Seeding Kinks

Yitz'Shiell and Niveilia are crossing the entrance of the room with the little puppy, when a loud, high-pitched sizzling sound is heard in the distance.

The noise is followed by a thunderous sonic boom rumbling the ground and shaking the foundations of the cabin with such brutality, that deactivates the defensive perimeter, and causing cracks in the wall, allowing the fog to slowly infiltrate the property.

{You have to be kidding me!}

N'Ïrk's fury and frustration is contained and refocused towards his reaction, tidying his pants and ordering the ladies to seek shelter in the surveillance room.

His thinking is straight and linear. While going out of the cabin can prevent the building from collapsing on them. It also leaves them at the mercy of the fog, and whatever is lurking in there.

Despite the constant tremors, the security system remains functional, partially at least, showing only the thick dense mist in the fee camera lens that remain intact enough to keep recording.

"This devices do not have other types of vision?". Yitz'Shiell asks. Otzzana and the rest of the Triquetra's members enter at that moment in the now crowded chamber.

"It does have other settings". Acknowledges Mayrzzya, using the keyboard and typing a command.

The screens flicker momentarily, and not due to fake seismic movement.

Heat and electromagnetic waves replace the images on display. But to no avail. The fog is too dense, serving as an isolation element, blocking the external view for a few seconds.

This doesn't last much, since another sonic boom causes the fog to swirl and disperse part of the mist, leaving a grim preoccupying picture.

The shape of a mushroom like cloud of magenta energy, several of them, irradiating their surroundings by bloating and deforming their structures, becoming large spheres that explode in a powerful shockwave that infects and expells the misty fog for good.

However, the Carionni's Cousins are clearly intimidated. The two are competitive ladies with great conviction, and watching them so frightened is actually disturbing.

But still nowhere close to the cloudless sky, crowded with a rain of small objects falling at great speed from a gigantic Zone like vortex.

"Those look similar to the Seirrioth Landing Pods!". Informs Da'Heyliá, knowing too well the deployment tactics the Species of her friend, Maggereith Finezza (The Toothpick), tend to adopt during their expansion campaigns through militar might.

"This can't be!". Complains Å'Vría, puzzled at sighting the gargantuan ethereal whirlwind, sending down countless shock troops. "We are in a Fake Zone!".

"I thought we already agreed that this site is not a Fake Zone". Comments Friggia, just to hear Yitz'Shiell oblivious inquire. "Does it makes any difference?".

"It does". Dismissively remarks Mayrzzya, clicking her tongue. "Because we have nowhere to go, our «Exit» is in the terrace of this cabin".

"Don't make any plan. We are already dead".

The comment comes from Da'Heyliá, which surprises Ryavd'Yian, as the latter doesn't comprehend the sudden negative defeatist attitude of someone who does not give in at all. "Why are you exaggerating?".

"I agree". N'Ïrk intercedes. "We still have 40 hours before being able to go back yo Dhägna'Hür, and it's not an impossible deed to do".

"How is it that you don't understand?!".

Nags Da'Heyliá, turning to her cousin, and letting Dyll'Phá explain their situation.

"Whoever they are. Employed a Gaseous Bio-weapon that cannot be blocked, stopped, countered or detoxified. It goes through everything. Bypasses matter, and not even the Emeneld can save us".

{How is that possible?!}

The Righteous Damsel continues. "It doesn't kill you directly. But it causes an irrational surge of violence that cannot be controlled, mutating everyone into beast, and i don't say this figuratively. It literally transforms people into something brutal, more sadistic and vicious".

{What an unreliable but effective way to spread chaos before an invasion…}

Nevertheless, the thought is swayed away by N'Ïrk. "If it can't be contained… , How are «They» not affected?".

"A «Perk» probably. Just like the Seirrioth have, making them immune to this damned Bio-weapon".

"So we are already infected?".

"Yes. It's only a matter of time before we kill each other…".

A massive chain of strikes is perfectly timed by the invaders, flattening a large area with the impacts perpetrated by their Landing Pods, and the following shockwaves of the aftermath.

"Let's deactivate everything, and keep our presence to a minimum degree. If we don't give signals of life, it's possible to pass unnoticed".

The suggestion of Káth'Dria is accepted by everyone else. Though Dyll'Phá and Da'Heyliá are clearly downcasted.

The Triquetra may not perceive the changes, but that doesn't mean they are not taking place within their bodies.

Cutting off the power, and the backup generator. The students confine themselves to the basement, waiting for their time to depart.

The hours feel eternal, the uncertainty of an attack is high, and they are not in condition to face a highly advanced and well trained arm.

After all. If the invaders dared to do such an overwhelming display of power, must be for two reasons.

They wanted to bluff their strength, because their have no other option aside conquering fast. To have a way to replenish their emptied scarce supplies.

Or this is simply the standard protocol in their tactics. «Following the book».

The student's irritation intensifies. Not only because of the stress, but also due to the Bio-weapon affecting them.

Otzzana's wrist watch is about to reach the designated hour, and the Triquetra moves from the basement to the terrace. Crossing the vortex back to Dhägna'Hür, but with the added company of the puppy, who transforms in a pair of earrings that is rapidly grabbed by Yitz'Shiell, making obvious that he developed a deep bond with the little creature.

But this only makes N'Ïrk to be more wary and inquisitive.

{That was like the dagger wielded by the Usurpers, transforming into the Spectral Scorpion… , Could it be that all the Artifacts from a Zone, are in thruth Creatures?}

Almost reaching an episode of paranoia, N'Ïrk stares at his gauntlets, The Tyrant's Grasp. Not knowing how to feel, just in case he is actually accurate in his insane assessment.

Unfortunately for him. He is not wrong…