MISSION OBJECTIVE: RETRIEVE AND TRANSPORT ARIANE CIRCLE MEMBER "NYX" TO OUTPOST 048. SUBJECT MAY BE DELIVERED DEAD OR ALIVE. GO WITH VIRTUE.
"Nyxtlr'a, Person of Interest. Last known location: Headspace 523-FR. Heimwehmut Score: TBD. Possesses mildly accelerated cellular regeneration. "
The voice of Knight 048 rings out across a dimly lit hallway in Level 3. Squad 048 had previously been tasked with locking down a large area within the Level, due to unexpected internet interference from within. Considering Level 3 is known for some of the most stable Wi-Fi in the Backrooms, command deemed it necessary to investigate— though it seems more pressing matters now require their attention.
"Affirmative." reply the other three Knights, quickly preparing themselves to execute a noclip.
As with any strike team of the Black Knights, their methodical and subservient nature leads them to immediate preparedness. Quickly falling in line, the group waits for Knight 048 to give the signal to initiate their assault on Level 523.
They don't have to wait long.
Nyx stirs deep within its house on Level 523. It had been quite a busy week for them, and despite their alien biology, it wanted nothing more than to crash down on the sofa in an ever-so-human fashion. Running missions with team Hermes will do that to you.
As Nyx blinks the sleep out of its eyes, they make their way towards the kitchen. It was a bright and sunny day in 523, as it always was. As the sole resident of the level, Nyx saw to it personally— it was their little paradise in the vast dimension of the Backrooms after all.
Sitting down at their kitchen table, Nyx pulls out a cell phone, gifted to them by none other than Anthony Kelvin. A rather primitive and convoluted piece of technology in their eyes, Nyx never really saw the value in this particular piece of equipment— it honestly seemed more appealing as a midday snack, but Nyx still held on to the small black device at Anthony's insistence. Opening the text messaging board, Nyx sends out a message to their acquaintance, one key at a time.
THE BACKDOOR Backrooms' #1 Chat & Forum> Direct Messaging - User: VorKhos
[Nyx]: Hello
[VorKhos]: Good morning Nyx. How're you holding up?
[Nyx]: Well
[VorKhos]: Great to hear! I mean, I'd imagine it's always a good morning whenever you can control the weather… I hope we didn't run you too hard last night. The rest of the team really appreciated your help with mapping out 8. Seriously, without you, it would have taken us months.
[Nyx]: Welcome how is meeting
[VorKhos]: Slow. Currently the other teams are fighting over what we should do about some of the major players here… some have been starting to attack our members as of late. I'll talk to you later though, we're up to speak next.
[Nyx]: Goodbye
[User has disconnected.]
>_
Nyx sets their phone down on the table, staring at it with a blank expression. Despite a lack of understanding of human emotion, things had begun rubbing off on them in their new environment. Whether it be due to the strange friendships they had formed, or due to the properties of the Backrooms itself, Nyx had begun to feel… lonely.
Contemplating their sense of self, Nyx walks outside into the flowery field, sitting down in the grass. Disconnected from their previous life, Nyx was no longer a part of the hivemind-like Frontrooms species from which they originated— for the first time in its life, Nyx's head was filled with thoughts; thoughts that were their own.
It certainly was a massive headache. How unbecoming— they were becoming more human by the day than they'd like to admit. Perhaps they would visit the Hermes base again… Kelvin and the team never turned down extra cooperation. Just as Nyx is about to stand up and begin making their way over, their hair stands on end.
Quickly bringing themself to their feet, Nyx surveys the area; they know this feeling— something is coming.
Within an instant, Nyx's ornate and pristine world of cubes and spacetime is ripped apart; a militia clad in black swarming their level with weapons drawn.
"FREEZE!" the lead figure yells towards them.
Nyx's eyes flick left and right, taking in the situation. What they see isn't good— a total of 4 individuals, circling around their small house. Before moving, Nyx tries to push them away— to do something to lock these unwelcome intruders out of their humble home— to little effect. When it came down to it, encounters in this place always ended up at the same crossroads: fight or flight.
Nyx's hair swirls in an unseen wind as their skin markings begin to burn with bioluminescent light, and they make their decision.
As the lasers from the weapons of the Knights focus on Nyx's chest, the artificial sun in the level flickers— before bursting in a shower of sparks, blanketing the space in darkness.
Gunfire erupts as pure chaos unfolds; the void of black only broken by quick flashes of tracer fire, and Nyx's dim glow flickering in and out of vision.
"Knight 048. I've lost visu— "
The monotone voice is cut of with a gurgling crunch, followed by a thud. Flashlight beams of the other Knights switch on, focusing on their comrade— who is twitching on the floor, a large chunk of their throat missing.
"Target is hostile. Engage with caution; shoot to kill."
The Knights don't have to wait long for their chance, as Nyx reappears behind Knight 037, attempting to pounce on the super soldier.
Knights 048 and 026 open fire in the path of the berserk anomaly, their esoteric ammunition ripping into its flesh in a spray of glowing blood. Nyx quickly turns to face the pair, giving them a death stare as it disappears once again.
"Target hit. Pursue capture— alive if possible."
The Knights do a quick sweep of the darkness with their flashlights, swiftly moving their way towards the house. If Nyx hadn't reappeared, there was only one place they could be. As Knight 048 climbs the porch steps into the small building, the remaining two cover his flanks. No angle is unwatched as the squad breaches the house.
"Target lost. Investigate area; maintain attention."
Entering Nyx's kitchen, Knight 048 keeps watch as Knights 037 and 026 trash the room in their search. "Object located— 'Pear' brand cellular telephone. Chatbox is open… messaging user 'VorKhos.' "
Knight 048 follows the gaze of his comrade to the table, lowering his weapon as he walks over.
"Information could prove vital to Sehnsucht. Collecting for—"
Before his sentence can finish, a pair of arms emerge from the floor, grabbing his ankles and ripping his body straight into the ground. Knight 048's body is completely crushed up to the chest; he's dead in an instant. The stiff corpse of the agent remains animated, arms outstretched into nothingness as if trying to reach for a weapon he'll never grab.
"Squad leader KIA. Engage strategic withdrawal protocol." Knight 037 says to 026.
"Affirmative."
The two Knights press their backs to each other, and make their way back towards the front door. Just as they're about to cross the threshold, Nyx appears in the far distance— the numerous bullet holes beginning to slowly seal in front of the eyes of the Knights.
"Target's regeneration active; energy depleting quickly, fire at will."
Another spray of anomalous laser fire flies through the air towards Nyx, but this time something is different— Nyx appears unfazed by the storm of bullets, as they keep pushing their way forward towards the Knights.
Knight 026 squints into the distance to try and figure out what's going on. It's not that the bullets are being stopped… it isn't that Nyx is deflecting them… no, it's more like they're phasing through the space in front of the Alien, and emerging behind.
"HOLD FIRE! Target appears to have manifested some sort of defensive portal."
The two Knights sling their firearms over their shoulders, manifesting the notorious glowing blue blades that signified their association with the most notorious hunters in the Backrooms. Nyx charges towards them as the Knights run up to meet them in a final clash.
The scuffle is quick and short-lived. As Knight 037 moves in for a killing blow, he feels a slight tug in his chest.
Looking down, he discovers Nyx's arm halfway into his abdomen, reaching back towards his—
A shower of sparks and blood erupt from Knight 037's body as Nyx rips his spinal cord out from his skeleton with the slickness of a toddler pulling a shoestring.
As Knight 037 falls to the ground, Knight 26's blade makes contact with Nyx's chest, piercing clean through their flesh. With a quick jerk, the Knight twists their wrist, widening the slice into a gash.
Nyx drops to the ground, falling onto their knees. Glowing blood flows out onto the once pristine flowered field, staining the grass a dark blue.
"Knight 026 requesting extraction. Target subdued. Casualties include Knights 037, 015, and squad leader 048. Medical assistance is welcome."
His call completed, Knight 026 squats down in the grass, giving Nyx a demeaning head tilt. Nyx looks up to meet the Knight's gaze in defiance, their vision slowly fading.
"All of this violence. For what purpose? You have accomplished nothing, other than accelerating the pace at which we complete our hostile takeover of your organization."
Nyx coughs up a splatter of blood onto the ground, making a futile effort to swipe at the Knight's face.
"Something to say?"
Nyx shakily raises their hand one last time— struggling to even reach upwards. The Knight shakes his head disapprovingly as he pulls Nyx's limp body onto his shoulder— the mission would be completed.
As soon as he does, he realizes he's made a grave mistake. His grip on Nyx loosens, and their body drops to the ground with a thud. Knight 026 stares down at his hands as they move on their own accord, reaching for the assault rifle slung over his shoulder.
Pressing the barrel of the weapon to the underside of his chin, Knight 026 can do nothing but stare into Nyx's expressionless face as he feels his finger tighten around the trigger.