I was ready to do actual combat and missions. Actually playing the game would be cool. That was...until we met the base commander and received our orders. Standing stupidly tall in the mess hangar, other aeromorphs were giving side-glances to the new arrivals, we were told by the tiny human on the elevated platform before us that the trials had been postponed until tomorrow. Inclement weather, was the reason, but we both felt that he could still excel in adverse conditions -- surely that was part of proving ourselves? Rain was not a problem for me. Alas, we were overruled, and told to find a place to spend the night. Dismissed, we may or may not have stormed off in a huff -- giving a certain impression to the denizens of the base. Fellow aeromorphs, like himself, who may or may not think the 'new guys' was too full of himself. I paid them no mind, instead retiring to a hangar bay on the far side of the base, away from the locals. Alone, and quite pleased with the isolation, I tried my best to relax. I was with Gamma at the very least. This hanger was smaller than the one at our first base.
Going by comfort, this was only slightly better as it was 2 sharing the space instead of 5 or 6. Gamma was also a bit smaller than me. He was comfortable to snuggle up to me. I did not mind it. "Alpha. How do you think all the others are doing?" he asked. "I guess they're probably fucking by now. Maybe not P02 Epsilon." I answered honestly. He blinked and then narrowed his eyes in frustration. "I know what they're doing. I was there at the briefing. I wanted to know how well you think they're going to be at it!" I just shrugged. That was not something that I cared about at all. If I did, I would still be there. And I would be one of the aeromorphs fucking. "You're no fun!" he said with a pout. I rolled my eyes. After a few minutes he turned to me. "You said something about Epsilon. Why do you think that?" he asked. I told him about my run in with him. Gamma was shocked. "How is a homosexual like that going to breed!? That's a problem." he demanded. "Not our problem." I responded. He just shrugged and nuzzled closer to rest. He went to sleep just as easily as the other A.L.I.C.E units.
Gammas sleep state reverted back to being awake when he heard a loud clang. Given his size (many tens of feet tall) he knew from the sound that it was something big and heavy. Something very big. I did not need to sleep so I was very alerted to the sound. Another noise, this time a heavy thud, got our attention. The curious twink aeromorph rose to his feet, slowly, angling his pointed head in the direction it seemed to come from. Another, then another...almost like...footsteps.... A towering presence emerged. Gamma glanced upwards to greet it. Dark shadows cast themselves across the whole of the bay. "They say you're one of the new prototypes." a gruff voice came. Above him, leaning on the wall separating two hangar bays, a large morph stared down at Gamma. There was another one behind him as well smirking in the dark of night. "Who's they? More importantly, who's there" I asked the intruder. I was sure that this was a private hangar. The mottled surface of the 2 imposing strangers and the tell-tale welding seams removed any doubt from our mind. They were up to no good.
