The scientist's upper half is intact, lower a twisted mess of molten metal, like a gym machine left in a forge. "He's not moving," I pant, dropping the rope. Fiona kneels, staff pulsing. "We did what we could. Damn bug." Dmitri's shield cools. "Guild's coming. Let's secure the area." I nod, flux sparking, pistol drawn, scanning the lava rivers for more insect horrors. "That thing spun like a demonic pinwheel," I say, trying to lighten the mood. "Next time, I'm bringing bug spray."
Fiona snorts, her braid swinging. "Bug spray? This is the Arkvault, Alex. We need flux bombs."
Dmitri smirks, spear glinting. "Or a bigger shield."
Suddenly, a whirling sound echoes from the scientist's chest, like a blender on high. "What the—?" I jump back, flux flaring. Fiona's staff shifts to bow mode. "It's alive?" Dmitri's shield ignites with fire. Steam hisses, small movements jitter, and the chest opens like a submarine hatch, panels folding with a clank. From inside, a small red humanoid alien—fist-sized, coughing and sputtering—emerges, its body shimmering like jelly. It collapses, telepathically whispering in our heads: Help…
We stare, jaws dropped. "Blimey," I whisper, poking the tiny alien with my power fist. "The big guy was a suit? This is the real deal?" Fiona's eyes widen, staff dimming. "Like a cosmic Matryoshka doll. Huge metal body, tiny squishy inside."
Dmitri leans in, spear retracted. "All of them? Those bulky guards…"
I nod, flux fading. "Must be. No wonder they're so clunky." My bracelet pings: Discovery: Pocket-sized alien. Query: New pet badge? "Cheeky," I mutter, but Fiona's laugh breaks the tension. "A pet? It's probably a genius scientist, Alex!"
The tiny alien stirs, telepathically weak: Engine malfunction… heat overload… It faints again, red skin paling. "We need help," I say, activating my bracelet's emergency beacon again. "Guild, hurry up!"
Dmitri scans the lava. "Bug might return. Stay sharp."
Fiona's staff pulses. "What if all aliens are tiny in suits? Explains the robot vibes."
I chuckle. "So we've been bossed by fist-sized bosses? That's hilarious!"
Suddenly, a teleport flash—five metallic guard aliens materialize, bulky frames clanking, eyes like laser pointers. "Guild rescue," one rumbles via bracelet, optics scanning the scene. They spot the tiny alien, their movements jerky, and scoop it up with surprising gentleness. "Scientist secured."
"Wait, he's alive?" I ask, stepping forward. The guard's claw presses a key on its hand—our bracelets buzz, powering down. "Hey, what's—" I yell, but they lunge, stronger than their glitchy moves suggest. I swing my power fist, flux sparking, but a guard blocks it with a shield, slamming me into a rock. " they're fast!" I groan.
Fiona's staff shifts to sword mode, flux blade humming. "Back off!" she shouts, slashing at a guard. It dodges, grabbing her arm with vise-like grip. "These suits pack a punch!" she grunts, kicking free.
Dmitri's shield flares with fire, spear slashing. "Not without a fight!" he roars, charging. A guard counters, its arm extending like a telescopic bat, knocking him back. "They're like walking tanks!" he yells, rolling to his feet.
I fire my plasma pistol, bolts sizzling, but they deflect off their armor. "This is a bad gym day!" I shout, dodging a grab. Fiona's arrows arc, pinning a guard's leg, but it yanks free. "They're too strong!" she calls, voice strained.
Dmitri blocks a strike, wind gusting. "Surrender? Never!" he grunts, spear scorching a guard's arm.
The guards overwhelm us—ropes snap, fists clash, but their power's relentless. "We're captured!" I yell, bound and teleported away.
We land in a room with stools and a space window, stars mocking us. "What the—?" I say, struggling against invisible bonds. Fiona's staff lies dormant, her eyes furious. "They disabled our bracelets!" Dmitri tests his shield, no flicker. "Powerless."
A wall turns transparent, revealing metallic aliens on the other side. One speaks telepathically, voice booming in our heads: "You have seen our true form. It's the most guarded secret of our species. You will be terminated, as this information cannot be leaked."
I blink, flux dormant without my bracelet. "True form? The tiny red guy?" Fiona's eyes widen. "All of you? In suits?"
Dmitri grunts. "Explains the clunkiness."
The alien's voice is cold. "Yes. Our small bodies pilot these exosuits for protection and power. No outsiders know. You die here."
I laugh, nervous. "Blimey, we're terminated over a tiny secret? That's cosmic overkill!"
Fiona's voice sharp. "We're adventurers, not spies. Let us go!"
Dmitri's eyes glint. "Fight us fair, cowards."