The biting wind whipped at Rod's exposed skin as he stood atop the desolate mountain. Snow fell in a steady curtain, coating the area around Rod and the machine in a blanket of white.
"A little to the right, please!" Alf's voice cut through the wind's howl.
The Hero's muscles flexed. His hands gripped a jagged part of the Ice Giant's head and lifted it into position.
The cold gnawed at his bones, yet the task drove him forward. His clothes were just not designed for this weather and his powers only gave so much defense against the environment. At least he was done now.
With a final grunt, he gently placed the head down and stepped away, letting Alf move in. Some of his tiny flying drones quickly scanned one of the many heads absorbed into the giant from a distance and analyzed the data for anything important they didn't already know. Then, they identified the tormented faces of devoured tribe members. Each was frozen in a silent scream within its crystalline prison.
"I've confirmed it," he announced and looked at Rod, "This Ice Giant consumed all of the main tribe. All members are accounted for."
Rod's confused eyes focused on them and a chill moved through those faces. No one had ever done this… till now.
"What could've made him do this?" he murmured.
In response, Alf's optical sensors flickered in a digital shrug.
"The brain parasite takes control of the body and locks the host's consciousness in a dream they do not want to wake up from. It mostly preys on individuals in a state of despair or those who are weak-minded. Once they enter that dream, the parasite can control the body however it wants," he explained, walking closer to the hole on the titan's head, "Anyway, I am going to work now. You can head back to the Walker and wait. The engineers and a few of my support bodies went to escort civilians to a nearby safe haven, so it is going to take a while."
With that, the machine retrieved specialized tools from a nearby metallic device that looked like a table.
He would be busy for the next couple of minutes and there was nothing Rod could do, so he gave a curt nod and turned back. It wasn't until he'd taken a few steps that Alf's voice stopped him cold.
"And Rod… good work. You saved a lot of people today."
A wry smile touched the Hero's lips.
"Don't you mean, 'we'?"
"Well, if you want to get technical, I did-" the machine began in his familiar, arrogant tone.
"Never mind, forget I said anything."
Midway to the Walker, the Gun Hero glanced back at the monstrous Ice Giant and slightly relived the fight they had. He could still feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
It had been a long time since he'd forced himself to push his powers to their absolute limit and rustiness weighed him down. His formidable strength was still there. Though, sustaining a sprint at "tier 5" speeds for longer than a minute took a toll.
He had to do it, right? If he didn't, people would have gotten hurt, or even died. It seemed like a worthwhile sacrifice that meant something… just like the good old days.
While his mind continued reeling, a subtle flash of vibrant red light shone on the ground beside the severed icy head. Just a tiny flicker, yet enough to snatch his weary gaze and ensnare his attention.
"The heck?" he murmured.
Suddenly, the world around him blurred and its sounds faded into an indistinct hum. He was captivated by it… drawn in as if manipulated by an unseen magic.
Without conscious thought, his legs moved on their own and carried him toward the enigmatic light.
He lifted his hand and extended his fingers toward it, only to stop just centimeters away. His focus was compelled to analyze it more intently… to see what it was… to feel what it could be… that's when its crimson glow intensified.
He touched the light… and it abruptly vanished.
The world snapped back into focus and Rod suddenly backed away slowly. He couldn't remember what he'd been doing there or what he'd just touched. He rubbed his eyes, but the memory was completely gone.
"What just happened?" the man asked after his gaze swept the landscape.
"Why are you still here? I told you to go already," Alf's sharp voice resonated through the cold.
He emerged from behind a thick piece of ice.
"Oh, right, sorry… I think… I think I'm just a little tired after all."
"Just go get some rest and leave the rest to me," the machine finished with professional annoyance, "Human error can contaminate the scene. Shoo."
Rod slowly headed to the Hawk Walker once more and instinctively lifted his hand. He gazed at it, turning his palm over and searching for a mark.
"Yeah… I must be tired."