The Reject: Part 3

The R.E.A.P.E.R Project: Cardinal-Archimedean Theytris Lore

—————— The Reject —————— Part 3

•Written by Vittoria St.Martin with the blessing of Exalted Changuis{Red Veil}

•Edited by Exalted Changuis{Red Veil}

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Suddenly, a compartment opened up in the floor a few feet away from Vitaliya and a large cage rose up from a hidden space within the floor. The platform that carried the cage fused perfectly with the floor, sealed into place, and the bars of the cage separated then pulled back into the floor as if they were never even there at all. Thick chains rattled and clinked together as a large dark beast uncurled itself from where it had been lying within the prison box and laid it’s blazing red eyes on Vitaliya. The Tenno's eyes widened in fear at what she saw and she tried to shrink back from it, but the shackles that bound her held her firmly in place.

The Infested Kubrow was massive, the largest she had ever seen, in fact she’d never seen one like this before, the thick coiled muscles beneath it’s blackened and crimson skin flexed powerfully as it rose up to almost twice her size. A wide metal collar was secured around its neck and four massive chains secured it to the platform, but as its red multi-slitted eyes focused on Vitaliya it lunged forward with uncanny speed. Vitaliya gasped and raised her free hand instinctively as the beast charged. The collar and chains clanged loudly, the moorings where the links were secured to the floor groaned in protest against the beast’s weight as they jerked it to a halt safely beyond her reach. The creature roared digging its claws into the floor, pulling against the chains to get to her, saliva and foam dripping from its segmented maw.

Vitaliya blinked and started to breath a sigh of relief and lower her arm when something shot out of the Kubrow’s mouth and wrapped around her arm causing it to erupt in searing pain. She screamed in both surprise and agony as the barbs of the proboscis dug into her wrist and forearm, then again as the tendril yanked viciously on her arm and began pulling her towards the creature. She jerked to a painful halt as her left wrist caught in the shackle mounted on the bar as she was pulled taught in two different directions. Vitaliya began to desperately struggle as she tried to pull her arm free from tendril of the Infested Kubrow, groaning with the effort.

“No!” she strained. “Let go!”

The beast snarled hungrily anticipating the meal to come and yanked harder on her arm and her eyes widened as she felt her shoulders begin to strain, the ts threatening to dislocate. She dug her heels in and pulled back but she knew it was not use, the beast was physically too much stronger than her. Blazing orange energy swirled within her eyes as she glared at the Kubrow and flames suddenly burst to life along her right arm. The proboscis began to sizzle and burn and the beast let out a yelp of pain and the tendril immediately uncoiled retracting back into the creature’s head, releasing her. Both the charger and Vitaliya staggered backwards away from one another to recover from their injuries. The Charger lowered its head and shook it, saliva pouring from its mouth to soothe the burned appendage, while the Tenno held the burning limb close to her body, letting the flames cauterize the wounds before making a fist and dispersing the flames. Dropping her hand and taking on a defensive stance she regarded the charger sternly, and he in turn snorted loudly widening his paws out for another lunge, claws tapping the floor as they regarded one another.

“We have reached one-hundred percent Void energy level.” the female voice announced within the glass room.

There was a soft chuckle from Doctor Matthias in response, “All it takes is the right push after all…

“Subject…” Doctor Matthias voice returned to fill the amphitheatre. “What do you make of this Helminth Charger?”

Vitaliya took a good look at the creature now that she had a moment and a strange expression crossed her face. While the beast was massive and well muscled she could see a more pronounced bone structure, the ribs showing more vividly along its side. The skin across its stomach was shrunken and taught.

“It’s starving…” she observed softly.

“Correct. It has not eaten in several days, six to be precise, you could say it is now ravenous.” the good Doctor paused momentarily to let the information sink in. “Now it has tasted your blood, Subject.”

Vitaliya stared at the Kubrow as it panted deeply, saliva pooling on the floor beneath its twitching segmented jaws as it gazed in abstract hunger at her. She swallowed hard and made a fist with her left hand as she tentatively jerked against the shackle on her wrist looking up warily at the glass windows.The Kubrow let out a deep growl and she did her best to ignore it for the moment.

“This creature is compelled to eat out of necessity, the same way you are compelled to burn, advantageous is it not, subject?”

Vitaliya balked up at the glass her eyes growing wide with the sudden realization, “You want me to kill it?! It’s just hungry-!”

“And with a press of this button beneath my fingertip, that collar will be released and you will become its next meal, subject.” Doctor Matthias stated matter-of-factly.

A shuddering breath escaped Vitaliya as she stared back at the massive Kubrow. The beast chuffed and a morose sound escaped it as it lunged towards her again causing the chains to clang together once more. It huffed meekly as its slavering jaws snapped, clawing at the floor as it pitifully tried to reach her in its starving state. Yet the girl couldn't help but stare at it, a bizarre sympathy mingling with the fear in her glowing eyes.

“It attacked you. It caused you pain.” the Doctor's voice called down to her almost hypnotically, his tone filled with suggestion. “It’s only desire is to devour your flesh and assimilate it unto itself. It deserves no mercy, no pity. Do you want to die here and become part of that thing - or do you want to live?”

Vitaliya slowly raised her free hand as she focused on the Kubrow and her eyes began to glaze over with radiant orange energy. The air around her began to shimmer as if it were unnaturally warm and the sweat along her skin suddenly evaporated. Fire suddenly sparked to life along her blackened fingertips, yet she hesitated.

“Burn it, Subject, do not hold back.” Doctor Matthias commanded a strange yearning creeping into his voice. “Sear it from existence and show us what your compulsion can do!”

“Don’t hold back?” the girl murmured slowly.

“Ye-es.” the Doctor almost cooed. “Release all your restraint, let go your control, give in to your fire, Subject. Give. In.”

“Let..go..?” she repeated almost dreamily.

Vitaliya’s eyes suddenly became unfocused as she stared out into the room. A hush fell over the amphitheater as if all the sound had been suddenly sucked into a vacuum, but afterwards it would be described as the silence that signaled the onset of a backdraft. The fire in Vitaliya’s hand suddenly changed color going from orange to blinding blue- white. Then a crooked toothy smile spread across Vitaliya’s face as a sheen of red energy glazed over her eyes.

“Doctor!” the female voice cried out. “Subject’s Void energy levels have just spiked to over four hundred percent.”

“Check the machine, there isn’t anything alive that can withstand that kind of void poisoning!” Doctor Matthias shot back turning to face her.

“Doctor, I assure yo-”

An explosion of blinding light suddenly erupted from the amphitheatre followed by the cacophonous sound of shattering glass and the roar of flames, causing everyone in the room to cower and some of them to cry out in alarm.