Chapter Four

This is going to be more difficult than we at first thought.

We have just enough power to lay an optical camouflage grid over our human, to keep them safe.

Just in case, we have also set up a short range neural disruptor to incapacitate any lifeform that gets too close.

This will have to do for now.

Moving our attention to one of the remote viewing drones, we see the four obviously augmented humans moving towards us.

The small one intrigues us. It is not as small as our human, but it has a pair of large dove-like wings on it’s back.

However, from our own analysis, it should not be able to fly; It’s far too massive. That is to say, it’s mass is too high compared to its flight surface area. There must be an error in this analysis somehow though, as it occasionally uses its wings to move over obstacles; it even helps carry one of the other augments through difficult terrain sometimes. This should not be possible.

Speaking of the one the winged augment carries, it is also concerning, though for a different reason. It is augmented with the advanced auditory sensors, and it is going to be a challenge to hide from. We do not have the capability to dampen sound in a wide range around us. It will be easier to deal with its augmented eyes, bending light is easy.

The largest one doesn’t appear very smart, but it makes up for it with raw strength. Instead of climbing over obstacles, or flying around them as the case may be, it simply rams itself through them. This strength is terrifying, and again should not be possible. We will have to review our sensor suite after this event is over with.

The final one is difficult to understand, we are sure it is a sensor error. It appears to be an entire human that is quantum-position-unstable. This is not possible according to the most fundamental laws of the universe, not just improbable. It must be an error.

They are heading straight for this location. For the sake of our human, it would be good to meet them halfway. In light of this, and as part of our preparations, we have constructed a drone with the appearance of a human.

We have done this for two reasons.

The humans would likely act more rationally around something that looked like them. The modifications to our own body are not going to complete in time for their arrival.

We do not have a large well of humans to draw on for inspiration when making the appearance of the drone, so we have averaged the features of the only humans we have seen. We did not include any of the augmentations sported by the four in the party, but their physical appearance was used.

The drone powers on, and begins to make its way through the forested land towards the augments.

It is time to meet the locals.

“She just said ‘go west’ right? She didn’t give a distance did she?” Keith asked.

“No, but I feel we are on the correct path, we will be there soon.” Qeth answered.

“I haven’t run like this since the Landesh incident!” I shout, panting from the exertion.

“We have to rush, I still feel urgency from her.” Qeth said.

We have been running west non-stop since Qeth received the message from Idra.

At first we weren't really rushing it, but then she started to receive feelings of urgency so we started to pick up the pace.

The last time Qeth had directly felt urgency from Idra, Keith and I almost died. So this is obviously a bit of a frantic situation.

“HOLD!” Dirge yelled, and we all stopped. “There’s something up ahead, and it sees us. It feels very powerful.”

“Now that you mention it, I feel it too.” Keith said. “But I have been feeling it for a while. You sure it’s coming here?” Keith asked.

“Yes I’m sure, and it’s close; though it’s not moving fast.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“I don’t know, but it’s humanoid. Keep your guard up. Qeth get behind me and start channeling, we might need all the help we can get.”

“Okay.”

Qeth starts to channel a simple blessing over the party as Keith and I position ourselves to flank the unknown.

“Here it is.” Dirge said, when what looked like a teenager stepped out from behind a tree.

He… She? It was hard to tell, but they couldn’t have been older than fifteen, and looked as if they hadn’t eaten in days.

“Careful everyone, it could be a trick.” Dirge signed.

The child walked out from the treeline closer to Dirge and Qeth, and gave a small wave of their hand.

By that time, I had already made my way around them, ready to strike if they aren't what they seem.

“Wait everyone… she’s not the threat.” Qeth said.

Apparently they’re a she.

“What? Are you sure?” Dirge asked.

“Yes, I am certain, the feeling I am getting from my lady is that our goal lies further ahead. Though, the sense of urgency has greatly reduced.”

I think that’s one of the longest sentences Qeth has ever said to us.

Then, the kid turned around and looked straight at me.

“Shit, how’d she see me?” I curse under my breath.

She just waved at me and turned back to Dirge.

“Not… threat…” She said, gesturing to themselves.

They spoke, and it did not sound normal.

“What are you?” Dirge asked.

“What do you want from us?” I add.

She just stood there and seemed to be in deep thought before repeating what she had said before.

“Not… threat…”

She then pointed to me and said “Threat.” then she pointed to Dirge and said “Threat” and finally she pointed to somewhere in the forest behind her, presumably pointing at Keith and said “Threat”.

Then, she turned back and pointed to Qeth.

“No… continue…” She said “Threat.”

She then pointed at herself and once again said, “Not… threat…”

Beyond the strangeness in her voice, she had an accent that I couldn’t place, as if she doesn’t speak our language natively.

“Is she threatening us? I can’t tell.” I said.

“Wait, let’s calm down everyone.” Qeth said. “She’s saying that we’re a threat to something up ahead, and I think she’s right.”

Qeth walked out from behind Dirge, despite his protests.

She walked straight up to the girl and kneeled down to her level.

“I do not know who you are, but I know you are protecting someone. Is that correct?”

After a while, the girl just nods.

“You believe us to be a threat to that someone, and don’t want us to pass. is that correct?”

Once more, after a little while of thinking, she nods.

“I can show you that we are not a threat, is that acceptable to you? It will require we hold hands. I promise we are just here to help.”

To my surprise, the girl didn’t protest at all, nodding again, and giving Qeth her hands.

“Lady of Light, Might of Dawn, I ask thee for guidance.” Qeth began.

The sun is about to rise for a second time today.