Fairy Dust

Chapter Three: Unexpected Allie

"Right on time." Andro said as the last of the soldiers finished testing their new bodies.

Small clouds of debris started raining down as they heard the Basinites gathering above them. Andro gestured for everyone to stand behind him as three r/c cars, carrying explosives and some kind of weird device on the back, came out from around one of the huge generators in the back and split off. Each one went just inside the mouth of three of the four tunnels, leaving the tunnel that June bug came from open. At Andro's suggestion, they all entered that tunnel and proceeded down another maze work of corridors.

"That should by us some time just in case they decide to go sewer diving. Those tunnels have junctions that lead to the sewer systems in the city. That's where they'll be concentrated at looking for us. I made sure of that..." Andro said, coming to a stop just before a T-section as he tried to remotely activate his makeshift broadcast beacons but to no use. Good thing he was already in motion with plan B.

He calculated that there would be a high chance that this is where they would try and corner him at, and the first wave manhunt proved just that. He used some of the components at the pump station and made radio beacons rigged with explosives, and place them throughout the abandoned city to lure the Basinites, and then level it while escaping to the substation. What he didn't expect, was to run into a Cicadian in the middle of it. Especially this Cicadian, and with humans on her side. He loved A'Nika so, but her, most of all, he wanted to keep safe. Seeing her now though, he was glad she returned.

"...This tunnel leads to a sub-station two miles outside the city. The only problem is once you leave the city limits, the tunnel is no longer reinforced. So if we can make it to the sub-station without getting caught then we should be good from there." Andro finished.

The captain was just about to say something when one of the soldiers spoke up.

"Well would you looky here!" he said as he pointed at the indicated sub-station tunnel, his hand converting to a small plasma pistol.

The rest of the group followed suit as they saw what looked like a jumble of wires sticking out from the sub-station tunnel holding a dirty white t-shirt waving it up and down.

"Wait, wait, wait, before you start shooting. This isn't what it looks like." An almost high pitched voice said.

The wires and t-shirt disappeared as a Basinite cautiously rolled out from around the corner. Everyone staggered back a little, aiming as it rolled halfway to them and stopped.

"Now first off, I wouldn't go back that way. That was the first thing they hit. Second, when was the last time one of these things just rolled up to you and spoke, now calm down." It said.

Its tentacles emerged to form a pair of arms and legs, bringing the body up to eye level, and crossing its arms as if to prove a point.

"Now I've seen everything!" the Captain said, rolling his eyes and lowering his weapons as everyone else lowered theirs too.

"Oh, so we doing the superman thing now huh..." It said as it pointed at Andro's cape, then at A'Nika.

"...Helllooo, which one are you?"

"Excuse me?" A'Nika responded, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

"We've actually met before. See, I've been on you guys since you crashed backed in 2018. I just wanted to know if you were friendly or not, so I sent drones to watch you until you turned your ship into a house. Figured you guys wasn't here to suck our brains after a while, but I was still curious as to what you wanted. My opportunity came when you guys ordered cable." It said, waiting for the clue to sink in.