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“Good job, my boy!" He says.

“Did I really do it well, Dr. Weeny?"

He lovingly messes the small kid's mop of messy hair.“Yes, you almost reached One's grades and successfully surpassed Two's record!"

The kid's yellow eyes widen in fear and worry.

“What's wrong, my boy?" The doctor moves his chubby figure near the furless Alien, kneeling to eye-level. These fleshy beings were such an interesting species to him, even as children.

“Chuckle won't be happy when he finds out. You- Uh- know how he is…" He rubs the back of his neck in a distressed and nervous way. At least that's what the doctor guessed, this particular subject's species had such fascinating mannerism.

The Doctor raises an eyebrow, “Is he giving you trouble again?" He would have to talk with Number Two's caretaker, that Aswad'Yakul is too aggressive… Maybe he needs better corrective measures.

The boy shakes his head quickly, his shoulder-length unkempt hair flops from side to side with the motion. “No! -Uh- No, he's just uh- very pushy. I'm fine- all's good." The doctor stares at him in skepticism.

_The doctor has a stern look on his face. “You sure? Because I have heard from Seven that-" _

“Oh, you know how paranoid and overprotective Whiskey is, Chuckle and I just… Uh- spar? YES, spar! We just get too much into sparing." The kid laughs nervously in an obvious attempt at lying.

The doctor clearly doesn't believe it if his unimpressed expression was any indication. “You'll have to try harder than that, boy. Did you forget that you have never won a sparring session against any of the others? Except for Seven, and that's because he let you-"

“I know…" The boy forcibly interrupts the chubby doctor. He has a sad smile on his face. “I know I'm the weakest…" he stares at his bare feet on the cold sterile, white floor. Evading his caretaker's eyes. “Whiskey won't say it, but I know." The boy visibly fights against his own emotions… “But I'm not made of glass- I-" He inhales, gathering himself. “I can handle it." He looks back up, his yellow orbs meeting the doctor's copper-colored ones with a far stronger resolution than a boy his age should have.

Simple fascinating how a species so physically weak and frail could have such mental fortitude, it never ended to amaze the doctor. The boy was clearly lying, he was not fine. He clearly could not handle it… But he was willing to try it, just to have some semblance of control and strength. The doctor would indulge his charge, but only because the boy has already believed most of his lies... “reciprocation" was the word the doctor thought about.

_“I'm fine…" _

The doctor believed that lie, he believed ALL the lies his charge would say through the years, he would believe it all until his breath left his lungs for the last time, until his flesh burns with the flames of their actions, until the universe takes revenge on all the wrongdoings they have been making.

He had to, he had no other choice. He left his family and life behind for the chance to do something great, something that was far greater than all their collective lives… these fifteen kids were gonna be just… Necessary sacrifices…

Or so he thought… If only he had known…

The wise man knows his fate. The fool merely finds it…

And their fate…

Their fate was truly… The fate of all fools…

__________________________________________________

Ripley

a couple of minutes after killing the tentacle porn monster

“So…" I say kicking a chunk of black gooey entrails to the side. “What now? do we just kill each other now?" I look at the dark-haired human near me, he was currently trying to get the black gunk out of his jacket.

“Now we have to find the briefcase. That thing had a similar energy to that briefcase. I did not see it with the poor bastard." He says looking at the mess of bloody black guts and burned remains with what I assume is a grimace… I can't really tell due to his facemask.

“How do you know it was the briefcase and that the Sataria took it?" I reply. My rifle is all dirtied up and I'm trying to get it cleaned with a cloth I found on the floor. My shields saved me from getting dirtied up like the duo that tried to kill me minutes before.

“I can see energy signatures if I focus. The briefcase had a pretty weird, creepy energy when I found it. it was broken and the writhing mass inside seemed to be reaching out so I just left it there. The Sataria probably found it and got curious." He explains shrugging his shoulders.

“So you found that the briefcase had a deadly weird eldritch energy and just LEFT IT THERE?" He can't be serious. there is no way he was just-

“Hey, in my defense I did not know that it would turn an average Sataria into a horrible monster," he says annoyed. He rubs the bridge of his nose in a tired gesture. “Also, YOU are my priority, or rather THAT thing in your chest." He points an accusatory finger at my chest.

Excuse me!?

“Yeah, no way, pal." I aim my rifle at him. “This is a VERY expensive reward I got, and if you want it your gonna have to- AH!" FUCK

It happens so quickly that I can't react at all. The human moves in a blink pushing my gun to the side and grabbing onto my right arm pressing his back to my chest. The Human with it pushes as he pulls my arm, using the momentum to throw me over his shoulder. I land like a sprawling mess on the hard concrete. He still holds onto my right hand twisting it painfully.

“You FUCKING SON OF- SHIT!" He twists my arm. I'm hundreds of times stronger than him, but in the position I'm in he is gonna break my arm if I try to fight his grip. I hear the click of a gun near me. Looking up I can see he has his hand cannon pointed at my head.

Welp, fuck.

“Okay, I'm done playing. YOU have no choice in this matter. I'm sorry, but that thing in your chest is dangerous." I wiggle a bit and he pushes on my back with his boot. “Both to everyone else AND you as well." He presses the gun to my temple. “The only reason why I didn't kill you at the moment was that…" he cuts himself off for a couple of seconds before he suddenly lets me go…

Da' fuck?

I rub my sore wrists when I manage to sit up, not only does my wrist hurt… EVERYTHING hurts, this fucker did kick my ass into the next cluster pretty heavily, it's a wonder I'm alive. I have a few cracked ribs, plenty of cuts, and scratches, I'm pretty sure one of my lungs must have collapsed when he forcibly turned my shields inside out and sent me to kingdom come…

How the fuck am I still breathing?

“Look, I don't want to hurt you. I really, really mean that," he says, putting the gun away, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture.

“NOT TRYING TO HURT ME!?" Bitch nearly squashed me under a whole-ass building! “YOU SENT A MAD ASWAD'YAKUL AFTER ME, ONE WHO DOESN'T DIE BY THE WAY. YOU BROKE MY PANINI, STABBED ME, ALMOST BURIED ME UNDER A BUILDING, AND TRIED TO GET ME ARRESTED WITH YOU FOR WHATEVER REASON AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO JUST COOPERATE!? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?*" *

I don't even know where the fucking mutt is! The human sent him away 'to check stuff out' a while ago and he hasn't come back! For all I know they could be getting reinforcements.

“Are we really gonna do this again?"

“YES, OF FUCKING COUR-!" I cough violently to the side, I try to get a hold of myself, but my breath seems to want nothing to do with my lungs. Specks of blood stain the ground in front of me. the burning in my chest is back at full force. My hands are shaking, my vision gets cloudy, and the edges have a rose purple-ish tint that is getting more intense by the second.

Am I dying!?

I feel my lungs contract, my legs cramp, my entrails burn, and my head feels on ice. my vision goes black from the searing burning sensation on my chest. I can't even scream. I try to open my mouth but no sound comes out other than another fit of violent coughs. What the hell is wrong with me!?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I really need Panini to tell me what the fuck is going on with my body.

As soon as the pain comes, it's suddenly gone. Oxygen flows into my lungs freely, and my vision clears… Hell, I don't even feel sore or in pain anymore, like, at all… My vision is back and my organs feel normal again.

What the fuck just happened!?

“Told you it was dangerous to you too…" I hear the human's voice very close, looking to the side I can see he is right beside me. one of his hands is on my back, just resting above my clothes near my shoulder. I quickly push him away from me.

Only to start violently coughing again… What the fuck is going on? I have had backslashes from the Coil before but never like this. The human rushes over to me again, and as soon as he touches my back again I'm fine once more… I look at him in confusion, at this point am kinda creeped out.

“You are not a Lightbearer, Your body doesn't know how to deal with the energy that the artifacts feed into you as it's trying to keep you heal you from damage your cells sustained for using it…" He calmly explains, I note he is focusing a lot as he stares intensively at me with black-red eyes. “What ends up happening is your body shutting down due to the intensity of the foreign energy it was never meant to handle… The same thing happened earlier when Styx was shooting at your shield with his machine gun." I remember that, that was when I curled up in a ball… How pathetic… Looking at the human I realize he looks… sad for a moment. “That thing that it's trying to keep you alive is killing you as well…"

“What?" No way, this thing can't be killing me… Then again Serono was the one that hooked me up with this 'Cutting edge' enhancement as payment, so maybe-… wait, was I some kind of test-run for this?

“I'm currently easing the burden the fake-Light is exerting on your cells, but in the long run they won't be able to recover anymore." He explains as he starts rubbing circles on my back, Now that he mentions it I can feel some faint sensation from the point of contact between me and him.

“Am I really dying?" There is no way, I can't die before I get my sister her money… Or kill the fuck out of Serono… This feel like a really weird alcohol-induced dream

“You are…" My stomach drops, and my breath hitches. “But as long as you don't go crazy with the Coil and I'm close it won't be soon." WHAT!?

“Oh, and I'm supposed to feel okay with that?" Now that I feel better I allow myself to lash out.

“Well, I can help-"

"NO!" I cut him off, stepping away from him. My legs wobble but I don't fall. "I have people that depend on me or at least the money that I make. I can't suddenly just die- I just- I…" I look at my scarred trembling hands. "I can't just die like that, at least not until I do something for them at least." It won't be fair at all… For them, not me… Architects know I should have died long ago from lots of things.

But not now, not when someone finally needs me.

"Let me be clear… " The human says in a serious tone. "You are dying…" His eyes are menacing yet compassionate at the same time, “I would say you have a cycle from now, and that's being generous." He furrows his brow. "If we don't treat you, you may have even less than that."

… well, shit…

I'm really going to die?…

I mean everyone dies, It's just... I expected to die on the job by getting shot in the head or blown to pieces by a bomb… a painless, pathetic quick death… But now, I-...

Fuck

“But I can help!" The human says, I glare at him in anger. How would he help? There is no helping me if what he says is true… and also…

“It's not me that needs help! Don't you fucking get it!? I don't fucking care if I just drop DEAD if it weren't for-…" I shouldn't be saying this to him…" I have a-..." But if I'm really dying… “I have-"

I clench my fists. He waits patiently for me to finish… is this really true? If it is, guess this is my only hope for Rika and the kids… FUCK! The whole spiel with the briefcase is a bust and if I die no one will try to help her with Serono and his goons… HELL, she doesn't even know I'm doing another job for Serono to get her out of debt. “I have a sister, and-... her kids- my nephews and nieces- they uh-..." Architechs, why is it so hard to say it? Fucking hell… WHY AM I EVEN TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING!?

Yet, his eyes don't judge me or glare in disgust… Just a calm understanding as he waits for me to compose myself.

“They…" He encourages me.

“DON'T-" I hold up a finger. “-push me, it's hard for me, okay?" He just nods and goes quiet. I sigh, trying to get my bearings. It's best if I just let it all out at once.

“I need money for my sister and her kids otherwise Serono and his lackeys will do something to them!" I quickly rush the words out of my muzzle. “And if I'm really dying I need it soon," I add. Looking him straight in the eyes, kinda hard to do when his gaze is so… Intense.

I look at the human who looks deep in thought, he puts a hand to his chin weighing his options… If he does agree to help I wonder what- Who the fuck I'm kidding he is obviously going to say no, kill me, and then-

“Okay, fine. I'll get you your sister's money, and move her to a safe place." Wait, what?

“Uh… What?." Was it really that easy? I just stand there in bewilderment.

“Yeah, The Fleeting Lights have tons of resources, if you help me I can arrange that she won't even need the money and for Serono to be dealt with."Deals with terrorists… Great…

Wait.

“What do you mean 'she won't need the money?'" I glare. So what if I don't trust him, he fucking beat my ass into a pulp, like an hour ago. Sue me.

“Meaning she will enter our protection program, I guarantee that she is gonna love it and no harm will be done to her. Trust me." He sounds like a damn salesman and I hate it. My brother Roney is a salesman and I hate him too… That pretentious bitch, Roney.

“And I should trust you because…?"

“Well, you have no other choice, do you?" Well shit, fair point. Either I run, which I doubt in my current condition will be for long and since the briefcase stuff is done all of this shit would have been for nothing… Or I fight him again and try to steal all they have…

The human made it perfectly clear that I would lose the latter.

I grumble, not about to verbally admit my defeat to him. I don't like this… Fuck it.

I extend my hand, in the universal agreement gesture, bracing myself for having to touch hands with a total stranger who also happened to be a galactic terrorist.

“Isn't that gesture inappropriate to do with non-lovers or family of your kind?..." He remains right where he is not reciprocating the famous 'Limb-shake of agreement', so he knows about my species' aversion to hand contact.

Good.

I retract my hand. At least I won't have to worry about that really awkward scenario. “Most don't know about that little bit. I assumed you didn't know too. Thank fucks I don't have to do that with a Humie like you… No offense." Yes, offense… I have never met a human who wasn't either an asshole or a sanctimonious conservationist. Guess being frail nomads stuck in weird-ass suits fucks up your capacity of being tolerable. That and your only government structure working for the Ovoloid Purisima Senate.

I do wonder why this one human knows about the hand thing for my species, though…

“I was very close with a couple of Procylanosans when I was a kid, You don't have to be so suspicious…" He says, as if reading my mind. Fuck my resting bitch face and its ability to reveal when I'm curious or upset about something.

I swear to the Architects, good thing I never tried to be an actor or something…

“Yeah, sure- Whatever." I roll my eyes. Play it cool Ripley. “So you really can help them then?"

“I can, and I will." I'm sensing a 'but' somewhere. “But, I need you to help me first." Ah, there it is.

“It doesn't involve any of your terrorist shit, right?" I mean, I'm desperate, if they really want me to there is a good chance I'll do it… Just that I rather not do it. As bad a kid I was my mom raised no galactic terrorist… Only a criminal mercenary and sometimes anarchist.

He smacks his face with an open palm. “We ARE NOT terrorists!" eh, I'm still not sure about that- Fleshy-boy right here blew up a tentacle porn monster and a whole bot squad by just himself and his huge 'not-boyfriend' Slavey.

“Look, I'm searching for an artifact kinda like the one in your chest, and its owner," he says. "Once I have him I'll take you to the people that can help you!" I don't know why I take note of how expressive humans are… I have never interacted with one out of their fancy suits and this one has a facemask but I can clearly tell the sheer amount of subtle movements his face does just to talk normally.

“What about my sister and my nephews?" I'm getting better at reading him since I can tell he smiled under the black cloth… I think? Maybe he is constipated?

Do humans get constipated?... Note to self. Ask Panini about it.

“Your sister is a priority, I'll get Stygian to handle that when you and I get to finding my target." I feel squeamish about how he uses the word 'target'.

I think about it for a while. I know I don't really have a choice… I don't know if I'm really dying… No, I did feel like I was dying so that must be at least partially true, something is clearly wrong with my body, and it's thanks to the Coil. Either it kills me soon or maybe later. One way or another it WILL kill me, that much I can believe. This human also did stop whatever the Coil was doing to me somehow… What if I reject the offer and since he won't be around I just keel over and turn into a chalk outline?.. What will happen to Rika and the kids then?...

Fuck, I'm really short of options here.

I sigh in defeat. “Fine." I agree reluctantly. Maybe he is smiling now? Human expressions are hard to read. “But let me fix my Panini first." I say, I ain't going nowhere without my Panini. “I saw an electronics store that may have some spare parts before you blew me away in a not-fun way." How even did he do that by the way? My shields stood no chance at all.

“Yeah, sure. That's your AI right?" I nod, retrieve my rifle, and start to walk to where I think the store was… Or what may be remaining of it. “I'll go with you then." He quickly moves to walk beside me and I decide to just ignore him. he probably wants to make sure I don't run away.

I just walk with the human in tow. “How come you don't wear those weird suits most humans use?" Fuck my natural curiosity and my inability to have a filter.

He chuckles, I think? “Well, most humans use those 'weird suits' because our kind isn't resistant to radiation and the many types of ambient energy that are so common almost everywhere. There wasn't anything like it on earth when it existed thousands of cycles ago."

I vaguely remember a history class when I was a kid, Humans entered Intergalactic society after they lost their planet to a sudden invasion of unknown insect-like beings. After barely avoiding extinction they were taken under Ovoloid Purisima Senate and given their massive 'Terran Nova' space station. The huge thing holds most of Humankind even now, thousands of cycles after their biggest tragedy.

“But I have seen some that don't wear those suits in pictures." I ask. We get in an alleyway… Is it me or everything is too quiet? We should have bumped onto someone by now, at least a junkie or something…

“Those that don't are either augmented, they are dying already, or went through a very expensive procedure to help them with that." He replies, looking around suspiciously. Guess he realized too.

“Which one are you then?" I really should reign in my curiosity… To be fair this is the first time I have talked so long with a human with anything other than insults and death threats.

“Neither…" I think he smiles teasingly. “I'm called Ace, by the way." Yeah, I heard the lame-ass name spoken by the mutt before.

“Ripley." I try to just stare straight ahead but I can't stop myself from peeking at him in the corner of my vision.

“Rippy it is, then." My blood runs cold for some reason. There is a purple tint in my vision as I hear the newly-made nickname echo in my head like ominous whispers… I feel it has something to do with my weird dream from earlier that I can't remember anymore somehow.

“Are you ok?" he asks. I realize my fur is standing on end and I'm showing my teeth in a silent snarl.

“Yeah- uh… We're here." Thank tits the store is conveniently in front of us. I really don't want to discuss weird prophetic dreams that I can't remember anything about to him.

“You go ahead then, I'll wait here outside." He glares at a distant point in the darkness- he most likely sees something that I don't. “We have company so I suggest you make it quick."

I know.

I rush into the store as I hear many wet-like splat noises coming closer. As soon as I enter the store I grab the half-melted collar that houses the portable version of Panini, checking the damage and assessing the parts I'll need to repair it. Looking around I notice a workbench with some tools.

Smiling I quickly get to work, this shouldn't take long. All I need is to fix the connectors to the main fuse which seem to be fried. I picked a precision plasma laser tool to make my existence easier. I may have magical hands when it comes to tech but even I have trouble grasping or fixing components as small as a grain of rice. I really need to be carefull with it or I might-

“FUCK!" I accidentally burn my the tip of one of my finger when I hear a few sudden gunshots. Does that fucking have no basic fucking manners!?

“A LITTLE QUIET PLEASE, SOME OF US ARE WORKING HERE" I yell at Ace outside.

“YEAH SORRY." I hear two more. “HEY, REMEMBER THE TENTACLE MONSTER THING?" Why do I feel I won't like this?.

“YES?" You gotta be kidding me… OW! Fuck, I got distracted and burned myself a little with the plasmas tool again..

“WELL, THAT POOR BASTARD WASN'T THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY THE WEIRD CASE ENERGY…" I hear glass break and a couple more shots.

“DON'T TELL ME THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE!" Just what I needed, this day keeps getting better and better. OW!! FUCK, I HATE WORKING LIKE THIS.

“NOT QUITE, THESE ONES ARE MUCH MUCH WEAKER BUT THERE ARE MANY OF THEM. LIKE, A LOT MORE." We really should set up comms so we don't just scream like imbeciles at each other. “I THINK A BUNCH OF CIVILIANS GOT CURIOUS ABOUT THE BRIEFCASE TOO." Great… Just great. I hear flesh being torn or cut followed by more wet noises… Disgusting… I can also smell my singed fur, but that is besides the point.

“YOU DEAL WITH IT, YOU LEFT IT OUT THERE SO YOU WORK FOR YOUR FUCKING NEGLIGENCE!" I'm almost finished anyway.

“I THINK IF I TOUCHED IT AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP LIKE THEM, OR WORSE!" Yeah well, that's true, whatever the briefcase was doing to people I don't want to know what could it have a red Light user doing… Scary…. “THESE ONES ARE KINDA WEAK BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM!" Yes, you said that already…

This is so annoying. Here I am busting my ass off fixing my AI while in a screaming contest with a fucker who I met a couple of hours ago after he and his immortal dog tried to kill me, kidnap me, OR BOTH…

Truly this is not my day.

AHA! I'm done! Finally a ray of light on this award-winning shitty day! looking at the collar in front of me, I can see it's finally ready. Not a perfect job and it could clearly be done in a better way, but meh. I did great considering the situation.

I hear the sound of shattering glass, followed by a crash to the store's gardening section to my right. In what appears to be a horror display the writhing blackened body of a nonrecognizable species's female slowly stands up, bones audibly twist and turn as her decaying face snaps back into place looking at me with predatory hunger in her barren eyes. A slight shimmering of purple leaks out of them. Her unhinged lower jaw allows for her long tongue to just hang out of her maw. Black thick liquid drips from her unusable tongue…

Yay, as if I didn't have enough nightmare fuel already.

“Listen here, zombie tits!" I point an accusatory finger at the ghoulish visage a couple of meters from me as she slowly inches towards me in an awkward stride. “I have had the shittiest of days, I have been stabbed, beaten the crap out of, almost eaten by a porn monster, learned that I'm somehow dying, fucked over by my employer AND NOW I have to work with the weirdest pair I've ever met!" I put on the collar, grab my rifle, and wait for Panini to boot back up. “So don't you fuck me with or I'll fucking show what it is like when you piss off and enhanced elite mercenary and his overpowered AI!"

Greetings, Master Ripley.

More blackened beings pour into the room with me. They crawl on the walls, the ceiling, and some even slither on the ground with their blackened barely functioning limbs… No matter, with Panini back up this will be as easy as-

_Warning. Low power. Please recharge this unit. Shutting down now. _

Did she just-

…

I feel the buzz from my collar stop, and her feed disappears from my vision. The zombie-like assholes are very close now…

…

FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCKKK!

“YOU MOTHERFUCKERS, PIECES SHIT, I JUST FUCKING HAD IT WITH ALL OF THIS!" **I just cream, rage, shoot and destroy everything in my sight. “ *I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT WITH THIS FUCKING SHIGMASHIT OF THE FUCKING FUCKS OF BALLS AND CRAPS!"* I don't even know what the hell I'm saying but I don't even fucking care. I'm LIVID.

Black gore explodes from every side out of the now small army invading the store, the kick from The Devil every time I shoot feels oddly satisfying. “** DIE YOU FUCKING HORROR-VID REJECTS, GET YOUR FUCKING ASSES OUT OF MY DAMNED SIGHT AND CRAWL INTO A FUCKING BLACK HOLE TO DIE EVEN MORE. YOU WHOSHALORRRG AAAAARRGHH ***!"* Whoever said that screaming bloody nonsensical murder wouldn't solve your problems or that violence was not the answer needs to be thrown into a sewer. Each blown-up zombie brain or tore up torso brings a sick satisfaction to my sour mood.

That shit is therapeutic as fuck.

After a bit more screaming and a lot of shooting, I am left completely alone standing over the dozens of corpses of zombie-like fuckers. I'm breathing heavily, not because I am dying like before, this is a good kind of gasping for breath, the one you get after a good workout or a long fuck session… I guess I should try slaying a mob of zombie-like monsters to let off some steam every now and then. I see one hand raising up out of the corpse pile. “Fuck you." I quickly shoot it off, no further movement is seen.

See that Panini? I don't even need you to help me take down these horror freaks.

“Wow- That was kinda a lot, don't you think?" I hear Ace's voice, turning to my right I can see the human casually leaning against a crate. He is also munching on what appears to be a chocolate bar. “I mean, you look much more relaxed but you gotta agree this was kinda extreme don't you think?" He takes another bar out of his snack. “This is also really good, want a bite?" I just stare at him. Is he seriously offering a snack now?...

Eh, might as well.

I raise my hand signaling him to throw it at me. Without hesitation, he does just that. He aimed perfectly right at my raised hand. Hmm, I never tried this brand of chocolate… I wonder if the mutt were to eat this would he get food poisoning? Probably would just blow past it since he doesn't die. It may not even give him a stomachache. Looking at the remains of the snacks I get rid of the wrapper and just finish what's left…

It's good.

The sweet taste also gets me in a better mood. It is very tasty. “You just stood there while I was getting mobbed by dozens of these things." I'm surprised how there is not any animosity behind what I said.

“You seemed like you were handling yourself pretty well…" He suddenly looks kinda sad as he directs his attention to the corpses lying around. “Though I feel bad for them. What will their families think?"

“That they got turned into fracking monsters by some unknown stuff. They won't ever know Serono is to blame for this, he was the one that set me up." I say bitterly.

“The Fleeting Lights will be blamed for this as usual, and I doubt even this Serono guy knows about the effects of the briefcase." He looks deep in thought. “I've never seen anything like it."

“What's that about Serono?" I ask, walking over to where he is, I am wary of any of the corpses lying around springing back to life.

“Well, this is too elaborate. Hiring a third party to deliver an extremely dangerous thing that takes over people and turns them into whatever those things were, then hire the Fleeting Lights to kill the third party and get that very same thing?" He stands up walking towards a broken window. I follow him. “Seems to me he wanted the thing to break havoc at F.L. HQ and use you as a disposable delivery boy." We both get out of the store through the broken window.

“That asshole has some smarts but not so much to be coming up with something so elaborate." Since I've known him most of his plans come from others. He just takes the credit. “So what now?"

“Nothing, we find my target, help not die from that thing in your chest, I'll have Stygian cash in a few favors for me to deal with Serono and get your sister to safety." He says as we walk the streets. I realize his sclera is no longer black, it's white as it's common for humans.

“Where is the mutt by the way?" I ask, after we blew up the thing, Ace sent him away to check out our surroundings. I haven't seen nor heard from him since then.

“I'm right here…" I may or may have not jumped a bit from the sudden voice to my other side.

The mutt was standing tall, black gore stuck to him everywhere and there were chunks of fleshy stuff stuck to his muzzle.

“Where the fuck were you!?" I snap at him. I hate being snuck on.

“I just went for a bite.“ He smiles with way too many teeth and fangs. “WHY is he still here?" He turns to Ace, ignoring me completely.

“He is with us temporarily to help me get my target." The human replies as he resumes walking. “Also please tell me you weren't eating the remains."

“Uhh." the mutt laughs awkwardly while scratching the back of his neck. “You know how I get the munchies when I'm away from you and they were just… There, not like anyone will miss them and just took like a chunk or two."

“Stygian…"

“I'm SORRY, OKAY? I'M TRYING!" The dog whines like a puppy, he looks about ready to cry. He puckers up his lower lip and he has the biggest puppy eyes I've seen.

“We'll deal with this later…" The human ain't buying it, though. “ I need you to do something for me while Ripley helps me with some stuff." I prefer not to involve myself in the conversation, Ace probably knows what he is doing.

“Who's Ripley?" Okay, maybe I do need to involve myself in the conversation.

“I'M Ripley." The dog gives me the stink eyes before turning to his human partner.

“Can I eat him after all this is done?"

“NO." Both Ace and I say in unison.

_________________________________________________________

Several minutes later

After only finding a small number of those weird things, reluctantly giving Rika's info to Ace and some arguing from me and the insufferable mutt we come upon civilization once more… at least what passes for civilization in this backwater planet and its undercity. I can see poor aliens of every kind doing their best in their day-to-day life just to survive, covering themselves with rags and whatever they can find to cover up their bodies. A few junkies lie passed out in corners. Probably coming down from the drug version of A.E.R.

All in all the sight is fucking depressing.

“So you need to contact Sasha and tell her to find Rika E' Wain and place her in the protection program." Ace explains to the mutt for what feels like the hundredth time.

“And where do I contact her again?" And for what feels like the hundredth time the mutt forgets where to contact her.

“There is a brothel called 'The Sultry Loban.' Find it and ask the Satarian twink at the lobby 'where can I find the grasp ephemeral?' and he should handle it from there…" I gotta grant it to Ace, the Human has a thousand times more patience than me. I feel like gunning down the annoying mutt and I'm not the one explaining stuff to him. “Do you understand now?" The human questions.

“I uh- guess so?" Something tells me the mutt didn't. “Remind me again why can't you come with me? I'll miss you!" The huge dog invades Ace's personal space, leaning down to smother the human in affection.

“Stygian you are all sticky with that sickening black gooey stuff. Get a bath first, THEN we'll talk!" The human is less than enthusiastic about the black oily smears on his face now. He softly pushes the whining huge smelly dog away with a hand.

“Oh but you ARE going with him are you!?" The dog points a claw at me. “Is that it!? Are you replacing me with this pipsqueak!?" He whines more and he gets all teary-eyed. The human groans in exasperation at the clear overdramatic display. I'm not even mad at the pipsqueak comments. I'm just wondering if it would hurt to just blow my brains out to end my suffering from these two… Endure it for Rika and the kids, Ripley… Just a bit more…

“Drop it, Styx. By the way, I need a recharge. I have used too much Light, and I'm starting to feel lightheaded because of it." Huh? a recharge?

“Sure, anything you ask, honey." The mutt lifts Ace's chin with his tail in a seductive manner, the human is just unimpressed. “I could always… Top you off, if you get I mean." If gazes could fuck, Ace would have been gangbanged a hundred times over by now with the look Slavey gives him,

“Not the moment Styx." The human calmly moves the mutt's dual rattles away. “It may be a couple of days before we see each other again, the recharge may come in handy." The mutt places his gargantuan hand on the Human's cheek, almost engulfing his entire head.

“Ask anything of me and I WILL deliver, Boo." Slavey lovingly caresses the Human's cheek. I see a yellow glow from the point of contact. Soon after Ace's eyes glow a bit, and his sclera turns black again for about 3 seconds before turning back to white.

Did he just absorb Light out of the mutt?... Did the mutt even have light in the first place? This is the first time that I have heard about a Light user 'Recharging'... Then again, I'm not a Light user so it may be common among them. They are very secretive about their stuff to us Lightless folk.

“Ahem." I clear my throat, interrupting the lovely-dovey display from the mutt. The human moves away from the huge dog as he walks toward me. As he arrives right in front of me, he raises a slender finger and touches the tip of it to my collar. I feel a faint shock of electricity but I don't comment on it. What did he just do?

Good evening, Master Ripley, You Have 99 unread mails.

Okay, fine, I just found out Light users can recharge their devices by just touching them. One other reason to add to the “Why Lightbearers think they are better than others" list. It will go right by the one about using their powers for kinky purposes.

“So, are you some kinda battery now?" I ask. I'm sure there was some kinda fictional creature that humans believed in that charged stuff up… It was some kinda small yellow fearsome creature I think.

“HA!" I hear the annoying mutt's high-pitched chuckle. His laughter is even more annoying than his personality… It also creeped me out. “If anyone here is a battery it would be me!" He points a thumb to his huge pec, grinning wide. “I'm the one in charge of getting Acey-boo back on his feet when he runs out of steam."

Light users run out of steam, huh. didn't know that.

“How often does he need a recharge?" What can I say, I'm a curious guy that likes knowledge. The mutt raises a white-tipped finger to reply when the human butts in.

“HE is right here…" Okay I should have been a bit less obvious. “And no, no user recharges like me, if you really gotta know." Huh, guess I could have just asked him then.

Good to know.

We walk a bit more in semi-silence except for some questions from the mutt who forgot what he had to do AGAIN… I can understand how the human beat me now, he is basically a Galactic villain. An infamous hitman for the F.L…. But I'm ashamed that mutt almost killed me too, forget that he can't die. The dude is dumber than a rock… A fucking ROCK! I honestly have NO idea how the human puts up with him. The mutt is also CLINGY, he invades the human's vicinity every chance he gets, and every time he does, he looks at me with venom in his eyes, as if I'm about to take a toy from a puppy. I reply in kind using one of my middle fingers in a gratuitous invite to fuck off.

the streets around us become more crowded as we go towards the richer parts of the city. Ace stops right in the middle of a medium-sized busy street. Aliens go to and fro bumping into each other, metalloid pipes adorn the buildings and walls. There are several stands and small businesses. The black market sure thrives in a place like this. “Why are we stopping?" I ask the human who seems to be evaluating something while the huge dog is in his own world humming to a tune.

“This seems like a good place to get arrested." Well, I guess if you caused a scene you could-

Wait, what?

“Arrested!?" I shout. He can't be serious. “I thought you didn't mean it like that!"

“How else would I mean 'We need to get arrested'?" He has the AUDACITY to look at me as if I'M the weird one.

“Even I know what that means." Slavey chimes in.

“I wasn't talking to you, fleabag." I snap at the dog. I turn to the Human again. “If I get arrested how can I know you are gonna stick to your word!?"

The human sighs, covering his face with one hand. “Okay, I TRIED to be civil and did everything I could to avoid any conflict." conflict!? He fucking destroyed me in a fight a couple of hours ago! “This next part of the plan will go much smoother if you just don't interfere, sorry in advance." Oh hell no."Styx…"

“You fucking don't- ah!" I feel a sharp prickle in my left buttcheek. Looking behind me I catch sight of the Aswad'Yakul's dual rattles retreating, their poisonous tips retracting in their sheathes, dripping a bit of my blood as they quickly retract. When did the mutt get behind me?

Warning. Strong sedative substance detected.

“Yeah, no shit, Murdock." Was Murdock the name in that human expression? I'm pretty sure it wasn't. Why are human expressions so weird yet so satisfying to use?... Why does it matter? “Fuck, I'm dizzy…" I slur, barely comprehensible. That venom sure acts quickly, those tales of Aswad'Yakuls and their venom used as a sedative are true. I'm stumbling to the ground in no time, my arms feel like brittle twigs, my legs feel like jelly, and my tongue feels like it weighs a ton.

But hey, I'm at least not dying, or screaming my lungs out, so he didn't use the lethal variation of their sting…

Warning. Unable to break down hostile substance. Imminent loss of consciousness.

“Peeneenee… I… Uh- Sheeit, ah' an' phink' or'- Fyuck'" My face kisses the ground in an unsavory show of my appreciation for this shithole of a planet. “Srew' ya'... Biach'" I direct last barely comprehensible words before blacking out to the blurry human pulling a gun out of his pocket. He kneels in front of my writhing body… Architects, I must look pretty pathetic now.

“Don't worry, Rippy." I regret having told him my name. “You just leave everything to me and Styx, we'll take it from here. Trust us!" I turn my now unfocused eyes as best as I can to the mutt who is clearly not paying attention at all as he takes a selfie with a homeless squid-like Alien using his Vidcomm.

The human slaps his forehead in disappointment for what feels like the thousandth time as we witness the scene in front of us. “Okay, I have this… Breathe Ace, you can do it." Ace says. My tongue uselessly rolls out of my mouth as I can't officially control my numb body anymore. The human stands up, shooting wildly into the air. Aliens of every kind and size run in panic and scream as Ace keeps shooting into de air. “Yes. I'm evil, call the cops, or I'll take over the world along with my two evil minions… Fear me, peasants…" It would have been a very good evil speech, were it not for the bored monotone as fuck tone he used. The fucker isn't even raising his voice-

Wait… MINION!?

No real evil intentions detected, Master Ripley.

“Mhn- HNNmmm!" FUCK Y'ALL. “MNH NHM MHMNNH!" I AM NO MINION!

“Fear meee…" The bitch ignores my futile attempts at communication, he even has the fucking AUDACITY to yawn while he fakes being a danger to society. I don't care that my vision is getting darker and that it's getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open, I WILL BE HEARD AND-

…

..

.

Loss of consciousness detected. Playing 'Ambient Rain' by singer Oriana Pequena, album collections 'Snoozy Doozy'.

________________________________________________

Have you realized?

you didn't win

you couldn't

I hope

that you do better on this path

otherwise

.

.

.

there is truly no hope

.

.

.

Calm.

So incredibly calm.

I look at the scenery around me. chunks of buildings, houses, ships, and the land itself are ripped off of the surface and sent floating into the sky above us. Bodies. Countless bodies from the war we just went through are aimlessly drifting away into the nothingness above us, I recognize a few faces and wonder… Is this about to be our fate too?.

I look at the sky. The gargantuan dark spot with its violet rim is still there, looming over us. I see how it breaks down all that comes near to it into nothing, It swallows the main Council ship with ease. Its main deck alone could easily fit two entire cities in it, yet its great size and vast weaponry stand no chance to the black infinite void that is swallowing it up… I wonder if anyone managed to escape on time… Not that it matters.

It will eventually get us all.

Everyone.

Everything.

All…

It was bound to happen.

“It's unfair." I respond, there is no emotion in my voice… Architect only knows I have nothing else to keep living for.

He is still breathing… For now.

I look down at my lap. A human's head is lying on it, looking up at me. His chest heaves up and down as blood seeps from the wound in his chest. There is a nasty wound on his head. His left arm is bending in a way it shouldn't. His right leg is burned beyond recognition… The betrayal that left him in this state is still fresh in my mind… I know he won't make it, I know that… WE won't make it, I'm sure of that. I shouldn't care about how he feels, all of this is pointless after all, we lost… Then why?

Why can't I stop stroking his hair? Why can't I stop trying to ease his pain? Why can't I stop looking into his red eyes, telling him we're gonna get through this? Why can't I stop the tears from flowing out of my eyes?

Because he is the only one that is left.

“You can't die on me- T-this is just a scratch- A-and-And we'll be having those terrible pansy Humie drinks you like!" I plead to whoever or whatever.

Everyone else is dead.

I try to smile reassuringly at him. It's pointless, I know… “You'll be okay, just-" My voice breaks. My own wounds taking their toll on me, I can barely breathe as it is too. Most of my ribs are broken. My left hand is somewhere among the rubble. One of my ears is gone and there is half of a broken sword stuck in my side. “Don't-..." I clutch his jacket. His dumb favorite jacket. “Don't leave me alone…" I plead with a broken voice, the lump in my throat my greatest obstacle now. A sob escapes me.

You were never meant to win…

My tears fall freely on his face. I try to stop myself from crying so pathetically, I really do… But alas, I don't even have the strength to contain my own emotions… Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK, FUCK! FUCK!. I slam the ground with my remaining hand in frustration. I don't even have the strength to make a dent in it anymore.

I scream. A raw guttural wail of anguish and hopelessness.

The fat cat, the mutt, Rika, the Olinovs, Meep, the crazy cop, Rossette, Alticia, Carina Anne, Romanus, Litio, Ringer, little Tonee, and the rest of the kids, countless other lives… All of them… gone.

Every journey has an end… Unfortunately, this time…. this was yours.

A hand weakly strokes the side of my muzzle. I look down to see him looking worriedly at me. Even when you're dying you still think you need to look out for others. I lean into the touch, funny how I would have never done this back when we first met.

_Did you make up your mind about forgiving him for all he did before? _

I guess I did…

“Hey now… We'll be… fine-... all… planed, right?" I've never seen him cry, even know he is trying to smile at me, attempting to reassure me and calm me with a stupid joke.

I know this is hard. It is how it was supposed to be, however. All your choices- All his choices. Led to this very moment. Right here, right now. Maybe there was something you could have done to prevent this outcome. Maybe you could have ended up worse than now. Maybe you could have saved some of your loved ones… Yet, sacrifices need to always be made. Remember that.

“Rippy." His weak voice brings me out of my stupor. I focus my undivided attention on him. I don't know whether to call him by the name I knew him for when I first met him or his real name. I know he still has some gripes about it.

I see his mouth moving.

I hear the words flow out of his lips fluently. My one remaining ear fixated on every syllable, Every inflection of his tone, every take of breath… I start crying again… But this time it's different. This time it's happy tears. of all the times he had to choose to say that. Did it really have to be THIS one time!?... Better late than never, Heh… Fuck…

“You are such an asshole you know that, right?" I say through a weak chuckle as more tears fall from my eyes. I sniff trying to compose myself. The violet glow from the thing in the sky gets exponentially brighter by the second as it draws closer to us.

“Better late than never… You said that before, right?" He smiles. His face is cast in a shade of deep violet glow now. I can barely hear the destruction around us as the ground cracks and the surrounding debris lazily drifts skyward.

“Took you long enough, You jerk." I smile at him despite our soon-to-be demise. The ground below us cracks. The earth splits open. Magma erupts from the cracks. I hear some explosions go off, probably from some remaining ships. I grab as hard as I can onto him. I hold him as if it was the last time.

It is, Ripley… I am sorry.

I bury my nuzzle in the nape of his neck, inhaling his scent one last time. We are drifting towards our death, with nothing to do about it… Yet, after hearing what he had to say- I can't really say I'm not giddy about it. At least we are in this together… At least I'm not alone. I grip tighter, and he weakly circles his arms around me as much as he can.

“Me too." I finally reply to his words from earlier. “Me too, you stupid idiot."

I hold him for one last time.

I just wish-…

I just wish we could have done something different…

…

..

.

________________________________________

Hours later

Ripley

“DON'T!" I wake up abruptly. My lungs feel on fire, my muscles aches and my heart longs for-...

For what?

What was I dreaming about?

What is this primal fear I feel?

What is this feeling of dread?

Good Evening, Master Ripley. Did you have good sleep?. You have 105 unread mails. You slept for: 1.23 hours. Do you wish to initiate a wake-up routine?

Note to self, Upgrade the fuck out of Panini's portable version.

“Cancel" I say. I go to rub my head to try to alleviate the sudden headache I'm sporting when I realize my hands are encased in a pure white metal orb, wiggling my legs a bit I realized my boots are encased in the same contraption. A beam of shimmering yellow A.E.R. energy connects the two orb-like cuffs. Despite how complex and 'tech-y' the devices look I'm pretty sure I could easily break out with my enhancements.

“Ghmf Mhmfn" I snap my head towards the sound. I realize three things. One, I got arrested along with Ace, just like the human wanted. Two, we are most likely in the back of a council Law Enforcerer vehicle… Three… This sight has sure as hell made all the trouble worth it.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!" I double over in laughter, I even feel tears escape my eyes. I try to grab my aching sides as much as I can with these cuffs on.

In front of me is Ace, in all his seriousness looking pathetic as fuck. The fucker is splayed out in an X shape in a circular pure grey metallic ring, each limb outstretched along the rim and each one encased in similar but thicker cuffs to my own. The miserable-looking human was also hanging upside down as the contraption was suspended from the vehicle's ceiling, his mouth was also covered in a weird metallic muzzle strap for a human that prevented him from speaking clearly. The look on his face- Fuck, the look on his face is priceless. He has the most 'I am done with my life, have hit rock bottom and just want to end my existence' look on his upside-down face. I honestly can't contain my laughter.

“NHT FHMMG" He tries to yell.

“What!? I can't hear understand you! I don't speak 'pet-humie'! HAHAHA" Payback sure feels good.

“NHT FHMMG" He tries with more anger and frustration, he wiggles in the ring's hold to no avail. He glares daggers at me with those blood-red/black eyes of his. Tiny red Light sparks shoot out of his eyes. An elaborate tech collar with tiny red dots wrapped around his neck beeps and all the sparks fizzle out, his eyes no longer glowing or with a black sclera.

“HA! NOT SO TOUGH NOW WITHOUT YOUR LIGHT, HUH!?" Yes. I'm being an asshole…. After the day I had. I regret nothing. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" And yes, despite how miserable he looks and the situation we found ourselves in I continue to laugh my ass off.

After one of the shittiest days of my life, I think I fucking deserve it, right?

Of course, I do!

You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master. Do you wish for me to save this moment in the 'Good Times' album? The current free space is 97%.

“FUCK YES!" I stifle through the laughter.

Maybe this day isn't as shitty as I thought.