Camping Ch 10

 

The squelching noise was annoying as they proceeded down the corridor. The farther they went the worse it got. Joon lifted his foot and a bunch of slimy vegetation came with it. 

"Eww," said Maia. 

"This stuff smells awful," Joon agreed. 

The corridor was covered with it- the floor and walls too. Strange vegetation, vines twisting about, even noisome growths dripping from the ceiling. 

His communit crackled to life. 

"Joon. Status." Stella this time. 

"We're still moving. The direction you said." 

"Good." 

"This weird plant stuff is getting weirder, though." 

"I'm not concerned with plants. I just need you to get where we are."

"We're working on it." 

"Also. Update. I'm told that we are near to retaking the ops center. Security tells me most of the Sasquatches have been killed, save for isolated ones running around the complex." 

"Good. How about casualties?"

"Well, that's not good. We've had a lot. As Mallory has indicated whole areas have been compromised. The network is offline, whole areas we have no insight."

"I haven't seen many staff in this area." 

"No, you're in an unoccupied sector for the most part. A maintenance area, far from Habitation." 

"Well, we're gonna try to get there." 

"Also, if ops is secured we need to get the Gate under control. And secure any other... specimens that may have gotten loose." 

"That sounds rather... unsettling."

"I really need you here, Joon."

"Roger. On the way." 

"Alrighty."

As the comm went quiet Joon noticed that Maia was a ways behind. Turning back he could see she was taking a close look at some of the muck. 

"Be careful there," he advised. 

"Yeah, just wanted a closer peek. Some of this stuff... moves."

"I noticed that," he said uneasily. 

"Let's get out of this area," she agreed. 

They moved a little faster, or as much as they could considering. The way ahead was choked with vegetation. 

How could all this be here? 

The squelching continued and now there were... things flying in the air. Butterflies? No, they looked more like mud wasps, or flying... muck things. 

They really needed to get out of there. 

There was an intersection ahead. As they hastened towards it one of the vines shot out and coiled around Joon. Maia shrieked and narrowly avoided one aimed at her. Joon struggled and twisted as the vine tightened its grip. Maia kicked and punched at it- all the vines in the area were getting quite agitated now- and then she had an idea. 

"Joon. Your lighter."

"My what?"

"Quick!"

He could reach his pocket so he fished his lighter out even as he fought back panic. Handing it to her, he watched as she flicked it on near the source of the vine. Other vines were thrashing around her now, and there was a hissing sound. 

"Quickly," he advised. 

The vine twitched, tightening its grip, then suddenly released it. Joon immediately grabbed Maia's arm and they ran into the intersection, looking both ways. 

"This way," Maia chose left. 

They pounded through several twists and turns before leaving the vegetated areas behind. Collapsing on the floor to catch their breath, Joon heard Mallory on the comm. 

"Are you drunk?"

Joon didn't reply. 

"We're monitoring you and you're all over the place."

"Well, I just got attacked by killer plants, so..."

"You sound out of breath."

Joon sighed in exasperation. 

"Anyway, killer plants."

"Is this more of your dimensional instability?"

"Probably. Some samples must have got loose, or whatever... will have to check with Hydroponics. Or Xeno. You know, when this is over it's going to be wild to go around and just see what's where." 

"Fascinating. Any chance you can tell us which way to go?"

"Let's see... where are you. Oh, wow. You're heading deeper into the maintenance areas. Go back, then left, then... straight for 3 clicks. There should be a lift tube there that will get you back to populated areas. Oh, and you're by the cooling area too!"

"That's where we came from, Mallory."

"Really? Well, how did you end up where you are, then? Never mind. Let me know when you get to the lift." 

"I like her," Maia said. 

Joon just glared.