NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: ??? (1)
The sound of steel violently bashing against steel filled the, moderate sized, laboratory as the singular door holding back an unimaginable hell began to crush and dent with each passing second. The seventeen scientists inside frantically slaved away harder than they ever had before, they knew they didn't have any time to spare.
"What's the progress at?"
A man adorning a fancy but simple suit stood in the middle of the room staring blankly into a large capsule.
"73% sir…"
One of the scientists frantically replied as the man scoffed and tapped his foot nervously on the metal floor. He quickly pressed his pointer finger and thumb against each other and drew a cross along his chest.
"You all better pray to whatever god you believe in that this door holds out long enough for the subject to boot up…"
The door kept shaking and the room followed in the same motion as a loud whirring sound cried out from the other side. The man in the suit adjusted his name tag, Jeremiah C. Jenson, his palms began to sweat as the door slowly caved in more and more.
"Status report."
4,619/4,637 Personel Dead
37/38 Servers Offline
147/147 Cameras Offline
Gate A: Compromised
Gate B: Compromised
Gate C: Compromised
Gate D: Unavailable
Gate E: Heavily Damaged
Hostile Entities Detected: ???
A large monitor displayed the grim statistics of the research center for all eighteen people in the room to bear witness. All was silent for a small moment as everyone looked towards the screen, the only noise remaining was the whirring robotic scream and the violent crashing of whatever was behind Gate E. Jeremiah turned back towards the men and shouted with an urgent tone.
"What are you doing!? Get back to work you idiots! We are all dead if that thing gets inside, you understand me? DEAD."
The typing resumed as the scientists began to murmur orders and responses to each other while Jeremiah crossed his arms and looked towards the capsule once more.
The inside of the capsule was foggy and contained the only thing capable of saving not just the men left in the room but the last shred of hope for the entirety of Copper-9.
"How close is it?"
"82% Sir…"
Jeremiah Clutched his fist and slammed it onto a support beam.
"Damn it! Gate E won't hold out long enough."
Jeremiah glanced over at the unmanned center console and began to reminisce on the life he'd lived. A life full of success and innovation, but that same success was now the direct cause to his downfall. He knew what needed to be done. Almost his entire life he had lived for himself alone, yet now Jeremiah felt a strange feeling of humility at the thought of what he was about to sacrifice
"I'm sorry men… It looks like this is the end for all of us. I hope you've all lived a life of no regrets…"
The scientist all knew what he was talking about. Every single person in the room understood that it was always a possibility. No one said anything, they didn't have to, since Jeremiah knew deep down that they'd already been dead the moment it broke free.
"It was a pleasure, truly, to work with all of you. I'm sorry that you have to die with a selfish man such as myself, but don't worry, our deaths should buy the Archangel enough time to fully boot up and escape. May God bless the remainder of humanity."
A few scientists wheeped silently as others began letting out slow and hollow claps. The somber mood in the laboratory never faded as the shallow cries and claps of the men disappeared.
Jeremiah walked over to the central console and began inputting a code. His fingers shook slightly but did not stutter.
The computer's voice rang in the room.
"Commencing Total Detonation of Planet… Are you certain about your decision CEO Jeremiah?"
"Yes… Do it…"
A small button rose up from the center console. Jeremiah looked down at it for a moment before turning back one last time towards the capsule. He smiled warmly at the capsule knowing he would never see what was inside ever smile back. His life was over and he was merely lamenting.
"Goodbye everyone, it was an honor."
His hand moved down to strike the button.
A loud screech made his body fall to the floor as the gate busted open. Jeremiah whipped his head around and saw dozens of robotic tendrils rip through the gate from both sides as the scientists began to scream in horror. More and more tentacles flooded into the room and began to tear the men apart, some were having their limbs amputated while others were being skinned alive. Within a few seconds all the men were dismembered beyond recognition when moments later Jeremiah's head dropped as the tentacles came flying towards him.
"No! Nononono! NO!"
He stood and slammed his hand down on the detonation button, but it was cut cleanly off its pillar right as his hand slammed onto it. The only hope for humanity now seemed to vanish before Jeremiah.
"COMPUTER, DETONATE NOW!"
"Starting design-"
The computer was penetrated by dozens, maybe even hundreds, of robotic tentacles at once. The computer was no longer responsive and merely let out a low static noise.
"FUCK!"
Multiple tentacles grabbed Jeremiah and hoisted him into the air. His body jolted as they dug inches into his skin and tore at him like wild dogs.
"Giggl-"
He closed his eyes and waited for death but after a few moments, nothing came. Seconds passed inside the room, but Jeremiah heard nothing. He didn't hear the tentacles moving, the robotic whirring from the monster that blasted through the door, or the dismembering of his employees. The tentacles that once held him tightly had dropped him to the floor suddenly.
He opened his eyes slowly. The room was filled with fog, but Jeremiah could make out two figures mere yards in front of him.
One figure was a conglomerate of wires and tendrils with no apparent features besides a few yellow cameras that seemed like eyes; however, the other figure was a robotic humanoid, slim and tall with a pair of three prismatic wings adorning each of his sides. His right hand began to form into a beaming sword that blew away all fog that tried to dispel its light.
"Con-confused glance…"
The blob let out a low murmur as its tentacles began to enclose the other robot. The tentacles rushed at immense speed towards the robot, but each and everyone was cut away before reaching it. The blob sent endless amounts flying at the robot wave after wave. Each movement of the robot was precise and perfected. Its blade slashed through the tentacles like grass as it slowly made its way closer and closer to the eldritch mass.
"Must el-eliminate unk-known anomaly."
The abomination standing before the robot began to retreat slightly as it violently swarmed its foe while backing away. The creature didn't seem to be running out of tentacles, but the drone also didn't seem to be running out of momentum. Each meter the monster moved backwards, the drone moved two forward.
"D-Danger, Danger, Dan-Danger."
The blob stopped its onslaught momentarily as it preppeled itself backwards, but in the singular moment it wasn't being forced to chop away at endless wires, the drone launched itself forward.
"Tee-hee, go-got you."
The blob let out a shriek or triumph as the drone took motion. The drone's blade came mere centimeters away from the center of the wired mass before a face peered out of the mass and the drone stuttered its attack.
"Teehee… S-sorry."
The drone froze in place for a second before being blown back into the laboratory it managed to push the blob out from. Its body crashed into the already destroyed computer and slid down the wall.
"NO!"
Jeremiah's voice called out in shock as the drone lay motionless on the ground leaking oil from multiple surfaces along its body. The once bright wings on the drone were now completely faded and its previously unseen visor was completely blacked out.
"Giggle."
The blob slowly heaved itself into the room as Jeremiah saw his own face fixated into the blob's center.
"Wh-what the fuck…?"
The mass of wires stretched out and grabbed Jeremiah. He could do nothing but struggle as the wires stretched his limbs out like a mere pig about to be butchered alive. His arms and legs began to twist and contort into a flesh like wire similar to that which made up the mass in front of him.
"A-ahh…"
Jeremiah couldn't make out any noise louder than a light whisper as the monster wrapped one of its wiry tentacles around his neck. He choked on his own breath as he struggled to let any air in. He winced in agony as tears began to trickle down his cheeks with each passing moment as his limbs were pulled and twisted more and more out of place. It felt as if at any moment his arms or legs could snap like twigs.
"O-open wide~"
Jeremiah's eyes widened in horror as some of the tendrils began to playfully crawl around his mouth. He forced his mouth closed and forced himself to strain enough air in through his nose. The sharp pains in his arm and legs caused his body to shudder violently with each second that passed.
"L-let me i-in~"
The eldritch abomination pinched his nose shut so he could no longer breathe. The monster smiled as it twisted Jeremiah's limbs slightly. His body recoiled in pain and his head shook violently as his mouth forced open in a gasp.
Just as he took what little air he could while the tentacle of wire squeezed his neck, the tendrils that were fidgeting in front of his mouth quickly poured inside his throat and began invading his organs. His insides felt alive as his body began to move on its own.
His body bulged and throbbed in multiple places as a loud giggle was emitted from the mass of wires. Every fiber of Jeremiah cried out in pain as blood leaked from every opening in his body. He could control nothing but his eyes anymore. His mind was lost in the endless haze of pain and agony brought upon by the creature. He could only stare helplessly at the devil incarnate staring back at him with multiple yellow camera-like eyes.
The creature began to pull in what was left of the seventeen scientist's bodies and assimilate them into itself. Moments later the heads of his top scientists bulged out of the wires and began to scream at ear piercing volume all at once.
"Giggle… D-Don't worry, this w-won't hu-hurt a bit, s-silly."
Jeremiah couldn't form a coherent thought as the horror continued. The creature reached for his eyes and dug deep into their sockets before ever so slowly tearing them out of his skull. Jeremiah was lost in the madness of this never-ending pain raging out. The creature giggled once more and ripped his limbs apart from his body as the tendrils inside his body began to burrow out of his body seemingly at random.
He couldn't understand why he was still alive. He should've died long ago but his consciousness remained active through every single moment of horror he was enduring.
He could not see, could only feel pain, and could not die.
"…"
The tentacles binding Jeremiah in the air were cut down as his body plummeted a few yards onto the floor. The drone had stood back up but was still leaking mass amounts of oil from its wounds. Its eyes were a shining white as it stared down the corrupt mass that was butchering Jeremiah.
The mass of wires began to clutch the mangled bodies of the scientists and drag them into its growing body.
The monster did not back away this time. It stood firm in front of the drone. The drone glanced at Jeremiah's body and tried to swing its sword down at his neck multiple times but each swing was met with hesitation right before the blade connected. It was trying but seemingly couldn't end his suffering. It stopped trying as the mass of wires began to giggle.
The seventeen heads of the scientists formed on the mass began to laugh at the drone's incompetence.
The drone slowly turned its head towards the mass, lifted its hand, and murmured to itself as a large siren filled the hallways of the empty research facility. The alarms had come back on and were ringing throughout the rooms as the creature looked around in a confused daze.
"What did you d-do. Tilt…"
The drone said nothing. Its sword formed in its right hand once more and slashed at the console until sparks began to fly. The sparks quickly began to spread into fire as the planet began to rumble.
"Confused glare…"
The mass hesitated for a moment before coming to a realization and letting out a howling screech as it dashed for the exit with all its tentacles scrambling to run.
"Gate A: Close. Gate B: Close. Gate C: Close."
The drone began to smile as the loud shutting of the gates could be heard throughout the facility. The monster began to crash frantically against Gate C as it tried desperately to escape. Every quick movement from its heavy body caused the facility to shake in sync with the shockwaves from the planet's core.
"I've done it."
The drone peered down at Jeremiah's still alive corpse.
"The planet will detonate soon. I promise you I will survive and kill that… thing…"
The drone placed its robotic hand on Jeremiah's eye less face.
"I will protect them. I promise you that."
The drone's body stuttered and leaked more as time passed. It was badly damaged and had no power left to fight.
It stood back up and mumbled once more as a door began to appear behind the console. The drone began stepping towards the door slowly. Right as it approached the door it felt a breeze honing in as the hallways began to shake erratically. The drone turned around sharply as the conglomerate of wires and human parts was mere feet away and rushing in.