"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons, even death may die." H.P Lovecraft.
At long last, the Rangers have pulled up to a small cliffside in the outskirts of Dallas. The massive overrun Unit 35 facility was in view, crawling with zombies. The massive center building had no windows, resembling something from a horror movie. Two other smaller buildings were also in view.
"So this is it, the cocksucker's laboratory." Doug said
"Yes, it is time to put an end to this madness." Dr. Shofer replied
Brooks raises his binoculars to observe the size of the horde surrounding the laboratory. Fortunately there weren't nearly as many as there were in the city, but he knew not to underestimate the dead. At least 7 of them were adorned with some sort of metallic armor bolted on their foreheads as well as various cybernetics all throughout their bodies. Their hands resembled that of Freddy Krueger's razor glove. A large, engine-like object is also protruding out of each of their backs.
"Holy shit, what the hell's up with those ones?"
"What? Let me see" Doug asked as Brooks handed him the binoculars.
"What the fuck, metal freakbags?" He said, in a tone of genuine surprise.
"Man these bastards just get weirder and weirder." Chris said
"Uber Zombie" Dr. Shofer said
"Alright, the name for those muppets is settled, so how the hell are we going to get in there with them all over the place?" MacMillan said
Doug removes two flares from his person.
"These should distract those freak bits, I hope. Buy us enough time to get in there." He said
The men all prepare to rappel down the cliff.
"Um guys, I don't know how to do this." Shofer said
"Fuck me, grab on" Chris answered as he did so.
Doug throws the flares a good distance after they touch down. The zombies all look over curiously at the glowing light, moaning their anguished moans. The Uber Zombies emit a loud mechanical groaning sound as they all walk towards them, making bizarre robotic motions as they do so.
The Rangers move quietly and quickly towards the fence surrounding the entrance. With the undead occupied Chris cuts the fence with his bolt cutters, creating an opening big enough for them to fit through. MacMillan sets up his deployable cover in front of the opening to barricade it. Now secure, the Rangers sprint towards the automated door, which opens as soon as they get to it.
"Hello soldiers, welcome to the Unit 35 facility. I do hope you enjoy your permanent stay." Dr. Ryder said over the loudspeakers outside, which alerts the horde to their presence. A zombie dressed in a police uniform draws a pistol from its person and fires at them, albeit with terrible aim. The rest of the zombies all claw and bang on the fence, growling and roaring angrily.
"Oh great, the fuckers can shoot now." Chris said
"Get your asses inside!" Doug said loudly as they all ventured in.
The facility was still well lit for the most part. No Z's yet in any of the abandoned offices and labs. It was quiet, too quiet Chris thought.
"Where the fuck are you you son of a bitch?! Come on out now and I might give you a quick death!" Doug said
"Come find me then you filthy dog." Ryder replied over the speaker, chuckling.
"I'm gonna rip your fuckin balls off and make you swallow em!" He yelled
"That's enough Doug, don't give him the satisfaction." Brooks ordered
"He has to have monitors set up throughout the entire facility, watching our every move as we speak." Shofer said
"Why are you doing this Ryder?" Brooks asked
"Humanity has overstayed its welcome Sergeant. In order for true peace to be achieved, the Earth must be cleansed."
"Your fucking demented Anderson, delusional!" Shofer replied
"Say whatever you wish my old friend, the world is changing for the better, and none of you interlopers will stop me." He answered, before cutting off.
"Follow me, there's a weapon here that will aid us greatly on our quest." Shofer said
Several more steel automatic doors open, revealing a massive room with a sci-fi looking rifle on the table, along with a large, dark gray colored rectangular box in the center of the room.
"The Weapons Lab contains a prototype of the FEL-3200, a firearm that can emit 200,990 amperes of devastating chained electrical current towards an enemy." Shofer said
"This fucker shoots lighting huh? Kickass" Doug replied, picking the rifle up from its table and examining it.
It is a long rifle bearing a resemblance to the AR-15 with the rest of the gun's construction composed of copper, carbon steel and another material that ensures it is lightweight enough to operate it.
Near the stock is a circular lid where the battery like "magazine" is loaded. Each time the lid is opened, the ammunition cartridge automatically pops out, allowing the user to replace the expired battery after use before pulling back the wooden cocking handle.
The barrel resembles that of a Barrett 50. Cal. It is also made of copper to safely ensure the lightning travels to its intended targets. It features one crescent shaped iron sight at the front.
"The names kind of gay though. From now on it's gonna be the Ol' Sparky." Doug said
"What the hell is this thing?" Brooks asked, looking at the box.
"That is the Weapons Crate, intended to quickly give a variety of firearms to a soldier on the front lines." Shofer answered
"A random gun box huh, how do you open it?" Doug said
"It's very simple, all the operator has to do is kick it and a random weapon will appear." Shofer said
"I can get behind that, if it costs money to open it now that would be a problem." Chris said
Brooks gives the Weapons Crate a hard kick. It opens slowly to reveal a SCAR L rise up from two robotic claws.
"Holy shit the Doc ain't kiddin, this shit gives you guns." He said
Doug kicks next, receiving an RPK.
"There's two things I like my hands on. Titties and shooters."
Shofer takes his turn, receiving an AR-57
"I shall harvest their screams with this."
"Now that we're all locked and loaded I say we should split for now. Doc you go find Ryder, we'll keep the dead occupied." Brooks said
"Will do, I will not let you down." Shofer said as the two gave each other a nod. He opens a vent inside the room, disappearing into it.
"He better pull through." Doug said as they all left the room.
Zombified scientists begin to appear in all directions as the Rangers venture further into the laboratory. Doug fires several shots of the Ol' Sparky at the crowds, brutally electrocuting and frying them from the inside out as well as blowing most of their heads to pieces.
"I'm making you freaksacks extra crispy!" He said, loading a new battery into the weapon.
Chris incinerates the zombies approaching him with the Purifier. The smell of their cooked flesh would have probably smelled good if not for them being undead.
"Don't like burnin, tough shit!"
They proceed to another room with large tubes containing liquids of various colors along with several dead scientists slouched about.
"Jesus, just what the fuck kind of shit was Unit 35 doing in this place?" MacMillan said
"The mega fucked up kind Mac." Doug replied
Suddenly, an ominous sounding fog horn begins to play from the speakers inside the room, alongside the barks and howls of the Hounds. All of the doors lock automatically.
"Warning, Security Breach in Level 2. Lockdown in effect" The female facility voice announced.
"Fetch me their souls!" Ryder announced
"I've had just about enough of these fuckin dogs." Doug moaned
Five Hounds, all german shepherds ran at the group, barking viciously. Doug fires a shot from Ol' Sparky once more, killing them all.
"Goodnight Snoopy" He said
Brooks and MacMillan fired into seven more approaching Hounds, causing two of them to explode from a safe distance.
"Oh yeah the helldogs explode, forgot about that." Brooks said
Chris torches the final two Hounds, causing one to drop a munitions box from its side as another piece of ominous music plays, complete with a bell.
"Breach eliminated, Ending Lockdown" The facility voice announced
"Look, free ammo" He said as everyone resupplied before moving on.
They proceed into another warehouse-like room, containing at least twenty Uber Zombies. The eyepieces covering their left eyes glow red as they power on.
"Shit, more Cyber Freakbags!" Doug said
Dr. Shofer is now in the upstairs of the facility, fingers squeezed tightly on his weapon. Ryder was close, he could feel it in the air. None of the infected have managed to stop him, all having met swift ends by the hands of his bullets. Nothing was going to stop him from atoning for his sins, nothing.
Several more zombies dressed in civilian attire shamble aggressively towards him. He raises his weapon and fires several shots into their skulls.
"Horrid creatures, all must die!"
At last, he finally reaches a big room with Ryder inside, 4 tables spread around as well as a large stretcher with opened restraints. Blood and sizable bits of rotted human flesh were on another stainless steel table.
The iron door blocking his way automatically opens. Shofer walks in, facing Ryder for the first time since the outbreak 2 months ago.
He is a tall, tanned-skinned caucasian man that is slim but fit in build with blue eyes and medium-length well kept black hair. His attire consists of a white lab coat with both dry and fresh blood splattered on it, a blue dress shirt with a black tie, dark blue dress pants, and black dress shoes.
"Arnold, it was only a matter of time that we'd meet again."
"Only now I'm here to kill you." Shofer replied
"You realize I cannot let that happen. My life's work must not be stopped." Ryder said, raising his M1911 pistol at his former mentor.
"How could you do this to the world Anderson, to your own nation?!"
"You never appreciated my brilliance Shofer! You just stood atop and called yourself a giant!" Ryder replied
"That's what this is all about? How ludacris. I took you under my wing and treated you like a son! Then you repay me by creating this horrid plague behind my back!" Shofer said
"You choose those foolish suits over me!" Ryder shouted back, firing his weapon which fortunately missed Shofer. He fires the last 2 rounds of his AR-57 into Ryder's side, causing him to yell out in pain. In spite of his injury he throws his gun aside and presses on, charging towards Shofer, surprising him.
The two interlock fists briefly before punching and kicking each other. Shofer knees him in his testicles, causing him to huff in pain. He retaliates by punching him in the face, making him spit out blood before shoving him into a table, breaking the various reagent bottles.
"You're out of your league old man. When you run out of stamina I won't even break a sweat." Ryder said
Shofer takes a broken piece of a glass bottle in an attempt to stab him. Ryder counters and kicks him down to the floor, tackling him.
The two continue to punch and claw at one another. Ryder seems to be gaining the upper hand, slamming Shofer's face into a table several times. Dazed but not out, Shofer grabs Ryder by the throat, dragging and throwing him into the table near the stretcher, causing all of the tools to scatter on the floor.
Ryder gains the advantage once again, grabbing Shofer in a chokehold.
"This is the end, die you wretched vermin!" He shouted, spit molecules landing on Shofer's face.
As he feels his life starts to fade, he struggles to reach a power drill on the ground. He uses every bit of strength to force his fingers to grasp it.
"Any last words?" Ryder asked, sadistically smiling as he tightened his grip.
"Just this" Shofer replied, grabbing the drill and hitting him as hard as he could in the head, knocking him off. He then runs for the pistol on the ground with Anderson in pursuit. About two feet away from the gun, he feels a hand violently grab him. Without turning around, Shofer headbutts him, making him grunt loudly in pain
He swiftly picks up the pistol and shoots Ryder repeatedly in his legs, causing him to scream once more. With him incapacitated and suffering blood loss from his wounds he is no longer a direct threat.
Shofer retrieves the pistol on the ground, limping towards him, deciding on whether to finish the job or not. Ryder begins to cough up blood, laughing as he does.
"I forgot to tell you about my greatest creation."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Shofer asked
"Kami, the undead strapped to the stretcher. The ultimate killing machine and undoubtedly my finest work. I decided to let him loose to deal with your impudent soldier friends. Good luck escaping the facility now." Ryder said, chuckling
"Go to hell Anderson"
Shofer opens another vent near the stretcher as the angry moans and growls of more zombies dressed in lab coats can be heard as they pound on the glass. Shofer and Ryder look over as he finally removes the vent.
"Come on old man, do it! You said you intended to kill me did you not? Finish it!" Ryder yelled, his composed demeanor rapidly evaporating away. Shofer debates on whether to oblige his request. But a quick death he thought was more than this traitor and madman deserved.
"I can't kill you Ryder, I won't. But they will'' Shofer said, covering the vent back up as the zombies break through the glass. Realizing this, he begins to hyperventilate and panic.
"No No please, you can't leave me here. I beg of you!" Ryder shouted. For the first time in his life he had finally felt what fear was, and he knew what was going to shortly come.
His zombified colleagues run to their wounded prey. One bites deeply into his neck while several bite into his arms and legs. Unable to fight back, Ryder can only scream in absolute pain, the worst and last pain he will ever feel as the infected devour his flesh. He continues to scream as they rip his stomach open, with at least five zombies gorging themselves on his innards.
Shofer looks on in regret at what had to happen but also relief, his failure had finally been corrected. He crawls away, hearing the infected growl and emit animalistic noises as they enjoy their feast.
The Rangers have managed to dispose of most of the Uber Zombies. They have taken cover behind several shipping crates from the last 3, all with micro machine guns attached to their forearms.
MacMillan takes aim and fires at one of their unprotected mouths with his M21. One down, two to go.
"Son of a bitch, how much rounds do those Uber fucks have?!" Doug said, shooting his last Ol' Sparky round. While it stuns and stops them from moving, it is unable to kill.
"Of course they're resistant to electricity. Why wouldn't they be?" Chris said
Now with an opening, the men all open fire on the last two Uber Zombies, destroying their metal visors as they drop over, squealing in an unnatural mixture of mechanical and living.
"About time those buckets of bolts went down." MacMillan said
They manage to successfully escape the warehouse and into the building on the right of the facility. An enormous biodome containing various plants and mysterious fruits of varying colors.
"Holy shit, what the fuck is all of this for?" Chris asked
"Must've been to save money on food costs for the base." MacMillan replied
"Can't be, these fruits ain't like anything I've seen. These are more of Unit 35's little projects." Doug said
"Guys check this shit out!" Brooks said
Everyone walks over to his location to see a skull resting on an altar inside a fountain with glowing blue water. Not a normal human skull, but a horrifying looking, uncanny one that belonged to a sort of alien with pointed teeth.
"Jesus, Doctor Ryder definitely went overboard with this one." Brooks said
Doug cautiously walks into the fountain, grasping the skull head first before gripping the black man made handle and trigger that has replaced the neck of the skull.
"Looks like they did something with it yeah, but I don't think this fuckin thing is from our world whatever it is." Doug said
"So this is some Groom Lake ass shit?" Chris said
"Seems like it, let's see if this baby can tear the freakbags a new one." Doug replied
They all hear footsteps approaching their position. Raising their weapons, they aim in the direction of the footsteps, assuming it's another zombie. Fortunately it is Dr. Shofer, bloodied and bruised but okay enough to function nonetheless.
"Holy shit it's the Doc!" Brooks said as the men all ran to his aid.
"Are you alright?" MacMillan asked
"A mild concussion possibly, but still animate." He replied
"Did you bag that motherfucker?" Chris asked
"Yes, the undead finished up the rest." Shofer said
"Fuckin A, it's over" Brooks replied, sighing in relief.
"So Shofer, you have any idea what this fucker is?" Doug asked, showing him the skull. He knew from the look on his face that he had the answer.
"The Skull of Nan Sapwe, I don't know much about this weapon but I know it was found by our archaeologists back in 2012 in Egypt, yes cliche I know. I've never seen it fire but I know it is very powerful." Shofer said
"Man Doc you have read my mind with all this high tech badass shit." Doug said
"I believe there's also several power cells in this facility that can give the Skull new effects and enhance its lethality. Hopefully we can find them all." Shofer added
The roars of a familiar enemy echoed in the room as the men prepared for more carnage. Chompers had begun to approach their position.
"Well then let's add that to our do list in the getting the fuck out of here plan." Doug said, raising the Skull up.
The beasts, at least 20 strong sprinted on all fours after the Rangers, their toothy maws wide open, saliva flying all over as they bit in the air and snarled viscously.
"You wanna test that thing out now?" MacMillan said
"Hell yes!" Doug said,
He holds down the right trigger of the Skull, causing it to emanate a blue light, its mouth opening as it emits an alien roar. Every Chomper in front of the weapon levitates in the air, their eyes and mouth glowing with a bright light. They screech in an unnatural pitch as they explode into blood and bits of flesh.
"Holy shit, that was badass!" Doug exclaimed
"Agreed, one step closer to escaping this horrid place." Shofer said
