[CENTER][img]https://i.postimg.cc/K8WL9ssF/f4ae3675e73f1d57c6f3cde45b5dbc96.png [/img][/CENTER] [color=gray] For a moment, the sound of metal creaking was everything Alice could hear, as the huge walker went down the hill, creating as much, if not more damage to the terrain than it had on it's previous, violent charge towards them. It wasn't a fun mission, nor one that went without it's share of problems but they were all fine... Mostly. Kleo still needed some proper medical attention and now that the adrenaline was starting to die down, Alice as well began feeling the shrapnel in her back from the previous explosion. Pain began in waves, one after another until it came back as strong as in the beginning. Fortunately, it took but a moment for the ship that was going to extract them to arrive, appearing almost out of nowhere due to it's extremely advanced technology. The command coming from the soldiers disembarking and securing a perimeter with an almost mechanical-like efficiency around them was direct and simple. Board and depart. Their mission was complete. Exactly in time for the much needed medical attention for both her and Kleo. [hr] It was almost strange how in the span of a few seconds, the battlefield they were in was left behind, remaining just as a memory. The tranquility and calmness within the ship stood in stark contrast to the endless cacophony of gunfire, explosions, and death that had surrounded them on the battlefield mere seconds before. Unfortunately, despite the grave wounds that Kleo had suffered and the shrapnel embedded into Alice's back, it seemed like their presence was being expected by the commander of that ship, a vaguely humanoid, skeletal machine going by the designation: Invictoid Authority Node 04/10. Quickly acknowledging their presence upon arrival, the machine spoke. It's voice sounding like a strange echo around it as it addressed the Envenomed. The machine's speech was direct and efficient, dismissing any sort of formality as it asked them to follow it to a more... comfortable room, before urging the Envenomed to ask their questions it knew they would definitely have. Time seemed to be of utmost importance and value for the mysterious machine. Kleo's reaction upon reaching the room was completely unexpected though. Despite her grave wounds, Kleo didn't hesitate in throwing her helmet at the machine as she began a stream of insults and threats towards it, mentioning how she was kidnapped and how she almost died, inevitably ending with her letting herself fall on the couch after coughing blood into the ground, a clear sign that her wounds had reopened. [color=8882be]"Kleo... Your wounds... Please calm down."[/color] Alice said delicately, going to where she was as she quickly took an apologetic glance towards the commander and the strange human that now had his boots covered by Kleo's blood. Upon closer look, the latter one, despite it's outwards human-like appearance, had quite an unsettling feel about him. The lack of movements as it stood still, not moving even for breathing make it look more like an ultra-realistic sculpture than a human. King would also notice Alice staring at him for a bit too long, before turning away. [color=8882be]"I'm sorry. It is as Salvator said. She has lost quite a bit of blood and was severely wounded. We both need some medical attention, but her wounds are much worse than mine."[/color] Alice said, both to the commander and the human named 'King' Should they agree that Kleo deserved urgent medical care, it would buy them some time to calm her down and hopefully address any concerns or doubts she might have. Aside from her concerns about Kleo's well being, the points raised by both Salvator and Ilshar did also make her concerned. What exactly was the goal of their mission in Zanovia? Were they really just fulfilling a contract? [color=8882be]"That would make us quite similar to any other big corporations in the galaxy, wouldn't it? Moving ourselves for money and contracts, rather than for a cause..."[/color] Alice said, replying to Ilshar and Salvator's words as she took an inquisitive glance at the Authority Node. [color=8882be]"I also wouldn't mind for a proper explanation about what happened... Like many others that joined the Intransigence, I also suffered greatly in the hands of other greedy mega corporations. It would disappoint me greatly to see the Intransigence taking a similar path..."[/color] She completed, looking to the bio-machine with a serious expression. [/color]