CHAPTER IX: DEEPEST REACHES
...Hell Knights, the mighty offspring of Baphomet's beard, had come from the darkest corners of Hell...
A fresh clip in the gun, four spare clips on the belt, the old trusty shotgun from Phobos on the back – that was all Kyle needed to feel safe whenever he went. He wished he could take a rocket launcher or a plasma rifle, yet he was warned about the potential instability of the underground caverns. The privates under his command looked experienced and hardened – Harlan hoped he could rely on them in every possible situation. Major Boyd would accompany them in their underground quest, yet the Corporal would run the show. No scientists would enter the crypt before it was fully secured. Kyle expected the worst – he tried to remember the common weaknesses of all demons he had encountered. He had taken one Berserk pack, a pair of light amplification visors, and an ammo backpack – this should have been enough to help him survive anything that might wait for him below.
Another squad of marines was stationed at the crypts' entrance, ready to intervene in case something invaded from underground. Kyle told them to check carefully every marine that came out – zombified ones were to be killed on the spot. He then turned his attention towards the caverns... The natural rocks of Io were gray in color, with a slight blue hue. Within their cold embrace, the marine felt safer than he did under the raging skies of Io. There were patches of crystals throughout the cave, as well as tiny fissures that emitted small clouds of gas – carbon dioxide as the readings showed. At several places, the walls bore the traces of the colonists' drilling machines. Rock chunks were scattered all over the floor and made progress slow. The tunnel got narrower as they advanced until it finally reached the huge metal gate.
It was wide open.
The marines' instincts took over, and they assumed defensive positions. They knew the gate was closed tight during their previous visit. Someone had entered that place... or perhaps someone left. It was eerily quiet – no sing of enemies could be detected. Kyle threw a glance at Major Boyd, who only nodded. The order was given and the squad entered the cold crypt.
The corridor was made of black marble, covered in unknown runes and images of foul demons. There were no visible light sources, yet the tunnel was illuminated and the marines did not need their flashlights. Memories of the Temple of Darkness made Harlan nervous – he looked in the distance trying to see the threat before it could come closer. The tunnel slowly expanded into a hallway that led straight into a large hall. Numerous demonic statues were positioned along the walls. While the marines examined the place with unease, Kyle recognized some of the creatures he saw. Thirteen of the statues were Gatekeepers. Others were Barons of Hell, Arch Viles, and Imps. As the squad exited the room, Harlan took a glance at one of the Gatekeeper statues – it looked slightly different from the others, not like dead stone, but rather like it there was a hidden force within it. The marine felt like the statue watched his every move, trying to read his mind. The squad moved on, deeper into the crypt.
They reached a large hall that looked like an amphitheater – with rows of what could be seats and a central arena with an altar in its middle. They stopped before the hall's entrance to examine their surroundings. No signs of life could be found. Kyle turned to Major Boyd.
"Sir, I suggest we stop for a while. We haven't seen anything alive yet, but I have the feeling that something is not quite right in this place. We should also be aware of the possible existence of traps."
"I agree, Harlan. This hall ahead – it is empty and offers defensive positions. We shall stop there. Lead the squad in, I will watch your back... just in case."
The Major turned towards the tunnel watching for potential danger, while the squad entered the large hall one by one. Kyle went in last and turned around to call the Major...
The door suddenly fell shut separating the two men. Dark shadows crawled through the amphitheater as the light source was diminished. The marines immediately arranged themselves in a circle, loading their weapons. Corporate Harlan took out the shotgun. He could sense their presence – they had been waiting for the squad and prepared this trap. He hoped that the Major would find a way to open that door from the other side before...
"Hell Knights!"
The marine's scream turned Harlan's attention towards the entrances in the rear end of the hall. A large horde of Hell Knights poured through them, invading the hall like a black plague that waited for the right moment to descend upon the humans below.
"Do not break formation! Use your shotguns! Aim for their chests!" – As Kyle shouted, the last words were deafened by the sound of simultaneous shots.
"Do not allow them to come closer! Dodge the bolts of energy they throw at you. Do not get close to them..."
Despite the heavy casualties they sustained, two waves of Hell Knights charged into the marines' ranks, breaking their formation, killing several of them before Kyle could react.
"Spread! Take cover; try to take them down one by one! Concentrate your fire!"
Smoke and terrible noise filled the hall as humans and demons were locked in a bloody battle for their survival. Many of the demons had fallen, but the marine squad was severely crippled. Three marines and Kyle desperately fought to push back the invaders and give Major Boyd some time to open the door from the other side. The marines had run out of shotgun shells, and they used their pistols, concentrating their shots at single targets. Two more Hell Knights fell when a green energy bolt hit one of the marines. He fell dead on the floor.
"Hold your ground, they are not invincible! The door will be opened soon." Kyle wished he could believe in his own words...
One marine fell under the energy bolts, the survivors took cover among the amphitheater rows, raining hot lead on the demons that already howled in triumph. They jumped on the platforms, prepared to finish the humans off. The marines tried to retreat, yet the private could not avoid the swiping claws of one of the demons. The wound in his throat started bleeding and he fell senseless on the floor. Kyle was all alone. Just as before...
For the first time, Harlan felt that he might lose the battle. There were too many of them, and they were faster and stronger as if under the effect of a demonic spell. He was cornered – his shotgun killed two more, two more replaced them instantly. One of the beasts heaved an energy bolt at the ceiling, and a chunk of rock fell on Harlan's head. The pain that exploded in his skull was followed by encroaching darkness and the cold embrace of unconsciousness. Seconds before Kyle lost all sense to the world, he saw the Hell Knights suddenly turn towards one of the tunnels that exited from the hall – they looked very surprised by whatever they saw there... Then it all became dark for the marine.
Waking up had never before been so painful. Kyle slowly opened his eyes, his head aching as if it was filled with toxic slime. Slowly, his vision cleared and what he saw reminded him of what happened. He beheld the ravaged hall, the marine bodies all over the floor, and the corpses of Hell Knights. Major Boyd was inside, checking the fallen marines – the huge hole in the door was a sign that despite the instability warnings he had used explosives to get inside.
Then he saw the last of the demons – the ones that were about to kill him before he lost consciousness. They were all dead – their bodies scattered in all directions by an unknown force. The bodies were riddled with dozens of bullet holes, as if a frenzied marine with a chaingun had slaughtered them. Kyle stood up slowly.
"You are awake. Good, we must get out of here immediately." The Major's voice was bitter. "They are all dead... except for that lad close to you with the wound in the throat – he is still alive despite the blood loss. We must take him to medical quickly and he might live to tell about this day."
The Major looked at the marine's nametag.
"Shade Boaventura – I will carry him, he is one of my marines, and I am responsible for his survival. Come on, Harlan – they might return soon. We must get out of here."
"Sir, thank you for saving us – you have done a good job with those Hell Knights."
"What do you mean Harlan? When I entered the room, the Hell Knights were already dead," Boyd replied with visible surprise.
Kyle froze in place. If the Major did not slaughter those demons... then who did?
"Judging by their wounds, Corporal, they have been felled by at least two chaingunners. Where are they? I gave strict orders that no one was to follow the squad."
The Major examined the wounds – they looked like pistol-inflicted, yet were as numerous as if a chaingun was applied. Or perhaps the assailants were many?
"Sir, I do not know what happened – what I remember was that the demons turned towards that tunnel, as if something new and very unexpected came from there. That is all."
"We will talk about this later, Harlan. Let's move out already" – the Major was carrying private Shade and headed for the exit.
Still, Kyle felt that something was wrong. He took a last look at the room – the rock chunks, the bodies all over the floor, the bloodstains, the small black box...
Small black box?
The marine was suddenly chilled to the bone. He was truly scared as he realized what that item actually was.
A demonic black container! It was not there before.
Before he could shout a warning, the black box hummed and sparks flowed all over its surface. Its top opened, revealing a blazing wave of energy that roared through the room, exuding unbearable cold waves. Then it all went silent.
Major Boyd looked at Kyle, wondering whether to ask what had just happened. Then, one of the dead marines suddenly grabbed his leg.
"Gah!" the officer exclaimed and shot the unrelenting limb. Gruesome groans filled the chamber as the dead marines came back to life, their eyes glowing with unholy fire.
No order was necessary – the marines ran back towards the exit. Several bullets ricocheted from the walls, as the Former Marines behind them had gathered their full power and chased their living victims.
"Run! Run, damn it!"
Several other bullets flew by, as the zombies were following closely, unrelenting in their hunt for warm blood. Just a few more meters... they were out in the cave. The zombies did not hesitate and followed them mindlessly. The Major shouted something in his communications device. As they reached the base, the marines there were waiting. The battle that followed ended with the destruction of all Formers.
Kyle Harlan and Major Boyd had survived. But the nightmare was only beginning...