A blaring alarm rang out that sharply brought him back to his senses. Before this present moment, he had never experienced teleportation. That was usually reserved for deployments. Now that he had experienced it, he never wanted to again. He struggled to see through his blur, and the dizziness didn’t help much either. It took him a good few minutes to get his bearings as a pounding headache did little to alleviate the numbness afflicting much of his body. It felt like he had been turned inside out but managing a look across himself. He was at least in one piece. That alarm won’t stop. That can’t be good. Please tell me, it’s not what I think it is. They can’t have made it here already!
He pulled himself up to one knee, noting first the blood stains, then the bullet holes as the rotating red light hit the glass window of the door. He shielded his eyes, groaning while he got back to unsteady feet. He dragged himself forward. It can’t end like this. For them. For us. I need to get to safety. I need to find a way out.
He reached the door and put his grey head to the glass. He could hear it now that his ears had ceased ringing. So much death. How did they get here first?
Vadir knocked his aching head against that glass while he racked his brain as he remembered what the Captain had implied about Site 51. If it’s one of those outposts, then it’s part of the Nirikiri Gate Network. That network would also have a connection to the Moon. If the humans fled back here from the Moon and were also infected-
He stepped back and muttered, “idiots, they handed this place over to the Mortalis without a second thought.”
Before he could do anything else, a body flew past his vision. He jumped back, sliding right to hide in the shadows of the dark chamber. A hulking, monstrous figure stopped at the door. Its great shadow fell into the room. He held his breath and saw its heavy breathing fogging up the glass. To his relief, it drifted onward. He considered trying the teleporter again, but those things had a long cool down. There was no telling where he would end up a second time. He approached the door and opened it slow and quiet. Not that it mattered since the alarm drowned out everyhing else. The carnage was now clearer despite the stretching darkness. Bodies of those unfortunate to be caught unawares lay before him in various states of dismemberment. He looked to his right and considered following in the wake of the creature, but instead, he moved forward from the t-section, only stopping next to a dead guard so that he could pry free their rifle. It dawned on him that he had no idea how deep this site was and where he would go next. If he even made it back outside. One step at a time, Vadir. Right now, I need to stay alive and try finding other survivors. They won’t be the Welcome Wagon, but I can’t possibly hope to do this alone.
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That hopelessness sank in with each of his steps. Part of him even considered seeking out the Moon gate and using it to reunite with fellow Kaskari survivors, but considering how things had played out so far, he thought better of it. Upon rounding a corner, he caught sight of a man dragging his beaten and broken body forward some ways ahead. He didn’t get far before a black tendril wrapped around his neck and dragged him out of sight. It didn’t take too long for the one responsible to appear, a tall Mortan coated in the black skin of Deterrent Mortalis. From its back rose a bladed tail. It bared its teeth at him before breaking into a run. It used its blink, trying to confuse Vadir, but it did not account for his attunement to the aether. While to a human, the Mortan was functionally invisible. He could still see the faint residual glow as it barrelled towards him. Once the Mortan emerged from the Other Side with its tail primed to strike, Vadir used the blink to dodge the sweeping tail and get behind the Mortan. Once behind it, he used his free right hand to ignite an aether blade and sliced off the tail. The monster spun, and he jumped back. He concentrated fire on the monster’s centre, keeping it stunned long enough for him to drive the hot aether blade through the creature’s body. It let out a shrill scream as he ripped the symbiote from within. Now unanchored, the monster stumbled and fell onto its back. Vadir dropped the slimy creature and stamped on it. He heard a resounding noise echo through him. They know I’m here. So much for thinking the worst is behind me.
Vadir checked his weapon and traced it to learn how much of the magazine remained. I should have grabbed some spare mags. It’ll take a while to get used to these human weapons.
He steadied himself for the hell that was fast approaching.
For the Welcome Wagon! Their deaths and those of the Dauntless will not be in vain. I’ll save this world even if it kills me!