Location: Origin
Arch Extent adjusts the backpack on him, fixing his eloquent hat. He stares at a great vortex of swirling cyans, whites, and greens before him. He’s gone through these portals many times in his life; each time to embark on an expedition to Division 5.
He’s the director of Field Research for Seraphic Inc. It's a part of his position to visit Division 5: to report back discoveries along with any type of biological advances regarding the natives of the planet. While Atlas may not be aware of everything going on behind the scenes due to the time difference, he trusts Arch Extent enough to know that he’s always busy just trying to find a cure.
The scientist grips the straps of the tanned backpack, taking in a breath before he begins to take the necessary steps forward to an alien world, filled with natives who couldn’t fathom advanced concepts and run wild with vicious monsters. All the same time, it kept him on his toes and excited as each day would always be something new. The fate of humanity rests on this man’s shoulders, a boulder that seems to be crushing him consistently as he feels the last lifeline of humanity slip away from the incoming calamity.
I just have to keep believing I’ll find an answer. Arch Extent takes in a sharp breath.
With these pressuring thoughts looming at the back of his mind, Arch Extent takes the final step forward and places his hand to the portal. It takes seconds, but he’s finally through, blinking a few times as he brushes a few black locks back from his face. His gray eyes skim over the scenery: storage containers neatly stacked, glowing holo screens, and very few staff running about. There were only a few security guards at this lab outpost, and only one other scientist besides himself.
The team needed to stay small as Daggermouth outpost was considered obsolete to most employees that worked under Arch Extent. It’s still accessible, but there was only one other reason Arch Extent chose this location: less monitoring of Atlas down his neck at all costs for a personal mission of his.
Location: Division 5, Daggermouth
Division Years since the Arrival: 1448
Full Moons of Amorous (February)
“Arch Extent. We have a few questions as to why we are making this our outpost.” T-6 approaches the Arch of Atlas.
Right. Questions.
He knew he knew to expect this from T-6, an employee who always had a good nature. Arch Extent works well with this man, even if at one point, T-6 was above him back in the company. T-6 could be trusted, even if he didn’t always agree with every rule within Seraphic. This other mission with Princess Aress was a good fit for the lower level employee.
Arch Extent takes off his backpack and holster to place it on one of the counters in the lab. He sets his guns aside, at least keeping it in some type of reach for a worst case scenario.
“This area is just a fragment of what survived from the Great Migration. It was a part of the actual lab on the ship.” Arch Extent explains as he grabs black medical gloves. He’s ready to begin work, the dark bags under his eyes proving how much of a workaholic this scientist truly was. “It was designed to contain any type of contamination even after crashing. Think of it as a failsafe. The only way the Cosmos Plague could possibly enter this lab is if someone broke down the four-tier layered door.”
“That’s a big relief, boss.” T-6 twiddles his thumbs briefly, turning his head to a screen with information processing. His gaze pinpoints Arch Extent, who seems to be working on withdrawing blood samples from a recently deceased test subject. T-6 wants to impose the question, being one of the one other scientists that had discussed with Arch Extent about the dealings of Princess Aress, a test subject promised to them. “So…How is the princess being delivered here? And uh–when was she supposed to be delivered?”
“He said she would be delivered discreetly by someone who is non-Tribe. There’s a group called the Prayers.” Arch Extent pauses briefly, focusing back on the assignment he has for himself on the cadaver.
“You mean the ones who are calling you Demi-God?” T-6 inquires, knowing that his boss is definitely nothing of the sort. He’s aware that the only non-tribe group near this lab outpost would be the Prayers.
“Yes. I suspect he possibly made a terrible decision to trust his daughter to those natives. She’ll still be good to us, dead or alive. Though…I’d prefer if she’s alive when we do receive her. Or else, King Uthar will give us issues. That’s the last thing I need.”Arch Extent grabs a tool to the side, nearly finishing.
However, he can’t directly involve Seraphic as much as he wants in the lives of the natives, only observing and acting discreetly. It’s a part of the rules of the company; Even if he is an Arch of Atlas, he still needs to uphold those dire rules. Atlas is already aware he’s trying to create some kind of coexistence.
“Do you think she’ll get to us alive then?”
“I don’t know. She should be here soon, if I remembered the time difference correctly.”
Location: Division 5, Daggermouth, Outside of Elator Cave
Division Years since the Arrival: 1448
Full Moons of Amorous (February)
“Alright! It should be right up ahead!” Winter is riding as fast as she can on Trot, her Featherduster companion, kicking up sand and rubble with every pounce to the ground.
His gray fur wavers as much as Winter's turquoise scarf, elongated navy blue feathers bouncing up and down with every prance of his four legs. However, it isn't too long until Winter and Neil approach a rather imbrued scenery, human skulls littering the entrance of the cave. The huntress swears she can also see a disfigured rib cage lying on the ground, one that looked fresher than usual. Her eyebrows raise, and she looks towards her big brother for commentary on the matter.
“Well, that’s gross…” Neil huffs out. His eyes decide to gaze the other direction, not focusing on the gore in front of them.
“Yeah…I’m not a big fan of it either. Guess that’s how they decorate? We should probably make sure we don’t become a part of those decorations.” She feels sympathy for the poor bastards who had their heads tossed off and skulls left outside.
“Anyways, might as well go get our one hundred and fifty thousand gems. You’re the one who wanted this job.” Neil sternly reminds the female Winterlance. He hops off Heist, giving a brief pet to her smooth pearly scales. Heist murmurs with a low growl into Neil’s hand, showing her appreciation and trust for the hunter. Neil makes sure to tie the reins of his mount tightly to a wooden pole so Heist doesn’t wander off.
“Like I said…Food for life?” She smirks, seeing Neil’s face have the exact reaction she was looking for: Annoyed.
“Let’s go get ourselves a princess then.” Neil groans.
The duo approach the cave while the winds of the desert pick up, beginning to cover them in speckles of sand. Once they enter, the feeling of pricks hitting them ends, darkness ensuing due to the lack of light.
Like any Treetop, Neil was born with the ability of night vision. For him, this is no issue as he’s able to see the many rocks laid out before their feet, or anything else that might dwell in the dark. His hearing is also heightened, same with his smell. These were natural traits of the Treetop tribe.
“Ugh! It smells like duster shit in here!” Winter’s expression is in utter disgust whilst aligning her arm with her ice–the very ability of the Winterlances from what Neil has conducted.
“Hey, Winter. Before we do anything, make sure to watch out for any–”
It was too late.
His sister had already walked forward too far and activated a trap. The floor crumbled below her and her body was sent downwards from gravity, the smell only becoming more pungent. The female grits her teeth, blonde locks becoming undone out from under her black hood, her body stretching out to accommodate for the amount of ice she’d have to cover herself in. Her eyes squint hard, feeling the coldness take over her, ice lining up along from her fingertips to the top of her arms, along with the slit of her pants on her left leg. Her entire back is covered now, hoping that it’ll stop the fall. She hits the ground with forceful velocity, feeling her muscles doing their best to withstand the impact.
Winter coughs, looking around her as she tries to make sense of where she is. She’s a bit dizzy, not registering sounds or sight at first. After a solid minute, Winter finally sits up, blinking a few times whilst letting out another curse.
“Fucking traps…Fuck. It’s really dark down here…”
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