Yuren followed the man down a narrow hallway and entered a lowly lit room full of cryogenic chambers, each one with an android inside.
"Here they are." Aiden pointed to the upper level.
Yuren raced up the stairs, seeing the two androids he was looking for. XMV04 and XMV22; Jia and Bei.
His heart sank seeing the hole in Jia's torso and her core missing; she had suffered massive damage and would likely never reanimate. He then moved to the chamber beside her, looking over the android that had been put down in front of him. Her body was battered and broken from her fight with those helixes, but he could see her core flickering.
"Are you satisfied?" Aiden asked, standing next to him.
"What are you planning to do with them?" Yuren questioned.
"Nothing. Dismantling them risks transmutation and the last thing I want is a Meteorn appearing in this facility. That's why they're being stored here. It's safer for everyone involved."
"What if I said I wanted to take them out?"
Aiden pointed a gun at Yuren, "I can't allow that."
Yuren stepped back, his hands up. "What are you doing?"
"You can morn them however you like. But if you are going to risk a Meteorn appearing here, I can't allow it. They will remain in cryo-sleep until they naturally expire or I find a way to dismantle them." The researcher stated.
"What's the point in keeping them alive?"
"A lot of them aren't. Those that are are kept in stasis for safety and study. Their cores are the most unique and interesting; they're also extremely volatile and dangerous. These resilient cores that haven't died for whatever reason will be studied indefinitely until a solution to reversing the body fusion is made." Aiden placed his hand on Bei's pod. "This one's core is struggling to live even after being hit with a termination round, and it's quite fascinating!"
"She was shot... and survived?" Yuren looked at the damaged android, a small hope growing inside.
"It's extremely unstable, but yes. Her core is clinging to life somehow." Aiden explained, a sadistic smile formed on his face. "All the more reason to study it in detail."
"How are the cores made? I need to know."
"Made? Don't you pay attention to anything? The cores come from Meteorn that have been defeated in blackout zones. The cores are extracted and brought here." The man frowned; he was beginning to grow annoyed.
"What about the ones that are in the other room?" Yuren gestured towards the hallway.
"Those were all cores that have failed to fuse to a body, so they're being preserved in a stable condition." Aiden replied, tapping his foot impatiently.
"So they're all Meteorn?!" Yuren exclaimed.
"Of course they are. Now, enough questions. I need to get back to work." Aiden motioned with the gun for Yuren to move.
Yuren walked down the stairs and followed the man down the hallway. "One more question, what is Transmutation?"
"It is when an android turns back into a fully formed Meteorn. It happens when their core absorbs too much resonance and causes a catastrophic reaction. This leads to their bodies turning back into the original lifeform, though they do sometimes maintain their appearance." Aiden explained.
"I see."
Aiden led him back to the entrance, and Yuren found Lina waiting.
"HXF07, I'd appreciate if you'd prevent your Commander from causing problems for me." Aiden glared.
"He won't cause any more trouble, Dr. Horthorn. I apologize for his actions." Lina bowed.
"See that he doesn't. This is a highly classified facility, and I won't tolerate any interference." Aiden sneered. He then turned and headed back into the facility.
"Come, Commander." Lina ushered Yuren towards the exit.
"How could you be so calm about this, Lina?!" Yuren yelled, unable to control himself.
"What do want me to even do?" She replied quietly, averting her gaze.
Yuren flinched; he didn't expect this from her. He saw it in her eyes; she didn't want to come here. The sadness and despair were clear.
"Sorry, Lina." Yuren apologized.
"It's fine, Commander. Please follow me." She led him outside, and they returned to the ship.
The ride back to the base was deafeningly silent.
"Commander, the Vice Minister is calling." Lina informed.
"Put her through."
Amalia's image appeared; she seemed irritated. "What is the meaning of this, Yuren?"
"Sorry, Lina." Yuren apologized.
"It's fine, Commander. Please follow me." She led him outside, and they returned to the ship.
The ride back to the base was quiet; the atmosphere was heavy.
Once they landed, Yuren exited the ship and headed back to the office. Lina followed silently behind.
As soon as the door closed, Yuren slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it!" He roared. Seeing all those Meteorn, deep down, something about it enraged him. "Those cores are..."
Was it because he was allegedly one as well? His kind was being treated like livestock; it was infuriating. The color of his eyes began to turn red. "Damn it!"
Lina watched in horror as red energy began to arc off of him, "Commander, please! Calm down!" She pleaded, but her voice was lost in the rage. The power is flickering in the office.
Yuren felt a powerful wave of emotion overwhelm him, and a burning anger filled his mind.
"Commander!" Lina's voice broke through his thoughts. "Please, calm down."
"Sorry, Lina." Yuren exhaled, the red energy fading away.
"What was that?"
"It was nothing." Yuren shook his head, taking his coat from his desk. "I think I need to lay down after that."
"Yes, of course. Get some rest, Commander." Lina nodded.
"You too, Lina."
"Yes, sir."
Yuren exited the office and headed to his quarters; the entire base was quiet. It was strange how eerie the atmosphere was.
He reached his room and unlocked the door, stepping inside and locking it behind him.
Yuren removed his coat and boots. Before he flopped down, he noticed a figure under his blanket. "Huh?"
He approached the bed, slowly reaching for the cover.
"Mmm..." A soft sound escaped the figure.
Yuren gently pulled the cover back and saw Eri sleeping soundly.
"What the..." Yuren blinked; he didn't remember inviting her. "What is she doing here?"
Yuren was dumbfounded. How did she even get in his room? How is she bypassing the lock?
He looked around, and the door and windows were locked when he left.
"Just how the hell did she get in?"
He noticed a ceiling panel was slightly open, a small opening. There was no escaping her, was there?
He sighed and removed his harness, lying on the bed.
Eri rolled over, snuggling against him.
"What am I going to do with you?" He muttered.
"Too tired. No play." Eri spoke softly.
"Eri..." Yuren groaned, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"Sleep." She replied.
Yuren sighed, his head falling back against the pillow. He lay there for a while, listening to her soft breathing.
"Why are you here, Eri?" Yuren asked, his hand running through her hair.
"Bodyguard. More now." She mumbled.
"Why? Do you think I'll go crazy and start destroying the base?"
"No. Bad people. Want resonance." She whispered. "Your resonance."
"Why does everyone want my resonance?" Yuren sighed.
"Powerful. Control Meteorn." Eri explained. "Want use."
Yuren immediately remembered the facility and the androids being stored. The cores... they were from defeated Meteorn, which was why they were so powerful. They were using the defeated Meteorn and turning them into androids. He grimaced. "Do you want to kill me?"
"No. Impossible." She shook her head. "Can't."
"Why?"
"Meteorn. My core knows. We same." Eri rolled over, "Eri know. Eri not android."
"Huh?" Yuren glanced at her. The meaning of her words didn't make sense.
"Eri disguised." She sat up, looking at him. "Tricked."
"Wait, what?" Yuren blinked.
"Eri Meteorn." She pointed to her chest where her core was. "Eri is Meteorn."
"What?!"
"Eri is Meteorn." She repeated, poking his chest.
"I don't understand..."
"Meteorn no die. Reborn." She explained.
"Reborn?"
"Body destroyed. Core take resonance. Make new body." Eri Answered
"What?!"
"New body. Vice Minister find. Act like android." Eri explained, pointing at herself. "But Eri no android. Eri Meteorn."
"What?!" Yuren's jaw dropped.
"Reila same. Eisendrache big Meteorn."
"Holy shit!"
"Shhh! No loud!" Eri put her finger to his lips. "Meteorn lord. Yuren lord."
"I am?"
"Lord. Strong. Eri follow Yuren." She smiled.
"What does that even mean?"
"Lord power. Lord fight. Lord lead. Lord command."
"So... what does that make the Vice Minister?"
"Android... Lord...?" Eri suggested. "Not Meteorn."
"So she basically like a lord class but for androids?" Yuren sat up.
"Yes. But not lord."
"What's the difference?"
"Lord have resonance. Human no resonance. Minister no resonance." She explained, "Human make android. Lord make Meteorn."
"And that makes the difference?" Yuren asked
"Yes."
"Okay, so you're not really an android, you're a Meteorn disguised as an android." Yuren summed up.
"Yes."
"Wait, does Garra know? She's a part of your sniper team. Wouldn't she notice?"
"Garra know. Garra not care. Different mission." Eri shrugged.
"Different mission? What does that mean?"
"Garra mission. Don't know."
"Ah, right..." Yuren nodded.
"Yes. Garra. Not talk a lot."
"So, wait, is the entire 701st just Meteorn in disguise?"
"Don't know." She shook her head. "But maybe more."
"More?"
"Others hide. Protect resonance." Eri shrugged.
"So there could be more than just you?"
"Possible. Meteorn protect self."
"Right." Yuren nodded.
"Now sleep." Eri tugged his arm, pulling him back down.
"Okay." Yuren lay back down, staring at the ceiling. "Thanks for telling me this."
"Welcome." She cuddled up, taking the whole blanket, her eyes closing.
Yuren felt a little more at ease, his mind finally cleared, and he could breathe easier. At some point, he needed to reclaim Bei's body. If the Vice Minister was right about his abilities, he could use her core and heal her. Maybe he could use his new powers to save the others as well.
But the fact that Jia's core was missing was worrying; if only he could find out where it was. He closed his eyes, trying to calm his thoughts. He needed to get some rest, and after a little while longer, he was finally able to fall asleep.