Joy Pursuit: Steel Dragon [Sci-Fi Fantasy | Horror | Action]

Aria Mourns, age 19, sat curled in a pile of blankets inside a makeshift tent that was lit by the dim glow of a crystalcomm flashing the wild colors of some kind of far-future animation. Her greyish eyes were wide with fleeting excitement as whatever she was watching came to a bombastic end. She let out a satisfied sigh as she put her crystalcomm down, stretching wide as she popped out from her pile of blankets. In the darkness, she blindly patted around, digging through her mess until she found a bag and pulled out some kind of wrapped treat.

Fssshh…

She froze in place, her ears perking up at an unfortunately familiar, yet subtle sound. Sweat formed on her brow, her gaze shooting straight ahead as the sound of shoes sliding against the stone incline leading to her nest grew louder.

Tap…tap…

The sound of shoes, a faint shuffle, encroached, closed.

Aria sort of sat there blankly staring at her tent's aperture with a nervous half-cocked smile as she failed to do much of anything in the face of a pair of hands unzipping the tent, letting the red glow of the night sky filter in.

Savagrios poked his head inside. "He-Hello? Ar—agh!" A loose shoe crashed into his face as he suddenly felt a jitter of Kyyr above his head before he was slammed against the base of the tent. "OWW! WAIT, ARIA!" Savagrios cried as he felt a hand press hard against his head.

"Hah-how did you find me?!" Aria cried out from the other side of the tent.

"C-can you please let…ugh, go. We're not here to hurt you…" Savagrios said, through grunts while pressing his hands against the ground. His crimson eyes focused on the swirling color above him.

Through esoteric means, Aria had her right arm pressed through what appeared to be a small swirling vortex of energy that started at her elbow. The other end appeared above Savagrios, her arm emerging from what appeared to be a small flaming teal portal. With her free hand, she scrambled for her crystalcomm and flashed a bright light straight into Savagrios's eyes.

"Agh! Hey! Stop that! We just wanted help!" Savagrios cried out as he pushed against her arm, raising his head enough for their eyes to meet.

And as soon as their gazes met, Savagrios felt the pressure behind his instantly loosen as the Kyyr dissipated. "Uhh?" Savagrios caved into his own strength, pulling back awkwardly as he tumbled into the tent. "Ow…"

Aria, on the other hand, just sat wide-eyed before turning to face away as she began to internally freak out. THANK YOU SWEET SYMBOLS! My prayers have finally been answered… all those lonely nights, all sad and cold, but finally you send me a hot shirtless Vileblood that wants help. My help! Eeeeheehee~

Savagrios pulled himself into the tent, sitting awkwardly near the entrance as he looked at her confused. "So… are you Aria Mourns? Or?"

Aria messed with her hair for a bit before turning around to face Savagrios. Her demeanor twisted unnaturally into a more mature and seductive tone. "Why yes I am, the one and only, Aria."

Savagrios sighed a breath of relief. "Thank the Symbols. Listen we know it's a little out of nowhere but we need your help to escape."

Aria tilted her head, confused. Escape? He wants to escape with me? To start a family? She blushed, hiding her face briefly in her hands. Savagrios tried explaining his situation, but his words were nothing but numb noise in Aria's mind. Her thoughts raced. Ah… suffering on that stupid tower was worth it… I was starting to think coming here was in my top ten worst life choices but I've been blessed. To finally find someone to help me escape from the miserable life of a ranger, to run away and live in a beautiful artisan cottage on a mountainside away from all the woes of life and my stupid parents! What a package deal! Someone so handsome, and willing to fend off the horrors of the night to comfort me at my weakest moments.

Savagrios stopped talking as Aria giggled into her hands, causing him to pull back a little. "Umm… s-so can you help us or…?" Aria kept giggling, staring straight through a very confused Savagrios. "Hello? Miss? Aria?"

Her eyes shot-open and she closed the distance between the two in an instant, a creepy smile spreading across her otherwise very refined face. "Oh sweet prince of the night, how can I aid your well-toned self." She said, pressing herself against his chest.

Savagrios looked down, his lips parting just enough to reveal a tinge of unease. "Uhhh… Well, our name is Gira Mourns and—"

Aria's gaze flicked up to meet him as her wild smile grew ever wider as she went in for a surprise hug. "G-G-Gira? Th-the-the C-Cuh-Coarse-b-blood?"

Savagrios began to push her off as he nodded awkwardly. "Y-Yes…?" he muttered, unsure of what this reaction meant.

Aria pushed herself off dramatically, facing away as she giggled into her hands.

Savagrios raised a brow, confused. "Sss-sister? Correct? Uh, we're low on time here and—"

Aria turned around, donning a more refined, almost mature expression, though her lust still lingered on the goofy smirk she carried. "Hehe… Wait." Her expression suddenly muddied. "Why are you here again?"

Savagrios sighed. "We need help escaping the manor. We need your help driving a lowgliders to aid in our escape."

Her smirk faltered mid-curve, hanging there stunned. "Ahhhhhhhhh. Soooo, like, I have my license but… you know. I'm more of a licensed pedestrian." She said with an awkward laugh.

"Meaning?"

Aria looked away. "I can't actually drive…"

Savagrios's left eye twitched. "Oh." His face melted into a neutral blank stare. "Most unfortunate…" he muttered in defeat.

Aria looked back, internally dying as she watched the color drain from Savagrios. Why does he look so defeated? Actually—why is he trying to run away? Should I ask? I haven't seen him since I saw him on Cetarro. Does he also hate digging up body parts from the mud? Or is it something more serious? Aria cleared her throat. "Could you tell me exactly why you want to escape the manor?"

Savagrios looked at her before suddenly shifting his gaze away. Should we tell her? From what we understand, she doesn't totally align with the rangers. She is technically our family… then again, that Eel man was supposed to be our uncle,yet he cut us open.

Aria tilted her head in an exaggerated manner. "Is there a reason you can tell me?"

Savagrios looked back up, locking eyes with her. "Uhh. Well…" Perhaps the urgency of the matter might aid us… He let out a deep breath. "The rangers used a Nomos Scrutineer on us, there was an accident…" he hesitated. "And, we perished—sort of, but as you can see we managed to survive thanks to our alien biology. We—we just… we don't want to be dissected."

Uncertain fear and anger washed over her. "A Nomos Scrutineer? Th-that's inhumane! They were used on prisoners of war, murderers, deviants, but you… Aboard Cetarro you saved my family. My mother, sisters, Serfet…" Her eyes flashed with anger. "W-was uncle Morray there?"

Savagrios hesitated slightly before nodding.

"That idiot… Ever since he started taking those fucking pills…." Aria pressed a hand over her face.

The corners of Savagrios's face lifted barely; a calm washed over him.

Aria straightened out, her eyes fiery with an unforeseen determination. "I have an idea! I'm not a fan personally…" mainly because it involves Mera, but since we're going to Krreat, she should settle back into her puppy love for her sleeping beauty. "But there's someone that might help us!"

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Savagrios's hair bits twitched. "Who?!"

Aria gave a half-hearted smile as she began to put her things away. "Her name is Mera Vaund, you know her right?"

Savagrios froze for a sec and put a hand on his chin and closed his eyes, escaping to the throne. "GIRA!" Savagrios shook his slumbering counterpart awake.

"WAWAWAWHAT?! DID THEY GET US AGAIN?"

Savagrios let go of him near the edge of the sofa. "Nah."

"Woa—ugh!" Gira had rolled off the coach. "Then what is it?"

"Could you remind us who someone by the name of Mera Vaund is? We've pretty bad with names and apparently she might be able to help us."

Gira rubbed the back of his head while smiling.‌ "Vaund… I hadn't heard her full name before…" he gave Savagrios the same gross vibes as Aria.

"Yegh. So do we know her?"

Gira got up, stretching. "Mhm. She's the pretty lady with those beautiful twilight pink eyes."

Savagrios thought for a second. "Aha! The woman who kicked us in the gut! The one from the golden forest… Right! Thanks, I'll update you in a sec."

"Oh I mean we could swi—"

Savagrios left, leaving Gira in the dark once again.

Back outside, Savagrios nodded. "Yes! Indeed we are—presumably—friends!" he said with a big smile.

Aria stuffed more stuff in her bag and let out a longing sigh. As she internally bid a sweet farewell to her home for the last couple of days. "Alrighty then… let's skedaddle."

The two popped out of the tent and took in some fresh night air.

Savagrios perked up, Kyyr compressing as a surge of energy rippled beneath them. He scowled. "We must hurry!"

Aria nodded, her own recoiling at the sudden shift of energy below. "That felt like uncle Morray…"

Savagrios nodded as they crept up the white stone roofing. "Indeed, the eel writhes beneath us… but why? If not for us. Then who or what?"

Roughly 9 minutes before Gira and Aria had met, inside the glowing blue walls of the interrogation chamber, a Hollow had interrupted them with an unnerving question.

Where was the body?

Okari grabbed Morray by the arm. "Morray… didn't another Hollow take his body earlier?"

He nodded, mouth agape, as he walked toward the Hollow. "Who sent you?" he asked the green Hollow.

"I was sent by High Command Ranger Hargo Forge. He personally requested my unit to dispose of the body. But I can't seem to locate the body?" The Hollow spoke with a measured and polite tone, though a hint of uncertainty pulsed through its modulator.

Morray's frown deepened. "Okari, pull up the security footage. Get someone on the line with High Command and the Tarantula. Stay on comms—find out who took the body!"

The Hollow's ears perked up. "The body was taken?"

Morray rushed past the mechanoid. "Follow me!" he shouted, prompting the Hollow to chase after him with the stretcher still in hand.

"What's wrong sir?"

Morray grit his teeth, his Kyyr pulsing as he adjusted an earpiece. "A rogue Hollow took the body." he said flatly, rushing out into the dreary tall halls of the manor.

"A fellow Hollow? That's impossible, another one of us would never… Unless—"

"Unless they're following orders? Right." Morray ran towards the closest elevator as Okari fed him information.

"Oh heavens! Would you mind if I contact my unit?" The Hollow asked as they waited for the elevator.

Morray tapped his foot impatiently. "Have them create a perimeter and search the premises, get all rangers on duty on this."

The Hollow nodded as its whole body perked up as it sent the orders. "Done. May I personally assist you?"

Morray nodded. "Sure. What's your name?"

"I am Patvir, from the Lyndworm Unit of the Boreas Squad." The Hollow explained.

Ding.

Morray rushed into the elevator. "Thanks for the support."

Patvir nodded as he coiled around Morray to fit in the elevator.

And as they descended into the darkness, in the depths of the manor, in the furnace room, a black-sleek Hollow marred in filth and rust slowly cleaned itself in the orange glow of the molten fire permeating through the gritty industrial hellscape. Its dark shadow twisted as mechanical components slithered to it, autonomous serpentine mangles of sleek black metal that systematically replaced the old, transforming the simple Hollow into something else.

Two smaller Hollows slithered in from the darkness, their voices warbling in alien cacophony. An inhuman language born of cold metal, its reverberations painful to the human ear.

"Preparations have been completed. Notification: Some of the present rangers have discovered your presence. Query: Is it time?" The lesser Hollow warbled.

Gunmetal black armor hissed as the dirty Hollow had replaced its frame with a new incarnation of itself. "OPERATION_VULTURE :: STATUS=ONGOING," the large Hollow hissed, his voice warbling into human speech. "Ahh… How my lingering humanity cannot wait~" Carrion said, voice growing distorted as the fires of the kiln succumbed. The industrial complex of the furnace faded to black.

Ding.

Morray and Patvir rushed down the dark, tall halls of the lower floors of the Voltasaxx manor.

Okari talked to Morray over his comms unit. "The Hollow has been identified as Unit-EH-777777777BA. Designated: Orris. According to the records Orris is a maintenance Hollow unit that's been servicing the manor for over 80 years, with the only remarkable event being a brief disappearance for an unknown 17 minute window a little over a month ago."

Morray scowled as he traversed the dimly lit halls, their current aim being the industrial heart of the furnace. Was it a clerical error? A miscommunication? It could be. But considering the tight-knit network the Tarantula has created, any truancy among the Hollows would be curbed. Orris, I vaguely remember reading the report… It genuinely seemed like nothing; its operating systems and logs were clean… Why now? He let out an exasperated sigh as he gestured to Patvir to halt as he peeked around the corner that led toward the furnace. Why… why am I even asking… It's definitely because of the Coarseblood. Because of Gira. He narrowed his gaze down the dauntingly black hallway. But what's their aim? Vivacorrs? No… the host needs to be alive. He recalled the strange events during the interrogation. There's no way… but even then, how could they predict something like that? It has to be something else. Perhaps—

"Sir." Patvir interrupted. "I've summoned support. There are currently numerous Hollow units ahead of us, but they have shut themselves from the Endymion Network. It's very likely they are hostiles."

Morray studied the darkness. "Do we have an exact enemy count?"

Patvir's ear probes shuddered. "I was only able to capture a brief microsecond of interference. I count 14 individuals, though there's likely more. According to my sources, there's 26 Hollows that work on this floor. Every single one is unaccounted for."

Morray took a deep breath. "This fucking blows…" He glanced back down the hall as he spoke to Okari. "Okari, are there any records of strange activity for any of the other units that worked on this floor?"

He waited a second before he got a response.

"Not quite… Besides maintenance check ups and one case of ER derangement over 50 years ago, the only slight interruption in flow was Orris a month ago."

Morray stared down the hall, his frown deepening. What the hell is going on? Why now of all fucking times…

Patvir snapped his neck back towards the hallway they'd arrived from. "We're ready."

Morray nodded as Patvir flooded the hallway with lights as other Hollows joined the rear. A meandering cage of long white lights pierced the dark as Morray hid in the darkness, his Kyyr muted senses in overdrive. He hadn't had the time to get a weapon besides a knife he always carried on his belt. He brandished the chrome blade tightly as he looked ahead.

The massive chamber had a brutalist mash of concrete and metal that composed the furnace room. It was gritty—the crunch of rust under his boot, the scent of acrid chemicals and sickly sweet oils.

Clank!

Metal shrapnel clattered somewhere in the dark; his muscles tensed when—

Fwoosh…

One of the kilns was lit ablaze in the distance, the orange glow spreading, revealing the contorted innards of the furnace room. Long shadows spread, and then the light behind Morray suddenly went black.

Morray pressed his back against one of the large metal containers, his gaze snapping between the kiln and the darkness behind him. A foul dread filled him as his hand slipped to his belt, his hand reaching out for a light blue flask.

"Morray Hassle?" A cold, inhumane voice echoed through the chamber. "Ah, one of the more amusing ones."

Morray pressed his comms unit. "Okari! Call for anyone available. The situation is a lot worse than I thought." But there was no response.

"Ohoho… the tragedy of being a slave to the network." The mechanoid mocked.

"Are you Orris?!" Morray shouted, the Kyyr Booster tearing through his uniform and into his thigh.

"I was. Perhaps I still am. It's a matter of perspective."

Morray felt the surge of energy flood through him. "Who are you then?" he shouted into the dark as he pulsed Kyyr through the chamber trying to get a better frame of reference of the layout.

"I am no one. Just remains—Carrion." The voice grated against Morray's ears as the shrieking of metal ruptured all around.

"What happened to the Lyndworm unit?!" Morray shouted as he violently pulsed Kyyr, hoping it would reach those above.

"Hmmm… clever, clever, how amusing." Carrion let out a warbled laugh. "They're still here… All of them… and so much more." The red glow of dozens upon dozens of Hollow eyes came to life in the dancing darkness. Morray took a deep breath as a single bead of sweat crawled down his face.

"Sweet Sym—" His voice was trampled by the thrashing of metal rushing him in the dark.