Outpost 321: Part 2

-Outpost 321: Part 2-

6 months after the incident

               The ship's ports flared one final time as the aircraft positioned itself on the hill. Through the front window Krieg could see Outpost 321 at the bottom of the valley. Unlike the post that Krieg had been assigned to, this military sector had no tents. It was a plain and simple concrete structure. Once it had been the main station for trying to find a way to fight the Onyx Tide. Now, it was deserted. No mutts or guards were on patrol. Black strands had crept across the yellow field and planted themselves on the concrete slabs of the building.

               "I don't see any movement," Andrew Colins observed, looking over Krieg's shoulder. The soldier scratched the scruff of carrot coloured hair that sat on his chin. "Think anyone is home?"

               "Generally the words 'abandoned' and 'overthrown' suggests otherwise." The sarcastic tone of Hailey Roleen carried from the back of the ship.

               Andrew shot her a quick glance. "And generally weapons don't do anything against the tar and yet here you are." Hailey had been cleaning her rifle since they had left earlier that day.

               "Enough you two, grab your stuff and let's get moving," Krieg commanded and rose from his seat. He instinctively double checked that he had his sidearm before letting out a sharp whistle. Rustling could be heard behind one of the seats on the ship. A second passed before a large animal came bounding towards him, only stopping a foot away. Sabre was the dog's name. Standing over 4 feet tall, the granite coloured dog would be their way in and out of the outpost. As long as they stuck near him, the Onyx Tide would leave them alone. Sabre wagged his tail and gave a happy bark when Krieg pointed to the back of the ship. It was time to get the mission started.

               The air was thick and smelled burnt. Sabre happily led the way down the hill and towards the outpost. Every step from the large dog had the Onyx Tide curling backwards, making a temporary trail for the soldiers to walk along. Krieg scanned the area. He half expected someone to appear from behind a block of cement. No one showed their faces though and there were no signs of the mutts that had once protected the base.

               Metal doors had once blocked the only entrance to the concrete structure. Now, the iron was torn and twisted. Deep gashes were carved into the door, the metal jutting inwards.

               "What in the Three Gods happened here?" Andrew's voice was filled with paranoia. He knelt and picked up a spent shell that lay at the entrance.

               Krieg did not respond for a moment. He peered into the darkness of the outpost and sighed. "I don't know, but it looks like the power is out. I think something that wasn't the Onyx Tide attacked them." Either way, it was their job to find out. Krieg sighed one more time before lifting his sidearm and turning on the tactical light. Andrew and Hailey followed suit.

               Sabre let out a low whimper as they entered the poorly lit construct. The dog was promptly sniffing the ground, leading to the north wing of the outpost.

               "Sabre's got the scent of something." Andrew stated the obvious. "Maybe something that's alive?" He shined his light across the papers sprawled across the ground.

               "Doesn't matter, the data we want is in the eastern sector. Come on Sabre." Krieg tapped the purebred lightly on the side with his foot.

               "Sir, we were sent here to find intel. Perhaps it would be worth checking out what the dog is tracking." Hailey withdrew the rifle that she had strapped across her back and cradled it. Krieg glanced at her and towards the northern hallway. No matter which way they went, they would be moving into darkness. The only thing that stopped the veil was the daylight filtering in from the front.

               Krieg gave Hailey's suggestion a second thought. "Fine, we'll see what's got Sabre so worked up. Any signs of a waste of time and we turn around. Let's move." Krieg gave a sharp whistle, commanding Sabre to follow the scent that had been picked up.

               Leaving the front lobby behind, the three soldiers treaded after the dog. Their lights were like pale ghosts in the darkness as they swept over doors. The silence was not the part that worried Krieg; it was the lack of bodies. No signs of life or death. It looked as if the entire squadron had packed up over night.

               Sabre came to a sudden halt and lifted his head. The dog glared down the hallway and let out a low growl. His sharp teeth showed as he snarled at a wall of darkness. Krieg lifted his flashlight and pointed it down the hallway. The light almost seemed to be eaten up by the shroud. He couldn't even see the end.

               "What is it?" Andrew's voice echoed along the hallways. Another growl followed, but this one did not come from Sabre. It was much deeper. Stumbling out from the blanket of shadows, a demon showed itself. Perhaps at one point in time it could have been human. All that remained was a shell and a deformed body. The monster's ribcage was broken through the front of its chest. Bones splintered from its back. Eyes as black as coal stared down Krieg and his group as it stepped forward. The monstrosity walked on all fours, almost similar to an ape. It's back legs were twisted to impossible angles.

               "Shoot it," Krieg ordered. No sooner had the order been given, the beast cried out. With a sudden burst of speed it hurled itself at them. Its deformed clawed hands were aimed right for Krieg's throat.

Part 3 To be released next week