Data recovery

A loud splash emanated through the tunnels. *S* jumped down onto the tunnel floor from the staircase which led into a T-junction within the tunnels. Their flashlight scanning throughout the walls and the two different pathways as *C* came up from behind them and walked into the beam of light their face angled downwards and staring at their tablet device. Tapping through the screen a few times *C* looked around the two tunnels. The other one was seemingly fenced off before, but the fence had been torn apart, the other one extended into misty darkness with various small vehicles scattered throughout it. *C* taps on their tablet a few times before heading towards the tunnel without the fence.  Hesitating slightly, *R* shuts the door behind them and jumps down into the tunnel, taking their place in between the two others as they walk through the darkness. The shifting fog inside the tunnel made the party nervous, each silhouette of an abandoned tool and machine seeming hostile in this environment, their forms blurred and unclear from the fog, leaving their purpose up to imagination. This alertness was not of course ill placed, as this compound was recently moved into the yellow zone, while it had previously been a blue zone. *C* stopped to tap through their tablet more. *S* Walked up to *C* to get a better look at what *S* was looking at but before they could get a better look *C* pointed downwards at their feet and shifting some of the mud beneath them with their foot. *S* Shone their flashlight below them, the light revealing a hatch below their feet. *S* looked at *C* and they gave *S* and approving nod, after which *S* hailed *R* over to help them open it up. With a little exertion, they manage to rotate the hatch open, revealing a ladder leading downwards, as *S* and *R* shine their flashlights down into the hatch they can only see a dozen rungs of the ladder before it disappears into darkness. Some clear precipitation had accumulated inside visor of *R*'s hazmat suit. *S* gives *R* a small tap on their shoulder as *S* begins to make their way down into the pit. After there is enough room on the ladder *S* quickly follows afterwards, leaving *C* to stand alone in the tunnel above the hatch. *C* hesitates for a while as they shine their flashlight back where they came from, only seeing a few dozen meters into the fog filled tunnel. The pipes around them let out a deep metallic echo, reverberating from somewhere distant in the tunnels. Shining their flashlight down into the hatch *C* could now see *R*'s and *S*'s flashlights waving upwards at *C*, most likely as a sign that they were at the bottom. *C* didn't waste any time making their way down the ladders and finally landing at the concrete floor below.

*R* and *S* were scanning the complex they were in with their flashlights, they were now in a similar space, but this area was cleaner as well as less open. *C* took the lead once again, leading *R* and *S* through the maze-like corridors. All the unseen things behind every corner made *S* and *R* nervous as they turned each corner and shone their flashlights into the hallways. Judging by the look of the place this must have been a place where science of some sort was conducted. Behind some of the large windows that lead into dark abandoned offices in disarray they could see computer terminals, behind others they could see complicated and expensive electronic equipment alongside beakers, vials and hazmat suits. As they moved deeper into the complex they began to see more windows which were broken and objects which were thrown into the hallway, some of which had been piled up in ways that resembled makeshift barriers. *R* was not enjoying this and pleaded for *C* to make haste and find what they were looking for so they can get out. That is when *S* became fixated on a stain on the wall. *S* swiped their finger across it and rubbed it against their thumb and index finger before raising their head to look at *R*. *R* had been looking at what *S* had been doing and *R* did not need to say anything for *S* to realize what this was as they stared at *S*'s hand motionlessly before moving the beam of their flashlight onto the wall and alongside the roof. There they saw strands of dark purple material growing in thin strands and into the ventilation shafts above. Before *R* could panic *S* grabbed their shoulder with their clean hand and stared at them with a stern face, before moving their index finger in front of their visor. *R* clearly shaken, but remaining silent, *S* looked around to find *C* who had ducked into one of the office spaces next to them. Inside *S* found *C* who had plugged their tablet into one of the terminals and were now presumably connecting into the terminal. *S* grabbed *C* and pointed up to the ceiling where they could both see amalgamate growing in small strands alongside the entirety of the roof. *C*'s stern face for a moment turned into slight alarm, before they nodded at *S* and whispered, "Give me 3 minutes, we have to do this now.".

Nervously each member of the group stared into the darkness as *C* continued to work on their tablet. *S* had not noticed it beforehand, but inside this room there was a small security cabinet which was used to store MNT's (Material neutralization tool, weapons which can dispense incinerating flame and freezing cold. Used by personnel to contain and destroy small amounts of amalgamate.). This cabinet however lay empty, apart from a single MNT. Despite not having a fuel tank, it should still hold some punch in its emergency reservoir should they need it. Holding a proper weapon in their hands brought more comfort to *S*, however each second *C* spent working on the terminal was a second too much. The pipes groaned and creaked around them, breaking the uneasy silence inside the complex. For a moment, each one of the party looked up at the pipes and the ceiling before the deafening silence came back, even *C* seemed to tap at their tablet even more silently and faster than before. Something clanked against the floor somewhere in the hallways. *R* was scanning hastily around the hallways, pointing their flashlight down both ends of the hallway. Finally, *C* shut their tablet off and nodded at *S* to indicate that they were done here. *C* began to lead the party back to the hatch, the entire party walking at a far greater speed than before while avoiding making any noise. It was impossible to chase the feeling of being followed deep inside this complex however as the only noise one could hear was the shallow breathing inside one’s suit and the shuffling of one’s footsteps. A guttural scream erupted from behind them, for a second each of them froze in place as they collectively stared back into the darkness, *R* who was behind the group right then shone their flashlight behind them and they could see a monstrous figure sprint behind them through the hallway, it's hands which stretched into long barbed tendrils reached outwards towards them. For that split second they were all frozen in place as it lunged itself towards the group, its tendrils coiling tight around *R*'s shoulder and neck. *R* could barely let out a scream as it could feel them tighten around their neck and begin to pull them backwards. *S* lifted the MNT to their shoulder and tried to motion for *R* to fall down so they can get a clear shot, with each second *R* was being pulled back and the creature was coming closer. *R* struggled and tried to tear the tendrils off them, but could not make themselves do so as they could feel the barbs dig into their suit and into *R*'s hands. Finally, *R* lost their balance and fell to the ground before the creature. Before anything could happen, an aggressive burst of fire engulfed the entirety of the hallway behind them. *R* looked back at the creature half of which had dissipated before it slumped lifeless to the ground. *S* quickly ran to *R* and cut off the tendrils off them with a knife, pulled them off of the ground and began to run down the hallway after *C*. At the ladder, *C* had already made their way halfway up the ladder, *R* jumped to the ladder and began to make their way up. *S* hurried *R* to go faster so they could climb up as well as they anxiously looked up the ladder and down the hallway, they could swear that they could now hear more distorted and distant noises coming from the darkness, growing ever more louder and violent. Finally, *R* had made it far enough that *S* could begin their ascend behind *R*. Climbing up the ladders double time, it didn't take long until they were both at the top and *S* was already throwing the hatch shut. *C* had already ran into the fog of the tunnel and only their flashlight was visible from here, wildly swaying from side to side as they ran. Shortly after they catch up to *C* at the T-junction, where *C* had stopped to catch their breath at the intersection while *R* and *S* continue to make their way through the tunnel.

Then suddenly *C* Is thrown to the wall by something, knocking them to the muddy tunnel floor like a ragdoll. *S* and *R* stop as they see something wrap its tendrils around *C*'s feet and begin to drag them down the other tunnel out of their view. *S*, quickly snaps out of it and hoists the MNT to their shoulder again as *R* follows close behind them to the intersection. Near the intersection, they finally see what had attacked *C*, a giant broodlord was behind the fence of the tunnel, its snake like body extending into the fog while the tendrils reaching around from its back were now pulling helpless *C* towards the creature. *S* pulled the trigger on the MNT and released a raging blast of fire at the creature. The blast however was short lived as the emergency reservoir was emptied. After the fire had cleared it became obvious that this was not enough as the fire had not even been able to extend far enough to touch the broodlord. It was impossible to do anything right now, as they could not do anything to amalgamate that big. *S* grabbed *R* by the arm and pulled them towards the door. *S* pulled at the door, it didn't budge. While this was happening, the broodlord had now brought *C* to its face and now were pushing a tendril from its maw into *C*'s visor, forcing amalgamate inside their suit. *S* began to manhandle the door and finally got it unstuck, the door flying open. *R* and *S* both flee into the stairway, at the top *S* takes a look down a ledge which overlooks the intersection. The broodlord had let go of *C* who was now crouched on all fours in front of it. The figure shuddered and trembled shortly after the suit violently ruptured open with a twisted sound of ripping fabric and the viscous amalgamate shooting into all directions from within. What lay there where *C* was, was not *C* anymore which became evident as various grotesque growths began to grow from its purple tinged body. Shortly after it vanished into the tunnel behind the broodlord.

*S* and *R* continued to make their way out of the facility with not further attempts on their life and managed to escape. However, what they had come there for was lost with *C*.