Titan Station

Location: Security Checkpoint

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CANT TAKE MY GUN!"

"Well… um Mr. Heisler it's just … um… only authorized personnel can have guns on station." That dick of a security guard replied. At this point more than one head started to turn in our direction.

" Don't call me that my name is Tim, and how in hell am I not authorized?"

"Well… Tim it's just that most doctors don't carry guns and…" at this point he tried to act more manly by puffing out his chest and lowering his voice. He wasn't very intimidating. "if you keep causing a disruption I will have to have you detained."

"You couldn't detain a ladybug." I say as I push him out the way and go through the security checkpoint, unfortunately without my rifle. I feel so defenseless.

As I walk to the Ishimura (yes I walk. Might as well look at the sights while I'm here) I went through one of many malls and civilian areas. I look up and see a sign advertising Skate 3000.

"I hear it's a good game." Says a voice coming from behind me.

"Who the hell… Dan!" I say in surprise of seeing my friend here of all places. He quickly strangles me with a big bear hug.

"How did you get here… and why?" I ask as soon as he stops hugging me.

"I couldn't leave you alone in the civilized world! Dude you wouldn't last more than five seconds. I just asked the Commander if I could take my leave."

"I thought you used up all your vacation time."

"I'm very persistent. Hey let's get to that cracker of yours."

"Tim how do we get into the Ishimura once we get there?" Dan asks.

"We'll just find some way to get inside. I'm a doctor, maybe if I shoot you I can use it as cover to get inside." Dan's mouth drops.

"But… I don't want to get shot!"

"It'll be our backup plan."

"We don't even have a plan."

"Then you better start thinking… fast. We're getting pretty close."

"What, but…"

"Shh."

"What?"

"I heard something."

"We're in an empty hallway," he says "It's probably just an echo. Forget about it. Wait I hear it now too." I hear scratching noises coming from somewhere above us.

"Something's in the vents." Just as I say this the scratching noise stops. For an endless five seconds me and Dan stare at each other than the vent then back to each other.

"HEY!" I hear a female voice yell from behind me. At this point I feel a very cold feeling go up the back of my neck. "Who are you? What's your business here?

"I have the same questions for you lady," I reply, crossing my arms and getting a stronger footing.

"Names Ellie. I heard some scratching in the vents and my squad and I traced it to here. Now what's your…" Ellie never finished her sentence because some creature with spikes for arms and a mangled body and face, broke through the vent between us. It's wearing mangled security guard uniform and a flame thrower is stuck in its side.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!" Dan yells while stumbling back and falling on his butt.

"OPEN FIRE" Ellie yells. Immediately she and her squad start shooting at it. All the shots hitting it dead in the chest but none taking any effect. "RETREAT" She yells seeing the bullets doing no effect on the creature. The creature stumbles toward them but seeing them running it turns to us. It immediately runs at me and raises its spikes for hands. Thankfully I grab his hands and hold him back but my grasp is weakening.

"HIT IT YOU IDIOT!" I yell at Dan. He comes up to it and starts punching it in the head to no avail. Then he grabs the flame thrower, tugs and rips it out. He clicks the trigger.

"Shit," he says seeing that it has no ammo. Then he takes it and hits the thing in the head. The head snaps off and rolls away but it still doesn't relent. He quickly breaks its arms with the flame thrower. Then finally it went limp.

"What… the hell… was that?" I ask between breaths. I put my back against the wall and slide to the floor. Blood from the creature covers my body.

"No Idea, but I found out how we get into the Ishimura."

"How do we do that?" I ask. He reaches into the tatters that cover the thing and pulls out a security card.

"We do that by NOT shooting me."