RESEARCHER ROY: Comms on everyone.
In quick succession, all five Ranger's video and audio feeds switch on.
RESEARCHER ROY: It has been 56 hours since life was discovered within Reality-E. 53 hours ago, we learned that they were sapient when they used themselves as the fuel source for two dirty bombs.
AAINA RAY: Are we sure this isn't just a misunderstanding? What if they were trying to escape GRP-048?
UTTU TUUT: Their attack on the research drone does not support that theory, Ray.
VISS SARKIO: It doesn't matter why they did it. They destroyed Ranger property! That alone deserves a firm ass-whooping.
TONNY: Now, hold on, I dismantle our drones. That doesn't mean I deserve punishment.
A-A-77244: Now, everyone, let's not be rash or jump to conclusions. We will follow the plan as stated and determine the intent of our Reality-E denizens. Now, is there anything else you'd like to leave us with Research Roy?
RESEARCHER ROY: Hmm. Oh yes, if at all possible, retrieve the Somnium destabilizer. If these simulated lifeforms have honest and peaceful intentions, we will negotiate a scientific outreach program later. For now, we focus on containment.
Researcher Roy looks down at his holographic watch.
RESEARCHER ROY: Simulation will begin shortly. Starting, in, 5…4…3…2…1…
The cold white circular room of GRP-048 begins to brighten as the lenses housing GRP-048-2 fade away. In an instant, the scene on everyone's video feeds goes from a bright, blinding white to nothing. When all the Rangers come too, the environment that surrounds them is nothing but a dark abyss.
VISS SARKIO: Holy-
AAINA RAY: Language.
VISS SARKIO: Guys, turn around. You can't miss it.
All Rangers spin around. Before them is an infinite wall with complex, colorful patterns.
AAINA RAY: Wow, it looks like a painting.
TONNY: Don't be silly. It looks at the 2D schematic for how to build a 3D object.
A-A-77244: That must be the 2D intersection. Wait, I think I see movement.
UTTU TUUT: Our position has a higher dimensional means we can see the whole 2D universe despite being removed.
VISS SARKIO: Oh, this will be fun. It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel.
A-A-77244: Not yet Sarkio. Hold prep for an attack, but wait on my signal. Ranger Tonny, you're with me. Rangers Ray, Tuut, and Sarkio. Keep an eye out.
Rangers A-A-77244 and Tonny begin to use their space suits EVA thrusters to approach the 2D plane. As they creep closer to the intersection, four circular dots remove themselves from the 2D plane. As the object moves outward, the circle's diameter shrinks, translating into a 3D sphere.
AAINA RAY (Radio): It appears the denizens are coming out to greet us.
A-A-77244: We don't know that. Keep your guns up.
The dark spherical orbs, upon reaching a distance of 10m from Ranger Tonny and A-A-77244 stop. Before either Ranger can approach the spheres, two of the four spontaneously detonate. In only a second, Ranger A-A-77244 shoves Range Tonny to the side, closer to the 2D intersection. As the spheres collapse, the expanding explosion reverts into a 2D structure, running parallel with the 2D universe. The thin cuts of a 2D explosion slice at Ranger A-A-77244, severing his arms and left foot.
VISS SARKIO: I told ya.
UTTU TUUT: Open fire, protect our men!
A barrage of supper-heated plasma fire spews forth, but only millimeters beyond the gun's barrel; the heat is stopped. Flat vertical heat blotches float in front of the firing team. Before the two remaining orbs can detonate, Rangers Tonny and A-A-77244 line themselves up along the 2nd-dimensional plane. The pair opened fire to the orbs, striking them with a barrage of bullet fragments and energy. As the projectiles made contact with the orbs, their black exterior fragmented, revealing a 2m wide 2D lifeform. Moments after exposure to the dark void, the tiny lifeforms expired.
UTTU TUUT (Radio): How are you holding up A-A-77244?
A-A-77244: I'll live.
AAINA RAY (Radio): You have to pull out of the simulation. Your suits have been compromised.
A-A-77244: No, we have to complete the mission.
VISS SARKIO (Radio): We know their intentions.
TONNY: True, they have the destabilization device and, from the looks of it, now know how to mass produce them.
VISS SARKIO (Radio): Fuck the device. Let's evacuate and give their civilization a nice automatic blast makeover.
A-A-77244: That won't work. Not unless one of us enters the 2D plane. In case the situation went south, the GRPC equipped me with a thermonuclear device. If I can enter the 2D slice, the explosion should wipe out all hostiles and their devices.
AAINA RAY (Radio): Let us come to!
UTTU TUUT (Radio): That would be a tactically unwise decision, Aaina. We are defenseless along this plane of attack.
VISS SARKIO (Radio): Well, we can't let the Robot have all the fun.
A-A-77244: That's irrelevant. Tonny and I have been accelerating toward the 2D plane for a while now. When passing through, Tonny will drop me off and exit the simulation. The blast will be contained to the 2D slice, so you will all be safe.
VISS SARKIO (Radio): You don't have the authority to change the mission parameters like this!
As Rangers Tonny and A-A-77244 begin accelerating toward the 2D wall, sixteen black spheres emerge from what appear to be 2D launch sites. Walking around the exterior of the launch platforms are tiny 2m wide 2D lifeforms. Three of the sixteen orbs attempt to detonate parallel to the two Rangers, but neither blast makes any mark. The remaining thirteen orbs move in to intercept the Ranger firing team.
UTTU TUUT (Radio): We don't have time to complain. Team, spread out in parallel to the wall. Don't fire unless they're on your plane!
Rangers Ray, Tuut, and Sarkio spread out in different directions, keeping their eyes on the 2D slice and the incoming hostile orbs. Rangers Tonny and A-A-77244, on the other hand, are roughly 1km from the 2D plane, which now takes up half of their observable field of view.
A-A-77244: Alright, Tonny, if the math is right, you should be able to pass right through the 2D plane. Like a ghost.
TONNY: What if the math is wrong?
The two Rangers slowly turn to look at each other. As the pair got more meters from the 2D ground, a black sphere larger than any other orb began to expand. Its rate of expansion guaranteed that the duo would be encompassed within the continuously growing sphere before they could reach the 2D intersection.
TONNY: What are they doing?
A-A-77244: Oh no. Slow down, Tonny, slow down!
Before Tonny could slow down, the momentum carrying the two Rangers hurdled them into the dark sphere. When the camera readjusted to the influx of flight, the scenic scape became clear. What was once a 2D landscape now existed in a rich and complex 3D world. The environment was that of an industrial complex with different tunnel openings and exists. In the middle of a courtyard, adjacent to a 20m tall spire of ice, was a small square igloo.
A-A-77244: So this is what the 2D world looks like. Who would have thought a maze-like labyrinthine was just a series of tunnels?
TONNY: I did.
Before A-A-77244 could respond, miniature 2mm small creatures began to pour out of the tunnel doors.
A-A-77244: I'm going to activate the bomb.
TONNY: Don't! The blast won't wipe out their production capabilities. And besides, I haven't escaped yet.
LOUDSPEAKER: Language process analyzed and synthesized. This translator is now functional.
TONNY: Who have you translated? Me or the machine?
LOUDSPEAKER: Both.
A-A-77244: Why are you attacking us?
LOUDSPEAKER: You are a thief. You take from us the *PAINT* which we use to *DRAW* on our *CANVAS*
TONNY: Are you referring to the Somnium alloy?
LOUDSPEAKER: Yes, this Somnium that is the paint.
A-A-77244: Tell us why you paint these dead worlds. Tell us, and we'll return your Somnium.
LOUDSPEAKER: It is too late for that. You've forced us to *STAIN* our work in the hopes of stopping you. We wanted to share with you our *CANVAS* but all you saw was data to be collected.
Ranger Tonny leans in close to his suit's microphone.
TONNY: These aliens are crazy. Negotiating with them is a waste of time. I say, we find one of their orb spaceships and get out of here.
A-A-77244: That sounds like an excellent plan.
LOUDSPEAKER: Now, you will pay for your *VANDALIZATION* with your *SOUL*!
With one hand, Tonny removes his plasma rifle and, with the other, throws Ranger A-A-77244 over his shoulder. As the two make their way to the nearest launch site, swarms of the tiny aliens begin to run after them. Utilizing his plasma rifle's adjustable magnetic cone, Tonny disintegrates swaths of the tiny hostiles that attempt to flank him. After two minutes of running, the Rangers reach a spacecraft loading bay. The spaceship is spherical, with six long spikes sticking out of it in random directions.
TONNY: Can you crawl?
A-A-77244: I think so.
In one quick jerk of the arm and turn of the torso, Tonny throws A-A-77244 onto the extended ramp of the alien spacecraft. As A-A-77244 begins to climb up the ramp, thousands of alien lifeforms begin to climb up the ship ramp.
TONNY: Close this ramp!
A-A-77244: I don't know how this ship wasn't designed for our tiny hands. I can't figure out the controls.
Tonny makes it to the top of the ramp and enters the ship.
TONNY: Let me take a look at it. Keep the little buggers off us.
A-A-77244: With what? I still don't have my hands.
The Ranger begins randomly pressing, sliding, and kicking the tiny 0.5m small buttons. Meanwhile, Ranger A-A-77244 stomps at the tiny creatures with his one good leg. After roughly 30 seconds, the ramp begins to retract, causing the thousands of lifeforms to fall off, presumably to their death.
A-A-77244: There's still a few inside, blast them!
TONNY: With pleasure.
The remaining hundred lifeforms are quickly and unceremoniously vaporized as Ranger A-A-77244 begins to activate the ship's propulsion system.
TONNY: So what's the plan? We escape this place and warn the others?
A-A-77244: No, I'm going to fly us out of this 3D bubble and back into the 2D plane.
TONNY: You're still set on blowing up these people?
A-A-77244: Do you think I'm cruel?
TONNY: My kind doesn't understand the concept. Just do what you calculate is correct.
A-A-77244: Well, regardless of my actions, GRP-048 will see us as a threat. That is unavoidable. So, the only rational action I can take is hurting their production capabilities.
TONNY: Sound logic. So, I believe this is where we part ways.
A bright door opens before Ranger Tonny.
TONNY: Farewell.
Tonny steps through, leaving the simulation. Upon the Ranger's departure, A-A-77244 adjusts the miniature control stick, pointing it back toward the 2D plane. Within an instant of the craft making contact with the flat universe, the video ends. While no audio is intercepted, Rangers Ray and Tuut's camera feed records a large blast appearing on the 2D surface. As the fireball expands, it leaves behind a desolate wasteland of melted ice and rubble.
UTTU TUUT: It's over. Rangers, pull out.
VISS SARKIO: But I'm having a great time. Let's keep blasting these little buggers.
AAINA RAY: Turn around Sarkio, we've won, and A-A-77244 is gone.
VISS SARKIO: Oh.
In the midst of the firefight with the remaining black orbs, the three Rangers manifest their exist and leave the simulation.
Comm Video Ends
