FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 25 The Fall of Veloci

---

Several months have gone by since the expansion projects by Crisis’ army. The founding of several new bases and the draw of new people to commit themselves to becoming machines gave a major boon to Crisis force. Despite the fact that many of her new troops were under command of other nations, because they worked closely with Crisis’ forces has provided many immense benefits. One of which was the recent fall of one of the hardest fought city in the war thus far, the city of Veloci.

“You sure you want to visit the city Crisis?” asks Joshua as he, Crisis and Sasha sit in the back of a truck with a few of her own soldiers armed and ready, their normal green paint scheme these mechanical soldiers has been altered to have a white and black camouflage. Joshua and Sasha are dressed in thick winter jackets and long pants; while Joshua wears a civilian brown attire.

“Of course I do, and don’t forget General Raszer is going to be there with a press conference, and he wanted me to especially be there to share in this moment.”

“Yeah, I know, but how secure is this city? Do we know if we’ve gotten everyone?”

“The last known fighting in the city happened three days ago, if there was much of anyone left I think we’d know,” replies Crisis.

“Maybe, but with general Raszer coming, I’m sure they are upping the number of troops and if there is anyone left I doubt they get very far,” replies Sasha.

“This is true… so how long till the press conference?” asks Joshua

“Soon, but I wasn’t informed of the exact time though,” answers Crisis as the truck squeaks and rocks as it moves, small glimpses from the back show a white and wintery terrain outside and once the truck stops and the Crisis and the others disembark they are greeted to the winter wasteland that is… or at least was the city of Veloci.

A thin blanket of snow covers the ruins of the once beautiful city; Crisis looks around, as she stands on the same road that she walked down when she first infiltrated the city a long time ago. She could barely recognize any of the buildings; they were shadows of their former selves which gave Crisis a surreal feeling.

“Place has changed a lot since I was last here… it’ll take some time to fix this,” comments Joshua.

“Damn Croc, destroying everything he touches,” remarks Sasha.

“Yeah… he really did,” says Crisis as she thinks, “ __The city was still pristine from what I saw when I was here_ …_ it was us trying to get the city back that led it to the condition it is in now.”

“Ah Crisis you’re here, good, come with me the news conference will be beginning soon,” exclaims General Raszer as he approaches Crisis, as the entire area around the general is crawling with armed guards that almost put Sasha’s armed preparedness to shame… almost.

“Excellent,” replies Crisis as General Raszer motions Crisis to follow.

“Oh and Joshua you can wait on the side till we’re done. I think its best those with experience with these kind of people handle this, Sasha just do what you do best,” orders Raszer.

“Yes sir,” she replies as she turns to Joshua and whispers, “Sorry about this.”

“Its fine, I understand this is a big moment,” sighs Joshua softly as Raszer and Crisis make their way to the conference. Raszer adjusts his heavy black and white winter coat as the sound of snow being crushed under their feet is heard with every step.

“Gaining this city took a lot of effort, and with this under our control, the pace of liberating our country will increase once again,” comments Crisis.

“It’s still a very long road ahead of us, and we still must tread lightly when it comes to these victories, the other nations are watching us like hawks. They’re just looking for another reason to bring you back to New Hope City and dismantle you in the name of their antiquated treaty.”

“Yes sir, I understand, it’s a difficult time for everyone.”

“Good, which brings me to the point I want to make, I don’t want you to answer any questions, let me handle it.”

“What? But my armies have put just as much if not more into it, and I represent them, I should at least be able to say something.”

“You won’t say anything and your armies are my armies, you work under me for our nation or did you forget that?”

“No sir, I have not forgotten, everything I do is for the continued survival of our nation and to the destruction of Chaos Croc and his forces.”

“Good to hear. I do this for your own protection remember that. It’s not that I don’t think you had any effort in this glorious victory, on the contrary your forces have helped tremendously, and the efforts you’ve made are beyond my expectations. If I thought what you’ve done wasn’t helpful, I wouldn’t have had you here to share in this historic moment, where our country has clearly turned the tide of battle and the return of our lost glory is at hand. We no longer have to wonder if our early victories were some kind of fluke, we are no longer a broken people, a broken nation, we are whole again and it is thanks you.”

“I suppose, I appreciate the sentiment though.”

“Then will you help me help our country and do what I require of you?”

“Of course, I’m always ready to help,” replies Crisis.

“Excellent,” says General Raszer as he and Crisis reach the group of reporters eager to hear from the general. As they get closer, Crisis can see the elevated stage that was constructed for this conference, armed guards keep the reporters at bay and in the front of the stage as Crisis and Raszer approach the stage from the back. A podium with at least a half a dozen microphones set up, the snow being brushed off by a guard before they are turned on.

General Raszer’s approaches the podium as he takes a slow deep breath and releases it. His breath visible as he looks over the group, Crisis stands off to the side watching, noticing three fourths of the reporters there are from Dromaeosa and her allies.

“Thank you all for coming, it’s good to see so many here on this historic occasion. During this long course of this war, we’ve lost a lot of things, but when the city of Veloci fell several years ago, it left a hole in our nation, not just on the map but in everyone of us. It has always been the shining beacon of our nation, the center piece, the crowning Jewel of our land, and though this jewel has been dulled due to the war, but this city will rise from the ashes, just like we have. We’ll rebuild this city, bigger, better than ever before,” he declares as cameras flash and the questioning from the reporters begin.

Crisis stands there with her claws behind her back, standing upright, and each time a question was attempted to be proposed towards her, General Raszer intervened and answered the question instead and as the news conference drew on longer and longer, Crisis flicked her tail behind her a bit more quickly as she stood there in complete silence and on display to those before her then came the bomb shell question...

“Why is it General Raszer do you keep on preventing Crisis from answering any questions we direct to it? We already know from her time spent in New Hope City that she can clearly speak for herself,” asks a snake reporter.

“Simple, she’s a piece of equipment. Unlike those who have made the huge sacrifice and given up their organic bodies to fight the evils of Chaos Croc, Crisis here was built for that sole purpose, to defeat Chaos Croc. She is a piece of equipment nothing more than that. She wasn’t an organic raptor before, she was constructed unlike everyone else in her army. You don’t ask a computer or a tank in how it did in a war now do you now?”

“ __Damn you General Raszer..._ ”_ thinks Crisis as her tail flicks even harder behind her, her hand claws twitching.

“Then tell me Crisis how do you feel about General Raszer’s statement about your state of being and purpose?” asks the snake as he gives a glance over at Raszer, “You can’t answer this one.”

“Damn those slithering snakes...” thinks Raszer as he gives as he looks over at Crisis, Crisis gives a quick look over at general Raszer before looking at the reporter as he then says.

“You do look a bit annoyed over there, and my sources do say you do exhibit the basic emotions that we have.”

“You’re right, I am annoyed and bothered,” replies Crisis as Raszer gives her a scowl, “I’m forced to stand here and do nothing and show boat for you all, while I have important work to do. Croc isn’t just sitting around in some chair doing nothing, he’s working hard to take over this country, this planet, and I can’t rest till he’s defeated. General Raszer is right, my programming, my reason for being built, my purpose is to defeat Chaos Croc, and standing here is not achieving that, so I am bothered by that yes. General Raszer I know you wanted me here for the press, but I’d like to resume my duties. I was at this city while it was under Croc’s control; I might be able to find something of use to us that others might miss.”

General Raszer looks at Crisis and grins, “Why of course, go right ahead,” he replies as Crisis nods and replies.

“Thank you Sir,” before walking off. In the background Crisis hears the reporters remark on her comment.

“Did Crisis just say it was at Veloci while under Croc’s control? Can you give us more information on that?”

As Crisis walks away from the stage she is stopped by Joshua with Sasha standing beside him, Joshua looks at Crisis as his claws gently touch each other as he speaks, “You didn’t really mean what you said up there did you? You are far more than that.”

“Maybe....” she mumbles before saying a bit louder, “I had to find a way to get off that stage, I was just there for show and treated much like I was at New Hope City, and I really do have work to do. I want to go over the areas I’ve been to before when Croc was in control. I might be able to catch something that others have missed,” explains Crisis.

“Okay, I’ll accompany you,” replies Joshua.

“As will I, I have to keep an eye on you,” says Sasha with a grin as she adjusts her large sniper rifle on her back.

“Alright but won’t be anything spectacular,” explains Crisis as they walk through the bombed out city, their feet causing the layer snow to crunch under their weight, and as they moved Crisis metallic body began to cool, causing some of the snow to stick to her metal exterior rather than melt outright, some of it even melting in one spot and refreezing before breaking off when Crisis moves.

“This is... was the cultural district of the city, what could we find here?” asks Joshua.

“There was a lot going on here when I last visited, just let me look,” replies Crisis as she makes her way to the robotic wash. The building still stands but is blackened and charred from combat the sign is on the ground mostly covered by rubble, allowing only a few letters to be visible to Crisis. Crisis looks over the area playing over memories of her time here over the rubble terrain. Sees Hanna in her reply taking her inside.

She walks in deeper her metallic feet crushing random debris and glass as Joshua stands at the door and asks, “What could be here?”

“Just let me look around and we’ll see,” remarks Crisis.

“Okay, be careful,” replies Joshua as Crisis walks in further, she sees dust and debris everywhere as she moves. She walks through the doors towards the robotic wash facility itself she finds the entire part of this building bombed out. The snow covers everything in a ghostly white blanket. The machines that were used to wash her body are completely destroyed and there is no sign of anyone here, not even a single body, it’s completely devoid of anyone who used to be here. Crisis looks around for a few more minutes looking at each nook and cranny of the building, touching a random wall which partially collapses the instant she touches it.

“You okay? I thought I heard something,” asks Joshua.

“I’m fine,” replies Crisis as she heads back to the entrance where Joshua looks at Crisis with a sense of worry, his claws gently touching themselves as Sasha stands there with a predator eyes.

“Find anything?” asks Sasha.

“Nope, but there are still other places to check,” she replies as she leads the group down towards the casino where Crisis Hanna first met, “Let me look in here.” Crisis looks at the casino, its glory days long gone as the windows are smashed and blown out. Half of the hotel that was connected to the Casino was completely gone and the other half was barely able to stand with major holes and exploded floors throughout the structure. The wind whistles through the building as small snow tornadoes are made in rooms that used to be reserved only for high rollers.

“Why here? It’s a casino,” inquires Joshua.

“You even mentioned it in your reports this was a casino with possible mind control center, so our troops were cautious so before approaching they bombed the hell out of it,” comments Sasha.

“I know, but I still want to check it out, and don’t worry I can handle myself against any possible functioning hypnotism machines left in there, but you two stay out here just to be safe,” warns Crisis.

“Are you sure?” asks Joshua.

“Do you want to suddenly find yourself saying, ‘I obey Master Croc’?” asks Crisis with a chuckle.

“Good point,” replies Joshua as he stands outside with Sasha, he tightens up the coat before putting his claws into his coat pockets. Crisis steps inside, as more glass breaks under her weight as the sound echoes throughout the building. Poker tables, slot machines are knocked over many in a half circle fashion as the former defenders made some of their last stands in this room. Bullet shells litter the place as Raptor troops made their way through this building only a few days ago.

“ __I hope she made it out of here... but then how would she? I did look over the prisoner manifest and nothing popped up as a captured fox in rubber,_ ”_ thinks Crisis as she jumps over the fallen objects as she continues to scour the area. She finds various bits and pieces of robots that were part of Croc’s army, even stumbling onto a few dead soldiers of Croc’s army that have yet been bothered to be moved.

“ __I don_ ’ t see anything that could have been her... ”_ she thinks as she leaves the building about an hour since she entered.

“What took you so long?” asks Joshua.

“I was making a thorough search,” she replies, “I didn’t go into the main hotel that place is just too badly damaged, but you saw me for half the time I was there, relax I’m fine,” remarks Crisis.

“So what were you looking for in there? Seems to me that you won’t find any Croc secrets in the places you’ve been looking,” comments Sasha.

“You don’t know Croc as well as I do, he’s a bit crafty like that,” replies Crisis as she gives a sigh, “But we should check the main communication center.”

“I figured that be the first place we should have looked.”

“It’s the first place the others would look too, and it’s one of the most heavily bombed areas of the city, odds of finding anything of real note is slim,” explains Crisis as the trio plow their way towards the industrial side of the city, there was even worse than the cultural district. Giant creators litter the landscape making it a hazardous trek. Inside many of the creators are vehicles that got trapped within the creators and probably destroyed shortly after falling inside. Members of Crisis’ army and that of General Raszer are currently working to salvage several of these wrecks, most were from her own armies but a few were from Croc’s forces as well.

“Very strange...” comments Sasha as they walk through the area.

“What is it?” asks Joshua.

“You thinking what I am thinking Crisis? You of all people know just how much military equipment Croc threw at us to hold this city.”

“I’m quite aware and now you mention it, I do agree,” replies Crisis.

“Agree about what? Can one of you tell me?” pleads Joshua.

“The amount of Croc’s military equipment is severely lacking amongst the debris. We fought this area hard, block by block, house by house, fighting large droves of troops, tanks, helicopters yet the amount we’ve captured from prisoners to equipment does not much up to expectations,” explains Sasha.

“Exactly, and it’s not like all of that could just walk up and disappear... wait a moment...” remarks Crisis as she stops in her tracks then a thought hits her head, “ __Could it be that they... but there wasn_ ’ t one here when I visited but that was a while ago... ”_ mumbles Crisis as she sprints towards the communication center.

“Wait, hold up I can’t run that fast!” exclaims Joshua.

“But I can,” replies Sasha with a sly smirk as she passes Joshua up. The trio speeds towards the communication tower. Several of the buildings that Crisis recalls walking through are gone, completely destroyed, nothing but piles of rubble. The entire facility which Crisis sent out her messages was nothing but a pile of brick and twisted metal. Crisis stands before the buildings in the same area where she had her first duel with Croc that led her to being picked by him to be his new prototype. The snow starts to fall even heavier now. The thick fluffy snowflakes stick to Crisis’ cold metal body.

“Not much left here,” comments Sasha.

“I’ve noticed,” replies Crisis as she shakes off some of the snow from her body as she starts to walk and think.

“Damn you girls... you all run... so fast...” pants Joshua.

“You just need to work out more, you’re a shameful excuse of a raptor if you can’t run even that far,” remarks Sasha.

“I would... if I had… the time,” he replies as she tries to get himself standing upright again, adjusting his coat and brushing off some snow before putting his hands back into his pockets.

“Sure you would,” remarks Sasha as she rolls her eyes and sighs before glancing over at Crisis who is still pacing.

“So what’s up with Crisis?”

“Ah I think she had an idea that fell apart upon seeing just how bombed out this area really is. Put a few holes in your idea doesn’t it Crisis?”

“What idea is that?” he asks.

“That parts of the army still have to be around here somewhere, hidden away.”

“What?! There could be a hidden army under the city? We should tell someone, general Raszer needs to know it could be a tra—,” exclaims Joshua as Sasha smacks him upside on the head, “Hey! What was that for?”

“You’re overreacting. We don’t know for sure there is something like that. I think Crisis thought the communication center might have given her some clues about it, but seeing how utterly destroyed it is, it puts her back to square one.”

“I can still hear you from over here,” comments Crisis as she turns to them from halfway across the open field surrounded by the rubble of the bombed out buildings, “And it’s not what you are thinking.”

“Oh then what is it?” asks Sasha as she approaches Crisis. Crisis sighs and walks over to a nearby wall and leans against it.

“It’s something I tried to keep fairly secret except to some of the other higher ups and those part of my research crew.”

“I am part of your research crew, why wasn’t I informed?”

“For safety reasons, now are you going to let me continue?” she asks.

“Alright, sorry... not sure why you are so edgy as of late.”

“I’ve just have had a lot on my mind...” she mumbles to herself before saying, “Anyway Croc has these gates that lead to other places, other planets, it’s how I was able to visit his capital city. Now the only explanation I have is that much of Croc’s forces were moved out of the pocket before the city fell. That would make our great victory over this city less decisive than we’d think, if a majority of Croc’s surrounded forces escaped destruction.”

“Still if we found the gate wouldn’t we be able to use the technology?” asks Joshua.

“Yeah of course but that depends how intact the gate is. That’s why I wanted to come here to see if I can find any records of its location. Maybe there are some pieces or fragments left, but knowing Croc he blew the thing up when the last forces went through,” sighs Crisis.

“Crisis, exactly what do these gates look like?” asks Sasha.

“They are large archway gates that are actually fairly massive, I guess it’s to allow huge objects through them, and when I looked at aerial photographs of the city I couldn’t find anything like that.”

“You were looking from above it’s hard to see objects of that nature, even with three dimensional imaging, but...”

“But what?” asks Crisis as she pushes herself off of the wall some snow that has clung to the wall falls to the ground and sticking to Crisis’ back.

“What do you call that thing you’re leaning on?”

“A wall,” replies Crisis as she keeps her attention on Sasha with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“It seems to be a fairly big wall that arches across the ground there and there if you look closely,” says Sasha as she points along the wall, Crisis follows Sasha’s pointing as a snow covered wall does arch along the open area of the complex, Crisis then looks and sees two mounds of snow spaced equal distance away as the width of the wall. Crisis turns her attention to the place on the wall she was leaning against and sees the metal structure and as she brushes off more snow it becomes apparent that this is the exact thing she was looking for.

“How did I not see this? I was right on top of it and I didn’t even notice!” exclaims Crisis.

“Sometimes when you’re close, you’re too close to see it,” replies Joshua.

“This is more than close I am right on top of it! We’ll have to get a team down here immediately; there is much work to do.”

“Alright, I’ll get someone right away,” replies Joshua.

“No you’ll be with me, Sasha contact my people first then once General Raszer is done with his press conference we’ll contact him.”

“He won’t like being told second,” comments Sasha.

“After what he did to me, he deserves to wait a little bit,” replies Crisis as she thinks, “ __With any luck we can figure out this technology of his and give Croc an expected visit on his home planet..._ ”_