24 Experimental Intel

At base, Bit appeared where Cravic's watch room was located. Rune was in the back, looking over things. Cravic however, seemed annoyed, reclined in his office chair, with his boots positioned on top of his desk, and arms behind his head.

"Someone seems aggro." Bit snickered, looking to Cravic with his tail swishing.

Cravic grunted, opening one of his eyes. "Oh, what was your first guess?" He muttered sarcastically, as he removed his feet from the desk.

Bit leaned against the divider wall, looking mischievously to Cravic. "QQ, does Cravic got probs with chicks in his chambers?" Bit teased.

Cravic gritted his teeth, grabbing Bit, by one of his horns. He pulled him closer to make eye contact, as he sneered to the younger boy. "Don't EVEN think about trolling me, nerd. I'm not in the mood."

Bit put on an innocent smile, "Trolling? Oh, whatever gave you that idea?" Bit replied, in cute manner, acting coy.

Cravic let go of Bit's horn, with a huff. Rune glanced over to them, slyly in curiosity.

"Well." Cravic looked to Bit.

"Oh right. While I was AFK, I joined the others' party for a raid. Seems we have further troubles aside from Kaos forces. Something called 'Zodiac', and 'espionage'. I'll be looking through the database, and seeing if I can get any leads like usual." Bit pocketed his hands.

Cravic stood to his feet. "Interesting find. We should go discuss this with my mom, and the others once those three get back here."

"I'm game." Bit bounced slightly in place.

Issac, Barret, Myde and Dylan were approaching the base location, from the woods.

"Finally! I thought we'd be lost in that forest forever." Issac exclaimed.

Barret nods in agreement, with Issac's comment. "Indeed, had not been for that beast we ran into, we could have been wandering for days." Barret was trying to keep his mind in tune from earlier events around Dylan.

"That's why I had intended to go alone to begin with." Myde kept her eyes away from them, she seemed to be holding back some distress.

"But then, you would be who knows where. That guy had you on a chain...Urgh, I don't want to think about it anymore." Barret states, looking off ahead.

"I was not insinuating..." Myde sighed, her ears back. "I do appreciate the help... (Why did things have to turn this direction?..)"

Barret smiles looking to Myde, "You-"

Dylan came running up behind them. "Treeees! Oooh! I see tents."

"...Yes Dylan, that's right." Myde looked to the other Furline, boredly.

"Hee-hee! Pitching tents." Dylan snickered, poking Myde in the side.

Issac peered back to the obnoxious ferline. "(Either his jokes are just stupid, or he's not all up there... Whatever. I feel bad for Myde though, she hasn't been herself since that crap went down.)"

"..." Myde sighed, shaking her head.

Barret starts to shake looking over at the two of them. "(He's really pushing it!") Barret thought to himself, sighing. "ERHEM! Come on, we're wasting time, we need to get the information to Xiao, and the others." He stated trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, this could makes things more challenging with these other guys causing problems." Issac agreed. "Who knows what they're planning."

Myde continued walking a bit behind Barret, "One can only assume..."

Dylan picked up the rear. "Meow." He said, looking to Myde.

"Myde? How do you put up with this one?" Barret asked, turning at Myde with an unamused expression.

Myde glanced to Barret. "...He's a childhood friend, so I suppose that I've gotten used to him. He's somewhat 'special'."

Dylan looked slyly to Barret, with a grin. "Yeah, I'm Speeeecial. Take that Goldy locks! She's so into me."

"... (Cecil...)" Myde sighed.

"We're both blonde...urgh, but as Myde says, you are 'special'. I suppose I'll keep that in mind, when it comes to these 'antics' you place on." Barret says, as he keeps his eye on the road ahead of him.

Dylan gawked his head, looking to Myde's butt. "Uh-huh." He was clearly not paying attention.

They arrive inside the camp.

"...I will catch up with you two, I need to make sure Dylan finds his room, so he's not distracting the meeting." Myde said, looking off still.

"That's code for sex." Dylan chuckled.

"Doubt that, bud." Issac crossed his arms.

"You're just jealous." Dylan provoked, playfully.

"You don't know squat about me." Issac narrowed one of his eyes.

"Squat. Tee-hee! That's what you do, to use the bathroom." Dylan giggled.

Myde seemed distant still, and Barret noticed this.

Barret grumbles, "Enough already, we're in now, so let's get to the commander, and brief them on the details...Though for Dylan, I do agree we should place him in holding until later." Barret says, addressing the group.

Issac put his arms behind his head. "She did seem pretty set on doing that already, before doofus over here started getting pervy." Issac mentioned.

Myde crossed her arms. "I swear, all of you need to stop being... well, men." Myde was fuming a bit, as she yanked Dylan's ear, as she dragged him off down the corridor. "I'll rendezvous with you shortly..."

"Ow!" Dylan whimpered.

Barret grins at the sight of them and turns back to Issac. "Come on, let's get to Xiao."

Issac glances over, "Alright. Though, you are noticing Myde acting strange, aren't you? She seems pretty down."

"I'll deal with that later, for now, we should focus on business. We just encountered one, of many other possible organization members, from this group called 'Zodiac'. Stationed this close even...It's got me thinking. But what's more is why Myde was sent alone.." Barret states, pondering to himself.

Issac crossed his arms, "(He'll never understand woman. Well, what can you do?) Stkyx is empty and all the devils are here... Maybe we should ask the Furline commander why she was sent then. Plausible traitors could be amongst us."

Barret nods, "True, alright then, let's head in." Barret states, walking ahead of Issac.

"Right behind you, chief." Issac said.

Now around the Kaos headquarters, in the chambers which held the experiments. Jin opens his eyes, looking to a light hanging over his head. He sits up, and peers around himself. His body was now lined with green and black, he could feel heat coursing through his body even. "(W-What's happened? I was out for a while, then...)"

Jin started to have flash backs, of doctors over looking him through a cylindrical, glass chamber. The scientists dressed in white lab coats spoke to each other, about where to take Jin's experimentation. A door in the lab slides open, and in walks Nari, wearing a lab coat. She also had a advanced laptop in her arms. She smiles looking to Jin, then looks back to the scientists.

"So, he was the one who Nala knew, right? The girl who was messing with that geezer's machines?" Nari asked to the scientist.

"That's correct, Doctor." One nods, and walks over to her. He hands her a data sheet, which showed all of Jin's information. The others leave the room briefly, with only Nari and Jin inside. He was inside a vat of sorts still at this time.

Nari giggles to herself, looking further over his files on virtual screens. "My my, you're even a hacker! If I didn't have to do this to you. I sooo would love to have you beside me. You could be very useful to me...Jin."

Jin struggled in his confines. "YOU AND THIS ORGANIZATION ARE GOING TO ROT! Mark my words...The others may have forgotten parts of who they are,through these projects, but I'll never forget..."

Nari forms a dull expression, "Oh come on. It's not going to be that bad. I feel you misunderstand them, they haven't forgotten things. They have only changed their outlooks. I could leave a bit of you in there if you want. It's not that hard really...Heh...."

Jin struggles more in the testing tube. "Keep your tools to yourself." He stated coldly, as the scientists returned in with lab utilities and gear.

Nari giggles once more, her face forming a sinister smile. "Sadly, I can't do that. Let's get this over with. Prep him up, and make sure to take away any pain sedatives...I love when they scream."

Jin's eyes widen at the comment, as another scientist make their way over.

Nari walks up to the tube, that held Jin. "Don't mind how I go about it, okay? The pain alone will help you through. You'll faint, and wake to something grand...Glitch..."

Jin quirks a brow, as Nari walks from the tube giggling.

Jin soon comes back to reality, as he held his head. "That....Bitch....She...Kept my mind in place...So much pain, but...I've been ruined...She turned me into this..THIS MONSTER!!!" Jin stated, sparking up with data energy that began to form around him in places, as he takes notice. It then poofs out of existence.

"What in the?" Jin asked to himself out loud. "She even took-" Before he could finish, the door to the room slides open. In walks Nari. She smiles to him.

"Ohhh yes, extensive stuff had to be done for it to work, Glitch...But it's safe...Hee hee...You look wonderful.." Nari stated, grinning slyly.

Jin looks to his hands. "Glitch...My name..Is...(Why can't I think of it!? Urgh! What!?)" Jin stated, becoming frustrated.

Nari giggles, "You can't think of your old name? Search your data...That's why you had it...I suppose I gave you a bit of leeway with your mind...If you want your lost memories...Search them out yourself...."

Jin growls. "I don't know what you mean...But if my name is Glitch now, and you did this to me...With that information...I'll destroy you."

Nari steps back to the door. "We'll see...You may not like it now, but you'll get used to it..." She says exiting the room.

Glitch smashes a table in the room, only to have it reform by his data energy. "..."

Meanwhile, Issac and Barret reach Xiao's office, where Cravic had already gathered the others for conference. Besides Xiao, Medatros, Luke, Eugene, Bit, Asuna, Zihark as well as Denki were present.

"Oh good, you two are finally back." Xiao looked over from the others.

Medatros crosses his arms turning to them. He had been looking over some information sheets. "Yes, we've heard about some of the events that occurred."

"What took you all? We've been waiting." Asuna looked over.

"Assuming Bit debriefed you guys then?" Issac inquired.

"I did, after he told me what went down over there." Cravic looked over, boredly.

"I gave Cravy the full information codex I gathered." Bit swishes his tail.

Barret nods, "I see. It was quite a mess." Barret stated, turning his attention to Xiao and Medatros.

"Before you go on." Luke inquired, "Where might Mydeline be?"

Medatros looks to Luke, letting out a sigh, "Commander Luklen? I feel it would be wise for us to gather the current information. I'm sure they didn't leave her during the mission." Medatros ensured Luke.

"Firstly, they weren't ordered to go on Mydeline's mission. Secondly, how can you be so sure they didn't hand her over to those barbarians?" Luke stated seriously, to Medatros.

Medatros shakes his head in shame, to Luke's comments.

Rune decided to speak up, on Medatros' behalf. "If they did do anything of that nature, it would be very unwise, and disastrous for our cause. These are the same people who saved her, and reunited you with each other, are they not?"

Luke rolls his eyes, "That's hardly any reason to really trust them."

"We can't run a joined force, with tension this way. You have to learn to trust the humans." Medatros states, seriously.

"I do have to wonder, why are you allied with them, if you have such thoughts about the humans?" Rune speaks up, once more.

Luke turns away, "They are inferior, I'm only really here to keep my people safe, and out of Kaos' hands."

"(This cat if really coming off as a complete jack ass...)" Issac's eyebrow was twitching in annoyance.

Barret clears his throat, "If I may insert? We really should be focusing on what happened during the outing."

"Yeah, chief's right. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice." Issac crossed his arms, nodding.

"Then what are you waiting for? Spit it out." Asuna giggled.

Myde was in the doorway, looking over. "..." Cravic's attention was caught by her, as he peered over. In doing so, Luke glanced to the doorway. His expression turns to happiness as he turns to Myde. "Mydeline! There you are, I was worried they had left you in the hands of those Kaos workers."

Myde approached, Standing with Issac and Barret. "You... sent me out there on a whim..." She held her temples, "Perhaps Bit didn't mention... that Kaos isn't the only obstacle?"

Cravic crossed his arms, looking over. "No, he said as such. I just had no room to insert with these two bantering like woman."

Myde glanced over to Cravic, "I... see."

Denki seemed unamused, "Can we just cut to the chase already?"

"Yes, What might these other obstacles be?" Medatros questioned to them.

Myde looked off, "I would prefer if one of the others explained..."

Issac scratched his head, " From what I gathered, a force called, Espionage, also known as Zodiac. (Though, the foe that Barret ended up putting down, was Myde's fiance. I think I may know what she's going through right now..)"

Medatros places a hand to his chin. "Espionage and Zodiac? Interesting, it seems we'll have to keep an extra eye out, they must be an off branch of Kaos, or perhaps their own little syndicate. Regardless, it's apparent they are a threat." He states placing his hand to his head.

"(This is getting more and more out of hand, first Necrodens from our planet land, then start causing madness. Now we have possible copycats...)" Medatros sighed.

Issac looked to them."That could be it, with how little information surfaced... but if these kidnappings are directly connected to these forces under the star signs... Where does that leave Kaos? I mean, at least we managed to rescue one of the ferline hostages."

"Which one?" Luke inquired, keeping his snobby disposition.

"Dylan." Myde answered, finally.

Luke's ears perk up. "Dylan? That simpleton? Are you serious? Out of all the captives 'he' is the one you brought back?"

Myde's ears went back, looking to Luke sharply. "I beg your pardon commander, but talk such as that does not fly well with me. You want to know something? 'You' sent me into those woods alone. Do you know 'who' I found? There was the zodiac code named Leo, Cecil Romulus. I'm sure you remember my... my 'fiance'. Maybe that's more surprising to your ears, or are you... just that anti-pragmatic?" Her voice was cracking.

Barret peered her way, but he seemed surprised, "(Did she actually care deeply about that cruel ferline?... With how he treated her? If I knew that before... Then maybe I should have comforted her back there.)"

"Mydeline...I didn't know...I apologize for my rude outburst..." Luke states in sorrow.

"It is strange how one of the ferline were involved, however." Rune mentioned. "A lover even. Such a thing is rather strange."

"Ey, Don't go gettin' at her like that. We ain't sure if somethin' happened or not." Denki spoke up.

"I suppose you pose a good point, Denki. It could have easily been a matter of brain wash, or something else of that nature. The possibilities are endless." Rune replied.

"ERHEM! Though we have a new force to place up with, we DO still have the issue of the human there, filled with Dark Dama. " Eugene states, pointing to Issac.

Issac gawks uneasily, looking to Eugene. "(...Crap... Not this again... Can't we just keep on track here? There's too many voices in here, and no one is keeping them in line...)"

"Here we go again... just when I thought he'd shut up bout this..." Denki groaned.

"Dark Dama?" Xiao inquired, pushing her glasses higher on her face.

Barret looks to Xiao, "Issac was infected during a mission, until now we had no time to really tell you."

"BECAUSE as most humans are, they wait until the last minute to act." Eugene states boldly, waving his finger.

Medatros looks to Eugene sternly. "EUGENE! What manner of speech is this?"

Eugene jumps a little, and turns to Medatros, "Oh! Heh, sorry about that. I forget at times..." He turns to the others. "I want to apologize, it's hard being a Lighton, and being sent down to work with 'others' in such ways. I sometimes loose myself....I especially want to say sorry to Barret...But without me, we can't get your friend back to normal."

"(And this is where I exit, stage right...)" Issac slowly back up, bumping into Cynder as she entered the office.

"Oh there you are!" She hugs to him, tightly.

"(You have got to be kidding me....)" Issac whimpered.

Cynder rubbed her face against Issac's purring.

"Cynder... This is no time for your shenanigans." Myde stated.

Eugene claps his hands, "Well good job there cat girl! We don't want him running off too far now." He says walking over to them.

Cynder looked to Eugene, growling. "Mine. I saw him first."

"...." Issac sighed uneasily. "(It never ends!)"

"Sadly he's MINE, until I get that blasted Dama out of him." Eugene states, grabbing Issac by his arm.

Cynder flared her teeth. Myde held her temples once more, but Cynder let go as Eugene pulled Issac to him. "You have to understand, I mean to help him. You don't want him to die, do you?"

Cynder looked off, her ears going back as she settled down.

Issac looked shakily to Eugene. "...(I need an escape route here...)"

"You all have a nice chat. It's off to Ms. Asuna's lab for now." Eugene says, dragging Issac out of the room with him.

"Why my lab?" Asuna peered over.

"I can always take him back to the ship, like I original was planning if you prefer." Eugene held his chin.

Issac looked to Barret, "Dude?..."

Barret sighs to himself, "It's for the best Issac. I'll be there...shortly..."

"Don't you worry, gloomy Guss. Everything will be alright. I'll catch up with you two once the meeting is over." Asuna looked to Issac, as Eugene continues out of the room with the blue haired boy.

"(I don't like this.... not one bit...)" Issac grumbled.

Barret turns to Medatros. "Later after the information, we need to talk about Eugene..." Barret states.

Medatros nods. "I understand, if he's been talking in such terms around you all... I apologize."

Eugene was now heading outside of the base, to their Lighton ship. "Hmm,hmm,hmm~" He hummed to himself, dragging Issac with him.

"... This is definitely not the way to Asuna's lab, that the heck are you doing?!" Issac gawked, fearfully.

"EXPERIMENTATION! Granted yes, getting that dama out of you is a good idea..'FOR THEM'. Me on the other hand? I have some other plans in mind..." Eugene laughed to himself.

"Villain, what hast thou done?" Issac gasped.

"Villain, I am indeed. I'm quite a fan of Shakespeare myself." Eugene laughed, nearing the ship. "BEHOLD! The grounds of evolution!"

Suddenly, a poof of purple smoke emerged before Eugene and Issac, as Witchhazel floated there. "I doubt you're out for a bargain run, what are you boys up to?"

"Witchhazel? ... uh, A little assistance, p-please." Issac asked her, uneasily.

"Hm?" She taps her finger to her cheek, looking to Eugene curiously.

"Oh don't worry yourself, we're just getting to the bottom of his dama situation. (In more ways than one.)" Eugene thought to himself, snickering.

"Not sure I understand your meaning, mind emphasizing on 'more ways than one'?" She kept her eyes on the older man.

"Oh a mind reader?...EVEN MORE INTERESTING! Well, I'm going to experiment on him. You can be next on the table of course. I have some papers you can sign on the ship, in case there might be well..Problems." Eugene states, slyly.

"I don't need to be a mind reader to know you're bad for business." Witchhazel swirled her finger, as she and Eugene swapped places with Issac behind her.

"W-What!? Science has nothing regarding that...Now I must truly analyze you!" Eugene states, glowing around with light dama.

"It's gonna cost you." Witchhazel smirked.

Footsteps approach from the base. Denki stood there with hands in his pockets. He looked to Eugene. "Mind explainin' why you're out here? I thought you were going to that girl's lab."

Eugene looks to Denki becoming nervousness, "(Dammit! I can't get a break... Asuna must have told them I wasn't there!) I...Left some tools in the ship...I came to retrieve them, and thought Issac would like to see how things functioned...As for the girl, she was tagging along for the ride...Heh." Eugene stated, trying to keep his calm nature.

"That so? It'll have to wait. Boss wants to have a word with ya." Denki stated, sharply.

"Urgh!? R-Really? Well, okay." Eugene turns to Issac, and Witchhazel. "I suppose we'll have to wait on the tour..." Eugene states, walking passed them, nearing Denki. "I can't ignore a request from the top!" He stated, in excitement.

Denki glanced over to the others, before following Eugene. Issac sighed with relief, as Witchhazel looked to him.

"You have some great timing." Issac mentioned.

"I was in the neighborhood. Normally I would withhold thoughts of a gossiping mind, but with how he was going on about experimenting..." Witchhazel held her finger to her cheek.

"...False face must hide what the false heart doth know... If his cover's blown, we won't have to worry about this schemes." Issac crossed his arms.

Witchhazel grabbed Issac's hand. "Time is money, so shouldn't we hurry?"

"Uh, h-hurry where?" Issac was a bit caught off guard.

"Back to you're base of course. I thought you didn't like it out here?" She smiled.

Issac smiled slightly, as he blushed. "(She's really a mind reader then... so, you have to know things about me, don't you? Even how I feel about these woods... Yet, you don't judge me, and are always kind. What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name, would smell as sweet.)" He nodded hesitantly, his face still blushing."Yeah, you're right. Let's go."

The two made their way back to the base.