Chapter 1: Welcome to the New World

Stella extended her arm, shaking. "Okay. Take it. I won't say anything. I swear." She whimpered. The amount of military tech meant Nexus would hear of this. This entire wharf, the docks and warehouses...she knew it. Nexus would soon comb the area, and would gain the one up Icarus was worried about.

When did the military go to this lengths to protect...nothing so far?

She highly doubted that she wouldn't say anything. The UNESD had many enemies since they obsessively claimed every piece and scrap of alien technology uncovered on Earth. Advanced technology beyond human invention or creation or in some case replication should be used only to protect humanity as a whole rather than weapons of war. "You will come with us to the medical tent where we will draw and analyse your blood" She explained bluntly not caring for the civilian at all, irritated by the extra paper work and hassle involved by them, that she would now have to go through.
"Why did you try to sneak in?"

//

"Guess I will see you guys when I next see you" Lauren said with a smile, she hoped that next time she would not disappoint them but... She wasn't too certain, some things in life where always beyond control and out of her hands.

"I'm sure we will.....we're at the same school after all," Chris said with a smile. They started walking to the stairs, not eager to get out so much as eager to let the awkward level drop a bit.

And she couldnt hide much.
"...I needed to modify the router to allow me to wirelessly access the cameras here on the docks." She said as they escorted her to the medical tent. "As this is a closed circuit system, I had no remote way to access it. Not like I can hack a helmet camera and blhounce off until I find the router. Not exactly a video game." She hugged herself. Least Icarus could reimburse her stuff.
"...why is the military here anyways? Wasnt this a drug bust area or something? Not in need of the Marines?"

As they walked to the tent, spray painted on the walls of the warehouse where the words, "Cabalt knows the truth"
Foolish kids always spraying pointless things onto walls or buildings or whatever they could find.
"You ever thought some things your not meant to know about? And that is classified" She answered pulling the tent flap aside so that they could enter. A scientist in a bright yellow biohazard suit stood in the room, holding the biggest needle possible seemingly.
Wolf Lead sighed. "At least remove the helmet"
"No" Came the muffled reply. "Precautions with the environment first and now please bring the civilian closer so that I can access a blood sample"

//

Lauren followed them and opened the door so that they could leave. "Cannot wait to hang out with you guys again maybe even come to yours instead of this..." She waved in the general direction of one of the rooms in her house. "I... Yeah it is a bit... Too much this place"

"Lauren," James said, and his tone had a sense of....firmness wasn't the word. It was like the tone of someone stressing the reassuring tone. "We're fine, really. Busy lives and all, it's nothing new to us." Chris nodded and said "Yeah, my dad's busy as hell with work, so much so I don't see him often." "Just promise us," James said, "that next time we arrange to hang out.....we do it when we won't be blind-sided by surprise arrangements, okay?"

"I promise..." She said immediately. "I..." Lauren stopped trying to explain but held the door open for them all. "Until next time hope to see you all soon"

"Should be pretty soon," Amy said as she and Chris started walking down the steps to the street. James slowly started to follow, before stopping and turning to Lauren again. "If you want, you have my number, and I've got an unlimited texting plan. Maybe we can talk later when you get time?" he asked.

"I'd like that and don't sell in on ebay" Lauren said with a light hearted humour hoping to part with them on a good note.

The needle caused Stella's face to drain.
"No. No fuck no!" She scrambled back, bumping the marine. "Not that fucking dagger! Thats fucking wrong! I dont care if you are goverment or shit, not that fucking needle!" She was obviously terrified of the ridiculous thing. "You said a sample not a fucking pint!"

"What are you kidding? And risk the wrath of Lauren Milan?" James said, smiling a little as he started down the stairs. "I like living, thank you. And goodnight Lauren. See you around."

Wolf Lead put a hand onto Stella's shoulder. "It is either this or we kill you because we cannot risk an intelligence leak" She growled sternly growing steadily more tired and frustrated with the civilian. "If your prefer the latter we can gladly accommodate you"

//

She laughed. "What wrath? I am a gentle giant... Okay maybe not a giant and see you around James and good night"

Stella whimpered. "Fine." She stepped forward. "Fuck needles. Cant you people use the small ones like regular fucking people?"

"No best way to get an accurate blood sample" Came the reply of the scientist taking hold of her arm. "Sorry you are here little lady... Now you will feel a slight pain be good and I'll get you a candy of some kind" He said as he placed the needle into her arm and began to drain some blood.

"Yeah well.....it's the gentle ones you look out for," James said when he stopped at the foot of the stairs. With that, he walked away, joining Chris and Amy a ways down the street. They walked together, before James said "Uh...listen, is it alright if I walk home alone? I uh...need some time alone." Chris made a choking sound and said "What, are you that attracted to Lauren that you need some alone time after your first time hanging out with her?" He stared at her, dumbstruck and stunned, before blushing madly and shaking his head. "Hell. Fucking. No," he growled. "No, it's not that, that's not even on the table. Chris I just want some time to think alright? That's all."

"FUCKING HELL!" She shouted. She gritted her teeth. "If you're lying about the candy I will fucking kick your shins." Stella threatened.

Her leer began to disappear, and she said "James, what's up?" Shrugging, he responded "Nothing's up Chris. Today has just...given me a lot of food for thought, and I'd really like to think on it in private. I've got my phone, you can call me to make sure I'm alright." The unwavering tone in his voice made Chris blink, and she decided to let him go. "Just...be safe James. It's getting late and you know what the city is like at night," she said. Amy looked at James, a worried look on her own face, and James nodded saying "Don't worry Chris, I'll be fine. Go on, I'll be home before it gets too late." Trading a look, Chris and Amy nodded before the former hugged James tightly, so did Amy. Then they walked away, hailing a cab while James walked away, past Lauren's house down the street before he found himself a secluded spot. This better be worth lying to my friends, he said to Gestalt, not bothering to hide the venom in the words.

It is James. You know so.

When he was sure they were hidden, James switched forms and the nanites spread out over his clothes and body, the suit once more donned. Using the whips, he pulled himself to the roof of a building, and began to make his way to the warehouse district, the same one where he encountered the UNESD. The trek wasn't a long one, his speed and whips helping to make good time. It was then, as he stood on the roof of a warehouse opposite the main area of the battle, that he saw a number of soldiers in the area....and none of them were the UNESD. They were United States Marines, something he did not expect to see in Brooklyn. Clad in their shiny new armor, the helmets had tiny cameras placed at strategic points to create a high definition image of their surroundings....or at least what was in front of them; the helmet was a shell with a screen on the interior that served as their HUD. If he wasn't careful, they were bound to see him, and that would be worse than bad. it'd be disastrous.

"Just remember we are the ones surrounded with guys and gals with guns and short tempers... Might be wise not to hurt me" He finished drawing the blood and set the needle down on an nearby stand, before applying a sterilised dressing to the wound site. "We can analyse that once we make it back to base Ma'am she is free to go"
Wolf Lead frowned but was eager to get out of here. "I'll have a soldier escort you off the premises and remember don't hack into any more servers because we will find you" She warned hoping the threat would perhaps prevent any further such action.

So he had to find a way around them, which was easy enough; the Marines were looking more at the street, and less at the roofs or tops of the buildings. All he had to do was stick to the roof, and climb around using the cables he made to pull himself back to the same warehouse where this all started. Looking around, he simply shouted out "HEEEEEYYYYY! WHERE IS EVERYONE?"

The day just kept getting better and better. "Science dude have the marines escort the civilian off site I've got to deal with something" Wolf Lead said exiting the tent with two UNESD soldiers and making their way to the warehouse.
"You again" She said her weapon at her side. "Have you come to surrender you technology? Or will we have to turn your head into a canoe?"

Turning around, James stared down the all too familiar soldier of the UNESD. "Neither, I'm just here to talk," he said. "Or rather....my partner is." He didn't raise his hands though, keeping them ready to shift in case of anything bad.

"I am under orders to reclaim all none human technology if you will not surrender it I am afraid that this situation will not remain peaceful for long" She explained to him carefully.

"Reclaim? Forgive me for saying this, but the tech wasn't yours to begin with. And do you want to hear what my partner has to say, or no?" James asked. "Because I'm more than happy with walking away from this if you don't. Had a long day, would like to sleep."

"The technology needs to be guarded and used for the good of humanity not in the hands of insecure mother fuckers playing hero because they've read one to many comics or in the hands of warlords who fancy a go at world domination" She countered. "If you have something of value to say spit it out because I am three seconds away from having your brains redecorate the wall over there"

Go ahead, we'll see how that plays out for you, James thought venomously, before a new voice took over. It was Gestalt, speaking through the suit.

"If you don't mind, we would rather avoid violence. Based on what we know of you, you are aware of extraterrestrials, and collect their technology when possible. Which leads us to the conclusion that you may very well be the best chance we have of finishing the work of our makers."

"Now who the hell is this? What work are you speaking of?" Wolf Lead asked her voice tight her hand holding her pistol in a vice like grip as if she was preparing to raise it to fire. For the moment she wasn't. Perhaps there would be some intelligence of value, maybe even a warning of a extraterrestrial threat... A threat all in the UNESD would emerge eventually.

"We are Gestalt, an advanced synthetic intelligence collective. We exist within the suit you see before you. The work we speak of, requires some detail If you will willingly give us five minutes without harm or move to subdue, we will explain all we can."

"Four minutes and talk fast" She counter offered, holstering her fire arm to show peaceful intentions for the moment.

"Why should we help you? Or trust you? Your presence here undermines our world's security you may even be leading your foes right to our world" She inquired folding her arms, with an unamused look on her face. "Even if I did want to assist you which I don't I lack the clearance to do so" The exchange of information was turning out to be worse than fruitless.

"Well for starters," James said, speaking up now. "I'm bonded to the AI and know exactly when it's lying or not, and he isn't." "Second," Gestalt followed up, "This is of import to you, because even if they don't track us, the Hreshtak will come here to Earth. They are a conquering race who are spreading out across the galaxy, and your world will eventually be in their path."

"We will win the war" Wolf Lead argued, her tone matter of fact, while voices screamed at her through her ear piece telling her to take the technology by force. Aliens by nature could not be trusted and those who operated with them could not be trusted.

"No, you won't," Gestalt said plainly. "We have seen what you can do, and you won't stand a chance. They beat our makers, who were far more advanced, so what hope do you have?"

"We will win" She said flatly her tone that left any listener that in her mind there was no room for doubt. The UNESD was prepared for an alien conflict, it was only a matter of time... No source that wasn't human could be trusted, those that worked with aliens where little better than traitors to humanity as a whole.

"It would seem our time was wasted," Gestalt said, a note of disappointment evident. James turned to leave, before sighing and saying "Look, take my word on this ma'am....I've seen the records in this thing. What they can do. Whatever you've got better damn well be able to stop all of them, or we'll all pay for your pride."

"This discussion was worse than fruitless" She snapped at Gestalt before answering James. "The world is safe from aliens the problem is the alien sympathisers and those who illegally claim and use the technology without thinking of the bigger picture... Humanity may one day yet pay for those arrogant foolish twats who believe themselves to be heroes" She shook her head slowly at him. "There are two kinds of people in the world, the people who work for the greater good and the selfish individuals who pretend to care for others but in reality are in it for themselves alone... I know what kind of person you are"

She couldn't see it, but James had an irritated look on his face, nearing anger. "Don't you ever assume to know me lady," he said. "We came to you. Remember that. We reached out for help, and instead you shit on us. So you know what, I don't care if you can help or not. You can take your philosophy, and stick it right next to that pole you've got wedged up there." With that, James lashed out with his whip, hauling himself up and away from her, still angry.

"Idiot and it is people like you that will lead to our extinction... You refuse to see the bigger picture beyond your private goal" She called after him, honestly not surprised if he got himself killed. Such a foolish waste of life it would have been, a servant to an alien technology. Still, the UNESD would start preparing for the invasion. They would fight and they would win. It was that simple, no matter the cost.

Well, that went well, Gestalt said.

How? How exactly did that go well?

They didn't shoot at us this time.

.....true. So, what now? James asked, as they moved out of the warehouse district and back into the more populated zone.

Now, we must look to other sources. Publicly, if necessary.

Great.....bet the UNESD will love that... James thought bitterly. Damn but did he hate people trying to analyze him. Maybe it was the obvious bit of him being a teenager, but didn't like people who didn't know him telling him who he was, or what he felt. It made him mad, and he needed to calm down a little, without venting. Stopping on a quiet, empty rooftop, James sat on an air-conditioning unit and told Gestalt Keep an eye open, I'm closing my own eyes for this. There was a non-verbal acknowledgement from the AI, and James closed his eyes and started breathing deeply through the nose. It was something Chris taught him, to compose oneself and achieve a level of calm. An angry person, was a blind person and he would not blind himself over the petty words of a nameless person. In under a minute, he was calm and in time too, as his phone rang. Answering, Chris' voice came through and said "Hey James, where are you? You okay?"

Smiling a little, James said "Yeah, I'm alright Chris. I just needed some quiet today, get my head in order. Look....I'm sorry for freaking you out earlier today Chris." There was a moment of silence, before she said "James, don't apologize for that. What happened was not your fault, so don't make it out to be. We'll get through this, all of us okay? Because that's what we're here for." Sometimes, James was reminded of why he loved Chris so much. To say she was a good person, was a gross understatement. "Yeah....yeah you're right Chris. Listen, I'm on my way home now. I'll see you when I get back, alright?" "Sure thing James, and hey look at that: I ordered pizza." A very, very good person, was Chris.

Moving again, James realized something funny, and sent a text over to Lauren.

James wrote:

Hey so, funny thing: not sure if it was in the cards tonight and if not no hassle, but we kinda left before we could eat any dinner. So......looks like you owe us dinner Lauren.  ;) 

Stella was escorted out...and as they parted to let her exit the area, she tlanced at the scientist.
"And sir? Respectfully, shove that syringe up your ass. Fucker."
In view of US Marines, she made sure the giant ass bandage on her arm was clear as she marched out. And she took out her phone, scanned...and fired off a hack which would bombard the man's phone and other electronic devices so badly they'd short and crash.

Her revenge.

She drove off before it hit the asshole.

MEANWHILE

Libra was clutching her side. Carina's lackeys were using earth weapons, the slug was imbedded in her more sturdy bone structure. She was climbing a fence, and as she tumbled over she cried out in pain. She had lost them an hour ago, and soon she began to crawl to the house's back door.
"H...help..." she managed, and hit the door twice before passing out.

After they had left Lauren's house, Chris and Amy split, each going to their own home via taxi. Chris had walked in the door, got herself a glass of water, and called for a pizza delivery. She had been for the most part worried about James, very much so in fact. The fight with Dirk, the episode earlier today, and now he was out there on his own? Why wouldn't she worry for her friend. So she called him on the phone, and after they finished talking she hung up....only to hear the rear door start banging, like someone knocking heavily on the door. She froze, water glass in her hand, before setting it down and grabbing her phone again. Getting up, she went to grab the baseball bat she kept hidden in the living room (one of several blunt weapons she and her dad his around the house for easy reach in case of intruders) and headed for the door. Gripping the handle in one hand, the bat in the other, she quickly pulled the door open and shouted to scare whoever was there, and instead saw.....

A wounded woman on the ground, bleeding from several wounds. "Holy crap!" Chris said, dropping the bat and crouching down to check on the woman.

Libra heard the door.
"Holy crap!"
Libra weakly looked up. "Help...please help." She begged. "Don't let them find me." She winced badly, clutching her side. "S-shot...d-didnt go through." She said weakly, darkness creeping around her vision. "H...help..." she began to loss conciousness.

Normally, Chris wouldn't let strangers into the house....but none of them had been bleeding from gunshots before, so she dragged the woman inside, trailing blood on the hardwood floor. She left her there for a brief moment, running up the stairs to grab her dad's medical kit. It wasn't a plain, first aid kit with bandaids painkillers and gauze. It was the size of a toolbox, and loaded with industrial strength painkillers, threads and needles for stitches, and even a sealant meant for wounds. Taking the sealant, Chris inserted the nozzle into one of the holes and pushed down on the plunger, the stuff going into the wound and rapidly expanding, sealing the hole up and stopping the bleeding. She did this a few more times, before she had all the holes sealed up.

Libra managed to stay awake, softly whimpering. She was deathly pale and devoid of energy, staying awake through will alone.
"D...don't let me die." She begged. She didn't know how bad it was - slug weapons were messy and unpredictable, unlike energy weapons. She screwed her eyes shut, trying to be calm. "I..I can't...h...how bad...how bad is it?"

"The bullet didn't hit any major arteries, but it's clear it didn't go through," Chris said, her voice shaking. This was definitely not something she was prepared for, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying to help. "We'll need to get it out, but right now I sealed you up so you won't bleed out, plus I don't have what I need to extract it."

Libra reached and gripped Chris' s wrist.
"N..no...h...hospitals." she managed. "Th...they'll find me...they'll be unopposed."
Her grip went slack. She hadnt passed out but she wasn't staying awake easily.

"Who?' Chris asked. She wasn't sure what to do, except still call the police. If the bullet stayed in there, then it wouldn't end well at all for this woman and she wasn't going to stand by and let that happen.

"Carina." She whispered. "They want my access codes. They want the Sayla." She grimaced. "You can't let them find me. Im sorry to drag you into my problems..." she whimpered. "Please."

She was babbling nonsense, at least that's what it sounded like to Chris. All she could say was "Okay, we won't let them get the codes. But I need better supplies to heal you."

Libra nodded weakly.
"I'm not exactly raring to go." She joked.