The numbers on Kael's HUD burned in his vision, those things- those Shamblers were standing between him and the blast door that redirected access to the Auxiliary Fusion Core. They had been people but now were nothing but hungry and mindless entities in this vast dark chamber of Sub-Level Engineering.
Kael (whispering): "Asha... I just can't run with this leg, there's no way around them" With his Night Vision he can clearly see them, heavily shredded clothes hung from them as they twitched those unnaturally long arms.
Asha: "Direct confrontation against these numbers in your current state is projected at a 98.9% failure. However, doung nothing guarantees 100% failure for the Cohorts. We must create an opportunity. My scans indicate the Shamblers are highly responsive to sound and energy signatures. The sparking electricity conduit to your left is damaged– causing a significant electrical arc and it might just distract a portion of them for a moment."
Kael (glanced at the conduit. It was emitting blue sparks of electricity.): "Distract them? How?"
Asha: "If you hit the exposed terminal hard enough, you will get a discharge great enough to create a distraction. It will also be dangerous to you as well. You will have a narrow window to reach the blast door controls while they are disoriented. It is a high-risk maneuver."
[Objective Updated: Create Diversion. Reach Fusion Core Access Panel.]
[WARNING: Proximity to uncontrolled electrical arc carries significant risk of further injury or fatality.]
Everything is high risk in this cursed Vault. He thought.
Kael looked at the timer: [00:04:50]. He thought of the 14 sleeping girls, and remembered his parents' hazy faces from his fragmented memories – their hope, their sacrifice that Asha said.
The only thing that mattered to him now was getting to that door.
Kael: "Asha. Im ready, tell me when to move." he added after a deep breath and settled into position next to the sparking conduit, his eyes are fixed on the Blast Door.
Asha: "Optimal window for diversionary strike in three… two… one… NOW, Kael!"
Kael: "Oraaahhhhhh!!!""
With all of the strength he had left, Kael swung the metal pipe into the sparking terminal, resulting in a deafening explosion of light and sound. A blue-white arc of electricity erupted as the entire chamber was illuminated in blinding flash. Kael felt a shooting pain to his arm as the shockwave threw him back.
[Massive Electrical Discharge Detected! Status: Severe Burns - Right Arm. Dexterity Attribute -0.5 (Nerve Damage). System Energy Drain: -15% (EMP Shielding Activated - Partially Resisted)]
[Strength Attribute +0.02 (Desperate Exertion)]
The effect on the Shamblers was instant. Several shrieked, a sound like tearing metal, shielding their vacant eyes. Those closest to the blast fell and momentarily stunned. The three patrolling Shamblers on the walkways stumbled.
Asha: "Diversion successful! Partial impairment of three hostiles. Disorientation effect on remaining seven estimated at 4-6 seconds! Go, Kael! Blast door controls – now!"
Ignoring new agony below his arm and above his leg, Kael nonetheless lunged forward, One-legged, propelled by nothing but immense desperation. Asha had highlighted his path on his HUD towards the blast door control panel. He ran, stumbling forward, his pipe dragging him from behind.
The Shamblers were already recovering, and it now in rage. One massive brute charged, with its horrible twisted spine and his HUD now tagged it Alpha Shamblers- it was first to fix its horrifying gaze on him.
Kael (gasping as he reached the panel): "Asha! The Door! How do I open it?!"
Asha: "Bio-scanner, Kael! To your right! It requires your palm print!"
The timer: [00:03:30]
Kael slammed his uninjured arm into the scanner just as the Alpha Shambler reached him. Its feoul breath washed over his face.
Claws like rusted blades swiped at him. He ducked, feeling them tear through the back of his cryo-suit.
[Damage Taken: Severe Lacerations - Back. Critical Alert: Spinal Proximity!]
Kael: "Guhk…!" blood coming from his mouth, he struggles to stay conscious.
The blast door hissed, it begins to slide open, but it was agonizingly slow.
The Alpha Shambler lunged again. with no room to maneuver, he brought his pipe up in a two-handed block (ignoring the pain in his right arm). The impact was like being hit by a battering ram as his pipe bent. Kael felt his ribs crack.
[Fractured Ribs Detected! HP: 12/110 (Critical - Nearing System Shutdown Threshold!)]
[Combat Art Activated: Desperate Strike! Critical Hit Chance: 78%]
He roared, and thrust the bent end of the pipe straight into the Alpha Shambler's gaping mouth, that lunged to bite him. There was a sickening, wet crunch. The creature froze, its eye wide open then it gurgled and collapsed, a pool of blackish blood erupting from its throat.
[Alpha Shambler Neutralized. Vitality Critical.]
Two more Shamblers were closing on him instantly, Kael fought like a cornered animal. His blood and Shamblers were everywhere. He swung the bent pipe, each impact sent shockwave to his broken body. His HUD was screaming of red alerts.
[Multiple Lacerations Sustained!]
[Blood Loss: Catastrophic!]
[Stamina: 2/90]
Asha (her voice, for the first time akin to an emotion): "Kael! You must get through the door Your life signs are plummeting!"
The timer: [00:02:15]
The blast door was only halfway open. He could see the control room of the Auxiliary Fusion Core beyond it – a small, relatively intact space.
With a final effort, Kael kicked sending one Shambler sprawling, then threw himself through the gap. He squeezed through, the metal edges tearing his already shredded suit.
He slapped his hand on the emergency door closure panel that Asha highlighted; he landed inside the control room. The blast door shut, falling to the sounds of the enraged Shamblers pounding on the other side in a terrifying rhythm.
[HP: 5/110. BLEEDING OUT. Phoenix Protocol: Final Life Preservation Measures Failing...]
Kael (coughing blood): "Asha… the core… tell me where…"
Asha: "Main ignition console… directly ahead. It requires simultaneous activation of three primary breakers, then the central coolant lever." Her voice was faint. "You… you can do this, Kael. For them."
The sleeping girls flashed in his mind as he crawled while dragging his leg and leaving a trail of blood until he reached the console. His vision had almost been taken from him, the world turning gray. His hands were guided by Asha's fading instructions. He was fighting to stay conscious with sheer will. He then found the breaker and slammed them down.
One. Two. Three.
[PRIMARY BREAKERS ENGAGED. CORE WARMING.]
He reached for the coolant lever. It was heavy enough that his arms trembled. With the last ounce of his consciousness, he pulled.
[COOLANT SYSTEMS ONLINE. FUSION CORE IGNITION SEQUENCE INITIATED. STABILIZING...]
[POWER OUTPUT RISING... 10%... 30%... 70%... 100%]
[AUXILIARY FUSION CORE: ONLINE. VAULT POWER GRID STABILIZING.]
[STASIS PODS: POWER RESTORED. ALL 14 UNITS STABLE.]
A wave of immense relief, washed through Kael.
Kael: "...I did...it Asha, They... w-were..safe now" The faint bloody smile beaming on his lips.
Then the world went pitch black.
[SUBJECT KAEL: VITAL SIGNS CEASED.]
[PHOENIX PROTOCOL: EMERGENCY RESURRECTION SUB-ROUTINE ALPHA ACTIVATED. WARNING: EXTREME SYSTEM ENERGY DRAIN. REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EXTERNAL ENERGY SOURCE OR SACRIFICE OF LATENT GENETIC ARCHIVE PROTOCOLS. SUCCESS PROBABILITY... UNCERTAIN.]
_________________
Chapter 3: End
Author note: Introducing the first Heroine now on Chapter 4.
Stay tuned and hit that power stone button.
For more stable chapter updates.