by Ben Hammott
“I’m going to have to use the flashlight,” Krisztina called softly after finding the NVGs light inadequate to pick out a single tile with four odd shaped keyholes in each corner from amongst the wreckage.
Richard gave her a thumbs-up signal and kept his NVGs pointed away from the bright light that invaded the edges of his limited vision. He cringed fearfully when the broken glass being swept aside shattered silence.
Aware the access panel she sought was in the middle of the hall, Krisztina used a foot to scrape away glass shards and other bits of wreckage from the area where she thought it should be. Bending over, she searched the cleared space with the flashlight and spotted the tile with four cross-shaped keyholes with a hexagon hole set in the center of each. She slipped the key from a pocket, crouched and inserted it into the first keyhole and turned until it clicked. She quickly repeated the process three more times. The final turn of the key in the fourth hole raised the tile. Krisztina slid her fingers beneath and hefted the large tile aside.
Krisztina’s gaze roamed over the impressive but ominous shiny chrome device. It was surprisingly symmetrical, and if one ignored its deadly purpose, it almost beautiful in its design. Two shiny, chrome, elongated bulbous tanks at each end were stenciled with the universal three-pronged nuclear symbol. A smaller golden globe in the middle was attached to the outer tanks by arm-thick tubes. Cables circling the circumference of both end tanks led to the central globe. A control panel was positioned on the left side, and on the right was a raised indicator panel with various gauges, connecters and unlit colored lights that would, when powered up, show the operational state of the device.
The disconnected end of a red cable the width of a garden hose led from the control panel and hung beside the indicator panel on the left and another identical cable leading from the indicator panel to the center globe was draped over the device. It was a simple matter of reconnecting the two cables to bring the device back to operational status.
Krisztina picked up the end of the nearest cable and glanced at the nine protruding prongs set in two circular patterns that matched the holes in the female connector attached to the bomb’s central golden globe. A protrusion on the outer edge ensured it could only be connected correctly. She nervously lined up the connector, inserted the prongs into their holes and pushed until it clicked into place. As she screwed down the outer sleeve that ensured it wouldn’t come loose, her head jerked to the elevator when something metallic clattered noisily down the shaft.
Richard spun his fearful gaze and weapon at the sound and focused on the dark opening. When nothing appeared, he cautiously moved closer to investigate.
THE FIRST OF THE CREATURES from the last three eggs to be laid, struggled from its slimy pod and formed into a creature plucked from its memory. It gazed around at the empty sacs before focusing on the two pods its brethren clawed their way out of. As they changed to mimic its own chosen form, its head darted around and stared towards the sound coming from nearby. Unsure if its kind had made the noise or it was something to be wary of or hunted, it shrieked softly at its two marginally younger siblings, and with them following, skulked from the room.
RICHARD HALTED BY THE elevator door. Crouching slightly, he peered through the jagged hole. Stepping nearer for a better view, his vision picked out the metal debris at the bottom of the shaft. Sticking his head partway into the hole, he gazed up at the light spilling into the shaft from Level 3 and the bottom of the elevator stuck higher up on Level 2. The distant shrieks that floated down from the higher levels, though unnerving, seemed too far away to pose them any immediate threat. His gaze around the shaft’s four sides revealed only electric cables and a maintenance ladder fixed to the wall; the shaft appeared to be free of monsters. He pulled his head back through the hole when a shadow interrupted the light on level 3.
Richard crossed to Krisztina. “How much longer?”
Krisztina picked up the last cable. “Ten seconds and I’m done.”
Richard pressed the radio’s talk button. “Ramirez, I just noticed movement on Level 3 near the elevator, and we’re about to head back up. You seeing anything?”
IN THE SECURITY OFFICE, Ramirez scanned the level three monitors and focused on the elevator corridor. “Nothing on the screens but suggest you proceed with caution.”
“That’s a given,” replied Richard. “Leaving radio open so you can lead us through.”
Ramirez turned his attention to Level 2 and the evil creatures moving through the rooms and corridors and then switched to the Level 1 screens. A group of small aliens had discovered the food stores in the kitchen and searched through them for anything edible. One moved to the large fridge, sniffed at the edge of the door and shrieked, the sound made dumb by the facility’s cameras lacking sound capability. The four other creatures in the kitchen dropped the food packets and tins and excitedly crossed to the fridge. After detecting the scents of meat seeping from the old ill-fitting seal, they started shaking the fridge. Their frantic attacks sent the appliance toppling to the floor. The door flopped open when it crashed to the ground and rolled, squashing a creature and spilling out food items, bottles of milk, other dairy products and hunks of pork and other meats.
Equal parts horrified and fascinated, Ramirez watched them spread their melting bodies over the raw chickens, pork and slices of cold beef. The splattered creature seeped out from beneath the door as a greasy puddle, reformed and joined its brethren in devouring the cold meats.
Distracted by movement on the next monitor, Ramirez turned his gaze to the screen and froze at the sight of the figure walking through the corridor. It looked like a woman, but it wasn’t. When he turned the camera and zoomed in on the Black figure, it directed its eyes to the camera. Shocked by the human creature’s malicious stare that seemed to peer into his soul, Ramirez shot back in his seat. Certain that somehow it knew he was nearby and would come for him, he grabbed his rifle and was about to head for the door and flee before it found him when an alarm and a female Russian voice blaring from intercom speakers halted him.
KRISZTINA PLUGGED THE second cable into its socket and was pleased to see the control and indicator panels light up. Richard raised the NVGs from his eyes and gazed at the deadly machine. “It’s powered up. Let’s go.”
Krisztina climbed to her feet. “Better let Colbert know so someone can activate the self-destruct as soon as we’re up top.”
Before Richard had a chance to contact Colbert, a Russian female voice and an insistent repeating alarm erupted over the internal intercom speakers. Assuming Colbert no longer needed to be informed, he looked to Krisztina for confirmation; the dread on her face spoke volumes.
“The self-destruct has initialized,” stated Krisztina. “Fifteen minutes before it detonates.”
Though he had a few questions about how that was possible, Richard voiced the most important. “Can you stop it?”
She shook her head. “Not from here, only at a control point. There’s one on this level, but I don’t have the proper panel key to access controls. I left it with Colbert.”
Richard gazed around frantically. “There must be one around here with the instructions the scientists would have had to refer to in order to initiate it if needed.”
“I’m sure there is, but”—she waved a hand at the destruction—“do you want to waste what little time we have searching for it?”
Crunching glass directed their gazes and Krisztina’s flashlight. Caught in the beam, the three small creatures halted and stared past the dazzling light at their prey.
Richard raised his rifle, aimed and fired. Bullets raked a line of destruction in front of the creatures, spraying them with chunks of tile gouged from the floor. They turned pliant, absorbing the impacts without damage.
Richard turned and shoved Krisztina into movement. “Run!”
They ran.
CHAPTER 27
Going Nuclear
COLBERT FROWNED WHEN an alarm and a Russian female voice erupted from a s
peaker attached to the side of the main building. Though he couldn’t understand Russian, the purpose of her message and the alarm was obvious. Krisztina’s translation for Richard over the open radio he listened in on confirmed his fears. The self-destruct was active. The facility would be obliterated in fifteen minutes. Not wanting to distract Richard and Krisztina from their harrowing plight, he kept radio silence and crossed to the helicopter. After discussing their options, Colbert radioed Mason. “Eagle 4, evac in process. Fifteen minutes countdown. We leave in twelve. Do you have means of transport to rendezvous with us here?”
MASON GLANCED THROUGH the window at the tanker that had arrived five minutes ago. The driver, puzzled why no soldiers had emerged from the hut to check his papers and open the barrier to let him pass, stared at the door. “Affirmative. See you in five.”
Mason turned to Sven. “Time to leave, and I advise you hurry. Is there room on the motorbike for you and the driver?”
Sven climbed from his seat. “Da, but we can leave in truck. Is warmer.”
“I’m not sure that antique will be fast enough to get you clear in time.”
“Oh! Then we take bike.”
Mason’s rifle followed Sven to the door. “Inform the driver something has gone wrong at the facility, and a huge explosion is about to obliterate it and everything in about a kilometer radius.”
Sven nodded. “I will tell him this but nothing else.”
“Also tell him to leave the keys in the truck. Good luck, Sven.”
“Good luck to you also, American.” Sven closed the door behind him.
Mason observed Sven cross to the truck and speak to the driver. After a few moments arguing, the driver climbed from the truck, and both men vanished from his view. A few moments later, Mason heard the roar of the motorcycle before it appeared with Sven driving and the truck driver’s large bulk balanced on the back. Skewing slightly when it turned onto the road, Sven steered around the barrier and roared away.
Mason exited the hut and climbed into the old truck. Wrinkling his nose at the lingering stench of body odor, he laid his rifle on the passenger seat and turned the key. The engine chugged a few times before it caught. Mason revved it, belching out dark fumes from the exhaust. He crunched it into gear and pulled forward, snapping the flimsy security barrier. Shifting through crunching gears, Mason drove to the facility.
AS THEY FLED SIDE BY side, Richard, worried the light would give away their position to the creatures, snatched the flashlight from Krisztina’s hand, threw it behind and flicked down hers and his own NVGs. He pressed his radio talk button. “Ramirez, we’re heading to Level 3.”
Rushing past the red LED lights of explosive charges stuck to the wall, which would be vaporized before they carried out their singular task, they soon reached the generator room. Richard shut the door and followed Krisztina across the room and through the hatch, which he closed and locked with a spin of the wheel. Confident the tight-fitting metal door would hold the creatures at bay if they breached the outside door, he turned to the ladder and climbed after Krisztina.
“Warning. Evacuation protocol in process. Thirteen minutes until detonation.”
“RAMIREZ, WE’RE HEADING to Level 3.”
Halfway to the security office door, Ramirez reluctantly returned to his seat at the monitors and ran his gaze over the Level 3 screens. Having completed their search of the rooms, many of the creatures had filtered into the corridors. Picking out the path Richard and Krisztina would need to take to reach the escape chute that would take them above ground, he saw it was an impossible task. It would take a miracle for them to survive the journey.
“Be advised your route is full of hostiles.”
Richard’s breathless reply was short and to the point. “Then do your job, and find us one that isn’t.”
Trying to block out the insistent, distracting alarm and the warning that counted down the minutes to detonation, Ramirez took a red marker pen from a pot on the console and crossed to the large blueprint of the facility. Placing his finger on the room Richard and Krisztina would exit after their climb up Escape Ladder 2, he traced a finger along the corridors and connecting rooms between it and the exit escape chute. With glances back at the screens, he backtracked his finger and directed it down alternative routes until he had found their safest option, which really wasn’t that safe at all with the creatures’ constant meanderings.
After highlighting the route with the marker, he returned to the screens and pressed the talk button. “Okay, I have the best route available. Inform me when you’re on Level 3.”
BREATHLESS FROM HER hurried climb, Krisztina paused at the top of the ladder and cautiously peered out. After checking her surroundings were clear, she climbed out and crossed to the door as Richard emerged from the chute.
Richard closed the hatch softly and spun the wheel before joining Krisztina. “We’re ready, Ramirez.”
“Route is clear, go now! Head left, turn right at first junction and enter first room on the left.”
Ignoring the shrieks, clacks and growls filtering through the level, Richard and Krisztina followed Ramirez’s instructions.
OCCASIONALLY GLANCING behind at the route penned on the blueprint, Ramirez flicked his eyes over the Level 3 camera feeds as he followed Richard’s and Krisztina’s hurried dash through the corridors. When they reached the first room he issued their next instructions. “Head straight on through two rooms and then enter the corridor.”
As they set off, Ramirez checked the corridor they were about to enter. His brow creased with worry when two creatures broke off from the pack that had, for some reason, gathered around the elevator, and headed along the corridor. His eyes flicked back to Richard and Krisztina. They were about to rush into the corridor and the creatures.
“Stop! Two creatures heading your way.”
Ramirez’s warning halted them.
RICHARD AND KRISZTINA pressed themselves against the wall beside the door and listened to the clacking of claws on the floor, barely audible above the alarm, coming closer.
“Warning. Evacuation protocol in process. Twelve minutes until detonation.”
Constantly reminded their time was ticking down, Richard leaned towards Krisztina and whispered. “We don’t have time for this. How far away is the escape chute?”
“Not far if there were no aliens to worry about.”
“We have to risk it.”
Krisztina nodded. “You lead. Head along corridor, turn first right, second left, take door at the end, and we are there.”
With his weapon raised and his finger on the trigger, Richard stepped into the corridor and sprinted towards the surprised creatures. Bullets punched holes through their Black forms and sent them tumbling until they liquified to escape further injury. With Krisztina on his heels, he leapt over the black puddles and turned right.
RAMIREZ’S MOUTH DROPPED open when Richard and Krisztina stepped into the corridor and ran towards the creatures. Unable to hear the shots Richard fired, he watched the creatures suffer from the onslaught. He guessed lack of time had caused them to abandon his safe route for the more dangerous direct route. He hoped they made it.
RICHARD ALMOST FALTERED on seeing the large group of creatures gathered around the elevator ahead that turned their evil gazes upon them. “Grenades!”
He raised the rifle and raked the evil group with bullets.
Krisztina shouldered her rifle, pulled two grenades from her vest and holding down the arming levers, pulled the pins. “Two ready.”
The creatures leapt for the walls when the first bullets struck and spreading out rushed at their prey.
Holding his nerve as they rushed nearer the oncoming creatures crawling and leaping from the floor, walls and ceiling in a macabre ballet of viciousness, Richard waited until they had reached the second left-hand corridor. “Now!”
Krisztina lobbed the grenades at the vicious onslaught of evilness and turned into the branching corridor close behind Richard. Shri
eks and squeals followed the explosions that shook the walls.
Richard slowed when he reached the door at the corridor’s end, and alert for creatures, he stepped inside and gazed around the room. It was clear.
Krisztina followed him through.
“Warning. Evacuation protocol in process. Eleven minutes until detonation.”
As Richard shut the door, he glimpsed the survivors of the explosion, angry and snarling creatures thirsting for revenge and human blood, coming. Not confident the door would hold them at bay for long, he joined Krisztina climbing through the escape hatch. Richard closed and locked the hatch as soon as he was through. When he turned to the ladder he saw that though Krisztina gripped it, she hadn’t started climbing; instead she gazed up.
“There’s something up there.”
Richard peered up, flipped his NVGs over his eyes and saw the focus of Krisztina’s concern. A creature high on the ladder was silhouetted in the light shining through the top hatch they had left open for a quick retreat. Its eyes glowed bright, menacingly, in the NVGs spectral illumination when it looked down at them. He raised his rifle and took aim.
Krisztina pushed the weapon aside. “Not good idea. If any part of creature showers down on us, we’re dead. I’ve seen drops of Black crawl inside my comrades and seep from their pores. It devoured them from inside out.”
Richard sighed and moved to the hatch. “We’ll have to find another way.”