The 2nd chapter begins on the ARK 2 hours after the breif report made by Agent Finch, Professor anders had already descended toward the Ark's surface, eager to begin.
The hiss of the pelicans ramp descending marked the arrival of Professor Anders, waiting for her was a small team of doctors and scientists. One would walk forward, his brown hair and bright eyes was easily identifiable.
"Doctor Milo Finch?"
He nodded, a quick jolt of his frame straightening as he tried to look professional.
"Y-yes Professor."
Anders nodded.
"Lead the way, i want to see the samples."
Milo nodded again, leading Anders into Theta Base's Laboratory, the other researchers followed, files in hand.
"What can you tell me about those cells thus far?"
Anders asked, Milo responded, his eyes widening with endearing excitement and caution.
"T-The Cells are unlike anything we've ever recorded, we believe they are an advanced form of Pluripotent or Totipotent cells. T-they've shown to be capable of quick multi-role shifting to suit it's needs."
Anders nodded as Milo handed her another report, this report had several photos of the cluster of cells being given water and an oat nut.
"What kind of tests have you ran?"
"W-we gave the cluster of cells a spritz of water and an oat nut, a-additionally it appears t-the cells are capable of shifting it's roles almost instantly."
He gestured to the first photo, the cluster of cells was able to quickly reproduce via mitosis at a quick pace in the presence of water.
The 2nd photo consisted of the same cluster of cells shifting and flexing as the oat was pulled away, likely by a researcher off-screen.
"Th-this one sh-shows it's digestive role a-and the other, it's muscular... it's incredible Professor."
Anders nodded, her brows furrowing as the door hissed closed behind them, the scent of ozone shifting into a mix of floral and sansitized.
Anders continued.
"The difference looks almost indistinguishable, how were you able to spot the difference?"
They reached the Microscope holding the cluster of cells. Milo gestured her to sit and she did, the stool squeaking as she leaned over the table.
"Th-the cell's bioluminescence shift in intensity and color when in different roles."
Anders focused the microscope, spotting the cells wriggle through the spritzed water with ease, absorbing at an impressive pace. Her eyes narrowed and darted subtly as the cells glowed a beautiful pastel cyan into a dark aquamarine.
"These Cells evolve and devolve at will. Pluripotent Metacells..."
She said, looking up at Milo before continuing.
"What else have you observed?"
He brushed his hair back and responded, his eyes narrowing in unnerved caution.
"We've observed their apoptosis cycle and it's.. unique, different to human cycle. Th-the human cycles apoptosis, i-instead of being neatly dismantled and moved, th-these cells' apoptosis are consumed and it's contents redistributed throughout the colony."
Anders froze for but a moment, eyes widening and breath hitching.
"That sounds like flood."
Milo shivered, biting his lip.
"But... it's not Professor, we believe we're discovering something new and potentially dangerous."
Anders nodded.
"Considering it grows off of consumed biomass.. it might be dangerous to humans, though i doubt it... the report said the samples were found at the tripped sensor, amongst those strange tracks?"
Milo nodded.
"Yes Professor."
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Anders glanced at Milo, then to the others.
"I'd like to see these tracks if don't mind."
Milo nodded.
"Of course professor, f-follow me."
The group of scientists, after several minutes would arrive at the tracks outside Theta Base, they were still present, monitored by several marines and a very present Agent Finch.
Anders and Finch shared a glance, silently sizing one another.
Milo, seeing the rising tension would intervene, stepping infront of the two.
"Th-the tracks is where the sensors were tripped, we aren't sure what tripped it apart for it being a vehicle of some kind."
Anders looked to Milo then to the tracks.
"Definitely a vehicle, with the Totipotent and Pluripotent cells, can we confirm it isn't a Lekgolo colony?"
Milo responded, confirming the possibility.
"Yes ma'am, w-we can confirm the possibility it isn't Lekgolo."
Anders silently contemplated, her eyes glancing side to side before back to Finch.
"And what do you think Agent?"
Finch rose a brow, her own contemplation forming.
"I think... we aren't dealing with anything we're prepared for."
Anders' eyes narrowed, the sentence was vague and deliberately 'ONI' like, which usually meant Finch was hiding information, and Anders definitely knew it.
"Care to be specific?"
There was a slight bit of venom hidden beneath the professionalism of a scientist.
Finch crooked a smile, but it would vanish when Milo leaned into her view.
Finch sighed, her smile vanishing.
"I suppose, my honest thoughts are: we're looking at the wrong image, the tracks is one thing of a larger puzzle. We should be investigating another piece: the ruins of the Enduring Conviction."
Anders glanced to Milo, looking for his opinion. The cinnamon roll, not realizing she was waiting for his said opinion merely stayed silent, eyes bouncing, softly biting his lip and brows softly raised.
Anders sighed.
"One heck of a crew."
She said, making Finch crack another smile, less venomous, slightly motherly.
"I concur."
Anders rolled her eyes.
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Some minutes passed by, and with the help of Cutter sending several odst to assist with security, Anders, Milo and finch made way to the wreckage of the Enduring Conviction. They took several Warthogs to get to the wreckage.
Even from afar the immediate scent of heavy ozone, burning metal and iron made the odst's and scientists uneasy, the smell was potent.
"W-woah, c-captain cutter did all of this?"
Anders rose a brow, the consistent stuttering of Milo cracked a slight smile on her face.
"With the help of Jerome-092 and Isabel, the spirit of fire was able to deal a critical blow to the Banished's hold on the ARK."
Finch pitched in.
"Creatively i might add, hijacking the sentinels of the Ark to swarm the Enduring Conviction... wonderful thinking by the AI."
Her voice became slightly sarcastic, a slight melodramatic tone.
"If only we had more AI like her."
Anders rolled her eyes, forehead creasing followed by a silent scowl.
Not long later the engines of the Warthogs slowed into an idle, the ODST's hopped out to take point, their chatter bringing the rivalry between Anders and Finch coming to a halt.
Finch, upon planting her feet to the soil glanced around, eyes sharpening.
"Keep your head on a swivel, I don't want to be surprised this early."
Anders rolled her eyes while Milo sighed, eyes closing.
The scientists and researchers would take point, beginning their investigation while the ODST's established a perimeter.
Anders would walk with Milo.
"Milo?"
He jumped, eyes wide.
"Y-yes?"
Anders ignored his jump.
"What is Agent Finch to you? If, you don't mind me asking."
Milo immediately began to fidget, his fingers twirled around one another while his eyes refused to look at Anders directly.
"O-oh, u-um. F-finch is m-my mother, a-and as you can see, she's ONI. she means well, she's... ya know... paranoid."
Anders responded dryly.
"Gold standard for any oni agent."
Milo covered his lips, to stiffle the tremble in his shoulders. Anders rose another brow, a breif hum escaping her.
Milo recollected himself, taking a breath to steady his shoulders.
"S-so what do you think o-of the samples?"
Anders responded.
"I think it's too early to tell for certain, but I think we're discovering something new."
"L-like?"
Milo probed softly, his eyes widening with curiosity while his hair stubbornly fell over.
Anders ignored the sudden endearment and continued.
"A new species perhaps, or we're on the precipice of another contact."
"First contact?"
Milo clarified.
Anders didn't answer as she and Milo aoproached the Enduring Conviction wreckage center.
"Professor"
Anders perked up immediately, a hand going to her earpiece.
"Go for it, Captain."
Cutter continued, voice low and tense, always the tone when something serious was about to, or was happening.
"Isabel detected movement near your team's locations, it's unknown, not Banished nor forerunner, stay vigilant until backup arrives"
The professor's eyes narrowed immediately looking around, glancing at the wreckage and potential vantage points.
Milo seemed to have sensed her rising unease and shrunk behind her.
Both researchers would quickly return to the ODSTs, for they too had received the warning from captain Cutter.
"Well, seems this mystery is coming to a head"
Said Anders, her eyes never leaving the blindspots of the odst's.
"I concur." Responded Finch, hand on her sidearm just in case, though the subtle twitch of her fingers undermined her calm tone.
The moment seemed to slow, silence began, no ambient sound apart for the soft wind. The eyes of the Agent narrowed as she unhooked her sidearm's holster, that scent of something floral returning.
She brought a hand to her earpiece as, pressing a button.
"Agent Finch to Captain Cutter. Do you read?"
"Cutter here, what's going on down- BZZZCHHHHT"
Finch's gaze turned sharp, unholstering her sidearm completely as her eyes glanced to the top of the various debris of the Enduring Conviction.
"We have electromagnetic interference!! Safeties off i want Theta Base to be contacted now!!!"
She barked, voice low and venomous.
Milo blinked as Anders approached.
"Finch."
Anders began, glancing around as the odst's entered a semi-circle around the researchers, their rifles at the ready and safeties off.
Finch didn't risk a glance at Anders, merely speaking.
"I cannot answer."
She risked a glance at Anders, hoping for some reassurance. Instead, the silence deepened—broken only by a faint buzz in her earpiece.
Then, something stirred in the edge of Finch's vision.
Not a person, not even close. It glided between the twisted wreckage, its body encased in something tight and glossy almost like grey latex, shifting and clinging to its form with every movement, as if assisting it's shape. Its form rippled, An impression of a head cocked at a strange, impossible angle. Two ovaloid orbs cold, unblinking, awash in pale bioluminescence flickered, fixing Finch with an otherworldly stare.
She froze. In a blink, the creature melted back into darkness, leaving only a fading trail of shimmering color and the lingering sense of being deeply, wordlessly seen.
Before Finch knew it the floral scent spiked and vanished altogether and the voice of Cutter brought the moment back.
"Agent Finch, nightingale extraction on the way!!"
Finch blinked as Anders turned around.
"You saw something."
It wasn't a question, Anders turned back to Finch.
"It wasn't flood Professor, nor banished and covenant, nor forerunner..."
Anders' eyes darkened as Finch continued, voice lowering into a raspy caution as the engines roar of approaching nightingales became audible.
"ONI knew about this, didn't they?"
Finch responded.
"They thought they did."