Zone 10: Project Genesis.

Chapter 9

Grim's POV, Medical lab sector A, 1:15am.

Light came to me as I felt a sting in the side of my skull pulse through my core. It felt like I was hit by a truck.

Taking my time to sit up, I soon realized I was no longer in the sewers, but in one of those beds next to...? Glancing to my right side, I rested my eyes on the dead soldier and scientist me and the team found before everything went to shit.

With the memory coming back, also did the smell. But it wasn't as bad as before. I think I was growing use to it sad to say.

With confusion of how I got here still running through me, I took my care to look towards the door that was left wide open. And further to the right side of it rested my gear on the command table.

Slowly getting myself out of bed, I struggled to stay on my feet. But with some effort I managed to reach my gear.

Reaching out for my rifle, I widened my eyes to see my fingers. I completely forgot.

"Oh fuckkkkk!" I shouted to myself as I began to feel the pain coming back.

Enduring it with my will, I quickly picked up my rifle and wrapped the sling back around my neck. Then taking my knife and sidearm, I looked back to the nearby door to quickly pace for it.

Looking out into the halls, I saw no one in sight.

"Okay." I mumbled to myself as I began to retrace my steps back to the atrium and down to the large steel door left wide open.

With my mind running a million different ways, I looked to see the portal offline.

"Shit!" I shouted as I began to look for a way to get it started again.

Heading back out into the hall, I reentered the security room hoping there would be a way to activate the portal back to earth. I had to get out of here.

As I searched for the answer, it became clear I was unable to do anything here. I had no idea how to work this shit. I wasn't anywhere near proficient in being a tech.

Beginning to panic, I went to my comm link that was left on my vest.

"Kilo 1-9 to any USMC forces, I need help. This is Grim. Can anyone hear me?"

Getting static from earth, I switched my channel to the local broadcast. Maybe someone other then me survived the attack.

"Can anyone hear me on this channel? This is Grim Holiday from Kilo 1-9. Please come in." I begged as I began to hear static.

With my emotions running cold, I widened my eyes as I heard.

"Grim! This is Corporal Ralph Huntley. I hear you. Are you okay?"

Feeling a weight leave my shoulders, I replied in happiness.

"I'm at the VEX portal! Someone shut it off Ralph! And no, I'm injured, my team is dead, and...?" I was in a panicked state as he quickly came back to comm to order.

"I need you to relax Grim and keep talking to me. I'm on my way with Striker and Clark now. Are you able to secure you're position till we get there?"

With my eyes still looking to the computers I replied while turning.

"Yeah. I'm going to head for...?"

As I turned, my eyes went wide as a black and red hedgehog stood before me with his body towering over me. His eyes were pure yellow and he stared at me with a monstrous glare as I backed up slowly hitting my back along the computers.

"Grim you there?" Asked Ralph over comm as I continued to stare at the man.

With his rifle lowered to his side, I watched in fear as he reached for my comm to take it in his hand.

Turning it off and placing it in one of his pouches, I began to shake as I noticed something was wrong.

The skin around his face was growing black in some places and along his eyes were shades of a pale white. He looked like the infected back on earth. Except he wasn't trying to kill me.

"You should have been quiet." He stated to me with a dark tone.

Ralph's POV, Atrium, 1:22am.

With Striker leading the way, we ran right down the stairs and towards the VEX portal. The main room was vacant, but as we looked around we came across the security room where we found fresh blood. Going to my comm I said.

"Grim. Where are you? Grim!"

Getting but only static, I looked back to Striker who was on the floor looking at something.

"What is it?" I asked as he handed it to me.

"Quills. Black quills."

The three of us all looked at one another as I mumbled.

"Shadow?"

"You don't think he killed him do you?" Wondered Clark as Striker and I shook our heads.

"He wouldn't do that. But he definitely took him." Stated Striker as I nodded.

"Why would he do that Ralph?" Questioned Clark as I tried to think about the reason myself.

"He has to be looking for something. Something Kilo must have found or encountered."

"Then he's heading back into sector D. We need to stop him." Stated Striker as I nodded and ordered.

"Let's go. We can still catch up."

Running out of the security room and back to the stairs, we made our way back through the atrium.

Shadow's POV, 1:25am.

With my back to the wall of sector C, I watched as Ralph and two others ran back into sector A and towards sector D. I told him not to come here, but he did. Not only that but he brought more lives with him. I hope he knows what he's done by doing that.

Looking to the ground below my feet, I looked towards the once again unconscious hedgehog. Taking him by the vest around his neck, I began to drag him to a nearby room. Nothing more then another lab, but it was safe enough for me to get some answers.

Pulling him up to his feet, I pinned him along a wall to slap his face. The force was enough to bring him back, and as he tried to recall what had happened he already remembered my face.

"What are you doing...?!" Shoving his back into the wall itself, I ordered.

"The notes in genetics. Where are they?"

With a bloody lip he questioned.

"What? What are you talking about?"

I had no time for games. Pulling up Cruz's M1911, I pinned it to his chin to get back from him.

"Wooo! Relax! Please don't shoot me!"

"You and the rest of your team went down into genetics. On the bottom floor where you got jumped there was a room and in the room was a file. And in the file was notes I need to get. Now where are they?"

With my gun pushed deep in his chin, he replied in fear.

"I don't know what your talking about! I swear to god! I wasn't even down there! I promise you! Please don't shoot me man!"

Pulling back on the charger, I watched as he shut his eyes.

Looking him over closely as he dared not to open his eyes again, I ran my nose along his neck.

"Sniffff!"

Smelling more then his fear, I pulled back on my gun and released him.

Letting out a strong sigh of relief, the kid breathed heavily as I put my gun away to ask.

"Then where are the others? Your team?"

It was clear I put this kid in his place. He had no idea who I was right now.

"I don't know. I was with them up till the point they went down there. I ran and I shut the door on them. Next thing I knew there were gunshots and screams. They all died. Something killed them then tried to kill me. I lost it in the sewers. I guess you were the one who found me down there. I'm sorry I swung at you. I didn't know anyone else was alive."

Keeping my eyes on him, I then stated.

"So you left them to die. You're utterly useless and you shouldn't be alive yourself. You sicken me."

Turning for the door, I was caught off guard as he grabbed me by the wrist to reply.

"I know, but I was scared. I ran without thinking and the way things were I would have just died along with them. I had no choice. You have to believe me."

With his hand around my wrist, the kid panicked as I turned back to him to state.

"You're a soldier. Same as me. We made an oath to stay by our brothers. In heaven and in hell."

Looking to my vest he stated.

"You're R.R.T.S."

Looking down to see a patch along my vest, I saw it read R.R.T.S. Gently looking back at him I watched as his eyes lit up to state.

"You're the Lt. I was told you were sent back to HQ after you escaped this place. Why are you here?"

Looking into his eyes, I urged.

"Look at me closely and tell me why you think I'm here."

Looking to my neck he replied.

"You're infected."

"I'm turning. And I'm not here because I want to be. I lost my whole team here kid. I lost everything to this place. But this place is my only salvation right now. There's a cure. And those notes I want has it."

Grim was now starting to understand everything as I went on to say.

"When I was last here those notes were down where you're team was killed. Now there gone. And I want to know where they went. Ether you had them, or someone from you're team has them. And I'm going to find out which."

"I don't have them Lt. I swear to you."

Nodding I replied.

"I know that already. While you were asleep I searched you up and down. So that leaves you're comrades. Any idea where they are?"

Shaking his head he replied.

"I don't know. They could be anywhere."

Checking my right hand to see the dark skin getting darker I stated.

"I already found one of them. I think his name was Rick."

The kid's eyes went down to the floor as I said the name.

"Is he dead?" He wondered as he glanced back at me.

Nodding I replied.

"I killed him. He was infected. And noteless. How many more are there?"

Gulping down some of his emotions, Grim replied.

"Six. Victor, Filmore, Dave, Chuck, Tony, and...Captain Benning."

Nodding as he lowered his eyes again, I began to pick up my rifle to urge.

"Stay here. I'm going to go find them."

Immediately dashing for me, the kid begged.

"No! Don't leave me here. I want to help you."

"You ran on you're comrades once already. What makes you think I believe you won't run on me?"

"Because I owe you. If not for you I would be lost in that sewer right now with that thing that attacked my friends. I promise I won't let that go unrewarded. Please let me come with you."

It was clear the kid was scared. I knew the feeling all too well. With his eyes staring into mine, I replied.

"Then you better stay close and do everything I say. And if for any reason you turn your back on me, I will kill you. And I will kill you worse then anything on this planet could ever dream of. Do we understand one another?"

With fear now imbedded into his mind, he nodded to reply carefully.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now let's go, before anything finds us."

Picking up his rifle, the kid followed behind me as I got the door.

Ralph's POV, Sector D Main Hallway, 1:30am.

"Where would he take him?" I asked around the three of us as we looked left and right.

"He wouldn't go back to Genetics. There wasn't anything there. Maybe the dig?" Wondered Striker as I nodded and replied.

"It's as good as any other place around this sector to start."

Striker seemed to agree but Clark quickly wondered.

"Can I say something guys before we go in there again?"

With both our eyes on him I replied.

"Yeah, of course. What you think Clark?"

It was clear he was starting to calm down to the situation around him. Which was good since I took what he suggested next seriously.

"From the time it took us to make contact with Grim, and for us to run over to his position. Don't you guys think we would have noticed Shadow slip by with him? I mean, there is no way he got around us that easily, right?"

"To be honest I didn't even consider that." I replied as Striker went on to add.

"It makes sense though now that I think about it. I would have seen him for sure. And if he has Grim then it's no easy task to hide in the open with him."

"So?" Wondered Clark as he then looked to me for a response.

"Then he must not have gone back here. And the same thing goes for sector A. We would have noticed if he slipped by. He has to be in one of the other two sectors."

"But which?" Wondered Clark as Striker's ears flickered towards an idea.

"We don't have to guess. Shadow is losing his quills. So...?"

Nodding I finished his sentence.

"So he left us a trail. Think you can track him Striker?" I wondered as he nodded and replied with a lift of his rifle.

"You bet. Black quills on a white tile surface will be easy enough to follow. Just be sure to watch our angles. I would hate to suggest it, but he might be hostile if he managed to take Grim down with force. Just be ready for anything when we find him. Got it?" He asked as me and Clark both nodded and began to follow Striker as he made his way passed us and back towards the atrium.

Not much to our surprise Striker was right. It was thin but Shadow was indeed losing quills. Enough that we saw they led into sector C and into a nearby lab room. Striker gave the silent command to be ready as Clark got behind me. Prepared for the breach, Striker entered the room with his rifle up high.

I kept a few feet away as he looked around the sides of us to state.

"It's clear. Come in."

Nodding with Clark still stuck behind me, I asked.

"Any idea where he went?"

Looking towards the ground to find a slightly larger pile of quills he replied.

"He must have stopped here for a minute or two. Maybe he wanted something only Grim knew."

"Then where is Grim?" Wondered Clark as I stated in response.

"He must still be with Shadow."

"So he's alive then." Stated Striker as he went back to the door to add.

"The quills head back out into the hall. Come on guys. We can't be that far behind."

Nodding my head, I quickly turned into the hall with Clark still behind me to continue our tracking. Striker kept his eyes on the quills as I sensed something around us. Something wasn't right. You could feel it.

Shadow's POV, 1:34am.

"It's clear. Come in." I heard a voice state over my comm as Grim widened his eyes behind me to the sound of a new voice.

Stopping in my tracks to listen to Grim's comm I had placed in the room we were once in, I let out a sigh as I heard the next voice.

"Any idea where he went?" It was Ralph. That prick was following me.

"He must have stopped here for a minute or two. Maybe he wanted something only Grim knew."

Grim kept silent as it was clear they were onto something.

"Then where is Grim?" Wondered a third voice as Grim now listened completely.

"He must still be with Shadow."

"So he's alive then." Stated Ralph as Grim looked to see me grab my knife from my vest.

"The quills head back out into the hall. Come on guys. We can't be that far behind."

Widening my eyes in confusion, I turned to look at the ground. Unknown to me up till now, a few black quills of mine rested their way all down the hall. In loss for words, I pulled on my head to look back at my palm to find I really was shedding. This had to be the infection. No other reason for it.

"Their going to find us Shadow. Shouldn't we let them? It's dangerous if we're all split up." Stated Grim as I thought of a plan. Going silent as it was clear I had no intention of letting them catch us, I ordered.

"Give me your tags."

In confusion Grim questioned.

"What?"

Getting mad I shouted.

"Your tags! Now!"

Obeying in fear, Grim handed over his dogtags without a fight. Taking them by the chain, I held them in my palm as I knew they would be here soon, I quickly slit my hand with my blade and watched as the blood slipped over the tag. Soon covered in nothing but thick red blood, I ordered.

"Come."

Still stuck on obeying my every move, Grim followed behind as I led the quill trail into a nearby lab. Looking around I rested my eyes on a nearby chemical storage room. Inside I found some volatile choices to choose from. But unable to waste time, I slid open the glass door and disconnected the two ends of the dogtag's chain.

"What are you doing?" Wondered Grim as he watched me attach one end to the inside of the door. Gently shutting the one side; I reached to my belt to grab a frag grenade. Widening his eyes as I attached the other end to the pin, Grim shouted.

"You can't be serious!"

"Shut up!" I ordered him as I hid it behind the chemicals.

Shutting the doors carefully, I looked around to find a vent no more then a few feet away.

Grim was all over the place now as I ripped off the grate and ordered.

"Get in. Now."

"But...!" Grabbing him by the neck, I tossed him towards the vent and watched as he quickly forced his way inside. I was having none of his shit.

As soon as he was in I got in myself and ordered.

"Keep going till you reach the other end. Then get out. Move it."

"Yes sir." He replied in fear as I looked back into the lab to hear footsteps coming.

"You wana follow me?" I asked as I saw shadows outside the door.

"This will teach you. I told you not to come Ralph."

With Grim speeding his way to the end, I flipped back my eyes and began to focus on getting out of here.

Ralph's POV, 1:36am.

With Striker hot on the trail we found it entered an open lab door. Keeping up the pace Striker entered to shout.

"Shadow?! Stop running! We can help you!"

"You should be quiet Striker. Who knows if anything else is around to hear you." Stated Clark as I nodded and watched as Striker continued to follow the quills to the other side of the room.

Keeping my eyes out for anything that could lead to my friend, I widened my eyes as Striker mumbled.

"What the fuck?"

In confusion I asked.

"What is it? Find something?"

Nodding as he approached a chemical rack, Striker replied.

"Yeah. Look."

Heading over to where he was as Clark stayed by the door, I approached to look inside through the glass. Inside I rested my gaze on a pair of dogtags hanging halfway in front of the glass. They were covered in blood.

"Those are Grim's." Stated Striker as I watched him reach for the handle to the door.

"Why are they here?" I wondered as I saw the quills lead right below our feet.

"Maybe it's a clue?" Suggested Striker as he tugged on the door to feel some resistance.

"What the hell?" He questioned as he pulled harder. In a matter of seconds the door slid to the side and both him and me panicked as we heard a pop. Looking towards the chemicals inside we widened our eyes as a grenade dropped from behind them with the pin landing a few feet away.

"Or a trap!" I shouted as Striker grabbed my arm to yank me back as far as he could. With both our bodies stumbling to get away he screamed.

"GET DOWN!"

Clark immediately ran out of the room, and without warning the blast went off like a bomb.

Grim's POV, 1:37am.

"BOOOOOM!"

Looking back at the vent to hear a loud bang, I widened my eyes as a black ash cloud was sent out the vent and into our room. Shadow stared at the small fire left behind as I shouted.

"Ralph!"

Without a care in his voice Shadow said.

"I warned him not come after me. That's what he gets."

Pulling up my gun I aimed at the crazy hedgehog. Without a chance to react, Shadow jetted into my throat and slammed me into a nearby table. The strength he had was ungodly matched and upon dropping my gun he then whispered into my ear.

"I warned you too Grim."

"Please!" I begged as I stared into his yellow eyes.

Unable to fight back, I began to shake as it was clear he had lost it. His skin was getting darker and darker and I looked on as a small drop of saliva dripped out from the side of his mouth.

"Please don't!" I begged him as he wouldn't say a word back.

I felt his hand losing grip and as seconds passed he let me go. Did I get through to him? I wondered as he stared directly into my eyes.

Shadow's POV, 1:38am.

Something in my mind has snapped. I wasn't able to fight it any longer. My hands were shaking as I let go of Grim so he could breathe.

Looking down to my hands as I felt drool roll down my chin, I widened my eyes as I saw my claws had grown out. They looked like those of Project himself. Dragging one across my pants, I watched as they cut them open with ease. As if they were made of butter. With my heart slowing down and my mind made up. There was only one thing left to do. I was determined to end this urge here and now.

With his body shaking and his hands up in defense, I said it again.

"I warned you too."

"I didn't mean it Lieutenant. I swear. I was just upset. I'm sorry." Stated Grim in a panicked tone as I dragged my tongue through my lips.

"Let's just move on. I can lead you to those notes. I promise. Just let me...?!"

Cutting him off with a direct tone of internal rage, I stated.

"I can do that on my own. No...your not worth the time anymore. The only thing your good for is meat."

"What?" Questioned Grim as I exposed my teeth.

With my claws extended, Grim took a step back to shout.

"You can't! You won't! I...I...!?"

The second his foot landed behind him I charged sending my teeth into his neck. Grim instantly fell back on the ground by the sheer force I applied to my tackle.

"AGHHHHH!"

With all rational thought out the window I bit down and yanked back up as fast and as hard as I could. The fur and all the skin under my bite came off with ease and as the blood and meat entered my mouth I felt my mind get touched by some new type of crazy. I felt the energy from this. And without thought I swallowed it all and went back for seconds with even a single thought of regret entering my mind.

"AGHHHHHHHH! RALPH!

Sending my claws clean through his chest, I ripped through all the kevlar and his shirt to feel the warm rush of his internal organs wrap around my fingers.

Grim continued to scream as loud as he could. So loud I couldn't stand it any longer.

Taking another gulp of his fresh taste down my mouth, I sent my teeth directly for his throat. It was almost sad to hear his screams cut off by my teeth ripping into his pipes. Silence and warm air was all I felt now as I ate him alive. Every fiber inside me felt good as I pulled away from his neck not soon after swallowing it down again; to go head first into his ribcage.

"Raghh! Raghhh! Raghhh!" I tore and swallowed so fast my growls could be heard going off like a rifle.

As I couldn't and wouldn't stop, Grim had slowly and painfully died. With his body unmoving and no longer fighting me, I took it as my queue to feast. Blood now covered my torso and mouth as I couldn't even explain the feeling I had going on right now in my head. Everything tasted and felt sooooo good.

Slamming my teeth further into his chest I began to eat down on his heart. The popping sound it made as I bit down on it was like a water balloon exploding. Blood splashed my face in the ounces as I quickly shifted my teeth further towards the guts now. I wanted his insides. Nothing tried to stop me as I soon wrapped my hands around his intestines.

mT Shadow.