"Shit." Mira muttered. She fumbled with her comm in her hands. She had been kneeling in the dark for several minutes, trying to figure out what was wrong with her comm. So far, she'd learned it wasn't her battery that had died. Still, that hadn't helped her much, and she growing more and more uneasy being in the open corridor.
Mira took a deep breath. Relax, Mira. This was happened before. Just reset it the way Mac taught you. Mira pulled out a pen light she'd swiped from the infirmary before leaving. She flicked it on and popped it into her mouth. She popped open the casing and shone the light on the exposed wires and circuit board. Mira quickly located the problem. One of the wires had fused to an exposed metal plate, keeping the signal from connecting. Mira pulled out her boot knife and carefully pried the wire from the plate. She immediately picked up residual sounds from other comm units. Mira cut a small piece of cloth from her uniform and wrapped it around the wire. It would burn through in hours and her comm would be scrap, but it would give her plenty of time though. She reassembled her comm and pulled the light from her mouth.
"Sarge, do you copy?" Mira asked.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Sarge demanded.
Mira groaned internally. The conversation was already off to a terrible started. "Down the rabbit hole and back. What's your position?"
"Sarge is heading toward the Genetics Lab. Destroyer's lost on comm and camera. Portman's on the can. Reaper and Kid are still sweeping the corridors, heading toward Portman.." Pinky informed.
Mira nodded to herself. "Copy. Sarge, where do you want me?"
"Get your ass toward the air lock, double time it." Sarge ordered.
"Copy." Mira latched her comm back onto her belt. She picked up her weapon and stood. Through the silent hall, Mira heard a low growl. She turned quickly, finding nothing but an empty hall.
"Mira above you!" Pinky yelled.
Mira didn't waste a second, she dropped to her knees and rolled from her current position, catching the sensation of air whipping over her body. She turned around quickly, still on the ground, and looked up. The vent cover had been removed prior to Mira's arrival, something she hadn't taken account of while repairing her comm. Through the gaping hole of the opening was a long deformed arm of one of the creatures. It wasn't the one they had seen in Genetics, but it was still a problem.
"Der'mo!" Mira yelled. She opened fire as the creature ripped open the vent.
It hit the ground and attacked quickly. It was faster than Mira's aim and reflexes. It leapt out of her line of sight with ease. Mira rolled from its reach as it tried to claw at her. She swung her gun, knocking its arm to the side. Mira kicked up her legs and curved her back. She swung her legs over her body, finally getting to her feet. Mira spun around, trying to get it back into her line of sight. As she turned, its massive hand grabbed her face. Terror filled Mira, suddenly finding herself reliving the sewer tunnels. The creature roar viciously and threw Mira into the wall. Mira's back hit the wall, sending her stumbling onto the ground. The room spun around, but she refused to go down without a fight. She opened fire, not know where the creature was. She could hear it cry out, she must've tagged it at least. Mira rolled onto the stomach and managed to get back onto her feet.
The creatures hand caught Mira's foot and pulled her to the ground. Mira hit chest first, its claw cut into her skin and it pulled her across the grated floor. Mira's strap slipped off her arm. The creature lifted Mira and slammed her into the ground behind it. Mira grunted on the impact as her head hit the grate. Mira turned her body and kicked at the creature. Her foot made contact with the creatures face, enraging it more. It jerked her violently from the ground. Before Mira could brace herself. the creature slammed her into the wall. Mira collided with pipes, catching her left arm. Another pull from the creature caused an eruption of pain in Mira's shoulder. It threw her across the hall, once again into the wall. Mira hit hard and slumped to the floor. Her head spun, completely disoriented. She tried to catch her breath, but that last tossed had seriously jarred her lungs. Mira could hear the creature coming toward her. She could feel its breath on her face. This was it.
Suddenly the creature's attention was diverted by something coming around the corner. It hissed loudly and climbed back into the air shaft. Mira managed to move her right hand and grasp her back up weapon on her holster. She fumbled to get a grip and put herself up against the wall. If the smaller one had left, odds were the bigger one was coming at them, coming to finish her off for its own amusement. Mira struggled to lift her gun and aim it toward the corner.
Two beams of light rounded the corner. Mira lowered her gun and exhaled painfully. She cringed as the action aggravated her lungs further. She slipped her pistol back into her holster and slumped against the wall. She spotted Reapers boots before he knelt beside her.
"What the hell happened?" Reaper asked.
Mira motioned her head toward the vent system. "Vents...damn thing...came at me from the vent."
Reaper and the Kid looked up at the shredded vent opening. "Kid."
"On it." Kid answered. He moved down the hall and stood near the vent, watching it closely.
Reaper turned back to Mira. Her left arm was at an odd angle. He reached out and pressed against her shoulder, causing Mira to groan loudly. Reaper sighed heavily. "Dislocated."
"Shocking." Mira muttered painfully. "Same shoulder too."
Reaper slung his weapon took Mira's left wrist. He placed his left foot against her collar bone. "You ready?"
"What the fuck are you-?"
Reaper yanked Mira's arm back into its socket. The distinct popping sound echoed through the hall. Reaper lowered his foot and released Mira's wrist.
Mira lurched forward, clutching her shoulder. "Shit!" She took a short breath.
"Slow your breathing." Reaper said.
Mira tried to take a slow breath, but she found that she couldn't. She couldn't breathe at all in fact. Her lungs weren't expanding at all. Mira winced and clutched her left side. She gasped for air that never reached her lungs.
"Mira?" Reaper asked. He watched as her lips started turning blue before his eyes. She couldn't breathe. "Shit."
Kid glanced back toward them. "What's wrong?"
"Her lung's constricting. She can't breathe." he answered. He quickly pulled the vest from Mira's chest and opened up her uniform. He reached onto his belt and retrieved a hard black case. Reaper popped it open and pulled out a syringe. He pulled the cap off with his teeth and stabbed Mira in the chest with the needle.
Mira cringed and leaned her head back against the wall. Slowly, she started getting air again. Mira took a deep breath, inhaling slowly. She opened her eyes and looked up at Reaper. "Was that-?"
Reaper nodded. "Yeah. Just in case this happened."
Mira nodded her head." Thanks."
"Breathing better?"
"Yeah." she answered. Mira pushed herself off the wall and fixed her shirt. She slipped her vest back over her body and secured her weapon.
"Sarge, we got Mira." Reaper informed.
"Copy. Continue corridor sweep." Sarge ordered
"Copy that. Let's move." Reaper said.
They had only gotten a few steps when they heard Portman scream. It took only a second for them to sprint down through the halls. The air lock was sealed without Portman and Destroyer standing guard where they'd been positioned.
"Pinky you got Portman?" Reaper asked.
"He's on the can." Pinky replied.
"Son of a bitch." Mira muttered.
They rounded the corner to the bathroom. Their eyes instantly went to the ceiling of the room. Portman hung upside down from the ceiling in the creatures grasp. It swung him around the stall, smashing it to pieces. Portman could do nothing but scream in the creatures hold.
"Contact!" Mira screamed. She jumped down the small stair case into the main floor of the bathroom and opened fire.
Reaper and Kid dropped beside her and followed suit. They opened fire, causing the creature to release Portman. He collapsed onto the debris covered ground, unmoving. Their clips were empty now. They hurried to reload their weapons, while the creature was distracted.
Suddenly Sarge pushed past them and aimed his weapon. Reaper grabbed Mira and pulled her down beside him. Sarge fired a single shot. A small mass of blue shot from the weapon. As it reached the ceiling, the blast exploded, melting everything in a blaze of heat. It continued to eat away at the ceiling, increasing its destruction radius.
"Holy shit." Sarge said.
Kid rose from the ground and moved toward Portman. He shielded his eyes from the intense light and heat emanating from the blast. He ultimately looked away from the blast site as he reached Portman. He placed his hand on Portman's neck, feeling for a pulse. Kid turned and shook his head. "He's gone."
Sarge shook his head.
Mira rose from the ground. Her eyes glued to the blasted ceiling. "Damn thing moved through the vent system. Fuckers probably the same one that nearly got me."
Sarge turned to Mira. He shifted his eyes to Reaper. "Reaper, you and Kid take Portman and head towards Genetics. You'll find Destroyer in a holding cell."
"Fuck." Kid muttered. Destroyer had been the only one to look after the Kid. He'd taken him under his wing.
Reaper hesitated for the first time in his life. There was something in his voice, and the way he looked at Mira that set him off.
"Now." Sarge ordered.
Reaper shook off the hesitation and nodded. He shouldered his weapon and walked to Portman. He grabbed Portman's arm and hauled him over his shoulders. Kid took point and lead the way out of the bathroom.
Sarge turned back to Mira. His eyes shifted before Mira's sight. She knew immediately she was in trouble. Sarge lowered his weapon and grabbed Mira by the vest. Before Mira could do anything, Sarge shoved her against her wall. her feet hovered over the floor, held up by Sarge's strength. "You are going to tell me just how the fuck you got separated from me!"
"I thought one of those things was coming up on our tail. When I was sure there was nothing, you'd gone on to the armory." she explained. She tried not to fidget in the oversized vest.
"Explain your comm silence." Sarge demanded. His eyes narrowed down at her.
"My comm cut out completely. I had to reset the damn thing. By the time I'd done it, you were heading towards Genetics and Reaper and Kid were heading toward me." Mira continued.
Sarge motioned his head toward the ceiling. "That fucker in the vent?"
Mira shook her head. "It attacked me in the hall. The only warning I got was from Pinky, and the only reason I'm alive is because Reaper and the Kid drove it off."
Sarge leaned closer to her. "Destroyer and Portman are both dead. They might be alive if you hadn't fucked up back in that corridor."
Mira lifted her head. Whatever respect she held for Sarge was in the shit now. She set her jaw together. "I didn't post them on guard duty. Their blood isn't on my hands."
"Tell that to Goat." Sarge said. He dropped Mira to the ground. "You did a hell of a good job watching his back."
Whatever had gotten under Sarge's skin, it didn't matter anymore. He wasn't acting like a CO, he was making these losses personal. Making them her fault. Mira narrowed her eyes at Sarge, fighting every urge not to try and beat the shit out of him. At this moment, he'd probably beat the shit out of her and leave her for the creatures. So Mira did the smart thing for the first time in a while; she kept quiet.
"Pick up Portman's gun." Sarge ordered. He turned and marched out into the hall.
Mira walked into the debris pile and fished out Portman's lost weapon. She could still feel the heat radiate off the walls and ceiling. She slung the strap over her shoulder, adding its weight to her load. Mira adjusted the strap, ensuring it wouldn't hinder her breathing.
"Dimitrov!" Sarge yelled.
Mira closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned and opened her eyes. She said a silent prayer as she jogged out into the hall where Sarge was waiting.
yeah there's a little agitation from Sarge there.