An Avian's Past #10

        They landed one after the other, quickly spreading out and checking the room for a possible ambush. Nothing laid in wait for them.
        “Team one, continue forward until the point of division.” Dasker said. They advanced down the hallway for a tense two minutes, until Dasker broke the silence: “Peach, Cherry, Sledge, and Emjay, continue on the left branch of the hall. Cobalt, Crystal, and Mute, continue down the central hall to the genetics lab. If you do not see the target, remain there and wait for instructions.”
        The all obeyed the pilot, and they split apart into two groups. Cobalt didn't know why, but he felt safer with Mute on his team. Of course, he also liked having Crystal with him. Again, there was a tense silence regularly punctuated by the sound of their footsteps.
        “The target appears to be stationary in the genetics lab. Advance with caution. Emjay and Peach, return to the branch in the hallway and wait for further instructions. Sledge and Cherry, stay where you are and listen for instructions.” Dasker said. He didn't know what tricks the monster had up its proverbial sleeve, but he wanted a group farther out in the station just to be ready. He didn't want everyone at the assumed points of entrance and exit, and have to re-mobilize if they were wrong.
        Cobalt went in first, gun held close to his body. Crystal emerged next, and Mute came in behind. They looked around for the dark shape of the monster in the large, open room, but didn't see anything.
        “There doesn't appear to be anything here.” Cobalt said.
        “There is a life form slowly moving in the gene lab. It should be to your left.” Dasker said.
        They all turned, and cautiously crept over to see...nothing. “There is really nothing here.”
        “You are standing directly on top of the life form. There must be something there, or all three of our scanners must be faulty.” Dasker said.
        Directly on top? Why shouldn't the monster be on top of them? Cobalt whipped his gaze upwards, rifle trailing only millimeters behind, to see a rapidly approaching shape that had apparently dropped from the ceiling. Cobalt lunged forwards and knocked Mute out of the way of the impact site, and Crystal backed away automatically in surprise.
        A dark shape landed with a heavy impact on metal, and lunged forwards, focusing on Crystal. The avian's gun was already up, with her finger on the trigger. The monster was fast, though, and the farthest outstretched claw knocked the gun from Crystal's hand.
        Then Cobalt swung his gun like a baseball bat into the side of the creature's head, producing a solid clack of metal on helmet. The monster was knocked slightly to the side, and its claw swiped Crystal's arm. The tough kevlar she was wearing stopped the scything attack, though, and it only gave her a bruise.
        Mute had a pistol out, setting the rocket launcher on the ground, and joined Cobalt in firing at the creature. The heavy caliber rounds struck the creature in the back, the force of the slugs shoving it forwards, and Crystal dodged out of the way, going for her gun.
        With stunning agility, the monster rounded on one foot, and made a dive for Mute's legs, which was dodged with centimeters to spare.
        Or, well, they thought it was going for Mute.
        It actually was diving for the rocket launcher, which it secured a hold on and bounded away with. The three were powerless to stop the fleeing form, as it could easily outrun them, and was already moving in the direction of their shots.
        “Contact! The thing dropped from the ceiling, and made off with a rocket launcher!” Cobalt said frantically.
        “Sledge and Cherry, immediately move to the central hall. Emjay and Peach, prepare to engage.” Dasker said. The trio heard a cascade of gunfire a moment later, then a thud and a scream.
        “Peach took a hit in the head, and it got past us. It just charged right by!” Emjay said.
        “It only has one round, I guess. It can't do that much damage, as long as we're careful.” Cherry muttered. Cobalt, Crystal, and Mute charged out into the hallway a moment later to see Peach flat on the ground, on her back. In her helmet was a large crack. Thankfully, her helmet hadn't split. It was still an extremely powerful impact, though. A minor concussion was assured.
        Cherry took Peach's helmet off to see her eyes closed, but no other blemishes aside from a red mark on her forehead where the main shock had hit. Peach had delicate features, and porcelain white skin, made more pale by her current state of consciousness.
        “She looks okay, but she's unconscious.” Cherry said, checking her partner's breathing and basic vitals.
        “Sledge and Cherry, return Peach to the lobby and send her back to the ship. Mute, Cobalt, Crystal, and Emjay, scout the Genetics lab and do not engage if the target appears. We have to assume that it knows how to use the rocket launcher, if it went for it instead of Mute.” Dasker said.
        “Understood.” Emjay said, and took the lead. They advanced back into the lab, looking around.
        “Let's just check out some of these papers. Maybe they can give us a clue as to what this thing is.” Emjay said. Crystal and Cobalt immediately obeyed, having been curious since the start of their ordeal. Mute kept watch, sidearm drawn and his finger on the trigger. Emjay joined the two avian in their search.
        Then something caught Crystal's eye. It was a paper titled in bold: “Project_Avian-1-A”.
        With shaking fingers, she picked it up and read it:
        “A-23 (hereafter referred to as 'Crystal') is one of the two avian prototypes, specifically having been spliced with genes to allow them functional wings. Made completely from scratch, Crystal and her counterpart, A-22 (hereafter referred to as 'Cobalt') are enigmatic among other test subjects, who have been sent to be adopted as normal children. Cobalt was kept under close observation for approximately 15 years and 3 months, and has been under low observation from then on. Crystal has been under close observation for approximately 10 years and 2 months of her life before being released and adopted with Cobalt as brother and sister, and has been under moderate observation from then on.”
        Crystal's gloved hands began to shake, but she kept reading,
        The document continued: “Crystal displayed unusually rebellious behavior, repeatedly trying to escape containment against the insistence of Cobalt since she was approximately 6 years and 2 months. All attempts had failed before they had begun, but Crystal continued to try until reaching the age of approximately 9 years and 10 months. Cobalt's mental state and emotions rapidly descended into a permanent 'blank' feeling in any situation after Crystal injured a member of staff and was sedated. The only occasion where Cobalt would display any emotion other than bland pragmatism was when Crystal was hurt or threatened.”
        Crystal 's hands gripped the paper so hard, it crinkled and warped, gaining the attention of Cobalt and Emjay, who looked over at her.
        Crystal didn't trust herself to speak, but handed the paper straight to Cobalt, who read it quickly while Emjay looked on in mystification.
        Cobalt quietly folded up the paper and tucked it into a pocket on his flak jacket, not saying a word as he buttoned it in.
        Emjay looked up at the two avian, “What was on the-”
        “Nothing you would find useful.” Cobalt interrupted. Not a scrap of emotion sounded in his voice. His tone didn't convey any clues.
        “All right...” Emjay said, “But if it's important to our safety, you have to show us.”
        “It doesn't affect us or our fight in the slightest. Just something I found interesting.” Cobalt said convincingly.
        Emjay looked down again, reading. Crystal tried to meet Cobalt's eyes, but he had flipped his mirrored half-visor down.