Epilogue 01
12th of November
Nerva Apapeligo
Blade base Alpha
The Blades milled in the conference room, muttering in uncertain voices. It had been a week since they had initiated project invader.
Initially it had been successful, they had captured the target and got the data, it had quickly fallen apart after the heroes had got involved.
They had lost two of their bases, Caz was currently recovering from extreme electrical burns, Dib was dead and Isabel had locked herself in one of the gen labs, muttering about a special mission.
The blades were in shambles and it was only so long till some one at Crey noticed this.
Almost as if summoned by there fear, the door to the room opened and three Scimitars, one tall one and two short ones, strode in decked out in full armor. The lead one moved to the centre of the room before addressed the Blades. “I have been sent here on the order of Crey to see director membrain, where is he?.”
Teyla stepped forward. “Director membrain is currently… indisposed, he should be back…”
She trailed off as the lead scimitar unhooked a massive war mace from her back and brought it to bear, the two other slid out their own weapons. “I will not ask again, where is Dib?”
“I know where he is.” They turned to see Isabel standing in the doorway, dirt and blood was smeared all over her face and streaked through her hair. “Follow me.” She was about to leave the room when one of the short Scimitars stepped forward and drew her sword.
“No, I think he should come to us.” She spoke in an emotionless tone.
Isabel shock her head. “No no… has to come with me, mission, is important, yes yes…” she slowly trailed off, her voice dropping to nothing more than a murmur.
The scimitar’s hand darted out and grabbed Isabel by the neck. “Bring him to us Now!” she yelled as she slammed Isabel against the nearest wall.
Isabel looked down at the hand, the let out an ear piercing squeal. The Blades scatter to the corners of the room as something large bowled through the doorway and threw the Scimitar to the centre of the room. before she could recover it lumbered up and grabbed her in a massive claw.
Isabel quickly ducked behind the beast as it let out another roar, its single optic focusing on the woman in it had. “Crush her Mr B.” she yelled at the beast. The optic narrowed on the scimitar as its hand started to squeeze her.
The other simitar slept forward to attack when a voice barked from the door. “what the hell is going on here.” Standing in the doorway was Dib, besides a sickly pallor to his skin, looking perfectly normal.
The tallest Scimitar lowered her weapon and was about to say something when the second short one leapt at Dib. There was a blast of electricity and she was sent flying across the room. Dib lowered his hand and turned to the last Scimitar. “I will repeat myself, what is going on here?”
The remaining Scimitar looked around and then removed her helmet a cyber eye wired and clicks in her right eye. “Director Membrain, I was sent to investigate the events of what happened at your outpost in bloody bay.”
Dib gave her a slight grin. “Ahhh, Miss Natalen, it has been a while, since we last talked, I’m guessing that they are your associates.” He gestured to the two other Scimitars.
Lana looked at the two others, one was struggling in the beast vice like grip, her armor starting to make a cracking noise while the other laid on the ground twitching slightly.
“Yes, they decided to prove how tough they were against one of the smaller projects… but apparently they underestimated you.” her left eye narrowed. “That is why I am here.”
Dib flashed another almost reptilian grin. “Ah… I was somewhat delayed in giving my report, but if you wish I can debrief you on the events.”
She nodded. “That will be acceptable.”
“And what of your associates? They will probably require medical attention.”
Lana shrugged. “They acted without my orders, so they can accept their punishment.”
“Ahh, very well then.” Dib waved at the beast. “Isabel, get your pet to let go its toy.”
Isabel scuttled around the beast and whispered to it. Letting out a slight groan it dropped the scimitar and left the room, Isabel scuttled after it.
“Now then miss Natalen, what is it you wish to know?”
“Crey would like to know everything that happen involving project invader, along with any information you managed to acquire.”
“Very well, if you would follow me, we can discuss this in my office.” He motioned towards the door. “Oh and Teyla, can you please escort miss Natalens assistants out?”
Teyla jumped down and poked one of them with her boot. “And what if they resist?”
“Then see if Isabel will help, she seams rather adapt at getting the beasts to obey her orders.”
Teyla nodded and knelt next to the one Dib had zapped.
He turned to Lana. “Shall we?”
“Very well.”
***
2 hours later.
Lana went over the tablet Dib had given her, every now glancing at him as he lounged behind his desk, and sighed. “You spin a good tale, but I am finding several parts hard to swallow.”
Dib pour himself a glass of water. “Oh, and what is so hard to believe?”
“For starters, that this Saber you captured was apparently a no one, how can you expect me to believe that when a group of high powered heroes broke into your facility and rescued her?”
Dib chuckled. “I stated her civilian ID was of no real interest, some bumbling girl that probably lucked upon the armor, as to why the heroes rescused her? Tell me, why has project Scimitar never tried to capture a Saber?”
Lana blinked, but before she could reply, Dib continued. “The Sabers are an extremely strong military group, almost a private army. It is my belief that an organisation that big has many secrets that they don’t want Crey finding out.”
“So your sujesting that the rescue was to prevent you learning any of these “secrets” Director?”
“It is the most logical outcome, is it not?”
Shaking her head she moved on to the next item. “Why did you see fit to masquerade as a member of Arachnos for this operation?”
“To protect Crey of course.”
She stared at him. “Elaborate.”
“If it had been a Crey operative that had kidnapped a saber, how many of the countess facilities would have been raided in retaliation? How many labs ransacked? How many investments destroyed? And given the fact that if I had survived such a failure, how long till the countess demands my head on a sliver plater?”
Lana smirked. “So was it a act of loyalty or self preservation?”
“Can’t it be both?”
“That brings up the final question, your death. Longbow discovered your body and our agents confirmed it was a genetic match to you and yet here you are. How?”
Dib took a sip from his glass and smiled. “Ahhh, the big question. I had planed for all potential outcomes and had contingencies set up.”
Lana scoffed. “You expect me to believe that you planed for your own death?”
“Yes, the odds of surviving was rather low, even with out heroic intervention.”
“Very well then, so how did you survive?”
Dib let out a sigh. “I had given Teyal a case containing all the data I had stored at that outpost and a genetic sample she was to have prepped for cloning. Then, I gave Isabel a special set of orders. If I was to be captured or killed, she was to take my head.”
For a moment Lana thought she saw a look of sorrow on Dib’s face before he continued. “I had a small stasis unit implanted at the base of my skull, if my vitals were to cut out, it would activate and put my brain into suspended animation until deactivated.
“It didn’t take long for my brain to be transferred to my new body, but… unfortunately the strain of the mission has undone much of the work I have done with Isabel.” Dib turned away from Lana. “Are there anymore questions.”
“Not for now, if you excuse me for a moment, I must report this and see what is instore for you.” She picked up her helmet and slipped it on. Opening a secure channel she relayed all that she had learnt, she waited as it was processed before receiving a reply.
Lana read the reply and grinned, pulling her helmet off she stood up and addressed Dib. “Director membrain, the countess would like to congratulate you on all that you have archived, apparently she has underestimated you. But unfortunelty you have caused a bit of trouble and she believes it would be safer for you to take a vacation, at least till the fallout form this has blown over.
“You will be transferred to one of our facilities in Africa. There you can see how well your Golems are doing in the field. When we believe it is safe, you shale be allowed to return.”
Dib steeple his hands. “And who will be running my facilities here during my absence?”
“That would be me Director Membrain.” She said with a twisted smirk.
12th of November
Nerva Apapeligo
Blade base Alpha
The Blades milled in the conference room, muttering in uncertain voices. It had been a week since they had initiated project invader.
Initially it had been successful, they had captured the target and got the data, it had quickly fallen apart after the heroes had got involved.
They had lost two of their bases, Caz was currently recovering from extreme electrical burns, Dib was dead and Isabel had locked herself in one of the gen labs, muttering about a special mission.
The blades were in shambles and it was only so long till some one at Crey noticed this.
Almost as if summoned by there fear, the door to the room opened and three Scimitars, one tall one and two short ones, strode in decked out in full armor. The lead one moved to the centre of the room before addressed the Blades. “I have been sent here on the order of Crey to see director membrain, where is he?.”
Teyla stepped forward. “Director membrain is currently… indisposed, he should be back…”
She trailed off as the lead scimitar unhooked a massive war mace from her back and brought it to bear, the two other slid out their own weapons. “I will not ask again, where is Dib?”
“I know where he is.” They turned to see Isabel standing in the doorway, dirt and blood was smeared all over her face and streaked through her hair. “Follow me.” She was about to leave the room when one of the short Scimitars stepped forward and drew her sword.
“No, I think he should come to us.” She spoke in an emotionless tone.
Isabel shock her head. “No no… has to come with me, mission, is important, yes yes…” she slowly trailed off, her voice dropping to nothing more than a murmur.
The scimitar’s hand darted out and grabbed Isabel by the neck. “Bring him to us Now!” she yelled as she slammed Isabel against the nearest wall.
Isabel looked down at the hand, the let out an ear piercing squeal. The Blades scatter to the corners of the room as something large bowled through the doorway and threw the Scimitar to the centre of the room. before she could recover it lumbered up and grabbed her in a massive claw.
Isabel quickly ducked behind the beast as it let out another roar, its single optic focusing on the woman in it had. “Crush her Mr B.” she yelled at the beast. The optic narrowed on the scimitar as its hand started to squeeze her.
The other simitar slept forward to attack when a voice barked from the door. “what the hell is going on here.” Standing in the doorway was Dib, besides a sickly pallor to his skin, looking perfectly normal.
The tallest Scimitar lowered her weapon and was about to say something when the second short one leapt at Dib. There was a blast of electricity and she was sent flying across the room. Dib lowered his hand and turned to the last Scimitar. “I will repeat myself, what is going on here?”
The remaining Scimitar looked around and then removed her helmet a cyber eye wired and clicks in her right eye. “Director Membrain, I was sent to investigate the events of what happened at your outpost in bloody bay.”
Dib gave her a slight grin. “Ahhh, Miss Natalen, it has been a while, since we last talked, I’m guessing that they are your associates.” He gestured to the two other Scimitars.
Lana looked at the two others, one was struggling in the beast vice like grip, her armor starting to make a cracking noise while the other laid on the ground twitching slightly.
“Yes, they decided to prove how tough they were against one of the smaller projects… but apparently they underestimated you.” her left eye narrowed. “That is why I am here.”
Dib flashed another almost reptilian grin. “Ah… I was somewhat delayed in giving my report, but if you wish I can debrief you on the events.”
She nodded. “That will be acceptable.”
“And what of your associates? They will probably require medical attention.”
Lana shrugged. “They acted without my orders, so they can accept their punishment.”
“Ahh, very well then.” Dib waved at the beast. “Isabel, get your pet to let go its toy.”
Isabel scuttled around the beast and whispered to it. Letting out a slight groan it dropped the scimitar and left the room, Isabel scuttled after it.
“Now then miss Natalen, what is it you wish to know?”
“Crey would like to know everything that happen involving project invader, along with any information you managed to acquire.”
“Very well, if you would follow me, we can discuss this in my office.” He motioned towards the door. “Oh and Teyla, can you please escort miss Natalens assistants out?”
Teyla jumped down and poked one of them with her boot. “And what if they resist?”
“Then see if Isabel will help, she seams rather adapt at getting the beasts to obey her orders.”
Teyla nodded and knelt next to the one Dib had zapped.
He turned to Lana. “Shall we?”
“Very well.”
***
2 hours later.
Lana went over the tablet Dib had given her, every now glancing at him as he lounged behind his desk, and sighed. “You spin a good tale, but I am finding several parts hard to swallow.”
Dib pour himself a glass of water. “Oh, and what is so hard to believe?”
“For starters, that this Saber you captured was apparently a no one, how can you expect me to believe that when a group of high powered heroes broke into your facility and rescued her?”
Dib chuckled. “I stated her civilian ID was of no real interest, some bumbling girl that probably lucked upon the armor, as to why the heroes rescused her? Tell me, why has project Scimitar never tried to capture a Saber?”
Lana blinked, but before she could reply, Dib continued. “The Sabers are an extremely strong military group, almost a private army. It is my belief that an organisation that big has many secrets that they don’t want Crey finding out.”
“So your sujesting that the rescue was to prevent you learning any of these “secrets” Director?”
“It is the most logical outcome, is it not?”
Shaking her head she moved on to the next item. “Why did you see fit to masquerade as a member of Arachnos for this operation?”
“To protect Crey of course.”
She stared at him. “Elaborate.”
“If it had been a Crey operative that had kidnapped a saber, how many of the countess facilities would have been raided in retaliation? How many labs ransacked? How many investments destroyed? And given the fact that if I had survived such a failure, how long till the countess demands my head on a sliver plater?”
Lana smirked. “So was it a act of loyalty or self preservation?”
“Can’t it be both?”
“That brings up the final question, your death. Longbow discovered your body and our agents confirmed it was a genetic match to you and yet here you are. How?”
Dib took a sip from his glass and smiled. “Ahhh, the big question. I had planed for all potential outcomes and had contingencies set up.”
Lana scoffed. “You expect me to believe that you planed for your own death?”
“Yes, the odds of surviving was rather low, even with out heroic intervention.”
“Very well then, so how did you survive?”
Dib let out a sigh. “I had given Teyal a case containing all the data I had stored at that outpost and a genetic sample she was to have prepped for cloning. Then, I gave Isabel a special set of orders. If I was to be captured or killed, she was to take my head.”
For a moment Lana thought she saw a look of sorrow on Dib’s face before he continued. “I had a small stasis unit implanted at the base of my skull, if my vitals were to cut out, it would activate and put my brain into suspended animation until deactivated.
“It didn’t take long for my brain to be transferred to my new body, but… unfortunately the strain of the mission has undone much of the work I have done with Isabel.” Dib turned away from Lana. “Are there anymore questions.”
“Not for now, if you excuse me for a moment, I must report this and see what is instore for you.” She picked up her helmet and slipped it on. Opening a secure channel she relayed all that she had learnt, she waited as it was processed before receiving a reply.
Lana read the reply and grinned, pulling her helmet off she stood up and addressed Dib. “Director membrain, the countess would like to congratulate you on all that you have archived, apparently she has underestimated you. But unfortunelty you have caused a bit of trouble and she believes it would be safer for you to take a vacation, at least till the fallout form this has blown over.
“You will be transferred to one of our facilities in Africa. There you can see how well your Golems are doing in the field. When we believe it is safe, you shale be allowed to return.”
Dib steeple his hands. “And who will be running my facilities here during my absence?”
“That would be me Director Membrain.” She said with a twisted smirk.