The two men ducked left and descended down a set of stairs that would take them into relative safety or so they hoped. Chernov stood behind Sergei pointing his gun up the ramp, praying deep down that the monsters would ravage each other on the surface. The sudden loud beep made both men jump. The door opened and they were soon inside, sealing the exit behind them.

These parts of the Domes were often called the Slums. Home to the builders that had erected the city, years past. This was their reward for their service. To be hidden away, forgotten about and only called upon if something goes wrong or faulty. It was narrow, cramped and riddled with pipes and wiring leading to the surface. The narrow corridor opened out to another doorway which they entered. It took them to what looked like an empty barracks area. The builders and the miners shared a residence, both men had expected company but there was only the sound of whirring fans around them.

“You don’t think that stuff was pumped down here do you?”

Sergei looked around and leaned on the black metal railing. “I can’t see anything can you?”

“Do the Slums even have protection shelters?”

“You would think so,” said Sergei walking down the steps. All he saw was a mess. People had dropped what they had on them and scarpered. The two men followed the trail gifted to them. Soon they entered another corridor that led to a T-Junction. Where their joint suspicion was soon answered. Gunfire cut through the silence as two bloodied people stumbled around the corner and stopped short of Sergei and Chernov. A blur emerged next and made short work of one of those fleeing. The disembodied head flew away from a fountain of red. The body hit the ground as two Mortans grabbed for the remaining person, digging blackened teeth in their shoulder.

Chernov acted first and opened fire. The person they had encountered was already dead. This was a mercy. The spray now shifted the attention. One recoiled back while the other advanced, the rough amorphous Morte skin made their hands now look like large bestial claws. They don’t have formed Cores, for now. Normally, Sergei aimed for the top half but for Mortes he knew to focus fire on the centre of mass. As a new Morte it didn’t have protection yet. The bullets tore through skin and clothing. The monster stopped dead. Chernov did the same for his Morte and Sergei engaged his core to cover the ground. He poured Aetherial energy into the aura around his fist and drove it through the monster he staggered. He found purchase and pulled. Separating the symbiote from its host. The creature folded and hit the floor in growing blackened pool. Chernov had also downed the other and had begun stomping on their chest like a madman.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“Pull it out, proper. They always come back,” said Sergei.

Chernov bent down and began scooping out whatever innards he could. Sergei was surprised to see the second victim of the two Mortes still breathing. He approached them and crouched down.

“Can you talk? Can you understand me?” He tried in English first.

“Yes, I don’t understand how I’m still alive.”

The man was badly wounded and to such an extent that normally it would be fatal. It could only mean one thing. “Have you drank anything recently?”

“Before the alarms rang? Maybe. It can get pretty hot down here.”

“Bottle or tap?”

“Filled a bottle with a tap why?”

Chernov finished doing his dirty work and looked to Sergei.

“You’re saying I’m becoming like them. I can see it on your faces.”

“Then already know what we need to do, but first how many more are you?” asked Sergei.

“I wasn’t really paying attention… Maybe I can help you escape. There has to be a way to reverse this right?”

Sergei cocked his head at Chernov. “There is but one cure for the Mortan.”

Sergei inhaled and fired off a couple of shots. Putting the man out of his misery he then proceeded to do as Chernov had, scooping off the black liquid that had begun taking over the body’s inside.

“I hope you don’t expect us to do this for all of them. It’s just wasting time, Sergei.”

“I know. I know. But the point is to keep them down. If it’s not done they’ll regenerate.”

“I’m just saying we really shouldn’t be wasting time if we want off this rock.”

Sergei agreed and looked at the signs. They needed to reach the Portunus Front as that was where they would find the shuttle station. He pointed it out. “If we follow the way they came from, we can reach the main plaza and steal a shuttle.”

Chernov sighed. “Somehow that sounds easier said than done.”