INFESTATION OF TORIA PART III (Based on the Infestation RPG)
The group was moving again before dawn, with Matt in the lead once again. They were almost out of the 4A area, because about 200 yards away was the boundary pole. Once they were out of this mountainous area, things would get difficult for the five.
“So what will we do about supplies?” Michael asked.
“That’s the least of our worries,” Matt replied. “We’ll most likely be dead before we even need supplies.”
Michael nodded. He knew his fate, even if he didn’t like it.
“What the hell was that,” James said alarmed. They all stopped. There was a loud roar not far away.
“It sounds like an Ultralisk,” Zack observed.
“That’s because it is,” Matt told them. “We’ll have to take cover behind some large rocks when we reach those poles.”
There was another roar, and then the five former inmates continued toward the boundary. When they reached the pole, they did as they planned; they hid behind some large rocks. When they peered over the rocks they saw something that startled them. The largest Ultralisk that all of them had ever seen. It was double the size of a normal Ultralisk.
It walked around the inner perimeter of a wide, flat desert plain surrounded by tall, steep mountains. Large boulders lay in sections of the plain. Several Terran bodies lay around the plain as well, and most of them had body parts no longer in tact. On the other side of the plain was an exit, which Matt guessed was the way Captain Williams had taken. A path that had been easy travel, but covered with Zerg.
“How can we get around that monster?” James asked. There was no reply.
At least, the Ultralisk was the only Zerg around. Matt was overlooking the area and found something interesting. There was a spot of the mountain on the right that was climbable.
“Look,” Matt said quietly and pointed to the climbable spot. “We can try to climb that to escape it.”
“Will it even be possible to reach it?” Kyle asked.
“We don’t have a choice,” Matt replied. “When that Ultralisk reaches the other side of the plain, run for it.”
“It’s too far,” James said. He was ignored. The others were peering intently at the Ultralisk. It roared once more before it reached its point. James felt a drop of sweat roll down his forehead, and he looked down at his hands and saw they were shaking. The rifle strapped behind his back felt heavier. The Ultralisk took a few more steps. Nobody moved.
At least it won’t be fast, he thought. It reassured him a bit.
The Ultralisk took one last step, and without warning, Matt jumped over his hiding place and ran for the spot they were planning to climb. acting with quick reflexes despite his size. The others did the same a second later, James trailing in the back. When the Ultralisk noticed them it roared with rage and charged them. It moved faster then they had anticipated.
“Damn it’s fast!” Zack shouted.
The Ultralisk was already halfway to them. Matt, who was about 15 feet in front of the others, reached the spot and began to quickly climb. The others reached it a moment later and began to climb. The Ultralisk was close.
Matt was climbing with quick speed, and was already more then halfway up. He tore the right sleeve of his prison uniform on a sharp rock, but he paid no attention to it. The adrenaline rushing through his body made him ignore everything but the mountain he was climbing and the giant Ultralisk.
James looked down and saw that the Ultralisk was below them. One leap could have taken all but Matt out. James closed his eyes expecting the end, but instead heard a rifle shot and the loud roar of the Ultralisk.
“Climb faster you damned fools!” a voice on the top of the flat mountain shouted.
James opened his eyes and saw the Ultralisk circling in confusion. He gulped and began to climb again. Matt made it over first and soon the others made it. James saw someone he didn’t expect. Captain Williams. His face was pale and he had a large slash mark on his side.
“Glad to see someone had the brains to climb that,” Captain Williams said and fell to the ground with a loud thump! He had fainted.
***
Captain Williams awoke again facing the rocky ceiling of a cave. His vision was blurry and his head hurt. His gray cap with the Confederate insignia of Captain rest beside him. He looked at his wound and saw a bandage over it. He sat up and then slowly stood up, feeling his head throb the whole time. He looked around and saw someone sitting in the right corner.
“Welcome back, Captain,” Kyle said. He didn’t even bother to get up.
“Where am I?” Williams asked confused. His vision was beginning to clear.
“In a cave not far from where you fainted,” Kyle answered.
“I see,” he said, and then asked, “how’d I faint?”
“Loss of blood. You must’ve forgotten about your med kit,” Kyle told him and slowly stood himself up. He felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg. He had cut it while climbing the mountain, and he knew he’d have a limp for the rest of his life.
“I guess so,” Williams said and picked up his cap. He put it on. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Outside. You had some cigarettes on you.”
Captain Williams nodded. “I see.”
He then walked toward the canister rifle leaning against the wall and picked it up. He checked its ammo and then slung it over his shoulder. He nodded toward Kyle’s rifle leaning against the opposite wall. “How much is in that thing?”
“Only half,” Kyle told him.
“It won’t be enough.”
“I know.”
The both of them left the cave to meet with the others.
***
Captain Williams was the only able to look at Matt face to face. Williams, whose first name was Thomas, was 34 years old. Williams had served the Confederacy well, and had received several awards and medals, along with achieving the rank of Captain. After years of battling Zerg and Terran alike, he was sent to the prison world of Toria. Williams had been disappointed about this, but even more disappointed when he found out Prison 4A was a small outside prison, which was mainly used to hold soldiers, which is why he had had so many at the time.
Like many good men in the Confederacy, he never got what he deserved.
“Good to see you’re still alive,” Matt said when he saw him.
“Perhaps,” Williams replied.
Matt blew smoke out of his mouth and pointed to a rocky wall on the right. “Over that thing are several Zerg colonies. Now, we are in desperate need of supplies and new clothing. I believe there are supply depots on the other side.”
Williams nodded in agreement. “There are.”
“It’ll take hours to go around the Zerg, and by then we’d be dead of dehydration.”
“So the only is to go through them,” Williams said. It wasn’t a question.
“Exactly.”
“At least our deaths will be quicker if we don’t make it,” Zack said. The others agreed.
***
When they were over the wall, they ran fifteen feet and fell onto their stomachs, rifles set beside them. They peered over cautiously. The entire area below was full of Sunken and Spore colonies, with purple creep covering the desert floor. There were large groups of Zerglings and Hydralisks to the right of the colonies, where there was still desert sand.
“Hell, I don’t know if I can do this,” James said. “I almost pissed my pants over that Ultralisk.”
“And I have a bad limp,” Kyle added. Even because of his leg, he wasn’t scared a bit.
Matt estimated the distance to the other side, “It’s about 300 yards.”
“It’s too far,” Kyle said.
“I’m sorry, but we won’t be able to wait for you,” Matt said. “Just avoid the spines coming from the Sunken colonies.”
Williams, who was growing impatient, spoke up. “We better go while we have the chance.”
“Yes we should,” Matt agreed, and then: “Run like hell. All of you.”
They picked up their rifles and climbed down the wall. They landed on the strange feeling creep and did just that. They ran like hell.
