boxofmystery | It's a Big Duty

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It's a Big Duty

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's a disaster.

[Another piece gets locked into place angrily, and he shook the hand that was offered.]

Very nice to meet you too, Ralph. Life saving in fact.

If it means anything, hy'm not de vun who thought they should be able to multiply.

Edited 2016-06-28 17:16 (UTC)

[Ralph nods slowly.]

Not gonna lie, it's one of the worst I've seen.

[He'd been a Marine since he was 18, but he's never been on a mission like this. He's been on rescues before, but those were natural disasters.

Ralph gives Virgil a weak smile.]

I'm thankful I was able to find you in time.

[At the scientist's last statement, he barks out a loud, bitter laugh, then gives Virgil a hearty clap on the back, perhaps a little too strongly.]

I'm glad you got a solid head on yer shoulders, Virgil. Not sure what's the worst 'bout 'em, but the multiplyin' thing's on up there.

[It was too late for the statement to mean much of anything, but Ralph appreciates that Virgil wasn't part of creating that programming.]

[He jolted forward at the smack, grunting and smiling painfully. Gosh, those are some big hands. He looked down at the thing he was working on and opted to remove the trigger guard.]

Ha, jah... iz not able to be regulated, haz no for sure fail safe... 'Cept de beacon.

Not like dot adaptability. Originally? Just a learning ting. But dot de can assimilate... grow... absorb. Now dot, dots zumting to be proud of.

[Absently, a proud grin parted his lips. Hey, as much trouble as they'd turned out to be, he had to be proud of effectively creating a hyper evolutionary cycle, just one key in the puzzle to life that they'd figured out here.]

But, ve gots bigger tings to do. Und if tings iz like hy tink dey vill be, dis iz gonna be hyu best bet. If hyu ain't got vone already.

[Without much more grandeur, the scientist shouldered the few remaining duct-taped canisters of fuel, lifted the invention he'd been piecing together for the last two weeks, and aimed it at the far wall. With a twitch of one finger on the trigger, a concentrated ball of white flame burst from the barrel and torched away the paint, flame licking at metal.]

Should be helpful.

[Ralph gives him a single nod, it's rather curt, he's frustrated about the situation. But, there's nothing he can do about it now, except help clean up the mess.]

Right, and even then, it's not a great solution. Once we get everybody cleared out, we're gonna light it up and run it as long as it can.

[From what they've been told, it's a high-power operation, so it can only be activated for short periods of time before it cuts off.

Ralph snorts softly, shaking his head.]

They're impressive, I'll give all of ya that. But, looks to me like they're more trouble than they're worth.

[He could see the applications of them, they could even replace the Space Marines. They could do their jobs, plus more, and not have to be paid. They didn't have to eat, either, they gobbled up anything they could get their claws on. However, they're completely out of control and doing far more harm than they could ever do good.

Ralph watches as Virgil shows off his improvised weapon, and he's genuinely impressed.

He grins.]

Nice! That'll definitely stop 'em in their tracks. Wonder if it's bright enough to activate that failsafe of theirs?

[They were attracted to the Beacon because of its light, would fire have the same effect on them?]

It'll certainly draw dem. But it ain't got a ton of fuel, unless hyu can pick up more.

De point is, use it only for zumting hyu tink is really vorth blowing to smithereens.

[He withheld it from Ralph's grasp for a moment.]

But ve ain't leaving yet. Dere iz zumting ve need to check on, dot hy haff a hunch about. And hyus takink me vith hyu.

I don't imagine there's a lotta fuel left 'round here, but maybe there's some lyin' around. I'll keep the limited use in mind, I've got plenty of plasma left in my gun.

[He lifts it up to bring Virgil's attention to it, it's a large and stocky gun, very rectangular with not much extra added on. Everything about it is huge, partially to fit in Ralph's giant hands and partially because this model is a hefty grenade launcher, sending large bursts of plasma to deal damage to more than one enemy at a time.

When Virgil mentions that they're not done yet, he snorts.]

We need to get outta here, pronto. Is this thing yer gonna check on a lower level of the Tower? 'Cause that's th' direction we need to be headed in.

[He barked an angry, bitter laugh.]

No vay space man. If hy'm right, hyu is gonna vant to see dis. Ve's headed to de tower center, de atrium.

[He paused, assuming he should explain.]

De vater haz been flowing strange for de last several days.

[Ralph huffs when Virgil insists that they need to go to the atrium. He's about to argue, when he mentions that the water's been different. Obviously something was causing problems, and it was likely a Cy-Bug or a hive of them causing it.

He's here for rescue and extraction, he's not supposed to seek out Cy-Bugs to pick a fight.

But, there's also a chance that maybe someone else rerouted the water, perhaps there's survivors that've holed up and used whatever resources they could from the atrium.

Ralph tilts his head.]

Are you thinkin' there's survivors there? Or just Cy-Bugs?

Probably cybugs, but mebbe people. De atrium holds a greenhouse and watering system, und hy vas in charge of it. Dere's food dere survivors might have been brave enough to seek. Hy'm checking it out, und hyu need hyu vith me sp- Ralph.

[If he uses your name, that means you're friendly, right? You're his friend now and you're going to help, For Science and to maybe save lives.]

[Ralph sighs.]

If you think there's a pretty good chance there's some survivors hangin' out there, then I'll go with ya.

I'm not lookin' for trouble, though. If you think there's just Cy-Bugs that've taken it over, I'm not goin'. My job is to get as many people outta here as possible before we start clearin' the bugs out. There's no time to be pickin' fights for no reason.

There's probably pipple.

[The scientist said decisively, not looking up. He doubted it, but Ralph couldn't just abandon potential victims. Not even imaginary ones. He unshouldered the fire canon and offered it to ralph, brown eyes wide, hopeful, and immensely tired behind his cracked, blood-spotted glasses.]

But ve haff to go. Hy need hyu vith me.

[Once Virgil says that there's probably people in the atrium, he nods. That had made his decision for him, there was no way he was going to leave anyone to die in this place. There had been so many bodies and victims already, he wasn't going to contribute to that by not helping where he could.]

Then lead the way.

[When he's offered the fire cannon, Ralph looks to his own weapon, then holds it out to Virgil.]

Which do ya want? I can't shoot both, I need two hands to fire mine.

Hy've alvays vanted to try vone of dese.

[The young man took Ralph's grenade launcher in his arms. At first, it looks like he might not be able to lift it- he struggles to position it in his hands and the prosthetic leg he's leaning heavily on groans distressingly as if it's going to give out. But he grunts and shifts the eight around, propping it on his left hip with two hands.]

Let's go.

[On the opposite side of the room he hit a button, raising the door and offering them access to a new part of the tower- the path two the atrium. And a whole host of nests along the way.]

[Ralph carefully takes the flamethrower from Virgil, it's light in his hands, due to his size and strength. It takes him a moment to adjust to the lower weight. He's not particularly happy about handing over his gun, but if they were both armed, they had better chances of getting out of here alive.

He nods and follows Virgil out into the Tower, keeping an eye on his radar as they go.]

You got any idea how many people are holed up out here?

There's no vay to tell. Could be de whole agriculture unit.

[Virgil is hunched slightly forward to help keep the pressure of his leg, charging ahead carefully. He turned his head from side to side, looking out for any cybugs that appear.]

[At first it seems fine, the first hundred yards is clear. But, that doesn't mean its going to last long. The closer they get to the atrium and suddenly Ralph's screen is crowded with incoming enemies.]

[That could be a lot of people. With 100 floors, the Tower was a hive of activity, it took a lot of people to run it for the many people that worked there.

Things are uneventful at first, but as soon as Ralph spots the enemies onscreen, he gives Virgil the Space Marine hand signal to stop and says.]

Hold up, we've got an incomin' crowd of Cy-Bugs.

The grenade launcher you've got is fulla plasma, so don't worry 'bout wastin' it. The explosive blasts it shoots can take out multiple enemies at once, so you don't hafta worry too much 'bout accuracy, either. Just point an' shoot an' be quick about it to take 'em out.

[Ralph shifts into a solid battle stance, holding the flamethrower at the ready. This round would be up to Virgil, because of the limited fuel for the flamethrower, but he'd scorch anything that got too close. His number one goal is to keep Virgil alive and that's what he plans on doing.]

Thenks, hy tink hy can handle it.

[When they do start coming in, the scientist seems shockingly adept at this. The plasma canon has a little kickback, but he seems to handle it alright. It becomes quickly clear that Virgil has some sort of weapons training. He's sticking close to Ralph, practically under one armored arm as he blasts away at the bugs.]

[Ralph nods to Virgil, then turns his eyes to the Cy-Bugs' entry point. They pour in, and, surprisingly, Virgil is wiping them out left and right. He's very comfortable with the gun and it doesn't take him long to adjust to it.

He's glad that Virgil's sticking so close to him, this way, if there is a problem, Ralph can take care of it right away.

So far, though, Virgil's got this covered, no bugs have even gotten close enough to them, so the precious flamethrower fuel hasn't been used yet.

The Cy-Bugs keep coming in, but Ralph's radar indicates that this group's numbers are slowly dwindling.]

[The scientis blasts another out of the air and finally has to stop and catch his breath, supporting himself against a wall. His brow, where the hair isn't hanging lank, is beaded with sweat. With the poor, near starved diet he's had for the last two weeks, he's not really fit for action. But he shows no desire to stop.]

Zo, hyu got zumvun to go home to?

[When Virgil takes a break, Ralph alternates his eyes between the scientist and the rest of the room, keeping an eye out for any Cy-Bugs that come their way.

He shakes his head.]

Not exactly, I haven't been home in a long time. I became a Space Marine so I could make sure my home planet, and my Mama, stayed safe.

What about you?

[Virgil glances back and forth occasionally, gathering himself again. Granola bars for three meals a day don't exactly prep you for field battle. He smiles nostalgically.]

Hyu should take leave sometime. After dis, if hyu can. Hy can't imagine vorking officially again after seeink a mess like dis.

[Beat]

Not cause hy's discredited. Hy just plan on gathering lots and lots ov settlement pay

[and therapy, and rehabilitation, and maybe a TV spot or two.]

and goink home to my own mama, und my sisters

[Ralph sighs softly.]

Goin' home to see my Mama would be nice, but there's always somethin' that needs taken care of.

Here's hopin' you'll be able to do that. I dunno how settlement pay works, but hopefully it'll work out for ya.

I think we're gonna be stuck here for a while, though. We're under quarantine, nobody can leave the planet until all the Cy-Bugs are destroyed.

[Dreaming about going home is nice, but right now, it's just a dream. He can't afford to be too distracted by it, if he wants to get both of them out alive.]

Ralph, dere are bigger problems in de vould den monsters und var. Hyu vent out to protect hyu mama, aint hyu gonna visit her?

[He really doesn't mean to guilt you but, seriously?]

Und jah, it better. Dey can't brush dis off; dis is deir accident.

[There was nothing they could do to pay for the fear, the pain, the Paranoia and, he'll mention it again, losing a very significant part of himself. But starting with a steak dinner might help.]

[Ralph shakes his head.]

I'd like to, but, like I said, there's always a mission that's assigned and people to help. They're countin' on the Space Marines to keep safe.

[He nods.]

Right, they gotta do somethin' to make it right by everybody who got caught up in this mess.

[It could be a while before that payment comes, and, if things go poorly, neither of them could be alive when it's time for Virgil to be paid for his suffering.]

Vell, vhatever vorks.

[He pulled the gun back up, shifting his weight around uncomfortably.]

Lets finish dis zo I can go home.

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