“Dark Serpent is dead and the Efiáltis’ are now extinct.”
“And your team?”
“No losses or casualties.”
“Oh my god! How did you pulled that off!?”
“I didn’t. It seems like these eggheads here were competing for a big fat bonus so they made the mistake of adding a rejuvenation gene in the Efiáltis DNA.”
“I don’t understand. Please explain.”
“Sir, these beast are strictly hierarchical. They need a strong leader to keep them in check. By adding the rejuvenation gene, and by making them 35% taller, it made all of them too strong and powerful to be controlled by anyone or anything.”
“Good god almighty.”
“Sir, since we were not attacked I decided to send a drone and then go have a look for myself as to why they’re not attacking us. That is when I discovered that they were too busy trying to be their so-call leader. I then had the base flooded with CVX-10 gas (anti-clone version of VX very rare, very expensive). Later, while looking for Dark Serpent we learned that the new Efiáltis’ ripped him apart. I then had the pleasure in killing him.” Rymer mentioned the last part with great pride.
“Outstanding! Good job Lieutenant. Anything else?”
“No sir. Everything else will be in my report.”
“Alright then, over and out.”
It will take some time before Dark Core (the ones outside of Golden Hyperion) will learn what happened to Dark Serpent and when they do they will be furious. Furious at the eggheads who inadvertently got him killed. From that point forward they will make certain that no scientists ever add in a rejuvenation gene. If those eggheads didn’t then what would have occurred? Dos Double X would have been killed sooner. More of those idiots would have lived and it is possible that all of them could have lived. The Efiáltis army would have gotten the wind taken from them as they attack Rymer. Although they had only a 22.1% chance of overrunning Rymer’s position, they would have been wiped out at the first town that they attacked. And as for Dark Serpent? There was an argument between Captain Iverson and Maxwell over rather or not they should use Dark Phoenix’s arsenal on that facility. If the Efiáltis’ overran Rymer’s position then Iverson would have gave the go ahead to destroy the facility. Dark Serpent still would have been killed. Although Dark Serpent would have been killed, Dark Core would have won given the events that will eventually take place.
“You know. . .” Rymer was saying to those on the helicopter with him. “Falling into hell and madness these morons may have inadvertently save this world, and a great multitude of other people, from newer and greater monsters that would have devour lives the likes of which mankind will never know. To think. . .” He then placed Preston’s phone in the body bag with him and continued on, “. . .nobody will ever know.”
Fall to Your Death
(1)
Medusa Pandora finally arrived at her destination which was a secret underground place that store her beloved pet. It was a facility that was well hidden within what appears to be a huge flood control system that allowed the water to drain into it and then channel it south of Aruka (hence the swamps). But those rains that caused the floods was a once in decade occurrence. So it would be of no surprise that they would remain dry most of the time. And now she can unleash her beloved monstrosity upon the Ravers who came and partied outside in the FCS (flood control system).
Medusa Pandora always hated those “get together” of those Ravers. To her she despised them more than any other type of humans. A place where concerts, skateboarding, drag racing, and in certain cases sex orgies, are performed for the entertainment of all. And yes drugs and alcohol were served and with it, from time to time, violence. It was a less than famous Japanese actress who (her less than famous boyfriend called her KGL as in Killer Good Looks [with him being called Lady’s Man]), is directly responsible for the nightly get together. Medusa Pandora is familiar with what Omori said of the actress and she just couldn’t wait for this “hour worth of sand” to run it’s course.
Sayaka did try to put a stop to the parties but to no avail. It turned out to be nothing more than the battle between cute versus beautiful, brains versus dumb. In the end it was the drugs that prevail over the might of Sayaka. Omori couldn’t stand up to the simple tactic of KGL which was PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity & Respect). Nor did it help that both her and Joseph had the attitude of being anti-PLUR. For both of them had that autocratic attitude within them that always would turn off the youth. And when the youth don’t listen neither Joseph nor Sayaka cared. The youth should obey their elders for their elders had the wisdom that the youth lack.
“It’s time to unleash my pets.” Medusa Pandora said to Colonel Ty’nys’tu who was the leading scientist of the Hun’narlians.
“Ma’am I do not think that would be wise.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you think! I said you release them! And that’s an order!”
“No ma’am I will not.”
“Now you listen to me you little shit. . . I’m giving you a direct order to stand down! Now do as I say!”
He then said something in his language that only infuriated her even more. His people were a very proud about their past having being an empire within their star system at one point. Unlike humans they had “cousins.” (A cousin refers to those intelligent races who evolved within the same star system as another.) But they, like their cousins, are now the poor species of human/ET relations.
“Warning! The clones have been released! Who in the hell released. . .!?” The Skotadian said over the radio. From the look of Medusa Pandora it told Colonel Ty’nys’tu that it was her. He then pulled out his gun and shot her dead.
“Get me Captain Maxwell on the comm. right now!” Ty’nys’tu ordered the Skotadian.
“Well this is interesting. I didn’t expect to see. . .”
“I have no time for this captain! Medusa just unleashed a very dangerous contagion upon this world! I’m sending you all Intel right now!”
“Now hold up just one minute! What the hell are your people. . .!?”
“Goddamn it captain! I have no time for this! We must contain this wretched contagion before it’s too late!”
“Alright! Alright! What is the fate of Medusa?”
“I killed her.”
“Outstanding sir! I’ll send your Intel to all local forces immediately! Sir, do you require any assistance?”
“No. It will only result in unnecessarily lost of life.”
“Understood sir. I’ll send a helicopter to your location for extraction.”
“What is their ETA?”
“One moment please sir. Their ETA is no more than an hour.”
“Understood. Over and out.”
The only individual who could provide that extraction was Rymer. Within the time period he arrived the contagion spread far and wide thanks in part to KGL and her friends. Everyone started to call the contagion “Ravagion” which was a contraction of the words “Ravers” and “contagion.” This one single contagion will strike the most greatest fear into the hearts of the people. For nothing that came before would. It was this contagion and the nightmare that it would unleash would ultimately break the power that Dark Core wielded over the people.
(2)
“What do you got Alex?” Maria asked Ramirez.
“This is Sector New York. I recently remembered that it was here.” Ramirez responded. He didn’t want to mentioned that the old Asian lady is what caused him to remember it since she had a large picture of New Your City on her wall near the front door. She didn’t come from there. She’s not an American by birth but her husband is. No for her, like with her husband, it was more of a Norman Rockwell thing. A nostalgic longing for the snow and thus a white Christmas. For people like Ramirez New York City means nothing since the city was abandoned long ago due to the rising sea.
“So what’s here?” Illes asked him.
“No idea. But I figured that it couldn’t hurt to find out.” R
amirez responded.
He needed help in opening the door since the place was abandoned a long time ago. And it didn’t seem likely that anyone would have found it, let alone get inside. Once inside it was obvious that nature was reclaiming the old facility. Once they got to the secure area and Ramirez, with the help of Illes, was able to open the secure lock.
“What is this contraption?” Maria asked.
“It looks like an old, maybe going all the way back to the later half of the 21st century, neuro-recorder.” Ramirez responded.
“A what?” Maria asked.
“In other words it can record all of your memories, thoughts, senses, et cetera.” Ramirez responded.
“What, even the soul?” Maria asked out of bewilderment.
“No. It’s not that sophisticated. Besides. . . it was based upon the reversed engineering notes on some of the technology of Jason M. Idelle. Like that one right there.” Ramirez responded. Before he wanted to say more she asked him the obvious.
“Why what is it?” Maria asked.
“Another failed attempt at reverse engineering of the technology of Jason M. Idelle. It is a temporal window.”
“A time machine!? Oh good god no!” Maria responded out of shock.
“Well I wouldn’t worry about it. No one, not even in this time period could successively achieve it. Look. . . this place is nothing more than a shrine to the failed attempts at Dark Core trying to reverse engineer the technology of Jason M. Idelle. So I guess this is just a selfie moment for us.” Ramirez responded.
“So other than that, what’s makes this place so important?” Illes asked.
“I know what both of you are going to say. . . but that Asian woman reminded me too much of Omori.” Ramirez responded.
“What!?” Maria stated out of bewilderment at the same time Illes asked him how’s that. Ramirez didn’t respond since he was searching for answers.
(3)
“You know Xavier, if it wasn’t for the fact that Skotadi regulated the amount of alcohol that we all could consume, then our decision would turn out to be a lot more tolerable.” Maxwell informed his new drinking buddy who said nothing.
Maxwell was constantly drinking because of the stress that he was under. The Ravagion virus was spreading and there was only one way to contain it—kill zone. But not with enemy combatants, but with civilians. He was losing both the heart and the stomach to do any more killing. He is the captain of a ship, not a mass murderer.
“Sir, the mayor of Silverton wants to know why aren’t you doing more to protect his city from the Ravagion virus.” The Senior Crewman asked Captain Maxwell.
“Tell the mayor that in order to control this particular type of contagion I would have to use napalm and that is something, that at current, we do not have in our arsenal. This world does have it, but it’s literally diametrically opposite to where we are. Iverson cannot use his ship to fletch the weapon because he is needed in case the infection tries to spread beyond the city limits. Tell him that I, and Iverson, is well aware of how far away a torpedo can be used. He must understand that I have already sent out an urgent message requesting, no demanding, that all the napalm upon this world is sent to us immediately. I do regret the lost of life. I am so terribly sorry for my poor judgment. I make no excuses for my addiction. He must understand that in order to save his city, and most importantly lives, he must wait. If I send anymore of my people in, with the vehicles that I have, being that they are not fully adequate for the job, more lives will be lost. Worst still, this world may be permanently lost. Iverson will be forced to use his entire stock of torpedoes in an attempt to contain the contagion. If that occurs than there will be a nuclear winter upon this world. My people, who is causing all this trouble for his city, has one or two choices. Either they do their damn job and defend his city, or they can become part of the infected. They should know that I, Iverson, even Lenkov himself, would agreed to that. We are not the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, the Army, or the godforsaken Space Core. We are Skotadi! We drink hard because we fight hard. We live hard and die hard. Like the ancient Roman army. . . we are very aggressive on the battlefield. We take shit from no one. They will either stand, or they will fall in the defense of his city.” Maxwell informed the Senior Crewman. Maxwell was drunk but as luck (for the Senior Crewman) would have it, all interactions between military personnel, rather friend or foe, is of course recorded.
“Holy shit! That motherfucker startled me!” The Crewman First Class mentioned after he blew the head off of one the infected Ravers with his shotgun.
“It’s a damn good thing that our nano-suits cover us from head to toe.” Another Crewman First Class added after he’d gunned down three more.
“I can’t believe this fucking shit! Stay the fuck down!” A Senior Crewwoman shouted at the three fallen Ravers who started to get back up. She then ran over with her flamethrower to finish them off. “Burn in hell bitches!” She then said to them.
“Crewwoman! Hold up!” The Petty Officer – Second Class ordered her.
“Yes ma’am.”
The Petty Officer then came over to the three fallen infected Ravers and started to watch them. She then shot any one of them who stood up in the knees in an effort to cause them to fall again. She then put the muzzle of her gun to the cheek of one of them and pulled the trigger twice. She then stood up and watch the Raver who she just shot.
“Shit! Samantha, finish them off!” Petty Officer ordered the Senior Crewwoman.
“What’s going on ma’am?” One of the Crewman asked her.
“I need to talk to Captain Maxwell immediately.” The Petty Officer mentioned over the intercom, to the appointed communications officer.
“Sir I think that you need to see this video.” The Petty Officer then sent the video to Captain Maxwell.
“What am I looking at?” Maxwell asked her.
“Sir I think these infected Ravers have some sort of rejuvenation properties. As you can see after I shot this one twice in the face, it appears that the wounds started to heal.”
“Thank you for the heads up. If you can hold out just a little longer we will be able to start napalming the area.” Maxwell mentioned.
“What’s the ETA on that sir?”
“As fast as the flight crew can make it here. I’m sorry to say but at their fastest speed it may take as long as two-to-three days for them to get to your location.”
“Understood sir. Over and out.”
“Hey, I’m still good to go. Just give me some more alcohol and I don’t mind torching these fuckers all day long.” Samantha mentioned with a sick smile that showed that she enjoys killing the infected Ravers. Her friends found her behavior amazing since Samantha was the flight coordinator for one of the cargo decks.
“Yeah, well. . . we still need to take up a strong defensive position and watch our ammo.” The Petty Officer informed them. It was just her way of controlling Samantha’s blood lust. And so it went, unit after unit, hour after hour.
“Is that the best you got you fuckers!” The Chief Petty Officer yelled at the top of his lungs at the infected Ravers. He was in another part of town moving with his unit to secure a choke point in an effort to prevent the infection from spreading to the core of the city.
“You stupid motherfuckers! What the hell are you doing here!?” The Warrant Officer yelled out the police officer.
“Look this is our city and. . .” The police officer was responding. It was at that moment that they were overrun by infected Ravers and what appeared to be other civilians.
“Torch me. . . goddamn it!” The Warrant Officer ordered the Crewman with the flamethrower. The Warrant Officer was fighting off three or four infected individuals who was also trying to rip open his nano-suit. But to no avail. The Crewman came over and torched his commanding officer along with the infected. After thirty seconds the Warrant Officer stood up and raised up his right hand to order the Crewman to stop only that he’d got tackled by the police officers who b
ecame infected. The Crewman then had to torch his commanding officer yet again.
“I’m out of Tabasco sauce!” The Crewman mentioned.
“Alright. Where’s that damn fucking robot?” The Warrant Officer mentioned through his teeth.
It took five minutes for the supply drone to get to them. In that time period the unit was almost overrun on three occasions. They had to fight constantly during that time period. Near the end it was nothing more than hand-to-hand combat. But once the Crewman got his Tabasco sauce it was all over. And yet they had to keep going to their next objective.
Fighting was rampant everywhere within the city. Nobody could leave for the fear of spreading the contagion. All routes in or out of the city was block or destroyed. And yet the fighting was becoming more intense as the hours wore on. At one point the mayor’s HQ was almost overrun with high losses. The mayor was killed when it was assumed that he became infected. After everyone calmed down they realized their mistake.
The media all over Golden Hyperion realized that Maxwell’s mistake (drinking and making bad decisions or taking too long in making one) may have become the salvation of the rest of the world. Neither Lenkov nor Omori would have been surprised. They called it, “The million dollar luck of Maxwell.” Nevertheless the media learned to take his advice into account when he warned them to “report with wings or end up like Icarus and fall to your death.” And the only thing that was shown was the nightmare that was steadily getting worse by the hour. It seemed that for every one infected person killed at least two or three replaced them.
“All units retreat from the subway immediately! The subway is lost! Do not attempt to defend it! Get the hell out now!” The commanding officer shouted to his subordinates through the communicational system. In the background one could hear the screams and the horrors of war.
“This is Roberts of Expedition 364! We need immediate artillery bombardment of the following coordinate: 20°50′N 89°0′W. Or the city center will be lost. Cannot hold ground without artillery support!” Another officer mentioned over the communicational system.
2288: The Skotadian Experiment Page 34