The numbers on Jin's HUD burned in his vision. Those things—those Shamblers—stood between him and the blast door that redirected access to the Auxiliary Fusion Core. They had been people but now were nothing but hungry and mindless entities in this vast dark chamber of Sub-Level Engineering.
[MASTER STASIS TIMER: 00:04:50 REMAINING]
[ELAPSED SINCE STAIRWELL BETA: 00:03:05]
Jin whispered, "Asha... I can't run with this leg. There's no way around them." With his Night Vision, he could clearly see them, heavily shredded clothes hanging from their twitching, unnaturally long arms.
"Direct confrontation against these numbers in your current state is projected at a 98.9% failure. However, doing nothing guarantees 100% failure for the Cohorts. We must create an opportunity. My scans indicate the Shamblers are highly responsive to sound and energy signatures. The sparking electricity conduit to your left is damaged—causing a significant electrical arc that might distract a portion of them for a moment."
Jin glanced at the conduit. It was emitting blue sparks of electricity. "Distract them? How?"
"If you hit the exposed terminal hard enough, you will get a discharge great enough to create a distraction. It will also be dangerous to you as well. You will have a narrow window to reach the blast door controls while they are disoriented. It is a high-risk maneuver."
[OBJECTIVE UPDATED]
PRIMARY TASK: CREATE DIVERSION
• ACTION: STRIKE THE EXPOSED CONDUIT TO TRIGGER AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE
• GOAL: USE THE DISTRACTION TO REACH THE FUSION CORE ACCESS PANEL
[WARNING]
PROXIMITY HAZARD: HIGH-VOLTAGE ARC
• RISK LEVEL: SEVERE – POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR FATAL SYSTEM TRAUMA
• TIMING WINDOW: EXTREMELY LIMITED. SUCCESS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP ACTION
Everything is high risk in this cursed Vault, he thought.
Jin looked at the timer: [00:04:50]. He thought of the 14 sleeping girls, and remembered his parents' hazy faces from his fragmented memories—their hope, their sacrifice that Asha said.
The only thing that mattered to him now was getting to that door.
"Asha, I'm ready. Tell me when to move." He took a deep breath and settled into position next to the sparking conduit, his eyes fixed on the Blast Door.
"Optimal window for diversionary strike in three… two… one… NOW, Jin!"
"Oraaahhhhhh!!!"
With all of the strength he had left, Jin swung the metal pipe into the sparking terminal, resulting in a deafening explosion of light and sound. A blue-white arc of electricity erupted as the entire chamber was illuminated in a blinding flash. Jin felt a shooting pain in his arm as the shockwave threw him back.
[STATUS ALERT – CRITICAL IMPACT]
MASSIVE ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE DETECTED!
• INJURY: SEVERE BURNS – RIGHT ARM
• DEXTERITY ATTRIBUTE: -0.5 (TEMPORARY NERVE DAMAGE)
• SYSTEM ENERGY: 53% → 38% (EMP SHIELDING ACTIVATED – PARTIAL RESISTANCE)
[ATTRIBUTE GAINED – UNDER EXTREME STRESS]
• STRENGTH +0.02
REASON: DESPERATE PHYSICAL EXERTION UNDER HIGH-STRESS CONDITIONS
The effect on the Shamblers was instant. Several shrieked, a sound like tearing metal, shielding their vacant eyes. Those closest to the blast fell and momentarily stunned. The three patrolling Shamblers on the walkways stumbled.
"Diversion successful! Partial impairment of three hostiles. Disorientation effect on remaining seven estimated at 4-6 seconds! Go, Jin! Blast door controls – now!"
Ignoring new agony in his arm and leg, Jin lunged forward, one-legged, propelled by nothing but immense desperation. Asha had highlighted his path on his HUD toward the blast door control panel. He ran, stumbling forward, his pipe dragging behind him.
The Shamblers were already recovering, now in a rage. One massive brute charged, with its horrible twisted spine. His HUD now tagged it as Alpha Shambler—it was first to fix its horrifying gaze on him.
Jin gasped as he reached the panel. "Asha! The Door! How do I open it?!"
"Bio-scanner, Jin! To your right! It requires your palm print!"
[MASTER STASIS TIMER: 00:03:30 REMAINING]
Jin slammed his uninjured arm into the scanner just as the Alpha Shambler reached him. Its foul breath washed over his face.
Claws like rusted blades swiped at him. He ducked, feeling them tear through the back of his cryo-suit.
[CRITICAL DAMAGE DETECTED]
• INJURY: SEVERE LACERATIONS – UPPER BACK
• STATUS: CRITICAL ALERT – WOUND PROXIMITY TO SPINAL COLUMN
• RISK: POTENTIAL NEURAL IMPAIRMENT
[WARNING]
SIGNIFICANT BLOOD LOSS DETECTED. CONSCIOUSNESS AT RISK. IMMEDIATE MEDICAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED.
"Guhk…!" Blood came from his mouth as he struggled to stay conscious.
The blast door hissed as it began to slide open, but it was agonizingly slow.
The Alpha Shambler lunged again. With no room to maneuver, he brought his pipe up in a two-handed block (ignoring the pain in his right arm). The impact was like being hit by a battering ram as his pipe bent. Jin felt his ribs crack.
[DAMAGE REPORT]
• FRACTURE DETECTED: RIB CAGE – MULTIPLE CRACKS
• HP: 12 / 120 (NORMALIZED FOR COMBAT MODULE)
• STATUS: CRITICAL – APPROACHING SYSTEM SHUTDOWN THRESHOLD
• PAIN LEVEL: SEVERE – BREATHING EFFICIENCY COMPROMISED
[COMBAT ART TRIGGERED]
DESPERATE STRIKE – LV.1
• CONDITION MET: HP BELOW 15%
• CRITICAL HIT PROBABILITY BOOSTED: 78%
• EFFECT: INCREASED DAMAGE OUTPUT ON NEXT MELEE ATTACK. HIGH CHANCE TO STAGGER OR DISABLE TARGET.
• COOLDOWN: 1 HOUR
He roared and thrust the bent end of the pipe straight into the Alpha Shambler's gaping mouth as it lunged to bite him. There was a sickening, wet crunch. The creature froze, its eyes wide open, then it gurgled and collapsed, a pool of blackish blood erupting from its throat.
[TARGET NEUTRALIZED]
• ALPHA SHAMBLER: TERMINATED
• STATUS: VITAL SIGNS – CRITICAL
Two more Shamblers were closing on him instantly. Jin fought like a cornered animal. His blood and the Shamblers' were everywhere. He swung the bent pipe, each impact sending shockwaves through his broken body. His HUD was screaming red alerts.
[WARNING!]
• INCOMING HOSTILES: 2X VHNDS SHAMBLER – PROXIMITY < 5M
• JIN'S STATUS: COMBAT VIABILITY: DANGEROUSLY LOW
[INJURY REPORT]
• MULTIPLE LACERATIONS – ACTIVE BLEEDING
• SYSTEM ALERT: BLOOD LOSS RATE – CATASTROPHIC
• STAMINA: 2 / 100 (SEVERE EXHAUSTION)
• PAIN INDEX: REDLINING
• MOTOR CONTROL EFFICIENCY: DROPPING RAPIDLY
[SYSTEM ENERGY: 38% → 18% – EMERGENCY STABILIZATION PROTOCOLS ENGAGED]
"Jin! You must get through the door. Your life signs are plummeting!" Asha's voice, for the first time, carried emotion.
[MASTER STASIS TIMER: 00:02:15 REMAINING]
The blast door was only halfway open. He could see the control room of the Auxiliary Fusion Core beyond it—a small, relatively intact space.
With a final effort, Jin kicked, sending one Shambler sprawling, then threw himself through the gap. He squeezed through, the metal edges tearing his already shredded suit.
He slapped his hand on the emergency door closure panel that Asha had highlighted; he landed inside the control room. The blast door shut, falling to the sounds of the enraged Shamblers pounding on the other side in a terrifying rhythm.
[EMERGENCY SEAL ACTIVATED]
— BLAST DOOR SECURED —
— HOSTILE CONTACT CONTAINED —
[HP: 5 / 120]
[STATUS: CRITICAL – ACTIVE BLEEDING]
[PHOENIX PROTOCOL: FINAL LIFE PRESERVATION THRESHOLD REACHED]
[SYSTEM ENERGY: 8% – STABILIZATION FAILING…]
Blood dripped from his lips, painting the floor beneath him.
"Asha… the core… tell me where…" Jin's voice was hoarse, punctuated by coughing.
"Main ignition console… directly ahead. It requires simultaneous activation of three primary breakers, then the central coolant lever." Her voice was faint. "You… you can do this, Jin. For them."
The sleeping girls flashed in his mind as he crawled, dragging his leg and leaving a trail of blood until he reached the console. His vision had almost been taken from him, the world turning gray. His hands were guided by Asha's fading instructions. He fought to stay conscious with sheer will. He found the breakers and slammed them down.
One. Two. Three.
[PRIMARY FUSION BREAKERS: ENGAGED]
[COOLANT SYSTEMS: ONLINE]
[IGNITION SEQUENCE INITIATED…]
[CORE TEMP: RISING… 74°C → 105°C → 180°C]
He reached for the coolant lever. It was heavy enough that his arms trembled. With the last ounce of his consciousness, he pulled.
[FUSION CORE IGNITION: SUCCESSFUL]
[POWER FLOW: STABILIZING… 10% → 30% → 70% → 100%]
A deep mechanical hum rippled through the room, followed by the satisfying clunk of relays locking into place.
[AUXILIARY FUSION CORE: ONLINE]
[VAULT TERMINUS: MAIN POWER GRID STABILIZED]
[STASIS POD CONTROL LINK: RECONNECTED]
[STASIS POD STATUS: ALL 14 UNITS STABLE]
[LIFE SUPPORT – NOMINAL]
[CRYO-TEMPERATURE LOCK: VERIFIED]
Jin collapsed back against the control panel, barely conscious, but a flicker of a smile formed on his bloodied lips.
He did it. A wave of immense relief washed through Jin.
"...I did...it Asha, They... w-were..safe now" The faint bloody smile beamed on his lips.
Then the world went pitch black.
---
[SUBJECT JIN: VITAL SIGNS — FLATLINED]
[LIFE SIGNS: ABSENT. SYSTEM SHUTDOWN.]
[PHOENIX CORE ALERT — STATUS: CRITICAL]
[INITIATING EMERGENCY RESURRECTION SUB-ROUTINE: ALPHA]
> WARNING: CORE ENERGY LEVELS SEVERELY DEPLETED
> REQUIREMENTS: EXTERNAL ENERGY SOURCE OR SACRIFICE OF LATENT GENETIC ARCHIVE
[ALTERNATE PATHWAY DETECTED: PHOENIX GENE ARCHIVE – LOCKED PROTOCOLS AVAILABLE]
> UNLOCKING WILL RESULT IN IRREVERSIBLE CONSUMPTION OF ANCESTRAL GENETIC MEMORY CACHE
> ESTIMATED CHANCE OF SUBJECT SURVIVAL: 17.2%... 19.6%… 21.0%… STABILIZING…
[EXECUTE RESURRECTION SEQUENCE? Y/N]
…OVERRIDE AUTHORIZED.
[BEGINNING SYSTEM RESTORATION...]