Unipsi, lovely entity

chapter 33: forest

Reluctantly Dhalia prepared what Idra required. She found an area available for training. It was a mountainous zone covered with forests with a relatively high altitude lake. Near the designed training zone there was a fairly big city that they were going to use as temporary base. As requested Dhalia forced the Sheridan crew to participate, she also selected 499 of the best Hakavor soldiers and herself to fill the rest of the troops requirements. They were going to be equipped with a lethal weapons for self defence against the local fauna, and a non lethal option of choice. They were going to meet at the lower side of the square area at 10:00. They obliviously got there first. All 1000 soldiers plus their supply for combat.

“I don’t have a good feeling for this training”

“sorry chief. I fucked up. But well we will improve right?”

“if she brakes one of my arms again I’m going to brake yours Scilla”

“hahaha. Then I hope she doesn’t”

The tension was almost touchable. Even if it was just a drill they were going up against an Esterian. Even among the elite soldiers concern was wide spread. At 9:55 a loud bang broke their tension. The NDU had arrived. It slowly flew over their head and at 10:00 it was right in front of them, floating 2 meters above the ground. Something move emitting a metal loud but at low frequency noise, almost like a dying beast. Then several flying drones popped out from the top and dispersed around. Those already in their suits started seeing messages popping on their HUDs. Those that were still outside their suit were delighted by the NDU’s mechanical voice.

//NDU 511 designed as arbiter//

//Loading organic communications protocols//

//System ready//

//welcome to the first training session. I’m your designed arbiter NDU 511. I will watch over you all. You are or will be all equipped with a lethal and a non lethal weapon of your choice. They are both synchronized with my systems. The lethal weapon can only be used to engage animals for hunting or defence. Between you only the non lethal option is available. Damage will be automatically computed. If deem fatal your suit will block for a brief period of time. Close quarter combat is allowed and executed with the coloured marker at your disposal. My drone system will allow for total coverage of the area. Leaving the area will be counted as death. You may contract me via your suit or screaming my name. Illegal actions, insubordination or damage to the arbiter will be met with lethal force and extermination of family tree up to the 8th cousin//

“wait what? You will kill us?” exclaimed Dhalia.

//correct. My integrity has more value than your life. You have been warned. Now to your objective. The first part of the training consist in a survival test. You can either annihilate the opposite team or survive for 7 days. To increase your winning probability all Lean’s can die 3 time before being removed from the match. To be clear removal doesn’t mean physical elimination. This is a training after all. Once death you may re-spawn after the needed time at your base. Once eliminated you can no longer help your team. All forms of combat are allowed. The second test will reflect your performance in the first trial. Now let me introduce your opponent//

As always a square of darkness incorporated the NDU and immediately after a mechanical object dropped out.

//transport unit ESM-6G-3e9K. To give you a chance to survive the unit is not armed//

The 6 leg machine that was like a tail-less scorpion covered with baggage immediately moved out of the way for the real opponent. A dark figure landed in the same position.

//your opponent Idra 511 Weeping Sky. In order for this test to be effective the unit battle power has been reduced//

“what you mean reduced” asked Scilla.

//in order for you to pose a threat unit Idra 511 Weeping Sky is not allowed to infiltrate your suits nor is allowed any support from automated weapons//

So she is heavily crippled. We can do it.

She was wrong. Idra felt more ominous as she stood still waiting for the NDU to finish it explanation. Her suit had the 3 big horns on the head but for the rest it was the same of their first meeting. She had only her pistol and nothing else. Her equipment must have been on the mechanical scorpion.

//you have 1 hour to prepare then the battle will start. Everything clear?//

“can we speak to you in case we need clarification on the rules?” asked Dhalia

//yes. More questions?//

“No. we got it” concluded Dhalia. It was time to battle.

//timer start.//

As soon as the NDU finished talking Idra was already running toward the forest and disappeared immediately after. Dhalia, Scilla and Morea gathered to define their strategy.

“what do we do commander Lis? She is one and we are 1000. Can’t we just charge her?” asked Morea.

“Are you being stupid on purpose?” Replied Dhalia.

“sorry chief I was trying to be funny. To lower the tension on your faces. Whatever you decide I’m in”

“Thanks Morea. Start by grouping soldiers and non soldiers. Than makes squads of 6 people each” Started Scilla.

“Dhal I have a plan. For sure she will attack first. She is angry so she will probably want to beat the shit out of us…”

“I agree. She should try to fortify our position. Moving onward toward the higher ground will be a pain. We have too much food and general supply to carry. Same for moving east toward the creeks. We can’t do that in 1 hour…”

“indeed. But I think a source of water will help us. Still I would build up some temporary barricades and move just 500 m east. That way we will have forest on both sides but a small meadow going uphill in front of us. The grass is not too tall so we should be able to see her.”

“seems good. Also we should place ourself near the lower limit so we get only 3 side to defends.”

“hopefully we will survive the first assault” concluded Scilla getting ready to command at least her troops. Their plan was simple. Use the rules at their advantage while moving slowly toward a series of creeks coming down the mountains. Having water could be a necessity in the future. On the other hands Idra used 10 minutes to reach a cave that she located with her scanner. There she prepared her arsenal.

|/Better affinity. Improvement reached. Desire pain. Desire combat.|/

“you learned a new trick. Two words at a time. Call me impressed.”

|/We evolved. Your pain. Improved us.|/

“I already know that pain is the key for our advancement. Didn’t think that also mine would help”

|/Friend pain. Shared pain. Shared hate. New will. Protect friend. Destroy enemy|/

“anyway we are not going to kill them. Nor really inflict much physical pain. However we will go for psychological pain”

|/What is. Does hurt.|/

“yes it hurts. It’s similar to the one I felt. We will make them fear every second of their life. Each time they hear a step they will shiver in fear of me. We will terrorise them. And I need you for that.”

|/Lead way. Our friend. Our Iris|/

Idra opened the biggest box carried by her scorpion like robot. Inside a couple of goo canister and more importantly a peculiar ‘backpack’. It was an armour module for her AMS-111. A big canister filled with ammos and batteries connected to 4 mechanical arms ending with electromagnetic integrated guns. The 4 arm guns were connected to her brain via the backpack. The only limitation were the 2100 bullets spread across the 4 guns.

“Out objective is simple. Destruction. First I place some remote weapons on the ground. Then I sneak in and blow up their food stock. I doubt they will be able to counter my invisibility. Then you come in. You will make loud sounds to distract them. There will have no idea of what is happening while I tear them apart. Got it?”

|/Yes|/.

Exactly 1 hour after the last sound emitted by the NDU a loud bang and a message on all HUD

//training start.//

“ok, don’t freak out. Stay vigilant and focused on your sector. Remember your comrades have your back and your blind spots. If we stay together we will fend her off.” Scilla’s inspiring words boosted her troops morale but it was going to drop soon. 15 minutes in and No sign of Idra. Dhalia said the unspeakable.

“I guess we are saf… (safe)”

a loud explosion coming from inside immediately advert all their attention. Not even the time to turn around that bullets started raining from the grassland. Short bursts followed by the atrocious mechanical sound of the multiple machine-guns firing them. It was not extremely loud but unique. It resembled a rotatory gun from a space ship and an electromagnetic assault rifle combined. Whatever it was its impact was clear. The front formation was already falling. Seeking cover from the never-ending bullet storm. Those moving out of cover were shot immediately.

“don’t disperse. She is opening a passage in our lines. Launch the ECM (electronic counter measure) smoke grenades. Don’t shoot back, that is not her.” ordered Scilla. She was already understanding the situation but that could not be said for most of her soldiers that were already panicking.

“left and right side second line, turn around and converge on our food supply. She must be there somehow.”

Around 200 soldiers turned toward the explosion. Dhalia and Scilla were among them while Morea was in change for the front defence. They were closing in and in that moment the Whispers started screaming from below, from above, they were beside them, among them. It was enough to distract all of them. Idra popped out from the smoke surrounding the food supply. SMG on one hand, an open goo canister on the other. She was shielding herself with the goo while shooting with 5 weapons at a time. Each one targeting a different soldier and immediately snapping and stabilizing on the next one.

“GET DOWN!” screamed Scilla jumping on Dhalia. While falling a burst of bullets flew right above their head sinking in the soldiers behind. Scattered they were looking for cover, but there was no escape. Idra was too fast, to protected, to reactive. As soon as you get out of cover you would have bullets coming at you, you try to flank and she turns around, you try to smoke your position and she jumps right in to fight with her firsts.

“fall back, toss ECMs, let’s try to blind her sensors. Seek…”

In that moment Idra jumper over Scilla and Dhalia’s head. She didn’t kill neither of them. That was pure luck. They lived only because Idra was retreating. She had run out of bullets and was going back for resupply.

That engagement felt eternal but in reality it last only 10 minutes. Their defence was a disaster and to add salt to the wounds the NDU spoke.

//Food supply destroyed. Computing salvageable food. Only 3.22Kg of food are deem edible. Using more than the allowed supply will incur in penalities.//

“wait what? We can’t eat our food?” asked Morea. She was not the only one concerned about it.

//correct. Food supply attacked successfully. Even if only fake damage as been applied for simulation purposes you can’t eat food from your supply. This is a war. Everything is a weapon. Consuming non authorized food will have consequences.//

“then what the fuck are we suppose to eat? We are 1000 people we can just forage for so many soldiers” said Dhalia.

//War is war. Nobody plays fair. You were allowed to exploit the digital map edge to reduce your perimeter. Be grateful for that. Your bodies can survive for more than 7 days without food, the training will continue.//

“what the fuck, this is bullshit…”

“Dhal, it’s over. Let’s count the dead and move to the creeks zone. There are a few animals we will be able to get a bit of food somehow.” Scilla had already processed the food lost, she knew as soon as the heard the explosion.

They waited 10 minutes for their comrades to “re-spawn” back into the training. Meanwhile they counted the dead.

“...and With Nanar she killed 337 people in just one raid. She killed 1/10 of us commander” ended Morea. She was clearly concerned about the future of their challenge.

“it’s even worst. She didn’t attack any of the non trained personnel so she killed even more. Fuck. Chief we should start moving and set up base at the creeks zone”

“Lis why are you so fixated with the creeks? We should try to understand how she infiltrated us. We were enough to watch all around us, we placed down all kinds of sensors to catch her. Just how the fuck did she got in?” said Dhalia.

“I don’t know chief. I knew she had some cloaking ability but I have no details about their working principles. However I know 1 thing. Mass can’t disappear so if we found a piece of land surrounded by water we should be able to see her coming in, or coming from the distance. If she jumps from tree to tree they will move and water will splash as she runs into it. That’s the best defensive position we can get.”

“we could also send out some squads for food, right Commander Lis”

“that’s not a bad idea” continued Dhalia but Scilla was thinking otherwise.

“no, that is Idra’s plan. She know way to well what her weaknesses are. I’m sure she already predicted our relocation. If we send out squads she will just pick them one by one and reduce our numbers”

“it’s a risk we may have to try Lis. We can’t go on without food for 7 days. We will be too weak to fight back.”

“Chief I know that too. But what is the point if we lose everybody in the process to acquire food?”

Despite their doubts and concerns they still proceed with the relocation. After all it was their best option for survival. During their new preparation they could hear noises in the distance. Magnetic shots, animals screaming in pain, few explosion and so on. The scariest moment were those of silence. When nothing was moving, nothing was happening their imagination guided by fear drifted towards the worst. Maybe she was coming or maybe she was observing them. Hours passed but nothing happened. Idra was taking her time and for the Leans it was time to decide what to do next.

“Lis any idea about whatever she is doing?” started Dhalia.

“not really. I don’t know why she isn’t attacking. I was almost certain that she would have attacked again. For sure she is trying to pull some guerrilla shit on us. She wants us to be scared of every sound we hear…”

“so far I would say it it working commander. I spoke with a couple of soldiers and they are all really nervous.”

“thanks vice Morea, that is definitely not good. Well I think we should start to prepare for the night and a few hunt squads. Maybe if we send them out at night they will have a better probability to get back”

“so, should I…” started Morea, but she was abruptly interrupted by Scilla.

“wait. I don’t know chief if that is a good idea. I had the change to be connected to her network and fucking hell if it is amazing. I could see enemy behind walls hundred of meters away. I think she could outclass our night-vision systems. If we can’t see her it is even worst…”

“we can never see her. She can turn invisible. What else do you know about her and her technology?”

“I know that we are fucked anyway. We can’t rely on our tech, our brain computation throughput nor our reflex. We can only outsmart her, if it is even possible, or try to dies as slowly as we can… oh wait. One time she told me that she isn’t a soldier…”

“wait what? How the fuck is that possible” ask Dhalia in disbelieve.

“no fucking clue chief but she defines herself as a huntress. Mmh maybe the multiple squads isn’t a bad idea. If she likes to hunt but we send them in different ways than she will have no time to stop them all.”

“well then it’s decided…”

their plan didn’t survive long. It didn’t survive even a second as their base alarm went off. Idra was approaching from the darkness. The same pair of machine-guns started to fill the air with bullets as Idra fired a couple of high brightness flares in the sky. Those damn flares impose them a choice. Go blind or don’t use your non polarised night vision. Polarised visors don’t help with long distance targets as they can only collect half the radiation. This time Idra shot from the distance and while climbing a tree. It took them several minutes and deaths to realise so. 5 minutes later and the attack was over. More than 200 kills and more importantly pressure. They felt hunted, corned in their own base. But it was not time to be scared. Idra just waited a bit. 1 hour later she was back. More kill and more fear. She was unstoppable and incessant. She went on with her frequent but gradually smaller attack all night. Not even a second of sleep for them.

That morning few brave people decided to go out and hunt for food. They manage to make 4 squads of 10 people each. They scattered in different direction but as predictable Idra found them immediately or her traps found them. None return to base alive. As time passed their situation was getting worse and worse. Each time they tried something Idra was ready and their numbers kept reducing. Idra was everywhere at anytime. On almost regulars basis their base would get attacked. Day, night didn’t matter at all. It was as if Idra didn’t need to sleep at all, at the result were coming fast. The third day at dusk only one Lean was standing. It was Scilla with her last spawn. 10 meters way from Idra with her scorpion, she had just finished to kill Dhalia for the third time.

“you let me live on purpose didn’t you?”

But Idra didn’t reply. She stopped and detached her mechanical guns. The scorpion collected the weapon system. Then she put away her weapons and with her hand she urged Scilla for a fist fight.

She wants to punch me, so be it. But at least I want a chance. If I leave the suit she will probably reduce her power in order to keep me alive. Without the slowing suit I may be able to at least punch her back a few times. I’m sure she will accept even without any words.

Scilla left her power armour and dropped her gun.

“what the fuck! Scilla the hell are you doing?” Shouted Dhalia. She was not the only “dead” Lean around that was watching.

“a fist fight!. We are already over. Let me have some fun”

Idra obliged. Her suit armlets released exposing her hands and half of her arms. On both middle fingers she was wearing a dark ring. Those were the only peculiar elements. No scars or signs of any hardship on her hands or arms.

“enhance me. Not too much, I just have to sustain the impacts”

|/Yes|/.

Then Idra rushed in. The Whispers barely hearable from her skin were improving her body. They mixed with her flesh generating layers of protection like a bulletproof vest. Others linked to her muscles making her punch harder and faster. Scilla tried to go for the first punch but Idra dodge and punched her back on the side. Immediate reaction from Scilla that tried to connect her fists to whatever she could hit. Idra’s side was exposed so she went for it with no limitation. As predictable Idra reacted but not with a dodge but a punch back to block hers. That was the moment when Scilla realised that something was off. Idra was not physically capable to tank a hit, punching a punch was even worst as the momentum adds up producing more damage.

What the fuck!! how?... something isn’t right.

Scilla tried her best to avoid as many attacks as she could and at some point a punch passed right beside her ears. In that moment she heard the faint creepy sound of the Whispers crawling underneath Idra’s skin. She stepped out of the fight, she wanted to be more direct but she couldn’t reveal Idra’s powers.

“you demonic wench!. You are not holding back”

“this is war, not a playground. Lis.”

“Lis?! You called me LIS!?”

Their battle was intense and as Scilla was running out of energy Idra was running out of focus. Keeping the Whispers use limited to be just enough for a fair fight was growing harder and harder as their brawl prolonged. As she was predicting at some point she lost control. A single Whispers hidden by the wind flowing among the trees was enough. Enough to make Idra stop for a fraction of second. Enough for her to get punched in the face at full power. She was falling backward on her ass as she refocus. She command her suit to act, she rotate on herself to face the ground and rotate her feet of 180°. She landed on all four and like a spring jumped back. Her hands reached Scilla’s shoulders. She pulled herself up rotating once she was vertical upon Scilla’s head. When her rotation was complete she was on Scilla’s back. Feet pressing on lower back and hands grabbing her shoulders. Scilla was not even able to start to wiggle out of it that Idra’s marker draw a line across her neck. She had just been virtually beheaded.

The crowd around was in awe. Idra’s actions were spectacular and astonishing. Perfect coordination and reaction with not a single instant wasted. So fast that none really understand that their friend or commander was already dead.

“you won Idra. I’m dead so you can let go of me”

“sure.”

Idra dismounted Scilla and waited for her to clean off the colourful line.

“was it necessary to draw on me?”

“yes. It was fun. Let’s go to the next step”

“wait already?”

“yes”

No time to process the battle that the NDU voice started to spread around.

//First challenge end. Objective survive 7 days. Failed.//