XCOM: Mythos Point (XCOM/Cthulhu Mythos/Phoenix Point Crossover)

[zeroraid]

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

Twenty years.

Twenty long years.

That's how long it took for XCOM's war with the Elder's to end. Contact didn't go so well for us. We fought as hard as we could, lost a lot of good people along the way, experienced victory and defeat to protect humanity… and for what? In the end the world leaders forced a unanimous surrender. XCOM was disavowed and scattered… I got put in a tube for decades and Bradford, - bless his ironclad soul - was the one who kept the fight going. He fought for twenty years without me, spent em running and fighting, spent em gathering allies, spent em looking for me.

No matter what they say that man's the reason XCOM stayed alive, not me. He's the reason we won in the end, and though I had my part to play it doesn't compare to his.

He spent twenty long years fighting, I got involved only during the beginning and the end of it.

But just because the war is finally over, doesn't mean that everythings gone back to normal, let alone the way things were.

Look down the streets and you'll find aliens and humans and hybrids alike.

Our victory came with a price; the Adven't false peace shattered to give way to make it seem like the world is falling apart. No one trusts the aliens anymore, less trust the hybrids like good old Beto and the Skirmishers.

This is where the hard part starts.

We may have stopped the war, liberated humanity and Earth from the Elder's and Advent's control but WE gotta fix everything else now.

I don't trust the world governments to not fuck everything up and fuck us over again…

From the Journal of Doctor Richard Tygan​

Since the discovery of Dr. Vahlen's research facility, I have taken the liberty to examine notes my predecessor has left behind. In doing so I hope to better my understanding of some of her more "eccentric" creations such as the Rulers. In my readings I find myself both amazed and horrified at what she left behind. Her theories and concepts for genetic modification are astounding, but they are unethical. The further I dig into her research for Meld, the more unnatural the depth she sought to reach. I can understand gene therapy, but many of her future experiments seem to border on the line of madness. It is frightening, and I begin to question whether my predecessor had some condition we had not been made aware of. Her obsession with Meld gene modding is… concerning and I am frightened by the possibility of studying her research further in order to seek a means to assist humanity.

From the Journal of Chief An-Yi "Lily" Shen​

It's still hard to believe it's finally over. I mean there's still ADVENT troops to deal with but… it's really over. I just wish my dad was here to see this. Since XCOM was disbanded years ago, it became his dream to defeat the aliens and ADVENT. I'm just glad I was able to help make it a reality, and dad, you helped make all this happen. You left me SPARK and he's been a great deal of help to the resistance. ROV-R likes him too. I think they're gonna be great friends.

Speaking of which I've been learning things from SPARK's digital blueprint. Not just how to potentially mass produce him like how ADVENT did their MEC, but… dad left me some files for other creations like XCOM's old S.H.I.V. Platforms. I'm thinking of building my first S.H.I.V. soon too, that way SPARK and ROV-R get another friend to spend time with, but first there's something I gotta do, there's somewhere we all gotta go.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

Bradford and I went home today; we returned to the old Ant Hill. She's a mess, but she's still standing.

I think… I think Bradford needed to be here, I needed to be here. Needed to see what had become of the place where all of this started. Needed some form of closure for what happened here twenty years ago. Being here, walking these halls with him; I don't think I've seen him so… broken and distant in all our time together. Our Ant Hill meant a lot to him.

I want to clean her up, bring her back to working. I think it's only right.

She was home once, she can be home again.

From the Journal of Doctor Richard Tygan​

As many unnamed men have said; "perhaps there are some things man was never meant to tamper with". I fear my predecessor Dr. Vahlen may have delved too deep into the scientific possibilities of Meld only to be consumed by madness. These genetic experiments, unethical and perhaps impractical are something no sane soul would dare come up with.

Her experiments are frightening, but in looking back during my time with XCOM I find something more concerning.

Genetic manipulation… and Meld itself frightens me.

A tool like Meld is something once considered the world of science fiction. XCOM has used it in war just as well as the Aliens during Contact. And yet… Why is something like this so easy to use but so hard to understand? Why did the Elders drop their Canisters only for XCOM to acquire them and use them as efficiently as they could? What was their reasoning; for humanity to grow dependent on this foreign material, to follow the path that they have down and may very well lead to their own damnation?

I have seen the Septoids and Advent Troopers, the Floaters and the Archons, Dr. Vahlen's Rulers and even the old EXALT autopsy reports. and I find the level of genetic modification is frightening and near blasphemous. Worse, we now have the ability to perform such actions for our own gains, and the only thing restraining us is the inability to understand how to replicate Meld technology. Perhaps it is for the best; our inability to recreate Meld may act as a necessary restraint in delving down the easy path that leads to a new horizon.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

Worlds calming down finally, though it's still gonna be a while till everything's back together. There's still plenty of aliens occupying our cities and the outskirts, and many want to kick them off our planet. That's going to be impossible however, as there is no way to send them off, and as Dr. Tygan once said it seemed the Elder's intended to be here for the long haul, it's hard to find a ship in one piece that we can use to get these aliens home let alone a working Psionic Rift. They're gonna be stuck with us for a while. And as strange as it seems I'm not certain if they "should" leave.

I've probably been hanging around Officer Kelly too often. I never considered her sympathetic to the Aliens but she's thinking about coexistence. Aliens, Humans, and hybrids alike just living together and working towards a common goal; a better future. It's not… a common thought, and there's certainly some protests coming within our ranks on the possibility of "forgive and forget" what they've done for twenty years now, such a thing isn't possible; but we've moved past the sins of our forefathers before. We forgave, but we did not forget lest we run the risk of repeating their actions against other people regardless of their race, gender or sexuality. Besides as it stands I'm not in the mood to cause total genocide… unless its against the chryssalids - fuck those freaky xenomorph-esque assholes.

On the plus side We finally got the old Ant Hill up and running again. Never seen Bradford so relieved. I think he's finally found that closure he needed so he can move forward. Me, I'm happy to say XCOM is officially back home.

From the Journal of Chief Engineer An-Yi "Lily" Shen​

Finished my first S.H.I.V. today, gotta say even with my dad's notes she came out way better than I expected and I'm thinking of calling her E-VE. She and ROV-R like to follow me around when I'm not working and sometimes they bump into each other.

Still, everythings been pretty quiet so far. I mean there's still some fighting going on outside and Kelly's Reclamation Agency has been busy, but things are certainly better than they were before. Honestly though, I'm still not sure about all this coexistence stuff, but it's worth a shot, right? Still no point in letting our guard down in case things start going south; and there's always the worse case scenario of the Elders returning. They wanted to be here for the long haul, so theres no way they're done with us yet.

Meantime I have some projects to work on.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

It's been 25 years since the war, and coexistence has been hard earned. I've seen humans, aliens and hybrids sit at a restaurant table and share drinks and laughs. It was weird at first, but I don't mind it too much anymore.

… still, 25 years. Worlds changed in that time. After the collapse of ADVENT the world governments tried recollecting themselves, eventually deciding to take a step towards real unification. A one world government; no borders between nations, one people united and all that good stuff. I gotta say, it's been pretty nice so far.

We've had to take a few steps away from Elerium based technology; stockpiles are short to begin with and even after 25 years we can't figure out how to synthesize it. I'm happy to say that we're almost completely off the stuff the Elders tried getting us hooked on.

It's been a bit… easy I guess to pull away from but I'm still not all that sure about what we replaced it with. See; while I was still in a tube, some resistance researcher by the name of Teresa Ashcroft secretly started working on something called Arcanotechnology and her research was continued by Simon Yi and Doctor Golvash Czeny. They created something called the D-Engine but couldn't mass produce it while ADVENT was still around. Made something called the Dimensional Engine or D-Engine.

It's… nuts really. Some infinite-energy device that put Elerium and Nuclear Power to shame so easily they look like rocks neck to a mountain. Supposedly it draws energy from another dimension, I have trouble believing that but hey I didn't believe in aliens till I saw my first Septoid. It's crazy what this stuff can do, and to be honest we don't fully understand how it works…

I don't really want to either. Those that worked on the D-Engines went mad, and I get the feeling that it all traces back to the "Dimension" the energy is pulled from, or at the very least the Engine itself.

Still with the D-Engine we're pulling further away from the Elders path every damn day, but… I'm not sure where we're gonna go with this.

Either case things are… good. Everyone's playing nice, and it ain't just cause they have to. Still I look around us and wonder about the enemy within our own ranks, EXALT and wonder what's become of them. Same time I turn skyward and wonder how long the stars will stay quiet. Elders haven't reared their head in decades but I feel they're still out there waiting for another Contact War and everything.

There's also something else out there, we know there's life scattered throughout the universe, and there's something else too.

When I held off the Elders during my last field mission, they said something, and it's been nagging at me all this time.

"It will follow you, just as it followed us. You are not ready. We must not fail."​

Something else is out there… "what" is the question. The Elders are running from something, something that they think will turn its attention to us.

I don't like it, not knowing what else we need to deal with. Still, if - when they show their face, XCOM will be here.

Vigilo Confido; I am watchful, I am relied upon.

PRIORITY ONE HYPERWAVE TRANSMISION: ALPHA PRIORITY CHANNEL





TIMESTAMP: 5:10 HOURS ZULU TIME, 7/4/2054





FROM XCOM CENTRAL COMMAND: CITY 71 DETACHMENT





TO: ALL XCOM FACILITIES ON EARTH





CASE BUGHUNT CONFIRMED - CHRYSSALID PRESENCE DETECTED​

At 4, July, 2054 Hyperwave sensors at XCOM facility site at Monterey County experienced a Chryssalid outbreak. Hive CONFIRMED to be heading towards City 71 . All XCOM facilities are to initiate protocol CASE BUGHUNT. Briefing packets are to be unlocked and standing military personnel are to go on full alert. Al reserve and civilian staff are to be mobilized for possible military contact. All current NEG heads are to be alerted immediately.

Taskforce Strike-One Personnel are to report to the nearest XCOM facility for transportation and briefing.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

Been a week since the biggest BUGHUNT in XCOM's operational history. And I swear to high hell I've never seen so many of those xenomorph-esque bastards in one place. We sent everyone we could get our hands on to City 71 but those bastards kept crawling out the bay in wave after wave like the ocean was chuck full of em. Swear the ocean was made of those damn things…

Dealing with a BUGHUNT's always hard, damn bastards multiply like rats in a wall. When they get their hands on you, but this was different. Those ocean hiding bastards were like bleached bone and the way they kept coming, it was almost like they were spooked by something. Trying to get away from something in the water.

Freakier thing? They weren't the only ones we caught sight of leaving the ocean.

Fish, fucking fish were washed up on shore in droves, couldn't really see the edge vof the just a giant line of fucking fish…

I DON'T like this.

We got the Elders and whatever was chasing them still hiding in the stars, we got EXALT hiding in the cities and now we got something hiding in the ocean depths… XCOM is going to be busy soon, feel it in these damn bones. No matter what, we gotta be ready.

Earth and her people will not fall, not while we're still standing.

Vigilo Confido; I am watchful, I am relied upon.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

I hate being right.

Something is going on. Been a few months since the BUGHUNT and shits starting to get weird. There's this strange mist creeping in from the coastlines - not one or two - I'm talking ALL of them and the rains coming with them. News says that sea life is getting violent. Psychicics - human hybrid and alien - are having nightmares and there's too many reports for it to be coincidental. And people are WALKING into the sea. Everyones on high alert, I've ordered Tygan to examine this "Mist" and see what the hell is going on, hopefully he can get us some answers. As for Lily I want her to use whatever Tygan brings back to try pushing this mist back.

Excerpt from the research notes Doctor Richard Tygan​

Mist samples suggest that it contains large amounts of some organic composite, and so far the samples don't match any of the DNA records we've compared it to, be it alien or human orientated. This organic composite possesses the largest genome we've ever recovered the oldest as well. I can only compare it to something prehistoric, but what it belongs to, what's creating it is currently beyond by understanding. I will continue my research and hopefully manage to produce something to sterilize this strange mist overtaking the coastline.

Excerpt from XCOM Post-Examination of Winston Freed​

He said whatever came out the ocean wasn't human. Same as the others. I tried getting him to explain but all he could say was to look at the thing they brought in for an autopsy. He seemed hysteric but we've managed to calm him down with some sedatives. Whatever they fought seems to be affecting the soldiers in a more negative way that the Aliens ever could all those decades ago.

Excerpt from the research notes Doctor Richard Tygan​

Disgusting… simply disgusting.

And yet it's frighteningly intriguing. Autopsies on what we refer to as the Arthrons seem to be the result of human DNA having somehow merged with sea creature DNA to create these Frankenstein monsters. I believe they are the result of the "Mist" forcefully merging the DNA in a manner reminiscent of Meld gene splicing but the results are more pronounced and horrific even by the Elder's standards. And looking at this creature and other Arthrons brought in, leaves me with the impression that it is still in its early stages of development. I can only imagine the possibility of what their "finalized" versions will take.

And yet… staring at these creatures I somehow find something familiar about them. Something troubling.

From the Journal of XCOM CO. John "Central" Bradford​

God fucking damn it, its like the words falling apart all over again. There's sea monsters crawling out the ocean and the cities are in an uproar. It's not EXALT it's… something… Men, aliens and monsters, men becoming monsters and Psychicics going rogue and fucking cultists of all things… We're fighting everywhere we can, helping the police on more than one occasion because shits hitting fan that hard. I want an explanation, we all need one…

From the Journal Doctor Richard Tygan​

I knew something about these creatures seemed familiar to me. The design is truly alien, but there is something I can compare it to. The notes, the ones I used to study all those decades ago trying to understand my predecessor's apparent descent into madness. The similarities are too much to be considered coincidence, I fear she knew more than she let on to XCOM.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

Dr. Vahlen… Dr. Moira Vahlen. I think about that woman every time I stare at her picture on the M.I.A. wall. It's been 21 years since I last heard word of a woman we thought dead…

And that woman just sent me fucking books.

I thought it was a prank of sorts but I know that writing, Bradford knows that writing, Tygan knows that writing. Vahlen is alive, she's out there somewhere and… she knows what's going on.

The note attached was essentially an explanation, the sea monsters, the people causing trouble in the streets, the cults popping up everything.

Vahlen was part of some other something big, something more secret than XCOM once was.

And she knew about these things, these creatures and the cultists, claimed them to be servants of "sleeping dead gods" beneath the sea and beyond the veil of reality. She wrote that these peoples traveled the dark corners of the world, waiting to resummon their old gods who may reclaim the world. Psionics was the catalyst and creation of Arcanotech just an unintentional benefit.

Great.

Just… fucking great.

The books were old. By that I mean ancient. One may very well have been a bestiary of sorts redacted for "my safety". The other was a freaking spell book with charms and protection seals, and a lovely little note that read "Do not read for more than an hour…"

There was also this emblem she had pressed between the pages, stylized to mimic XCOM, but the symbol and motto on it are foreign.

Sapere Aude; Dare to Know.

From the Journal of Chief Engineer An-Yi "Lily" Shen​

Commander says we're fighting the proxy of Old Gods now. I believe him and I'm not sure how to deal with that.

Even with the autopsy reports being brought in, this is just nuts

I mean first we have a war with aliens and now we're going to war with dead gods?

This is… this is going to be complicated. I've never built anything to try killing a god, but if their proxy is anything to go by superior firepower seems to work as good as anything. In the meantime we have enough samples to build our prototype "Mist Repeller". As the name suggests it will push that damn mist back, but that's all it will do. We still have to deal with the monsters ourselves. It's not much of a start, we'll at least be able to see again.

From the Journal of XCOM Commander [REDACTED]​

It's time to step down… I gotta say I don't want to, but it's time for this fossil to be put in a museum and let someone new blood take the reins.

It's been one hell of a ride, one some 80 years long. Lily and I are the only two left. Bradford had to step down years ago but he went out on his own terms, that old soldier going into the breach one more time to save as many as he could. We can only be so lucky to go out like he did. Tygan, poor soul didn't get the chance to make it this far, pieces of that old ADVENT chip still in his head got to him, decades ago. Still he left us behind enough for the future to pick up the pieces. Lily - no Shen should retire soon, she's done enough, The weapons, the vehicles, the Gremlins and S.H.I.V.s and Mecs, the Mist Repellers… Woman's done more than enough, me? I feel like there's still more for me to do, and maybe I can do it outside this office.

Still we've left some big shoes to fill, and our successors are going to have to work to succeed up. Maybe they can finish out business.

So; to my replacement and new Commander of XCOM. I leave you an old man's unfinished work; a world still under siege. The alien sea and the wilds hide children of the Fish God and abominations of the Fungi from Yuggoth. The cities hide the Children of Chaos, EXALT and uncounted other forces. And the stars hide uncounted horrors still biding their time. These are your enemies, and their number is legion. Beware the enemy within just as much as you beware the enemy beyond. Your war will be two-fold; in the streets and in the shadows alike.

But no matter what you are confronted with, follow these simple orders;

Survive. Adapt. Win. Welcome to XCOM and good luck Commander.





"Good luck Commander."

Sitting at her desk a woman simply repeated the words as looked over the edited journal entry, resting a knuckle on her chin as she reread the entry over and over again. She found herself doing this once a week or so, the act growing more into a habit than anything. Still rereading the message brought as frown to her face as she dismissed the published text on her tablet and leaned back, the hand on her chin drifting to her lap as she interlocked her fingers and started to think back.

It's 2177, it's been thirty years since she was given this office, being given a promotion after her predecessor - XCOM's second Commander passed on due to medical problems. In her heart she felt she wawa given the office more out of necessity than having earned it. TFor thirty years she's been the Commander of XCOM, and this was what she had to show for it: a world still at the brink of war. The cities are safe, the enemy beyond has been pushed back, but there is still the enemy within that her people must deal with. Covert Operations have become the new norm.

How long it will last before it's brought to light though… that's the main question.

The world is good, but it could be better, much better.

The NEG - the New Earth Government - holds a totalitarian - but strangely ok body. The people are living their lives to the fullest almost as if they are going to die tomorrow. She knows they're scared though.

Psychics, regardless of them being human, hybrid or alien are running, scared of what might happen with their powers brought to light.

Cults are still trying to awaken their Dead Gods and companies are scheming in their own little corporations.

How she had kept XCOM's autonomy was beyond even her, but she wouldn't complain. So long as they got results they kept getting the funding, and god damn it did they get results.
The NEG had figured out how to kill the monsters, but they couldn't do it like XCOM. No other power in the world had the skill and know how and know how to get the job done. Plus they couldn't train Psychics as well, or pump out the necessary weapons to put a couple bastards down.

Most autonomy they lost was when they joined with Reclamation Agency, a fellow semi-autonomous agency set up by XCOM. Even then what they lost wasn't much, with the joining helping XCOM assist local communities instead of just having to stay out and deal with the threats outside.

Inside was where the fighting really was after all.

That's the problem when the fightings at home. A knock on the entrance door caught her attention as she glanced forward leaning forward as the door was opened to let an officer in. "Central Officer Roland Pierce." She stated simply as she stared at him.

"Commander you're needed in Mission Control." Nodding her head the Commander of XCOM got to her feet and took a moment to roll her shoulders before stepping from behind her desk.

"Time to work for a living."

 

[zeroraid]

Only the second time using a Forum and still not entirely sure if I'm doing this right. But for those unfamiliar with the the the Fungi of Yuggoth it originates from H.P. Lovecraft's works as a term used to describe the Mi-Go.

In Lovecraft's works the Mi-go/Fungi of Yuggoth are fungoid beings resembling crustaceans which hail from the planet Yuggoth - implied to be the dwarf planet Pluto. They're a scientifically and technologically advanced species with a completely alien sense of moralityand seem malicious from human perspective. They're also believed to be at war with the Elder Gods.

Pandorans from Phoenix Point are suggested to be based off of the Mi-Go from Lovecraft's work, with the comet that carried them in virus form to Earth in ancient times, and ended up frozen in the permafrost of the Antarctic. It's implied that the Pandoravirus fungi is sentient in some Lore such as the Interrogation and that the Pandorans are the bodies it creates to more directly interact with the world while terraforming it.

The Mi-Go also appear in Cthulhutech. They're also from Yuggoth/Pluto and either had established much of the solar system as their territory or were still in at the process of doing so. They found humanity's colonization to a threat and finding the situation unacceptable they chose to prepare for war so that they could drive humankind back to the world they belong - trapped on earth where they could be experimented on in secret at their leisure. Their first act of war came in the form of the Nazzadi, a near-human race they created based off of human blueprints and commanded by proxy but when they eventually found out their true origin the Nazzadi switched sides and the Mi-Go switched to using monsters before taking to the field themselves.

TLDR: Mi-Go exist in Two out of three of the game universes that are being used as the bases for this story. Both are these crustacean-like creatures that originate from beyond Pluto and come to Earth. War follows and while in Phoenix Point everything is lost in Cthulhutech there's still a fighting chance.

So anyway: For this I'm going to use the fungi from Phoenix Point which created the Pandoran's as the Mi-Go. It will either be their "True Form" or it will just be a Mi-Go Bioweapon that was created ages ago and got reacted, so they'll be replacing the Nazzadi Slave race in this story... for now. I'm not certain if I'm gonna completely cut out the Nazzadi or introduce them later. I probably won't but... thoughts for later.

Anyway hope you enjoyed the first chapter.

 

[zeroraid]

Location: Earth / United States / Del Coronado Bay / City 45

City 45. The city was built on the bones of Morro Bay. Standing at an almost 7 mile radius, it swallows up both Cayucos and Baywood-Los Osos. It's a nice little city. Sure, it's no Las Vegas, but it's a nice little place to live. It doesn't reek of oil and rust, and it's scent is a far cry from death incarnate. People keep this place alive and kicking, even when it starts raining to hell and back. Still the mist hanging at the far edge of the bay always seems to have this air of forbidding. After all they know what rests beyond the mist, they know what rests beneath the water…

All that said though

Days like today though, its days like today that the city is just sleeping.

Then again, it is 3 in the morning.

Hawke though, that's another story. Though that wasn't for lack of trying. Staring at his ceiling, Hawke Crestlight, just listened to the white noise as he rolled over in his bed, trying to will himself back to sleep.

That attempt failed miserably. Still, he tried at least, keeping his eyes shut for maybe five - maybe ten minutes as he tried staying locked away from the world.

He failed, again.

Mostly because he had to seriously take a piss.

So, with an annoyed sigh and an incoherent grumble, the young man pulled himself from bed, letting his feet hit the cold tile and made his way to the restroom. Soon as he was done, and finished washing his hand, the young man just took the time to stare at his reflection.

He's young, not that young but he couldn't be a year over 16 or so. Caramel skin and black hair framed grey eyes. He looked normal, he wasn't overly attractive but he sure as hell wasn't hideous either. Staring at his reflection Hawke just sighed for a moment, gathered some water into his hands before splashing it on his face. "What?"

"You look like shit."​

It would have been weird as hell if his reflection actually talked back to him.

It was less weird that his brain simply chose to talk back to him.

"What do you expect, I just rolled out of bed." Hawke confessed, stepping away from his restroom mirror and fixed his pants. "Still doesn't look like I'll be sleeping anytime soon. Any idea on what to do?" The youth asked, only to find no answer given. Honestly, he wasn't expecting one to begin with. His "headmate" rarely gave an answer to those kinds of questions. Heading over to his cabinet he took a moment to scan it before cursing to himself. "Getting low." He grumbled to himself before pulling out a cup of Ramen noodles. "Gonna have to go shopping soon." He stated, giving it some water and tossing it into his microwave. That done he took a look at his phone, checking the charge before heading to an app, to be exact he went to the one that connected him to the Global Federation Reserve Bank so he could check his account. "And funds are low, great." He grumbled putting his phone in his pocket and grabbed the ramen from the microwave before settling down on his couch. "Gonna have to get out there." He complained as he started eating. "Well, how's that old saying go; gotta work for a living." He blew on some noodles. "What a hassle." He told himself as he started to eat. Taking a minute he let the noodle and fork rest in his mouth for a moment as he messed with his phone, putting it on speaker. Soon as he was done, he returned to eating. "Hey Umbra, how's it hanging?"

"Hey birdboy, everything's good. How's it going on your end?"​

"Well, things are going." He told the voice on the other end. "Things are almost gone too."

"Ah~"​

His counterpart chuckled.

"Let me guess, you need some work?"​

"Yeah." Hawke confessed as he looked at his apartment.

"How bad is it?"​

"Almost about to start scraping the bottom of the barrel." Was Hawke's response as he returned to eating.

"That bad huh."​

"Yeah." Hawke took another bite of his noodles. "Think you can help?"

"Oh dude…"​

Umbra chuckled.

"Give me some time, I'll see what I come up with."​

"Thanks Umbra. I owe you."

"I'll add it to your tab. Anyway, I got some stuff to take care off at this hour."​

"You do shit at this hour?" Hawke asked in confusion. "It's three in the morning, what do you have to do?"

"That's my business and mine alone birdboy. I'll talk to you later."​

"Right later." Watching the line go dead Hawke finished his noodles, sighing to himself as he stared off in the distance. "Now…" He began. "The fuck am I gonna do at 3 AM?"

Nothing.

The answer to that question was nothing.

Hawke wasn't the kind of person to do an early morning jog, and he didn't feel inclined to start doing anything at that kind of hour, save sleeping. So that was all he did; or at least tried to do. Laid out on his couch and tried willing himself back to a blissful oblivion.

Whomever said "third times the charm", either had the luck of benevolent gods or was talking absolute bullshit.

Groaning in annoyance Hawke just looked around the place he owned. He wouldn't call it home, but he would call it "his".

For now anyway.

Hawke was a runaway; leaving his parents and the life he had behind as he went off the grid.

He didn't want to do this, he really didn't but… it was "safer" this way. At least that was what he kept telling himself.

He didn't leave an abusive household behind or anything of the sort, but when he got scared of something back, he ran; and he doubted anyone could really blame him for running from what scared him.

The issue was, part of what scared him… was himself.

Eight months ago, Hawke had hurt someone, he hurt them… badly and in realizing what he'd done, he ran.

Ran from the one he hurt, he ran from his parents, and above all; he ran from the NEG - the New Earth Government.

He told himself, he didn't have a choice.

He hurt someone… he killed someone.

Taking a sharp breath Hawke made his attempt to try to block out the memory threatening to push itself to the front of his mind.

He fought it the only way he really could, he tried drowning it out with something else, a random thought, or some music on his phone. Whatever he could wrap his brain around he tried focusing on just so he could block out that painful memory.

The problem was… he couldn't block it out all the way, and because of that, it reminded him of things, of better times eight months ago.

Eight months ago, back when he'd just Hawke Crestlight; back when he lived with his parents, went to school and hung out with friends and collected model kits… back when his life back then was more or less as normal.

Or as normal as things could get in today's world.

Then; then he got sick, right on his birthday no less. Started getting these headaches that made the occasional migraine look like nothing;. It felt like a jackhammer on steroids was beating the life out of his brain. His parents let him take a few days off from school, and started having him see a bunch of doctors.

Seven doctors in three days, and nothing came of it.

He remembered nights when one of his parents had to hold his head as he kept vomiting into the toilet, and then… and then the weird shit started happening.

The scary shit.

"Hawke."​

His brain called out to him as he looked up.

"Huh?" He heard something on his table rattling, and saw the remote seemingly shaking. He slammed his palm on it, held it down until it eventually stopped shaking. Hawke took a breath before slowly letting go and leaned back on the couch.

"You good?"​

"Yeah...yeah I'm good." Hawke muttered as he closed his eyes and started to relax, failing the moment a jolt ran through his spine and he jumped up, grabbing the back of his head as he felt the hairs on it shoot up. "What the?" " His eyes widened when someone knocked on his door.

"Hawke Crestlight, I know you're in there." A man called out as they knocked again as Hawke made his way towards the window, only to stop when he caught sight of the red marker already planted on his chest. He froze and looked outside, his attention failing to locate where the marker was coming from. "Hawke, don't try running, we have your place surrounded." The voice at his door told him before messing with the handle. "Let me in and we'll talk. No one has to get hurt." They told him as Hawke glanced at the door and then his window, still trying to get a beed on where the marker was coming from.

"Too far."​

Was the words left by his brain as Hawke slowly stepped back, trying to stay out of sight before taking a breathe.

"Don't."​

His brain told him.

"Don't chance it."​

"Well what should I do?" He whispered as he stepped further into his room and took a breath. He felt his brain itch and turned towards the door, seeing as it was still closed at the moment. "No?"

"Any better ideas, the kind that don't revolve around jumping out a window and getting shot?"​

"I'm working on it." Hawke muttered before looking around and grit his teeth. "There's gotta something we can do…"

"Let the guest in."​

His voice in his head told him.

"They wanted to break the door down, already would of."​

It told him.

"They don't want to hurt us… not yet."​

Hawke bit his lips as he looked at the door and seemed to move towards it, pause and then step forward. "Please make it so I won't regret this."

"Don't worry."​

It told him.

"I'll protect you."​

Hawke slowly opened the door as he took a breath, staring forward as he caught sight of the man that was in the hallway waiting for him.

"There we go." They said. "That's a good start." The man stated. "No one needs to get hurt."

Hawke didn't say anything, just looking up, and up and up some more as he stared at the figure looking down at him.

"Oh… fuck."​

The guy was definitely over 8ft, and that physique of his had to have been carved out of marble. A living Adonis - or Hercules or something. Under his attire he had tan if slightly red skin and short brown hair and hazel colored eyes.

Hawke took a cautionary step back, rubbing his eyes as if to make sure what he was seeing was actually real or not.

It was.

"Hawke Crestlight, It's good to finally meet you." The man stated as they stepped in a hand in their pocket as they looked around. "First bachelor pad huh?" They asked. "I remember my first one, it was a hell of a lot messier." They admitted with a fond smile before looking back to Hawke. "Sorry, I'm Agent Solomon of the OIS."

"I…" Hawke paused. "I figured." He muttered as he took a few steps back. The OIS; the Office Of Internal Security, it was a branch of the NEG. It was a couple of things; a police force, an intelligence agency, a counter-espionage and a paramilitary force, all under the jurisdiction of citizens from what could be considered monsters.

In an age where snake women, and septoids and Mutans walked the streets without issue… monster could mean a couple of things

Hawke wasn't wasn't a monster… least he didn't see himself as one.

He was human, sure he was a bit of a freak, but he was human.

"You're… here to kill me aren't you.

"I won't lie, that option is on the table." Solomon muttered as he closed the door behind him and gestured to the couch and chairs. "But you're playing this smart; other than your first incident in LA you haven't hurt anyone and you're not making a run for it." He stated as he watched Hawke glance at his couch and just stood where he was. Solomon just nodded in understanding and stood across from the young man. "You're playing this very smart kid, I'm glad."

If… if you aren't here to kill me… what do you want?"

"To bring you in." Was Solomon's answer. "I'm a wrangler, not an executioner."

"A Wrangler?"

"What's a Wrangler?"​

"I'm an agent of the OSI, a Psychic responsible for finding other rogue Psychics." Hawke's eyes snapped up as Solomon nodded, raising a hand as cupped it, and before his eyes small wisps of energy started to appear and dance across it.

"You… you're like me?" Hawke muttered as the wisps disappeared. "But I heard that-"

"That we execute rogues?" Solomon sighed, actually sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Regrettably that happens to those that don't cooperate , or those too far gone or are drunk on their power." Soloman stated as he looked at the teen. But remember, Psychics like us have been around since the Ethereal War in the early 2030's, the OIS just keeps tabs of them, trains them so they won't be a danger to themselves and society." Solomon gestured to himself. "That's where Wranglers like me come in. We seek you guys out and hopefully you're willing to listen to reason so moments like this don't get messy." He paused. "If not." Solomon glanced at the window.

"I…" Hawke paused. "I understand." He clenched his fists. "So as long as I don't resist… no one gets hurt?"

"No one, I promise." Solomon stated as he stared back at the kid. "Will you come quietly."

"I don't really have a choice do I?"

"I'm afraid you don't kid." Solomon patted his shoulder. "But trust me, you're making the right decision; this could have been a lot messier." He stated before reaching into his pocket and pulling something out his pocket. "Still I gotta follow procedure kid." He held out a small vial as Hawke felt his eyes lock onto it. "This is a Neuroleptic." He told him. "It'll suppress your abilities for a while. That way they won't flare up out of nowhere and cause any issues."

"Right." Hawke muttered before as he rubbed his neck and stared at the drug in Solomon's hand before taking it. He took a breath before jabbing the needle into his neck with a short winch and emptied its contents. That done he staggered for a moment before dropping the needle and taking a breath. "No what."

"Now you get your shoes on, and I take you in kid."

OIS Psychic Registration Center

Hawke wouldn't lie, he had heard rumors. It was the last place anyone really saw a registered Psychic. After that they got into here, they just… disappeared. Got taken off the grid. Hawke wouldn't lie, he didn't know a damn thing that happened to those that disappeared.

No, that was a lie.

He roughly knew about what happened to them. They could walk the streets, but rarely did. Cause of that stupid tag they had to wear. Showed what they were and how dangerous they could be. People got scared when they noticed the tag. Hell even if they didn't… Sure Psychics had been around since the Ethereal War, sure they fought then too, but… people were still scared of them even then. Why wouldn't they be? After all even if you dismissed the fact a Psyshic has the power to all but fuck with the rules of reality and throw psionic lightning and move their mind; they could still fuck with your head. Make you see things, believe in things that weren't real… make you feel things that you shouldn't.

He'd heard of Psychic using their powers to rip into a person's mind, take things - secrets that were best left hidden.

He'd heard of Psychics using their powers to play with others feelings, make them love them and hate others.

These were just two reasons why people were scared of Psychics. There were others of course, but these were all Hawke chose to focus on at the moment.

The moment he got registered, and tagged everyone would know he was different, know he was a threat even when he didn't want to be.

They'd see him as a monster.

"We aren't a monster…"​

The voice in his head replied as Hawke took a breath.

"We're different… but we aren't a monster."​

"I know." Sitting in a room, Hawke just took a breath as he glanced at Agent Solomon as he started stepping out the room. Before he reached it he glanced back, giving the teen a nod before lightly smiling.

"It's gonna be ok kid." He told him as he lightly knocked on the door. "I'll be right out here, ok."

"Thanks…" Hawke muttered before smilingly weakly as Solomon stepped out. Leaving Hawke alone in a room that could certainly use some kind of decorations. Walls were kind of slanted to give a room a half-oval look and there was a camera that circled around a set or railing on the ceiling. It hadn't taken it's eye off him since he'd been brought in. Kind of wish it did to be honest. Turning his attention ahead Hawke looked at the front of the room as he saw his reflection. Mirror, if he had to guess it was a one-way mirror; let someone see him but not the other way around.

"You're gonna be ok."​

The voice in his head stated.

"I'll keep you safe."​

"I know."

In the room across from the newly discovered Psychic, a couldn't help sigh to himself as he rested his hands on the console before him, data starting to be brought up on the mirror wall that started registering the boy. His superior just took a drink from their coffee as they took in the sight of the 16 year old boy sitting in the room opposite of them.

"Ok the data's in." He muttered as he started messing with the console. "ID verified. Last name Crestlight… first name Hawke… middle name…" The man behind the screen paused as he looked ahead before doing a double take. "Jesus!"

"I think they pronounce it "Hey-soos"."

"Uh...Walker?" The one at the console began. "You might wanna come take a look at this." Walker just shook his head as he set his coffee down and walked over.

"What is it?"

"Take a look at these bio readings." The man at the console whispered as Walker walked over.

"Abnormality in the brain…" That wasn't too far out there. For some reason a lot of Psychics had an abnormality there, many figured it came with their powers, what was so special about it? "Mutation located in bones/internal organs/veins… abnormal tendon design…bio-chemical levels…" Walker paused, taken back what he was staring at. "What the fuck?"

"His bio-chemical levels are at least 70 times what should be possible, even at its lowest, there's enough adrenaline in his system alone that it could bring down an army of Muton Berserkers."

"How the fuck is this kid even alive? His heart should have ruptured with this kind of blood pressure." Walker muttered. "He sculpted?"

"I'm bringing up his medal records now, but I'm not seeing anything related to him being sculpted from the ground up, and there's no way this is a back alley job. This kid's all natural."

"So he's like Agent Solomon." Walker stated as he walked over to his coffee and lifted it up. "How similar are they?"

"Oh they're not even closely similar. This kid's unique sure, but Agent Solomon, he's an archetype."

"Not the words I'd use." Walker stated looking at the kid. "What do we know about him?"

"His Psychic abilities first manifested eight months ago, apparently tore someone's chest up with pure psychic power, and he ran away from home barely a few hours after. Before that it looks like he was your average everyday kid. Went to Artemisia Highschool, hung out with friends, and listened to music… collected old model kits like Gundam… nothing here shows of previous criminal activity…"

"That's so." Walker muttered as his counterpart glanced at him. "What training facility is he getting sent to."

"Looks like the Director wants him sent to our big brother in Tower-00."

"Tower-00 huh?" Walker muttered. "Can't waste time in getting to know him then." Walker stated before taking a drink of his coffee. "Get everything set up and we'll send him off."

"Yes sir."

Standing outside the room he'd lefty young Hawke in, Agent Solomon stared at the book he was reading as he flipped a page. A blank look on his face as he did and seemed to mutter something to himself before his wrist computer chose to go off. He adjusted his grip before looking at it, a few one way screens popping up for a moment as he checked the information presented on it. "Looks like the transfer's complete." Solomon muttered before checking what else was presented before him.

He winched. "So he's going to the Tower-00." He rubbed his side before shaking his head. "I do not envy you kid." He muttered before returning to his book. "Well, nothing I can do about that." Solomon stated before shaking his head. "They will not be kind in teaching him, but… he's gonna need the training." Solomon grumbled before turning the page in his book. "NEG can't have unregistered and untrained Psychics running around. We're a danger to society if our powers get out of control." He muttered before shaking his head and sighed to himself." He sighed. "I wish… I really wish there was another way." He muttered. "I wish they didn't see us as a danger, keep us at an arm's length…" He muttered before watching the door open again and closed his book as the young man, Hawke was escorted back out. He looked around, attention drifting through mostly empty halls until his gaze rested on Solomon. "Hey kid." Solomon called out as he saw the young man be brought up to him. "Painless right?"

"Right." Hawke muttered before rubbing his arm unconsciously. "So what happens now?"

"You're going to be sent to one of our facilities City 00." Solomon explained. "You'll be trained there, and afterwards you'll have to wear a tag to identify you." Solomon rolled up his sleeve to show the armband he was wearing. "But after that, you'll be let go, more or less." The elder Psychic stated before pulling his sleeve down and putting his book away. "You go about your life as you want; oor depending on how you progress you can be recruited by some corporations or even the NEG." He continued. "If that's the case you can become a Wrangler like me, an investigator of the Occult, or you could become something else. They'll give you options, it's just your choice to pick which one you want to follow." Solomon stated as he made a gesture down the hall. "Anyway, our flight's waiting." He stated. "Shall we go?" Hawke didn't say anything, slowly nodding his head as he followed after the much taller man.

They walked in silence, heading down the path and to the elevator. The elevator led them up, to the roof where a VTOL was already waiting for them. Hawke couldn't hear the engines, like a lot of things they'd been replaced with a D-Engine, so there wasn't really anything to listen to. Still he felt nervous looking at the machine, without noise and in the dark of an early morning, it looked more like a sleeping animal than anything, one just waiting to wake up again. Solomon didn't share his thoughts, just leading him up to the machine as he half-heartedly saluted a man not far from him. From their attire they were likely their pilot. Hawke just took a breath as they spoke for a few seconds, Agent Solomon telling him where they would be taken and asking how long the flight would be. When they were done, Solomon ushered the teen inside, and followed shortly after.

The VTOL took off and it took less than several minutes for City 45 to fade in the background.

 

[zeroraid]

Location: Earth / United States /Site X / Tower-00

Tower-00; it was a leftover of the Ethereal War. Back then it belonged to ADVENT, an organization responsible for enforcing the Ethereal regime. After the Ethereals were taken care off, their subaquatic temple being crushed under a few hundred pounds of sea water and ADVENT was dismantled, it became one of a number of once abandoned Tower facilities shattered across Earth. The people living across the planet - be they Human, Hybrid or Alien made use of the facilities they provided. Some became homes, others facilities used to pump out weapons and MECs, others still turned them into training facilities.

Tower-00 was one of the ones transformed into a Para-Psychic Training Facility. Located outside any major cities it was a place where Para-Psychics could learn to develop their powers without causing any real damage to their surroundings or run the risk of hurting people.

This was where Hawke got sent after he got registered.

It was a lonely building that seemed to stretch a good couple miles towards the early morning sky, a shadow slowly growing from it as the sun continued to rise up from beyond the horizon.

"Well we're here." Solomon stated as he led the young man on, bringing him off the Tower helipad and down the elevator to meet with the facility staff.

"Agent Solomon." A man in uniform stated as he looked up at the mountain of a man.

"Overseer." Solomon stated with a nod as the Overseer looked at the young man seeming to try shrinking behind Solomon.

"So, this is the Crestlight boy?"

"That's right." Solomon stated as he gently pushed the boy forward. "Hawke Crestlight at your service. I'm certain you've already read his file?"

"I have." The Overseer just stared down at the youth, seemingly picking him apart as he did. Short and unkempt black hair, grey eyes, few freckles… this was the boy alright. "I'll be taking him off your hands then."

"Of course." Solomon stated as he took a few steps back before seeming to think and walked back to Hawke and put a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be ok kid." He told him. "They'll take care of you." He patted the teens shoulder a few times before walking off, where too happened to be a question Hawke couldn't find the answer to as he just watched the massive man wander off. When he was out of sight he slowly turned to the Overseer as he took in the man's details. Human, with thinning grey hair, coal like eyes and a stance more stiff and military than anything. He even wore a uniform, though Hawke honestly wasn't sure it was part of the NEG military or Psychic exclusive.

"Follow me, young Crestlight." He ordered as he started walking off. "I'm glad you arrived when you did, we have much to do and every moment is critical." He began as Hawke had to play catch up. "I am Overseer Heelgan. For decades now I have administered the lessons here for young Psychics like yourself. Helping them learn to hone their powers so that they can return to the public without the risk of their powers running rampant." He stated as he looked back at the youth. "An incident you have already experienced, if your file is correct."

Hawke just looked down as he started having flashbacks.

A stupid argument.

Heated words.

The sound of bone crunching and the sight of blood being spilled.

Screaming, running.

Heelgan glanced down at his bracelet watching as it started to vibrate from some will that wasn't his own, then looked to the youth watching as he seemingly snapped out of his thoughts and looked to the man. It wasn't as though he came out of his thoughts alone though, it was more like… something prompted him to focus on his surroundings.

"His file did indicate that he had a tendency to talk to himself, split personality disorder maybe?'

Either case, the Overseer would have to file this incident away for later.

"Sorry." Hawke muttered as the Overseer lowered his raised arm and nodded. "I didn't mean to -"

"It happens here." Was all Overseer Heelgan said relating to the matter, putting his hands behind his back. "Many are still learning to control their powers, as such it isn't uncommon for small accidents to happen on the grounds."

"Define accidents."​

"Um accidents?" Hawke asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Influxes of power, things being moved without actual intent." Overseer Heelgan admitted. "And of course the occasional Burn."

"Burn?" Hawke muttered. "You mean like pyrokinesis?"

"That as well." Overseer Heelgan admitted as he just walked on, leading the young man down the hall and elsewhere. "Now, before we start teaching you, we need to know exactly what your abilities are, that way we can properly tailor your training to suit your needs." Hawke gave him a confused look.

"Tailor my training?" He paused. "You mean there isn't just a single course I have to go through to control my powers?"

"No." Was Heelgan's respond. "The cosmic powers that manifest within a Psychic vary from person to person. Some can use pyrokinesis, others cryokinesis, and then there are those that can use simple telekinesis. There are more rare varieties of abilities, but those are the most simple." The Overseer stated. "Tell me, what can you do?" Hawke actually seemed to pause before rubbing his shoulder.

"I…" He paused. "I don't know." He admitted. "I know stuff sometimes comes to me when I'm thinking about picking something up…"

"That would be telekinesis." The overseer stated as he walked on. "Is there anything else?"

"Yeah…" He paused. "When I actually focus on it… I can generate this "violet energy" at times and…" Hawke paused. "I can move it somewhat, throw it and… sometimes I can move really fast when it happens."

"That is merely focusing your latent abilities, making them more potent and granting them direction." Overseer Heelgan explained. "As for your other ability, you are using what we consider a Somatic-class ability."

"Somatic?"

"By focusing your powers inward instead of externalizing them like most, you can amplify your physical abilities to a degree." Overseer Heelgan stated. "Though I take it it is… difficult to manage?"

"Yeah." Hawke paused for a moment before seeming to think back. "It's like…" He paused again. "I don't know." He muttered. "It's something… it feels like…" He groaned, failing to find the words he was looking for and rubbed his head in annoyance. Heelgan just waited patiently as he let his counterpart try finding the words he was looking for. "When it happens there's just so much to hold on to, you know? Like… a dam?" He nodded to himself. "Yeah, it's like a dam holding back a flood. There's just so much behind it and if I try opening the floodgates a bit everything on the other side tries spilling out." Hawke muttered looking at his hands. "Controlling it is… hard. There's so much "water" that If I'm not careful it… hurts. Not just me but… everyone around me." Hawke paused as he looked at the Overseer. "Sorry, I'm not good at explaining it."

"I could understand what you meant." The Overseer stated. "The water represents your psionic powers, the dam is what keeps it at bay, and the floodgate is your control over that power."

"Yes!" Hawke took a breath. "That's exactly it." Hawke admitted. "But that's all I can do, or all I know I can do."

"I see." Overseer Heelgan mumbled under his breath. 'Telekinesis and Somatic Psionic abilities. That's a rather common combination of abilities, even without their psionic powers properly nurtured and matured even Rogue Psychics can learn to use a haphazard version of their abilities.' The Overseer stayed silent. 'Teaching him to use them properly, letting them mature won't be overly difficult, but their potential is something to keep an eye on.' "It is always their potential that one needs to look out for." He finished muttering to himself as he looked ahead, finding a number of doors before them. Without a word, Overseer Heelgan reached for a certain door before pulling out a keycard and handing it to the young man. "This will be your room." He told him. "You will be sharing it with another young man by the name of Ethan. I'm trusting you two to get along." Hawke took the card with a slow nod. "Your lessons will start in less than 4 hours, I recommend you getting some sleep."

"Right." Hawke muttered before going silent.

"I will see you in 4 hours." Heelgan stated as he started walking away. "Oh yes." He paused looking back at Hawke. "Welcome to Tower-00." He stated before disappearing down the hall.

"Thanks…" Hawke muttered as he watched the older man disappear before looking at the keycard and then the door leading to the room he'd be staying in. "So…"

"Yeah."​

Ghost muttered.

"We're here."

"Beats being dead."​

"So what do we do now?"

"Well, we should get some rest, and that door isn't going to open itself."​

"Right." Hawke muttered as he scratched his head.and looked back at the keycard in his hand. Dipping it into its slot Hawke watched a red light turn green as the card was accepted and the door unlocked.





4 hours; 4 hours of sleep wasn't necessarily a long time, still there were some that could make it work.

Hawke wasn't one of those people.

Lying in an unfamiliar bed for a few hours, Hawke more or less stared at the ceiling until his roommate's alarm clock went off. He watched his roommate crawl out of the bed to turn it off, grunting as they did and yawned before seeming to look around.

"Uh hey." The boy jumped slightly before turning to look at Hawke. Drowsiness gave way to surprise as he stared at the other teen. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." Hawke muttered, sitting up as he scratched his head. He got to his feet and looked at his hand before slowly extending it. "I'm Hawke, I just got in earlier this morning."

"Oh." His counterpart paused, before looking at the teen with a weak, but mostly tired smile. He took the hand and shook it before scratching his own head. "I'm Ethan, Ethan Fairwind."

"Hawke Crestlight." Properly introducing himself Hawke looked around, finding this room to be rather spartan in appearance.

"Sorry for not noticing you earlier." Ethan stated. "Tend to blank people out when I just get up."

"I can understand that." Hawke gave a light smile in understanding.

"Still, much as I'd like to talk though, we gotta class to get to."

"Right." Hawke muttered before sighing in annoyance.

"Don't wanna go?" Ethan asked as he started getting dressed. "I feel ya."

"I… don't know if it's because I don't want to go." Hawke muttered before rubbing his arm. "I just… don't know where to start with all this."

"Ah~" Ethan nodded halfheartedly. "I know that feeling." He admitted."Being here, the crazy powers and everything. It's…" He paused for a minute. "It takes a while to wrap your head around everything." He admitted, before trying to find something to wear for the day.

He didn't pick much to wear, just this black t-shirt and some cargos.

"Least it ain't combat fatigues."​

Hawke just looked at his own clothes; his jeans, his DMC t-shirt and of course his jacket. "Um Ethan."

"Yeah?"

"What you're wearing wouldn't happen to be the "uniform" we're given right?"

Ethan just chuckled slightly as he looked back at his counterpart, taking a minute to stop lacing up his boots . "Fraid so, let me guess they haven't given you your set yet." Hawke had the decency to look embarrassed. "It's cool, they'll get you fitted later. For now you can wear what you got." Returning to his laces Ethan stood, taking a minute to stretch before heading out. "Still, comeon, I'll fill you in on things along the way."

"Thanks." Hawke muttered as he followed after the boy, maybe a year or so older than him.

"Well, lets see, where to start?" Ethan seemed to need a moment to think as they started walking down the halls, a number of others joining them as they headed off to class. "Well, like every tower I guess it used to belong to ADVENT, the facilities used for one reason or another. In this case Tower-00 was a genuine Psychic training facility." Ethan stated as he scratched his head. "Course that's not exactly a good thing, the Overseers history lessons explains the training to be harsh and mostly specialized in teaching us to use our powers to fight and harm people in the Resistance factions. After the Liberation War it got taken over by the Templar who pretty much worshiped psionic energy. They started teaching the good and the bad parts of being a Psychic. How it hurts, how it helps, how it gets in your head." Ethan explained as tapped his forehead. "The Overseers have been refining their lessons over the decades, expanding on it with the unveiling of some new tricks and categorizing them."

"Categorizing them?"

"Yeah, see, the Overseers have broken Psionic abilities into categories. Environmental, Manipulative, Sensory and Somatic." Hawke made a face. "Right let me break it down a bit." Ethan started clicking off his fingers. First there's Environmental; that encases abilities that affect the surroundings, like telekinesis and electrokinesis." He ticked off his second finger. "In contrast, Somatic are encompassess abilities that only affect the user's physical abilities like granting enhanced strength and endurance. Some abilities even allow people to heal insanely fast." He ticked off a third finger. "Sensory encompasses abilities that attack the senses in some way or form, like being able to read someone's emotional state or even seeing glimpses of the past." He ticked off his last finger. "Lastly there's Manipulative. Those are Jedi Mind Tricks on steroids, influencing the will of others by forcing your own will upon them. Like influencing their feelings and thoughts, digging into a person's head. All that stuff goes under that category."He lowered his hand and looked at Hawke. "So yeah, people who use those abilities, they're the ones you need to look out for."

"Can't we all use those abilities though?" Hawke asked. "I mean all of us here are Psychics right?"

"Yes, but not everyone's good at it. As our psionics mature we start to specialize them you know; so some of us learn to get better at Environmental abilities, others get better at Sensory and so on."

"So those that specialize in Manipulative tend to get better at mind fucking people."​

"So those that specialize in Manipulative tend to get better at messing with your head." Ethan nodded.

"And naturally once you start to specialize, the others start falling behind and using them becomes more demanding." Ethan fell silent for a moment. "Each class of an ability is like working a different set of muscles, Get better at one but let the others fall behind and they get weaker." He paused before crossing his arms in thought. "Lets see, what else should we go over before the Overseer gets their hands on you?"

"You sure know alot about this stuff." Hawke muttered with a light smile. Ethan shrugged.

"Scientia Potentia Est." Hawke blinked.

"What?"

"That was latin."​

"Knowledge is power." Ethan stated with a smile.

 

[zeroraid]

"Hawke."​

"Yeah?" Was the first response.

"I'm bored."​

"Yeah." Was the second response. Still sighing in annoyance Hawke took a moment to stop meditating as the psionic energy wrapping around his body seemed to fade before regrowing in strength. Had to thank the Ghost taking over on regulating their powers.

Gotta say learning to use Psionics was boring as hell. Most of the days it just revolved around meditation, learning to reach for that internal reserve of cosmic energy - Orgone as the Overseers called it - and pull it forward. Grabbing hold of the stuff wasn't too hard, but regulating it was another story. When you grab hold of this stuff, this… "power of the cosmos" it tries rushing forth like a flood. Forget learning to move things with your mind, Overseers had enough trouble teaching everyone to not be overwhelmed by the power and Burn.

In the five months that Hawke had been at Tower-00, he'd seen maybe thirty Burns incidents, each one from youths trying to hold onto more than they could carry. They got quarantined for a while, but they eventually came back so he at least knew they weren't getting "swept under the rug".

Soon as a person got enough control over regulating their powers, they'd be allowed to be part of more eventful classes, actually using their abilities and learning to use them properly.

Till then though, Hawke found himself in one of the most boring classes in existence. Still it was better than nothing right? His powers weren't sporadically influencing the world around him anymore.

"Hawke… Hawke~"

Huh?" Turning the young man caught sight of Ethan standing next to a few seconds away from nudging him with his foot. "Oh hey." Hawke watched as the layer of psionic energy radiating from him start to disappear, fading fully this time as Ghost laxed his control over it. "Class over?"

"Finally." Ethan extended a hand, holding it out to his roommate and helped them up. "Come on, time to grab some lunch."

"Right." Hawke popped a joint in his back before following after his counterpart. "So, any clue what's on the menu today?"

"Some fake meat, some bread and maybe something from the green house." Ethan shrugged, putting his hands in his pocket as he did. "You know, the usual."

"Urg~ I want some real food." Hawke grumbled as he started to slouch. "Everything I eat nowadays is some synthetic stuff."

"Well, what do you expect, the food the NEG gives these guys to feed us is all made in a lab. Just be glad it's all edible."​

"I want real meat, this rate I'd settle for snacking on a Chryssalid."

"Gross." Ethan chuckled as he pressed on. "What about a Pandoran?"

"No freaking way."

"I heard that eating those things makes you start mutating."​

"Pandorans are part human right?"

"Like at most… 10% I think?" Ethan muttered in thought. "Most of it is like shellfish or crab or something of the like."

"10% human is still too much for me." Hawke admitted. "Chryssalid though, that's zero human or Viper or anything Muton. I get behind eating that."

"So you say." Ethan smiled as the two hit the cafeteria. "Actually I heard eating snake was very popular before the Vipers showed up."

"I call bullshit."

"I'm serious, it was supposedly popular in Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand, but after the Ethereal War it was banned."

"It's probably because they got scared of people trying to eat the Vipers."​

"Yeah, well I still don't believe you. I mean who'd eat a snake?"

"You're saying you'd eat a Chryssalid just to get some real meat in your stomach, and you're having trouble believing in people eating snakes?" Ethan kept that smile as he raised an eyebrow. "

"I'm just saying, if someone was eating snakes we would have heard about it by now."

"That's because snake was banned." Ethan stressed. "No one eats it anymore - makes the Viper's uncomfortable. Supposedly the only way you can get it now is on the Black Market."

"I could believe that. I mean Vipers are basically giant snakes with arms right… wait shit is that racist?"​

'Hell if I know.' Hawke replied as he and Ethan grabbed their food trays and started looking for a place to sit.

"Hey guys." Anemone wasn't the most attractive girl. Well she wasn't a model in the making anyway. She had freckles, black hair glasses and her hair was braided. If anything she looked like the stereotypical nerdy girl at school.

"I bet she cleans up really nicely though…"​

"Hey Anemone." Pulling up next to her the pair made themselves comfortable as she continued eating.

"So how was class?" She asked.

"Could have been better." Hawke muttered. "I swear I think I almost fell asleep trying to meditate."

"I think you did." Ethan countered. "You looked way too out of it to be meditating."

"Yeah well I was bored." Hawke grumbled as he rested a hand on his chin. "And don't tell me you weren't; just sitting for hours at a time doing nothing is well… boring."

"Not really."

"Ok now I gotta call bullshit."​

Sure it's not the most interesting thing to do, but it helps clear out the clutter in my head." Ethan stated. "Kinda relaxing." Hawke raised an eyebrow as Anemone nodded. "What about you Ane? How was your class?"

Guess you could say Anemone was a grade above them. The courses she took, revolved around actually shaping her powers to do things.

"I'm getting better at my electrokinesis. I can control the current now, make sure it doesn't overload things."

"Nice." Ethan stated. "So what, you're like a human battery now? Bet your phone's never gonna die on you." Anemone gave a weak smile as she nodded before twiddling her thumbs.

"What about you two, you two are gonna start taking more practical courses soon right? Have you thought about what to take?"

"Well unlike you Hawke and I haven't manifested any real abilities besides basic Telekinesis. But I have been thinking about asking them to teach me some Manipulative techniques." Anemone looked up, a bit of surprise on her face as she heard the words.

"Really?"

"Well this is news to us?"​

Why Manipulative? You know depending on what they teach you, you will have to be tagged so people know you can you use those abilities."

"I know."

"Then why go for Manipulative abilities?"

"No BS; XCOM."

"XCOM?"

"The Extraterrestrial Combat Unit?"​

"Yeah, you know the organization responsible for fighting the Pandorans and the Cultists popping up? I want to help them out after I get out of here."

"And you think learning Manipulative abilities are going to help with that?" Anemone asked. "Wouldn't some Environmental skills be more beneficial."

"Normally I'd say so, and while blowing up the bad guys with my mind will be cool and all. I think it'll be better to help them away from the frontlines."

"You mean like an interrogator?" Hawke wasn't too sure about that line of thought; hurting people to get information out of them. He'd seen movies, the stuff worked but…

"Not exactly." Ethan's smile dropped as it shifted into a frown. "I don't want to hurt anyone, and if I learn the right stuff I won't have to. They'll tell me what I need to without basically mind raping them." He muttered as he seemed to think away. "The war outside's gone cold, but it's not over. Everything's taking place in the shadows now, and if you wanna win that kinda war you don't need a gun; need information, you need to know who you're fighting."

"You're… not wrong." Anemone muttered. "Still, you're already thinking of a career?"

"Well yeah. I mean the Overseers told us that when we get out of here we don't get a lot of options for a lifepath laid out for us. It's either some federal job like police work or employment within some private sector and getting recruited by corporations." Ethan shrugged. "If I'm stuck choosing between the two I'm gonna go with the military and join their intelligence division" Ethan admitted as he looked at his friends taking a minute to toss a slice of synthetic meat into his mouths. "What about you two? Surely you've thought about what you wanna when you get out of here." Both Anemone vans Hawke glanced at each other before looking down in embarrassment. "Guess not huh?"

"Not really, I'm… I'm thinking of going back to school, I didn't finish my last two years when the OIS picked me up." Anemone muttered. "It… It would be nice to get into a career and use my powers for good in some way."

"I… I don't know what I'll do when I get out of here." Hawke admitted as he returned to eating. "

"Well, you could go back to school like Anemone's thinking." Hawke flinched as he started thinking back, the sound of snapping bones deciding to echo out in his mind.

"M-maybe."

"Either case, you got time, we're only seventeen, after all."

"Yeah." Hawke muttered as they returned to eating, making small talk as they did.





Location: Earth / United States / Del Coronado Bay / City 45

If anyone asked he'd admit it whole fully; he didn't like smoking. Shit tasted terrible on his tongue, and he knew how bad this stuff was on his tongue. Still this was one of those rare occasions he broke his rule about not smoking.

From behind his helmet Agent Solomon took a drag from his smoke as he stared down a hint of exhaustion etched across his frown. There's a body not that far from him, didn't have to be here. Woman didn't have to try running, but they did it anyway, and that choice had cost them. Now there was blood in the streets, people were forming a ring of sorts around the police circle, muttering to themselves. Why was it that whenever this stuff had to happen, people dropped whatever they were doing just to see what was going on. Human, Hybrid, Septoid name it something about death just fascinated them. It was like watching a car crash, everything stops cause everyone wants to know what the hell happened. Who got who died and all that good stuff.

"What is wrong with us?" He questioned as a Police officer approached him and stepped forward. "Officer."

"Agent." They replied curtly as they handed the mountain of a man a tablet. "I apologize that it had to be this way, but we couldn't let her go on as she was."

"I know." Solomon grumbled as he continued looking at the information provided by the tablet. the tablet in front of him. Delilah Wisteria. Age 27, powers erupted some three years, been on the run ever since… It was hard finding this woman since she went underground, but they found her, the problem was they couldn't have the Wrangler bring her in. She'd hurt too many people, she hurt herself, and she had to go down. "Think you can contact her family; Tell them we found her?"

"Someone's gotta." The officer stated as he was given back the tablet as Solomon grinded his smoke under his foot as the month guard part of his helmet expanded.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Voice synthesizers altered his voice, made it more deeper, gave it an echo as he turned away. "And I apologize for the mess she made." Walking off, Solomon stepped towards a building and crouched, psionic energy gathering his legs as he jumped up some seven floors to reach the roof of the building. Landing he placed a hand on the side of his helmet and tapped it, comms activating as he did so.

"Agent Solomon."​

"Retrieval was a failure." He reported in. "Fugitive made a break for it and caused the police to get involved. As it stands she's being put in in body bag as we speak.

"That's unfortunate. She didn't have to run."​

"That's something we can agree on." Solomon muttered as he continued walking on, moving from rooftop to rooftop as he did so.

"Anyway, I'll be coming back now. Feel free to call on me when we've located another rogue."

"Will do. Godspeed, Agent."​

The call ended not too long after that, Solomon sighing to himself as stared at the sky. "I hate nights like this." He muttered before something wrote itself across the interior of his helmet.

"Incoming Transmission."​

He accepted the call.

PRIORITY ONE HYPERWAVE TRANSMISION: ALPHA PRIORITY CHANNEL





TIMESTAMP: 10:32 HOURS ZULU TIME, 10/15/2177





FROM XCOM CENTRAL COMMAND: CITY 45 DETACHMENT





TO: ALL CITYWIDE XCOM AGENTS





CASE ABYSSWALKER CONFIRMED - PANDORAN PRESENCE DETECTED​

At 15, October 2177 Hyperwave sensors at XCOM offshore facility site reported oceanic activity. Pandoran activity CONFIRMED to be heading towards City 45. All available XCOM personnel are to prepare for CASE ABYSSWALKER. Local NEG Branch is to be alerted immediately.

"Well shit." Solomon muttered as he read the message plastered on his screen. "Looks like I'm not heading home after all." He grumbled as he tapped another part of his helmet letting XCOM know he was on route and turned towards the bay.

Since the Ethereal War, XCOM's stayed an open secret. People know it exists but they don't know where the Headquarters are, or who the agents are. OIS has given up on trying to figure out the agents names and identities and that's for the best. Easy to blend in, try having a normal life when you're not needed. Besides with XCOM's shadow war with the enemy within, getting identified is a death sentence.

"Been a long night…" Solomon muttered as he rolled his shoulders and took a few steps back. "Night's about to get longer." He took off like a bullet.

 

[zeroraid]

He'd seen this sight ever since he was a little boy, and even in his adult years he still couldn't get used to it. Beyond the bay lies an alien sea. One the color of blue-black that disappears with its back to a wall of mist so thick it blocked out light. If not for the Mist Repellers built by former XCOM Chief Engineer An-Yi Shen - may her soul rest in peace - that curtain of fog would have stretched to cover every city across the known world. Gotta say she built these things good… better than good actually. These things have been running for over 60 years now and still haven't faltered. Most amazing thing is its working despite not being Arcanotech, so no extra-dimensional magic, no psionic output, just pure metal and electricity.

"Hurray for small miracles." Solomon muttered staring out at the bay, his XCOM issued Ares AR-1 in his hands as he waited, forming a perimeter around the bay harbor. 42 XCOM troops had pulled themselves out of hiding for the moment, how many would go back into the shadows and how many would be put away in a body bag was the question left unanswered.

"Fucking hate how quiet it is out here." Solomon glanced at one of his companions nodding as he watched them adjust their own Ares Assault Rifle to get a better grip on it.

"It's always calmest before the storm." His helmet distorted his voice but they still heard it. "Just be ready, No telling what's coming out the water."

"Right." His counterpart muttered as they gazed ahead, their own helmet obscuring their identity. Still he didn't need to see their face to tell they were nervous. Body language gave a lot away.

"First time dealing with Pandorans." It wasn't a question

"Yeah." Was the honest reply he was given. "I've had sims but never ran into the real thing before; What about you?"

"Not my first rodeo dealing with these guys." Solomon admitted casually.

"Oh…" Came the reply. "So uh~ if you mind me asking, what are things, I mean really."

"Frankenstein's sea monsters." Solomon muttered.

"What?"

"There's this haphazard mesh of sea critters, mostly crab and deep sea fish. Swear it's like someone just tossed them in a blender and hit puree." He muttered before seeming to think.

"So what's the best way to deal with these guys?

"A few rounds of lead in the right place seem to work well." Solomon paused for a moment. "A well placed grenade or a rocket will work too. Helps get the soft stuff out in the open."

"The soft stuff?"

"Yeah." Solomon muttered. "Pandoran's use some kind of psionic network to relay information to fellow members of their species, and with that info they start to "evolve" to counter what we got.to work with. Doesn't matter if it means making new carapace armor to soak up bullets or if it mean making limbs to carry our own weapons and use them against us.

"Please tell me you're joking."

"You know I wish I was." Solomon released a hollow chuckle. "But I'm not. These things evolve in ways designed simply to better their chances at combating us and taking us out. That's what makes them so dangerous; they learn from every victory and defeat they face, that's why we've been stuck dealing with these guys for over forty years."

"Damn…"

"Yeah."

"So any advice?"

"We got movement." ​

Solomon raised his Ares AR-1 and took aim at the ocean, as the others followed his example. The alien sea is silent, for a while but they see the churning of waves from beyond the bay trying to creep closer. It disappeared not long after, and again the ocean fell silent. "Come on…" Solomon muttered as he focused on the last place that the target was. "Where'd you go?"

That's when they heard it, a shrieking baleful moan from beyond the bay, right where their weapons had been trained. Light flickered beneath the waves for a moment before releasing a steady glow.

Solomon's helmet went on the fritz, going completely black as he heard sparks go off near his ear. On impulse he ripped the helmet off his head seeing sparks starting to fly before dropping it on the ground. "Oh~ what the hell?"

"Ow fuck!"

"What the?" He looked around seeing the others ripping off their sparking helmets as well as they voiced their complaints.

Everyone's helmets were frying and…

Solomon let his gaze turn towards the city, his attention turning to the streets at his back starting to flicker before going dark.

"What the hell is going on?"

"It's an EMP!" Solomon shouted as he addressed the others. "They've figured out how to create an organic EMP to mess with our gear."

"They can do that now?!"

"That's not all they've done." Another voice called out as they all looked back to the bay, attention turning to see the wall of fog rolling in. "The EMP must be disrupted by the Mist Purifier; they're trying to make it go dark!"

"Roland." First Lieutenant Tristian turned to one of his fellow XCOM Agents. "I want that Mist Repeller up and running yesterday, understood?"

"Yes sir!" Roland bolted heading into the blacked out district as Solomon looked back to the light beneath the bay. "When the hell did they learn to do this?"

Location: Earth / United States /Site X / Tower-00

The power went out, that was the first thing everyone took notice of. The lights took a second to flicker before they disappeared all together. "What on Earth?" One of the trainees muttered as they looked upward, their attention turned to see the darkened ceiling as their Overseer simply snapped their fingers, a small fire burning into existence as they looked around.

"Power must be out." The Overseer said nothing, letting the trainees look around as they talked to themselves before tapping an earpiece.

"This is Overseer Heelgan." They began. "… I see. I'm on my way." He removed his fingers from his comm-piece as he turned to the students still talking amongst themselves. "Attention everyone, listen up. The Generator has gone out, I'm going down to see what's wrong with it. I want all of you to stay calm and stay here. Do not leave the room until I get back, understood?"

Nods and yes's filled the room as the overseer looked at them for a moment longer before walking off, leaving the room as everyone went back to talking amongst themselves.

"Hawke…"​

"Yeah?"

"You know those really bad feelings people get sometimes?"​

"Yeah."

"I'm getting one of those right now."​

"You're not the only one." Hawke muttered as he continued staring at the door his Overseer had gone through before looking at the others.

"Hawke?" He turned to Ethan in the dark, his only real way of identifying he was there being both his voice and the fact his eyes were glowing with Psionic energy. Honestly it kinda freaked him out a bit. Not only were his eyes glowing, but so were the veins around them, it looked like his face was cracking like stressed glass.

"Yeah?"

"You good, you look like something's bothering you."

"Well, your eyes look kinda freaky."​

"I'm ok." Hawke muttered as he took a breath. Just… wasn't expecting the power to go out like this, ya know."

"Yeah I hear ya."

"I didn't even think it was possible, ya know. I mean, this place runs on a D-Engine, right?" He watched Ethan blink for a moment before shaking his.

"Nah, Arcanotech makes psionics act up a bit. Something about the extra-dimensional energies influencing us in some way or form."

"Oh…"

"How does he know that?"​

"How do you know that?"

"I ask." Ethan shrugged. " The more you know, right."

"Good point."

"Uh guys?" Someone called out as they stood next to a reinforced window and stared outside. "Might want to take a look at this." Ethan and Hawke looked at each other, joining all the others as they approached the window and stared outside.

The fog wall was rolling in.

"Oh that can't be good."

Location: Earth / United States / Del Coronado Bay / City 45

The fog took over in minutes, the haze like mist coming down like a tidal wave and suffocated everything. As the old saying goes, the fog was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Probably wouldn't be an exaggeration either. Worse, everything went quiet as it rolled in and seemed to stay that way.

"I don't like this." Sasha muttered, hissing slightly as she felt the mist settle on her tongue.

"Me neither." Solomon saw something through the fog and turned his rifle towards it, taking aim and got ready. His reward was getting the thing to scurry off, disappearing as he took a few cautious steps back.

He took a breath, feeling his senses start to sharpen more as a response to lack of vision than anything. Been a while since he went to work without a helmet augmenting his senses. Much as he hated to say it, it felt good.
Still, letting his gaze try scanning the fog he pointed his rifle forward to try sweeping the area.
That's when something from the fog slid against the ground towards him. He turned his rifle towards it more on impulse than anything watching it seemingly roll up to him before laying out.
He had one of those bad feelings and stepped back.
It wiggled, and all he saw was light.
The mist parted as he covered his eyes, a wave of heat going off like a grenade had gone off next to him and elsewhere on the coastline
"Fireworm!"

Fireworms; in simple terms, these bloated worm-like creatures were walking grenades. There was a technical explanation for why they could do these things but it didn't matter now. All Solomon needed to understand was that these things blew when they got to close.

Picking himself up off the ground his attention turned to the Mist as rupturing Fireworms came to an end, and something charged him from the mist. He opened fire and for his reward found his shots landing on an Arthron that slammed into him, trying to push him back as it shrieked. He threw it to the ground and he fired, forced to empty half a clip before the thing stayed down and felt something trying to climb his leg. Whatever it was leapt, going for his face only to meet the barrel of his assault rifle as he shoved it down its throat and fired enough rounds to make its back explode.

Rifle fire and shrieking echoed throughout the fog.

Someone screamed before disappearing in a burst of flames and body parts.

"I can barely see a damn thing!"

Solomon raised his rifle to stop another Arthron's crab claw and watched as it snapped his weapon like a twig. He switched to his side arm and opened fire, stepping back before finding a new target to focus on. Something opened fire on him and he found himself dodging, his attention quickly turning to try and focus on the one who had fired upon him. "Friendly fire! Friendly Fire!" They kept firing on him and he found out why a few seconds later, his eyes resting on the sight of one of his own with a Mindfragger covering his head.

Mindfraggers could control those whose skulls they were latched onto. Solomon rushed past the barrage of bullets - something even he wouldn't be able to normally do without having tapped into his psionics and grabbed the Mindfragger's body before pulling, ripping it off his comrades skull but not before leaving some unfortunate lacerations where it had bitten into to fashion itself into place.. He ignored the operatives scream, instead focusing on the Mindfragger he was holding as it repeatedly snapped its maw at him before he slammed it into the ground and stopped it into oblivion. He turned to what rested beyond, barely catching onto a flash that ripped off part of his bleeding counterpart's head and took fire, taking only a moment to take the lost souls Ares assault rifle for himself while putting his side arm away. An Archon jumped him from the fog, aimed down with one of its weaponized hands and opened fire.

Its arm blew up. Solomon having crushed the weaponized limb in between his own before grabbing its head kicked it back with enough force the body went flying into the fog. He threw the face at a Pandoran, followed it immediately with his new assault rifle before switching targets.

"How many of these guys are there?!"

No one gave a definite answer, instead focused more on trying to stay alive. A purple-white blast of energy caught Solomon's attention, and he immediately recognized it as bolts of Psionic energy. He tried making his way over to it, struggling only when something got in his way and had to be put down and when he lost sight of the bolt's origin.

Still he made it, his attention focusing on a Septoid who was busy shielding himself from several Arthrons. They had weaponized arms tapped against the Septoid's psionic shield and unloaded everything their bio-organic machine gun arms could give. Solomon focused, his own Psionics stretching out to lift the seven Arthrons up before throwing them into the ground as he stepped forward. Seven targets got their necks twisted, an audio snap breaking through the hale of gunfire as he made his way to the Septoid and helped them up.

"I gotcha."

"Thanks." The Septoid, Walter muttered as he tried gathering his bearings and Solomon focused on shooting what was in front of them. "They were combining their strength in breaking my shield… that's a new strategy."

"Yeah." Solomon saw something in the fog and tossed Walker aside, just in time for something to ram into him and push him back first into the side of a building. A pincer came down on the XCOM operative, missing and digging into the building as Solomon twisted his head out the way and started pushing it back before reaching for his combat knife and stabbed it into the Pandoran's skull. It leaned forward with the last of its strength trying to pin him against the wall as Solomon caught sight of something crawling on the creature's back.

Fireworms, a freaking belt worth of them ready to go off.

Location: Earth / United States /Site X / Tower-00

"Hawke~"​

"What?" The teen sounded irritated, and a bit scared to be honest.

"I don't like this."​

"Me neither." The teen muttered as he rested a hand on his head, a sharp pain suddenly running through it as he grunted in pain. He did what he could to ignore the sudden headache as he looked ahead, stepping back and away from the others as they continued to sing.

Singing… they were all singing.

That shouldn't have been weird, he'd seen people sing before. He'd even done it himself on more than one occasion, going along with a song that was playing in his earbuds. But this… this was weird.

It started with one person, a girl in their class who seemed to suddenly start humming to herself and then it eventually grew to a song, one he didn't recognize in the slightest.

Then slowly everyone else started singing along to this alien song she was letting out.

And they kept singing, alternatively taking seconds to catch their breath.

But they just. Kept. Singing.

"This is starting to freak me the hell out." Ethan muttered as he watched them continue this unknown song.

"Yeah…"

"I'm gonna go look for an Overseer, maybe they can explain what the hell is going on." Ethan didn't wait for a response heading straight for the door as Hawke followed after him.

It was that or stay with the chorus.

Stepping into the hall, Ethan glanced around, looking at the red emergency lights for a moment before trying to find a direction to go down. "That way leads to the dorm rooms so…" He headed off in the opposite direction as Hawke followed after him.

"It's really creepy out here."

"You need me to hold your hand?" Ethan asked good naturedly as Hawke rolled his eyes and lightly shoved him. "Hey I'm just being considerate you don't have to shove me." Ethan pretended to whine as they both moved on. "Here I thought we were friends."

"We are." Hawke muttered as he released a small smile and the emergency lights finally turned on. "It's just…" Hawke turned his head, his attention turning to the hall as he heard the same song playing in the background.

"It's like the entire building is singing…"​

"Yeah." Ethan muttered as he caught on to Hawke's silence and stepped forward, letting his attention drift down the halls and took a breath.

"Where do you think the Overseer's are?"

"Probably checking out the generator room."

"Do you know where that is?"

"No." Ethan muttered as the pair turned down another hall and walked on.

That was when things started getting "weird".

"They spotted a girl walking ahead of them. Seemingly wading through the hall like it was

That was when they spotted a girl walking about.

Well walk wasn't the right word. Looking at her, it seemed more like she was wading through the hall like it was water and she was swimming.

"Nope!" Ethan pulled a u-turn so fast that he might as well have had the devil themself had shown their face. "Nope with all caps."

"Ethan."

"ALL. CAPS." Ethan stressed as he backpedaled out of the hall.

"I'm with him."​

"Why?"

"Girl in the red tinted hall is basic horror 101 shit."​

"Yeah well this isn't a video game or a movie." Hawke muttered as he stepped forward and the world started to blur.

W̸̗̤̐́ ̸̖̉̇h̵̨̛̛̳͔̺̽́͊ ̷̮͍͍̙̘̆͋̿̚͘͝É̸͙̻͓͌̉̋̾͝͝ ̷̦̈́̀̄̄́̏̀͝r̸̦̼͚͎͚̙̈̈́̐̾̀̌̒ͅ ̵̳̔͗͘E̴͇̥̥̺̪̺͓̺̅ ̶͈̥̪̯̱̟͔̿ä̶͚̰̖̖́̽̾͜ ̷͍̳̳̩͕̌͑̀̋̏͘̚ͅŔ̸̭̮̝̜̏̽̓̑̄̕͝ ̶̨̗͖͉̖͕̈́̂̽̿͛̒͐͜͜͝ę̴̰̗̤͙̘̣̋͐̎̿ͅ ̷̨̯̹̱̹̔͒̓͆͆͊͠Y̷͍̫̩͖̦̫̌͛̂͋ ̸̛͇͝o̴̲̗̾̏̄̅͋̄͜͝ͅ ̴̡̮͖̗̰͍̲͚̽͊̂U̵͈͎̰̰͈̠͎̘͌̓

̴̧̧̖̻͇̹̬̜̑ḩ̷̺̄͜ ̵̯̺͔̗͍́̅͝ ̶̨̨̱̯͚̩́͝͝Ě̴̖͚̦̩͑̐͒̚ ̴̰̫̘̖́́̏̍́ŗ̸̻̜͆̓͗̅ ̶̬̤̤̱̻̈́̉̈͐͐͝͠ ̷͖̀͌́̀̇̎͘Ḙ̵̛̣͈͎͇̙̯͍̌̿͋͒̐͆̚ ̵̙͓̯̪͎̓̚a̶̛̹̫̪̙͍͒͌͌̓̓̎͠ ̵̛͇̭͚̈́̂̈͛̕Ŗ̶̭̤̩̬́̄̅̋ ̶̼̖̋͑e̵̬̲̊̀̂̊͂̈́ ̵̥͋́́Y̷̪̊͛͂͌̚͘ ̸̣͉̋̈́̔́̈̓͠ò̶̝̠̽̈́̀̇̊ ̴̨̧͓͕̝̗̩̀̏ͅỤ̷͚̜͖̓̀̾̈́͆͒

̸̢̱͉̥̆̂É̷͍͎͊͊̒͗͋̕ ̷͚̠̘̝̫̱̝͝ ̷̗̣̫̰͌ṙ̷̡̼͉̼͇̞̱̕ͅ ̷̦͓̥̊͐Ẻ̶̢̠͖̖̰̒̅̔ ̸̛̬̱̉̊̈́̕a̸̦̺̤̺̘̎̂̈́̒̆͒͜ ̵̭̫̪̈́̏̓̀R̸̨̘̦̈́̃ ̶̡͙̣̞̞̤̀ͅĕ̷̼̲̎̓́͝ ̶̢͙̤͉͈͌̽Y̸̜͛̃͌͝ ̶̡͍̞̣̳̋͌̈̈́̋̕ǫ̵̫̺̺̤̭͎͒́̀̈́̈́̍ ̸͕̊̎͗Ǘ̶͚̮̭͎̱̫͓̚

̸̜̗̲̣̉͊̉̊͒͊̂̓͜r̵̤̻̄̊́̈́̿͠͝ ̴̢͉͎̭̏̊̋̚͜ͅ ̶̣̰̔̂̈́̎́͘ ̷̞͊̉͊͛E̶̛̺͐̒̃̀̚͝ ̸̢̣̫̰͍̬̞̊̎̓̆̍̎͂͠ả̵͈̫̼̍ ̸̠̻̼̜̺̪̓̄͒͝ͅŖ̵̼͉͈̈́̄͑̈́́͆̀͜͝ ̷̼̜̗̳̻͗͐ę̶̹̹̝̤͙̞̳̍̾̊̂̈́͂̚͝ ̴̧̪͔̐́Ȳ̴̗̹̘͖̅̔͋̓̉̋͐ ̷̙̯̗̠̯̳͖͔̄̈́́̋͘͝ọ̴̻͍̥̺̅́̐͋̑͆ ̵͚̗̹̤̄ͅͅṶ̵͖̹͍̰̉̀̿͝

̷̻͓̱̬̏̐̇̾͌͆̓͝E̷̠̺̪͖͓͇͓̳͌̈́̈ ̸̛̰̼̲̺̄̑͋͘ ̴̮͙̜̝̗̃͐̂͒͌͐͜ă̸̗̻͚͙̄̓̿̋͘̕ ̴̧̛̪͙͍̝̈́͗̽͐̌̀͝R̸͕̮̖̲̥͔͂̉́̌̏͐͝͠ ̷̛͎̝̥̲̪̪̞̒ͅe̷̯͎͖͋̈́͆ ̴̡͈̾͌̀̓͑͘͜͝͝ͅỴ̷̩̪̼̼̀̒͐̅͒ ̵̡̩̬̝̼͎̰̖̓̂o̷̪̝̜̥̞͌ ̵̨̡̦͇͔͈̽̈́ͅÛ̸̯͇̙͔̥͋͑̈́̽͠

̷̩̲͋̆͛̔̆͋a̴͚͗̀̚ ̷̨̞͗̉͛̑̚ ̷̭̤̖͓̔͌̽R̸̺͚̼̰̼̅ ̸̧͔̼̓̋̅̃̓̓̅̒è̶̛̛͇̥̅̂ ̵̢̝̘̀̌͗̄̆̀̌̀Ý̵̛̛̥̜̩̳̟̗̄͆̓͆̋ͅ ̸̬̪̥̠̩̪̂ó̸̫̻̔̿͆ ̸̢̛͕̀̃u̸͈̥̘̭̳͖̻̇̆͂̿̈́

̸̨̛̰̼̘̫̥͒̅̀̓̈̕͜͜R̸͔͑̾̈́̆̅ ̵̢̪̰̜͇̅̕͝ ̵̨̛̗̰͖̩̩̽̽͐ͅe̸͓͔̪̥̫̭̺̿̊̑̽̉͜ ̸̢͚̼͈͎̮̣̈́͆Ỷ̵̨̱͎̗̥͖̈́̈́̈́͗͑͐ ̵̖̮̹̞́̄̓́̎ͅo̶̭̹̦̹͍͉̣͌̈́ ̵̰͍̺͆͒̑̈͑Ů̶̺̤̓̄͊̕

̶̬͖̠̬̱͚̠̣̽̋͌͊͠ě̴̛̘͚͇̻͕̻̒̎̀ ̵̮̦̫̥̻͓̞̍̔͛͒̂̾̕ ̴͓͖̇̄̅͊̍̽̈́̀Y̶͕̽̔͌̆̀͝ ̸̟̦͚̰̱͕̽̏̌̐ó̶͎̤͙̙̮͍͉͊̚ ̷̡̮̹͚͕͙̼̈́̓̇Ų̵̘̞̈́̍̈̕̚

̴̛̞̻͖̒̑͌̇̀̈Y̶̭̰̠̫̹̱̿ ̴̙̹͖̖̪͕̋͜ ̴̰̹̰̂ỏ̷̡̮̲̭͛̈́̕͝ ̷̲̻̓̽̑̎͗̂͘͘U̸̺̓
̵͇̗͚̟̮̜̰̌̑ͅo̴͔̹̞̟̻̪̦̳͑̃̀ ̸̢̱͖̰̆͂̾̓̾ ̵̫͈͕͓̺̦̈́̋́̀͠U̵̺͔͂̓͌͌

̴̟͙̯̺̪̦̼̈́͊̽͑̈́U̷̘̠̾́͗͋̈


"Wow, what the fuck?"​

Location: Earth / United States / Del Coronado Bay / City 45

Why did it feel like something was tugging at his leg?

Oh wait, something was.

Feeling his consciousness return Solomon let his eyes flutter open for a moment and released a weak groan. 'What happened?' He tried remembering, and for his effort he got the brief image of a Pandoran crossing his mind before a flash hit him. "Oh right, Pandoran suicide bomber… that's a new trick.' He groaned again. 'Damn I'm sore… but I'm still in one piece at least… never been so glad my body is the equivalent to living metal.' He thought before seeming to think. "Why am I moving?" He looked down and found a leg in the air, being pulled along by a giant crab man. He wasn't the only one being pulled towards the waters of the bay. 'They're trying to take hostages?' He frowned slightly before playing dead again and his body stopped moving.

The Pandoran tugging at him along, a Triton , looked back seeing that the body it was carrying had stopped moving. It tugged several times trying to get the dead weight to move before calling for some backup in this weird clicking, shrill like language. Other Tritons made their way towards it and they "talked" for a moment, each one grabbing a limb as they tried lifting him up. He wouldn't budge.

They couldn't even get his fingers out of the ground.

Fingers that had somehow dug into the cement like it was soil. One of the Tritons tugged repeatedly at his hands before leaning forward, poking him with one of its four arms before leaning in.

Solomon's eyes snapped open, and they screamed.

The others hiding in the fog seemed taken back by the sudden screech of their comrades, one silenced by a sudden snapping of bone that echoed throughout the area. One of them turned to address the others, seemining telling them to get the hostages in the water before looking back to the fog.

Solomon was on the Archon in seconds, his fist having caved in its armored skull and grabbed the squishy stuff beneath it. He pulled, and brain and blood and bone came out as the body dropped. Solomon took a breath and stomped his foot on the ground, his pupils dilating as psionic energy started to produce veins around his eyes.

He saw them, all of them. Comrade and enemy alike.

It wasn't as if the fog had parted, it was more that he saw… "light"; their aura, their "essence".

ESP was a damn useful Psionic ability.

He charged the closest next to him, drew his side arm and jabbed it into the creature's eye before pulling the trigger. The others started coming as he looked around, before disappearing into the mist. He tore the arms off another Pandoran and freed one of his men before slamming his fist on their chest.

Even he wasn't sure if the gasp they made was from pain of nearly having their chest caved in or not.

"W-" They began. "What happened?"

"Eyes up soldier." Solomon raised a psionic barrier as he was assaulted by bullets. "We got people to save."

 

[zeroraid]

Location: Earth/ [Redacted] / XCOM Headquarters

Timestamp: 4:45 hours Zulu Time, 10/16/2177

Words couldn't really explain how much he hated this room.

It's always so quiet here, and that bothered him more than anything. The silence… if he was to be honest, it always unnerved him with how "empty" it made a room feel.

So yeah, the empty silence made him feel out of place in this small room.

As for where here happened to be; well it's a sealed chamber located in a building affiliated with the New Earth Government.

The chamber he found himself resting in had the walls slanted to give it a sort of half-circular shape, and there was a small but noticeable camera resting on a pair of railings connected to the ceiling. It hadn't taken it's singular eye off of him ever since he'd been brought in, and as much as he hated the damn camera he was used to it. In front of him the wall showed his reflection thanks to it being a one way mirror.

Seeing his reflection Solomon just took a breath as he took a moment to fix his bangs and lean forward, resting his head between harms as he yawned.

"XCOM Agent, Post Mission Psych Eval."​

A familiar, relatively distorted vorce reached Solomon's ears as he glanced up at the camera rotating before him. He imagined the face of the one behind it; a handsome, shaven well man with slicked back hair and a suit firmly pressed over his form. It was a simple image, but one he could work with. One that didn't make him think too much. Others would agree with him, others would come up with something different, perhaps more elaborate or silly. There was a pool gathered about such thoughts, a load of cash ready to be claimed by whomever guessed the unseen officer's face properly.

"State your name for the record please."​

"Solomon Lucius Gabriel." The man introduced himself. "XCOM Agent Delta 9 Foxtrot. Clearance level 7." He said in an even tone.

Mr. Gabriel, how would you describe yourself?"​

"I consider myself efficient." Was his simple response. "More often than not, I'm focused - if a task is put in front of me I complete it without much distraction." He paused. "Most of the time anyway." He muttered in disappointment.

"How do you feel working with XCOM?"​

Artemis said nothing as he just stared at his reflection, using it to grow lost in his own eyes. It wasn't narcissistic in nature like most, it was more like… he was searching for something. An answer that while proper, wasn't dishonest, and wouldn't trouble him. "It's… painful."

"Painful?"​

"I've seen things since I started working for XCOM; lots of things that I likely shouldn't - things people can't imagine: death, madness, monsters…" He sighed as he looked back at the camera. "I can't really describe it to be honest, but I can say this, since joining XCOM I've walked further and further into the shadows between worlds, slowly getting glimpses of those dark corners of the Earth we weren't supposed to see." He shook his head. "I became the kind of man who stares down the dark alleys and feels the hairs on my neck stand on ends. I feel alone in the crowds sometimes, like I can't relate to the everyday problems of normal people… it's a painful existence, lonely too."

"I see, how long have you been a XCOM Agent?"​

"Seven year."

"How did XCOM first discover you?"​

"XCOM took an interest in me when I was just a kid because of my… unique physiology; but they first approached me when I was 26. Just finished training at the N.E.G. Military Academy in City 12, that's when one of XCOM's Advocate's came to speak with me. "Just finished repairing an old craft when one of Blackwatch's Advocates came to see me." Solomon chuckled slightly. "Told me he represented a special forces branch in the N.E.G. and they were extending an invitation my way. The rest as they say is history."

"Thank you, now, please tell us about your last mission."​

That got Solomon to pause for a moment as he started to think back, a frown crossing his face as he did and leaned back in his seat. "My last mission…" He muttered. "My last mission was at City 45. All citywide Agents got a call of an ABYSSWALKER case and were told to intercept." He paused as he frowned. "The mission was a disaster. We lost good people and… we lost the city." A silence followed and he got the impression that whomever was behind the camera was jotting something down.

"Please elaborate."​

The Pandora's… they started by using some kind of EMP. Disrupted our gear and the Mist Repeller." Solomon stated as he sat up straighter. "First time I've seen em use that kinda trick, but it worked. We were blind as bats when the mist settled in. Had some trouble figuring out who was who and suffered some friendly fire but we held out for a bit… how long though, I can't say." Solomon muttered as he took a breath. "I got knocked out by a suicide bomber and when I came to, I was getting dragged towards the ocean." He frowned. "They were taking hostages." he stressed the word before shaking his head. "Anyway, I got back in the fight. Saved who I could, killed what I could…" He took a breath. "In the end though… in the end it was all for nothing. Forget the bay, they were already in the city, the localized military tried fighting them off but… we lost City 45. Had to call it in, had to get out." He crossed his arms as he frowned. Remembering the sound of screaming filling the mist as he tried getting as many people out as he could before getting out himself." "It was a disaster."

"I see."​

The voice on the other end muttered as Solomon nodded his head.

"Your thoughts on the ABYSSWALKER case?"​

"They're learning." Solomon muttered. "The EMP, the suicide bomber, taking hostages? Usually it's just them physically changing to fight us, but they never tried using tactics until now." Solomon grumbled. "Our enemy is getting smarter… I think… I think this was just the prelude to something worse. Something much worse."

"I see, thank you Agent Solomon, This session is over."​

Commander's Quarters

Looking at the report XCOM's commander simply took a breath as she leaned back in her seat as she started to think. "They're learning huh?" She muttered before going to her files and started to shift through what they had on the Pandorans. "We always knew there was that chance." She muttered to herself. "But… Why now of all times?" She muttered. "It's been well over a hundred years since this all began, so why… Why are they getting smarter now?" She asked but couldn't get an answer. "Damn it… what's on the horizon?" Again she didn't get an answer.

Pausing, she turned her attention to the door as it opened. "Central Officer Roland Pierce." She greeted.

"Commander…" Central Officer Pierce began. "You're needed in Mission Control."

She raised an eyebrow but obeyed.

Solomon found himself scratching his head as he left the Psych Evaluation chamber and started walking on. "God damn it…" He muttered before slamming a fist against a wall so hard the metal dented. Without a word he headed on, frowning as he did before noticing a few others running by him. "Hey, what's the rush?"

"One of the Towers has sent an SOS." Someone told him as Solomon's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing.

"Oh hell no." He followed right after them as he made a request to join the mission.

On Route to Tower

He was dead tired. Anyone that had been pulled out of City 45 would be exhausted, but still he was happy to be here. Sitting in Manticore aircraft with five others Agents he went about checking his new Ares AR-1. It would take some time to customize the weapon to suit his preferences, but for now he was just happy to have something other than his sidearm and combat knife on him. 'Not to mention a new helmet.' Solomon thought to himself as tapped the side of it, and the feed on his visor changed a bit, reminding him the name of his fellow Operatives and how much distance it was between each of them. 'Still, can't believe those Pandorans learned to create an EMP… how the hell they do that?"

He reviewed what he knew about those mix & mash abominations.

"Pandorans".

Basically they were cobbled together with the DNA of various sea life and Terran; human, and alien alike -not that you could really consider former extraterrestrials alien when generations had passed with them being born on Earth- as well as "something else". Some unknown lifeform that wasn't part of their world.

Since they first showed up just over a hundred and fifty years ago, these things were really hard to understand and painful to look at. They were these frankenstein monsters all but sewn together. Over the generations they adopted a more "natural" look. Still hideous monsters but they became something people could make some sense of.

They were adapting, evolving in their quest to take over… and sadly that wasn't all they did.

As they evolved they started terraforming their environment. Something about the Mist helped do it, and Shen's Mist Repellers were the only thing really keeping part of the world from turning into… whatever the Pandoran's were turning it into.

'Adapt to fight… adapt to take over…' Solomon thought as he adjusted his helmet settings. "These guys were an issue just doing what they were, but now if they're developing the brainpower to come up with tactics to back up their ability to already make biological weapons…'

Their days might be numbered...

"This is the Central Officer Pierce to Silverridge Team."​

Hearing the voice Solomon was pulled out of his thoughts as he sat up straighter, as did everyone.

"You're going to be settling down just outside Tower-00. The Tower sent out an SOS signal just a short while ago, unfortunately we have no idea what caused the SOS in the first place."​

The voice reported in.

"Your mission is to assess the situation on the ground. Ascertain the current situation of Tower-00 occupants and investigate the tower to determine exactly what happened to the Tower. Understood?"​

"Yes sir."

"Good, Central out."​

Solomon glanced to the side as he noticed someone clenching their weapon tighter.

"Walker?"

"It's nothing." The agent muttered as she breathed through her helmet. "I'm fine."

"No you're not." Agent Golberm grumbled as he put a hand on the agent's shoulder. "You're worried about your little girl aren't you." Walker didn't say anything. "It's alright to be worried."

"I know…" Walker grumbled. "I'm just…" She took a breath. "I need to focus on the mission."

"Hard to do that when the mission sends you to your daughter's school." Golbern got a look sent his way as he nodded his head. "Listen, you sure you'll be able to focus when we're there?"

"Yeah." Walker grumbled. "Don't worry. I just gotta keep my head in the game."

Tower-00 Outskirts

"Central this is Raven. We've arrived." The pilot of the Manticore stated as he frowned.

"Roger Voodoo 9. Any sign of activity?"​

"Negative. Can barely see a thing down there. Seems like the Mist managed to roll in." He responded as he started hitting a few levers. "Activating Mist Repeller now. Soon as we get a clear sight of what's beneath us we'll be setting the Manticore Down."

"Very good."​

The Mist Repeller built into the Manticore took about a good minute before it was able to push back the mist enough to set up a landing zone. Moment they succeeded though, the squad dropped down, and they could get a better look at what was going on around them.

"Good Lord…" Tower-00 or rather what had been Tower-00 seemed to be replaced with ruins. Ruins decorated with this overgrowth that looked like dry flaky skin. Scattered across it were these large orifices which pump out a sticky, greenish liquid that has formed a series of small rivers.

"Command you seeing this?" Agent Harrion muttered as he activated comms.

"We see it…"​

"What the fuck are we looking at?"

"Fraid we can't give you an answer agent. After the area is secured, we'll send in Dr. Alberta's team in to examine the area."​

"Oh god, even with the helmet's filters it smells terrible down here." Someone muttered as they pressed forward. "Think I'll die if I take this thing off."

"Then keep the helmet on and your eyes focused, we're still going in blind here." Solomon muttered as they continued walking towards the ruins of Tower-00.

"It's quiet here…" Walker muttered as she tried staying focused. "I hate it when it's quiet."

"Well it looks like its gonna stay quiet for a while." Harrison muttered. "Not picking up anything on visuals yet. Hoping it stays that way."
"Right." Walker muttered.

The entire walk to Tower-00 was silent, and despite that being a good thing, it unnerved the hell out of everyone.

Same time getting in wasn't exactly difficult either. Enter the passcode and the doors opened on their own, and as it opened, a body dropped down in front of them.

Harrion crouched down as he checked the person's pulse before turning them over. "Damian August, one of the Overseers of Tower-00."

"Cause of death?" Harrion stared at the gaping hole that made up the Overseer's chest.

"Some one ripped his chest open, looks like they pulled his insides out."

"Damn." Dearka grumbled as she looked around. "Looks like we got more bodies this way."

That wasn't all they had. From the looks of it, someone drew some pictures on the walls. "Anyone recognize these?"

"These belong to the Followers of the Old Gods." Harrion muttered as he got to his feet and made a noise before tapping comms. "Command; I'm sending you some footage of some symbols drawn up. Can you identify which organization they belong to?"

"We'll start working on that right away to see if we can get you a name. Meanwhile, take a look around, see if you can find any survivors."​

"Yes sir." Harrion muttered as the six agents started walking inward.

"I don't like this, guys…" Solomon muttered as he turned to the others.

"None of us do." Thankfully and despite the layout, this was an op where the silence lasted. And because of that, it wouldn't turn out to be a story worth telling.

Still the eerie feeling of the place wasn't exactly one they'd forget any time soon, not to mention that feeling that someone was watching them.

 

[zeroraid]

"…"





"… I…"​

A voice echoes out in the dark.

"I am… here?"​

It's a woman's voice… no

"I'm here?"​

It's a girls voice.

"I'm here."​

There is a sense of surprise voice in her voice. Surprise and… curiosity… and…

"But… where are you?"​

Desire.

"How much longer do I have to wait?"​

A red clad girl flickered in and out of the world. Glitching like the television station. She distorted a few times, static flickering left and right, with her petite frame even seeming to split in two on occasion.

"Until I get to see you?"





​

---

Beep…

Beep…

Beep…

Oh god the beeping was going to drive him crazy. The young man thought as blissful unconsciousness started to fade away. When he started coming to, he began to realize just how tired he was… worse he started to realize just how much his body was aching. Tired and hurt… never a good combination.

Forcing his eyes open the stallion grunted, closing them again as he found the light bothering him. "O~w." He grumbled as he squinted, finally adjusting to the light and looked around. "Where?"
"Well I'll be, you're awake."A voice to his left caught the youth's attention as he turned to see an older man with a short raven colored hair walking into the sterile white room. "Welcome back to the land of the living."

"Oh.. hi." The bedbound individual muttered before closing his eyes and made to pass back out. Barely a second later though the pony's eyes snapped open and he leapt out the bed. "Ah! What happened- where am I?" He flinched a moment later as he gripped his head and leaned back down. "Ow ow ow ow ow!"
"Don't do that." The older figure grumbled as he brought his hands to the youths head and started to massage it to alleviate the sudden headache. "Never make sudden movements after just waking up understood; especially when you've been out for as long as you have."
"R-right." They took a breath, trying his best to will the headache away as felt the other rub his skull. A moment later he looked at his bandaged arms.. " What happened to me? How long have I been out?"
"We were hoping you could tell us." The doctor muttered as he released the youths head and took a breath. "You've been out for almost five months."

"Five… months." The youth muttered as aloud as he tried to think back. "I was out for… five… months?"

"I'm afraid so." The older man muttered before taking a seat next to him. "Now, if possible, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Ok."

"Can you tell me your name?"

"My name?" The youth paused for a moment. "My name is… Hawke." He muttered. "Hawke Crestlight."

"Very good." His doctor muttered as he looked at his patient. "Now, when were you born?"

"September… 1st."

"That's good, do you have any family?"

"I have a mom and a dad." His doctor seemed to stare at him for a moment before slowly nodding in relief.

"Alright. You seem to be able to recall who you are thankfully." The doctor stated as he smiled kindly. "I'm glad." His doctor whispered. "You can call me Dr. Stables. XCOM contacted me to ensure you pulled through what happened."

"Hi~" Hawke was still kind of out of it." "XCOM… why would they…"

'Because something bad happened at the Tower you were at…" Dr. Stables just smiled kindly. "You don't need to worry about it, not right now anyway." He told the young man. "All that matters is that you pulled through." He muttered. "And you did, the hard parts over, all you need to do now is worry about recovering." He told him as he tapped his forehead.. "Not just here." He tapped his chest, where his heart would be. "But here too."

"Ok…" Hawke muttered as he started to drift away. "Can you… can you at least… contact my parents?" He asked as his eyes tried to weld themselves shut. "They're probably worried."

"Of course." Dr. Stables whispered. "I'll try getting in contact with them immediately." Hawke wasn't even able to say thank you before he blacked out.

Dr. Stables just let his smile fade as he watched the young man drift back to sleep. Pulling himself from his chair he walked out the room and removed his gloves, sighing as he did. Waiting outside the room the Doctor turned to XCOM Agent Solomon as he nodded. "Agent."

"How is he?" The mammoth of a man asked.

"He seems to be here." The doctor muttered as he tapped his forehead. "He remembers his name, his birthday and his parents." He told the Agent as he sighed to himself. "Physically though, it'll take a while to see how he fares." The doctor stated as he put his hands in his pocket.

"Does he remember what happened at Tower-00?"

"I didn't ask him." The Doctor admitted. "It wouldn't benefit either of us if I overwhelmed him with questions so early, he did just wake up after all." Dr. Stables admitted. "I'll gradually try easing that answer out of him."

"Should be for the best." Solomon muttered as he looked through the window to see the sleeping boy hooked up to a machine. "So…" He started up. "What's the plan for him?"

"Physical therapy for his body and psionic healing seasons." Solomon raised an eyebrow.

"Psionic healing?" Solomon paused. "That's healing people with your mind right?"

"Yes." His counterpart admits. "We can use the ability to not only heal wounds, but also mend the damage done to his mind." The doctor stated as he put his hand on a dataslate. "I feel he might need it."

"I thought you said that he was alright up here." Solomon muttered as he tapped his forehead.

"Well, yes, but there's something strange about his brainwaves. Something about them has changed."

"How so?" The doctor raised a finger and made a small gesture.

"That, that is something I can't answer." Dr. Stables stated. "But given that markings associated with the Old Gods were found in Tower-00, I can only assume that he glimpsed something he wasn't supposed to, and his mind suffered as a side effect."

"Well, that's a fair point…" Solomon grumbled as he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. "Speaking of which, at Tower-00 we saw something we believe to be related to the Pandorans."

"You're wondering if he's been infected with Pandoran cells." Solomon didn't answer as the Doctor just looked at his dataslate. "Luckily that's not the case. "Our initial tests show that he hasn't been infected by the Pandoravirus. Although we did find that his blood has an extraordinary amount of adrenaline coursing through it." The Doctor muttered. "Honestly there's so much its almost impossible to believe."

"Ok~" Solomon muttered. "You're telling me this, why?"

"Just a little something to keep the conversation going." The Doctor stated as he looked away from his dataslate. "Besides, XCOM's Chief Scientific Officer Magnolia already reached out to me. She's curious about getting her hands on him to see if she could reproduce his natural adrenaline levels for XCOM Operatives."

"Of course that's what she wants…" Solomon muttered as he took a breath before shaking his head. "Let's wait till he's better and see if we can get his consent."

"Naturally." Dr. Stables stated. "That said I am curious myself, his adrenaline chemical levels are so high they actually produce the same effect as the Adrenal Neurosympathy Gene Mod."

"Well that explains the orange mist I saw when he started breathing." Solomon mused. "Here I thought he just had really bad breath." He joked as he crossed his arms before frowning. "That said I didn't see it when I first met him. Care to explain?"

"Yes, about that…" Dr. Stables as he started looking through the files available to him on his dataslate. "Well, there seems to be something strange coursing through his system that's causing it."

"Something in his system?"

"Yes, it's some kind of foreign compound. But it doesn't seem to be hurting him, nor his body trying to fight it off, in fact, whatever it is, its amplifying certain biological traits like his adrenaline levels to produce the 'Muton breath'." Solomon seemed to blink in confusion, before something clicked in his head.

"On right, cause it's orange." He muttered before looking at the sleeping kid. "That said, the stuff in his system, is it biomechanical?" Solomon asked. "Like Meld?"

"No, it's not." His counterpart stated. "It's completely organic in nature." Dr. Stables muttered. "To be honest, we don't know what it is, but not hurting him and its not contagious."

"Well, that's good to know." Solomon paused before seeming to think. "Can you forward what you have to XCOM for study? We might be able to figure out what it is."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that." Dr. Stables muttered. "Unless I get consent on behalf of his legal guardian, I must keep things confidential."

"Right, right, sorry." Solomon muttered as he scratched his head. "Overstepping my boundaries in asking."

"Least you understand." Dr. Stables stated as he looked at the time. "I apologize, but I have other patients to attend to."

"Right." Solomon muttered as he watched the Doctor wander off as he turned his attention to the unconscious teen.

Five months. Been five months since they pulled this kid and two others from Tower-00. Five months since they basically nuked that sight. That had been Dr. Alberta's personal - non scientific - decision. No one blamed her. Whatever had happened there was just… Solomon couldn't find the words.

"World's making less sense by the day." He muttered to himself before turning down the hall and headed off.

---

Medical Room

Standing at the edge of the medical room, stood this little girl in a red dress, her hair matted and eyes glowing like a burning ember as she looked. Her gaze as empty as the void as she looked around before letting her gaze rest on the young man unconscious in bed. She walked over to him, the room temperature seeming to drop with each step as it started to take on a reddish tint. She stared at the unconscious teen looking him over before turning away and started walking off, walking towards awol andup it before disappearing into the ceiling.

Û̵̡̧̜̯̜̜̼̦̋̏̄̂͂̀̏̄͋̓̄̽͆ͅ





̵̺̳̦͕̫̠͙͑̅͋̕͝͝Ò̶̼͉̘͍̞̙̟̙͓̮͖͕̣͑̎̌̽̇̈́̚͠͝ͅù̷̖͈̯͓̊̇͋́̔͛̃̉̐̊͆͋̕͠





̶̤̞̙̯̰̗̦̎̍̋̋̕͘̚Ÿ̷̮̯̗̭̟͔̱̺́̎́̈̊̐̚͠ọ̷̢̜̻̹̩̬̱̟͔̞͎̫̹̆̾͛̿̓͛̓̾́̑̐͑͋͝ų̷̡̤̺̺͓̱̬͎̳̯͛̒͗̊̀͗͒͐̍̆





̷̱̮̹̟̭̟̳̋̐̑͊̈̉̾͒̔̕͝͝͝Ȩ̵̜̥̥̼̜̼̉̇̇̿̈͊ ̴̢̛͍̼̲̻̹͍̼̝̟͙͌͒̆͋̐̅̌̂̓̍̀̕͠ͅy̷̡̨̹͔͕̰̞̳̣̲̩̣̪̱̻͑̎̉́̓͗̈̔́̏͗̂͝ǫ̵̛̦̲̯̣̦̻̭͇̝̯͙͈͕̍̒̏̄u̸̞̭̯͍̘͍͕̭͖̪̰̰̲̮͎̓͋̀̄̉̒̽̔̚͠͠





̴̘͓̳̥̱͎͕̺̻͔̋̿̃͛͐̅̎̃̔̈́̈́͊͘ͅR̸̡̡̡̛̗̯̗̤̜̳͈͎̥̜̘͋̈́̀̇̃͒͌̄̔̌͛͘͘̚e̴͎̭̹͓̞̲̻͙͙͐̌̐͊͂̑ ̴͖̠̤̼̈́̈́̅̎̔̃̇͐̕͠͝ÿ̴̢̢̠̱̘̱͈̩͈̻́̃͊͌͊͂̚͝o̸͎̥͔͚̙͓̞͗̈́̊̏̂̊̆̓̈́̀̐͘͝u̸̳̪̙̱̗͕̹̠̯͖̟̼̲̭̓̃͛̓̊̚͘͠





̷̰͓͎͈̈́̊̓̈́̓Á̵̛̞̪̭̿̎̀̓̉̍̃͐͋̍̂͊̒ṟ̸̡̨̰̮̮̘̖̔̃é̵̙̹̙̦̯̳̄̍̆̀͠ ̴̡̧̡̝͈͙̩̖̺̥͐̀̿́̆̓̌͆̄̅͐̒̓̕̚͜y̶̨̭̫͙̖̝͕̹͎͖͓̩̩̋͌̄̐̄̿͊́̌̈ͅo̴̢͉̣̫̫͎̙̮̙̭̬͈͍̼͑̈͑̅͛͋͗̍͝ͅu̵̗̲̤̔͗





̸̟͚̝̩̩̟̈́̾̕͠È̸̛͓̗̈́͂̆̒̓͂́̀͑͊͘͠ ̷͍̺͛̂̕̕ḁ̴̧̡̛͇̟̗͔̠̣̣̥̩͕̈́̑͌̓̐͋̀̂̊͠ṙ̵̞̘̀͐̋͋͝e̶̱̱̤͖̼̙̙̬̳͈̼͇̩̽͗̈́́ ̸̮͇͇̺̇̂͑͛̈́̿̚̚͜͠͝ŷ̴̛̛͍͚̰̌̊̎̈́͛͊̎͗͂͘͜͜͠ỏ̸̧̠̣̟̭̝͖̳̪̬̘͕̀̀͗͂̈̽̄̆͊̀̾̚u̷̺̖̙͕̠̤̜̜̞͖̓͋̃͊̂̆̋͊̈́̀̚͝͠͝͠





̷̡̯͕̃̇̈̈́̈́̉͋̔͠R̵̢̨̢͚͖͓͇̖̃̏͂̎ȩ̷̡͎͇̖̫̓̔̾̓͛̀̊̈̚͜ ̵̠͍̝̓́͑͆̃́̿̿̕ä̷̢̧̘̲̝͇̠͙̲͇̪̬̦̪̗́̊͐̄̔̏̒̔̍̚r̷͍͉̱̾̔͆͋̒̽̓̒͝͝e̸̛̤̥̎́̈̐͐̑͑̄͠ ̷̧̛̫̪͍͚͙̙̤̩̉̓̍͌͆͜͝ŷ̸̡̨̘̱̟̬̜̹̗̻̖̣͚̺́͗̌̋̎̇͒́̅̄̓ȏ̶͙̹̲̺͇̗̦͕͇̿͌̈́̓̇́ù̵͔̱͙̱͉̦͖̱̭̟̲̻̝͋́̀̃́̃̀̕͝͝





̸̞̩͔̳̰͖͍͓̜͑̔̾̐Ë̴̡͔̞̤̜̮̲̜́́̎̑̍̏͗̓͋̕͝ͅr̴̟͓̩̣̮͚̱͓̫͎̜̜͓̙̔̊͋́͋̊̐̓͋̿̓̃͝͝ę̷̨̧̧̧̩̗͔͎̟̥̟̽͗̓̎̑́̉͜ͅ ̴̢̢͕͉͎̼̦̣̫̙̠̻̉̿͌̋͗͊͋͘͝a̷̢̘͑̍̆͑͛̐̀̏̓r̸̨̮̻͕͕̠͖͙̝̩̈́̋͆͆ẻ̷̡̡̨̺̭̭̮̲͎̞͙̜̙̾̽̂͑͑̚̕͝ ̵͇̬̙̥̻̟͚̭͕͇̖̗̯͋̌͜ý̶̮̱̲̖̗͖̣͍̤͖̭̪̍̈̄̌̏̕̕͜ǫ̵̡̲̱̣͎̖̪̦̓́u̷͓͖͓̼̳̣̬͕̪̇͒̍̃͋͂͐͆̄̕̚͝





̷̥̓̂̇H̸̦̤̭͇̻̱͎͇̔̆̋̐̓ĕ̶͙̖̗̩͎̄̃͂̚͝r̸̥̺̓͊͛̍͂͝e̷̡̢͓̜̝̖̝͖̗̔̑̀̃̑̉̀̈́̕͝ ̴̡͔̟̩͚͇̟͈̪̟̈́a̸̧̨̩̤͕̹̻̜̰̓̔̀͌͆͛̍̈̀̉͆͘͜͠͝ͅŕ̶̰̙̱̝̰̮̜̟̻̠̄͊ȩ̶̣̹̻͕̲͚͎͙̯̮̲̇̈́̔̎͋͐̔̊̾̂̍̕̚͝ ̶̢̡͈͓̬̀̓̎̎̆̈́̂̿͘ȳ̶͓̩̫̀͆̆̄̍͋̾̊̋̍̄͌ͅơ̴̦̱̪̰̼͕̩͐̅͗̇̂̒̕̕ų̵̡̡̛͍̫̞̫̼̆͑̇̑̈́͛̑̽̂̏͝





̴̢͚͍̯̯̫̣̲̰͔͕̽̎̂̄͊͜ͅẈ̶̢̧̧̜̭̦̥̫͔̯̝̩̔̅̾̆͠ͅh̴͇̠̲̣̯͕͙̖̦̱̜̰̙̣͕́͋̈́͂͛̂̈̾̅̊̔̃͘͠ȩ̴̦̟͓͑́́̚̚͝r̶̝̱̮̎̀͝e̶̜̻̓̀̇͆̓̈́͒̇́̐̈͊͘͠ ̴̛̬̖͕͍̯͈͔̩͍̙̣̮̘̙̾̽͌̓͗͋̿̅̿͘a̸̲͊͂̋͒̏̑̈͆̐͝ͅr̷̩͍̳̠̺͙͉͗̎͐́̾e̶̡̻͚̮̻̥͍͑̈̿̕͠ ̸̭̙͙͚͚̻̙̭̔̽̃̆y̵͚̳̝̳̰̮̭͚̣͋̊͘o̷̰̗̜͍̠̬̙͒́ͅų̷͔͕̭͖̺̦͖̲͗̀̈́̽̔́̉̕͜​

---

Elsewhere

Dr. Stables glanced back, his attention quickly turning to the hall he had walked from before making a face. Soon as the expression crossed his face though, it seemed to disappear as he walked on, heading towards another patient's room as he looked at the file in his hand. "So…" He muttered. "You're the one responsible." He whispered as he continued walking on. "After all this time… you're finally coming back." He mused. "But why now of all times." He didn't get an answer.

---

A Few Days Later

When he woke up next time, Hawke found himself a familiar Wrangler sitting in the chair next to him, a book in one hand as he went about turning the pages before stopping. "Hey, you're awake." Solomon muttered as he put his book down and looked at the youth.

"S-Solomon, what are you doing here?"

"Came to visit." Solomon admitted. "Didn't want you feeling lonely when you woke up."

"Thanks…" Hawke muttered as he looked around the room. "Where are my parents?" Solomon didn't say anything, instead just choosing to look down at his hands before messing with his thumbs.

"You're mom's on her way from the Refugee site."

"Refugee site?" Hawke muttered.

"Yeah." Solomon fell silent as he took a breath. "While you were out… something happened in City 45." He muttered as he looked at the kid. "There was a Pandoran attack and we lost the city." Hawke seemed to come out of his half-sleep daze for a moment.

"What?"

"You're mom's ok… we managed to evacuate her in time, but your dad… he didn't make it." Solomon whispered.

"Dad…" Hawk muttered as he stared off into space. "I…I never got to say goodbye…"

"Is that all you have to say?"

"I don't know what to say…" Hawke muttered as Solomon looked at him. "I haven't seen my parents in a long time…" He confessed. "I ran away from home when my powers first flared to life so… I haven't seen them in a while."

"And yet your first instinct was to ask to have the Doctor contact your parents."

"Yeah." Hawke muttered as he took a breath. "I just… I don't know." Hawke admitted. "That was just the first thought to cross my head after finding out I was put in the hospital."

"Have you been into the hospital a lot?"

"Yeah." Hawke admitted. "I used to go often because the doctors thought something was wrong with me growing up."

"What do you mean?" Solomon asked as the youth chuckled and looked in his direction.

'"Come on, like you don't know by now." Hawke muttered as he raised an arm - the one without an IV drip plugged into it - and tapped his chest. "I'm sure the doctor told you already. I've got abnormally high blood pressure because of the amount of adrenaline coursing through me." Solomon just nodded his head in agreement.

"You're right. I do know about that, gotta say its -"

"Strange how I'm still alive?" Hawke cut the older gentleman off with a weak smile. "Yeah I get that. My adrenaline levels being as they are… Some folks used to question if I was part muton or something.

"I'm pretty sure you'd be a lot more jacked if you were part Muton."

"Hey~" Hawke muttered as Solomon just raised his hands in defense.

"Hey you know I'm right." He stated before releasing a light smile. "They're jacked, and that's coming from me."

"Well, you are pretty big." Hawke mumbled as Soloman chuckled.

"Yeah, comes with being me." Solomon shrugged. "All of us mutants have some interesting tics…"

"A mutant?" Hawke asked as he looked at Solomon for a moment longer. "You're a mutant too?" Solomon looked at Hawke and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm a psychic and a mutant. Its why I'm… different than most."

"N-no I mean… you're a mutant, like me?" "That got Solomon to blink curiously.

"You're a mutant?" Solomon asked. "Well, I guess that makes sense with how you can survive with your adrenaline levels."

"Yeah." Hawker muttered as he looked at an arm. "All my mutations just… mess around with my adrenaline and my legs and my insides…" Hawke muttered. "What about you?"

"Everything." Was Solomon's response.

"Everything?"

"Everything." Solomon repeated. "Skin about 4 times as tough as normal, Muscle about 80 times denser than usual, bones as strong as diamonds organs reinforced by protective extra tough tissue~ and thats just the basic stuff."

"What?" Hawke stared at Solomon like he was joking. Then it immediately switched to disbelief as Solomon just shrugged. "What… seriously?"

"Yeah I'm… uh, you know how they say people are built differently? I'm built differently. I'm a monster in my own right, can get hit by an armored convoy and walk away and overpower a muton if need be." He shrugged.

"Well, that's not fair…"

"Yeah I get that too." Solomon admitted before shaking his head. "But enough about me. What's your story, kid?"

"My story?" Hawke paused. "I don't have a story to tell."

"Sure you do." Solomon gave him a soft smile. "Everyones got a story to tell. Whether you realize it or not."

"Well if thats the case my story would be pretty boring."

"Prove it." Solomon smiled as Hawke just shrugged and took a breath - stopped and seemed to shiver. "Kid?"

"I…" He began. "I don't feel so good." He muttered as he started to sway.

"Then take a minute." Solomon muttered as he carefully pushed the young man back down on the bed. "I'll go get Dr. Stables."

"O-ok…" He muttered before blacking out.

---

A Few Days Later

The next time he woke up, Hawke found his mom resting at the edge of his bed. "Hi mom~." Her ear twitched slightly, and that seemed to be all that was needed to wake the mare up.

"Hm?" She questioned for a moment before looking at her son and smiling, a few tears in her eyes as she did. "Sweetheart, you're awake." She tried keeping her voice low so as to not hurt his ears, still she hugged him as best she could, letting her head rest against his as she smiled. "I'm so… I thought I lost you."

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere mom." Hawke muttered with a smile. "Sorry I made you worry."

"Well, I think it's a mothers job to worry." His mother, Sarah, stated as she leaned back and looked at her son. "And I'm the one that should be saying sorry…"

"What do you mean?"

"When your powers erupted I… I panicked, I didn't know what to think and…" Saram muttered as she looked down. "And I didn't stop you from leaving."

"Oh…" Hawke muttered as he looked elsewhere.

"I should have known that you were a Psychic… there were so many signs that you were awakening, but I… " She muttered. "No, i'm just making excuses, aren't I?" She muttered as she took a breath. "I wasn't there to help you when you needed me, I failed you."

"Mom, what could you have done?" Hawke asked. "I… I hurt someone… I killed someone, mom." The two fell silent as Hawke looked down. "What could I you done knowing that."

"I could have done something… anything." She told him as she grabbed his hand. "But I didn't, I got scared and you left…" She muttered.

"It was probably safer for you and dad without me around." Hawke muttered. "If my powers flared up again, I could have hurt you guys too." Sarah Crestlight didn't say anything, but she knew he was right. A recently awakened Psychic was as dangerous as one could get. Their powers were unpredictable, flaring at random moments and acting out on their own. Even without being a psychic herself, she knew that much.

At the same time…

"Hawke?"

"Yeah?" Sarah looked down, not really sure what to say before taking a breath.

"It's your father, he…"

"I know." He muttered before taking a breath. "Mr. Solomon told me what happened."

"I see…" Another silence passed.

"What's going to happen to me?"

"I don't know." Sarah admitted. "The hospital told me they want to keep you a bit longer, but I don't know what's going to happen after that." She muttered. "I could try finding us a place to stay here in City 31, but it's gonna take some time."

"You'll let me come back home?"

"You're my son, why wouldn't I want you back home?" She asked as Hawke just seemed to fall silent before starting to tear up. "Hawke?"

"I'm sorry." He whispered, raising an arm to his face as he started wiping it. "I'm sorry, I thought you'd be furious with me."

"You silly child." Sarah muttered as she leaned over the bed and wrapped her hands around her child. "I could never be mad with you."

Solomon looked on from outside the room, a small smile crossing hids face as he stared at the reunion. "Well, no point in visiting today I guess." He muttered before smiling slightly. "Guess I better head out after all." He told himself before putting his hands in his pockets and checked his phone. Looks like he had a message. Without much thought he answered it bringing it to his ear as he did so. "Solomon here, what's up?"

"Sorry to interrupt your time off, but we need you to come in."​

 

[zeroraid]

Two years Later

He was back here again; back at Tower-00. Back with the other Psychics, the Pandorans and them.

To this day he still wasn't sure what "they" actually were.

All he knew was that it seemed that they were controlling the Pandorans. Telling them where to go, telling them what to do.

They obeyed. Pandora's abominations to human and alien eyes, obeyed.

That scared him. That scared him more than the fighting and screaming that followed.

He wasn't really sure what was happening. All he knew was there desperate bolts of psionic energy being fired and people were being dragged away.

Amidst the conflict, he saw her, again.

That girl in red.

Wading through halls she brought silence. Faces melted, bones were broken and reality seemed to twist with her very presence. Everywhere she went screaming turned to silence, and she looked almost like she didn't care, almost like she didn't notice.

What the hell was she?

She turns to him seemingly silent before leaning forward and asks a simple question.

"Do you see me?"

​

---

…

…

…

"H___e!"

"Ha__e!"

"Ha_ke!"​

"Hawke!" Hawke seemingly snapped his head up as he stared ahead. Expression mostly voided, as he seemed to come out of a daze and looked at the man sitting across the table from him. "You were drifting away for a moment there Mr. Crestlight." They told him as he continued shaking his head as to try getting himself together. "I believe you were telling me about the nightmares you've been having - about your experiences at Tower-00."

"Tower… 00?" Hawke muttered as he tried to focus.

"Tower-00 was the designated name given to the Para-psychic training facility you were transferred to after the OIS brought you in." His doctor informed him. "Do you remember? You were brought in by a Wrangler, and five months later there was an incident."

"Incident?"

"Yes, the Tower sent out an SOS signal, and XCOM was sent in to investigate." They told him as Hawke seemed to struggle on remembering. "What exactly happened there?"

"The girl in red…" Hawke muttered as he reached for his head - or rather tried to as his hands were bound in a straightjacket.

"Where?"​

He froze as he stared off into the distance. "She's here."

"Who's here?" His therapist asked.

"Where are you?"​

"The girl in red." Sitting at the edge of the room, was this little girl in a red dress, her hair matted and eyes glowing like a burning ember as she looked around before seemingly focusing on him.

"Can you see me?"​

"Who is the girl in red?" His doctor asked as Hawke met the girl's gaze as he blinked. The girl was gone, replaced with this bone-thin apparition of a woman with sunken eyes. "Who is the girl in red, Hawke?" An instant later the bone-thin woman was gone, replaced with this pale skinned beauty who started walking up to him and the table.

He got this noticeable chill when she stared down at him.

"Can you see me, Hawke?"​

---

A Few Days later

"HaWkE…"​

Voices…

hAwKe…"​

Whose voice was that?

"CoMe On BuDdY. YoU tHeRe."​

"I know that voice…" Hawke muttered as he found himself being pulled from his sleep and cracked an eye open. Only to close it again as light started to burn his vision. He made a noise as he turned away, and realized that someone was holding him in place.

"Hawke?" A person holding a flashlight asked as Hawke let his eyes flicker for a moment. "Hawke can you hear me?"

"Yes." He whispered as the figure before him released a smile, though they did seem to jump for a moment as some kind of noise came from behind him.

"There we go, eyes up kid." The figure stated as Hawke shook his head.

"Who's voice is that?" Hawke muttered as he squinted and tried looking past the light source.

"Wiseman, I found Hawke Crestlight." The voice stated. "Repeat, I have him. He's in one piece but he's a bit out of it."

"Great work Leos, get him out of there."

"Leos…" Hawke was helped up as he stared at the figure before him. "Do I know that name?"

" No you don't." Leos stated as he they looked back for a moment. Alright kid, let's get you out of this damn jacket, before they show up."

"They?" Hawke asked. "Who's they, what's going on?"

"Listen kid I know you got questions but right now we need to move," He stated. "It's not safe here."He freed Hawk's hands as he suddenly fell silent, a hole tearing through his chest as red splashed on Hawke's face.

If he wasn't awake a moment ago, he certainly was now.

Something appeared behind the man, Leos, something that was neither human nor Pandoran as it held him in place before drilling a hole in his head. Soon as it was done it bolted, disappearing into the vents above this as Leos started to fall limp.

His back arched out of nowhere, red splattering everywhere as bone and muscle jutted out as some kind of spike.

Another ripped itself out of another part of his back.

Then his neck… dear god his neck.

Whatever Leos was turning into was a mutilated abomination of torn muscle and broken bone shards. Hawke tried breaking free from the creatures grip failed and the moment it showed its maw to him his world suddenly shifted.

Everything took a red hue as the abomination was lifted into the air, shards of bone and muscle being torn out of its body before being used to mutilate it beyond recognition.

It refused to die.

He watched muscle spasm tear. He watched bones char, and blood boil. He heard it scream. He watched it melt into a puddle of unrecognizable slag.

The fact that he didn't shit himself surprised him.

The fact that She was here damn near made him anyway.

The girl in red was here, staring at him, hatred in her eyes giving way to apathy as she raised an arm and pointed a direction outside his padded cell.

She disappeared a second later, and the world returned to normal.

"Leos?"​

A misplaced compiece echoed into the room and Hawke promptly ignored it. Instead he chose to run.

"Leos what happened? Oh God, Hawke? Hawke Crestlight?! If you can hear me, run! RUN!"​

He was doing just that, running into a hallway and away from the other abominations that were pulling themselves from other rooms.

"Evacuation in progress."

"Evacuation in progress."

"Evacuation in progress."​

What the hell was going on? Hawke just kept running trying to ignore the emergency message that was on loop. Everywhere he looked, Hawke found nothing but blood and pieces of limbs just thrown around. Blood, limbs and monsters he couldn't quite identify.

He pushed himself into a lobby and kept running.

"Evacuation in progress."​

He made his way to another hall and just kept running.

"Evacuation in prog-"​

A corpse from a wheelchair sprang to life and pinned him to the floor. Hissing, and screaming at him as he tried getting it off of him. A spine of bone ripped into his shoulder, and he wasn't sure who screamed louder it or him. All he knew was that when the adrenaline kicked in, he managed to throw the monster off of him, kicking it into the automatic doors as it was lodged between them. Its struggle was short lived as the doors slammed shut, leaving only a head and a bone spike on his side of it. Lying on the floor Hawke clutched his wound as he rolled over slightly before getting to his feet and staggered on.

"What on earth is going on?" He muttered as he got another door to open for him and was immediately spotted by two figures in armored suits. "Help." He muttered. "Please, help…"

"That's the Crestlight boy!" One shouted.

"Take him down!"

"Wait!" Hawke's words fell on deaf ears as he saw a spike tear though the ceiling and suddenly lift a poor man up. His partner realized what had happened and turned his attention upward, his gun aimed at the ceiling as he heard bone breaking and muscle tearing before something grabbed him and lifted him upward.

Hawke didn't stay long after that, but he did hear the struggling and screaming turn into tearing and silence.

"This is Director Edderman to all facility personnel. I want the key Subjects terminated and the facility scrubbed. This is not a drill. Edderman, out."​

"Terminated!?" Hawke just kept running. "Scrubbed!?" What the hell is going on? Where am I?" He asked as he checked his shoulder, noticing that it was already feeling better. "This isn't the hospital. He muttered as he continued running." A scream tore through the next room he was entering, and he was rewarded with the sight of a woman tackling an armed personnel as they tried shooting her. They switched to their knife as she got close, stabbing her in the back a few times before she knocked them to the floor, promptly ripped the knife out and stabbed it down, not once, not twice… he lost count of how many times he sw her stab him before she finally fell silent. "Holy shit." he muttered as he slowly approached the bleeding woman, noticing that she was in an undone straightjacket like he was. He made to quietly move past her, only for her to suddenly turn, eyes wild and fierce as she pointed the knife at him. Her red hair was matted, her face was covered in acne and it looked like she hadn't slept in days.

She picked herself up.

She picked herself up.

She had enough bullet holes and stab wounds in her body to probably bring down a Muton, and she picked herself up.

"You…" She muttered as she kept her arm steady as wisps of magic started to radiate from her body, it taking the appearance of a very pissed lilac flame. "You… I know you." She muttered. "Subject nine." She muttered as Hawke slowly raised his arms.

"Easy miss."

"They did stuff to you too. They picked at your brain, tried finding out about that little girl." She muttered as she narrowed her eyes and they turned from green to a bright ember. "They want us all terminated." She muttered. "I am not going to die here because they want me to." She stated as she lowered the knife and grabbed a handgun. She looked it over, tossing it to Hawke as he caught on impulse. "You know how to work one of those?"

"I never wielded a gun before…" Hawke confessed as the woman picked up an assault rifle and checked to see if it was loaded. Seeing it barely had anything she tossed it aside and grabbed a new mag as she loaded it. That done she stripped the body of its vest and spare magazines as she fastened them to herself.

"It's simple, point and pull the trigger." She stated as she stepped away from the body she had made as the wisps around her body faded away.

"Right." Hawke stated as he took a brief moment to check the magazine and saw it was full. A moment later though, his shoulder started to hurt as the adrenaline started to fade.

"Your shoulder." The woman noted." You should heal it." She muttered as she stepped forward and held out her free arm. "Don't shoot me."

"What are you?" Wisps of energy started to gather arounds her hand and they reached out for Hawke's wounded shoulder almost as if they were threads.

They started stitching his shoulder up.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Subject 5." She told him as she glanced him over. They looked about the same age. "You can call me Shepard."

"I'm Hawke." Shepard finished the stitching as she lowered her arm and Hawke adjusted his own. "Thank you."

"You can thank me by helping me get out of here." She told him as she started walking and Hawke chose to follow her.

"What's going on? He asked. "Where are we?"

"I don't know." Shepard muttered. "All I know is that they moved me from my hospital one day and suddenly I'm here." She admitted. "They keep having me go in and out of consciousness, trying to find out about that little girl."

"The girl in red." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah." Shepard muttered as they pressed on.

"What do they want with her?"

"I don't know." Shepard muttered as she glanced at one of the walls, her attention turned to what seemed to be a series of sigils etched in sanguine. She couldn't read them, neither could Hawke.

Hell just looking at them seemed to make their heads hurt.

"I know that you don't just draw these kinds of stuff on the walls if you saw her as some ordinary girl."

"So they see her like some kind of god?" Hawke muttered as he pressed on. "What about the monsters?" Hawke asked. "They're not Pandorans, what are they?"

"I don't know." Shepard muttered. "But they came… they probably came from the otherside."

"Otherside?" A wall was blown open as a monster pulled itself free before looking around and charging them. Shepard immediately started opening fire.and Hawke followed barely a few seconds after. It went after Shepard first, grabbed her and got a headbutt and a knee where its groan would have been, before she promptly shoved her rifle down its throat and fired. When it dropped she raised a foot, psionic energy gathering around it as she brought it down and crushed its head like it were a grape.

"Wow."

"Time to go." Shepard told him as she started running, leaving Hawke to play catch up with her.

---

He was almost done. That was the thought that ran through the mind the two entities shared as he continued working.

It two fucking years, but he was finally almost done.

He just had to patch up a few more holes, sew up a few more tears in the psyche.

Repairing a damaged mind… but he was almost done.

A ghost thought as he went about 'sewing' a few more tears and mending a few more mintal scars as he grit his teeth.

"Almost done." He muttered. "Just need a little more time." He whispered before taking a breath, and shouted into the void.

---

It felt like they were running in circles.

Where the hell was the goddamn exit?

Shepard didn't have an answer. So they just kept running, trying to figure out exactly where they were supposed to go in this place. It was like a maze or something, half the time they kept running into rooms, most of them being empty as the others had people they made a failed attempt to save.

"HaWkE…"​

"That voice again."

"hAwKe…"​

"Why do I know that voice?"

"What?" Shepard stopped firing on another monster as it went down.

"Sorry, I'm… I'm hearing someone… in my head…"

"You're not losing your mind are you." Shepard asked as they kept moving.

"I don't think theres much left in here to lose." Hawke muttered before stopping. "Wait… losing my… Raven." Hawke muttered.

"Raven?"

"That's who I'm hearing, I'm hearing Raven!"

"Who on Earth is Raven?"

"The other me." Hawke stated as Shepard just looked at him, made to say something before her attention turned forward and she fired. This abomination didn't go down, its bone spires acting as armor as the spikes on its back snapped forward.

Both teens moved, dodging as best they could as they opened fire on it. It just turned grabbing Hawke before opening its mouth, the muscle splitting as it showed the bottom half of a jaw with extra bones acting as teeth." Shepard opened fire on the things back as Hawke slammed his foot on the bottom jaw to keep himself from being eaten.

"HaWkE!"​

"Raven? Not the best time." He shouted.

"hAwKe!"​

Shepard lowered her gun and just thrust a hand out, enveloping the creature's head in psionic energy before making a jerking motion as it snapped back, impaling itself on a spine of bone. She extended her next hand and made a sweeping motion as the monster slammed into a wall and went through it.

"Thanks." Shepard just helped him up without a word as they heard the monster start picking itself back up.

"Time to go." Shepard ran and Hawke followed as the monster pulled itself from the hole and started chasing after them.

Whatever that thing was it just kept coming, bulldozing through everything that seemed to get in its way. Debris, creatures. It didn't matter what it was, that monster just ran through them without discrimination. Shepard saw a door and pulled Hawke towards it. Before Hawke knew what was happening the world blurred around him and they were on the other side of the hall and heading through the door. Shepard let him go as she slammed her hand on the door controls, trying to get them to close only to fail.

"Come on, come on…" She repeatedly slammed her hand on the door controls as the creature drew closer. "Screw this." She reached out with her psionic powers and grabbed the two door automatic doors before forcing them closed herself.The monster howled as it disappeared behind the doors and rammed into them. "That won't hold it for long." She muttered as she started running again. "We gotta get out of here and fast."

"Right."

---

"Damn it I still can't reach him." Hawke Raven muttered as he stared into the void and bit his lips. "No…" He muttered. "He can hear, and I can hear him, but…" He got back to work. "Something's messing with our connection." He muttered as he looked around. "Come on, where's the wound that's keeping me from helping him out?" He muttered as he heard a roar echo into their mind as it was followed by the sound of hells. "Damn it Hawke, stay alive buddy, neither of us want to croak here." He turned his attention to the damage still done to their mind and growled before starting to get to work. "Damn it this would be so much easier if there was another us in here!" Raven shouted before his realm started to twist, taking a red hue as he bit his lips. "I know that light…"

"Can you see me?"​