4 Echoes of Evolution
The Armory was cold, its steel and concrete surfaces holding an eerie chill despite the chaos outside. Rows of firearms and stacked ammunition crates served as an austere backdrop to Jameson's introspection. Fluorescent lights overhead cast sterile illumination, reflecting off the glass cases of specialized weaponry.
Standing amidst this arsenal, Jameson felt the weight of his Evolution Points, a latent power derived from the T-Virus's interaction with his unique genetic code. He pondered how best to channel this potential, each stat representing a path to survival, a potential edge in the relentless horror of his circumstances.
"Strength is a force multiplier," he contemplated, "but is it essential now?"
Guns, bullets, the distant roars of infected - these thoughts informed his decision-making.
Perception, while valuable, was overshadowed by the near-omniscient presence of the Red Queen in his journey.
Endurance beckoned him the most, like a siren's call amidst a stormy sea. The trials he had already endured, the challenges he knew lay ahead; all screamed for a body that could withstand more, recover faster, endure longer. He poured his points into this.
Agility was next. Every enhanced reflex, each minute increase in speed could be the difference between life and death.
And with his remaining points, a touch more Strength – the raw, primal allure of it was hard to resist.
As he made his choices, his body revolted. It was as if every cell was aflame, a transformative fire coursing through him, reshaping, redefining. Muscles spasmed, bones ached as if they were stretching, and his very nerves felt like they were being rewired. The sensation was a paradox of agony and elation.
Crumpling to his knees amidst the cold steel and concrete, he clung to a stack of ammo crates, every breath drawn like a dying gasp.
The ethereal voice of the Red Queen punctured the haze of his pain, "...Remarkable. Your body's response to the T-Virus is... unprecedented. Instead of annihilation, it seeks adaptation. Evolution."
Gritting his teeth, sweat dripping from his brow, he tried to find his voice. But the immense strain rendered him momentarily mute.
"Most humans, when infected, succumb to its destructive power. Yet in you, it's reverting to its original intent — as a regenerative, healing force," the Red Queen observed, voice tinged with a mixture of fascination and clinical detachment. "The T-Virus, in its inception, was meant for medical marvels, reviving dead cells, fighting off degeneration. The destructive mutations were unintended consequences."
Eyes clenched shut, Jameson's mind raced, seeking an anchor amidst this physiological storm. "Hold on," he silently urged himself, "Endure."
As the most intense waves of pain began to ebb, Jameson slowly pushed himself upright. He was still in the Armory, still in the midst of a nightmare, but he was undeniably stronger, faster, more resilient.
Drawing a shuddering breath, he finally spoke, voice hoarse, "Red Queen, guide me."
he Red Queen's voice, cold and methodical, responded, "Two critical areas within close proximity require security: a former office space and the lab.
Additionally, you must cross through the cafeteria — stay alert. Eliminate the infected and ensure the safety of any valuable research or assets."
Quest Issued: Secure Critical Areas
The Red Queen wants you to secure some areas that contain critical research. You don't really think it's a priority, but it's probably a bad idea to let zombies spread it all around willy-nilly.
Objective 1: Secure the office area.
Objective 2: Pass through the cafeteria.
Objective 3: Secure the datacenter.
Reward: ???, 500 EP
Jameson nodded to himself, mentally preparing for the task at hand.
The corridor ahead was dim, its overhead lights emitting a faint, stuttering glow that painted an eerie atmosphere on the scene below. From what he could decipher, it seemed to be the remnants of an office or workstation. There were overturned chairs, desks askew with personal belongings strewn about, and the flickering light of shattered computer screens casting ghostly reflections. Papers, some stained with unknown substances, fluttered in the soft breeze created by the facility's ventilation system. Each shadow and subtle movement suggested evidence of a hasty evacuation or perhaps a chaotic struggle.
As Jameson moved cautiously, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet, he tried to picture the people who once worked here. Were they still in the facility, roaming as one of the infected? The hum of the ventilation and his own heartbeat seemed almost deafening in the silence.
Suddenly, that stillness was shattered. Four figures detached themselves from the darker recesses of the corridor. Their eyes were vacant, their movements disjointed, yet determined. The infected. They shuffled amidst the office detritus, oblivious to the memories they trampled underfoot.
Instinctively, Jameson drew his firearm. Its weight felt reassuring in his grasp. With a steady breath, he aimed and squeezed the trigger. The resultant bang echoed sharply, but the bullet did nothing more than graze a zombie's shoulder. A rookie mistake, he chastised himself.
The gunshot acted as a beacon, the zombies turning their full attention to him. Not waiting, he took another shot, feeling a rush of relief as one infected crumpled, its forehead marred by the entry wound.
[Headshot! +20 EP]
But there wasn't time to celebrate. The other three were upon him, driven by a hunger that seemed to amplify their speed. With no room to aim his gun properly, Jameson swiftly stowed it and readied his baton. He swung it wide, connecting with one of the infected, feeling the satisfying thud of impact. But as he did, another lunged, catching him off guard. Sharp, ragged teeth sank into his upper arm, tearing through fabric and into flesh.
Pain seared through him. "Damn it!" he spat, adrenaline and fear sharpening his reflexes. He shoved the creature away, landing a brutal blow to its head with the baton, watching as it staggered backward before collapsing.
[-20 HP. Current HP: 170/190]
Using the momentum, he quickly dispatched the remaining two, panting heavily once it was over. The scent of decay and iron-filled blood filled the air, a grim testament to his fight.
Dropping to one knee, he inspected the bite, his mind racing. "Is this it? Am I going to turn?"
From the recesses of the computer network, the Red Queen's voice emerged, detached as ever. "Do not be overly concerned. The strain within you has already adapted. Further mutations from this bite are highly improbable."
Nodding to himself, he took a deep breath, the weight of the challenge still ahead pressing down on him.
[Total EP Gained: 50. Current EP: 161]
"Guide me, Red Queen," he murmured, steeling himself as he moved deeper into the unknown.
With the initial encounter behind him, Jameson pressed on. The corridor opened up into a larger hallway lined with what looked like meeting rooms. Each glass-walled room held a different tableau of the disaster. In one, a whiteboard still displayed scribbles of a last-minute meeting. In another, a long-dead potted plant stood as a silent testament to time's passage.
His footsteps echoed in the silent expanse, the sound unnervingly loud in the stillness. The cool air of the facility felt sterile, yet the weight of the unseen and known horrors tainted it. Occasionally, he'd pass a security camera, the red light indicating the ever-watchful eye of the Red Queen upon him. Her presence was simultaneously reassuring and unsettling.
"Stay on your guard," the Red Queen's voice whispered in his ear, its ethereal quality cutting through the silence.
The hallway soon expanded into a vast cafeteria area. Stale odors of long-forgotten meals intermingled with the more pungent scent of decay. Abandoned trays, overturned chairs, and remnants of chaotic evacuations painted a grim picture. It was eerie, like a photograph frozen in the midst of turmoil.
Suddenly, soft, disturbing murmurs filled the air. Positioned near a food counter, three zombies appeared, ensnared in a nightmarish replay of a once normal activity. With barely a heartbeat to react, Jameson lifted his shotgun. Understanding the weapon's spread, he took aim and fired once, the powerful blast catching all three infected.
[Triple Headshot! +60 EP]
The sudden deafening roar of the shotgun echoed through the room, and as the dust settled, all three bodies lay motionless on the ground. But victory was short-lived. Out of a side kitchen entrance, another infected lunged. Without time for a clear shot, Jameson quickly switched to his knife, dispatching the creature in a swift motion.
[+10 EP]
"You really ought to warn me about these things," he said, a touch of exasperation in his voice.
The Red Queen replied, her tone icily calm, "Contrary to your belief, I don't have every corner under constant surveillance."
Jameson grunted, realizing the truth of her words. But every moment was a lesson, and he was adapting, evolving, just as the virus within him had.
Having calmed down, both from exertion and the adrenaline coursing through him. He took a moment to reorient himself, listening carefully for any other surprises.
Catching his breath, Jameson glanced around. "Is this the research location?"
A brief pause, then the Red Queen responded, her voice tinged with a cold, mechanical amusement, "Yes, because mankind's survival depends on half-eaten sandwiches and cold coffee. No, Mr. Jameson, you need to press on."
As Jameson checked the ammo in his shotgun, he realized his shots were becoming more precise, more lethal. The experience from these confrontations was refining his aim, teaching him the nuances of firearm combat.
Novice Firearm Proficiency – Level 1
The user begins their journey in mastering firearms, learning the basics of aiming, reloading, and maintaining guns.
Level 1: Increases firearm accuracy by 5%.
This skill not only made him more effective with guns, but it also reflected the knowledge he had acquired: where to aim for maximum effect, how to manage recoil, and when to squeeze the trigger for optimal shot placement.
Taking a moment to appreciate the unexpected levity and his newfound skill, Jameson ventured deeper into the Hive, every step echoing with purpose.
[Total EP Gained: 70. Current EP: 231]
He pressed on, keenly aware that every step taken was a step into the unpredictable, where danger lurked in every shadow.
Jameson's path led him through another desolate corridor, its walls marked by deep claw gashes and splatters of dried blood. Faintly glowing emergency lights lined the pathway, casting eerie shadows on the cold floor. The silence was profound, broken only by the distant hum of machinery.
The entrance to a high-tech data center beckoned. The room was vast, dominated by towering servers and mainframes. Their blinking lights created a ghostly spectacle, reminiscent of a cybernetic graveyard. The Hive's immense databanks were housed here. The critical research must be amongst these servers.
Yet, this technological marvel wasn't deserted.
He spotted three zombies meandering amidst the servers. One, however, was slightly isolated from the others. Recognizing an opportunity, Jameson quickly and quietly approached this solitary figure from behind. Before it could react, he delivered a swift and lethal headshot.
[Stealth Kill! Headshot! +40 EP]
But as he shifted his focus to the other two, a sudden grip on his arm startled him. A fourth zombie had managed to sneak up on him. Reacting instinctively, Jameson drew his knife and thrust it into the creature's temple.
The remaining two, having been alerted by the brief struggle, started advancing towards him. Gun in one hand and baton in the other, he chose the more immediate threat and cracked his baton against the skull of the nearest zombie. The first blow dazed it, and the second brought it down.
The final creature lunged with outstretched arms, its grotesque face inches from Jameson's. But he was ready. With a swift pivot, he sidestepped the attack, following up with a forceful baton strike to its head, rendering it motionless.
[+30 EP for the remaining kills. Current EP: 301]
Catching his breath, Jameson addressed the AI. "Red Queen, is this area secure?"
"For the moment, yes," the AI replied in its cold tone.
