I continue my journey down the long desolate halls.

Not much has changed since I the last time I walked down here, except for the smell. The smell has gotten much worse, in fact I should put on an environmental hazard suit soon.

I check my handheld environmental hazard sensor, the readings are on green, bordering on yellow. Seeing as how ventilation isn’t working, I imagine that it’s only going to get worse.

If there are survivors I will need to find them fast and get them a gas mask before the air becomes too toxic to breath.

Some aliens release toxic gas or pheromones when they decompose. In fact, I heard a rumor that there is a whole sub-branch devoted to researching and weaponizing substances from decomposing alien, which is definitely against Geneva conventions.

Aliens decompose at different speeds compared to humans, some decompose much more rapidly, while other species decompose much, much slower. Although the trend seems to be of the former.

Aliens fast decomposition speed is a large reason why we keep specimens alive and don’t just kill the aliens and keep them on ice until they can be dissected, they need to be fresh, and preservation techniques can damage the corpse.

Halfway to my destination I reach my janitors closet.

I open the door and lock it behind me in case something tries to sneak up on me while I get put on in my environmental hazard suit. After getting suited up I take a spare full-mask respirator and a few spare half-mask respirators for any survivors I meet, and in case my suit gets damaged.

The familiar metallic space-age looking hazard suit offers full protection from toxins, radiation, heat and cold. It’s bulky frame is durable and not uncomfortable. It also has an environmental hazard sensor built in amongst other bells and whistles. Unfortunately it is also heavy, and I can’t move faster than a walk whilst wearing it. Also the whole outfit shines like one of those foils bows that you put on Christmas presents.

It will definitely slow me down and possibly impede me if I have to run or fight, but it’s better than dying from toxic air.

Unfortunately I only have one total body suit, but the full-mask respirator should be able to keep some survivors alive until we can make it down the elevator shaft.

The respirator in question appears nothing like those used in modern day industry, the advantages of reverse engineered alien technology allows it to have a light weight and much sleeker design without compromising on durability, or protection.

I also retrieved some disposable half-mask respirators, appear very similar to the mask that surgeons wear, despite its small size it offers the same amount of respiratory protection as the full-mask, it just doesn’t cover the rest of the face and isn’t as durable. This is the protection measure that I use most often.

I pack all my supplies in a trash bag, which is the only bag I have on me.

Then I unlock my door,

*thunk*

And continue my search for survivors.