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[i][u]Third Energy Anomaly Report - Subject Twelve ("Reichell Lunar Base")[/u][/i]

[i]02-04-2042[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon[/i]

[i]Subject Twelve arrived in the form of a space station 76 miles above the planet. With a TEF output of 180, it surprised me how compact the place was as more of an asteroid installation base. Reichell Lunar Base was a medical research centre specialising in pharmacology and nanotechnology, manned mostly by sentient plants known as the Supox. I took this chance to meet with the extraterrestrials as a formal excuse to study the moon orbiting around our prehistoric planet, as part of my follow-up research concerning our Third Energy Gate's mysterious connection to the lunar perigee.[/i]

[i]With a small guard we made contact with the Supox and the Director of the base who, after a series of negotiations, agreed to help us on our own moon mission as well as offer their technology to improve our communications tech to keep in touch with our ships travelling further. Due to the highly-experimental nature of their research, we are not at liberty to report specifics on the Reichell Lunar Base as part of our agreements with them but suffice to say, they have been immensely helpful in advancing our technology.[/i]

[i]What we can report however is our findings of the anomaly on the moon that was interfering with our T.E.G. Another human base known as Meridian-5 had been transported there through a flux in spacetime, the crew of which have all died from space asphyxiation. Even more disturbing, not only do they have their own variation of a Third Energy Gate, but their records speak of an entirely different timeline to that of our own, to the point that this base is actually 28 years further in the future from us as well as being from another divergent time.[/i]

[i]For the sake of future reports, Base-Meridian-5 will now be referred to as "Subject Zero" and all reports titled as such will relate to it. "Subject One" will continue to refer to Sgt. Jeremy Holt specifically.[/i]

"Alright," said James, "what do you think of this?"

"Looks quite stablesome to me," said Haytham nodding, "did you remember the artifice equate?"

"Yes it's just down here."

"Ahh yes forgive me my eyes are going."

"You are not THAT old master," said the lemming nudging his ribs.

"I would think fifty-nine is most certainly longevous my dear sproutling."

"Pfffthahahaha, d-do not call me that!"

"And why not, that was what I first called you was it not?"

"W-well, I uh-" James blushed rubbing his neck nervously, "should I call you a grand oak then?"

"If it pleases you yes."

"Okay, WHAT am I looking at?" asked Kevin behind them.

"Uhhh it's clearly a fire spell boss," muttered Adenine.

"Oh right sure it is-wait, how do YOU know about magic, I thought you were alchemists!"

"Ehhhh it's KINDA the same thing!"

"It is not!" said James and Haytham turning to him exact.

"Alchemy is the transmutation of base materials to convert to an antithesis," explained Durai, "magic is the harnessing of elements to empower them through one's very being."

"RIGHT!" cried James with finger upwards. "I mean there are theorems that both fields can utilise but they are very different practices!"

Kevin cocked his head at the open book full of scribblings that more resembled dark infernal codices than anything scientific as Ribose and Adenine looked over its pages with methodical nodding.

"So uh you're using the Robespierre method right?" asked Ribose pointing at the page.

"What do you mean?" asked Haytham.

"That there, the one about polarising thaumaturgy right?"

"Ahhh yes, is that what you call it?"

"I mean I guess yeah."

"You all gonna tell me what you guys are doing," asked Kevin, "cuz I feel my lab's turning into fucking Canterlot at this rate."

"I am trying to formulate a spell," replied James, "so as to increase the power of a gun whilst ALSO offering it unlimited ammunition."

"Wait, didn't you guys do that when you first came here?"

"Yes, but only one of the two."

"Okay sooooo..." Kevin shrugged, "whyyyy you doing this?"

"Because," said the lemming picking up a modern handgun, "I wish to repay Oddclaw for his kindness to me and I think the best way to do so is to fortify his weaponry against potential threats."

"He's done pretty well already without it, you guys asked if he wanted this?"

"Oh of course, he said he would appreciate it greatly to have the strength of fire without fearing for its disuse."

"The problem with our spells," added Haytham, "is that eventually the magic dissipates without a source of renewal, and as such we are forming a feedback system upon itself."

"Feedback system?!" gasped Ade leaning on the counter. "But, the whole point of magic is that YOU are the feedback!"

"That is where the laws of enchantment enter this equation." The scholar walked with James to a fixed stand in the back of the lab. "Now as you know enchantment is a derivative of sorcery relying on thaumatoxids."

"Thauma-what?" muttered Kevin.

"Magic in a solid state that can ingrain itself into an object."

"Have you read Peter Pan, Kevin?" asked James placing the gun in the stand.

"Uhhhh I saw the movie."

"Well, the fairy dust they use is what we call a thaumatoxid, a physical essence of magic that can transubstantiate its properties into another person."

"Aaaaaaah okay I get what you're doing."

"But in order for this spell to work, we need to find a means for the magic to rejuvenate itself in a feedback loop, either by Oddclaw's presence or some form of energy source as constant."

"How about photosynthesis!?" said Ribose on his heels. "Oddclaw lives in the outdoor world surrounded by plants, maybe your spell could mimic that?"

"That was actually one of my ideas yes good thinking!"

"Are you ready lad?" asked Haytham.

"Yes, alright everyone stand back."

Motioning the people back, Haytham and James stood on the other side of a hard plexiglass door with airholes along the side that they closed, leaving the handgun in its stand pointing at the wall with a little button against the trigger. The student and his master took the book from the table and began conjuring the spell between them, weaving their free hands to build up a charge of magic through their bodies combined. Words started flowing from their lips almost subconsciously as the energy built up in their fingers, static sparks of golden strings that became liquid light flowing through the air and into the testing room.

Slowly the tendrils of magic wrapped around the gun and fed into its chamber and melted into the metal, coating its form with a shimmering waxen glow that filled up the room to a blinding degree as Kevin gasped with intrigue whilst Ade and Bose leaned forwards instinctively. There was a sound they had not heard in years, a soft ringing of bells at the edge of their hearing as the influence of magic sowed itself into deeper memories. Kevin heard something different. He heard the sound of burning horses.

"Alright, that should do." James stepped back with Haytham once their chanting finished. "Sir Kevin if you could."

"Uhh, c-como?"

"The gun, could you please activate it?"

"OH, si sorry I was uhhh away there a bit."

He shook his head clear of the flames in his mind as he picked up the remote, aiming towards the test room where the glowing handgun stood ready and poised like a falcon on a cliff. He clicked once, and the world deafened them.

[b][i]BHHHHFFFF![/i][/b]

"H-HOH [i]GODS![/i]"

"[i]A-AAAGH SAVIOUR![/i]"

All of them fell back against the floor with ringing ears and the world unfocused to a blurring miasma of grey and silver. Stumbling against the tables the five of them tried to grab at each other amidst the blinding deafening aura that consumed the room.

"ADE, ADE ARE YOU THERE?!"

"RIBOSE?! RIBOSE PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE ALRIGHT, OH GOD I DON'T WANNA BE ALONE!"

"MASTER, MASTER?!"

"I AM HERE JAMES!"

[b][i]THUNK![/i][/b]

"What happened?!" Chanoch's voice boomed from the door.

"NOTHING!" shouted Kevin. "IT'S FINE EVERYTHING'S FINE!"

"James are you alright?!"

"Ch-CHANOCH?!" The lemming's eyes started to orient themselves in seeing a thick green blur lurch towards him. "I-i'm fine, really I am-"

"Are you hurt?!"

"N-no I am fine honest!"

"Good."

He patted James all over to make sure as he looked over to the other dazed participants, the reptile wearing his casual suit of powder-blue whilst off-duty. He then saw the black-blasted spread of scorched gunpowder across the walls of the testing cubicle as Kevin nodded.

"Welp, congratulations man, you just killed Oddie."

"D-don't you DARE joke about that!" gasped James.

"I'm kiddiiiing but yeah seriously that's going to kill someone-"

"Yes thank you doctor."

"Mayhaps the Tennenbaum ratio was set too high," said Haytham rubbing his beard, "let us retract ourselves on the lithograph once again."

"Yeah but I think you guys need another gun first," said Ribose pointing at the twisted black lump, "unless you got like a repair spell in there."

"Hmmmm...DO we have one, I am not certain, I admit I am not versed in metallurgy so perhaps it would be best to obtain a new weapon."

"Soooo who's going to ask the boss for a gun?" asked Adenine pulling his neck inside his shoulders.

"I am certain I can convince him, provided that we reduce our ratio for the next one."

"I have one." Chanoch raised his hand. "I will give it to you, if you promise not to endanger yourself."

"Are you sure Chanoch?" James asked standing back at the book. "You do not have to-"

"I want to help, but I do not want you in danger."

"Alright, I promise not to endanger myself."

The soldier nodded and placed his handgun on the table, a modified version with a larger trigger guard to fit his thick digits in.

"I will see you after you are done," he said petting the lemming.

"Thank you," he replied with a blushing grin, "I will see you at our appointed place, I haven't forgotten."

Chanoch smiled quietly and left with James keeping his eye on him until he left the room. A sigh escaped him briefly from the sight of his robust tail sloping between his muscular legs beneath a strong back.

"Uhhh, you want us to give you some privacy?" asked Kevin with a nudge.

"Hm-OH YES UM, n-no I am here."

"Hehehehe...don't let your mind wander off in an experiment, I can tell you it don't end well."

"N-no of course not I am focused yes. SO!" He clapped his hands and started rewriting the book. "I think that, if we reduce the ratio by a third, perhaps we can compensate with Antwerp's maxim."

"YES!" said Haytham triumphant. "A capital idea my boy!"

"Thank you again for helping me master."

"Not at all my lad!" He clapped his hand upon James' back. "Tis what I am here for!"

"I meant that I do not want you to ever feel that you are joined to the hip with me," he said rubbing out a few numbers, "I know after everything that's happened before-"

"Ohhh water under the bridge, think nothing of it. Besides I am more of use to you at the moment than I would be to Andrea."

"Why is that?"

"Because currently she is setting up the telecommunique and that is a bit too far beyond my reach." He shrugged wide with a face nonplussed. "Now were she still conferring upon the points diabolique of quantum physics that would be quite certainly up my alley but as it is I would rather much help you in rewarding Oddclaw with a magical gift."

"I truly appreciate this. I want to make Oddclaw's life easier and also to help protect his world better. So," he turned back to the book underlining a theorem, "we have Antwerp's maxim, should we add an additional imperative or is this magic sturdy enough?"

"The worst it can do is simply fizzle out, we shan't have another implosion as that again so let us try without the imperative."

"Alright, let's try again."

Setting up Chanoch's gun into the containment room, they started their experiment with a reformed spell that seemed more dim than the previous incantation. Kevin and the alchemists started inching to the door in case of a quick exodus.

"Everything is ready?" asked Chanoch.

"Yep," said Jane walking alongside, "Andrea set up everything, normally I would do it but she has much better taste than me in these things."

"What do I do until then?"

"Weellllll we do have a games room, you like games surely?"

"Yes."

"Then why don't we just chill and waste some time before James is ready?"

Heading down the halls between humans and the occasional badnik, Jane led him towards one of the more open rooms of the base, one that was much more friendly in its overall greenery with cupboards and tables. Opening one presented them boxes all on top of each other in a variety of colours.

"Hokayyyy let's see we have Scattergories, chess, draughts, Monopoly, backgammon, Scrabble, anything you'd like?"

"I know chess, draughts and backgammon."

"Well I only know chess soooo let's try that!"

She pulled up the chessboard and placed it on a table as they sat down on opposite sides, the soldier feeling the seat creak beneath his weight. Chanoch played white whilst Jane played black, the knight playing defensive with a hard semi-circle round the king that gave Jane a hard time trying to penetrate.

"So how did you and James get together?" she asked moving her bishop close.

"I kissed him," he said placing a knight to intervene, "he was...upset, we were resting from battle."

"Oh...so you initiated."

"Yes."

"Did he take it well?" Jane slid out a rook to come in line with the knight's horse.

"He was surprised. Not certain, but not against it."

"I see...so, why do you like him so much?"

"He defended me," he snatched her rook with a bishop unseen, "his magic inspires me, his words...they are hopeful."

"And from what I've seen he clearly likes you as a friend at least."

"Yes. He is good to me."

"But was it just that kiss?" she asked trying to bring out her queen for an attack. "Was there nothing building up to it?"

"We fought against the enemy." The knight pulled out his rook. "We have strengthened our bond in battle."

"Is that it then?" She swiftly pushed her queen forwards to take his knight. "Just friends forged in the fire?"

"Yes." He rubbed his chin at the battlefield before him. "Is that not enough?"

"Oh I dunno plenty people come together for various reasons I mean Oddclaw and Moonclaw were rather much the same and they end up with children!"

Jane watched Chanoch slip his bishop forwards to block her queen, not taking the bait herself as she moved out her second rook to try and distract him. Unfortunately she had not realised the bishop was the true enemy in sliding straight towards a pawn that was guarding her king.

"Check."

"OH, bugger me!"

She tapped her finger on her teeth trying to think of a way out. Jane moved her king away further behind her guard as Chanoch moved on the offensive suddenly, sliding his rook across the battlefield and instantly trapping her.

"Checkmate."

"OH, GOD shit hahaha...alright you got me, I never said I was good!"

"You played well," he nodded courteously.

"Wanna try another game?"

"Yes."

The soldier smiled and took the chess pieces back to the cupboard before noticing something glint in the dark.

"What is this?"

He moved aside the door fully to reveal a deeper section for large instruments. Musical instruments that he mostly recognised in the form of drums, synthesisers and brass pieces but the one that stood out to him most was a beautiful red stringed instrument with a long silver neck and a black strap with a bulging pack attached to it.

"OH, I forgot about those!" Jane stood up to look over the music set. "We brought some of those with us because we had one or two musicians with us, as well as to encourage people to try new things whilst we were out here, you know, learn a new skill and such."

"May I?" She nodded as he picked up the guitar. "This is an odd lute."

"Well it's actually called a guitar, which I suppose is descended from the lute."

"Hmm." He swept the back of his claws across the strings to hear a rather flat plunk. "This lute is not tuned."

"OH yes it's electric so you'll need this."

Jane pulled out a small amplifier and clicked it on, the soldier hearing a small buzzing from the battery pack on the strap as she slipped it round his body. He strummed again to hear the sound trembling strongly through the air with a clean metallic shudder, testing the strings whilst slowly gliding his other hand across the neck. Something took over him there and then as Chanoch, without thinking, [url=https://youtu.be/taityMWrgf4]started to play a brief but rapid song with eclectic fingers.[/url] It only lasted for a minute, but what a minute that left Jane enraptured by the way the soldier suddenly threw himself into a short but sweet melody, grinding his claw carefully down the neck for a brief dirge and then pulling the guitar upwards into a higher joyful pitch. His body gyrated briefly, his blood-ruby eyes closing as his ears followed the song to his rhythm, hypnotising him with a small turn of his body as he ended his solo with a small swift flourish.

"This is good," he said nodding to Jane's gawping face, "I like this lute."

"Wha-...wh-what the bloody hell that was-"

"YOU CAN PLAY MUSIC?!"

James' voice cut through the air with a shriek from the door as he turned to see the lemming's wide saucer-eyes gleaming in shock.

"Y-you never told me you were trained as a bard!"

"You never asked," said Chanoch shrugging.

"Wha-you-jus-you never decided to mention that in all our discussions?! Where did you learn to play so incredibly?!"

"I learned in the castle. Fifty years on the lute."

"Fifty?!" gasped Jane. "Wow."

"It was a hobby. Kept my hands busy."

"Well that's going to be a fun topic for later!" She pushed him towards James whilst taking off his guitar. "I'll keep this back for you to use anytime you wish, now you two go have fun."

"Fun?" asked James as Chanoch led him from the room. "What sort of fun?!"

"It is a surprise," said the soldier hiding a smirk.

This did not ease the lemming's worries as he was taken through the halls towards the gymnasium. The sounds of grinding whirring machines came from above them as sometimes they saw a hovering plant-creature or large-beaked bird wave at them in passing, carrying tubers with cables and odd pieces of metal whilst others tapped their heads with chittering sounds to test the reception.

"This place certainly became crowded!" James chuckled. "Imagine if some of them wanted to stay!"

"Yes," muttered Chanoch, "hope they finish soon."

"The noise is rather loathsome, thank goodness they stop at night. So what is this surprise exactly?"

"After our training."

He pointed at the double doors before they walked into the wide-open gym where several people were either exercising with laps and squats, or practicing martial arts on each other across the wide blue canvas. Taking up two wooden staffs the length of a bastard sword, Chanoch tossed one to James and took his shirt off to hang next to the door, giving his partner the sight of his rippling pale-green chest of staunch wide pectorals and a trimmed muscular gut.

"O-oh! G-goodness," he tried to look both away and towards him. "U-u-um sh-should I disrobe too?"

"If you want," he said, "I did not want my suit to get dirty."

"Well uh...I...suppose that's fair."

James did the same slipping his robe off to reveal a cloth shirt and slacks underneath. His body was rather lithe, almost worm-like for how pink his soft skin was that Chanoch was surprised at how little muscle he appeared to have.

"So, just a little sparring yes?"

"Yes."

"You know I actually do this with my little brother, I mean it's all in good fun but I suspect with you I will not have to hold back."

"Yes, do not hold back." Chanoch stepped back one of his legs and bowed into a swordsman's stance. "Show me your strength James."

"A-alright." The lemming took a calm breath and readied his wooden sword. "Ready?"

"Yes. Come at me."

Stepping forwards James braced his stick and took a testing swipe against Chanoch who blocked with a simple vertical cut. His smaller opponent tried to whack him again at a higher point but that too was blocked with a similar strike, but James followed up fast with a sweeping cut at the legs that Chanoch immediately countered with his own sweep to strike in an X, sending his opponent off-balance in a slight stumble. Pulling himself back James went for a thrust at the gut thinking he could beat Chanoch's eye but the knight swiftly dodged back in a half-turning step as the stick glanced past his abs, leaving the student exposed for a cutting blow to his hand that due to his longing reach, threw his body forwards and onto his knees.

"Both feet on the ground," said the knight, "strong feet make a mountain."

"Right, of course."

"Again."

With legs squatting slightly, James strengthened his stance and came towards the knight with a diagonal strike that Chanoch countered with his own upwards in a clack that they both immediately recoiled from to strike again. Whatever James threw his opponent would counter perfectly, the two swords picking up speed with each strike to form a wooden cacophony until Chanoch suddenly went for his head. James ducked with a hard upwards slice to counter him and backed off before the soldier came charging with a firm shoulderbash into the lemming's chest to send him tumbling backwards.

"A-AAAGH! Wh-what was that?!"

"Never step back in a fight," warned Chanoch, "you give your opponent ground, they charge with strength."

"R-right...I thought we were just sparring!"

"We are, I am training you. Are you hurt?"

"No, no I am fine just, surprised was all." James pushed himself back up slightly wounded in his pride.

"Always move left or right," said the soldier taking his hand to pull him up, "never back."

"Alright."

Steadying himself the student braced his body for the next attack as Jarogniew came down upon his head with a cleaving strike, forcing James to dodge one way as the lemming slashed his leg with a scrape of wood. The reptile turned with a sweep of his tail that James ducked underneath as he went for the other leg in a smacking motion before the soldier swung for his head with diagonal cut. James almost stepped back by instinct, but pushed back and went underneath his opponent's arm to skirt past him and try to attack his back, but Chanoch smacked him askew with his tail as he went staggering on one foot. He quickly stomped to correct himself as he tensed his backfoot and lunged forwards with a hard clash of blades.

"HRRAAAH!"

"HMMPH!" Chanoch held firm as the wood creaked against wood. "Not bad."

"NNNNGH!" James gritted a smile up at him. "D-do you...yield?"

"Hm...hmhmhahahahahaa!"

It was the first time James had ever heard him laugh properly. Deep and rasping, it was surprisingly uncomfortable to hear as the lizardman suddenly slid his sword across James' wooden blade before swiftly double-cutting down and left forming a Z-strike. James gasped with surprise at the blunt grazing across his stomach, but held fast with a swiping smack against Chanoch's chin that made him reel slightly. The knight smiled at such insolence and allowed James another four strikes to lure him in with a false sense of victory, waiting for the right moment until the lemming swung with what he thought would make a glorious blow.

Chanoch smiled with brazen teeth as he let the blade skim across his shoulder deflected, stepping back only once with sword behind him to make a devastating upwards strike. James felt his face turn flat with shock upon seeing his sword completely shatter in half, the shards splintering through the air as people turned to them agasp at the rippling strength of the soldier's strike. The student blinked and stepped back dropping his broken stick as Chanoch bowed politely.

"You fought well."

"H-h-how..." James shook his head, "h-how did you...your sword is wood like mine!"

"Strength is not everything," he said putting his weapon back with the rest, "your confidence became a weakness, so I exploit it."

"Th-that...that was the lesson I learned today?!"

"One of several." He took James' broken hilt and started gathering the rest of its pieces. "I want to teach you to fight better, but also to wound and not kill."

"Why?" asked James scratching his head.

"Because you do not want to kill." The soldier put a hand on his shoulder. "I want to help you, to not kill."

"O-oh...I see but, you do not have to-"

"I want to. I want to help, it is always better to wound and let live, than it is to kill."

"Is that true?" James took his robe and redressed himself. "What if the person is truly vile? As in, far too evil to be allowed to exist?"

"Then kill them." Jarogniew put back on his suit. "If their soul can be saved, then save them. If they are far too gone into darkness, it is more mercy to kill them when their soul has suffered too much."

"I...I see."

"But we are done. Now I take you someplace else."

"Oh, where are we going?"

"It is a surprise."

James clenched his body quietly from the most terrifying words Chanoch would utter to him. Led to the rear of the base from which he had hardly ever gone to, he found himself somewhat close to the more military section where a set of stairs headed downwards with various corridors most of which were heavily secured with sturdy iron doors and the faint sounds of whirring machinery. One doorway however was left unguarded and made much more pronounced with a lavish entryway of faux-brickwork and wood panelling.

"Wh-what...what is THIS place-wait...is this the private tavern that master mentioned going to?!"

"Yes," said Chanoch nodding proudly.

The underground bar and restaurant was a place Chanoch had personally never seen until now, but the candlelights sitting on every table gave a warm ambience upon checkered tablecloths and glinting bottles that rested behind the bar.

"Good evening sirs," said a mantis-bot wearing the clothes of a water, "table for two?"

"Yes," said Chanoch, "I have a reservation."

"Ah yes, right this way sirs."

James was led dumbfounded to his table as the lizardman lumbered to his seat, gently pulling out a chair for the lemming to sit down first before him as his own seat creaked beneath his muscular weight.

"Here is our menu for tonight," said the cricket offering two of such, "I shall return to take your order, do you require anything to drink?"

"U-um, well," the lemming blushed confused as he opened his menu, "I will try...mmmm no best not, just some fruit juice then."

"I will have the same," said Chanoch reading his.

"Of course sir."

The garcon returned within a minute with two glasses of a rosy pink punch before leaving them be to decide what food to have. James looked all around him seeing there were a few other patrons of the base relaxing to themselves in the corners discreetly. All of them appeared to be couples, even two robots had hooked up both figuratively and literally with a jug of synthetic oil both of them shared.

"Did you...set all of this up for me?" he asked.

"Yes," said Jarogniew, "do you not like it?"

"NO-I-i mean YES I mean, no, wait, what was the question again?!"

"Hhhmhmhmhm...you are cute."

"I-i-i am just astonished you went to all this trouble for me."

"I asked people, they said a date would...help show my feelings." He rubbed his hand over fist nervously.

"W-well I do appreciate it...I mean I did come here with you so I am certainly intrigued by what your plans are for this evening."

"Yes."

"SO!" James pored over the menu properly. "Since we are doing this I think I will have the steak sauvignon, how about you?"

"I like that too," said Chanoch not especially concerned, "starter?"

"Hmm?"

"The starter," he tapped the first page of the menu, "before the main course."

"OH, r-right of course s-sorry I have never been to um...w-well, this sort of place."

"It is fine. Do you want a starter?"

"Well...I AM feeling rather peckish," James sucked on his lips as he felt a growing hunger in his belly, "I will have the lentil soup."

"Good. Dessert?"

"Oh definitely, I think coffee ice cream might be a good choice."

"Yes, definitely."

He started licking his lips before composing himself. There was a long dead silence as he suddenly ran out of things to say, rattling his fingers across the table as his mind went blank. The tension in his eyes was palpable to James like a deer in headlights as he gave him a lifeline.

"Soooo you said you had been playing the lute for fifty years."

"Ah, yes."

"How did that come about exactly?"

"My captain. Said I should learn more skills."

"Which one was that, um, Gobanz?"

"No, Matthieu. Gobanz was commander."

"Ahhh," James nodded, "so your former captain said you should play music?"

"No," he leaned forwards clasping hands, "said to learn skills, went to a workshop where demons taught things. I chose music."

"Why did you choose that exactly?"

"I like music. They played nice, joined a folk group."

"Oh goodness really?! A folk group of demons, what were they called?"

"The Harlequins." Chanoch smiled with a shake of his head. "I learned the lute, it was nice. Helped me stop thinking, focus on one thing."

"Seems your captain's advice did the trick," said James smiling and sitting up, "he sounded a very good friend."

"He was. Taught me many things."

"Did he play instruments too?"

"No, he learned farming."

"Ohhh very useful! ...I have to admit I really would like to know what a folk group of demonkin sound like-"

"Have you decided yet sirs?" asked the mantis-garcon.

"U-UMMM yes," said the lemming bowing surprised, "I would like the lentil soup starter, and uhh...Chanoch?"

"Greek salad," he said, "for the main course, steak sauvignon for us both and for dessert, coffee ice cream for both please."

"Very good sirs," he took the menus and skittered off, "I shall return with your meals shortly."

"Thank you." James turned back to Chanoch. "So do you know any other instruments?"

"I can play drums," shrugged the lizard.

"Oh well that is no surprise with such strength in you. I was far too absorbed in my magic to learn an instrument."

"I could teach you, if you wish."

"Really?! Oh that would be lovely, I mean if you have time."

"I do." The soldier nodded slipping his hand towards his. "You have the fingers for it."

"You think so?" asked the mage waggling his fingers self-aware.

"They are dexterous, perfect for lutes."

"Well I would certainly appreciate the lesson thank you!"

The starters came first as James enjoyed his lentil soup, a peppery mixture of onions and carrots with seeds mixed in for the flavouring to really pop across his tongue. Chanoch in turn feasted on a salad with salty black olives and feta cheese smothered across lettuce, with thyme and oregano dashed across to give an extra zing to his palate.

"I have not had lentil soup in quite some time," said the lemming staring at his empty bowl, "but that was delicious."

"Yes," said Chanoch chewing down the last lettuce, "how did you meet your master?"

"Oh, well he just arrived at my realm all of a sudden, actually it was the same year I was born oddly enough."

"Yes?"

"He said he was experimenting on star-based theorems and his magic sent him through a portal to my home and well the rest is history!"

"How did you learn magic from him?"

"I was around the age of three, or four it might be," the lemming recalled with a tender pluck of his hair, "I took one of his books when on a trip at the library and started reading it. He said that he saw a great potential in the way I was trying to parse his words and then offered to tutor me in the ways of magic."

"Did he tutor anyone else?" asked the lizard.

"Only me, not sure why but he had admitted he was not trained to be a tutor so I think it was rather he could only handle the ONE student. We already learned of the Art, the practice we have of travelling between realms and master was very fascinated by it so once he obtained the trust of our chieftain he began to study it himself."

"Did you want to be a scribe?" Chanoch held his chin up on the back of his knuckle.

"I...well, I always liked books hah, my brother always calls me 'inknose' for how often I bury my snout into them."

"Hmhmhaha, my sister called me 'brother golem' because I am so tall."

"HAH, that's right I remember you saying that back in the um...the, the machine!"

"Yes."

"So you had a younger sibling too?" asked James leaning forwards invested.

"I did," said Chanoch nodding, "her name was Alicia, she was...eight, last we met. She had me put her on my shoulders so she could steal apples out of trees."

"Hahaha, so she commanded you?"

"Yes." He rolled his eyes with a smirk. "My will was her command, because she was my best friend."

"Awww. I feel exactly the same with my brother Alistair."

"What is he like?"

"Wonderful," sighed James, "he is charming, talented, rambunctious, you remember that map that Jane has in her room?"

"Yes?"

"My brother drew that, it's a map of our home the Lemming Isle!"

"Huh!" The soldier pursed his lips with approval nodding. "It is very good, he has talent."

"Thank you!" James smiled full beneath his snout. "He is quite frankly the best lemming in our family."

"What about your mother and father?"

"U-um, my father travels often so he is away from home very often. My mother is wonderful, she works as a tailor partly but primarily manages the house in all its amenities."

"My mother did the same, she was also a tailor."

"Really?!" gasped James clapping his hands. "What a coincidence! What sort of things did your mother make?"

"Hats," said Chanoch rubbing his headspikes, "I do not know what you call a tailor for hats."

"Uhhhh...oh goodness IS there a word for that, I should look up the dictionary after this. My mother mostly makes scarves, shirts and leggings, they are wonderfully warm and cosy, actually the clothes I wear underneath she made for me."

"That is good. My mother knitted yarmulkes for the men in our streets. She made patterns in each, unique to every one, she had great talent."

"Sounds quite the gifted lady."

Dinner came next in the form of steaming hot faux-meat steaks, thick like beef but with the light texture of chicken that was both filling yet easy to digest. The cutlery looked like children's toys in Chanoch's hands but he managed as they ate and drank in comfortable silence. Soft piano music continued to drift between their ears giving a strange serenity to this otherworldly place, making them feel they were in the last restaurant at the edge of the universe.

"Mmmm that was lovely!" said James clearing up his plate. "Absolutely wonderful."

"It was," said Chanoch wiping a handkerchief on his lips, "ice cream?"

"Oh yes please!"

"Waiter." The knight raised his hand with a hard snap to motion him over. "Steak was perfect, thank you."

"My pleasure sir," said the mantis-bot.

"May we have the ice cream please?"

"Absolutely sir, won't be a tick, would you like a refill of your glasses?"

"Yes, thank you."

The maitre'd returned with a bottle of fruit juice to top them up, whilst they shortly waited for coffee ice cream in two bowls that Chanoch immediately dug into. The cold taste surprised him, strong but sweet, but the caffeine encouraged him to keep going as James found it a bit too strange a mixture to enjoy but regardless there was enough a biting taste to pull him in and finish off the whole bowl.

"Hooo goodness I am stuffed."

"Enjoyed it?" asked Chanoch sucking the spoon clean.

"Absolutely! Thank you so much for this, I'm having a wonderful time."

"Mmm. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course anything?"

"...I...hhhh, I-i..."

He suddenly felt his tongue flop dead in his mouth, quickly drinking back some fruit juice with a stuttered cough in his reptilian throat.

"Do you...like me?"

"Of course I like you!" cried James before his eyes widened. "Oh...r-right, of course you mean-"

"Yes."

"...alright, I mean this had to come up eventually." The lemming took a deep sigh before he clenched and unclenched his hands. "I have had some time to think on this. I do like you very much, and...I truly enjoy spending time with you."

"Thank you."

"And at first I was not certain about having a relationship because I felt that perhaps I was moving too fast into one but...then I had some discussions concerning this and it came to light that I actually do want to pursue this with you. So my answer is a tentative yes."

His hand crept upon Jarogniew's finger with a squeeze.

"I would like, to be your...p-partner."

"...thank you." The knight took his hand within a gentle fist. "I am...honoured, that you feel the same for me."

"Well, I certainly feel a LOT for you, and I may suspect that's come to pass from friend to something more, so I would certainly LIKE to try but you'll have to forgive me for this is my um...m-my first, relationship."

"Do not worry, I will not force you to do anything."

"I appreciate that Chanoch. Sooooo what would you like to do now?"

"We are finished eating?"

"Yes I believe so."

"Would you like...to come to bed with me?"

James reeled slightly with tightening pupils.

"I...s-sorry, what?!"

"If you are too tired, I understand."

"N-not tha-, no, no it is not because I-th-that is, wha-I...hokay," he took a deep breath with patient hands clasping. "I appreciate the offer, but please may I remind you this is my first relationship and I would not like to go too fast."

"But we have done it before."

"No we have not, wh-when have I ever done that with you?!"

"I...when we were on the station," he pointed above with a confused look, "you read Peter Pan to me."

"What, y-yes I did, but what does tha-...oh. Ohhhhh."

With horrid blush across his snout he thumped his hands upon his face whilst suppressing a sniggering of shame.

"Ohhhhhh saviour's grace I...I thought you meant something completely different I am so terribly sorry th-that was-"

"What?" Chanoch squinted. "What did you think I meant?"

"N-nothing nothing just me being silly, you want me to come read you something, that was it?!"

"Yes, of course."

"Then let us go-NNF-OW!"

He stood up too fast and banged his knee at the table with a shiver as Chanoch moved round to hold him.

"Are you alright?"

"I-i am fine!"

"You are sure?"

"YES yes I am, let's just go to um, your place, do you have any books to read?"

"I saw one that looked good," said the knight leading James out of the speakeasy, "it was called Sherlock Holmes."

"OH, Oddclaw loves that series, he actually recommended it to me! I never had the chance to read it but now is a perfect time!"

"Yes."

They snagged themselves a copy of the illustrious series of the great detective from the library in passing, heading back to the soldier's room which had hardly changed since his inception at the base. The mannequin of his armour stood pristine in the corner, his sword tucked safely in its sheath and the long black TV screen remained covered by a fixed cloth giving the impression of a curtain over a window more than anything. Taking off his suit to carefully press and fold into a drawer, James nervously slipped into the bed in only his pants and undershirt before Jarogniew joined him fully naked in all his reptilian glory going under the covers.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked.

"Well...I am not quite sure but this is your room," he murmured.

"You can be naked too if you want."

"O-oh, no no I am fine thank you, shall I start reading?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright then let's see..."

For the next two hours James read the tales of Sherlock Holmes' mysterious cases, his narrative taking a strong focused term with the odd inflection only to separate between characters. He never put on voices, but he made enough of a vocal appearance to help Chanoch discern between members of the story as he watched the lemming intensely with quiet satisfaction from his deep crimson eyes. James let the story breathe, carefully parsing his words to try and keep a good flow as they dove into the world of gripping tales from a faraway city known as London that neither of them understood, but were entranced by all the same with its strange customs and classist divide between the poor and the rich that Chanoch understood greatly. It was after three short cases that they found themselves starting to lose focus and struggling to fight back yawns before James closed the book to put on the bedside table.

"Just...for the record," he asked carefully, "you DID want me to sleep in the same bed as you?"

"Yes," said Chanoch, "but I will not make you."

"No no, I want to, definitely, I just wanted to make certain."

"Yes." The soldier leaned over to kiss him on the head. "Goodnight James."

"G-goodnight...Chanoch."

The young mage felt his heart roast with warmth that seethed through his cheeks, turning his face a luscious hot pink as he sighed cheerfully from such a simple gesture. He moved up against him to kiss his cheek, awkwardly but nevertheless appreciated as Chanoch smiled down at him before he moved himself down under the blankets and turned his body away from James into his preferred sleep position, giving a view of his taut rippling back that gently heaved with his breaths. Soft but deep stirrings in his lungs that soothed James greatly as he watched for a few minutes before he turned himself over towards the wall on his side of the bed. Despite how content he was, he always took a good forty minutes before his body crossed into the gates of slumber next to Chanoch. It was the warmest most comfortable sleep he had known in his life.

[i][u]Third Energy Research - Subject Thirteen Preparation / Subject Zero Reverse-Engineering[/u][/i]

[i]06-05-2043[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon[/i]

[i]Over the past year we have been working on trying to comprehend the mysteries of Subject Zero a.k.a Base Meridian-5. From an alternate Earth this base has suffered a tragic series of events in its mission to repair the time-space continuum much like our own organisation, with a Third Energy Gate also very similar to ours. The key difference however lies in its algorithmic processors which align with a different field of quantum mechanics to my own and may well prove to be the key for our safe return home.[/i]

[i]To summarise previous reports; according to the records we found, the T.E.G. of Meridian-5 was devised by a Jack Morton who in a divergence of our timeline took inspiration from the same Edward Kirk that our organisation confiscated research from. The research team of this base were at the time of their death attempting "Project Lorelei", a mission to pull a designated death from human history to send to a dangerous location to prevent a rogue AI from fatally corrupting their objective.[/i]

[i]It appears that our T.E.G. crossed lines with theirs when both of us inadvertently tried to pull the same designated death (Subject One a.k.a Sgt. Jeremy Holt), resulting in Subject Zero being pulled into our timeline THROUGH the space-time tear that both of us foundered.[/i]

[i]We have also discovered that Subject Zero's T.E.G. had synchronised itself intrinsically to our own T.E.G. that if we were to deactivate either of them, the other would do so in turn. Normally a Third Energy Gate, in our timeline at least, would have anti-synchronisation devices to prevent exactly this sort of incident. But Subject Zero's gate does not, which speaks either to a gross oversight, or some other unseen practice of anti-synchronisation we have not yet discovered.[/i]

[i]Our current objective now is to try and extricate the two T.E.G.'s from synchronising with each other, by watching and waiting on what effects occur when the next anomaly (Subject Thirteen) comes into our world.[/i]

"How's it looking?" asked Dixon.

"Not too bad," said one of her staff, "the numbers seem to be all stable."

"Keeping them the same as they were before?"

"Yeah, we just need to get like a control test right?"

"Right." She leaned forwards on the panel in her space suit. "We got all the time in the world now to try and unravel this son of a bitch."

"I would rather think you were more materteral than that," said Haytham beside her, "after all is this not the sibling to your own brainchild?"

"Ahaha, bite me Merriam-Webster."

He raised a finger to counterpoint but decided best to keep schtum as Andrea continued checking the output of the Meridian-5 gate. The bodies of its former inhabitants had all since been moved and buried on Earth, leaving the members of T.E.A.R. to confer upon their new sister-device that they began to decipher.

"So remind me why's this one different again?" asked a buzzing beebot welding a ceiling corner.

"Because firstly it has an entirely different algorithmic processor working on an entire other sub-level of quantum physics."

"Wait, there's like different levels?"

"Sorry, it's more like a different application, like uh...alright, so some of you robots run on solar power yeah?"

"We all do, so what?"

"Well, what did you used to run on before that?"

"Organic processor, basically an animal inside us would be kept in stasis whilst we fed off its energy."

"...right, forgot, wow that's really fucked up so, both are essentially types of energy absorption right? So this gate here has a different energy capture process to the one I have."

"Aaaaah," the wasp drone nodded, "I got it but, what's different EXACTLY about it?"

"Well my TEG works on extracting the electron movement from chain reactions in the air to create ozone peroxide compounds. Combined with the hyperdrive tech we got nine years ago, I would call my TEG like something of a space-drive hyper-engine, whereas THIS machine is more like a superconductor."

"How do you mean?" asked Haytham.

"The TEG here relies on the frictionless flow of electron gas in conducting materials. Both the gates travel through different means to reach the same conclusion with similar materials, simply put I'm extracting electrons directly whilst THIS group were spinning them in a circle."

"Ahhhhh I see, you both cut the apple in different ways but both of you made the same pie."

"HAH!" She slapped her knee in surprise. "Y-yeaaaah I guess, you really gonna sweet-talk me some Sagan!?"

"The man elucidates far better than I would on this discipline my dear emeritus."

She felt her cheeks turn dimpled at his words before walking back to the central room. Several human scientists along with badnik maintenance crew were putting the finishing touches on the base, checking for imperfections and calculating all possible numbers within the narrow field they were each given. The large screen had been repaired with new glass fixtures since their first arrival, the sound of the once-abandoned base now revitalised with a new power that hummed gently through the walls and floor which were now spick-and-span clean of dust fragments.

"I'm sure glad you guys got those suits on," said a passing moletank scooping up dirt, "all these skin cells floating around is just super gross."

"Hey I'm sorry I can't stop existing for a moment," said Townsend the red-haired soldier, "tell me when you all get skin and then come back and tell me how gross it is!"

"I'm pretty sure I'd still think it's disgusting, I mean you what, whassat called that thing where you push water out when you get too hot?"

"U-uhhh, sweating?!"

"YEAH that!" cried the badnik shuffling dust into its compartment, "wh-why can't you just KEEP the water inside or make it into steam?!"

"Because that's not how biology works?!" shrugged Townsend. "I mean alright humans are the only mammals that sweat next to pigs but-"

"Wait, only TWO mammals sweat?!"

"Oh what the heck that's even weirder!" cried a beebot.

"Alright alright enough," said Andrea thunking her suited fist, "we're expecting the anomaly to come anytime today and I want everyone to be on their guard."

"So is it like coming out the gate?" asked the head soldier.

"Possibly. Normally the anomalies come from a random point in the Earth's atmosphere relatively close to our position. But sometimes we get visitors from more than one world, so that makes me think it's not quite that simple. Whatever's causing it, be prepared and let nothing slip."

"Yes ma'am."

"We can't seem to realign its beacon point," she added looking up to the screen, "at least for now but maybe once we see it in action I can figure out a subroutine to give it."

"Is that possible?" asked Haytham straightening his beard.

"Won't know until we try but it's close enough to mine that I should be able to."

Forty minutes passed as space-suited scientists busied themselves rechecking and checking over numbers whilst the bots kept sealing up little imperfections or derusting the base with soluble solutions. Dixon stood watching the screen with an anxious heart, numbers rose and fell alongside graphs for various outputs and corrections being made. Six times she yawned, after which Haytham stepped to her side.

"Are you alright dear?"

"Y-yeah I'm just...I'm-"

"You have not slept in the past twenty hours."

"I just need to see this to the end, once this is done then I'll go sleep."

"Why not take a partial slumber for the interim?" He patted her shoulder with a gentle squeeze. "You have earned that surely for your work."

"No, no I'm fine just let me-"

"Andrea. Please." He turned her towards him as their helmets nudged each other. "You are far too precious a gift to waste by running yourself in to the marl, I beseech you."

"Everyone else is working-"

"Yes and they are well-rested, you know as well as I do that the mind is a muscle and overexertion leads to inanition. Please, would you not do it for me?"

"Ugh...fine." She rolled her eyes as he hugged her tight. "BUT, only if you promise you wake me up as soon as something happens, even it's like ten minutes from now."

"I promise you, my fair lady."

He smooched the glass of his helmet to make her smirk, before she relented and went into one of the crew's quarters nearby to lay her head down and sleep. Her body dropped almost immediately for the next two hours as she savoured the peace of a gentle deep hum throughout the lunar base. Her space suit amplified her breathing to the point it became a lullaby and for the briefest moment she felt the weight on her shoulders lift, the fates of 92 human beings that were getting older and older with each failure. In her darkest dreams she wished for something, anything to happen.

"Andrea, ANDREA!"

"WH-WHUH-NRUH!"

"Something is afoot!"

Pulling herself up into Haytham's arms she rushed slovenly towards the main control room to see the screen signalling a deep red warning of energy fluctuations.

"What've we got?!" she asked.

"About sixty-seven TEFs," said a researcher, "least it's not an island again!"

"Don't jinx it Greg just focus on the mapping."

"Particle diffraction offset holding...Kirk-Roentgen at two-hundred-twelve."

"Lower the stable resonance by four," said Dixon, "let it crawl in by itself."

"Fracture triggering in forty seconds."

She rushed off towards the room with the gate as Haytham followed along, waiting on one side of the glass towards a now-active gate showing ripples of bluish-white. Clouds turned into crystals, water became sound and wavelengths that trembled with the faint whispers of another world. Haytham had seen stranger things, the effect lost on him as he watched with critical eye and clinical mind quietly lamenting his loss for such wonder on this event. He glanced over to Dixon who had not lost this, something that he envied her for as her eyes grew with a sparkling excitement that reflected the shimmering void before them. His heart swelled when she caught his look, biting her lip as she slipped her hand towards his and squeezed it tightly. Forty seconds later, there came her wish.

"WE'RE LIVE, KEEP IT HOLDING!"

The world began rumbling deep into their hearts with a primal fury she had long since understood. But there was something she did not recognise that struck a fearful chord, a rasping sound that cut underneath the tremendous revolt of spatial rifts struggling not to tear apart the seams of existence. Something lurched forwards through the gate, a giant clawed hand of wicked steel as Dixon slipped a hand down to her gun with Haytham carefully tensing his fingers. The clawed fist was joined by another as it clenched fiercely upon the gate's rim.

"What...the fuck-"

"[i]PROTEGAT![/i]"

Haytham pushed Andrea back before raising his hand to cry out a spell, shimmering hexagonal shield that would protect them from the brazen charge of the unholy beast. Glass shattered with shock mirroring across a dozen faces, the scholar bearing down upon a giant metallic fist large enough to crush his head as it scarred through his magic shield that soon shattered into ether. Raw steel knuckle clipped his helmet as they all fell back into the hallway, seeing the creature punch through the observation panel and tear apart its frame to make a path for itself.

"H-HOLY [i]FUCK![/i]"

The monster that appeared before them was a mockery of Frankenstein himself, a wretched armoured beast with the biomechanical head of a cricket transfixed upon a much larger muscular body not of its own, through a long neck composed of several glowing cables. Its arms had long since rotted away to now be replaced by a gruesome set of synthetic claws as large as its blood-soaked pneumatic feet, creaking with every stomp as its eyes of piercing blue honed in on them.

"GET BACK, GET BACK [i]WE NEED HELP HERE![/i]"

"EVACUATE NOW!"

They started running, the creature following after in the narrow hall as its gargantuan bulk scraped against the sides with hungering breaths like the wolf in winter's night. Soldiers immediately came forth to try and trap it after Haytham and Andrea went past them, four of them firing their guns in unison at Townsend's command as she joined in with a bursting shot of her assault rifle. The monster's armour rejected the bullets, pinging off its metallic casing harmlessly but the two soldiers with laser rifles managed to stagger it briefly in surprise with energy pulses.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" cried Townsend.

"YOU'RE ASKING ME?!" shouted Dixon. "FUCKER TRIED TO BULLRUSH US!"

"MILLER GO FOR ITS HEAD, KHAPOOR SHOOT ITS FUCKING LEGS WE'LL COVER YOU, EVERYONE ELSE EVACUATE!"

The researchers frantically left as fast as their suits could take them, but the robots stayed behind to assist as the brutish beast lunged towards one of the soldiers with a horrendous swipe that crunched one of the consoles in half at a broken bent. The soldiers armed with lasers did as commanded, alternating shots between the head and the feet to keep it repelled whilst Haytham summoned a furious gust of wind to try and punch it back into the corridor. The monster however stood its ground and raised its arm before its face as a shield before charging with a sickening cry of gurgling synthetic screams.

"DON'T LET IT ESCAPE, FUCK!"

"MILLER WATCH OUT!"

Miller dodged the wrong way and ended up becoming trampled, stomped then kicked in front of the brute who glared down upon him with eyes of cold robotic hatred. Before he had the chance to recover and shoot Miller was grabbed with his torso held in one colossal fist, tightening to almost crush his ribs before he was raised high and slammed with such crushing force that he died the moment his skull hit the floor when blood burst across the face of his helmet. His corpse was thrown towards Khapoor who frantically dodged as the beast immediately rushed him, lunging like a bear to whallop him with its reaching hand and send him flying towards the wall in a hard crumple.

"Sh-SHIT! ROBOTS, KEEP THIS ASSHOLE BUSY!"

"EAT THIS YA MOTHERBUZZER!"

The wasp-badnik charged up its abdominal tip with a gleaming electrical shock, blasting several balls of plasma down upon the creature's head as it lurched back from the currents rattling through its cybernetic throat that snarled with stunning pains. Encouraged the beebot kept on firing, whilst a moletank bravely tried to lunge underneath and drive its triple drills into one of its back legs for a screeching spark of steel being slowly cut open. The monstrous alien kicked the badnik away to roll clumsily across the floor, before grabbing one of the nearby consoles with a hard wrenching twist and hurled it at the flying insectoid who dodged it fast.

"GOD, DAMMIT SOMEONE STOP IT!" cried Andrea.

"I'M TRYING!" shouted the wasp. "COME ON, YOU WANNA PIECE O' ME, YOU CAN'T EVEN TOUCH ME!"

Keeping the fearsome beast distracted with pulsing shots of its plasma sting, the aerial badnik made sure to move the creature's eyeline away from Townsend who rushed over to Khapoor's wounded body, hurrying him out of the room but not before taking his laser rifle. With the monster's back exposed she fired upon its flesh with the other gunners joining to pop off tripling dozens of gushing wounds from within its horrendous meaty core. Roaring with anguish, the alien turned with a furious swipe that went much farther than they expected and punched one of the soldiers' guns out of his hands to send him careening across the floor.

Charging at the defenceless guard it grabbed her by the leg and swung her like a hammer towards the wasp to send them both crashing against the large screen with a hefty crack spreading across it like thin ice. The beebot stuttered his wings with a frantic flicker underneath the wounded body, both of them now vulnerable to the wretched beast. But before it could charge and crush them both, Haytham managed to stop it with a burst of frigid water that suddenly combusted into a brief scathing fire of pure vapour that scorched across its steel frame.

"BEGONE YOU CACOZEALOUS FIEND!"

"[b][i]RRRAAAAAAIIIIIIGH![/i][/b]"

Turning towards the scholar the beast rampaged like a gorilla with pounding fists against the floor that shook underneath his feet, almost causing him to fall with a stagger to leave him near helpless before the horrendous might of the abomination. Durai managed to shield himself with a protect spell in time as the creature slammed both fists upon him, before Andrea frantically emptied her clip into the alien's back. Much to her disgusted shock she saw its wounds start knitting themselves together with bloodied pustules and twisting knots of flesh.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me."

The beast continued to try hammering on Haytham's shield as he frantically balled up and forced his magic energy to restrengthen it as frequently as he could. Dixon grabbed a metallic shard that had fallen from one of the broken consoles and stabbed the monster's back as deep as she could, gouging hard with a thick dragging tear as if trying to rend its spine apart for how deep she shanked the beast. It finally turned towards her as she realised the gate was still open down the hall behind her.

"Yeah, yeah I fuckin' stabbed you bitch, YOU WANT MORE?!"

"[b][i]RRAAAAAAAARGH![/i][/b]"

"COME AN' FUCKING GET ME!"

"[i]ANDREA STOP![/i]"

"FOLLOW ME HAYTHAM I GOT A PLAN!"

She raced off as the beast charged after her, shoving itself through the narrow corridor in a raking pulling motion of its entire girth as she felt the constant shudders of its immense weight trying to off-balance her. The portal was still active, trembling its spatial rift before them like the eye of the storm from above as Dixon turned and stopped inches before the safezone's edge. The twisting fury of dimensional abyss tugged at her clothes trying to pull her in as the alien brute sluggishly pulled itself forwards with snarling bittrous rage.

"That's right you fuckwad I shanked you good, want another?!"

"[b][i]RHHH, RHHHAAAARGH![/i][/b]"

"WHAT, YOU WANT MORE, [i]FUCKING TRY ME BITCH I WAS BORN IN ALABAMA YOU DON' KNOW [b]SHIT![/b][/i]"

The chief scientist goaded it forwards, even daring to move close as the beast tried to lunge with an overhead claw crushing down upon the floor that she dodged. The beast was cleverer than she expected however, knowing that the rift was exactly her plan as she waited for her partner. The monster realised only too late when she grinned.

"[i]TALEM, VENTURA![/i]"

She dodged the moment she heard those words as Haytham blasted a violent gust of wind from his hands, sending the abomination barrelling forwards in a hard stagger that put it close enough to the edge just before the portal could swallow it.

"Guess what bitch."

The creature tried to turn its head against the shrieking rift.

"Omae wa mo shinderu."

The last thing it saw was Andrea stabbing its face with her broken piece, causing the monster to reel back by instinct with a screech of agony and overbalance towards the gate. The rift between worlds sucked it arms first into its gaping maw with screams rippling from its synthetic throat as there came a deafening causality. The monster disappeared with a howling rasp as its fingers slipped against the rim of the stargate, fading into another world's existence as the portal closed two minutes later. Andrea stood gasping with arms shaking to her heart with breaths rattling in her ribs, slumping against the wall as she started laughing with a gentle unease.

"I fear that," Haytham sighed stepping forth, "your solennial science may well begin a path to ruination at this rate."

"You're only complaining now?" she rolled her eyes at him. "Shoulda told me that before I started all this."

"Well, better late than never."

"Better nate than lever, hmhmhmhahahaha-"

"Don't you spoonerise me woman!"

"I'm sorry just, the...adrenaline's still going through me this is how I have to cope, f-fuck me."

"Yeeees well somandrics aside how has this contributed to your research?"

"Um...I don't, know?" She rubbed her head trying to calm her thumping chest. "I-i guess we...have to just look back over the records and see."

"If they managed to be preserved in the imbroglio."

"They are, don't worry about that...hooo...fuck, I really gotta tell Jane about this."

"And your superior too," he said standing before her, "but perhaps you have earned that full rest now?"

"Oh, fuck yeah you kidding I'm gonna go to bed for two days."

"Agreed."

He offered his hand and pulled her up, gently supporting her through the halls of the other base thinking that would be the last of this anomaly. But even she knew in that moment that the reading was far too large for a single brutish beast, and the truth would not be discovered until a week after this.