YUA: Thanks for the reviews guys. It feels good to have people give
positive reviews to your first fic (or, my first fic in THIS game, I've got
other game fics ^_^). So here goes the second chapter! Oh, and answers to
the reviews:
MikeFS: It may start out very similar to the actual game, but just bear with me here. I'm brainstorming ideas for my own aliens and like it says in the summary, something else is behind it all...**evil grin**
Blizrun: Yes, amen, brudda! I truly believe that Gordon was not an only child. I mean, uh...well, I can't support it, but I just believe he had family! Simple as that! ^_^
-
"Your gonna make it Freeman!
You're gonna live, You're gonna---D'OH!!"
Me (When I was close to dying in the game, I was saying this, and then I got shot up by a marine...)
-
Half Life: Advanced Generation
-
"Freeman? Wake up bloke!" Jack was shaking Freeman's limp body.
"Wake up, dammit!"
"Uhhh...Who---Oh, hey Jack."
"It's about bloody time. What the hell happened here?"
"I...Oh, I don't know. I just don't know. When you'd get here?"
"About five minutes ago. You were out. I thought you were dead!"
"Is The Boss still here?"
"Nah, I didn't see him. Damn bugger probably ran away."
"Probably...Ow!"
"Watch it, chap. You got a nasty bump on your head." Chad reached a hand behind his head, and felt a dried clot of blood.
"C'mon, We should report to a security station."
"Yeah, I know, but I can help but wonder..." Chad looked out the observatory window. The fallen ring was still there. But...no body...
"W-W-What the hell?!"
"Easy, take it easy..."
"Where's the body?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but hurry up! We gotta get going. An evacuation call was made."
"I'm all for that."
"Yeah, I know how you feel. Can you walk?"
"Yeah." Chad slowly got on his feet, and walked around just inside the room, testing to see if he was disoriented or not. He was just fine.
"Alright. Ready to go."
"Rightio, chap. This way." They both stepped out into the corridor, and looked both ways, like on a street. Debris scattered the hallways, and even a few spots of faintly colored red stuff.
"W-What's that?!" Chad pointed to a red spot on the floor.
"Ah, just some chipped paint. Came off during the quake. See?" Jack pointed to the wall, and there were indeed some spots of paint missing.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Jack called out. Nothing.
"Wait, there's a com line in the control room. Let's try that." Chad returned into the room they had just left, while Jack stayed outside, keeping watch. He presses on the call button.
"Someone? Anyone?" He heard nothing but static and messed up computer gibberish.
"Well?"
"Nothing."
"Well, c'mon then! The security station's this way!" Jack grabbed Chad's wrist and practically led him by the hand down the hall.
"Bloody Christ!" Jack fell into the wall, vomiting the whole way.
"What?! What is---Oh my God..." The security station had been painted in a deep shade of crimson, and a guard sat in the chair, half of his face missing. Brains were spattered out on the wall behind him. It looked like a gunshot, but no There weren't any bullet holes. And the guards here didn't carry shotguns! They carried pistols! And no pistol here could tear off have of your face!
"Easy man. I did the exact same thing." Chad gave Jack a pat on the back. His chest was heaving, trying to draw air back into his lungs.
"What the hell happened...?"
"I told you, I don't know!"
"Obviously, something bad. Check to see if he's still got his gun."
"Me?! Why me?! You do it!"
"Your bloody crazy! I don't want to end up like that bloke!"
"And you think I do?!"
"Fine! We'll go together!" They both started walking towards the guard box, when Chad suddenly grabbed Jack's shoulder.
"Wait...aren't there usually TWO guards in a single box?"
"Hey, you're right..."
"Keep your eyes peeled..." They continued advancing, and turned into the doorway leading to the half-faced guard. Chad was the first one to see what was inside.
"Dear God!" Inside was another guard, sprawled across the floor, his neck twisted at such an angle that the folds in his skin counted at three, and his face screaming at the sky. Chad felt the bile rising once more, but he managed to suppress it.
"Well? Any guns?" Chad managed to spot a single 9mm pistol and only two clips.
"Yeah, just one."
"Well, take it and let's go!" Chad grabbed the firearm, saying a prayer in his head for the fallen men, and he and Jack continued on their way. Chad could hear his own heart beat. That's how quiet it was. His heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest any moment now. He calmly put a hand up to the pulse on his neck. Jesus. It was goin' a mile a minute.
"So, where do we go now?"
"We need to find other survivors of whatever the hell just happened."
"Right, right...and, uh, how do you plan to do this?"
"How the hell should I know?! Just look around!"
"What's that?!"
"What?" Jack's eyes caught a glimpse of an orange figure.
"Shit! Get your gun ready!" Chad jammed a clip into the pistol and aimed...uh, somewhere.
"Where is this thing? What are you talking about?!"
"I don't know. I saw this human thing...but it wasn't! It was orange, for Christ's sake!"
"God, what is down here?"
"Aliens?"
"Aw, man! Don't even joke about something like that!"
"Well, I sure as hell know that no human could snap a man's neck like we saw!" That was true. Fear swallowed Chad's mind. His body began shaking violently.
"Chad? Whatsa' matter?"
"Hostile...aliens...it's too much...I can't deal with it..." He slumped to the floor, sitting up against a wall.
"Aye, chap! Be strong! We're gonna make it! Just keep a tight grip on that gun there!"
"I hope so, Jack. I really hope so..."
"That's the spirit." Brits. Ya gotta love'em. No matter what the situation, all they can do is remain in a cheerful mood and try and spread the mood around.
"C'mon let's go. We should find the bot team. If they made the robot, perhaps they know what it was going to be used for."
"Great idea!"
"Of course it is!" A smile spread across Jack's face.
"C'mon, now. Up ya go!" He grabbed Chad's hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Now, shall we? I think the one with the gun should go first."
"Wow. Thanks pal." Sarcasm was practically dripping from Chad's mouth.
"Anytime." With Chad leading, they continued down the halls trying to make their way to the bot lab. Unfortunately, it was a long way, and covered at least two buildings.
"I think it's this way." They turn into another hall, and a...living being!
"Hey, look! It's Samuel!" Chad rushed to Samuel's side, as did Jack, and bent down to his level.
"Aye, Sam! You alright?" Sam was breathing heavily. He's been known to have problems similar to asthma.
"I...I saw this, this...thing. It took Carson, whatever the hell it was. I heard screams...a sickening crunch...God! This wasn't supposed to happen!" That last remark immediately sparked the interest of the two men.
"What do you mean?"
"They're here! Don't you have any idea what I'm talking about?! It's a portal! It's an invasion! They're hostile! We've done the worst thing mankind could ever do! We've created another resonance cascade!"
"Whoa, calm down. Are you sane?" A silly but just question. He nodded.
"Can you calmly explain to us what was supposed to happen?"
"The test sample...it was supposed to be sterilized and stable. But no. Boss wanted a totally unaltered sample. Idiot, I said. You can't do that! But he didn't listen. And he paid his life for it."
"You saw him?!"
"Indeed. Another one of those horrible...things grabbed him." Jack turned to Chad.
"Not your average killer."
"Killers." Samuel corrected him.
"You mean, as in more than one?!" He nodded disdainfully.
"Blimey! What they hell do they look like?"
"White...quadruped...excellent jumpers. Watch out for them. Vicious little things, they are."
"Right, we'll---Anyone else hear that?" The other two men shook their heads, while Chad listened intently.
"It sounds like a slight...a slight scratching sound..."
"Oh God! Oh God! It's another one!" He got up and began to run.
"Wait!" Jack grabbed his shoulder.
"Let go of me!" Samuel squirmed free, and continued running down the hall.
"...Maniac."
"Ah! Ah!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"---The hell?!" Both Jack and Chad stared in wonder at the screaming man, as the scientist was pulled into the overhead ventilation shaft. A snapping of bones was heard, and a few body parts fell out of the pipe, most noticeably, the head.
"Oh shit! Those damned things could be anywhere!" Moaning was radiating from above, and Chad unloaded a magazine into the pipe above them. The moaning stopped.
"I think you got it."
"Don't speak to soon."
"What are you talking about? You shot the damn thing! Otherwise, it'd still be---Bloody hell!" A thing exactly like Sam had described crashed through a grate, and onto the floor.
"THIS is what is killing everyone? It's like a small pet!"
"Jack, watch it..."
"Look at it! It's so small! Hey, little fella, c'mere...HOLY SHIT!!!!" The ugly thing reared on it's back legs, revealing a mouth as a gaping hole down the length of it's body. It sprung at Jack, but he dodged.
"Shoot it! Shoot the blasted thing!" Chad let fly with a single round, and the bullet struck it's target, ripping through the creature.
"It's like one of my childhood nightmares! This is nuts!"
"Calm down Jack. If they're that easy to take care of, they shouldn't pose to much of a problem."
"Yeah, I guess you're r---Ya just had to say that didn't you?!"
"What?!"
"That!!" He pointed, and Chad turned around. There, advancing towards them, were about six more of those things.
"So they hunt in packs? So...pretty much, were screwed, right?"
"Not if we RUN!!!" Both men bolted the opposite way, being sure to steer clear of where the scientist was sucked up into the ventilation. Not even bothering to look back, Chad fired off a single shot.
"What the hell was that supposed to do?!"
"I dunno! Scare them a little...?"
"Stop there!" Jack skid to a halt, and Chad bumped into him. It was a guard.
"Name and identification please!"
"Were in a crisis dammit, and you're still doing your job?!"
"Quick man, there's a whole bunch of these bug things following us."
"I know exactly what you're talking about." He pulls his pistol from it's holster, and cautiously peeked around the corner.
"Well, seems you guys have a fan club."
"Just shoot them!" The guard spun out from around the corner, and fired exactly six shots.
"That'll take care of them. As I was saying...?"
"Chad Freeman, Anomalous Materials, Sector C."
"Jack Salington, mate. Anomalous Materials, Sector C."
"And what's your clearance?"
"Both of us have level 4 clearance." Chad bragged. Most scientists only receive level 3, but Chad and Jack and a few others were valuable to Black Mesa.
"Great. Perhaps you can open this door for me?"
"Say what?"
"There." He pointed to a door. Behind it, were two scientists.
"Sure thing, bud." Jack stepped up to the retinal scanner, looking scratched up, but in working condition. He put his face into the goggles, and a computerized voice rang out.
"Jack Salington. Level 4: access granted. You are clear." The doors slid open, and both scientist stumbled through, wide smiles on their faces.
"Oh God, thank you so much! We thought we were going to die! All of our colleagues were...were...oh, God!" The scientist broke down, fell to his knees, and started crying. The other one finished his sentence for him.
"Our colleagues were...infected, or something resembling a parasitic infection."
"What?!"
"Headcrabs."
"You actually took the time to name those damn little buggers?!"
"They latch onto the victims skull, using their saliva to disintegrate all barriers between the brain and skin. Eventually, they envelope the whole head, and their nervous system connects with the victims spinal column, giving the creature complete control of the body."
"Well, shit, that sounds like a lovely pet, don't it, Jack?"
"Shut it."
"Where are you two heading?" The guard turned his gaze back to Chad and Jack.
"The bot labs. If they made the robot that handled the test sample, maybe they will know what's happening."
"Good idea. I hope you guys make it. Wait, I've got a clearance card."
"To...?"
"To the armory!"
"Excellent!" The guard went into his box, and opened a locker, coming back out with pistols for everyone, and at least two magazines per person.
"This is it?"
"We're here for security, not to fight a war."
"Well, then the military should be here." As soon as Jack had said this, stories from survivors flooded his mind. The military tried to wipe them out last time. They sent in death squads, for Christ's sake!
"No! No! Don't say that! Last time, they sent in death squads! They were sent to kill everyone!"
"Chad? What in God's name are you talking about?" Chad was the only one that remembered the last time. Or at least, from the stories he heard.
"If the military comes, we're all dead!"
"Chad, are YOU sane?" As everyone was staring at Chad, the guard spoke up again.
"The next Security Station is in the next building. It's on the way to the bot labs."
"Thanks." Chad slammed another clip into his gun, and started towards the door that connected the two buildings.
"Chad! Wait up man!" Jack ran after him, keeping his watchful eyes on the walls and ceiling.
"We're going to be outside for a few minutes. So be sure to keep your eyes open."
"Oh, trust me, there are WIDE open." Chad pushed through the metal double doors, and artificial sunlight hit them.
"The bio-dome..."
"Yeah. Jungle, Tundra, Ocean, Forest, and Swamp. They could hide anywhere."
"Isn't there another way?"
"Nope." Jack cursed under his breath, while Chad took a deep breath.
"Let's move."
"I'm going...which do we go through first?"
"If we head straight, we would only pass through the Jungle and Tundra."
"Great. My favorites." As soon as they stepped into the Jungle habitat, a blast of heat and humidity hit them.
"Christ, it's hot!"
"Welcome to the jungle." And so they pressed on, making sure not to get split up and keeping their eyes over the tress and brush.
"Help! Help me!"
"What the---?" A scientist came from the underbrush, and grabbed Jack's shoulders.
"Game over man! It's game over!"
"Blimey, man! Calm down!" The scientist shook Jack, and Jack pried him off.
"What's coming? What are you running from?!"
"One of those things! It's after me! It killed Harley!"
"Stand back." Chad got his pistol ready, pointing it at where the scientist came from.
"Oh---Gah!"
"JESUS CHRIST!!" A headcrab had jumped down from the trees above, and attached itself to the unfortunate scientist's head.
"Get it off! Help me!"
"I got it, don't worry."
"Jack, no! If you shoot it, you'll kill him too!"
"Argh! What do we do?!"
"I dunno! Beat it off or something!"
"With what?!"
"Help---yaaahhhhh!!!" Both men had their eyes wide open with disgust and fear, as a huge crack split down the scientist's front, revealing his ribcage, and other internal organs.
"God...What is it?!"
"Shoot! Shoot it! Shoot the damned thing!" Both Jack and Chad pumped six shots into the thing. Each bullet flew true, and tore through the dead but living body, and it slumped to they ground, strange olive green blood leaking out through each hole.
"Looks like the infection doesn't take that long to occur." Chad examined the body, while Jack got violently sick against a tree.
"Jack, more of the same is going to happen. You can't do this every time." He coughed a little, and looked at Chad with pleading eyes.
"I...I can't handle it! I can't handle all of this death! It's too much! I'm not like you! I've never seen death! For God's sake, I'm only twenty-two! I've got two sons! I don't want to go like that!"
* * * *
"Sir, we've got a situation." The pentagon was in chaos over the newly arisen situation.
"What is it?"
"Code XR-97."
"Resonance cascade?!"
"Yes sir."
"Damn! I though we cleaned that place up!"
"Casualties have already been reported by satellite surveillance. You have authorization from the President to send in military forces. Access to level six Spec Ops, Black Ops, and Death Squads. What is your decision sir?"
"Didn't I tell the President to shut that place down?! Why didn't he listen?! And now, we've another cascade! No one listens to the old generals anymore!"
"Sir? We need a decision. What's it going to be?"
"Send in the Spec Ops and Death Squads. I don't want to risk the Black Ops...yet..."
* * * *
"C'mon. We've got to move. It's too bad those little buggers can climb too."
"Chad...do you think we'll make it?"
"Of course!"
"Wouldn't it be easier to...to...end it? All? Now?"
"Jack...? What are you implying?" Jack nervously twirled the gun around his hand.
"Don't do it...don't think about it...Jack..."
"I've always wondered...what death is like..." He raised the gun to his head.
"Jack!" Chad dived and tore the gun from his hands.
"What do you think you're doing?! Don't you realize you're being selfish?! What about your kids and wife?! Don't they want to see you again?! WELL?!?"
"I...I'm sorry...I don't know..." A lone tear fell from his eyes. Chad reached into Jack's lab coat and pulled out something stuck on a gold chain.
"You see this?! We're going to make it, because he is watching over us!" A cross was on the end of the chain, and Jack's eyes were transfixed upon the object. His eyes seem to come alive again, and a new strength surged through him. He grabbed the cross from Chad's hand, said a silent prayer, and grabbed his gun back. Cocking the gun, making sure it was loaded full, he said,
"We're goin' on a bug hunt."
"That's more like it. Don't ever do that again, alright? You scared the shit outta me."
"We Brits don't give up so easily. We may go temporarily insane, but we don't give up." Like I said. Brits. Ya gotta love'em.
"Just watch the trees above you. Damn things are pretty smart."
"Yeah, now can we go? It's bloody hot!"
"I agree. This way." They sped off, leaving the body of the infected man.
- - -
"Wait. I think I just solved their predator-instincts. After they latch onto the head, the spinal column enlarges for better sensory detection. And thus, splitting the body down the middle. And, somehow, they must mutate the body to their liking."
"Brilliant Holmes. Can you worry about that crap later? I mean, blimey! We're about to enter the tundra, and here you are, a scientist with a gun, trying to unravel the mystery of some damn bug...chicken...thing."
"This is important to the scientific community!"
"You know what's more important? Our lives."
"Good point."
"Look." Jack pointed to the penguin area, where a large cold lake had been colored a ghastly red, and slight ripples decorated the lake.
"Good God." They edged closer to the lake, their eyes darting in every single direction, searching for an answer or another creature. Bodies of scientist were scattered all over. They all shared one common element: they all had several deep gashes all over their bodies.
"This is sick..."
"Shit...what the hell is that?!"
"What?"
"Look..." Both men watched as a bump in the water traveled to the body of a scientist, who was half in the water, half out, his coat stained with his own essence. The bump reached his body, and it slipped into the water, bubbles forming where it had once been.
"Christ..."
"Oh God!" The top half of the scientist surfaced again, and flew through the air, landing with a sickening thud and slowly sliding on the ice before coming to a stop. Whatever was in the water, it spit it out.
"Must not like the taste."
"Chad! Ain't you got any respect for the dead?! You don't crack jokes on'em!"
"Sorry...just trying to lighten the mood..."
"I say we shoot the thing."
"Save your ammo. It's not bothering us, so leave it. It's no threat."
"But...ah, fine."
"Ah, yes! There's the door to the bot labs!"
-
YUA: Ah, that was long.::yawn:: Please, leave a review or I'll sic a chicken thing on ye!
Random Guy: That's a headcrab.
YUA: -_-;;
MikeFS: It may start out very similar to the actual game, but just bear with me here. I'm brainstorming ideas for my own aliens and like it says in the summary, something else is behind it all...**evil grin**
Blizrun: Yes, amen, brudda! I truly believe that Gordon was not an only child. I mean, uh...well, I can't support it, but I just believe he had family! Simple as that! ^_^
-
"Your gonna make it Freeman!
You're gonna live, You're gonna---D'OH!!"
Me (When I was close to dying in the game, I was saying this, and then I got shot up by a marine...)
-
Half Life: Advanced Generation
-
"Freeman? Wake up bloke!" Jack was shaking Freeman's limp body.
"Wake up, dammit!"
"Uhhh...Who---Oh, hey Jack."
"It's about bloody time. What the hell happened here?"
"I...Oh, I don't know. I just don't know. When you'd get here?"
"About five minutes ago. You were out. I thought you were dead!"
"Is The Boss still here?"
"Nah, I didn't see him. Damn bugger probably ran away."
"Probably...Ow!"
"Watch it, chap. You got a nasty bump on your head." Chad reached a hand behind his head, and felt a dried clot of blood.
"C'mon, We should report to a security station."
"Yeah, I know, but I can help but wonder..." Chad looked out the observatory window. The fallen ring was still there. But...no body...
"W-W-What the hell?!"
"Easy, take it easy..."
"Where's the body?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but hurry up! We gotta get going. An evacuation call was made."
"I'm all for that."
"Yeah, I know how you feel. Can you walk?"
"Yeah." Chad slowly got on his feet, and walked around just inside the room, testing to see if he was disoriented or not. He was just fine.
"Alright. Ready to go."
"Rightio, chap. This way." They both stepped out into the corridor, and looked both ways, like on a street. Debris scattered the hallways, and even a few spots of faintly colored red stuff.
"W-What's that?!" Chad pointed to a red spot on the floor.
"Ah, just some chipped paint. Came off during the quake. See?" Jack pointed to the wall, and there were indeed some spots of paint missing.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Jack called out. Nothing.
"Wait, there's a com line in the control room. Let's try that." Chad returned into the room they had just left, while Jack stayed outside, keeping watch. He presses on the call button.
"Someone? Anyone?" He heard nothing but static and messed up computer gibberish.
"Well?"
"Nothing."
"Well, c'mon then! The security station's this way!" Jack grabbed Chad's wrist and practically led him by the hand down the hall.
"Bloody Christ!" Jack fell into the wall, vomiting the whole way.
"What?! What is---Oh my God..." The security station had been painted in a deep shade of crimson, and a guard sat in the chair, half of his face missing. Brains were spattered out on the wall behind him. It looked like a gunshot, but no There weren't any bullet holes. And the guards here didn't carry shotguns! They carried pistols! And no pistol here could tear off have of your face!
"Easy man. I did the exact same thing." Chad gave Jack a pat on the back. His chest was heaving, trying to draw air back into his lungs.
"What the hell happened...?"
"I told you, I don't know!"
"Obviously, something bad. Check to see if he's still got his gun."
"Me?! Why me?! You do it!"
"Your bloody crazy! I don't want to end up like that bloke!"
"And you think I do?!"
"Fine! We'll go together!" They both started walking towards the guard box, when Chad suddenly grabbed Jack's shoulder.
"Wait...aren't there usually TWO guards in a single box?"
"Hey, you're right..."
"Keep your eyes peeled..." They continued advancing, and turned into the doorway leading to the half-faced guard. Chad was the first one to see what was inside.
"Dear God!" Inside was another guard, sprawled across the floor, his neck twisted at such an angle that the folds in his skin counted at three, and his face screaming at the sky. Chad felt the bile rising once more, but he managed to suppress it.
"Well? Any guns?" Chad managed to spot a single 9mm pistol and only two clips.
"Yeah, just one."
"Well, take it and let's go!" Chad grabbed the firearm, saying a prayer in his head for the fallen men, and he and Jack continued on their way. Chad could hear his own heart beat. That's how quiet it was. His heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest any moment now. He calmly put a hand up to the pulse on his neck. Jesus. It was goin' a mile a minute.
"So, where do we go now?"
"We need to find other survivors of whatever the hell just happened."
"Right, right...and, uh, how do you plan to do this?"
"How the hell should I know?! Just look around!"
"What's that?!"
"What?" Jack's eyes caught a glimpse of an orange figure.
"Shit! Get your gun ready!" Chad jammed a clip into the pistol and aimed...uh, somewhere.
"Where is this thing? What are you talking about?!"
"I don't know. I saw this human thing...but it wasn't! It was orange, for Christ's sake!"
"God, what is down here?"
"Aliens?"
"Aw, man! Don't even joke about something like that!"
"Well, I sure as hell know that no human could snap a man's neck like we saw!" That was true. Fear swallowed Chad's mind. His body began shaking violently.
"Chad? Whatsa' matter?"
"Hostile...aliens...it's too much...I can't deal with it..." He slumped to the floor, sitting up against a wall.
"Aye, chap! Be strong! We're gonna make it! Just keep a tight grip on that gun there!"
"I hope so, Jack. I really hope so..."
"That's the spirit." Brits. Ya gotta love'em. No matter what the situation, all they can do is remain in a cheerful mood and try and spread the mood around.
"C'mon let's go. We should find the bot team. If they made the robot, perhaps they know what it was going to be used for."
"Great idea!"
"Of course it is!" A smile spread across Jack's face.
"C'mon, now. Up ya go!" He grabbed Chad's hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Now, shall we? I think the one with the gun should go first."
"Wow. Thanks pal." Sarcasm was practically dripping from Chad's mouth.
"Anytime." With Chad leading, they continued down the halls trying to make their way to the bot lab. Unfortunately, it was a long way, and covered at least two buildings.
"I think it's this way." They turn into another hall, and a...living being!
"Hey, look! It's Samuel!" Chad rushed to Samuel's side, as did Jack, and bent down to his level.
"Aye, Sam! You alright?" Sam was breathing heavily. He's been known to have problems similar to asthma.
"I...I saw this, this...thing. It took Carson, whatever the hell it was. I heard screams...a sickening crunch...God! This wasn't supposed to happen!" That last remark immediately sparked the interest of the two men.
"What do you mean?"
"They're here! Don't you have any idea what I'm talking about?! It's a portal! It's an invasion! They're hostile! We've done the worst thing mankind could ever do! We've created another resonance cascade!"
"Whoa, calm down. Are you sane?" A silly but just question. He nodded.
"Can you calmly explain to us what was supposed to happen?"
"The test sample...it was supposed to be sterilized and stable. But no. Boss wanted a totally unaltered sample. Idiot, I said. You can't do that! But he didn't listen. And he paid his life for it."
"You saw him?!"
"Indeed. Another one of those horrible...things grabbed him." Jack turned to Chad.
"Not your average killer."
"Killers." Samuel corrected him.
"You mean, as in more than one?!" He nodded disdainfully.
"Blimey! What they hell do they look like?"
"White...quadruped...excellent jumpers. Watch out for them. Vicious little things, they are."
"Right, we'll---Anyone else hear that?" The other two men shook their heads, while Chad listened intently.
"It sounds like a slight...a slight scratching sound..."
"Oh God! Oh God! It's another one!" He got up and began to run.
"Wait!" Jack grabbed his shoulder.
"Let go of me!" Samuel squirmed free, and continued running down the hall.
"...Maniac."
"Ah! Ah!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"---The hell?!" Both Jack and Chad stared in wonder at the screaming man, as the scientist was pulled into the overhead ventilation shaft. A snapping of bones was heard, and a few body parts fell out of the pipe, most noticeably, the head.
"Oh shit! Those damned things could be anywhere!" Moaning was radiating from above, and Chad unloaded a magazine into the pipe above them. The moaning stopped.
"I think you got it."
"Don't speak to soon."
"What are you talking about? You shot the damn thing! Otherwise, it'd still be---Bloody hell!" A thing exactly like Sam had described crashed through a grate, and onto the floor.
"THIS is what is killing everyone? It's like a small pet!"
"Jack, watch it..."
"Look at it! It's so small! Hey, little fella, c'mere...HOLY SHIT!!!!" The ugly thing reared on it's back legs, revealing a mouth as a gaping hole down the length of it's body. It sprung at Jack, but he dodged.
"Shoot it! Shoot the blasted thing!" Chad let fly with a single round, and the bullet struck it's target, ripping through the creature.
"It's like one of my childhood nightmares! This is nuts!"
"Calm down Jack. If they're that easy to take care of, they shouldn't pose to much of a problem."
"Yeah, I guess you're r---Ya just had to say that didn't you?!"
"What?!"
"That!!" He pointed, and Chad turned around. There, advancing towards them, were about six more of those things.
"So they hunt in packs? So...pretty much, were screwed, right?"
"Not if we RUN!!!" Both men bolted the opposite way, being sure to steer clear of where the scientist was sucked up into the ventilation. Not even bothering to look back, Chad fired off a single shot.
"What the hell was that supposed to do?!"
"I dunno! Scare them a little...?"
"Stop there!" Jack skid to a halt, and Chad bumped into him. It was a guard.
"Name and identification please!"
"Were in a crisis dammit, and you're still doing your job?!"
"Quick man, there's a whole bunch of these bug things following us."
"I know exactly what you're talking about." He pulls his pistol from it's holster, and cautiously peeked around the corner.
"Well, seems you guys have a fan club."
"Just shoot them!" The guard spun out from around the corner, and fired exactly six shots.
"That'll take care of them. As I was saying...?"
"Chad Freeman, Anomalous Materials, Sector C."
"Jack Salington, mate. Anomalous Materials, Sector C."
"And what's your clearance?"
"Both of us have level 4 clearance." Chad bragged. Most scientists only receive level 3, but Chad and Jack and a few others were valuable to Black Mesa.
"Great. Perhaps you can open this door for me?"
"Say what?"
"There." He pointed to a door. Behind it, were two scientists.
"Sure thing, bud." Jack stepped up to the retinal scanner, looking scratched up, but in working condition. He put his face into the goggles, and a computerized voice rang out.
"Jack Salington. Level 4: access granted. You are clear." The doors slid open, and both scientist stumbled through, wide smiles on their faces.
"Oh God, thank you so much! We thought we were going to die! All of our colleagues were...were...oh, God!" The scientist broke down, fell to his knees, and started crying. The other one finished his sentence for him.
"Our colleagues were...infected, or something resembling a parasitic infection."
"What?!"
"Headcrabs."
"You actually took the time to name those damn little buggers?!"
"They latch onto the victims skull, using their saliva to disintegrate all barriers between the brain and skin. Eventually, they envelope the whole head, and their nervous system connects with the victims spinal column, giving the creature complete control of the body."
"Well, shit, that sounds like a lovely pet, don't it, Jack?"
"Shut it."
"Where are you two heading?" The guard turned his gaze back to Chad and Jack.
"The bot labs. If they made the robot that handled the test sample, maybe they will know what's happening."
"Good idea. I hope you guys make it. Wait, I've got a clearance card."
"To...?"
"To the armory!"
"Excellent!" The guard went into his box, and opened a locker, coming back out with pistols for everyone, and at least two magazines per person.
"This is it?"
"We're here for security, not to fight a war."
"Well, then the military should be here." As soon as Jack had said this, stories from survivors flooded his mind. The military tried to wipe them out last time. They sent in death squads, for Christ's sake!
"No! No! Don't say that! Last time, they sent in death squads! They were sent to kill everyone!"
"Chad? What in God's name are you talking about?" Chad was the only one that remembered the last time. Or at least, from the stories he heard.
"If the military comes, we're all dead!"
"Chad, are YOU sane?" As everyone was staring at Chad, the guard spoke up again.
"The next Security Station is in the next building. It's on the way to the bot labs."
"Thanks." Chad slammed another clip into his gun, and started towards the door that connected the two buildings.
"Chad! Wait up man!" Jack ran after him, keeping his watchful eyes on the walls and ceiling.
"We're going to be outside for a few minutes. So be sure to keep your eyes open."
"Oh, trust me, there are WIDE open." Chad pushed through the metal double doors, and artificial sunlight hit them.
"The bio-dome..."
"Yeah. Jungle, Tundra, Ocean, Forest, and Swamp. They could hide anywhere."
"Isn't there another way?"
"Nope." Jack cursed under his breath, while Chad took a deep breath.
"Let's move."
"I'm going...which do we go through first?"
"If we head straight, we would only pass through the Jungle and Tundra."
"Great. My favorites." As soon as they stepped into the Jungle habitat, a blast of heat and humidity hit them.
"Christ, it's hot!"
"Welcome to the jungle." And so they pressed on, making sure not to get split up and keeping their eyes over the tress and brush.
"Help! Help me!"
"What the---?" A scientist came from the underbrush, and grabbed Jack's shoulders.
"Game over man! It's game over!"
"Blimey, man! Calm down!" The scientist shook Jack, and Jack pried him off.
"What's coming? What are you running from?!"
"One of those things! It's after me! It killed Harley!"
"Stand back." Chad got his pistol ready, pointing it at where the scientist came from.
"Oh---Gah!"
"JESUS CHRIST!!" A headcrab had jumped down from the trees above, and attached itself to the unfortunate scientist's head.
"Get it off! Help me!"
"I got it, don't worry."
"Jack, no! If you shoot it, you'll kill him too!"
"Argh! What do we do?!"
"I dunno! Beat it off or something!"
"With what?!"
"Help---yaaahhhhh!!!" Both men had their eyes wide open with disgust and fear, as a huge crack split down the scientist's front, revealing his ribcage, and other internal organs.
"God...What is it?!"
"Shoot! Shoot it! Shoot the damned thing!" Both Jack and Chad pumped six shots into the thing. Each bullet flew true, and tore through the dead but living body, and it slumped to they ground, strange olive green blood leaking out through each hole.
"Looks like the infection doesn't take that long to occur." Chad examined the body, while Jack got violently sick against a tree.
"Jack, more of the same is going to happen. You can't do this every time." He coughed a little, and looked at Chad with pleading eyes.
"I...I can't handle it! I can't handle all of this death! It's too much! I'm not like you! I've never seen death! For God's sake, I'm only twenty-two! I've got two sons! I don't want to go like that!"
* * * *
"Sir, we've got a situation." The pentagon was in chaos over the newly arisen situation.
"What is it?"
"Code XR-97."
"Resonance cascade?!"
"Yes sir."
"Damn! I though we cleaned that place up!"
"Casualties have already been reported by satellite surveillance. You have authorization from the President to send in military forces. Access to level six Spec Ops, Black Ops, and Death Squads. What is your decision sir?"
"Didn't I tell the President to shut that place down?! Why didn't he listen?! And now, we've another cascade! No one listens to the old generals anymore!"
"Sir? We need a decision. What's it going to be?"
"Send in the Spec Ops and Death Squads. I don't want to risk the Black Ops...yet..."
* * * *
"C'mon. We've got to move. It's too bad those little buggers can climb too."
"Chad...do you think we'll make it?"
"Of course!"
"Wouldn't it be easier to...to...end it? All? Now?"
"Jack...? What are you implying?" Jack nervously twirled the gun around his hand.
"Don't do it...don't think about it...Jack..."
"I've always wondered...what death is like..." He raised the gun to his head.
"Jack!" Chad dived and tore the gun from his hands.
"What do you think you're doing?! Don't you realize you're being selfish?! What about your kids and wife?! Don't they want to see you again?! WELL?!?"
"I...I'm sorry...I don't know..." A lone tear fell from his eyes. Chad reached into Jack's lab coat and pulled out something stuck on a gold chain.
"You see this?! We're going to make it, because he is watching over us!" A cross was on the end of the chain, and Jack's eyes were transfixed upon the object. His eyes seem to come alive again, and a new strength surged through him. He grabbed the cross from Chad's hand, said a silent prayer, and grabbed his gun back. Cocking the gun, making sure it was loaded full, he said,
"We're goin' on a bug hunt."
"That's more like it. Don't ever do that again, alright? You scared the shit outta me."
"We Brits don't give up so easily. We may go temporarily insane, but we don't give up." Like I said. Brits. Ya gotta love'em.
"Just watch the trees above you. Damn things are pretty smart."
"Yeah, now can we go? It's bloody hot!"
"I agree. This way." They sped off, leaving the body of the infected man.
- - -
"Wait. I think I just solved their predator-instincts. After they latch onto the head, the spinal column enlarges for better sensory detection. And thus, splitting the body down the middle. And, somehow, they must mutate the body to their liking."
"Brilliant Holmes. Can you worry about that crap later? I mean, blimey! We're about to enter the tundra, and here you are, a scientist with a gun, trying to unravel the mystery of some damn bug...chicken...thing."
"This is important to the scientific community!"
"You know what's more important? Our lives."
"Good point."
"Look." Jack pointed to the penguin area, where a large cold lake had been colored a ghastly red, and slight ripples decorated the lake.
"Good God." They edged closer to the lake, their eyes darting in every single direction, searching for an answer or another creature. Bodies of scientist were scattered all over. They all shared one common element: they all had several deep gashes all over their bodies.
"This is sick..."
"Shit...what the hell is that?!"
"What?"
"Look..." Both men watched as a bump in the water traveled to the body of a scientist, who was half in the water, half out, his coat stained with his own essence. The bump reached his body, and it slipped into the water, bubbles forming where it had once been.
"Christ..."
"Oh God!" The top half of the scientist surfaced again, and flew through the air, landing with a sickening thud and slowly sliding on the ice before coming to a stop. Whatever was in the water, it spit it out.
"Must not like the taste."
"Chad! Ain't you got any respect for the dead?! You don't crack jokes on'em!"
"Sorry...just trying to lighten the mood..."
"I say we shoot the thing."
"Save your ammo. It's not bothering us, so leave it. It's no threat."
"But...ah, fine."
"Ah, yes! There's the door to the bot labs!"
-
YUA: Ah, that was long.::yawn:: Please, leave a review or I'll sic a chicken thing on ye!
Random Guy: That's a headcrab.
YUA: -_-;;