Into the Code : Ark Survival Evolved : Book 1

Chapter 26 : Into the Hall of the Mountain Queen

Uronix : "No matter, we have a task at hand, now set a way point to the tundra. We have a potential target worthy of an investigation."

Uro : "Understood." 

He replied mentally as a white diamond marker appeared in my green vision.

I spot the old tracks of our last purge of the land and decide to follow them to mask my presence, though trying to mask the presence of a 1000 ton steel hull that is quiet literally powered by my own anger seems rather pointless.

Uro : "Good choice." 

One of the few times Uro complimented my choices. I felt smart, so I explained.

Uronix : "A masked presence is a masked predator. Even if the predator is almost impossible to hide." 

Uro : "May I ask what your goal is?"

Uronix : "The Giga... The one who attempted to ambush us on our last expedition."

Uro : "What about it?"

Uronix : "I wish to observe it. See if it is a morpher like the others. Collect valuable data to use. If even an apex predator can become one, the possibilities of other species being able to transfor  would be limitless."

Uro : "Unlike that self claimed Raptor you slaughtered?"

Uronix : "Precisely..."

I growled, prolonging the word.

Uro : "You do have another question you linger to ask. I can feel it's tension."

Before I spoke, I spot a group of Allo's around the old path. The 3 turned  to me, then scattered in different directions as I ran passed. A faint smile came across my metallic face as their fear gave me satisfaction. We continue straight ahead, the tundra now coming into sight. 

The blast of cold air hitting my face as we entered the frozen biome was a welcoming sensation. I dug my hooves into the snowy dirt, bringing us to a stop. Inhaling the air, I felt the cooling of my insides as we continued at a walking pace. The snow crunching under the weighted metal, the snow leaving a cold lick on my armor as it fell from the sky. This was a feeling that I would never get used to, and I enjoyed it.

Uronix : "Now, how far is the target from here..."

Uro : "That is not it."

Uronix : "What?"

Uro : "You have another question, one that is more pressing in your head that you want to ask. One you've been trying to hide, even from me."

His even chuckle made me realize what he meant, and I went silent. We wasn't wrong, I'd been dying to ask this, but I never did. It was something I thought would be better left unanswered for my own good. I asked, awaiting a response. But, now with curiosity about to kill the cat, I ask  in the cold winter air.

Uronix : "Are you the reason why-"

A shrill roar put an abrupt stop on our last conversation. 

Uro : "I am detecting a lifeform, approximately 2 kilometers out."

Uronix : "Locate it and pinpoint its signature.,we can discuss that later."

Uro : "Lockdown complete."

I spot the way point marker pointing to the mountain left of the lesser mountain. With only a 200 meter height difference, and the mountain tops connecting in a white covered ridge, I decide to take a more subtle approach to the cave. Charging at the mountain, I lean low and prepare to leap up to the top. Allowing the tension to build up, I reach the base of the mountains. I release and soar through the winter air.