Unlikely Heroes
Chapter 39: More Enemies
Cosmo decided here would be a good place to upgrade the weapons the group had. When that was finished, it was time to move. "I wonder if this is what Dirving meant by answers?" Chris asked.
"Not sure… But obviously there's a connection here with Rindella," Sheva said. "And that's never a good sign."
"We can worry about this later. First, we need to find out about Jill."
"You're right," Nicholas agreed. "Let's see what we can dig up."
It was then through one of the tents and looking showed a door that would lead somewhere. But then Pachira spotted something that was resting on a generator of some kind. "What's this?" the vampire asked.
Everyone gathered around. "Seems like some kind of journal," Uma said.
Looking at it showed it was from a chief researcher by the name of Randon and the first one. The beginning entry was from 1966 on December 4th. It started by talking about Mr. Lencer, a name most in the group recognized from past documents found. The journal stated the male human had once talked about a flower called Stairway to the Heavens. Supposedly a person who consumed these would be granted its incredible abilities. Everyone thought it was just nothing more than a rumor or legend but later research proved the doubters wrong. "Do you think the flowers back there might be the same ones mentioned here?" Uma asked.
Everyone else gave her a look. "Sorry!" the witch mumbled, embarrassed.
"Let's see…" Nicholas commented and cleared his throat as is nothing had happened.
The journal went on to explain this researcher's teacher, the same Marcus those from the nether had encountered before, was not only the first person to recognize the validity of the story, but that some unknown virus existed in the plant that could alter DNA. It turned out Marcus's hypothesis was correct. The virus was labeled Drogenitor. For three months in Africa this researcher and others worked diligently, and then finally their hard work was rewarded. That meant it was time to return back home for them. The next entry was from 1967 and from the month of February. That was when the researchers hit a road block. They tried to cultivate samples like in Africa with the flowers and those turned out great. But there were no DNA altering cases when it came to the virus. The journal went on to suggest that perhaps it was the original environment the plants had been found in that caused the virus to happen. The next entry was from March and stated that there had been no success. It was during this time that the researcher writing this journal got into a heated debate with Marcus about where the research of this was going. Then Lencer interjected what Randon considered foolhardy about starting a company. Without the virus there was no point in starting it.
Everyone finished reading and by the looks on most of their faces they were all doing some very hard and fast thinking. "You don't think…?" Akio asked.
"Yeah, I am," Cosmo replied.
"And I am to," Nicholas stated. He picked up the journal and sent it to where the others were by the power of the ruins. "Now things are starting to make more sense."
"So all the trouble started here," Liru said. "If it wasn't for this…"
"Yeah, but what's done is done," Napoleon replied. "At least we've put a stop to it mostly."
"But the effects are still felt and why it's up to us to fully stop this," Chris stated. It was time to move on.
The group then went through a metal door. They noticed that it was kinda of what would be found in a building or laboratory. Behind this was a hallway with the walls made of concrete slabs. The lighting in here was a bit dark but not too terrible to see. There were a few shelves in here. "Kinda creepy," Uma said.
Suddenly some of the females from the nether noticed something and jumped. "What is it?" Nicholas asked.
Then the rest saw it, some movement that was a kind of creature on the ceiling that disappeared around the corner ahead. "There's something here," Napoleon snarled, drawing his gun.
Going forward the group saw the way was blocked so they had no choice but to go through the door on their left. Inside this room were computers, lab equipment and tanks that had the flowers seen before in those while being surrounded by liquid. "What the…?" Logan asked.
"These are those flowers from before," Cosmo stated.
"I don't know how," Chris said. "But they could be using them to produce biological weapons." He took another glance. "This is the facility from the picture. No doubt about it."
"We're finally getting somewhere," Sheva commented.
"Let's see if there's anything here in this room," Nicholas stated.
There was nothing but some spare ammo in here. So it was through another door to continue. But right here the group saw something that made them stop for a few seconds and the females from the nether gasp with fear and cling to their boyfriend. "My god…" Nicholas stated when he saw it.
Right in front of them in the wall were huge gouges made from claws of some kind. Blood and gore smeared the marks and even the floor in a pool.
"What could have done this?" Liru whispered.
Kratos and Venus let out slight growls. "I've got a bad feeling about this," Napoleon muttered.
The group continued forward finding more claw marks and bloody gory puddles. Everyone was on guard and then the group reached a door that had a wheel handle, like what you would see on a ship or sub. Chris turned the wheel to get the heavy steel door open. Beyond that was another spot that was bloody and gory but much bigger. Nobody could tell what the body had originally been. "My god…" Liru whispered.
"Horrible," Nicholas said.
"Looks like it was torn apart by animals," Napoleon commented. "Not a good way to go."
Chris then found a switch and pulled it. This caused a wall right in front of the group to move up revealing glass windows in front of a hallway. Everyone saw something on the ceiling move so it was gone before they got a good look at it. "Careful, I saw something," Sheva said.
"We all did which means we're definitely not alone," Nicholas replied.
Looking showed the way back was no good as the door was designed to only be opened from the other side. Chris shot at one of the windows and broke the glass opening the way forward. "Stay on guard," Cosmo stated.
The next area wasn't as nice. There were cages in here, small ones, that contained one animal that could be found from where the group had started. But they looked to be living in horrible conditions. "This is just like the mansions we've been to," Akio whispered.
Then the group rounded a corner where there were more glass windows on either side of the hallway. And then something came bursting through one of them and landed in front of the group. Some took a step back. "What the?!" Nicholas exclaimed.
"Wait… it can't be!" Logan stated, getting a closer look at the enemy.
Looking showed it was a type of enemy that had been encountered before but not for a long time. It was the kind that had large front claws, walked on all fours, the head was nothing more than a round section and one of the ways it attacked was by its long tongue. The monster shot it at Chris and that got wrapped around his neck. Nicholas drew his katana and quickly sliced at it, freeing the male human. "Look out; there's another!" Liru exclaimed as a second came out.
This fight wasn't long but still the shock of seeing these old kind of enemies made it seem to last much longer. But when these were killed they melted away into nothing. "I don't believe it," Logan said, breathing slightly hard.
"What does it mean if these things are here?" Uma whispered. Nobody had an answer for that.
The only way forward was going to the room where the enemy had been. Another door with a rotating wheel was found and Chris turned it to get it unlocked. Then it was down a hallway that had turns but it was all one path. "Thank god there weren't more of them," said Chris. The group was now heading up a small flight of stairs.
"Yeah, we wouldn't last in a fight with a whole horde," Sheva commented.
"Even with us here with you it'd be a deadly fight," Nicholas stated.
Then a lever was reached that had to be pulled in order to activate some buttons that would open the door ahead. Chris and Sheva pushed the two at the same time which opened the way forward. But on the other side what the group saw made them stop. "Shit," Cosmo whispered.
On both sides of the hallway was the kind of glass walls found before. And inside were more of the same enemy that had been defeated before. "I don't think they noticed us," Sheva said softly.
"Let's go before they do," Napoleon whispered.
The group tried as quietly to go across the hallway and passed the glass. But near the end someone stepped a little too loudly and the enemy's activity increased. "Damn it, they heard us!" Sheva exclaimed.
"Run for it!" Nicholas shouted as the group heard the sound of breaking glass.
"No need to tell me twice!" Liru stated.
The group ran forward and through a couple of doors. The third one they came across required three to kick in because it was kinda bent on the hinges and wouldn't open properly. Then it was down a small hallway to an elevator. Chris hit the down button and the group saw that the elevator was starting at the bottom floor and slowly coming up. "Oh you have gotta be kidding!" Logan exclaimed.
"Come on; come on!" Sheva stated.
Cosmo then saw one of the enemies coming around the corner. "Time to blow this thing up," the male android said and tossed a grenade. It landed perfectly and blew up the monster.
A few more grenades were tossed which not only halted the monsters as they took damage, it also bought time. Just then the group heard the ding sound they were listening for and the elevator doors opened. "Let's go!" Uma exclaimed.
They all managed to get in. The button was hit and the doors closed carrying them down. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. "That was not fun at all," Napoleon growled.
"But we made it through," Pachira said.
The elevator made it and the group got out. They found themselves right in front of what an modern armory would have. It had ammo and grenades. These were all taken. "Now that's better," Nicholas said. "Better to be fully loaded. We don't know what the hell we'll also run into here."
Soon everyone was loaded up again. "Locked and loaded," Logan stated.
"Let's move," Chris said.
The group then looked ahead. "Wait… what is that?" Uma asked.
"Holy…" Cosmo commented.
The group walked out onto a catwalk made of metal and was a grate. "What the hell?" Chris asked as everyone looked around in shock.
Everyone could see they were in a huge circular area made of steel and other metal. It was like one big giant tube. On the walls that were divided up into sections were rows upon rows of some kind of high tech container big enough to fit one human body in each with a glass front to allow one to see the body inside. In the center was a platform with a monitor and computer that was attached to a huge metal pole that acted like an elevator. "This was in the pictures to," Sheva stated as they got closer to the center platform.
"Wait," Chris said coming to a realization. "That means Jill might be here!"
Suddenly an alarm went off. "Now what?!" Nicholas growled.
It went off again. Then the group saw at the very top one of the containers light up red. The container was extended out by a mechanical arm. Then the front door of it opened with a loud hissing sound, steam exiting. Some kind of liquid fell out of the container. The body inside was bald and looked to be malnourished as the ribs could clearly be seen. It was held in place by two metal arms. These moved and the body fell from the top and all the long way down but the group lost sight of it due to that area being too dark to see. Everyone was in shock for a few seconds. Sheva then spoke. "What have they done?" she whispered.
Chris then looked to the monitor and ran over to it. He could see the Dricel logo on the screen acting like a screensaver. "Chris?" Liru asked him.
The male human didn't reply but made it to the keyboard. He began to type frantically and was able to bring up a search engine. He typed Jill's name in and it took a few seconds for the list to find her as there were hundreds if not thousands of people to go through. And then her picture came up on the screen. Those that knew her felt a feeling of grief and lost, but Chris felt it the most. "Jill!" he stated.
The group then saw the words accessing floor appear on the screen. The section they were on lurched and then began to head down. It just seemed to keep going past row after row after containers. "There's so many…" Pachira whispered in shock.
"They must be kidnapping people from all over the world to experiment on," Chris said.
Then suddenly the platform stopped along with the screen turning red. "It stopped!" Nicholas stated in surprise. Everyone went over to the screen and saw it was tinted red and had the words access denied on it.
"Access denied?!" Uma stated.
"Why?" Sheva exclaimed.
The group then heard a growl and shadow pass over them. They all turned around. "Oh that's fucking why!" Napoleon said and everyone drew their guns.
The creature emerged from the shadow, roaring at the group, steam from its hot breath and spittle emerging. It had a multitude of eyes like a spider and four long limbs ending at a point that helped it be suspended above the group. The rest of the legs were below the body and dangling. However it was jet black with the armor it wore that was spiky in many places. However there was a small section of the long limbs at the front that was exposed revealing a red tone for the flesh. The mouth was open like a flower's petals revealing the teeth that moved and clicked liked mandibles. The monster raised it's right spikey pincher up and lunged at the group with it. They were able to roll out of the way and stand up. The enemy then moved to turn to face them, it's mouth open and teeth clicking. "Let's serve this thing up hot!" Logan said.
"Incoming again!" Uma shouted. The monster used its left pincher this time but everyone was able to avoid the blow.
"Wait, look at its long limbs!" Pachira stated seeing them not covered up by spikey armor.
Everyone else saw the exposed areas. "Aim for the right one!" Nichola barked.
The group fired at the fleshy section, blood spewing out with every hit. The monster then moved. "Damn, this thing is scurrying around!" Napoleon snarled.
"Can't either of you slow it down?!" Pachira asked to Uma and Logan.
"It might cause this platform to collapse!" the male wizard answered.
"Wait, it's coming back around!" Akio stated.
The monster was indeed doing just that. "Aim for the spot again!" Nicholas barked.
The group did and then they saw the monster let out a roar. It's back right leg slipped and the creature's head fell onto the platform with the mouth wide open. "He's down!" Sheva stated. "Now's our chance!"
"Eat on this!" Napoleon shouted as everyone fired at the exposed flesh.
However the thing was quick to recover and rose up again. "Damn, I thought it would stay down longer!" Cosmo said.
"Look out!" Uma cried out.
The monster tried to attack the group with one of its front claws and they were barely able to dodge the blow. "That was too close!" Logan said.
"Take it down again!" Nicholas barked.
It took a little bit but the group managed to do it. They attacked the mouth again and once more the monster quickly recovered. This time after it did it slammed its body down on the metal platform shaking it and causing everyone to lose their footing. "Shit!" Napoleon said.
Luckily the platform held up just fine. "Thank god that didn't fall!" Liru commented.
Chris then had to duck because he was the closest to the monster. It tried to get the male human with pinchers it had at its back end that would have sliced him clean in two. "Good dodge there!" Logan told Chris.
The monster then moved around the platform again before slamming its body down on the metal surface. It caused those in the group to lose their balance for a couple of seconds but they managed to straighten out just fine. And then some seconds later the humans and those from the nether were able to get the enemy to fall again and fired at its mouth. But it quickly recovered and was back on its legs. "How much longer will this take?!" Uma asked.
The group then noticed the monster go up one of the walls a little. "Now what is it doing?" Napoleon said.
They saw it raise its lower spikey abdomen like end up that had spiny like legs that had very sharp ends that moved insect ones. The underside of the abdomen began to bubble like when the normal enemies that had been killed did before melting away. "Ugh… gross," Pachira groaned.
From the bubbles new enemies came out. The way they moved was by four wings allowing them to hover in the air and change direction. The heads had two long horns and the lower bodies were blood red in color. Some kind of long strings, three in total, made up the rest of the body. These enemies were larger than a fully grown male human head. "What the hell are those things?!" Logan asked.
"Just shoot them down!" Nicholas barked.
It turned out it only took one hit to dispose of these new enemies. "You two handle the big guy, we'll clean up the small fry!" Cosmo told Chris and Sheva.
While those from the nether took out the small fry, the two humans fired at the big monster's weak point. It fell down again. Chris then decided to try throwing a grenade into the mouth of the enemy. "Eat this!" he stated and tossed one in.
The guy rolled out of the way since the thing was quick to recover and tried to bite him. The grenade went off causing the monster to roar. Not only that, but the top part of the head where the black spiky like armor was now gone on the left side revealing the softer flesh that was bubbling. "It's working!" Sheva exclaimed. "His shell is cracking!"
"Why the hell didn't we do that before?" Napoleon muttered under his breath since the male vampire saw this happen. So did the others from the nether.
The monster was able to recover and it didn't like the blast at all. It moved as fast as it could and then it climbed up to produce more of the flying enemies. It then came back down to fight. "Let's get it down again!" Cosmo stated. "I've got a grenade to!"
It didn't take long to do so. The male android was right in position. "Have another one!" he said and tossed the grenade into the open mouth. The male android was able to roll out of the way and the thing went off. Now the spot at the top of the head was fully exposed.
"The shell is off!" Sheva exclaimed. "Aim for that spot!"
"About damn time!" Nicholas said.
The monster rose up and roared at the group. It attempt to get them with its right pinched but everyone was able to dodge the blow. "Come on!" Liru stated and fired as well as most of the rest.
The enemy then let out a roar and Chris fired one last time. The creature roared, spitting out blood. "I think that did it," Cosmo said.
The group watch the monster loosen its grip on the metal platform and with one last roar, tumble and fall down the long shaft and out of sight into the inky blackness bellow. They all let out a sigh and put away their weapons. Then the platform began to move again after a slight lurch. They went down just a few more inches before coming to a stop once again. "Is this it this time?" Nicholas asked with a slight grown, a frown coming upon his lips.
The group then heard the soft hissing and movement of the container moving toward them on the mechanical arm. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath in anticipation and none more so than Chris. This could be it. Finally after much hardships and travel, he would see Jill again. The container made it to the edge of the metal platform. It seemed to last eternity as the front was slowly opened up. And to the surprise and crushing disappointment for the group, all that was inside was the liquid and the bars that were meant to hold a body. Everyone closed their eyes in defeat. "Not here…" Liru whispered sadly.
"Shit!" Nicholas cursed softly.
"Damn it!" Chris stated in a defeated voice. "Where is she?!"
Suddenly the group heard a sound from behind them, a kind that was like a monitor turning on. "Mr. Limefield," went a woman's voice with a slight accent. The tone while sounding polite carried the tone of mocking and looking down on him. Everyone turned to see who had spoken on the monitor. Her appearance was Caucasian with black hair tied up in a tight bun on top of her head. She was wearing a white dress that tied up on the back and exposed that area. It was somewhat revealing and not what you would expect for business. On each ear was one earring that ended with a large pearl and to match was a necklace made of some kind of gold. Her light blue eyes had the look of matching her tone.
"How nice to finally make your acquaintance," she stated in the same type of voice.
"Who the hell are you?" Chris demanded.
"Alexis Dionne," Sheva said. "She works for Dricell."
"Nice, you've done your homework," the second female human replied in a mocking impressed tone.
"An officer in the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium. Why?!"
Alexis let out a sickening chuckle. "As if I need to explain myself to you. Although, weren't you guys given orders to retreat?"
"So it WAS you!" Sheva exclaimed.
Alexis made another sicken chuckle. "Where is Jill?!" Chris demanded.
"Jill… Even if I did know, you think I would tell you?"
"Cut the crap!" the male human snapped at Alexis. "Tell me where she is!"
"As soon as you guys are done with you little vigilante mission, you should leave. There's nothing here worth throwing your lives away for." The screen then turned off and Alexis disappeared with that.
"She's lying," Sheva stated. "She knows something."
"No doubt about it with this bitch," Nicholas snarled. The rest of the males from the nether were just as angry as the werewolf. The females were all frowning and not happy with the little interaction.
"It's time we got some answers," Chris said.
"Looks like we got another enemy to deal with," Napoleon grumbled.
"And she's one nasty customer," Liru added.
"She's probably got us under surveillance," Nicholas growled.
"I can almost guarantee she sent that B.O.W. to eliminate us," Chris stated.
"You can ask her about that, and about Jill once we find her," Sheva said,
"Alright, we got a plan; let's find that little bitch!" Nicholas snarled.
The first step was actually for Logan and Uma with their magic to teleport Kratos and Venus back home as it would be too dangerous for the dogs to continue despite having come all this way. It would be better for the canines. The next was leaving this place and the group went around the screen on the platform to the side they hadn't been to yet and through a heavy metal door. The group found themselves in a similar like area but was new. It was then up some stairs to a place that had a lot of pipes to their left and right. However just before they could go down further they noticed up ahead were enemy Ajini. Looking at these showed they were more military based rather than what had been encountered before. "Let's take them out quickly!" Logan whispered.
"On it!" Cosmo replied in the same tone, readying his rifle.
Chris did the same and the two were able to snipe off the enemy. "Nice work!" Sheva told them after the Ajini had melted away into nothing after being killed.
The group then moved forward and a few more enemies came out through a door up ahead. These were quickly killed and then it was through this opening to the next area. By this point everyone was going by electrical stuff, pipes, and tanks that made up the innerworkings of this place. And now it was around a large tank but that was quickly stopped by what lay ahead. Pachira was in the lead and had only taken one step when she saw what the group would have to deal with and leapt back, causing everyone to freeze. "What is it?" Uma asked.
"Enemies, more of them," the female vampire hissed. "And they've got places to hide!"
"Let's see," Napoleon said and took a peak around the corner.
What the male vampire saw ahead were more Ajini but also barriers made of concrete. They were the right size to hide behind and return fire. They didn't go across the whole way of the path so they could be walked around. "What is it?" Logan asked.
"Enemies. We'll have to duck and weave to get around them."
"I can probably move fast enough to distract them," Nicholas said. "Then you guys can take care of them."
The male werewolf signaled with his finger and then moved. Immediately the enemy Ajini fired at him but the long-haired guy was too quick and managed to get behind one of the barriers. The rest followed and fired at the Ajini and took them out this way. "Nice work!" Sheva said.
Up ahead was a door that required two buttons on either side to be pushed at the same time. "Shall we?" Logan asked Uma with a grin.
"Sure," she replied and they took care of it. The buttons were pressed and the way forward was opened.
It was then to another section where the group had to shoot around a corner and behind barriers to take out more enemies. It was then up some stairs to a metal grate like walkway. Here more enemies had to be taken out. Luckily some of the explosive tanks in the area helped with that task. At the end of these was another elevator. With a shrug from the males it was into this and then a ride down. But during the trip with the group being silent, suddenly something was heard on Chris's communicator. It was just noise at first, the static kind. "What the?" Liru asked.
"Shhhh!" Nicholas told her.
"Drodros has been loaded…" went a female voice. Despite the static that could be heard. What followed was another voice but the static made it too hard to make out what was said. The group were able to tell it was a man though.
"Don't worry," the first person reassured the second human, the tone being that of a cooing kind. "The reserve supply is almost ready."
"I know that voice," Sheva stated.
"It's Alexis," Chris said.
"That's being handled Albert," stated Alexis's voice. "I've been looking forward…" More static then followed.
"Albert?!" the male human in the elevator stated.
"What?" Sheva exclaimed sharply. Those from the nether felt shock going through their bodies.
"And how are you holding up Albert?" went Sheva's voice. There was then just more static and then silence on the other end of Chris's radio contactor.
"Shit!" he stated. "Desker… I thought he was dead…"
"We all did," Nicholas growled.
"If he really is alive…" Napoleon said, his sharp vampire fangs showing due to the snarl on his face.
"In that case we have to be extra careful if the worst case scenario is true…"
"We're stronger than when we last faced him," Logan stated. "And we know more of how he fights."
The group was silent the rest of the ride and then the elevator came to a stop. The doors opened and they all stepped out. "Wait!" Uma stated when she saw what lay ahead.
Everyone else looked and saw the short way forward which took a left was smeared with blood and gore on the floor and walls. "You don't think…?" began Akio.
"Yeah it's probably those things again," Cosmo said.
"In that case be extra careful," Nicholas stated.
The group were cautious as they went forward and indeed found some more of those enemies that had been faced not too long ago. Luckily there weren't as many and dealt with just fine. It was then through a door and the group took a moment to look where they were. "Whoa…" Uma whispered.
"What is this now?" Logan asked.
Looking showed the group was now in what appeared to be some small factory like area. In front of them was some railing to keep people from falling over the edge to the floor below despite how it wasn't long of a drop. Metal plates made up part of the railings as well that were perfect barriers to protect from gun fire. There were also several conveyer belts that were moving heavy metal boxes going to the right to some kind of incinerator. "Looks like a number of places are here to hide enemies," Nicholas said as the group made their way to a ladder. "Keep your guard up."
Everyone went down it and saw by the conveyer belts there were sections made of metal. "I hear something…" Uma then whispered.
Just then the group heard shouts and looked to see enemy Ajini coming in. "More of them; let's do this!" Logan stated.
It then became a fight through this place. The group used the cover of the metal plates and whatever else could be found to take cover and shoot the enemy down one by one. The way forward took them on the conveyer belts and then up to a second floor of this place which had even more of the belts but were moving containers of gas that helped a lot with clearing out the Ajini. Once the group reached the lever that controlled these there were no hostiles in sight. It was then down a small flight of stairs to a new section of this area. "I think we can catch our breath here," Liru whispered.
"Wait… do you hear some moaning?" Akio then asked.
The rest all heard it. "It's close," Cosmo stated.
They then looked and saw two more conveyer belts that wasn't moving. There were what appeared to be bodies on it scattered across them. It was next to this that a new and more powerful machine gun was found, a kind of personal one that Chris took. Then it was up a small flight of stairs to a switch that would get the conveyer belts moving. But when the male human pulled it nothing happened. "Looks like the power's out," Cosmo said. "There must be a way to restore."
"Can't you just do something other than that?" Liru asked.
"It would probably do more harm than good."
Chris then led the way again to find the area where the power source was. The group went up a small flight of stairs and down a pathway in the direction they hadn't gone yet. But on the way everyone paused for a moment when they saw ahead above them were some kind of large black like sacks that were squirming with something inside. "Ugh… what are those?" Pachira asked, shuddering with disgust.
"No idea, but let's move before they hatch," Napoleon commented.
However after going passed these the group found something even more puzzling. "Wait those are…" Nicholas began as he spotted them.
"Missiles?!" Chris finished. The things indeed were on the side and could be clearly seen.
"Why would they need these do you think?" Sheva asked.
"Maybe they're planning to start a war."
It was then up some stairs and the group found the source of power needed. It required two levers to be pulled down at the same time. "Shall we this time Uma?" Logan asked his girl.
"Sure,' she replied. The wizard and witch did what was needed and everyone heard the hum that showed the power was back on.
"That should do it," Cosmo stated.
But the group had hardly taken any steps back when they heard the clang of something on metal and the screech of some inhuman beast. "What the hell was that?!" Napoleon asked.
"I've got a nasty feeling it's from those sacs we passed," Nicholas growled. "Whatever they were holding have probably hatched."
Going back to where those were proved what the male werewolf had stated. They were indeed open like something had hatched from them. "Whatever they are let's take caution," Cosmo said.
The group went forward carefully however something landed in front of them and blocked their path. "Look out!" Nicholas stated.
"What manner of beast is that?!" Sheva asked.
What it was appeared to be some kind of bi-pedal cricket with four arms that ended in sharp points. The thing also had more than two antenna like structures on its body. "Quick, kill it!" Logan ordered.
It turned out the quickest way to kill this thing was to fire at it and then at the white orbs that appeared. When this was done, it melted away after dying. The group then make their way back to the lever that needed power and Chris pulled it. This caused the conveyer belts to move and everyone saw what was on them. They were all bodies that looked like the one from before in the facility with capsules where the giant crab spider like monster was fought. "These must be the discarded test subjects from the research facility," Sheva said.
"At least they can be put to rest by burning," Liru whispered sadly, pointing out that the belts went to an incinerator at the end.
"I think I see a section we haven't been to yet," Uma then stated, pointing that out.
It took a bit of maneuvering but the group reached a door that led to a hallway. This wasn't like the factory area they had just left. This was darker with the lighting and more sleeker looking. Walking a bit they came to a small ledge and jumped down to the floor below. The group could see the monitors to the left showing this area was more hi-tech. Then came a door that required two buttons to be pressed that the same time to open it. "Shall we this time?" Nicholas asked Liru with a grin.
"Sure!" she replied and the two werewolves hit the buttons to get the door open.
"In we go," Napoleon stated and they all went in with guns at the ready.
The group saw they were in a room where the lighting was mostly shining through grates on the floor. The room was square in shape and quiet large. There were also panels with controls for different things such as sealing off this room, regulating the machines in here, and other uses. Everyone had hardly gone forward when the entrance sealed shut behind them, causing the group to jump and whip around to see they were trapped in here. The humans and those from the nether then slowly went forward and went past some large cylinder shaped tanks containing pieces of samples of Drodros in some kind of liquid. Chris then spotted something else. "Everyone!" he stated and the rest saw what the male human did.
"What the…?" Nicholas said softly.
"That's…" began Liru and went silent.
What the group saw was what looked like some kind of high tech chair that a person would be operated on. It even had a huge white spot light to help the person doing the operation see the patient better. In the chair was a body of what appeared to be a male in nothing but boxers similar to the bodies that had been seen in the containers which meant he was completely bald. By the sounds he made the person was still alive despite having a large tank next to the chair. A gas like substance colored white was coming out of it making it appear to be something to keep the body cryogenically frozen. The male human also had an IV and monitor hooked up to the chair as well. The other feature on this person was that there appeared to be wounds of some kind, large ones on certain sections of his body, even on his head. Everyone slowly approached. "Well, glad you guys could make it," went a familiar voice on an income system. Everyone else looked around quickly to see where it was coming from. "Up here all of you."
They looked up and saw Alexis looking down from above from an observation booth that was protected by very strong bullet proof glass. Next to here was the mysterious cloaked woman with the mask the group had seen before. "Alexis… Where's Jill?!" Chris demanded.
"Jill, Jill, Jill," the enemy human shot back in a mocking tone before taking a more serious tone. "You're like a broken record, you know that? Just as simple-minded as he said. You've spent so long trying to track down Drodros, well here; enjoy."
The being in the chair rose up with a growl. Everyone in the group took a step back with their weapons at the ready. "Now what…?" Nicholas snarled.
The answer to that was the bald male human slowly walking towards the group. They also noticed under his skin something was moving and multiple things like tentacles by the movement and sound that it made. Suddenly one burst out of the person's right shoulder, explaining where all the wounds on his body had come from. More began to come out as well as he continued to walk forward but in pain as was to be expected. These tentacles of Drodros began to wrap around his body. "So Drodros is a new B.O.W.!" Sheva stated. "And you're planning on selling it to terrorists!"
"Good guess, but no," Alexis replied as she continued to look on. "While it does resemble the B.O.W.s based on the Drogenitor Virus, I have no intention of selling it to terrorists."
"Then what are using it for?" Chris demanded.
More tentacles began to sprout of the human male and looked like it would consume the body. But then they all retreated and his head went limp for a second. All the wounds healed over leaving the skin smooth. "Evolution," Alexis replied. The person looked up and the group saw the eyes change. The pupils became slit like and the blue color changed to that of orange amber gold. "It's a Philosopher's Stone, one that will choose through DNA who shall proceed to the next stage." The figure then started to walk forward again but at a normal pace towards the group in order to attack. "My vision and his combined, now made a reality."
"Evolution?" Sheva asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Awww, you'll soon find out. Everyone will." The person that was walking forward then suddenly stopped. With a grunt the body contorted as something could be heard on the inside. "Hmmm, too bad." The male human contorted more, clenching his hands open and close as Drodros inside him began to move even more violently. "Looks like he wasn't worthy. Only the chosen ones are fit for the coming new world." The group watched her and the mask woman walk away.
"Alexis! Wait!" Chris ordered.
"This is…" Nicholas growled as those from the nether and then the humans turned their attention to the transforming human.
"Yeah, it's worse than the last one," Logan finished the thought.
The tentacles of Drodros swarmed over the transforming human body whose grunts became groans and then yells of pain as he was fully consumed. In no time at all the group was facing something bigger but similar to what had been fought before with the differences being the height and a long limb that sprouted out of the main body. Suddenly an electronic female voice came onto the income system. "Warning!" it went. "A biohazard threat has been detected. Clean-up personnel must incinerate all contaminated materials."
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Logan asked Uma as the monster began to move forward towards the group.
"You got it!" the witch replied and brought out her wand.
The two shot out some fire engulfing the creature. It let out roars of pain and some orbs came out. "That's it!" Sheva stated. "That's its weak spot!"
The group fired at these but the fire didn't last long due to the thing shoot its arm at the group causing Logan and Uma to roll out of the way and stop shooting out fire. "Watch out for its arm!" Liru shouted.
"Fall back!" Nicholas barked.
The group kept moving in order to stay out of reach and away from the enemy. Logan and Uma tried to use fire when they could but sometimes it was up to Chris and Sheva using some incinerating grenades that had been picked up along with a couple of tanks of gas in here being blown up to damage the creature. It was only after the second was blown up that the same electronic female voice came on. "Flamethrower tank is now full," it went. "You may resume when ready."
"Wait… that will help!" Napoleon said scanning the area for it.
"Over there!" Cosmo stated pointing it out. There was an actual one against the wall behind them.
Sheva grabbed it. "Burn in hell, you son of a bitch!" she shouted and fired it at the enemy.
However, even with the flamethrower this was still a very tough enemy to deal with. Not only did the new weapon have to be refueled twice, the enemy became very aggressive the more damage it took. And that was why this battle seemed to last forever, especially when several times those in the group nearly got hit. "Watch out!" Pachira exclaimed as she saw the thing use its arm and shot it at some of the others.
They were barely able to roll out of the way. "How much more can this thing take?!" Napoleon snarled.
"Just keep attacking!" Logan shouted.
Well as it turned out it still took quiet a before at last the monster was beaten. It let out roars as the whole body began to bubble and parts began to melt off before it crashed on the floor. Like the other enemies it dissolved away only this time in a disgusting black mess leaving nothing behind. The group took a moment to catch their breath. "Is everyone okay?" Cosmo asked.
"I think so," Akio replied softly.
The group then noticed a door became unlocked and that would be a new path to take. "What's all this nonsense about evolution and being worthy?" Sheva then asked.
"Yeah, what does she mean?" Liru asked as well.
"Something about a Philosopher's Stone and selecting DNA," Nicholas replied.
"It doesn't matter what she says," Chris stated. "She's just a terrorist; end of story."
"Yeah, we can't risk Drodros getting out of here and infecting people," Logan added.
"Then let's go take care of business," Pachira said and the group began to head out of here. However not before Cosmo took a moment to help upgrade all the weapons. Once that was taken care of it was now onward and towards what would be the end of this particular journey.