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I had to do this for school, but we could pick the type of story we wanted, so I chose Sci-Fi, with not too much violence. Please read and tell me what you think (and notice the references to games :P):
Title: After Dark
The Nightmare Begins – October 26th 2002 – 8:17pm
With a flash, as if the start of some cheap, low-budget sci-fi flick, it all began. A room. Four corners. Four doors. It made sense. In the confines of this room lay 5 bodies – still, motionless, as if any life had been squeezed out of them, left there to decompose like the lifeless figures that they are. One-by-one, they each began to emit a twitch and slowly but surely, they began to rise, like zombies in the night, mindless, just driven by nature itself. The first to rise was perhaps the most incapacitated of the assembled group, slipping on the obviously newly polished floor. However, this groggy state of mind soon began to fade and she was able to fully stand on her feet. She looked clueless, just like all the others, but also like the others, she seemed slightly accustomed to her surroundings. If it was any clue to her identity at all, her nametag read “Emmerich”, as if the slave of a fascist regime. As if newly furnished bots, they all rose in a very reminiscent mechanical motion and simultaneously peered about their surroundings, each and every person as if a carbon copy of the next. However, there was something in their eyes that just makes them sense that all is not well, and everything is not coherent. As each noticed the next, they each looked surprised, shocked, some even near to jumping out of their skin, typical of Sunday morning cartoons.
“Did I scare you?” asks a voice, everyone turning to a sixth being, sitting down in the corner of the room nearest to them. A smile spread across his face, chilling the others to the core, thus letting them know that he had an agenda.
“Who are you?” asks one of the others.
“I’m one of you. Who else would I be?” he snappily returns, absolutely sure of himself. He had that smug look about him that just bore him as a natural leader. His intentions here, however, were unknown. The others seldom dare to challenge him after that display, in fear of what he is capable of. “Ok, so you want details? Like I said, I’m just one of you, I have no idea how I got here and I want to get out. I’m Freeman. Now, I’ve introduced myself, I’d like to know who you are. In your own time, as I’d like to know who I’m dealing with before we even try getting past these traps…”
“Traps?” asks another of the six, his nametag reading “Patterson”.
“This entire facility is tripped. I woke up about an hour before you guys, and I had a look around in those four doors.”
“What’s behind them?”
“Nothing. They’re clean, but behind each of the four doors around us is a gateway to more doors, and more doors.”
“What’s so scary about that?”
“Are you going to listen, or will I have to shut you up?” and this comment quiets the man known only as “Patterson”. “Moving on…there are traps behind each of the sub-rooms. I went into one of these doors and nearly got my head cut off by some beam!” the sarcasm continuing to spew from his mouth.
The others all scream in terror and begin talking amongst themselves.
“But back to what I was saying, I want to know who you all are before we even attempt to deal with these traps.”
One of them stands. Despite her young looking-face and the vulnerability tag that comes with that, she appears accustomed to and at home with the area. It seemed that she would be the first to spill the beans.
“My name is Emmerich and I’m a nurse. I’m 21 years old and a nurse. What else is there to say? I live in a house with three kids and lead a normal life…” and from that point onward, she refrained from divulging any further information as she stood down.
The next began to rise, a man, the years have been good to him. He had that clean-shaven, all good look about him, as if nothing could get him down, not even this depressing foundation.
“My name is Parker and I’m a freedom fighter. I was in the Mars revolt against the Ultor Mining Corporation back in 2000. When I got here, my weapons were gone, but they left my body Armour here for some reason. So who’s next?”
“Wait, did you just say the Ultor Mining Corp?” interrupts Freeman.
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh my god! We have a nurse on board and the famous activist from the Red Faction incident!” he continues, laughing heartily in between, running out of breath.
Parker sits. The following person stands hesitantly and introduces himself.
“I’m a Naval Officer…Patterson, if you must know my name. Why am I here!? What did I do wrong!? I command a fleet of soldiers and have a wife and two kids. What is so sinful about that!?”
“Listen! Let’s keep the questions to a minimum for the moment. Who’s next?” asks Freeman.
“But I don’t want to keep quiet!” shouts Patterson.
“But…”
“Shut up! I want answers and I want them now!” he shouts, before pinning a helpless Freeman up against the nearest wall and clenching his fist threateningly.
“Wait!” a voice shouts, everyone turning to see a scruffy, but possibly useful man.
“There’s no use sitting here whining about it” the man continues.
“And just who do you happen to be?”
“I am Kragoth.”
“Well let me tell you something, Kragoth, I take orders from nobody! Sit down and shut up!” demands Patterson.
“But there may be a way ou…”
“Another word and I’ll kill you!”
After that rather threatening comment, Kragoth steps down and purges the final people to introduce themselves. She stands, a figure that seems shrouded in mysteriousness and intrigue – someone who could kill any day of the week before breakfast without a second thought, without it hanging on her conscience.
“Kragoth is right, there may be a key to this place, and that happens to be my specialty – weapons…” and suddenly, the woman falls into what can only be described as a phantasmagoric sleep. Images of rooms, walls, bloody, but one in particular – a map on the floor, reading “Weapons Sector B2”. Suddenly, everything blacks out.
The Waking - October 26th 2002 – 9:44pm
“She’s waking,” says a dreamy, strange voice. Eventually, however, it is deciphered. This woman lay on the floor in a state of near-unconsciousness. The woman slowly begins to wake and the crowd of peoples around her startle her fragile self. Her nametag reads “Connor”.
“How long was I out for?” she asks.
“About an hour and a half.”
“Look, let’s forget all this soppy stuff and face facts – there was a way in, so there must be a way out, right?” announces Kragoth from across the room.
“I suggest we begin searching for ways out. Let’s begin with the door in front of us” and so their crusade to escape begins. It would cause casualties, perhaps even death for some, if not all of these people, but there had to be a way out. They ventured forth to the first door, reading “North Province”.
The door slides open and they all enter, one by one, as if it were meant to be, a planned set-piece by God, a cut-scene of the devils, if you will.
North Province Hallway - October 26th 2002 – 9:47pm
“If any of you are scared to death, exit now, and don’t look for an escape with us. Although, if you don’t come with us, I can’t guarantee us returning for you. Is anyone not in?” asks Freeman.
There is no response. A smirk glides across his face as they open the next door, but don’t step into it yet.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t we going in?” asks Patterson.
“We need someone to go in first, to see if there’s a trap in there” he replies.
“Patterson, you go in.”
“Not on my own! I don’t want to die!”
“Kragoth, if you would be so kind as to go with him…”
“Sure…” adds Freeman.
Patterson hesitantly begins to walk forward into the rumored “death room”. He turns back, scared to death, and as if a force field is holding from entering said room. Kragoth gives him a push, sending him into the room and breaking the supposed force field between him and the potential evil held inside this new room.
“Move!” he shouts, as he follows after Patterson, who is now shaking after that unsettlement.
They enter into the room slowly, just inches away from the door incase the worst should happen. As they look around, they see what looks like a greenhouse-like structure (without any of the standard contents of a greenhouse) and a ladder in the middle, which leads to some sort of tube or vent. The entire area towers over both of them, and even the other four standing at the door. Kragoth moves first, a nervous Patterson behind him, with a demeanor that could break any second and turn his fragile psyche to jelly. Patterson follows Kragoth around, as they inspect the deserted area. Suddenly, a loud noise forces all six of them to cover their ears, in fear of hear loss. Even more suddenly, the door to their escape slams shut.
“What!?” shouts Kragoth, rushing over to the door in an attempt to pull it open. However, a spark catches fire, as if deliberately planned, and a light begins illuminates, reading “Defense Systems Activated.” Kragoth backs up slightly and within a split second, a red laser beam begins hurtling across the room, narrowly missing Kragoth, who pulls an unaware Patterson down with him.
“What is that?” asks Patterson, who is past the panic margin and into shock, despite no injuries sustained from the laser.
“This place must be one of the traps that this place has been rigged with.”
Patterson foolishly stands up, as another laser wave travels across the room at speeds faster than human vehicles can attain. Kragoth pulls Patterson back down.
“Stay down! That thing will cut through you like butter!” and with that, Patterson’s expression changes to blankness and he is as silent as the night, whilst their four teammates are screaming at them to get out.
Parker looks around and discovers a fire-disposal unit. He breaks it open with his elbow with ease and removes the axe. He grimaces it in both hands and slings it forth, full force, into the door, in an attempt to break it. His attempts are futile, however, and all that falls is a small chip of Plexiglas.
The next wave to fly across is in a constant movement – up and down, thus making it difficult for the two to judge whether to duck under or jump over the beam. The difficulty of jumping over a laser wave itself forces them to seek outside assistance, in grabbing for the ladder. Kragoth goes up first, and Patterson begins to freeze up, as if his nerves have disabled him. Kragoth extends his hand to a slow Patterson.
“Get up here now!”
Patterson makes no noise, but Kragoth grabs him himself and attempts to pull him up. Unfortunately, the weight is too much for Kragoth and he looks around for an end to this seemingly eternal horror. He discovers a shining panel, possibly their escape from his horror. Patterson runs to the very end of the room and as the beam passes below Kragoth, Kragoth jumps down off the ladder, his safety spot, and jumps over the beam and smashes a switch with his elbow, deactivating the laser inches before it makes contact with Patterson’s face but also sending a number of sparks into the room. Patterson collapses to the floor of exhaustion and Kragoth walks over to him, just before another crimson light activates, reading “Environment Unstable – Depressurization Process Beginning”. Kragoth’s pupils dilate a great deal as he reads this. To his shock even further, a timer begins running.
…10…
…9…
Kragoth attempts to lift Patterson to safety. He manages to get him up, but Patterson is rather slow in following Kragoth’s lead. Kragoth rushes up the ladder.
…8…
…7…
…6…
“Come on! Hurry up!”
…5…
Patterson’s feet make contact with the ladder and he makes it to the third rung before slipping, in his euphoric state.
…4…
…3…
“Come on!”
Patterson makes one final attempt, but slips on the first rung.
…2…
…1…
…0…
The screen now flashes once again, reading “Depressurization Process Complete.” Kragoth panics and looks down at a still, crying Patterson. As Kragoth realizes what is about to follow, he climbs up the last step of the ladder and scuttles off as far down the vent as fast as he can, whilst all that is heard is an explosion and Patterson’s remains sent over the room. The explosion rocks the entire area, sending glass shattering from the escape door and causing most of the vent which Kragoth ventured down to explode, presumably killing him. Glass flies at the remaining four, but they guard it with the hands and their clothing. There is silence among each and every one of them. Kragoth is the first to speak up, breaking the awkward, yet valuable silence.
“Let’s keep moving…”
“There’s no way I’m going in there!” announces Parker.
“It’s possible that the death trap in there is gone now. I mean, it totaled the entire room, it’s hardly going to be able to use a trap on us now is it?” adds Connor, before noticing out of the corner of her eye, a notice, reading “Critical Mass In 111 Minutes”.
“What is that?” she says, as she points to the sign.
“Critical mass? That means that this place is going to explode in 111 minutes. Parker, what’s the time?” asks Freeman.
“10:09pm.”
“So, this facility is rigged to explode at midnight tonight. We have just less than two hours to find an exit and get out of here.”
“Well, Freeman, let’s stop wasting time and go through that new door that opened when Patterson got turned into bacon bits.”
“Ok.”
And so they continue on, as does the night, the clock against them. After miles and miles of walking through as many hallways as they could find, they finally arrived at a new destination.
Spaceport Control Area - October 26th 2002 – 11:37pm
“It looks like we may have found a way out of here! There’s a spaceport! If we can get the power to this place on, then we may be able to fly out of here. Emmerich, heal anyone that may be injured and see if you can get the power room working. Connor, secure the area. Parker, come with me - I’m going to inspect the area to the right,” states Freeman, before abruptly running off as fast as the time has flown.
“Hurry up with the power, we have twenty minutes left!” insists Connor.
“Piece of cake” ensures Emmerich, tapping various buttons that mean technological tripe to her.
“Wait, there’s a pro…” but before Emmerich can finish the sentence, a rocket begins to fly out of a dark corner towards the control room, breaking the glass and incinerating her into a number of chunks.
“Emmerich!” screams Parker.
“Who did that!?” shouts Connor, before running into the dark corner from where the rocket was fired. Just as she approaches the corner, a dark, desolate figure dives out of another corner and begins shooting into the darkness from where the rocket came.
“Kragoth! You’re still alive!”
“Yep. I got blown out the vent, but there’s a traitor among you, Connor…” and that is the last that is heard before a loud sound rings out, followed by the drop of a Handgun bullet. Kragoth drops to the floor, now dead for real, as still as the preserved, untouched night.
“Heh. You made it further than I believed you would” says a voice, their face unseen by the pitch black that smothers their entire being.
“Come out here and show your face!”
A bullet rings out, missing Connor’s leg by just a number of centimeters. She jumps back, afraid of whom it may be. The person in questions steps out of the darkness, revealing their face.
“Freeman! Why are you doing this!?” screams Parker, demanding to know why their comrade has turned heel on them.
“It’s rather simple, really. You want to know how you got here and why? You will probably all recall the last moments of your waking day being in your home. I work for the government, and they needed to collect battle data from this facility to see how people from all fields of life could deal with the death traps. This is a government facility, and basically, they needed to see if these traps actually worked in practice. Several government agents were sent to each of your homes, where they knocked you unconscious and took you to this base, which, as you can gather, is in space. Now that the information is gathered, you are to be terminated, as there is only one escape pod from this facility, and it can only hold one person. Any last words?”
There is silence.
“Ah, what to do now?”
“Die…” shouts a voice from behind Freeman, everyone turning to view a still-alive Kragoth, brandishing a pistol in the face of Freeman.
“Consider this a final favor from Kragoth…” he shouts, barely able to maintain his breath, the blood loss from Freeman’s gunshots having a diverse effect on him. However, he is able to lift his gun and fire into the temple of Freeman, sending Freeman straight to the floor, and delivering definite death. However, before anyone can assist Kragoth, he slips into unconsciousness and presumably, death.
“We have a problem. Only one of us can make it out of here” states Connor.
Spaceport Control Area - October 26th 2002 – 11:58pm
“We have two minutes. One of us has to go, the other has to stay. I’ll stay” claims Connor.
“Are you sure!?”
“Yes, now let’s just do this. First, I’ll need to lower the ramp down whilst you get into the craft” and so Connor attempts to lower the ramp down whilst Parker goes to get into the craft. However, Connor has evident strain.
“You’re going to have to lower the ramp whilst I steer the craft clear, I’m not strong enough to lower the ramp, and if the ramp isn’t lowered at the same time at which the craft is steered clear, you won’t be able to get out of here” she announces and so they switch places, something not quite right about the look on Connor’s face. Connor gets into the craft whilst Parker lowers the ramp. Suddenly, an announcement voices over the PA system of the Spaceport.
“30 seconds until critical mass. Please evacuate the spaceport via the crafts.”
“I don’t understand – where did the other craft go? Were there other people on this ship before us?” questions Parker, as he continues to lower the ramp.
“15 seconds until critical mass. Please evacuate the spaceport via the crafts.”
“Come on Connor, get out of there, its time for me to get out of here.”
“When I said you could take the craft, I lied” she states, as she pulls a Magnum out of her pocket and blasts Parker in the arm, sending him straight to the floor, a gaping hole in his arm. Connor pulls away in the craft, as Parker makes a final, futile attempt at grabbing onto the side of the craft to weight it down, but Connor drives forward, crushing Parker into the wall and then pulling out and flying out of the spaceport.
…10…
…9…
…8…
…7…
…6…
…5…
…4…
…3…
…2…
…1…
…0…
“We have achieved critical mass” is the last voice which Parker hears before the spaceport explodes, sending fragments of the entire facility into space, whilst Connor, in her craft, heads towards Earth.
The End
Thanks for reading,
Flux.
Title: After Dark
The Nightmare Begins – October 26th 2002 – 8:17pm
With a flash, as if the start of some cheap, low-budget sci-fi flick, it all began. A room. Four corners. Four doors. It made sense. In the confines of this room lay 5 bodies – still, motionless, as if any life had been squeezed out of them, left there to decompose like the lifeless figures that they are. One-by-one, they each began to emit a twitch and slowly but surely, they began to rise, like zombies in the night, mindless, just driven by nature itself. The first to rise was perhaps the most incapacitated of the assembled group, slipping on the obviously newly polished floor. However, this groggy state of mind soon began to fade and she was able to fully stand on her feet. She looked clueless, just like all the others, but also like the others, she seemed slightly accustomed to her surroundings. If it was any clue to her identity at all, her nametag read “Emmerich”, as if the slave of a fascist regime. As if newly furnished bots, they all rose in a very reminiscent mechanical motion and simultaneously peered about their surroundings, each and every person as if a carbon copy of the next. However, there was something in their eyes that just makes them sense that all is not well, and everything is not coherent. As each noticed the next, they each looked surprised, shocked, some even near to jumping out of their skin, typical of Sunday morning cartoons.
“Did I scare you?” asks a voice, everyone turning to a sixth being, sitting down in the corner of the room nearest to them. A smile spread across his face, chilling the others to the core, thus letting them know that he had an agenda.
“Who are you?” asks one of the others.
“I’m one of you. Who else would I be?” he snappily returns, absolutely sure of himself. He had that smug look about him that just bore him as a natural leader. His intentions here, however, were unknown. The others seldom dare to challenge him after that display, in fear of what he is capable of. “Ok, so you want details? Like I said, I’m just one of you, I have no idea how I got here and I want to get out. I’m Freeman. Now, I’ve introduced myself, I’d like to know who you are. In your own time, as I’d like to know who I’m dealing with before we even try getting past these traps…”
“Traps?” asks another of the six, his nametag reading “Patterson”.
“This entire facility is tripped. I woke up about an hour before you guys, and I had a look around in those four doors.”
“What’s behind them?”
“Nothing. They’re clean, but behind each of the four doors around us is a gateway to more doors, and more doors.”
“What’s so scary about that?”
“Are you going to listen, or will I have to shut you up?” and this comment quiets the man known only as “Patterson”. “Moving on…there are traps behind each of the sub-rooms. I went into one of these doors and nearly got my head cut off by some beam!” the sarcasm continuing to spew from his mouth.
The others all scream in terror and begin talking amongst themselves.
“But back to what I was saying, I want to know who you all are before we even attempt to deal with these traps.”
One of them stands. Despite her young looking-face and the vulnerability tag that comes with that, she appears accustomed to and at home with the area. It seemed that she would be the first to spill the beans.
“My name is Emmerich and I’m a nurse. I’m 21 years old and a nurse. What else is there to say? I live in a house with three kids and lead a normal life…” and from that point onward, she refrained from divulging any further information as she stood down.
The next began to rise, a man, the years have been good to him. He had that clean-shaven, all good look about him, as if nothing could get him down, not even this depressing foundation.
“My name is Parker and I’m a freedom fighter. I was in the Mars revolt against the Ultor Mining Corporation back in 2000. When I got here, my weapons were gone, but they left my body Armour here for some reason. So who’s next?”
“Wait, did you just say the Ultor Mining Corp?” interrupts Freeman.
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh my god! We have a nurse on board and the famous activist from the Red Faction incident!” he continues, laughing heartily in between, running out of breath.
Parker sits. The following person stands hesitantly and introduces himself.
“I’m a Naval Officer…Patterson, if you must know my name. Why am I here!? What did I do wrong!? I command a fleet of soldiers and have a wife and two kids. What is so sinful about that!?”
“Listen! Let’s keep the questions to a minimum for the moment. Who’s next?” asks Freeman.
“But I don’t want to keep quiet!” shouts Patterson.
“But…”
“Shut up! I want answers and I want them now!” he shouts, before pinning a helpless Freeman up against the nearest wall and clenching his fist threateningly.
“Wait!” a voice shouts, everyone turning to see a scruffy, but possibly useful man.
“There’s no use sitting here whining about it” the man continues.
“And just who do you happen to be?”
“I am Kragoth.”
“Well let me tell you something, Kragoth, I take orders from nobody! Sit down and shut up!” demands Patterson.
“But there may be a way ou…”
“Another word and I’ll kill you!”
After that rather threatening comment, Kragoth steps down and purges the final people to introduce themselves. She stands, a figure that seems shrouded in mysteriousness and intrigue – someone who could kill any day of the week before breakfast without a second thought, without it hanging on her conscience.
“Kragoth is right, there may be a key to this place, and that happens to be my specialty – weapons…” and suddenly, the woman falls into what can only be described as a phantasmagoric sleep. Images of rooms, walls, bloody, but one in particular – a map on the floor, reading “Weapons Sector B2”. Suddenly, everything blacks out.
The Waking - October 26th 2002 – 9:44pm
“She’s waking,” says a dreamy, strange voice. Eventually, however, it is deciphered. This woman lay on the floor in a state of near-unconsciousness. The woman slowly begins to wake and the crowd of peoples around her startle her fragile self. Her nametag reads “Connor”.
“How long was I out for?” she asks.
“About an hour and a half.”
“Look, let’s forget all this soppy stuff and face facts – there was a way in, so there must be a way out, right?” announces Kragoth from across the room.
“I suggest we begin searching for ways out. Let’s begin with the door in front of us” and so their crusade to escape begins. It would cause casualties, perhaps even death for some, if not all of these people, but there had to be a way out. They ventured forth to the first door, reading “North Province”.
The door slides open and they all enter, one by one, as if it were meant to be, a planned set-piece by God, a cut-scene of the devils, if you will.
North Province Hallway - October 26th 2002 – 9:47pm
“If any of you are scared to death, exit now, and don’t look for an escape with us. Although, if you don’t come with us, I can’t guarantee us returning for you. Is anyone not in?” asks Freeman.
There is no response. A smirk glides across his face as they open the next door, but don’t step into it yet.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t we going in?” asks Patterson.
“We need someone to go in first, to see if there’s a trap in there” he replies.
“Patterson, you go in.”
“Not on my own! I don’t want to die!”
“Kragoth, if you would be so kind as to go with him…”
“Sure…” adds Freeman.
Patterson hesitantly begins to walk forward into the rumored “death room”. He turns back, scared to death, and as if a force field is holding from entering said room. Kragoth gives him a push, sending him into the room and breaking the supposed force field between him and the potential evil held inside this new room.
“Move!” he shouts, as he follows after Patterson, who is now shaking after that unsettlement.
They enter into the room slowly, just inches away from the door incase the worst should happen. As they look around, they see what looks like a greenhouse-like structure (without any of the standard contents of a greenhouse) and a ladder in the middle, which leads to some sort of tube or vent. The entire area towers over both of them, and even the other four standing at the door. Kragoth moves first, a nervous Patterson behind him, with a demeanor that could break any second and turn his fragile psyche to jelly. Patterson follows Kragoth around, as they inspect the deserted area. Suddenly, a loud noise forces all six of them to cover their ears, in fear of hear loss. Even more suddenly, the door to their escape slams shut.
“What!?” shouts Kragoth, rushing over to the door in an attempt to pull it open. However, a spark catches fire, as if deliberately planned, and a light begins illuminates, reading “Defense Systems Activated.” Kragoth backs up slightly and within a split second, a red laser beam begins hurtling across the room, narrowly missing Kragoth, who pulls an unaware Patterson down with him.
“What is that?” asks Patterson, who is past the panic margin and into shock, despite no injuries sustained from the laser.
“This place must be one of the traps that this place has been rigged with.”
Patterson foolishly stands up, as another laser wave travels across the room at speeds faster than human vehicles can attain. Kragoth pulls Patterson back down.
“Stay down! That thing will cut through you like butter!” and with that, Patterson’s expression changes to blankness and he is as silent as the night, whilst their four teammates are screaming at them to get out.
Parker looks around and discovers a fire-disposal unit. He breaks it open with his elbow with ease and removes the axe. He grimaces it in both hands and slings it forth, full force, into the door, in an attempt to break it. His attempts are futile, however, and all that falls is a small chip of Plexiglas.
The next wave to fly across is in a constant movement – up and down, thus making it difficult for the two to judge whether to duck under or jump over the beam. The difficulty of jumping over a laser wave itself forces them to seek outside assistance, in grabbing for the ladder. Kragoth goes up first, and Patterson begins to freeze up, as if his nerves have disabled him. Kragoth extends his hand to a slow Patterson.
“Get up here now!”
Patterson makes no noise, but Kragoth grabs him himself and attempts to pull him up. Unfortunately, the weight is too much for Kragoth and he looks around for an end to this seemingly eternal horror. He discovers a shining panel, possibly their escape from his horror. Patterson runs to the very end of the room and as the beam passes below Kragoth, Kragoth jumps down off the ladder, his safety spot, and jumps over the beam and smashes a switch with his elbow, deactivating the laser inches before it makes contact with Patterson’s face but also sending a number of sparks into the room. Patterson collapses to the floor of exhaustion and Kragoth walks over to him, just before another crimson light activates, reading “Environment Unstable – Depressurization Process Beginning”. Kragoth’s pupils dilate a great deal as he reads this. To his shock even further, a timer begins running.
…10…
…9…
Kragoth attempts to lift Patterson to safety. He manages to get him up, but Patterson is rather slow in following Kragoth’s lead. Kragoth rushes up the ladder.
…8…
…7…
…6…
“Come on! Hurry up!”
…5…
Patterson’s feet make contact with the ladder and he makes it to the third rung before slipping, in his euphoric state.
…4…
…3…
“Come on!”
Patterson makes one final attempt, but slips on the first rung.
…2…
…1…
…0…
The screen now flashes once again, reading “Depressurization Process Complete.” Kragoth panics and looks down at a still, crying Patterson. As Kragoth realizes what is about to follow, he climbs up the last step of the ladder and scuttles off as far down the vent as fast as he can, whilst all that is heard is an explosion and Patterson’s remains sent over the room. The explosion rocks the entire area, sending glass shattering from the escape door and causing most of the vent which Kragoth ventured down to explode, presumably killing him. Glass flies at the remaining four, but they guard it with the hands and their clothing. There is silence among each and every one of them. Kragoth is the first to speak up, breaking the awkward, yet valuable silence.
“Let’s keep moving…”
“There’s no way I’m going in there!” announces Parker.
“It’s possible that the death trap in there is gone now. I mean, it totaled the entire room, it’s hardly going to be able to use a trap on us now is it?” adds Connor, before noticing out of the corner of her eye, a notice, reading “Critical Mass In 111 Minutes”.
“What is that?” she says, as she points to the sign.
“Critical mass? That means that this place is going to explode in 111 minutes. Parker, what’s the time?” asks Freeman.
“10:09pm.”
“So, this facility is rigged to explode at midnight tonight. We have just less than two hours to find an exit and get out of here.”
“Well, Freeman, let’s stop wasting time and go through that new door that opened when Patterson got turned into bacon bits.”
“Ok.”
And so they continue on, as does the night, the clock against them. After miles and miles of walking through as many hallways as they could find, they finally arrived at a new destination.
Spaceport Control Area - October 26th 2002 – 11:37pm
“It looks like we may have found a way out of here! There’s a spaceport! If we can get the power to this place on, then we may be able to fly out of here. Emmerich, heal anyone that may be injured and see if you can get the power room working. Connor, secure the area. Parker, come with me - I’m going to inspect the area to the right,” states Freeman, before abruptly running off as fast as the time has flown.
“Hurry up with the power, we have twenty minutes left!” insists Connor.
“Piece of cake” ensures Emmerich, tapping various buttons that mean technological tripe to her.
“Wait, there’s a pro…” but before Emmerich can finish the sentence, a rocket begins to fly out of a dark corner towards the control room, breaking the glass and incinerating her into a number of chunks.
“Emmerich!” screams Parker.
“Who did that!?” shouts Connor, before running into the dark corner from where the rocket was fired. Just as she approaches the corner, a dark, desolate figure dives out of another corner and begins shooting into the darkness from where the rocket came.
“Kragoth! You’re still alive!”
“Yep. I got blown out the vent, but there’s a traitor among you, Connor…” and that is the last that is heard before a loud sound rings out, followed by the drop of a Handgun bullet. Kragoth drops to the floor, now dead for real, as still as the preserved, untouched night.
“Heh. You made it further than I believed you would” says a voice, their face unseen by the pitch black that smothers their entire being.
“Come out here and show your face!”
A bullet rings out, missing Connor’s leg by just a number of centimeters. She jumps back, afraid of whom it may be. The person in questions steps out of the darkness, revealing their face.
“Freeman! Why are you doing this!?” screams Parker, demanding to know why their comrade has turned heel on them.
“It’s rather simple, really. You want to know how you got here and why? You will probably all recall the last moments of your waking day being in your home. I work for the government, and they needed to collect battle data from this facility to see how people from all fields of life could deal with the death traps. This is a government facility, and basically, they needed to see if these traps actually worked in practice. Several government agents were sent to each of your homes, where they knocked you unconscious and took you to this base, which, as you can gather, is in space. Now that the information is gathered, you are to be terminated, as there is only one escape pod from this facility, and it can only hold one person. Any last words?”
There is silence.
“Ah, what to do now?”
“Die…” shouts a voice from behind Freeman, everyone turning to view a still-alive Kragoth, brandishing a pistol in the face of Freeman.
“Consider this a final favor from Kragoth…” he shouts, barely able to maintain his breath, the blood loss from Freeman’s gunshots having a diverse effect on him. However, he is able to lift his gun and fire into the temple of Freeman, sending Freeman straight to the floor, and delivering definite death. However, before anyone can assist Kragoth, he slips into unconsciousness and presumably, death.
“We have a problem. Only one of us can make it out of here” states Connor.
Spaceport Control Area - October 26th 2002 – 11:58pm
“We have two minutes. One of us has to go, the other has to stay. I’ll stay” claims Connor.
“Are you sure!?”
“Yes, now let’s just do this. First, I’ll need to lower the ramp down whilst you get into the craft” and so Connor attempts to lower the ramp down whilst Parker goes to get into the craft. However, Connor has evident strain.
“You’re going to have to lower the ramp whilst I steer the craft clear, I’m not strong enough to lower the ramp, and if the ramp isn’t lowered at the same time at which the craft is steered clear, you won’t be able to get out of here” she announces and so they switch places, something not quite right about the look on Connor’s face. Connor gets into the craft whilst Parker lowers the ramp. Suddenly, an announcement voices over the PA system of the Spaceport.
“30 seconds until critical mass. Please evacuate the spaceport via the crafts.”
“I don’t understand – where did the other craft go? Were there other people on this ship before us?” questions Parker, as he continues to lower the ramp.
“15 seconds until critical mass. Please evacuate the spaceport via the crafts.”
“Come on Connor, get out of there, its time for me to get out of here.”
“When I said you could take the craft, I lied” she states, as she pulls a Magnum out of her pocket and blasts Parker in the arm, sending him straight to the floor, a gaping hole in his arm. Connor pulls away in the craft, as Parker makes a final, futile attempt at grabbing onto the side of the craft to weight it down, but Connor drives forward, crushing Parker into the wall and then pulling out and flying out of the spaceport.
…10…
…9…
…8…
…7…
…6…
…5…
…4…
…3…
…2…
…1…
…0…
“We have achieved critical mass” is the last voice which Parker hears before the spaceport explodes, sending fragments of the entire facility into space, whilst Connor, in her craft, heads towards Earth.
The End
Thanks for reading,
Flux.
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Hercules! wrote:
> I read it.
And...what did you think? :)
And Ben, stop quoting my dad. Oh, on a funny note, Sarah Hauge (or however you spell the name) thought that I put Emma Freeman from your tutorial into my story just because of the "Freeman" name, when I was actually referring to Gordon Freeman, the main character in Half Life (which Dave Mitchell says you are scared to death of :P).
> I read it.
And...what did you think? :)
And Ben, stop quoting my dad. Oh, on a funny note, Sarah Hauge (or however you spell the name) thought that I put Emma Freeman from your tutorial into my story just because of the "Freeman" name, when I was actually referring to Gordon Freeman, the main character in Half Life (which Dave Mitchell says you are scared to death of :P).
I read it.
I never expected this much support LoL :)
Drunk Cow wrote:
> Expletive Deleted wrote:
> I'm sure this is a good story, but it's toooooo long for my short
> attenti...LOOK! A Squirrel!
>
> *Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
>
> Hey you got that idea from me spoof you.:0
SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!
you stole my ideas but you don't see me complaining.
> Expletive Deleted wrote:
> I'm sure this is a good story, but it's toooooo long for my short
> attenti...LOOK! A Squirrel!
>
> *Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
>
> Hey you got that idea from me spoof you.:0
SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!
you stole my ideas but you don't see me complaining.
Expletive Deleted wrote:
> I'm sure this is a good story, but it's toooooo long for my short
> attenti...LOOK! A Squirrel!
>
> *Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
Hey you got that idea from me spoof you.:0
> I'm sure this is a good story, but it's toooooo long for my short
> attenti...LOOK! A Squirrel!
>
> *Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
Hey you got that idea from me spoof you.:0
I'm sure this is a good story, but it's toooooo long for my short attenti...LOOK! A Squirrel!
*Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
*Runs around, chasing the squirrel*
This is your first one! That's pretty good dude. I see that people like me and Mojo man have got people in the spoof spirit.:D
Nice shooty shooty bang bang violence
Not sure about the present tenseness
Very good descriptively in places
Not sure about the present tenseness
Very good descriptively in places
Great stuff Flux.
Keep up the good work. :)
Keep up the good work. :)
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