After another minute of light jogging, Kellin watched their [Energy] hit 20. Slowing to a walk, he searched around with eyes and ears looking for anything out of place, any trace of their pursuers, but couldn't hear anything off in the distance anymore let alone nearby.

"Alright, I think it's fine to drop it," he said aloud, waiting for Gypsy's confirmation before dropping the [Cloak].

Another few tense minutes passed as they walked along, not gaining [Energy], but not losing it either. His [Stamina] had fallen slightly from the prior run, but not in any dangerous quantities.

[Marine Condition: Integrity 74/100

Health: 70/80

Energy: 14/100

Stamina: 72/100]

"For now, I think it's best if we keep searching for a nearby cave or rock outcropping to hole up in," he stated, continuing to scan his surroundings as he moved the suit. "Maybe not ideal but..." Kellin paused, sighing as he looked around. "Honestly, I guess wherever is fine. If we die we die, huh?" he finished, mumbling.

The light, stressful jog continued as it grew darker and darker, seconds turning into minutes as they continued up the other side of the river. Kellin was doing his best to head East, avoiding the mountain above them to the North.

-Test-

A loud echoing sound reverberated through the surroundings, sounding like nothing and no one Kellin had ever heard before. He immediately took a deep breath and threw his back against a nearby rock outcropping and downed tree, nearly tearing his rifle out of its holster as he swung it to the right and left, mentally loading it with 10 rounds and clicking it to full-auto.

A minute passed in silence, nothing new coming into view, no new sounds beside the ambient noise of the forest. Finally reaching his limit, Kellin took a quiet and very controlled breath, having been completely unmoving against the rocks and tree. His hearing in the suit was enhanced, nearly highlighting the location of each bug in his vicinity as they made a plethora of clicking and buzzing noises, but he'd yet to hear anything out of place since the initial voice.

"Gypsy, did you hear that?" he asked cautiously, crouched down and tense.

"No new individuals detected," she reported, continuing after a few seconds more of silence. "In the event this remains true, Captain Kellin may have heard diagnostic testing of Psionic Communication from AI," she theorized, immediately causing Kellin's shoulders to slowly untense as he peeled their back off the tree he'd pinned the suit against.

"What the hell, Gyps?!" he whispered through gritted teeth, still looking around. "You didn't think to warn me? I nearly had a heart attack!"

"Captain Finnel appeared busy," she replied. "Cardiac monitoring does not-"

"It's a saying! And you couldn't have said something after I started freaking out?!" he whisper yelled again.

"Captain Finnel excessively tense. Unsure if caused by AI or another source outside experience," she reasoned, Kellin creasing his brow and mentally rubbing it with his fingers at the response.

"Gyps, if you are going to be testing things like that, please let me know beforehand," he eventually pleaded.

"Testing new features imperative. Did not want to alarm. No sound detected after utilizing feature suggests telepath communication. Suggested form of contact moving forward."

Kellin sighed and nodded, holstering the rifle he'd dropped to his side as he looked at where they'd found themselves. While it was true he was overly sensitive currently, he also knew that would have scared any [Captain] worth their salt shitless.

Glancing around, yet another downed tree that was as thick as he was tall lined the entire right side of the small clearing, eventually butting into a few massive boulders and a gigantic standing tree that was growing out of in between them. The slope led up to the elbow, giving him a higher vantage point than anything that would be approaching the area, unless it came from over the top of the boulders. Unlikely, given their steep and smooth nature.

-Captain Finnel should-

"Stop that," he demanded, body tensing up again as sound exploded from everywhere within his mind. "It may be a decent form of communication but it cuts off my ability to focus on anything. I don't like it."

"...Unclear. Please utilize [Skill] so AI may log understanding," Gypsy responded after a few seconds.

Kellin followed her statement up by focusing on the ability, immediately feeling a link to Gypsy form. It was fairly intuitive once established, knowing that any words thought toward the highway connecting their minds would be sent her way without a doubt.

-Test. This is what I mean,- he eventually said, settling on a simple sentence.

"... output variable. Easy to adjust," came the slow reply.

"It's adjustable?".

"Very. Concession: uncomfortable at first. Apologies," she replied.

Kellin nodded.

"No problem. Speak to me with it until I ask you to stop. It's true it's useful; I need to adjust it as well."

Two beeps later and Kellin sat on the ground, waiting for the booming sound to take over his mind once again. It had been strange; ethereal in quality. Almost like a surround sound speaker system utilizing a warped form of your own voice to talk to you from all angles and with much more bass than needed.

Twenty seconds of expectation passed before Kellin creased his brow.

"Gypsy?" he asked, waving his hand. "Hello?"

"Unclear... of what to report," came the reluctant response, utilizing the suits com system.

Kellin smiled.

"Anything is fine," he replied.

-Anything,- came the booming response, startling him at first and causing a laugh.

"Just come up with something to say. It can be in relation to anything," he clarified.

Another tense few moments went by, Kellin mentally preparing himself for the onslaught of noise. A minute passed, followed by another, until he eventually realized she was likely never going to say anything.

"Request Captain Finnel request report of some kind to reply to," came the eventual statement, causing Kellin to sigh.

"Gyps, just ask that question in- ...talk about the weather if you don't know what to say. Report on the weather," he said again.

"Unknown variables-"

"Just what you know, then!" he interrupted, exasperated.

-Weather report for today.... Sunny. High of 78 with low of 43 overnight. Chance of showers unclear, cloud coverage unknown. Likelihood of random unknown events high. Suggested to find overhead cover before nightfall. Potential geological events likely due to nature of planet: Acidic rain, earthquakes, active predators, firestorms, deadly fauna, widowmakers-

"Ok, that's enough," he interrupted, finally relegating her voice to coming in via what he perceived as the back of his mind at a very reduced volume. "What the hell are widowmakers?"

-Heavy loose branches far up in trees becoming unlodged, striking unsuspecting individuals below, high death statistics recorded in historical records from planetside colonies-

Kellin shook his head and responded.

-Fine. Unfortunately, under this tree and in this crook is the best place we've found, though-

-Weak broadcasting signal coming from Northeast- she replied. -Suggestion: Drop waypoint, explore signal, return-

Standing, Kellin turned in the direction he believed she was speaking about until he heard a small ding coming from her, the suit facing the boulders and directly uphill of them.

"About how far?" he asked, forgetting to use their silent form of communication while mentally chastising himself.

-One mile-

-Copy- he replied, hopping over the downed tree and moving up the hill once again.

Several minutes passed before they arrived, Kellin deciding to check their [Status] in the meantime to see exactly what had changed so far.

[Status Report]

[Kellin Finnel, Gypsy]

[Threat Level: 0]

[Race: Marine]

[Designation #: Progenitor]

[Evolution: The Companion]

[Current Title: Unselected]

[Class: Shield and Sword*]

[Profession: Unselected]

[Unspent Credits: 10]

[Spent Credits: 9]

[*Minor Class Evolution available]

[Body Status(Together)*:

Condition: Normal

Integrity: 74/100

Health: 70/80

Energy: 13/100

Stamina: 69/100

Mana: 50/50]

[Stats:

Strength: 12

Dexterity: 13

Armor: 3

Constitution: 8

Density: 10

Endurance: 10

Battery: 10

Cardio: 7

Efficiency: 9

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 7.5

Sensors: 9

Willpower: 20]

[*Familiarity due to exposure may increase or decrease modifiers]

[Abilities(Evolution)]

[Passive Abilities: Unique Equip(1.5) ---- Novice Body Manipulation(Suit) ---- Novice Repair ---- Novice Recharge ---- Novice Assimilate Technology ---- Novice Manipulate Technology ---- Unique Shared Mortality ----Psionic Communication]

[Skills(Class)]

[Active Skills: Disruption ---- Cloak ==== Descent of Darkness*]

[*Ability useable when conditions have been met]

[Equipment*:

Cannister Rifle:

Damage: 5

Ammo: 10

Durability: N/A

Upgrades: N/A]

[*Please select Class Equipment]

Kellin moved along while feeling... conflicted with how everything had gone since he'd arrived on Terranis. Overall, they'd been hit with a string of unlucky events, and if it had been anyone else put on this planet with Gypsy, they'd both likely be dead. Dropped unconscious while being attacked by Swarmlings, coming into contact with a Den Mother, panic attacks, both of them having to deal with stubborn and unyielding partners, almost getting swarmed to death, the first [Evolution] not taking effect instantly, no ammo, night approaching, unknown topography.... his list of negatives could go on if he so chose.

Fortunately, while in the middle of this list, they happened upon the source of the signal. When Kellin saw what was sending it out, any and all negative feelings he'd been submerged in were immediately dispelled by a sense of comfort and ease in his heart. Something he'd never thought he'd see on this planet, hadn't even considered searching for, in fact and if he had, would never believe he'd find.

"An actual Life Hutch," he whispered, visor flipping upward and revealing a rare, genuine, exhausted smile on his face. "No way."

"Unoccupied," Gypsy confirmed.

"Maybe the Universe doesn't hate us all that much Gyps," he laughed out, stepping toward the metal pedestal standing just a few feet apart from a rather large cliffside, a yellow glow emanating from its surface.

A bit of fear wormed its way into his heart as his hand reached for the top of the semi-circle, hand-sized pedestal, but with a thought the metal gauntlet on his right hand began sectioning itself off his fingers and hand, revealing his very Human appendage beneath it. Marveling at the feeling of air against his skin for a second, Kellin anxiously placed his hand upon the cool metal, fears dispelled as a green light replaced the yellow and the hillside before them split apart, revealing a small staircase leading down inside of it.