The Marine had passed back through the Logic Core and returned to the locked barrier leading to Central Processing. He uses the security tool to unlock the bypass port, then plugging the device into the door. After a couple of attempts he recalls the correct procedure, the security door unlocks and raises into the ceiling. The distant growls of roaming demon drifts from the passage, using the automap to find the Data Vault he steps onto the path.
Cables overhead stretch to the processing installation ahead, the automap leads him to a corridor crowded by large pipes carrying coolant. Imp burst from vents high in the walls, Pinky stray onto the path from ahead. The Marine fights his way closer, the growls of demon resonate from beyond the bend in the hall. He comes to a passage strewn with the corpses of Marines and technicians, he steps through sticky pools of drying blood, coming upon the filter station, growls drift from a passage to the right. He turns to see a gathering of demon coursing along the corridor, some were mating, others consuming human remains.
Creatures take notice of the Marine and advance as fireballs sail toward him. He steps closer and levels the shotgun, demon are slain as a horde charges from ahead. Gunfire and cries of agony echo through the area. Skulls with spidery legs appear, lost souls wearing protective visors or goggles race ahead. The Marine stomps Trite under his boot while firing on floating skulls, Imp climbing along the ceiling pounce from the shadows.
Within the Data Vault, Major Daniels was drenched in sweat after fighting unending waves of teleporting demon, fear gnaws Daniels' nerves as his ammunition supply shrinks.
"Alarm, life support failure. Emergency atmospheric reserves at 75% capacity. Evacuate station" the computer wails.
Activity from the surveillance footage outside the vault attracts Dr. Stone's notice, creatures outside the door were racing toward something out of range.
"Hey, something's going on out there. The aliens are moving away" Diane says.
Major Daniels was nearly out of ammo when the portals stop forming as demons outside the vault shift efforts to attacking the Marine, he heaves with exhaustion.
Outside the vault, adrenaline courses as the Marine fought his way closer, blasting and crippling the creatures in his path. Imp shriek, running in fear as the Marine makes short work of the creatures around him.
Within the vault, the survivors watch in amazement as the Marine slays the demon around him and Imp scatter in fear. The slaughter continued for some time until the hall fell silent. The Marine steps closer to the door, they unlock the blood stained barrier from within and the vault opens. The researchers were speechless as they glance down the corpse strewn hall.
"I can't believe you've wiped out these aliens without any help, we were told to expect a squad" Diane says.
Major Daniels steps out of the vault.
"He did all this by himself?" Daniels asks, the other survivors exchange curious glances.
"How did you manage to do this?" Louis asks.
"I'm just trying to survive, but… I've seen these things before" the Marine replies.
"Emergency, life support failure. Evacuate" the station announcement sounds.
"Can we make it? Is it safe?" Hugo asks.
"I can lead you out of here" the Marine replies.
"I need to recover my research, we've made a consequential discovery and it can't be lost" Diane suddenly insists.
The Marine could see the seriousness in her eyes.
"Is it close?" he asks.
"Yes, it's just down this hall and past the security door around the corner. There should be escape pods in that sector. she explains, pointing in the direction of her lab.
"Okay, let's go" the Marine replies.
The survivors follow the Marine through the facility and toward the sealed barrier. Diane, scrutinizes the ID-number on the Marine's armour and sees the numbers were ground away, a shiver crawls down her spine as she realizes she was just rescued by the test subject from her previous science project.
"Oh, snap! I completely forgot" she says.
"What is it?" Louis asks.
"This Marine was our test subject" she reluctantly admits.
The Marine shoots her an angry sideways glance.
"I can explain along the way, we need to move!" she presses.
They turn the corner and Louis unlocks the barrier with his authorization, the hall on the other side was deserted. Major Daniels enters the security office, he unlocks the cabinet and takes some ammunition.
"You were the recipient of an unknown genetic strain, it was grafted to your cells quite recently. I was explicitly told not to reveal any of this to you, but things are clearly out of hand" Diane explains.
"Why can't I remember anything?" The Marine asks with a controlled anger in his voice.
"I don't know but it could have something to do with extended artificial hibernation. The records state you'd been in stasis for more than a year" she recalls.
The Marine was furious.
"How do you know all this?" he asks.
"We weren't the ones who placed you in stasis, it was made known to members of the genetics team. I have no idea how the system works, but I know that hibernation lengths of that duration comes with complications, both on the technology and the subject in stasis. Whoever it was had to be highly skilled and was monitoring your condition closely, she spills, my office is just ahead"
The marines enter the lab and scan for creatures, Diane followed behind, an examination table was surrounded by cluttered desks, another entrance was against the far wall. Diane finds her files on the drive and begins copying the reports to data sheets that pile up at the bottom of a formatting drive. She retrieves a black carrying case from under the table and approaches the refrigerated storage unit against the wall, she opens the door and pulls out a rolling shelf. She plucks slim test-tubes from rows of identical vials and secures them within the case.
"This research you're collecting is from the same project, isn't it?" The Marine asks, she silently walks back to the documents.
"It is" she admits.
She grabs the data sheets and slips them into the case.
"Alright, let's go" she says, lacing the bag over her shoulder.
They turn to leave, Major Martinez was blocking their exit with his rifle leveled on the Marine.