Xenodergs (ENG)

Chapter 9. Near The End?

They can escape through the ventilation system from this tight situation, from the elevator, but they will end up on the minus third level where Linda originally wanted to take them. Why did she want to take them there? Maybe she wanted to eliminate them there and safely transport the little alien? We will never know.

Ana: - Who's going first?

Adam: - I will. You haven't used a weapon in real action yet, but I have.

Bart: - Yeah, earlier I didn't unload a whole magazine into a fucking android...

Adam: - I meant a moving target...

Bart shrugged, then nodded. With that, they started climbing out of the elevator and into the ventilation shaft. After a while, a slimy membrane started covering the ventilation shaft.

Bart: - What the hell is this?!

Adam: - I think it's better if we don't know.

Ana: - I agree.

Adam: - I can see the end now.

Bart: - Then what are you waiting for? Move already!

Adam picked up the pace, but grumbled to himself in the process.

They jumped out of the ventilation system and were surprised to find that the walls here too, were covered in an unknown slimy substance, which also affected part of the ventilation system.

Ana: - Why are th...

Bart suddenly covered Ana's mouth and whispered to her.

Bart: - Sssh! Be quiet! You don't want these to wake up!

Bart pointed at a group of dormant, immobile xenomorphs. Ana was shocked to see how many there were. Due to the faint light seeping in, she couldn't see all of them, but she counted at least twenty.

Ana: - Why aren't they attacking? And...

Adam interrupted.

Adam: - If they are here, it means...

Bart didn't wait for the sentence to finish either.

Bart: - We're in deep shit.

Adam: - The queen is here...

Ana: - If the queen is here, then Flex could be here somewhere too. Maybe it's not too late to save him!

One of the aliens moved towards them. All three of them started to back away, but it didn't come closer. It didn't pay attention, since it didn't receive any orders. It focused on its resting.

Bart: - That was close...

Ana: - Which way now, Adam?

Adam: - Definitely not that way... Let's go this way.

With that, they started moving in the opposite direction, not disturbing the sleeping xenomorphs on the corridor. They had been walking forward in the corridor for a while, in eerie silence, fearing every sound they heard down there. A man's voice broke the silence, coming from the room next to them.

???: - Will someone free me?! For fuck's sake! Can anyone hear me?!

Ana: - That's Flex! Flex, we're coming!

Flex: - Ana?! Come this way! I'm here!

The three survivors rushed towards him. Around him, there were dead soldiers, tied up in the same slimy substance to the wall. Everyone had the same thing in front of them: an opened egg, an ovomorph, and a deceased creature, a facehugger.

Bart: - Those fuckers infected him too.

Ana: - But we can't let him die here!

Bart: - What the hell can we do?! If that... thing comes out of him, we're screwed!

Flex: - Free my hand and give me a weapon...

Ana: - But...

Flex: - We don't have time, Ana... This is how you'll help me.

Adam didn't hesitate, he took action. He freed his hand and placed a pistol into it. That pistol was the one he first used in combat. He always kept it with him, it was his favorite weapon, you could say it was his lucky charm. When it was in Flex's hand, he nodded.

Flex: - Thank you, guys... My dear family, we'll meet again soon...

A loud gunshot, and the weapon fell heavily onto the slimy floor.

Flex didn't move anymore. But his chest still moved, and an alien scream could be heard.

Bart: - Die, you bastard!

With that, he unleashed a few bullets where the little life was moving. Its acidic blood corroded Flex's body and the floor.

They continued to look at Flex, mourning him. They knew that time was precious, but they still stayed. They felt the need to pay their respects to their fallen comrade.

From behind them, they heard familiar and unfamiliar screams, as well as unfamiliar panting. They turned around, and then Adam spoke.

Adam: - It's gameover man! Game over...