XCOM: Ranger

by Wanderer D

Chapter 116: Vial

Ranger

Chapter 116: Vial

By Wanderer D

Elena was already waiting in the shadows by the time that Sunset joined her. Although she'd camped out, and trained a little with Reapers, Sunset wasn't nearly as proficient at sneaking as Elena. Or any other Reaper, for that matter. The type of mentality and training they did was too different from her own to really approach it realistically, unless she quit XCOM for a few years.

Even then, she doubted she'd be as proficient, but that did not mean she was a slouch either. A good leader, however, knew when to let other, more experienced or specialized members of their team take the lead, and this was such a case.

She turned to look at Elena, and respectfully bumped her right fist on her own shoulder in a Reaper salute. It was one of three Reaper-exclusive signals she had learned during her short stay. Probably as many as she ever would. It meant: "After you" or maybe "you lead", possibly even "you're on top" depending on the situation. She couldn't really see Elena's expression, so she was hoping she didn't take it the wrong way.

The second signal she had learned from the Reapers, was the signal for "food", which they also used to signify aliens of any kind.

The third and final signal she had learned, had not actually been taught to her, as much as Sunset having learned it by observation, and eventual laughter from Natter. Hand spread out, thumb aiming towards the side of head. It meant 'elk'.

Elena simply nodded, then made a "follow me" motion with her hand. The pair ran low, following the box cars. Upon closer examination, the cars had hundreds, no, thousands of stacked green containers. The thick glass translucent enough for Sunset to see that whatever they had inside had been already emptied out somewhere.

A raised fist stopped Sunset dead in her tracks, and she kneeled behind Elena, trying to see what the Reaper had spotted. Soon enough, she saw them. A pod of ADVENT regulars was warily approaching their location, probably aware that enemies were around, but unsure as to where exactly.

The pod consisted of one Purifier, one Priest and a trooper.

Sunset readied herself to attack, but Elena shook her head, then tilted it in the direction of the box car. Sunset grimaced, but nodded. She had given Elena the lead, after all. They were playing by Reaper rules right now, and that meant keeping out of sight. That didn't stop Sunset however, from tapping three times on her comms.

The others would be ready.

After a pause in which they could both hear the shuffling, measured steps of the trio come closer, then slowly move away, Elena nodded and ran around the car, stealing a glance at the patrol before indicating their next objective: the guard tower for cover, then an entrance into the large facility.

Sunset nodded and followed her, glancing at the backs of the patrol. Natter and Don had been right. She definitely didn't fit well with the Reapers. Her instincts were to take advantage and attack the patrol… not mindlessly, of course. Positioning her troops to take advantage of the distraction, as she had done so many times before.

But she needed to rein it in. They had to figure out how many more enemies were around, after all, and their mission was to investigate the site for now, not to kill everyone in sight. Still. When they were out of eyesight and earshot, she quickly whispered into the comms the types of troopers approaching.

Her earpiece hissed and Annette's voice filtered in. "We see them. We'll take care of it."

They reached the side of the factory by the time the shots echoed behind them. The door was sealed, but not secured and after fiddling with it for a moment, they opened it up and slid into the large facility undetected.

The first thing that reached Sunset's mind was the smell. It smelled like… warm beet soup. It didn't look like beet soup though.

The central area of the facility was a large, deep pool of green liquid of some sort, but that was not the most distressing part. That was what was being lowered into it right now. The green containers from outside now made sense… the ones in the facility were not empty yet. They contained human bodies in them… either dead or unconscious—probably dead, given that many were in varying degrees of dismemberment—large machines carefully lowered them into the pool, where they would be… what?

Sunset shook her head, unable to believe what she was seeing. The interior was immense too. walls lined with even more containers, ready to be added to the soup.

"So many victims, processed with such brutal efficiency…" Tygan whispered on the radio, making Sunset start. She had forgotten in her horror that she was sharing this via video with all of the Avenger.

"Sunset, move forward and take cover on the platform in front of the pool of… whatever that is," Chrysalis ordered, her voice low, "I want to see what's on the other side."

Signaling Elena to cover her, Sunset quickly made her way onto the platform, noticing a pair of sectoids at the end of the main room… but more importantly, a sort of separate, small lab stood opposite her location.

Square and unimpressive on the outside, she could see through the large observation window a large device connected by a multitude of cables and tubes to the facility. In the middle of it, a smaller container rested, glowing with energy.

"Are they trying to build some sort of weapon?" Tygan suggested over the radio.

"That looks more like a refinery to me, Doctor," Lily said, disgust clear in her voice.

"We'll know for sure once we get our hands on that vial in there," Bradford added. "Menace, take the Blacksite Vial and bring it to us. We need to figure out what exactly ADVENT is doing to these people."

Sunset looked at Elena, who nodded slowly. It was time to reveal themselves.

The first sectoid didn't know what hit it. One moment it was looking at something on a screen, the next its head was a splatter of orange blood on the screen.

The other one turned around, its unnerving skull-like jaw giving it the semblance of smiling as it growled and turned to search in the direction where the shot had come from. Too late did it hear the sound of running steps on the metal, it turned, surprised, in time to see Sunset jump the distance between them, her sword coming down in an arc that split the creature in two and bathed her in its blood.

Elena dashed past her, not daring to wait, while Sunset took cover next to the side entrance, looking around to make sure she wasn't being watched before closing her eyes and shuddering unnoticed as she instinctually licked the blood from the back of her hand.

For a moment, all was bliss, and she felt a rush of energy spreading down through all of her system, like fire. She blinked and shook her head, frowning at the loss of control for a moment. She looked at the door and grimaced, wondering what that metallic flavor in her mouth was.

Had she bitten her lip when she had jumped? She groaned. There was no point in speculating. Right now she felt reinvigorated and ready to tackle whatever else the Elders might have in store for her.

"We have taken care of the enemy patrol," Annette reported, making Sunset return fully to reality.

"I'm next to a side door on the west side of the building. Go around the factory and secure a location for Firebrand to pick us up."

"Roger that," Rainbow called in, "Just shoot up the flare when ready".

Looking over her shoulder, Sunset nodded at Elena, who approached the glowing vial cautiously.

"Guessing that's not water in there." Bradford's grim voice was clear on the radio. "Lily?"

"Working on it… no signs of radioactivity, no significant energy signatures of any kind. Whatever it is, it's safe to handle."

With Shen's slightly dubious-sounding blessing, Elena reached out and took hold of the vial. "Sample secure."

"Objective obtained," Bradford said. "Get the hell out of there."

"Belay that order," Chrysalis hissed. "I want X4 charges planted. Destroy that place."

Sunset and Elena got to work as quickly as they could, setting up explosives on opposite sides of the building just as Bradford informed them of approaching backup, but it was too late.

By the time ADVENT troopers were in the area, the Skyranger was already flying away, and an instant later, the mysterious facility was completely obliterated.

The mood in the transport was not improved however, as Sunset took the vial from Elena's hand and gazed into it wondering just what new monstrosity they would uncover.

And wondering too… just what they would be able to do about it.

o.0.o End Chapter 116 o.0.o

Comments

[Venerable Ro]

Careful there Sunny, listening to your instincts is the last thing a blood-witch should be doing. Keep on like this and Chrysalis will have to get you fitted for a suit of black Titan armor.
wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/1/1f/DeathCompanyWarriorArt.jpg

[the other sans]

"I want to see what's on the other side.
The other one turned around, it's unnerving skull-like jaw
as it growled and where the shot had come from
"Just shoot up the flare when ready.
"Working on it… no signs of radioactivity, no significant energy signatures of any kind. Whatever it is, it's safe to handle.

1. Forgot your closing quotation mark.
2. Its.
3. At.
4. Forgot your closing quotation mark.
5. Forgot your closing quotation mark.

[Wanderer D]

8980520 Fixed! Thanks!

[xoid]

The third and signal → The third and final signal
needed to reign it in → needed to rein it in

[Dream of Ponies]

Sunset's descent into depravity seemed slow before, but now she seems to be sliding into it at a fast pace. I wonder what caused the increase? Her near death experience with the assassin? Something to do with the element?

[lordelliott]

So are the aliens using blood magic too?

8980536
It's not the first time she got vampiric without realizing it. Maybe Sunset has done that many times in untold verse.

-------------------------------

The thick glass opaque enough for Sunset to see that whatever they had inside had been already emptied out somewhere.

The more opaque an object, the harder it is to see through, so I think you meant "translucent enough".

[Lithl]

"Delay that order,"

Shouldn't that be "belay", as in stop/cancel/quit?

[Reese]

"The third and signal she had learned"
"The third signal she had learned" or "The third hand signal she had learned"?

"as she had done some many times before"
"as she had done so many times before"?

"as she insinctually licked the blood"
"as she instinctually licked the blood"?

[Wanderer D]

Thanks guys, I think it's pretty clear I need to take a breather before jumping straight into the writing. :s

8980529 Fixed!
8980566 Ye gods talk about the opposite of what you want to say.
8980573 Fixed!
8980562 You are correct. I figured it was delay in this situation since she didn't want a full stop, but it also can mean set aside which applies :P

[Uncle Mike]

The central area of the facility was a large, deep pool of green liquid of some sort, but that was not the most distressing part. That was what was being lowered into it right now.

Oh, crap... Soylent Green is people...

[TristanWE]

For a moment, all was bliss, and she felt a rush of energy spreading down through all of her system, like fire. She blinked and shook her head, frowning at the loss of control for a moment. She looked at the door and grimaced, wondering what that metallic flavor in her mouth was.

Had she bitten her lip when she had jumped? She groaned. There was no point in speculating. Right now she felt reinvigorated and ready to tackle whatever else the Elders might have in store for her.

It's the equestrian magic in Aria's gem. Last time Sunset came into contact with equestrian magic she slowly got corrupted by her blood magic. Sunset needs to get away from that gem before it's too late.

[Inugami]

8980622
I don't what this is but it reminds me of the F.E.V. or Forced Evolutionary Virus from Fallout
Dunk a human body in = get a mutant
Although these humans seem dead

[Linksta]

8980536
It's probably Aria's gem. It's Equestrian magic, which makes the blood curse deepen.

[TristanWE]

8980661
That's what i've been saying. Sunset needs to get away from that thing.

[Heroicloser]

"Belay that order," Chrysalis hissed. "I want X4 charges planted. Destroy that place."

Always wondered why the Blacksite didn't end with an explosion. Truly Chrissi is a smart commander.

Sunset seems to sliding down the slippery slope. Does she not remember she licked blood off her hands? THAT is disconcerting.

I'm wondering when Tygan and Lily are gonna design the skulljack already? Or was tapping the advent chips something another squad did off-screen?

Either way I'm expecting a Dark VIP mission to go after what I assume to be Sci-Twi in the near future.

[Bugsydor]

I wonder if, since she was on-camera, anyone is going to ask Sunset why she's licking blood off her hands...

[tsaukpaetra]

It's a good thing she didn't drink it...

[djthomp]

The central area of the facility was a large, deep pool of green liquid of some sort, but that was not the most distressing part. That was what was being lowered into it right now. The green containers from outside now made sense… the ones in the facility were not empty yet. They contained human bodies in them… either dead or unconscious—probably dead, given that many were in varying degrees of dismemberment—large machines carefully lowered them into the pool, where they would be… what?

That some crimes against humanity sapient life shit right there.

Elena dashed past her, not daring to wait, while Sunset took cover next to the side entrance, looking around to make sure she wasn't being watched before closing her eyes and shuddering unnoticed as she insinctually licked the blood from the back of her hand.

Uh...

"Delay that order," Chrysalis hissed. "I want X4 charges planted. Destroy that place."

Good plan.

[Dragonwaz]

Her instincts were to take advantage and attack the patrol… not mindlessly, of course. Positioning her troops to take advantage of the distraction, as she had done so many times before. But she needed to rein it in. They had to figure out how many more enemies were around, after all, and their mission was to investigate the site for now, not to kill everyone in sight.

This is actually one thing I really hated about Xcom 2. A lot of mission types could benefit from stealth but the way the game is built makes stealth nearly impossible unless your entire team is designed around stealth and the mission doesn't require you to be unstealthed at any point. Sneaking past a patrol is almost always a terrible idea that gets you surrounded by too many enemies like a party in an MMO that pulled agro from too many enemy cells for their tank to hold. Then there are ticking time clocks even for missions where there shouldn't be any rush.

My main file has a lot of Equestrian characters my Pinkie Pie is actually built like Sunset here. She's got the Shotgun and sword from the assassin, she's fast, gets up close and personal, and she's got a bond with the Reaper so they're my infiltrators. I also put my Templar on their team cause he's built for melee and surviving after a melee strike so he works well with Pinkie.

Full stealth with them is possible but it's almost always a worse idea than just killing everything as I come to it to prevent pulling too many enemies at once.

[lordelliott]

8980762
I was wondering about that. Since she'd have to bring her hand up or look down to complete the motion, it's probably on camera or close enough that someone could infer what happened.

[Wanderer D]

8981010 8980762 You don't have to look down to do that Plus I figure the body cam was facing the door, rather than her hand. Even if they saw her pull her hand up, the camera wouldn't cover something so close to her face.

[sbs]

Now I hope to get a perspective from the Avenger. Seriously, I always felt that the reaction to the Black Site facility was way to much along the lines of 'oh how horrible, now lets move on'. I mean seriously, it's like one comment from Bradford or Shen and then forget about it.

8980660
Actually it is pretty different. This is more like breaking people down in to genetic material or so and then using it to make other stuff. Like taking apart a house brick by brick and then using those brick to make a new one.

[lordelliott]

8981019
Right, I just wasn't sure how you'd play it. With the right angle and slurpy audio (again, eww, but lol) someone could theorize the right answer, although they may want better evidence before bringing it up. Of course, maybe they'll just think Sunset has just been spending too much time with Reapers. It's ironic how this is in the same chapter where it's explained how Sunset doesn’t fit in with them.

[Black_Knight]

Uh oh, the corruption is spreading.

[Lithl]

8980592
I think you swapped your response to me and lordelliott

[Wanderer D]

8982225 It was intentional! Or maybe it just proves my point?

[lordelliott]

8982225
8982233
I wasn't going to say anything, but yeah. Everybody derps sometimes.

[Bronycommander]

That was a creepy Mission in the game.

[AlexTFish]

8980926
The Long War 2 mod tried to address this. But they unbalanced things the other way: it's too effective to just completely stealth 90% of missions right up to the moment you hit the objective and drop your evac flare. And XCOM 2's tactical layer isn't really designed to be interesting if 90% of your missions are stealth.

[Jack Kellar]

The X4 order is a good touch. XCOM really should have done that in the game. Is there a mod that adds this objective?

[Flashgen]

Another objective secured and the blacksite blown up on the way out. Smart move from Chrysallis.

I'm curious why the Berserker Queen hasn't shown up again, but it was cool to see the Archon King. I'm actually fairly sure one of my first WotC campaigns also had the kind show up before actual archons too.

[Black--Soul]

The third and final signal she had learned, had not actually been taught to her, as much as Sunset having learned it by observation, and eventual laughter from Natter. Hand spread out, thumb aiming towards the side of head. It meant 'elk'.

Priceless

I guess everyone with psi potencial that isn't working for Advent get refined to this substance in the Vial...

[Black--Soul]

The third and final signal she had learned, had not actually been taught to her, as much as Sunset having learned it by observation, and eventual laughter from Natter. Hand spread out, thumb aiming towards the side of head. It meant 'elk'.

I am in tears 👍

Would it not be more efficient to clone psy sensitive individuals and refine their clones?
It is a genetic marked substance.