「Anomaly 02」
- Overview -
Anomaly 02, Object classification: Cloud Shepherd is a sentient entity that is capable of thought, communication, and cooperation. Preliminary observations and testing estimate that the anomaly has an IQ of over 200, and is able to communicate fluently by mimicking human speech with whistles and clicks. The Cloud Shepherd is also discernably ancient, with certain aspects, such as its ============= and ===== even suggesting that the Cloud Shepherd has lived for millions or billions of years.
The Cloud shepherd takes the physical form of a pale-skinned humanoid with anomalous proportions, its arms reaching down past its shins with large claws that end near its feet. The anomaly's true face has not been yet seen as it covers its face with masks, which it will swap out from its collection in accordance to its mood. Due to its cooperation, no attempt has been made to observe its true face as keeping with the deal made with the creature. The creature stands 82 feet tall.
- Abilities -
The Cloud Shepherd is able to control nearby cloud formations, and if none are nearby it can create clouds via ======. It is also able to control fog and mist. It is able to use these to choke, heal, bind, and more. It can also manifest the clouds and fog into solid form while not condensing it into water. Clouds, fogs, mists, and etc. that have been summoned or are controlled by the Cloud Shepherd do not obey by conventional thought and can have anomalous effects. These effects include being able to render those affected unconscious, having extreme acidity, having extreme temperatures, and ====== === ======= ===== affected.
The Cloud Shepherd is also able to take on a gaseous form by separating its atoms. It can use this to move extremely quickly. Cases in which it does so can lead to this ability being misregistered as teleportation. There are limits to this, however, and airlocked doors are effective in keeping the Cloud Shepherd contained.
The Cloud Shepherd also has the passive ability to warp and mutate fauna, flora, and fungi around it—the radius of this effect is unclear. So far, these effects don't seem to work on humans. Known mutations include:
- Birds developing several rows of beaks, either in the form of a fan (horizontally) or a rake (vertically)
- Deer gaining multiple eyes, notably two extras that meld together with their original eyes in the shape of an 'eight', or extra limbs
- Rodents (such as rats, mice, and squirrels) losing a front limb and instead having a single front limb aligned with the center of its body, as well as having distorted proportions making them longer and appear serpentine in form
- Flora gaining fauna-like properties, such as quick movement, being able to unroot and replant themselves, coiling branches / vines / leaves around objects, sudden and extreme growth, and more
If the Cloud Shepherd is walking where there is flora or nature present, nature will form a 'path' for the Cloud Shepherd. The Cloud Shepherd is able to control anything that it has mutated.
- Behavior and Appearance -
The Cloud Shepherd manifests its form as a hairless humanoid with #FFFFFF[1] or 255/255/255 white skin. From its head grows two deer-like antlers. These antlers are of a dark shade of grey and when exposed to light their shadows seem to weave into coral-like shapes and move on their own.
The Cloud Shepherd stands 82 feet tall, with long 'arms' that end in clawed hands with seven claws each, plus an opposable thumb for eight digits total. The anomaly carries with it a 'belt' made out of what appears to be a vine cord that carries its masks. It has 18 masks total. The masks reflect the anomaly's mood, and the Cloud Shepherd will swap out its masks to match its emotions accordingly.
The material used to make the masks cannot be identified.
The Cloud Shepherd is non-hostile and explained to operators on scene of its mistake. It agreed to be taken into containment with a deal assuring its safety. Given that the Cloud Shepherd ===== === === == === =====, TRACE command along with Halcyon leadership has decided it is in our best interests to work with the Cloud Shepherd.
At this moment, after being sedated for transportation, the Cloud Shepherd remains in an unconscious state. This anomaly is currently being held in Hangar === of ===== at ======= ====== ===== == ==== air base.
Personnel that have interacted with, seen photos, heard mentions of, or know of the Cloud Shepherd's existence have been given amnestic treatment.
Exceptions have been made to SF[2] operators of TRACE and BHISL SFCOM[3] with consideration that they could possibly ==== == ======= ==== ======= ==========. Examples of such personnel include TRACE Sergeant Eve Glen.
This information is classified under section A-1 and should not be shown to any individuals or entities outside of Halcyon Special Command.
The record of the Cloud Shepherd ends here.
- - -
Eve sat in a quarantine room at TRACE headquarters on a sickbed. Medical personnel in hazmat suits inspected her under the watchful eye of similarly dressed armed guards. After the doctors performed their examination and were satisfied, Eve was allowed to leave. Before leaving, however, Eve was made to take off her uniform, combat suit, underlayers, and anything that could have been exposed to the Cloud Shepherd during their encounter.
While no effects had yet been observed, TRACE command wasn't taking any chances. Eve felt awkward and kind of silly leaving all her clothes in a sealed plastic bag labeled with "hazardous materials—treat with caution" in bright yellow with an alarm symbol and HALCYON FEDERATION GOVERNMENT PROPERTY in all capital letters.
It even had small script detailing how to handle its contents and the consequences of handling it inappropriately.
Regardless, Eve was given temporary clothes to wear before being led to a shower room. There were several stalls of showers along with benches, but she was the only one there.
The guards stood outside the room, facing away from the shower room and watching the hallway while Eve stepped inside. One instructed her to keep the door open for security's sake. Eve then entered the room, slid out of her clothes, pulled open the shower curtain of the closest stall, and stepped inside. She pulled the curtain closed before she flipped the shower knob, the hot water cascading down from the showerhead on to Eve's tired and sweaty body.
Grabbing a bar of soap, Eve scrubbed herself down as the hot water carried the bubbles and oil down the drain. Unexpectedly, Eve was then doused in several harmless detoxing agents before a final hot shower. While the chemicals had been specifically made not to cause lasting damage to someone if they ingested it or if it found its way into their eyes, it still left a slight stinging sensation in Eve's eyes. This left her slightly salty.
Couldn't they have told me that they were going to do that? Is it really that hard to tell someone that they'd be doused in chemicals before actually doing so?
Nevertheless, after washing the chemicals out of her eyes, Eve stepped out. She wrapped herself in a towel, but on second thought it was far too small for her body and was probably meant for drying hair. Whatever the case, Eve made do.
Without a hairdryer, she worked the towel through her shoulder-length brown hair, wringing out the water as best she could. It was quick work; the water came out easily, and though still faintly damp, most of the moisture in her hair was gone.
On the bench, neatly laid out beside another towel, was a set of underlayers and BDUs—battle dress uniforms. Her rank and name—Sgt. Glen—stood out, stitched on her name tape. Her name tape was secured just above the bicep pocket of her BDU combat shirt. Just below the shoulder seam was her TRACE tab.
Eve froze.
As TRACE, we've been on constant 24/7 deployment since the war began, and I know that our job is critically important—but we just got back, and we've been lined up for another operation already?
Eve's question had reason. If they were being put on standby after their operation, they would have been issued their CTUs—combat training uniforms—which also served as everyday wear while on deployment or around base. BDUs, on the other hand, meant something very different. Another set of battle dress uniforms meant that they were heading into combat once more, just as the name implied.
Eve sighed unenthusiastically but mopped herself up once more with the towel before setting it aside. It was their job as TRACE, after all. She wasn't about to complain when it was what she'd trained and fought for over the past two years. Besides, she wasn't about to slack off and let Asphodel take them. Eve had been given a hair tie, and she tied her shoulder-length hair back before changing. It was a new look, but at least it stopped her hair from looking like a soggy cat while it dried.
After she'd dressed, Eve paused before the tall mirror mounted on the wall. The soft brown strands of her shoulder-length hair caught the light as she adjusted her belt and smoothed out the half-zip of her combat shirt. She ran a hand over the patches on shoulder and arm, as if confirming to herself they were still there—anchors in a life that seemed so surreal, so abstract in comparison to what she'd set off to do many years prior.
The reflection staring back at her wasn't the same girl she remembered. The hopeful freshman with the grindset of tac shooters ever present in mind was gone and her gaze now felt decades older, touched with a quiet, elegant maturity. Her almond-shaped eyes, small face, and smooth porcelain skin had changed from ecstatic university student to gentle beauty, the kind that drew attention without begging for it.
Her once underweight frame from the unhealthy eating habits of a uni student neck-deep in studies had now filled out with healthy curves.
Speaking of curves… Eve's thoughts wandered to Elisa. The thought made her flush. She stopped herself before she smashed her forehead into the glass, catching her own flustered reflection.
Eve sighed softly. She gave herself one last once-over, straightened her shoulders, and stepped out of the room.
[1] Refers to colour code. #FFFFFF and 255/255/255 is the code for pure white
[2] Special forces
[3] Special Forces Command