All right. From the ground up, and over the corpse of the original. This is closer to how I originally imagined my story, but when I first typed it, I couldn't translate it well. Now I believe, I can write this how I wanted it, needed it to be, and ultimately, will be. I've spent these last few months with writer's block looming over me, crushing my integrity. No longer will I suffer this.

I'll keep the original up for anyone to read. It'll be great to hear from old readers as well as new readers.

If you are a new reader, I ask you take a bit of time to read my older variation. It'll give you a basis of what I'm doing, but this one will vary extensively. (This story will be better)

As always, everything that I don't specify as mine, is the property of their respective owners. I seek no financial gain from writing this.

Isaac blankly stared at the wall of ice that surrounded him, a few frigid tears stuck to his face. He didn't know how he was alive, but he wished he wasn't. His COM-unit was damaged, and he couldn't summon the will to try and get out.

A sharp cry of static came from his RIG, shaking him from his stupor.

"Isaac? Isaac, are you there?" Ellie? She's alive! The engineer tried to clear up the signal, seeing as static covered most of what she was saying. The static didn't clear up due to the transmitter's crushed relay. It was a miracle it was able to pick up Ellie's transmission at all.

I need to get out of here. She may leave the system if I waste too much time. He looked around again, not seeing anything that would help him. So, he took off his kinesis module. Shifting some of the power nodes into overcharging the device, he made a makeshift kinetic bomb.

I hope this works. He set two nodes to overlap the charges, and tossed it to the farthest wall. He could already see the focusing emitter spark out, and a field of kinetic energy build around the device. It went with a dull thump, shattering the ice around him. Large shards glanced off his armor as he plowed through the falling ice to what he assumed to be daylight. Never had he felt so relieved to see the destruction that he saw surrounding him.

He was miles away from the impact site of the Moon, and he couldn't care less as to why he was over here. He was alive, and Ellie was waiting for him. He just had to locate either a COM-unit or have his RIG repaired, he didn't care which it was. Nonetheless, there was a path to his left marked by lights. It was safe to say there was a station nearby that would be of use.

Where's Carver? The last time Isaac saw him, the marine had been yanked off the platform. He was most likely dead for all intents and purposes. Isaac's boot caught on something as he trudged. His cutter was lodged into the ground, but gave little resistance when he pulled on the grip. Everything besides the alignment blades were in working order, so he quickly removed the warped pieces. The tool would run well enough without them.

He continued down the path, avoiding the occasional icicle falling. To his amazement, there was an intact building huddled into the wall. It had be a small station to heat up in the frigid land, and it would be safe to say that there would be a suit station built in. Wasting no time, he quickly unlocked the door. True to his thoughts, there was!

Isaac quickly opened up the interface, and silently cursed. The machine only had a spare engineering suit, no repair functions at all! It'd have to do, at least for now. He entered the proper command to begin the suit-swapping. The mechanical arms descended, and he walked into the suit cradle. As usual, the occasional tug on the RIG caused a pinch on his spine.

It was over before he knew it, and he emerged from the station re-armored. Now he had the time to spare to look around, and was rather unimpressed. It was plain, but he liked plain right now. It was preferable to the alternative. On a table, he spotted a climbing pick along with another kinesis module. Considering his boots lacked the proper treading for ice and snow, he'd need anything to help him traverse the glacial land.

Seeing as the room contained nothing else, he left the warmth of the shack, and embraced the cold. The freezing winds didn't bother him as much, but the wind wasn't what he feared right now. The only path left would require him to shimmy along the ice on a 6-inch shelf jutting out.

The first few steps were easy, but then came the cracking. His next few steps were hurried, and he almost lost his balance a few times. Exhaustion only helped to increase his unsteadiness on his feet. He gripped the walls along the path to avoid slipping, but it didn't help.

One foot slipped, dragging him over the edge as he no longer had any purchase. He grasped for anything as he fell, barely managing to snag a jagged edge.

"SHIT!" He needed to think of something quick, lest he fall to his death. He snatched up the pick from his left side, and stabbed it into the wall next to him. Using his Kinesis, he tethered himself to the tool.

Please work, please work, please work Isaac quickly modified the module's emitter, while decreasing the pull from the miniature tractor beam. The tether began to "stretch", and he started to descend.

The engineer had only gone a few meters when the beam reeled in the pick, causing him to fall.

WHAT THE SH- He hadn't fallen for very long, a few seconds at the most. It was enough, as his back made contact with something sharp. The object went through the RIG, snapping ribs like twigs, and pierced his lung. The familiar taste of blood filled his mouth.

He tried to scream, only to start choking on his own blood. He thrashed side to side, his strength nearly failing him as he did. It worked though, as whatever he was impaled on snapped. More snapping was heard as he hit the ground, but it was his ribs, or that's what he believed in his delirium of blood loss.

Clicking popped into his ears, and he regarded a faint form encroach on him. The few details he spotted horrified him, pumping fresh adrenaline into his system. His vision cleared minutely, and he spotted a blue suit. He'd only met one person who had worn that, but he was dead. Still was.

Norton's corpse had turned into a Slasher.

"Son uh fa bitch!" Isaac stumbled to his feet, a pool of blood left from where he lied. He ran for what life he had left, and slammed into metal. He shifted around it, he had to go. Yet, he noticed something glowing on the other side.

Shockpoint… Kill the bastard… He stumbled over to the open Drive core, grabbing his cutter as he did. He aimed, accepting what he was going to do.

I'm sorry Ellie… One trigger pull sliced through the Drive's protective container, and ruptured the delicate balance it was kept in. The energy imploded, and then expanded, swallowing everything within 3 kilometers.

Elsewhere…

Water… It was cool, soothing, and he didn't want to move. But his damn chest! It wouldn't stop itching!

WAIT! I'M DEAD! He fumbled with his helmet, finally unlocking it. It was tossed to the side, and he saw why his chest itched. A chunk of a Marker was lodged in him, and the wound was healing rapidly.

NO NO NO NO Uselessly, he clawed at it. He slammed his fist into it, hoping to dislodge it. Useless like the last time. He felt it, something clawing in his head.

And like that, everything turned a dark, hazy, and sickly orange…

Chapter 1: Pain – End

Reviews are welcome. Hope you guys enjoyed it. I certainly did.

Next chapter will be up whenever it's up. I've got plans.

Till next time, Nemesis out