Tess was back in real time, the kids' terrified expressions greeting her.
"Mom??" Luna cried as she finished stepping backwards.
"I'm fine. We need to go - now." Her words were portentous as a mélange of sounds, both distant and near, reached them. Every one filled with danger.
"Where do we go?"
Tess gasped when a map overlaid on her vision and a three-dimensional arrow appeared in front of her.
"What is it, mom?"
"Fara is in my head - no time to explain, all the creatures in this place are about to come for us. She's showing me a way out. Follow me quickly and quietly. Stay behind me, and stay ready."
She took off at a trot, following the path through the pipes and electrical panels, their steps ringing softly on the grated decking that served as a floor. Tess winced at each of their steps, wishing she'd done a better job of teaching them to move in silence.
A crashing sound came from behind them and the distant noises were distant no longer. She recognized some - the exploding pod people, a homunculus, and many more that she didn't recognize, but whose noises sent all the hair on her neck and arms standing on end.
"Faster! This way!"
Tess picked up the pace, the twins matching it as the metallic screams of power panels being uprooted and hurled away reached them. Tess wanted to bring up the rear but she had to guide them. Frustration and helplessness crawled through her gut.
"What is this you're feeling? What do you call these emotions?"
"NOT. NOW."
"I can speed up your perception to give us time to discuss."
"No! I promise I'll tell you later, for now get us out of here."
Fara went blissfully silent and Tess poured on more speed. The noise had gotten closer and now Tess could smell something - rank and bitter, acidic and putrid.
"How much further?" She was watching the overhead map but didn't know the area well enough to have any spatial awareness of how far away it was. Then numbers blinked onto the image, one showing distance and the other time. "You can do GPS?"
"I'm aware of the acronym but don't know what it entails. I'm able to provide you the distance due to my knowledge of the facility, and an estimated time based on your current rate of speed."
"Can you tell us how close those things are behind us and how many there are?"
"No, I no longer have communication with the station or its monitoring system. But based on what you've been hearing… There. I have reviewed your memories of the sounds and cross-referenced them with what I know of the denizens of this facility. I am 89% certain that there is a Radiation Homunculus, five to ten Infected Humanoids, a large number of Volt Vipers, Steam Rats, and an Electric Rat King. In addition, I am 46% certain that there are at least three types of elementals - one of which is a Radiation Elemental and another a Steam Elemental."
"Oh my god."
"Yes, it is dire. I would highly recommend keeping your family as far from any radiation-based creatures as possible, as well as any elementals. You do not have the abilities, armaments, or healing abilities to defeat them."
Glowing auras of purest white, shimmering blue, and sickly green were becoming visible behind and around them. They were sprinting at their fastest pace. Tess wished she could send Cass ahead to drop Luna off and come back to get her, but she was the only one who could guide them.
Red dots began appearing on the map in her vision. "Based on your senses I'm able to give approximate locations of the closest creatures."
Tess's heart dropped in her chest. She expected to see the mass of red behind her, but the ones to her left and right came as a shock. They were being flanked on either side, red dots moving through the pathways on the other sides of the panels.
A red dot broke from the path and overlaid their position. Tess whipped her head around, seeing nothing.
"Up!" Tess's hand shot upwards before she had a moment to process it, her Arc-Talon firing into the air. A massive spider with bulging protrusions fell, twitching, to the ground in front of them.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"It was a Radioactive Spider."
"Not that - what happened with my arm?"
"You were not going to be able to react in time, so I reacted for you."
"Don't you ever fucking do that again."
There was a hurt pause - yes, Tess could sense actual hurt, then it faded.
"Tess, the path requires you to turn soon, but there's a problem."
"I see it." The guiding line took them directly through a path of red dots so thick it was a solid color. The door was on the other side of a series of panels in front of them, but there was no way over them.
"Cass!" She shouted and he was there before she finished the word. She practically threw Goliath's Edge into his hands and pointed at the panels they were sprinting toward. It was seconds away. "Clear that!"
His look of doubt disappeared with a nod and he was gone.
An explosion rocked the room and red dots scattered in her vision, a circle of blessed empty space appearing before them. She and Luna leapt through the cloud of debris seconds after it had been cleared. Cass had intuited their direction and was holding a heavy steel door open for them on the other side. Tess verified the direction and put on speed, skidding to a stop and turning to face the approaching horde. Her eyes went wide at the sight, heart thumping heavy in her chest.
"I was correct!" Fara's glee felt wildly inappropriate for the situation. "There are eight Infected Humanoids, two Radiation Homunculi, one Homunculus Electromancer, 18"
"NOT NOW!" Tess shut down the count as Luna sprinted through the door, backing through as Cass pulled it shut. The door slammed into place as bodies impacted the other side, the wall shuddering at the sheer mass.
"I estimate we have 37 seconds before they break through this wall."
"Keep moving!" They were in a short stairwell that led down. Tess vaulted the railing, landing lightly at the bottom of the two story drop. She pulled the only door open and saw a wide open space beyond.
"Anything I should know before we go in here?"
"There are no creatures, if that's what you're asking. I cleared the space before being disconnected. Our vehicles are at the far end of the garage near the automatic door. We will need to find a way to break through that."
Cass and Luna joined her and they sprinted through the door, Tess slamming it shut behind her. Their rapid footfalls echoed ominously around them, but Tess trusted Fara's assessment. She may not trust the girl, but she trusted in her desire to survive.
A loud crashing sound reached them. "35 seconds. I was in error."
Two vehicles came into view, both looked to be futuristic and frail. One was a fully-enclosed all-terrain vehicle, its large tires studded and with four doors that sat open to bucket seats with 5-point seat harnesses for seatbelts. Next to it was a sleek motorcycle that looked straight out of Tron. Both vehicles were made of the white composite material that looked like plastic, but could ward off unempowered bullet strikes.
"Will these run? You said you don't control the facility's systems anymore."
"They are not intelligent, they operate the same as any other vehicle."
"Are they gassed up?"
"They do not require gasoline - The System aided me in their creation, and thus they run off what you would consider magical energy. Their power banks can be depleted but will recharge over time."
"Good enough."
"Cass and Luna, in there!" She pointed to the ATV. Cass looked disappointed, his leg already swinging over the motorcycle.
"Mom, can I?"
"No arguing! NOW!"
She grabbed Goliath from him as she ran, rushing to the door. One massive swing cleaved through the reinforced metal-panel door, then another further down. Her head whipped around as the door to the garage was hurled from its hinges, bouncing across the distance between them. With a scream Tess ran the distance between the vertical cuts, slicing a horizontal line. She kicked it, not waiting for it to hit the ground outside before sprinting to the motorcycle, leaping into the seat. The instant she touched the handlebars she saw blue lights flow through the bike like circuits, then she felt it lurch under her. She saw the same happening to the ATV. A quick glance behind her showed the horde rushing her, already halfway across the space.
"GO!" She screamed and the ATV shot from where it was, accelerating with frightening speed. It was silent as it moved, the only sound the crunching of gravel under the wheels. When it was gone she leaned into the body of the bike, something flying over her just as she did. She twisted the right handle and the bike shot forward, just as silent but even faster than the ATV. Cass was trying to control it, the vehicle slaloming left and right as he used too much speed. Tess lamented the absence of their group chat, wishing she could tell him to ease off and take control.
The creatures behind them had followed them onto the grounds, the fastest of them gaining ground. Tess tried to yell to Cass but her words were lost to the wind. She pulled the bike into a tight turn around the ATV, Goliath held out in one arm. She carved a huge swath through the front ranks, creatures falling in pieces, tripping up the ones behind them. She turned again, the bike reacting impossibly quick to her commands, and strafed the line again. She risked a glance at the kids and saw through the window that Luna had reached over to take the wheel, the ATV now under control. Then it shot forward, all its momentum dedicated to driving in one direction.
She breathed a sigh of relief then turned the bike to follow, howls of rage getting further away with each passing second.
Creature Sheets
Name: Homunculus Electromancer
Level: 10
Description:
A twisted amalgamation of multiple bodies fused together through the errant energies of the power plant, the Homunculus Electromancer is a grotesque sight. Its form is a tangle of limbs and torsos, with wires, metal plates, and electrical components haphazardly grafted into the flesh. Dozens of hands and malformed faces protrude from its body, some twitching with leftover motor function, while others are forever locked in expressions of pain or horror. Its skin is cracked and oozing with a glowing blue light, pulsing in time with the electrical surges coursing through it. Despite its shambling, chaotic appearance, the Homunculus moves with erratic speed, limbs contorting and snapping into place with a constant hum of electrical energy. Its most prominent feature is a single large, glowing eye in the center of its chest, which tracks its prey with unsettling precision.
Abilities:
Arc Surge: The Homunculus can discharge arcs of electricity from its exposed metal components, striking enemies at range. These arcs jump between nearby targets, chaining electrical damage and stunning organic enemies caught in their path. Conductive Claws: Several of the creature's grotesque hands are equipped with sharp, metallic claws that crackle with electrical energy. A direct hit delivers a powerful shock capable of paralyzing or severely damaging living targets. Crawl of the Sparks: Despite its disturbing and misshapen form, the Homunculus can move at incredible speeds, crawling along walls and ceilings by magnetizing its metal parts to nearby surfaces. Its jerky, unpredictable movements make it difficult to target. Short Circuit: When damaged, the Homunculus releases a burst of electrical energy from its many exposed wires and components, causing a disruptive EMP-like pulse that can disable electronic devices and briefly stun mechanical creatures. Electrical Absorption: Any electrical-based attack directed at the creature is absorbed through its various metallic grafts, healing it and amplifying its next attack with increased power.
Weaknesses:
Grounded by Metal: The creature's electric powers can be nullified by grounding it with conductive materials like copper or steel, greatly reducing the strength of its attacks. Fragile Frame: Although monstrous in appearance, the Homonculous's body is structurally weak. Blunt force attacks can easily tear apart its patchwork of flesh and metal, damaging the sensitive components within. Water Vulnerability: Water causes the Homonculous's systems to short-circuit, weakening its attacks and disorienting the creature, leaving it vulnerable to direct damage. Tactics:
The Homunculus Electromancer thrives in enclosed spaces where its many limbs allow it to cling to walls and ceilings, ambushing intruders. It will use its electric attacks to incapacitate its enemies, striking from multiple directions with its sprawling limbs and metallic claws. Its grotesque form and erratic movements make it difficult to predict, forcing its enemies to remain constantly on guard. In narrow stairwells, it uses its ability to discharge electricity and disrupt its opponents, making it especially dangerous in areas filled with metal structures.
Name: Infected Humanoid
Level: 7
Description: Once ordinary office workers, these creatures have been corrupted by spores that have taken over their decaying bodies. They retain some of their human characteristics but move with a jerky, unstable gait. Their bodies are brittle but dangerous, and when struck, they explode into clouds of toxic spores that can choke and poison anyone nearby. The infected humans have very low perception and only become active when noise levels become reach a volume that gets their attention.
Abilities:
Spore Cloud (Passive): Upon death or when struck with sufficient force, the Mummified Office Drone releases a cloud of toxic spores that lingers in the air, causing damage over time to anyone who inhales them. The spores choke the lungs and reduce health gradually. Spores grow increasingly hard to discharge from the lungs the more one has inhaled, eventually leading to the victim's lungs being filled with gummy substance. Decay: When the spores have remained in the victim's lungs for an extended period of time the spores begin to spread through the bloodstream, eventually reaching the brain. Once spores reach the brain they take over all thought and reason. Once this occurs the body becomes desiccated and the internal organs subsumed and replaced by spores.
Weaknesses:
Fragile Body: Drones can be easily killed or damaged with minimal force, but their bodies explode into spores, making them dangerous even in death. Slow Movement: While they can charge, they are generally slow and easy to avoid in small numbers.
Name: EX-8 "Scorpio" Drone Guard
Level: 8
Description:
The EX-8 Scorpio is designed for rapid response and perimeter defense. With its multi-jointed legs and precise bladed attachments, it excels at crowd control and neutralization. Human hands grafted onto its upper limbs provide dexterity for handling weapons and equipment, adding versatility to its lethal arsenal.
Abilities:
Striker Piercer: Delivers high-speed piercing attacks with its spiked limbs, targeting vital areas with precision. Quad-Strike Coordination: Executes simultaneous multi-limb strikes, overwhelming targets from different angles. Integrated Combat Hand: Equipped with retractable claws or weapons, providing melee combat capability when ranged attacks aren't viable. Rapid Response Reflexes: Quickly dodges and repositions, making it hard to lock down in a single spot.
Weaknesses:
Joint Exposed Actuator: Its hydraulic and mechanical joints are lightly armored, creating a vulnerability for targeted strikes. Stability Risk: Prone to toppling if too many legs are disabled, limiting its ability to reposition effectively.
Name: MANTIS-2 Security Drone
Level: 8
Description:
The MANTIS-2 is an advanced hybrid security drone, engineered for close-quarters combat and crowd suppression. It has the agility of a wasp with the deadly stinger of a scorpion. Its organic components make it flexible, while its exoskeletal armor provides high-level protection.
Abilities:
Viper Inject Stinger: A retractable stinger equipped with a neurotoxin injector, causing paralysis or reduced combat performance in targets. Augmented Muscle Surge: Using grafted human muscle tissue, the MANTIS-2 can perform enhanced strength-based attacks, crushing opponents or weapons. Reinforced Combat Claw: Mechanical hands with retractable claws for brutal close-quarters attacks. Auto-Tactical Reflexes: A rapid response mechanism, adjusting to threats by shifting its defensive and offensive protocols.
Weaknesses:
Organic Gaps: The exposed sinew and muscle between the armored plates are susceptible to slashing or piercing attacks. Bulky Repositioning: Slower to recover from missed attacks due to its hybrid mass and size.
Name: TARANTULA-X Tactical Guard
Level: 10
Description:
The TARANTULA-X is a lightweight, multi-limbed tactical unit built for rapid assault and containment. Equipped with six arms, each capable of wielding bladed or ballistic weapons, it's designed for maximum threat suppression. Its human-like components create an eerie combatant capable of unpredictable, multi-angled attacks. Due to the core processor being located at the hub of the limbs the TARANTULA-X has no "up" or "down" and can attack or move from any angle.
Abilities:
Razor Flurry Protocol: Simultaneously strikes with multiple limbs, creating a high-speed, multi-angle attack zone. Dynamic Limb Repositioning: Capable of full limb rotation, allowing the TARANTULA-X to quickly adapt to combat and defend weak points. Human Dexterity Module: Integrated human hands allow for wielding of precision weapons, including rapiers or firearms.
Weaknesses:
Multi-Limb Entanglement: If its limbs are restrained or entangled, it struggles to escape or react efficiently. Exposed Core Systems: Vulnerable to strikes aimed at its visor or limb connection points, especially where organic tissue is grafted. Combat Glitch Reflex: Due to its organic components, TARANTULA-X occasionally malfunctions, leaving it open to counterattacks.
Name: GOLIATH-PRIME Guard Boss
Level: 15
Description:
The GOLIATH-PRIME is the pinnacle of security systems. Standing eight feet tall, this heavily armored unit serves as a tactical commander and frontline fighter, utilizing advanced AI and human augmentation. It wields a massive composite sword and boasts unparalleled strength and durability.
Abilities:
Titan-Class Cleave: Swings its massive composite blade in wide arcs, capable of decimating both personnel and infrastructure. Adaptive Defense Interface: Learns from enemy tactics, progressively adapting its defenses to counter known attack patterns. Enhanced Strength Module: Temporarily boosts physical output, allowing it to overpower even the strongest opponents in melee. Tactical Strike Precision: Capable of executing pinpoint, targeted strikes, bypassing enemy defenses with surgical precision.
Weaknesses:
Actuator Joint Vulnerability: Despite its armor, the GOLIATH-PRIME's joints are more susceptible to focused attacks. Heavy Operational Lag: Its size and weight slow down its movements, making it vulnerable to agile opponents if surrounded or outflanked.