Walking down the dim corridor, the group (minus Shiji) grew quieter and quieter, feeling the atmosphere get darker and darker. March began shivering in the cold atmosphere, hugging herself tighter to feel warm. "W-why i-is i-it g-g-getting s-s-s-s-s-so c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-cold-d-d-d-d-d?" Breath frosty, Dan Heng, while not as obvious as our pink-haired mascot, felt the cold getting lower and lower, expression stern. Stelle, meanwhile, was seen shivering faster than a vibrator, bobbing left and right, trying her best to keep herself warm.
"Shh...silence. We are nearing our destination. Any further action would alert the enemy to our location, and I don't think any of you are ready enough to face it..."
Lifting his hand, he ordered them to be quiet, fearing their constant activity would render their stealth mute. The two girls turned back to him, expressions fuming, for they saw how his powersuit was keeping him warm, heat visibly emanating from the seams. Unable to bear it any longer, Stelle launched herself at Shinji, wanting to use him as her portable heater.
"Please keep me warm daddy!"
The remaining duo looked with abject disgust at her pathetic display to procure warmth, selling all her dignity for a few seconds of heat. Shinji merely stared down before unceremoniously kicking her back to them, her face still greedy for those few seconds of warmth. "Can someone please keep her in line!? The sheer noise we're making will alert the enemy, and trust me, if I'm right, you're all fucked. Literally..."
His voice graver than before, the trio stopped their shenanigans, feeling the immense weight in his voice. Dan Heng gripped his pear tighter, March strung her bow with three arrows, and Stelle held the bat up higher. Trepidatiously, they walked towards the hangar, eyes wandering everywhere. With each step, their hearts sank deeper and deeper, until they reached the entrance. With deep breaths, they charged in, brandishing their weapons.
"RAAAAAGGGHHH!!!"
Only to stop, seeing there was nothing
"Phew, thank goodness! I though-!"
Before she could register it, March felt a big push from her left. Turns out Shinji had pushed her to the side, right before a large arm plunged itself where she used to be.
Screeech!
From the shadows, a large True Sting flew out, its mouth opening wide.
"Aaaarrrgh!"
Screaming in fear, March and Stelle hugged each other. Dan Heng, seeing the insect, began sweating...
Profusely
"Damn it, why is there an Emanator here!?"
Eyes curling in tension, Shinji knew he had to act as fast as he could. What stood before him was a Maleceptor, its huge arms swiping furiously, trying its best to get rid of it.
"For the Emperor!"
With a single command, Shinji's jump packs coiled into action: Two large boosters propelled him into the air, his leg boosters guiding as accurately as possible, launching him on its back.
"For the Emperor!"
He plunged his revving chainsword upon its back. As the beast reeled at the sudden onslaught of pain, Shinji clung on for his dear life. Swaying too and fro, he yelled at the others to snap back. "Help me distract it!"
Dan Heng was the first one to snap back. With a single thrust, he pierced the beast's abdomen. While still reeling with the insect on its back, Skaracabaz Alpha-One was met with another attack that made it feel pain, this time with greater intensity. As it turned its head to look at who did it, its eyes grew angry when it saw its blood on Dan Heng's spear. Just as it was about to attack Dan Heng, A flurry of ice arrows struck it, forcing it to slow down due to the intense cold. Before it could escape its cage, it was immediately struck hard by a big, thick black object, causing a significant concussive effect on its head.
Just when it felt it couldn't get any worse, it felt it...
It felt intense heat coming from its back, its smouldering flesh igniting its frenzied mind
Shinji's hands, now burning bright gold, dug deeper and deeper into the back, reaching all the way into its spine. As he was about to land the finishing blow, visages appeared in his mind...
A large insect, thrashing in pain, suddenly stopping. Before it could register, it blew itself up, its flesh raining down upon everyone...
"Get back everyone!"
Leaping from the bug's back, Shinji hurriedly ran to the confused trio. As they stood stunned at his unexpected action, they had no time to dwell on it, for he enveloped them in a massive bear hug as tightly as possible. Before they could question him, they felt a sudden shock coming from behind him, followed by wet flopping sounds.
"Is, is it...dead?"
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
His back still covered in Swarm flesh, Shinji told the others to head to the side to recuperate, while he took ahold of Stelle, dragging her to the side. She stood agape, wondering why he called her. Then she remembered what March was telling her as they came here...
"Don't you think he's...kinda hot...?"
Face blushing, Stelle squirmed with embarrassment, cheeks blushing. She looked up, only to see him distracted. Mustering as much courage as she could, she asked the important question. "U-um Mr. Shinji, I-I would be glad to become-"
"Do you know what's inside of you?"