UNSCDF Chapter 21- Lurking Shadows

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

UNSC Relief Center

March 25, 2001

1030 Local Time

            “We’re here.” Zyrok stood at the destroyed entrance to the UNSC Relief Center.

            Just a few days ago, the center was lively and packed with soldiers and civilians. Now, it looked like any other part of its neighboring communities which were in ruins and destruction. The ground was now scattered with bullet shells and dead corpses.

            “Would you look at that!” Casey pointed at a big hole in the central building.

            “That was from the two Titans.” Zyrok recalled.

            “We should go find some weapons and transportation.” Nevarez suggested.

            “Alright, listen up folks. Casey and Nevarez will be call sign 2-2 and go look for the armory. Taylor and I will be 1-2 and go find some transport.” Zyrok delegated the tasks.

            “Copy that sir.” Nevarez nodded.

            “Look sharp and watch your six. There is still one more Titan we know out there.”  Zyrok looked at the central building.

            “Will do boss.” Casey acknowledged.

            “Let’s move people.” Zyrok pushed on his men as they started to walk towards the central building.

            “Good luck.” Casey replied and hurried off with Nevarez to a small ruined building at the corner of the West wall.

            Zyrok and Taylor dashed across the open fields to head towards the side entrance of the central building. They noticed a few zombies roaming around, but were quick enough to avoid detection. Zyrok opened the door slowly and peeked inside. The corridor was dark as night and the sunlight from the outside only lit up the first three meters.

            “We’ll need to find the directory to know where we can find the vehicles instead of running around the whole center to look for the garage.” Zyrok told Taylor his plan.

            “It’ll be a quick in, quick out then?” Taylor turned on his flashlight and pulled out his Lock 17.

            “Yeah. We have no idea how many hostiles may be inside.” Zyrok took out his flashlight and pointed into the corridor.

            Taylor took point and slowly walked forward as Zyrok followed closely behind, Zyrok turned around and watched the back for a quick second and noticed a figure ran past the entrance and disappear into the darkness.

            “Crap!” Zyrok pointed his gun while aiming his flashlight.

            “What?” Taylor turned his head and whispered.

            “Something just ran behind us.” Zyrok whispered back.

            “Let’s pick up our pace and find that directory and get the hell out of here.” Taylor walked forward scanning the nearby rooms.

            “Agreed.” Zyrok picked up his pace.

            “This place is giving me the creeps.” Taylor wiped his visor with his shirt sleeve.

            “Me too.” Zyrok gulped as he heard wet footsteps in the background.

            Taylor entered an office and quickly scanned the room.

            “Clear.” Taylor called out quietly.

            Zyrok entered the room and walked to a desk. He flipped through the drawers to look for a directory book, but he didn’t find a thing.

            “Next office, let’s go.” Zyrok directed.

            Taylor peeked his head out the doorway and saw a zombie with tentacles charge at him. Taylor fired his Lock 17 to cover as he quickly closed the door.

            “We won’t be exiting that way anymore.” Taylor took a deep breath.

            “What did you see?” Zyrok looked as the door shook as the zombie pounded on it.

            “I’ve never seen it before. It’s not the Bone or the burnt one. This one had tentacles.” Taylor pointed at the door.

            “We better hurry. I don’t think the door is going to last.” Zyrok watched as the door frame began to crack.

            “I see a side door.” Taylor pointed at a closed door at the back wall.

            “Let’s go. We don’t have a choice.” Zyrok waved.

            Zyrok opened the door and saw a hallway leading towards the stairwell.

            “Up or down?” Zyrok asked as he approached the stairs.

            “My gut says up.” Taylor replied.

            “Let’s head up then.” Zyrok looked up and panned his flashlight.

            “Let’s check one more up. I don’t think we’ll need to go that up.” Taylor climbed the steps.

            Zyrok opened the second door and waved at Taylor to scout as he guarded the stairwell. Taylor gave a thumbs up and Zyrok ran up beside him. Zyrok opened the nearest door and went inside.

            “Same plan. You guard entrance while I search for the directory.” Zyrok flipped over a table and sifted threw the drawers.

            Zyrok flipped over a pile of documents, family photos, pencils, and then saw a mini notebook. He flipped it open and saw the directory. He smiled at it and put it into his pocket.

            “Got it. Let’s get out of here.” Zyrok approached Taylor as he readied himself.

            “Go!” Taylor ran down a hallway and knocked over a zombie blocking his way.

            Zyrok jumped over the knocked zombie and ran past Taylor as he headed to another stairwell. Zyrok pushed the door open and saw a two-headed zombie staring at him.

            “Oh shit.” Zyrok smacked the zombie down the stairs, but was too late as the zombie screamed an ear-splitting scream.

            “Run!” Taylor shouted as he saw a swarm of zombies burst out different rooms.

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

UNSC Relief Center

March 25, 2001

1205 Local Time

            Casey swiped his badge on the access panel and the doors slid open. Nevarez walked in and saw empty magazines litter the ground. Casey kicked the ground in frustration.

            “It’s been all looted.” Nevarez spoke with disappointment.

            “Let’s head to the back shelves and see if we can find other weapons.” Casey pointed at a gun rack cabinet that was partially open.

            Casey swung the door open and saw a fully loaded FM Mag lying in the bottom shelf.

            “That’s what I’m talking about.” Casey grinned and picked up the machine gun.

            “I’ll go take a look around and see if I can find an equivalent.” Nevarez walked off to the other racks.

            After twenty minutes of searching, the pair had found two M16s, one Lock 17, and one FM Mag. The pair decided to take a quick snack break when a loud scream erupted from the central building.

            “Not good.” Casey stood up and put his water bottle into his backpack.

            “Let’s hurry and give them a hand.” Nevarez picked up the looted weapons.

            “Better hope that a Titan don’t show up.” Casey began to jog towards the central building.

            “Yeah.” Nevarez nodded in agreement as he followed Casey.

            Casey looked as a swarm of zombies poured out of the front doors chasing Zyrok and Taylor.

            “Cover fire.” Casey shouted as he deployed the FM Mag.

            Nevarez crouched to the ground and placed a light cover as Zyrok and Taylor ran behind them. Casey fired the FM Mag into the swarm as Zyrok and Taylor picked up the looted weapons and started firing. In a minute or so, the swarm was exterminated and corpses scattered the battlefields.

            “Thanks for the assist.” Zyrok took a deep breath and relaxed.

            “Not at all.” Casey smiled.

            “Let’s get transport.” Zyrok took out the directory book and looked at it.

            “That way.” Zyrok pointed at a building beside a destroyed wall.