Chapter 127: History
One week later. Subject Alpha-0’s state had deteriorated further. Its movements were now jerky, fueled by a primal desperation, though its massive form continued to pace the arid confines of its climate-controlled cell, honing its combat instincts even in its weakened state.
Lina, working with intense precision, supervised android bots administering minute, controlled doses of various human blood types, including the exceptionally rare Rh-null. Each micro-injection was followed by immediate, granular biometric and neurological monitoring. She meticulously tracked any differential response, any specific "trigger" or preference that might exist even within such an extreme physiological dependency.
The powerful stench of its sweat now mixed with something else, a subtle, primal aroma that Lena had configured a specialized sensor to detect – the faint scent of human blood, strategically placed just beyond the outer containment field. The Krill occasionally paused, its nostrils flaring, a low growl rumbling in its chest, confirming its heightened olfactory senses could indeed detect the distant lure.
An Android Emissary, a sleek, humanoid bot with a placid, featureless face, materialized at the cell’s transparent barrier. Its voice, calm and synthesized, offered the first installment of the agreed-upon exchange. "Subject Alpha-0. Three tablespoons of processed human blood, in exchange for information."
The Krill’s eyes, normally slits of cold fury, widened with raw hunger. It lunged towards the dispenser port, its massive tongue lapping greedily at the offered sustenance. As the last drop was consumed, a visible change rippled through its physiology.
Its dull scales shimmered with a renewed, albeit faint, vibrancy. Its labored breathing eased. A deep, resonant hum vibrated from its chest – a sudden, undeniable spike in its bio-electromagnetic energy, its psionic aura flaring with renewed vigor.
"More!" the Krill roared, its voice regaining some of its former power. Its restored aggression surged. With a furious, unchecked swipe, it obliterated the Android Emissary, sending metallic shrapnel scattering across the reinforced floor. Immediately, the containment’s security protocols activated.
A low-frequency hum resonated, a gravitic field shimmered into place, and disorienting light patterns pulsed across the cell walls. The Krill, momentarily disoriented by the counter-measures, ceased its protest, though its eyes still burned with renewed, predatory anger.
Another week passed. Deprived of its sustenance, the Krill returned to its weakened, desperate state, its bellows for blood now closer to pathetic pleas. Lina, observing its full cycle of dependency, initiated the next phase. A new Android Emissary appeared at the port, calm and unwavering.