--DISCLAIMER-- This chapter is set in the past (The entirety of Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars and all its parts)and has disturbing descriptions, gore, and death. Please take note of this if you are not comfortable with such subjects as the content may not be for the faint of heart. Do not worry, this kind of writing is only a one-time occurrence in such a scale and lore.
Please and to my viewers who can read this, you may find out that the style and content may seem to not belong to the story nor in its universe. And you are right, it doesn't belong in this universe, for a reason you may come to understand as you progress. My purpose is to change to content so drastically you may feel it is out of place and uncomfortable. If you are able to read this, this chapter and its other half contains very important backstory elements and lore--
*3rd Person POV*
The cold mist defrosts within the capsule, the thin film of ice melting with a pressurized hiss.
*ssssss…. click*
The hatch opens with cold air flowing out as a hand emerges.
"Uhhhh… I liked soft beds way better."
A hand reaches forward and pulls the person's hand, lifting her from the capsule. She shields her eyes from the glaring artificial light as she comes to her senses.
"Me too. Go wash up Ohari, you look like hell. Talk about a bad fur day."
Standing across from Ohari was a wolf-chidiya (bird in Hindu) lineage hybrid. The grey fur on his digitigrade legs and arm had a feather-like texture as he stretched his grey wings.
"Will do Hayden... how's Xeona? She's a heavy sleeper."
Hayden's wore a patted, militaristic but flexible black armor. He was the first to wake up, an early riser as always. Pulling back his black hair and single dreadlock with blue accents he laughs, a somewhat deep but friendly carefree voice.
"Ha! You know her. Just give her a sec. Ship's on autopilot and no important notices or news yet so take it easy."
Ohari grumbles and trudges through the passage way, feeling not the slightest turbulence. Newest spaceship, top of the line and built for stealth and steady scouting they say... quite true.
The door automatically slides open as Ohari walks into the bathroom, her poofed up tail trailing behind her. She looks in the mirror, a messy hair of bright orange stood in all directions unkempt. Two saggy eyes stared back in the mirror.
"Uhhh..."
Ohari opens the faucet and washes her face, careful not to waste too much water as there is a limited supply. Letting the cold water run over her face, she feels the chill wake her up somewhat. Her fingers slides across the mirror as pictures of recent news shows up.
"There has been relative peace throughout the galaxies so far..."
The virtual voice turns to incoherent noises as Ohari spaces out... mornings am I right? She didn't know how long she was stuck like then when two sneaking hands came from behind and wrapped themselves around her waist.
"Morning Ariiii!"
Xeona's face rests on Ohari shoulder as she hugs her from behind with a beaming smile way too bright. This jolts Ohari wide awake as Xeona snuggles against her face.
"Hey that tickles haha! Morning love."
Xeona turns Ohari around and pecks her on the lips.
"Hey! What are you doing first thing in the morning?"
Xeona giggles, her long rose red hair jiggling. She brings her face close to Ohari, her playful amber eyes a seductive display, instantly making the clumsy fox girl blush.
"What are you so surprised for? After what happened a couple nigh-"
Ohari puts her fingers to purse Xeona's lips in a hurry.
"Shut up! What are you saying!"
As Xeona continue to tease Ohari, intertwining their sensitive tails around each other's waist, a voice is heard outside.
"I said to go wash up and clean up! Not feed me dog food! You can't just let loose your urges in the morning already!"
Xeona makes funny face sticking her tongue out.
"Oh shut it Hayden!"
You can almost sense Hayden putting up his hands innocently, backing off.
"I'm just saying..."
Xeona turns back to Ohari.
"Now where were we?"
Ohari objects, holding her all too eager, searching hands.
"Xeona, come on let's wash up... and I have to do my hair and fur too."
"Awwww... and it was just getting steamy... it's all Hayden's fault."
Xeona's helps Ohari comb down her fur and brush her hair into smooth long waves. Xeona hugs Ohari from behind again, looking into the mirror as their identical moon necklaces glimmered... an anniversary present... Xeona chuckles, a lighthearted, cheery pleasant laugh Ohari always found adorable.
"I still can't believe we got each other the same necklace for our anniversary. We're such klutzes."
Ohari leans onto Xeona hands and kisses it, enjoying the little moment.
"Doesn't just show how well we know and love each other?"
They come out later dressed in flexible black armor although Xeona's was personally customized with red lining and streaks to her style. Hayden was eating a bowl of cereal sitting in the cockpit as they approached.
"Speaking of which Hayden, didn't you have a crush on Alycia? What, got rejected like all the others?"
Hayden nearly spits out his Fruity O's... part of a balanced breakfast.
"Come on that was years ago! I have someone I like now, and she shares the same feelings..."
Hayden seems to ponder with a smile for a bit, looking into the twinkling stars of the beautiful, mysterious space.
"...honestly I plan to formally resign from the clan after this last patrol. Being given immortality is great and all... but I would like to live peacefully till I'm old with her...holding hands together."
Xeona grins at Hayden's wholesome dreamy thoughts, her two long pony tails bobbing.
"Oh? Our edgy lone wolf here is in love? Love strong enough to give up immortality? So tell me, who's the unfortunate girl?"
Hayden's happy smile cuts short.
"I'm not telling you Xeona! All you do is tease... You know now that you mentioned Alycia, she didn't seem to like guys, nor really looking for love at all so I respect that. Plus... one of her parents is..."
Ah that... Ohari has heard tales of The Asura within the clan. Ranging from near insane tales of power, slaying the unslayable to odd tales of its awesome cooking skills... "The best blueberry cream pancakes in the universe!" they say. Though it seems only few has really ever seen Asura much less know the legend in person. Xeona laughs.
"Hahaha! Honestly it's quite scary when you think about it. I heard she takes after Asura, the cool, silent type. Not only guys but a lot of girls are wooed by her. She is one dashing rouge I'll admit."
A sinking feeling developed in Ohari's guts and she pouts. Xeona notices and gives a big'ol hug.
"Awww... is Ari feeling jealous? You're cute when you pout."
Hayden wags his finger at them.
"Hey don't get all lovey dovey in front of me! This cereal already has a lot of sugar I don't need to get diabetes from you two now."
They share a laugh together as their spaceship travels through the void of space and the cosmos. Hayden lets out a sigh as he stares into the vastness of space, planets, and the beyond again.
"It's been quite peaceful for the last centuries hasn't it? Almost a little too peaceful."
"Yeah I can't wait to get this patrol over with so we can head back into our soft bedroom for an... enticing night."
Xeona winks at Ohari. Ohari rolls her eyes not hiding her blush while Hayden scoffs. For the rest of the patrol, they did some manual checkups on the spaceship to make sure everything is running. According to the time tuned to match their home world, it is just past noon. Ohari gets into the bathroom and sits on the toilet. Pulling out a small scanning crystal shard, she points it at her stomach.
"Scanning..."
Ohari glasps her hands together... come on... come on...
"Scanning complete... Misses Kitsune... you are pregnant."
Elation fills up her lung as she bursts into a joyful squeal. Xeona knocks.
"Ari what's wrong? I can hear you outside."
Ohari quickly covers her own mouth.
"Oh nothing..."
"Ok... weirdo."
Finally, they've been wanting to have a child for so long! Should she tell her now? No, let's surprise her when we get back... a little daughter would be great... Xeona practically drooled as she watched a mother cradle a little girl in her arms. Her glee is cut short as a low voice comes through.
"Team Osiris."
Goddess Durga. Ohari quickly sits up and rushes outside to see the voice comm pulsing to life. Hayden responds as Xeona comes to the cockpit.
"This is team Osiris, Goddess Durga is there something wrong?"
"We've detected a strange anomaly on a planet. It's giving off energy signatures unknown to us. You are the closest team, I want you to investigate only got it?"
Hayden replies.
"We'll be on our way."
Before the comm cuts off Durga speaks again more serous this time.
"Investigate only. At any clear signs of danger you retreat at all costs do you understand?"
"Yes Goddess Durga."
The comms cut off this time with a blink. Hayden looks back at Xeona and Ohari with sincere eyes.
"Time to suit up and gear up. You heard what she said, investigate only and retreat if you need to. And I mean it Xeona, there's no place to play hero."
Xeona says back this time with an annoyed expression.
"I'll do what I do Hayden."
Hayden sighs again, gripping on to the handle of spaceship and firing up the reactor core engine.
"Of course you will... powering up slip-space drive... and Ohari? Please control her... I've got a bad feeling about this."
Ohari nods worriedly and goes into the back of the ship at the armaments rack. Stepping into the armor station, she raises her arms as robotic arms come down, picking out lightweight durable armor plates and connecting to Ohari's suit.
She picks up her trusty steel-gray bow grip with a prometheus flower etched on it... simple yet elegant. She isn't a strong quanta user but her accuracy and bow paired together makes her more than formidable. A whirring and clicking is heard as Xeona equips her great mechanical gauntlets, engineered to amplify her quanta attacks. Hayden then comes into the back, picking out two nano thin, high frequency blades built to slice down to the molecular level. They all put on a ear piece and a scanner onto their wrists. Ohari speaks up first.
"What's the planet we're landing on?"
"Don't know, it seems to be just recently colonized. From what Durga sent me, there seems to be quite a lively town named Dawn where the anomaly resides the strongest."
They hold onto the railings on the ceiling of the spaceship as the ship enters slip-space. All you can see is the blur of warped space and incomprehensible objects pass as you move much faster than light. After about half hour passes, the ship breaks through, pulling space together into a single wormhole as the ship slips through. The groups wrist scanners show up, projecting a real-time, clear hologram of the outside as a barren rust brown landscaped planet comes into view. As the ship breaks through the atmosphere and clouds, the view becomes clearer and the group sees a large area of greenery where the town resides.
As they get low to the ground Xeona opens the hangar door as it flashes warning sounds
"Warning! Warning! Hangar door open!"
The loud sound of atmospheric reentry mutes anything that can be said. Xeona turns to the others and jumps out with a wave.
"See you on the down side!"
Hayden yells.
"Xeona! Damn it not again!"
Hayden jumps out as well, his wings unfurling as he flies downwards. Ohari dives out as well, following after them. The wind rushes past her hair as the cool wind bashes against her face, she looks around, noticing the dark clouds present, giving no way for the sunlight.
Xeona crashes down with a ground pound, shattering the ground into a crater. Hayden lands, using his wings to slow his descent. Xeona looks up and with a dramatic pose, catches Ohari in a smooth motion like a prince carrying a princess. The spaceship lands quietly nearby by and cloaks itself from the surroundings.
They stood on the entrance to the town now. The wooden gate... looked decrepit and worn, the words "Dawn" crudely carved now had a much more foreboding feel. The town was built upon wood, had a more traditional feel to it with some temples and buildings with modern wooden furnishes... but there was no voices heard, no people seen... it looked abandoned. Xeona points out, her voices eerily heard through the dead silence that befell the town.
"Where are the people? Everything looks abandoned."
Hayden grips onto his blades.
"I don't know... and I don't like this... remember what I said. Draw your weapons and keep your guard up. Let's look around together. Ohari if you could get to a vantage point and scout the area...stay near."
A distinct *sheen* is heard as Ohari's bow grip extend into a curved quanta bow. Her fingers draw upon the string as quanta electricity pulls on to her finger tips, at the ready to release the now formed quanta arrow. She takes point and leaps onto the gate and onto the roof of a nearby building. Scanning around with her eye... the town was lifeless... something feels way too off... as her eyes travel across the town, a distinct, unwelcome color of red comes into view. Ohari gasps as in the town center she sees... piles of rotting bodies and pools of sticky blood. She promptly jumps down.
"Hayden... dead bodies at the town center... lots."
Hayden grimaces and even Xeona's chipper attitude turns sour as she the information settles in her mind.
"Hayden, Ari... ear pieces on... let's move in."
They all turn on their earpieces. The glyphs on the piece glow, connecting their minds to communicate telepathically. Hayden nods to Ohari and Xeona.
Hayden: (Let's go.)
Ohari takes to the roofs again, her foot steps making no sound as she stealthily moves along the buildings with her bow drawn and stance low. Below her, Hayden and Xeona moves through the streets, checking every corner and dark area for potential danger.
Ohari: (No signs of possible threats or potential attackers...yet)
Xeona: (Nothing down here yet either... did the attackers leave?)
Hayden: (Maybe, don't let your guard down)
It's quiet... deadly quiet as Hayden moves through the paths. No sound of birds, wildlife... anything. It almost seem like death reaped this land. As Hayden and Xeona arrives at the town square center, a putrid stench fills their nose and makes Ohari gag.
Hayden: (Masks on)
They all then use quanta to form a breathing mask, blocking the smell. Piles...mountains of rotting corpses littered the town center. Pools of blackened, flesh particulate blood drenched the floor. Xeona's feet hits something and she looks down to see a small torn open body, entrails hanging outside in mucus ropes and the flesh peeled back to see still wet, blood filled ligaments... the face was maimed and caved in beyond repair... pieces of skull fragments and hanging flesh was all you can see along with one crushed, milky blood eye ball that drooped from the eye socket.
Xeona: (My god...)
Even though you couldn't tell what the body belonged too... it was not doubt that the small size belonged to a child. Hayden was silent, the carnage was unlike anything he has seen before... he picks up his combat boots from the squishy, warm liquid, seeing the viscous blood stick like slime to the bottom of his boot. For a second, he thought he could see something wriggle, move in the scarlet liquid. The piles of bodies were... the traditional townsfolk and families... all mangled as discolored limbs, organs scattered on the ground, blood seeping from the yellowish white puss and red tissue. It was odd... not even insects were seen on any of the bodies.
Ohari lands onto the ground from the buildings, nearly gagging feeling the bile rise up her throat at the ghastly visage before her. She was never good with the sight of blood... and this ungodly amount.
Ohari: (Who... what did this... these poor people... do you see them Xeona? Do yo-)
Xeona: (calm down Ari... calm down... Hayden what's next?)
Hayden: (I just did a scan of the town for life signatures... there seems to be a cluster of them located somewhere in a building further away. And closer to us three in that house over there. They could be hiding survivors... but prepare your weapons... do not hesitate to kill. Lets move to the closer one.)
Ohari nervously nods, nearly jumping as a lifeless carcass near her bloats and twitches in its postmortem state. As they move closer to the house, she notices vines of dark flesh wrap around the crevices of the building, pulsating with disgusting heaving and sound of melding flesh. It almost seemed to breathe, as it emits black spores with the next puff from its orifices.
Hayden: (Coat your bodies with strong quanta and reinforce that mask, we don't know if they are contagious, poisonous, viral, or some other form of organic infection. Xeona... the door)
Xeona moves towards the door and with blue flames, melts away the veins that cover the door. As the organic tissues fall off into boiling clumps, you can almost hear a feint screeching howl.
Xeona: (Gross)
She then slowly pushes the door which opens with a haunting creak. The inside was worse as membranous flesh covered the insides and carpeted the floor, seeming to morph into the wooden structure of the house. Gelatinous strings of black, swirling liquid drips from the ceiling. It almost seems like a ecosystem in here with bulbous plants oozing black substances and moving tendrils that seem to shrink away at the groups presence.
Ohari: (I don't like this, we should leave and request help... we don't know what we are facing)
Xeona: (Not yet, if there are survivors we need to help them immediately... please Ari)
Ohari wanted to protest the stubborn courage Xeona has, the courage she fell in love with and depended on when she felt weak. But Ohari didn't know what to do.
Hayden: (Ohari's right! We need to leave...)
Xeona refuses to budge and Hayden curses under his breath. As soon as they step in, they picked up labored breathing sounds coming from the living room. Hayden's blades start to vibrate and glow red with blazing heat ready to strike. As they turn the corner into the open living room, giving each other space to move and fight... Ohari freezes as her veins turn to ice.
Cradled in a mass of tangled flesh was a very much pregnant woman. Rendered immobile as her limbs are absorbed into the walls... a mass of something was writhing in her stomach trying to break through the pinkish pale, thin-lining of the womb. The woman's face was contorted in torment as moving veins throbbed under her face, moaning in labor... the sight made Ohari hold her own stomach almost out of fear in conscience.
A man stood unmoving next to the woman with a knife in hand his back turned to them. Xeona noticed a small figure behind a cabinet in the corner... a little human girl who couldn't be more than 10 years old hiding, her blue eyes quivering with fear. The man slowly turns to the group, something wriggling under his crazed, animalistic eyes as he spoke.
"Beautiful isn't it? My wife... she's about to give birth to our baby..."
Before she could think of something, the man slits its own throat as red fluid spurts from the open wound... but instead of dying the man's throat started stretching, its skin tearing away exposing wet muscle tissue as blood continued to pour outward. A revolting crack is heard as sharp, twitching limbs start to force their way out of the man's convulsing chest in infested heaps through the gaping, viscous black blood cavity. Its head splintering into two jaws as the screeching creature lunges at Hayden. Without hesitation and a swift cut of his high-frequency blade, the creature is severed in two... it lays dying on the floor as its limbs flail erratically, a horrible screeching filling the room as it jitters, sputtering sentient, almost ethereal black ooze. Just as the creature is cleaved the pregnant woman lets out a horrible scream as her stomach bulges... swells to an inhuman degree as her stomach bursts into a rain of red gore, showering the room in red.
Squirming among the viscera and piles of guts, maggots with infant faces writhe in her bloody remains, producing horrible, ear piercing crying... Ohari's face pales as the maggots start shuddering as sinew tendrils emerge from their, ill-peach, slimy backs... Xeona quickly summons a continuous flame of quanta fire, melting the hideous spawns. Though their tendrils and the creature attacks would have never had enough power to hurt even if they landed... it was the discordant dying, infantile shrills that made Ohari throw up onto the floor.
But it was far form over, in her dying scream, the pregnant woman's death awakens the town as earsplitting screeches fill the town as all hell breaks loose. Recovering from the ordeal Xeona exclaims.
"Where's the little girl!?"
She looks at outside the window to see the little girl who had ran out of the house in fear when her father transformed. But it was a fatal mistake as from the piles of the deceased... amassing, merging flesh started to form grisly creatures. Some pulling rotting organs, brains and fusing them together with black, cohesive ooze into grotesque extensions of its body. Some haphazardly combine with the carcasses around... the distorted, skulls and faces of the deceased now a gruesome decoration upon the sagging, discolored flesh pink and decaying yellow of its skin. A smiling stretched back head extends its neck like a snake towards the little girl. Xeona tries to rush to her.
"We need to save her!"
Hayden pulls her back and yells over the screeching.
"Everybody retreat to the ship! Don't be a dumbass hero! Retreat!"
Xeona pushes Hayden aside and just before the snake-like abomination bites into the girl, its smile literal ear to ear as saliva dripped, Xeona's gauntlet propels into its body, breaking it in half with a tremendous shockwave as its insides are vaporized. Hayden follows her as Ohari recovers, rushing to her lover as adrenaline fueled her veins.
As more and more deformed, creatures build themselves from the caracasess the group found themselves surrounded with the little girl between them. Ohari tries to call for backup anything when all that comes through her wrist device... is static.
Durga sits at the command table.
"Team Osiris come in. Team Osiris status report!"
The anomaly is growing larger than ever before. The door opens to the command hall as Goddess Kaiyo steps in.
"Durga, I can't sense Ohari and Xeona's life force. Get the portal ready we need to help!"
Durga slams her fist on the table leaving a dent.
"Can't! Whatever the hell is causing that anomaly just caused a massive distortion in time and space! We can't lock onto any coordinates near enough to get there in time... prepare a ship... we're going to portal as close as possible and from there we get there as fast as we can! Don't get other members involved... I fear this force belongs not to our universe... call Meythius and Seriana! Only four of us go."
Goddess Kaiyo interjects.
"What about the Aurelian Knights?"
Durga gets offs the table and starts inputing coordinates...
"Can't take them... if we fail... they are our last line of defense!"
Goddess Kaiyo realizes the weight of the situation and leaves. Durga grits her teeth... Asura we need you...