AUTHORNOTE: (Hello! This chapter is... Not my finest work; thats for sure. I've tried to proofread but i suck at that so.. Sorry? I don't know; just know that i hate cliff hangers as much as the next guy but; what can a guy do right? Oh and this is actually building up to somehting. I have it all planned out if I can ever get that far. Sorry for the slow update; i'll try to be more consistent with updating it from now on since people are actually reading (From what i understand) so thanks!)
Across the desert plains of California; the snowstorms conquered all. On the East coast things were less then swell either; the snow was so thick that any unlucky enough to have not taken shelter inside an underground facility was likely to be frozen solid. The Frost gang continue their tirade against the North; horrific tales from refugees tell of men dawning power-armor made of ice, their hearts just as cold as their suits.
In the sixth floor decontamination bay; in a military bunker somewhere in the Midwest…
"What in the hell were those things!?" Engineer- Sargent Derrick Lance shouts; sitting in a dusty swivel chair in front of a few scorched consoles. He leans back, placing his hand to his forehead; sweat still dripping from every pour on his body.
"I wish I knew too." Corporal Johnny Wilkes responds in kind; leaned against the concrete wall next to Derrick. Platoon Medic and lieutenant Myers Davies walks in front of the two; slamming the corpse of one of the ghouls onto the ground. He squats down, and begins to inspect the corpse.
"… He was with Echo platoon." Myers says; looking toward Johnny with concerned eyes.
"You got any guesses as to what caused… this thing to happen lieutenant?" Johnny says' his eyes somewhat jaded as to the outcome of his former comrades.
"My guess is over-exposure to radioactive isotopes. But if I'm going to get a decent toxicology report or autopsy we'd need the sixth floor medical bay equipment." Myers responds; standing up from the corpse and walking to the door.
"Jesus… We got lucky for sure!" Derrick spouts out; stammering in his nervous surprise as to the outcome of Echo platoon. In just Two hundred years, I would've never guessed… Johnny thinks; his mind wandering. Johnny manages to refocus; turning his attention to the situation.
Johnny stands up straight; and looks over the room; seeing the three other soldiers remaining. He walks to the center of the room; and begins to speak.
"We've lost a good man here today. And to top that off we can assume we lost every man below the fourth floors…" Johnny continues, now walking to the exit door on the right slowly, "But that doesn't mean we need to give up now. I've got an idea as to what needs to be done next; and we'll need every bit of support we can get." Johnny waves at the soldiers, signaling them to gather onto the door.
"First; we need to gather supplies. The medical bay on this floor should be accessible, and if any equipment is salvageable we need to salvage it. After that, we hit the armory; it was highly secure so the stockpile should be intact. And all the while I need you, and you," Johnny points at two of the soldiers. "To go up and contact the Captain. Have him organize a sufficient team to clear out the lower levels of those… things so that the engineers can finish repairs. You got that?" He continues.
"Sir, yes sir!" The soldiers bark in unison; Myers giving a backhanded chuckle.
Johnny steps back from the door; and the two soldiers he ordered to leave do as they are told; heading through the door and left out of the hallway.
"Let's go corporal." Myers says, walking toward the door; an exhausted Derrick stumbling to the door alongside him.
"Private, you lead the way." Johnny says to the remaining soldier; who walks into the hallway the rest behind him, following him with tact; constantly checking their surroundings. As the group exit the hallway; they enter into the engineering control room; following through the consoles and out the exit door into the rusted corridors of the sixth floor.
The group heads right; each of them consecutively clicking a small button on their helmets, activating their helmet-mounted flashlights. They pass through metal and concrete hallways; all concave and convex, mildew and rust permeating the air like fog. Eventually they approach a wall with faded white text painted on, "MED-BAY - ARMORY -" This is conveniently the only readable portion of the text. The group turn right down the intersection of corridors; arriving at a dead-end corridor going right; with a door on the left. On the door on the left is the words painted in big, red, bold text, "MED-BAY".
"This should be it…" Johnny says, walking toward the door; now leading the group in front. He goes to press the button, the soldier with them armed with a partially loaded ten-millimeter pistol stands with his back against the wall next to the door; ready to breach. Consecutively behind the soldier in declining order are, Myers, and Derrick; all against the wall waiting for the door to be opened. "3…" Johnny says, his finger slowly approaching the button.
"2…" Johnnies finger is almost to the button now, time almost slowed down in the tension of the moment.
"1." Johnny says, pushing his finger down onto the button; the sounds of creaking gears and pulling chains echo throughout the corridors as Johnny steps back. The soldier in front aims his pistol into the room; partially hunched over, squatted down; breaching into the room. Before the door is even fully opened the soldier alongside the rest of them enter the room; forming a semi-circle as they spread out and begin to search the room. As they rush into the room and begin to clear it; shouting "Clear!" as they each consecutively check each room and interior section blocked by something. Within minutes they have completely cleared the entirety of the room; and circle back up in the center; next to a medical bed. The bed's insulation and foaming has completely rotted away, leaving nothing but the hard, metal framing behind. Above it; a dim spotlight shines onto it; and in other parts of the room dim lights shine as well.
"Nothing yet private?" Johnny asks, staring at the private.
"Nothing sir. No enemies; and all the equipment seems destroyed." The private responds.
"Damn. Lieutenant; you got anything over there?" Johnny turns his head and shouts in the general direction of Myers; who is bent down and tearing through drawers and cabinets.
"A few Stim-packs; a few Rad-x's and some general purpose Tylenol. That's about it though." He responds, walking over and dropping a stack of medical supplies onto the bed.
"Is it all sterile?" Johnny asks; Myers leaning against the bed.
"As far as I can tell it's in decent condition. I'd like to get into the pharmaceuticals storage over there." Myers points behind him toward a smaller metal door with the words painted in yellow, small, bold text reading, "STORAGE". "If. And I mean if, I could get in there we could get a decent stock of supplies. Assuming it isn't all spoilt of course." Myers continues, walking to the door.
"Wouldn't count on it." Derrick replies; walking to the door with Myers.
"I'm sorry lieutenant but this wasn't on the primary list to receive power; so it's likely all gone bad." Derrick continues.
"That's a shame." Myers replies, walking back toward the counters he was digging through a few minutes prior. He grabs a metal case with a faded cross on it; the coloring mostly gone only showing a metal cross which was once painted red. He opens it to reveal it to be empty. Myers walks to the bed with the empty case and begins shoveling the three or so Stim-packs, four bottles of Rad-x, and three bottles of multi-purpose Tylenol into the box.
Myers closes it, and after struggling for a minute he manages to click it closed; and grabs it by the handle. "I've got all I think we can salvage from here corporal." Myers says, looking at Johnny.
"Alright then; were headed to the armory!" Johnny replies, walking toward the door.
"You get to lead the way again." Johnny says to the private.
"Yes sir." The private responds; exiting through the door with the group following in tow.
The group follow down the corridor toward a dead end; with a door labeled in big, bold, red text,
"SECURITY-ARMORY". On the side of the door is a small box with a slit in place of a button; and on the box is the number "2" written in bold yellow. They approach the door, Derrick and Johnny standing next to the box with a slit.
"Another keycard reader. Got any ideas Sargent?" Johnny asks, his arms crossed and slightly annoyed at the situation.
"… Without the keycard… I could do it, but If I fail; and there's a good chance I might, we won't get a second chance." Derrick replies, tensing up slightly.
"Proceed Sergeant" Johnny says; nodding at Derrick.
Derrick nods back, and kneels down in front of the keycard reader; pulling a screwdriver from his belt. He opens the keycard reader up and begins to poke and prod the wires; until he eventually starts to pull and cut them. His face begins to sweat profusely; and his hands begin to shake and shiver as he grows exhausted. However, with one, final, quick cut he wipes the sweat from his brow in victory; closing the keycard reader panel.
"Should work now; just run the keycard you already have and it should recognize it as the right one." Derrick says, standing up and groaning in exhaustion. Johnny nods, taking the keycard with the big, bold red text saying "3" out of his pocket and sliding it down the keycard reader. *beep*; and with that the gears of the door turn and slowly open up; the noises echoing down the corridors. The group line up on the private; as they slowly enter the room in a semi-circle formation similarly to how they entered the med-bay.
The room is dense; with a large bank-vault esc door in the back; and on the left a small alcove with broken monitors stacked up under a console panel, a single swivel chair knocked over with a skeleton on it. The group quickly spread out; and as they turn right they find two gun racks in between four lockers; and the group quickly scours the room. They begin to look through the gun racks; eventually pulling out three assault rifles, standard issue. Alongside that they inspect the lockers; and inside they find six batons and a few boxes of 5.56 ammunition.
"Looks like we got what we came for. Sergeant; is that armory door accessible?" Johnny asks Derrick; walking toward the large door.
"I don't know. It's out of my area of expertise sir. If I had to guess it's at least a foot thick of pure steel; unless we have the access codes there is no cracking it." Derrick replies; thoroughly inspecting a service rifle he intends to hold onto. Johnny curls his index-finger around his chin; thinking; if we could secure the access codes from each platoon commander…
He also begins to remember something, his piece of the access code.
"8898- For the"; his piece of the code, a series of numbers and a piece of a phrase.
Johnny grabs a service rifle from the stack; worn with a date scrawled on it, "8-13-69". He pulls grabs a now loaded magazine from the same stack; loading and pulling the bolt back with a distinctively rustic *click* noise. The private, Myers, and Derrick have an assault rifle each. They each also take a baton; Derrick carries the extra on his tool-belt.
Johnny steps towards the exit door; waving his hand,
"Let's move out. The reinforcements should've gathered by now."
Johnny hunches slightly; the assault rifle aimed forward. Behind him in sequence are, the private, Derrick, and then Myers. The group exit the armory, heading down the corridor; checking corners; the darkness impeded occasionally by a functioning light.
"Sergeant; didn't you say the lights would come back on?" Johnny asks, not turning around; continuing down the corridor with the group in tow.
"… I wish I knew. If I had to guess; the power lines may be shot. Just because the reactors working doesn't mean that the power is able to flow anywhere. Or it could be something as simple as the lightbulbs being dead." Derrick says; his eyes so open and attentive one could say he has no eyelids. The private perks up,
"What'd you think it's like on the surface sir?" the private asks; the group slowing as they are nearing the elevator shaft.
"… I don't want to imagine it. I'll tell you this now; when I asked the captain how many nukes had been dropped… He said in this region alone over twenty ICBM'S touched down and exploded." Johnny says, turning down a corridor quickly as to surprise any wood-be attackers.
Johnny stands up and relaxes, no enemies being down the tunnel; and waves the group over. They line up on his back; and they continue down the corridor; and at the entrance to the elevator shaft is a group of six men. They each wield weapons; four wielding ten-millimeter pistols; and the other two carrying thirty-two caliber revolvers. Johnny and the group approach, "… are you the reinforcements?" Johnny asks.
"Yes sir we are. The captain asked us to relay you a message." One of the private's reply.
"The surface isn't habitable." The private continues.
"… Alright." Johnny says; in deep thought-
I already had my suspicions, but to think; everyone up there is dead… Johnny thinks; everyone lowering their heads and stances in sorrow.
"There isn't any point in grieving right now. It's already been two centuries; we all signed the sketchy contract- we knew the risks, and we are facing the aftermath of it" Johnny says; resting his hand onto the shoulder of a particularly sorrowful private.
"We've got to carry on for them; and our nemesis may still be out there if the captured soldier is anything to go by. Let's clear out the lower floors; get the engineering team down here to finish major and minor repairs; and survive" Johnny continues, nodding at everyone; giving a pep talk.
Everyone nods back; and they gather around Johnny.
"Okay Sergeant; are the lower floors freed of radiation now?" Johnny asks; turning to Derrick.
"… The seventh floor. I think; maybe. The rad scrubbers should've reactivated now, but it hasn't been nearly long enough to get rid of such a mass accumulation of radioactive particles. "Derrick responds; slightly stammering in worry.
"Then that established the guidelines for the plan." Johnny says; walking toward the corridor; waving his hand for the group to follow.
"After me platoon." Johnny says.
Somewhere; possibly on the surface; amongst the ruins of an urban-jungle; scrawling skyscrapers of metal and concrete crashed onto the cold stones and asphalt below. The snow blanketing the entirety of the visible area; covering up smaller buildings.
In the center of the city; a large ornate concrete building sits; blasted out by atomic heat, however still structurally sound, with large metal supports. Large concrete walls recently constructed near the entrances keep the snow from blocking the wooden doors; and on the doors, albeit faded, a symbol sits. Somewhat like an oval, with an eagle in the center; golden and blue, with two letters and two words.
"Chicago Police HQ"
The building sits only a story above the mountains of snow; the snow having combined with the rubble and ash to turn a greenish grey; heavy and thick.
The blasted out windows of the police headquarters have been sealed shut with metal plating and glowing lights; shaped like thin walls; see-through and almost holographic.
At the center of the top floor; in the former police-chiefs office; a man wearing a grey uniform and a black cap stands, peering out into the endless snow from the holographic window sealer.
"…" The man appears to be in deep thought; staring as though adrift in his own mind; his face worn of experience and a lack of care. His expression is somehow exuding the sense that; as he himself can, he will and cannot care about anything beyond his own control.
A man opens the wooden door into the office; stepping forward, wearing a similar uniform to the man staring out of the window.
"Sir, we've gotten a report" The man who entered the room says; holding a clipboard.
"Is it there or not; that is all I need to know." The man already there says.
"… It's there. The squad that just came back from scouting reports that the door is sealed shut; but that one of the squad members got into the facility, but they lost contact with him soon after. They have also discerned that power has recently been reestablished to the facility." The man holding a clipboard continues.
"So we might already be too late then." The man already there lowers his stance; his hands behind his back resting a bit, as he sighs a sigh of exhaustion.
"Prepare the Verti-Bird; were going to have to go on the attack while we still have a chance." The man continues; letting his hands fall to his sides; turning his body to grab the clipboard; not bothering to meet his eyes with the other man.
"Yes sir!" The man that held the clipboard responds; turning and walking out of the room like a drone.
"If only my predecessors had stomped this little flame of resistance out long ago…" The man mumbles.
On the roof of the building; on a restored helipad sits a Verti-bird with a large symbol painted on the side; a circle of stars surrounding a letter.
The letter, "E".
A group of black power armor donning men; around seven in total, wielding plasma rifles, Gatling-lasers and flamethrowers board the Verti-bird, the man from earlier now standing at the edge of the building, looking down. He takes his cap off, revealing a buzz-cut head and a large burn scar on the edge of his left temple; which he rubs lightly; before equipping the cap once more. He steps to the Verti-bird; and climbs aboard.
"For the Enclave!" Each of the power-armor donning squad members shout in unison.
On the eighth floor of the complex; underground.
In the center of a four-way intersecting corridor the squad of seven sits; surrounded by ghouls, there Geiger-counters ticking up faster and faster. They each continue firing into the corridors with the weapons they have; Johnny at the center barking orders and relegating tasks.
"Sergeant; twelve 'o'clock!" Johnny shouts; Derrick turning and blasting a hole through the chest of a leaping ghouls; the recoil nearly knocking him back.
Johnny turns and aims his gun in between two privates who are holding of a single section of the corridor from a seemingly endless horde of ghouls; the darkness of the corridor obscuring any accurate counting's of how many ghouls there are.
Johnny fires in sequence; tearing a hole through a ghoul, not killing it but knocking it down. Myers just behind him leaps into the singular ghoul down the corridor he's guarding; shoving the barrel of the gun into its mouth and closing his eyes; holding the trigger down until a splatter of blackish blood hits his face. He raises the gun up; along with himself, leaping over the corpse.
"Commander! It's clear this way, we need to retreat!" Myers says, waving his hand to the group.
"Follow the lieutenant!" Johnny shouts; shouting wildly into the encroaching horde of ghouls. The rest of the group slowly begin to retreat into the corridor; there backs up against the wall, aiming and firing at the ghouls as they begin to overtake the intersection.
"Goddamn! There's got to be at least three dozens' of these things; how in the hell did this happen?" Derrick shouts; running backward and not bothering to turn and fire until he feels it's safe; which is quite the distance down the corridor.
The group forms a line; backing down the hallway; with three aiming forward and consistently firing into the intersection in the shape of a narrow triangle; and then three in the back checking to ensure that there aren't any surprises. In the center are two others; constantly circling to provide support to either side; as they slowly back down the corridor.
Johnny, who is leading the front of the defending triangle begins to speak.
"We've got to have made a dent in the number of em' now!" He shouts; aiming into a leaping ghoul.
As if time itself slows to a crawl; Johnny breathes in, and then out, holding his breath.
He aims; the head; and fires two rounds- entering the head of a leaping ghoul and blasting out the other side into the wall.
He aims at another; but the speed of the ghouls give him little time to react; so he hip-fires into the crowd to slow them down. The front-running ghoul slows a bit; tripping up a few other ghouls; as one of the privates gun begins to, *click* with no ammo.
"Reload! Reload! Reload!" the private shouts; stammering as he pulls a loaded magazine out of his pant pocket; struggling to hold onto it due to the sweat dripping down his hands. Myers turns as one of the inner circle and begins to fire into the crowd following them; giving the private time to reload. As this happens; the reach a door; a metal door, with big red lettering on it.
"CRYO-BAY 5"
"Sergeant; get that door open pronto!" Johnny shouts; the group stopping and forming a defensive line in the corridor. Derrick approaches the door button panel; opening it and beginning to fiddle with it. "Wait for it…" Johnny says; holding his hand out, gun still aimed. The ghouls get closer, and are getting closer by the second. "Aim…" He continues; the ghouls feet from them.
"FIRE!" Johnny shouts; the group firing into the ghouls; most landing headshots.
Within seconds, the encroaching ghoul horde slows; and the final few stray ghouls are killed- revealing that much of the group killed most of the ghouls in the intersection.
The group stop; settling, leaning against the walls and resting for a moment, reloading weapons and mentally preparing themselves for another claustrophobic firefight.
"I can safely assume no one here expected a firefight like this…" Johnny says chuckling; trying to relax the group somewhat.
"Yeah; I'm surprised the rad-scrubbers cleaned this floor up so quickly too" One of the private's say; gasping for air.
"State of the art stuff I'm telling you; they outfitted us with top-of-the line tech!" Derrick responds; half-absorbed in what he's doing with the door.
Myers walks to one of the corpses; looking at the faded and worn nametag on its body.
"James Miller; Delta platoon commander." Myers says; looking up at Johnny.
"…What in the hell was Delta doing on the eighth floor…" Johnny says; as Myers stands up and walks back over to the door to wait impatiently for Derrick to finish fiddling with it.
As this happens; Johnny looks over the corpse of James Miller; and notices something. A note; stained and worn heavily; poking out of his jacket pocket.
"What in the world…" Johnny mumbles; squatting down to pull out the note.
He opens the note; reading it.
"Delta code- 0879 and for the men, and women"
I'll be damned; that was… Not easy but convenient. Johnny thinks; stuffing the note into his pocket.
As Johnny turns around; Derrick closes the button panel with a click; and within seconds of the button being pressed the door creaks open. As it does; it reveals a chamber, although much like the one Johnny and the others awoke in, it is rusted; and puddles of condensation have frozen over.
"Jesus…" One of the privates says; as the group walk into the room ready for a fight; the stench of mildew built up over the centuries in a sealed room getting to them.
The group inspect the room thoroughly; and eventually; they convene once more to investigate the pods. The pods are surprisingly intact; however the terminal to open them has long since been destroyed. The group approach one; and wipe the condensation off of the window to peer in.
Inside; is a man; breathing slowly.
…
END CHAPTER 2