Maybe this is what it feels like to be rich? Rydel thought off the images of upper class citizens wearing white gloves everywhere they go to avoid getting the filth of the world on their hands, then proceed to wipe their butt after taking their gloves off. He rubbed both hands together and the left just felt softer and smoother than a baby's butt cheek, not that he would know what that feels like.
'So I just get a free glove?' This was the only thing Rydel can make of the current situation, this technology is definitely beyond what he knew. It wasn't something that resembles technology of the other two races either, maybe except some bio-morphing technology from the Aquarians. He tried feeling for the edge of the glove, but the soft metal just merged with his skin right pass the wrist joint and became a part of him seamlessly.
'I guess I have to leave this on until I get back to base...' Rydel murmured to himself as he starts to look for the exit to the chamber, 'at least I wasn't eaten or killed.'
Speaking of which, the ground around him started shaking and the sound of cracking rocks echoes in the chamber. Ryder quickly scanned for any sign of the chamber collapsing around him, but it seems like it was the column that used to house the glove that's making the noise. The outer layers had cracks forming all over and the segments peeled off one by one and drifting to the floor. What's revealed beneath was a perfect cylinder made of the same type of metal that forms the glove. The cylinder sat still for a while, as if it's checking out Rydel.
It doesn't matter what's going on, but it might be best for me to leave now. Rydel kept his eye on the cylinder for any movements and slowly moved backwards. The moment he moves, the cylinder moved too. Despite the cool temperature of the cave, the cylinder reforms itself into the shape of a humanoid like how melted iron fills a mold. These kind of fluidic metal belonged in science fiction, yet he is seeing it with his own two eyes. The height and width of that humanoid closely matches that of Rydel's and an uneasy feeling creeps up along his back.
Fight. Using the artifact. FIGHT!
A voice erupted within Rydel's head made pushed him back a step. Fight? The artifact? What is going on? Where is the voice coming from?
As if the metal humanoid is reading his mind, it charges forward and swung right at Rydel with a blazing burst of speed. Rydel pivots around his left leg to avoid the close attack and prepares to strike the side the humanoid. Right as he pulled out the gun for a quick shot, an arm extruded from the side of its body and knocked the gun away.
Rydel quickly hopped back and kept some distance between him and it. That thing has no facial features, which means it doesn't use visual to detect movements. This is more akin to combat robots that the space fleet used to train the combat troops. Rydel wasn't particularly keen when it comes to combat training, but now he just have to suck it up and stand his ground. The gun is 3 meters away and it will take him a generous 2 second to reach it. From what he just saw, that's plenty of time for that humanoid to react and cut him short. He took out the knife that's tucked away in his belt and grasped it firmly in his palms.
'Come on!' Rydel taunted.
Use the artifact!
That same voice exploded in his head once again. At this moment, this strange voice is just yet another distraction from his current opponent. Rydel shook his head and ignored it. He doubt the knife will do anything to the humanoid, but it's still better than cracking all the bones in his hand. He swung the knife a few times in front of him like a sort of warning signal. The humanoid remained emotionless.
Then, all of a sudden, it attacked. With a swift strike of its arms extending right across the distance between them two, the knife was clearly knocked out of his hand. Then another strike accurately hits the knife exactly as it lands and sends it spinning away from Rydel. Now it seems quite clear what it wants Rydel to do.
Fight, using the artifact. which he could only assume is the neat silver glove he just collected.'Alright, finds how do I use this thing?' Rydel points his left palm towards the humanoid and nothing happens.
So it doesn't work like Ironman's projections.
Before Rydel had any time to try anything else, the humanoid lunges forward, barely missing a side stepping Rydel and slashed the side of his right arm. An accute pain ran through his body and Rydel cursed. The momentum of the humanoid carried it forward passed him once again and he swiped at the humanoid with his left. The left hand made contact, but there wasn't any actual damage. Rydel's heart sank as he turned around the face the humanoid once again, now with an injured arm.
There is no way he can do anything to it with the kind of hits he is dealing out. He needs something a bit more powerful. He really needs his guns. Until now, the humanoid only seems interested in ridding him of weapons, almost forcing him to use the unfamiliar artifact that he couldn't take off. He flashes back to that time when he first started using an exoskeleton. It made him much better at moving through tough terrains despite the steep learning curve. He still remember what the instructor shouted at his ears:'Just shut up and use the damn thing. Fool!'
This must be some kind of weapon. Rydel looked at his left hand and thought. There would be no other way why there is a humanoid for him to fight and the sound in his head telling him to use it. The task at hand is figuring out how to use the artifact. He brought his left hand closer to try to read the writings on it, but just as he blinks, the humanoid that was in front of him is no longer there.
He didn't even have any time to regret before something hooked on his leg and brought him down. Within a moment of panic, he reached for the gun lying a few meters away, and grabbed something.
The feedback coming from his hands completely opposes that from his eyes. There were nothing near him, yet he is definitely holding onto something. The gloves glowed yellow as he held on the thing. Rydel twisted around and threw that thing right at the humanoid!
BANG!
A clear sound of impact indicates a clean hit, and his gun bounced off the head of the humanoid. It was knocked back slightly and finally loosens its grasp, allowing Rydel to free himself and get up. He looked at the gun that's now lying on the floor in the other end of the room and scratched his head.
That was the first response he has received from the glove, and somehow the gun that he was reaching for was teleported? Rydel concentrated and reached for it yet again, it felt real and solid, but there is really nothing in his palm. He looked again at where the gun was and it was no longer there.
The humanoid wasn't going to just let Rydel figure everything out, but now he seems to understand the sequences of movements that the humanoid is going through and easy moves around yet another charge. He knelled down and opened his hand, when the gun blinked into existence suddenly.
So it seems like the glove allows some sort of object teleportation. What if he goes for something bigger? Rydel smiled excitedly and lunge forward, his left hand reaching for the humanoid, and he closes it into a fist.
He definitely held onto something. It's actually quite hard to tell what it is since the sensation coming from the hand indicates a much smaller object that something his size. The glove glows yellow and then gold when contact is made, and the space around the humanoid bends and twists before swallowing it as a whole.
'Hot damn.' Maybe this is what being a god feels like?
Now holding the threat on his life within his palms, Rydel aimed at the wall of the chamber and threw the humanoid right at it. The space around the walls twisted once again and the silver humanoid appeared right in the middle of the wall. As a result, the wall cracked gravely and rubbles rains down onto the surface. The humanoid was stuck in the walls however and couldn't move anymore.
Assessment complete.
The voice that was making him fight came through once again with a sense of finality and satisfaction. And with that, the humanoid ceased all movements.
'Who is there? What is actually going on?' Rydel shouted as he finally started looking for the sources of the voice when the main threat right in front of him is neutralized. But the only replies he's got are that of the echo.
Suddenly, the glove started vibrating and it flashes purple a few times before going silent. But at this point Rydel had seen enough crazy things that this doesn't even bother him anymore.Seeing as nothing else is going to happen in a short while, he picked up the gun and the knife and left the chamber. The illusion of normal channels is still on at this point, perhaps the being that set all these up wants to keep this a secret. But from what he knew, this glove contain some unusual power, and perhaps an extremely dangerous one. Maybe that's why there was the killer metal robot and the so-called assessment.
Rydel returned to the shuttle parked outside of the cave and got treatment on his wounds. It looks like he is gonna be out for while since any measure of cave exploration work needs him to be at full health. Maybe he should consider getting someone else to do the data collection for him.
But, somehow, he felt like that's not gonna be what he should worry about. The glove he has on carries so much mystery, he felt like he must resolve it as soon as possible. What if this alien technology is slowly eating away his energy? Or causing him some unknown diseases. There seemed to be a need to visit the archaeology department really soon.
Regardless of what he will do next, Rydel thinks he needs to take a nap now. The fighting before and the wound treatment he received will send him to deep sleep soon enough, and he felt like he deserved it.
The gloves are really comfortable.
And it is a Sunday afternoon after all.