Okay, sorry for the massive delay. I've been loaded with school work and thinking through the plot. I'll try to make up for it but I can't promise it won't happen again. Please, enjoy.

Chapter 9

"Ammo check." Bishop said. The three others popped out their clips, inspected the ammo, and pushed them back in before locking the first rounds in place. Once Bishop heard the three bolts slide home, he began to move forward.

They walked down an alleyway towards the hive entrance. Blackwatch had already infiltrated the hive and had it secure for several weeks. But four days prior to the team's arrival things had gone sour. Spiked brawlers had shown up and torn through the main line of defence. The second checkpoint had held until a juggernaut came from deeper in the hive and destroyed the fixed turrets that had been placed. Now Blackwatch was attempting to evacuate the hive as waves of infected began storming their position.

The group continued to walk down the alley. Blackwatch goons were milling about around them. Trying to corral the Gentek scientist to a safe area. However, the Gentek geniuses seemed to have a hard time understanding the fact that they were going to die if they stayed. As a result, they were arguing with the soldiers every step of the way.

Typhon regarded the surrounding soldiers and scientists with little interest. They were more interested in the hive that lay a few meters ahead of them. They had been sent to clean up this mess and use it as a field test for the latest weapon against the infected. Also known as the Cure rounds.

These rounds resembled normal bullets except the tips were threaded like a screw and tapered off to a sharp point. The tips were made of a reinforced steel alloy. Behind the tip was a small, clear casing filled with a fluorescent white liquid. The liquid was created through modifications to the original Bloodtox. Now in a liquid form and highly concentrated. There were also changes to it's chemical make-up. It was different enough from Bloodtox that the immunity the infected had gained shouldn't apply to it. But that was what they were going to test.

The surrounding Blackwatch were questioning the intelligence of their superiors as they watched the four strange soldiers walk down the alley. When Red Crown had informed them that back-up had been deployed, they had expected at least a few squads of heavily armed soldiers. Instead they had been given four strangers wearing light armour and armed with assault rifles and side-arms. As far as they could tell, they didn't even have grenades.

Murmuring had broken out among the Blackwatch and Typhon could easily pick out the gist of what they were saying. "They sent four guys?" A soldier who leaned against the wall of a building to their right questioned angrily. The team continued on without pause.

They reached the entrance of the hive, basically a hole in the ground filled with red pustules, and began to step into it. They found the gap in the pustules they were looking for. A small ladder was apparent in the hole. They exchanged glances before Mentor stepped forward and lowered himself into the hole, using the ladder to make his way down. The rest of the team followed suit one after the other. Gunfire and infected screams echoed around them as they climbed down.

As the team made their way down the ladder they inspected their surroundings. They found themselves in a large square chamber that they recognized as one of New York's old power stations. Lights had been set up around the room allowing them to see without difficulty. There was an opening in the far wall that they knew led deeper into the hive.

The room was filled with Blackwatch soldiers. As well as several scientists. All of whom were standing below the hive opening waiting to use the ladder. The team made their way off the ladder with Jester jumping off ten feet from the ground. He landed softly and joined the rest of them.

A man wearing the stripes of a sergeant walked up to them. "Who are you supposed to be?" He asked. Bishop regarded him for a second before replying.

"Back-up." He said simply. The other man did not seem pleased with the answer.

"Where's the rest of your team?" He asked. Bishop gestured to the three men standing next to him. "Four men? They sent four men?" The sergeant asked angrily. "We have brawlers and a juggernaut here. What can four men possibly do?" Bishop simply shrugged and walked past him. The rest of them followed behind.

As Mentor passed the sergeant he said "Continue the evacuation." The sergeant just shook his head and began shouting orders for more men to head for the surface. Typhon made their way towards the opening they had spotted earlier. The sounds of bullets and flesh being ripped from flesh accompanied the screams of dying men and infected. The team walked on.

Several meters into the hallway the team found themselves shrouded in darkness. Without a word they dropped into low crouches and continued on silently. Their masks automatically amplifying the available light for them to see.

The next chamber they entered was much like the first. Except it was filled with the stench of death. It was also filled with bodies. Most dead, some alive. The dead ones were being torn apart and tripped over. While the live ones were trying to kill each other. Muzzles flashed and claws gleamed.

Hunters and walkers were throwing themselves against the disorganized lines of Blackwatch. Many of them died in the attempt. The ones that lived began tearing through the soldiers before they too were riddled with bullet holes.

There was a bright light that shot through the darkness before impacting a hunter and exploding in a ball of fire. The soldier who had released the rocket fell back behind the firing line to reload. Soon after, another hunter came barreling through the line in an attempt to reach the rocket-toting-soldier but was quickly ripped to shreds as it was caught in the cross fire.

The team regarded these events carefully, judging how much longer the Blackwatch would last. They figured they might go for another few hours before they were simply overwhelmed. As they had that thought, they knelt down and took up firing positions. Each of them zeroing in on a hunter. "Typhon. Red Crown, how copy?" Bishop said.

"Copy." Red Crown responded.

"Commencing Cure round field test." Bishop said.

"Roger that, Typhon. Report in after the test. You are not to engage the enemy directly. We need you alive. If the situation deteriorates, fall back. That's an order." Red Crown stated.

"Copy." Bishop ended the connection and spoke to his team. "Selective fire. Take out the hunters. Make each shot count." After a seconds hesitation, he said "Open fire."