Chapter 1
The storm raged with a fury and intensity never seen before in these parts. Reports indicate a category 5 hurricaine would soon hit the coast of NY and travel north for the next several hours. The guards worried about loss of power but were assured that the back up generators were primed and ready to go. As the winds battered down upon the Metal exterior it sounded like death itself was pounding down to enter the facility.
Deep underground in one of the research rooms four scientists are gathered in an observation room looking down upon a naked man strapped to a table. Restraints pinned him down forcibly at ever limb to ensure he could not move nor escape.
Scientist 1 - Begin procedure overview.
Scientist 2 - Test subject 0421. Male. 28. Displayed minimal abilities including but not limited to: Agility. Durability. Speed. Advanced animal Instinct.
Scientist 3 - Third trial of Serum X4. In an attempt to increase base abilities of test subject to be more useful in combat situations. Subject will be injected with X4 and then subjected to theta radiation to increase absorption.
Scientist 1 - Proceed.
Scientist 4 swivels into position and keys in the appropriate commands. Automatic equipment begins to cycle as several syringes and surgical equipment begin to extrude from the table. “Injection in 10…9…8…7…”
The test subject screams into the gag as he tries to break free. He bucks agianst the restraints but to no avail. Syringes hover over his limbs at multiple locations preparing to inject the serum. The scientist continues to count down. “3…2….1.. Injection.”
With little care the needles plunge into his flesh and inject the X4 serum. The liquid burns into his flesh and he screams in agony thrashing wildly as it starts to flow through his body.
Scientist 2 - Engaging shielding.
A metal screen quickly descends blocking view of the room below as Scientst 4 follows up, “Theta radiation burst in 3…2…..1”
The room below is bombarded with a focused blast of theta radiation. Moments later the shield raises to the site of the young man no longer thrashing about.
Scientist 1 - What happened???
Scientist 2 - Vitals have terminated.
Scientist 3 - Subject has flatlined…
Scientist 4 - It appears that theta radi…wait…..we have vitals…..weaks….no wait they’re picking up.
Scientist 2 - Confirmed! Vitals strong and increasing. We did it!
Scientist 1 moves to the window and looks down below before clicking the intercomm, “Good job 0421.”
The test subject breaths shallowly for several moments. Slowly he starts to take longer, deeper breaths. He turns towards the control room observation window and opens his eyes. Angry yellow eyes burn up towards the glassy enclosure and focus in on Scientist 1 who takes an unconscious step backwards. “Call security….just in case…”
Scientist 2 calls from backup on the intercomm.
Scientist 3 and 4 talk back and forth as they continue to monitor readouts.
Blood pressure steady 80 / 120. Pulse 90….
Genetic scans show an increase in body mass of 15%
Genetic sequencing shows and in crease in absorption of X4 by a factor of 400%. As with previous test subjects change is rapidly induced.
Scientist 4 turns to the other scientists, “We did it again!”
Scientist 1 nods with a smile on his face, pushing back his spectacles, “Another soldier ready to go.”
A thunderous sound of thunder is heard even several stories below. The lights flicker for several moments before going out completely. The thrum of machinery grinds to a halt and they sit in total darkness for several frighteningly quiet moments. Back up generators can be heard kicking in as power is restored throughout the complex.
Scientist 1 runs back to the obersvation deck, “Status? Quickly…”
Scientist 4 seems perplexed, “We have no readings? Systems must be coming back online.”
Scientist 1 looks down into the chamber and sees a table with several wrecked restraints. “Oh..my…god.”, he turns around frantically, “Where’s that backup??”
The glass behind him shatters into a million pieces as part of an equipment panel is hurled from down below. Scientist 3 is crushed under the weight of the heavy machinery leaving a gore stain of blood and entrails across the room where they slid until they stopped.
Scientists 2 and 4 turn towards to the massive hole in the glass as Scientist 1 runs to the main doorway. He fumbles with his id card trying to get the scanner to read and open. He turns just in time to see a massive clawed hand scrape and scratch over the edge of the ruined observation window. A frightening creature that was once a human raises itself up and into the room.
Scientist 4 screams in pure terror which causes the creature to whip it’s head at her. With a pounce the creature lunges forward and shreds her throat ripping out her vocal chords. She falls to the floor clenching her neck and gurgling as blood splatters all over her body.
Scientist 1 finallly manages a read on the id card and the door hisses open. He runs into the decontamination room and slams the emergency seal pad. The door locks and a rapid decon starts to happen as Scientist 2 slams agains the door, “Let me out!!! Let me out!! My kids!! I have kids!”
Scientist 1 turns towards the hatch, “C’mon…c’mon…” A sickening thud is heard causing him to turn around reflexively. He sees just in time as the creature slams the Scientist 2 into the doorway before pulling them back and ripping them in half. The creature’s massive frame highlighted by the sparks of shattered equipment. The creature bellows its rage as the hatch finally cycles open and the Scientist runs for his life.
The creature hammers the containment doors furious in its attempt to escape. As the Scientist runs as fast as his chicken legs will carry him soldiers intercept him, “Sitrep?”
Scientist 1, “Flee you fools…..only death awaits in that direction.” He forces his way thru the soldiers and heads for a swift exit. The soldiers hear a massive shredding of metal followed by a klang. The commander signals for the team to be ready and they start to creep forward arms at the ready.
Emergency lights cast a red glow obscuring vision as they move down the cooridor with great caution. As they turn the bend towards the lab the creature comes into view.
Standing over 10 feet tall the beast snarls with rage. Muscles ripple with contained violence as spittle drips down his face. “Open fire!!!” the commander yells as the unit unleashes deadly force. Bullets rain across the corridor and rip into the creature’s body. It howls with pain and rears up on it’s back legs before leaping forward with rage and hatred.
The creature moves astoundingly fast thru the cooridor leaving the soliders little time to react. The first soldier has not even realized the danger he is in when his head is ripped clean from his body. Finger still tight on the trigger releasing a barrage of high caliber bullets.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
A second soldier is gored as the creature pins him against the wall before ripping his guts out from within him. Two more soliders fall as the creature spins and pinions them to the ground leaving massive holes in their torsos.
The commander gains his composure at this point and speaks into his comm unit. “Test subject breach. Lock down the facility. I repeat LOCK DOWN THE FACILI…AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”
His words are cut short as the creature targets him and pounces thru his terrified unit. With one massive hand it rakes across his chest, ripping open his sternum. The commander drops to the floor gasping for breath as the creature turns slowly towards the trapped soldiers behind him. They stare in silence too frightened to act.
Scientist 1 runs towards the elevators with all the speed he can muster. He slams his id to the plate and calls for the elevator tapping it rapidly in the hopes that it will come sooner.
10…11……12….
The doors ding and the scientist almost breaths a sigh of relife when the general comms go off, “Initiating lock down. This is not a drill. Test subject has escaped. Proceed to your assigned shelter locations. Facility is now in Code Red. All exits have been sealed. Proceed to your assigned shelter locations.”
“No..no no no no!!” the Scientist 1 cries. From behind him he hears many voices scream as gunfire fills the air. He stares with a look of doomed fascination and doesn’t realize when the hall goes quiet. Several more moments pass as he suddenly feels a warmth pouring down his leg bringing himself back to reality. He looks down to see he has pissed himself with fright. He scowls at himself but appreciates the wake up call back to reality. He turns away from the death of the cooridor to his right and heads rapidly to the shelter locations to his left.
Behind him he can hear a roaring snarl as the creature stalks him from behind. He knows it can’t be too far behind now. He runs faster…faster…turning the last corner before spying the Shelter doors. The hall is full of staff running towards the shelter and he knows he does not have much time.
A roar followed by the sound of a great mass crashing into metal alerts him to the fact that the creature is behind him. Staff in front of him freeze in terror and turn to look behind towards the source. Scientist 1 uses this moment to shove thru them as quickly as he can. The doorway is in front of him and he pushes a young woman and man into the room ahead of him with all his might to clear the way. He turns as he clears the doorway and slams the emergency release button.
The last thing he sees as the three foot thick barricade doors come down is the creature waging a blood bath on the poor souls trapped outside. Finally realizing what is happening they turn towards the door only to watch their means of escape close before them.
Chapter 2
The muffled cries of many voices are heard ont he other side of the barricade doors. The scientist turns around to see two frightened faces looking back at him, “What the hell are you doing??” he shouts, “Get to the evacuation before it’s too late!!!”
Regaining their senses they turn and flee down the tunnel. The sound of bombs can be heard behind them as the creature wails into the barricade doors. “Fuck” shouts the scientist as he runs past a panel and slaps the control. “FAster!!! Run like your life depends on it! Because it does!”
Behind them several beeps are heard before a series of bombs begin to go off. These bombs are a new wave of technology and instantly release a great deal of energy which reacts with particles inside. This chain reaction creates a fast growing dense polymer that fills the chamber within seconds behind them. Anything caught in its path will instantly be caught in the rapidly expanding intense matter and die within moments.
The three refugees reach the end of the corridor spying an escape tube filled with other staff. “In!! Get in you fools! He yells at others lollygagging at the entrance. He forces the last of them inside as he hits the launch button before strapping in. The tube shuttle closes its door and launches with insane velocity flinging him backwards. One of the other occupants catches him in midair and holds with all their strength. Explosions are heard behind them as the tunnel starts to self implode. All faces look behind hoping they left in time to escape being instantly crushed.
The tube races through the tunnel traveling at over 100 mph. The acceleration remaining constant the occupants soon find they can move about and actually catch their breath as the vehicle quickly outpaces the explosions behind them. The scientist wipes his face of the sweat he had not noticed. He takes a deep breath and for the first time realizes the stench in the air and comes to the conclusion he was not the only one to soil himself.
He looks about and starts listening to the conversation, “The lightning was intense…it hit a power converter …..that’s what caused the blackout.” A woman agrees, “I was in sector four when the power went out….all of the cells lost power….and … and they started to get out.” She begins to sob.
The scientist runs over to her and turns her around, “Get ahold of yourself?? Who got out??”
The woman wipes her face with the back of her hand, “All of them….my sister…she was on the lower floor….one of them ate her.”
The scientist gasps and takes several steps back until his bumps into the shell of the tube. “no….no it’s impossible…”
The man speaking with her confirms, “I heard over comm chatter that the test subjects broke loose…One of them was crackling with energy…..as if covered in lightning.”
The scientist cannot seem to breath and pulls on his tie to loosen it. “This…this is terrible.”
COMPUTER - Approaching tunnel exit. Please buckle in preparation for deceleration.
All the occupants find a seat and buckle in. Within five minutes the tube moans and creaks before launching the tube from the tunnel at high velocity. The sudden impact of hitting the water from the submerged pipeline lurches everyone forward. The tube, made of high density polymer easily resists the pressures of the water outside and continues to shoot upward like a bullet. Within seconds it breaches the surface and flies in the air for many meters before splashing down again on the surface.
Outside is chaos as many large boats gather and rescue occupants from the escape tubes. Huge cranes maneuver over grabbing the tubes before raising them to the deck and depositing them safely. Staff and crew are evacuated out of the tube and taken for debriefing. The scientist takes a deep breath of sea air as he exits the tube with the assistance of one of the crew, “Dr Prekimpar?” the man asks.
Dr Prekimpar nods, “I am.”
Crewman, “You’re wanted in the command room immediately.”
Dr P motions for the man to lead and he follows, licking his lips nervously with anticipation. He follows the crewman through several decks as they head towards the command room. Chaos is heard all around as crew are busy with rescue operations and evacuations. Dr P can tell when they approach the command as booming voices are heard arguing up ahead. He dismisses the crewman and heads into the room. As he opens the door a rotund man screams at him, “What in the hell happened down there???”
Dr Prekimpar scowls, “Thank you for your cocern for my safety.” he spies a drink table and pours himself a double scotch and downs it before saying anything else. All eyes are on him as he turns to the group of anxious faces, “Power to the facility went out which resulted in the escape of a test subject.”
“A test subject?? From what we’ve gathered in addition to surveilance they ALL got out!” he slams his fist on the table, “We were assured that was IMPOSSIBLE!!”
Dr Prekimpar takes a seat wearily, “It is…was impossible. I don’t know what happened.”
The commissioner snaps his fingers, “Roll back footage of the cellblock.”
Dr P leans forward as the lights go out and the viewscreen illuminates. A prisoner is seen pacing his cell rubbing his arms over his body. Electrical arcs can be seen flashing back and forth, “That is prisoner 0328. Electrical manipulation. Nothing signfiant.”
Commissioner hisses, “Watch.”
The screen flashes white as a massive bolt of energy fills the room. The prisoner is seen laughing as huge arcs of energy swirl around him. He runs towards his cell doors and releases the energy into the facility causing power to black out. When the screen returns as backup generators kick in he is floating in front of the camera , his body engulfed in electrical energy. He motions with his finger across his kneck as if the viewer was dead. With a quick flick of his hand energy takes out the camera.
The lights come back up as the Commissioner looks at reports, “After that all cells started to release and the test subjects got loose.”
Dr P wipes his face free of the sweat that has gathered upon him once again. “This is impossible….he does not have that kind of power.”
A general snerks, “Well he does now….”, he starts flipping through reports, “At last count your facility had well over 300 highly powered, highly altered individuals in that cellblock.”
Dr P turns towards the general, “The facility was successfully locked down. They cannot escape.”
Another individual speaks up, “I suggest detonation of the facility. We cannot risk an exodus.”
Arguments begin to erupt for several minutes when finally the Commissioner slams his fist for silence, “Preapre for detonation. I would rather deal with a pr nightmare than have even ONE of those abominations escape.”
The room goes silent as a soldier comes up to the commissioner with a briefcase. The commissioner unlocks the briefcase as he sets it on the table. A remote detonator bleeps alert. The commissioner keys in his personal code and is about to arm the device when someone interrupts.
“Sir…sir….”, the monitors come alive, “Something is happening at the facility.
They all turn to see the ground at the facility exterior cameras shaking wildly. The ground begins to glow red, then yellow, then white.
The general yells, “They’re trying to escape!!! Do it now!!”
Before the Commissioner can take action the ground explodes sending debris everywhere. The Commissioner hits the arm button several times but nothing happens. The screen blinks and merely states connection lost.
“Bringing up all online comms and cameras. A series of views of the facility come onto the display and they all watch with waited breath. Several long moments pass as the dust settles. They strain to make out any details. As the dust clears several gasps are heard around the room as dark shadowy figures come into view…one….five…….twenty…..fifty….hundred. They continue to climb out of the hole one after another.
The General whispers, “We’re fucked.”