Chapter - 5

Alex and Pauline walked through the halls of Alpha Labs, demon and zombies passing around them. The possessed administrator levels the BFG 9000 on an escape vehicle against the wall and fires, the bio force blast destroys the pod as stray plasma crawls along the frame. Pauline enters the nearby Cybernetics

Lab as Alex approaches another escape pod with his weapon charging.

Demon were stalking the lab, former humans surround a newly formed gore nest. She walks past the bowing zombies to a terminal, finds the project for control module implants and makes some changes before sending the schematic to the fabricator. The device prints the circuits and stamps a protective shell onto each before ejecting them into a tray. She picks up the implants and loads them into a spiked surgical probe and plunges it repeatedly into the tentacles of the gore nest before straying back into the main corridor.

Aboard the CSV Navigator, Scott Wright and Rupert Nexson enter the spacious atrium after finishing the call. Several store fronts managed by holographic staff lined the curved walls, offering fine cuisine and entertainment. The center of the area held a bustling seating area, robots carrying trays of food roll between tables. Casual chatter accompanied by light violin music filled the air as the men strode at a brisk pace.

"Those treacherous cockroaches! Their insanity is going to get us killed" Nexson growls.

"I'm sorry, Rupert. They have a tight case" comments Wright with a sunken expression.

They enter the seating area, joining Victor and Susan at a booth set around a circular table.

"What's happening? Did you reach them?" Susan asks as they sank into the chestnut coloured cushions.

"Yes, we are protected for now. However, the Division has issued us an assignment, Scott explains with chords of distress in his voice, they want us to head to Phobos and secure specimens of aliens for scientific study" he quietly explains.

"Is that even possible?" Susan asks.

"I'm sure your estimation is as good as mine" Scott replies.

"It's suicide" exclaims Victor.

"If we refuse to cooperate, then they'll allow us to be held responsible for Deimos. It's the only way for the Paranormal Division to save themselves from the wrath of their corporate masters" Rupert explains.

Kronos runs his palm along his face.

"When do we leave?" Susan asks.

"Immediately, Nexson states, we've been authorized to requisition a ship from the Navigator's hangar. We will rendezvous with another vessel where we will get more information" he explains.

"We need to get our affairs settled and leave at once" Wright adds.

Kronos and Carmichael shared the same look of concern.

"This is going to be extremely dangerous as you've no doubt gathered, says Nexson, but we're going in with the most powerful weapons available. The aliens won't stand a chance"

Location: Phobos, Alpha Labs Research Complex

Martinez and his squad were in the Computer Lab, getting close to Administration. Text upon the glowing monitors behind them are replaced with demonic characters as they approach a security office, a Marine steps inside as the squad scans for demon. They stare at the security terminal in confusion, alien characters filled the menus.

"Sir, come take a look at this" they call to Martinez, he steps into the office.

"What is it?" he asks.

"I can't read the computer. I've never seen this language before" they report.

"Yeah, that's strange" he says.

Martinez taps through the menu then enters his authorization, the security door outside the office slowly opens.

"Well, I can still remember how to find the commands. We probably won't need more than that to complete the mission" Martinez comments.

The beams of their flashlights reveals a dark hallway lined with cubicles. Continuing their way to Administration, a shadowy form emerged from an office and quickly disappeared into an intersecting passage.

"Hey, you! Stop!" Martinez shouts, but an ominous silence was the only reply.

"I'm not seeing things, am I?" Martinez asks.

"Negative, I saw it, too sir" a Marine replies.

They pursue the figure and stop at the passage, the beams of their flashlights stretch into an empty passage. Darkened figures emerge from a corner and stalk closer, slowly turning their weapons toward the squad, a bullet zips past Martinez.

"Hold your fire" he commands as a round impacts a Marine's armour, they return fire.

The former human's skull is roasted into ash and drops to the floor, the possessed Marines around them gave no reaction.

"Sir, they're not all right" a marine observes in disbelief.

"We're friendly, hold your fire!" Martinez shouts.

The former humans stalk closer.

"This is a rescue operation" Martinez shouts, demonic groans bellows from the group.

"Mortals" came a dry, tortured voice.

Alarm grips Martinez as the beam of a flashlight reveals a former human's grotesque facade, their face was a menacing satire.

"Alright forget this, these freaks are toast. Open fire" he coldly orders.

Discharging plasma illuminates the corridor, casting shadows from the blood splattered walls and corpse strewn floor as smouldering craters burst upon their armour.

Martinez reaches for his ultra-frequency transmitter and finds the screen black and unresponsive, he stared dumbstruck at the broken device. This was never supposed to be a possibility, not with present-day technology.

Another demonically possessed security force storms into the area as wisps of Hell energy twirls through the air, a Marine screams when an invisible force drags them into the shadows.

"Die!" a former human shrieks, opening fire as demon appear from portals.

"Fire" Martinez commands.

The squad roasts their armour and burn creatures into smoking chunks, squealing Pinky appear from portals and charge toward them.

Powerful poltergeist activity applies stress to the structure causing the alloy walls to groan as demon and former humans drew closer, a perimeter of smoking chunks and ash had formed around them. They reload as sharp fangs drew closer, a grenade sends severed limbs sailing. Pinky charge into sweeping plasma, a former human twists the top of a grenade and arcs it toward them. The last thing Martinez would remember is a blast knocking him to the hard floor.