Agent Conroy (43:21)
1998 Redwood Bureau Containment Facility Site 12C we cross the perimeter into the affected zone precisely at 0600 hours. My squad consisted of seven Bureau operatives, myself included, and 12 specialized military infantrymen from the Joint Task Force Division. We had been briefed extensively about the anomaly, officially termed the Rift sun, and the inescapable dangers posed by direct exposure to its energy emissions. Research conducted by Bureau scientists indicated that prolonged or direct exposure to the Rift Sun's radiation would result in unpredictable genetic mutations, severe psychological disturbances, and eventual loss of cognitive and physical control. The suits, provided to us, referred to as Rift Shield exoskeletons, were the product of hurried collaboration between Bureau and military scientists. Each suit integrated advanced quantum reflective polymers and reinforced layers of tungsten lead composites specifically engineered to block or severely mitigate the anomalous radiation emitted by the rifts. On the helmets were outfitted with polarized visors, bio monitoring systems, and limited oxygen filtration capabilities. Despite reassurances, it was made explicitly clear during pre op briefing that total protection was uncertain and the integrity of these suits had never been tested in a prolonged large scale operation. The exclusion zone immediately put us on edge. Once inside, sunlight from the Rift sun cast everything in an unnatural golden Haze harsh and almost threatening, as if the air itself was carrying something wrong. Shadows bent at impossible angles, stretching bizarrely in multiple directions simultaneously. The terrain was radically altered from satellite reconnaissance conducted just two days prior to grass appeared as brittle golden spikes and trees were either melting or thriving in twisted, unnatural growths. We hadn't been inside for 10 minutes before we encountered our first anomaly. A mutated deer like creature emerged from a thicket of trees. This flesh was entirely missing, leaving exposed quivering muscles beneath. Its antlers split and branched into intricate fractal patterns. Upon detecting us, it charged. Its run was a series of jerking, convulsing movements rather than a natural gait. Military personnel engaged first. We waited to see how the creature reacted. Small arms fire was effective and fatal after just a few seconds. But after collapsing, the creature's muscles continued twitching and spasming. Even after one of the operatives put two rounds into its head, it continued writhing. Communications immediately started showing interference. As we proceeded further into the zone, radio chatter became intermittent and the interference was accompanied by persistent humming that seemed to originate from inside our helmets. We noted that certain squad members appeared visibly distressed by this miniscule vibration, a phenomenon we would soon learn was symptomatic of early stage exposure. As we moved towards the primary target area, deeper in the zone, the locality became progressively stranger. Large patches of earth appeared scorched, yet were covered in reflective crystals spouting from the soil, shimmering eerily under the rift sun's light. Military personnel seemed increasingly uneasy, many of them compulsively checking their suits and gauges. It was clear from the glances exchanged among them that confidence in the protection protective gear was non existent. Ahead, we saw a partially collapsed barn like structure marked as Checkpoint Delta on our maps. We cautiously approached, the bizarre humming in our helmets intensifying. Despite my years of strict training, I could sense my pulse quickening. And for good reason. Nothing could have fully prepared us for what we found there. Checkpoint Delta appeared ancient, despite satellite records confirming its relatively recent construction. Its wooden beams and walls were warped, twisted and splintered, almost as though immense pressure had been pressing down on it. Several areas glowed softly from within, castling, unsettling red orange hues through the cracks and broken windows. We approached cautiously, rifles trained and scanning diligently for movement. Before we could investigate, we were met with hostile resistance. Three humanoid figures emerged from the dilapidated structure. They bore only passing resemblance to humans. Their skin was fused and hardened into ashy gray, segmented bark like armor. Their arms were long and ended in two sharp fingers. Knees bent in the opposite direction. A Strange bioluminescent green glow emanated from their eyes. Bright enough to penetrate the light of both suns and visible clearly through our visors. Obliteration protocol dictated immediate engagement. Military personnel opened fire. Standard issued automatic rifles delivering precise bursts. The bullets impacted these creatures with immediate, albeit horrific, effectiveness. Chunks of the bark, like flesh, splintered away with every strike, revealing pulsating exposed organs beneath. Despite their obvious wounds, these beings continued forward in an unsettling mechanical advance, seemingly impervious to pain or fear. As the military members reloaded, we laid down accurate fire, targeting the exposed organs. It didn't take half a magazine to put them down. But as soon as the humanoid creatures fell, a piercing howl echoed from inside the structure, resonating painfully within our helmets. Multiple forms spilled out rapidly, a chaotic and disorganized wave of altered organisms. Mutated canids, their fur burned away and replaced with bristling metallic spikes, bounded aggressively towards us. Large avian creatures followed from the trees, wings made up of translucent vibrating membranes that created disorienting sonic pulses. The ensuing firefight was frantic and brutal. Our team quickly adapted, effectively maintaining concentration and using controlled bursts to down the nearest creature swiftly. However, each unit exhibited uniquely challenging adaptations. Some released noxious caustic gases upon death, requiring rapid repositioning to avoid complete suit degradation. Others exploded into clusters of crystalline fragments, sending razor sharp shards ricocheting violently in every direction. Amid the chaos, one military soldier was covered in an acidic explosion from a slain creature. Within seconds, his suit and then his armor, and then his flesh was hissing and melting. His screams reached us, distorted by his damaged helmet's failing communication unit, but echoed clearly throughout our own helmets. There was nothing medical support could do for him. One of his squad members ended his suffering and collected his dog tags. Checkpoint Delta, temporarily secure but significantly compromised, was briefly evaluated. Inside, the reality distortion was extreme, with objects melting into each other, fused by some unseen force. Bones of humans and animals were merged into grotesque piles. Anomalous plant growth aggressively claimed corners and walls, leaves shivering like the rattle of a diamondback. After securing and marking Delta as unusable, we regrouped and prepared for the next phase of the mission. Aware now that the risk level of this operation was far beyond initial projections, we pressed onward toward the primary rift location designated Zone Alpha. With our numbers slightly reduced and more al visibly strained, Communication channels were briefly filled with strained breathing and whispered reassurances, attempts to steady nerves. Shaken by the strange reality we faced. The closer we got to Zone Alpha, the more dramatic the environmental changes became. The sky overhead glowed a Relentless pale gold, casting distorted shadows that twisted erratically, stretching and contracting in ways that defied the laws of refraction. Vegetation in this area was more aggressively altered. Trees bent and twisted into spirals, leaves replaced with sharp metallic looking protrusions that vibrated and emitted a bizarre hum. The wildlife became progressively more grotesque and aggressive. We encountered towering spider legged abominations that leapt effortlessly overhead. Birds flew erratically above, trailing viscous fluids as they dropped sticky clumps and buzzed incessantly. Whenever one of these things noticed us, it would rush forward, intent on killing us, I imagine. Ammunition reserves dwindled rapidly under sustained fire, and the relentless nature of the seemingly endless threats left little room for rest or regrouping. As we approached the outer perimeter of Zone Alpha, we We encountered severe electromagnetic interference, disrupting our radio communications and impairing electronic systems completely. Our suits, thankfully resilient, maintained function. But the uncertainty and frustration of disruptive coordination added to the mounting psychological pressure. Then we reached the outer barricades, previously erected at the first stage of testing. But they were now corroded and barely recognizable. Here we faced the fiercest resistance yet. A wave of mutated organisms emerged en masse, unified in a disturbingly coordinated assault. At the forefront were enormous humanoid creatures. Muscles grotesquely expanded, encased in thick leathery skin that seemed to reduce penetration of small arms fire. A few of the soldiers were carrying high caliber rifles, and we had to rely heavily on them to dispatch these monstrosities with well placed shots to the eye and nose region. The fighting intensified quickly. Personnel fell at a distressing rate. Some killed instantly by claws, acid or sheer brute force. Suit breaches became a secondary concern. A slow burning fuse rather than an immediate death sentence. The transformations wouldn't happen on the battlefield. They'd start small, bruising, tremors, lesions forming days later. But from the debriefing, we all knew what it meant. A breach suit was a delayed execution. You might last a week, maybe two, maybe a month, before the rift's corruption wormed its way through you. As we fought for our lives, you could see that looming inevitability wearing on them. The ones who knew their fates had been sealed. They fought harder, faster, like they were already dead, trying to take a few more of the enemy with them. Before the end, one lost hope altogether. A private sat down mid patrol and pulled off his helmet and just stared at the Rift. Soon our unit was pinned by a large multi limbed creature, armored in overlapping plates of bolt bone, dripping with acidic secretions that hissed through the ground. It moved like an arachnid but with the weight and power of a rhino. We hit it with everything. Explosives, incendiary grenades, concentrated rifle fire. By the time we finally took it down, it had already torn through and smashed four more of our men. Even the terrain seemed alive. Roots snaked out from beneath our feet, tingling boots, wrenching ankles pulling people down. Trees shifted position, trunks swelling with tumors that burst open to spray spores into the air. Hours passed like years. The sun above never moved, the sky a static sheet of burning gold. We were cooking in our suits, dehydrated, bloodied. Every breath felt labored, like we were breathing through cloth soaked in copper. Then, finally, a lull. We regrouped in a small clearing. Those of us who remained. Ammo was low. Our camo packs were empty or nearing it. Taking off your suit for any reason, be it eating, relieving yourself, or treating an injury, was out of the question. We took stock, reloaded what we could, and stared ahead. Zone Alpha loomed just past the tree line, a clearing bathed in the Rift's light, pulsing with rhythm, like a heartbeat, A sound we couldn't hear but could feel, like pressure behind the eyes. We were all thinking the same thing. This was the end. One way or another, it ended there. Crossing into Zone Alpha was stepping beyond the edge of reality itself. The world within the Rift's immediate influence was a nightmare made manifest, defying physics, biology, and all known understanding of natural law. The air felt thick and syrupy, tinged with the scent of iron, mildew, and something farfaller. Organic riot blended with an almost chemical odor. The terrain had shifted from twisted forest to something more alien. Chunks of buildings and trailers surrounding the experiment site were half sunken into the warped earth. Metal and wood fused into impossible geometry. Trees pulsed like organs, bark splitting open to reveal red, wet interiors that seemed to watch us with clusters of embryonic eyes. The first of the horrors met us near the overturned Humvee. It dropped from somewhere above. Once a man, perhaps a soldier or a scientist, its torso had expanded absurdly. Skin stretched until it was translucent, revealing a lattice of veins pulsing with orange fluid. It no longer had legs. In their place, a mass of muscle strands propelled it forward in jerky hops. Its head split vertically quickly before mandibles flaring outward. A scream that sounded more like radio static erupting from within. We opened fire immediately, and though it fell quickly, its blood writhed on the ground towards us, teeming with some sort of larvae. They squirmed and popped as we tried and failed to avoid stepping on them, unleashing a swarm of small insects that buzzed with a sound that resembled whispers. One agent panicked, flailing and screaming, demanding to know who was speaking inside his head. I think some got into a breach in a suit. We had to sedate him. Another abomination emerged almost immediately from the tree line. A bloated, frog like creature, its flesh rippling in a dozen directions at once. Spikes, bones, or hardened flesh, it was unclear. Protruded from his back, and his mouth was a wide circular ring filled with teeth that seemed to rotate like a meat grinder. It made a continuous gurgling moan. It moved erratically, hopping and charging on powerful legs and white zigzags that made aiming nearly impossible. It bit down on an agent, tilting his head up and shredding him like he was in a wood chipper before we managed to drop it with continuous rifle fire and one of our few remaining grenades. Communication wasn't possible here. Signals were drowned out by interference that resembled voices. Crying. Sometimes even our own words, repeated back at us with distorted inflection. The rift was within sight now. No longer just a tear in the sky, but a luminous vortex of oscillating geometry. Shapes that did not belong to this world, moving with an unknown purpose. We knew there would be no reinforcements. We were tasked with halting this anomaly before it caused more damage. And yet, standing before the swirling core of impossible light in motion, every instinct screamed to run. We didn't. We pushed forward. There was no coordination left, no direction or intel from command. There were. The remaining men I trained with and fought alongside for years were either dead, lost, or descending into complete madness. What remained of our original team was less than half. Our suit's electrical functions began to fail intermittently. While this alone shouldn't have compromised the suit's integrity, the rift's effects were compounding on us. The military lieutenant beside me began to scream that something was inside the light. These shot at nothing and ran directly into a knot of pulsing thick roots. They wrapped around him, pulling into several pieces before dragging him beneath the earth. Couldn't even retrieve his dog tags. We continued on a short distance to the Rift itself. It wasn't just a hole in the sky. It had substance, texture. It was 3D in a way that felt like it was reaching into me. Fractal edges constantly shifting colors that my brain couldn't process. A low frequency hum shook through our bones, bypassing our suit's protection and vibrating directly into the nerves. Static built in our headset until it was just this endless hiss that was voices and screaming and everything you could imagine. By the time I was aware. Creatures lined the perimeter of the clearing, watching. All of them frozen. Like some primordial instinct held them back from approaching the rift. It didn't seem like they feared it. More like they revered it. Like worshippers before a God. Someone screamed that they were going to delineate the Qrid. He raised the detonator high. But before he could press it, something reached from the rift and grabbed him. It was not fast or violent. It was like it had frozen time, leaving only itself with the ability to move. One moment he was standing, the next he was suspended in the air, unraveling limbs, flesh, bones peeling away in neat spirals like pre cut paper soaked in water and pulled apart by invisible hands. There was no screaming. Just that humming and the sounds of his body coming apart. His gun and gear fell to the ground ground with dull thuds. We opened fire, throwing everything we had into the rift and into the horde. As they rushed us, the area shimmered in the sickly golden light and muzzle flashes, casting shifting shadows that were punctuated in blood mist. Cries of agony filled my helmet. I watched my brothers get dragged into wars of abominations. Heard their dying screams as their suits were torn off and bodies ripped apart. One of my team detonated a satral charge on his own position, creating a ring of charge destruction. I looked over to my right and saw Johnson. He had been infected by something. His arm had swelled five times its normal size. I saw it burst and something serpentine came out of it, coiled up his body and pierced his visor from the inside. Kept firing until he fell. Then a creature stitched together from at least a few dozen bodies fused into a wheel of flesh, rolling across the clearing with inhuman speed, flinging itself at our ranks. It crushed anything in its path and seemed to absorb mass as it killed a few creatures and one of the soldiers. I remember something hitting me hard from behind. I was sent flying, rolling to a stop with pain erupting all over my body. I knew immediately I had broken several bones. Every breath came with a wave of agony. Ahead I saw a detonator. I crawled forward slowly. Only my right arm was working. I grunted through the pain of every bump and rock passing into my chest. Several of my ribs were broken at least, but a cough, what with blood, told me that it was probably worse than that. After what felt like an eternity, my hand gripped the small device and instantly I felt the attention of something profound. It was ancient and terrifying. My body went limp as its thoughts and knees flowed into me, becoming my own. I was weightless, rising into the pale gold. The only thing that broke this connection, as it took me over, Was the pain in my broken body as I was jostled in the air. I squeezed, and the area surrounding the rift Exploded in fire and debris and the ground with a fresh new wave of hell and gave myself over to the encroaching dark. When I came to him, I was being pulled from a large crater by a recovery team. A different squad wearing heavier shielding. They had been sent to extract survivors and contain the site. There weren't many to recover. We had sewed the rift, or so the bureau claims. But as I was carted away, I swear I saw a golden shimmer in the air, Like a single strand of gilded hair shimmering in the light. The ground still hums there. I could feel it under the layers of concrete they were pouring in the area. Something is still alive beneath that sight. I'm telling you, we need to nuke that whole area. I can still feel the heat when I close my eyes. That connection hasn't completely died. Something is on our side, keeping it alive. When I close my eyes, I can still see colors and shapes I don't have names for working their way in, Replacing what is normal, what is right.
