Reaper was encased in darkness. He felt the world moving without him. There was a rhythmic beating somewhere. A heart beat? His heart beat maybe? But then it stopped. Maybe this was him dying? Maybe this was how everyone passes on? But it wasn't over. Pain gripped Reaper's body, engulfing him within the darkness. Reaper couldn't find the strength to move. The pain had swallowed him whole. Every cell in his body, every inches of him screamed in pain. Then it all came back to him.

C-24. Olduvai. Sarge, Mira, Duke, and Sam. Sam? Where's Sam? Reaper thought.

"John!" Sam screamed.

Then like a key, Sam's words unlocked him. Reaper's eyes focused. He was lying on the floor in the storeroom. Reaper pushed himself upright. He felt no pain surge through him at all. He looked down at the tourniquet Vera had tied onto his leg. He pulled the shirt from his leg, revealing that his wound was completely healed. All over his body every laceration, every gash, every bullet wound, it was all healed. There were no signs of any damage to him. Reaper stood and looked around the room. The barricade beside him had fallen in. The door itself was ripped open. Reaper looked around the room; there was no sign of Sam or Mira.

"Sam! Vera?" Reaper called.

There was no answer.

Reaper pressed his comm. "Vera do you copy? Over."

The comm was silent.

"Vera this is Reaper, if you can hear me come in. Over." Reaper said.

But the comms remained silent. If Vera and Sam were alive, he'd have to find them. If Sam and Vera were together, Vera would give her life to keep Sam safe. If not, there was no telling what was out in those halls. And dammit if he was leaving them in this hellhole, dead or not. Reaper picked up his weapon and slammed a fresh clip into it. He slung the strap over his shoulder and walked out of the storeroom.

Reaper moved down the corridors with a newfound energy. Every sound was amplified, every sight further detailed. He could tell the smells between recently spilled blood and coagulated blood. He could smell the decaying flesh mixed with sweat and saliva. His boots echoed like drums in his ears. He rounded a corner. In front of him was a slashing Imp. In a split second, Reaper had his gun up and fired. The Imp went down immediately. It took a moment for Reaper to realize how fast he'd just moved. But the shock was short-lived. He heard the sounds of Imps down the next corridor. Reaper turned to the next corridor.

Several half-changed charged down the corridor. Reaper opened fire. The half-changed went down quickly in one pile. Reaper walked over their bodies, jogging down the corridor. He turned again, finding a lower section and upper second. A single half-changed charged up the stair at him. Reaper fired, easily taking him out.

Up on the upper level, three more half-changed ran in front of him. Reaper looked into his scope and fired. Each one went down with no more than two shots. Reaper walked down the stairs and looked into one of the two corridors. One half-changed ran towards him. Reaper fired quickly, sending the creature to the floor.

Behind him, the doors hissed as a fully changed Imp pulled open the doors. Reaper fired, but the Imp kept coming. The shots forced the imp against the wall. Reaper spotted a flammable canister and fired. The canister exploded, engulfing the Imp in flames.

Reaper turned down the second corridor. Across the corridor charged and Imp and a half-changed. Reaper kicked off the wall, leaping over them. He fired, taking out the half-changed first, then the Imp. He turned and moved through the corridor.

"Sam? Vera?" He whispered.

There was no answer.

Reaper passed through another door into another corridor. He moved fast and rounded a corner. An Imp spotted him and turned around. Reaper fired, only to miss it. He followed the Imp around the corner. He rounded the corner and followed it toward a small staircase. Reaper stepped off the stairs to find himself in front of a larger staircase and a door.

"Sam?" Reaper called. He walked up the stairs. He hung close to the wall as he reached the top.

From the side, the Imp lashed out at him. Reaper fired quickly, killing the Imp. He kept walking onto the upper level when he heard the revving of a chainsaw. He looked up and saw a larger bodied Imp charging him with the saw. Reaper quickly slammed a new mag into hi weapon and leapt over the Imp. He shot at the chainsaw, shooting it from the Imp's hand. The Imp roared viciously, swinging its massive claws at Reaper. Reaper dodged, unable to fire. He ran into the railing with the Imp charging him again. Reaper flipped over the railing and landed on the ground level. The Imp roared above him. Reaper reached into his belt and pulled out a timed mine. He tossed it across the floor and moved.

The Imp jumped down from the upper level right above the mine. Below its feet, the mine sounded. The Imp looked down as the mine exploded. Reaper shielded his face as the Imp exploded into a rain of blood and pieces. He exhaled and stood.

Reaper walked down the corridor to another door. The door opened. Reaper entered slowly. "Sam?" he called.

Suddenly a low growl burst form behind him. Reaper turned as a partial Imp clawed his weapon away. The Imp lunged at Reaper, driving him into a concrete beam. For a moment, the room blacked out.

"John?" Sam called.

Sam's voice drew Reaper back. His vision wavered for a second. He looked around at his surrounding when something bit down on his right shoulder. Reaper's head snapped to the right. The partial Imp that had attacked him was trying to eat his shoulder. Reaper reached out his with left hand for something. His fingers ran along a pipe. Reaper grabbed the pipe and shoved it into the Imp's open mouth.

The Imp's mouth closed around the pipe, propping it open. It shook its head from side to side, trying to shake it loose form its mouth. Reaper used the time to roll from its reach. He noticed the creature was attached to a cybernetic chair. Son of a bitch was Pinky.

Reaper spotted a chainsaw to his right. He quickly lifted the tool and revved it to life. The Pinky Imp looked at Reaper. It squeezed its jaws tight, closing it on the pipe. The pipe ripped through the top of its jaw and protruded out. Reaper slammed the saw down onto Pinky's head. The Imp shrieked in pain as blood squirted from the wound. Reaper swung the chainsaw as the Imp lashed out with its claws. Reaper moved back, trying to keep out of the creatures reached. He racked the saw over its back, trying to slow it down.

Pinky wheeled around, exposing his cybernetic connection. Reaper took the chainsaw and slammed the saw down on the connections. Pinky shrieked and tried to lash out at Reaper. Reaper managed to avoid Pinky's strike and held the saw down. Pinky tried to maneuver with his chair, but the connected was damaged. The wheels partially worked and couldn't hold his weight. Reaper dropped the chainsaw and picked up his weapon. He aimed at Pinky's head and fired, putting the man out of his misery. Reaper exhaled deeply, walking past Pinky's body.

"Sam? Mira?" he called into his comm.

There was still no response.

Reaper walked out of the room and stopped. Ahead of him was the surface elevator. The Lockdown was still in place for another two minutes. But his attention was draw away by the smell of singe flesh and ozone. Reaper turned his head and found a large blast sight in the facility wall. The wall was still disintegrating as Reaper drew near. The BFG had done this. Reaper walked past the blast sight and looked down the corridor. He walked down the corridor, watching the bodies. His gun light fell to all side, until it fell over Sam's crumpled form.

Sam was lying face down on the floor. Reaper lowered his weapon and knelt by her side. Her leg had been badly injured at some point, tied off by Mira's shirt. But there was no sign of Mira anywhere. Reaper cautiously touched Sam's face. "Sam?"

"You're alive." Sam whispered.

"Sh, don't talk." Reaper said.

"Last man standing, Reaper." Reaper turned from Sam slowly. Sarge stood down the hall from them, just near the corner, dragging something beside him. He was bloodied and beat to hell, but the bastard was still alive. His eyes narrowed on Sarge's bloody neck, where a visible bite mark bled down his neck. The man was infected. Reaper felt Sam stiffen behind him. It was a trap.

"I think they need medical attention." Sarge said, motioning toward the floor.

It was then Reaper spotted Vera's body, the unseen weight Sarge had dragged. She hung above the floor, held up by Sarge's grasp of her tank. Her head leaned completely back toward the floor, her eyes were closed, her body motionless. Reaper couldn't even hear a single breath come from her. Sarge released Mira's shirt and took a step toward Reaper. Reaper's eyes watched as Vera's still form hit the ground with a sickening thud. Her head rolled to the side, unfazed by the action.

"Can you get to the elevator?" Reaper whispered to Sam.

"I'm not sure." Sam answered.

"Try." Reaper said. He rose from the ground and faced Sarge completely. He walked out into the center of the corridor, holding his weapon ready. "Where are the survivors Kid found?"

"I took care of that problem." Sarge answered. "Quarantine's almost over. Power should be back on any minute."

Reaper glanced down the corridor as Sam dragged herself toward the elevator. He looked back at Sarge. "You killed the Kid."

"We're all killers, Reaper. You, me, Kid, Mira. It's what they pay us for." Sarge answered.

"They pay you to shoot your men?" Reaper questioned.

"Quarantine complete." Called the robotic voice. "Elevator's back online."

Reaper's eyes looked past Sarge to Vera's body. There was no telling how long she'd gone without air. One minute, two, five. Anything longer than four minutes caused permanent brain damage or death. He had to get her from Sarge and to the elevator. A sharp sound caught Reaper's attention. His eyes darted to Sarge's left hand. He watched as Sarge's glove ripped from the transformation. Reaper knew the pain surging through Sarge's body. He could kill him now before he'd finished transforming. He should kill him now, while Sarge was distracted by the pain.

Sarge looked down at his fist. He clenched it tight and relaxed it. He looked up at Reaper. "It's finished."

Reaper watched closely. Any minute now and things would get interesting real quick.

Sarge stepped further away from Vera. "What do you say we go outside and get some fresh air?"

Reaper raised his weapon at Sarge.

Sarge stopped. His eyes dropped to Reaper's weapon. He looked up at Reaper, almost laughing. "Are you gonna shot me?"

Reaper nodded. "Yeah I was thinking about it."

"What you got left?" Sarge asked.

Reaper shrugged lightly. "Half a clip. You?"

Sarge looked down at the BFG. "I've got one round." He aimed and fired in a split second.

The final blue blast of energy sped toward Reaper. Reaper leapt out of the way, firing his weapon in response. Sarge dodged the assault and disappeared around the corner. Reaper hit the wall and waited. He could hear Sarge moving away from him, deeper into the compound. Reaper ducked down and moved to Vera. He quickly lifted her into his arms and moved her out of sight. He laid her back on the floor beside the wall. Her face was pale beneath the layers of dried and fresh blood. Some of it hers, caused by the fresh and reopened lacerations on her face, and some of it the Imp's slaughtered. The tips of her, now short, white hair was dried in blood and clung to parts of her face. Reaper pressed his hand against her bruised throat. He felt a faint pulse, giving him hope. Reaper quickly reached into his vest and pulled out a second syringe. He pulled off the cover and stabbed it into her chest. Reaper injected the full amount into Vera's chest and removed the syringe. He waited for Vera to start breathing again, but she didn't.

"C'mon Vera, breathe." Reaper muttered. He bent down and started resuscitative breathing.

With one breath into her system, Vera jerked to life. She coughed hard for a few seconds, before taking a deep breath on her own. When her instincts kicked in, she lashed out at Reaper, thinking him the enemy.

Reaper caught her hand easily. "Vera, it's me. It's me."

"John." Vera gasped. She relaxed on the floor, breathing heavily. "God, I thought you were dead."

"Far from it." Reaper replied. "You hurt?"

Vera shook her head. "I'll live. But Sam-"

"I found her. She's on her way to the elevator." Reaper explained.

"Sarge. He's-"

Reaper nodded. "I know. Can you move?"

Vera pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Yeah."

"Get to elevator. Stay with Sam." Reaper ordered. He rose to his feet, lifting Vera with him. He stepped from her and looked around the corner.

"What are you going to do?" Vera asked.

Reaper looked back. "I'm going after Sarge."

"John-"

"Someone has to keep him from getting to the elevator." Reaper explained. He grabbed the back of her head and pressed his forehead against hers. "If I don't make it back, pop an ST and get the fuck top side. For once in you life, do what I say, understand?"

Vera nodded slowly. "Loud and clear."

"Go." Reaper said. He released her head, letting her short hair pass through his fingers.

Vera turned and started down the corridor. She glanced over her shoulder once and stared at Reaper for a brief second. She said a silent prayer before turning again and heading further down the corridor. She swore to herself if they survived, things would change.

Reaper turned back to the corner once Vera was out of his sight. Maybe if they survived he'd finally take that chance he'd denied, but first thing first. He walked around the corner, weapon ready. He walked slowly down the dark corridor towards the Ark chamber. Reaper scanned all side, but couldn't see Sarge anywhere. He slowly ventured further into the chamber, watching for Sarge. He aimed his weapon at every sound he heard. Movement caught Reaper's eye from the second level. He snapped his weapon to the left and fired. But nothing was there. Reaper slowly walked toward the place he'd seen movement. Another sound echoed through the room, on his right. Reaper turned, but he could see Sarge's shadow out of his zone. Reaper walked along the rim of the second level, watching for movement above him. He walked toward one of the concrete pillars, watching the level closely. He was almost to the pillar when he heard something from behind it. Reaper quietly moved up the steps and slipped around the back of the pillar. He heard Sarge swing something heavy where his head would have been. But there was nothing. Reaper stepped out form behind the pillar. Sarge tuned. Reaper fired. Sarge brought the container in front of his face behind the bullet hit him. The force sent Sarge staggering behind the pillar.

Reaper followed Sarge, but lost sight of him again. Reaper moved from the pillars, searching for Sarge. He caught sounds in every direction and shadows at every corner. Sarge was playing with him. Waiting for Reaper to use the last bullet he had. Reaper walked toward the front of the chamber by the memorial. He turned toward the chamber, scanning with his weapon. From behind, the Ark Memorial shattered from inhuman force. Reaper jerked forward as Sarge slammed into his body. Reaper turned quickly and aimed his weapon. Sarge stepped from behind the frame, into Reaper's shot.

"Semper fi, motherfucker!" Sarge called. He jumped from the platform, onto the floor. "Faithful to the corps, John." Sarge unclipped his belt and dropped it onto the floor.

Reaper lifted his head form his eyes piece. If he was smart, he'd fire now and send Sarge running again. Reaper wanted to pull the trigger, send Sarge's brain matter flying onto the walls after what he'd done to Kid. But chances were that his last bullet wouldn't be enough to stop Sarge the way he was. If Reaper was going to take him out, it would have to be hand-to-hand. Reaper lowered his weapon and pointed it at the ceiling. He fired his last round and removed the strap from his shoulder.

The moment Reaper reached for his belt, Sarge lunged. Reaper threw his belt onto the ground and brought his arms up. Sarge slammed his arm down in Reaper, but Reaper blocked it. Sarge swung his fist, but Reaper caught Sarge's arm and pushed it away. As he moved, Reaper swung his elbow around toward Sarge's head. Sarge caught Reaper's elbow and slammed his elbow into Reaper's face. Reaper took the hit and swung his fist at Sarge. He slammed into Sarge's face once, pulling away from his grasp. Reaper kicked Sarge in the upper arm, forcing him backwards. Reaper punched him, but Sarge grabbed Reaper's arm and heaved him onto his shoulder. Sarge spun his around and threw him into the air. Reaper crashed onto a crate, collapsing the thing crate. Reaper got up just as Sarge reached him. Sarge swung his fist at Reaper, only to have Reaper catch his fist and jerk it to the side. Reaper slammed his fist into Sarge's face several times. Sarge swung his fist, but Reaper pushed it to the side, using the opening to slam his fist into Sarge's side. Reaper grabbed Sarge's hand and forced it back into his face. Reaper kicked Sarge, forcing him back. He tried to kick again, but Sarge ducked backwards. He flung himself up and kicked Reaper in the chest. Reaper doubled in pain as Sarge rolled over his grabbed onto Reaper's vest and hurled him over his body. Reaper was thrown across the room onto the upper floor. Sarge ran after him and leapt onto the second level. Reaper rolled out of the way as Sarge's foot nearly crushed his skull. Sarge slammed his fist on Reaper, but Reaper caught his fist. And held on. He forced Sarge's fist onto the metal railing and wrapped one of the rods around his wrist, holding him there. Reaper slammed his fist into Sarge's side. The impact forced Sarge to drop to his knee. Reaper moved from beneath Sarge and shoved his knee into Sarge's back, pinning his neck against the bar. He grabbed Sarge's hand, trying to pull it pin Sarge down. Reaper almost had Sarge's hand on the top bar of the railing when he heard a low growl come from Sarge.

Suddenly Sarge lurched backwards. Reaper was thrown into the air and crashed on the floor. Sarge pulled his hand free from the railing, completely ripping the railing from the floor. Sarge kicked Reaper, forced him into the pile of demolished railing. Sarge slammed his foot onto Reaper's chest, pinning him in the pile. Reaper felt the ends of the railings dig into his back. He grabbed Sarge's foot, trying to push him off. But Sarge wouldn't move. Instead, he slammed down harder. The force jerked Reaper further into the pile. The serrated edges of the railing pierced Reaper's vest, impaling him through the back. Reaper gasped in shock. Sarge stood above him, breathing heavily. He stomped on Reaper again, shoving the rods deeper into the ends. Reaper chocked on his blood. His hands fell from Sarge's foot. Sarge lowered his foot from Reaper's chest.

"Welcome to new school motherfucker." Sarge said. He kicked Reaper once last time in the head. Reaper's head snapped to the side near the edge. His hand hung over the edge of the floor. Sarge turned from Reaper's body and jumped from the level.

yeah wans't gonna change much with this ending here. but there was an added j/v scene.