The ground shook. Seismic vibrations rocked the infrastructure of the lab. They were coming. He had to hurry. Scientists were running amok, attempting to gather all of the valuable intel they could carry. It seemed like a hopeless endeavor. Where would they go? The enemy was already upon them, breached and through the gates of the facility. It would be impossible for even a fraction of them to escape at this point. Were the underground tunnels blocked off? Had they caved in already? Another explosion shook the walls of the building, beakers and bottles falling onto the ground and shattering, spilling whatever contents all over the floor. The experiment had to stay out of their hands. There was no other option. Within the impending chaos was one of the testers, Valerius. He preferred the term 'prototype' over anything else, having a lot of disdain for the term 'guinea pig'. He wasn't helpless. He was a volunteer embodiment for the future. The front-most blast doors were seared off by the corners by a shaping charge, another explosion spreading fire and debris into the main entrance of the lab. The screams were loud, panicked and everywhere. Within the facility Valerius did his best to maintain his composure, entering the unlock sequence to their latest experiment- the one the R'tuuk were after. The Serum had to remain intact.
"Valerius! Go! You have to escape with the sample!" came a familiar voice. Gerard usually was the scientist who helped administer the tests on Valerius, monitor and run them to prevent things from going haywire. Were it not for Gerard's expertise in his field Valerius would probably have been a pile of sludge long ago. Gunfire began to fill the entire facility with deafening sound, deathly howls of coworkers wailed in harmony. Valerius' hands were shaky, fidgeting all over the locking mechanism in attempt to undo it. His nervousness was getting the better of him. Most of their research would get plundered no matter what, but the least they could do is save their latest creation. It hadn't even been formally tested yet, but there was no time for morality in this disaster. With the massacre ongoing time was a crucial factor, hopefully in Valerius' favor as he finally got through all of the locking mechanisms. The chamber opened, clouds of cool mist billowing outward and spilling down the pylon. No time to waste, the man reached in and took the entire kit out and under his arm. "Gerard! We have to go now!"
If at least two of them could survive they could compile their data and flee to another one of the more protected facilities, maybe one of the underground ones. It begged the question; was this the only facility being hit right now? Did the R'tuuk assault multiple installations at the same time? Questions to think more on when death wasn't nipping at the heels. Within the box tucked underneath Valerius' left arm was the entire experimental kit, resistant to most forms of damage. This experiment was some sort of mutagen strain, a biological alteration. No hands-on testing had been conducted thusfar, but that didn't make the contents any less valuable than they were. This is what the R'tuuk wanted to get their hands on. Smog spread throughout the facility, sending Valerius into a daze as he saw the chaos unfolding. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? Today was supposed to be a breakthrough day. What used to be white walls, clean desks and orderly screens was now a mess of bodies, blood, and broken machines. If the R'tuuk were after their research why were they killing so indiscriminately?
"What are you staring at, Vale, let's go!" Gerard's hands pushed Vale in the opposite direction, forcibly moving him toward what looked like a standard wall. Tiles shifted as Gerard pushed his palm against a select one and input a digital code, two doors swinging inward to reveal as secret passageway. It wasn't very tall, just barely below six foot. Vale slipped inside of the passage, but not very long before he heard voices shouting in their direction. "HEY! Over there! They're trying to escape!" Something in his chest tightened, like air was struggling to make its way to his lungs. Immediately he looked to Gerard, who pushed both of the doors back together with all of his might, bracing his back against them afterward. There was a look on his countenance. It might have been sadness. Maybe it was acceptance. Vale didn't have much time to think before Gerard forced him back into the world of the coherent.
"GO VALE! GO NOW! I'LL HOLD THEM HERE AS LONG AS I CAN!" The doors were already being rammed against, Gerard struggling to keep them completely together.
"But- what about y-" Vale grimaced and shook his head, cut off by his coworker in a quick manner.
"NO! GET OUT OF HERE! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME!"
Vale's legs seemed to work against his heart, forcing him to run down the escape tunnel as the R'tuuk breached the entrance. He ran as fast as he could manage in the narrow corridor. If there was another way he would have taken it in a heartbeat, but they both knew the situation. Just as Vale disappeared from view down the tunnel his colleague released a sigh of relief, as if in acceptance of his fate. A hand raised with the smallest smile to accompany it, "It was a pleasure working with you, Valerius.. make us proud. This is Doctor Bryan Gerard, signi-" A breach charge ripped through the center of the door, creating an open cavity the size of a volleyball in Gerard, who collapsed forward with the rubble of the doors in the tunnel. The shock blast of the charge echoed throughout the tunnel, causing Vale to stumble and fall onto his front roughly. 'No!' screamed out in his head as the wind was knocked out of him, the man scrambling to his feet with the box in hand, desperate to escape. The R'tuuk were likely closing in on him fast. Would he make it to the end of the tunnel in time? Fear was beginning to set in, terror even. Up just around the bend he could make out what looked like the exit. He was almost there!
"Come on! Come on! COME ON!" Vale raced, the sound of footsteps belonging to someone else catching up to him. Box in hand, Vale sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, thankful that he had a medium build and not one of the more heavy set ones some of the other scientists possessed. Cardio was not part of his daily routine unfortunately, already struggling to breathe as he neared the end of his potential escape. The footsteps were getting louder, closer. Just when Vale thought salvation was within his grasp and the doors ahead swung open he could feel himself crash forward while being tackled from behind. Taken by surprise, the box flew out from under his arm and skittered across the ground. Hands attempted to keep Vale pinned to the ground, who then sent an elbow directly into the stomach of whoever was on top of him. A groan and hacking noise ensued as a R'tuuk agent rolled onto his side. Perhaps it was the sheer irrationality that caught up with Vale as he impulsively opened up the box containing the experiment with the precious seconds earned by him. Several clicks followed one another as it swung open, revealing a container with dark blue liquid and several pre-filled syringes inside. Meters away from him the agent fumbled to remove his sidearm from its holster.
"Human trial test begins now- I've got nothing else to lose!" Quickly Vale grasped onto one of the syringes and slapped the ends of his fingers on the inner crease of his left elbow. The mutagen was thick as he pushed the strain directly into his bloodstream, reminding him of the consistency of penicillin. Effects took hold immediately as his veins already began to darken and spiderweb out near the point of insertion, Vale's muscles tightening and then convulsing just as the final drop in the syringe was injected. Instantly his entire body was ravaged by severe spasms, causing him to roll all over the place as he screamed in dismay. Electricity arced between his teeth as he shrieked, his body involuntarily moving. Just next to him the agent had finally managed to bring his sidearm to the ready up position, five rounds fired at Vale from close range. Was this it? Was all of their effort in vain? Vale's eyes, now a vibrant, luminescent blue stared at the gun's barrel as he was fired upon. Energy surged throughout his body, skin tingling and fuzzy. Something was burning. What was it?
A flash of bright, blue light.
As if short circuiting, Vale's body released a series of pulse charges in every direction, bolts of electricity violently reaching out toward anything in reach. All of the bullets seemed to strike a barrier and bounce off as the R'tuuk agent ignited, channeled lightning overcharging his body and exploding his innards. The air felt heavy, static. Try as he may, Vale couldn't control the electrical impulses that made his muscles spasm. It was almost as horrifying as the sight of the agent nearby, who was steaming, flesh cooked and almost falling off of the bone. Had Vale done this? What was this mutagen? No time to think. Spastic hands gathered up everything inside of the experimental crate and closed it, shakily wrapping an arm around it before Vale escaped out into a deserted alleyway. It was raining outside, a torrential downpour soaking the man seemingly immediately. Into the darkness of the city he stumbled, body still giving off occasional shock bursts even after being discharged.
"M-M-Must make it, make it- MAKE IT to the Cepea facility.. first t-t-t-trial.. non-lethal." Above the clouds mumbled to each other, streaks of lightning across the sky similar to the man on the ground below.
The human trials had just begun.
"Valerius! Go! You have to escape with the sample!" came a familiar voice. Gerard usually was the scientist who helped administer the tests on Valerius, monitor and run them to prevent things from going haywire. Were it not for Gerard's expertise in his field Valerius would probably have been a pile of sludge long ago. Gunfire began to fill the entire facility with deafening sound, deathly howls of coworkers wailed in harmony. Valerius' hands were shaky, fidgeting all over the locking mechanism in attempt to undo it. His nervousness was getting the better of him. Most of their research would get plundered no matter what, but the least they could do is save their latest creation. It hadn't even been formally tested yet, but there was no time for morality in this disaster. With the massacre ongoing time was a crucial factor, hopefully in Valerius' favor as he finally got through all of the locking mechanisms. The chamber opened, clouds of cool mist billowing outward and spilling down the pylon. No time to waste, the man reached in and took the entire kit out and under his arm. "Gerard! We have to go now!"
If at least two of them could survive they could compile their data and flee to another one of the more protected facilities, maybe one of the underground ones. It begged the question; was this the only facility being hit right now? Did the R'tuuk assault multiple installations at the same time? Questions to think more on when death wasn't nipping at the heels. Within the box tucked underneath Valerius' left arm was the entire experimental kit, resistant to most forms of damage. This experiment was some sort of mutagen strain, a biological alteration. No hands-on testing had been conducted thusfar, but that didn't make the contents any less valuable than they were. This is what the R'tuuk wanted to get their hands on. Smog spread throughout the facility, sending Valerius into a daze as he saw the chaos unfolding. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? Today was supposed to be a breakthrough day. What used to be white walls, clean desks and orderly screens was now a mess of bodies, blood, and broken machines. If the R'tuuk were after their research why were they killing so indiscriminately?
"What are you staring at, Vale, let's go!" Gerard's hands pushed Vale in the opposite direction, forcibly moving him toward what looked like a standard wall. Tiles shifted as Gerard pushed his palm against a select one and input a digital code, two doors swinging inward to reveal as secret passageway. It wasn't very tall, just barely below six foot. Vale slipped inside of the passage, but not very long before he heard voices shouting in their direction. "HEY! Over there! They're trying to escape!" Something in his chest tightened, like air was struggling to make its way to his lungs. Immediately he looked to Gerard, who pushed both of the doors back together with all of his might, bracing his back against them afterward. There was a look on his countenance. It might have been sadness. Maybe it was acceptance. Vale didn't have much time to think before Gerard forced him back into the world of the coherent.
"GO VALE! GO NOW! I'LL HOLD THEM HERE AS LONG AS I CAN!" The doors were already being rammed against, Gerard struggling to keep them completely together.
"But- what about y-" Vale grimaced and shook his head, cut off by his coworker in a quick manner.
"NO! GET OUT OF HERE! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME!"
Vale's legs seemed to work against his heart, forcing him to run down the escape tunnel as the R'tuuk breached the entrance. He ran as fast as he could manage in the narrow corridor. If there was another way he would have taken it in a heartbeat, but they both knew the situation. Just as Vale disappeared from view down the tunnel his colleague released a sigh of relief, as if in acceptance of his fate. A hand raised with the smallest smile to accompany it, "It was a pleasure working with you, Valerius.. make us proud. This is Doctor Bryan Gerard, signi-" A breach charge ripped through the center of the door, creating an open cavity the size of a volleyball in Gerard, who collapsed forward with the rubble of the doors in the tunnel. The shock blast of the charge echoed throughout the tunnel, causing Vale to stumble and fall onto his front roughly. 'No!' screamed out in his head as the wind was knocked out of him, the man scrambling to his feet with the box in hand, desperate to escape. The R'tuuk were likely closing in on him fast. Would he make it to the end of the tunnel in time? Fear was beginning to set in, terror even. Up just around the bend he could make out what looked like the exit. He was almost there!
"Come on! Come on! COME ON!" Vale raced, the sound of footsteps belonging to someone else catching up to him. Box in hand, Vale sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, thankful that he had a medium build and not one of the more heavy set ones some of the other scientists possessed. Cardio was not part of his daily routine unfortunately, already struggling to breathe as he neared the end of his potential escape. The footsteps were getting louder, closer. Just when Vale thought salvation was within his grasp and the doors ahead swung open he could feel himself crash forward while being tackled from behind. Taken by surprise, the box flew out from under his arm and skittered across the ground. Hands attempted to keep Vale pinned to the ground, who then sent an elbow directly into the stomach of whoever was on top of him. A groan and hacking noise ensued as a R'tuuk agent rolled onto his side. Perhaps it was the sheer irrationality that caught up with Vale as he impulsively opened up the box containing the experiment with the precious seconds earned by him. Several clicks followed one another as it swung open, revealing a container with dark blue liquid and several pre-filled syringes inside. Meters away from him the agent fumbled to remove his sidearm from its holster.
"Human trial test begins now- I've got nothing else to lose!" Quickly Vale grasped onto one of the syringes and slapped the ends of his fingers on the inner crease of his left elbow. The mutagen was thick as he pushed the strain directly into his bloodstream, reminding him of the consistency of penicillin. Effects took hold immediately as his veins already began to darken and spiderweb out near the point of insertion, Vale's muscles tightening and then convulsing just as the final drop in the syringe was injected. Instantly his entire body was ravaged by severe spasms, causing him to roll all over the place as he screamed in dismay. Electricity arced between his teeth as he shrieked, his body involuntarily moving. Just next to him the agent had finally managed to bring his sidearm to the ready up position, five rounds fired at Vale from close range. Was this it? Was all of their effort in vain? Vale's eyes, now a vibrant, luminescent blue stared at the gun's barrel as he was fired upon. Energy surged throughout his body, skin tingling and fuzzy. Something was burning. What was it?
A flash of bright, blue light.
As if short circuiting, Vale's body released a series of pulse charges in every direction, bolts of electricity violently reaching out toward anything in reach. All of the bullets seemed to strike a barrier and bounce off as the R'tuuk agent ignited, channeled lightning overcharging his body and exploding his innards. The air felt heavy, static. Try as he may, Vale couldn't control the electrical impulses that made his muscles spasm. It was almost as horrifying as the sight of the agent nearby, who was steaming, flesh cooked and almost falling off of the bone. Had Vale done this? What was this mutagen? No time to think. Spastic hands gathered up everything inside of the experimental crate and closed it, shakily wrapping an arm around it before Vale escaped out into a deserted alleyway. It was raining outside, a torrential downpour soaking the man seemingly immediately. Into the darkness of the city he stumbled, body still giving off occasional shock bursts even after being discharged.
"M-M-Must make it, make it- MAKE IT to the Cepea facility.. first t-t-t-trial.. non-lethal." Above the clouds mumbled to each other, streaks of lightning across the sky similar to the man on the ground below.
The human trials had just begun.
Forever?
Oh, my darling,
If only you could see what war has done to me.
Oh, my darling,
If only you could see what war has done to me.
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The Chronicles - by deific - 07-21-2016, 07:53 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-23-2016, 12:47 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-23-2016, 04:00 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-24-2016, 06:45 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-25-2016, 12:48 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-25-2016, 12:58 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-26-2016, 01:09 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 07-30-2016, 04:08 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 08-06-2016, 12:41 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 08-09-2016, 08:56 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 08-10-2016, 08:44 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 08-11-2016, 01:02 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 09-01-2016, 05:43 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-03-2016, 11:11 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-03-2016, 01:47 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-08-2016, 03:03 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-08-2016, 09:23 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-11-2016, 01:21 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-17-2016, 04:15 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 10-31-2016, 05:27 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 02-15-2017, 08:33 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 05-13-2017, 03:35 PM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 05-26-2017, 05:55 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 05-26-2017, 07:01 AM
RE: The Chronicles - by deific - 06-10-2017, 12:37 PM