A/N: I don't own the rights to Xenowerks, Xenowerks Tactics or any of their associated properties.
An Exciting Adventure in the Experimental Zone
Exploring the hidden and dangerous world Xenowerk employees navigate for science.
By Alex Haas
A note to our readers: due to our contractual obligations, I was not able to describe some of my trip and had to change a number of details. However, I hope that you're still able to enjoy the article even with its shortcomings.
I was excited when I got word from my Editor that the Xenowerk Corporation (XC) had chosen me for a pilot program to accompany a group of their security staff into the Experimental Zone. If the program was a success, it would offer wealthy tourists a chance to see the mutants up close and experience the challenges XC personnel face in the pursuit of technological advancement for the greater good. XC expects it to be a million dollars per visitor, so the profits could be used to fund their research and sell the resulting products at cost. To help entice the frugal, I was told that most customers would come away with a useful mutation. Naturally, this seemed like a good fit for us at Adventure Philanthropy.
Now, we've all seen their commercials (and probably have more than a few of their products) but they have been very quiet regarding their research in the Zone. Many will probably remember when reports of XC's mutants were first confirmed, it was a huge scandal and some experts believed it was the end for one of the world's largest corporations. However, XC was able to turn it around with a series of back-to-back wins. First was the development of their XenoHelps program, which continues to distribute their biologically-enhanced medical products for free. Then, both the WHO and CDC conceded that the results of medical testing and development on mutants was far superior to tests conducted on animals. Lastly, courts in both the U.S. and E.U. found that mutants were considered property, and therefore not afforded legal protection, as XC was able to prove that the mutants were biological machines rather than sentient beings.
A couple of weeks before my trip in February 2029, I was asked to complete a comprehensive survey of my skills and given a very short list of things I could bring. They explained that everything would be provided and anything not on the list would be confiscated. I was initially flown on a private jet sporting luxurious accommodations which had a full team of support staff, including a three-starred Michelin chef. After a short layover, I hopped on a helicopter to base camp. As we flew over the Zone, I was surprised at how out of place it looked. With lush green forests, tall mountains and vast swamps, it was an odd combination of terrain for such a small island. It was made even stranger by its location in the middle of Arctic. Had I not flown over the frozen ocean, it would have been hard to believe we were so close to the pole.
When we landed at base camp, it was bone-chillingly cold but I immediately fell in love with its rugged beauty. We were about a mile from the Zone on separate island, nestled between two ice cliffs and not far from the frigid ocean. The moonlight reflected by the snow-covered ground, combined with the aurora borealis over the snowless Zone, created a surreal scenery. Still, the collection of temporary buildings making up the camp was not what I was expecting from a "world-class facility on the cutting edge of science." I was then lead through the back entrance of a barracks to a surprisingly luxurious room, where I took advantage of their Japanese-style soaking tub and ate wonderfully fresh (albeit non-traditional) sushi. A pleasantly surprising turn of events, but I was eager to start the real reason for my trip.
A few hours later, an older gentleman in green fatigues appeared at my door holding a military style backpack and some clothes for me. I was told we would be flying to the Zone in an hour and he insisted I hand over my phone. He explained that the mutants are attracted to all wireless frequencies, so it was imperative that I leave my phone to ensure "operational safety". I spent the remainder of the hour getting familiar with what was in my bag. To XC's credit, they provided everything I would probably need from water and energy bars to a top-notch camera (XC's own DSLR D590). Though interestingly, the camera's video function was disabled and an external light was permanently attached. Thankfully they also provided a comfortable strap, since it turned out to be a long day. The clothes were a sort of durable hazmat suit, a respirator and wide-brimmed hat. Not the most comfortable or stylish, but certainly better than being exposed directly to mutagenic properties of the Zone.
I was greeted on the helicopter by my two guides, Korpi and Fayed. Korpi was a surprisingly young woman who barely looked out of her teens, but possessed a certain intensity. Her long blond hair was tied back, which enhanced her hawkish features. This tall, athletic woman was our Ranger and carried a sub machine gun. By contrast, Fayed was a bit older and more shapely. Her soft features and rounded face were framed perfectly by her short brown hair. Still, she fit the part of Marine with her wide shoulders and rifle equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher. I later learned that XC uses common terms, but often defines them a little differently. For example, I was told that Rangers are nimble hunters who specialize in finding the mutants while Marines are primarily focused on heavy firepower. While the verbiage suggested a link to an established military, neither of those women were part of any country's armed forces. They were simply XC employees, but I soon realized they were well suited for the job.
They informed me that we would land at Safe Zone Bravo, located at the base of a mountain range. We would then hike to an underground facility to pick up a few things, then walk through the forests to another site. From there, we would continue to Safe Zone Alpha and be back to base camp by nightfall. I was a bit surprised that my once-in-a-life-time experience was going to be spent running errands, but I decided to keep an open mind.
Our pilot skillfully landed on uneven terrain while dealing with the gusting winds fueled by the mountain range. We got off and headed southeast across the rocky outcroppings, located between a large mountain on our right and the ocean on our left. The perpetual low sun of the season created long shadows, making it difficult to navigate the frequent changes in elevation and deep chasms. Korpi and Fayed were silent and focused, moving expertly across the terrain. It was mid-morning before they relaxed a bit and I took the opportunity to ask them some questions.
Neither were sure how the mutants were originally developed, but they were now being "bred" in the wild by biological pods that sprouted at random. It was this element of unpredictability that made the island so dangerous. Fayed believed that the older a pod was, the larger the mutants it bred. On the other hand, Korpi believed that the largest mutants were actually the oldest pods themselves. Regardless, they both agreed that a properly equipped three-man team was needed to survive the older hives.
It was shortly before noon when we stood in front of the imposing steel doors built into the southeast corner of the mountain. They looked like the entrance to a doomsday bunker. We shrugged off our gear since the mutants had no interest in anything they couldn't eat. As Korpi set up the explosives to blow open the doors, she explained that they had lost contact last week and the facility had likely been overrun by mutants. Now, we needed to go inside to retrieve critical information from the server. Unfortunately, we only had the access code for a specific desktop so we would have to do a room-by-room search. I was flabbergasted by the largest corporation in the world not being able to provide a digital master key* (see note at the end of the article), but Korpi seemed unperturbed.
As we walked away from the doors, Fayed handed me a device that looked like a phone. She called it the Key and explained that it would be my job to use the device to open any doors and access the server. As if on cue, there was a deafening blast as Korpi blew the charges. She looked at us and gave a half-hearted shrug. Walking into that smoking hole of an entrance and stepping on to the platform lift was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. As soon as the platform started its descent, I knew this was going to be a memorable adventure.
After a few tense moments, the groaning platform touched down. The sound echoed loudly against the closed pressure doors, announcing our arrival. Fayed looked through the glass panes and signaled for me. I fumbled with the Key, but managed to put it against the door without losing my grip in the oversized hazmat gloves. After a moment, it lit up and displayed a progress bar as it worked to open the doors. Then, there was an audible click and a hum as they opened. Standing in the middle of the doorway, I felt extremely exposed but transfixed by the sounds as they echoed down the dark hallway.
Korpi and Fayed stepped passed me, weapons ready, and made their way into the corridor. We waited there for a few minutes, allowing our eyes and ears to adjust to the underground. At first it was hard to detect, but I soon began to hear faint shuffling and footsteps in the distance. Then clacking, like someone running with cleats on the concrete floor. A faint gurgling, almost like an upset stomach, also echoed from somewhere deep in the labyrinth.
The first room was at the end of the hall, the open doorway ringed by recessed lights. As we crept quietly toward the doorway, the mix of stale air and sickly sweet decay seeped into my respirator. I tried my best to slow my breathing and focus on the task at hand.
As we got closer, I noticed the double pressure doors were broken or jammed open. The room was lit mostly by floor lights, like those on a commercial airplane. It was great for walking around the debris-covered floor, but painted everything else in shadow. I wanted to ask the women to use their shoulder-mounted lights, but knew it was more important to maintain our night vision. Still, it wasn't easy to banish imaginary boogeymen from those dark corners. We navigated our way through a few rooms without trouble and arrived at a set of closed double doors. As I approached the doors to use the Key, I could hear clacking coming from the next room. I peered cautiously through the doors' large glass panes and thought I saw a shadow move. Thinking it might be a survivor, I leaned in for a closer look but the floor lights made it nearly impossible to make out details. There was nothing and the clacking grew faint.
After a moment, Korpi leaned in close. I whispered what I saw and felt her mood change. She made a gesture to Fayed and patted me on the shoulder, letting me know to open the door. I touched the Key to the door and flinched as the bright screen came to life. I closed my eyes and turned away, but it was too late. Bright lights danced in front of my eyes and I was now blind in the dark. As soon as I heard the doors unlock, I lunged to the left but banged into a desk in my haste. The sound of it being pushed across the hard floor almost made me jump out of my skin.
I was still fumbling with the desk when the shooting started. The concussive force of Fayed's rifle was jarring, as she and Korpi worked to stop whatever was coming our way. I watched one of the mutants make it through the doorway, its four spike-like arms reached for Fayed as its massive teeth and bulbous torso soared through the air with a feline grace. It was dead before it landed. Then it began bubbling and emitting a noxious gas. Within a few seconds, all that was left was a puddle of crimson slime. It was then that I noticed the absence of gun smoke, but also the presence of a strange musky odor in place of the usual burnt gun powder.
My guides activated their shoulder-mounted lights and stepped through the doorway without a word. I planned to apologize, but knew that was not the time. This new room seemed to be a transition space with two sets of doors, one closed and the other open. The women pressed up against either side of the open door, checking for any danger. They moved into the room with practiced precision, each taking a side. I followed a few steps behind and saw the welcome, though surprising, sight of desktop computers. Some of them were on the floor, tables were overturned and blood was splattered in large arcs. I expected to see a body, but found nothing.
I walked to the closest desktop and tapped the Key, intending use its light. As it came to life, I spotted a blue dot that I had not noticed on the screen before. After a minute of searching, I found the computer and started the download.
I looked up as the progress bar moved slowly toward completion and noticed both my partners were staring intently at a large ventilation fan in the far wall. I checked the Key's progress again and was disappointed to find that it was going slowly. As I watched the metaphorical kettle boil, the fan's rattling seemed to grow louder. There was a rustling hidden behind the rattling, like something brushing against the vent walls. Then a strange low howl echoed out from the vents. I looked down again, hopeful the Key had made meaningful progress. It was two-thirds of the way there. The rustling was getting closer and I saw the women settle into their shooting stance.
Waiting was the worst. Knowing that something was coming our way, but allowing it to dictate the pace made me anxious. Then, a series of loud bangs and it climbed its way through the grate. It was a hulking humanoid, but it had no face or eyes. Instead it's misshapen mouth filled with jagged teeth were surrounded by pustules and pulsating yellowish domes. Its clay red torso flanked by a series of black spikes protruding upward from its back. It lurched forward on thick legs, howling and reaching for us with hooked mantis-like arms.
The women wasted no time in opening fire. Their gun shots were like thunder and the muzzle flash like lightning. Combined and amplified within those concrete walls, it was dizzying. Behind the beast, I saw movement and yelled that another was coming through the vent. Then, the Key buzzed in my hand to confirm its job was done and I yelled that it was time to go. In unison, they told me to run. I sprinted through the cluttered and darkened maze, trying not to trip or lose my way.
We made it back to the platform, but I could hear the mutants giving chase. I smashed the up button as soon as we were all on board, but the platform was slow to respond. We could hear the mutants right outside the door as the platform slowly began to move upward. Korpi was quick to shoot the first mutant that came through the door, forcing it back and creating a momentary barrier to slow the others. It was just enough to put the platform out of the mutants' reach as they flooded into the room. We rode up without a word, listening to the maddened howls and banging of the angry mob below.
After getting top side, we ran southwest to put some distance between us and the bunker. I was a regular runner, but the jog was brutal. The combination of hazmat suit, gear and uneven terrain took its toll on me. At one point, I stepped on some loose rocks and nearly twisted my ankle. Luckily Fayed wrapped it tight and kept it from swelling, which likely saved the trip.
It didn't take us long to get to the edge of a forest where we set our packs down for a breather. As Korpi prepared a quick meal, Fayed asked to see some of the pictures and I had to sheepishly admit that I'd forgotten to take any. I also apologized for my fumble which gave away our element of surprise. Korpi for all her seriousness had a great sense of humor and timing, making us laugh. While it was at my expense, I felt no enmity or malice in her jokes. In an ironic twist, Fayed took a serious tone when she told me to get plenty of pictures on the rest of our trip. I got the sense that the quality of my pictures would be used as part of their performance appraisal.
Korpi served up a delicious lunch of eggs, home fries and sausages. While we enjoyed our meal, I asked about their weapons. I mentioned the lack of extra ammo and smoke, as well as giving off a certain musky odor. Apparently XC had applied some of its biological findings to their gear and managed to create living weapons which generated their own projectiles. It made me wonder what other uses they had found for their research from the Zone.
After our meal, we headed southwest into the forest. It was amazing how quickly the atmosphere changed. No longer were we jumping from rock to rock while listening to the ocean, we were now in a dense and foreboding forest. The low sun barely penetrated the dense canopy, but strange clicking bird calls echoed through the dark trees. The undergrowth constantly tugged at our boots and the humidity was chokingly thick. We were all walking on high alert, expecting an ambush behind every tree. Luckily, we made it to our next destination without incident.
Unlike the bunker, this entrance was incredibly easy to miss. It was simply a large hole in the ground that had been carelessly left open. The heavy metal doors were laying on the ground covered by a thin layer of dirt, leaves and other debris. I looked down into the entrance and got the sense that something was looking up at me from the void. As we prepared to climb down the ladder anchored to the wall, I could hear noises echoing out of the abyss. The feeling within the group was different than before. Their confidence was replaced with cautiousness.
As we passed the rope between us, Fayed explained that we were after medical files which were likely on the director's computer. Now tied together, we began our descent with Korpi in the lead. About halfway down, she signaled for a halt and tapped the side of her headset. A faint pinging echoed outward and came back after a moment. Satisfied with whatever was displayed on her HUD, we continued further into the darkness.
Once we reached the bottom, we unhooked ourselves and left the rope dangling. The double pressure doors into the facility were open, leading to a hallway that ran perpendicular to our room. The lights in the hall flickered, intermittently showing the carnage there. Blood and unidentifiable bits of gore seemingly splattered every surface. The stench of rot and death quickly made its way through my respirator. Bullet holes marked the walls and floors, further attesting to the violence that occurred there. It was obvious that the whatever fighting we missed had done some serious damage, as all the lights flickered and the power periodically shut off.
We again waited for Korpi to consult her HUD and followed her to the right. The women's shoulder mounted lights illuminated a closed set of pressure doors at the end of the hall. As we approached, we could see the lights in the next room were also flickering. Through the glass, I could see overturned operating tables and destroyed medical equipment. Taking some comfort in the locked doors, I snapped a few pictures of the hallway. A few moments later, we stepped into the operating room and I immediately began looking for a computer. Unfortunately, the only one I found was smashed and shot.
We went through the next few rooms without much trouble, but an ominous silence hung in the air. Only our footsteps echoed through the hallways and that somehow made the situation more tense. Korpi regularly checked her HUD, sending out that distinctive tone as we navigated our way deeper into the maze. There were rooms with medical equipment, tiled floors and drains everywhere. I took pictures along the way, sometimes just to illuminate dark corners or see around furniture.
After what seemed like ages, we found the records room. It was a large room with several rows of tall filing cabinets on tracks. The air smelled different, like sweat mixed with a wild animal's den. A few steps into the room, the floor was covered with a grey mass of root-like structures but they were squishy and rubbery. Every step sounded like we were walking with water-filled shoes. In my heightened state, that sound and my heartbeat were all I could hear. Korpi suddenly signaled for us to stop. I focused on controlling my breathing as she checked her HUD. I knew that it was critical I be focused, especially this far into the facility. My gut told me that we were deep in the sleeping dragon's lair and any misstep would wake it.
A few moments later, Korpi gave us the all clear and I checked the Key. I shook my head to the women, conveying that the computer wasn't in the room. They cursed, almost in unison. Korpi explained that there was a large hive a few hundred meters away and we now had to move toward them. Fayed joked that I might as well take pictures once the shooting starts, since that's probably the best lighting I would get. Not the best joke, but it was exactly what we needed.
The familiar sounds of clacking, squishing and etheric howls grew louder as we made our way through the halls. Then there was something terrifyingly new. A loud thud echoed in the distance, stopping us in our tracks. Then another, louder this time. By the third, I knew it was something very large lumbering toward us and the sudden feeling of claustrophobia began tugging at the edges of my mind. The walls of the hallway felt like they were closing in, squeezing the air from my lungs. Every time the lights flickered, I expected it to suddenly appear in front of us. Like a monstrous nightmare manifested into reality. I focused on my breathing, trying to dissolve the impending sense of doom and panic. The women lowered their stances, as we all prepared for the monstrosity to round the corner. The next thud rattled the floor, but didn't bring the monster into sight. It was another step before we realized that it was on the other side of the wall, in a room to our right. With a hushed sigh of relief, we continued on our way.
We came to a door on our left and could see through the glass that this room was different. Even with the flickering lights, I could see a nice wooden desk and the carpeted floor. Every other room had been furnished with stainless steel or plastic and I had not seen carpet since leaving base camp. I touched the Key on the door and stepped back to let my companions clear the room. It was sparsely furnished, but every wall was lined with books. I walked behind the desk and started the download as the women stood guard just outside. After a couple of minutes, I realized that the continual disruptions in power were causing havoc on the download process. I left the Key on the table and walked to the doorway, relaying the problem to the team. After a short discussion, we decided that I would carry the small computer tower back to base camp and hope for the best. It seemed less suicidal than waiting for an hour or more for the download to finish.
It only took me a minute to disconnect all the wires and tuck the tower under my arm. We moved past the hallway with the lumbering beast and the sounds of clicking were becoming more distant. The further we went, the more I thought we were going to make it out without any shots fired. We turned into the records room and walked carefully between the filing cabinets. I thought I heard an extra set of steps, but attributed it to my overactive imagination. Korpi stopped and crouched, pressing herself against one of the cabinets. We did the same, listening intently. Then I heard it. Another set of steps squishing around in the room. Luckily the room was large enough that it had not found us yet, but the rows of cabinets meant we could easily be trapped and overwhelmed. We had to get out fast.
Without a word, Korpi sprinted for the exit. We heard it chase her, running along one of the other aisles. Then a strange hum replaced the footsteps and it suddenly materialized in the doorway, leaping at Korpi. She deftly dodged, set her feet and opened fire in one motion. I heard her struggling with it between bursts and listened helplessly as Fayed moved to help. Korpi then peered from around the corner and waved me forward with urgency. Even before I made it into the hallway, I could hear the clacking in the vents. The crescendo of movement was building fast, as the whole hive was now on our trail.
We almost made it back to the entrance before the first mutant cut us off. It burst out of the vent, its four spiked appendages and massive mouth made more menacing by its small body. Within seconds, more were coming through the vent and our forward momentum ground to a halt as my partners tried to keep them at bay. I spun around to find a faceless hulk not far behind us, but this one was different than the one from earlier. It emitted a reddish glow and its pustules pulsated, spraying a greenish mist. With nothing else to do, I yelled and took pictures hoping to disorient it with the flash. I then felt a hand grab my shoulder and pull. Without hesitation, I turned and sprinted as fast as I could.
A couple of steps and I was passed Fayed, who was trying to thin out the horde behind us. I nearly fell as I dodged a glowing hulk squeezing out of the vent. Struggling to stay on my feet without dropping the tower, I yelled for Korpi and hoped that she wasn't too far ahead. Between the thunderous blasts of Fayed's rifle, I thought I heard Korpi's voice and slammed myself against the wall. It was just in time to hear the distinctive sound of bullets whizzing by. I looked back and could see that the hulk was undeterred. Its wounds seemed to heal almost as quickly as it was shot.
I was passed Korpi when the hulk finally fell and turned to a bubbling puddle of slime. Behind it, the horde had grown considerably and was almost on top of Fayed. That's when she deployed an energetic dome that trapped those nearest to her and prevented the others from moving forward. However, bullets seemed unaffected as Korpi continued firing into the mass. Fayed then launched two grenades into the crowd and made a mad dash for cover. Korpi pulled me around the corner just in time to avoid the brunt of the explosions. The shockwave rattled me so hard my vision swam and I had a hard time getting my feet coordinated, even as the women hustled me forward.
Once the mental fog cleared, I recognized that we were getting close to the ladder. I could hear the mutants behind us, their footsteps and howls echoing through the halls. Then, an enraged roar rang in my ears and I immediately knew it was the monstrosity. The titan. I was terrified, but also curious to see it. At last, we were back in the operating room. My adrenaline was still going, but I'd been feeling the weight of the computer tower and had a hard time catching my breath with the respirator on.
The women set up in the doorway, ready to intercept the oncoming horde. Korpi laid out a device affectionately known as the "Bait Trap". Exactly like it's moniker suggests, it pulls mutants to it then emits a specific frequency that stuns them. The women were already shooting by the time I got to the ladder and realized that we had overlooked one critical detail. I had no sure way of climbing up without risking dropping the tower or being too slow and eaten alive. With no time to lose, I tied the safety rope around the tower then wrapped it around myself and began to climb. It was painful and cumbersome, but the threat of a horrible death helped me keep my pace.
The sounds of fighting grew louder and it wasn't long before the women were forced into the hallway. An explosion sent vibrations through the ladder as Korpi used her last grenade. An impossibly loud thud, like a fist hitting concrete, nearly shook me off the ladder. I was almost at the top when I heard the distinct hum of Korpi's energy shield and the gunfire stopped. I pulled myself up and swung around to check on my team. As they climbed, I could see the remnants of the horde staring up at us but the titan was not among them.
I helped them up and slumped to the ground, exhausted from the cocktail of fear and adrenaline. Korpi and Fayed gave me a little time, but they remained on alert. After gathering our gear, we headed south through the forest to the rendezvous point. The remainder of our trip was quiet, though we did have a few tense moments. At one point, we found the skeletal remains of a scientist and grabbed his ID, so his family could be notified.
After spending the afternoon in tropical humidity, the arctic winds were almost unbearable. Exhilarated and energized, I opted to leave base camp that night. However, I made two stops before starting my journey home. First was the obligatory check-up at the field hospital, then the SPA (Special Personnel Augmentation) center. There, they were able to convert my mutagenic exposure to an enhanced spine. While we can't publish the pictures I took (look for them in XC's upcoming commercial), the Zone is definitely worth visiting. The accommodations were top-notch, the staff excellent and the experience was life altering. If I could afford it, I would do it again.
*Note: A Xenowerk representative later commented that this was not a flaw, but part of the overall security design to ensure data privacy.