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IV: Homecoming

Terminus: Outer Warrens

Oct-18th, 2034, 21:59

The Doctor

Much of the trip to the underground containment labs had been a blur for Adrian. During which, he had heard mention of a repurposed parking garage underneath some prominent City-23 landmark. Based on their direction of travel down the main and secondary arteries—back through the trading district—such labs were located closer to the hydroelectric dam and associated spillways, where they had first arrived in Terminus.

Rooker was once again concealed for his safety at the beginning of their trek, despite the reduced foot traffic as the hour grew late. Naturally, he voiced his displeasure but otherwise complied with Fahlström’s request, seemingly anxious to return triumphantly to his viper through whatever means necessary. In fact, the pilot had come to set the pace of travel as he forced his guards to keep up with his ever-lengthening strides. Like before, Adrian followed some distance back alongside the captain until both groups reached a final set of doors. After an initial exchange of greetings, the second set of guards worked to get the doors open while everyone else stood within the winding passageway. The sound of running water could be heard through interconnecting pipes above their heads.

As they waited, Adrian tried desperately to recollect himself but couldn’t escape the anxious tendrils that entered his mind and dredged up painful memories of his past. He gripped onto his wooden box for support and ran his right thumb across its heart-shaped valleys. Back in New Providence, he had attempted escape through medication, but this ultimately dulled his senses and left him woefully exposed at the workplace. He also tried to outright avoid his ghosts, which only seemed to land him in hot water with the checkpoint guards and roaming patrols. The triggers were all around him and he now felt as though he was barreling straight towards another one.

The man silently cursed the major for having caught him off guard and having forced him into this situation. He silently cursed Rooker for not speaking his mind on open ground, and he silently cursed how spineless of a man he had become over the course of just three years. The Elders had ways to help him forget the past, but for Adrian, the cost far outweighed any perceived benefits. He was likely resigned to this pitiful state, and it was all thanks to that damn monster and his own Advent handlers.

In an instant, the dark memory took hold and Adrian’s arms quaked as tremors rippled through his body. He tried with all his might to focus on his thumb and the worn contours, to think of her and all the happy memories that their coupling had brought.

His nightingale, his songbird, his world.

The feeling did not last as a foreign mass overpowered him, his collar seemed to tighten on its own, and his airway was closed off. In response, Adrian clawed at his throat in a desperate attempt for oxygen, yet found none as red welts seemed to materialize out of thin air and boil across his neck and back. He had become a passenger in his own body as it sunk further and further into the abyss. Suddenly, a hand reached out through the darkness and forced him back up to the surface.

“Fucking hell, Adrian, are you alright?” The concerned voice of Katarina filled his lungs with air and brought him back to reality.

“I…yes. I’m sorry Kat, I think that I may have zoned out there for a minute,” Adrian replied shakily, now painfully aware that he had broken out into a cold sweat.

“You think? Adrian, you were trembling like a leaf, still are in fact. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed how much your demeanor has changed over the last hour. Hell, I watched you practically melt into a puddle right in front of the major as soon as he mentioned—”

“Damn it Kat, can we get a move on?!” Rooker interrupted them. He noisily tapped one foot on the cold pavement and impatiently emoted towards the hermetic doors, which now stood open to them.

“Cool your jets, lieutenant. Your pet isn’t going anywhere,” the captain chided. She turned back to Adrian. “We’ll put a pin in this conversation for now, but I expect you to be completely forthcoming later on, okay?”

“I’m perfectly fine, Kat, fit as a fiddle really. It’s just…been an unusually long day.” Adrian tried his best to get his body under control and sound at least somewhat convincing.

“Cut the crap, Adrian, this isn’t up for discussion. I deal with people bullshitting me on a daily basis and would like to think that I concern myself with the general wellbeing and safety of all Terminus’ occupants, and believe it or not, that includes you now. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to buy me that drink that I spoke of earlier,” Kat smirked before she released the doctor from her grip. “Come on, we don’t want to keep Rooker waiting, otherwise I might have to break out those handcuffs again.”

Adrian nodded and shuffled behind Kat as though he were now a lost duckling. They soon came to stand alongside Rooker and his guards.

“Oh, hardy har har. The two of you can exchange drinks and curl up beside the hearth later because we’re wasting moonlight here! Also, your guards better have fed my viper while I was away. Poor girl is probably scared out of her mind and hiding in one of the recesses,” Rooker stated, as though he were a worried parent.

“Thinking of offering yourself up to her, Rooker? You do kind of look like a delicious T-bone steak right about now. I wager that whatever is still stowed away in that modified dropship of yours might help her out as well. However, knowing how handsy that creature gets after you’ve returned from a deployment, perhaps she’ll want a homecoming gift that is a bit more risqué?” Fahlström replied in an all too suggestive tone.

Rooker’s blood immediately rushed to his face. “F-fuck you Kat! Think you’re so witty with your play on words. You know damn well why she does it,” came his schoolyard reply.

Kat gave him a wink before she made her way towards the entryway. Rooker swore under his breath and caught Adrian’s gaze as Katarina passed in front of him. The pilot offered a weak smile before both of them moved to follow in behind the captain.

As they continued through the entryway, Adrian found himself transported into familiar territory: a laboratory. Worn tiled floors with yellow safety tape served as the room’s foundation. He spotted slews of white stations and heavy piping lining its outer edges. At the very center, an operations chamber sat on hydraulic lifts and towered well over two stories into the air. An older model by the looks of it, but not too far off from the ones still used by Advent back in New Providence. At its rear, a reinforced observation platform and industrial elevator—currently on the lower floor—that likely led to the containment facilities.

Bunsen burners, graduated beakers, and scientific documents were littered across every surface and left little in the way of an actual workspace. Whoever utilized the area didn’t much care for the word sterile or were perhaps in an all-out panic to evacuate the area. Judging by the influx in guards, Adrian assumed that it was probably the latter.

“Alright, enough dicking around people. Captain, why the hell is the service elevator still in use? I thought that your guards sectioned off the containment levels below?” Rooker tore off the remains of his cloak and made a beeline for the elevator in question.

“Yes, my guards were told to barricade the door to her holding quarters and lock down the service elevator,” Fahlström replied.

“You’re missing the point, captain. Why are the stop-gates opened and the elevator locked in the down position? Do we have fuckin Amelia Bedelia working here? If this serpent that you’re all so afraid of really had malicious intent and got through the lower set of barricades, why the hell give a viper direct access to piping leading towards the upper levels?” Rooker gave Fahlström a dirty look, who was still thrown off by his second response before he turned to question the nearest guard.

“Tin-man, is this amateur hour, or do you just fancy us shimmying our way down to the containment facilities? You’d dress a chicken in tiny clothes too, wouldn’t you? Here's a better idea: get that damn elevator working!”

Adrian had never heard of Amelia Bedelia. Unfortunately, the guard chose to ignore said topic altogether and proceeded to lock horns with the pilot instead.

“Fuck you, Rooker, I don’t take orders from you. Besides, your snake is in timeout. I didn’t know a damn viper was capable of shedding a tear. I’d say that she didn’t know any better, but after taking one look at her father, I can see that the rotten apple didn’t fall far from the—”

The guard never got a chance to finish his remark as one of Rooker’s famous right hooks connected with the side of his face and threw him to the ground. The room immediately fell into chaos as two guards had to (once again) hold the enraged demon back.

“If you laid a single hand on her!” The man spat and hissed as he tried to squirm free from his human bonds.

“Damn it, Rooker, contain yourself! You’re only making this situation worse for everyone involved,” Fahlström pleaded as she ran over to assist the fallen guard. While there appeared to be no lasting damage as she lifted him back to his feet, he was further emboldened by what had occurred and proceeded to fan the flames.

“Got me pretty good there, Rooker. I’d hate for you to be around when they finally string that thing up and slowly gut every inch of its wrenched body.”

Rooker may as well have been a rabid animal with the way he foamed at the mouth and dug his feet into the ground in an attempt to gain leverage over his guards. Luckily, Fahlström once again came to his rescue.

“Corporal! I hardly think antagonizing Lieutenant Rooker is appropriate at this time. You may not report to him directly, but he does still highly outrank you.”

“Ma’am, I respect the rank but not the man. Doctor Simons on the other hand, was a good man; he didn’t deserve to go out like that. We should've just opened the release valves and drowned that damn viper,” the corporal stuck his neck out one last time before he fell back in line alongside the other guard.

“Really corporal? And just how would we have rescued either scientist if the containment area was completely underwater? You have every right to be angry, but the roles of jury and executioner are not yours to take. Our orders come straight from Major Rabczewska himself, and we will see them through even if our emotions tell us otherwise. Now, are we on the same page, corporal, or do I need to humble you with a month’s worth of sweeping?!” Fahlström bellowed and her nostrils flared.

“Understood ma’am, and no ma’am!” the corporal sounded off.

“Good. Now, lieutenant.” The captain turned to Rooker. “Are you going to behave yourself as well, or are we going to have to further prevent you from seeing your precious viper?”

“Yes…captain,” Rooker added the rank almost as an afterthought as he studied the corporal’s face and body structure, cementing them into his permanent memory banks. His handlers released him moments later.

“Fantastic. Now, we still have to get through that first set of barricades, and I'd rather not be here all night. Corporal, let’s get that service elevator moving ASAP!”

With the added encouragement, it didn’t take long for the elevator to make it back to their level. Afterwards, Rooker, Fahlström, himself, and the first set of guards all filed into it, which left the corporal and the other guards to remain up above. The trip to the lower floor was thankfully a short one, with Rooker on move as soon as the elevator touched down, his guards quickly followed in hot pursuit.

“Let’s get moving, Adrian. Hopefully, Rooker will run out of steam by the time we make it to the viper’s holding area,” Fahlström commented before she set off down the long hallway. Adrian followed closely behind and took in his surroundings as their footsteps echoed throughout the area.

The holding cells themselves looked like oversized aquariums, at least from the outside. They were comprised of reinforced glass and concrete pillars with interlocking blast doors at the ready, should their occupants become unruly and additional countermeasures be required. Despite this, the walkway still placed them several stories above the ground floor of each cell, which contained a unique biome—desert dunes, snowy fields, tranquil forests, and concrete jungles. If this had truly once been a parking garage, the structure above them must have held almost a hundred-thousand people. Adrian’s curiosity finally got the better of him as he turned to get Fahlström’s input on the matter.

“Captain, how in the world did Terminus get all of these resources in the first place, and what kind of effort did it take to divert water from the central reservoir? Based on the heavy piping, the amount of time simply ducting the area must have been immense. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t City-23 fall into chaos shortly after the war?”

“Believe it or not Adrian, most of this predates Terminus. You are correct in saying that City-23 was one of the first cities to fall to the Contagion, which ultimately gave rise to the Lost; we have the Elders to thank for that too. Before all of that though, the governments of the old-world set up a medical staging area within these walls and upon the surface. And based on the earliest recovered supplies, a humanitarian organization known as the Red Cross was called in during the pandemic but were ultimately pushed out by military-backed entities once they better understood the alien bioweapon that had been deployed on humanity during the original invasion. They sunk a significant amount of resources into the area, likely in the hopes of turning the Contagion against the Ethereals.

“With that said, these containment facilities were originally built to conduct studies on…us, well the poor souls that were initially infected by the Contagion at least. While I can’t speak for the effort that went into diverting the flow of water, I can say that it was purposeful, and we're utilizing it in similar ways today—failsafe included as the corporal rightfully pointed out earlier.”

“I see…but Terminus must've had to divert some of the water to other areas once its borders grew, right?” Adrian continued with his line of questioning.

“Yes, but keep in mind that while the Contagion devastated the human population living in City-23, it had little initial impact on the underground infrastructures that were left behind. Today, our work predominately lies in maintaining, not creating. This fact alone makes sweeping and scavenging vital to Terminus’ survival. It is why once you come of age, you’re more or less expected to join the patrols up above and pay your dues within the colony.”

“And if it turns out that you’re better suited for work down below, if you weren’t born to be a fighter?”

“There are of course exceptions to this rule, as I know that someone with your gifts would prosper to a greater degree within these labs than out on the frontlines. However, consider for a moment what the major said earlier about comfort breeding weakness. Nature is red and will swallow you whole when you least expect it. This is especially true out here on the frontier.

“For there will surely come a day where you’ll be alone, left with only a gun (if you’re lucky), instinct, and whatever training has been passed down to you by the older generations. We begin this training early in the hopes that younger generations will be able to carry on the torch and not outright fear the fire that's contained within it. We are all fighters to some degree.”

The captain stopped and rolled up her right sleeve, revealing the backside of her arm to Adrian, which was covered in heavy burn marks and deep scars.

“Advent purifier. It thought that it had the last laugh when it trapped eighteen-year-old me in a burning convenience store. Crawled through nearly thirty feet of broken glass to avoid smoke inhalation before I got the drop on it and sunk my knife deep into its disgusting neck. I owed my life to training that day, and will never take for granted the sacrifices made in order to make it happen.”

Adrian acknowledged her scars, glad that no one had yet to call him out on what lay beneath his own wrappings. Perhaps it was just assumed that everyone out here had them.

“That’s…a hell of a thing to have to do at that age. Remind me to never get on your bad side.” Adrian couldn’t help but crack a smile. However, Fahlström was now the one who wore a thousand-yard stare.

“It’s…hard to believe that an entire generation born under Advent occupation has now reached adulthood. To think that many of them have never known life outside of CZ-23’s walls…”

“Hey now, remember that I was born outside of these walls, outside of the country actually. And while I’m only beginning to understand the hardships of your people, I can say that the lie that Advent currently sells those under their occupation isn’t much better,” Adrian tried to comfort her with his soothing words.

“As was I, but I can’t help but sometimes wonder what my life would’ve been like if I had simply fallen in line at the start of Occupation. If I had tried to start again outside of the Resistance…after my parents' deaths.” The last part came out as a whisper and likely intended for no one but herself.

Adrian put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“You would’ve been nothing more than a slave to the Elders...like I once was. Out here you have made a name for yourself, you have risen through the ranks, and you have a purpose in life. You've something that I was sorely missing in New Providence.”

This earned him a smile as Katarina met his gaze. However, the moment flickered and died as the battle-hardened persona took hold of the seemingly vulnerable woman, and the captain reemerged.

“It’s cute that you think that I need to be coddled doctor, but I’m not a scared little girl anymore. Purpose has found me and I’ll continue to see it through until the end. Now, let’s get moving.”

She brushed his hand off of her as though it were a gnat and lengthened her strides to catch up with Rooker and her guards. Adrian clenched his fist and sighed, then quietly followed suit until the pair arrived at a hallway intersection, where Rooker was already barking orders in the hopes of getting the barricades removed as quick as possible.

“The hell were you two doing back there, captain? I’ve been needing you to wave that magic hand of yours for some time now; these lazy assholes aren’t working hard enough, and I ain’t moving everything by myself.”

“Damn it, Rooker, just slow down for a moment. I don’t need you being rushed to the infirmary too,” Fahlström scolded the pilot as though he were an adolescent. “Williams and Garcia, please assist the lieutenant before he does any lasting damage to the facilities and to himself.

“Also, since you’re so curious, Rooker. I was discussing the origins of the containment facilities with Dr. Fairchild, and the nature of my injuries.”

“Told him the story about the Advent purifier didn’t you? Honestly, you can rightfully fuck off with that story, Kat. Every time you tell it there seems to be an extra five feet of glass added to the mix, almost like you’re promoting yourself to be the next John McClane.” Rooker proceeded to laugh at his own joke. “As far as I’m concerned, that injury only served to numb the pain in your arm and make you punch like some goddamn berserker. Come to think of it, your bad taste in perfume even matches their breath.”

Fahlström brought both of her hands to her forehead. “For the last time, Rooker, you’re making references to things that most people here haven’t even heard of—”

“Screw you, Die Hard may as well be the best Christmas story ever devised by the old-world media. Gonna have to rewatch it one of these days.”

“Dare I ask…with whom lieutenant?”

“Take a guess.”

“I thought it was your job to educate the reptile, not entertain it.”

“How is learning to save Christmas not educational?”

“Remind me again why I continue to grant you access to these things…”

Before the conversation could be derailed any further, a door on the far side of one of the connecting passageways opened and a younger man in a lab coat stepped out, pushing a cart with a stack of scientific documents and an assortment of medical syringes, which were filled with various substances. Indeed, he had chosen that cart—there always was one—where a single axle cried out in pain with each tire rotation. The scientist only made it halfway before he was stopped by Captain Fahlström, who sidestepped to block the cart’s path.

“Oh. I…pardon me, please make way,” the rather lanky man stated, seemingly embarrassed by his failed attempt to slink by them unnoticed as all sets of eyes now fell squarely on him.

“Doctor Harper, I thought that I made myself very clear when I said that there was to be no through traffic until the situation with the viper was resolved. What are you doing down here?” Fahlström questioned.

“You have my sincerest apologies captain; I had no intention of going against your wishes. However, Dr. Hoffman requested that I whip up some additional sedatives for Dr. Moreau in the infirmary. Her condition has stabilized, but we’re still doing everything we can to give her..."

A spark of recognition entered the man’s eyes as they moved in Adrian’s direction.

“Doctor Adrian Fairchild! Where in the world are my manners?”

The other man moved to shake Adrian’s hand energetically with both of his own. A wide smile decorated his face as he appraised the fellow scholar.

“My name is Eugene Harper. You cannot imagine how insightful your intraspecies research has been towards furthering the developments of this laboratory, namely with regards to adaptations to the mutonic template,” the man finished, now giddy as a schoolgirl.

“I…thank you, but that was merely a supplemental footnote in the overarching—”

Adrian didn’t get a chance to finish his statement as Rooker interjected.

“Hey, Eugene! Should've guessed that it was you prancing about when I saw the elevator called down to the lower levels. That’s a long time to make a sedative, don’t you think? Did you take a detour to make sure that all of your berserkers were tucked in for bed?”

Doctor Harper scowled and turned to address the pilot; his voice now tipped with venom.

“Lieutenant Rooker…I see that you’re still alive and well after that trip to New Providence. It's a shame that Dr. Simons can’t say the same thing. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be here in the first place if it wasn’t for that wild viper of yours. As for the reason it took so long, everything we had on hand went into tranquil—” The man quickly shut his mouth before he finished his sentence and took a cautionary step back on impulse.

“Run that by me again, doctor…” Rooker said. “Go on, finish that last sentence for me.”

“Listen, Rooker I—”

“You TRANQUILIZED my viper!” Rooker was immediately in the taller man’s face, standing as high as he could, his own face beet red as anger consumed him and his veins pulsed.

“Rooker, you must understand that she refused to listen to any of our commands beforehand, it was almost as if she had entered a state of rampancy, similar to that of a feral berserker! She killed Simons, irreversibly marred Moreau, and was attempting to escape her containment cell. Sedation was the only solution aside from outright drowning her!” Harper hastily cluttered in an attempt to find the right set of words that would placate his accuser.

The fire died in Rooker’s eyes—it appeared as though the right words had finally gotten through to him.

“She…I…never wanted any of this to happen,” Rooker finally whispered in defeat. He deflated and succumbed to the gravity of the situation. Soon after, the pilot released the other doctor from his grasp and took a step back in order to allow Harper to catch his breath.

“We can’t change the past, Rooker; I’m sorry that it turned out this way.” Harper shifted his attention back to the pair that still stood in his way. “Captain Fahlström, Doctor Fairchild, you have my deepest apologies, but I really must be on my way. Doctor Moreau is in need, and I can’t rightfully keep Doctor Hoffman waiting any longer,” Harper stated, almost bitterly as he dusted off his lab coat and placed both of his hands back on the cart.

“As you were Harper,” Fahlström said as she stepped out of the way and allowed the man to pass. The squeaky wheel immediately drummed back to life until its painful shrills were swallowed up by the dimmed passageway.

“Dammit, what now! I’m getting an incoming call,” Captain Fahlström complained as the blue light once again illuminated in her earpiece.

Giving the captain her space, Adrian turned to face the door to the containment cell, only to find that Rooker had already made his way back to the threshold. He rested a hand on the last pylon, which stood as the final barrier between him and his viper.

“Captain Fahlström. Yes. They’re still with me.”

For the first time all night, it appeared as though Rooker was hesitant to proceed forward and unsure as to what awaited him on the other side of that door.

“No. That can’t be! Fucking hell…that poor, broken woman.”

With a final release of energy, the pylon fell to the earth with a resounding bang. Rooker then unlocked the door, took his first step across the threshold and into the unknown.

“Damn it!”

The captain punched the wall closest to her before she turned to address the room’s remaining occupants.

“Adrian, please go with Rooker now! A situation has come up and I need to leave in order to put together a search party.” She then turned to the two guards. “Williams, Garcia, lock them inside and guard the door while I’m away. I’ll send a rotation to relieve you once I put out this new fire.” With that, Fahlström spun on her heels and made her way back towards the service elevator.

Adrian felt a hand suddenly grab onto his shoulder from behind; his heart began to race once more.

“You heard the captain, please file into the cell, doctor, so that we may lock the door behind you.”

“S-surely you have other sleeping arrangements outside of the containment facilities that I could utilize for a night? I’m quite the small man after all. Besides, I’m sure Rooker has everything under control in there. He hardly needs me getting in the way,” Adrian pleaded.

“No can do, doctor, captain’s orders. Now in you go!” With that, Adrian was unceremoniously shoved by both guards through the entryway and into the containment cell. The heavy door slammed and latched behind him; his world fell into darkness.

***

Adrian found himself left to shuffle his feet slowly across a granulated surface as his eyes continued to adjust to the low levels of light and the foreign landscape that he was now trapped in. He found something solid to lean onto, but couldn’t rightfully discern his lateral movements. Despite this, he let go and proceeded forward, up a steady gradient until he was catapulted forward as his foot caught a foreign object—a root by the looks of it. Suddenly, a giant overhead sunlamp powered on, which blinded him momentarily. After he recovered his vision, the man stood up and took in his new surroundings: some kind of pseudo-rainforest.

A labyrinth of gnarled tree roots and mossy undergrowth, which was topped with cavernous rocks and thick trunks that reached into a cumulous sky. The sound of running water could be heard, however, not through the groaning of pipes but as a pebbled brook. It was all a ruse of course, as despite the heavy air and warmer temperatures, Adrian was able to make out the concrete barriers to his left and right, which served as the lateral limits of the facility. He also found a pavestone pathway that ran parallel to the gentle stream. Regardless, the sheer depth of the holding cell was simply astounding.

In response, the man loosened an additional button on his shirt and slowly followed the downspout until he arrived at an immense stone archway, which was shoehorned between crescent ridgelines that rose several stories into the air. He passed directly through it and arrived inside a central courtyard that masqueraded as a jungle temple. Stone pillars rose to meet the ridgelines and provided support for what looked to be some kind of amphitheater, which was partially shaded by a green canopy. Directly ahead was a block waterfall and sizable basin, which ran adjacent to the stone courtyard. Adrian couldn’t help but think that he'd been transported into some prehistoric version of SeaWorld. All things considered; it was a rather breathtaking sight when one ignored the unnatural undertones that bled through if one cared to look deep enough. Now where in the hell was—

“Rose?” A gentle call came from the rightmost walkway.

Who the hell was Rose?

“Just went to turn on the overhead lights, girl. I know that you can see well enough without them, but I didn’t want to startle you. I’m…sorry that I took so long to get back from New Providence. You wouldn’t believe what happened while I was out there, Rose.”

Shit—the viper! Adrian’s body went into autopilot as it attempted to find the nearest piece of available cover, a fallen stone pillar soon served as his shield. Luckily, the man was fast enough to escape Rooker’s attention, which was now centered on the outermost reaches of the waterfall.

“You don’t know how excited I am to see you again! I…didn’t have a chance to unload the dropship yet, but I did bring you home a special surprise like I originally promised.”

Rooker stopped short of the pool of water, where he took off his shoes and socks. He then dipped his feet into the warm waters and waited for some time in the hopes that he would receive a response. When none came, the pilot swore under his breath and gazed at the edge of the glassy surface.

“You’re a smart viper, Rose, too smart for your own good sometimes. I know what you’re thinking…the major is using me as bait in the hopes of luring you out of that cave.

“It isn’t like that at all, girl. There’s…to be an investigation into the matter. I know Rose…they've told me all about it, but there's no need to be afraid. I’m here now, Rose, just you and me. Please come out so I can see that beautiful smile of yours again.”

Something heavy clambered in the distance. The sound of loose rocks being pulverized into the earth could be heard as the creature made its presence known. Soon, the noise stopped as a forked appendage pierced through the thin veil that separated the cavern from the rest of the containment facility, it was paired by a matching set of crimson eyes—their sharp edges hardly diluted by the water that contained them.

“I’m not angry…please let me help you, Rose.”

Adrian’s heart pounded in his chest. By all accounts, this viper was supposed to be massive, but the angles were all wrong, even at his lower vantage point. The viper was crouched and used the ground as leverage, as if in preparation for a strike. Rooker was in fact offering himself to the beast. Adrian had been here before and knew that this would only end in one way. He toiled over the idea of warning Rooker, or simply making a break for it. To his absolute horror, the memory resurfaced and the tremors returned.

After Rooker’s final plea, the viper emerged from its burrow. Its sinuous, white underside sunk deep into the pebbled surface, while its upper body hung low as though it were of terrestrial descent. Crimson scales, coupled with a sporadic layer of organic plating, parted the waters with ease, as it continued to bulldoze a path towards Rooker. Intricate stripes lined the outer edges of its immense hood, arms, and jawline. Alien symbols covered portions of its upper body and paid homage to the creature’s unsettling origins. Its red eyes were set ablaze as it locked in on its prey.

It simply wasn't possible. Adrian had recovered and prepared documents on such a creature before, but they were said to be extinct. A subspecies extinguished nearly a decade ago and ultimately the source of a great many headaches, as he was forced to meticulously reconstruct a genome that ceased to exist. His brain had lied to him before and it was likely doing so now. Nevertheless, his tremors had yet to cease as the serpent crossed on to Rooker’s side of the basin and began its inhuman ascent to the heavens.

Higher and higher it rose above the water’s surface. Eight feet, ten feet, twelve feet; it was at least double the size of a normal viper, which were already capable of towering feats. The innermost edges of its neckline were lined with armored canards in the shape of petals. Similar extensions crowned its head and the leading edges of its hood, making it seem even larger.

As it reached its final dizzying height, its humanlike traits were put on full display.

Wide shoulders with stout arms that would make even a muton blush. Titanic hands, able to surround a human torso with ease and tipped with wicked meat-hooks, capable of shredding through even the thickest of conventional body armor. Twin wrecking balls that would've likely required a demolition permit to operate back home, were held in place by a makeshift undergarment, which was woefully ill-equipped for the job that it had been assigned. Boulderlike abdominal muscles, which easily supported the red and white expanse above it, flexed alongside heavy thighs, which formed a noticeable recess where the creature’s chiseled torso ended and its monolithic tail began. This viper was a force of nature, stating anything less wouldn’t rightfully do the creature justice.

As the titan cast its great shadow over the minuscule pilot, Adrian’s quakes had finally reached their peak. He tried to silence them by driving his hands into the smooth bedrock next to him, but a flakey surface came as a direct response, which drew the doctor’s gaze away from the monster and onto the ground beneath him.

To the doctor’s horror, he currently sat in a pool of dried blood, a pair of discarded shoes sat some distance off. Their presence, and the news of what had happened here hours before, caused the man to reach his breaking point. With bloodstained palms, Adrian slowly made his way back towards the stone archway at his flank; however, his escape was cut short as his attention was forced back to the viper, which let out a powerful series of guttural whines before it closed an immense hand around Rooker’s body and lifted him high into the air, pinning him against a nearby pillar.

“Rose! What’s gotten into you? You’ve never...” The man struggled against his crimson bonds. “It’s me, Rooker, your caretaker, and guardian! What in the world did those scientists do to you?!”

The viper brought its massive head within inches of Rooker’s face and bore its twin pilot lights straight into his soul, however, up close they almost looked hazy, unfocused, and pained.

Adrian's body seized the opportunity and forced his fight or flight instincts to take over. Given the nature of the man, the latter easily won out as he stood straight up and made a calculated break for the exit. However, in his haste, Adrian failed to gauge his footing and immediately slammed his face into a second pillar as his feet fell out from under him. A sharp echo was felt throughout the rest of the courtyard, where all other occupants froze and turned to intercept the unintended commotion.

The massive sail caught wind and those blooded eyes narrowed to reptilian slits as the great serpent wedged itself between Rooker and himself. Its impossibly thick tail slowly guided the pilot down its lengthy arm and back to the surface, and then carefully formed an armored perimeter around the man. Afterwards, it extended a colossal set of fangs and made itself as large as possible, which made Adrian feel even closer to the size of a mouse. Warm blood now flowed out of his bashed nose, but the man was forced to ignore the pain as he found his eyes locked in a deadly game of chicken with the viper before him.

“Listen to me very closely, Adrian…” For the first time all week, Rooker addressed him by his given name and not by his earned prefix. “I need you to stay exactly where you are; Rose was caught unaware of your presence, so stay calm, and whatever you do, don’t—”

Adrian never gave Rooker a chance to finish, as he spun on his heels, pushed as much air into his lungs as he could, and then broke out into a full sprint, intending to outrun his demons and a monster that he had no hope of defeating head-on.

“Rose, please…Rose, NO!” The pleaded cry rang out across the facility but neither offending party paid it any mind.

Doctor Fairchild didn’t even have to look back, for he knew full well that the chase had begun as soon as the ground beneath him trembled before the colossus, as it dug its great coils into the earth and propelled itself forward, away from its stunned caretaker.

The viper was now on the hunt and there was nothing he or its prey could do to stop it.