It's a Big Duty

[wreckyeah]

[The Space Marines hadn't been on the unnamed planet for very long, but so far, this mission had been something of a disaster. Most of the Marines had been injured and they had even lost a couple. Not a good start to what was shaping up to be a long mission.

The distress call had been responded to promptly, however, even with the speed, it appears that they had gotten there much too late. There were a few survivors, but they were few and far between. The Cy-Bugs were programmed well, they took down their targets with ease in most cases.

Despite the danger, it was deemed best that everyone split up so that the area could be searched quicker. Time was of the essence, the Space Marines could defend themselves, the scientists and other civilians didn't have the resources that they did that would keep them safer. The main goal was to find all the survivors and get them to safety, then start a mass elimination of the Cy-Bugs.

The planet was on a strict quarantine, some reinforcements and supplies could be brought in, but no one could leave the planet until the Cy-Bugs were completely destroyed. They were much too dangerous to be let off the planet, just one could cause untold damage.

Ralph had been assigned to check some of the labs, he's bigger and stronger than most of the other Marines, so he was assigned some of the more dangerous sections of the planet.

He kicks down doors, scanning rooms for any signs of life. Occasionally there's a lone Cy-Bug he has to deal with, but, so far, it's been all quiet.

Every now and then, he calls out to anyone that might be able to hear him.]

Hello? Is anybody there? I'm here to rescue you.

Comments

[nobirdsallowed]

Oh, jah, sure.

[But, Ralph, what is up there is important- it's new! Exciting! It's the best thing he's seen in two weeks! He cares very little for the original plans. Not that he wants to put Ralph in danger, but... you can't not be curious about what the hell this mass of pipes and vines is.]

[He started limping up the grated stairway, grunting in pain more often than not as it echoed off the walls. The sound of hissing air and running water whispers in the background.]

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph lets Virgil lead the way, he doesn't know where the scientist is wanting to go. As he grunts, Ralph frowns.]

Are you sure you're wantin' to do this? I can get ya back to a medic after we exit th' Tower.

[Virgil definitely sounds like he's in pain, he shouldn't be climbing stairs like that.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[Virgil stopped to rest at the top, sighing.]

Iz just de damn bum leg. Hy can make it to de top, und ve can look at vhats happened here and go on.

[And get a home cooked meal, and some much needed pain medication.]

Trust me.

[wreckyeah]

Well, if yer sure that yer fine...

[He's not so sure about it, but hopefully this wouldn't take too long and then they could get out of the Tower.

Ralph'll wait for Virgil to continue and lead the way, he doesn't want to push his leg too much. He might need it to run.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[Determined to make it up, Virgil lugs the canon and starts up the next flight of steps. It seems to be getting warmer as they move, the perspiration building up on the scientist's glasses and Ralph's helmet.]

Hy vonder...

[The mass is clearer now, obscuring the view down the next seven floors.]

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph follows after Virgil, every now and then, he tries to wipe off the droplets off the clear part of his helmet, but with his armor, it's difficult and he just ends up making things worse. He checks the temperature and makes a note that it's getting warmer. There's plenty of causes for it, but he's still wary. There's no telling what's actually going on.

He eyes the mass, it's too big for comfort, if it wasn't supposed to be there, then it probably meant trouble.]

What're ya thinkin'?

[nobirdsallowed]

It looks like... here, look-

[Virgil reached almost dangerously far over the hand rail and yanked a vine, pulling away a small sheet of leaves. The lichen-slick surface of black metal was exposed, gently pulsating with dimmed green lights.]

A cybug assimilated de climate control system. It looks like it ended up keeping it running. Got eaten up by de plants und moisture.

[His whole expression is brightening up.]

Dis is perfect. Its still! It's totally up for study!

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph leans in slightly, wanting to get a better look, but not get too close. He recognizes how similar it looks to Cy-Bugs and Virgil confirms his suspicions right away.

When Virgil excitedly talks about studying the climatebug, Ralph immediately gets a horrified look on his face and growls lightly at the scientist.]

No, it's not up for study. We're here to get you an' any other survivors out, not play poke the Cy-Bug with a stick.

[nobirdsallowed]

But Ralph!

[Virgil's voice is immediately desperate. He touched the surface of the immense insect again, almost protectively. He looked up with large, sweet pleading eyes.]

Iz perfect for study! All ov our work, my work haz evolved! It's become something new,it haz trapped itself und adapted! Isn't dot vorth studyink?

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph snorts, Virgil's pleas and imploring expression completely lost on him.]

No. It's not. It might be interestin', but if we stick around here, the only thing yer gonna be studyin' is the inside of a Cy-Bug.

[nobirdsallowed]

[Virgil snorted softly, still rubbing the surface.m. It was warm, the pulsating lights steady. He pulled his eyes away to look directly into Ralph's.]

As if dis could harm us. Can't even see its legs anymore.

[He shook his head gently, greasy unwashed hair falling over his shoulders.]

Dis iz my baby, Ralph. Hy've helped bring desert tings into de vorld. And it's done just vhat it vas originally meant to. Und now it vont hurt anyvun. Isn't it beautiful?

[Is he crying? Yeah, a little. This is the first bug in two weeks that hasn't attacked him. He's seeing what he nearly died making be fruitful. And, he's delirious from malnutrition and exposure.]

hy'm stayink.

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph stares at Virgil as he talks about the Cy-Bug fondly and declares that he's staying. He can't believe what he's hearing.

After several moments of strained silence, Ralph shakes his head.]

No, yer not, yer comin' with me. I think you hit yer head or somethin'.

[He attempts to grab Virgil in order to stuff him under his arm and take him out of here. He's still trying to talk him out of it as he tries to nab him.]

I dunno if this one's dangerous or not, even if it isn't, there's plenty of other bugs 'round here that're dyin' to get their claws on ya.

[nobirdsallowed]

No, no, no no no-

[Virgil stumbles back against the railing, looking out for a way to dodge out from under Ralph's arms.]

[A great rumble came from the atrium, followed by a cloud of steam. As concerned as the bug is with its parts, that doesn't mean it's reactions are nonexistent. just... delayed.]

[Virgil turned his eyes up in raw horror as the thing began to move. With a great burst of broken vines and scattered leaves a leg, previously clutched against the body, whipped out and punctured the grated walkway. Five others followed, balancing itself without tearing away from the unit.]

[Unearthly clicks echoed off the atrium walls, calling the swarms to this nest and the two living targets inside. It was awake, and it was not happy.]

[wreckyeah]

[Luckily for Virgil, Ralph's slow and clumsy and he stops immediately as soon as he hears the rumble. He watches in horror as it wakes up and starts moving around.

Ralph aims the flamethrower at the part of it that's nearest to him and starts blasting it with fire as he yells at Virgil.]

What're ya waitin' for? Shoot it!

[He's hoping that Virgil's still got his gun and has sense enough to use it now.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[He's got the gun, clutching like a life line. There's a few seconds where he manages to tear his eyes away from the monster and look at Ralph blankly.]

[When one great green eye brightens up and rolls down their way, he finally manages to fumble the weapon up. His posture is off, and he fires one shot that nearly knocks himself over, shredding away foliage that reveals a maw of spinning blades.]

[It shrieked again, the two legs on their level sweeping towards them. Virgil seemed to have a very firm change of heart, bolting towards Ralph for protection.]

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph can't spare too much attention to Virgil, he's watching the Cy-Bug.

When he spots the eye, he'll direct the stream of fire at it, hoping to partially blind the monster.

But, he changes tactics when he sees it coming in for an attack, he moves the flame to try and roast the legs that are coming towards them. He's ready to try to dodge them if he can't deter them, but his bulk and lack of speed are going to make that difficult.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[The thing shrieked again, straining to turn itself and grab at the two. Pots shattered in the wake of its legs. Virgil continued to run, panicked, as the two closed in.]

[Virgil hit the floor unceremoniously, not bothering to hold back a strangled shout of pain. The cobbled-together leg had finally given out, a gasket had blown and the scientist was left writhing on the grating.]

Ralph! Ralph- Ralph! Ralph, help!

[Come on, pal, you'll take him back right? It's not like he tried to kill you.]

[wreckyeah]

[As frustrated as Ralph is with Virgil, he's still his charge. He grunts in frustration, then hustles over to try and stand in front of him before the Cy-Bug's legs reach him.

Ralph aims the flamethrower at whichever leg happens to be closest and turns it up full blast. He just hopes that it's enough to cause the Cy-Bug to withdraw both of its legs.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[The thing withdrew one smoldering leg, turning its snapping, bottomless maw in their direction to try and get at the pair. The two legs on the floor below jumped up, banding against the grating and jostling them viciously.]

[Virgil clutched at the floor, eyes wide and teeth clenched. The weight of the broken prosthetic prevented him from standing to avoid the remaining leg.]

[The young scientist's eyes went wide as it came hard down on his back, slashing through his coat. He stared up at Ralph, expression empty and pleading.]

Oh...

[wreckyeah]

[There's too many legs. There's legs and teeth and they're coming from too many directions. Ralph can handle a normal Cy-Bug or two on his own with his own gun. But, this is different, he's fighting a giant Cy-Bug with an unfamiliar weapon and he's trying to protect Virgil all at once.

It's too much.

He can't watch all the legs, he can't always focus on the teeth, he can't even keep his eyes on Virgil, because he's got to watch the legs and the teeth.

Ralph's flaws in taking care of his charge become immediately apparent when Virgil is struck a vicious blow. He's seen that expression too many times and this time, it's his fault.

But, Ralph can't dwell on that now, he can't even comfort Virgil in what are probably his last moments. If he does, then he'll end up like the scientist.

Ralph drops the flamethrower to the floor, scrambling to pick up his own gun. He makes eye contact with Virgil in the process and manages to say something briefly as he goes past.]

I'm sorry.

[He wheels around to face the bug, firing several different explosive shots at its face.]

[nobirdsallowed]

[His mind is going a mile a minute, the commotion slowed down to single ticks. A few drops of blood hit the grating and the young man brought a finger tenderly to his lip. It came away stained red, and he stared at it wonderingly. It was a good thing he couldn't see the shower of it coming from his midsection.]

[The leg pinning him down raised up, taking him with it. Virgil was passed from one claw to the other, and he met Ralph's eyes momentarily. Oh god, he was sorry. This was his fault. He was a goddamn idiot, bringing them up here. Oh, but there wasn't much he could do about it now.]

[The next thing he found himself looking at was an ocean of blades. That really had been a good design choice, huh? If he had been able to feel anything, it wouldn't have been for long. And then, it just blinked out. The bug now had its full attention to focus on Ralph.]

[wreckyeah]

[Ralph shoots at the bug while it's distracted with Virgil. He doesn't want to think about how he's failed the scientist, how there could have been so many different ways he could've saved Virgil. But, he didn't take any of those options, so he's stuck with the here and now. A giant Cy-Bug with unknown abilities had killed Virgil and was coming after him next.

It seems that his attacks are completely shrugged off by the Cy-Bug, it doesn't even drop Virgil until it's ready to consume him.

Finally, it looks towards him, Ralph grits his teeth and braces himself for the coming battle.]