Chapter 13 – All Experiments Must Come To An End

Caustic's Point of View

Dr. Alexander Maxwell Nox stepped out of the transport ship onto the soil of Kings Canyon. He wasn't put on this planet for any other reason but experiment and to observe others. Science was his specialty and when Apex made him offer to conduct his experiments in the outlands he couldn't pass up the opportunity. He was now a Legend; a man of science. The match would start in an hour. He had one hour to look over the terrain and pick the best place to set up and meet his teammates, not that he needed them.

In the arena he was now known as Caustic. Apex had agreed to keep his true identity a secret as he was presumed dead at his previous job for doing some unwholesome experiments. ARN0-225P-ER9 was his identification number on his home world of Gaea; he would never forget that number but he would probably never use it again. Humbert Labs was burnt down and he was pronounced dead in that fire, which was for the best. Dr. Franklin Humbert wanted to turn him in for his experiments and everything went up in flames after that. He may have lost some fingers but he was still alive and he was able to continue his experiments in the blood sport arena.

Dr. Alexander coughed as he contemplated the thought of having teammates. "Do I really need teammates?" He really didn't care to have them but he would obey the rules in the name of research. He gave the map a once over and to find the optimal location to conduct his experiments. He decided that Bunker would be the best place to set up. The area was dark and had plenty of corners to hide traps. He rubbed his round belly and laughed, which ultimately turned into a coughing fit.

Before he knew it the timer was counting down. He put on his communication devices or comms device and waited for a communication link to be established with his teammates. As soon as a link was available he sent his location to his other two teammates. Caustic began to set up gas traps while he waited for his teammates, who had dropped nearby, to loot. Caustic looted inside the Bunker. He found a feasible collection of weapons. He picked up a peacekeeper and an RE45. He put on armor and picked up health and shields.

He heard the Bunker doors open and raised his peacekeeper. He then heard the doors close. His traps remained intact which prompted him to lower his weapon. He stood at the top of the stairs. He watched as Gibraltar and Bloodhound entered. He knew of them. He did not say one word to them. They both introduced themselves but he wasn't interested in communication at this time.

Caustic observed his teammates for a moment. It appeared that Bloodhound was carrying a Tripletake and a Wingman. He looked over at Gibraltar was carrying a G7 and an R45. He sneered a bit and made sure his traps were at an optimal position. Bloodhound knew the other team would be there soon. Bloodhound also knew that Bangalore would be leading the brigade to the backside of the Bunker entrance. Bloodhound shared this information with their team.

Caustic, Bloodhound, and Gibraltar waited at the top of the stairs for the other team. The backside of bunker was set with a kind of L shaped hallway that led to the stairwell. They had the best position where they were. Caustic stood very still, which made Bloodhound and Gibraltar kind of uneasy. Caustic and Gibraltar did share one passive trait, they were both fortified. This meant that any incoming damage they received was reduced by 15%. They were also not slowed by bullets.

Bloodhound and Gibraltar readied their weapons as they heard the back doors of Bunker open. The doors were loud and almost grinding as they opened. Caustic just stood there, observing. They all heard Bangalore come in first, her smoke canisters were a dead giveaway to her location. In followed by Wraith, who they could barely hear but they assumed was following Bangalore based on previous encounters. Then they heard the gas traps go off. After the gas traps emitted gas they could hear Wraith yell out and void jump as Bangalore hit the floor and then the doors were closed. Caustic just stood there and laughed. He continued to observe the behavior of his teammates and the enemies. Gibraltar and Bloodhound could not see in the gas. Bloodhound was not willing to use their ultimate unless it was of dire need; they weren't even sure if it would work in the gas. So they all stood there. There was still no communication between any of them.

The gas was starting to clear and they all heard the doors open again. The noise of a portal ripped open inside the Bunker. Gibraltar led the run to portal, followed closely by Bloodhound. Caustic followed slowly, everything he did he put thought into. Every move was calculated and planned out. As Caustic rounded the corner he saw that the enemies were gone and both his teammates we on fire from the thermite. Bright flames danced on the floor and provided an unnatural light in the Bunker. He watched as Gibraltar entered the portal, shortly after Bloodhound followed. Caustic continued to wait for the flames to die down. He examined the dark purple portal, "Hmmmm."

Caustic waited as his ultimate was almost ready. His HUD indicated his team was down. The first one down was Gibraltar and then Bloodhound. Shortly after his HUD indicated that his teammates were being executed simultaneously. He thought now it would be time to make his grand entrance. He entered the portal right before it began to close behind him. On the other side of the portal he was greeted by the unfriendly face of Bangalore and Wraith. He glanced at Lifeline in the distance. He shook his head and immediately threw out his nox gas. He laughed as they all choked. "My vision is clear!"

He could see all of them through his gas. Bangalore was standing right in front of him shooting and missing as the gas was eating away at her health. He knew they could hardly see or move. He shot Bangalore a few times with his RE45 and knocked her. He laughed as her health started to deteriorate in the gas. To the right of him Wraith began to shoot. It didn't take much to knock her once he got through her shields. She was down. He laughed. He looked around for Lifeline and made his way towards her while pulling out his peacekeeper.

His shields started to deplete as every burst from the Hemlok hit him. He armor was gone, "No matter." The gas cleared. He looked at the pathetic combat medic crouched on the ground as she started shooting him with her little R99. He would break her win streak and her little body. He shot her once with the peacekeeper and her armor was gone. He went to pull the trigger again and the smug look was purged from his face. Everything went red and then black. He fell to the ground and turned into a death box.

He opened his eyes with the look of anger in them. Or maybe this was always how he looked. He was in the transport ship. He sat there in silence just as everyone else did, just the way he liked it. He peered over at Ajay, who sat quietly with her head down. He wondered if his experiment had worked. He would keep an eye on her in the days to follow. He tipped his head down and closed his eyes. His body ached, not from the match but from the disease that his body harbored. There was no cure there was only suffering.