NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 6: Next Plans.
September 2184. Bunker 02.
Roughly an hour had passed since the grim discovery of the mound of flesh and bone. Many SEAF members felt an instinctive urge to abandon the bunker, but Jason's orders kept them focused. They began setting up floodlights, generators, and cables around the room. Further investigation was necessary before they could move on, hoping to uncover more clues about what had transpired.
"Sir, found something else at the far end of the room. You need to see this," one of the SEAF soldiers called out.
While most of the team worked on setting up equipment, others performed sweeps throughout the bunker. Jason approached the soldier, still unsettled by the grotesque mound behind him.
"What have you got?" Jason asked.
"Another oddity... on top of everything else," the soldier replied, gesturing toward a ventilation duct. "There's a perfectly round hole carved into it. No signs of melting or tearing—just a clean cut like something simply removed that section."
Jason examined the duct, sweeping his flashlight across its edges. "No laser marks, no debris on the floor... whatever did this, it was precise. Too precise."
"What are your orders?" the soldier asked.
"Find a ladder. Get up there and take a look inside, but if you hear or see anything suspicious, pull back immediately," Jason ordered.
"Understood, sir. Honestly, this place gives me the creeps."
"I hear you," Jason said. "We'll dig a little deeper, but then we're getting the hell out of here."
As Jason returned to the mound, the rest of the team had laid out tools, preparing to investigate further. He picked up a power saw and approached the grotesque mass. With the saw humming to life, he began cutting into the mound. Blood, muscle fibers, and shards of bone sprayed out, splattering onto the floor and his suit. After several agonizing moments, he finished the cut and set the saw down.
Next, Jason grabbed a pry bar, wedging it into the incision. With a series of wet, sickening tears, he pried the mound open. The sight was beyond revolting, but he pushed his arm into the opening, groping for anything solid amidst the viscera. His fingers brushed something hard and cold—an object.
"Come on… make this whole thing worth it," he muttered, pulling out a bloodstained ID card. "Got something! Looks like an ID."
Meanwhile, at the far end of the room, another SEAF soldier had found a ladder. He and a comrade inspected the ventilation duct, running their fingers along the smooth, flawless edges.
"This vent's completely clean—like the metal was just... erased," one soldier commented, peering inside with his flashlight.
"Any signs of what might've done this?" the second soldier asked.
"None. No burns, no damage. It's as if that part of the vent simply vanished," the first replied, shaking his head.
"Alright, get back down here. I think we've found all we can in this place," Jason ordered, still holding the bloodied ID card.
As the soldier climbed down, Jason gathered the team. "Everyone, report in. Are we ready to pack up and move out?"
One by one, reports came through the radio.
"Living quarters are clear. Nothing in the nightstands or under the mattresses."
"Food storage is empty—just a lot of spoiled supplies."
"Office sweep complete. Nothing new here."
With the last reports in, Jason gave the order. "Alright, pack up. We're heading to the city's communication hub. There might still be hard copies of information left, like those papers we found earlier."
As they prepared to leave, Jason stepped outside the bunker into the frigid air. He keyed in a command on his wrist device, tossing a beacon onto the ground. Moments later, a supply pod crashed down, ejecting rows of oxygen tanks. SEAF members emerged from the APC, loading fresh tanks onto the vehicle.
"Any luck finding the communication hub?" Jason asked over the radio.
"Eagle 3 here. I spotted a bunch of dishes on top of a building near the city center. Could be what you're looking for. Be advised, though—I'm picking up some odd signals on the radio," the Eagle pilot responded.
"Roger that, Eagle 3. We're on our way to investigate. Keep us posted," Jason replied.
With the tanks secured, the team climbed back into the APC, navigating through the snow and debris. They headed towards the heart of the city, where more secrets awaited within the communication hub.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.