Here's the second part of Outbreak. Once again the original concept of the Lizard villain and the serum that created it are property of Marvel Comics.

Nullspace, Matt, Chloe and the NSSC and related chars are mine.


C.P.S Chronicles: Outbreak

Chapter 2: 'Ghost Town'

Final Approach to Sy-Yong Colony

Matt sat at the controls of the Skyraid with Chloe. "Look…I know you're pissed for me accepting the contract for us both but we need the credits." She said. Matt just sighed. He'd been enjoying some nice relaxing R&R when Chloe had turned up with a couple of agents from the NSSC who needed a recon team for some problem with a colonies communication. "I know. You know it's probably just a busted transmitter. Boring and routine." He said in response as the dusty yellow orb that was Sy-Yong came into view.

Agent Wyatt walked into the cockpit, much to Matt's displeasure. "All passengers, stay out." He growled angrily. Wyatt ignored him. "Good. We're almost here." He said before leaving. "What a smeghead." Wyatt walked back into the passenger area. Several other mercs were in there, checking equipment and exchanging jokes in various languages. Agent Wilson looked nervous as the merc opposite him lit a cigar…with the pilot light on his flamethrower.

Wyatt sat next to his nervous colleague. "We'll be there soon. Remember…the less the mercs know the better."

ETA to Landing 5 minutes…

On the bridge, Matt got on the comm as soon as the ship was in comm range of the colony star port. "This is transport 410 'Skyraid' to Sy-yong air traffic control." Said Matt. All that answered was static. Another merc, whose nickname was 'Techo' was fiddling with the computer. "Don't bother." He said in a strong English accent. "I just hacked the power station com-net…the only colony area's with power are the star port and the medical lab north of the main city." He said. Matt and Chloe exchanged glances but didn't argue. 'Techo' had been the first to actually beat the examiners score at ICT infiltration (Hacking to you and me) and if he said he'd gotten the info from the power plant computer…he definitely had.

"Why just the lab?" Chloe passed him the contract dossier. "I was wondering about that. The labs on our search list. We're to retrieve the labs black box recorder if the colonies destroyed." She said. Matt looked up from it. "Destroyed? It's just a buggered transmitter." He said unsurely as the Skyraid flew over the mountain range that the main colony was built against. From above they could see what looked like the aftermath of a large scale riot. Nobody said anything till they began the landing sequence at the local Star port.

As the computer began the landing, Matt turned to Techo and Chloe. "What the hell happened down there? I didn't like the small bits that I saw." He said. Chloe shrugged. "Looked like some kinda riot." Techo interrupted. "A city-wide riot? Gimmie a break. I stayed on colonies like this before…you're more likely to see a flying marshmallow then even a localized riot…the community spirits too strong for that." He said.

The ship bumped as it set down on the landing pad. The pad lowered into the armoured hanger bay. Through the cockpit window, sign of a huge fight could be seen, smashed servitor droids and overturned service transports in the bay. Matt, Chloe and Techo got out of their seats and walked into the back where the others were being a briefing by Wyatt. "..as you probably saw out the portholes, something unusual happened here. The contract is simple…we have two jobs. 1: Find and evacuate any survivors that we find and 2: Retrieve the base logs from the med lab so we can find out what happened here." Matt spoke up at this making Wyatt turn to look at him. "What if whatever caused this is still here?" Wyatt just smiled. "I chose you and your sister and friend because you're the best freelance ship crew around…but you don't need to know." He said, adding the last part nastily.

Matt pushed past Wyatt into the small armoury, pulling a few pyzar pistols and rifles off the rack. Chloe and Techo came in. "Matt, just ignore that smeghead Way…SO THAT'S WHERE OUR CASH GOES." She said, yelling the last bit as she spotted the expensive weapons in the armoury lockers. Techo cringed as Chloe practically exploded in rage. Matt shrunk away "YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THESE COST?" she said pointing to the pyzar laser weapons. "You never know when you need a good gun." Said Matt, passing her a rifle.

Star Port entry Plaza

The group walked through the deserted star port. Here, there were signs that a huge fight had taken place. Shop windows were smashed, rubbish was strewn all around the plaza and outside, wrecked and abandoned vehicles could be seen. A building was still burning not far from the star port entrance, surrounded by smashed servitor droids. "Looks like your room at HQ." said Techo. Matt just stared, noting a bloodstain in a corner. Outside the city looked like a tornado had hit it. The group passed a military blockade bearing the symbol of the NSSC Heartless Quarantine Force (H.Q.F). One of the mercs said "No way. Nobody beats those guys." Matt silently agreed. The H.Q.F were widely recognised as tough guys to a man. They were in charge of enforcing the Heartless Quarantine Blockade and were good at their job.

Even Wyatt looked worried. He'd been counting on the local H.Q.F garrison to hold the main colony. He'd been hoping fervently that it HAD been just a faulty communications array. These hopes were in the toilet now. Matt was speaking to him. "What is it?" he said. "I said that we'd best find shelter. It's almost dark and I read the files on the local wildlife…they'll be able to get into the city with the perimeter defence system off and they'll have a taste for us." Wyatt was forced to agree, specially as while he'd been thinking, Matt, his crew and the mercs had kicked open the door of a corner café with the window shutters down and set up shop with the portable generator from the blockade to generate electricity.

A few hours later

The group were more or less enjoying themselves for the first time since landing. Techo had managed to reset the shop replicator to produce some proper food meaning nobody had to eat the ration packs which, even Wyatt agreed tasted worse then their containers. After hearing some of the local wildlife outside the group had drawn straws and Agent Wilson and a private called Naiya were on first watch on the first floor balcony.

"So, Whats your story?" asked Naiya to Wilson as they sat watching the street below through night vision goggles. Wilson shrugged. "Nothing much. I was on a plane going through the Bermuda Triangle with my parents. My dad was a freelance pilot. Next thing anyone knows the plane's in space and these aliens come aboard and say how we're stuck there forever. My parents run a transport now." He said. Naiya nodded in sympathy. She knew exactly how Wilson felt. She'd arrived in Nullspace in a similar fashion. Naiya watched Wilson walk inside to get the next guy on watch, walked to the other side of the balcony and took a cigarette out her pocket.

As she went to light it however a glob of goo put her lighter out. She looked up into the drooling face of some kind of Lizard person wearing the remains of some colony clothes gripping the wall above her head. In a flash it had her round the throat and lifted her off her feet like she was a rag doll.

Inside

Everyone jumped up at the bloodcurdling shriek. Chloe was the first to snap out of it. "Come on, you idiots." She said drawing her Pyzar laser pistol. Everyone grabbed their various weapons at this and ran out behind her, bursting out into the streets. "W-where'd the scream come from? Where's Private Naiya?" said Wyatt nervously. His question was answered when the headless body of Naiya landed next to him. Everyone looked up to see the lizard creature that had originally grabbed her, with blood on its fangs on the balcony. "Fressssh meaat." It said in a raspy hissing voice. Wyatt managed to stutter out. "S-s-SHOOT IT!" not that anyone needed telling. .50 caliber rounds, plasma bursts and blue Pyzar laser bolts filled the gap between the mercs and the lizard creature which dodged the weapon fire with astonishing agility which turned the part of the building it hit into a colander.

It then jumped off the building, knocked Wyatt to the floor, grabbed Naiya's body and ran into the night. Wyatt got up angrily and ran forward. "After it…" he began but Matt shook his head. "We'll never catch it in the night. We'll just end up like the private. Plus…what if it has mates waiting out there?" Back in the café, Matt, Chloe and Techo huddled together. "You see what that thing was wearing?" said Chloe. Techo nodded. "Colony uniform. Bet my life on it." He said. Matt nodded. "And I bet Agents Wilson and Wyatt are in on whatever's going on. We'd better be careful at the lab tomorrow…I don't think we've seen the last of those lizard things by a long shot."

One Merc down and their mission hasn't even started. What'll await them in the next chapter? You'll have to wait and find out