FSE

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Shattered

Chapter VI

Fox and Slippy exited the blue-marine once they entered the hanger. With haste they made way to the bridge. They walked in to see Miyu, Fay, and the others sitting waiting for them. "Okay Fox what in the world is going on?" Miyu demanded her long ears flicking in annoyance.

"In an effort to save time I will shorten the story. Yesterday we were running a security gig at Beltino industries. He was testing a teleporter. Something went wrong and an alien from another reality appeared. His name was Alexander. He told a tragic story of his peoples destruction. Since he was a soldier I asked him to join starfox. He had nothing left so he agreed. That's about it you heard the rest."

"What's a marker?" Fay asked.

"Something very bad." Fox didn't want to worry them with something like that just yet.

"I wish we could see what he's doing!" Falco shouted. "That way he could have some sort of support. We should be their Fox he shouldn't have to do this alone."

"He didn't want us to get hurt Falco unfortunately I have to agree with him. We don't know how to handle this. We could easily been more a hinderance then help."

"Uh fox, we can see what he's doing." Slippy muttered.

"How?"

"When I patted him on the back I planted a bug that could interface with his suits audio and video system. Although it is only one way." He explained sheepishly.

"Well then what are you waiting for turn it on!" Falco exclaimed. They all agreed with Falco's sentiment.

Slippy hurriedly accessed the huge monitor in the room.

Interfacing with suit 10%, 20%, 30%... It went on until it reached one hundred.

Initializing connection.....connection established.

The screen then lit up to reveal a long bloody corridor. The point of view was from Alexander's helmet. He was slowly walking along the corridor sweeping his rifle around. He was visibly shaking the light and reticles shivered in the dark.

---

It was worse then he thought. There were no bodies. This meant that A-the survivors fled and took their fallen with them. Or B-they had already converted into necromorphs. Neither theory boded well for him or the survivors, if there were any. As he walked down the corridors he could hear chattering in the vents and slick slithering. They were close. Strangely they kept their distance. This made Alexander very curios. Every time he's fought them they had suicidely charged into his gunfire.

Suddenly a vent exploded next to him. He whipped his gun around to face it. Nothing came out. Hesitantly he walked up to it. He peered in, there was nothing but darkness. Puzzled he slowly backed away and continued his search. First he would try to find any survivors. Considering there were any and he could find them and make sure they could hold out long enough for the next part of his plan. Second he would need to find the marker and interface with it. Then he could destroy it from within.

BLAM BLAM BLAM

Blaster fire! Alexander rushed to the noise. Barely paying heed to his surroundings. A few minutes later he found the source. Slumped against a wall at an intersection was a tiger. His armor was shredded and whatever had done this to him was long gone. Wasting little time he rushed to the tigers aide. "Sir can you here me!" He shouted.

"Y-yes."

"What happened?" Alexander was desperately trying to staunch his bleeding. It was hopeless blood was flowing out of a dozen cuts and slashes.

"B-bastard p-p-popped out of nowhere. *cough* got em good but it still bolted."

"I'm sorry I was too late." Alexander said sadly.

The tiger grabbed Alexander's chest plate and pulled him close. "T-there was a k-kid with me, a little wolf pup *cough* f-find her."

"I will, I promise."

"F-f-find h....The tigers head slowly lowered to his chest. He was gone.

With a sigh Alexander stood up. "May you find the rest you deserve." Alexander pulled up his inventory and grabbed an incendiary grenade. He set the timer and gently placed it on the deceased tigers chest and folded his paws over it. A minute later the corpse was bathed in cleansing fire.

Alexander briskly jogged away the flames behind him flickering in the darkness. He had to find that kid. Without warning something heavy collided into him from his left. He impacted the coinciding wall with a sickening crunch. Whatever it was it had wrapped around him. Acting quickly Alexander grabbed what the thing by the shoulders and bodily tossed it into the neighboring wall. The creature smashed into it and slid down slowly. That gave him enough time to get a good look at his new foe.

It was a horrendously mutated dog, a cocker spaniel. It's jaw had distended an extra foot, and unnatural growth of teeth made it impossible for its mouth to close. It's fur was patched in places and the rest had fallen out. The decay was devastating. The thing was falling apart, but it still posed a serious threat. Which was obvious given the massive bladed arms sprouting out of its shoulders. It was dressed in the tatters of a lab coat. By some stroke of twisted luck it's id was still attached.

The now reanimated corpse of doctor Dustin Marlow was out for blood. It had recovered and lunged at him roaring in frustration at its thwarted attack. Alexander backpedaled across the floor while unloading his rifle into its legs. Dustin fell down and started to determinedly wiggle at him. Without hesitation he got up and walked over to the snarling corpse. He raised his right foot and stomped it into oblivion without a shred of remorse. Satisfied it was no longer going to hurt anyone he walked away.

---

What was that?" Miyu shouted. They all were speechless. It was one thing to see alien versions of these, but your own people put things into perspective. Now they all could truly grasp what it must have been like for him. And they weren't even the ones fighting these monsters!

"That was a necromorph." Fox answered finally.

"Dear god." Fay mumbled her mouth covered by her hands. "How can he do this alone?"

Krystal was the one to answer. "He does not want to endanger any of our lives so he went alone." Even though she could agree with his logic she was deathly afraid for him. He was such a nice guy. She didn't know what she would do if anything were to happen to him.

"Say what you want about him he's earned my respect." Falco said.

"He is indeed a man of great strength." Peppy concurred.

Although the women who were more perceptive could see the subtle shaking in his limbs as he searched the corridors for the missing kid. A vent burst in front of him and a necro fox leaped out. Alexander smashed it into the far wall with the butt of his gun sending the mutant corpse flying backwards. Then he emptied the entire clip into its corroded body. It was twitching as he reloaded. The beast was just about to start moving again when he finished. The now resupplied gun roared in retaliation as it sent supersonic 10mm caseless explosive tipped rounds into the crawling corpse. The necromorph practically dissolved under the relentless barrage of munitions. Once the room hallway had gone silent Alexander could faintly hear a small voice cry out in terror.

Zeroing in on the sound he quickly ran to its location. He found himself in a corridor where five necromorphs were pounding on a metal entrance marked dormitory. He could here the frightened young voice yelling "Go away! Leave me alone!" It looked like the creatures were seconds away from peeling the door open like a banana.

Alexander primed a fragmentation grenade and hurled, it connected with an armored bear necromorph. The thing stumbled from the force of the impact and nocked over its compatriots. The small explosive detonated showering the monsters in superheated shrapnel. Waisting no time he engaged the group blasting away with his rifle. The few seconds he bought for himself were vital.

The now confused necros tried to regroup, but he never gave them the chance. Mercilessly he cut them down as they futilely tried to get up. As he finished them off he felt a piercing white hot flash of pain in his thigh. He looked down to see a small barb sticking out. The perpetrator was the torso of the bear necro. The grenade had severed its torso and a collection of waiving tentacle like protrusions had burst out of the lower half.

Enraged Alexander ripped out the barb and threw it back, into the monsters face. This distraction was bad. The other surviving necromorph had finally broken through the door. He could hear screams coming from inside. Panicking he charged into the room. Hiding under a bed at the far end of the dormitory was a black wolf cub. An eagle necromorph was trying to reach under there with its smaller front arms. The kid was screaming and smacking the hands away with a pitiful little pillow.

He was running out of time and the kid was too close for him to shoot. Alexander ran over and tackled the monster. The two smashed into the ground with a bang. The necromorph screeched into his visor as they wrestled on the ground. It's beak split open into four parts and a pustule tongue shot out and began to strangle him. The air was being crushed out of him. Acting fast he grabbed the beak parts and pulled them apart until they broke off its face. He suddenly had all the air escape his lungs. The necromorph had jabbed one of its blades into his chestplate. Luckily his armor stopped it from breaching into his suit. Although he could tell a large section of armor had been ripped away.

With his free hand Alexander began to ram his gauntleted fist into its deformed head, roaring into its face as he pounded it relentlessly. He continued the beating even after the body went limp. After he vented his rage into the unfortunate necromorph's body he slowly and painfully got up. He heard whimpering under the bed where the wolf cub was hiding.

He walked over and looked under. The female cub was all the way at the back cuddling against the pillow she used to fend off the monster. "Are you okay little one?"

The kid just shook her head and hugged the pillow tighter. "Come with me I'll take you to someplace safe." The kid looked like she was thinking for a moment until she decided. Hesitantly she climbed out from under the bed. Alexander noticed she was favoring her left footpaw. "Are you hurt?"

She finally spoke in a soft quiet tone. "I fell down and hurt my leg." Her voice was hoarse from all the screaming.

"Here climb onto my back I'll carry you." Alexander said kindly as he took a knee. The little cub climbed onto his back and wrapped her paws around his shoulders and waist.

"Thank you for saving me mister." She squeezed him tightly.

"Of course little one."

Alexander walked out of the dormitory with his new companion. She threw his aim off and she was a little heavy but that didn't bother him much. Maybe she could take him to any survivors. "Little one, do you know where the others are?"

She took a moment to answer from her perch on his back. "Mister Williams was taking me to the cafeteria before he got attacked by one of those mean monsters and told me to run. Have you seen him? He is a big ol friendly tiger. I liked him he gave me lollipops and kept me company while I waited for my sister to finish work."

She must have been talking about the tiger he found in the previous hallway. What should he tell her? "No I haven't seen him. Do you know where the cafeteria is?"

"Yeah it was on the third floor."

Now with a destination Alexander spent the next twenty minutes looking for the elevator. By the grace of god they were not attacked again. He found it and stepped inside. He pressed the three on the selection panel. "Hey mister what where those things?" The girl asked him as the waited for the door to open at their stop.

"Those were...uh...well you see..." He didn't know how to explain it to a little kid. "I don't know." He said finally without much confidence.

"That's okay." She said simply.

"Hey little one what's your name?"

"My name is Penelope!" She said happily. It almost broke his heart. That was the name of his little sister. "That's a wonderful name." He chocked out close to tears.

"Thank you, my mom always said so before she passed away." She sounded a little sad at the end. The door opened and he left the elevator. There were no necromorphs around so he went in search of the cafeteria.

"Well your mom was right." Alexander vowed to save this little girl. He might not have been able to save his sister, but goddamn he would save this girl!

"What's your name mister?"

"My name is Alexander."

"I like that."

Alexander heard scrabbling coming from the vent next to him. He started to back up slowly when he heard more scrabbling from the vents all around him. Not wanting to scare Penelope he stealthily brought his rifle to bear. "Penelope." He whispered "their here." She went quiet and held onto him tensely. He could feel her shivering through his suit.

As soon as he pulled the bolt on his rifle the vents around him exploded into activity. Alexander retreated backwards hosing down the assembly of necromorphs that had tried to ambush him. The howling hoard of bloodthirsty monsters chased after him. Penelope screamed as he desperately tried to keep them back. One got close and swiped at the cub on his back. He deflected it with his rifle. It shattered under the strong hit. Alexander swiftly unsheathed his sword and bisected the necrotic dog. As it fell he parried another attack and cut off the offending limb. By this time he had his pistol in his other hand and was shooting all the joints he could see. He felt an intense pain in his right arm. A lucky hit from a stray limb had stabbed right through his forearm. He cut the invading limb off. A large part of it was still sticking out of his arm. He couldn't fight with this little girl on his back.

He ran through the group of monster taking a dozen more shallow cuts, but he managed to break out of the trap. He ran down a set of corridors being chased by the ravenous group of undead. Their howls and Penelope's terrified screaming pushed his tired muscles past their limits. He was saved by a small sign that pointed out that the cafeteria was ahead. Pushing just a little more energy into his tired limbs he arrived at two thick steel doors. He banged on them shouting "hey open up!" He could hear arguing on the other side.

"Open the door!"

"It could be a trap!"

"Monsters don't knock dumbass, open it!"

Meanwhile he could hear the hoard approaching. They sounded hungry. "Please, at least get the kid!"

"There's a kid out there man!"

"So!"

"Open the fucking door!"

"Okay alright!"

The door opened slowly and the arguing men appeared. A lion and a horse stood inside the doorway.

"Here take the kid!" Alexander said hurriedly as he pulled Penelope of his back.

"What about you?" The lion asked as he grabbed her.

"I am going to fight off my pursuers."

"What You'll be killed!" The horse protested.

"That doesn't matter I can't let these things find a way inside." Alexander replied resolutely. "Now close the door."

"What Alexander no!" Penelope screamed as she no fought the guards and tried to get to him. "You'll die!" She was crying now as the guards carried her in. Alexander could see dozens of people inside all staring at the commotion at the door. They all displayed a common expression, fear.

This helped him become content with his choice. The door closed with a final thunk. He turned to face the the large room he was using as his redoubt. Brandishing his sword and pistol he readied himself for the end.

---

"What's he doing!" Krystal shouted. She was hysterical. Miyu and Fay while not as emotional looked similarly concerned. Slippy was watching completely absorbed into what was happening.

Fox, Falco, and Peppy understood. They would have done the same thing if they were in his position.

"A soldiers duty is to his people." Fox said.

"But we aren't his people." Miyu said in confusion.

"That doesn't matter to him." Falco replied. "His people are gone so I guess he decided to apply that to us."

"He's going to die!" Fay retorted.

"I don't think so." Peppy said quietly but with such presence that everyone looked at him. "He has from what he's said fought these monsters for a long time. He knows what he's doing."

"He better not die." Krystal muttered to herself. Her tail was wrapped around herself and she was holding it securely in her lap.

---

Seconds after he was ready the first group of necromorphs swarmed in. Immediately he started to dismember them with his pistol. The heavy caliber shards tore through the diseased flesh and shattered bone. He managed to stop the entire first wave before they got close. Then the next one roamed in.

Thirteen necromorphs rushed him. His sword was a blur as he weaved a tapestry of annihilation. Limbs flew too and fro leaving a pile of discarded torsos and severed heads. He blocked a swath of jabs, lunges, and plunges as the monsters tried to flay him alive and add him to the markers will. He stood strong and defied their attempts on his life. Yet could not hope to block all the hits.

He received a plethora of wounds and bled from numerous rents in his armor. Still he did not fall. The unending swarm of necromorphs attacked for what seemed like hours. The body count was insane. There were over a hundred chopped up corpses arrayed around him. He had not moved a single inch from his original position. It was not to last.

One necromorph got past his guard. It rammed one of its long bladed shoulder arms into his back. With a cry of pain Alexander fell to his knees. It started to jam it further in until it burst through his shoulder. With a tremendous amount of will and effort Alexander cut the limb off leaving the majority in to keep his wound from bleeding and twirled around to cut it into three pieces with two precise moves. As it fell to the ground he noticed that it was the last one. So leaking blood from innumerable lacerations, holes, and various other bad things he knocked on the door.

The doors opened slowly and there was a dozen guards waiting on the other side with weapons drawn. Once it had opened completely the guards collective muzzles hung open as they gazed at the untold destruction caused by the stranger. "Holy shit!" The lion from earlier exclaimed "you killed them all!"

"Heh yeah I did." Alexander was swaying like a frail tree in a winter storm.

When they saw him there, covered in blood and wounded grievously the lion got worried. "Shit man are you okay?"

"Nah." Alexander said before he started to collapse. Luckily two guards, a wolf and a rabbit gently caught him and carefully dragged him inside. As they all but carried him through the cafeteria Alexander who was barely conscious could see all the civilians and even the guards staring at him in awe. 'At least their safe for now.' He thought to himself.

"ALEXANDER!" A familiar young female voice yelled in concern. He limply moved his head to look at an incoming black blur until it collided into him making him groan in pain. "Oh my god!" She said as she looked upon his bloody and broken body. For some reason he couldn't stop staring at the contrast of his blood as it stained her ebony fur. It was hypnotic as he watched the red soak into the black.

"Pssh I'll be fine." He said voice slurring. His eyes felt heavy and he no longer was in any pain. Actually he felt pretty tired he just might take a little nap he told himself.

The guard noticed that the light along his spine was out, except for a small ominous red glow emanating from his lower back. It didn't take a genius to know what that meant. "Hurry up!" The horse shouted. "Clear a table!" A table with a couple of female tigers was selected and they removed everything from it. The guards carefully lowered him onto the table. Within moments blood was pooling and even leaking onto the floor. "Is there anyone here who is a medical doctor!" A ferret guard shouted. There were many doctors of many professions. Hopefully there was one who new about healing.

"I am!" A female voice pipped up. Alexander lazily turned his head over to the voice. Everything was really blurry so he couldn't quite make out what species of cornerian said that. But he could tell she had black fur.

"Save him sister, he was the one who saved me!" He heard Penelope shout. 'So she's her sister.' Alexander thought absentmindedly.

"I'll do what I can but he's lost allot of blood." She walked up to him and leaned in. "First we are going to have to take off his armor." She said to the guards. Suddenly he shot up and grabbed her collar.

"It stays on." He said lucidly and firmly.

"Alright sir if you insist." She said calmly.

"I do." He said before letting her go and falling back onto the table roughly. "I do." He said again to no one in particular.

"This is going to hurt." The woman warned softly before he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder that brought him out of his delusion momentarily. The spike imbedded in his shoulder had been removed and he could feel it being wrapped on bandages. "Alright I nee..." The voices all combined into an indecipherable jumble as Alexander floated softly into darkness.