Zone 10: Project Genesis
Chapter 10
Shadow's POV, Measurements Lab, Sector B, 1:40am.
"Raghhh...?" Feeling warm blood drool off my chin, I slowly swallowed the last cannibalistic bite I took from a hopeless and pathetic soldier. My mind was an open void at the moment at which I felt the meat roll down the back of my throat.
Feeling my eyes burning inside my skull and my brain pulsing like a sonar. I took a moment to sniff the body under me. Something smelled wrong. I felt it as I then looked up to the area around me.
Smoke blew in from the vent next to me and beyond that I sensed someone was coming to investigate the explosion.
My body was glued to Grim's corpse however. My eyes were wide open in shock and in my mind I knew for a moment I had really turned into what I vowed not to become. An infected monster.
Forcing my gaze away from the open chest cavity of this man. I looked to both my hands in hope I would see something normal. But as the blood covered mitts entered my view; all I soon realized was that I had truly turned into a demon.
With a warm and energy filled aura held strong in my core, I suddenly began to feel it wear off. It happened so fast I saw my hands go from being perfectly still; to suddenly shaking in disbelief of my past actions. Before all this I had barely any rational thought. But now? All I felt was regret. I felt lost and completely broken.
Looking back up still in utter shock at the results of my actions. I began to feel panicked. Kicking my legs and my body away as fast as I could, I soon hit the wall near the entrance to this room. With a small trail of blood following me as I slid and questioned out loud.
"No. Grim?"
Staring at his body I asked myself.
"What happened? What did I just do?"
I knew what happened. I was hungry. The infection caused that. Plus since this all started I had nothing to eat. I've been running for my life every since I was first assigned the mission to come here back with the others. I slowly lost all rational thought and I caved in to it's power over me. I committed the first true crime in becoming this monster. In becoming Project. I can't believe I let this happen so easily. I was fine one second, then the next I was enraged and I just snapped. Grim he...? He had no reason to believe I would have just lost it like that. I fucking killed him.
I ate him.
Dragging my hands over the base of my face, I wiped off as much of the blood as I could and then placed them on my chest. My heart was beating so fast. The blood I digested tasted so good for some reason. Before it compared to the taste of a penny, but now for some reason it was like drinking the finest wine. And the meat, it tasted like pure cuts of steak. It was one of the best...?!
Slamming my head back into the wall behind me I questioned out loud again.
"What am I thinking!? Stop!"
I knew what I did was something only a monster could preform. But for some reason a huge part of me felt great about doing it. I couldn't convince myself that I was any less normal then a common person. I'm not normal. I'm a fucking monster!
Slamming my skull into the wall again and again, I began to feel more of my remaining quills landing next to me.
With tears in my eyes, but a feeling of satisfaction in my head. I fell onto my left side and begged.
"Just fucking kill me already! I can't take this anymore! The pain! The urges! Make it all stop!"
With my tears hitting the ground under my cheek, I began to question.
"Why did eating another person feel right?! Why did it feel like I was going to die if I didn't get a bite!? Why!? Why!? WHY!?" I asked as I slammed my head again into the floor this time.
With most of my quills falling off, I began to wonder if this was what I was stuck with now.
A person who has the ability to question his actions, but not choose any other path then the infected one. Was this the monster I am now? The thoughts of a normal person but the mind and body of a monster? Why me? Why not just bury everything and turn me into a walking corpse? Why do I have to feel like I can stop this from happening? I'm already too far gone to change what I've become.
With all my emotions and my thoughts slipping from me, I took a moment to ask myself again.
"What am I trying to accomplish?"
Opening my eyes to stare up at the ceiling, I wasn't surprised when no answer came to mind. At first I wanted to find a cure, but now? What do I do? I wondered as I looked down to my armor to see the black covered in nothing but red blood.
Letting out a slow but shaky sigh, I came to a sort of conclusion. Muttered in silence I said out loud.
"I'm not curable."
Along with the reality came a new answer to my last question. I knew now I was too far gone to go back to normal. The infection is too deep now to turn back. All I can do is try to hold it off till the end comes to get me. But I'm sticking by my reason for trying. I won't die without at least fighting back for as long as possible. For when I'm gone, who will take command against this? Who will be the one to end it all? Or will it ever end? I wondered as I forced my hands to push me up off from the ground.
My want to stay alive was nothing more then just a simple basic need. To survive as long as I can. But maybe, just maybe I can use what time I have left to keep pushing forward for those in the future. If I can find a cure and get it into the right hands...then...that will be enough to die peacefully.
As I got back into a sitting position, a piece of paper fell from out of my vest. In confusion I picked it up to see Cruz and his wife and daughter. Suddenly I remembered. I had one other thing to accomplish before I would reach my end. But before any of that...I need to end him. It has to happen.
Struggling to stand up using the wall behind me, I looked back to Grim as he laid there in the center of the room ripped wide open. Licking the remaining blood from off my lips, I gently reached back for my rifle and carefully glanced out into the hallway. No one was around, but...I swear I could smell them. The infection was influencing my sense of smell. I knew where to find those remaining infected. Surprisingly enough, it seemed they were all together at the moment. Like a unit should be.
As my hands wrapped around my rifle, I tried to place my finger in the trigger guard. But in confusion I looked down to see my claws were too big now to fit in it.
Taking off my sling and tossing my gun to the ground in front of my feet. I took notice again to my quills. I need to do this now. I can't just slowly let this happen.
Using my claws I roughly began to drag them through my head. Every remaining quill fell off to the ground next to my rifle in a matter of seconds. All that was left was the short black and red fur underneath. Now I looked like a fucking monster of the night. Parts of the red were turning black even. The infection was taking a little bit every second I stood here. With no quills left to my name, I took my chance to go for the door.
Carefully pacing out into the hallway, I tried to put what I did behind me as best as I could.
There was no doubt I was a monster now. I had nothing left to live for. The infection was turning me into a hunter. I had to end this as fast as possible. For if I do I can be sure I don't hurt anyone else. Ralph and Grim won't be the last though if I can't accomplish even that much.
With the feeling of my infection running through my veins, I proceeded back to the atrium and towards sector D. The infection was leading me now. All I could do was follow in behind as me and my body readied to end this. Those notes were on one of them. They had to be. They just had to be.
Ralph's POV, Chemical Lab, Sector C, 1:40am.
My ears were ringing and my vision was blurry. All I could feel were warm flames around me as I struggled to see straight.
"Ughhh?" With my sight coming back to me I began to look around the room. Fire covered the tables and almost all of the floor. Under me was millions of pieces of glass and metal shards. And further to my left I saw part of the ventilation came down from the blast. I'm surprised I wasn't killed by the force of that explosion.
With feeling coming back to my body, I tried to stand up.
"Aghh!" Instantly letting out a panicked scream of pain the second my right leg tried to support itself. I fell onto my side to look back at it. My eyes widened in shock as my leg had been pierced by shrapnel. I couldn't see the damage but I knew it was fucking bad.
Using my arm to drag my body towards the door, I was soon spotted by Striker who came tumbling out from the broken bits of the ventilation from the other end of the room. Blood spilled down his face as it was clear he was just as hurt as me.
"You good!?" He asked in concern as he fell down next to me.
Shaking my head I replied.
"My leg!"
"How bad!?" He wondered as I replied quickly from the pain.
"Pretty bad!"
"Shit!" He shouted as we both noticed someone by the door. With more relief we saw it was Clark. He looked perfectly fine from the blast. And as his eyes caught us laying there, he came inside to shout.
"We need to get out of here!"
"Help me lift him!" Ordered Striker as he took hold of my left arm.
With Clark obeying, he soon held me by the right side and gently the pair got me on my one good leg. Pain inched it's way through my body as it was clear I wasn't going to be able to walk right now.
"Where to?!"Wondered Clark as I quickly replied.
"That medical bay near Sector D! If you can get me there I can handle my leg!"
Nodding as we got back into the hall, we carefully made our way back to the atrium. But as we neared the entrance to it we all heard.
"Pissssss!"
In utter fear we all turned to see nothing behind us.
"What was that?" Asked Clark as Striker urged.
"We need to keep moving. Chances are something heard that blast back there. And if it catches up to us now we are royally fucked in this condition."
I agreed completely as Clark and him both continued to guide me towards sector A.
As we grew closer, I tried to glance back. With my right eye being all that I could manage to turn around, I panicked as I saw something dash it's way towards sector B. Problem was it didn't seem to be going that way. It was hiding.
"Something is following us." I stated as Striker picked up the pace. Dragging me into the medical lab, Striker ordered.
"Get him down! I'm locking the door!"
Without question, Clark got me to a nearby bed and immediately I focused on my leg to see all the shit stuck inside it.
"Oh fuck." I muttered to myself as Clark asked.
"How bad is it?"
Grabbing my knife from off my vest, I began to cut my pants fully down the right side. I had to see it clearly for this.
In severe pain I soon cut it all the way down and pulled the cut cloth to ether side. With wide eyes Clark and I witnessed at least ten small pieces buried in my fur. Along with that I saw a larger shard stuck under my kneecap.
"That's why I can't move it for shit." I told myself as Clark asked.
"Are you going to be able to get it out?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah. But it's going to fucking hurt. Get me a tray."
Quickly dashing to the right, Clark pulled a nearby tray off one of the medical stands and handed it to me. Watching as I set it down on the bed next to me, I got out my own personal medical kit and prepared myself for this task. This was not going to go well. But I need to walk. Fuck me.
Striker who stood by the door looked back as I grabbed the large shard under my knee first.
"You need to go first big guy." I told the shard as Clark watched me take it in my grip.
"Is that a good idea?" He asked as I held my breath and pulled.
Letting out a groan of pain, Clark widened his eyes as the shard slowly pulled itself out to greet us. It was as big as a knife I swear. With blood pooling down my leg I let out a sigh of relief and dropped the shard on the tray to begin stitching up the wound. As soon as I was done with that I stated.
"Now for the little guys."
With the worst part out of the way and my leg slowly getting better, I looked over to Striker who still bled out from his skull. Looking to Clark I ordered.
"Clark you go watch the door. Striker come here."
The two obeyed and switched spots. After removing the few shards I had left in my leg, I looked to my friend to urge.
"Let me see."
"It's nothing." He replied as I shook my head in concern.
"Your bleeding a lot. I'm not about to have you pass out on us. Just let me seal it up."
Striker didn't fight me as I got to work on his head.
The top part of his skull was cracked open. It had to be from the ceiling falling.
"Your lucky you weren't killed." I told him as he quickly replied.
"I could say the same to you."
With silence soon coming, I finished the stitches on his head to state.
"That should do it. God damn it."
Letting out a sigh as a few drops of blood still rolled down my leg. I got out some medical bandage I had and began to wrap it up. After that; I popped the few painkillers I had and asked around the three of us.
"What the fuck? Why did Shadow try to kill us?"
Clark kept quiet as Striker replied.
"He warned us not to come."
"But he tried to kill us!" I stated in disbelief as Clark questioned.
"I don't think that was his intention Ralph. It's clear Shadow knew we were following him somehow. Maybe he saw the quills and set that up as a way to break the trail we had on him."
Trying my best to calm down I replied.
"Maybe. Fuck though we could have died."
Taking my shoulder Striker added.
"And so can whatever was following us. We need to keep moving. Staying in this room makes us an easy target. Can you walk?"
Gently placing my leg on the ground to try and see if I could now support it, I nodded and replied.
"I should be fine."
"Good. Cause like it or not we need to keep going. Shadow couldn't have gone anywhere if the trail ended at that lab. He must have gone through a vent."
With Striker now brainstorming, I followed with a slight limp as he made his way over to the command table to look through the blueprints. Finding the other sectors he pointed to the lab we almost died in and stated.
"That's where the trail ended. Shadow didn't leave so he must have used the vent here to escape into sector B."
"Then from there?" I wondered as Striker shook his head to reply.
"No fucking clue. But it's not like the trail died. I say we go to this lab and see if we can pick up the trail again."
"And if there is no trail?" Wondered Clark as Striker looked to me for answer.
Taking a breath I replied.
"I don't know. But like Striker said we can't just stay here and wait. We need to keep moving."
Clark went silent as I looked to Striker to ask.
"You wana take point and do this?"
Nodding, he replied with a grab of his gun.
"We stay together and just like before we watch all the angles. If something is out there waiting for us, we'll see it before it sees us. You ready for this Clark?" He asked as Clark let out a sigh to reply.
"Yeah. Let's get moving now. I don't feel safe."
"I couldn't agree more." Replied Striker as he moved for the locked door.
Feeling the sting in my leg as I followed behind, I stated as he unlocked the door.
"I'll hold the rear. Clark watch the sides. We'll get there without a problem."
Everyone nodded and with a sharp slide of the door, Striker aimed out into the hall to state.
"Clear. Come on. Keep up."
This time we moved faster then before. I tried my best to stay behind as we reentered the atrium. But with Striker and Clark a few feet ahead I decided to turn and keep my eyes on sector A and D. I was hoping to god nothing was behind us as we made our way down the hall. I could walk but running would get me killed. I need time to let my pills kick in.
Nearing the lab Shadow had to have been when the blast went off, I slowly regroup with Clark as Striker looked back by the door frame to order.
"You watch the hall Clark. Ralph? You good?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah."
"Alright. Let's hit it."
Passing by Clark who now watched our hallway, I entered the room with Striker. With the lights on, both him and I widened our eyes as we immediately looked to the center of the room to find Grim laying there covered in nothing but blood and his own guts.
"Jesus fucking Christ." Muttered Striker as I lowered my gun to stare at Grim's face. His mouth was wide open in pain and his eyes remained staring at the ceiling. His throat was bitten to shreds and everything from his neck down was left exposed. His intestines...what was left of them, laid on the ground along his side and if you looked hard enough you could see his heart and everything around it was gone. All that remained were parts.
"What the fuck happened?" I asked Striker as he shut his eyes in disgust to the sight.
"I don't know. But whatever went down here fucking killed him good. And slow for that matter. Fuck I couldn't imagine having something do that to me. I don't even wana look at it anymore Ralph." He stated as he turned around for the other side of the room.
With Striker catching his breath, I noticed some black quills mixed in the blood around Grim's corpse. There's no way he did this. Something had to have jumped them. Something had to of. I refuse to even think for a second Shadow did this. He wouldn't.
Keeping my mouth shut about the quills, I refocused and looked back at Striker to state.
"Well Shadow isn't here anymore. That's a fact. Where would he have went from here?"
With Striker letting out a sigh of relief he replied in time.
"I don't know Ralph. Let me rest a minute will ya?"
Nodding my head, I looked back on the ground to follow the quills as they left the body and made their way towards the door. My eyes soon lowered as the trail turned into a pile of black and red. Approaching the mass of quills, I got on my knees to find Shadow's rifle covered underneath. Taking it in my hands I looked to Striker to order.
"Catch."
Looking my way, I tossed him the gun. As he caught it he questioned.
"This Shadow's?"
Nodding I replied.
"Judging from the mess, I would go out on a limb to guess he handled the quill trail he was leaving behind."
Noticing the mass of quills in front of me, Striker questioned again.
"But why leave his gun behind?"
"I don't know. But it can't have been for a good reason. Maybe he...?" Just as I went to put out an idea, we got cut off from Clark out in the hall who mumbled.
"Ahhh...guys?"
Standing back on my feet from the confusion coming from Clark's voice. Striker and I looked to Clark to reply.
"What is it?"
Clark was staring down the hall leading to the atrium. He wouldn't respond to the question, and with a drag to my step, Striker and I exited the room to look in the direction that held Clark stiff.
Immediately as we got eyes down there, Striker and myself stopped in our tracks to see something standing all the way at the other end. It was at least six feet tall, but it had not an ounce of fat or muscle on it's body. It looked almost as thin as a skeleton, but nothing but dark brown skin covered it from head to toe as it stared at it's own feet.
"What is that?" Asked Clark in fear as Striker replied firmly.
"No fucking clue. But it's not friendly."
With the three of us staring at it, we all felt a cold sting of fear envelope us as it slowly looked up at us. Clark moved a few feet back as Striker and I widened our eyes at it's face.
A pair of sharp yellow eyes surrounded by noting but black stared at us. It's mouth was gone and all you could see were the teeth in it's mouth. Long and sharp. As we stared we all continued to watch as it smiled at us.
"What the fuck do you want!?" Asked Striker in a loud tone as myself and Clark panicked to the sudden out burst.
"Striker!" I muttered to him as he grabbed his rifle to ask again.
"Huh!? What do you want from us!? You think your slick hiding like a little freak!?"
My heart stopped as the creature lost it's smile to turn it's head to the side in confusion of what Striker was asking it.
"Stop Striker!" Begged Clark as I watched him raise his gun. Taking aim Striker pulled the trigger sending a round downrange.
"BANG!"
Instantly I ducked back as the bullet hit the creature in the arm. Striker and the rest of us widened our eyes as it didn't even flinch. It just slowly looked at the hole the round made then back at us. Striker lowered his gun when all the sudden the monster expanded his claws. They were so fucking long. They looked like small blades.
With it's arms slowly moving out on it's sides, I urged.
"We need to run."
Nodding Striker replied in disbelief
"I think that's a good idea."
Grabbing his arm to tug him back, the three of us began to run as fast as we could the other way. After a few seconds we looked back to see the thing still standing there with it's claws out.
"This way!" Shouted Clark as we neared a turn.
One last time, we looked back and in utter fear we all panicked as the thing began to sprint after us.
Shadow's POV, Living quarters, Sector D, 1:47am.
This was the place.
My head was pounding and my heart was racing but I was still keeping calm. The infection was helping that much. But with not a soul in sight I began to wonder if I was misled.
"Sniff! Sniff! No. Their here." I told myself as I could smell the rotting flesh and blood dripping off their gums.
Slowly walking to the first set of rooms, I checked inside gently with a nod to each side to see both were empty.
Progressing to the second and third and forth set of rooms, I also saw that each set was empty just as much as the last. But the smell was getting stronger and stronger as I moved further in. And in time I came to an open room to find two of the men I was looking for. Both of them were distracted as I quietly entered.
Taking my knife in my one hand, I got behind the first infected and grabbed him from the back of his head. In an instant, I managed to send it to the side with a loud snap.
As the body fell, I charged the still distracted infected and pushed my blade deep in the back of his skull.
I followed the body to the ground this time with my knife. As soon as he was laid out; I pulled it out and began my search for the notes.
"Please." I begged quietly as I put my hands under the vest to feel nothing.
Letting out a sigh I moved on to the other body.
"Come on now." I urged him as I checked everywhere I could. Only finding ammo, and some supplies on the bodies, I sat down in anger to mumble.
"Okay. You still have four more left. Chances are good still." Nodding to my own statement, I got back on my feet to head back out into the hallway.
With the smell leading me towards the far end, I paced my way down to see the bathroom to my right. The door was shut tight for some reason however. But I could smell them. They were in here.
Looking to the keypad to find the door locked up, I began to try and enter random codes to get in. But in return I got denied.
"Shit." I mumbled as I tried to think of another way of getting it open.
Going to my pouches in hopes of finding something that may help, I widened my eyes as I pulled out a keycard.
"What the...?" In confusion of how I got it, I felt a pulse in my head as I remembered. It was long ago. Back in the sewers. I was trying to do something down there and I found a body of one of the dead scientists. I think his name was Davis. Regardless he had this on him. I think it's like a skeleton key. It should open just about anything.
Taking the card and sliding it along the pad, I watched as it unlocked the door near instantly.
Taking a gulp as the light turned green on the pad, I carefully placed my hand on the sliding door and slowly began to pull it open. Something inside smelled different. There wasn't just normal infected inside. I had a feeling something worse was beyond this door.
As the door reached the other side, I peeked in to see nothing but the pitch dark. Quickly flipping through my pouches once more, I soon grabbed onto my old flashlight. Placing my left hand on the beam and my right to hold it steady, I aimed it inside. In all my speed I quickly moved my left hand off the beam to get a quick look around. With what little time I had before I recovered it, I saw something to the left. Now focusing the beam that way, I took a breath and uncovered for another quick burst of light. This time I flickered my eyes to see a group of infected. They looked to be laying on the ground.
"What the fuck?" I whispered to myself as I noticed through the darkness a pair of red eyes standing above them.
Now focused on knowing what was there, I completely removed my hand and aimed directly at the source. My eyes went wide open as I stared at what looked like nothing more then a religious gathering. Three infected. Laid out no more then a few feet apart. Bowed down before the forth, each with their heads down and arms under them. My lost mind stared on at them in confusion. But slowly looking to the forth infected to whom they worshiped I knew what I smelled was him. He stood there motionless. But with bright red eyes he stared ahead at nothing it appeared from my angle. But with seconds passing he noticed the light resting on him and with a slow turn of his head he looked to see me standing there. Staring on in loss of what was real anymore. Was I dreaming this? I wondered as he carefully examined me.
With not a motion coming from me, I panicked as he asked.
"Have you come to join us? Or are you just another misled?" His voice was almost static but I could make out the words perfectly. Taking a step inside I questioned.
"Misled?"
Keeping to his strong stance over his still bowing minions he replied.
"The ones who walk the world without reason. Or a reason to which they don't yet understand. The ones who are not blessed by infection. Are you misled?" He wondered as I turned on the light to get a better look.
As our bodies came to full view I soon knew what I was dealing with. The four of them were indeed the men I was looking for. All torn to shreds but all were soldiers. The only difference was the man talking to me. He was indeed infected, but he was speaking. The way he stood there showed me he was a lot like me. In control, but not actually. The infection was all over him. But his eyes were the thing bothering me. They weren't yellow like the others. Why? I wondered as he still waited for my response. Still utterly confused I replied.
"What's it look like to you?"
Looking me over he replied.
"You look...lost. But you also look found by the gift of infection. Deep infection by the look in your eyes."
"Gift?" I questioned as he went silent.
"You think being infected is a fucking gift?"
With blood drenching his face and a solid stare back at me he replied.
"I think you have yet to believe in it as we do. The infection is a means to a greater good. The power it wields and the influence it brings is beyond that of any weapon. It brings us together. It's in your blood. Just open your mind and body to it a little bit more and you'll soon understand what I mean."
Looking to the infected below his feet as I got closer, I asked.
"Why are you not like them? Why aren't you another mindless monster?"
Looking at his hands as he thought of a response, I noticed his claws were a lot like mine.
"The infection brings power like I already said. But power must be dictated. Even if it is considered monstrous in method. The infection gifted me a bearer of it's power and I must use what I am given to lead it's will through it's less fortunate. You indeed seem to be the same. For just by looking at you I can see you are not like them. The infection gifted you as well. But for what means is to yet be understood. For nether I or yourself seem to know yet."
As I got closer, I soon noticed a patch on his vest.
"Captain Benning."
Looking back into his eyes I wondered.
"What's your name?"
In confusion he replied.
"Name? We blessed are all the same. For I am just a bearer."
"How did you get here?" I asked next as he replied.
"By the infection's will I was lead here to aid in the birthing of new members."
"Members? Those men are mindless to you." I stated as he looked down to the three men still bowing to him.
Looking back up to me he replied.
"Mindless they may seem but they follow. All who are lesser then us are meant to follow. It's driven by the gift with which we are blessed. Not all are able to fit the requirements needed to be a bearer such as myself."
"Your nothing more then another infected now." I stated as he now stared at me directly.
"This isn't a fucking gift. This is a disease. One that must be ridden and forgotten. I may be infected but I'm in no means like you. Your just another monster."
"It's clear you are indeed misled brother."
Slowly he raised his right hand and I began to back up as the three infected got to their feet. Turning to all face me he then urged.
"Shut your eyes. Let these apostles open your mind. For when you see the gift you have you will come to understand."
Reaching for my knife once more, I readied it as the three began to come at me. The forth continued to watch from where he was standing as I sent my blade down on the first. After tossing him aside I went for the second. Then the third. Each fell to ground under me as I soon looked back to the man to shout.
"Like I said once before! I'm not misled. I'm still who I once was before all this! Unlike you I haven't lost my fucking mind and caved into this infection!"
Looking me over once again he wondered.
"But you've tasted blood. Haven't you?"
I gripped my knife as hard as I could as he went on to state.
"Your mind was lost the second you feasted. I can see you know this already. Your just fighting a hopeless battle with what remains of who you were when you were misled. You need to let that all go and look forward to what is to come."
"What's that?" I asked as he replied calmly.
"The infection take all."
Instantly I felt something in my mind pulse. It sent a shock wave down my spine. I remember.
"But...it can't be allowed to happen!" I stated in anger as he then stated firmly.
"It can. And it will. Accept that. Or you will not like the results."
"What results?" I questioned as his red eyes shut.
Slowly his claws extended slightly and reopening his eyes he replied.
"The infection takes all. To go around it or without it, is not an option. If you are mindset on being misled and on taking the lives of members of both our affiliations. I must be the one to stop you before you become another problem. A problem the infection wishes to not see. You have one last chance. Shut your eyes. Open your mind and body to this. I will show you myself, what the infection has to offer. For you may even be a bearer yourself if given the chance."
Slowly shaking my head I replied.
"I will never let the infection take me into becoming what you or what these men are. I may be infected but I will make it my job to kill every last one of you before you can spread it any further. I'll make sure of it."
Now taking a step forward he replied.
"Then you leave me no choice."
Stepping a foot back, I readied myself for him. But as he went for his second step, I widened my eyes and panicked as he pushed me so fast. I had no time to react, and in an instant his shoulder had drilled me and I was sent back into the hall. I felt my body tumble with each roll and as I had lost my knife I looked up to see him making his way out of the bathroom.
"I do not enjoy this." He stated as I tried to pick myself up.
Sending his boot into my chest, I was sent a good ten feet down the hall. Letting out a gag from the power he held I coughed and heard as he approached.
"But I will not let you hurt anymore of us. Your reasons are misled and your actions are as well. The infection could have given you many great things. Like this speed and...power!" He shouted as he went to kick me again.
Using my own power, I caught his boot and sent him around me and into the nearby wall. His back connected with the wall and as he fell forward I sent my knee into his head kicking him back once again into the steel wall.
"BASH!"
A dent was drilled in the surface and with all my strength I grabbed him by the vest and tossed him further down the hallway.
Letting out a gag of his own, he calmly got up to state.
"Seems the infection already blessed you with both of those things. Well then. Maybe you are not misled."
Charging him as he got up straight, I tried to send a fist at his head to be smoothly ducked and grabbed from the inside. With my eyes widening as he gripped my back, I panicked as he flung me behind him and into the nearby doors leading back into the mess hall. The force at which I came in at sent me into a nearby table. As I hit it, I had managed to go over the other side and land on the ground. With blood rolling off my lip, I slowly looked back up to see him walking in.
"If you only would let go of this ambition you have. I can see it in you. You are a bearer."
Upon standing back up I replied.
"I'm a bearer of this curse the infection gave me."
"Curse? What makes it a curse?" He wondered as he stopped ten feet away.
Wiping the blood off my chin, I replied in a certain tone.
"What makes it a gift? You go from a person with meaning to a monster who only seeks to eat and kill the ones closest to you. You go from having a dream. To having a reason to live life. You go from all that and turn into something you never dreamed of becoming. I didn't ask for this to happen to me and if I could I would return the power the infection gave me and just fucking die. This is no gift. It's a burden you try to fight against till the inevitable end."
"Then why fight at all?" He then asked as I readied myself once more. This time I was going to end this. This...martyr can not be allowed to live.
With my legs and my claws ready, I looked into his eyes to reply.
"To one day hope someone can break the curse this breeds. To end all it has birthed. And to make sure it never happens again. For this matter? I'll start with you."
Losing his cocky position, Benning readied himself as I came at him full force. Sending a direct charge into his body. I felt as he tried his best to hold ground. Moving maybe a foot, I then sent a hard hook at his head. After ducking the blow he came back with a straight bash of his shoulder. I was sent a few feet back, but as I recovered he had already charged with his own might and I widened my eyes as his right set of claws came directly towards my face.
With all my speed and reflexes, I moved to the side just in time catching him off guard. Using that to my advantage, I then dropped my right elbow onto his extended wrist. The weight I lowered onto it's frame broke it in two.
"Aghhh!" He screamed as he then backed off as fast as he could.
Not giving him the chance, I grabbed him by the broken wrist and used my strength to fling him into a nearby table. I heard his back crack in half as I sent him back first into the metal surface. Only then to watch as he rolled over the other side and landed directly on the ground. Keeping up the pace, I moved over to his side to see him look up just in time for an incoming kick of my boot.
To my surprise he managed to roll away a few feet. Using all his speed, he quickly got back on his feet and urged.
"You have no idea what will happen if you try to end everything."
"I don't care." I replied as he then shouted.
"You'll probably submit to it before you have the chance!"
"Then I'll make sure I leave behind the means to finish what I started."
Giving me a snarl, I came in close for the kill.
Going for his neck, I widened my eyes as he all the sudden drew a knife from his vest. My eyes widened as he plunged it into my stomach with all his force. Blood quickly shot out from my mouth as he pushed me down to the ground and under his grasp. With a smile now he shouted.
"You won't be allowed to get even that far!"
Placing my hands around the wrist that held the blade in me, I began to slowly push him away. In a near five seconds, I already had his grip struggling to maintain the knife. Using what force I had in my legs, I rolled them up and under his body to then push him with all my power off me. His body rolled a few feet away as I quickly got on my hands and knees to try and crawl a little bit away. With the blade slowing me down, I widened my eyes as I heard him start running.
Looking back I panicked and swung my right set of claws as he screamed.
"You can't stop the infection! You'll bow to it's influence and you will submit to it! Your a bearer for it's cause and in time you will learn to accept what you will become! Monster or not, you will lead! You'll...!"
With all my force behind my swing, I watched as he was cut off mid sentence by my claws digging into the side of his skull. With so much force behind it, I watched from my downed state as he was sent straight to the ground next to me with my hand stuck in his head. Not a movement came from him any longer as I breathed heavily in pain and in discomfort from what he said.
My claws were so deep in his skull. I could feel what was left of his brain as I roughly yanked them out through the sound of his skull cracking in multiple spots. With blood oozing off my fingers, I stared at his motionless face to reply.
"I already accepted the outcome of what I will turn into. I already submitted to it. I already accepted the fact that I can't stop it. But I also accept the fact that I will be the one to guide others to it's fucking end! The infected, you, even Project can't stop that from happening! Just you wait and see what I will go through to end this suffering!
Letting out another gag of blood. I looked down to my stomach to see the blade still sitting neatly in my intestines. Grabbing a hold of it I added in force.
This infection has already claimed the lives of all my friends. I won't let you claim anymore. For it already took mine.
Pulling the knife out of my stomach, I let out a thick cough and watched as my blood flew out from my mouth. Gently then resting my back on the ground next to the dead martyr, I breathed in what free time I had left and shut my eyes to feel the infection sealing the wound in my stomach.
"Gift? Curse? Whatever it is considered, I will stop it. Or at the least. Stop myself."
Looking over to the dead body beside me now, I now had another question on my mind that needed an answer. Some like Reaper and Foley were no more then infected roaming the halls. Others like myself and Benning. What are we? He says we are bearers to the infection. Said I should be showing the good things it provides after your first life is lost. Was the infection choosing? Choosing who it infected more and how it infected them? Was it that capable of a disease? I wondered as I slowly rolled back onto my other side to get on my knees. With blood still slowly leaving my mouth I began to search the man for the notes. For some reason it wasn't much of a surprise that he didn't have them. Maybe the others? They had too.
Slowly getting back on my feet I proceeded back to the bathroom to find the three bodies still there. One by one I searched, but to no avail once more and my final time. Letting out a slow but steady growl I soon shouted to the room around me.
"GOD DAMN IT!"
Charging one of the nearby sinks, I slammed my fist down into it to watch as it shattered by the sheer force. After I recovered, I paced back a few feet to try and calm down.
"Come on. Come on!" I screamed to myself as I tried to think.
Stopping next to the mirror to stare at myself, I stated in my head.
"Amy didn't take the notes. They were left in genetics. After we left them there not a single person went back down there. I know that for a fact. Even Project, if he was even an option, couldn't have done anything to them. He has no awareness to what they hold yet.
With my face slowly nearing the end, I watched as my skin continued to turn a dark brown color in some places, and black in another. My eyes kept solid yellow as I tried to keep thinking.
The men I just rounded up and killed were the only other things down in genetics after everything happened and none of them have the notes. So where did they go? I asked myself as I looked to my chest as I heard an unknown voice come through my comm.
"Your the soldier who came here with the others right? The first responders?"
I hadn't heard that voice before. It was unknown to me if it was friend or foe, but going to my comm I replied to the man on the other end.
"What's it to you?"
As fast as my tone came off, he replied back.
"Please Shadow. I am not an enemy here."
"I'm sorry whoever this is, but maybe you haven't been in my shoes yet. But everything here is a fucking enemy to me. Why should I think of you as any different?"
"For starters, how about you look up for me?"
In confusion I raised my head to see a camera resting on the ceiling near the far corner of the room. Approaching it slowly I said to myself.
"You were watching me?"
"I've been watching since you and your friends first arrived here. I'm sorry I couldn't do more back then. But now I can help you." Replied the man through my comm as I then stated.
"I don't need help."
"From where I'm standing Shadow it appears you do. I can see your eyes. You've been through a lot to get this far, but I need you to go a little bit further."
"What do you want?" I then asked as he soon urged.
"Go back to the research labs. The generator you and your fox friend used to restart the power in this sector? You recall?" He then asked to be sure I was following him.
"I know where. How do you know all this?"
"Like I said Shadow. I've been only able to watch this all unfold up till now. But please, go there, and to the right of the generator is a set of metal tiles. Under them is a hatch leading down to the sub-levels of the sector. Get there and I'll explain myself more to you and answer some of your many questions."
With my eyes staring into the camera lens, I replied.
"I've come too far to be fucked over now. You try anything to get in my way and I will find you and kill you. You understand?"
Silence hoovered for a few seconds, but soon he replied softly.
"I understand."
Giving the camera a small nod, I made my way back out and towards the mess hall. If what he said is true then this could have played out so much differently if Rosin and I were just a little bit more observant back then. We might still all be alive. Or maybe...it would have ended just the same all together.
Marching my way through the empty halls, I questioned where that lanky beast was when I first arrived. Chances are the blast Ralph fell into may have drawn his attention. If that's the case, I'm sorry Ralph. I'm sorry it had to be this way. But I need answers. Having you drag me down will just get you and your friends killed. And chances are if not by Project or that monster still roaming around here, then it would have just been by me.
Soon reaching the labs, I entered the nearby generator room to spot the tiles the man mentioned. My eyes widened as I pulled them off to see a metal hatch.
"Fuck me." I mumbled as I suffered the torture of not seeing this before.
Opening the hatch to see only darkness beyond, I went to my comm to state.
"I'm here."
"Then by all means Shadow. Please come inside. I'll guide you the rest of the way."
"Alright." I mumbled as I walked into the dark unaware of what I might be walking towards. After shutting the hatch behind me, I turned on my flashlight and saw the path I was following went further down then I expected. I had no intent of leaving this man alive if he tried anything. Maybe wherever he was taking me would give me the answers I seek. I just need to hope and hold on a little bit longer.
I could feel the hunger coming back with every step.
Ralph's POV, Energy Lab, Sector B, 1:49am.
Striker hid himself alongside me. We both let out small breathes as Clark remained on the other side of the room under a lab table. Outside the room however we all went silent and still as we heard that thing coming. I could see the door using the reflection given off by a glass cabinet in front of me. Striker shut his eyes as I widened mine to see the beast stop and look into our room. His eyes glanced to where Clark was, then to us. We all kept as silent as possible and with some luck he might go away.
But as we sat there it was starting to seem like he could smell us. I know for a fact the three of us were perfectly still. Not a sound was made. Even our breathing was held in at most times. But I began to panic as it walked a step into the room. It's eyes still scanned around but he knew we were here. There was no way he was leaving.
With my eyes looking over to Striker who knew this now too, I gave him a look of concern. I had no clue what to do to get us out of this one. But as our eyes read one another, Striker slowly and gently went to his belt pull off a frag. My eyes then glanced back to see the skinny beast nearing the area towards the center of the room. With a nod back to Striker, I showed him my fingers and began to count them down. Starting from one, he pulled the pin. As I showed two, he readied himself to move on my next and final finger. After grabbing my rifle, I gave the command and as my third finger showed Striker tossed the grenade behind us and over the table we hid behind. Instantly the thing saw the device and without warning the frag went off sending it towards Clark's table. Clark instantly made a break for the door as Striker and I got up to aim our weapons at the now stumbled monster.
Without hesitation we both held down the triggers. I made sure I was aiming as best as I could, and with each of us scoring hit after hit I was sure we were bound to kill it when out of no where it managed to get up and run out after Clark who could be heard running down the hall.
"After it!" I shouted as it left behind a long blood trail.
With Striker hopping the table and myself going around. We turned out into the hall to see Clark out of sight and the injured beast making it's way to another long hall that led to the left. Striker held the front in force as we ran after it.
Clark's POV, 1:52am.
It was right behind me. I could hear it running after me.
After making that turn, I ran for the nearest room. As I got inside I soon realized I found a maintenance hatch of some sort. But with little time to think or hide, I widened my eyes and panicked as I turned to find it in my face. Blood and bullet holes covered it's chest and sides, and without warning I was caught off guard by a huge bash of it's long arm.
My body was sent at least five feet back from the sheer force. But with my back hitting the nearby wall, I was unable to go for my gun which had dropped after the hit it applied to me. Instead, I felt a hand grab me by the shoulder. Reopening my eyes to see it staring at me, I began to scream the second I saw it's teeth lunge.
Ralph's POV, 1:53am.
"AGHHHHHHHH!"
Turning into the room as fast as we could. Striker and I found Clark pinned to the wall with it tearing into his neck.
"SHOOT IT!" Begged Clark as Striker ran to grab the thing from behind.
"Ahhh!" Watching with my gun up as Striker managed to wrestle it off Clark. I held the trigger down the second Striker had tossed it for the back wall.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Blood splashed the surface in droves and with each shot hitting it in the chest it began to stumble to it's butt.
"Ruagghhhh!" The sound of it's screech nearly scratched my brain, but without remorse I fired one last round into its skull. Striker and I watched as the force slammed it's head into the wall behind it. Instantly it stopped screaming and with a solid thump it fell over to it's side.
With my clip dry and my heart racing. Striker and I instantly began to panic as we remembered Clark.
Finding him still alongside the wall he was once pinned too, I lowered my rifle and ran to his side as blood dripped out of his mouth.
"Clark!" I shouted as his eyes were closed.
"Don't do this Clark!" I ordered him as I began to pat his face. Seeing his eyes flickering, I looked back to Striker to order.
"Watch the hall! Make sure nothing else comes up on us!"
Immediately obeying, Striker ran to the door's frame to begin scanning the outer hallway. With blood running down my fingers as I held the wound, I shouted again.
"Stay awake Clark! Stay awake! You hear me!?"
Grabbing my hand as I held his wound, Clark stated.
"I don't wana die Ralph!"
"Your not gonna die! I just need to stop the bleeding! Just keep your eyes open and talk to me!" I urged him as I got out my medical supplies from my nearby kit.
"It landed right next to me Ralph! I didn't wana run but I had no other choice!"
"I know Clark, I know! Here!" I replied as I began to apply pressure to the wound with one of my remaining rags.
With the blood soon covering it, I went back to try and get some morphine. Striker began to glance back as I got the shot ready.
"I'm sorry Ralph!" He cried as I could see he was in agony from the bite.
"Just hang in there! I need you to try and breathe! Okay!?" I asked him as I put the shot into his arm.
Slowly nodding, I watched as his eyes went wide and he began to calm down slightly. Blood still spilled out from his neck as I began to try and seal it.
"I know it's hard but stay awake! You can't close your eyes!" I told him directly as I tried my best to seal his ripped flesh.
The teeth that fucker had tore him apart. The skin wasn't the only thing missing. It took chunks of muscles and layers of inner fat. I wasn't going to be able to seal it all. All I could do was seal what parts were together enough and try my best to disinfect and wrap it. I was in no condition to perform surgery.
With Clark shutting his eyes, I had no choice but to let him. His breathing was getting stable and that was enough to tell me he was alive still.
With time passing as I did my best on his neck, I soon began to wrap it as best as I could.
"How is he?" Wondered Striker as I slowly placed down my bloody needle and wrap. Letting out a sigh I replied.
"He's not going anywhere. His neck was ripped apart. Moving him will ether kill him from pain or it will paralyze him, if my stitching already didn't."
"It's that bad?" Questioned Striker as I nodded and replied.
"I guarantee if he tried to move right now something wouldn't work right. It bit down so deep and took a large chunk of his muscles. Specifically the ones that allow him to move his spine with ease. I'm telling you Striker. We can't move him."
Lowering his rifle he then asked.
"You know that's not all right?"
Nodding my head I replied.
"Yeah. Fuck!" I shouted as he pulled me back.
"It's not your fault." Stated Striker as I made my way over to the dead infected that was still laid out on the ground. Striker kept a watch on me as I pulled out my handgun to reply.
"Yeah I know. It's this...BANG...fucker's fault! BANG! BANG!" Sending three more rounds into it's head and neck, Striker pulled me back once again to order.
"Relax! Hey! Hey!"
"BANG!" Sending another round at the dead creature. Striker ripped the gun out of my hands and shouted.
"HEY!"
"What!?" I yelled back as he pushed me slightly.
"Calm the fuck down! I need you to keep focused! We can't help what just happened! We tried our best but in the end this is what we're left with! I need you to stay with me and let's figure this out!"
"But Clark...!?" Cutting me off Striker yelled.
"Clark got the bad end of the stick! Mistakes were made and we can't change them now! But what we can do is help him! He's going to turn! We both know that!"
Pinning my gun back in my chest. We locked eyes.
"You said it yourself. We can't help him now. The least we can do is end it before he has the chance to feel a thing."
Taking my M9 back, I slowly began to nod my head.
"Stay calm. Stay focused with me Ralph. We signed on for this remember."
"Your right." I replied in sadness as I looked down to Clark who was still out cold.
"End his pain. Then leave it alone. We keep going after that. You understand?" He asked me as I went silent.
Grabbing my shoulder, I looked back into his eyes as he asked again.
"You understand?"
Nodding once more I replied.
"I got it. Just...let me do this alone."
Patting my side he replied.
"I'll be right outside. Just don't think about it. Walk away."
With Striker letting me go, I was left with one thing left to do. I fucking knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. Why did I encourage him to come? I asked myself as Striker made his way back into the hall.
With my gun now along my hip. I retook my rifle and mumbled.
"I'm so sorry Clark. I shouldn't have made you come here. Fuck I would have learned how to fly if it meant you wouldn't have had to come."
I didn't know what I was saying. I've never had to do this before. Not to a person I considered a friend. How was anyone able or even expected to do this?
With tension and time passing by with each second of regret entering my head, I slowly raised my gun to Clark's head. He still remained there peacefully as I knew it wasn't long before the infection killed him like everyone else. But Striker was right. He didn't deserve to feel that pain. He deserves to be free from it all. There is no other way.
Gripping the trigger, I shut my eyes and mumbled one last time.
"I'm sorry."
"BANG!"
Shadow's POV, Sub-level 3, 1:58am.
The further I followed this man's directions, the further down I went. I was on the third sub-level now and as time pressed on I began to notice more and more water damage. But judging from where it was coming from it was clear the other side of the stone wall to my left was the area I once found myself in. This place however was completely different. It felt like this was another sector up top side in the atrium. But with time and my patience nearing the end I began to wonder something. Going to my comm I asked.
"Where to next? There are two doors."
With a glance to the one to my left he replied.
"The door on your left leads to the maintenance tunnels. I wouldn't open it if I were you. The flood is on the other side. Go right and there should be a set of stairs. Head down and you'll see an elevator. Take it down to the last floor. I'll be there waiting for you."
"Okay." I replied as I proceeded to keep my eyes on the door to my left as I progressed.
It bothered me that behind that door was Rosin. His body still was in there. Floating. It pissed me off he was so close yet I couldn't reach him.
With the door leaving my sights, I proceeded down the stairs and found the elevator not too much further down. It was a solid white elevator. Looked untouched. As I entered, I hit the button leading down to sub-level four. With a slow start, the door closed and we began the short trip down. Something felt wrong. Why was all this down here? I had a lot to ask. I hope whoever this is, is ready to answer. Cause I'm not leaving till I understand.
With my body and face still covered in nothing but blood. The door opened and beyond it was a tall light brown fox. He looked as old as Cruz but his face was untouched by all this. His bright white lab coat and short fur showed no signs of attack. No signs that what was happening above had ever reached him down here in this hole. Looking me over as I stood there in silence, I followed his hand as it soon was placed in front of me. He waited for me to shake back and with some confusion I took it. Gently smiling he stated.
"My name is Dr. Aden Hemer. I was the lead scientist in charge of the Zone 10 facility. Nice to meet you after all this time. I'm sorry we couldn't have met sooner. Your name is Shadow right?" He asked as I had my heart racing from just hearing his name. But with my mind lost as to what my name really was, I slowly replied.
"Shadow...Robotnik. Yeah. Lieutenant Robotnik."
"Memory loss, huh? It's one of the many symptoms your suffering Lieutenant. Your lucky to still be alive after all this. The infection is really doing you in."
"I have questions." I then stated directly as he nodded and replied.
"I know you do. So do I as well. Follow me back to my lab and we can speak."
"Lead the way." I urged him as he turned to begin walking down the hallway.
"I'm sorry I didn't make myself known up till now. In fact I really couldn't or I would have. But up till recently I've been trapped down here. You'll see what I mean soon enough. Please, come inside." He urged me as we reached a door.
Upon walking into the room I widened my eyes to see it was a huge lab. Tables and tubes everywhere. Some even had bodies on them. They looked like infected. As I glanced around in utter loss for words, I noticed to the far edge of the room was a set of locked glass cages. Inside it was too dark to see but something was going on here. Sensing my concern Dr. Hemer stated.
"When I sent out the distress message ordering the lock-down of the facility, I made my way out of the labs and down here before it activated. When the lock-down came to be the elevator and my remote communications had shut down. It's a sort of panic room in case things like this happen topside. Only after it was lifted was the elevator and my voice communications brought back online. Till then all I could do was use the security cameras to see what was going on above."
Leading me to a computer where he had them set up, he went on to state.
"I've been watching since the very beginning. I'm so sorry you and your friends had to go through this Lieutenant. I wanted to help but I couldn't."
"So what have you been doing then?" I asked in confusion as he looked over to the set of bodies he had on some of the tables.
"I've been trying to fix my mistakes. The infection you and your team went through is my doing. I created it. Or at least I created the strain that infected you and others like 23. You've seen my Project correct?"
"David Chester right?" I replied as he nodded.
"I made that monster. But I had no intent of all this happening I swear to you."
"What was the point in making the infection? Why have it at all? Why make monsters like Project and have people suffer?" I asked in a serious tone as he stared into my eyes to reply.
"That's the question. My only response to that, is that it was for science. As you know, my section of research is supported by the government. Many unique and groundbreaking things have been preformed here by my team. From new energies, to new weapons, to even solutions of world hunger. We were allowed to set up and find ways at solving problems that the normal world was immune to understanding. But why the infection? It is by no means a good thing to want to make. But for you to understand I have to tell you what the initial goal was for the project we were assigned."
Following him as he walked his way over to a dead infected. I took his side as he went on to explain.
"I know Dr. Rose was with you every step of the way Shadow. She might have gotten and said her own idea as to why the infection was made. Can you recall for me what she told you."
Thinking as hard as I could I replied.
"I was told you were sent convicts to use in the live experiments. David was one of them. You tested some sort of infection on him and then tried to alter his DNA. She said you were told to extract the liquid form of the infection. NASA wanted it for portable use. Or something like that. Why do you ask? Did she lie to me?" I asked in a serious tone as he slowly nodded.
"NASA didn't know about the infection for a long time. But me and my team did. Amy came into the picture a few years after we discovered it."
"So you didn't make it?" I questioned as he nodded again and looked to the dead infected next to us to reply.
"What I'm about to tell you is highly classified. When my research team got here on Zone 10 our mission before anything else was to discover what happened to the makers of the portal. As you may know; nothing has ever been found. But I'd like to think maybe five years back, on an expedition me and the other scientists took on the surface. We came across what appeared to be ruins of an old building. Inside was a humanoid. I say humanoid because I know for a fact it wasn't human like me or you. But at a time it was damn well close."
"So there really was life on Mars." I stated as he nodded.
"Precisely. But the body was the only life we managed to find. And we know one person couldn't make all this. There had to be more. Where? I don't know. But we took our chances and took the body back here. Come." Urged Hemer as he lead me to one of the nearby glass cages.
"Take a look for yourself."
Flipping a light switch, I widened my eyes as what appeared to be the same creature I saw in the mess hall was resting on the table. Dr. Hemer then stated.
"Tall, very fast, almost no facial features. It's teeth were like razors. It's claws thick and long. This is the beast we found but as you can see it's been dead for a long time."
"I saw this thing before. It was topside in the mess hall. It was following me for a while but I managed to lose it." I stated as he began to nod again.
"I can explain that. Like you already said, I didn't make this infection. The infection was originally found on the planet's surface. My theory is that the people who once lived here had to have ingested something. In return making them into what this thing is. The original strand of infection turns a person into this. I know this for a fact because I managed to extract some of it and test it on a live subject. I will not deny you that we used people to do this. But it was necessary. Chances are that thing you saw above is the same subject I tested the infection on. He was Project 1."
"Where was he the whole time? I figured I would have seen him before all this."
Looking back into my eyes he replied.
"I had him under lock-down in genetics. But when it was flooded some of the tubes cracked and broke under the pressure. He managed to get out from there. I can already tell you he was probably hiding in the ventilation most of the time. David Chester is not a big fan of him."
With my mind harkening back, I recalled the time in the mess hall I checked the vents. Something ran at me so fast. Was that it?
"He's a shy one when alone. Same as David was when he got out. Once it felt scared or knew it was in charge, was it considered a threat."
"So what's the difference between this thing and that guy on the table?" I wondered as he clarified.
"The difference is in the strand. Project 1 is what happens when you come in contact with the infection on the planet. The guy on the table is what happens when someone has been bite by David or one of his cohorts. Since the infection that made David what he is, is a modified version I tried to create on my own. But like you said, NASA did find out about the infection. They heard it was capable of making a person stronger, faster, heal almost instantly. They wanted a perfect portable form of it they could use to apply to military use. Problem was as you can see for yourself. That once infected with any strand the body mutates. David Chester, Project 23, he was an attempt at fixing that. I used what I called a beta virus on him. My first attempt at altering the original strand of infection. From what happened to him I knew it had to be something in the blood. I tried for years to alter it and hopefully reverse his condition."
"You were trying to make a super soldier." I stated as he nodded and replied.
"In a manner of speaking yes. I was very close to finding the cure. But due to the outbreak I'm incapable now."
"What do you mean by cure?" I asked in confusion as he calmly replied.
"Well a cure is not an option. Mainly because this infection is man made. But what I can do is the same thing NASA wanted from me originally. Which is I can find a way to have an infected host keep the benefits of the virus. But at the same time stop the mutation that would normally follow. Like the ones happening to you."
Looking to myself, I stared at my claws as he went on.
"From the claws, to the darkened skin color, to the shedding of all your quills. If I did nothing, more would surely come of you. If you allow me the chance Shadow I can hopefully stop that before it's too late."
With my emotions at an all time low, I replied.
"I...I already ate someone doc. There is no more hope for me."
Hemer let out a sigh as I slowly fell down to the ground. Upon sitting with my back against a table I went on to state.
"I have faith a cure can be made. But saving me is no longer an option. I can't go back on what I committed."
With my head down, I heard back.
"Will you not at least let me try?"
Upon looking back up, Hemer offered me his hand.
"All I could do was watch as you and your friends were killed one by one. I had to watch as Amy left with a smile on her face. I had to stay behind and...?"
"What about Amy?" I asked in confusion as he went silent.
Getting back on my feet to face him, I asked again.
"What about Amy?"
Grabbing my wrist he replied.
"See for yourself."
Taking me towards the security station he had, Hemer then urged.
"It took me a while to find out. But I stitched everything together not too soon after I sent out the distress call. Play video three."
With a drop down list on the left of the screen, I selected video three like he said and watched as the screen displayed a camera feed from before the outbreak. It was inside the research labs. Two of the other doctors that died were there on screen before me. They were both doing something when Amy walked in with a wave of her hand as she proceeded to the generator room. With the video following her every move, I continued to watch in confusion.
"What is this?"
"Before Project escaped. Before you and your friends were told to come here. You want to know how it all happened? Just keep watching." Urged Hemer as he watched with me as I followed Amy as she made her way down to the third sub-level. Taking a left unlike what I did to get here, I watched on as she entered a familiar room. It was the same place I found all those infected before. There had to be twenty of them if I recall. This is also the place Foley died. With a guard manning the door as she approached, I watched as it was clear she was there for a reason. With the guard soon turning his back to open the door, I watched in utter loss for words as Amy grabbed a nearby pipe from off a box. As soon as the door was opened, I widened my eyes as she sent the pipe into the back of the guard's head. He dropped right into the room, and without warning Amy forced the door shut as best as she could and ran. The camera followed as she soon resurfaced back in the research labs; then made her way to hydroponics.
"What is this?" I questioned as Hemer urged.
"Keep watching."
With my mind lost among many unanswered questions as to why. I stared on as Amy shut down the power.
"The cameras went dark for a few seconds after she turned off the power. I had to wait for the backup down here to kick it, but here is what happens next." Stated Hemer as the scene skipped to her back out into the hallway.
Heading down the hall a few feet, she soon stopped to pull up one of the large metal floor sheets. Under it was a passage. Watching as she jumped inside, I soon saw Hemer and his comrades running right over her and back towards the research labs.
"I ran right over her." He stated as the camera feed went down for a few seconds to once again pop back in a lone hall in the middle of sector A. My eyes stayed wide as Amy could be seen getting back up from another service tunnel. After wiping herself off she made her way to the atrium. Acting like nothing ever happened.
"I've worked with Amy for a while now Shadow. I know your relationship with her. I didn't want to believe it myself when I found out. But the truth is right there. Amy caused the outbreak. For some reason she sabotaged everything. She got my friends killed and she got you and your team...ahhh...you understand."
"No. I don't understand." I replied as I couldn't feel my legs.
"She's a genius. I treated her like family from the second she started working here. I don't know why she did it but...?"
"She killed everyone. She...she...she caused all this? Why?" I asked myself as Hemer watched me in lack of how to react. He had to have known how I would react.
Staring back at the cameras to make sure to myself that was really her. I questioned again.
"Why? Why? WHY!?" I asked with a sharp scream as I tossed a nearby medical bed.
Hemer stepped back a few feet as I shouted.
"I fucking trusted her! I...I...I did everything she asked! She fucking played me like a god damn FOOL!"
Tossing this time a nearby lab cart. I heard Hemer urge.
"Calm down Shadow." Looking back at him I questioned.
"Calm down!? The whole fucking time we were together I protected her! She made all this seem like an accident! Like some god damn thing went wrong on your end! When in reality, she did this! She did all of this! She killed all my men! She killed all my friends, all my brothers! My whole fucking team! Dead because of her!" My head spun as I tried to cope. With my rage bursting to an all new high, I approached the wall towards the end of the room and began to punch it. I couldn't feel any pain and Hemer just watched as chunks broke from my strength.
"I trusted every fucking word she said! I killed all my friends! I walked her out of this fucking hell! AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
With my knuckles bleeding, I soon felt Hemer take me from behind by the shoulder to shout.
"It's not your fault! Listen to me!"
Staring into his eyes as he held me tightly, I listened closely as he went on to say.
"I trusted Amy just as much as you did. I gave her everything see needed to feel at home. I even felt as if me and her were friends. I considered her one of the nicest people alive at a point. But the evidence shows otherwise. She has an agenda. What it is, I do not know. But I know for a fact she didn't act without reason. Please Shadow, think back for me. When you were around her, did she do anything other then help you escape? I watched what I could but like I said, I had a lot on my plate down here. I need to know any bit of information if we are to figure this out."
With my anger still present I replied in rage.
"I don't know! I can barely remember my name let alone the past!"
"You need to try. Just take your time. Please. This is just as important as our survival."
Nodding once, I took my chance to take a seat back down on the ground. Hemer got down with me as I tried to remember anything. With things getting blurry I replied.
"It was after we drained genetics. I went back there and I found Kid and her in your office."
"That's my development lab. My office is under lock-down in sector C. But please, go on."
Nodding I replied.
"She was...doing something with this clear liquid. There were two small jars of it in a silver case. She used one of them to give me and Kid the cure she tried to make. At first I felt fine. But later when I found out I was stronger and faster I knew something was wrong." In utter confusion Hemer stated.
"She made a cure? Impossible. There is no cure as of now. She wouldn't have even known how to begin without all my notes. And there were three jars, not two."
"She had notes. They were inside the case that contained the shit she used to make it."
"Those are not notes on the cure Shadow. Those are my notes containing the information on the beta virus. The infection I made to create Project."
With wide eyes I questioned.
"That's impossible. I...I...no."
In loss Hemer mumbled.
"She infected you with it by saying it was a cure. You had no way of knowing."
"So that means...Kid? She said she gave him the cure to after he was bit. But if...no...no...no! FUCK! She turned him into that fucking thing!" Instantly losing my shit again, I stood back up to have Hemer shout.
"You were lied to! You can't blame what happened on yourself Shadow! It only leads down a bad road. Amy infected you and your friend!"
"Why!? Why make us suffer like that?!"
Standing before me straight he replied slowly with a sure tone.
"You want my guess?"
Nodding to his question he went on to state.
"No loose ends. She wasn't expecting you to survive this long. She wanted to make sure you and your friend couldn't talk when you found anything about her involvement in the outbreak. She was covering all her bases."
With my head lowering in complete sadness I began to cry.
"I loved her! What the fuck did I ever do!? I saved her ass!"
"What happened to the other jars Shadow!? Where are they?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"I broke one. I didn't want that shit leaving the area. She wanted to take it to NASA."
With his mind in thought, I went on to state.
"I don't know what happened to the other. I had no idea another one existed."
"NASA wouldn't dare speak to her about my projects. She had to have intentions elsewhere. Maybe to sell it? No that's too easy. To simple. Someone must have put her up to it. Someone wanted my research into the infection found on this planet."
"Who else would know about it?" I wondered as he replied.
"The only people possible who could have access to that information is NASA, the CIA, and maybe China. But China wouldn't dare attack us like this. If anyone found out it would mean war or worse. But the CIA? I don't know why they would care. The only thing I can see is that maybe they want to take my research and apply it elsewhere. Or maybe just get rid of the damn thing. But I can't know for sure without seeing Amy. God damn it. What happened to the other employees working here? They went back to earth right?"
"They all died when Kid turned. Amy set up the fail-safe and once we got out the place went up and killed anyone and everyone still inside."
With wide eyes of shock Hemer replied.
"That's not a fail-safe. That's a decontamination procedure in case myself or someone brings hazardous material from Zone 10's surface to earth. It's a way to handle any germs that may reach the surface of our planet. It's only been used once and we made sure everyone was outside when it went off. Then we went back to work. If she activated that then...? God she is a psychopath. She murdered everyone. For what? She had to have known you were returning with her. Unless...?" With my tone cracked from hearing all this I replied.
"Unless she was going to kill me herself at some point. I can't believe this. I never knew her to be like this. She wasn't like this. I left her so she could pursue her dreams. What happened during all that time?" I asked as Hemer was now just as stumped.
With mixed emotions going through me I decided it was time to tell him.
"When we got back to HQ. After all this?" Nodding Hemer urged me to go on.
"It wasn't long till Project followed. He survived the blast I caused using the nitroglycerine in sector C. Last time I saw him he almost killed me. But we managed to get away."
"He's on earth!?" Asked Hemer in utter shock as I nodded.
"He infected our HQ, but as far as I know it was under control. But I know for a fact Project is coming to find me. He had no interest in anything else."
Now losing his own mind Hemer stated.
"If he infects just one person and that one person infected two, then three? The world could be over. The city outside could be a fucking war zone in a matter of hours!"
I now kept silent as Hemer tried to think.
"Clearly things are not going well. In any category. And with Project on earth there is no way I know of to contain him. And it's quite possible the third jar is in Amy's hands."
"What's in the jar?" I asked to be sure as he soon replied while looking to the alien body that remained in the glass cage now across the room from us.
"When we recovered that guy it was the infection I found leftover in his body. The quote on quote, pure infection. The original. I'll explain it like this. What made him and what made the one roaming upstairs was from the stuff found in the jars you saw. The pure infection. The stuff I used to make Project is what I called the beta virus. A modified form of the pure infection. It's normally a blue color if made right."
Nodding my head as he explained, Hemer went on to state.
"If I was to extract the infection from a person bite from Project it would wind up being the color blue. The beta virus. If I take it from this guy. These aliens. It's clear. Anyone Project infects is my fault. I accept that and I take full responsibility for it. But you Shadow may be different. Your body is reacting much slower to the beta virus inside your bloodstream. You might have an antibody or something in your blood that fights back. If you allow it, if you want a cure. We can try and start with you. Your blood might lead us somewhere."
"What about Amy and Project?" I questioned as he went on to reply.
"Amy is out of our hands right now. If we make it out alive we can deal with her. As for Project we will just have to hope those back on earth can handle him. Like it or not we have no choice right now."
Letting out a sigh to his response, Hemer looked directly at me to urge.
"Help me and I'll help you."
"What do you need?" I then asked as he smiled.
"I'll make you a cure. Worse comes to worse I can at least make it so the mutations stop. I was on track to figuring it all out prior to the outbreak. I just need my notes. All my notes. They are in my office in sector C. You'll need a level three master card to get inside." Showing him the keycard I had in my pouch, he nodded and replied.
"Good. And take this."
Handing me a flashdrive he urged.
"When your there you'll need to get to my computer. Plug this in and I'll extract everything. Then come back here. Once I have the data I can get to work and we can get moving on the next step."
With my mind broken even more now from all this, I took the flashdrive in my front pouch and proceeded to the exit. Hemer who watched me from behind then shouted as a reached the door.
"I'll watch out for anything on the cameras! If something moves I'll tell you!"
"Okay." I replied as I could still feel the blood of Grim on my hands.
Nodding, he then urged as I left.
"Be careful!"
Shutting the door behind me and heading back for the elevator, I slowly pressed myself inside and hit the button going back up. Slowly sitting down as the elevator rode up, I looked up at the one small light on the inside with me and asked.
"Why?"
Amy still roamed in my mind as I reached the top. The door slowly slide back open with nothing but the lonely and dark hallway beyond.
mT Shadow.