?" Husky asked tenderly, noticing that Fx might be listening to him at that moment. He gently caressed his face. "Everything is going to be alright. We are on our way home right now. We're... we're going to take you with Luke so he can treat your wounds." Husky's voice was broken. He wanted to keep Fx calm and not aware of what had just happen. "We're going to clean and patch you up, and then we'll go to bed... and rest. Hasky is going to be there... You'll get better and before you know it..." Husky took a deep breath. He couldn't hold his tears anymore. "... we'll be having fun in Canis Major with our brothers and sisters again. The life you know, Fx. The life you love..."

Taken by surprise, Husky saw how Fx laboriously raised his good arm and held his face.

"...Forgive me, brother." Fx faintly uttered.

"There is nothing to forgive, Fx." Husky did his best to look calm, but it was obvious how distraught he was at that moment.

From his survival kit in his armor, he took a small bottle of a highly concentrated electrolyte fluid. He took it close to Fx and gently poured some of the fluid inside his muzzle.

"Here, baby brother. Try to drink some. This will make you feel better." Husky gently said. Even though Fx had closed his eyes now, Husky was happy to see that his brother drank the fluid.

"This should keep you hydrated." Husky whispered.

"The Nano-Machines might be releasing pain killers and a mild sedative. That's why he's very lethargic. It helps avoid shock, but he can't stay like this for long." Anubis explained.

Suddenly, Anubis noticed how Husky started taking his armor off.

"What are you doing, Husky?" the Great Dane asked shocked.

"His arm," Husky said as he took his armor cuirass off. "We have to keep it from moving around. The bone might cut an artery. He's already bleeding and that would make things worst.

Husky took the thick PX undergarment off his torso and then a very tight light PX sleeveless shirt they wore underneath.

"Fx, this is going to hurt a bit, but we need to make sure that you arm doesn't move anymore." Husky explained. He dreaded the idea of what he was about to do, but it was necessary.

"Hold him, Anubis."

Anubis held on Fx tightly and placed his head on his. They had to muffle any yelps of pain, if not they might give out their location.

Husky ripped the shirt in a long continuous piece of fabric. He carefully wrapped the cloth around Fx's torso, while keeping his arm tight to it too. It was done in a way that Fx's arm was tightly snugged against his chest. This would keep it from moving.

Fx didn't like the handling of his broken arm too much, and despite his condition, he forcibly twitched to the intense pain he must have felt. This broke Husky's heart, but he knew it was necessary.

With his arm tightly secured, and calming down after a few minutes, Fx seemed to have passed out once again. They needed to keep moving. With his armor back on, and after quickly checking the ComPod, Husky led the way inside that facility.

The place seemed as forgotten by time. It was strange but there were a lot of rooms across a curved hallway with a huge glass window on the front wall of each. All rooms looked similar. The walls inside were surprisingly colorful and the place for some reason hinted that it was once a pleasant one.

"What is that?" Husky asked to himself. Peeking inside one of these rooms, thanks in part to the glass window that was no more, he noticed something odd.

There were remains of what seemed to be chairs; but very small in size. A little table was attached to some of them. They were all scrambled, some broken and fused with the vast amount of debris. But it wasn't hard to imagine that once they were probably organized in rows.

Next to the window, at the door of this room, with fainted yet colorful letters, We-co-e could be read. The letters weren't complete, but they knew it said 'Welcome.' 1st Grade could be read above. These were metallic letters still bolted to the door.

The room had cubicles mounted on the walls in the shape of geometrical figures and still bared a hint of being painted in various colors. The remains of a large screen still stood in one of the walls.

"What was this place?" Husky again asked to himself.

"I don't know..." Anubis answered. "This place is very scary. Let's keep going, Husky."

"God. Nation. Strength. Unity... what does this mean?" Husky asked when he read an emblem in a corroded metallic poster on the wall. He could understand at least two of the words, but the first two had no significance to him. "Euro American Union..." He read above the emblem. "This is the second time I read these strange words in 9051."

It was hard to tell what the poster meant. It was so corroded, only a few words could be read and the rest of whatever it showed was already faded beyond recognition.

"Let's just get out of here, Husky." Anubis insisted, in which Husky immediately agreed.

Husky continued leading the way through this strange complex, hopefully getting close to the exit. Through various corridors, Husky finally had come to the conclusion that behind another gate they had in front of them was the access to the sector they needed to be on.

"This is the exit, Anubis." Husky affirmed without taking his eyes from the ComPod.

"Husky..." Anubis spoke. "I'm starting to have doubts."

"No... don't give me that, my friend. We have to get out of here."

"This facility... We could hide here. I'm sure we could wait for a rescue."

For a second, the idea didn't seem too crazy. But Fx couldn't wait, and they didn't know if the machines knew all their moves. They could be spied on at that very moment.

"The risk is too high, Anubis. What we want to do is to get out of this place. If Fx was in better condition, I would consider that option." Husky replied as he got ready to force open the gate. "I'm not letting my brother die here."

"But Husky..." Anubis continued "What are we going to do once we get to the hangar?" At first it didn't seem like a logical question, but as Husky went through it while he opened the gate, he came to a dreadful realization. "We are three... there are only two ships, and we are not even sure if they are functional anymore..."

Husky's heart sank. Due to the frustration of the moment, he completely forgot about that detail. Fx's ship was totaled and his and Anubis' ship were in terrible conditions. Husky stopped opening the gate and fell on his knees. Anubis lied next to him carefully keeping Fx on his arms.

Twice in a matter of just weeks fate had played this cruel game with them.

"We have to think of something, Husky..."

"My ship won't do for now. That shot blew one of the ionic exhausts. I could bypass the thrust to the emergency exhaust port, but that will take time. What were the damages in your ship, Anubis?"

"Hull integrity was at 12% before I crashed. My ionic exhausts are intact though. But I don't know if the ship will even start."

"That's good enough." Husky replied as he stood up.

"Husky, no. We are not sending Fx alone in a wrecked S Series!"

"If we program the ship to fly into deep space and wait idle until the battle is over, we can pick him up later. With the shields down and leaving the ship in standby, there is no way the enemy will detect it."

"Are you serious, Husky?"

"Yes, I'm serious. I'm not letting Fx die here. He's strong, and I know the Nano-Machines will keep him stable. There is oxygen, haemostatic capsules, IV fluids, bandages and antibiotics in the ship's Medic-kit. We can find a way to send a distress call and send the coordinates that we will program in the ship to fly to so they can pick him up."

Looking back at the corridor of that facility, Anubis thought it through. Husky's idea might work and it was the best option they had for Fx at that moment. There was still a long way to go though.

Again with strengths that only a few Evos knew they could muster, Husky opened the gate just enough. A gust of wind came inside the gap that he made, followed by that fur raising wail once gain.

"Stay here, Anubis." Husky whispered as he readied his gun once more.

"Wait, Husky..!" Anubis shouted in a loud whisper.

"This area is big. There are way too many places that we could be ambushed from. I need to make sure the path is safe."

"I don't know if that's a good..." Anubis replied confused. "Okay, Husky. Be careful." He hesitantly accepted.

Hidden by the darkness and holding Fx tightly, Anubis watched as Husky disappeared into the sector of the ship. The waiting was horrible. Anubis couldn't yell Husky's name or he would risk revealing their location.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Husky suddenly appeared in front of the gap he cleared in the gate.

"This place is dead, Anubis." Husky said as he still scouted around while Anubis slowly came out of the facility. "Let's keep moving. I think I know how to get out of here."

Every step they took was so nerve wrecking. The feeling that they were being followed never left them since they had found Fx. And what made it worst was not knowing if they were heading to where the enemy was.

After some time and while going through various areas and complexes, Husky suddenly stopped before a junction.

"What is it?" Anubis asked frightened.

"I think we are getting close. If we turn right we might find another complex like the one we were before. After that I can see a connection between this level and the one above us." Husky explained while closely examining the ComPod. "We're going to make it, Anubis."

Very cautiously, Husky made sure the area was clear and they proceeded. As he predicted, another complex stood before them. It was similar to the first one they've been to, with tight corridors and various rooms around. There was no access gate, so they just cautiously walked in.

Both Evos never felt so nervous. It was a similar situation like the one they've been before, when that thing started following them. But there was no choice if they wanted to get Fx to safety.

Painstakingly making their way through the debris, they soon got deep into this series of tight corridors and rooms. Husky watched closely at their surroundings while checking the ComPod. There was no room for mistake. This place was confusing, and they didn't want to get lost and eventually ambushed by a machine.

Soon they reached what Husky confirmed to be the exit.

"Good." Husky exclaimed as he examined his ComPod. "After this exit we will see a ramp that will take us to an elevator tunnel that goes directly to the hangar above us. The ship is only 20 meters from there."

"I don't think the elevator will work, Husky." Anubis said with much logic.

"We'll figure it out, Anubis. This ship is big and I doubt an elevator is the only way to go through levels. There must be an emergency staircase or maybe the elevator is attached to an emergency power unit."

"I hope you're right." Anubis said. Deep inside he knew their options were limited, and going back was definitely not one of them.

"Wait here. I'll check outside."

Husky quickly exited their hiding spot behind a small door, determined to scout the area in search of any dangers. There was only one way to go, and this was the large ramp that he mentioned before, but he had to make sure nothing was in their way.

But something wasn't right; Anubis knew this when he saw Husky ran swiftly into their hiding spot again. Husky was breathing heavily and his face expressed anger. Anubis was afraid to even ask; he didn't have to when Husky immediately explained him what happened.

"There is one of those monsters patrolling the ramp..."

Husky's words made Anubis' heart stop it's beating for a good two seconds. Their luck had run out after being so close of getting Fx into safety.

"We have to go back..." Anubis instinctively said as he held harder into Fx and started to make his way back.

"No!" Husky yelled through a whisper. "We are so close to the hangar now. We only need to get passed that access ramp and Fx will be safe. I'm not risking my brother's life going back!"

"Husky! If that thing finds us, Fx will be in more danger. We can barely defend ourselves against it, and it's going to be ever riskier now that Fx depends fully on us!"

"I can fight against it..." Husky whispered.

"What? No! Are you crazy?" Anubis confronted his friend. They had almost gotten killed by one of these monsters not minutes ago, and they were two against one.

"It's the only way, Anubis... I have a plan." Husky said. Husky's resigned tone made Anubis fear of the outcome of a one-on-one fight between that monster and his friend.

"I'll do it, Husky." Anubis quickly interrupted Husky before he could speak.

"No! Listen to me, Anubis!" Husky once again gained control of the situation. "You're definitely way stronger than me and I know that very well. But I'm smaller and faster. I will lure that machine deep into this facility while you take Fx and run to the hangar access."

"No, Husky. That's suicide!"

"Trust me, brother!" Husky almost yelled too strong. He immediately lowered his tone so that monster didn't detect them. "These corridors are tight and full of obstacles. The machine will have a hard time maneuvering through them. That will give you time to escape." Husky explained his plan.

"Look at that..." Husky continued as he pointed at a room close to where they were. "Hide there. I'll gain the machine's attention. When I take the monster deep into this facility, I'll howl. That will be the signal for you to run to the hangar access as quickly as you can. Understand?"

"And what do you plan on doing once that thing is after you? You've seen how strong they are, Husky!"

"That thing out there is different, Anubis... It's one of those Assassin models that attacked Canis Major. I don't know, but something tells me that this model is weaker than the one we fought. There is nothing in our training that suggests that these things have an E.M.P shield like the other one. I might have a chance to beat it."

Husky's plan was almost suicidal as Anubis suggested. But going through their options, he knew that there was no room for a different plan. Anubis never hesitated so much in his life, but he ended up accepting Husky's plan. There wasn't anymore time to lose; they had to act now.

Looking at each other for the last time, Husky and Anubis smiled. They were trained defense squad members and they had to trust their instinct.

"Now..." Husky said. He readied his E.M.P gun as Anubis ran to the room close by and waited.

Never had Husky felt so scared in his life. While he walked outside their hiding spot towards the machine, he felt how fear drowned his strength. But thinking on Fx gave him the bravery he needed.

"Monster!" Husky yelled at the machine down the access ramp, that at that point wasn't facing him. He could've fight the machine there, but if the machine showed any greater resistance than he knew they had, then it could risk blowing Anubis and Fx's cover. He had to make sure he placed as much distance between it and his Evo brothers.

This was the first time Husky was face to face with one of those lanky machines that killed so many of his Evo brothers and sisters. Standing almost 2 and a half meters high even with a hunched posture, letting those horrible blades it had for arms hang down loosely, that mechanical monster turned back at Husky's voice.

Instead of turning back the way any living being would, this thing bent its head backwards and then twisted it in an unnatural position to face Husky. It was more bizarre and terrifying in real life than what the little Evocanis of barely a meter and a half imagined.

The machine finally turned its whole body, leaving its head fixed into its target while it did so. It didn't wait a second and it charged towards Husky. The young Evocanis' fear was greater than what he would've wanted, but that adrenaline burst made him run faster than he ever had.

Just a few seconds after and he had already ran back to the facility he came from. Before Husky got deeper into the tight series of corridors, he waited for the machine in one of the few cleared hallways. He wanted to make sure the machine got passed the room Anubis and Fx were in without noticing them.

Looking at this small door, Husky felt as if the machine was taking too long. But before doing something as reckless as going back to taunt the machine, Husky saw how the terrifying blank flat-faced white mask peeked through the door. Slowly the rest of the machine walked through the door without letting its sight off Husky.

"Are you afraid, machine?!" Husky yelled. "Are you afraid that we can defend ourselves now? Surely you want to avenge your friend we just destroyed mercilessly like you did with our brothers!" Husky taunted the machine. This anger that the young Evocanis felt was legitimate. Shouting these words somehow gave Husky the strength he needed to go on with the plan. For some reason, he could feel the urge to fight this machine.

The machine cautiously walked towards Husky, moving like a stalking savage beast. It made this well-known but horrible buzzing as it got closer to Husky. But something wasn't right. The machine stopped and seemed to be scanning its surroundings. This was not good.

"What's the matter? Surely you aren't afraid of me, aren't you? You've killed many like me effortlessly!" Husky yelled. He feared the worst now. That machine was just a step from the room that Anubis and Fx were in. He had to do something quick.

Before the machine could peek through inside the room, Husky had no choice but to point his gun and fire. He didn't want to risk a fight there, because if the machine won, that would leave Anubis and Fx to its mercy.

Something extraordinary happened. The E.M.P pulse was suddenly dodged by the machine. It definitely had something that made it aware of everything around it no matter where it was facing. But much to Husky's relief, this seemed to have angry the machine who immediately jumped at Husky and started following him... Relief that it had lost interest on the hiding Evos, but terrifying to think he was on his own now.

Husky ran and made its way through the corridors and debris with an outstanding speed and agility. The machine never desisted and it just slammed against everything, sometimes even crawling on walls and the ceiling. Soon, Husky felt he was far enough. He got into a cleared corridor.

"Now it's our turn monster... We will hunt you down and destroy your kind. I promise you will feel the fear and pain you made us feel!" With these last words and unsheathing his Lantracit blade, Husky let out a fearsome howl.

With his E.M.P in his other hand, Husky opened fire. He knew that this machine didn't have an E.M.P shield so emptying his gun's clip on it might've been the best choice to finish that fight before it even started.

But something unexpected happened. That machine despite not having a shield like the other one, it did have a defense mechanism that took Husky by surprise. From tiny holes in its body, the machine started emanating a black gas. It was a tight corridor, so it didn't take long for the gas to fill the place. Husky shot various rounds, but he had no visual, and what's worse, he was soon engulfed in the suffocating gas.

Trying to step away from the irritating cloud, Husky lost track of his surroundings and tripped on something. The situation was bad. He could hear the metallic footsteps getting closer not even a meter from where he lied. He was on the floor now and he couldn't see anything that was even inches from his face. He tried to desperately search for one of the oxygen nozzles he brought with him as this gas was extremely irritating to his throat and made it impossible to breathe through.

In the anxiousness of the moment, the oxygen nozzle slipped from his grip and fell to the floor. That machine could impale him at any second now... Husky felt the floor around all the debris but he couldn't find it. With no choice he crawled away while searching for another nozzle. He got it and finally it was in his muzzle. He had been holding his breath all this time, and giving that first inhale felt like his life coming back to him.

Husky was soon on his hind paws, but before he could react, he briefly saw two red dots glowing not inches from him. A powerful kick from that machine sent Husky flying to a wall. Still blinded by the black gas, he could only sense what was about to happen. He heard those metallic footsteps again, but this time approaching at a great speed towards him. A voice told him to move to the side. The impact was incredibly powerful that shook Husky violently. He didn't know if the attack had hit its target since he couldn't feel any pain yet. As the black gas started dissipating, a huge blade made itself visible just millimeters next to Husky's head. The blade was embedded in the wall where Husky lied against.

Husky's instinct had saved him once again... But this fight was far from over.

The machine dislodged its leg from the wall and attempted the attack again; over and over, as fast as lightning, as violent as thunder. Husky just rolled from one side to another, avoiding a single-hit death attack with outstanding reflexes. Husky knew he was cornered and at mercy of that monster and that his luck would eventually run out. He saw an opening and counter-attacked the machine by kicking it with both of his legs. The delicate Evocanis surprisingly hit the machine with such force that it made the thing loose balance and fall back. With a swift maneuver, Husky jumped and was back on his hind paws.

This time, Husky took the offensive and before that thing got back in a fighting stance, he attacked it with his Lanthacit blade. The machine evaded the attack and counter-attacked itself, catching Husky off guard. But all the Retcan training came back to Husky and he didn't let the fear invade his mind again.

Husky fought the monster blade to blade. Both never showed signs of desisting. The machine's attacks looked fearsome and much stronger than Husky's, striking the Evo a few times just to be thankfully saved by his armor.

But the young Evocanis was clever and his plan worked greatly. The tight corridor was proving to be a disadvantage for the machine, often hitting the wall and getting stuck. Husky saw this as an opportunity to counter attack every time he could.

In one desperate move, the machine drove its blade arm towards Husky's face. The swift Evocanis managed to step aside and avoid the deadly strike. Husky saw his opportunity to take advantage of the opening and attacked the machine. The metallic limb fell on the ground after being severed by the Evocanis Warrior's blade.

Never desist until your opponent is completely down. Let not a successful strike cloud your judgment and fill your mind with a deceitful feeling of victory. The voice of a Retcan warrior echoed in Husky's memory, as the green vital fluid gushed out the machine's severed limb. A successful hit in your opponent is just a brief turn of tables in your favor; not a prelude of your victory._Husky's eyes filled with fury, claiming justice for his fallen ones. _This is the time you should end the battle, Evocanis. This is the time when your enemy must lie defeated before you. Never desist...

"I will not desist..." For in that moment you will be... "I will be victorious."

In a movement only seen in elite Retcan warriors, Husky evaded a counterattack at the speed of lightning. Somehow, Husky managed to confuse the machine and ended behind it. The machine looked dazed and couldn't process the Evos' movement on time. It was too late for that monster.

With a furious strike of his blade, Husky slashed through the machine's back. The hit was so devastating that it dissected the monster in two. The fight was over as soon as it started...