The Creature, part 1
Chapter 1
It's so... hot..
My head hurts..
Wait... who's tha- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Nadia says "..."
After falling down the vena cava, Nadia is covered in bruises, but as it sloped off, no broken bones.
She passed through the vena cava, and ended up in the foot.
Nadia says "Ahahaha... Nadia fell.."
"Ahaha... flesh...."
She walks through a capillary, finding a service elevator.
She rides it up all the way to the pelvis, which takes about 5 minutes.
There is a sign outside the elevator saying "Welcome to the Ilium."
The door to the aorta is sealed off with a giant vault door.
There are signs all over it saying "Danger, Keep Out, Extreme Pressure, Risk of Death"
Nadia says "Hmm.."
" =) "
She enters a control room, and pushes a button.
The lights turn off.
Red emergency lights come on.
There is a slight tremor.
Suddenly, the latches blow off with extreme force.
The giant door explodes.
The release of pressure creates a hurricane force wind into the vena cava.
And because of the pressure, the aorta collapses.
There is no immediate effect as the creature is dormant, but the aorta is now only around 5 metres in diameter and spewing out blood from its walls.
The blood falls fall down towards the "feet."
Iujadogia says "Osania.."
"Did you feel that?"
Osania says "Uh oh."
"Something probably happened in the Mystery Flesh Pit national park..."
Osania says "Be ready for possible incident, close the park temporarily for inspection"
Osania says "... What the..."
"There's something going on with the aorta."
Iujadogia says "It's collapsed..."
Osania says "Prepare the contingency measure, we may have an incident."
Iujadogia says "That isn't a problem.. probably.."
"But if the creature wakes up it's blood flow will be..."
"Will be so restricted.. I don't even know."
"Do we have industrial stents?"
Osania says "Hmm.."
"We probably do."
"We can use the ones we used on the passages between the lesser gastric sea and the esophagus."
Iujadogia says "Emergency pumps are online."
"We are going to try and restore the pressure and stop the bleeding,"
Osania says "Be ready for anything."
Iujadogia says "Alright..."
"Pressure is stabilising slowly."
"I'm checking the system-"
"The Iliac release valve."
"It was manually overrided.."
Osania says "..."
"Shouldn't we have security there?"
"What happened to our security?"
Anodyne says "No clue."
"What is sure is someone was in the Iliac release valve control room."
Anodyne says "The valve is an artificial connection between the Vena Cava and Aorta to manage blood flow during emergencies. Now both of them are blocked and too depressurised to remove the seal, so if the creature were to wake up... It'd have a myocardial infarction. This isn't an issue when its dormant as its cells can self-sustain without a circulatory system, but if it were to wake up it would need crawl for air.
Lesser Gastric Sea Settlements are forced into lockdown due to a sudden wave of Abyssal Copapods emerging out of nearby passages.
Chapter 2
The vascular stent has been planted into the aorta, and it has been propped open again.
Teams worked day and night to clear the blockage of the vena cava, doing so successfully.
They are working to reseal the aorta..
Iujadogia says "Everything is looking good.."
The Abyssal Copapods stop invading lesser gastric sea.
Iujadogia says "Great."
"Back to work everyone."
Jimmy, Samuel and Eldric are visiting the flesh pit.
Jimmy says "Thanks for this Eldric!"
"I've always been so interested."
Eldric says "The pleasure's mine."
"This place is a zoologist's heaven."
Samuel says "Sure helps that you're coming here for research."
He waves their discounted tickets "Haha!"
Eldric says "Alright."
They take the gondola to the Greater Gastric Sea.
"Right."
"We are going to a different place than most people."
"There's a resort under construction in the appendix sector, and they are currently housing researchers there."
Jimmy says "What for?"
Eldric says "We don't know how human appendices function yet."
"In fact, I'm writing my theory on vestigial organs right now."
"This could be vital to understand why we have an appendix!"
"Or say, tonsils!"
Samuel says "Cool!"
They ride on the boat down the duodenum.
Eldric says "Did you know, this creature may have multiple appendices?"
"They think there may be another directly connected to the spleen."
Jimmy says "Huh?"
"An appendix... On it's spleen?"
"Why?"
"They reckon it's because the creature absorbs blood plasma from tree roots!"
"And the appendix is needed to absorb those nutrients that the spleen otherwise wouldn't be able to recycle."
They get off, and start walking down the jejunum.
Jimmy says "I.."
"That's weird."
"To have an appendix, on your spleen."
"What can that tell us about humans though?"
Eldric says "Well scientists reckon that that's what the human appendix was for! Digesting tree bark."
Samuel says "Huh! That-"
"Hey.. wait."
"Wait a second, guys."
"Look up here."
"What is that?"
Eldric says "Hang on.."
"It's dark in here.."
Eldric picks up a floodlight and points it towards one of the villi.
"Oh.."
"It's a tumour."
The lump, 3 metres across on each side, is constantly squirming.
The tumour itself has smaller lumps on it.
It's vaguely translucent, but nothing can be made out.
Eldric says "Jimmy. Go to the nearest phone box, it's back at the duodenum docks."
"Go there, dial.... +571 01 01 7651..."
"Extension seven."
"Tell them you need to speak to the resident zoologists and veterinarians, and tell them that the organism has a malignance of the jejunum."
"Tell them exactly that... okay?"
"Okay?"
Jimmy says "Got it."
Samuel says "Is this bad?"
Eldric says "Normally, a creature of this size can practically live with cancers."
"It's quite paradoxical."
"But see those lumps?"
"That cancer... has cancers."
"And that's what's stopping the bigger cancer from undergoing metastasis."
Samuel says "What does that mean..."
Eldric says "That means it can't spread."
"But.."
"Look at how violently it's squirming.."
Jimmy runs back.
Jimmy says "Phone lines are down."
Eldric says "Damn it..."
The floodlights lose power.
They are plunged into darkness.
Samuel says "Shit.."
Eldric says "What the hell?!"
A PA system voice echoes from the Greater Gastric Sea.
"The park is currently experiencing rolling blackouts due to an unforeseen technical issue. Remain calm, and we apologise for the inconvenience."
Dripping sounds are heard.
Jimmy says "What was that?"
There is a sudden ripping sound, and a gelatinous thud.
The lights turn on again
The giant ball of flesh is now on the floor.
Eldric says "Stand back.."
"Oh... oh nono.."
"This is benign...!"
Samuel says "Isn't that a good thing?!?!"
"It isn't a cancer!"
Eldric carefully examines through the translucent walls.
"Oh my god..."
"I see..."
"A brain."
"A heart.."
"Blood vessels... lungs..."
...
"Oh... those are teeth."
"Those... THAT IS TEETH."
Eldric beckons the other two.
"Let's get out o-"
The lights go out again
They start flickering
Jimmy says "HUH?"
There is another rip.
As the lights flicker, they see a tear in the flesh ball.
The internal organs begin to spill out.
Jimmy says "Huh?!"
The organs are still moving.
Suddenly, as the lights flash on, they see two bony arms stick out of the flesh and grab the organs.
The lights go out again, for longer.
Samuel says "WHAT THE-"
As the lights flicker, they see a grossly humanoid figure.
It sheds the fleshy walls.
Leaving a grotesque, horrifying creature.
Eldric takes a photo, but it's blurry.
Eldric says "RUN!"
Eldric keeps taking photos with his camera to use the flash to light up the way.
They hear spine-chilling screeching coming from behind them.
They run up the duodenum.
They get into a speedboat, necessary to fight the currents of the rapids.
They rev the engine, and start going towards the Greater Gastric Sea as an ear piercing screech deafens them.
........
Jimmy says "Oh my g... oh my god.."
"What was that..."
He is shaking from fear.
"What was that thing.."
Eldric shakily looks at the photos.
Samuel drives them into the Greater Gastric Sea, where the power is still fluctuating.
Backup power NOW online.
The lights turn on, although dimmer.
A few hours later, they have left the flesh pit altogether due to an emergency closure.
.......................
A few days later, leaving TERAPRO.
Samuel says "Jimmy.. you look really pale."
Jimmy says "I know.."
"I've come down with this massive fever, and my back is killing me.."
Samuel rubs his back compassionately.
Samuel says "It does feel a bit scabby."
"Did you cut it?"
Jimmy says "I don't.."
"I don't think so."
Samuel says "It's a huge scab.."
Eldric says "I'll go check it."
Eldric leads Jimmy to the compartment toilet on the train.
He lifts up the back of his shirt.
Eldric staggers back so hard he falls and hits the wall.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!"
"WHAT IS THAT?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
Jimmy says "WHAT'S WHAT?"
Eldric beckons to the mirror.
Jimmy keeps his shirt lifted up, and looks at the mirror..
He sees a raised patch of flesh on his back.......
....wide open, and full of teeth.
Jimmy screams.
"aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
A new file is uploaded to the server in TERAPRO.
Carbonado says "Hm?"
"What's this.."
"From Eldric de Laitinie.."
"TAKEN AT MYSTERY FLESH PIT. HEIGHT, 2 METRES. THAT'S ALL I GOT."
Carbonado says "What the-"
"Lazuli.."
"Come take a look at this."
"Lazuli."
Lazuli says "What the.."
"I'm phoning NRSNR right now."
Carbonado says "Phone lines are down."
"What the..."
"I've never seen this before.."
Lazuli says "...I feel ill.."
"I.."
"What.. is that...."
Chapter 3
The train grinds to a halt.
Jimmy lies on his stomach on the train carriage floor.
Only him, Eldric and Samuel are on that carriage.
The rest of the train has been evacuated.
The mouth on his back has been salivating, and a tongue has appeared, as if looking hungry.
Jimmy whimpers and winces.
A guy in a HAZMAT suit passes things through the window "Put these in the mouth."
Eldric says "Okay..."
Cautiously, he takes what is passed through and pours it into the maw.
The thing begins to burn away.
Eldric says "It's working!"
The mouth completely disappears.
Jimmy says "Wh-"
"Is it over?"
He turns around.
Eldric stares at his eyes, which have gone completely black.
Eldric helps him into a seat next to Samuel.
Jimmy rests on Samuel's shoulder lovingly.
However, the train does not begin moving.
There is a knock on the carriage door to the next carriage.
Eldric says "Uhm.."
"All the hazmat guys are outside.."
"IS anyone still meant to be on the train?"
They turn to see all the hazmat guys gone.
They see a group of people on the other side though.
Eldric bangs on the window.
"Hey... let us out?!"
Suddenly, there is a devilish shriek and a blur moves past them.
All that's left is the blood and bones.
The banging on the door gets louder
Eldric says "Uhmm.."
"Who is it?"
There is no response.
Eldric says "We need to go."
They open the door to the opposite carriage.
They enter the next one, locking the door behind them.
A door gets kicked down in the carriage they just left.
They see a woman wearing a mask.
Eldric says "Oh no... no no no..."
Samuel says "What is it?!"
Eldric says "..."
"Barricade the door."
Jimmy, dazily says "What... what is it..."
Eldric begins ripping chairs off and jamming the door.
Nadia reaches the door and begins banging on it
Eldric says "I.."
"I know a thing or two about the SDS foundation."
"And i can tell you- She tries to open the door AGH! THIS IS DANGEROUS!"
"Meet Nadia Szylagyi."
"But she isn't really Nadia... Not right now she is not..."
Eldric is now holding the door on his own.
Eldric says "RUN!"
"GET TO THE DRIVER!"
She tries to kick the door.
"GO!"
Jimmy and Samuel run down the train, passing through 3 more carriages.
They leave the doors open to give Eldric space to run.
Eldric sees them open the driver's door.
Jimmy shouts down the train "COME ON!!!!"
Nadia says "Ahahahaha..."
"My husband is dead.."
"You know him' don't you?"
"WANT TO SAY HELLO TO HIM?"
Eldric lets go and begins running.
Nadia says "GET BACK HERE!"
Jimmy says "ELDRIC, COME ON!"
He jumps over the gaps between carriages as the train begins moving backwards.
Samuel says "THIS IS THE WRONG SIDE, I CAN'T SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING!"
Eldric makes it to the final carriage.
Nadia says "Nadia... NADIA!"
"NAAAAADIA"
She takes off the mask and throws it.
It hits Eldric in the neck, and immediately it swivels round, attaching itself to him.
He falls to the ground.
Nadia jumps over him, screaming as she runs.
She gets into the driver's carriage, swinging the door and holding it shut.
Nadia says "GET A CHAIR, OR SOMETHING."
Jimmy chokeholds her.
Jimmy shouts "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ELDRIC?!"
Nadia says "P-PUT ME DOWN!"
"AND I CAN GET YOU THREE OUT SAFE."
Jimmy says "FINE..."
"But you're going to get that mask off of him.."
Nadia says "That mask.. "
"It's..."
"It's ....Corrupting."
"Hold on."
She presses the emergency brake.
They all fly forward.
"AGH!!!!"
They hear a thud against the door.
Samuel looks through the window and sees Eldric, unconscious, slumped against the door.
Nadia says "We don't have much time."
She pushes full throttle.
Jimmy says "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Nadia says "We're turning around to the flesh pit."
"I think we can destroy it.."
Eldric wakes up and begins banging on the door.
Eldric says "Eldric.... ELDRIC..."
"AHAHA!"
"AAAAAAAHAHAHA!"
"GUESS WHAT?"
"MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS MURDERED!"
"BY LUXURIANS!!!"
"WHAT FOR?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"AAAAAHGAHAHAHAHA"
He tries to kick down the door.
They are about 10 minutes away from the flesh pit.
Nadia says "Can we push this thing to go any faster?"
The door keeps banging.
Jimmy says "Aahhh.."
"No."
"We need to hold out..."
The train arrives at the flesh pit.
Nadia smashes the window and the three escape.
Soon, Eldric escapes and begins chasing them.
Nadia says "RUN!"
They run into the lift shaft and go down the stairs.
They run through service tunnels to the lesser gastric sea, with Eldric following them the entire time.
They run out onto a dock, but there is no boat waiting.
Eldric slowly advances.
Eldric says "Haha..."
"Ahahaha.."
"Sad yet?"
"Like me?"
Nadia spots a creature crawling up behind him.
Eldric says "Depressed? LONELY?!?!"
"Nadia..."
"You f-"
The creature jumps on him.
The mask slides off of him.
It wraps around Nadia's leg, and it climbs onto her face.
The creature lunges at Nadia, but she grabs it and swings it into the stomach acid with superhuman strength.
Eldric, Jimmy and Samuel watch her stare off the end of the pier.
Jimmy runs towards her.
Nadia says "Sad, depressed, lon-"
Jimmy pushes her into the lesser gastric sea.
There is no scream.
She is instantly dissolved in the acid.
Jimmy watches as the bones float up one by one.
Jimmy says "Goodbye, Nadia."
The mask slowly floats up.
Jimmy says "..."
The mask slowly bobs down.
There is a rumble.
Eldric says "Did..."
"Did it-"
Suddenly, an intercom blares, as well as alarms.
Brace. Brace for peristalsis.
