The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the compound as I stepped out of the building. The atmosphere had changed drastically. Earlier, the base had felt like a ghost town, eerily quiet and still. Now, it buzzed with life. Soldiers who had been fighting outside the walls were returning, their expressions victorious, their bodies marked by the grime and blood of battle. Laughter and conversation filled the air as they exchanged stories of their encounters with the grotesque creatures.
My eyes followed the movement of a large cart being pulled through the gates. The carcasses of the monstrous creatures were piled high, their twisted forms barely recognizable. The gates, massive and reinforced, groaned as they opened to allow the cart inside. It was clear that the battle had been hard-fought, but the soldiers had emerged victorious.
As I turned to head back, a soldier approached me. He was in his early twenties, with a sturdy build and a face that carried the weariness of battle but also a lingering adrenaline rush.
"Hey, you!" His voice was gruff but not unfriendly. "We could use some extra hands to help the cleanup crew with the dismembering. Those things," he nodded toward the cart, "need to be processed. Usable materials don't gather themselves."
I gave a short nod, understanding that my best course of action was to assimilate. "Sure."
He didn't wait for more than that. With a wave of his hand, he directed me towards the group of service crews who were already moving toward the carcasses. Their task was grim but essential. I followed them, integrating smoothly into the flow of workers.
As we approached the carcasses, a pungent smell hit me—a mix of rotting flesh and something more alien, a scent that was almost metallic. The cleanup crew began their work, and I observed the intricate and methodical process they followed.
One of the crew members, a burly man with a thick beard, was already at work on a particularly large carcass. He wielded a massive cleaver with practiced ease, the blade glinting in the fading light. He made precise incisions along the joints, separating the limbs from the torso with deliberate strokes. Each cut was calculated to minimize waste and ensure that valuable materials were preserved. The hide was tough, but his blade bit through it with relative ease, thanks to its sharpness and the force behind his swings.
Nearby, a woman with a pair of heavy-duty shears was cutting through the creature's tougher sections. The shears were designed to handle the dense, fibrous tissue of the monsters. She positioned the creature on a sturdy wooden table, its body already partially dismembered. With steady hands, she snipped through the tougher tendons and sinews that resisted the cleaver's initial cuts. The sound of metal on flesh was distinct, a sharp, echoing clack as the shears worked through the last stubborn fibers.
I was assigned to work on a smaller creature whose carcass had been set aside. I grabbed a dismembering knife from the nearby table—a sleek, razor-sharp blade designed for precision work. I began by slicing through the outer hide, taking care to avoid any of the more delicate organs inside. The flesh was slippery and tough, requiring careful control of the knife. I made a series of shallow cuts to peel away the hide, exposing the flesh beneath.
As I worked, I noticed that the cleanup crew employed various techniques to handle the different parts of the creatures. For the softer, more malleable areas, they used smaller knives and specialized tools. For the tougher sections, like the armored plates or dense muscle, they relied on heavier tools and more brute force. The bones were particularly valuable, and they were carefully extracted using saws and hammers, ensuring that they were not shattered in the process.
The process was methodical. Once the primary sections were separated, they were sorted into different piles based on their utility. The hide was collected for use in armor and other protective gear, the bones were set aside for crafting weapons or fortifications, and the organs were examined for potential medicinal properties.
Earlier, I had anticipated the need for a reliable tool in this chaotic environment. Cleanup crews always carried dismembering knives, so I had taken one from a supply room. Its razor-sharp edge made the gruesome task of processing the carcasses significantly easier, slicing through the monstrous flesh with precision. The weight of the knife was well-balanced, and its edge cut effortlessly, reflecting the quality and craftsmanship of its design.
I watched for a moment, observing their technique before joining in. My movements were precise and deliberate, mimicking their actions but with a detached efficiency.
A man approached me, his expression curious. He was in his mid-twenties, of average height, with black hair tied back in a short ponytail. His face was sharp, with high cheekbones and a thin scar running along his jawline, a mark likely earned in battle.
"Are you one of the new service crew?" he asked, wiping his hands on a rag.
I hesitated, only for a fraction of a second. "Yes," I answered, keeping my voice even.
He extended a hand, his grip firm but not overly aggressive. "Name's Haruto," he said with a slight nod. "You?"
There was a pause—a moment of silence that felt like it stretched on too long. "I'm..." I let the word hang, then continued, "Nexus."
"Interesting name," Haruto remarked, though he didn't press further. "Guess you just got in? Must be tough adjusting to this place. It's always either too quiet or too chaotic. Hard to find a balance, y'know?"
I gave a noncommittal nod, my focus on the task at hand. The less I said, the better.
Before the conversation could go any further, a woman's voice cut through the noise of the work around us. "Haruto! Less talking, more working!" She was from the service crew, likely a supervisor. In her early thirties, she had a no-nonsense demeanor. Her hair was tied back in a tight bun, and she wore the standard uniform with the sleeves rolled up, revealing muscular arms that spoke of years of hard labor. Her sharp brown eyes held a spark of authority, and her tone brooked no argument.
Haruto jumped slightly, a sheepish grin crossing his face. "Sorry, ma'am!" He turned back to me, his voice dropping. "Gotta get back to it. Stick close if you're not sure what to do."
I nodded, and we both returned to the work at hand. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of blood and bone, the smell of the creatures clinging to the air as the crew worked tirelessly to dismember and process the monstrous bodies.
The woman, whose name I later overheard as Shiori, kept a close eye on everyone, ensuring that the work was done efficiently. She moved through the group with purpose, directing here and there, occasionally stepping in to lend a hand where needed. Despite her stern exterior, there was a certain care in the way she oversaw the operation—a respect for the task at hand and the people doing it.
Haruto occasionally glanced my way, offering a brief word of guidance when he thought it necessary. I followed his lead, keeping my head down and my hands busy. It was clear that in this place, everyone had a role to play, and for now, mine was to adapt and observe.
As the last of the creatures were dealt with, the crew began to wind down. The atmosphere shifted, the intensity of the work giving way to exhaustion and quiet conversation. Haruto stretched his arms above his head, a relieved sigh escaping him.
"Not bad for your first day, Nexus," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Looks like you've got the hang of it."
"Thanks," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
Shiori walked over, her sharp eyes scanning the work before settling on us. "Good work today. We'll need to get the rest of this processed by tomorrow, so get some rest." Her gaze flicked to me briefly, a hint of appraisal in her expression before she turned and walked away, already calling out instructions to others.
Haruto watched her go, then turned back to me. "She's tough, but fair. As long as you pull your weight, you'll be fine." He gave me a nod, then started to walk away, pausing to look back. "See you tomorrow, Nexus."
As Haruto started to walk away, I called after him. "Haruto, wait up."
He turned, curiosity in his eyes. "What's up?"
I hesitated, then decided to craft a story that would align with the rest of the group's experiences. "Actually, I had a bit of trouble earlier. I was supposed to be assigned to a room but got completely lost in the base."
Haruto's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really? How'd that happen?"
I continued, weaving in a touch of exaggeration for effect. "Well, when I first arrived, I was given directions to my quarters, but everything seemed to look the same. I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. By the time the battle started, I found myself in a supply room. I tried to stay hidden, but a soldier found me and was not happy about it."
Haruto's eyes widened, and then he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as he did. "That's classic! You got stuck in a supply room while the whole base was in chaos?"
I nodded, playing along with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I didn't exactly make the best first impression. The soldier who found me gave me an earful about not knowing where I was supposed to be."
Haruto laughed harder, shaking his head. "Oh man, that must've been something. Getting scolded by a Voidwalker for getting lost? That's gotta be a first."
I chuckled lightly, feeling the warmth of camaraderie despite my true intentions. "I suppose so."
Haruto clapped me on the shoulder, his tone growing more conversational. "Alright, let me show you where we're staying. The service crew dorms are just down the hall. We've got everyone from the cleanup crew to the cooks and servers staying there. It's a bit crowded, but you'll get used to it."
As we walked towards the dorms, Haruto explained further, "The dorms are divided into sections. One part is for the cleanup crew, another for the cooks, and there's a common area where everyone can relax. It's not luxurious, but it's functional. You'll probably find a bed available in the cleanup section."
We reached the dorms, and Haruto gestured to a row of bunks lined up against the walls. "Pick any bed that's free. You'll find it's pretty cozy once you get settled. And don't worry, we're all in the same boat here. Just keep your head down, do your job, and you'll fit right in."
"Thanks, Haruto," I said, appreciating the guidance. "I'll keep that in mind."
He gave me a reassuring smile before heading off to join the others.