The blast doors hiss as the air is sucked out from between their interlocking pistons. The surrounding darkness engulfs the team, which subsides only when an emergency beacon's light washes over them. Quickly in response, each team member switches on their flashlights, illuminating a cone in front of them. Their boots clunk against the metal flooring as they cautiously step further into the darkness. Strange sounds of various animals and the experimented reverberate through the halls as if it were their way of welcoming them to this lab. They approach the fire exit stairs, passing several glass observation windows as Osiris pauses to take in this new side of his family.

  Inside there are large quantities of vials, ranging in colors but a majority of them are dark green. Behind the vials and centrifuges are holographic boards, marked with equations and notes detailing the militaristic capabilities of this new compound. As Osiris examines the scene before him, one of the team members slinks by his side, joining his examination.

  "Hell of a thing. Some time ago we used to just tear at each others necks. But now? We're finding new ways to kill and terrorize without even facing one another."

  His voice echoes feelings of pessimism as he readies his gun again to resume his patrol, but Osiris calls to him while still facing the glass. "What's your name?"

  The soldier lowers his weapon and guard as he turns toward him. "Lance Reeds". Although Osiris can't see the animal beneath the mask, an upward nod acknowledges a form of respect between the two, as they both stride by each others side. While passing several more observation windows, the team link back up with each other as all five members stand beside each other, pointing their weapons toward the stairwell door while one of the members sends a message through his hologram to the surface.

  "First floor secured. All other entrances to the first floor have been sealed or trapped. Proceed with command point installation." A few minutes of silence follow, before the distant sound of pistons whirring and disengaging fill the hallways. A loud scraping of metals replaces it as several boots and squads enter the facility. In a few moments, a tent is erected in a large space at the center of the first floor. Soldiers guard each entrance as a metallic barricade is placed down followed by whirring and clinking when the barrier rises and pushes by itself, leaving a gap in between the plates which fills with a foam before hardening into thick wall. Weapons are then placed onto it as guards occupy them shortly after.

  The leader of the group strides into the tent, placing holographic boards with the facilities structure plans onto the central table. It glows a blue hue as it activates and expands those plans into an interactable form. Osiris and his team flow into the tent after new guards replace their post at the stairwell, awaiting further orders.

  The leader stands with his hands behind his back with a relaxed stature. "Well done, CP and first floor is secured and established. Our other teams are on their way to the lower floors to do the same and secure the other experiments. Your next objective is to proceed to the floor where Galvion and Valion were last seen. If the Experiment Thirteen is still there, you are to subdue it if possible, otherwise eliminate it with extreme prejudice. Failing that, we will proceed with payload detonation" The team members including Osiris snap to attention in unison as they all respond. "Yes sir!" before marching out of the tent in a neat line. Osiris's brow hardens in anticipation as he follows, his mind wanders into conversations of its own.

  'what the hell have you two gotten into this time dammit. All this secrecy, what else have you been hiding dad... did mother know about all this?'

  His minds silence is disturbed by the readying of the weapons around him as the stairwell door carefully creaks open and the first team member proceeds cautiously. One by one, each member files through the door, watching each others back as they descend down the floors.

  Sounds of distant grunting and struggle echo off the long shaft of the stairs causing the head of the group to pause momentarily before resuming. After several minutes, they finally reach the floor instructed by their holographic displays. sweat builds on each brow as they push the door open, allowing a stronger smell of flesh to infect the clean air in the stairwell.

  "Team one to command, target floor has been reached, proceeding with patrol." Lancer reports through his radio as he steps out into the unknown. The alarm blares, cutting through the silence. Osiris analyzes the scene before him. Several guards have been sliced through, their intestines spill out of the large gaps in their abdomen and blood sprays decorate the walls. He carefully examines each face as he walks by if the corpse has one to try and recognize anyone but all he sees are strangers.

  The trail of blood and bodies lead them to a room with a single restraining chair in it. Claw marks have opened the thick steel of the room and more bodies akin to the previous ones are strewn about the room. A large roar followed by a more natural yelling pulls their attention to the end of the hallway, but just as suddenly, they start into a steady jog toward it. The breathes of exertion reverberate off the walls in between the distant sounds of a fight. Drawing closer, the silhouettes of two figures dance amongst the darkness.

  Osiris's eyes widen in dreaded anticipation. Only a few seconds pass, the red beacon lights are now illuminating the fighting shadows as the wash over them, illuminating the face of Galvion and the horrific glassy abyss of experiment thirteen.

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  "AAAAAGH!" Galvion screams in pain as a large metallic claw swipes at his abdomen, causing a clean cut and blood to spray outward. Osiris instincts scream at him to run, his limbs slightly shaking with fear at the horrific display in front of him.

  The creature hunches over, looming on top of those in the hallway as its large claws slowly reach down to pluck Galvion off of the floor. The soldiers aim their weapons but a clear line is obstructed by Galvion's body, now grasping at the arm of the experiment.

  Its glassy teeth excrete a cackle at the attempt before responding in a crackled raspy tone. "Amusing, but it's time to end this hunt. His desires are my will." as the last syllable leaves its cracked mouth, a set of metallic claws pierce through his front out to his back.

  Galvion's air escapes his lungs as blood splatters across the visor of the experiments head, his arms fall limp to his side like weighted ropes before he's dropped against the metallic floor with a thud. "DAAAAAAAD! NOOOOOO!"

  Rage replaces fear as he quickly sprints toward the creature, before taking a small leap toward it, his arm raised and cocked behind him briefly as it flies forward in a devastating punch. The glove glides past his ear as gears crank, fluid pumps, and pistons swish in action, causing a small shockwave against the body of the experiment strong enough to shatter the glass observation windows around them in the hallway.

  CRACK, FWOOSH.

  In an instant the chest of the experiment is concaved, and a large opening on its back explodes outward, causing several entrails to fly outward as its sent down the hallway before crashing into the floor and rolling several meters more. The soldiers seize the opportunity to advance to Galvion's side as they all open fire immediately on the creatures body.

  "Osiris! on me now!"

  Lance yells over his shoulder as he examines Galvion's condition, before responsively pulling out a small medical kit, prodding bandages onto his smaller wounds, and applying a blue gel onto his larger ones. Osiris approaches him urgently before kneeling at his side.

  "Is he going to be okay?" Lance doesn't respond, continuing to dress his wounds in a hyper focused state before simply issuing a new order. "Carry him to the stairwell, and get him to the CP now!" he twist towards the rest of the squad with his gun now raised before taking one hand to operate the radio on his headset.

  "Galvion has been found and is in critical condition, Prepare medical personnel for his arrival. He's sustained several lacerations around his body and three deep forced sharp injuries to the chest. We are in progress of capturing Experiment Thirteen."

  The radio crackles off as he joins the squad, firing several immobilizing round into the creature. Experiment Thirteen quickly rises on all fours, dodging several rounds but taking many more. The lasers send electrifying waves into its muscles on contact, causing them to seize slightly in response.

  The cave in its chest slowly pushes itself outward as its insides quickly pull themselves back through the opening it suffered before instinctively closing up. The experiment reacts quickly, lowering itself on all fours and thrusting toward the squad with its powerful legs.

  The metal under its claws gouge and deform from the force as it soars down the hallway. "Focus fire, focus fire!" Lance's voice screams in between shots but is drowned out from the continuous echoing gunfire.

  SLASH!

  Flesh parts ways like a knife through paper as scarlet sprays into the air. The experiments hand glistens with the blood of the first soldier it reaches. "My goddamn arm!" Electronics inside the firearm sizzle and spark as its cut in two. The remaining squad members continue firing at the silhouette of experiment thirteen.

  Its black fur disappearing into the shadows, leaving only the patches of victims blood to identify it in the darkness. The lasers disperse against the metallic panels behind it as it weaves around the squad, slicing and clawing through them with ease and efficiency. The neck of another soldier spills a pool of blood onto the floor as its sliced open with another swipe.

  "fuck this thing! it's a monst-"

  The unheard last words of a soldier are cut off along with his head as the glassy jaws saw through his neck tissue. As the last member of the team on that floor, Lancer uses the brief distraction of his squamates corpse to communicate on his radio.

  "Command! Squad one is down! This thing is way too lethal, we can't capture it! Detonate the payload!"

  The creature pauses, its ears flicker toward the transmission being sent as it stands completely still amongst its victims. It's head slowly turns toward Lancer before its voice booms around them. "Awwww, i was having so much fun..."

  Its head lowers and the two red beady circles on the visor focus solely on Lancer. In a flash it leaps toward him as he unloads a torrent of lasers. The experiment weaves between them like an expert dancer before its lowered arm slashes across his whole body. The force slashes the wall and observation window behind him, tearing a gash from his leg up to his head.

  His intestines spill outward of the gash, collecting onto the floor below him as he presses his back onto whatever is left of the wall. One last wheeze escapes his helmet before his breathing stops completely. His limbs fall limp around him, like a puppet with its strings cut, while the experiment slowly meanders toward the stairwell. It's glassy grin spreads wide as a tongue comprised of wires lap at the scarlet dripping from it's claws.

  "Let's see who else is on the menu." it's voice echo upward as the cackling of his laugh follows before disappearing in a flurry of motion up the stairs.

  If you have the time, please leave a comment telling me if you like the way it is, or if you prefer it shorter/longer! id love to try and accommodate to as many readers as i can! And leave your thoughts as well as to the story or my writing in general! I'd love to hear your opinions! It will all help me not only to grow but more importantly to engage with my readers!!! :D

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