Chapter 106

It did not take long to reach the fort entrance. There was a car park in front of the fort, which we were now standing in. There are two abandoned cars here, both showing signs of mechanical issues. There was a white walkway leading up to the entrance of the fort and we would have to cross a bridge and enter a tunnel to reach the interior proper. We were both hesitant as the tunnel would give us no means of manoeuvre if attacked. The tunnel was also very long and mostly dark as there was no light except for a few sections where the weak sunlight was coming through gaps in the ceiling.

The structure was old and heavily overgrown. Across the top of the ramparts in front of us was a heavy presence of more trees, bushes, and a lot of grass. There were signs of new buildings around the edge, but I knew this was a much older facility. I was unsure of the exact boundary of the fort, but from the looks of it, I could say I guess that it was Napoleonic, at least.

“We will need to leave a trail of chemical lights in that walkway.” I said to Schmid.

“Yes.” He was becoming more noticeably withdrawn. I was unsure whether it was the mission or that he was facing another breach after all he had been through.

“The support team will be here soon and we need to get this done.” I knew I had to stop procrastinating and get on with it. Schmid merely nodded after a few seconds. I knew this was the best I would get, so I took the lead and began to advance.

There was a bridge over a depression in front of the fort and we walked through an open gate that led to it. I couldn’t call it a moat because it wasn’t filled with water but more of an extended trench. Just before the bridge, there were two weirdly -shaped oval black sentry boxes. That’s what I had to call them because they had a slit in the top where someone could see out, but they were shaped strangely. I honestly couldn’t fathom what they were helpful unless they were for a security guard standing. I decided to leave some mysteries alone and pondered no more and it. The last thing I did with these things was check that nothing was in them.

The bridge was made from steel girders and was designed for heavy vehicles to pass across. Because of this, I was not concerned that this would impede the support team and the device they were bringing up to seal the breach. The stonework around the tunnel arch was starting to crumble and showed signs of wear from the passage of time. I looked up to see if there was any movement or hint of danger from the plants above but all seemed quiet.

We both had a chemical light still attached from earlier as the life expectancy of these things was easily several hours. I reached into my utility belt for my last ones, preparing to light the tunnel in front of us. Schmid, however, I noticed was making no such action. I knew I had more than enough, but I was concerned that he was knocked present with me, making him a liability.

We continued to walk into the tunnel now as I snapped and shook several of the sticks, causing them to light up and threw them on the ground. The light quickly filled the tunnel and I could see that the overall structure was still sound though old. Thankfully, the tunnel is also free of debris or clutter and any signs of threats.

We continued walking further into the fort and quickly exited the tunnel into a courtyard. In front of us was a large front of the building with many large windows and doorways. There were site entrances to other parts of the fort, both to the left and the right, with more doors in front of us. There was no sign of any hostiles for the moment, but all the doors were open and several windows were smashed in and out and scattered around with the remains of several chairs and desks, indicating that something had happened here. The usual layer of moisture covered everything and the dripping sounds could be heard.

As soon as we cleared the tunnel, I became more alert, knowing that we were in hostile territory and the breach was close. On the other hand, Schmid had not changed his posture since entering the fort. I knew the breach was to the right through the archway there, leading to another courtyard in the fort. I could just make out the other side of the archway in the fog. That instantly made me suspicious as this courtyard was quite expansive and I should have been able to have seen the archway let alone just make out the other side. The fog was much thinner here than I was expecting and that’s always a warning sign.

I realise I need to get Schmid’s head in the game here, but before I can say anything to him, a breeze blows through the fog from the breach’s direction. The breeze air is far colder and rips through my armour’s thermal layering. The cold hit me like a physical blow and amplifies the effects of the grave chill I am experiencing. It causes me to turn my attention away from Schmid for a few seconds.

When I turned my attention back to him, I saw that his twitching was far more pronounced. It was so bad that it could no longer be called twitching but more jerky body motions.

“Schmid, are you ok?” I asked him. I cannot see his face as he is facing away from me and I can only see as back. But it is clear that what is happening to him is getting worse.

“Schmid, can you hear me?” I try again. I began circling around him this time, keeping my distance as my internal paranoia alarm had gone off. Something was wrong here.

As I circle around him, I finally see his face through his helmet’s plate. His eyes are closed, and his face is contorted from extreme emotion or pain; I couldn’t tell. He was so pale it looked like a corpse. It was pretty obvious now why he hadn’t responded. Whatever was happening to me was getting worse. As I had no idea what was happening to him, I could not help him. As suddenly as it began, its final twitching came to a stop. His eyes were still closed and the look on his face had relaxed into a somewhat peaceful state. His arms hung limply at his side, holding onto his sword and shield.

“Schmid, can you hear me?” I asked again as I changed my stance into one prepared for trouble. I raised my axe and shield ready. Every instant in my head was screaming at me that this would go bad quickly. Schmid did react this time but not in the way I expected. His eyes snapped open and they were now jet black.

“Oh, fuck me….” I didn’t get the opportunity to finish what I was about to say. Schmid was moving and on the attack.

My enhanced reflexes in as I got my shield in place to block the sword thrust that was trying to impale me through the chest. I was able to angle my shield to deflect the sword from its path as I quickly backed up. I put a good three meters' worth of distance between us. After his attempted surprise attack, he didn’t follow but started twitching again far more violently than before.

I saw this as an opportunity to get in and taken out before this developed into a full-fledged engagement. Whatever was happening to him, I knew I couldn’t risk an attempt to communicate or reason further because I had no idea what was happening to him. This was not how I expected today to go.

Unfortunately, whatever was happening to him had other plans. As I moved in to make the killing blow, the armour section on his right shoulder ripped open and a tentacle shot out.

“What the Fuck!” I was forced to back away from him again in sheer shock at this turn of events.

This, however, was not the end. Whatever transformation he was undergoing continued in two more tentacles ripped from his body and through his armour. Each was black and oily in appearance, covered with what seemed to be thorns of some type. One protruded from his back on the left-hand side and another came out from his rib cage on his right under his arm. His eyes were jet black, his face was now covered in black veins and his skin had turned an alabaster white.

I do any more time to it in what is happening to him as he is on the attack again. He is much faster now and stronger as I quickly get my shield up to block multiple attacks that connect to it. Each blow sends kinetic shock waves through the shield and into my arm. I’m quickly backing up again as his brutal assault continues.

He is alternating between his sword and tentacles, using whatever is closest to strike out at me. I desperately try to analyse the attack pattern while blocking his relentless strikes. I’m looking over the edge of my shield, trying to figure out how to get in and counter-attack. It quickly becomes apparent that his attacks lack all discipline but more instinctive fury. He is so damn fast!

I must break his stride, so I stop retreating and launch myself forward, shield barging to knock him off balance. He gets a shield around and we collide, both being knocked backwards by the force of the collision. My arm and shoulder ache and the impact, but I have succeeded in stopping the attack for now.

As soon as I get myself back into a combat stance, I’m under attack again. This time however, I’m able to strike at least once with my axe and attempt to injure or slow him, but he blocks with his sword turning the axe head away.

He quickly falls out with more strikes and I am again forced to back peddle as I use my shield to block. The tentacle strikes are causing chips of the compositor materials to fly off my shield. Whatever those thorns are, they are razor-sharp. His enhanced speed and strength are clearly terrifying and the only reason I am not dead is my own recent enhancements.

Again, I tried to use my shield to knock it back, allowing me to strike. However, he doesn’t fall for it and quickly backs up instead of causing another collision between us. Thankfully I don’t overreach when he comes back on the counter, I’m on the defensive again. I quickly recognise what is happening as I am not fighting just a zone monster but a fully trained operative. He has somehow become a nightmarish merging of the two.

I won’t win this by following my normal style and relying on my training. In many respects, it had similar training and knew many of the moves due to the cooperation between the European and UK zone commands. I will have to mix up and hopefully take him by surprise.

An idea quickly comes to mind, a desperate gamble I knew, but it could work. I start by hopefully confusing him by throwing my axe away. I used my shield to continue to block and hide what I was doing.

I pulled out my flare gun and fired. Here goes nothing!