A dastardly deed...
The ground shook beneath Tavilen's feet again as something somewhere in the lab exploded. He cursed, and barely kept his feet. He didn't know what the heck was going on, but he knew he had to get to the main lab and Doctor Hevliks. Doc Hev was the lead researcher on the Armored Combat Medic Suit project. If anyone knew what was going on, he would.
He moved quickly through the battle scarred halls, passing bodies of guards, invaders, and unarmed scientists. The main generator was down and the only lights were the red emergency lights. Ahead, he saw the door to the suit locker and main lab and cursed. Something had blown it open and from what he could see beyond the lab itself was smashed.
Peering into the lab all he could see was destroyed equipment and more bodies. Not far away he could hear gunfire and the weapons of the invaders. However, the main lab seemed clear. He cautiously moved through the debris to the Doc's office and cursed again. He could see the Doc, lying on the floor, in a pool of blood. He ran to the Doc's side and went to his knees. He turned the Doc over, his trained and experienced medic's eyes noting the number and severity of the doctors wounds. His heart sank. Even with a fully equipped trauma center it was doubtful the Doc could be saved. And he didn't have a trauma center.
Despite his wounds the Doc was still conscious. His eyes wandered for a moment before focusing on Tav's face.
'Tav... you must... you must escape. Suit... take a suit so... research not lost...'
Tav stared at the Doc in anguish. 'The suit locker was blasted Doc. It looks like one of the guards set it's self destruct rather then let whoever these bastards are get their hands on our work...'
The Doctor's breath wheezed laboriously. 'Proto... proto on...' Struck by a coughing fit, the Doc fell silent. But he pointed at his desk on which Tav could see their latest prototype. The Armored Combat Medic Suit Mk 6. It utilized the latest in nano-technology, crystal applicators, and their unique energy reactor. It's greatest feature was it's size. With the suit fully retracted it was no longer then 6 inches, no taller then 4 inches, and no thicker then 2 inches. Worn on the back by belt (Or, if used, the new fusing feature) it was barely noticeable until the wearer activated it. The suit would then enfold the wearer in heavy armor, and activate it's energy weapons and healing matrix. The helmet was it's primary processing unit and required a skilled medico to operate right.
Tav crawled to the desk and picked the belt up surprised, as always, at it's light weight. He strapped it on quickly and returned to the Doctor. 'I've got the suit, Doc. They won't get it from me.'
The Doctor coughed and nodded. 'Turn... turn around...'
Confused, but trusting, Tav complied. He felt the Doc fiddling with the unit, inserting a few power crystals he must have had in his pockets. Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot through his spine. Unable to stop himself he cried out and fell face down, back arching in agony, as what felt like a thousand needles stabbed into his brain. A second later it passed and he felt the belt slither off his sides. But the weight of the suit was still at the small of his back. Gasping, he knelt again, feeling a strange presence in his mind, the computer of the suit. He turned to Hevliks.
'Doc... Doc, you FUSED it with me! We haven't finished working on that process... there's no way to get it OFF!'
'Only way, Tav... only way... must escape. Crey will not stop... till all dead or captured... can't... get their hands on it. Run....' Shuddering, with a gasp, the Doctor went still. His eyes glazed over and his last breath passed his lips. Tav gently closed the Doc's eyes. Another death, another lost friend...
The facility rocked again and Tav noticed that the sounds of combat had stopped. He figured the invaders had finished off the last of the guards, which meant he didn't have long. Leaving the Doc's body he moved through the main lab to a small alcove unnoticed by the attackers and unreached by the researchers. Entering his code he opened the door to the small escape tunnel. Designed to permit rapid escape in case of fire or other dangerous situation, it would do for this.
With a last look behind, he moved up the ladder towards escape and freedom. But events weighed heavily on his mind. Who'd attacked the lab? Had anyone else survived? Would the attackers come after him? What was he going to do with the extremely advanced machine now fused to his body and spine? Could he learn how to use and fully activate the suit through the mental link he felt with the unit in his mind now?
He didn't know the answers to these and other questions. But he'd find out. And someone would pay for what had happened today. Determined to figure out how to use the suit and bring the killers of his friends to justice he continued up the ladder and towards the unknown.
Break. Push Transfer protocol, cue all units, store for retrieval on authentication. Begin Recording.
Yesterday we were knee deep in the tsoo-ers again, a few of us. From Kings Row to Steel Canyon, and on to Talos Island to stop kidnappings and robberies of the tsoo- sort. Flashbang brought a friend of his along, identified as Tav- very useful guy, quick with the heals. Easy, out.
Hey, that's FlashBOMB, not Flashbang. Geez, I know I just got here but give a guy a little credit! Anyways...
This Tavilen guy, he's pretty cool. Way back when, I was a part time tech at his lab, worked pretty close with him. Seeing him again is a trip, especially now... heck, the last time he saw me, there was nothing on my mind but pizza and women. But since the Crey hit our lab, and the accident... well, I mean, pizza and women are still up there pretty high. I nearly died when those stupid Crey roughnecks broke in, they caused an explosion of a containment unit I was transfering to Tavilen's lab. The radiation nearly killed me, but somehow I made it through... and when I woke up, I could shoot these weird bolts out of my hands! I'm tellin you, I thought I was either dead, dreaming, or on WICKED trip. Turns out those funky energy crystals they'd been working with gave me the ability to focus my own body's energy into power blasts, pretty much the same way Tav's suit sucks power from the crystals. Pretty cool, huh?
It's been pretty great working with Tav again. He's a real stand-up guy. And the stuff we're doin now, the hero gig, it's okay. There were less zombies at the lab, though...
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