“And you all just left him there?!” The well-dressed man’s frustration erupts in a furious roar. “Do the bunch of you have ANY idea how much resources and money we have poured into the bottomless pit that is Project Rebirth? He was the only successful test subject, and you let him be crushed to death? What are we paying you idiots for? Your incompetence has cost our nation millions which will come out of your salaries, understood?”
The room falls silent as the well-dressed man’s tirade reverberates off the walls. “FUCK!” Upset by the lack of visible response or reaction, Senator Harrison grabs a flask and hurls it at full-force towards the nearest wall. However, instead of shattering to tiny pieces, the high-grade flask just bounces harmlessly before landing perfectly straight, as if to mock him.
The team of scientists and military personnel struggle to contain their laughter, casting their eyes downward and avoiding eye contact with the red-faced Senator,
And just like that, the overwhelming urge to pummel Senator Harrison to the ground- a fantasy he has been nurturing ever since they set foot back on US soil, vanishes. After what feels like an eternity, Pvt. Neil musters the strength to respond, his voice strained yet calm.
“I understand your frustration, sir–” Neil begins cautiously, reassuring hand set on Bryan’s shoulder. “But it’s important to know that we didn’t abandon Captain Rogers willingly. The circumstances were beyond our control.”
The well-dressed man scoffs, his livid eyes whirling from one person to another. “Explain it to me, then private. Oh-Please enlighten me on how you two saved some… Smalltime German scientist over the first Super Soldier in Project Rebirth who exhibited promising results.”
Dr. Harrison took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “During the mission, there was an unexpected series of events, sir. Our plane was shot down by enemy forces in the vicinity, and an intense firefight broke out. The entire Task Force perishes in the chaos, Bryan and I survived by the skin of our necks. Later, we discovers a science facility an extremely infectious bioweapon… Conscript Campbell volunteered to stay and keep the infected from pouring out into the town. There’s nothing we could’ve done.”
(“Move, move! It’s coming down!” Pvt. Neil urgently shouts, his voice filled with alarm.
In an instant, the once moldy white walls began to shake, crumble and collapse, burying everyone within under a cascade of debris- including Julius. The explosion rocked the building, causing it to further collapse under the weight of destruction as the underground tunnels caved in. “That guy’s gonna be fine, right?” Bryan wondered aloud, but even he wasn’t quite sure Julius could survive that.
Pvt. Neil’s heart pounded as they scanned the chaos, searching for any sign of the young Super Soldier. The dust and rubble filled the air, making it difficult to see more than a few feet in front of him. He coughed and shielded his face with his arm, urging his comrades to move faster.
With every passing moment, the once-strong foundation continued to sink, threatening to trap them all beneath the wreckage, ultimately forcing them to scramble to safety.
Despite being far behind enemy lines, Bryan, Neil, and Hans persistently remained in the aftermath of the chaos for several days, tirelessly conducting a search. They had hoped that, aided by Nanna’s heightened senses, they would discover some trace of Julius. Unfortunately, after two weeks of relentless excavation, all they found were dismembered and lifeless limbs.
As the situation grew increasingly perilous, they were eventually forced to retreat. However, Nanna was not content to give up. After accompanying the group to the rendezvous point, she disappeared into the forest, leaving them staring helplessly after her.)
“We made every effort to locate him afterwards, but it seems like he may have fallen into the tunnels beneath the rubble,” Bryan explained, his voice tinged with regret. “Then, debris from the collapsing structure sealed the fate of our search.”
His reaction takes an unexpected turn, and the well-dressed man’s furious expression only intensifies. “So, you lost both Campbell and his powered pet? And yet, you two still have the audacity to stand here and explain the details to me? Why didn’t you stay in France? Do you expect praise for your incompetence?! Our first Super Soldier, DEAD on his. FIRST. FUCKING. MISSION! AND AN UNAUTHORIZED ONE AT THAT!”
In one smooth motion, the Senator quickly whips out a firearm- a tiny; miniature Magnum that will not even scratch Bryan’s skin. “I can shoot you two right now, and nobody will question it.”
Unable to contain his anger any longer, Bryan shouts, “YOU WEREN’T THERE! Our entire team was wiped out— comrades whose lives we’ve saved and who in exchange had saved us countless times… They were mercilessly slaughtered!” In one swift motion, he grabs the man by the collar. “They’re all gone, all their hopes and dreams snuffed out… But you- you don’t even care, do you? What right do you; in your luxurious mansion with your fancy pool and empty-headed trophy wife; have to pass judgment on us, you insignificant fool?”
As Bryan’s grip tightens on the man’s collar, he can see a flicker of fear in the man’s eyes. The room falls into an uneasy silence as everyone watches, unsure of how this confrontation will unfold. “Th- This is insubordination and assault! I will have you dishonorably discharged for this, you bla–”
“Better be careful with your next word, Senator.” Bryan warns, his eyes bloodshot, yet his tone’s uncharacteristically cold. “And I’m a soldier, I answer to my commanding officers, not a politician who clearly bought his way into the position!”
“Brie!”
Just as tension reaches its peak, and Senator Harrison is about to say something… Unforgiveable, a calm voice breaks through the tension. “Enough. Stand down, Pvt. Carsten!”
He says firmly, yet without aggression.
All eyes turn towards the source of the voice, and a elderly-aged man steps forward. His presence exudes authority and firmness, but not the way Harrison did. His is courage that stemmed from the mistaken belief that he is untouchable, whilst the man’s is confident. He carries himself with dignity befitting a soldier, and the slight limp with every step only further enhances and compounds that image.
Reluctantly, Bryan loosens his hold, still seething with anger yet having come to realize the man’s identity despite the lack of an uniform. “Colonel Phillips.” Both Bryan and Neil jump to attention, saluting. Unlike them, the Colonel’s expression does not change, nor does he acknowledge the two men. “And who might you be?” He asks, tone steady but demanding respect.
The Senator adjusts his collar, composure slightly shaken by the intense encounter. “You know full-well who I am!” He responds, voice obnoxiously loud still, yet now carrying with it a hint of nervousness that wasn’t there before, and is definitely noted by everyone in the room. “We have met at least thrice during the conception of Project Rebirth!”
“All I know is that you’re an unknown civilian who may or may not be a walking security risk and has barged into MY military camp without permission. Legally, I can shoot you and not a soul will question it.”
“I FUNDED PROJECT REBIRTH!”
“Alright…” The Colonel relents, or so it seems until he adds, palm outstretched. “But I’ll have to see some ID to verify that claim.”
“Unbelievable, there you saggy sack of–” Harrison scoffs, retrieving his ID and handing it to Phillips, who throws on a devilish smirk, then proceeds to tear it in halves, before scattering the papers and letting the pieces float to every nook and cranny of the laboratory. “Sir, even if you are Senator Harrison, this is a restricted zone, and without my explicit order, no one’s to be allowed. We’re in the middle of a war after all.”
Phillips shrugs, an easy smile adorning his face that just… Doesn’t seem nor feel right on his aged and harsh features as he continues. “Your identification papers, sir. I will not ask again.” Completely baffled by the treatment, Harrison stutters, pointing at the Colonel, who does not show any reactions. ‘There’s no need to waste energy on this type of people…’
Even in the worst-case scenario, Senator Harrison can only pose a minor inconvenience, unable to overthrow Phillips during times of war. Furthermore, it is uncertain if he can even challenge Phillips’ position in times of peace due to the latter’s extensive list of contacts and allies in Washington.
Perhaps, he can hurl accusations at the man’s feet, but whether they will be taken seriously or heard at all remains to be seen. “Get out–” The Colonel takes a step forth, prompting Harrison to take two steps back.
Meanwhile Bryan, who is sitting on the sidelines enjoying the show, scoffs. “A loudmouth and a coward… Why am I not surprised?” Looking around to find support, Harrison’s greeted with the sight of everyone shying away from him like the plague, even the scientists whose salaries he pays, and scowls. “You’re going to regret this, you know right?” The soldiers who have stayed stationary all this time suddenly shout, raising their firearms at the Senator. Smiling, Phillips wobbles forth unsteadily. “Are you per chance threatening me, sir?”
His expression hardens as Harrison spits, “Enjoy this meager power while it lasts. The War won’t go on forever.” In an embarrassingly childish display, the Senator storms out of the lab, flinging his arms and legs in a hissy-fit, not realizing it only serves to lower his position in everyone’s eyes. Once he's gone, Phillips turns his gaze to the privates. “I heard the news, is Julius–” He trails. For all his… Psychopathic tendencies and list of misgivings, Julius was young, and sending young men to their death has never been a favorite of his.
“He’s MIA, sir… Presumably dead.”
Closing his eyes, the Colonel sighs.
In contrast to Agent Carter and Dr. Erskine, who have developed a close bond with Julius due to the frequency of their interactions and consider him like family, Phillips acts more like a distant uncle who lives in the mountain and sleeps on a rocking chair with a shotgun on his lap. In spite of his disapproval, he genuinely wants the best for Julius. Beneath his cheerful demeanor and hidden resentments, there is a flicker of innocence, shy as it is to show.
"Ah... I understand. Thank you for informing us. A car is waiting outside. Inform Lt. Mercer that I have sent you, and he will drive you both back to camp.”
"Actually..." Bryan interjects cautiously, scanning the lab suspiciously. Seeing their unusual behaviors, Phillips tilts. "We have something that might be of interest you, sir." Pvt. Carsten starts, gesturing with his eyes.
Aware of the need for secrecy, Phillips marches out and motions for them to follow. “Come, let's find a more discreet location.”
— [Kaleidoscopic Polaris] —
Engulfed by the boundless abyss, I plummet into an abyss of darkness, with no hint of light in sight. The infected comrades who once shared this fate now lie lifeless, their bodies shattered against unforgiving rock formations or obliterated by debris that rained down upon us. My survival is owed to my ability to assume the form of a into a lovebird, leveraging my wings to navigate the harrowing descent.
Initially, my intent was to ascend through flight after ensuring no infected escapes, but witnessing the cascading rubble has long shattered that lofty ambition into mere fantasy.
Left with no alternative, I find myself compelled to venture deeper into the abyss.
Surely, this cave cannot stretch into infinite darkness. There must be an end, right? Clutching my wings tightly to my sides, I skillfully navigate through a perilous obstacle course of tumbling rocks, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal blow to the head. Although my defenses are stronger compared to the infected, one could say my lovebird form offers less-than-ideal protection, especially against debris plummeting at a speed of 80 miles per hour.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Regrettably, descending further remains my only option. Well, as the saying goes, ‘In for a penny, in for a pound.’ Time to uncover the secrets that lie within this cavern.
If possible, I may as well try to eliminate the source of the infection. With my feathers pressed tightly against my body to reduce drag, I employ a combination of flight, leaps, and climbs to navigate. Darkness surrounds me completely; there is not even a glimmer of light so looking for the end is a pipedream.
However, the resounding echoes of debris colliding with a solid surface indicate that my little ‘joyride’ is drawing to a close. The moment my tiny feet find the ground, I let out a breath of relief, failing to realize how difficult it is to balance myself without all the usual sensory inputs- primarily my vision, resulting in me tumbling forth like a cartoon haystack made out of feathers and into a wall of debris which, ironically enough, shields me from the other falling rocks.
Of course, this leads to me being buried as well, but one thing at a time, people. I won’t be of much help to myself, let alone anyone else if I start to panic. Trust me, I want to scream and be terrified out of my mind too, luckily cooler heads prevail… After what feels like stretching eternity, the chaos subsides and I’m able to let loose that breath I was holding. Breaking out is not a matter ‘can’, but ‘want’. There are many aspects of my power I have learnt throughout my temporary stay with Doctor Erskine, one of which is the ‘State of Invulnerability’ Nanna and I are put in whenever we transform.
He describes the process as if every single atom within us is being methodically dismantled and reconstructed in nanoseconds. He has gone so far as to question whether I am truly Julius Campbell or merely a replica, with the original Julius having perished long ago during the initial transformation. It’s a truly terrifying thought, and to Dr. Erskine’s credit, he attempted to shield me from the revelation, but my heightened senses ultimately led me to uncover the truth.
Currently, I find myself wedged tightly within a narrow crevice among the rocks. Escaping from this confined space poses a significant challenge, requiring the amount of force and momentum I simply can’t gather in such a tiny space.
However, when I undergo my transformation, the limitations of physics seem to be disregarded, allowing me to forcefully create space which will send ripples outwards as I revert back to my human form. This should enable me to dig my way out. Although it is important to note that the transformation also demands stamina, but it is better to attempt it now while I am still in relatively good health rather than waiting until exhaustion sets in and oxygen becomes scarce. ‘Just pick a direction and go, Julius.’
Breath in…
‘You can do this!’
Breath out…
Then, I charge head-first at the rock, my body shattering into a sea of light and smoke particles. Sweeping shockwaves bend the wall out of shape, before blowing them away to pave the path forward. But, like a cruel game of Tetris, more just fall in to fill the empty area. Without a care in the world, I dive into the wall, trusting my Invulnerability to do its job. To save my breaths, I can’t say my prayer out loud so… ‘Smile upon me, Lady Luck.’ Let’s hope she heard me.
For the next ten minutes, it becomes a frantic dance of evasion and swift transformations that allows me to navigate through the treacherous ‘obstacle course’.
Each time danger threatens, I instinctively shift into the optimal form to ensure my survival. Finally, I manage to reach a safer location, narrowly escaping a close encounter with a rock that would have otherwise struck my head. It’s a relief to have made it just in the nick of time, but my troubles don’t end there, unfortunately. Catching a breath, I stand in one spot, hands plopped over my knees as I raise my head to look at my surrounding,
Only to be reminded where I am.
There’s nothing besides endless darkness stretching into the infinite oblivion, brimming with an uncaring malevolence that feels oddly more unsettling than demons or ghosts would have been,
For it does not hate, nor does it possess human emotions or motivations. It simply is. “How the Hell am I going to get out of this…?” Unsurprisingly, echoes of my voice bounce all over the pitch-black underground formation. Although I have no doubt my own paranoia’s playing a part as well, the echoes do seem eerily distorted. A shiver runs down my spine when, even after my voice fades, something repeats- its words jagged; its speech broken; even the tone sounds odd, like a beast that’s trying to replicate a human… Me.
“’Ow ThE HeLLL aM I GOIng to GeTT OOuut–” Its voice- hoarse beyond any 21st Century medicines- drags, as though it is a chronic smoker who goes out of breath in a mere sentence. A shiver runs up my spine as a wet and sticky something crawls on top of my feet, causing me to yelp and transform. It’s a good thing I did, because moments later its tendril comes smashing to pieces where I was… If I hadn’t moved…
I quickly assess my surroundings, trying to gather my thoughts amidst its near constant harassments. The darkness makes it nearly impossible to see anything, but I can feel the cold, damp walls of the underground formation enclosing around me. My heart races as the grotesque creature lashes out once more. ‘My phone… I need to find my phone!’
I take a cautious step back, preparing myself for another heavy attack.
My eyes, on instinct, race to search for the device when I find my pockets empty. ‘Anna, I need help.’
I plead, hearing no response. ‘Annabella? It’s just a joke! I didn’t know it’s gonna be that big a deal to you!’
As I survey the area, my eyes suddenly catch a faint glimmer of light in the distance, offering a sliver of hope; a possibility of salvation from this nightmare. With renewed determination, I dive for the phone, because in this abyss, the only object that shines can’t be much else but a phone- mine. One tentacle latches onto my ankle, attempting to pull me around like its toy but I am able to free myself via transforming, stumbling forth as a bout of dizziness hits me with the weight of a commercial freight train.
Stepping lightly and swiftly, I move in the opposite direction of the light, hoping to draw the creature away from it. Using my more agile form, I leap and dodge the creature’s flailing tendrils with calculated precision. Its frustrated roars fill the air as I lead it on a wild chase through the darkness. Lurching for my phone, I’m greeted by the creature who looks like it’s made out of liquefied metal.
The closest comparison I can draw is mercury, but even that’s just an educated guess.
Spiked globs appear at the ends of its many tendrils, shooting at me with force and precision, creating a net to completely block off my escape route. Wings flapping frantically by my sides, I fly towards the phone, beak tapping at the screen in a panic just as a tiny piece of it manages to penetrate my feathers. In an attempt to rid myself of it, whatever it is, I transform- shockwaves blasting its spikes into oblivion, but I was too late. Light engulfs us both, sending us barreling into a new world.
One of rust and blood and metals creaking against under its own weight.
I manage to catch a glimpse of the stunning scenery outside, before exhaustion steals my consciousness, albeit not totally.
“Who- He?!” A voice, vaguely feminine asks.
“I don’t know, but he’s- Leave him!”
A harsher person yells, distinctively male.
It… Feels like I’m sleep-walking, everything’s a little hazy and unclear- everything except for the bouts of sounds and noises that cause me to jolt, yet unable to move or lift my eyelids. Loud squelches sound over my head, flesh and bones crushed to paste between its fangs. “W- Wha…” I starts, the breath driven out of me as the grotesque creatures stand over me. Yes, the liquefied metal monster was ugly, but there had been a certain smoothness to its motions- the grace of a predator.
These things… They were most likely humans once, but any semblances of sentience or Humanity are long gone. All that’s left of these people are cold corpses mutated, twisted out of shapes to be puppeteered by whatever foul disease they have. My eyes pulse, my vision darkening as I raise to my full height only to find the monsters dead at my feet, their limbs ripped out of their sockets like a Barbie doll that’s unfortunate enough to fall in the hands of a vindictive older brother with a mile long mean streak. “What’s happe–”
My vision reddens as I crawl towards a locker, keeping close to the wall due to how nauseous I am.
‘Is this Hell?’
With all those guttural screams and feral howls in the distant, I won’t be too surprised if it is.
‘Am I dead…?’
That sounds plausible.
If this is Hell, then I must be dead or dying.
Blood spills my lips in place of words.
My only regret is never telling anyone what I want carved on my gravestone: ‘Julius ‘Caesar’ Campbell- A chill guy who bothered nobody.’ The thought brings a smile to my lips.
My body doesn’t seem to appreciate the string of laughter though, given the severe puncture wounds on my abdomen and torso it’s trying, unsuccessfully may I add, to heal from.
Hellish visions of alien worlds; alien languages and the walking dead flash in my mind as the Greater Consciousness attempts to infect me with madness.
Wetness creeps up my sleeves and out the corner of my eyes, I see it- the liquefied metal- burrow into my skin, replacing lost flesh and correcting broken bones.
I feel it wiggle inside my liver; slither its way to my lungs then caress my vocal cords. It purrs in contentment, encasing my form whole as vaguely humanoid silhouettes blitz through the metal frames- the automatic doors having been jammed, a metal box lodged in between. ‘Am I standing up?’
It trills in agreement, clearly upset.
‘How do I know that?’
He scoffs.
‘Because our minds are connected to it and it’s controlling our body, you fucking idiot.’
Contrary to prior expectations, it doesn’t feel at all uncomfortable.
I feel as though I am adorned with a fluid that possesses the ability to solidify at my command.
This remarkable substance also seems to regulate my body temperature and enhance my abilities even more.
The magnitude of the changes I am experiencing far exceed my initial expectations, affecting not only my senses but also my physical capabilities. However, amidst all these upgrades, there is one thing that takes precedence—an name that the parasitic entity within me deems significant: Klyntar. “Ouch!” It pokes at my sides when referred to as a parasite.
Although the parasitic entity may not comprehend the precise meanings of the words, there is a sense that it grasps the intents behind them. Our connection allows it to rapidly absorb and comprehend human languages at an accelerated pace. It is an intriguing phenomenon, as we find ourselves intertwined in this process of mutual learning and understanding.
The previous resentment resulted from our previous encounter continues to linger, but it appears we’ve come to an agreement. It needs a host to fully display its powers; I also need it to navigate this new, treacherous world. Plus, we need each other to deal with the enemies- creatures who are obviously dead yet moving still; whose tissues seem to reject the Klyntar’s touch. ‘Truce?’
It repeats. ‘TrUcE.’
‘Fantastic… As if the place isn’t crammed already.’ Forgive him Klyntar, he has been a lot more vocal lately. ‘NoIsY…’
I can’t help but chuckle at the Klyntar’s response. ‘Couldn’t have said it better, Klyntar.’ It seems to have developed a certain level of understanding and adaptability to human interactions in the short period since our bonding. ‘SpEEcies… Kllyntar. Namee, for- forgot.’
I glance at the Klyntar, assessing its form. Its tendrils twist and turn, as if pulsating with energy. It has grown stronger since our last encounter, and I can feel its power coursing through me as well. This newfound strength and unity will give us an edge for sure. “You don’t have a name?” On cue, several of the gaunt undead creatures screech, their scythe-like arms raised as they wobble towards us at astonishing speed… For humans.
‘Be ready.’ I whisper to the Klyntar. ‘They’re approaching.’
In an instant, the Klyntar responds to my command, extending its tendrils and lashing out at the approaching undead. The symbiotic alien lifeform merging seamlessly with me, creating a powerful and fearsome force as we engage in battle together.
Our movements are fluid and coordinated.
The Klyntar’s instinctual understanding of my intent allows us to anticipate each other’s actions, giving us a unique advantage over our enemies. It is an extraordinary sight to behold, the harmonious fusion of Klyntar and human, working in perfect synchrony. Unfortunate our enemies do not seem to hold the sentiment. As we emerge victorious from the battle, I take a moment to catch my breath.
The Klyntar retreats, its tendrils retracting back under my skin. I can sense its satisfaction, its growing respect for me as its host and so have I grown a smudge of respect for it. Casting a quick glance at the mountain of gaunt- limbless carcasses around us, I chuckle heartily, “We make quite a team, don’t we?” And say, a smile spreading across my face.
The Klyntar emits a low hum in response, almost like a contented purr.
It seems to agree, begrudgingly acknowledging our united strength. Cheerfully, I march forth into the depth of the metal dead-trip. Whoever designed these ships fucking suck, and that’s me being generous. All these claustrophobic hallways, twists and turns do not bode well for the human psyche. Whipping out my phone, I check the screen to find no further message from Anna except for the earlier,
[Apology accepted.]
“Anna, you there? Can you give me the premise of this world at least?”
Still no response…
Goddamn, woman knows how to hold a grudge.
“Damn, guess we’re on our own.” I can probably skip this world. I have downloaded several TV shows in case of an emergency in accordance to Annabella’s recommendations, but it feels… Wasteful to just skip this world. It’s not as if these undead creatures really pose a threat to us, plus I’m 90% certain we are in space. Whatever technology I can scavenge will doubtlessly prove invaluable in the future. “To leave or not to leave. What a difficult decision.”
All of a sudden, a body plummets from the vents, causing me to jump.
Between the creaking of metals; the sounds of blades dragging against their cramped, rusty confines, it’s near impossible to know what’s the ambience and what’s caused as a result of the undead wandering these dark and lonely halls or skittering in the vents above. Startled as well, the symbiotic entity envelops me in an instant. We observe the new creature which possesses a form even uglier than its brethren, its milky-dead eyes bulging out of its skull; its head detached- held by red fleshy tendrils that sprout from its neck where the spine should be.
The melanin has been bleached from its biological compositions, causing an extremely pale complexion that- together with its lanky and stretched stature- makes for a lifeform so cursed even I feel the urge to avert my eyes. On its torso, holes litter- its body quite literally stitched by muscles. “Just when I thought they couldn’t get any uglier…” I utter, prompting the creature to screech, brandishing its long and deformed claws.
One would expect those lethal talons to be made out of nails… One would be wrong. It’s his- its fingers, pulled and stretched beyond biological possibilities. Not that I get to have a say given the conflicting forces fueling me, but it just doesn’t make sense biologically for it to possess that kind of build.
I know from experiences these creatures are incredibly durable,
Again, for humans. “Well–”
* Screech!
“C’mon then.”
An inky black blade forms over my forearm. Effortlessly, I cleave through the flesh tendrils, kicking it into a wall. Severing the limbs usually does the job… It should have! But this one- it’s different. Its limbs wiggle relentlessly, tentacles latching onto us as we collapse into my Avian Form. Assuming the shape of a human again, I skid across the floor, a harsh glare stuck to my face. “What the fuck?!”
Just then, the coms choose to blare.
“– Hey, you!”