37: Better Bugs than Snakes


    A


    Janette did hang back while Marcus slowly advanced, there was a multitude of scratching sounds coming from the inside of the cave. He tried to imagine what kind of thing would cause such a sound but he


    “I hit what ever it is but it is armored on the head.” Janette shouted and Marcus decided to use this interruption to quickly push forward. He made two steps, as suddenly something big rose from the darkness, just two meter to his left. “MOVE” Kou’s voice and Marcus jumped to the right feeling lighter than usual thanks to Kou. An organic sound followed by something splashing against the stone behind him. He turned and


    A centipede like thing, half


    “


    Two more, Marcus thought and started another attack. He climbed over rocks and moved from the right this time, a centipede head lifted up but a “clang” against it’s head made it vanish again. “Their heads are completely armored, we have to aim lower.” Janette said with frustration in her voice. “But I have this one locked.” Marcus saw where she was aiming and moved closer, ready to jump back as soon as the head would


    Claws and mandibles scratched at him, tearing at his armor and trying to get to the soft goodness underneath. The thing was much heavier than he expected and only Anchor stopped him from being thrown to the ground. He pushed his right fist through the clawing legs and punched the body with Impulse Hammer. The beast shrieked and was thrown back, toppling over and writhing on the ground. Marcus stepped forward to finish it off but a “Behind you!” from Achara made him turn and cover his face with his arms. The last centipede had risen behind him and was ready to cover him with acid but the attack never


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    They quickly finished the wounded on


    “Is it okay to come out?” Carmen asked and after double checking they gave the okay. Malcolm quickly, as quickly as he could, moved to the corpses and inspected them with scientific vigor. In the meantime Marcus checked his armor. The claws had cause only some minor damage but a few drops of the acid had made holes in his arm and leg armor. “Would have been bad if you had taken a full loud of that.” Janette looked at the small holes in his armor. She was right, next time they should use the lights first or he needed to remember that his armor has IR sight.


    “Hey, has anybody else gained


    “If they devoured the green bugs, th


    W


    “Some kind of concrete maybe, but much smoother.” Carmen touched the wall and made some close up photos.


    The tunnel quickly opened up into a larger room with some parts of the ceiling collapsed and undefinable remnant of objects on the floor. Everything had withered to the point


    Walking through the ruins was exciting but also mind numbing. Corridor after corridor, room after room was filled with ruble or undefinable trash. Still, Marcus found the idea, to walk in the footsteps of another civilization exhilarating.


    They had some tools at hand but Achara thought to use a heavy crowbar first. She was the one with the most strength crests in the team, Janette did not fail to point


    Marcus watched her go to work, trying to find an anchor point for leverage, to open the metal door. She put her foot against the frame of the door and started to apply pressure. Marcus saw a small trickle of water escaping beneath the door and jumped at the same moment Kou pulled Achara away from the door