It did, I think.
New chapter.
CHAPTER SIX:
Casualties
Still on the look out for that drakon, the most dangerous of the beasts from Rosch's menagerie, Faerie, GH, Horse, Mithril, Sakki, Guy, and Gaz were searching for it in the dingy grimy part of the city that had a distinct feeling of neglect and maintenance kept to an absolute minimum, if at all.
They did not know about the threat. The three at communications barely understood it, but it was dangerous. This also couldn't have came at a worst time with communications, as the unique dampness of this place tended to short out the signals. It was an occupational risk, but the RAFians were, despite themselves, somewhat complacent about it, depending on their Marks to protect them from anything.
But that over-reliance to the Mark was a mistake. It had proven time and time again that it didn't prevent diseases and plagues and venoms and things. The Mark was not perfect, not infallible, and could be broke. It had broken twice* before.
They didn't expect to see the lonely figure of a stooped woman in a cloak, standing as if she was in a cylindrical sandstorm, not unlike Miles Upshur in the DLC for Outlast. They knew immediately the identity of this woman, as she was not disposed to wear her ID mask.
Malice.
But what was this swarm around her? It undulated in a most mesmerizing manner. It didn't matter, the Mark would protect them, they were sure of it. There were seven of them and one of her. They surely could overpower her, the Realm Walker.
Malice smiled a smile to match her chosen moniker, and simply pointed with her right hand, and the swarm converged into seven tendrils and flew towards the RAFians. They tried to fend off the swarm, but only Gaz seemed to have any success by sublimating into a gaseous state, which was sufficient enough to evade them. The others couldn't react fast enough, and the swarms forced their ways into their bodies either by their navel or abdomen. The RAFians weren't able to stop it, having allowed themselves to get complacent about their Mark protecting them. But this assimilation was different from what the Mark was developed for. It was more like a disease, a disease that could usurp control over their body and add their minds to the Malevolence.
But the Mark wasn't completely useless and out classed. It forbid their involuntary joining of the Malevolence, and would allow them to lose their identities unless they chose to let them go. Even assimilated, the Mark allowed the RAFians to keep their minds, memories, identities, and loyalties intact. However, that was the limit of what it could do. It could not stop the nanites from infect them.
They all struggled to resist the assimilation, but they could not. And if the they stressed their Marks too much they risked them breaking. . . .
"I expected as much," Malice said, as Gaz watched from the shadows. She had managed to escape this pseudo-assimilation. "But that's why this batch of nanites were specially developed for you RAFians and your infernal Marks."
Suddenly, a subdermal implant bursted into being a dermal one right in the hole in their "R"-shaped Marks in a circular starburst pattern. It actually prevented the Mark from breaking but also suppressed its usual capabilities, so it allowed Malice some rudimentary control over them.
"Ah, you still struggle? Excellent. Your struggles make it more interesting for me," she said, "more entertaining for me. I shall remember this fondly . . . and I'm glad that I prepared for it."
The six shuttered as they fought against the nanites, which still tried to take complete control and add them to the Malevolence. The Mark still pregented them from being added from the collective, but they were losing control over their own bodies. It was a terrifying experience.
"Activate the phobic implant," Malice said, clearly relishing this.
A metallic yellow dermal implant blossomed from their skin at the base of their spines. They were flooded with feelings of fear. Yet they struggled, as Gaz put her hand on her mouth.
"Ha ha ha! Yes!" Malice crowed, taking a sadistic pleasure in this. "Activate the beguiltic implant!"
Gaz couldn't see where this dermal implant came out from, but she really didn't want to know, but felt as if she was obligated to bear witness to this horror. Bear witness as these six RAFians were filled with feelings of guilt. But, still they struggled on.
"Activate the shaming implant," Malice said, almost gleefully.
From their stomachs, or navels if they had them, a metallic green implant blossomed up, almost as if it were a time-lapsed daisy. It flooded them with feelings of shame. Gaz winced, feeling some shame herself that she wasn't doing anything to help them. But she did not know what she
could do. . . .
"Activate the gravic implant," Malice said, almost giddy.
Over their hearts, a metallic violet implant blossomed up like flower. It flooded them with feelings of grief. Gaz's mind whirled. Ther had to be something she could do. Just . . . something . . .
"Activate the lying implant," Malice said, restraining her excitement a tad.
From their respective throats, a metallic indigo implant blossomed up. This one filled them with lies, so many that discerning the truth was very difficult. Gaz could tell that the others' wills were beginning to weaken, allowing Malice more control over them.
"Activate the hallucinogenic implant," Malice said, really liking this turn of events.
From their foreheads sprouted a metallic orange implant that filled their heads with illusions. Gaz let out a little gasp, unheard due to Malice's cackle. This severely reduced the resistance of her RAFian victims. Though they would never join the Malevolence collective.
"Now, let's finish this," Malice said, practically shaking with excitement. She would finally win, and this time, not be bored with the aftermath. "Activate the primer implant!"
A metallic red implant blossomed from the crest of their heads. This caused Malice to have total control over them, down to being able to even speak through them like a puppet if she so chose. The RAFians could still struggle against it, but it was a Sisyphian task. They were still very much aware, but burdened with excessive fear, guilt, shame, grief, lies, and hallucinogenic illusions. It would be very difficult.
They were hers.
Gaz had to flee. She had to warn the others. She had to warn thst they were not safe. The Mark was now a liability, as the implant covering these RAFians' Mark enabled Malice to trace other Marks. The others
needed to know!!
* I know what you may be thinking, but no. No, it is not a mistake.
