The threshold is breached….

Calamity….

Not a Drill. I repeat. Not a drill.

-contact! They’re swarming!

This is the Daedalus. We’re moving into the area. Weapons are-

-Cannot hold! I repeat-

Creator save us.

All alliance vessels.

Initiating Code Scarlet!

*****

The weak rays of the sun shone through the shattered glass, illuminating the dilapidated interior of the old lab. Machines and apparatus were sprawled around the entire room, with neglect and rust threatening them to collapse due to their weight.

The hydraulic doors that sealed the room were the only entrance and exit. Metal fingers pried through the small opening before, with a large pull, tore the opening wide open. Standing at the entrance was a single machine, built in the same image as his old human master; two slim arms and legs attached to a bulky torso and a narrow, cone head with a single lens eye that scanned the desolate ruins.

Ducking under his arms was a single human, dressed in thick, filthy robes, face covered by a helmet carrying a gun slung around their body. Behind them, a small ball-shaped drone, no bigger than a ball flew past the human's side.

“Oh, look at all this,” the human said, pulling back the hood before removing the helmet and placing it down along with the assault weapon. With deep blue eyes contrasting her tanned skin and scruffy, dark blue hair, the girl walked forwards shining a light at the scrap with excited eyes.

The small drone flew ahead, scanning the various pieces of scrap laid out before them. The door to the room slammed shut as the robot released it.

“Flow, I am not certain about this course of action,”

“That’s what you say every time Clive,” The girl Flow responded, examining a long metal crain on the table.

“This area was close to ground zero of the outbreak and has been an area under heavy quarantine for the longest period prior to the fall of the colony.”

“And it’s the one place we haven’t searched. Come on, look at all this stuff. There’s nowhere in the city we’d be able to find salvage this advanced. Right Blinky?”

At its designation, the small ball turned, blinking its single light while the limited components on its shell began to move.

“It is the zombie presence I am concerned about.” Clive continued while Flow began to tear components out of the arm.

“Don’t worry so much. If a zombie tears your arm off again I’ll just replace it.” Flow said as she crouched to the floor, looking over what Blinky had scanned.

“It is not me I am concerned with. As a human, you put yourself at most risk. One bite and you will inhibit signs of change-”

“And how many times have I been bitten now?”

“Four times-?”

“And haven’t turned.”

“That is not to say this is still dangerous. We do not know why it is your unaffected but we do not wish to see you turn.”

“Yeah yeah. I’ll be careful,” Flow said begrudgingly as she turned to blinky. “If you’re that worried, just stand and watch for zombies. Blinky and I’ll find the parts we need.”

“Very well.” Clive stood vigil by the door. An antenna extended from his head as he activated his proximity scanner. “But to hurry. This area has not been touched in over half a decade.”

“I swear, all he does is worry,” Flow sighed as she surfed through the scrap in the lab. “So, what do we need again?”

Blinky’s single-lens shone, binging out a flat hologram.

“Okay, stuff for the cooling… And a power crystal.” Flow studied the list. “Alright buddy, get searching.”

Blinky closed the hologram and began scanning the various machine arms for the components needed. Meanwhile, Flow poked around the room for anything interesting. Her entire daily routine was rummaging through the century-old scrap for parts that could be useful. The old robotic labs was an area in the city that had been left largely unchecked due to the dangers that area of town possessed, as Clive and Chief long drilled into her. It was only now, at nineteen and with more control over her abilities that Clive relented.

The long lab though was certainly a goldmine. Scrap that she hadn’t encountered before in her expeditions. She wanted to take all of it home with her but she knew she had limited carry capacity and Clive wouldn't take on any burden that he deemed unnecessary. So she picked several circuit boards and electronic components and stuffed them into her pouch.

“Have you found everything?” Clive asked after ten minutes of searching.

“Yep.” Flow nodded tapping her now full bag. “Now we just need that power crystal. Blinky.”

Blinky did one last scan before returning to her shaking.

“Shoot.” Flow groaned.

“But we have the components we leave. I recommend withdrawing.”

“Blinky. Do a full scan of the building.”

“Flow.”

“He said there’s one in here. The suns still up and the hoard won't be out for about another hour.”

“All the more reason why we should-”

“You worry too much.” Flow retrieved her assault rifle. “Blinky?”

Blinky’s eye shivered as he brought up a hazy hologram of the building. Layed out were the rooms of the route they had taken to get in with a vast majority of the building not documented. A single, blinking red sphere appeared.

“There,” Flow pointed to it, “Two floors below us.” She retrieved her helmet, “Come on. One more sweep and we’ll go back to the farm,” and slotted it onto her head. “Promise.”

“.... Very well.” Clive walked back towards the doors. “But if Mom yells at me you will be going down with me, as they humans say.”

“Knew you’d see things my way,” Flow nodded to Blinky who’s light flashed.

Clive forced open the doors again, allowing Flow and Blinky under his arm. The doors slammed shut as soon as he released them. Flow took point, keeping her finger hovering near the trigger. Blinky hung behind her left shoulder while Clive took up the rear, his fingers locking upwards in his cone hands keeping a vigil out for a potential attack as his programming demanded.

They cleared one flight of stairs when a moan was heard. Alerted, Flow raised her weapon.

“I am detecting necrotic life signs nearby. Oh dear,” Clive said.

“Looks like the fun’s about to begin,” Flow moved down slowly, keeping her gun trained until they reached the next level. The sun did not penetrate this level, leaving it in near-total darkness. Blinky activated his light.

The decrepit, rusted corridors creaked uncomfortably as Flow and Clive walked through. Ever slowly, Flow checked each room, using Blinky’s light to cast a light in the room. It was quite eery broken only by moanings and cracks. Flow had experienced this before; they were being stalked. An attack would come soon.

“Please exercise vigilance.” Clive’s voice came through her helmet's short-reigned communicator.

“I got it,” Flow said, relying on Blinky’s light and her own senses to carry her through.

Something then slammed itself through an opening in the wall. A zombie; a human or corpse infected with a virus, characterized by their pale skin, milky eyes and blood clotted jaw. The minute it saw Flow it snarled and charged before being gunned down. Two more emerged from the gap. Flow killed one while Clive attacked the other, pinning it to the wall before drilling into its chest.

“How unsanitary,” Clive groaned as he rotated his hand, clearing it of flesh.

“Better close this,” Flow said inspecting the hole. A mist began to seep from her left hand. Flow threw it forward, sending out a ball of shimmering white energy. When it landed in the gap, a thick sheet of ice formed blocking the hole.

After reloading, Flow continued forwards, keeping her weapon focused. Passing by another hole large enough for a zombie to slip through, Flow threw another ball of white energy, blocking the entrance with another ice wall. No sooner had she done that, Blinky suddenly alerted her to another zombie. It was too close for Flow to fire at, and another had pounced at Clive. The zombie forced Flow to the wall, who had used her gun to keep it from biting her. Wriggling a hand free, Flow tossed a ball of white energy at the zombie’s knees. The entire left thigh froze completely and with a kick from Flow, the ice shattered, tearing the limb from its body. The zombie flopped to the ground, and Flow opened fire on its head. Clive meanwhile had thrown off his attack, snapping its neck.

“B-Blinky?” Flow caught her breath while the little drone scanned for other signs of zombies.

“No necrotic signatures detected,” Clive said.

“Alrighty,” Flow checked her rifle before continuing forwards.

“I advise you proceed with more caution.”

“Yeah yeah.”

Slowly they followed the dark corridor, keeping their guards up in case of another attack. As they pushed further, Flow blocked as many holes as she could with ice to avoid another zombie attack. As they continued forwards, only one zombie rushed them before being frozen from the waist down before being shot in the head, dying while standing. Flow and Clive walked past, continuing down the dark corridor until finally, they reached a pair of sealed doors.

“Is this it?”

Blinky scanned the door, giving a beeping sound.

“Okay. Clive.”

“Yes.” Clive approached the door, stuck his fingers through the gaps and pulled open a gap. When it was wide enough, Flow squeezed through followed by Blinky. Inside was a large room with a circular machine in the center.

“This is the facility's crystal generator.”

“It’s so much bigger than the others….”

“Colony buildings of this size need a considerable supply of power in order to remain operational,” Clive explained. “The larger structures downtown require at least four working generators in order to function.

“Alright, let's get to work,” Flow declared walking to the machine.

“Please bear in mind this facility has not been used in half a century.”

“I know, the crystals could be worn out and can’t be charged back up,” Flow leaped on the machine, ripping off a panel. “Who knows, we might get lucky.”

Blinky scanned the machine from top to bottom as Flow began pulling out cylinders from it. Inside each one was a dim energy crystal that was used to power the colony once upon a time.

“Come on,” Flow sighed as she threw the cylinder over her shoulder before moving to the next. The crystal was also dim. Flow threw it over her shoulder.

“Please exercise caution,” Clive said after the third spent energy crystal hit the floor. “There is still a significant zombie presence within the facility.”

“I know. I know,” Flow groaned as she freed the fourth cylinder. Inside was a purple crystal that shone with a bright light. “Yes! Got it!”

Blinky came to her and scanned it. His three beeps dampened Flow’s spirits.

“Seriously…?” with a sigh Flow leaped off the machine, holding up her prize. “All that and it's still not the right one.”

“It should still prove useful,” Clive said, taking the cylinder from Flow, storing it in his back. “Now I recommend we quit this place before the sun sets.”

“Just a bit longer.” Flow jumped to her feet. “We’ve never gone this deep before-”

“I can repeat the lecture of the dangers of exploring the colony for the 247th time.”

Flow groaned. “Do you really have to keep track of that,”

A loud bang from the entrance echoed into the room. Flow immediately stood at the ready, aiming at the door. Blinky hovered towards Clive flashing his single light.

“Multiple necrotic signals have been detected. The zombies are likely retreating into the buildings,”

“Okay, you win. Let's get back.” Flow moved towards the door. Blinky shined his light down the corridor. There was nothing, no zombies in sight. Satisfied, Flow forced her way through the gap but kept her rifle at the ready. There was no telling when something would jump out. The common zombies were just one of many threats in the ruined city.

No threat came from ahead, the ice still holding the gaps. Yet it was at the stairs when Flow heard something.

“Multiple necrotic life signs detected above.”

“Shoot…” Flow pulled free her magazine, checking the ammunition she had available. “Okay… nice and easy.”

Slowly she moved up the stairs. The light from the sun still bathed the corridor in twilight, illuminating not just the decay but the three zombies that were mindlessly waddling towards them. Flow opened fire, the bullets tearing the zombie’s bodies apart. One managed to stay upright and continued its charge towards the pair. Before it reached them, Flow threw out her left hand, firing off three small blades that struck the zombie, freezing parts of its body on impact, the ice cracking from it’s right hip, left arm, and just below its neck. The creature collapsed following the freezing of its body, still wiggling on the ground as it clung to whatever foul organism willed the flesh. Flow pulled out her pistol and shot it in the head.

“Damn. They’re starting to move.” Flow said to herself. As much as she would protest against Clive, if there were zombies moving about it could only mean that several beasts were on the prowl.

“Let us leave as soon as possible.”

Flow nodded, reloading her weapon while moving towards the emergency stairs to the roof. More sounds could be heard from behind them. All the while, clacks and creaks could be heard as zombies were funneling into the building.

Rounding a corner towards the stairs, Flow bumped into a zombie that was coming down from the stairs. Seemingly unaware, the zombie was knocked to the ground, whirling as it attempted to stand before Clive stomped on it’s head breaking its neck.

More sounds could be heard behind them. Seen in the dim sun’s light, more zombies piled into the gap charging towards them.

“After you.”

Clive and Blinky moved past Flow as she backed up towards the stairs. Mist coalesced in her right hand. As she began to back her way up the stairs she threw the energy she had gathered into her palm. Just as the zombies reached her, a wall of ice jutted from the ground immediately left blocking the zombies. Flow moved up the stairs, throwing another ball of energy, creating an ice wall on the stairs in case of another hoard was charging up. Even so she moved as fast as she could, climbing up two flights and through the open door to the roof.

The ruined skyscraper in the midst of the old colony greeted. The three towering structures were meant to be a monument to this colony after fifty years of construction (so she was told). Now, like the rest of the blocks, highway and vehicles sprawling around her, a century of neglect had brought this beacon of human civilization on the green plains of planet Helos decayed and broken. The sun was beginning to set, reflecting through the planet's belt.

Flow inched closer to the edge. Below on the ruined highway, zombies were charging at several beasts that were pouncing on them.

“Looks like they’re on the hunt,” Flow checked her weapon for ammo. She had fortunately spent little on this trip but still had little. If beasts swarmed her she could burn through it in minutes.

“Let us flee before they discover us,” Clive said as he made his way across the collapsed crane to the opposite building. Flow followed with Blinky hovered beside her. Her feet touched down, watching Clive tackling two zombies, using his drill hands to pierce and rip through the throat and heart dispatching them. A howl echoed, a hunting cry of the beasts.

“Damn, that sounded close.” Flow said as she overtook Clive. The sun was starting to fall behind the skyscrapers, and the long shade would bring out the beasts. They needed to cross two more blocks before reaching the garage where Flow's speeder was parked. The pair made their way to the connecting sky bridge towards the old parking garage that they had used to scale the roofs and get into the lab. Zombie corpses littered the ground from the previous firefight Flow had this morning, as well as several thick chunks of ice that had not yet melted.

“Hey wait!” Flow stopped when she noticed an old corpse slumped on the side of the pillar. Despite the thick armor the militia had worn, it was clear the body had been there for years, his rifle slung on his chest.

“Must’ve missed him,” Flow knelt to the corpse. Through the shattered faceplate, she could make out a defined skull. “Sorry dude,” She reached for the rifle and ejected the magazine. There were still rounds left. Unclipping an empty magazine from her vest, Flow threw it to Clive before slotting in place. She was about to move on when something caught her eye. A nearby car with its door wide open, and inside was a flashing light.

“Flow, we must leave.”

“Just a sec,” Flow rushed to the vehicle. The light came from its dashboard. Pressing a few buttons, the screen came to life. It was hazy but it was definitely working. “Ha alright!” Flow cheered as she removed her helmet. “Hey Clive, pass me my plasma cutter.”

“Flow, the sun is going-”

“This’ll be quick, I promise.” Flow said as blinky hovered into the vehicle. “Look, it’s a working display. You know how rare it is to find one of them in this dump.”

“You have your own.”

“And I keep telling you it can’t run for much longer. It’s gonna give out any day now.”

“Flow, that device is not necessary to our current-”

“Come on. Please,”

Reluctantly, Clive gave in. Opening his cabinet door in the front of his chest, Clive handed Flow her plasma cutter.

“Thanks!” Flow took the tool, handing Clive her weapon freeing her hand. Excited, Flow removed her helmet and turned to Blinky. The small prob bot was scanning the dashboard, anticipating what task he would be set.

“Okay buddy. Show it to me,”

Blinky’s holoscreen flared up, showing Flow a rough scan of the dashboard. With the information, Flow began to carefully cut the monitor free, removing a large chunk of the dashboard in the process.

“Please hurry.” Clive pressed. “Night will be arriving soon.”

“I know, I know,” Flow huffed, her mind fully focused on the task at hand, ripping out the machine and carefully cutting through the wires at its back until the unit was free. “See, all done.” Flow waved the device as she exited the car, handing it and the plasma cutter to Clive in exchange for her rifle while stowing the machine in one of her pouches.

Howls echoed. Flow froze, slowly bringing up her rifle. The beasts were inside.

“Now may we exfiltrate-”

“Way ahead of you,” Flow pushed past Clive, Blinky following close behind. Moving down a level where little sun penetrated, Flow ducked behind a vehicle as a zombie rushed in, tripping over something. As it crawled on the ground, something pounced on it.

“Beast signature detected,” Clive said as he ducked behind Flow.

“Way ahead of you.”

The beasts; large mammals with black hides, beady eyes, long arms with three sharp talons and a tiny wingspan and a set of teeth that could rip a human’s head clean off. According to the farm, these beasts began appearing forty cycles ago and had been hunting the zombie population as their primary food source.

They also had incredible senses. The way it stopped eating and poked its head up from its feast meant that it knew something else was nearby, and not another zombie. It then howled, echoing its piercing shriek through the old car park.

“Not good.” Flow broke cover and opened firer, scoring a headshot and killing the beast.

“We must leave at once,” Clive said urgently as he and Blinky broke cover.

“I know,” As Flow reloaded, two more beasts ran into the complex. As Flow ran towards them throwing out her left hand, and Ice was suddenly shot up. Carried by their own momentum, the two beasts crashed into it. Resting her back on the ice, Flow skirted around it, emptying her magazine on the two dazed beasts.

Reloading, she followed Clive as they exited the car park into the back lot. The speeder was only a block away. As they exited, a beast lunged at Clive, chomping on his left arm.

“Clive!” Flow readied her rifle before another beast pounced at her. Using her rifle, she pushed the beast’s head off as it snapped its razor-sharp jaws at her. “Get… off…” Freeing one hand, Flow channeled her strange power through it as she gripped ahold of its black fury underbelly. The flesh beneath her touch began to freeze. As it reeled, Blinky zoomed by its left eye and flashed one of his lights, stunning it. This gave Flow the opportunity she needed. With a final heave, she kicked the monster off her, took aim with her rifle and fired, killing the beast.

As she got back up, Clive had just killed the beast that had assailed him by drilling into its skull. However, in the struggle, he had lost his entire left arm.

“Oh blast. Not again,” Clive said as he examined the damage.

Flow retrieved his broken arm. It had been chewed through and severely damaged. “I think I can fix that,”

Another howl came. Two more beasts emerged, pouncing on the nearby buildings and cars. More came, crawling out of their holes, some with zombies in their mouths.

“I recommend we run. As fast as our legs can carry us,”

“Go! Go!” Flow opened fire on the nearest, allowing both Clive and Blinky to escape. She fired until her gun was out, killing another before running as the hoard descended on her. Using her power, an ice wall erupted from the ground, giving her a respite to reload. A beast scaled the Ice wall and was met by a hail of bullets. After her burst Flow used more of her power, throwing two solid shards of ice that struck a flanking beast, followed by another burst of gunfire. When her weapon ran dry, Flow conjured another ice wall before retreating.

Hastily reloading her weapon, Flow turned the corner. There, parked alongside a collapsed section of the highway was her speeder with Clive and Blinky already there.

“I propose-”

“We’re going!” Flow said impatiently. She leaped on the speeder and hit the ignition paddle to the left-hand side. Blinky tucked himself inside her cloak while Clive stowed away his broken arm before jumping on.

“Come on…” Flow hit the ignition paddle again. The front engine roared into life. The hover drive kicked in, lifting the vehicle two feet off the ground, just as the beasts began to swarm around them.

“So long!”

The vehicle sped forwards, past the beasts who were stunned at the sudden burst of speed. For good measure, Flow threw up another ice wall, blocking the beasts from their immediate pursuit.

“Zombie up ahead,” Clive said.

Flow looked forwards and saw a hoard of zombies charging after her, just before the slipway onto the highway. There were too many for her to deal with.

“Hold on!” Flow pulled her break, skidding to a halt before the zombies before speeding away from them.

“This will take us back to the beasts.”

“We’re taking a scenic route!” With the beasts up ahead, Flow broke hard and zoomed down an empty ally, shooting out the other end into a backlot, running over a zombie with her momentum. She hit the ignition and sped through the open road onto the old high street where they had crossed before. Zombies and beasts were already there, engaged in their usual hunter and prey terf war.

“Ready?” Flow said, channeling her power through her hands.

“This is unbelievably reckless.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Flow hit the ignition again, moving like a rocket through the collapsed cars, doing her best to avoid the beasts that attempted to pounce her. Occasionally, she would throw out shards of her power, freezing several of the beasts. With a new entrance to the slipway ahead, Flow drew her pistol, firing on the lunging beasts.

“There is an obstruction ahead!” Clive pointed out the debris that blocked the junction.

“No problem,” With a smirk hidden by her helmet, Flow sped the speeder as fast as she could towards the obstruction, pulling off before reaching the junction, blasting off a fallen sign laid on a broken car. With the momentum caring her wayward speeder, the vehicle crossed over the distance, slamming onto the old highway, scraping against a destroyed car as they zoomed away. The old colony city of Helos became smaller and smaller as they fled, the sun beginning to set beneath, obscured by the five skyscrapers casting long shadows across the farmland.

“We made it,” Clive sighed with relief. “Mom will be giving you a stern lecture when we make it back.”

“I’m sure she will.”