NationStates Jolt Archive

Aboard the Universal Trader, things were running quite smoothly. The medium sized trader ship had just finished picking the bones of a a disabled hulk, and brought what ever resources and supplies the hulk had, onto the ship. It was a bountiful catch, and the supplies could be traded to sell for thousands of credits. The only odd thing was, that the hulk was devoid of people, anyone, and anything, not even blood, just bullet holes and plasma scorches. They just assumed everyone jumped ship.

Lead Engineer Roberts was in the engine room, which rarely had people in it, to check up on some engine malfunctions.

"Aye capt'n, we 'ave minor problems, but I t'ink I can jerry 'ig some wires to increase engine manifold pressure 'en fold."

Roberts tuned off the ship com and turned around to see a gleaming set of sharp teeth, and a some how sinister grin of a beast. That was the last thing Roberts saw before his head was chewed into, and the walls painted with his blood.

Slowly, people stopped to report into their stations, the ship started to lose systems. It took less than an hour for the beast to clear the ship of people, because of hunger.

The dead ship lay in drift, all systems knocked out, and no one home.

The Rogue Trader vessel ' The Bloodied Raven slipped from the warp; havign picked up this signature. A beauty she was, a proper beauty; by all indications abandoned. Oh what a bloody find!

The Captain smirked through teeth, both enamel and wrought iron, and turned to his first mate. "Now this 'as gotta be the best find so far!"

"Aye, its good, but whys it abandoned?"

"Who knows? Accident? Attack. We'll find out, won't we; once we have everything of value; everythign of proper worth. Send out the crew; their eager for some fun; some servitors for support, and-" He paused, fishing a leather jacket from his command chair, "-Tell 'em, I'm comin' along"

"Aye Sir; you've got it"

They docked; tunnels connecting to major airlocks, as the emagerly armed and armored crew slipped into the blackness of the Universal Trader.

"Bloody 'ell" One whispered "It's dark..."

Indeed it was dark. There was no artificial lighting of anykind, or any windows to the outside, making the interior pitch black. There as no life to be found, or even blood, not even small arms fire.

In the shadows, somthing seemed to lurk, but it was so stealthy, some might just think it was a figment of their imagination.

"I want power restored; take the servitors down to the Engineering levels and get it back up" The Captain hissed at the Enginseer.

"Aye Sir." It intoned, slipping into the darkness, lights flickering. The crew had activated its own lights.

"Alright men, lets find us the Bridge"

The moved through the inky liquid blackness of the ship; corridors creaking, the ship adjusting, perhaps...
It almost seemed as though it were alive; grunting and groaning, stretching and shifting. Odd, odd how the atmosphere could be so disconcerting...

A certain aura seemed to follow the men heading towards the bridge, lingering just our of range of lights and sences. Every now and then somthing would seem to breath loudly, or the sound of a claw scraping against metal, or even the nerve racking sound of a low growl. All of these sounds barely audible.

One man whirled with his rifle, eyes darting nervously through the inky black umbra as the others went onwards; they never noticed as he moved forward, listening intently as he readied his weapon...

These noises were everywhere, insidious, pentrating; it was like they were grating at his mind, as he wandered deeper into darkness.

"Hello?" He whispered, terrified, cautious...

In the distance around a corner, a peice of piping falling into the semi-soft material on the ground was heard.

Somthing seemed to coax the man deeper into the darkness, around the corner to investigate the piping.

And so he came; moving around the corner, weapon still trained, glancing about; sweat beading his brow. He let out a low whimper as he moved deeper into the darkness. This was Guard work, not work for a crewman like him; not his line of work; no...

He stiffled a squeal, his eyes darting madly, desperately. Something was here, he knew it. Oh god, he could feel it...

With a torrential scream, it lept from above. It had situated itself between bunches of bulky pipes, and finally sprung its attack.

Large bone claws stretched out to hold the man, as a furry of teeth came in close to chomp down on the man's shoulder.

His scream echoed through the ship; his clothing torn asunder by rending jaws; pipes falling about them, as he struggling against the alien organisms attack. He pounded at it; his eyes rolling into his head as unconciousness seized him. He tried to move, shaking, shuddering, as he fell to deep and heavy sleep; plagued by nightmare...

The genestealer ran off into the darkness, making it's way off the main corridors, and into the ships crawlspaces, and eventually trying to find a way onto the other trading ship.

The alien left the man alive, and in decently good health, only a large bite and a few bruises were left by falling pipes.

Awaking, lain out in medical, he groaned softly, stirring, trying move. He looked up only to see the Captain, and then feel the rough blow of his fist against his face.

"Idiot! What do you think you were doing, wandering off like that, scaring the hell our of us, almost getting yourself killed!"

"Heard....Heard somethin', went to see..."

"And got clobbered by pipes"

"Pipes?"

"Yup; knocked you clena out, lacerated yer arm."

"Where am I?"

"We're headed home; should see what we got from that ship.

Father...

His mind whispered softly. I...I have to mate, no sooner than when I get back...We will serve you Master, Father...God

In the deepest, darkest corner of the new trader ship's engine room, the genestealer waited, hibernating until him and his new follower could be released into the unsuspecting world, and begin to spread in the final times of the world.

It had been a few weeks since the incident aboard the other abandonned trader, but since then things were back to normal... almost.

Slowly, the ship cycled through it's landing sequences and set down among the starport, which was right next to a hustling and bustiling city, full of many people.. many to be infected.

Large lifters and trucks came to unload the huge ammounts of cargo from the ship, while busses and cars came to pick up the crew of the ship. The ship was not due to leave for weeks again, so there was much time to rest and have fun for the rest of the crew.

Leisurely, Harris walked off the boarding ramp of the starship, the bandage missing from where he was bitten, as he was already healed from it.

Suddenly a woman popped from no where and leaped onto Harris, smothering with hugs and kisses. She giggled and smiled widely at him.

"So good to see you again! You've been gone for so long!" She said exuberantly.

Harris smiled back, and returned the kisses. "Yes it is good to be back..." he said half heartedly, but keeping his face bright and cheerful.

Quickly, they jumped into the car and drove off away from the starport, heading back to Harris' humble abode, where a night of passion would ensue, and the second stage of the infestation would begin.

The genestealer had made its way off the ship long before the lifts, trucks and men came, it was already hiding itself in the city sewers, awaiting for the time to come, many weeks from now.

Weeks had passed.

In a dark dank room of an apartment high atop a building in the city, small whimpers and screams could be heard, screams of complete agony.

The woman gripped the sides of the bed and let out a bellowing howl. She looked down at her stomach, which was bulging with a child, and her legs spread wide open, her husband readying himself to deliever the baby.

"Why is this happening?! He's coming too soon!" She screamed again, and was breaking into tears.

"Push!" Harris yelled, "I said push damnit!"

"He's tearing me up!" She screamed in return, as she did her best to push the child out.

Slowly, a head started to crown, and oddly shaped head, with what seemed like a small bone spike protruding from the back of its neck. The mother bushed more, and Harris latched into the child with his hands, taking it, and helping to pull it out.

The woman screamed again, and Harris yelled, "Alittle more! Just push a little more!"

With one terrifying scream, the woman pushed the child out, and Harris pulled it out. The woman's insides seem to almost spew out of the woman, massive ammounts of blood pouring out. She slowly started to die.

Harris brought the child slowly to the woman's face, and showed her, her new born son.

"Wh-what the hell is it..." she whispered, before slipping away.

The man held the child close to him, and looked over it. With small developing claws on it's right hand, and peices of chitin covering little bits and peices of the body, it was somthing unnatural to behold.

The man smiled, and slowly cleaned the child of the blood.

One and a half years had passed.

The child was now a mature adult.

The father, was roaming the streets, looking about the populace, awaiting to meet one of his friends. Finally he saw the man, awaiting in a small restuarant built into a large sky scraper.

"John!" Harris yelled, walking over towards the man. "How are ya?" he said, as he sat down across from John.

"Same ol' same ol' I guess... listen, I called you here because I need some help..."

Harris listened to John, sort of. He mostly thought of John's background, and how he would be of use. John was a guardsman in the local military base close to the city. He was a sergeant, so he held much power within him in his local ranks.

"...And I need a loan in order to do this."

Harris looked and John and smiled widely. "Sure! No problem, friend. Want to mosey over to my place and I can write out a check?"

John nodded, and they both stood up and left.

No sooner had the door been closed to Harris' apartment, did an odd looking person step from another room, and embrace John. Quickly, he tried to dodge, but was some how too slow compared to this very quick person. Immediatly after grabbing hold of John, the other man bit down on his John's neck, forever infecting him with the virus.

Slowly, John backed up into a wall, and then lost his balance. He toppled over and fell unconcious. When he awoke, he would be fully loyal to the cause.