Chapter 10
Obata and Kimura groaned as they forced the elevator doors open. Kimura peeked down, the crushed car resting at the bottom of the elevator shaft, a twisted mess of metal and sparking electronic cables. A torn steel rope hung just across from the man, reflected in his glasses. He really hoped no one was in that thing when it fell. Obata turned.
"Looks like we're taking the stairs" he said, Yukari crossing her arms and groaning.
"I don't suppose there's any chance of me having a weapon yet is there?" asked Ohyama.
"No chance" said Yukari, speaking before Kubo could respond.
The soldiers picked up their weapons and bags and headed towards the door with the cheap looking stair sign. Obata kicked the door open and stepped into the stairway, searching for signs of survivors…or enemies. Nothing was present, which was a relief following the walking remains of a hollowed out woman.
"No one here" he whispered.
Yukari stepped into the stairwell next. Kimura turned to Minamo.
"Miss Kurosawa, your team has been weakened" he said.
"Yeah, I noticed" said a weary sounding Minamo.
"You and your colleagues are more trained for this sort of situation, so it'd be better for all four of you to focus on your jobs, so all of us get out of here. I was wondering if I should look after Kagura and Ohyama. After all I have this" he said holding up his newly acquired gun. "And I am a trained police officer."
Minamo turned to Kagura. "You ok with that?"
Kimura had been the first person to find her, the only one who actually seemed to know her. He'd tried to help her earlier, try to escape. She had this strange feeling there was something slightly off with the man from her hazy memories- but nothing bad. Perhaps he was just a bit of a pervert she thought jokingly.
"No, I don't have any problem with that" she said. (With her memory in place she may have been more against it.)
Kimura's gaping mouth closed and formed a faint smile. "I promise I won't let you down" he stated.
"I don't think you will." Kagura really, really hoped that was true.
Minamo nodded as Kagura and Kimura stood in silent appreciation. She followed Yukari, Obata and the woman already descending the stairs. Kimura marched after the medic, Kagura following him. She winced as her trainers clanged against the metal stairs and tried to walk more gently. As she tried to stop hitting the stairs so hard, she was certain she must look like she'd just crapped herself and was trying to pretend it hadn't happened. Ohyama marched after her, Kubo the last to enter, pulling the door shut.
Not talking they continued walking down the stairs, Obata was almost a full flight ahead of where Kagura found herself, the man and Yukari checking the floor two levels below where they had started. The middle doorway had been wedged shut.
Kubo whispered for the three civilians to wait, Kagura peeking through the gap in the handrails as Obata slowly pushed the door open. The others paused as Obata crept out into the hallway. Behind Kagura Ohyama was busy checking the doorway they had come through, just in case they suddenly had to run back up there.
"No one down here" called up Obata, "But it's a bit of a mess."
The others joined Obata in the corridor. Kagura splashed through the thin puddle of water that soaked the entire floor, groaning as her socks were soaked. She walked forwards, socks squelching and splashing through the water. Several glass panels were built into the walls either side, revealing what must have one been sterile laboratory environments. Broken glass, vials and miscellaneous equipment floated in the one foot deep lake that was found in most of the rooms. Soaking pale bodies floated in the water.
Minamo walked up to one of the doors which was now on green, unlocked. She looked across at Kubo.
"I think these people were locked into the rooms" said Minamo. "When you turned off the Queen you must have opened the locks."
"So those poor bastards must have drowned in there" muttered Kimura.
"That's definitely how it looks" replied Minamo.
"Well there's nothing that can be done for them now" said Kubo. "Lets keep going."
Ohyama ran his finger across one of the glass panels, drawn to the faint holes that had a faint trickle of water seeping down. He peered through at the axe floating in the water.
"These people were trapped in there and tried to escape" he said.
"They were trapped in there, knowing they were going to drown" said Minamo.
"Poor bastards" said Obata.
"Ok everyone lets take a break" said Kubo, moving the group away from the drowned scientists. "A little rest before we move on." He walked across to Kagura handing her a water bottle. "Luckily for you I always like to have one spare."
"I don't suppose I have to tell you not to drink this water?" said Minamo kicking the water and splashing Yukari.
Kagura walked away from the group, leaning against the wall as she took a faint sip of water. Yukari and Minamo was busy trading insults, Kubo watching them keenly. Obata stood with his eyes closed. As she stood she was suddenly sure of hearing another voice. She turned. A hushed whisper. Now she was certain of it. The others hadn't heard it, but she knew someone else was there. The small white door caught her attention. It must have been a janitor closet or something like that.
Only Kimura noticed as the girl slowly walked across to the small door. He started to call out in protest as she pulled open the door.
"Please don't hurt us!" said an elderly man holding up his hands. Kagura moved back in surprise as Kimura joined her.
"What the fuck?" said a muscular man, holding a bleeding arm. Kagura noticed that he had the same emblem as the S.T.A.R.S team.
He was one of three people she had found. The man who had spoken first appeared to be a scientist, his hair a greyish white. He had a well developed white moustache and black rimmed spectacles. He seemed to be standing in front of another person dressed in lab clothing, a girl similar to Kagura's age also with glasses. The soldier was the final member found.
Kubo joined Kimura and Kagura. Both Kubo and the soldier's face lit up in recognition.
"Captain Hirano!" said Kubo in surprise.
"Kubo, damn good to see a familiar face down here" replied Hirano.
"What happened down here?" asked Kubo.
"Long story."
"Come out here Captain. I think it'd be a good idea for us all to figure out what's going on."
---
"So Sadamoto is dead?" asked Hirano sadly.
"Yes" said Kubo. "He was killed…killed in a very peculiar manner." Kubo tried to remain professional sounding.
"Damn. And what about the young one, Yagi?" asked Hirano.
"We aren't sure" spoke up Obata. "But he is probably dead."
"What about your team?" asked Kubo. "Where is the rest of Team Bravo?"
"You are looking at all that remains" said Hirano. "We lost one before we even got down here. Three were killed by giant bloody spiders. Yeah that's right. Me and Kensuke got to the labs and found these two. He died, he was bitten and poisoned."
"How far did you get into this place?"
"Not very. We run into trouble. There could be dozens of survivors stuck out there somewhere."
"And let me guess, it's our job to find them right?" asked Yukari.
"Ah Tanizaki, as caring as usual" said Hirano sarcastically.
"I feel I've seen enough to suggest there won't be anyone else alive down here" replied Yukari.
"And I bet you felt the same way before finding us."
Yukari paused, looking awkward.