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SL-0182
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Attire //:
//: Brosi //:
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OBJ II - MORE FORE THE GRILL //:
For once, both the Princess and herself had been granted a brief reprieve from political gatherings and obligations. CT-312 could have remained near the festivities, a relaxing afternoon beside the resort’s pool had been one of the options
Quinn Varanin
offered her. Instead, the Scout had chosen the jungle. The Princess would be with her peers and safe amongst them. It would’ve been too crowded for CT-312’s liking and it had been some time since she had been given the opportunity to conduct field work through dense woodland.
CT-312 accepted one of the
Nightspore Blaster Rifles that were being distributed to those wanting to participate in the hunt. She turned the weapon over in her hands, inspecting it from stock to muzzle. Her glove thumb passed along the safety selector before testing its weight against her shoulder. As she lowered the weapon, her HUD displayed the provided list of potential game. Each species ranked according to its threat level.
Her visor looked towards the broad stretch of grassland separating the resort from the jungle. CT-312’s HUD zoomed in, drawing the landscape closer. BARCA began identifying heat signatures and movement patterns across the open terrain.
A herd of
Iriaz graze beneath the sun, their bodies moving slowly through the tall grass. Several younger animals remained near the center while the larger adults wandered around the outer edge. One or two occasionally lifted their heads to survey the plains.
CT-312 continued panning toward the far side of the clearing.
A watering hole rested near the jungle’s boundary. There was a cluster of
Grantaloupe crowded along one bank. Their narrow heads lowered to drink. Amongst them were several
Uller, less graceful and considerably more alert.
The magnification of her HUD eased away, beyond the open grassland and watering hole stood the jungle. It stretched in every direction in a seemingly endless wall of rising vegetation. Broad leaves overlapped in dense layers, swallowing much of the sunlight. Mist clung between the trunks, stirred only by the occasional movement of something unseen deeper within.
From a distance, the landscape appeared almost peaceful.
CT-312 knew better. Lurking inside were dangers awaiting for who underestimated it. The Scout watched as several of the other participants crossed the boundary and headed straight into the jungle. Some moved in pairs, others formed small hunting parties before disappearing beneath the canopy. It didn’t seem like any of those were interested in the smaller game. Rather than pursuing the grazing herds in the open, most were eager to find the predators waiting farther inside.
A
deep roar rolled through the jungle.
It began as a distant vibration beneath the ground, growing until the sound swept across the plains in a low resonant bellow. Flocks of winged creatures erupted from the canopies, scattering into the sky. The trees trembled beneath their departure.
Across the grassland, the
Iriaz herd froze. All the heads rose in near perfect unison. The
Grantaloupe pulled back from the water, while the
Uller turned toward the jungle. Their thick rigid bodies hunkered down as their attention was on the darkened tree line. Faint ripples spread across the watering hole despite the absence of wind.
CT-312 remained still. She listened as the roar faded into the distance. For several moments the plains were silent. Then one of the
Iriaz lowered its head and resumed grazing. The others followed gradually. Everything resumed as normal at the plains and watering hole. CT-312’s visor remained on the trees. BARCA cycled through the creatures list and no conclusive identification appeared, there were no audio files that were provided. Something was waiting deep in that jungle.
Something big.
A series of uncertain
beeps sounded inside her helmet. CT-312 glanced toward the corner of her HUD where BARCA’s status icon flickered. Speaking quietly amongst herself,
“What do you mean, if we are going in there?” The answering
chime rose in pitch.
“Of course we are.” BARCA responded with a louder sequence of
beeps that sounded remarkably close to a complaint.
“We have this—” She raised the Nightspore rifle and settled its stock against her shoulder. The sights of the weapon aimed toward the jungle’s edge.
“—And several pieces of our own equipment.” Another worried
trill followed. CT-312’s brow lifted behind the visor.
“You never complain. What’s going on?”
BARCA produced a questioning series of tones. Text appeared along the side of her HUD.
[ CONFIDENCE IN CURRENT OPERATIONAL PLAN: UNCLEAR ]
CT-312 lowered the rifle slightly.
“You asking whether I know what I am doing.” A single affirmative
chime answered her.
“More or less.” An amused breath escaped through her helmet’s modulator. She adjusted the rifle’s sling as began heading forward, her boots pressing a path through the grass.
“You think I wear camouflage just for show?”
BARCA’s reply was immediate. CT-312 elected to ignore it.
Instead of following the other hunters directly into the forest, she moved towards the open plains and watering hole. Perhaps CT-312 would run into another like minded participant.
