"Corrin, is that…?" Krieg asked tentatively. Corrin nodded solemnly. The woman was a horror. Her head was dominated by a massive horn. Her arms had become tentacle like and barbed. She had a slimy tail, covered in green liquid. Her face was mouth-less. She was nothing like the woman he had known before, but somehow he knew it was her.
He had forgotten what was happening. He had forgotten their predicament. His only focus was his wife. He beat on the glass.
"No, Corrin, no!" Krieg yelled quickly. "If this is what I think it is, she could infect you!" Corrin didn't care. He beat his fists against the window more quickly. There was a deep roar. Krieg wheeled around.
"The Soulless!" He said, petrified. Corrin turned and raised his Slug Rifle. The blank eyed killing machines had become a common sight to him. He balanced his gun against his chest and fired a storm of slugs that pounded into the heads of the zombies.
He stepped forward and placed a shot into the forehead of a fallen Soulless. He took another glance at his wife and continued through the door. "Come on." He said flatly to Krieg.
It was an observation room. Several chairs sat, faced towards a massive window. Clean cups sat on a perfectly smooth table. A huge speaker sat beside the window. Corrin walked to the huge glass plate. He looked down. Krieg joined him.
"Good god!" Corrin said in horror. The sight below him was terrifying. Lines and lines of people stood there, unmoving, far below. They simply stood, silent and motionless. Corrin stared on. All he could see was people. The complex had to go into the mountains beyond Mercador.
"What are they, Krieg?" Corrin asked softly. "What is my wife?"
"The Lost Souls." Krieg responded in awe. He turned to Corrin. "The Lost Soul virus was said to be a rare strain of the Treacherous Soul Virus. When the TSV was created by Riktus, they say that the warp created altered forms of it. Supposedly, there are two. We only know of one, the Lost Soul."
Corrin gave him a look, asking for more information. Krieg sighed. "I don't know much. It is mainly a fairy-tale to my scientist companions. It was given to its first victim the same way as usual for a TSV…but the results were very different. The man could not be bent to Riktus' will. Instead, they became mindless shells."
He shook his head. "I don't understand it…the Emperor has been trying to get control of this strain for years! Mainly because slight exposure to a victim can cause infection. Now they have simply discovered it, without my knowledge. I don't…" He was cut off.
Corrin felt a strong arm on his back. He was thrown harshly out the window. He saw Krieg go with him. He turned over. A blank eyed man was plummeting down along side him. His teeth were gritted in an evil way. He tore out a bolt gun. Corrin threw himself aside as bolts passed him in the air.
He looked down. The ground was closing quickly. He lunged forward and grabbed the Soulless. The man's body dug slightly into the metal floor. Corrin stood shakily and meandered for a moment before regaining control of himself.
The Treacherous One crawled from the ground quickly and faced Corrin. He threw his eyes to the side and saw Krieg beginning to stand. Looking back, he saw the Soulless had raised his arms in a grappling position.
Corrin smiled and did the same. He was going to have his first true fight in months. He hurtled forward and locked arms with the man. They spun around and around, pushing for the upper hand. Corrin felt his grip slowly slipping. He hit one of the Lost Souls and stumbled. The Soulless got his chance.
Corrin flew to the ground. The man lifted his foot. There was a flash and he toppled to the floor. Krieg sped over to Corrin's hurt body. He lowered his hand. Corrin took it and pulled himself up. They stood, staring at the corpse of the Soulless. His body had finally been sent to peace.
There were more horrific roars. The two men stood back to back as shadows emerged against the walls. Dozens of Treacherous Souls stalked slowly towards them. They formed a tight circle around the companions. Suddenly, the halted in place.
There was a buzz. Motors clicked and moved. A series of beeps was followed by a hollow yell. The floor rumbled. A massive thing dropped from above. It was in the shape of a circle. It was colored of rust. Small needles stuck out from the slight curves on the edges. There was another click. Small, spider-like legs began to emerge from the bottom of the behemoth.
It landed quietly in front of the two men. In its front, there was a glass case. A man sat inside, his body attached to thousands of cords. His eyes were as white as ice. His red cloak shadowed his hair. Corrin looked on in horror at the beast in realizing what it was.
"Grange?"