Chapter 7:
Bingling and Bai Ling waited. The order had been transmitted, and the thralls were gathering back to their position. The closest were gathering down below a hill that the duo stood upon, or rather just Bingling as Bai Ling was just a hologram being. One that others couldn't even perceive. The rest while being further out still required more time and distance to cover; thus, they waited.
All the while Bingling was testing her body. running her own diagnostics to see if there were any problems with her avatar body. Though she had created this false body to be sturdier than the normal human body. Yet even that has its limits, for she had now become aware of the slight twinge of pain that was beginning to seep into her senses.
Bingling took a mental note of the issue, though there was little that could be done at the moment. All she could do now was to weather the pain and let her enhanced body do its work of repairing itself. She calculated that the feat should take no more than a few minutes, feeling the sensation.
All the while she was also scouring through her current inventory stock. Looking over the options available, her mood soured by the second. Further hammering down the inconvenient fact of her unfortunate predicament.
"Ha~ in situation like this I just wish I had brought 'those late game equipment', this is a massive blunder."
"A little late for regret now young miss." Bai Ling teased her master from the side. This earned an eyeroll from Bingling, before she retorted.
"Oh, zip it Bai Ling, way to rub it in more. Who could have thought that we be transported to another world that the one that was intended."
Bingling looked over her options again. She had plenty of various small arm's weapons, however that was virtually about it for supplies. There isn't many other varieties, such as food items. This was of not true hindrance to Bingling her current body can sustain itself with little amount of sustenance. That too has its limits, something Bingling added to create more realistic features to the avatar bodies.
What was the point of neigh unstoppable bodies without having any weakness to it or realism? That was her ideology, now its choices like that that now reared its consequences to her now. Yet still in her mind not having to eat would be a strange sensation. What kind of life would that be like not eating? One of the most basic behaviors of being alive.
Bingling shook those thoughts from her mind. Refocusing her attention to the problem at hand. Looking away from the screen visible only to her eyes. Her gaze became fixated upon the souls gathered below her.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes mistress all assets are accounted for." The invisible hovering A.I serf responded in turn.
"Ok then, Bai Ling disconnect their inhibitors." At that command the holographic form of Bai Ling hovered over the procession. Before snaping her fingers, sending an invisible wave of energy through the air. Soon sweeping through the ranks of the assembled near mindless thralls. The deadpan emotionless faces soon twisted in anguish. Many drop their hand-held devices upon the ground grasping their heads.
As the energy wave was a signal that resonated with the implanted devices in their brains, the ones that was controlling them. Even the nano bots within their brain cells, the sudden release of control sent shock waves through their system. Having been dormant for so long the sudden release of unstimulated cells went into overdrive into life. It took several seconds of agonizing pain and sensation before it lifted.
"Alright you wretches." Bingling began her voice cold devoid of any emotion for the filth before her. At those words all turned their eyes upon her. Gazing up skyward for she stood above them all. Glaring down upon the ramble from the hill she stood upon.
"I'm not going to bore you all or myself with long speeches. So, here's the deal." She emphasized upon the last part of her sentence. Her gaze drifting among the crowd before her. Many who locked eyes with her own. Though many had filched seeing the deadeye stare looking at them.
"There was an issue with the gateway, now we're all in some unknown world instead of the intended location. Normally I would have other means to deal with situations like this. But unfortunately, I don't have any on hand so~. you're all that's left so you'll have to do."
Bingling finished with utmost contempt in your voice. It oozed from her, and this fact didn't fall silent on the listen crowd below.
"Why in the nines hells should we listen to you!?" A voice cut through the still air like a hot knife through butter. The speaker was a man one who seemed to like to be in his late thirties. At least by ancient Terran standards. One's appearance couldn't be used as an estimation for the individual's true age anymore. The life span of the current space faring humans is significantly greater than those of the past. Humanity has long passed the limitations of the past. Now they have significantly longer lifespans compared to before. Along with the power to defeat any and all diseases. Though they do still persist into the current time.
Bingling couldn't help but become slightly amused by this merger show of defiance. Though her face showed none of it. She decided to humor the worm, letting it spit out its worthless venomous words. Though she didn't bother listening to even half of its mewing cries before
"Filth like you don't deserve second chances you made your choice now live with it. I could have just kept you in your mental cages instead of granting you this privilege."
"You think just because you gave us back slight piece of our free will that's enough to entice us to-" Before another word could come out from the man's lips. A burst of light enveloped the area. As a beam of ethereal light scythe through the man silencing him. Others flinched at the sudden turn of events. Looking back at where the man once stood, the ground was scared a mini carven now stood in place of where the man was. The only evidence of his existence being the two detached stumps of his two feet remaining.
Everyone closes to that man backed away from the sight. Not just from the heat of the blast area, but out of fear. Looking back up, back towards the direction where the beam of light had originated from. There stood Bingling still high up on top of the hill she still stood upon. There held within the palm of her hand was a hilariously oversized weapon, clearly indicating that one need both limbs to even attempt to lifted it. Yet hilariously here was the slim figure of delicate prim woman lifting such an object one hand with no signs of any trouble.
"It wasn't a suggestion." It was the simple yet insanely cold response that came next.
"Any more questions?" Bingling asked sarcastically to the rest of the crowd. Eyeing into them baring into their very souls, many broke the eye lock with the cold inhuman eyes that gazed upon them. Only one word resonated through the crowd now, a singular word to describe the being in front of them. A monster. The being before though resembled their own, wasn't human. This thing was nothing more but an inhumane, unfeeling monstrosity.
"That's what I thought." Leaping down from the massive boulder. Landing roughly upon the dirt,
"I'm only going to say this once. So, try not to make me repeat myself."
Time had passed. The sun high above the sky now seemed to begin its decent.
After some time later, the crowd was now huddled in front of the boulder that Bingling originally stood upon. There now laid a massive pile of various equipment, with the crowd spread out slightly being in an assembly. Being passed some equipment that was stack in a pile, at the spot where Bingling originally stood. Murmurs and the fiddling of objects passed around them shuffling through the between the gathering. Many of which were arguments of disagreement. There had even been small fight breakout here and there.
Bingling saw all this yet didn't get involved. Standing a few feet away from the main crowd she stood isolated yet still within sight of the crowd. She was too concerned with her matters at hand. She stood in place, yet her limbs shifted and moved. With each motion objects twirled and danced in the air with her limbs.
Different arrays of equipment appeared and disappeared on a whim as though they never existed. Bingling continued with her motions. Within her mind, she conversed with the invisible spectral form of Bai Ling. Who hovered over her still performing her duties as Bingling commands it. An array of screen was projected in front of Bai Ling. As she rapidly typed away at the multiple
[Left arm is slower by 0.023 percent readjust required.] Bingling stated not ceasing in her movements. As she continued in her practiced movements testing the functionality of the system. Her hands and feet danced in unison as the weapon of her choice obeyed her commands flawlessly.
[Compliance. Readjusting to suitable parameters.] Bai Ling responded. gone was her cherry playful mannerism. Now replace with a stern dutiful bearing.
[Weapon phasing short of 0.005 percent by .5 nanoseconds readjust required.]
[Compliance. Calculating faults deficiencies in system. Calculated time of recalibration; two minutes.]
Onwards these checks and readjustments commenced undisturbed. The duo lost in their own private world, till finally Bingling ceased her movements. Tossing the weapon behind her back. Usually, it would continue onward with its path and tumble away upon the ground. However, this wasn't the case. The weapon stopped midair, as if grasp held upon by some invisible hand. Then held up suspended behind Bingling waiting. This is due to a manipulator system called the MIF (Manipulator Interface Field) system used to control such weaponry as it can, in practice interface with virtually any object, from a purpose-built weapon to a discarded trash. The manipulator fields produced by NFCS take the form of a series of glowing translucent golden halo-like rings along the length of whatever the field is holding and allow movement in ways that would be impossible if the operator handled weapons with only their hands.
A creation of Bingling's own design. Courtesy of a pre base gravtic matter manipulation system utilizing that basic principle yet add new extra features.
'All system seems to be good and functional.' Bingling commented in her mind. Having finally concluded all tests to acceptable parameters. Though not truly satisfying to her preference, it would have to work for now.
The slight pains she felt before have now long since faded away. Testament to her flawless gene science in crafting this body. She felt a sense of pride surging through her core, for this body, praising herself for her genius.
"Young miss, this is the best we can do for now. I would say that it would be better if we could return to the Heaven's Avil. But that will just be beating a dead horse at this point."
"Yes, we've already established that point well enough now."
Though the thought still lingered in Bingling's mind. Such an inconvenience it was, not having the Heaven's Avil. She wondered if Bob had notified her family of her predicament. However, even if he has there is little that can be done considering that she was light years away from her intended target. They would be looking in the wrong direction, if at all because they have no heading.
Suddenly a thought came to her mind. "What if…they could potentially have a heading in the cosmos…by following the quantum ethereal void energy residue signature that must linger back at Heaven's Avil." She voiced out her inner thoughts absentmindly out loud.
"Even then though mistress that would take some time to process and if they are off by even a few star points the reading would be off by light years. They still look in the wrong direction then." Bai Ling commented on the side. Already deducing what thoughts were forming in her mistress mind. Bingling for her part couldn't refute Bai Ling had just said. She simply nodded her head in agreement.
'But it's still the best shot we have than nothing.' Bingling grunt her disgust, for that she had the slightest glimmer of misplace hope. She quickly rid herself of such defeating thoughts. There was no salvation to be had here, she would need to save herself and by her hands alone. Though it didn't ease the surge of frustration that was forming within her. The cause of the current predicament, the Traveler. She had deeply underestimated the raw power of The Traveler; she had known of its immense potential but never imagined such a terrible consequence with just a tap into that power.
She theorized there would have been a catastrophe should she had pulled in such large amounts of power all at once, thus she resorted to only tapping into not even a fraction but a mere percental according to her estimates of the raw energy of the Traveler. Yet just a drop did this, what would have happened if she had pulled more at the Traveler? She reeled within the confines of her mind in revelation at the thought.
Perhaps she might have jumped the gun on this. It might have been better, she thought. If she had conducted more tests, gained a more profound understanding of what it was she had hoped to master. However, with the deadline of the game's release so soon she rushed it. "Ha~." Bingling couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh. "Nothing ever seems to go smoothly without any issue for me." Bingling began to move then, Bai Ling hovering overhead beside her. Bingling swiftly closed the distance between her and the group of convicts, still bickering amongst themselves to notice her presence. Almost all of them, there were few who ceased their action and fixed their gaze on their leash owner.
"Alright, cease with your bickering already, just get your damn toys and let's head out. We make way to those mountains over there." She pointed in the direction past the sea of overgrown trees, towards the massive mountains over the horizon.
"With the altitude we might be able to get a better picture of our surroundings." Bingling said before she added the last part of her sentence in a softer tone. "And I might be able to get a better signal to notify someone to come pick us up from this shit hole."
Though soften the words still echoed loudly enough to reach the ears of the closest ones near the front of the group. Others questioned these members telling the others of what they've heard. Their words quickly blaze through the group like an uncontrolled firestorm. Lighting a sense of hope in them.
Soon words exchanged between the convicts resonated with hopeful pleas.
'We have a chance.'
'We can be saved.'
Such was what became to transpire among the crowd. Gathering themselves they hurriedly rushed after the back of Bingling. Who started her trek across the field without acknowledging the people behind her.
That was a lie. Hearing the chatter happening behind her she didn't say this out of consideration, but in a slight devious ploy to motivate them with purpose without having her persuade them.
['Nice going there mistress, giving them false hope like that so devious. Mistress is a bad girl~.']
Bai Ling cutely teased, hovering closer to Bingling. The serious mechanical nature before was nonexistence replaced with the same playful nature as always.
['Well, you're more welcome convince them yourself.] Bingling retorted to which Bai Ling giggled at the notion but said no more.
Onwards they went into the unknown. Not paying any heed for the ramble behind her Bingling pushed onwards through the dark underbrush of the towering trees. Now cast into the dark, with only just the slightest crack of sunlight piercing through to dense foliage above them. Yet the wonders found within drew their minds out of that bleak environment.
Many of the convicts found themselves fascinated and gawking at the fauna that they now find themselves among. Many even stopped their steps, to further inspect the fauna up close. Many began to praise and theorize and speculate like explorers on an adventure. Chatter and heartful talks began to circulate between them, life seeming to begin to surface upon their features. And the arise of a common ground seems to break barrios between them, beginning to foster a sense of kinship.
Even Bingling wasn't immune to these. Though she had the urge to will those lingering to resume their march. She refrained from doing so. For she too was intrigued by the local fauna.
She had seen plenty of worlds, explored countless natural reserves throughout the galaxy and beyond. Seeing hundreds of different faunas and indigo. Many of which she documented, sampled and collected. Many of which she had even used in her project, terraforming the moon of Titan to enhance the world further maybe even Saturn.
Filling it with wonders found throughout the known universe. A realm with hundreds of different worlds packed within its small frame. Now it seems as though life had thrown another her way. For these new ones peaked her interest. ['Bai Ling started scans and get everything that you can about these plants.'] Without delay Bai Ling did as she was requested hovering and scanning each desired specimen collecting all information within seconds. Within the span of mere minutes hundreds of data logs were cataloged and created in real time.
All the while Bingling was doing her own side quest. 'Perhaps I should add these to my collection as well.' She thought to herself. 'Perhaps these could enhance the scenery back on Titan.' Utilizing the MIF system, she began pulling in small samples of all the lifeforms around her before they disappeared into thin air as though they never existed. This went on through the trek through the forest.
However, like that of a rose the beauty hides its lethal thorns under the shade of its petals. From her peripheral vison, Bingling caught some movement within the darkness. By the time she had moved her head to acknowledge the threat, it sprang. Pouncing upon the poor lone soul. Too engrossed on a flower she had been inspecting. She never saw it coming, her thoughts flushed through Bingling's own mind. Through the nanoite her thoughts were of wonder and adventure, then suddenly. Was instantly replaced with confusion then immediate pain.
Her screams instantly filled the air grabbing everyone's attention. A massive bioluminescent creature seemingly mixed of a reptile with insect features, held the woman in its jaws. Blood oozed through its maw. Soon gunfire eclipsed the woman's screams. None had to even listen for Bingling's command. The instinct of survival kicked in for all the convicts and so they acted. Instantly reaching for their weapons, their one means of survival.
Their own screams and gunfire added to musical notes of chaos. Flashes of light consumed the space, the shots were sporadic, undisciplined. Bingling had anticipated that, in their panic that there would be no concision. Some of the shots while targeting the massive beast, yet highly nimble on its feet. Darted past and through some of the convicts. The panic crowd turning with the creature but still held their finger on the trigger release a torrent of fire into their own comrades. Further, driving the group into panic and despair. Further screams of anguish when the beast then crashed into the next set of victims sending bodies flying into the air. Blood and entrails sprayed surrounding in crimson red.
'Must I have to do everything myself?' Bingling grumbled, before stepping forward. Which then slowly turned into a jog, then a run, before finally a sprint. Towards the source of the discord amidst the crowd.
"Get it~! Its right freaking over there!"
"Wait watch your fire you'll hit friendlies!"
"Gah~!"
"Help me!"
Such were the cries, all too many and all too similar that echoed in the air. Convict E00523 was not one of those frightful souls. He was no stranger to danger nor fresh to such a scene of chaos. He was a ganger from the pits of colony nine. Violence and dangers were second nature to him. unlike most of the other softies, as he and several others call the one without such experience.
Yet there was little that he could do in this situation. Nothing that in his experience could prepare him for this. Even if he could rally the guys around him there was no way for them to listen or hear him. Yet he knew he had to try; the thoughts raced in his mind when suddenly a figure rushed past him. The figure of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen yet was almost the most monstrous being in human form. The fact or belief was further instilled into him by the brief glance he caught on her face. A joyful toothy grin.
Bingling rushed in like a storm. Faster than the human eye could catch she had instantly closed the distance wielding a blade in her hand. She swiped at the creature with deadly precision the blade hummed with power. Enteral energy coated the surface of the weapon, easily sliding through the armored carapace, like a hot knife through butter. The beast shrieked in pain, its attention now quickly shifting to the being that hurt it the most. The one that could harm it.
Its eyes fixed upon the hateful little thing that stood before it. It didn't move, there wasn't and fear upon its features. This one was different from the rest of the prey around it. Though it still looked the same as its kin, unlike the rest of its herd, which stuck of the aroma of fear. This hateful little thing did not have any fear of it. Prey that dares to stand before a predator, and rebel was unacceptable.
It roared and lunged at Bingling. She too moved at the same time as the beast. Leaping and gliding around its large limbs. Weaving and dancing around the beast as it slammed its feet, snapped its jaws at the tiny figure. All the while pain riddled through the entire form of the beast each time Bingling danced around it. With each swing of her sword new gashes pooling life fluids appeared along the body frame of the beast. Each swing was answered with a painful roar, as the beast redoubled its efforts in fury, trying to end the offending being that was causing it such pain.
Before finally leaping away off the massive back of the creature. Angled in the right perfection, lined up for the perfect angel to behead the beast. Decapitating it at the base of its neck, ending the beast suffering. Its lifeless body tumbled slightly on its limbs for a second longer. Before then dropping loudly onto the ground with a resounding thud. Echoing into the air. Not even a speck of dirt nor blood had landed on Bingling's fair body, her appearance still untainted by the world around her. Seeing as how the threat to their life was ended many felt a sigh of relief, tension was lessoned in the air. Until.
'Gr~.' Came the threating hint of danger. Multiple one this time. Hearing that the entire groups darting their eyes around to the source of the noise. Their eyes locking onto the respective glowing eyes of various beasts lingering in the shadow. Tension resurfaced in the air instantly as everyone readied themselves for the next confrontation.
"Ah~, I was wondering when the locals would come out to greet us."
Bingling commented before stepping forward. Standing at the frontmost of the group once more. She raised her hand, her fingers fanned out, egging on the opposition. Daring them into action. Taking the bait the opposition did just that. Bingling too responded in kind.