Herosae Kitsune: Chapter 7 - Can of Worms

Creaking breaks vibrated the chariot, hell bending its will towards the other end of the aquarium floor. With the vanquishing of the industrial river lamp, the tunnel gave enough warning to seal the hatch with Sarephel back inside her rolling bunker. Door opened, door closed. Another door opened, illuminating the cracks in her defence. Everything halted, she sat there a while then the ground shook of churning gears and augmenting direction. She felt lost, another door, everything fading from lit to dark she poked her head out. In front was a short hall, getting brighter near the end. She got out, clinging to the back and with sight of people she dropped in the darkness. Lastly her car docked in a designated stall. Workers surrounded it, pulling off boxes and moving them outside. Grateful as the looming shadow she was, Sarephel waited, she could wait all day here. As long as she remained unseen, this suited her. None of this became any sum easier and even this rest could hardly focus her. She counted herself very, very lucky.

Some people left but one still remained for all she could see. He sat bored, twenty some degrees off, she couldn't risk it. Though his sight was everywhere but the tunnel, her patience would be rewarded in time. Finally he got up, stretched, and moved to the lockers. Closing the end, Sarephel hugged the wall, peering adjacent to see anyone else. Still mucking about his locker, Sarephel checked out one side, then peeking with a mirror she checked behind on the other platform. She moved. Catching her sight was a vent beside a forklift. Still unseen, Sarephel waddled out.

Flat head screws were the best, with ease they came out, pulling the cover off and entering the shaft. It could have came back easier, but barely resting in their holes she left it sitting right in place. This covering the issue of being spotted as she traversed the complex, she couldn't help feel a cliche. One would think there were alarms in these, or at least for rats. Some people headed in the same direction she went, if nothing she was going in the right way, maybe. These vents shifted level frequently, becoming a hassle when carefully moving in suspended passages or finding fans. This maze was getting on Sarephels nerves. Just returning from a noisy dead end, there was no room to turn and reversing was precarious. Constantly kicking the sides by accident. Someone was walking by, Sarephel didn't realize until they were right beside. Stopping instantly, she listened carefully. She couldn't see who but it did give an idea. They closed the door, and with that Sarephel attempted to unhook the vent from inside.

After much tinkering and a few laser cuts, she was out with only minor abrasions. First was to try the door, perhaps find a uniform or some kind of key pass but the door was locked. With cameras around, somewhere, Sarephel didn't want to immediately alert the base. She knocked, hoping to capture whoever was inside. No answer, it was pointless and particularly strange. With no windows, she would have to find another way to secure herself but every turn was like pins and spotting cameras in her small mirror was gravely consuming. She heard footsteps, but they walked away making the vents look mighty appealing again. Right before she tried the old approach, Sarephel heard big wheels down the hall. To her surprise, a woman and another man were pushing a large wooden crate. Large doors cranked open. It was curious what they were up to, but the room they resided was well guarded. Surely where ever they went needed air and if not it gave Sarephel an idea of where to go next.

It was dark, certainly, but this large room was definitely the one. Barely lit by centre row aligned lights, this large vault was huge and laid thick with wooden crates just the same as what went in. Hollow as dead oak and just as quiet, it was musty and pale. In shallow air she came calmly making her way down off the second level. Above, metal catwalks and strange rods hanging down, and all around were crates placed in align between the green paint lines. Though hard to make out as she passed by, they were all stamped with some red mark that blotched through the tan wood. The sheer number of these presents were fascinating, at least two hundred. Somewhere though, there had to be some kind of crowbar or opening device.

Standing tall with thirty two screws in each facing side, these behemoth treasure troves were secured beyond measure. Photographing everything she could, the laser cutter made it's miraculous return. Among the stale air, it was greeted with burning wood and hot metal. Screws cracked as they bent, the top being ripped open with the sides. Bringing it down, Sarephel gazed inside. Cold cinder froze her in place like needles of pure ice pricking the skin. All hair and fur alone standing on end, the reality of her jail cell seeping in. Slowly pushing the wooden face back into place, she heard it move. “Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.” Sarephel cussed, hearing the movement within rattle her. Slight weight flopped onto her panel, oozing out it's hefty mass and overcoming her strength. Sarephel was panicking, the sounds of other boxes awakening. She abandoned the wooden lock, slamming it against the ground, awakening more angrily.

Fast to it's feet, pouring out was another dreaded biomech. Sarephel jumped to Natheena, quelling the beast and the cries of rage burned through the caskets temporally destabilizing the air in a heavy gravity that brought Sarephel's ears to crackle and her strength to pull her down. She regained her balance, as crates popped open. Loud sirens pulled, hailing all staff on sight. “Danger, all Atherian Mk seventeen's have awoken in the vault, repeat: Danger, all Atherian Mk seventeens. Please evacuate the area, this is not a drill, NOT A DRILL. All guard, please standby until 'lullaby' is complete, all guard, please standby.” She had to make it back to the vent. Running as she might, the emerging malice chased after her. Pulling her incredible weight up the catwalk, they arrived to meet her, closing off the ventilation entrance. She tried to kill them off but they piled up and the matter would not dissipate quick enough to crawl in. Dodging the mess of appendages wasn't possible, their stings charging and worsening with each lashing, sending her across the balcony. Sarephel scampered off, flying overtop back into the fray. Her entrances were blocked. Purple lights shot down, a strange emotion coursing through her. Everything that was hard to do before became worse but it seemed to have a bigger impact on everyone else. “Lullaby in effect, do not enter area until Lullaby is complete. Repeat.”

“Oh shut your mouth.” Sarephel returned, still engaged with the swarm. The other side's vent was free, it was her only other option but all her strength was being sapped by the damned 'lullaby'. All she could manage was to fight them off, one by one, or one by ten. Even Natheena's glow dimmed and her strikes more saturated than holding clout. Though they slowed down, their shock still had it's affect. Sarephel narrowly dodged it's blow, finding her new placement subject to the dog pile above. Ready to vomit, the exertion subjected her to collapse. In the distance through blurry eyes, bright light flickered along the wall. All around, their slow movements gathering in. Rumbling the the ground, she looked up. Explosions echoed through the steel door, flashing blinding blue rays, another, and finally the last. Intense burning sight stunned her as a glowing steel metal cylinder flung out decapitating it's victim. From the new hole, two rods of light danced passing her. Blasts of energy shattering the lamps into twilight. All Atherian Mk Seventeens behind, boiling and blistering fire with the continuation behind her. A hallowing tone struck her off guard

“Fight.” Sarephel felt her strength no longer being taken, a second wind sweeping her ill bones and trembling gut. As though she had not existed, the monsters turned their backs to her, chasing after her angel. Her voice, impossible. They piled high, vicious and untamed while lullaby went for a long bathroom break. Twin rods, curling around their mass like a child's scribble, leaving trails in their festering corpses. Swarms swallowed their target, splattering the ceiling, a cyclone of curling light shattered them all away as it descended into the basin of it's faucet. Sarephel was speechless, clinging back to her footing, she had her own to attend to. Natheena glowed bright, etchings humming strongly along it's razor edge. Two fighters pitted against the odds, returning to battle. Two sisters, reunited. “Nice one... You REALLY done it this time.” Kaunzi congratulated, fighting a new path back to the entrance.

“How?” Sarephel remarked, holding off her end.

“You literally are, THE, worst spy I've ever seen in my life.” Continuing the praise, as Kaunzi broke off her ballet of florescent death.

“So you followed me?” Sarephel called, unheard or in the least unanswered. “All the way here?”

“You better pay me back for this!” Kaunzi hollered. “Just 'coz. Your cute, doesn't make it free.”

Sarephel expected as much. With the aether lit burning floor, she blazed a new trail and Sarephel worked her way out.

“Your back is wide open.” Kaunzi lectured, inches behind, and gushing liquid fire splattering off Sarephel's cheeks. Swapping sides didn't seem any better pickings, still over-run and tiring they consulted their options. “How many are there anyway?”

“A few hundred.” Looking the other in the eye, they both agreed.

“Make a run/dash for the exit?” They both suggested, taking it instantly and cutting their loss of ground before it fell heavier on them. Running through the centre, giant biomechs intercepted. Nowhere was a good place, and any place was no good. Recklessly Sarephel dove under one enemy, and pushed herself back on it's other side. Kaunzi slicing it's forehead with a high road leap. Splitting the attention above or below, the sisters leaped through the cannon hole outside of the mess. Soldiers awaited them, tending to the incapacitated and the paralized.

“Executive royal guard, coming through, make way!” Kaunzi flashed, badge and all, making their way passed until one man yelled out

“Traitors! Get them anyway! They started this mess!” Ducking into the first side passage they could find, Kaunzi lead them into a maze of sharp turns, disabling anyone they met that was armed. Into an elevator shaft, Kaunzi smashed the door close and the top floor while furiously swiping her key card. Quiet at last. Panting heavily, Sarephel opened up.

“You never answered me... Back, back there.”

“Nothing personal, you have the worst timing, especially for casual conversations.”

“So you followed me?”

“Kaunzi laughed, followed by coughing “You're not that special. How'd you show up?”

“Fallowed a hole that lead me straight here, you?”

“Found some documents that show those holes are everywhere, even here too I figured it being the highest security place to have them, it had to have the best lead on whoever is responsible.”

“And you just knew it was me in there then?”

Kaunzi continued to laugh harder. “I said you were the worst spy I've ever seen. While I was in security I caught you trying to be sneaky on the camera feed, and failing miserably.”

“And you didn't come by to help me, why?”

“And if I did that, you'd grow how?”

“I hate you some times.”

“I just saved your ass didn't I? A little appreciation would be great...” “Later,” Kaunzi cut off. “We're here.”

“You think they caught on to us up here?”

“For one, you tripped the alarm, everyone is going to be on edge. Secondly...” Kaunzi announced, finding a welcoming comity. “We're horribly dressed for the occasion.”

Guns drawn at a distance, the head guard stepped in. Dressed for war, she stood tall addressing the sisters firmly. “You two seem to be busy.”

“So, you've heard of us?” Kaunzi talked through.

“Treason is a pretty high offence, especially from a guard such as yourself.”

“Does this mean I'm on the wrong floor? I can go back if you prefer.”

“No games Kaunzi! Step aside and away from your partner.”

“Fine, I know when a good chat's turned sour.” Slowly lifting her leg to the side, a small metal canister fell from behind her, instantly igniting. Blinding flash bang covering the whole room, Kaunzi's eyes closed, cushioning the blow

“Fire! Shoot her!”

All weapons opened up, blindly unleashing their entire clips, Kaunzi's sight returned quickly, “Sis, grab me!”

Sarephel did so, finding herself being tugged over slipery shattered bullets, still seeing nothing. “Are you okay?”

“It's what we train for.” The halls slowly regaining their passing glance. These passages were mostly empty until turning one corner. “Close your eyes.” Another flash bang went off, ringing their ears. Though the soldiers caught on, Kaunzi closed in before their sight fully caught the incoming chop to their nerves. As the men collapsed, Kaunzi shook her buzzing arm, the cloth stripped away from her plated armour. Shock numbing the fingers.

She felt an incline as Kaunzi gragged Sarephel up a ramp. Men shouting from behind. “Get in front of me.” Kaunzi demanded. “I'll be right behind you.” Sarephel agreed, sight mostly returned. “And whatever you hear, don't stop running.”

“Kaunzi?!” Sarephel cried, worry sweeping her.

“Keep moving!” Kaunzi barked, throwing a package behind her. Instantly everything lit up, a burly fireball shooting past her on both sides and explosion capable to winding anyone. She stumbled, looking back. Kaunzi holding a massive light shield between them and the tunnel collapsing shock wave. Rock fell, and pebbles dropped on Sarephel's head, dropping the solid mass to cave in the path behind them. They made it to the top, a single metal door in the way. “You take that side...” Kaunzi directed, pointing opposite of her. The door started to open, Sarephel taking order swiftly.

“What the sweet damnation was that?” One guard uttered, lighting his flashlight into the smokey chamber. He walked in.

“What happened, it's completely dark.”

“I think the tunnel collapsed but... I smell explosives.”

“You think there is anyone in there?” Following in.

Sarephel and Kaunzi peeking out behind “I don't knoOOaW” The guard shouted, the other looking to him as Sarephel rendered the other unconscious. Kaunzi stealing a set of keys from his belt. Covering their corners, the two guards out front were all that was left of the original stationed that went in to deal with the girls. Waiting outside, one beautiful dirt covered Toma eight hundred off road tanker truck and a set of keys to start it. Last years model too. Though it didn't smell brand new, it worked flawlessly, engine booting like the returning heartbeat of their chase.

“Thank you...” Sarephel finally gratified, the road riding clear. Bumpy dirt path leading far away from the base, the night sky clouded over and lit by an enhanced visor. Lights searching from above

“You're an idiot...” Kaunzi replied darkly. “But, you're my idiot little sister so I expect it.” She smiled, turning lighter, the first legitimate smile Sarephel ever saw from her since they were little.

“I guess I messed up your research, didn't I?”

“Well, I planned on staying there all night, so yeah but... I just left the bosses office. I was seeing what else I could dig up in security before I noticed your buffoonery. It's alright though. How did you like that key I gave you?” Sarephel didn't answer. “That good, huh?”

They continued down the path, lights from behind them catching up. “I love this boding time we got but I'm going to have to crash us. No hard feelings, kay?”

“What?”

“I'ma crank it to the right, you get out on the roof and jump to the other side of the road with me. We'll have to resume this on foot before they start lobbing bombshells on us. Probably not, but I'm not up for high speed gun battles and bloodshed, even in this machine.”

Without a lot of thought, Sarephel opened her door, yanking herself out of the saftey of her seat. Still hanging there, she gazed over, process thing the request of her blood commanding officer. Nodding, she lunged onto the roof. Balance was a miserable thing to have, straight as they drove the bumps weakened her stance and her potential to leap. The door swung out below her, and commanding, Kaunzi commenced the operation. The air felt like pins, each moment unfixed to the earth's rotation left her nervous of making tracks along the ground. Though barely tapping the grass, Sarephel came into the woods and Kaunzi right behind.

Returning to the night vision, everything lit illuminated by massive shafts of moonlight and blinding dark with bright obstructions. A path if any was trying it's hardest to become visible but Sarephel stumbled, turning the hindering aid off. Light casting drones above weighted down into the path. Still uncertain of the sisters rogue trail, it moved on ahead and veered off track. Though without a proper cut, Kaunzi seemed to know where she was going. Up ahead they found a large bog, grabbing a reed, Sarephel followed her sister and entered it.

The night lasted far too long. By the icy river bed, they could clean off. Heavy black stains ruined everything, and reeked enough to wake the dead when they would finally burn it. The only salvageable articles were the bare bones of their outfits and the tools that accommodated for the aquarium escape. By morning, a little before sun rise, they entered the neighbouring village. Roads and buildings of the small area littered around a lit parking lot across the street. Still open, no one manned the front. Ringing the bell a few times, a man came out of the back room and bar. He took one look at the two and shook his heads.

“Come on, let's go off roading she said, we'll be back by supper... Right?” Kaunzi mocking quoted fiction, nudged at her sister who played along.

Everything came off. Into the convenient garbage under the desk, Kaunzi took first shower while Sarephel tried not to dirty the sheets. She took long enough to see sun beam into their room, closing the blinds Sarephel returned to her wait. Emerging, Kaunzi rapped herself in a towel and went to her bed.

The water poured down filthy. Her hair matted and tainted sticky tangled mess. Fingers were poor brushes, continuously checking knots. She covered the rest of her in lather and massaged her tired skin. Warm water pulled out the tension and the rest she needed was not soon enough. She bathed in the bliss of it's splendour. “Hey.” Kaunzi knocked. “I have to go.”

“I'm just about done.”

Opening the door, Kaunzi barged in. Sarephel closing the curtains. “Shy.” She teased. “I just saw you before you came in here.”

“Like I want to watch you evacuate your bladder.”

“Whatever. I got someone coming, he's got us a fresh set of clothes.”

Sarephel peeked out narrow eyed. “He?”

“You got a problem with him?”

Looking aside, she ducked back in to continue working out the bugs. “No, I just get hit on enough while I'm actually clothed as is.”

“If he did, I'd have his balls for bookends. How's Aera?”

“You've been snooping, I haven't even told you about her yet.”

Kaunzi broke into laughter. “Daddy won't shut up about her.

“What does he say about her?” Sarephel poked out.

“He likes her a lot. Aera this, Aera that. I've never seen Sarephel so happy with anyone. I should give her that old restaurant we used to go to with grandpa...”

“I miss grandpa...” Sarephel reminisced

“He's doing fine, sent us a card from Tallaus. It's gorgeous country out there. I'll show you the picture when we get home.”

“I know it is, I've seen them before.” Returning to her waters.

“No, this picture he took himself and it's amazing...” Kaunzi admitted, finishing off her job. She washed her hands undisturbed. Sarephel was busy with her rainfall but Kaunzi lifted the weight on her. “He really does like her, I'm kind of jealous.”

Sarephel nodded, concealed.

Finally running the hot water on low, she left the steamy chamber. Walking out, Kaunzi was reading her tablet, inattentive to Sarephel. Sitting down onto her cushy bed, Kaunzi turned to her and remarked. “You still smell terrible.”

“If was your idea to go trudging around in black muck.”

“You rather take it up with the local military on foot?”

“I rather have ran around the mess.”

“But then we wouldn't have this sister bonding time!” Kaunzi instilled, whining sarcastically.

Sarephel slanted her head “You wanted this?”

“No... Was your idea to piss off a vault of biomechs.”

“How was I to know!?”

“You could have gotten you head out of your ass and thought about it for ten seconds instead of being cool.” Pulling out a few needles out of her kind composure.

Silence took the room. “I'd go back in for round two but the waters getting cold.”

“Not my fault if people think you stink.”

“And what about you?” Sarephel asked, crawling to the edge of her bed. “...Why don't you smell like crap?”

Kaunzi smiled, earnestly complimented. “Trade secret.”

“Trade secret, huh?” Sarephel answered, unsatisfied, fixing her loose towel.

“Say, how'd you like that key I gave you?” Kaunzi inserted, cheerfully distracted on her reading.

Sarephel took the topic change, due to her many words prepared for this subject. “It was a pain in the ass. Would have been nice to know where it was so I wasn't running around asking every cat on the block. When I got there, you left a lot of information that was...”

“How'd you get there?” Kaunzi interrupted, mischievously.

“Oh, it was a hassle.”

“Mhm?...”

“Getting in was a pain but the guard there was staring holes in me the entire time...” Sarephel stopped, noticing the squishy flush expression on her sister's face. “What?” Kaunzi broke into laughter again. “What's so funny!?” Sarephel demanded.

“I... I t-AH” She laughed again. “I told him, to give you a hard time.” Her laughter continued. Sarephel boarded Kaunzi's bed, hands on her shoulders. “I told him to... To make it hard for you.”

“You prick!” Sarephel started shaking the bubbly doll, smiling under her playful anger.

“He... He would have let you in, directly. But, but...” Regaining her composure. “So... How, how did you get past him?”

“I incapacitated him with a quick serum.”

Kaunzi couldn't hold in the dams, her eyes watered in wild laughter. “You, are the worst spy, I've EVER SEEN!” Sarephel throttling her sister's limp tear ridden head against the pillow. Kaunzi rolled aside, tumbling Sarephel to the floor, and then she continued to laugh. Sarephel took poorly to it and tugged Kaunzi off balance and down with her. They both chuckled, Kaunzi more enraged by her humour, stark beside her sister's smiling face. “Seriously though, you kinda failed. Don't worry, I'll test you again later.”

Both returned to their feet and then their respective bed. “I hate you.”

“You love me.” Kaunzi assured. “I guess I should at least let you in on what's going on.”

“Yeah, what did you find down there?”

“More over... What we're doing when my tech ninja gets here.”

Sarephel returned gleefully. “You call him a tech ninja too?”

“It's kind of my cool name for him, he's not really a ninja but I call him that.”

“I prefer stealth wuzzard, but...”

“Well, anyway,” Kaunzi Restored. “We're going to be heading out for a while, so drop off anything you're not taking with you. Tannor is bringing us to the meeting on his way out there. We're gathering to discuss everything we know about this incident so far.”

“And I'm invited?”

“Personal guest, really, but I don't think they'll mind much... So the stuff that I found brought up a few new names, and some special information I've passed on to Jaela to look into. You'll hear about that there. And yes, this matter goes pretty high up there with Restricted Access involved.” Her tone changed, Kaunzi's melancholy seeped in with her reflection. “I just can't believe it... They've been using our royal passages and we haven't even noticed them. It's scary, right under our noses and not even daddy was aware. You know about the passages, right?”

“I would expect there to be some, yes.”

“Well, inside the the main support columns, you'll find small passages which our escape tunnels are made, as well in unmarked areas of the maintenance levels. Whoever is in them, though I can't say when the last use was, not only knows of them but has integrated full undetectable networks around them. They can access anywhere. Who knows what else they know about us.”

“What do you think they want? A take over or something?”

“I'm not sure...” Kaunzi admitted. “I might have a better idea after the meeting. It's not really a clear motive or manner.”

Lingering longer than it should, the quell air reaped their thoughts, awaiting the end of their intermission. “Sis.” Sarephel ushered. “What have you been doing lately?” Her sister turned rhetorically laxing her brow. “Beyond work...”

Kaunzi rose her knees, clasping loosely under with an expression of drawn thought. Her mind, still loose to grasp the sidetracking notion, pondering what best said her lack. “I've not much.”

Unconvinced, Sarephel returned, “Really? All this time?”

“Life is work, everything is.”

Grave disappointment irked Sarephel closer. “And off shift?”

Kaunzi popped a sarcastic choke of laughter. “Welcome to my life.” She announced, sporting far too entertained of a cadence in her outraged voice.

“What about the sim?”

“That's like mega work.”

“Not to me.” Sarephel replied earnestly, “I go there for fun.”

“If you got stress to beat out, sure.” Kaunzi excepted, unhindering her point. “It's still work for me.” Emphasizing her personal claim.

“They don't make you stare at a holographic wall for thirty six hours, do they?”

“Why, when I can do that at home?” Kaunzi joked sadly, “If, I could get thirty six hours off...” Knocking interrupted them, both turning to the door. “You might want to wrap up.” Making her way to the spy hole. Sarephel crawled off to the bathroom. “There you are.” Greeting warmly.

“You're clothes.” The man intuitively prioritize, not taking even a moment off her face to realize the towel loosely fitting.

“What? Not even a sweat?” Kaunzi teased. “Oh, yeah... You can toss that one at the wall so my sister can get dressed.”

One peer behind his partner, in the dim dark corner, Sarephel was peeking out, arm extended sheepishly. Over the beds, Tannor chucked the package. “Inside is everything you need, and a ticket each. Don't loose it.”

“And the bill?” Kaunzi continuing her charade.

“By the desk as always.” He smirked, giving them some space.