The metallic groan of the door swung open, and the stale air hit Steven's face as he stepped inside. Instinctively, he braced for the same level of decay and rot he had seen on the exterior of the facility. But as he crossed the threshold, his eyes widened in surprise. The inside was nothing like the desolate wasteland outside. In fact, it was shockingly pristine.
The floors beneath his boots gleamed in the harsh, overhead lights. Clean, metallic panels lined the walls, devoid of the rust and grime that coated everything outside. The smell of rot and decay was replaced by a faint, sterile odor, like that of a hospital or lab. It felt like stepping into a different world—a sharp contrast to the ruined industrial wasteland beyond the door.
Doug was the first to break the silence. "Huh… well, that's not what I expected."
"No kidding," Sigurt replied, his voice tinged with suspicion as his eyes swept the room. "How the hell is the inside of this place so well-maintained? The outside looks like it's been dead for centuries."
Doug shrugged, though his face was hidden behind his helmet's visor. "Maybe some automated system keeps it clean? Maintenance bots? Who knows."
Sigurt didn't respond immediately, but his body language spoke volumes. He wasn't buying it. Something about this facility felt off, and Steven could sense it too. The air, though clean, felt too still, too perfect. It was as if the place was waiting for them.
While Doug and Sigurt continued their hushed conversation, Steven took a few steps away from the group, scanning the room. As his eyes wandered over the metallic walls and fluorescent-lit ceiling, a small, soft ding echoed in his helmet's earpiece.
He blinked and turned his head toward the sound. There, to his left, was a door—plain and unmarked. Curiosity piqued, Steven approached it and cautiously pulled the handle. The door creaked open, revealing a small storage room.
Inside, the room was cluttered but orderly. The shelves were lined with various pieces of metal scrap, bolts, and other industrial odds and ends. But one item in particular caught his attention—a massive bolt, rusted but sturdy, sitting atop a shelf. The thing had to weigh at least five kilograms, and its size was almost comical compared to the other items in the room.
Steven reached for the bolt, his muscles straining slightly under its weight. As soon as he lifted it, his suit's scanner activated, the display in his visor flashing with a green readout: 13 units.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Steven's mouth. He held the bolt up for the others to see. "Ten more of these, and we've got the quota filled," he said sarcastically.
Lalo appeared in the doorway beside him, glancing at the massive bolt in Steven's hand. "Well, it's a start."
Steven tossed the bolt to Lalo, who caught it with ease, despite its weight. The big man placed it in a corner near the entrance, securing it for later retrieval. Lalo's movements were efficient, calculated. He didn't waste any energy, not in this place.
Sigurt and Doug, now done with their conversation, came over and noticed what Steven had found.
"Good eye," Sigurt said with a nod. "Scrap's scrap. Let's hope we can find more of it."
Steven glanced back at the room and then toward the hallways that stretched deeper into the facility. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching, lurking in the shadows. The place might have looked clean and orderly, but it felt far from safe.
Sigurt didn't waste any time. He scanned the corridor ahead and then turned back to the crew. "Alright, we're splitting up. Doug and I will go forward, deeper into the facility. Steven, you and Lalo take that hallway to the left." He pointed toward the direction where Steven had just found the bolt. "Stay sharp. If you see anything that doesn't look right, don't hesitate to fall back."
Steven nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He wasn't a soldier, and the thought of wandering through this eerie facility with only Lalo for backup was enough to send his nerves into overdrive. But he couldn't back out now.
Lalo stepped beside him, his large frame a reassuring presence. "Let's get this done, rookie. Grab the scrap, get out. Easy."
"Easy," Steven repeated, though he wasn't convinced.
Sigurt's voice crackled over the comms as he gave the final instructions. "Remember, the plan is simple: get the scrap as fast as possible and get out. No heroics, no detours. If anything feels wrong, retreat. We've got three days, but we're not staying here longer than we need to."
With that, the two teams split up. Sigurt and Doug headed deeper into the facility, the echo of their boots fading as they disappeared down the hallway. Steven and Lalo turned toward the left, where another metal hallway awaited them. It felt colder here, and the lights overhead flickered intermittently, casting long, jagged shadows along the walls.
Steven's heart raced as he and Lalo advanced. The hallway was tight, forcing them to walk in a single file. Every sound seemed to echo, from the slight creak of the metal floors to the distant hum of machinery that still operated somewhere deep within the facility.
"So," Lalo said after a moment, his voice casual but with a slight edge. "Ever been on a job like this before?"
Steven shook his head, though he knew Lalo couldn't see the gesture. "First time."
Lalo chuckled, a low, dry sound. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. Just stick close, and if something comes up, let me handle it."
Steven appreciated the attempt at reassurance, though he wasn't exactly sure what Lalo could handle without any weapons. The memory of Sigurt's words echoed in his head: The company doesn't want the monsters dead.
The hallway ended at another door, this one larger and marked with faded, cryptic symbols. Lalo placed a hand on the handle and glanced back at Steven.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Steven replied, tightening the straps on his radiation suit once more.
Lalo pushed the door open, and the two of them stepped into the unknown. The dark corridors of the facility beckoned, and somewhere in the shadows, something waited.
They just had to hope they could finish the job before it found them.