253 Reunion 1 (1/2)
”Aaa, sweat earth, how I have missed you!”
Immediately after exiting the GA-05E Juggernaut Lia laid down flat on the ground right outside Dax's compound in Kingstead, it seemed like she didn't like travelling in space that much. Dax how was just about to ask her to help with something held his words as a wry smile formed on his face instead.
(I guess I'll get the two twins and Iris to help me with the mana generator then.)
Getting back into the Juggernaut Dax found Iris and the two homunculus twins, Ling and Ying still standing over the mana generator, discussing different theories to its method of operation while deciphering the different rune formations visible on the outside of it.
”Come on you three, we need to move that to the lab.”
”Can't we just stay here and look at it?”
”We're getting close to grasping something.”
”Nope, the Jug needs be repaired before going back on high alert. So far this ship is the only effective weapon against the elders.”
As a series of drones entered the Jug behind him with a pallet for transporting the generator Iris realized she couldn't keep dragging things out and thus reluctantly stepped away from her newest passion project. After loading up the generator Dax quickly fetched Solaris who had fallen asleep due to exhaustion Carrying with him in a princess carry.
With the Juggernaut switching to autopilot, it gently lifted off and left for repairs while Dax walked with Iris, Ling and Ying, making sure that they didn't interrupt the drones tasked with transporting the mana generator.
(Hmm?)
Looking up towards the sky Dax felt there was something wrong all of a sudden, even if he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was. With his gut continuing to warn him that there was something wrong the drones transporting the generator eventually came to halt before spreading out on the empty landing field, raising their weapons.
”Dax? What's wrong?”
With the transport halting, Iris turned towards Dax to find out what was going on, seeing that he was tense for some reason she started getting worried.
”I don't know, stay put right there until I find out.”
Switching Solaris over to one hand Dax connected to the cities ICI network while using his free hand to take out his pistol, scanning the skyline all the while.
(Is it really nothing?... No, here it comes!)
Out of nowhere, a CAS-7A flew right over Dax and the other's heads, landing about 10 metres away from them while blocking the way to the lab.
”Dax, what was that for!?”
Being awoken by the sound of the CAS-7A's engines, Solaris initially believed it was another one of his pranks. Meanwhile, Dax was busy scanning his vast drone network, trying to find out which one of his CAS-7A had just landed in front of him, but nothing came up.
[DIRECTIVE CONFIRMED, CODE RED ESTABLISHED, AREA LOCKDOWN NOW IN EFFECT, NOW SCRAMBLING ALL DEFENSIVE UNITS, REQUESTING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FROM COMMAND.]
”W-what is happening Dax?”
”... That craft not one of mine, I have no idea where it came from. ICI, fire on my mark, triggers tight. Give them a warning.”
[ICI ADDRESSING ALL UNKNOWN UNITS IN THE AREA: POWER DOWN YOUR ENGINES AND EXIT THE CRAFT, FAILURE TO DO SO WILL LEAD TO EUTHANIZATION.]
”Get behind me, all of you!”
Setting down Solaris Dax pointed his pistol at the unknown craft which had just breached his restricted area without him knowing, at the same time the drones which had been transporting the mana generator formed a firing line on both sides of Dax. With no response from the unknown craft, Dax was about to open fire on it, that is until something extremely strange happened. Suddenly it was like everything turned quiet, while Solaris and the homunculus twins didn't seem to know what was going on, Iris realized what was happening a few seconds before the first drone fell over.
In just a split second, Dax's entire ICI network had been hacked and taken over, evident by the fact that the 540 mill railgun turrets now pointed at him.
”Oh fuck me… If something horrible is about to happen to me I want you to know that I'll be okay Solaris, don't interfere.”
Figuring something awful was about to happen to him, Dax lowered his pistol as the ramp of the strange CAS-7A lookalike ship opened up, revealing 3 figures clad in strange armour.
”Dax? What's happening?”
”I'll tell you later if I'm able to, just don't interfere.”
Leaving the confused Solaris behind Dax embraced his fate and walked up to the transport before greeting the people who had come to collect him.
”It has been a while, thanks for making the journey all the way here.”
Greeting the visitors without any particular expression on his face, Dax was meet with silence. Of course, that silence was due to the way Dax had changed without himself knowing it since he had been marooned on this world, it simply left Ra and Mu at a loss as to what to do.
”You are Dax, right?”
Before Mu knew what she was doing, she had spoken those words. Even if she felt it was something rude to say the person standing in front of her was simply nothing like the family member who had gone missing all those years ago. The Dax she knew had and was always a reckless workaholic with no regard for his own survival seemingly stuck in a constant state of heightened alert like he was always at war. It seemed that whatever had happened while Mu had not been able to look over him he had finally changed and that change was simply too hard for her to just believe outright, the anger and rage she held against him out of worry for his reckless way of living simply disappeared then and there.
Hearing the confusion in Mu's voice Dax put on a reassuring smile as he walked up to her, patting her head.
”Of course it's me, silly. It has been a while- Hello Ra, it has been a while. I see that new armour of yours has a considerable power assist function.”
Forced to cut his words short mid sentence, Dax greeted to older of the Avoaxian sisters who had just punched him in the stomach with a considerable amount of strength, cracking a few of his ribs.
”That's for worrying us so much, you absolute idiot!”
”Yeah, I'm sorry about all this, thanks for coming all the way here to find me.”
-
”Seeing that everyone isn't here at the moment I'll keep the introductions short. This here is Ra and Mu, my two reliable sisters, the one acting as their guard every time they leave the galactic empire is Philippa, a qiton also belonging to the 125th and the closest I have to a childhood friend.”
After dealing with the initial confusion and establishing a common language base Dax moved everyone inside a meeting room to introduce everyone to each other.
”Hello, people~ I used to beat up Dax when we were kids~”
Introducing herself with a casual wave while lying about the result of the numerous spars she had with Dax when they were younger, Phillipa managed to scare the other side with her easy going introduction as she never really bothered to suppress the ever present blood lust she carried as a qiton.