Chapter 3: The Pseudo-Ecosystem
Dr. Kleiner sat impatiently on the edge of a wooden table, one of many scattered about the old mess hall where he and several other soldiers occupied. Banks walked up to him saying “once your escort comes, we’ll start infiltrating the tunnels beneath the military base.”
“Good”, Kleiner said distantly. He then made a nearly imperceptible gesture towards the group of soldiers standing near the narrow entrance. “Are those what I think they are”?. Kleiner whispered to Banks, who nodded slowly. “Clones”, he said, more of a statement than an answer. “Why do you think most of our resistance fighters are engaged in City 17?. The abundant water supply that surrounds it makes them in their element. They can camouflage themselves with the environment, change their appearances, all with a mere thought as long as they are near this substance, amazing eh?.”
“Yes, quite so”. Dr. Kleiner answered. There was something that was puzzling him, but he did not know what. When his escort arrived, a man named Dante, they then preceded into the cavernous tunnels that lead to the Combine settlement. Dante was a mysterious man, who preferred to keep to himself, only speaking when it was required of him. He was a native of Jamaica, the circumstances that explained his involvement with the resistance here, remained vague. The soldiers quietly traversed the water-drenched tunnels, obviously weary of what they might encounter.
Shots rang out up ahead, and Kleiner covered his ears as the clone soldiers returned fire. They had no doubt ran up against resistance, the Combine no doubt. Kleiner wearily followed the soldiers, keeping a safe distance from the ensuing battle. A splashing sound from behind alerted him, and he came face to face with a combine soldier. Just as the soldier raised his weapon to Kleiner’s head, a light whipping sound resonated in his ears, and a fat, blue tentacle lashed off the soldier’s head, wrapping another one of its tentacles around its still writhing body.
The clone soldier next to him did not even fire his weapon, seemingly unafraid of the towering tentacle looming above them. A few seconds passed, and the tentacle merely submerged itself again into the liquid depths. Banks cam up next to him. “Another advantage, our soldiers are immune to alien attacks.”
Kleiner raised his eyebrows. Something was not right. It was as if the alien and human synergy was planned by something, or someone. He was hoping that whatever they discovered in the Combine “hive” would provide at least some answers.
Dr. Kleiner sat impatiently on the edge of a wooden table, one of many scattered about the old mess hall where he and several other soldiers occupied. Banks walked up to him saying “once your escort comes, we’ll start infiltrating the tunnels beneath the military base.”
“Good”, Kleiner said distantly. He then made a nearly imperceptible gesture towards the group of soldiers standing near the narrow entrance. “Are those what I think they are”?. Kleiner whispered to Banks, who nodded slowly. “Clones”, he said, more of a statement than an answer. “Why do you think most of our resistance fighters are engaged in City 17?. The abundant water supply that surrounds it makes them in their element. They can camouflage themselves with the environment, change their appearances, all with a mere thought as long as they are near this substance, amazing eh?.”
“Yes, quite so”. Dr. Kleiner answered. There was something that was puzzling him, but he did not know what. When his escort arrived, a man named Dante, they then preceded into the cavernous tunnels that lead to the Combine settlement. Dante was a mysterious man, who preferred to keep to himself, only speaking when it was required of him. He was a native of Jamaica, the circumstances that explained his involvement with the resistance here, remained vague. The soldiers quietly traversed the water-drenched tunnels, obviously weary of what they might encounter.
Shots rang out up ahead, and Kleiner covered his ears as the clone soldiers returned fire. They had no doubt ran up against resistance, the Combine no doubt. Kleiner wearily followed the soldiers, keeping a safe distance from the ensuing battle. A splashing sound from behind alerted him, and he came face to face with a combine soldier. Just as the soldier raised his weapon to Kleiner’s head, a light whipping sound resonated in his ears, and a fat, blue tentacle lashed off the soldier’s head, wrapping another one of its tentacles around its still writhing body.
The clone soldier next to him did not even fire his weapon, seemingly unafraid of the towering tentacle looming above them. A few seconds passed, and the tentacle merely submerged itself again into the liquid depths. Banks cam up next to him. “Another advantage, our soldiers are immune to alien attacks.”
Kleiner raised his eyebrows. Something was not right. It was as if the alien and human synergy was planned by something, or someone. He was hoping that whatever they discovered in the Combine “hive” would provide at least some answers.
