Dead Space – Security
One
Josef screamed and struggled, but to no avail. The man, no, creature on top of him slashed at his exposed neck with blades protruding from it’s back, not quite hitting but tearing the thin material covering his skin. He reached for his pulse rifle, lying on the floor nearby, with one hand while trying to hold back the monster with the other, but his strength was ebbing. He was about to die. He knew it.
A burst of gunfire burst his bubble of isolation, catapulting his enemy off of him. It skidded along the ground, before colliding with the wall, leaving a smear of blood behind it. It roared and began to get up, but a grenade exploded beneath it, tearing it to pieces. Josef grabbed his rifle and jumped back into the fray. The Necromorphs were gaining ground. They flooded through the breached door, over the corpses of Josef’s comrades. His saviour did not bother to ask if he was okay, just kept firing in short, controlled bursts at the mindless animals before him.
The security forces began to retreat as they fired. Every now and again, one would use their grenade launcher and an explosion would dismember some of their foes, but most of them would just crawl on, missing legs or arms or even heads.
Josef had no time to think about how this was possible. Every now and again the team would miss one and it would leap towards them. One man was pinned to the floor and the tide of Necromorphs instantly devoured him, cutting his screams with a bloody gurgle as they tore into him.
The group backed through a door, still firing. Josef’s weapon clicked. He swore.
“I’m out of ammo!” He screamed, but nobody heard him over the explosions, roars and gunfire. He heard a muffled shout from the man next to him, something about a door. He instantly knew what to do. He smashed a Necromorph that had managed to surpass the hail of bullets with the butt of his gun, sending it reeling backwards, before slamming a button on the wall. The door closed slowly. Almost too slowly. As it closed it crushed several Necromorphs which had almost reached them, spurting blood and brains over the floor.
Two
Josef backed up against a wall, panting, and opened his visor. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a shaking hand. The others did the same. There were only four of them left now, all terrified despite their training. The Necromorphs created a cacophony of noise outside, banging against the door and roaring and screaming.
“What the hell are they?” Josef groaned, knowing the answer but not quite believing it.
“Necromorphs.” Answered Graham, the squad’s leader, “Zombies. Call them whatever you want.”
The team stood in silence for a full minute, reflecting on their situation. Josef slid down the wall and clutched his head, sniffing. The adrenalin was disappearing, and now the gravity of their situation was dawning on him.
“Who did we lose?” He asked shakily.
“Rick, French and Jack, all dead. Banner’s missing.” Zack said.
“Christ.”
More silence.
“We’re safe now, aren’t we?” Josef was asking all the questions.
“Yeah. We should be alright, nothing can break through that door.” Zack replied.
“Unless one of those fucking Brutes comes along.”
Josef could barely remember their encounter with the giant, even though it had taken place only a few minutes ago. It had torn through a security door with ease, smashing and tearing the inches thick steel, before charging them on all fours. They had opened fire on it, but it kept coming; the bullets ricocheted off of its thick skin. It had grabbed French, dashing his brains on the ground, before taking a grenade in the shoulder and disappearing down a side corridor, French’s headless corpse still trailing behind it. The horde of snarling undead had come soon after.
“I’m out of ammo. How much have you guys got?”
Graham had two clips, which he shared with Josef, and one grenade. Zack had a single clip and no grenades, as did Mohammad, the silent member of the team, who gestured with his fingers. In all his time serving with this group, Josef had never heard Mohammad speak. He assumed he was a mute or something.
The noise on the other side of the door stopped suddenly. It was followed by a worrying scraping and clattering sound.
Josef looked up. He could hear sounds in the walls, all around them, under the floor and above their heads. The others could hear as well. They all instinctively lowered their visors, glad of the extra protection, but knowing it wouldn’t help.
Graham was the first to realise what was happening.
“They’re in the vents.” He said quietly. Then he repeated himself, again and again, getting louder each time. “They’re in the fucking vents!”
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