Zone 10: Project Genesis
Chapter 3
Normal POV, VEX Chamber, 5:23pm.
The dead feasted rampant on the two fresh corpses as Johnson still gagged under their bite. His hand was barely able to raise up off the blood covered ground but was cut short as the left side of his rib cage was opened wide exposing his beating heart to the hungry.
With a slow cold stare he lifted up his head to watch as one of the eaters reached in to pull it out before his eyes.
"Ahhhhh...Thump!"
His head instantly went back down in death as the killer's teeth ripped into the organ with ease to enjoy the pure blood within.
Now with nether of them alive and the fun just beginning to die down, the comm under Captain Rodriguez went off under the grip of the master hunter who was taring into his neck with the spinal cord now visible.
"Alpha 3-0 this is Super 2-7 on approach to VEX headquarters. You boys ready for pickup?"
The voice echoed everyone's ears as Project slowly reached for the device to grab a strong hold on it. Unaware on how it worked, he gently shook it to hear.
"Captain Rodriguez? This is Auper 2-7. Come in."
Finding a small button on the side, Project raised it to his face to reply.
Sargent Moorland's POV, On approach to VEX Headquarters, 5:24pm.
"Shhhhaa... ..d..aaaoo...ww."
Looking to my comm system as I hoovered the chopper over the building, I checked the channel as I only got static from the other line. Seeing it was on the correct channel I tried again.
"Alpha 3-0? This is super 2-7. I'm inbound to the pad on your request for evac. Please respond."
Letting go of the comm I awaited my response to get more static. In confusion, I switch op channels to radio command.
"General Hoffer sir. This is Super 2-7, please respond."
Quickly I got back.
"What is it Super? You get to the pad yet for pick up?"
Looking down to the pad through my door window I replied to the General.
"Yes sir, but Alpha is not responding. I tried three times already and I only got static. Please advise."
"Have you landed?" Asked Hoffer in anger as I replied.
"No sir. I'm still waiting for...?" I was cut off roughly.
"Super, I don't care what your getting from Alpha 3-0, just land that chopper and radio them again."
"Yes sir." I replied in a calm tone as I let the comm down to retake control of the chopper.
Softly turning my rudders to the left, I brought in the chopper for a gentle touch down on the pad below.
I could see the large metal door leading down into the building from my window, and as I stared at it I went back to the previous comm channel to say again.
"Alpha 3-0, this is Super 2-7. I made touch down with the pad and I'm awaiting. Please respond. Captain Rodriguez?"
Letting the comm loose, I stared at the metal door as it remained shut and still. After some time I tried again.
"Super 2-7 to Alpha 3-0. Please advise your status, over?"
Leaning my head back on the seat, I let out a sigh as I continued to get static from the other line.
"What the fuck are they doing?" I asked myself as I switched channels.
"General Hoffer this is Super 2-7, over?"
He responded quite fast.
"Report Super 2-7."
Keeping my eyes on the door I replied.
"Alpha is still not responding sir. Should I return to base and await further orders?"
Immediately he replied.
"Super 2-7 if they are not responding then your advised to move in and locate them yourself. Ether way I need them back here so I can send in the cleanup crew. Understood?"
In concern I questioned.
"But General I'm by myself here. Shouldn't I...? "Again he cut me dead off.
"You have your orders Sargent! Get to it and report back to me once you have something useful!"
Letting go of the comm slightly I mumbled to him.
"Yes sir."
Gently putting the comm down on the radio, I made my exit out of the chopper.
As I stepped out I felt uneasy heading in alone. When I picked up that special forces soldiers from Delta team I could see some shit went down with him. You don't lose your whole team and walk out scared shitless covered in blood if something sure as fuck didn't happen.
Grabbing my sidearm, I rested it on my side to calmly get the door.
As it opened I saw that the lights were on and awaiting me.
This wasn't creepy at all.
Heading down the stairs, I neared the security checkpoint to see it was shut tight.
Approaching the controls I entered the code and watched as it opened slowly.
Carefully walking my way back out to the door, I widened my eyes as the complete other side of the door was covered in black ash and some bones.
"Holy shit." I said out loud as I walked through slowly to stare at a pair resting along the control station.
The door was knocked open and as I peeked my head in I found two more sets laying side by side.
"This is fucked up." I said to myself as I looked back down the hall to see not a soul in sight.
Forcing my body down the bright white hall with patches of ash between each step I took, I soon came to a large vault looking metal door. This had to be the main chamber.
Keeping a strong grip on my handgun, I stiffly entered to find two bodies resting on the ground.
My eyes instantly widened as I recognized who they were. Sargent Johnson and Captain Rodriguez. Both laid there dead with their bodies ripped apart.
In fear I began to move towards Rodriguez's corpse to see his whole neck was missing and black.
"Jesus Christ!" I said in utter disgust for his fate as I heard something behind me.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Raising my weapon up to the door I found no one there.
My whole body began to shake in place as soon heard.
"Ughhhh...?"
Bringing my head back around I found Rodriguez trying to get up.
"Holy shit! Captain!" I shouted as I immediately put my gun down to assist him.
As my arm wrapped around him I shouted.
"We got to get you out of here!"
Not giving me a response, I looked back into his eyes to widen mine in complete fear.
They were pure yellow. And just as I went to move he lunged at me with his teeth ripping into my neck.
"AGHHHH!" I shouted as I sent my handgun into the side of his head, forcing him off me and to the ground below.
Blood gushed out of my neck as I soon heard from behind me.
"Rughhh! Ahhhh!"
As fast as I could I turned to see Johnson slowly getting up off the ground. His fucking chest was ripped wide open. He should be dead.
With fear in my whole system I quickly ran my way by him to get back out into the hall.
The second I entered however I was cut off my a huge group of people.
The lights exposed them in all their might as I immediately began to run for the exit.
Blood, guts, bones, all matters of their bodies were hanging out as they gave chase.
Making it to the door, I ran for the controls to try and close it as fast as humanly possible.
As the door began to close, I stepped out to see them all limping their way to it's frame.
Some even tried to get through but were torn in half as the steel shut on them.
Watching as three torso's hit the ground under me, I immediately began to open fire with my pistol as they were still alive.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
I got two of them as I charged my way back for the chopper.
Climbing my way up the stairs I found it waiting, and with blood still pushing out my open wound I entered to start it up.
With the blades spinning up I went for my comm to shout.
"General Hoffer this is Super 2-7! Come in!"
"What is it 2-7!?" He asked sensing my fear as I checked the door to see no one coming.
Looking back to my comm I replied.
"Alpha 3-0 is down sir! And I'm losing blood fast! Please advise!" I begged as Hoffer immediately questioned.
"What do you mean Alpha is down!? What happened in there!?"
Grabbing the nearest cloth I could find in the chopper next to me, I pinned it to my neck and replied.
"I don't know sir! I went in like you ordered and I found Captain Rodriguez and Sargent Johnson in the VEX chamber! The Captain took a bite out of me sir!" I stated as I began to feel a wicked sting in my neck.
I got no response as I asked.
"Should I return to base sir?!"
After submitting the request, he questioned.
"What do you mean he took a bite out of you son?!"
Shutting my eyes to the pain I replied.
"He bit me sir! Took a chunk clean out of my neck! It fucking burns!" I stated as I looked back to the door to see that body making it's way up the stairs.
In complete fear I went for my sidearm as the General replied.
"Son I need you to...?" The man was crawling so fast, and before he could finish his sentence I opened my door to take aim and fire.
"BANG! BANG!"
My first round hit his neck but my second sent his head back as the General ordered.
"Report Super?!"
Shutting the door I got the chopper up in the air to reply.
"I can't stay here! I'm on my way back to base!"
Lifting off was rough due to my lack of blood, but as soon as it was stable the General urged.
"Super 2-7, I have a medical team waiting for you upon arrival. I want a full debrief when you return.
Getting control of the chopper I replied.
"Yes sir. I'll be there ETA seven minutes."
The comms went silent as I felt my neck burning me from the inside out.
Amy's POV, R.R.T.S Headquarters, 5:35pm.
"Yes I got it. Where should I take it?" I asked my employer as I hid myself with a stolen cellphone from one of the marines.
After getting a response I questioned.
"What are you talking about?! I barely made it out with it!"
My employer had me at a boil as I then wondered.
"So what do I do about this?!"
"Are you serious?!" I questioned in anger as he yelled back in force of my hostility.
Shutting my eyes and placing my hand on my forehead in anger, I calmly replied.
"Yes sir."
Upon hanging up on me, I took the infection from my lab coat and shouted to myself.
"Fuck!"
Now I was left in confusion on how to proceed. I got the fucking infection like they told me too but now I'm told I fucked up and need to do something else. I went through hell to get this far just to get told I'm only halfway there.
"This is fucking bullshit!" I shouted to myself in my head as I slammed the cellphone down to the ground.
"Bash!"
The whole thing shattered into pieces as I now stood there in deep thought of how to continue.
Shadow's POV, Barracks, 5:35pm.
Approaching the bad memories of my squad, I neared the barracks to find Ralph standing by the door.
After helping me to the shower I told him to wait for me here. Kid is a real eager one to help and listen.
As I approached with fresh quills and clean clothes, I stated.
"Your really here."
Smiling as I continued to limp my leg, he replied.
"I promised I would listen."
Quickly getting under my shoulder to help me walk I replied.
"Thank you."
After getting me through he stated.
"It's not a problem."
Urging him to help me to my bunk, I got down on the mattress to ask.
"Did Hoffer want anything while I was gone?"
Shaking his head he replied.
"I haven't seen him since he told me to watch out for you."
Slowly looking to my lap I asked.
"So you wana sit? Or just stand there kid?"
Taking his chance he replied.
"Sorry. I didn't want to intrude."
Looking to Reaper's bunk he sat on I replied.
"Not like anyone will use it any more."
Sensing my saddened tone Ralph asked.
"So what happened?"
Gently looking back to his white face I asked myself.
"Where to start?"
Watching as I got comfortable, Ralph seemed sincerely interested as I started off by saying.
"We got sent to Zone 10. You ever hear of it?"
Nodding Ralph replied.
"I heard it was some sort of dig site."
Nodding back I replied.
"It's a little more then that I'm afraid."
"What do you mean?" He wondered as I looked into his eyes.
Gently feeling my hands I replied.
"We were told a breach occurred in a section of the labs. NASA had it on lock-down till we arrived and went in."
"What was the mission?" He asked next as I saw Amy making her way by the door. She stopped to look in on me to see Ralph sitting in front of me awaiting the answer.
Seeing that I was looking behind him, Ralph turned to make eye contact with her.
"I'm sorry. Was I interrupting you two?" She asked with a smile as she walked in to approach Ralph and myself.
I lowered my feelings back to the ground as she looked to me. Ralph who was the focus of her attention now quickly replied.
"I don't think so."
Both heads went back to me for a solid answer, and in time, I looked back up to see Amy looking deep into my eyes.
Bringing myself forward in tone I replied.
"Of course not. I was just trying to explain to him what we went through up there."
Nodding slowly, Amy replied.
"Oh. I can go Shadow if you'd like."
"No!" I urged her in instinct as she looked to me in a caught off guard way.
Taking her hand I then stated.
"I need help."
Accepting my touch after ruining her life, Amy came to my aid and got set down next to me. Her lab coat brought back bad memories as the dry blood seemed to stare at me in all it's anger.
Ralph was kind enough to wait as I asked her.
"Did you talk to Hoffer?"
Nodding she replied.
"Yeah, we talked."
"And?" I wondered as she still held my hand.
"He's...skeptical."
Looking to my lap I replied.
"I figured. Guy probably thinks I'm a nut after how I acted."
Bringing my hand close for my full attention Amy replied.
"No one blames you for acting that way Shadow. You had every right too. The General can't discharge you for hurting."
Looking slightly back to Ralph I replied to her.
"I just don't know what to do anymore Amy. Look around. I'm the only one here. This shouldn't be. Everyone should be here now. Why am I the one to live and people like Cruz and Kid are the one's to die?" I wondered in a sad state as she went silent.
Ralph just sat there in silence. In a way, I think he just wanted to listen and not seem like he was there at all. It's...new to me.
Gently placing a hand on my back Amy replied.
"What happened to the others wasn't your fault. You survived because you were strong. That's what you need to be now Shadow to get through this. Strong."
Looking into her eyes I questioned.
"Strong like I had to be to put a bullet in both their heads? Or strong like you and ignore the situation around you like nothing else mattered other then your fucking work?"
Amy instantly went up in flames as Ralph just muttered to himself.
"Oh nooo."
Getting in my face Amy replied.
"How dare you! I went through all that shit just as much as you did Shadow! And your going to sit here and tell me I don't care one bit for their deaths!?"
Raising my stance to her I replied in equal force.
"Let me make something very clear to you Amy! I went through hell on that planet while you sat in a fucking lab! I did horrible things! Seen worse! I had to kill Reaper! I had to put Cruz out of his misery! And on top of everything I had to kill Kid and deal with this infection! I barely survived and for what!?" I asked her as she stared at me deeply.
Taking my time to stand I shouted to her face.
"I get to come back here! See all these fucking beds empty! I got a command who doesn't believe a word I say about what really happened on Zone 10, and I got an ex-girlfriend who acts like everything is over with now just because we escaped that hellhole! You may not have had the chance to get to know them, but that doesn't give you the right to act like their expendable! Rosin protected you with his life! Everyone did! Kid looked up to you and you don't care at all that he's dead! You have no heart you fucking bitch!"
With a red face I vented out the heat coming from system and watched as she got up to leave.
Soon enough she slammed the door leaving me with Ralph who said under his breath.
"Wow."
Looking to the ground in anger that I just said that to her, I asked Ralph.
"I fucked up right?"
Nodding Ralph replied in kind.
"Just a little."
Nodding back, I retook my seat and laced my hands on my face to breath deeply into my palms.
As I sat there in agony, Ralph wondered.
"You going to go apologize to her?"
Looking up into his eyes I replied.
"Not right now. I think we both need time apart. It worked once already."
Picking up on my past breakup Ralph asked.
"How long were you guys together?"
"Since high school, but we broke up last year."
"Why?" He asked next as I let both my hands rest down on my legs.
"Her job was more important then me. I'll put it that way to keep things short for you."
"So wait? She was on Zone 10 with you?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"She worked there. Claims she was just an assistant for the head scientist, but I don't buy it for a second. I know her and her education. She wouldn't accept that position for the amount of effort she spent in school. Plus her attitude alone would keep her from being some other guy's bitch. I know she just doesn't want to tell me, but I couldn't blame her. I really never showed her the right amount of support I should have back then. It's my fault we broke up any way. What just happened is a perfect example of what a douche bag I am when I'm put on the wrong side of the road between us. I'm not meant for her. I don't deserve her."
Letting my head drop once more Ralph urged.
"Maybe you two just need to spend more time together. I mean just you two together. No going to other planets to work. Cause it sounds like you two spent most of you relationship apart. I can only guess how much that has affected your efforts to get along with one another. You guys never had the time to truly understand each other. But I guess it's too late for that, huh?"
Nodding I replied.
"You may be right though. I left to join R.R.T.S when we first got together. I thought starting ahead with a career would help our future out greatly. I wanted a family with her. That's the reason I did this. I wanted money and a stable home to raise my kids in. Maybe she just saw it differently." I stated with a lowed tone as he gently tapped my knee to get me to look up at him again.
As our eyes locked he asked.
"Did you ever tell her that?"
Nodding, I replied.
"Yeah. Long time again."
"Maybe she needs to hear it again." He urged as I nodded once to reply.
"Maybe."
Letting my body straighten, I asked.
"Where's your team kid? They have to be looking for you."
Looking behind him as men ran by the door, he looked back to me to reply
"Actually I'm assigned to General Hoffer as a special duty soldier."
"Personal guard?" I questioned as he nodded slightly.
"In a way. According to him I'm a guard, errand runner, and in doubt, a last line of defense in case of an emergency."
"Sounds like he's just going to use you as a shield. What's your M.O.S?"
Looking to a patch on his arm, he replied.
"Radio operator."
Nodding in respect to the young kid, I continued to listen as he added.
"I also learned basic medicine in training and I have an excess knowledge with computers, but that came with being a loner most of my high school days.
Cracking a smile I replied.
"I know what you mean."
Giving me a smile of his own, I wondered as I looked to his patch.
"Have you ever worked with anyone before?"
Shaking his head he replied.
"Not really. I mean in boot camp. But ever since I passed I have been stationed with the General. And other officers."
In confusion, I questioned.
"Doesn't that bother you? I mean you joined the core to serve and protect. Not serve an officer and protect his morning coffee."
Beginning to laugh, Ralph soon replied.
"It's not so bad. General Hoffer is a nice guy when you get to know him. He's never treated me wrong. Sure he gets a little mad when problems arise with others around his ops, but never once has he mistreated me. I kind of like it. It's easy."
Nodding I replied to him.
"It can't always be that simple Ralph. I mean what happens when something bad really does happen? Or if you get transferred to a team for a combat mission? Are you able to handle that new pressure?" I wondered as he lowered his head to reply.
"I got a perfect score on my marksmen test in boot camp. I spent my first year of service in Afghanistan working with a bomb squad for I.E.D's and I have killed people before lieutenant. It comes with the job. I just don't see a problem in wanting to stay away from things that can kill me and enjoy my life, you know?"
In an understanding tone I replied.
"I get it. I'd just hate to see you get killed cause you weren't prepared."
Nodding Ralph urged.
"Don't worry about me. I can handle myself."
Giving him a smile I slowly looked around the room to wonder.
"Do you still want to know what happened to me? Or should we just wait since we got off course?"
Chuckling Ralph quickly replied.
"I'm all ears."
Looking into his eyes feeling a slight bit of happiness to know him now, I replied with a small smile.
"Okay. Where were we?"
Giving it a quick thought, I stated to my own question.
"Ah the mission. We were sent to Zone 10 to like I said to investigate a breach that occurred in one of the sections of the facility. Our job was to go in, kill whatever was causing the breach, locate any survivors of the research team inside, and have everything secured for extraction. It was meant to be a simple in and out mission. Nothing was every said to us that could indicate otherwise. But by the time we found out what the problem was one of our own was dead. Reaper." I uttered as I looked slightly under my feelings to manage to go on to Ralph who continued to listen quietly.
"He was ripped apart. The threat took his life and before he died we tried everything to save him. But in the end...he gave up. We couldn't save him." Sensing my hurt, Ralph said to me.
"I'm sorry."
Shaking my head once I replied.
"You have no need to be kid. No one could do anything for him. We didn't even know the worst was yet to come." I stated, as Ralph looked on at me with interest for the rest of the story. Yet for multiple reasons ahead I grew worried he wouldn't believe me and remained silent.
Growing concerned Ralph asked.
"What's wrong?"
Looking back into his blue eyes I replied.
"The next part gets pretty unbelievable."
Quickly leaning in, Ralph said in strength.
"Hey? I told you I would listen to whatever you had to say to me. You walked in here broken an hour ago with blood all over you and your whole team missing from your side. I know something pretty unbelievable had to have happened in order for that to happen. Just tell me what happened next Shadow." He urged on as I nodded slowly to reply.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Getting back in his proper place a few feet across from me I continued.
"After Reaper died, the rest of us went in to find a way to get the power back on. I was with Rosin. He was the team medic and one of my best friends."
Nodding to my statement, Ralph watched my eyes as I went on to continue the story.
"We found a generator. He got it running while I covered the door. Unknown to us the thing that killed Reaper knew we were trapped and made a move in on us. He broke down the door and nearly killed me. If it wasn't for Rosin being there I would have died."
I went silent. My mind was running the blank on the memory.
Flashback, Shadow's POV, Research labs, Zone 10.
My hands gripped this monster's arms as best as they could, but I felt as if I was trying to arm wrestle an elephant. The power was unmatched on my side.
Roughly pushing up on me, I began to panic as it took hold of my vest with it's claws.
I was losing this battle of strength, and all I could see was it's yellow eyes staring into my soul as it managed to get back on its ass to face me.
In force, I was beginning to be pushed down, and as my teeth showed and I growled in all my attempts to hold it back from Rosin, I widened my eyes to see the lights come back on above us.
My eyes widened in fear as I got a solid look at it.
It was completely brown and scaly, and had the muscles of a rhino. It's teeth were pure white as it growled back in a large, almost mammal sounding tone. It's face also held me locked, as I saw it had a small flat nose, and large yellow eyes that glared into my heart. It's claws were as thick and long as I tiger's, and as I was now pushed back down on my back, I watched as it went for my neck again.
I tried my hardest to hold back it, but in time it reaches me, pinning me into the metal floor.
I began to gag in seconds as I felt it crushing me, but as I went to reach for my knife that rested on my leg, I saw Rosin come flying back on top of it in force.
Immediately, it got on its feet to swing at him.
Rosin quickly ducked and went for his sidearm, and as it pulled up and out of his pouch, I went for my shotgun that rested a few feet away.
As my hands took hold of the grips, I looked back to see Rosin pull the trigger.
"BANG! BANG!"
One bullet hit the floor, as the other hit the thing in it's side, and as I went to stand up, we both panicked as it reached for a large metal lab cart next to it to throw.
BASH!
Rosin was hit right in the head and immediately I aimed back up to find it gone.
It was so fast; I didn't even see it leave during the time it took me to duck the debris that came off the cart it threw.
As it was gone, I looked back at the floor to see Rosin down and bleeding from the top of his skull.
His brown fur was turning red as I got on my knees to check his pulse.
He was there, and as I went to hold his wound, I went to comm to yell.
"Man down!"
End of Flashback.
"Rosin was hurt in the process of saving my life. That thing cracked his skull open with a lab cart. I thought he was dead at first but to my surprise kid, he wasn't." I stated towards Ralph as he nodded and asked.
"What attacked you guys? It must have been pretty big to have thrown a lab cart." He stated as I nodded.
"It was. It's bigger then you. It's bigger then me. The fucking thing was a rhino of a beast. Brown skinned and flat nosed with razors for teeth."
Ralph looked surprised as I went on.
"It had big claws on it's hands and feet. It was also fucking fast. I swear it could dodge a bullet at times."
Remaining silent as I stopped, Ralph looked on at me in concern for the rest as I got my bearings together.
Gently feeling the scars on my face, I mumbled to him.
"It's something you'd have to see to believe kid."
Nodding Ralph replied.
"I bet. Did it kill everyone?"
Nodding very slowly I replied.
"It had help."
"So it wasn't the only thing there?" He questioned as I nodded again.
"There was another. We never really saw it. It looked like a spider. Had that many eyes on it's head and it was a slick bastard."
"Did you kill it?" He wondered as I shrugged my shoulders to reply.
"I don't know. But I did kill the fucker that started it all."
Growing wide in eyes Ralph listened on as I said.
"After it got done killing everyone, but me, Amy, and Kid; who was the newest addition to our team. We had no other option but to blow the place to hell.
"And that killed it?" He questioned as I nodded to him in response.
Looking on at me in a surprising way, Ralph then asked.
"You said before that when he killed Reaper, that you didn't know the worst was yet to come. What did you mean?"
Looking directly into his eyes I replied.
"He came back."
With nothing but confusion for the answer I gave him, Ralph questioned.
"What do you mean he came back?"
Letting my hands fold together I replied.
"He came back from the dead."
In absolute disbelief Ralph questioned.
"The dead?"
Nodding, I went silent as he then asked.
"But how? How's that sort of thing possible?"
This was the hard part now. Even harder then trying to convince him I fought a monster. Looking deep into his eyes I replied with uncertainty.
"I don't really know."
Pausing my speech, Ralph watched on as I continued after a few seconds of trying to piece this all together so that maybe he may believe me.
"The monster that killed him, bit him, like I said."
Nodding to me, Ralph stared right back into my eyes as I went on.
"When it bites you, and you die. You come back. Sometimes it's quick. Other times it's long. But in the end you come back and your not who you once were."
"What happens?" He asked in a curious way as I gulped down some of my feelings to reply.
"The muscles where you get bit turn black in color. They harden and it feels numb at first. But as it goes away it starts to burn. It burns like a fire is in your body. You feel like your going to melt. Slowly after all that it will force your body to shut down.
"So it's an infection." Stated Ralph as I nodded.
In confusion as I looked away, Ralph questioned.
"How do you know so much about it?"
In a scared way of how he would react, I slowly moved my shirt aside so he could the disfigured skin under it where I was bit.
With wide eyes Ralph leaned in to see.
"You were bit?!" He asked in a shocked tone as I nodded.
"Twice actually. The first one to come was my neck."
"Why aren't you dead?" He wondered as I looked back to him to reply.
"Amy found a cure for it."
"A cure?" He questioned as I covered back up my wounds.
"During our last few hours there she found a way to kill the infection. It worked on me, but...?" Ralph sat by in a serious respect for me as I went silent.
"But what?" He wondered as I grabbed onto my courage to say.
"It didn't work on Kid. He got bit and he turned."
In confusion Ralph questioned.
"So the cure worked on you but not him? Why?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"I don't know. Maybe it's all by chance. Ether way he turned and I...I killed him."
Feeling the weight of the statement under me, I shut my eyes as Ralph went silent.
Every bit of my body was absorbed by sadness as I pictured it all before me once again.
Flashback, Shadow's POV, VEX chamber, VEX headquarters.
"Do it Shadow."
My fingers twitched the trigger, and as I hesitated he said.
"You wana set the world free? Start with the last person you have left. End this suffering Shadow! DO IT!" He ordered in anger as our eyes locked in loss.
"I don't want this. I don't wana be a monster. I just wanted go home."
Kid saw my loss of hope now, and in reaction he replied.
"Don't worry about the infection Shadow. It all ends with me. All the pain. All the dead friends. It all started with the infection and now there is only one part of it left to deal with. Question is, are you able to do it?"
My mind filled with anger, and in focus, I pinned the barrel down on his forehead.
Giving me a smile Kid ordered.
"Do it. Kill me Shadow. Kill your only friend. Kill me. Kill me! KILL ME!"
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed as I felt my finger pull.
"BANG!"
End of flashback.
The gunshot I remembered like and echo from the lost, and my ears twitched as Ralph's comm link, that rested on his chest went off.
"Ralph! Report in!" It was Hoffer.
Looking to him as he went for the comm, Ralph took hold of it to reply.
"Ralph here. What's wrong General?"
Looking into my eyes as he awaited the response, Hoffer came back to order.
"Get your ass to the air pad now! I got a bird coming in I need you at!"
In confusion Ralph questioned.
"What about the lieutenant sir?"
Almost immediately Hoffer replied.
"Leave him! We have more urgent matters right now to deal with!"
"Yes sir." Replied Ralph as he offered me a hand up to my feet.
Taking it, I asked.
"You guys expecting someone?"
Shaking his head, Ralph began to walk me to the door to reply.
"Not that I was told. Anyway lieutenant I should get going. You going to be okay for a bit without me?"
Nodding my head as he began to leave for his duty, I stopped in my tracks to shout.
"Hey kid!"
Quickly looking back, I said.
"Thanks for listening."
Giving me a sharp smile and a nod, Ralph replied while continuing his way down the hall.
"No problem! We can continue later tonight if you wana."
Smiling back I replied.
"Yeah. I'd like that."
Making his way out of sight, I released my happy thoughts to look back into my barracks. No matter the state I was in the empty beds still brought reality back to my soul.
Keeping my body pinned along the halfway point between the room and the hall, I was caught off guard as another hedgehog made his way into view from the opposite side of where Ralph just went to. Making his way towards me, we locked eyes to stare at one another as time seemed to slow down.
His blue eyes glared at me. Both our quills matched to the point. Jet black and he also had some thin yellow streaks. Wearing a sleeveless combat vest, and some camo green BDU's, I watched as he passed me by to head off into one of the barracks.
Watching as the door shut from down the hall, I recalled his uniform. He's a step under me. Meaning he's part of another combat unit. Not R.R.T.S, but maybe a team like those guys who got off the chopper during my last few moments at VEX headquarters. I can't imagine every having a team again. And to be honest, I don't want one.
Making my way back inside the lonely room, I looked around to let out a low sigh.
"Now what?" I asked myself out loud as I made my way for my bed.
Gently flopping on the comforter, I placed the back of my head on the pillow and decided to try and catch up on some sleep. I knew I needed that more then anything and it would only be a matter of time till General Hoffer came in to discharge me of duty. Until then I can at least have one more moment of piece in the one place I always felt was home.
Letting my eyes shut and my breathing steady, I soon gave in to my dreams.
Shit hits the fan next chapter and I hope you all will be reading still when it comes out. Please review and if you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask them via private message.
mT Shadow.