“Go left here,” Samuel said.
We turned. This entire side of the Bunker had been completely taken over by the xenovirus. The floor was carpeted in pink and purple fungus and strange stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping slimy liquid. We did our best to avoid them.
We turned into a long hallway, and my breath caught. We were in a gigantic chamber, standing on a metal bridge spanning darkness. Below, I could see shapes of large machines, now dark and defunct. These had been the nuclear reactors that had once powered the entire Bunker. They were offline, now – the dorms must have been running on a backup source of power. Above, two large streams of sunlight spilled in from holes in the high ceiling, casting spotlights on the floor below.
Across the bridge, I could see three sets of metal doors.
“The elevators are ahead,” Samuel said.
We started across the bridge, our footfalls echoing hard off the metal.
We were a third of the way across when a massive shape sailed through the air from one of the machines. It pummeled into the bridge right in front of us.
It was a giant humanoid, probably three times the height of a person. Sickly, pink flesh covered its entire body without a trace of hair. Long claws extended from its massive hands. Its eyes were narrow slits, white and glowing. Muscles bulged under sinewy skin, ready to inflict destruction. Bloody gashes, dripping purple goo, lashed up and down its body. Its reek made me feel like a tsunami of raw sewage was washing over me.
A low rumble sounded from its throat.
“Kari,” Samuel said.
Kari charged. Makara lifted her gun and fired, six times, but only hitting the monster’s muscular chest. All of them entered, but did nothing to slow her. Samuel also gave a few shots, but only managed to hit Kari’s shoulder.
I aimed my gun for the head.
Bam. Bam.
I missed twice. She was near, and took a swipe for my gun. It clattered to the grated metal floor and slid away, almost falling off the edge.
Makara worked to reload, but the beast had turned on her. Makara pulled out her knife and took a swing, her face grim. She made two deep slashes on Kari’s abdomen. The creature screamed, and slammed against Makara. Makara banged against the handrail, wincing in pain.
I got on the floor to get my gun. But somehow, Kari saw me. As she turned to go after me, Makara stabbed her in the leg.
Kari howled, the thick muscles under her thin skin flexing. Purple slime surged from her wounds. She swung her right arm in a wide arc, pummeling Makara on the shoulder. Makara dropped her gun, the force of the blow knocking her hard against the railing – so hard, that she was being pushed over the edge of it.
This time, she was going to fall.
“No!”
I ran forward, but Samuel got there first. He grabbed Makara’s hands, pulling her back. Kari roared, standing high on her legs. She raised her right arm, readying a swipe to finish them both.
I charged, going for Kari’s giant legs. My shoulder met the mass of flesh and muscle. On contact, Kari’s knees buckled and her knees slammed onto the bridge.
From both sides of the chasm, I could hear a foreboding creak.
“The bridge is going to fall!” I said.
Makara and I grabbed Samuel, running for the elevators.
We ran as fast as we could, Samuel loping along. Then, he started running, too, outpacing the both of us.
Then, the bridge began to fall. Samuel and Makara reached the landing in front of the elevators, but I felt the bridge falling from under me. Kari was just steps behind. Then, I jumped, sailing through the air. Makara reached out for me. Samuel grabbed Makara from the back. When I landed in Makara’s arms, she held on tight. We were both anchored by Samuel lying on the ground, pushing his legs against one of the bridge posts.
Behind, I could hear Kari let out a horrible shriek that echoed throughout the chamber. I turned to see her flailing on the bridge, getting twisted in it. Then, there was a massive crash as the bridge hit the bottom floor.
We lay there for a while, catching our breaths. I couldn’t believe we were still alive.
Samuel stood, and walked toward the edge of the platform.
“She is at peace, now,” he said.
Samuel walked past us, to the elevator doors. With his powerful arms and shoulders, he forced them open. He went inside, and reached for the ceiling, opening the escape hatch.
After all we had been through, especially after surviving Kari, climbing the elevator shaft was easy. We took frequent breaks. I don’t know how high it was, but we were climbing the ladder for at least thirty minutes.
By the time we reached the top, I was sore. Samuel, from the top, was able to use his strength to push the doors open.
I was the last one up, and when I walked through the doors, I was met with a foyer lined with dust. The room was circular in shape, and a long, wide corridor sloping upward led out.
Makara shined her flashlight ahead.
“This is the Nest,” Samuel said. “The motor pool will be by the front entrance.”
The place, besides the dust, was surprisingly clean. Samuel was right; no one had been here in a long, long time. However, there was a thin trail running through the dust that led to a heavy side door. Some people had come through here.
“That’s the way in,” Samuel said. “Just a few minutes more, and we’ll be out of here.”
We were now in the front entry hall. I imagined what it must have been like, all those thirty years ago, when the panicked refugees had filed in; to go down those elevators, and never come back up.
We now stood in front of the door. There was a keycard slot next to it, but when Samuel tried the door, it opened right up.
We stepped into the motor pool. It was so dark that it was all Makara’s flashlight could do to illumine the place. The place smelled of oil and machinery. It reminded me of our own motor pool at Bunker 108.
Then, we saw them. There were three Recons, all lined up and facing outward toward large, pull-up garage doors. They each had four wheels with thick, serrated all-terrain tires, with plenty of suspension to hold up the chassis. Each one was a light brown desert camo, and the cabs were thin and aerodynamic, hanging low to the ground. These things were built for speed. There looked to be enough room for four people in each. In the back was a large turret, upon which was mounted a machine gun. Its height meant that it probably had 360 degree rotation, and it would have no problem shooting over the cab. In the back, below the machine gun, was a sizeable space for cargo. The hydrogen fuel tank would be in there, right behind the cab.
“Wicked,” I said.
“Let’s check them out,” Samuel said.
We inspected all three. Each had a cargo bay in the back, filled with spare parts, a couple of spare tires, tools, and even some rations and water. We gathered all we could into the center Recon. I went to the passenger door, finding it locked.
“Needs a key,” I said.
“They’re over here, on the wall,” Samuel said, taking one down. “This one should do it.”
I held out my hands. Instead of tossing it to me, he handed it off to Makara.
“Hey,” I said.
“You don’t know how to drive,” Makara said.
“And you do?”
“It’s been a while…but yeah. The Lost Angels had a Recon, so I know how to pilot it.”
“I want to learn.”
“Maybe later.” Makara put an index finger to her chin. “She needs a name.”
Everyone stopped, and thought a moment.
“We’ll think of something later,” Samuel said. “A good name is important. We have to get it right.”
Makara nodded. “You’re right. Have we got everything?”
“I think so,” Samuel said. “Fire her up. Alex, help me with the garage door.”