Location: GOC Headquarters – Simulation Zone 9: "Hellscape"
The air in the dome was heavy. The arena was unlike anything they'd experienced. Artificial terrain mimicked a devastated battlefield: scorched trees, shattered buildings, and smoldering craters. Smoke billowed from the ground, dimming visibility.
A holographic board flashed above:
"FINAL TEST – LIVE COMBAT SIMULATION"
Threat Level: Type 1 Alien Encounter
Objective: Survive and Neutralize the Threat.
Major Tom Linton (over comms):
"This is not a simulation. This is a live specimen, released under controlled circumstances. Fail, and you die. Succeed, and you join the GOC's elite force. Choose your squadmates. You have 2 minutes."
Without hesitation, Lucas turned to Nick and Emma.
Lucas:
"You two. With me."
Emma (smirking):
"I hoped you'd say that."
Nick:
"Dream team, baby."
The trio stood shoulder to shoulder as the gates opened.
---
Inside the Arena
They moved cautiously through the smoke. The air felt thick, and the only sound was the soft hum of their pulse rifles. Then a guttural, ear-splitting "KRAAAWWW" echoed through the zone. Trees snapped in the distance.
Emma:
"That must be it…"
Suddenly, from the ruins ahead, it emerged.
The Creature:
A towering, muscular Type 1 Alien. Its body resembled a massive gorilla, but its head was twisted—fanged and flower-shaped like a demogorgon, constantly opening and closing. It sniffed the air and let out a distorted roar, making several candidates scream and flee.
One group charged it head-on.
Big mistake.
The alien moved with impossible speed. It crushed one soldier with its fists and ripped another apart. Within thirty seconds, six candidates were down. The rest fled in horror, triggering the withdrawal alarm.
Lucas (eyes narrowing):
"They're using sight and movement... but it didn't attack until it heard them. It's not seeing—it's listening and smelling."
Emma:
"You're right… its head doesn't even have eyes."
Nick:
"Okay, then we blind it with silence and screw up its nose."
---
The Plan
Lucas, Nick, and Emma ducked behind a collapsed wall. Lucas pulled out a smoke canister and two sound mines from his utility belt.
Lucas:
"We draw it into the factory ruins—lots of metal, lots of echo. Nick, you toss a sound mine behind it after it passes you. Emma, you flank left and plant the second mine in the building's center. I'll bait it inside."
Nick (nervously):
"Man, I hate being bait."
Emma:
"No, Lucas is bait. You're noise control."
Nick (grinning):
"Oh. That's worse."
---
Execution
The plan began. Lucas sprinted across open terrain, intentionally making noise. The creature roared and charged after him, thundering through debris.
He dashed into the ruins.
Lucas (over comms):
"Now, Nick."
Nick (whispering):
"Boom."
He threw the mine. Ping! It detonated with a shrill screech behind the beast. It spun, confused, roaring at the wall.
Emma activated the second mine. The room echoed with misleading sound. Lucas stayed utterly still, heart pounding.
The beast thrashed at the noise but grew disoriented.
Then—Lucas silently climbed the scaffolding above and poured a canister of high-scent stench oil directly onto its back.
The alien went berserk—on itself. It couldn't differentiate the fake sounds from the real, or its own scent trail from that of others. In its rage, it bashed against pillars, tearing apart the building.
Emma (over comms):
"Now or never."
Lucas jumped from the rafters with a plasma blade. Nick and Emma opened fire with pulse rifles. Together, they struck critical nerves at its neck and spine.
With a final scream, the beast collapsed.
---
Aftermath
Sirens blared as the dome lights returned to normal. Medics and drones rushed in. One by one, squads emerged—shaken, injured, or retreating.
Only three stood tall in the center of the ruins.
Major Tom Linton (entering, astonished):
"You… neutralized the Type 1. Together."
Scientist (checking vitals):
"It's unconscious. Not dead. But stable. That's a first."
Tom (to Lucas's team):
"You three—what's your squad name?"
Nick:
"Squad name?"
Emma (shrugging):
"I don't know, you're the loud one. You name it."
Nick (grinning, turning to Lucas):
"C'mon, Captain. Say something cool."
Lucas looked up at the sky through the cracked dome, breathing heavily.
Lucas:
"…Call us Unit Vanta "
To Be Continued...