“I look stupid” Delvik said, voice muffled by the helmet as he checked out the full suit. Behind the helmet''s face plate he frowned and twitched his nose. The face plate was pushing his whiskers back and making his muzzle itch. He hated it and felt foolish.


    Thomas turned and looked at Delvik with an appraising look, “I think you mean badass, now hold out your arms,” he said. Thomas stood and walked over to where Delvik was standing and began fitting the newest additions to the armor. Delvik thought his human friend was perhaps going a bit overboard with all of this.


    At the beginning it was fun, seeing the miracle machine working and creating each piece, helping Thomas assemble and fit it to his body. Delvik thought it was the greatest thing ever, but then Thomas kept thinking up new things to add, new situations that needed to have some gadget to account for regardless of how outlandish.


    “Enough Thomas, this is enough, more than enough,” he shouted as Thomas got that far off look he had come to recognize as the human considering a new tool. He turned to face his friend, “I know you do this to help, but we have been here all day now, and from the look you have, it will be days more before you think we are ready” Delvik said with an exasperated tone.


    He moved his glove clad paws up and down, “if this suit works half as good as you say, then I am satisfied” he said.


    Thomas looked slightly abashed, realizing that he may have indeed been going a bit overboard. He made a mental note to write down his ideas though, you never knew when a mark 2 version may be needed.


    “Fine, fine; you’re right and I am sorry.” Thomas said, “I just wanted to make sure we were prepared for anything”. He moved over to where Delvik and crouched down a bit, the new suit did add some extra inches of height to his friend but not enough to throw off his balance or ability to move smoothly. “How does everything feel? Is your range of motion affected?” he asked.


    Delvik shook his head side to side, “No, it feels fine” he said. With a nod, Thomas stood and stepped back, taking in the whole suit. He had wanted to go with the classic red/gold color scheme, but Delvik shot that down. Same with the idea he had of adding a cape. Instead, he saw an impressive figure in molded polymer armor, lined with a special impact absorbing gel. Even the tail had segmented armor plates for protection. All of this colored a bluish black with various shades of gray mixed in.


    It was impressive, Thomas thought. Delvik seemed to appreciate it as well, as he watched his friend bend, twist and flex with the armor on. Thomas reached over to the table and lifted up the final addition and held it out to Delvik. The armored raccoon took the haft of the newly created spear and after moving to the cleared side of the lab, began getting a feel for the new weapon. He spun it around like a martial artist would with a staff before launching into a series of stabs and slashes.


    Seemingly satisfied, Delvik looked towards the exit of the lab, it was time. Both seemed to pause, unsure what to say.


    It was Thomas who spoke first, “you’re gonna kick some ass up there, I only wish I could see it. If only someone hadn’t covered up all my cameras” he said, smirking at the end.


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    Delvik snorted, “I have already apologized and will not do so again. Next time be more careful with creepy metal eyes”.


    Thomas slung the shotgun he had re-created, the previous one having been damaged and abandoned after the last attack. This one he named “Boomstick MK2”, and it was specially designed for dealing with the Arvo, firing sharpened slugs designed to penetrate their thick hide and filled with explosives for a nasty surprise. He wasn''t going to be taking any chances this time.


    The hunters watched from the shadows of the ruins. They knew Delvik had been in the area a few days ago, investigating something was all they got in answer to their questions. Now they watched in horror as a large pack of Arvo settled into one of the ruined buildings, notable for the large section of roof that was peeled back and flopped over the side of the building.


    They had already sent a runner back to the burrow to sound the alarm and were simply watching, counting the number of monsters that had moved in. It seemed to be a sizable pack, but rather than spread out to cover more hunting ground, they seemed focused on that one building. The group spoke softly amongst themselves, wondering if it was Delvik they had cornered, or perhaps some other creature.


    The explosions took them by surprise, three fireballs expanding and consuming a cluster of the Arvo that had been milling around a pile of metal. Before the fireballs had even finished expanding they saw a shadowy blur, streak across the building and impact one of the larger Arvo, and send it flying before streaking towards another cluster of Arvo.


    More explosions rippled out from the building, sending Arvo flying or simply disappearing, consumed by the explosions. The watching hunters stared in shock as they watched the shadowy figure bounce between groups of the monsters. Wherever it landed, Arvo died or lost limbs.


    Whatever this thing was, it was not to be trifled with, the watchers agreed. Suddenly, a powerful roar sounded, and the largest Arvo strode forward to face the shadowy figure. It bellowed a challenge before dropping to all fours to charge the figure.


    One of the hunters, known for their keen eyes stiffened in shock, then began to poke the others and chitter excitedly. It had gotten a decent look at the figure before it leapt to meet the charging Arvo head on, and what it saw confused and excited it. It described what it saw to the others, a metal Rakus, tail and all.


    Torn between fear and wonder, the hunters quietly cheered on the metal Rakus as it battled the Alpha Arvo. Winced as the Arvo sent the figure flying, and nearly laughed out loud as they watched the figure grab a metal pole while in flight, watched the metal pole bend and could even swear they heard the metal groaning as it flexed back, flinging the figure back at the Alpha.


    So caught up in watching the fight between the two figures, they missed seeing the other Arvo moving in to surround the pair. Despair settled in the pits of their stomachs as the figure began to get battered by the slowly enclosing ring of vicious monsters. The figure was putting up a good fight, any Arvo other than the Alpha that came at it was sent flying, usually trailing a spray of blood, but the numbers were taking their toll.


    As the Alpha roared in victory after managing to trap the figure under one huge scaled foot, the hunters began to look away before another oddity drew them back. A second figure strode out of the ruined building, white coat flapping behind it as walked through the burrows exit. The Keen eyed hunter was frozen in wide eyed fear as the others asked what it saw. They understood a moment later, hearing the echo of a familiar sound, a creature as feared nearly as much as the Arvo.


    They heard the familiar Click-Clack, they saw the Human raise a metal death stick, pointed at the Alpha. They heard the Alphas hissing laughter and then watched its head explode.