Okay head getting hot here let's simplify things.

1) Shove human into Dormancy Cocoon
2) Demonstrate to Empire your human specimen you have captured for experimentation.
3) Beg forgiveness afterwards.

The humans owe you, so you can use that for leverage, whereas the Empire needs to feel like you're on their side and you're making progress.

Don't overhead. Calm down. You need to think, but if you burn up you're going to end up unable to help anyone!

Woryeh 2010/10/17(Sun)16:56 No. 245187 ID: 8d7dd2
File 128735978276.png - (40.11KB , 512x512 , 115.png )

You consider your actions and beckon Zyeryh over to you. Confused, she still complies. You consider throwing a human into some form of restraining device, but you'd prefer not acting in a way that can be easily interpreted as hostile.

You both race to the communications room. ...Not a single human blocks your path. Perhaps they've already noticed.

You both assume your positions in front of the screen and stare expectantly at the screen for the transmission.

A garbled, distorted image appears on the screen, met by a slightly less garbled angry yelling voice. It doesn't sound like anyone you've heard before.

"kzht YOU ARE DEAD YOU HEAR ME DEAD kzht---...---ksht LOSING SHIPS THIS FAR AWAY THIS IS INEXCUSABLE YOU WILL SUFFER FOR YOUR REBEL WAYS! SUFFER!"

Woryeh 2010/10/17(Sun)16:56 No. 245188 ID: 8d7dd2
File 128735980182.png - (34.63KB , 512x512 , 116.png )

The transmission becomes a burst of static and is replaced with the image of a salazzarine.

"You two the ones who set this up, I presume?"

You both look at each other, thoroughly perplexed.

"Well, that's what she told me, anyway. Force the Empire to invade some heavily defended world, suffer massive losses, make the commandeering of a couple of ships slip by entirely unnoticed. You know, break off from the Empire, found a new independent colony, grow and expand, go back and save the rest of our kind, that sort of thing?"

There's a long pause.

"...What?"
"I... what?"
"You know. Eezeree. Former Praetor. Told us you two were sabotaging the Empire and we had to make sure we were on the invasion fleet. I think there's another ship full of salazzarine on the way too."

There's yet another awkward pause.

"So what do we do now?"
"Well, if you want we can probably send some transports to pick you two up if you want. If you make sure your friends down there don't shoot them to pieces."

Zyeryh wrings her blades together. "...I... I don't know. We're... there's a lot of reasons we can't leave just yet."
"It's going to be a while for the transport to get down there."
"We'll tell them."
"Okay. And, uh, thanks for the help, I guess. Even if you weren't really aware you were helping us?"

The screen goes blank.

Woryeh 2010/10/17(Sun)16:56 No. 245189 ID: 8d7dd2
File 128735981511.png - (26.42KB , 512x512 , 117.png )

"So what do we do now? Charge directly at the aliens who stole our babies and hope they won't try to sabotage what might be the one chance we'll ever have to escape this planet alive, or just stay in the base for the rest of our lives and hope they never come back?"
"I think it's obvious what we have to do."

Zyeryh starts charging off to the base airlock.

...You had actually meant "stay in the base and hope they never come back", but Zyeryh's idea is probably a lot better.

You both run into a few suited humans who are very alarmed to see the two of you burst into the room, blades raised in imminent attack position.

"They just wanted to know what salazzarine infants were like! They're still alive! They're perfectly healthy oh god I want my arms to stay on my torso!"

Zyeryh tilts her head, her blades still raised. "If you can get us to your base, I'll consider respecting your wishes."
"Done!"

Woryeh 2010/10/17(Sun)16:57 No. 245190 ID: 8d7dd2
File 128735983070.png - (28.74KB , 512x512 , 118.png )

It's yet another boring trip. It's a little more tense than usual. You and Zyeryh sit back in the vehicle, while the humans act as though a sudden movement will lead to their swift decapitation.

You know you shouldn't let your guard down at any moment, but this is too amusing. You slightly regret not having chosen to go with intimidation earlier.

You consider your plan of attack once you reach the human base. You know enough of the base layout to get to the room they generally tended to take you two to, and you remember where the room you found Zyeryh being poked and prodded was as well. But you have no idea what to expect. For all you know, that... thing that caught you before might be waiting to greet you once you step outside the transport vehicle.

You hold onto one of Zyeryh's blades. She tightens it around yours.

This is it. This is the moment that will define everything. This is the chance to get your young back, to make sure the transport comes down safely and to get off this remote rock you've been marooned on for three years.

You feel more than a little apprehensive.

>>245190
Only natural to be apprehensive here. But try to keep casulties to an absolute minimum here. You might still be able to salvage alot of this, if nobody has a tragic loss of limbs that is. The order to take away your kids might not have come from very far up the hierarchy and could possibly not have alot of support. Because really this is a quite retarded way to go about this from their side.

So, one thing you should do is demand a communication device to contact someone alot higher up in the organisation with. See if they know anything about that.

If they don't then you might get some help in retrieving your kids. If they do then you go in there, grab your kids and then get on the transports back to the fleet and find some planet without humans to settle. Because you really don't have enough ships to conqour and if they're a bunch of backstabbing traitorous cold blooded bastards then you're way better off at some other planet.

>>245204
And once again the best plan I have is "go with this guy." :V

Even if you lose a couple kids in this process, you can always make more. :3c

They're probably just dumb humans who want a closer look at your kids. I don't think they thought you would be offended since they were under the impression that salazzarines didn't care about their young if they're still a bunch of grubs. Just stay calm, remember that as much as you hate them you still need them.

Make it clear that the humans can have all our tech, but we're taking our babies back. Also, let's not forget our bird ally. We should find and talk to him/her.

>>245190
>get off this remote rock
I suggest you suddenly remember that Eezeree originally wanted *EARTH* to be the new salazzarine staging colony. You should probably figure out if that's still the case or if they've found a new planet since then. If it's still Earth... you're going to have some 'splainin' to do to Global Overwatch. Of course, they were watching the whole situation back then, too, so they might already know that and have something prepared.

But you can think of that more after you get your shrimp back. :)

I think >>245204 said it best. Try not to kill or overly maim anyone. Most of these people are just low-level scientists... someone obviously ordered them to do this. Find out who, and why.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Humans took your kids because they want to use you the same way the Empire does – breed you like crazy as warriors to help buff up their offensive and defensive capabilities.

if worst comes to worst, as last poster said, perhaps we should claim to have telekinetic powers that connect to the empire or something. Bluffing and such.

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:03 No. 257441 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001339989.png - (36.04KB , 512x512 , 119.png )

The vessel reaches its destination. The humans onboard let you go freely, helped by Zyeryh waving a claw in both a derisive farewell and a not-entirely-subtle reminder of your species' natural weapons.

"We're in."
"Yes."

You both come to the realisation you have no idea where you are. After a few anticlimactic minutes of waiting for Zyeryh to decipher the near-inscrutable text of the signs dotted around, it becomes clear that there are, strangely enough, no humans around.

At all.

You look around uneasily. The sterile, subtle chill of the air leads you to wrap an arm around Zyeryh for your warmth. And maybe hers. But yours, primarily.

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:03 No. 257442 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001341850.png - (32.21KB , 512x512 , 120.png )

"Labs are straight ahead. Do we walk straight into the labs, or do we go for a more diplomatic approach... ssss... Diplomacy is not likely an option given previous reception, but-"
"Zyeryh. There's no-one here."
"I know, ssh, I'm thinking! ...Wait. ...No-one?"

You both move cautiously down a corridor, with Zyeryh choosing to lead the both of you towards any area marked secret, or classified, theorising that your children are likely being kept under top security.

You meet a familiar friend. Lights sprout off its surface, which would be almost intimidating if not for their complete uselessness.

"Salazzarine detected in secure sector. Requesting assistance. Requesting assistance. Requesting assistanc-"

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:03 No. 257443 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001343273.png - (26.54KB , 512x512 , 121.png )

You see an opportunity unlike any other.

With a swift cleaving motion, you finally get your revenge on the irritating floating ball of annoyances and interruptions. With further motions, you rip it to pieces, tearing out as much of its circuitry and mechanisms as you can while it continues to calmly and casually call for help.

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:04 No. 257444 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12900134489.png - (22.52KB , 512x512 , 122.png )

"Yes! If we take out their surveillance drones we'll never know we're here! Good thinking, Woryeh!"

You hesitate for a moment.

"...Yes. Good thinking."

The two of you continue. The level of light seems to decrease as you go further.

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:04 No. 257445 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001346694.png - (13.56KB , 512x512 , 123.png )

There's a sealed door. You can't make out any form of controls to open it from this side.

"There's a control pad to your right."

You can't make out any form of-

"It looks like some form of scanner."

You can't see-

"Oh. I think it might be a handprint scanner."
"Well, that's useful. How do we-"

You hear Zyeryh slash at something in the dimness.

The door slides open.

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:05 No. 257446 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001351747.png - (6.33KB , 512x512 , 124.png )

"For some reason, it's designed to open if it loses power from its control pad. I can't even begin to imagine how any sapient creature would consider this a good design, so I can only assume it's either some form of cost cutting mechanism or this was deliberate."
"You think it might be a trap?"
"Maybe. I don't even know where we are any more. Maybe the signs I've been following have been set up specifically to guide us to a waiting cell."
"I can't see anything. I'm going to need you to guide me."
"Well, now you know what it's like."
"What?"
"Nothing. Let's go. No turning back. If they have any competence whatsoever, they'll just be waiting further back."

Woryeh 2010/11/17(Wed)09:05 No. 257447 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129001352978.png - (19.05KB , 512x512 , 125.png )

You suddenly feel blinded by a sudden burst of light. You hear Zyeryh screech, her eyes far more sensitive than yours.

"Well, well, well. Aren't you two familiar. Care to stop and talk for a minute?"

>>257447
Well, you haven't killed anyone; you've just broken some security measures. So, sure, since someone is actually willing to explain what's going on, I mean...

"depends on what you want to talk about" keep your stance up, you need to wait until Zyeryh recovers from the light burst.

One person, unarmed and all alone? He's probably a distraction for someone else to try and capture you. It would be a mistake to stand still for too long.

Just make it clear you're here for your children and you don't like to wait/be messed with right now. Any resistance he offers will be met with force.

>>257447
Keep moving.
"Direct us to our children and we'll talk on the way. Powerful instincts make rational discourse a troublesome proposition."

We will talk only if he's going to tell us where our children are. Then give them to us. We've had enough of humanity, and we're leaving.

>>257447
Probably not much else you can do right now. If they're even slightly competent then you won't be able to get to whoever that is or it wouldn't help you in the slightest to get to him.

Woryeh 2010/11/23(Tue)16:38 No. 259270 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129055910482.png - (9.22KB , 512x512 , 126.png )

"We're here for our children. We're not here to talk about anything else. We're here to take our children and get off this planet and away from the likes of you."

"Sorry you feel that way. No. Wait. I'm not."

The figure rushes at you with alarming speed. You don't even have time to react before it is right in front of you.

Woryeh 2010/11/23(Tue)16:38 No. 259271 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12905591174.png - (20.64KB , 512x512 , 127.png )

"I have heard more of your kind's excuses and pleas for mercy than you could ever, ever imagine, salazzarine. Do you know what happened when I listened?"

Zyeryh hisses and sharply pulls you to the left. The unseen weapon, or limb, or something strikes the metal wall next to you.

"They took my eye. I had hope. I had hope that not all of you were so ruthless, so cruel, so sadistic. I listened to another plea for mercy."

Zyeryh screeches and pulls you onto the ground with her. The wall above you squeals as metal scrapes against metal.

"Yet I remained convinced that an entire species could not be weighed on the actions of soldiers. Then I was captured."

Zyeryh struggles to pull you back, as you struggle to figure out where you even are in the darkness with Zyeryh shunting you around.

Woryeh 2010/11/23(Tue)16:38 No. 259272 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129055913164.png - (17.74KB , 512x512 , 128.png )

"They cut me to pieces. They poured over every last piece of tissue they could pull from my body. All my squad found of me was my brain and my spinal cord."

The figure's tone is calm, precise, exactly matching the almost surgical precision it seems to be trying to use against you and Zyeryh. Zyeryh can see the best out of all of you here, though. You hope. She keeps pulling and moving you out of the way, but the speed at which this human - if it's even human - figure attacks is alarming.

It could kill you at any point it wanted. It's currently giving you a speech on why it would want to kill you. And you're still alive.

It's toying with you.

Woryeh 2010/11/23(Tue)16:39 No. 259273 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129055915015.png - (14.82KB , 512x512 , 129.png )

"I wonder how it works for your people. Sent here to conquer a world with so few, sent off to succeed against all odds or die... They don't care, do they? They don't care if you live or die. It'd match what I've seen of your suicidal battle strategies, of your disregard for each other."

It stabs at where you were. Except this time you moved.

Zyeryh was right behind you.

She hadn't moved yet.

The scream she makes is deafening.

>>259273
Shout "ZYERYH!" while grabbing her and run back to base. She needs emergency medical care, and this guy won't let that happen.
DON'T THINK! JUST DO IT! NOW!

>>259273
Okay, this guy seriously outclasses you. I have no idea how on earth you're supposed to fight him.

So figure out if Zyeryh's okay. You can assess that reasonably well, right?

>>259273
What the hell? WHAT THE HELL!?

You captured US, you took away our CHILDREN! Now you're killing my mate! How are you any different from those that took your eye? Kill me, then, if you want to doom humanity to the invading fleet! The rebel ship will be here soon and if we aren't there to meet it, you can be sure there will be no alliance!

>>259273
Ok, here's a chance, strike at him right now. Hopefully you can get him to back off for a little while, or maybe even hit something vital. Atleast it might give you enough time to get her out of here and back to some medical facility.

>>259300
>>259377
Actions, not words.

You can't win this battle, so don't fight it. No suicidal tactics.
Your mate is injured, so get her help. No indifference to the lives of others.

Take her to receive treatment! Hurry!
Proving him wrong will hurt him more than anything physical you could accomplish.

>>259300

THIS!

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:40 No. 260372 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095883157.png - (13.77KB , 512x512 , 130.png )

"ZYERYH!"

You immediately step behind her, grabbing her as firmly as you can, trying to avoid her wound. She is bleeding heavily, but she's keeping her own arms clamped to her torso.

Salazzarine are quick to recover from most injuries that would potentially kill other species, but the closer an injury is to their core organs, the slower it takes for that injury to heal. If her vitals are unharmed, there is still every chance she will die of blood loss if she isn't treated soon.

You drag her away as fast as you can as she whimpers in fear and groans in pain.

"A tactical retreat? Clearly you are leagues ahead of your peers, to be able understand when a situation cannot end in your victory."

You don't respond. Words are wasted breath. You need every breath you take to get Zyeryh and yourself to safety.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:40 No. 260373 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095884969.png - (20.62KB , 512x512 , 131.png )

"What I don't understand is why you're burdening yourself with dragging the wounded along with you. How does this benefit you?"

You remain silent. Zyeryh starts talking, quietly, struggling to speak coherently.
"Woryeh, I don't want to die, I don't want to die I'm scared it hurts Woryeh please..."
"Hold on. Just hold on. Please."

It doesn't sound like you're being followed.

In fact, you can't hear anything at all apart from the sound of Zyeryh scraping against the metal floor, and her desperate babble.

You want to shout at this metal monstrosity. You want to shout and scream and slice and rip and sever, but you would only prove it right. And it would only waste precious time you need for Zyeryh.

"I'm scared, Woryeh, it's cold, I feel sick, I'm sorry, I'm sorry this happened, I am, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I'm going to help you. I'm here for you, Zyeryh. Stay with me. You mean everything to me, Zyeryh, and I'm not letting you die down here while my hearts are still beating!"

It's light enough to see the long trail of blood you're leaving behind you. You had no idea she was this badly injured.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:41 No. 260374 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095886882.png - (20.45KB , 512x512 , 132.png )

In fact, you had no idea that there were going to be humans waiting at the other end of the corridor. It makes sense, of course, and you stop, lower yourself to the ground, and tightly hug Zyeryh one last time as you expect nothing more than a terrible death at their hands.

You feel slightly faint. You feel you must have overexerted yourself, that you must have pulled Zyeryh away too quickly, too long a burst of speed with no recovery. Your head feels especially warmer than normal.

"Please. Please help her. If there is anything, any shred of decency, any trace of compassion, stop my mate from bleeding to death." You can't fight back an involuntary whining noise, and just hug her tighter. They talk and you don't know their language well enough to know exactly what they say, but they sound...

They don't sound hostile. They sound... concerned.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:41 No. 260375 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095889423.png - (28.24KB , 512x512 , 133.png )

Events pass by like a blur as you find yourself next to her, suited humans doing their best to try and figure out the extent of the damage. They talk to each other and one of them arrives holding a jar, which they offer to you.

You take it. It's filled with fluid and heavier than it first seemed. Inside the slightly murky fluid swim four- no, five little red wriggling larvae. As you watch, one of them starts eating another. Four of them. It's mildly upsetting to watch, but you know that this is simply how it works before your young gain anything approaching awareness.

You at least feel relieved that you have them back. Zyeryh will be relieved too. You show her the jar as she lies on the table. Still in pain, still unsure as to whether she'll even survive to see tomorrow, she looks considerably happier to see her children still alive and unharmed. Unharmed beyond expectations, of course.

You don't question why the facility has some supply of salazzarine blood to keep Zyeryh alive. You think, after what you've been through, you'd rather not know the answer.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:41 No. 260376 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095891479.png - (27.31KB , 512x512 , 134.png )

Eventually, you get an explanation.

The machine, Agent Steel, was tasked with ensuring that the base was not invaded by Empire forces while the majority of the human personnel were preoccupied with other affairs, including the sudden and abrupt departure of the senokeshi ship and its one occupant, Ti Ru, but mostly relating to the Empire's attempted invasion of Earth.

Your young had been taken for investigation and to ensure that they were in fact surviving in the environmental conditions present on Earth. There had apparently been an error in communication, as the initial orders involved asking the two of you for permission or at least explaining this decision at all to either of you.

You explain about the ship and the transport heading your way. After a long period of silence, followed by a sudden flurry of untranslated discussion, they agree to let it be and not to hinder your attempts to leave the planet.

They also recommend that you inform whoever is piloting the rebel ship to get as far away from Earth as possible before their ship is flagged by Earth defence fleets as a hostile.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:42 No. 260377 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095893340.png - (34.99KB , 512x512 , 135.png )

You return to Zyeryh. She's bandaged and still looks to be in some pain, but far less than before.

"...I'm not sure what I was surprised by the most. The machine stabbing me or the humans doing their best to try and help me. I don't have any major organ damage that won't clear up in a day, at least."
"Did they tell you that?"

She gives you a look. "Woryeh, remember every time I've mentioned I have an unnatural level of insight into how we work? That includes me. I know exactly what's wrong with me and it's worrying but not permanent or fatal. I'll be fine. You're still going to have to help me, of course. You're carrying that jar."

She sounds like her normal self. That's both a relief to you and slightly grating at the same time. "Well, we need to get out of here pretty quickly. That transport's going to be here any moment."

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:43 No. 260378 ID: 8d7dd2
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You both sit somewhere on the surface of Base Kappa-4, surveying the night sky.

In the distance, you see bright flashes and shapes where the Empire fleet's advance is being kept in check by ships you don't recognise.

"Well, this is thrilling."
"...After what just happened, do you want exciting?"
"Point."

She shifts around uncomfortably, trying to find a position to sit in which places the least stress on the hole straight through her torso.

"You're sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure I'm not okay, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to suddenly drop dead from this. Any further to the right and I might have lost part of my digestive tract and part of a filtration gland but I was lucky."

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:43 No. 260379 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095901537.png - (10.83KB , 512x512 , 137.png )

She shifts over to you and hugs you. You hug her back. In the sky, you see an approaching red star. The transport is getting closer.

"What happens to us now?"
"We get taken aboard a ship filled with salazzarine who hate the empire and consider us close to heroes for somehow sabotaging the Empire by... not really doing anything."
"What if it's all just a trap and we just get sent back to go infiltrate another planet?"
"Then I guess we just actually do it, like you wanted to this time. Keep the world for ourself. Live like royalty."
"I guess. If we don't start trying to kill each other again."
"No. Chopping off each other's arms, maybe. Not such a big deal."
"You know, I think I read somewhere that there was a primitive salazzarine culture where couples used to give each other one of their arms as a pairing ritual."
"Hahahaha. Pairing through paring. ...Guess we're, I don't know, what, paired seven times over by now?"
"Seven? More like seventy!"

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:43 No. 260380 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095902834.png - (13.18KB , 512x512 , 138.png )

As the transport gets closer, the two of you talk and reminisce on the few good times you both shared, both early into your mission and from when you reconciled again. You both watch the jar with your larvae, now reduced to two. You both wonder what parenting will be like.

At least, you both agree, it will be better than living as a test subject for nearly all your life.

"...And if worst comes to worst, well!"
"Hmm?"
"I'm sure I can come up with a plan to resolve everything!"
"Heh. Yeah. I'm sure you can!"
"As long as you help, of course."
"Of course."
"Well, ship's here."

The two of you stand, holding the jar between you, and get ready to board the transport.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:44 No. 260381 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095904248.png - (19.88KB , 512x512 , 139.png )

You were sent here to infiltrate, along with Zyeryh. The two of you rejected your intended purposes, and chose to follow your own paths.

Those paths split, but eventually, those paths rejoined. And the new path you now share stretches far and promisingly in front of the both of you.

Wherever it leads is uncertain, but one thing is definite. It leads away from the Empire. It leads to a better future.

It leads to freedom.

Woryeh 2010/11/28(Sun)07:44 No. 260382 ID: 8d7dd2
File 129095906091.png - (15.54KB , 512x512 , end.png )

- End. -

d'awww!

>>260382
GOOD END :D
<3

Cir <3