WC1 day 1 "red"

Story by Rookthebunwolf on SoFurry

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#1 of Writing challenge attempt 1

Day 1 of my first attempt at a 30 day writing challenge. Theme "Red"


Originally uploaded January 14th 2016:

A long while back, i set myself up on a writing challenge. go a month, writing a new story every day, (500 words on days i worked, 1000 words son days i was off) with a theme given to me by my friend ? gothicvixen-autumn during this time, I banned myself from any videogames and computer, limiting myself to books and skype mobile to chat with friends on occasion.

although I failed the challenge, I decided to upload my work here now. Some of them are good, some of them are.. not good. some of them are finished, some are works in progress. comes with the territory I suppose. as always, constructive criticism is always welcome <3

Day 1: theme "Red"

Valkyrie slowly descended to the surface of Mars. A fresh polish made its silver paint beam reflections of the red planets surface every which way.

Twelve feet unfurled from its lower half, landing gear engaging just before it dropped the last few feet. Dirt and debris blew up around the cruiser. A door began to compress upwards, while a ramp to the surface unfurled.

Fresh air from the ships interior landing bay froze when it mated with the red planets frigid air. Following that, three armored space suits stepped down the ramp. The imposing black colors of the gear, mixed with the faint blue glow of the gauss powered rifles slung over their shoulders made for an imposing sight amongst the barren landscape of the red dust.

"Chief, wasn't that downed cruiser supposed to be here?" Came a question from the member with a blue stripe. Radio static flickered through every word, strong interference of the planets atmosphere riddled their vox casters.

The leader of the group nodded his head, a silver stripe down his black mask. "It's beacon was projecting from here just earlier today. It probably got covered by a dust storm is all"

The third member of the party, wearing a brown stripe, glanced around nervously. "What if some other crew got here first? Or what if its some sort of bandits or aliens?" Even with the interference, his fear was obvious.

"Oh relax rookie. If a crew got here first they wouldn't have had it dismantled by now." The chief started, only to be cut off by the blue stripe "besides! What alien would set up here, theres no food or water anywhere outside the secured zones."

"Exactly!" The rookie panicked out "they found the crash, first fresh meat in who knows how long, well be next!"

The other two rolled their eyes, though it was invisible behind the helmets. "Hey captain, mind clearing some dust for us?" The chief radioed back to the valkyrie. A few seconds of silence passed before "got it" came back. Even more staticky than their personal casters. Shortly after, the engines of the valkyrie lit up, powerful streams of fuel exploded into the otherwise quiet air. Burning and blowing massive amounts of wind behind the ship. Dust sprayed out, abandoning its home on top of the abandoned cruiser. "That'll do captain!" The chief yelled, attempting to outdo the roar of the valkyries engine. Patiently the three dug their boots into the ground, until the engines ceased its powerful wail, and they were free to move again.

The ship was a hammerhead pattern, formerly military but now mostly served as a trade ship because its large head could contain massive amounts of freight.

"Told you rookie" blue stripe chuckled, giving a playful punch to his partners shoulder. But then stopped as the chief angrily leaned over them. "I mean.. Uh chief told you."

"Quit dicking around you two. We need to see if there is anything valuable in there before we get covered in dust again."

"You.. Sure nobody is alive in there?" The rookie again interrupted. Tightening his grip on the shoulder strap for his rifle.

"If anyone was alive in there, the distress beacon would still be projecting. Whoever was there isn't there anymore. Now relax. If you draw that gun on me ill put it up your ass" the chiefs demeanor became more of a snarl near the end of his statement.

The rookie tensed up nervously. Dropping his hand to his sides, obviously more scared of his chief than whatever the planet had to offer. "SIR!"

"Thats better." The chiefs toothy grin radiated even through the helmets anonymity.

The chief stepped forewards, taking point as he entered the ruined cruiser. Followed by blue, and then rookie "red dullahan" was emblazoned across the ships hull. "Odd.." Remarked rookie as he entered. But he quickly let the name slide.

Inside the ship, was an almost paralyzing black. The only source of light is the glow from the gauss rifles. "Flashlights on." The chief remarked, almost pointlessly as both the other members of the team had already began to flick on the head lamps. Bright beams of light flooded the long empty corridors of the ship.

"Ill take left, you and rookie take right" the chief boomed, pushing blue over to the right side of the corridor alongside rookie.

"Got it" they both yelled. The static inside the ship even stronger than it was out there. Every word just barely above the audible limit.

After they split, rookie and blue paced deeper into the ship. Crew quarters approaching quickly. Blue's nerves a stark contrast to rookie's constant urge to peer over his shoulder. "Crew quarters. If anyones alive itll be here." Blue smirked, nudging his partner. "Come on, lets explore. Sometimes people hide valuables in here." He continues, before pressing the button next to the door. Its green color turned to red, as the door shot open. Both of them lept back in disgust. Their headlamps lit up a room plastered with blood. Both of them ripped their rifles from their shoulders, thrown into a defensive stance. Like a fresh coat of uneven paint it still dripped off the ceiling and down the wall.

"Chief we need to get out of here!" Blue yelled over the vox caster; but the static absorbed every word into its abyss. Turning to make their exit, the formerly empty hallway was alive with bloody skinless figures, heads hanging below their shoulders like headless ghosts. Blue blasted his rifle into the hallway as both of them dove into the open door with little more than a silent prayer it was empty. Jamming the close door button just in time to see the beasts approaching.

The two slowly turned, surveying the room. Red decorated the once shiny walls, the skin of a crew member limply dangled off the bunk bed, but no living thing could be found.

Their hearts pounding out of their chests, they both clung to rifle and vox "Chief! Were trapped by some aliens or something, theres a dead guy in here and we need help!" But once again, the static drowned out his plea for help. Rookie silently clung to his rifle, terrified of when that door would open.

"We.. Our guns can kill them right..?" He panted. Blue shrugged "I don't know, I'm not a very good aim under pressure."

Rookie just nodded, silently hoping. The dripping of blood was the only sound to compete with each others breathing.

The chief aimlessly wandered about the ship, eyes wandering about for anything of value, until the loud bursting of a gauss rifle caught his ears. Quickly he turned around, to see several skinless humanoids barreling down the hall towards rookie and blue. He unslung his rifle only to be greeted by one more dropping from the ceiling infront of him. A gauss blast pulsed through the coils of his rifle, only to smear the beasts upper portions over the wall behind him. A silently scream escaped his mouth as he darted away from the group of beasts, deeper into the ship. "Laboratory" was written over the door sign, that was far from chiefs eye as he ran inside.

Once inside he slammed the more traditional door shut, flicking the lock behind him. Heavy breaths races out of his maw, as he turned to look inside. Dozens of skins without their internals hung from hooks, blood lined every wall, vials and beakers overflowed with unknown liquids.