《Dead Roots》 Chapter 1: A forgotten planet A planet drifted through the vast space. It was pitch dark and freezing cold. Eternal silence reigned. Its only companions were its seven brothers and sisters and the stubborn sun, caring like a mother. It had not seen any signs of its former inhabitants in a long, long time. But on this day a change unexpectedly occurred in the silent solar system. A small dot appeared out of nowhere, indiscernible before the endless black canvas. It hung between the stars for a few seconds, struggling to hold on. Suddenly though, energy surged into the small dot from an unbelievable distance away. It broke through its shackles, growing at an incredible speed. In the blink of an eye a large black hole appeared, looking like a rapture in space. Its inside was pitch black at one second and filled with light the next. Watching closely, one could see something moving in the light. It was an eerie sight, seemingly standing still but continuously coming closer. Suddenly a pulse ran through the tunnel. The entrance bulged, spitting out the object inside, before disappearing as if it never existed. Only a large spaceship remained. Its metallic hull blinked with all kinds of lights. A wave spread from the vessel, scanning its surroundings. A man stood withing the ship¡¯s bridge, anxiously staring at a few monitors. His transfixed eyes were reddened, his gloved hands shaking. One hand slowly moved up the man¡¯s body, gripping onto his rather long grey beard. A few hairs were ripped out, but the man didn¡¯t notice the pain at all. An eternity passed within moments. Finally, results appeared on the monitor. A lifelike female voice belonging to the ship¡¯s AI sounded out: ¡°Congratulations, Prof. Dr. Delphi. We have reached earth!¡± The man¡¯s body froze. His gaze penetrated the glass, focusing on the inconspicuous rock drifting through space not far away. ¡°So, it really exists¡­¡± Another man stepped next to the doctor, sighing to himself. He wore a dark red uniform made from leather-like material. A crest was stitched on his chest, showing a majestic blue rocket, which was the insignia representing the eternal empire. His voice allowed Doctor Delphi to snap back to reality. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The doctor laughed free and easy like he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. At this moment a low sound could he heard, followed by heavy footsteps against the metallic floor. Multiple people entered the bridge, all clad in uniform as well. A green-haired woman was in the lead, speaking first: ¡°Is it really true? No false alarm again? Did we really find earth?!¡± ¡°Hahaha, of course it is true! Look outside! Isn¡¯t she beautiful? Everyone doubted me! You as well, Deputy Pisces! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. But I did it! I! I, Dr. Delphi found the ancestral planet of humanity, Earth!¡± No one present took the signs of craziness on the doctor¡¯s face to heart. After years of working together, searching the vast space for a single planet, everyone got used to the others¡¯ antics. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, doctor. I always believed in you!¡± Pisces spoke with a bright smile, holding up her palm towards the team behind her, a coin-shaped device lying on her palm. A few grumbling voices could be heard. Some of the members took out similar devices, holding them against the deputy¡¯s.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The woman retrieved her hand, looking at the number displayed on the device with a chuckle. Watching this exchange the doctor could only scoff. His eyes fell on a young man at the back of the group. Seeing the excitement on the latter¡¯s face he felt much better. ¡°Virgo, come here! Take a good look!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The young man with red burn wounds on his neck didn¡¯t hold back, running towards the front and staring into space with a fascinated expression. ¡°So, this is earth¡­¡± ¡°Yes! Humanity¡¯s ancestral planet! We left approximately twenty thousand years ago for uncleared reasons. The planet, no, the entire solar system, somehow fell into oblivion.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t fathom how this could¡¯ve happened.¡±, whispered Virgo. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± Virgo flinched hearing the deep voice of the man standing next to him. Only now did he remember that his superior was present. Virgo straightened his body, glancing at the many stars on the tall man¡¯s shoulders: ¡°Yes, Major Leo! For the empire!¡± ¡°For the empire!¡± The other soldiers echoed the salute, gathering around the major. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t lose your vigilance! We are in uncharted territory! Adhere to protocol, on position!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The soldiers moved with great discipline, some leaving the bridge to take position elsewhere. ¡°Gemini, analyze the planet.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± A tall man with impressive muscles barely fitting into his uniform, replied calmly. He swiped over a few screens, focusing the scanners outside the ship on the silent planet which seemed so small in the distance. ¡°No signs of life¡­ No, wait. We have detected signs of civilization. Still, no living beings.¡± ¡°Civilization, civilization¡­¡±, murmured the doctor quietly. His eager eyes still stared at earth. ¡°Leo, what are we still doing here? Did you hear this? Civilization! We need to go!¡± Major Leo glanced at the crazy doctor, taking a deep breath. ¡°Alright. Set destination: earth!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Forceful shouts answered the major. Although the soldiers took their mission seriously, everyone felt at least some curiosity towards this mysterious ancestral planet. The ship began moving again. Soon it traveled close to the speed of light. The surroundings flashed too fast for the human eye to comprehend. However, the people in the small ship could seemingly still keep up. They expertly steered the spaceship, getting closer and closer towards earth. ¡°Begin landing procedures!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The ship¡¯s movement changed gracefully as it approached the planet¡¯s surface. Its thrusters moved to slow down the momentum. With precise bursts of energy, it slowly sank towards the ground. Doctor Delphi behaved like a fool in love, his eyes never leaving the planet since he first set his sight on it. Now that the ship entered the vicinity of the planet, one could slowly make out details of its surface. Large parts of the planet were covered in ice. Only some places, which were directly facing the sun, had some superficial water reservoirs. Between the enormous ice deserts some land could be made out, consisting of dry grey stone with not a speck of green to be found. Suddenly a voice sounded through the bridge coming from a female soldier standing next to Gemini: ¡°Unknown structure found. Requesting permission to put it on the main screen.¡± ¡°Permission granted, Aries!¡± With a swipe of Aries¡¯s hand an image suddenly appeared on the large main screen. It showed a strange metallic structure. It was rather narrow and tall, ending in a rounded tip. A few similar structures could be seen in its surroundings, some standing and some laying on the ground. Major Leo pondered for a moment before glancing at the man next to him. ¡°Any ideas, doctor?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t confirm it from up here, but if I¡¯m not wrong these should be starting ramps for rockets!¡± Delphi stared at the screen. A certain fascination, or rather fanatism, could still be seen on his face. However, most of it had been suppressed by a professionalism worthy of a famous researcher. ¡°Major, if I am right, we should start our search from this point.¡± ¡°Alright. Guys, you heard the man.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Following the major¡¯s orders, the soldiers quickly lowered the ship. The metallic structures enlarged in their view. When Aries looked them up and down, she couldn¡¯t help but comment: ¡°How uncivilized.¡± Immediately she felt a pair of eyes staring down her back. She didn¡¯t turn around, though. There was no use pacifying the doctor. In the years working together it had quickly become apparent that Aries and Delphi would never share the same view on humanity¡¯s ancestral planet. A short while later a jolt went through the spaceship. It had landed not far from the supposed rocket starting ramp. ¡°Hahaha, we are finally here! I¡¯m coming!¡± Doctor Delphi laughed happily. He basically lunged out of the bridge. A short, narrow hallway led him to a large room at the back of the ship. The doctor took off his airy black robe, carelessly throwing it on a bench at the side, leaving him in a white shirt and black trousers. He approached a few cabinets to the right. Entering a short code one of the cabinets snapped open, revealing a powerful armor. Even the doctor couldn¡¯t help but stare in awe for a moment, admiring this marvel of modern technology. Gen 17 power armor, defending the wearer against all known and unknown hazards space could throw at them. With a sturdy exoskeleton enhancing one¡¯s movement, yet still nimble and comfortable, this power armor offered anything a soldier could wish for. And next to the mighty armor an entire arsenal of deadly weapons was stored. All of those were produced to the highest standards, their lethality incredible, allowing humanity do dominate the battlefield since generations. Doctor Delphi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. His hand pressed against the core of the armor. An electronical voice spoke up: ¡°Recognized Professor Doctor Aristo Delphi. Power armor ready to be deployed.¡± Chapter 2: Sightings ¡°Where do you think you¡®re going, doctor?¡± Delphi flinched hearing Leo¡¯s deep voice coming from behind him. He turned around, finding all twelve soldiers escorting him, about to enter the room. ¡°Leo! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just taking a look.¡± ¡°You know I can¡¯t allow this.¡± ¡°Come on. No one will see it!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°But¡­ I NEED this, Leo! I need to see her, feel her!¡± Doctor Delphi¡¯s expression became more and more ugly, pleading towards the stern-faced major. ¡°Gemini, Scorpio, make sure the doctor doesn¡¯t leave the ship until I gave the Ok.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Two burly men stepped forward. Gemini directly passed the doctor, blocking the way towards the power armor. Meanwhile Scorpio stayed close to Delphi looking at the doctor with a challenging smile on his ugly face. ¡°No, you can¡¯t do this Leo! I¡­ mph.¡± Scorpio decided that the doctor had spoken enough. With his strong grip he shut the man¡¯s mouth. The major shot his subordinate a disapproving glance but didn¡¯t comment further. ¡°The rest of you! Armor up!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Everyone¡¯s voices sounded increasingly solemn at this moment. The last few years were rather leisurely for the soldiers. But now their strict training dictated their actions. The soldier went to their respective cabinets. All of those contained the necessary equipment to explore unknown planets. Even if their radars didn¡¯t detect any life, the soldiers didn¡¯t dare to take the mission lightly. Leo watched with a neutral expression as his power armor stepped out of the cabinet. It opened by itself, allowing the major to step in. Next, it closed slowly, calibrating itself to fit the major¡¯s current body shape perfectly. Leo felt the cushioned metal embracing him tightly. Electrodes connected with his body, allowing him to control the armor like a second skin. An electronical voice sounded out as the armor finalized the process. When various readings appeared on the black glass before his eyes, Leo knew that his armor was ready for combat. Heavy footsteps sounded on the metallic floor. Doctor Delphi watched in envy as the twelve soldiers in black armor approached the door leading out of the ship. A hatch opened leading to a short air lock only enough for four armored soldiers to pass at once. Major Leo took the lead. The hatch closed behind him. A short warning signal rang out before all the air was sucked away. A moment later the wall in front of the soldiers lowered, opening up a way to the outside. The soldiers watched as the gap enlarged slowly. A dead landscape was gradually revealed, dominated by rocks and ice. It was a boring, dead sight. However, the soldiers couldn¡¯t deny that a special feeling welled up in their chests. This was the fabled planet of their ancestors. Leo quickly suppressed his emotions when the wall was fully opened, building a ramp towards the floor. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Getting rid of all distracting thoughts the soldiers carefully left the spaceship. Their black laser rifles were raised before their eyes as various information about their surroundings was constantly fed back by the power armor. Leo took one last step, landing on the solid rock. Cracking could be heard as the ground broke under his heavy weight. Leo¡¯s ears twitched, his body fully tensed.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He took a few steps forward. Similar sounds could be heard as the other soldiers moved behind Leo¡¯s back, spreading out in three directions. ¡°Pisces, in position.¡± ¡°Cancer, in position.¡± ¡°Taurus, in position.¡± Observing the barren land before him, Leo gave a signal to the ship. It took a while until all soldiers exited, safe for Gemini and Scorpio who looked after the doctor. ¡°No threat detected. Follow me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Leo took the lead. Constantly scanning his surroundings, he approached a few buildings not far from their landing zone. It was quite surprising that those buildings hadn¡¯t fallen apart yet. Maybe this could be attributed to their simple but sturdy construction. Most of those buildings were unadorned metal blocks. When Leo got closer, the ground below his feet changed as well. It was a flat plain, most likely constructed by the ancestors. However, after so many years its purpose couldn¡¯t be discerned anymore. Suddenly Leo noticed something. He turned to the side abruptly, his weapon raised in an intimidating posture. Not far away a red light blinked. Some sort of metallic arm moved upwards. However, after a single second it froze in place. The light extinguished. Not enough energy? Leo stared at the arm closely, not daring to take it lightly. The other soldiers had quickly formed a line, some putting one knee on the ground. Taurus and Pisces stood in front of everyone, ready to activate heavy shields at any moment. ¡°At ease.¡± The soldiers relaxed, seeing that there wasn¡¯t any more movement. Pisces asked her boss calmly: ¡°Major, should I investigate the area?¡± ¡°Make sure there is no threat. But don¡¯t touch anything. Leave the research to the doctor.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Pisces followed the major¡¯s order. She activated a small spere in her palm, which instantly grew into a large shield made from special alloy, protecting her body. With slow steps she approached the strange arm, stopping a short distance away. ¡°This arm belonged to some construction. There is more scrap metal here. I don¡¯t know its purpose, but even if it activates again, I don¡¯t see how it could move anywhere.¡± ¡°Alright. Come back.¡± After the small interlude, the soldiers became even more careful as they got closer to the few buildings. The structure got clearer in in their view. Suddenly a warning flashed before Leo¡¯s eyes. His armor automatically zoomed in on a large, broken window somewhere on the third floor. Leo took a sharp breath as he spotted a human figure. It was a man with pale skin and black hair. Wearing a mix between a wide robe and a black uniform he stood still, his eyes seemingly staring into nothingness. ¡°Stop!¡± The unit immediately froze in place, their rifles directed towards the human figure. ¡°Major, it¡¯s impossible for this man to be alive. Even the most advanced genetical engineering doesn¡¯t allow a lifespan of more than 650 years.¡± ¡°I know. But how do you explain this man¡¯s presence then?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the corpse of an ancestor.¡± ¡°After thousands of years?¡± ¡°Otherwise, it would mean other humans have found earth before us.¡± ¡°Highly unlikely.¡± ¡°What should we do now, major?¡± Leo furrowed his brows, contemplating their options. ¡°Aquarius, scout ahead. The rest stays back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Not daring to refuse, one soldier quickly separated from the group. Her armor dimmed, taking on the color of the grey landscape. Various means were deployed to shield against all known scanning methods. After a moment the other soldiers couldn¡¯t spot her anymore, not even perceiving her footsteps. Aquarius sneaked silently, reaching the building complex. She carefully placed her hand on the metallic wall. An extremely supple energy pulse was sent out. Quickly, feedback was returned to her armor. Still no sign of life. However, it seems these buildings are not without defensive measures. Aquarius recorded the information before moving on. She repeated the procedure at a few different places. When she turned the first building¡¯s corner, she gazed at the enormous metal claw in the distance. It laid on the ground, half embedded in a large hill. Somewhat further away similar constructs could be made out. However, the rocket platform wasn¡¯t Aquarius¡¯s target right now. She continued doing her job, placing her hand on a door not far away. Suddenly her body flinched. She involuntarily withdrew her hand, taking a few steps back and huddling around a corner. Absolute silence returned. After waiting for a few seconds Aquarius carefully approached the door again. She wore a resolute expression and repeated the scan. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as an image was projected into her vision, sharp lines outlining the structure before her. She focused on the basement where several bodies could be seen lying in some compartments. Just now she feared that they might be still alive, detecting her scan. But fortunately, the bodies didn¡¯t show any movement. Major Leo and the other soldiers remained further behind, protecting the escape path towards the ship. At this moment he suddenly received a message. ¡°Major¡­ chzz, found bod¡­ chzz¡­ look.¡± The major frowned heavily, his body turning tense. How could it be that their signal, based on the most advanced technology in the entire empire, was interfered with on a dead planet such as this?! He pondered over the words sent by Aquarius. Coming to a decision, he ordered his subordinates: ¡°Libra, Cancer, stay here! The rest comes with me!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Major Leo glanced at the unmoving person at the window while messaging Aquarius for more information. A few moments later the team arrived at the scout¡¯s position. They stared at the solid door before them. A gap could be seen between it and the wall as if it got stuck during movement. On a signal from the major Taurus stepped forward. He gripped the door tightly and pushed to the side. His muscles tensed more and more. Suddenly the sound of something bursting could be heard and the door smoothly disappeared into a gap within the wall. Chapter 3: Defense A long, dark hallway was revealed. Multiple other doors led to rooms left and right, some of them closed and some opened. Major Leo didn¡¯t give the order to enter yet. He knew from Aquarius that the building complex had its own defenses. The soldiers positioned themselves in a half circle outside, with Taurus in the lead, holding a towering black shield. At this moment the tall man¡¯s silhouette was suddenly illuminated by a red light. Multiple lamps turned on inside the building. However, contrary to expectations no sound accompanied the activation. The flickering light created a tense atmosphere. ¡°Major, maybe the defense doesn¡¯t work anymore?¡±, suggested Pisces carefully. Leo furrowed his brows, looking past Taurus into the hallway. ¡°Taurus. Take one step forward.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The tall man advanced without fear. When his foot touched the floor, he stood inside the building. At this moment, a turret suddenly extended from the ceiling. It swirled around, aiming at Taurus. Its multiple muzzles unleashed a hail of bullets. Thud! Thud! Thud! Bullets shot through the air, crashing into the soldier¡¯s heavy shield. Even with the power armor¡¯s support Taurus¡¯s arm trembled heavily. He gritted his teeth, veins building on his arms. But he didn¡¯t move a single step. However, the onslaught only lasted two seconds. The turret veered to the side. Bullets collided with the wall, turning into dangerous strays. Suddenly a strange sound could be heard. One of the turret¡¯s joints broke. The weapon couldn¡¯t hold its grip to the ceiling anymore, crashing to the floor. A few more bullets came out before the scene fell silent again. ¡°Time stops for no one¡­¡±, commented Pisces with a look at the turret. ¡°I¡¯m surprised it still worked.¡± ¡°Hey, Taurus, are you ok?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. A few bullets are no threat.¡±, said the soldier smugly. ¡°Yeah, those vintage things shouldn¡¯t be able to damage our equipment.¡± The atmosphere noticeably lightened. In situations like these it was preferable to get attacked instead of moving in uncertainty. Leo allowed his soldiers to vent their emotions for a short while before signaling them to quiet down. ¡°Aquarius, any movement?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go in.¡± Leo didn¡¯t lose his cautiousness, directing everyone to go forward. Taurus was still in the lead. His heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Looking at the turret below his feet, Taurus stopped for a moment. He only advanced after making sure that it could not pose any danger. The soldiers kept their weapons raised. They glanced at the rooms to their left and right while approaching a spacious stairway. ¡°You said there were bodies below us, Aquarius?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a look. Secure the vicinity and then call the doctor over.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he will be overjoyed.¡±, joked Virgo. ¡°Soldier, focus.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± Leo frowned, not commenting further as he followed Taurus down the stairs.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. They entered another hallway. It was almost pitch black, only the flickering red light from above accompanying them down the stairs, creating ominous shadows. The power armors reacted automatically, activating a night vision not much worse than their sight in daylight. A simple hallway with multiple doors came into view. Behind all these should be the bodies spotted by Aquarius. Leo glanced at the first door to the left. Suddenly a strong pressure drove into his mind, making his body tremble. ¡°Stop!¡± With a decisive command all the soldiers stopped. ¡°Did you sense danger, major?¡±, asked Pisces with a voice indicating that this wasn¡¯t a first. ¡°Yes. That door to the left.¡± ¡°Any orders?¡± ¡°Aquarius, scan again.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The female soldier stepped forward, holding her hand against the wall. An invisible pulse was sent out. Immediately her heart sank. ¡°There sems to be an additional entity, sir. It sits on a chair in the center of the room.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t detect it earlier?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± Aquarius¡¯s words left the entire group with a frown. ¡°Use your ability!¡±, ordered Leo calmly. Taking a deep breath, Aquarius nodded, focusing her eyes on the door before her. With a thought her vision changed, penetrating the solid structure before her. Even the power armor was ignored as a clear picture emerged in her mind. She spotted a black body sitting in the center of the room. It was made from metal, clearly a robot. The longer Aquarius observed, the more information was fed back to her. ¡°It¡¯s a robot. The material looks to be Black Sun Steel. Danger level at least C. It has been corroded by the freezing temperatures in the room.¡± At this moment a pained groan escaped Aquarius¡¯s mouth. ¡°Enough, Aquarius. Thank you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aquarius ended her ability and retreated to the back of the group, relaxing her mind. ¡°Your orders, major?¡± ¡°Those other bodies are valuable research material. Let¡¯s see if we can draw the robot away and fight outside. Capricorn, prepare a timed bomb. We will retreat.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± While the rest of the unit left the building, a lean man with a never smiling expression stepped in front of the door. With a flick of his hand, a small device appeared. Holding it against the door, imperceptible vibrations were sent out, analyzing everything about the obstacle. A second later he pulled away, considered the information, and retrieved a small bomb from his space storage. He plastered it on the door, setting a timer of two minutes and calmly left the building. The soldiers regrouped outside. Taurus and Pisces deployed heavy, temporary shields for the soldiers to take cover. For a moment everyone waited with bated breaths, their weapons peeking form behind the cover, concentrated on the door. Suddenly the sound of an explosion reached their ears. Underground, two red lights abruptly lit up on the robot¡¯s face. ¡°Danger detected.¡± An emotionless voice rang out. The robot stood up, its movements jerky from the cold. Messages flashed on the soldiers¡¯ power armors, informing them that a scan just washed over them. A few seconds later steps could be heard. A silhouette appeared within the hallway, its black armor illuminated by the red light. ¡°Fire!¡± High pitched noises rang out as the soldiers fired their laser rifles. The robot shook. Signs of melting could be seen from its armor. ¡°Danger!¡± Assessing the intruders to be extremely powerful, the robot immediately prepared its strongest weapons. It raised its arms, a blue light shining brightly from two muzzles in its palms. Leo¡¯s sense tingled heavily. ¡°Take cover!¡± The soldiers instantly dove behind their shields. They were not a single second too late as a stream of mysterious blue energy erupted, burning everything in its path. The surrounding temperature directly rose by several degrees. It took a few seconds until the robot was seemingly out of energy. Feeling the attack subsiding, the soldiers instantly came out behind their cover, retaliating in kind. It didn¡¯t take long for the robot to be turned into a sieve. ¡°Stop! Good job, guys!¡± ¡°Quite sturdy for a thousands of years old robot!¡±, exclaimed Taurus, clearly impressed. ¡°I¡¯m surprised our ancestors had such technology.¡± ¡°Well, after all they managed to leave this backwater solar system.¡± ¡°True.¡± The soldiers talked among themselves as they carefully approached the robot on the floor. ¡°No signs of movement left. It should be destroyed.¡± ¡°Better to be safe than sorry. Aries.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Aries knew what the major wanted from her. She stepped forward, directing her palm at the robot on the floor. With a thought white clouds appeared out of nowhere, enveloping most of it. Although these clouds looked extremely soft, they were difficult to destroy and strangely gluey, sticking tightly to any surface. Aries didn¡¯t overdo it, just making sure that the robot wouldn¡¯t be able to move anymore. Using her ability too much would easily exhaust her. After the robot was dealt with, Leo led his subordinates down the stairs again. Not feeling any more danger, the major calmly opened all the doors. A freezing air even colder than the atmosphere spread, escaping from those rooms. More bodies could be found within all of them. Leo thought about it for a second before coming to a decision. ¡°Let¡¯s cover all directions and ask the doctor to come.¡± Back in the spaceship Delphi faced the tall Scorpio in a staring contest. But at this moment an electronical voice sounded through the ship: ¡°Message form Major Leo: Scorpio, Gemini. Lead the doctor to our position.¡± Immediately the doctor¡¯s eyes lit up like a child¡¯s during Christmas. ¡°Haha, I won, Scorpio! Let¡¯s go!¡± The soldier only rolled his eyes. Without commenting he approached the cabinets and revealed his own power armor. Soon, the spaceship¡¯s hatch opened revealing three heavy black armors. Two of them emitted a dangerous aura, scanning the surroundings closely. The third suddenly bent its knees. The spaceship shook as it jumped and landed outside, its head turning left and right, taking in the atmosphere. ¡°Doctor! Don¡¯t move randomly! We can¡¯t be presumptuous on a foreign planet!¡± ¡°Foreign? How is this foreign? This is earth, Scorpio! The land of our ancestors will finally welcome humans again.¡± Chapter 4: Frozen body Doctor Delphi couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. In his eyes this dead planet was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Not only was it the home of their ancestors but its existence also proved that all his effort over the years, his life¡¯s work, wasn¡¯t for nothing. Delphi excitedly took a few steps forward. He crouched down, grabbing a few stones from the ground and crushing them in his hand. Next, a small spherical drone came out of his space storage. It floated in the air, shining a red light on the stone and sending its findings to the power armor. ¡°Hmm a lot of silicates, seems fairly standard. The proportion of oxygen is rather low¡­¡± ¡°Doctor, the captain is waiting for us.¡±, interrupted Scorpio unhappily. ¡°Yes, yes. Whatever. This is more important. Aren¡¯t you wondering why the atmosphere is so thin here? In this state the planet couldn¡¯t have supported human life. So, what happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t c¡­¡± ¡°And gravity! Based on the body structures of ancient humans we always suspected the gravity on earth to be rather high. But this¡­ it¡¯s not even a fraction of what our calculations said. So, either, gravity somehow reduced or our ancestors had something on them which we haven¡¯t found yet. The same is true for the intensity of the sun. The radiation in the air is stronger than expected. We¡­¡± At this point Scorpio and Gemini gritted their teeth in impatience. Their discipline prompted them to follow the major¡¯s orders. Not waiting for the doctor to finish Scorpio suddenly grabbed the man¡¯s arm and pulled him away. ¡°Hey, Scorpio, what are you doing? Let go! I¡¯m not finished yet. Do you know what you are doing? My work will make history! Can you bear the consequences of interrupting me?¡± ¡°Can you bear the consequences of letting the major wait?¡± ¡°I¡­ well you win this time. But still, let go of my arm!¡± ¡°Hmpf.¡± Scorpio scoffed as he took his hand away. Finally, the doctor trotted behind him although the face below his helmet was more than unhappy. Soon, the buildings grew bigger in their vision. ¡°So, this is the style of our ancestors? Purely efficient. Seemingly overlooking this area. Maybe some kind of command center for those rockets¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Gemini and Scorpio froze in place, their weapons ready to fire, scanning their surroundings. ¡°Doctor, what did you see?¡± ¡°Look up there! By the window!¡± The two soldier instantly shifted their aim, defending against the potential danger. Suddenly a voice was projected into everyone¡¯s power armor. ¡°Go ahead¡­ we already secured¡­ this place.¡± Scorpio moved his head slightly, finding two of his companions signaling him to go on. ¡°Cancer, Libra?¡± ¡°The major ordered us¡­ to guard here.¡± ¡°Alright. Then we will advance.¡± The soldiers nodded at each other before Scorpio and Gemini led the doctor forward. ¡°Strange, strange¡­ how could our signal be disrupted? This is Gen17 power armor. Our communication is founded on the newest technology developed by Doctor Menronow himself.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. We should be able to communicate even in the absence of any medium. It¡¯s impossible¡­¡± Scorpio and Gemini ignored the doctor¡¯s murmurs. Their pace increased slightly, quickly reaching the control center, where two soldiers were already waiting for them, guarding the open door. ¡°Doctor, the major is waiting downstairs.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Delphi answered perfunctory, his attention attracted by something else. He recognized the cloud made from Aries¡¯s ability, approaching it, and staring at the trapped robot with sparkling eyes. ¡°Our ancestors already used such technology? Fascinating! Just judging from one look I can tell that our technology must have made a step back at the beginning of the space age! We need to tell Aries to remove her glue, I want to take a closer look!¡± ¡°Later, doctor, first come here!¡± The major¡¯s familiar voice reached Delphi¡¯s ears. Leo came up the stairs after noticing the commotion. ¡°Leo. Tell me, what is interesting enough to even ignore this robot?¡± ¡°We found bodies of ancient humans. You sh¡­¡± Before Leo finished his sentence, a black flash already passed him. He could only shake his head, staring at the doctor¡¯s back. When he returned to the lower floor, he found Delphi leaning over a compartment at the side, staring at a body placed there. A few small drones circled around him, gathering all kinds of data. ¡°Hah, this place was a cryochamber. How strange. After so many years their bodies should not look this full of vitality even in a cryochamber. I need to take a closer look.¡± While Delphi spoke, he turned to a panel on the left, shaking his head. It was obvious that the display had long ceased to function. ¡°Leo, can you get Scorpio down here? I need him to dissolve the glass.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting to destroy the cryochamber, doctor?¡±, questioned Leo with a frown. ¡°Yes. How else am I supposed to examine this body?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this mean certain death for the frozen person?¡± ¡°Leo. None of our scans detected any signals of life. I know that these bodies look as if they would open their eyes the next second. That¡¯s exactly why I need to know more about them. It is fascinating. What keeps them in such pristine conditions? Special preservation methods? Something unique to earth?¡± Towards the end the doctor trailed off, speaking more to himself. Leo stared at the man for a second before calling Scorpio. ¡°You¡¯re the expert¡­¡± A short while later Scorpio stood before the cryochamber, putting his hands on the glass. Delphi watched by his side, a worried expression on his face. ¡°Be careful, Scorpio. You only need to dissolve the glass! Don¡¯t damage the body!¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Scorpio gritted his teeth, having been warned more than once. Before Delphi could speak more, he quickly activated his ability. A sizzling sound could be heard as a green liquid attached to the glass. Under the three men¡¯s intense gaze it slowly dissolved. Suddenly a blearing alarm echoed through the lower floor. Loud warning bells shook everyone¡¯s minds. Rumbling came from the ceiling. ¡°LEO! I thought you secured the area!¡±, shouted Delphi anxiously. The major however kept his cool. His senses didn¡¯t warn him of any danger. He glanced at the ceiling where a few gaps opened. Small bombs fell out filling the room with a light green gas. At the same time more movement could be heard. Something seemingly tried to come out, but the holes didn¡¯t open wide enough. After a few bumps the ceiling turned silent. Only footsteps could be heard, coming from outside. ¡°Stay in position, everyone! There is no danger here.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Glancing around for a bit even the doctor calmed down. He took a deep breath. ¡°Poison? Quite useless against our armors¡­¡± Scorpio scoffed, thinking that the doctor was feigning courage. He focused back on his work. After a few seconds most of the glass was accurately dissolved, allowing the doctor access to the body. With eager eyes he immediately took out tools from his storage space. In no time a table with all kinds of devices appeared in the room. Scorpio shivered watching the doctor stab a large syringe into the frozen body. It slowly filled with solid blood crystals. ¡°Beautiful¡­¡± Hearing the doctor¡¯s sigh, Scorpio decided not to stay any longer and went back to his position. Meanwhile, Delphi was in his own world. He gathered probes from the body, putting them in all kinds of devices. ¡°Blood shock frozen, body preserved. However, after such a long time even a frozen body won¡¯t survive. Even if the organs receive energy, they won¡¯t restart operations. Still, they are full of vitality. Strange¡­ Those cells¡­ what is this? An additional core? Fascinating¡­ This man has quite the rough hands. Some particles detected. Is it oil? Fuel? A mechanic?¡± Delphi continued murmuring to himself, sinking deeper and deeper. Gradually his vision blurred. His mind seemed to travel through the stars. Suddenly the world shook. Delphi floated in the air, looking down on a futuristic town. Most of it was blurry, except for a single spot where he recognized the face of a bearded man. It was the body found in the cryochamber. At this moment he stood before a house, surrounded by two blurry silhouettes. ¡°ZZdhae, my son, don¡¯t worry about us. This is our wish as well!¡± ¡°Dad¡­ I¡­ how can I do this?¡±, answered a voice filled with worry. ¡°Son, listen to us. We worked hard to get this pass. Please, take it and live a good life.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°No buts. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for us. We will be alright.¡± ¡°How about we sell the house? We might have enough money to buy two more passes.¡± ¡°Who would buy a house these days? Listen son, me and your mother just want the best for you. And furthermore, the council has already prepared cryochambers. We will only go to sleep. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°Dad¡­¡±, the voice shook, obviously holding back tears. ¡°¡­ wait for your son! The council said we will come back! I will find you and wake you up. Then we will be reunited.¡± ¡°Exactly. At that time, you can also bring our grandson along!¡±, laughed the female voice. Chapter 5: Office Delphi blinked his eyes, finding himself back in the real world. He stopped scanning the body before him, turning away indifferently. ¡°Doctor? What did you see?¡±, asked Leo. ¡°Nothing of value¡­¡± Delphi concisely explained his vision just now to the major. ¡°A family which had to separate? Did their son board one of the rockets?¡± ¡°Yeah, sounds about right.¡± ¡°Not bad. We can figure out a few things based on this.¡± Delphi didn¡¯t quite agree with the major, but he refrained from arguing. In his opinion, they already knew that their ancestors abandoned earth so what exactly did they learn from this vision? But instead of harping on, the doctor would rather change the topic: ¡°Major, can you call Scorpio back? I want to take a look at the other bodies.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Soon, Scorpio returned to the room, reluctantly helping the doctor. He watched as the man nonchalantly examined the lifeless bodies, drawing blood, scanning tissue¡­ Even as a seasoned soldier he didn¡¯t enjoy the sight. Fortunately, the doctor soon lost interest as none of the bodies triggered new visions. With a wave of Delphi¡¯s hand all his equipment vanished. ¡°Let¡¯s go Leo. There is nothing to get in this place. The people here don¡¯t seem to have held important positions.¡± Leo nodded, agreeing with the doctor. Although he was no expert in research, even he could see that the people here wore relatively simple clothes, indicating that they were low-level workers. Under the major¡¯s lead the trio regathered with the other soldiers. ¡°Scorpio, Taurus, you stay here and keep an eye out. The rest comes with me. We will take a look at the upper floors.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Aquarius, take the lead. Carefully scan the building again.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The female soldier was eager to make up for her mistakes. She felt somewhat guilty for not detecting the robot at the beginning. She separated from the group, her power armor camouflaging her body, shielding against all perception. Aquarius silently went up the stairs, entering another hallway. She stopped, putting her hand on the floor, and sending out a thorough scan. Taking her time, Aquarius deeply analyzed the entire floor. Suddenly she frowned, noticing tiny moving dots which distorted her vision. Stopping her scan she thoughtfully stared at the locked door closest to her. With careful steps she approached the door. Her power armor¡¯s sensors were highly sensitive, perceiving even the slightest sounds. However, it didn¡¯t notice anything. The absolute silence unsettled Aquarius, creating an invisible pressure. Her heartbeat accelerated as she pressed a button next to the door. With a hiss it slid to the side. Aquarius immediately retreated, leaning against the wall. She kept perfectly still, expecting something to change any second. The soldiers stayed like this for a full minute before daring to peek into the room. She ignored the rest and only stared at the spot which obscured her vision earlier. However, she found nothing but a few debris on the floor. Aquarius didn¡¯t understand what was going on. She carefully drew back, deciding to return to the first floor and let the doctor figure it out.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Leo waited below the stairs when Aquarius suddenly appeared in front of him. The scout briefly reported everything she saw. ¡°So there is no danger on the upper floor?¡± ¡°As far as I can tell, no. Sir.¡± Leo nodded, signaling his soldiers to follow him upstairs. Although he was careful about Aquarius¡¯s strange findings, he trusted his own danger sense, which remained inactive. A few moments later Leo, Aquarius, and Delphi entered the first room. The doctor immediately looked around excitedly. The room they entered appeared to be an office, with two white desks, which showed clear signs of the passing of time. ¡°Doctor, it¡¯s here!¡± Aquarius¡¯s voice distracted Delphi, calling his attention towards a place in the corner. With one gaze the man already found the readings displayed within his armor showing some irregularities. ¡°Interesting, how could this be?¡± Like a child finding a new toy Delphi was immediately transfixed. He took out a few drones, which began scanning the corner. Meanwhile Delphi took some of the rubble on the floor in his hand. ¡°Is this some special stone?¡±, asked Aquarius curiously. ¡°No. It¡¯s the most basic marble. The only question what it¡¯s doing here.¡± Leo, Delphi, and Aquarius discussed for a few seconds, eventually judging that the marvel must¡¯ve contained something else. At this moment the drones finished their scans, sending information to Delphi. ¡°These readings are in line with our hypothesis. This corner has been influenced by something over a long time, putting everything into a highly energized state.¡± Looking at the doctor¡¯s thoughtful expression, Aquarius chuckled faintly: ¡°Maybe this was their radiator.¡± ¡°Not impossible.¡± Delphi¡¯s dry voice silenced the soldier. She felt somewhat awkward as if berated by a teacher. Unfortunately, Delphi didn¡¯t care for others, fully immersed in his research. He put away the marble and turned towards the desks. ¡°Screens inlaid in the desk. The glass cracked a long time ago. The components look solid. Was it the cold? Did it come unexpected to the ancestors?¡± Leo watched as Delphi murmured to himself, caught in his own world. After inspecting the desk, he rummaged through empty drawers before searching through some dilapidated shelves, which looked as if they would break apart any second. Suddenly the doctor¡¯s hand moved like a flash of lightning, grabbing something from the shelves. A small black metal box was held in his hand, immediately surrounded by multiple drones. ¡°Did you find something doctor?¡± ¡°Of course! Look, Leo. If my guess is correct this is an ancient storage medium.¡± ¡°Can you read its contents?¡± ¡°Give me a few minutes.¡± Delphi studied the box, turning it in his hands. ¡°Here are two interfaces. Ahh, quite the ancient technology. We haven¡¯t used such interfaces in thousands of years.¡± ¡°Can you gain access?¡± Delphi let out a sigh, it was lonely being the only intelligent person in the room. Or the entire planet. Maybe even the star region. He didn¡¯t answer but took out a blueish metal sphere, which had a small black patch on one side. ¡°Good old Technata¡¯s Multi-Standardizer, or TMS. Backbone of modern research. There is no technology it can¡¯t access, be it human or alien.¡± Delphi expected some kind of reaction from Leo but the major only looked at him with his obscuring black helmet. The doctor coughed to dispel the awkwardness, getting back to work. ¡°TMS, scan this storage medium!¡± ¡°Yes, doctor Delphi.¡± The monotone voice was accompanied by an invisible wave which spread to the black box. ¡°Scan complete. Connection ready.¡± Delphi nodded ion satisfaction, holding the blueish sphere close to the black box. Suddenly the sphere deformed, revealing a plug which perfectly fitted with the black box¡¯s interface. With a click the two objects were connected and a screen of light was emitted by the TMS, showing the black box¡¯s content. ¡°Hmm, looks like a bunch of damaged data, most likely deleted on purpose.¡± Delphi murmured to himself while using his finger to scroll through the light screen, which mostly deployed documents with indecipherable names. ¡°TMS, can you reconstruct something?¡± ¡°Gathering information, searching, reconstruction complete¡­¡± Delphi¡¯s eyes lit up as the TMS presented him with a single file where it gathered the few patches of sentences it could decipher. ¡°¡­ start on 21.08.1304¡­ evacuation end¡­ cryochambers prepared¡­ thank you for your service!¡± Leo looked around the office while listening to Delphi. He couldn¡¯t help but feel respect for the people working here. Humans evacuated earth and these people knew they were forced to stay behind, yet they did their jobs, contributing to humanity¡¯s survival in the universe. The major involuntarily brought his fist to his chest for a salute, honoring these people. Without them their mighty empire wouldn¡¯t exist now. ¡°What a waste! What were they thinking?¡± Delphi¡¯s annoyed voice immediately destroyed Leo¡¯s solemn mood. His mouth twitched as he stared at the doctor. ¡°Idiots, all of them. How did they decide who to evacuate? The people working here must have been some of the most intelligent among the ancient humans. They worked with rockets able to travel far beyond this solar system! It¡¯s incredible! I really don¡¯t know what happened for our technology to regress in the space age! It took modern humans more than a thousand years to develop such rockets! Why would the government leave such people behind? Their knowledge is invaluable! You can always train a few soldiers but these people c¡­¡± Suddenly a shiver ran down Delphi¡¯s back, prompting him to stop his rant. He glanced at the unmoving Leo, feeling his chest tighten: ¡°You know I didn¡¯t mean it like this Leo! What I was talking about were normal soldiers. Cannon fodder. Not elites like your unit!¡± ¡°Hmpf. I say we are done here.¡± Leo scoffed at the doctor, leaving the room. As soon as he stepped outside, he heard a hiss. The major¡¯s head abruptly turned to the side, finding Virgo in front of an open door. ¡°SOLDIER! Who allowed you to wander randomly?!¡± Chapter 6: Fortified third floor ¡°S¡­ sir, I was just¡­¡± ¡°Stand back, soldier! No one moves without my command! Understood?!¡± Leo¡¯s voice was filled with an unquestionable tone, his head swiping from Virgo over the other soldiers. The others felt their bodies stiffen. The gruesome training had ingrained absolute respect for their superiors into their bones. Delphi stepped out of the room but even he didn¡¯t dare to open his mouth at the moment. He sneaked past Leo, throwing a look into the newly opened room. ¡°You guys secure the vicinity while I will assist the doctor in searching these rooms!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Virgo felt a few displeased gazes following him as he got into position without complaint. Meanwhile, Delphi entered the next room. He first scanned one of the corners, finding similar incomprehensible energy readings. Next, he and Leo searched the room, but their efforts weren¡¯t rewarded. The other rooms on the floor didn¡¯t hold much information either. Delphi discovered a few more storage mediums but they were not only digitally wiped but also physically destroyed beyond redemption. Wit nothing left to search Leo decided to go upwards once again. He sent Aquarius to check out the way ahead. The female soldier was only gone for a minute before coming with a solemn expression. ¡°Sir, the path upstairs is blocked by a solid hatch, which still looks to be in good condition. A deeper scan reveals a heavily fortified corridor.¡± ¡°Is there only one way?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Leo fell into deep thought gauging the risk of entering forcefully. ¡°Sir, we could enter from outside.¡± The major glanced at his deputy and nodded slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s try it. Aquarius, you take the lead.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Coming to a decision the group walked downstairs and left the building, reaching its front. Aquarius looked up towards the third floor, where the figure of a man could be seen behind a window. She shivered staring at the body which looked like it would move any moment. ¡°Aquarius!¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯m going.¡± The scout took a deep breath as silent jets appeared on her palms and the soles of her feet. Energy gathered, pushing her into the air. A warning immediately appeared in front of the soldier¡¯s eyes, reminding her of the high energy consumption. Aquarius ignored it for now, floating higher until she reached the third floor. She subconsciously avoided the spot where the man stood, putting her hand on the glass somewhere to his right. Another in-depth scan using her ability revealed the layout of what appeared to be some kind of command center. Naturally it wasn¡¯t without defensive means. Aquarius returned to the ground to report, causing Leo some headache. Eventually a plan formed in his mind. The soldiers quickly went into action. Gemini dragged the indignant doctor away while Cancer and Libra returned to the team. Together they set up defenses outside before Scorpio, Taurus, and Pisces floated up towards the third floor. ¡°We¡­ will begin now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Leo watched from the ground as Scorpio put his hands forward. Pushing himself to the limit, a large amount of corrosive acid was sprayed on the glass.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It hissed loudly, spreading toxic fumes which lingered in the air. Immediately a blearing alarm sounded within the command center. Four heavily armored robots separated from the walls while gun turrets came out of the ceiling. Red light illuminated the room as the multiple threatening muzzles turned towards the soldiers outside. A large hole had been melted out of the glass. Taurus and Scorpio quickly flew in. A towering, black shield appeared in front of Taurus¡¯s body. Immediately the thud, thud, thud, of a bullet hail could be heard. Scorpio didn¡¯t dare to waste time, grabbing the unmoving ancient human body and lunging out of the command center. ¡°Careful!¡± Suddenly Pisces¡¯s chest tightened as she saw one of the robots throwing a small sphere pulsing with electricity. She shouted a warning. Her eyes focused on the bomb in the air. A headache assaulted her brain as the bomb suddenly moved in slow motion. Taurus and Scorpio didn¡¯t dare to dawdle. They left the room immediately, hurrying back to the floor together with Pisces and the body. Scorpio tumbled, feeling as if a hammer was assaulting his brain. He knew he had over drained his ability just now to destroy the glass as fast as possible. With the body in hand, he dragged his body towards the team. ¡°Taurus, Pisces! Take a defensive position! Scorpio, go to the doctor and send Gemini back!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± A few seconds after Scorpio left, a rumble shook the ground. Dust spread, obscuring the view after the four robots jumped out of the command center. The soldiers, already prepared, followed Leo¡¯s orders. ¡°Focus fire, left!¡± Immediately dense lasers blasted towards the expected position of the leftmost robot like the rays of the sun. Movement came into the scene, stirring up the dust in the air. A hail of bullets answered them, prompting the soldiers to take cover behind their prepared shields. Judging by the trajectories of those bullets the soldiers could tell that one enemy had already been eliminated. ¡°Careful, bomb!¡± Capricorn warned his comrades before throwing a square cube over his head. The robots¡¯ eyes turned towards the object. Within milliseconds they made the correct judgement. With a flash they spread in all directions. A massive explosion shook the surroundings. ¡°Capricorn! Don¡¯t take that damn building apart!¡± Leo shouted angrily as more and more dust spread, making it difficult to see. Their armors automatically activated an assistant mode, scanning for movement. ¡°So¡­ woah!¡± Just as Capricorn wanted to apologize, a robot appeared before him in a flash. Its hand turned into an unbelievably sharp edge which aimed for the soldier¡¯s head. Capricorn reacted quickly, dodging to the side, and raising his weapon. But before he could fire, and excited laughter reached his ears. ¡°Haha, my time to shine!¡± With an incomprehensible speed, Cancer suddenly streaked by the robot. The two, heated, vibrating swords in his hand crossed on the robot¡¯s neck. The piece of metal couldn¡¯t dodge fast enough before its head got separated from its body. But even like this it wasn¡¯t done yet. Its arms swung in the general direction of Cancer. The latter however skillfully danced outside its reach. With a few more swings of his swords the robot was separated into its pieces. Meanwhile another Robot managed to get behind the team. It readied its weapons, about to unleash hell on the soldiers when its sensors suddenly registered danger. With a flash, it retreated several meters as a laser beam flashed past the spot it just stood. The robot turned to the side, looking for the shooter. Suddenly the laser beam drew a curve, piercing the robot from behind. Energy erupted as the laser perfectly hit its core, causing the robot to explode. Some distance away Sagittarius wore a grin on his face as he dramatically put his long rifle on his shoulder. He looked over towards his team where the dust gradually scattered. A tall, black armor was revealed, its arm piercing through the chest of a headless robot. ¡°Haha, major. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re always so careful. I reckon you could¡¯ve dealt with those puppets by yourself!¡± ¡°Never underestimate your enemies.¡± ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Leo sighed inwardly. His soldiers, clad in the most powerful armor, were understandably confident. When he was younger Leo was the same. With his ability to sense danger he felt that nothing in the universe could stump him. Until he had to learn that even a seemingly weak enemy couldn¡¯t be underestimated. Memories flashed before his eyes of the dying cries of his comrades. That time, the danger directed towards him was indeed negligible. But only because he wasn¡¯t the target¡­ Leo shook his head focusing back on the present. His eyes wandered towards the building where a big hole had been detonated into its wall. Luckily the structure was quite solid, not about to fall apart form the explosion. Only the bodies below might¡¯ve taken some damage. Thinking about those bodies, Leo remembered the ancient human they kidnapped from the third floor. Waving at his soldiers he signaled them to follow him. Soon they arrived next to Scorpio and Delphi. Leo rolled his eyes as he saw Delphi lost in his own world. The doctor didn¡¯t care about the fight in the distance, his entire focus on the body. Having taken out all his tools Delphi propped the lifeless body on a table. Tens of small drones flew around it, scanning it thoroughly. Delphi watched the screen of a small machine which analyzed some of the dead man¡¯s blood, mumbling to himself. ¡°Fascinating! So many Delphi Cores¡­¡± Leo furrowed his brows. He couldn¡¯t help but interrupt the doctor. ¡°Delphi Cores? What are you talking about?¡± Delphi sighed pretentiously but secretly he was happy that someone asked. ¡°I told you that these ancient humans have an additional energy storage in their cells. I took the liberty to name those after myself. After all, I am the one to discover them.¡± ¡°Why did I ask¡­¡± ¡°You see, Leo. This man¡¯s cells contain an impressively high number of Delphi Cores. His cells must¡¯ve been in a highly energetic state. He was probably inhumanly strong. Its easy to guess that he was a high member of the military judging by his uniform¡­¡± Delphi slowly trailed off towards the end, his eyes turning blurry.