November 14, 2058 – Morning
The morning sun began to rise over the horizon, its rays piercing through the thick fog that enveloped the forest. Team Aegis began their journey with heavy steps. After a night of tension, exhaustion was still evident on their faces, but they had no choice but to move forward.
"Is this facility… really here?" Cong asked, glancing at the map provided by Alaric.
"If the data from Zone Beta is correct, the facility is located in a small valley before Zone Omega," Alaric replied, checking the coordinates on his old tablet. "It's not a main facility, but we might find supplies or even additional information there."
Pan walked ahead, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. "Whatever we find, it has to be enough to get us to Zone Omega. Everyone, stay alert."
Elis, walking beside Dail, appeared calmer than she had the night before. She clutched Dail's hand tightly, occasionally looking back to ensure no one was following them.
"Are you tired, Elis?" Dail asked softly.
Elis shook her head. "I'm fine. But… is the facility safe?"
Dail gave a small smile, though his face showed concern. "We'll make sure it's safe before you go in, I promise."
Traces of the Past
When they finally reached the valley, the facility appeared hidden behind a row of large trees. The building seemed old and abandoned, with moss growing on the walls and broken windows. However, the main door was still tightly shut, as if something inside was being guarded.
"It looks like this place hasn't been used in a long time," Rico said, surveying the surroundings.
Hart stepped forward, trying to open the main door. "It's locked. But this isn't a normal lock. We'll need time to open it."
Cong looked at the cracked wall. "Or we could go in through there. That wall looks weak enough to break through."
Pan nodded. "We don't have time to unlock the door. Cong, Rico, break through that wall. Hart, Alaric, get the gear ready in case we're attacked."
With several powerful strikes from their tools, Cong and Rico managed to make a hole large enough in the wall. The team entered cautiously, weapons ready in their hands.
In the Dark
Inside the facility, the atmosphere felt even more oppressive. Emergency lights flickered dimly, offering just enough light to see vaguely. The first room was filled with dusty tables and laboratory equipment.
"What were they researching here?" Dail asked, examining one of the tables.
Alaric checked some documents scattered on the floor. "It looks like this was a support facility for the main experiments in Zone Omega. They were analyzing animal specimens before the outbreak spread to humans."
"So, they knew this would happen?" Cong asked angrily.
Alaric nodded slowly. "They might not have known how quickly it would spread. But they clearly knew the risks."
A Shocking Discovery
As they ventured deeper into the facility, Pan found a large metal door with a warning sign above it: "For authorized personnel only."
"What's behind this?" Pan asked, trying to open the door.
Hart examined the mechanism. "This door is electronically locked. We'll need power to open it."
Rico found a small generator in the corner of the room. "Maybe this can help. But we don't know if it still works."
Cong checked the generator and tried to turn it on. After several attempts, the generator finally powered up, and the metal door slowly creaked open.
Behind the door, they found a large room filled with glass tanks. Some were empty, but others contained creatures that looked like zombies, but with even more extreme mutations.
"What is this?" Dail whispered, his face filled with horror.
Alaric approached one of the tanks and read the data on the small screen beside it. "This is the early stage of Dominion's experiments. They were trying to combine human and animal DNA to create something stronger."
"And they succeeded," Pan said with tension in his voice. "But that just means we need to be more careful. If creatures like this get out, we won't stand a chance."
An Unwanted Surprise
As they continued inspecting the room, the sound of an alarm suddenly blared. Red lights flashed, and an automated voice came through the speakers.
"Security breach. Facility closing in five minutes."
"We need to get out now!" Pan shouted, leading his team toward the exit.
But before they could escape, one of the glass tanks suddenly cracked and shattered. From within, a large creature with a spiny body and glowing red eyes stepped out.
"Run!" Pan shouted.
Team Aegis sprinted as fast as they could toward the hole they had entered through, while the creature chased them with terrifying speed. Rico threw his last grenade, creating an explosion that slowed the creature long enough for them to escape.
Out of Danger
They finally managed to exit the facility just as the main door slammed shut. Their breaths were heavy, their faces drenched in sweat.
"What the hell was that?" Cong asked, trying to calm himself.
"That's proof that Dominion has gone too far," Alaric replied. "And we need to stop them before they create something worse."
Pan gazed toward Zone Omega, still far ahead. "We need to get there. It's the only way we can find a way to fight back."
With heavy steps but renewed determination, Team Aegis continued their journey, leaving behind the facility that now stood as evidence of the horrors brought on by humanity's unchecked ambition.
After opening the large door of the facility, the team stepped into a room filled with dusty research equipment. The flickering emergency lights created strange shadows on the walls.
"Do you think there's something still alive in here?" Elis asked in a whisper.
Pan gestured for everyone to remain silent. Their footsteps echoed in the empty room, but suddenly, a loud noise from one of the hallways made everyone stop.
"There's something over there," Cong said, aiming his rifle in the direction of the sound.