The scientist ran as fast as he could, but the creatures kept on coming relentlessly. Finally, he spotted the quarantine control booth, and rushed for it with a final push of speed. He got there, but the creatures were right behind him. He watched as the door closed, wondering with a strange detachment if it would do so in time. Would he die, like the others? Or would he alone survive?
On the early morning of September 14th, 2013, the automatic quarantine systems at Hexicon drug research labs activated, completely sealing the "B" sector from the outside world. The later that day, Public Relations spokesmen announced that the activation of the quarantine procedures had merely been a mistake coupled with a malfunction in the system.
That was a lie.
The PR department also declared that no one was harmed in the incident.
That was a lie as well.
In a little-known event report, it is noted that on the day of the quarantine activation, an elite Hexicon security force was dispatched to Sector B.
This is the untold story. No one beyond the top levels of company management even knows that this ever happened. This is their story. This is their fight. This, is their memorial.
"So, what do you think it is this time?" said Jones, yelling to be heard above the noise of the chopper.
"Probably just another bug in the system," replied Hank, the squad's heavy weapons specialist.
"You'd think for the amount of money they spent on it, it would work for more than a few days at a time."
"Yeah, well if it was perfect, then what would they need us for?"
Jones looked around the chopper. Nearly all of them had been former Special Ops troops; he saw some Green Berets, a few SEALs, SAS, and even a GSG9. They'd been recruited by Hexicon to serve as a "fast-response direct action security team." Whatever that meant. Jones was pretty content though. Good housing, usually respectable working hours, and not much to do other than check out an occasional accidental quarantine activation. And the guns. There were lots and lots and lots of guns. The armory at the training compound was massive. Each trained with a variety of weaponry, and if they wanted a gun that the armory didn't already have, all they had to do was request it. Jokingly, the group had once requested a .22 rimfire rifle. They got it. He looked down at his weapon. It was a beautiful FN P90. He loved the 50 round magazine, and the thing was built solid as a rock. Small and easily controllable, it was outfitted with a red-dot sight, and worked brilliantly for close-quarters urban combat. For the situations they found themselves in, it was the perfect weapon. At least in his opinion. Hans preferred his H&K MP7, while Hank sported an M60 machine gun. Their long-range marksman, Johnny, used a rifle that had been custom built for him. And boy could he shoot with it. The squad leader, Ryan, used one of the rare prototype XM8's.
Despite their arsenal and all of their range time, they had yet to have needed it. The most serious deployment had been when a new lubricant had spilled, making the entire floor of the facility nearly frictionless. Jones remembered the squad trying to work their way to the center of the facility to activate the malfunctioning water-sprays, which would normally wash away any large spill. That had been fun nearly like ice-skating. He turned his thoughts back to the current mission. This was their first time to sector B, the drug research center. No one knew anything about what they were going for, not even Ryan. The chopper suddenly came to a stop, a green light came on, and one by one, the squad rappelled to the ground.
"Alright," Ryan began, "We've been told to proceed towards building 6, where the quarantine was activated from. We're fitted with helmet cams, so command can see what we see, and tell us what to do. Remember, do not fire unless ordered to."
"Yes, Mom," cracked Johnny, "we'll remember not to shoot the poor civilians." Everyone chuckled at that even if to only hide their anticipation.
The trip to the building was uneventful, and they arrived quickly.
"Keep your eyes peeled," warned Ryan, as he opened the main door. Right from the start, they could tell something was wrong. It was silent. Dead silent. They couldn't see or hear sign of anyone. It was truly eerie. They moved forward, towards the center of the building and the quarantine system control panel. On the way there, they came upon a supply closet, and something was banging on the door from the inside. Franklin, the rookie reached for the handle. "Frank, don't open that!" Ryan yelled, "You don't know-" but it was already too late. Something leaped out of the closet, attacking Franklin. The thing was roughly humanoid, but like nothing they had ever seen. The command to open fire screamed though their headsets, shocking them into action. They all began pouring automatic weapons-fire into the creature, literally ripping it in half. Despite its lack of a lower body, it continued towards the men, until Johnny put one clean round through its forehead with his pistol. Attention then turned to Franklin, who was remarkably still alive, but barely so. It didn't take a doctor to tell that he wasn't going to make it. Franklin seemed to understand too.
"Mm....mor.....morphine...," he spat though gritted teeth. Julio, the squad's medic, obliged the dying man's request, injecting him with the painkiller. Franklin's eyes widened as the drug rushed through his system. He visibly relaxed, then looked down at his midsection. A midsection that mostly wasn't there.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?" he stated simply. No one could say that he was going to make it, and say he was going to be fine. No one had the heart to answer his question.
"Tell...my...f...family...I....I love them," and with that, Franklin's body went limp.
"I will," Jones whispered, and took his handkerchief off his head, placing it over the dead man's face.
They all stood around for another minute, shocked by what had happened. Spurred on by command, they finally went to inspect the body of the creature. It appeared to have formerly been human, but it was mutated practically beyond recognition.
"I guess this is why we're here," said Julio, stating the obvious.
"Alright boys, now we know what we are up against. We need to be more careful than ever," Ryan told his men.
They moved further and further into the building, eventually coming across a bloodied lab table surrounded by several slain scientists. They looked like Franklin, partially eaten. Johnny threw up at the sight and smell. The group continued on, finally reaching the center of the building. What they saw there shocked them. There was a crowd of about 7 zombies crowded around the quarantine booth, where one scientist was trapped, unable to get out. The squad opened fire, and eventually killed the creatures. They approached the booth and opened the door, freeing the scientist.
"Thank you so much-" he began, but was cut off by Ryan.
"Are there any other survivors?" asked Ryan.
"No," he said, "they've all been killed or turned into one of those things."
"Wait this facility has a staff of over 50. You mean that there could be several dozen more of these things?" demanded Ryan.
"It is possible," admitted the scientist.
"What happened to them?"
"It was a new drug, attempting to boost strength and stamina. Instead, it turned them into mindless monsters. They have a strange craving for flesh, attempting to devour anything they see, hear or smell."
"You mean-"
"Yes. They're probably converging on us this very instant"
"Sh**! Alright! We need to get out of here double time!!!"
"Aim for the head, it seems that that is their weakest point"
"You heard the man, aim for the head! Let's move!"
They began back the way they came, wary for the slightest signal of more the the creatures. Finally, they found what they were looking for. They began firing, aiming for the head. All of a sudden though, a quarantine wall came down, separating Jones from the rest of the group.
"What happened?" he screamed into his headset.
"Oh my god, the quarantine barriers are coming back down! We've got to move!" Ryan screamed back. "We aren't able to lift the wall, you'll have to find another way!"
"Fu**" thought Jones, and set off to try and find a side route to get to the other side. Eventually, he came upon an air duct, and climbed into it. It was a tight squeeze, but he managed to worm his way through. Eventually, he came across another access panel, and worked his way out. He realized that he was near the exit, and worked his way back towards the central hallway. There, he saw Ryan and Johnny standing next to the scientist, fighting off the tide of oncoming monsters. All of a sudden two of the creatures came up behind them, attacking the unaware soldiers. Jones fired, managing to kill both of them. He then ran over to where Ryan and Johnny were. Johnny looked terrible.
"They killed my. Those sons of bi***es killed me!" And with that, he died.
Ryan was in only slightly better condition.
"Give me some morphine."
Jones did as he was told, and watched as his leader sat upright, the pain gone. They continued firing at the monsters, until disaster struck: Ryan ran out of ammo. "Give me your gun and you grenades!" he yelled at Jones.
"What?"
"It's too late for me. You boys still have a chance. I'll hold them off for as long as I can. And, well, I did always want to go out in a blaze of glory," he smiled pulling the priming pins from his grenades, setting them beside him.
"But-"
"That's an order!"
"Yes sir."
Jones handed over his weapon, and did the same with his grenades.
"Now run, son, run like there's no tomorrow. And if you don't, there sure as he** won't be!"
Jones and the scientist ran for the door. Jones turned back, and watched as his leader, his friend continued to fight. He watched as the creatures approached closer and closer. He watched as they touched the grenades, causing the spring-loaded firing pin to release. He watched as they all were destroyed by the explosion. He looked ahead, and saw the final door closing. He looked back to see the scientist trip and fall. Knowing that if he turned back to help, neither would make it through the door, he made one final push. He reached the door, sliding under it with not an inch to spare. He rushed to the controls to try and re-open the door, but it was already too late. He watched as the scientist tripped once more. He watched as the scientist tried to stand back up, but was knocked back down by the creatures. As he attacked by one, then two, then three, then a dozen of the monsters. As he was devoured. Jones walked away, out of the building, and to the rendezvous point. The only survivor of building 6, sector B.
Two days later, the building was demolished "due to internal support integrity." What no one noticed was that the demolished building was then covered in napalm, and burned for three days.
A year later, a lone man walked down a country road, and up to a small home inhabited by an old couple, who had had one son, who had apparently been killed in a training accident. The lone man explained what had really happened to their son, and told them that their dying son had asked for someone to tell them that he loved them. The lone man then walked away. No one has seen him since.
The Story Project Contest Entry thread Wed 23 Dec 2009, 5:01 pm
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