Terrors in Subnautica II; Humanity Reconstructed(Complete)

Part 13: An Outbreak of War

We've been walking for about an hour now, thankfully with flashlights to guide our way. Every fifteen minutes or so I've checked for traces of Caroline's aura, thankfully we're getting closer.

The exhaustion of these past few days feels like weights hanging from my limbs, making maintaining focus much more difficult. No one's said anything since entering the tunnel for fear that we might come across enemies at any moment, though I have yet to hear any outside thoughts just yet.

I'm just glad that I'm not traversing the dark alone this time. The warmth of Seán's hand serving as both comfort and a reminder to stay focused on the task at hand, getting everyone back to safety.

A small mass of thoughts from unknown people slowly begin to rise up, stopping Venus and I in our tracks. Everyone else, having seen our sudden halt, stopped to crouch behind us.

I motion for everyone to remain quiet, receiving quiet anxious nods from the group. I close my eyes, and push through my exhaustion to listen.

I can hear twelve people up ahead, just where the tunnel curves off to the left. Another six even further down. The thoughts are mostly that of beardom from standing guard, and wanting to be on the front lines. The front lines of what battlefield?

I open my eyes and look back to the group, motioning the number 18 until everyone clearly understands. I can't risk using my power now, or one of the mutants ahead might hear it.

I can feel my face twist into confused concern as I realize all of them are mutants. The council has taken so much care in making sure an even amount of non-mutants are working in every level as mutants. So why is this any different?

I position myself in front of the others, while Venus brings up the rear. After Marzia deployed her shield, everyone gave a fearful but decisive nod before following behind me.

There's no other way to do this, so if they're hostile we'll try to ambush them as best we can. I can only hope none of them are fire wielders, some of my burns from the encounter on Subnautica still haven't healed. Of all the things that could have been my weak point, it had to be the most common mutation for people to have.

Once we reach the corner, we can see them all stand around lazily. My stomach drops as the symbol on the back of their uniforms become illuminated by their torches.

They're from the Incipiency.

I motion for everyone with long range weapons to take aim. Thankfully, they had discussed only shooting to incapacitate before we ever even left. I pray everyone remembers where to aim. After putting our hearing protection in place, I motion the countdown.

3...

2..

1.

The tunnel erupts in muzzle flash, and reactive screams. If I hadn't been trained for this growing up, I'd be completely disoriented. Venus managed to hit three of them, as well as Amy. While Beth managed to skid through without hitting anyone, Sam took down two of them.

I hit the remaining four in the hallway, only for the other six to rush in and attack! Everyone went on the defensive, as we tried ramming our way through. A fruitless attempts, as it turns out. I felt my anxiety spike as I realized one of the six who had come around was an elder of the Incipiency.

The man smirked excitedly before his team released a violent eruption of fire and sharp bones flying towers us! I throw up my shield, but I'm so exhausted it may not be enough. Closing my eyes, trying to focus on shielding everyone. A familiar energy flings past me when I hear the wave of heat and bone suddenly explode back to where it had come from.