Chaotix of Mobius 63

"Just wait until you're an adult, Charmette." He spoke with a bit of playful jest. But it was true, life only seemed to get more complicated as an adult. But after what he has experienced, being a kid was so much easier.

"Espio has a good relationship with his mother, as far as I know. I try to stay clear of the Shinobi of my home. Too many of them give me looks like they are calculating something. Makes me feel like I am leverage to their machinations for their internal plans for power. Espio and Mori try to stick with me to help ease my worries, but it's not always enough."

"Besides, it's not like I need more targets on my back. I already have enough as it is, with the Royal Hive and the Hooligans. Not to mention Eggman, when he shows his face, is a problem."

"It also sounds like you've been handling being clan leader well also. I can't imagine the split was very easy. I dread to think what would happen if Espio's clan split..." There was a shiver than ran down his spine as he thought of the implication. "If that's a sign of the future for my home, I'm not looking forward to it. I got enough things to watch out for."

"My father is one of the warlords of the Dragon Kingdom and like me he too has a dragon spirit, one of the most aggressive and ruthless. Nirgigante is a dragon famous for only eating other dragons, Father...is just as cold. For him...war is his way of life. Asking him to give that up for peace and saftey was asking him to stop being himself...I know that now. It was a foolish thing to ask of him back then."

"We had a terrible argument... I knew war was coming again and begged him to let the Shinobi Clan leave that land to save our small population while we had the chance. Our clan was divided in two...half that wanted to live in peace by valuing secrecy above violence. And the other half...clung to the old ways and stayed behind."

"It hurts...but that was how things shook out." Espia disliked knowing that likely the other half of the clan could be wiped out for all she knew...but it was how it was. "I consider myself fortunate that the other clans have left us alone since we defacted. I have scouts out there of course just in case but...nothing to concern ourselves about right now."

Walking in, he could clearly see who's desk was who's, even though these days Vector's desk was much tidier. Espio had finally got him to start taking organization a bit more seriously when he was a teen and it paid off with how much better their business did.

Charmy chuckled as he watched Charmetter grabbed her warp ring. Listening to her explain it all, it made sense. Sonic and Tails were the only two he knew that ever had nicknames such as that, but it seemed to have become a tradition where she was from. Not that it was bad, just interesting to him.

"Charmy, this is a pleasant surprise." She commented as she approached the older bee. "It's good to see you, how are you?"

"Espio never told me about that...Strange. It's not like him to let something like that slip his mind." The older bee commented. Had they really been that busy for something like that to slip through the cracks? "That sounds like it must be taking a toll on Espia though. Personally, I don't trust the Shinobi clan Mori and Espio are apart of. Something about they way the other members of that clan look at me that puts me on edge. They've had a history of infighting before, but even after Espio's mom was able to quash all of that I feel like they look at me as a way for them to get leverage."

ADJUST AS NEEDED!

🔥Surge and Adam

(I have to do it for him because he won't say anything on his own...)

" Tch... you wouldn't know what to do with me if ya had me pinkie pie "

"Hmm...if I can take a wild guess, a bed probably wouldn't last with the two of us soooo... wall? Possibly in a shower? Or maybe break in somewhere we're not supposed to be and decide on something either in surface or action more exotic... there's just so many options."

Charmy kept an arm around the yougner bee's shoulders, trying to comfort her a little. He could hear the venom and he knew what that feeling was like. Few people had brought the same feeling out of him. Eggman being one, and another...well.

Let's just say that Fang's little attempt put him six feet under.

"You're welcome, kiddo. Don't worry, I'll head back there with you. I am sure Espia will be pleasently surprised. Perhaps you should say hi to Espio and Mori at some point as well. They would be glad to see you."

The older bee looked out into the sky and the clouds. The view of the forests, mushrooms, mountains...all of it was visible from where they stood; except the shrine of course. It was hidden within the landscape's beauty. But the view was breathtaking.

Her voice seemed to break him from his thoughts as his eyes drifted back to the notebook. His mind focusing on the data something he could better understand. The creature was interesting, though it sounded wildly dangerous at the same time. But it did make him ponder his own creation, and what Starline may have done to give him his abilities---which only made him wonder if he was even really a mobian anymore. But there was no point in pondering it to deeply, as he'd likely never know for certain. Though he had a good idea, it did not sit well with him.

" Mizutsune? Huh... doesn't sound to unlike myself--- minus all the mucus of course. Though does sound wildly dangerous... are you sure cloning it is wise? "

he questioned more concerned about her then the implications of her work. He knew that she wasn't Starline and would never treat the creature as they had been treated. And besides that... Starline didn't clone them it was so much worse then that.

There were other options. Other creatures of the past she had access too...but they were either unmanageable or far too risky. Bugs bred too fast, the flying wyverns were too unpredictable, and other leviathans had far too aggressive natures. Mizutsune only became aggressive in mating season and only the males became problematic once they were adults. The rest of the time they were docile things, calm and gentle. Like an even friendlier otter. "I've made steps to make sure I don't do something stupid." She states firmly, she's unmoving in her resolve. "The tortoise growth genes I gave it ensure that it will be many decades before it reaches maturity. Giving me enough time with it's younger state to not only collect the mucus samples but also replicate it if possible. The domestic canine genes are meant to keep it docile and trainable...and I already know how much room it will need and it eats fish primarily so the enrichment I have in mind is something I'm comfortable with making for it. I'm not saying I expect it to be a perfect specimen, it's a wild animal, but I've come this far...I can't turn back now."

It was his fault.

"I am glad you can help him." The bee spoke after her. There wasn't too much he could add to that point. The lack of recognition of the name was evident he didn't know who this person was, but he knew he could trust her instincts enough. "I hope you're able to do some good for too. Chaos knows I always try to help others when they need it."

The words around her blood given rank were spoken with such disgust and hatred for it that one could have sworn the smaller bee's venom had made it into her speech itself for a moment. If she could have had the choice, she would have been happy as just a sterile soldier or worker bee but no. Royals were made. Not born. Not in her zone. She hated every second of it. She was moving into her tween years...so the fight in her brain was starting to ramp up. She'd take all the help she could get...

When they landed, she was glad to have this sight before her. there was a lot about flying she missed, views like this were part of it. Weaving between trees and vines in the swamp back home was another part of it but...this was nice.

He didn't dwell on it long as he followed her inside the lab without saying much at least not initially. His eyes wandering around her lab, the bots catching his attention the most as his brain disassembled them in his head. Like most tech he always felt drawn to it --- but that was just his programming.

" Paleobiology? can't say its a field i have heard much about. Then again it wasn't probably something Starline thought would be useful. Though judging by your lab your interest go a little bit in every direction... "

He noted as he tried to keep his focus on her, and not let his mind wander to much. Though his eyes focused in on the vial. He tilted his head to one side as she explained about it to him. His hand touched his chin.

" Frenzy Virus? Huh, never heard tell of anything like that on my Mobius. Then again, i guess Zombot Virus never existed here. I dunno how my body would react to something like that... honestly i don't think surge and i are immune to stuff--- more like we reset... like our bodies rewind to a point before the damage was done. Its... umm pretty unpleasent to experience if im honest "

"I didn't start out doing this. At first, I was just the Chaotix forensic unit. All I did really was dust for fingerprints and dig through computer files, in my spare time I read about fossils and extinct species." She moved to place the small box in her bag so she could carry it back. "But....then Eggma'am's attacks started. I wasn't doing enough, so...I remembered the stories Mom told me. Of creatures capable of cleaning toxic lakes, of causing whole forests to spring up in the middle of deserts. There had to be some truth to those stories..."

"My talents are many but this is my passion. I learned the rest for the sake of survival. I learned hacking by studying Iva's coding, biochemical engineering and genetics to give life to my ideas, and the Swarmbots I made because of........well, you know."

She stood up and located a trolley she had, moving it closer before looking around to see where he went. A soft smile came to her face when she noticed he had found her latest project. She didn't interupt, merely walking over to join him. She had to check on the filter anyway...

The journal was at first filled with sketches of a strange creature, it was reptillian but built like a non-mobian fox. Notes on it's "fur" told of specialized scales used for directing attacks and easily shedding water. Tough scales no normal blade could cute, Charmette had to use a laser on the mummified specimen she found. Fins capable of finite tuning in water to flatten for speed or spread to serve as breaks. The internal notes were varied, seems she'd come across two species and one unique specimen. All had what she called a Torrent Sac which could hold, pressurize, and release a great volume of water. They also had mucus glands that held a slippery substance, akin to soap but easier for the environment to break down.

The differences came in how that mucus behaved, seems the creature could change the properties of that mucus. One unique specimen had a high amount of phosphorus in its mucus, so much so that it ignited on contact with the air and burned for long periods. Adding fire to a water creature's power, while the normal mucus kept it safe.

"Mizutsune." She finally spoke after she felt she had given him enough time to absorb the data about it. "That's the species name. A leviathan creature famed for its beauty in ancient records, and also its ferocity. It was the first fully intact fossil I ever found and I happened to find a perfectly preserved female specimen about a month ago."

So this was a welcome break from being trapped on the ground for so long. She was glad that she had family that were so willing to help her regain what she had lost.

She closed her eyes just to let the wind rush over her face, to just...feel that. She missed this. She missed this so much. She'd get it back someday...but she doubted it would be anytime soon. Speaking of things she missed...

"Oh! I made some new friends while you were gone by the way, I'll be moving to their zone to help one of them out." She should inform him of that before she forgets. "Kitsunami's been having trouble understanding his programming. I know both biology and coding so...I offered to give him a hand. He's my best friend...I can't just leave him to fight it alone."

And with that, the bee took off into the air, holding Charmette firmly in his arms. He wasn't holding back with his speed or flight either. He wanted the smaller bee to enjoy the wind through her hair again. There was a bit of laughter coming from Charmy. He hadn't just flown around like this in a while. Usually it had the purpose of going from A to B, but now...

Now was time to let the younger bee enjoy flight again.

"You don't have to come in with me if you don't want to." She looked back at the fox as she unlocked her lab door. "I'm just... getting some of my more valuable specimens moved to the place that Jewel got for me. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable with my work....or worse."

She had never brought him to her lab before, too skittish about what he'd been through and not wanting to conjure more bad memories. But her work was mostly with fossils...and one non fossil currently. However, she had delayed this long enough and they DID promise to go through their current struggles together. So...being apart too long felt like a violation to her of that agreement.

He followed behind her with a tilt of his head as she spoke. He was surprised she'd think it would bother him at all. After all he was practically raised by Starline, and he had become almost numb to seeing tubes with corpses floating inside, or worse watching him experiment on the living. Despite what he'd been through he had always been sort of indifferent to it all. That wasn't to say he condoned such acts, or thought they were something others should be a part of. He was simply desensitized to it all.

" It's fine... i have doubts you are working on anything that would compare to what i had to assist Starline with... "

He admitted, something he hadn't really talked about much. Memories of that that time in his life were vague, like a nightmare he couldn't forget. But it was clear enough to remember the screams...

" Besides isn't your work more Archeological? Fossils are far from scary..."

"Eh... technically my work is called Paleobiological Engineering but it's a bit of a mouthful and not many people have the patience to even try to understand it." Charmette knew what her job was, even if no one outside her family cared to pay attention to what she was trying to do. "Since the mobians here descended from many of the creatures I research, studying them helps me understand how our powers might work today. And...how to help all of us with our current struggles. I take the specimens of the past, and use them to help us in the present. Usually that only involves fossils yes, but when I'm lucky enough... I can go a little further."

She opened the door and held it open for him. Her lab had less of a science feel to it and more like dusty warehouse. The actual lab was mostly just the front part of the giant space, while the rest were specimen shelving and preservation containers. Her Swarmbots had the smallest station, a tiny workbench shoved in the corner beside a computer and parts for one of the older models were scattered about. The rest of the tables were covered in cleaning tools, other computers and monitors...and one softly humming machine.

Charmette's first stop was a glass box several inches thick, inside of which was a glass vial with a swirling dark violet mist. She located a small black case and opened it up to reveal a padded interior with a specific cut in the foam it for vial. She punched in a code to get the glass to open up and took out a set of tongs to move the tiny vial to it's new transport.

"....the most dangerous sample in my collection." She explained as she set the vial inside the case then closed it and locked it. "I gathered it the last time Mom's heritage dragon ability went off. It's called the Frenzy Virus, even though it's not a virus at all. They're microscopic barbed scales that cause an extreme allergic reaction that all Mobians react to, one too dangerous to leave it here and I don't know how to destroy it properly. I tested some on a sample of our Shadow's blood and on her nanites...let's just say, because of that... I have my doubts that even you and Surge would be immune. I can't leave it here unmonitored...so...safest thing is to take it with me."

She was making sure the fingerprint lock was working. But on another table nearby was that humming machine.

Within was a soft light and...a rather large, not at ALL fossilized, pink and white striped egg. It was set within a water tank with oxygenated water constantly flowing over it to help the creature inside breathe even while developing. The surface of the incubator was warm, very warm...akin to tropical regions on the planet. And the egg itself...matched nothing else on record.