User blog:Redknight910/WWYD unkown lifeforms 2 SpyCrab

Prompt: Unknown Lifeforms (2)

Between trying to work out who the hell dropped the nuke, and my sudden realisation, I remember the plan enough to grab the harpy and run back into the base. Once inside I see only twelve men in the bunker, and most of them are looking at me and the harpy.

"Why the hell did you bring that thing in here?" The sergeant yells at me, pulling his sidearm out. I try to get his attention, but one of the others stops him first.

"Sarge, we won't be able to kick the corpse out for a few weeks, minimum. I'm not really keen on having to smell a corpse for the next month. Let's just tie her up and leave her for now." The sergeant looks around, then grumbles a confirmation.

"Hey, I wonder if the nuke can go through the portal." One of the other soldiers jokes while tieing her up.

"They... don't work like that." Everyone looks at the harpy, stunned.

"These things can talk?" One of the others shouts. She gives him a glare, before looking at me.

"We can. The portals... only living things can travel through them. We don't want to fight you." The sergeant huffs a bitter laugh.

<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Is that so? Then would you care to explain how so many of my friends are dead? Or why your kind are wiping us out by the hundreds?" She glares at him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"We're only fighting back! We don't want to kill, or hurt. It's against our nature! But you haven't left us any choice. We fight you, or we get slaughtered by you. Us harpy's are just meant to be recovering the wounded... but you still shoot us without a thought." I can see it dawning on some of the men around me. The realisation of what this war really is. The sarge doesn't seem to agree though.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Oh, we're giving you plenty of choice. Go the hell back to wherever you came from. I don't care if you're a god damn field medic." She glared daggers into sarge, but he just glared straight back. "Keep that beak of yours shut, or I'll shut it permanently." She didn't try to test his threat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">We sat there, thinking through what had been said while trying to establish contact with HQ. I knew some of the others had agreed with me, that this wasn't a war as much as it was a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that had cost thousands, if not millions, their lives.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the first week we finally established contact.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Command, this is Sgt Manson, reporting from former control point Echo-3, please respond." There was a moment of static before a voice came through.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"We read you sergeant, give us a sitrep." The atmosphere instantly lightened at the response.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Command we have twelve men inside bunker Echo-3 2-Bravo. Also one prisoner, bird. Have intel of great importance."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Roger that sergeant, send intel."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Hostiles transport device is apparently only effective for biological transport. Operation return barrage will fail, repeat, will fail." There was a few more moments of silence.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Copy sergeant. Preparing report for the general now. Where did this intel come from?" The sergeant looked over to the harpy, looking her over again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Prisoner, command. Spoke under threat of torture."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Copy. Anything else from prisoner?"

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"One other piece of worthwhile intel. Hostiles may be amenable to negotiations. Recommend small detachment to verify claims." There were several moments of static silence before a response came through.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You're recommendation has been noted sergeant. We have a team inbound for recovery. Command out." Then the silence returned. The sergeant let out a loud sigh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Thank you." Came the quiet voice of the harpy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I didn't do it for you, beast. I did it to keep our men alive. Nothing'll come from it anyway." We all look to the sergeant, and I ask what he means.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"'You're recommendation have been noted' is officer speak for 'go fuck yourself.'" He looked us over, then went to sit down. "I recommend you don't start packing just yet. Nearest evac point is over three days out. And they're going to need to organise a hazmat team to do it anyway."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we sit tight for another day, before an almighty crash shakes the building.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The fuck? Did they drop another nuke on us?" One of the soldiers asks, looking around at the roof. That's when we hear it. A roar loud enough to drown out all other sound.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"A dragon..." The harpy says, clearly frightened. We all look to her, and when one soldier goes to ask, the sergeant puts a hand over his mouth, shaking his head. We listen to the footsteps, each one makes a small tremor, so it's not hard. After a few hours we can hear the beat of wings as it takes off. We all sigh in relief, even the harpy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Why were you scared? I thought those things were on your side?" One of the soldiers asks.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"They are, but when they get in that state, they're all but blinded with rage. I doubt she'd have even realised I was here until she found me in the rubble." The sergeant looked at her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"This bunker was built to survive a nuclear detonation. I don't care what you think, that beast wasn't getting in here." She looks at him, I can tell she's getting tired of arguing with him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"If you saw a dragon, in its ancient form like that, you'd know better." The sergeant huffs, but doesn't offer a counter point. I think he might be getting tired of arguing too.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"So, what's it like?" One of the soldiers asks, sitting in front of the harpy. "Where you're from. What's it like?" She visibly relaxes at the question.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"It's... nice. A lot like here, but with less of this stone everywhere." She looks at the concrete bunker. "Well, except for the demon realms. They look a bit different, but they're not bad. We live happily, have our husbands, and daughters. We don't have to fight often, either.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">When the lilim opened the portals, we thought things would be even better... but then this happened." She looks on the verge of tears, face hanging low.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Then why do you keep coming?" The sergeant asked, looking at her. "If things are so bad here, why don't you just go home already?" She looks up at him, surprised by his sudden change in tone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"We... we can't close the portals..." She muttered. "When the lilim opened them, it was experimental magic to begin with, but now they don't know how to close them. And... and we're afraid. Afraid if we stop coming out, then you'll start coming in. And we're so scared of what you'll do that we're more willing to keep coming out than risk you attacking our homes." We sat in silence for a bit, before one of us muttered something. When we all looked at him he was glaring at her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You're a damned hypocrite!" He shouted. "You're scared? Of what we'll do? How do you think we feel?! Our families are cowering in their homes, scared to death that one of your kind will come in and murder the lot of them!" She looked as scared as she'd said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"But we won't." She whispered.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Try telling them that! You think we're fighting like this for fun?" She let out a loud cry.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"YOU SHOT US FIRST!" She screamed, hanging her head like it took all of her energy. "You shot us before you even knew what we were... before you even saw us we were under fire." Her voice had dropped to a whisper, and I put a hand on her shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You're with them now?" Our comrade who'd been shouting asked, hate still in his eyes. I'm not with them. I'm with her. She's scared out of her mind, never supposed to even  be fighting  in the first place. She's not a soldier, she's a medic.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Actually... I'm just a courier." We all look at her again. "I'm just a courier who got put into this attack. I'm meant to collect the wounded, and fly them back home." Now even the one who was yelling is quiet. Just a courier? So, she doesn't even have any training, she was just conscripted to carry the wounded back?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">She nods, looking between all of us. Most of us feel sorry for her, who knows how far from home, not even trained to fight, and scared out of her mind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"This is war, boys." The sergeant says, sitting back in his chair. "War doesn't care if you're old or young, trained or not, healthy or sick. War is for death, while normally I'd make aa speech about how we're all just fighting for someone who doesn't even know we exist, this time we're fighting thinking we're doing it for our own freedom.  That  makes this wr even worse, because when we're fighting like that, we don't care if we die doing it." He looks over us, then sighs again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"If I was a dumber man I'd suggest walking out there and making a run for  real  freedom. But then we'd just be hunted or die from the radiation. So, girlie." She looked up, it was the first time he'd actually acknowledged she was female. "If we walked out there, would your kind be willing to help get us out of here?" Her eyes brightened, and then started to water as a smile broke out on her face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Yes. Yes, I promise! My people will help. You have my word on it!" We looked over at the sergeant.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sarge, what are you thinking? You can't possibly be..." He held up a hand to silence the soldier.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"It's Bart. And I'm not asking you to come. I'm asking her to take me, and whoever the hell else wants to go, out of here. I've done five tours, I've seen enough fighting to last just as many lifetimes." He looked at the harpy. "Any of you want to stay and fight, good luck to you. But you won't be seeing me again." He started walking towards the door, and turned back to us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"So are any of you idiots going to untie the bird? Or am I going this one alone?" I grabbed my knife and untied her wings and feet, and most of the other soldiers started walking up to the door.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Hold it right there!" We turned to see one of the soldiers had a gun pointed at us. "You're traitors! All of you. Sarge, what the hell's gotten into you? This thing could be tricking you into becoming dinner for all you know!" The sergeant stepped away from the door, walking down to the soldier.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Son, I've been fighting in this army for longer than you've been alive. I've killed more people than all of you combined. If you think I'm going out there on promise alone, then you haven't been under my command long enough." With a quick motion the soldier was disarmed, now on the barrel end of the gun. The sergeant released the clip, then shot the last bullet into the wall, making everyone duck.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Anyone else points a gun my way, and I'm putting the next bullet into your head instead of the wall." He then ushered those of us leaving to the door.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">We stepped out and found things weren't as bad as we'd feared. The blast must have been significantly far off, since most of the buildings were intact, and even some trees were still growing. Then we spotted the 'enemies.'

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">There must have been a dozen women with scaled wings and heavy metal armour, another half of those floating pale women, covered completely by black robes tht made them look like the reaper himself. And then there were those little girls with the horns and scythes. When they spotted us, we were sure they would kill us on sight. But whether it was the harpy among us, or the fact we weren't armed, they simply approached us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Who are you? One of the little girls asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sgt Bart Manson, formerly United States Marine. These men and I have been told you aren't as mean as you look." He was awfully calm for someone staring down almost two dozen very powerful looking women.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I see. So what do you want?" She asked, looking between us all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I want passage out of here. I don't care if I go through one of those big rings you gals have, or if you just take me somewhere quiet. I'm done killing, and I'm told you were never fans of it to begin with." The girls all look at the harpy, who looks away shyly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I see..." The little goat girl says, looking up at the portal. "Dani, Vera, take them back, put them through the course." She looks back at us, a big smile on her face. "Thank you." She embraces the sergeant, who clearly has no idea how to respond.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">They all continue on after that, leaving a pair of the heavy armoured scaled girls to face us. One has bright blue scales, and pale skin, the other has rusty red with dark skin. Both are wearing a tired smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"So, the two of you are taking all eight of us?" One of the soldiers asked, looking between them and us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Yep." The blue one said with a smile. They took off into the air, and transformed. What were once beautiful women with scaled arms and legs, became giant winged beasts, scales matching their previous colours, and the armour they were wearing seemed to change with them, covering their underbelly, heads and necks. They landed again, and after some hesitation, we went to get onto their backs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's when I got picked up by the harpy. Squealing happily she lifted me up towards the portal, the two dragons swiftly following, then overtaking us with ease.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sorry." She shouted over the wind. "I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to take you personally." Looking up at her, she has a happy smile on her face, and I find it contagious as a similar grin spreads across my face. "We're going to have such pretty little girls." She quietly says. I blush at the thought, looking up about to ask what she means, when I'm blinded by the swirling portal. I then black out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wake up in a soft bed with silken sheets, looking around I spot my friends, including the sergeant, slowly rousing themselves. I try to sit up, but a hand stops me. Looking up I almost lose it when I see a pair of mountainous breasts.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Please, stay still." The owner of the hand and breasts says, a charming smile on her face. Are those horns on her head? She giggles as I realise I asked that out loud. "Why yes, they are. Though, that's not what most people from your world comment on first." She then walks away, going to check on the others, the clomping sound her feet make sounding like hooves on wood. I then see that she does, indeed have hooves, along with a swishing tail that ends in a small puff.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decide to ignore her request and try to get up, groaning as the world around me spins. I put a hand to my head, trying to force myself to see straight. When I finally get myself sorted I stand up and look around. The room's got two dozen beds, most full with men like myself. Tending to the others are a mix of the cowgirl who checked on me, a woman with a spider for her lower half, and a woman with a snake tail for legs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">When the spider girl notices me she approaches, and I'm half scared she's going to force me back into bed, but instead she gives me a warm smile and hands me a glass of water.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Here, drink up. Linda's waiting for you outside." I nod, taking a sip, then draining the whole glass. I didn't realise how thirsty I was. Handing the glass back to her, she leaves me to tend to the others who are waking up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">I step outside and spot the harpy who carried me out. Lifting my hand I greet her, and hope she is the Linda waiting for me. She turns hearing her name and smiles. She runs up to me and throws her wings around me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You're awake!" She cries, kissing me. I pull back, asking what she's doing? She then blushes and lets go. "Sorry, I forget your world has more courting rules." I raise an eyebrow. Courting? Like, dates and stuff? She wants to be my girlfriend? I ask if that's really what she wants, and she nods.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Of course. You saved me, that day. There's no one I'd rather spend my life with." I look at her, somewhat taken aback, when a girl with little bat wings on her back presses a book into my chest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Here, this should explain everything. Things here are a bit more... sensual, than you're used to." She says with a wink, then continues on, passing out books to all the men who don't have one. I look at the title, then at Linda. Is this seriously what they call themselves?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Of course not. We're mamono. Monster girl is just the way most humans say it." She's still bouncing, and I ask if she's really this happy to see me. "Well... it's not just that, though it is a big part of it. I also got called back to civilian work. If you'll be my partner, at least." She looks at me hopefully, those eyes all but begging me to say yes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, if it gets her out of risking her life like that, then how could I say no? She squeals and wraps her wings around me again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She looks at me, her face happier than I think anyone I've ever seen. I then spot the sergeant step out of the door, and the rust scaled dragon walks up to him with a smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Hello, beautiful." He says with a smile. He then looks at me, still smiling. I greet him, and he laughs. "Kid, its Bart. Not sergeant, not sir, just Bart. Now, if you don't mind, I told this pretty thing I'd take her on a date for getting us out of there." He turns back to the scaled girl, who puts an arm around him. Looking at them, I think this is the happiest I've ever seen him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">If this world is as good at making people smile as it seems, then this is going to be more than worth it.