Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[LOCATION: ??? - Project Kraken Labs]

[TIME: [DATA EXPUNGED]]

PART I - ACT 1

"Right this way, good Sir." said the directive scientist, Brandon, as he let Austenite through the view room of the containment zone. Leopard arrived as well with Olive and- whoever that Security Officer was that, accompanying the silver scaled lizard. This day seemed special for the main boss and his partner, that was what Leopard believed. One of their objectives has been completed - successfully bringing up a tribrid. The laboratory only had this new hatchling so far, but Brandon was expecting for more over the coming years. It only took them roughly 5 years, and now they became lucky enough. That was something her friend Olive said, however, Leopard wasn’t in the mood to even celebrate. She knew it better than anyone else, she wasn’t ever meant to be in this wicked project. Though she never dared to speak up out of fear of severe discipline - or worse punishments. She wondered if Austenite was even aware of the brutal work environment this place had or Brandon kept silent about it.

Austenite went close up to the containment window, studying the surroundings of the zone. Brandon stepped beside them, asking with delight.

“So, what do you think, my good Sir?”

Leopard followed the lizard’s gaze, spotting the pod that was holding the baby tribrid at. It was currently asleep, somewhat hooked up with wires to oversee its general health. Some unknown entities were watching over the pod via the monitors within the zone.

“Mesmerizing! One piece of work from 3 special octarian species. Certain enough that they’ll have a place at my company.”

A few seconds of silence passed, only for Brandon to speak again.

“Oh- yeah, I almost forgot, we have named this fella - giving it the name Peregrine.”

Why do you keep calling that baby IT!? Peregrine’s a SHE!

“After one of the fastest avian aliens?”

“Yes, my good Sir!”

The lizard smiled, pleased. “Powerful it will be soon. I hope Peregrine will grow up in that way.”

The two continued talking about the possibilities of getting more lively tribrids like Peregrine. Leopard wished she could get away from the viewing room, but with Brandon around her, she felt like she was chained down here. He asked her to help accompany his business partner, it wasn’t something she could just decline. It felt like forever until Austenite wished to return to their own place. As the lizard was escorted again, Leopard refused to move. She was standing still, dully staring at Peregrine. Her mind was racing, wondering if she could do something to keep her safe. Olive looked over their shoulder, noticing their friend not moving. Just as they tried reaching out for her, a jagged wing swirled around them. The directive gestured the Nguruvilen to keep going, he then spoke.

“Leopard, may I have a word with you for a moment?”

Horror crept upon the tremoctarian, her heart jumped. What did Brandon want from her this time? The whole view room fell silent. Something was wrong, Leopard could sense it. Or she was being paranoid. Brandon didn’t sound mad, rather stern. She couldn’t think of anything else. The door closed, Brandon was standing by, his gaze fixed on Leopard.

“You don’t look bright today.”

I’m always like that every day… Leopard felt even more tense. “I- I…–

“Work weighing you down?”

No! It’s everything! She tried to talk about what was bothering her, but she held it back. She just wanted to get away from this abyss she was trapped inside of. Last time she tried to tell him how she didn’t want to work here, Brandon warned her about the dangers of leaving and insisted on not saying anything about it to anyone or else. It wasn’t that easy to just expel someone themselves from somewhere that was highly frowned upon. She swallowed a lump and replied. “Y-Yes, directive..”

“Ah.. I can understand that.” replied the directive, sounding sympathetic for the scientist. “Inside here can be overwhelming, but you’ll manage it eventually.. Oh, right. I was thinking of assigning you to oversee our current tribrid and its status. You’ll be trained by the experienced Overseers and you won’t have to do any other duties, including taking files from one point to another.”

This felt somewhat surprising.

“A-Assigning me?” Leopard blinked.

“Given your generosity around our… experiments, and your stress peeking out from the overwhelming days, I thought of making this easy for you, since I’m feeling nice today.”

This doesn’t feel rightful… How CAN I do this? For Peregrine? She didn’t cool off about it. If Brandon meant it, he will have his expectations placed onto her, with- whoever is even overseeing Peregrine’s progress. I have to say no, I have to say NO!! She tried to talk, but to her dismay, not a single word escaped. Brandon didn’t react, but being part of Leopard’s kind, he sniffed out her worries by his empathy.

“Still not content? Come on, Lily. It’s not even that bad. You haven’t tried it out yet, eh? I can promise you a big reward, if you can manage well.”

His hand rested on her shoulder as he went behind her. Leopard shivered, nitpicking his manipulative hints in his tone. His whispers left her feeling more dreaded.

“I can assure you, you won’t fail.”

[BLARING]

The alarms went off in a deafening tone, the hallways and the still-standing parts of the facility flashing red. Workers ran around, from one point to another, some tripped over, crashed into each other or were taken down by swooping crow-like entities. Knocked out, cornered into a wall or throats torn open. The air was heavy from the panic, as everyone tried to flee from the ongoing danger. Everything went downwards, the security personnel couldn’t even defeat the intruders. The others that managed to get away gathered at an untouched checking point. The exit was blocked by the lockdown gates, but the others have been trying to prop it open. Leopard was there as well, hiding behind a senior scientist shielding her and an unknown feline. Brandon was counting the others around the room, he was somewhat keeping cool despite the gravity of the situation.

“Is Peregrine gonna be fine!? We can’t just leave her behind as a prey for those intruders!” Millet asked Brandon anxiously.

“She’ll be fine! Her containment room’s entry is sealed and guarded by some of the Heavy Security Personnel- nothing bad will happen to her, so calm down.”

Funny how you say she’ll be fine. You assigned me to care for her, yet you’re dragging me with you…. Oh god, Peregrine, I should have stayed with you!

The crowd couldn’t even prop the gate up.

“DO IT AGAIN!!” yelled out a Security worker.

Some of the Security Personnel and Scientists struggled against the weight of the lockdown gate.

“It’s not- it’s not opening!”

“Keep on going!” Brandon replied. “Have you enabled the override?”

“We did, but it malfunctioned upon the activation.” Olive spoke up.

“Oh, for the love of Trinity, it CAN’T malfunction! Try it again! That bastard technology just needs more kicks to work!”

The Nguruvilen leaped out of the crowd, pressing their card against the Override scanner.

[ACCESS DENIED]

“No success again!”

“One more time!-

“LOOK OUT, THEY’RE COMING!” cried out an unknown Medicine Worker, running away from the other side. Leopard felt her main heart leap into her throat. How many of those intruders are here!? To everyone’s relief, the scanner accepted Olive’s card. There were loud clicks and buzzes from the lockdown gate becoming deactivated from its protocol.

“Quick, barricade the hallways! Don’t let those fucking Corvuneres through this point!” Brandon yowled to the crowd. The Security Personnel dispersed from the others, rushing to the other path.

“Come on everyone–

The remaining crowd were knocked away unexpectedly. Brandon thudded against the floor, stunned for a few seconds from the impact.

Before Leopard could blink, a small flock of Corvuneres cornered the others to the checkpoint’s walls, cawing in a threatening tone. Their eyes were glowing green and narrowed, they had battle claws clasped on their hind legs. Olive yelped from being thrown to the wall, a foot away from Leopard and the other two workers.

“Okay, that’s enough threatening. They don’t fight like those foolish guards.”

A new voice echoed into the zone. Those that were captured looked over to the open. Who was that? Out of the shadows, an incredibly tall female Corvunere stepped forward. Unlike the other corones, her eyes weren’t glowing green and her battle claws were clasped on her upper talons instead. An armor helmet and goggles were resting on her head and she was wearing odd armor. She stared down at the recovering directive with a malicious smile.

“Hello directive~”

“WH– how do you know my rank?” Brandon became alarmed. “Who in Trinity’s name are you, to even dare entering my facility?”

The unknown Corvunere’s wings shuffled as she flexed her battle claws.

“My name does not concern you, only my army. I’m only ever so curious about a particular… project, you’re hosting currently, no?”

“What are you talking about? You and your so-called army never even met either of us!” Olive called out. The unknown Corvunere rolled her eyes, groaning.

“Uuurgh, you all can’t be this dimwitted. So unassuming to realize that one of your pals lied about your ‘amazing’ workplace. Perhaps, I could give you one little hint… a small reptilian holding up their snout like a bloody twat.”

“What do you mean?” growled the male tremoctarian. No reply was made.

Small reptilian?... wait, isn’t that… who I think it is?.. Oh no.

Brandon remained silent for a few seconds, only for his gaze to widen in horror. “Austenite?” The corone grinned in reply. Brandon’s dark skin flashing irregular bright colors as he roared in fury. “WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE WITH THEM?”

“Nothing! Only trapping them in ropes, I managed to coax out a word or two about your facility.. I must admit, I would have gladly blackmailed them until they would drop like a fly, but this easy shortcut is giving me the advantage, for my army. That buddy of yours has pretty much fled somewhere else, safe and sound.”

The whole zone’s air froze. Those that were captured began to whisper in panic, pondering what even was that corone doing.

“W-What is she trying to do?” Leopard whispered to Olive in fear as Brandon yelled back at the corone. Leopard couldn't make out what he was saying as she was paying attention to Olive.

“I don’t know.. I-I hope she won’t kill us all.”

– YOU KILLED SOME OF MY WORKERS! I NEEDED THEM MORE THAN EVER!”

“Oh, boo-hoo, how terrible of me! To even hear the directive mourning for his little dead pawns,-”

Brandon’s wings ruffled open from the Corvunere’s insult.

“-that sounds like a sad ending. More tragic for the one who originally hosted and ever so relied on him . Perhaps the saint–

“KEEP OUR FOUNDER’S NAME OUT OF YOUR FUCKING BEAK. BUTCHER!” Brandon snapped, ramming into the corone as he unsheathed a dagger out of his pocket. A fight broke out, the corone chuckling as she dodged Brandon’s deadly swipes, sometimes clashing against the dagger with her battle claws. Some of the other employees tried to jump towards Wisteria in an attempt to aid their directive, only to be pinned down by those crow-like creatures. Leopard shielded her sight, finding the whole fight terrifying. She flinched as Brandon screamed in pain after the Corvunere tore into his flesh. Out of nowhere, the directive was thrown against the rubble of the wall, air knocked out of him. Leopard glanced over, letting out a shaky gasp over sighting the blue blood flowing through his face from a head wound. The Corvunere trotted to where the directive was injured, grabbing him from behind by his coat.

“Tremoctarians like you can’t be that awful fighters, hmm?” she chuckled as she wrapped her talons around him. Brandon shrieked as her grip choked him. “Disappointing to say the least.”

“Q-Quit it! What makes you–... think you can just come here– and hurt every-ybody else!?” hissed Brandon. He was dazed from the hit, but he still kept his demeanor up. The Corvunere remained silent for a few seconds. She then spoke.

“One reason, and one reason only. But first, I’ll say this. I’m not willing to continue.. Whatever you and your pawns do with those octarians in this odd project. But, since you have that one tribrid, I’ll just take it for granted. I’m gonna need that, the facility and the ‘directive’ rank right here right now for my army.”

The zone rang with some of the employees begging the Corvunere to not hurt their directive.

Brandon sneered, taunting the Corvunere with his remaining strength.

“Bah! Like you-you think my workers will ever accept you as the directive! I’M the only rightful directive here, and I’ll NNNNEVER give up my title for your fucking ridiculous mass murder– …”

“Maybe your stubborn ass won’t, but I know one effective way.”

Brandon raised an eyebrow as he was slowly losing his senses from his injury. “...how?” He let out a failed shriek from getting choked by Corvunere. It was worse, but it kept going. Another malicious grin flashed by.

[SNAP!]

Everyone was stunned in horror. The Corvunere simply dropped the dying octarian, he thudded against the ground. The employees cried out the directive’s name. It was no use, as he became lifeless. Leopard just watched, completely silent. She never thought the day would come, where the directive is killed. She never liked him but she found neck snapping to be one of the most brutal ways to die from.

“NO!” Olive yowled. They trembled, staring at the corpse, before growing mad. “You piece of DUNG! How could you!?”

The Corvunere kept smiling at them as they charged forward. Before they could slash at her face, she slammed them away with her hind leg, sending Olive smacking onto the wall again. They grunted as they were stunned again. Leopard tried reaching out for her friend, when she was grabbed from behind. The Corvunere yanked her up to her height.

“I’m Wisteria, your new leader from now on. Show me the tribrid, and I’ll let you live.”

Her mind was screaming ‘no’, struggling to try and free herself from Wisteria's grip. The employees were screaming at her to not even proceed. The Corvunere threatened.

"Do as what I say, or you'll suffer the same fate."

She felt terrified by what Wisteria said; she had no other choice. Leopard obeyed. “I-I will.”

Setting her down, Wisteria screeched to some of the corones, 2 of them eventually coming as they followed the terrified tremoctarian. Going through the hallways, she felt like her soul was gonna shatter apart. Those guards Brandon sent were either fidgeting from being injured by the other corones or laying still on the floor. She flinched from the tall Corvunere roughly ushering her to focus on the order. Whoever this Wisteria truly was doing this, she was probably one of the most dangerous entities Leopard ever met. Slowly arriving at the containment zone’s door, she struggled to not look down to the leftover bodies of the fallen guards, hurriedly pinging the door to open. It was shut with the heavy seal, though it was no longer needed. A minute or 2 passed, the door slid open, revealing the inner zone. It was as large as the view room to this, but half of it was split by a glass wall, holding Peregrine in captivity.

“That’s Peregrine, our... tribrid.” Leopard muttered to Wisteria. She hummed to herself in reply. Going closer to the glass zone, thoroughly inspecting the young tribrid with narrowed glare. The little one became daunted, slowly backing up against the wall as she was trembling and cowering. She wanted Wisteria to not further disturb Peregrine, but with Peregrine being aware of what was going on, it wouldn’t help either way.

“Seems like a fine specimen, potential for me,” cawed Wisteria as she backed away from the glass wall. She then glanced at Leopard. “ I assume you're not like those 'caretakers' as that pesky old bag's kind. What do they call you?”

Leopard flinched.

“Par– uh-.. Leopard Lily.”

“Okay Lily, I’m only trusting you to continue caring for the tribrid. I'll inform you more when I settle down the whole situation.” She let out clacks for the 2 Corvuneres. “You two, keep her within this room, I must return back to my allies.”

Allies?... There's more?

As Wisteria left, the 2 completely blocked the open path, glaring at Leopard with threat. Leopard felt like she was going to break down. She was trapped here again, but it was worse than before. Her mind was echoing with “ WHAT HAVE I DONE ” as tears formed in her eyes. Feeling like she was going to fall over form the heavy guilt and shame, she balanced herself against the wall. Her mind became poisoned with pessimistic scolds. Now you can’t escape, you missed your shot. You'll be stuck here for who knows how long. She turned around when she heard tappings on the glass zone.

“Leopard!” the tapper, Peregrine whispered. Leopard walked to where Peregrine was at, sitting down on her knees. “W-Who was that!? Why did I hear alarms and screamings out there? Did someone try to break out?”

Trinity give me strength, how am I going to explain this to her? Leopard was lost in thought for a while before explaining, her voice cracking. “The facility got attacked and we lost to those intruders. They'll… They’ll be leading us for now on. - Wisteria is our new leader.”

“Wisteria?” Peregrine blinked in bewilderment. “That can’t be right! Brandon is the one, not that Wisteria!... What- where’s he at right now?”

Leopard didn’t say a word, just remaining silent. Peregrine’s head tentacles shifted from the incoming terror. “...Don’t tell me!..” She let out a wail of anguish. “What is happening to everybody else!?”

“Either defeated, or–....”

“...killed.” Peregrine finished it. She figured it out quickly! Leopard thought. The young octarian quietly broke down, struggling to blink away the forming tears. “Am… am I the next to be killed? I don’t want to die! W-... Will Wisteria let me live?”

Leopard was lost in her thoughts again. Wisteria didn’t seem like she was going to end Peregrine as well. She’ll likely want to use her for whatever gains, but I pray to Trinity that Corvunere will let her live in the incoming days. “She’ll let you live.”

She glanced from behind, at the 2 Corvuneres guarding the door, then back at Peregrine. She continued by whispering, hoping deep inside those 2 wouldn't hear. “Listen here, I’m not sure what will happen to this facility, but Wisteria is only trusting me with taking care of you. I’ve been thinking of getting you out of here ever since you came into the world. I managed to pinpoint out a few routes but I might have to try again since the facility is somewhat damaged and there are lots of Corvuneres raiding this place. I’ll make sure that you’ll stay alive, no matter what happens.-

Peregrine’s eyes shone despite small tears flowing down.

-I promise.”