To describe the sensation of traveling through the Ark would be a waste of time and pointless to someone who'd never traveled. It never seemed to be the same experience to each traveler.
Reaper emerged on the other side of the Ark on Olduvai. He staggered across the Arc platform, managing to keep his balance after travel. His vision was blurred and he was nauseas, but he stayed firmly planted on the ground. Given the number of years since he went through, and the fact that he'd been sedated during his previous trip through, Reaper was glad for small miracles.
Destroyer came staggering through the Ark behind Reaper. He was pale and close to vomiting, but he managed a smile at Reaper.
Mira emerged through next, but her steadiness was not a strong as the others. After a matter of only three seconds after passing, she dropped to her knees. Her eyes were closed tight; her lips were tightly pressed together as she inhaled deeply through her nose. The nausea hit her hard, tearing at her body with every ounce of strength it had. It took all of Mira's concentration not to puke on the platform. When she seemed steady enough to open her eyes, she found Destroyer above her, ready to help her up.
Just as Destroyer helped Mira off the pad, Goat, Duke, and Sarge came through seconds after each other. Each one looked dizzy and nauseas, but none of them vomited on the floor. When Kid came through, he managed to stagger a few feet from the platform before he vomited on the floor. Portman was far less chivalrous and vomited the second his feet hit the ground.
"Why do we gotta come all the way out here?" Portman asked, whipping his mouth. "Why can't UAC rent-a-cops- take care of this bullshit?"
Kid wiped his mouth and joined the others off the pad. "Is it always that rough?"
"Believe me; it used to be a lot rougher." Came a voice from across the room. The team turned to see a partially intact man wheel over. From his mid-chest up, he was a man, but from below his spine was synchronized with a cybernetic chair. The man wheeled to them with ease across the sleek floor. His arms were folded across his chest. He stood a few inches short than Vera. Had he been completely intact, he would be taller than her, possibly matching Goat's height. The man had dark brown, curly hair than hung near his eyes. His arms were folded across his chest as he reached the team. "There was a time when Ark travel was susceptible to...let's say, major turbulence." He explained.
Kid leaned closer to Reaper. "What's he mean?"
"He means, he went to one galaxy, his ass went to another." Reaper explained.
Mira pressed her lips together, trying very hard not to imagine what Reaper had just said. She caught Reaper glancing in her direction.
"Call it a scientific miscalculation." He explained. "Unbelievable as it may seem, UAC does make the odd, tiny mistake."
Sarge titled his head sideways, taking a better look at their half-cybernetic friend.
"Marcus Pinzerrowski. You call me Pinky. Follow me." Pinky said. He turned and wheel to the side of the room.
"Where are the other scientists?" Sarge asked.
"In the atrium." Pinky answered. He reached a console just off the ARC platform and settled himself behind it.
"Pinky put us up." Sarge ordered.
Pinky flipped several switches on his consol." Activating remote personal surveillance." Numerous screens came online. The camera's mounted on their chests and guns provided ample surveillance.
"Circle up men. On my three." Sarge said.
The unit moved into a close circle. "One...two...three."
Everyone drew up their weapons and aimed in different directions. Mira got Goat's weapon to the left of her head as she aimed her weapon at Destroyer. Pinky scanned the screens in front of him.
"Kill cams up and running." Pinky announced.
Sarge lowered his weapon. "People this room is a code red. No one gets in without our permission. It stays ours at all costs." He turned to Mac. "Mac, stay here with our friend and secure the door. Men on me, let's move out."
Mac looked less than pleased he was staying behind, but he nodded as the others moved out.
The team walked through the circular door out of the Ark chamber. They entered a large hall leading toward an open room. The atrium if memory served. The seventy some odd scientists stood around the room, gossiping and mumbling as the team entered. No doubt agitated to have left their work unfinished and to have a team of drones come in and snoop through it. Mira caught a glance at a young girl in the arms of her father, pointing them out. What sort of a place was this for children? Sure her own childhood was screwed up, but at least she'd been on Earth. She cast a glance in Reaper's direction, but dropped it quickly.
"Where the fuck are we?" Duke asked.
"Couple million light-years from breakfast." Goat answered.
"And human decency." Mira replied, motioning her head toward Portman. The leach was sauntering toward a group of women sitting on a bench.
"When can I start evacuating people through the Ark?" someone asked. He looked like UAC security.
"We're at a level five quarantine; no one gets in or out." Sarge explained.
Portman sauntered toward the women, opening his arms as if he was their personal savior from whatever crisis had come. "Ladies, we're under a level five quarantine, so I am just going to have to strip search you girls."
Sick fuck. Mira thought as she shook her head.
Thankfully, the girls were smarter than Portman. "I don't think so."
"Hold that thought." Portman's eyes caught a look at another woman as he tried his line once more. "We're under a level five quarantine, so I am just going to have to strip-"
"Portman!" Sarge called.
Portman silenced quickly.
The woman stopped several feet from Sarge. She stood a few inches short than Sarge. Bright blond hair hung from a tight, pristine pony. She wore a clean lab coat over grey shirt and pants. Her face was smooth and slender, giving her a very natural beauty.
"Sargent, this is Doctor Samantha Grimm." He introduce. "She's been assigned to retrieve data from the lab."
Mira took in Doctor Grimm's stature. She had heard stories of her from Reaper. Brilliant mind, early doctorate receiver. Mira couldn't help but feel a tad intimidated by her. The difference between her and John was as obvious as night and day. The good doctor looked to Sarge first. "Sargent."
"Doctor Grimm." Sarge replied.
She looked to Reaper next. "Hello John."
"Hello Samantha." Reaper replied.
Behind Reaper, Duke eyes over the doctor. "Hello Samantha."
Sarge, Destroyer, and Mira all turned to Duke and glared at him. Duke suddenly returned to his professional stance. Mira shook her head, hoping Duke could keep his pants calm until the mission was finished.
"Sarge this operation is a code red; we really don't have room for passengers." Reaper said.
"Excuse me, but I have ordered to retrieve data from three different servers; Anthropology, archeology, and Genetics." Doctor Grimm replied. Her tone was clearly one to match against Reapers.
"This is a military operation, Doctor, we're not here to retrieve your science homework." Reaper shot back.
"Look I got an idea. Why don't you ask your CO what your orders are, soldier." Doctor Grimm suggested.
Suddenly all eyes drew to Sarge, who'd very graciously had stayed out of the conversation until he noticed he was needed. Reaper looked at his CO, praying he wasn't wrong.
Sarge looked to Doctor Grimm. "To contain and neutralize the threat, protect the civilians, and retrieve..."
Reaper sighed in defeat.
"Retrieve UAC property." Sarge finished.
"Are we finally done here, because I've got work to do." Doctor Grimm replied. She turned on her heals and walked from the unit.
Mira's brows rose with great impression. The tension between the Grimm siblings apparently hadn't changed at all. Even off Earth Sam seemed to outrank her brother. It was extremely impressive and refreshing to watch someone rip into Reaper for a change. Someone besides herself anyways.
The team started up behind the good doctor.
"You chose this Reaper." Sarge reminded, glancing over his shoulder. "Is this gonna spoil my day?"
"No sir." Reaper replied.
Duke leaned over Reaper's shoulder. "Tell me you didn't let a fine lookin' piece of ass get away from you, Reaper."
Reaper looked over his shoulder, focusing all his concentration on not punching Duke. "She's my sister."
Duke's head shot back ad stopped mid step. "No shit."
"Don't do this again man." Destroyer warned.
"Do what?" Duke asked, faking innocence's.
Mira shook her head. "Ass."
They followed Hunegs and Sam down the side corridor, leaving to the lab entrance. The scientist voices had long since been silence.
"There are three sections to the facility." Sarge stated.
"Forensic Archeology, Genetics, and Weapons Research." Sam explained.
"You test weapons up here?" Portman asked.
"Well it's a dead planet. You want this stuff tested up here where it's safe, or in your own backyard?" Doctor Grimm asked. "We're primarily an archeological facility, weapons research is in its own separate area. It has nothing to do with Doctor Carmack's work."
"How many were inside when the lock down occurred?" Sarge asked.
"Only Doctor Carmack's team, that's six people." Doctor Grimm explained.
They paused at a large steel door, leading to the facility.
"In one of the carbon-dating labs there was an internal phone left off the hook." Doctor Grimm explained.
"Did you get anything?" Sarge asked.
Doctor Grimm to Hunegs and nodded. He held up the transmitter and played the recording. Immediately the sound of violent screaming filled the room. Everyone fell silent as they listened to the horrifying sounds. There were numerous voices, men, women, and something else. Mira took a deep breath and lowered her head. She'd heard screams like those long before she'd joined the marines. Hunegs let it play for a second before turning it off.
Sarge turned to Doctor Grimm. "Open the door."
Doctor Grimm turned to the control panel and opened the door.
There was a loud hiss as the pressure equalized between the two points. The door slowly opened into the black hallway.
"Portman, Goat, lead on." Sarge ordered.
Portman and Goat walked through the doors, checking the toxicity levels of the area.
"Magnesium, chromium, lead. It's all normal." Portman called.
"All clear." Goat seconded.
"Pinky give us a schematic."
"Uploading to you now." Pinky said. "Carmack's lab is isolated from the rest of the facility. The airlock is the only way in or out."
Sarge turned back to the team. "Portman, Goat, Genetics. Kid, Destroyer: the office where Carmack made the call from. Reaper, you and Mira keep Doctor Grimm here, safe on her salvage op." Mira was taken aback. Partnering her with Reaper had been the last thing Mira had expected. She tried not to look to Reaper or his sister as Sarge finished giving out orders. "Duke and I will take the Weapon's Lab, make sure the hardware's secure. Be safe gentlemen." He looked at each member, surveying their faces for questions.
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"Portman, Goat. On you."
Portman and Goat entered the tunnel. Their gun lights aiming the way through the darkness.
"Clear left." Portman said.
"Clear right." Goat replied.
Everyone began entering the tunnel.
"Five bucks says this shit ain't nothing but a disgruntled employee with a gun." Portman said.
From the sounds of the screams and the terror on Carmack's face, Reaper seriously doubted the fact.
"Florescent markings as rooms are cleared. Go." Sarge ordered.
alright, lets get this show on the road!