The Sentinel Fulcrum, 18: Now or Never
04 Jan 2022Meowers
I had only a few seconds to prepare and take aim. Still full of adrenaline boost, my blood was hot, heart was racing like it's no tomorrow and reflexes were lightning fast. Abomination breached the sturdy bridge door of Creamy's Anaconda, smashing its self against the door, knowing it would break it down. Powerful limbs punctured the thick bulkheads and pushed them apart. More limbs forced their way through the gap, wedging it open, splitting, and making a shield against my weapon. Doors had been pulled apart as if it were a plastic food container. The creature looked different now, as if it had grown new limbs and tendrils like a plant. Fleshy flowers bloomed all over it, quivering and oozing greenish-yellow puss or huffing out dust.
However, I knew what to do.
"Die", I said calmly, completely prepared to what I may see behind that door. And I pulled the trigger, unleashing another stream of plasma.
Does this thing even feel any pain at all? Plasma rounds were bombarding the creature, tearing the limbs off and leaving deep, horrific wounds. Thin air was filled with the green blood and flesh of the monster, liquids were gushing off, and bright flashes of pure heat and energy, one after another, were marking my successful hits. But... It was moving forward. Glowing stronger and stronger, regenerating what was lost, covering the body with regrowing limbs and tentacles. Was that..flower thing on the torso its..heart? Or whatever?
I had two options... First was trying to stop it, constantly suppressing the regeneration, firing short bursts to rip any new limbs away and then waiting for a second while it stands still. And the second was more radical, squeezing the trigger until plasma barrage punches a see-through hole in its chest. But..will it be fatal? No idea. And I'll spend all my ammo doing this...
And then that tentacle. I thought it was the most usual one and the mutant will cover its body with it.. But then it..straightened, facing me. And a bolt of energy flashed through the bridge, grazing my left shoulderpad and hitting the control console. Crap..that was bad. Pilot seat wasn't a good cover. I've reacted quickly, aimed at it and blasted the thing away.. But that time was enough for the creature to move a few feet forward.
"We got problems here. This thing shoots back. How are you there?"
I hope comms are still working. If this thing is able to..mutate, creating a ranged weapon against me... It also could know that we're using comm devices to talk in that thin atmosphere. And suppress our communications. Who knows what it might do? Damn... What was that?!
The thing convulsed and a pod was ejected from a tube-like appendage in its torso. Yellow energy followed it. The pod was too fast to aim properly, my shots missed it, hitting the creature's body, and then it was too late. The pod smashed, covering the seat I was hiding behind in gore that smoked while the yellow lighting burned and melted its surface. Damn it, the seat was my only possible cover on the bridge. And Creamy was right behind me, trying to detach his COVAS unit. And if I move, he will certainly die. If I don't move..you may guess.
Shoot. Just shoot that thing, Ina. Keep firing, dammit!