Dead Snow

Part 19 - Extraction

Doc: Let's go! Let's go!

Doc leads the way as we descend to the power room. More screaming could be heard from every floor we passed, and the sound of gunfire was so faint and drowned out by the cries of nearby shrieks, I was beginning to wonder if our borrowed time was now used up. There were so many screams being heard, it was as if every shriek in the facility suddenly started acting up all at the same time. They would all be coming for us soon if we didn't hurry.

Doc: Common, get the pod running! I'll watch the door!

Vic: On it! Switch with me!

Doc: Catch!

Doc bursts through the door and into the power room, quickly checking all corners of the room. After briefly clearing the room, he immediately turns around to watch the door, while I would start up the escape pod. I switched weapons with him so he would have the EHMG to destroy whatever came through that door. I immediately jumped inside the pod still floating in the water and hopped in the driver seat. It was a bit cramped than what I remembered from training but all the controls were still the same. There is only one driver seat and 4 other seats located in the rear. The driver seat is right up front with the throttle on the right and a joystick on the left for steering. Above the seat were 5 main switches to start up the engine and life support systems. There were multiple cameras connected to the escape pods monitor. They were installed on the front, back and sides of the pod to allow the driver to see everything around the vessel.

*Flip* *Flip* *Flip* *Beeb* *Beeb*

Vic: Systems are good! We're fully operational! Let's go!

Doc: Moving-

*Stick*

Doc: Hu-...*Click* *Clack*

*RIIIP*

Doc: GAAAH!

Vic: Doc!

Doc: *Cough* Grrr!

I poked my head out to give the signal to Doc the moment I was ready to start driving out of the facility. The moment Doc turn away from the door, he suddenly just stops dead in his tracks and drops the EHMG and both his arms. He stares at me with eyes wide and a look of shock on his face. He stood there for about two seconds before an enormous tentacle-like appendage burst through his lower back and out his abdomen. It was so quick and sudden that I didn't even flinch when Doc's blood stained my mask and helmet. The tentacle came from the water on the opposite side of the power room and the immortal then emerged from the water and onto the walkway. It lifts Doc off his feet and brings him towards its face as if it were inspecting him. Doc was coughing up his own blood as he struggled to free himself from the immortal but it was no use. Doc was now staring death in the face and he smiled.

Doc: Heh...Was wondering when I'd see you again.

Vic: Doc!

Doc: GO! Get out of here! *Cough*

I aimed Doc's rifle at the immortal, trying to find a shot to get the immortal to release him. But after looking through the scope, I noticed Doc had both his hands behind his back reaching inside his grenade pouch. He pulls out two bright red canisters, one in each hand.

Vic: Doc! What are you-

Doc: Vic!... you're gonna want to leave now. *Pop* *Chink* *Beep* *Beep*

Vic: He actually pushed it.

Doc: This is my choice! GO!

With both his thumbs, he popped the caps off of both grenades and pressed both buttons on top. The grenades began to beep in sync, counting down from the five-second timer before they go off. Doc continued to hold them right between himself and the immortal. Screams could be heard from the stairwell, notifying me that shrieks were well on their way to this floor. I had roughly four seconds until the grenades went off.