[h2][color=gray]HiveMind Head Quarters[/color][/h2]

[hr]

[b]"Sir?"[/b] the assistant spoke, a tremor in her voice.[b] "Nick has gone rogue."[/b]

There was a deep chuckle as the lead researcher responded. [b]"Good."[/b]

[b]"Good, sir?"[/b]

[b]"Yes. A bit earlier than planned, but I couldn't ask for a better outcome. Our little Contractor will provide the results we want, the outcome we [i]need[/i], better like this. I want as minimal interference as possible until the time is right."[/b]

[b]"Yes. sir."[/b]

[i]"Sir?"[/i] Another voice.[b] "A report on codename 'Stella' is complete."[/b]

[b]"Let me see."[/b] There's a pause. [b]"Fascinating. So you're telling me we have no idea the real origin of her augmentations? It's certainly nothing we've produced, and HiveMind is a proud near-monopoly nowadays. Any mention on who she's working for?"
[/b]

[b]"None, sir. We will keep trying, though."[/b]

[b]"Don't bother. I have a plan for her, when the time is right. For both of them, really."[/b]

[b]"...Yes sir."[/b]

[h2][color=gray]Underwater Cave, Crypt[/color][/h2]
[@Lexisheeps], [@WhiteAngel25]

[hr]

Subject #3 smiled as she rode piggyback on Stella again, quickly catching up to Nick. [b]"Thank you, miss." [/b]

She stared bewildered at the small dark wolf he held in his arms, clearly showing signs of PTSD from the sewn wounds on her bandaged arm.

Soon enough, the trio found themselves in front of the crypt. The entrance was covered in dark energy vines, entwining more deeply here. Upon descending what remained of the crumbled stone steps, Nick and Stella would need a light source to see what was in front of them. The white orb, faintly illuminant in the distance, seemed to be hovering over something.

If Nick and Stella gave it a closer inspection, they would find the bones of a man, aged with time and half emerging from the stone. There were two marks in the dust near its folded hands. These two marks were distinctly shaped, like two specific objects had been sitting there for a long time before getting relocated, or stolen.

The orb continued to hover here, giving a hint to its pain. Subject #3 gave it a long, hard look as she held tightly on Stella's back, before finally saying. [b]"It feels... sad."[/b]

If Nick and Stella decided to explore the crypt, they would be met with similar burial graves, some with objects left on them, some without. There were a few more masks littered here, if one was watchful. Even some scant cultures and cracked pots. Some were lifeless, yet some were strangely infused with [i]power[/i], a dark glow emanating from them.

Near the far edge of the hallow, there was a crumpled stairwell leading down two ways, one to the left, and one to the right. There was the sound of fluttering coming from the path to the left, and bubbles from the path to the right. Perhaps these paths led to what the orb was seeking.