Chapter 2: Simulation.

At the next moment they found themselves on the streets of New York City dressed in blue skin tight training uniforms. They were immediately hit with a wave of simulated smells from the outside world causing them to become slightly nauseous.

Every simulation had its own unique smell and not all of them were equal or the same. The simulations that were set in the wilderness or rural parts of the world had much sweeter and more pleasant air so they were always preferable to urban simulations. The smell of piss and heaps of garbage in the alleys and air pollution in the streets made being comfortable almost impossible in urban environments.

The transition between reality and the simulation was completely seamless and natural. Stark had asked the director many times to explain the various mechanics behind it, but no answer the director gave was understandable. Stark already knew from a young age that technology wasn’t something he understood too well. He would not be a talented engineer at all which was fine as he had a much better talent, it was called killing. His main talent was his combat prowess as he was easily the highest performer in the simulations with Hockney and Victoria tied in second place.

Upon closer observation of the environment they found that they were now standing in the middle of a quarantine zone as the street that they were in was completely deserted. High up above them multiple three dimensional transporters circled around the area silently.

The voice of the Director soon echoed through the cold and musty air.

*please focus on the old apartment building directly ahead of you.*

Stark and Victoria nodded at each other before continuing straight ahead towards a deserted sixty story apartment across the street from them. The building’s architecture was ancient and every inch of it was covered by graffiti. Under the cloudy sky it created an oppressive image, it blended perfectly with the surrounding cityscape to form the dead vestige of a New York City neighbourhood. The entire street was filled with scattered garbage and plastic, rotting dead pigeons. It was a miserable sight.

The ancient front doors had already been opened by the rest who went ahead of them.

*this simulation is based on the bronx outbreak of 2301. The goal of the simulation is rather simple, you must enter the building and kill every single Necromorph in sight.*

The two nod again before Stark felt a water droplet hit the top of his head before trickling down his face.

Immediately, he looked up only to scowl when he saw that it was raining. This was perhaps the most pointless and jarring thing about the simulations. There was a need to mimic even the most tedious elements of the outside world. Why in heaven’s name would you want to simulate rain? What purpose could it possibly fucking serve?

In his heart, Stark couldn’t help but feel as if the director was taking the piss metaphorically.

Victoria was just as uncomfortable and quickly yanked Stark by the arm to the building, and in through the two rusted front doors. They were clubbed in the nose by the stench of the Cosmic Death, it almost brought the two immortal soldiers in training to their knees.

Victoria was the first to speak up “it’s so much more potent here than in the other simulations, I just might pass out.”

“There must be a ton of those Necromorph things in here, If we’re lucky than the others have already dealt with the really annoying ones.” Stark stretched his back before looking around.

The place was quite dirty with garbage bags packed into every corner and loose waste scattered across the floor. Graffiti was everywhere with not a single trace of the buildings original colour visible.

*Enter into the elevator to receive your weapons.*

They both obeyed the director’s instructions and approached the ancient elevator which was just to the left of the grimy staircase going up to the higher levels.

“Be careful…” Victoria watched on warily as Stark let her hand go before pressing the button to call the lift.

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The old metal doors screamed before grinding open revealing a pile of weapons on the rusty floor.

*you may each take two.*

Victoria stepped forward before stroking her chin in contemplation.

Stark himself had already made up his mind. “I’ll take a katana.”

“You always use that weapon.” Victoria chuckled despite the stench of the Cosmic Death still making her feel unwell. “Would it kill you to try something new?”

“Well technically yes.” Stark responded. “On a real battlefield your best bet is to use whatever weapon you’re most accustomed to. Though I doubt you’d last long regardless.”

“I assure you I can last very long in battle.” Victoria shot back, the cracks in her voice revealing her irritation.

Stark smiled widely as he finally was able to annoy her if only a little. He then squatted down before observing the katana. “This will do just fine.”

As soon as he stood up Victoria swung her hips around knocking him to the side before retrieving a katana of her own from the massive heap.

Stark immediately gave her a confused look.

She turned to him before winking. “I’m Stark look at how cool and edgy I am with my dark blade of justice.”

“There has never been a point in my life where I’ve sounded like that!” Stark chuckled before shoulder checking her and leaving.

“Ouch!” She yelled before squinting at him as he walked past her.

He then turned to head up the staircase in search of the Necromorphs. As the director had said the objective was simple and all they had to do was kill as many Necromorphs as they could.

As he reached the second floor the smell of burnt flesh quickly engulfed him. The crackling of flames could be heard as well. He circled around the stair railing just in time to see a Necromorph run past him in the corridor with Hockney chasing after it. The Necromorph was black all over and appeared to have several sets of deformed limbs. The amber glow of fire could be seen coming from an obscured point further down the corridor where the Necromorph had fled from.

“Idiots.” Stark sneered before lampooning internally. While fire was the most effective way to kill a Necromorph it was extremely ill advised to just go on guns blazing with a flame thrower. This was because certain Necromorphs could cover themselves in a thick black mucus that had an extreme resistance to fire. The Necromorph from just now was a prime example, this was the main read Why it was best to use weapons to dismember a Necromorph to expose its flammable blood before burning it.

Hockney didn’t notice him and simply continued to run until he disappeared behind a corner.

Victoria came up behind him before asking. “Who started torching the place?”

“I’m wandering the same thing…” Stark said before walking further towards the corridor. Hockney wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake so it must have been one of the other three.

“Shit shit shit!” Beverly soon came running towards them with a look of extreme regret.

Stark and Victoria both frowned at the foolish brunette.

“It was an accident I swear.” Beverly pleaded. “That thing jumped out at me, it’s not my fault…”

Victoria was the first to respond while putting her hands on her hips. “You’re such an air head.”

“Shut up!” Beverly snapped frightening Victoria into hiding behind Stark.

“You know what.” Stark let out a long suffering sigh. “I don’t care anymore. You and Hockney can deal with the first three floors and we’ll deal with the ones above that.”

“Ok.” Beverly sighed. “I’m sure I’ll sort things out.”

“BEVERLY GET OVER HERE AND GIVE ME A HAND!” Hockney yelled from around the corner.

“I’m coming.” Beverly quickly scurried after him.

“Let’s go.” Stark said before heading back towards the stairs.

Victoria then suddenly jumped on his back before yawning. “I’m tired carry me…”

Stark didn’t respond and continued up the staircase with her on his back.

Stark began to whistle quietly as he continued on his way. Before long the two reached the fourth floor which appeared to not have been visited by Delilah or Lupus.

“You take the right side I’ll take the left side.” Stark said as he let Victoria down.

“Understood.” Victoria nodded.

The two quickly darted down their respective trash and graffiti filled corridors. Stark kicked open the front door of the first apartment he came across. The stench of the Cosmic Death suddenly became denser sending a cold chill down his spine. The apartment was dark and damp with the sound of something heavy shuffling around far in the back.

Stark carefully weaved his way around the garbage scattered across the corridor silently as to not alert the entity that was lurking in the back.

As he neared the end he saw a large rotund figure hunched over in the rear most bedroom which had its door partially opened.

Various rolls undulated on its flabby back amidst countless barnacle like scabs that all oozed black blood. It was so disgusting that Stark dared not to glance upon the things face.

As he got closer he peered into the rooms interior and got a good view at what the Necromorph was doing.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw blood splatter everywhere before the massive Necromorph stood up straight before rearing back. Two upside down legs could be seen descending through its unhinged jaw as it swallowed a corpse whole. The corpse appeared to be wearing the same uniform as Stark himself.

Stark couldn’t help but wonder if it had killed Delilah or Lupus before he got here.

He slowly crept forward until he was partially through the door. He peered around the door to the bed and his heart skipped another beat.

He saw Lupus sprawled out on the bed with his intestines dangling over the side from his abdomen. He had been gored and defiled by this thing. This also confirmed that the person the creature was swallowing was in fact Delilah.