Apologize for very, very late update. This is the final chapter in the series (Evolve, Experiment, Eradicate) and I hope you enjoy it (:
Third
It was massive. Whatever it was. Was it moving?
"Jesus, man, what is that?" a nearby soldier whispered. No one answered. All they could do was stare at the enormous thing taking up half of the Central Heating room.
Having a hunch of what it was, Stark promptly shot it. The sudden "blam" of the rifle disturbed the sullen peace that had settled about the room, and some soldiers jumped. The bullets bounced off the thing, no visible damage done.
"What the hell, man," the same soldier said. "Shooting it doesn't work? What is this thing?"
"The mastermind behind the alien invasion," answered Stark. The soldier turned to look at his captain.
"You mean like an...overmind?"
"Yes," said Stark. "Let's put it that way." The newly dubbed "overmind" let out a low, grumbling sound. All the soldiers immediately help their rifles up, fully knowing that it would do nothing.
Somewhere outside the room, a load roar echoed the sound.
"I'm pretty sure that was a signal between whatever was outside, and this," said Stark. His senses went on alert and his pulse increased.
"Oh God," said another soldier. "I need to get out of here! We're gonna die!"
"Ease up, soldier!" a lieutenant ordered. The panicking soldier paid no attention. He dropped his rifle and grabbed Stark by the collar.
"Get us out of here!" he screamed in Stark's ear. The captain paid no attention. The soldier yelled louder, "I don't wanna die! Get me out of here! NOW!"
"Stand down!" the lieutenant ordered. "Remember, you're talking to a superior officer! Now stand down!" The crazed soldier just yelled about his life even louder.
"I need to live," he breathed, suddenly quiet, and bolted out the room through the sliding double doors. The rest of the team yelled for him to come back, but he did not heed their words. The room was quiet, save for the faint, echoing footsteps of the fleeing man.
Moments later, another roar sounded, this one louder. It was mixed with a blood curling human cry. Stark winced as he imagined the events outside. A thump sounded on the door, and instantly all soldiers pointed their guns in that direction. The doors slid open, and a human head rolled into the room.
"Fuck this shit, I say we charge out there and shoot whatever's in our way," said a soldier, his eyes staring at the decapitated head.
"And end up like him?" said Stark. The soldier eyed him for a moment then went back to staring. "Radio communications is down. Apparently this 'overmind' is interfering with the waves. Our only hope now is that a squad comes to rescue us...soon."
"What the thing outside decides to come for us first?" asked the lieutenant.
"In that case," answered Stark, "I'll see you heaven."
*
"That team sure is taking a long time," stated an impatient Number Four. "What if something happened to them?"
"Like what," Number Five taunted, "an alien ate them?"
"You know very well that's a possibility," Number Four shot back. "We need to send in another team to help them."
Number Three arose from a seated position on an elegant chair. "And what if that team happens to meet the same fate as the first? Shall we keep sending in valuable soldiers to meet their doom?" Number Four blanched and visibly shrunk.
"There's only one person left in all of Brahnchius who is capable of single-handedly doing what the first team didn't," continued Number Three. "Isn't that right...Number Two?"
All eyes looked to the silent, sitting figure in the only dark corner in the brightly lit golden chamber. Completely still and unmoving, and having a bamboo hat shadowing his face, the only sign that he was human was the heavy, rasping breathing being emitted. Number Two gave no reply to Number Three. The woman laughed and, turning her back to her superior, proceeded to leave the room. Number Four and Number Five looked away from Number Two to watch her leave.
"I trust you'll take care of things, my dear fellow," said Number Three with a wave of the hand. When Number Four and Number Five looked back to the silent figure, they realized that he had disappeared.
"Don't die, Number Two," said Number Three, still walking. "You're the only hope Brahnchius has left. If you fail, our world is left to shit."
*
No sign of rescue had come. The special squad were still stuck inside the large heating room with the alien mastermind.
"How long has it been, man?" a soldier asked. Someone quickly confirmed that three hours had passed since they entered the research facility. The soldier swore under his breath and sat against a wall, facing the closed sliding doors. Nothing had come for them, yet Stark felt in his gut that his time was about to come. He glanced at his ammo counter: a hundred and forty-two rounds left. Not enough to leave this place alive. Of all the enlisted soldiers, why me? He thought to himself.
A roar, similar to the one that killed the insane officer, erupted outside the doors. All the remaining special team soldiers instantly pointed their rifles at the door.
A few minutes passed, and nothing else sounded. The 'overmind', however, did emit another low grumble. This time, there was no responding roar.
The doors open. Into the distance, between the leaves of various ferns and exotic plants, the soldiers could see traces of a brown liquid, which they presumed to be blood. The blood of what? More importantly, who drew the blood? Stark crept forward quietly, and got as far as two steps when--
--Number Two seemed to materialize out of thin air in front of him. Stark gave a startled shout and fell backwards.
"Threat neutralized. Get out," was the only thing Number Two said...or rather, muttered. Stark's eyes shifted to his hands, and saw the blades of two katana, a weapon used by the Japanese back on Earth.
"Uh...thanks," said Stark, and added, "we're going home, men." The soldiers cheered and shot a few rounds into the air. Number Two had disappeared, and Stark put out the thought of him like a water on fire. The surviving special team walked happily out of Central Heating, but stopped when they heard a sound behind them. Looking back, they saw Number Two, katana drawn, facing the overmind.
"Don't mind him, boys," said Stark. "He's just finishing our job. Let's get out of here." The soldiers shrugged and followed their commanding officer through a tangle of plants, joyful thoughts in their heads. Behind them, the sliding doors closed, and no more was heard.
*
Six months later.
"Good morning, ladies and gentleman. This is Oscar Wildes of the National News Network speaking, and I have terrible news. Cover the ears of your children and elderly, for what I am about to say is not for the faint of heart.
All is lost. The alien scourge has descended upon us like a plague of grasshoppers. The People's Chamber has fallen, and with it, all the government officials. The two capitals of Lagoon and Stoneheart have fallen to armies of marauders and dragoons alike, and they seem to have brought reinforcements. A new type of alien have just been discovered, and a dying soldier has dubbed them 'tyrants', for they bear every quality of a human one. Our democracy is gone and our government has fallen. All hope has been lost with the failure of the eradication of an 'overmind' that is controlling the aliens. Therefore, I have only one choice left. I pour unto this gun all my hatred, resent, and anger towards the aliens. Again, this is Oscar Wildes, reporting the last and final edition of NNN news. I bid you farewell, fellow citizens, and farewell, to the once-glorious nation of Brahnchius."
END
