The Great Impact

unexpecting circumstances

In the quiet corners of the planet Odessa, a mysterious disease began to spread, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the once-tranquil communities that called this world home. Among those affected was a man named Kriege, a hard-working citizen who lived in a small community nestled within the sprawling expanse of a mega-farm. Born into humble beginnings and with no family to call his own, Kriege was a solitary figure, known for his tireless work ethic and his skill as a mechanic.

Despite his lack of formal training, Kriege had a natural talent for tinkering and repairing machinery, earning him a reputation as the go-to person for all things mechanical in his community. From rusty old tractors to malfunctioning farm equipment, Kriege could work wonders with his hands, keeping things running smoothly even in the face of adversity.

The insidious spread of the mysterious disease that has taken hold of his community. With each passing day, more and more people fell victim to its ravages, their bodies wreaked with fever and their minds clouded with confusion.

As the disease continued to spread, panic gripped the community, and rumors began to swirl about its origins and potential cures. Some whispered of sinister experiments gone awry, while others spoke of ancient curses and malevolent forces at work.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Kriege found himself thrust into a role he never could have imagined: that of a reluctant leader, tasked with finding a solution to the crisis that threatened to tear his community apart. Armed with nothing but his wits and his ingenuity, Kriege set out to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disease and to find a way to stop its spread once and for all.

The First survivors

In the desolate aftermath of a catastrophic event, a young man named Kriege stumbled upon a survivor amidst the wreckage of a small community. Her name was Ana, a woman whose resilience matched his own. Skepticism hung heavy in the air as they regarded each other warily, but the harsh reality of their situation left them with no choice but to trust one another.

Despite their initial misgivings, Kriege and Ana quickly recognized the mutual dependence that bound them together. Each possessed unique skills vital to their survival in this unforgiving landscape. Ana, with her knowledge of herbalism and medicinal plants, proved to be an invaluable asset, providing sustenance and healing remedies in a world ravaged by chaos and despair.

Together, Kriege and Ana embarked on a perilous journey, their footsteps guided by a shared determination to escape the confines of their makeshift sanctuary and seek aid in the distant capital. Their path was fraught with danger at every turn, as they navigated treacherous terrain and encountered remnants of the devastation that had befallen their world.

Yet, in the face of adversity, their bond only grew stronger. Kriege's resourcefulness complemented Ana's expertise, as they relied on each other's strengths to overcome the myriad challenges that lay ahead. With each obstacle they conquered, their trust deepened, forging a connection born of necessity and forged in the crucible of survival.

As they pressed onward towards the capital, their journey became a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the bleakness of their surroundings and the ever-present specter of danger, Kriege and Ana refused to succumb to despair. United in purpose and unwavering in their resolve, they braved the unknown together, bound by a shared hope for a better tomorrow.

Alternate path

After a grueling journey marked by hardship and uncertainty, Kriege and Ana finally arrived at the towering walls of the capital, their hearts filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. The imposing structure loomed above them, a formidable barrier that promised safety but also whispered tales of the chaos that had enveloped the world outside. As they approached, the reality of their situation became starkly apparent: the walls were fortified with advanced security bots and AI systems, all primed and ready to eliminate anyone who dared to approach.

Kriege and Ana exchanged anxious glances, fully aware that their path to safety was fraught with peril. The chaotic remnants of their recent escape from the devastation of their small community had left them weary, yet the prospect of finding refuge within the capital ignited a flicker of determination in their hearts. However, the sight of the heavily armed sentinels guarding the gates only intensified their apprehension.

In the midst of their uncertainty, Kriege spotted a crumpled piece of paper fluttering near the base of the wall. Curiosity piqued, he knelt to retrieve it, revealing a map that detailed the city’s layout and its surrounding areas. Scrawled in hasty handwriting were notes about alternative routes, hidden entrances, and the potential dangers that lurked beyond the walls. The map offered a glimmer of hope, an opportunity for Kriege and Ana to navigate the threats before them.

As they studied the map, they realized that their best chance of survival lay in backtracking to a location marked as a “safe house.” With no time to waste and the threat of the capital’s firepower looming over them, they made the decision to retrace their steps and seek out the mysterious survivor who supposedly resided in a secluded cabin not far from their current location.

The journey back was fraught with tension as they navigated through the remnants of their earlier travels, the air thick with the acrid smell of smoke and the echoes of distant chaos. With each step, Kriege and Ana remained vigilant, knowing that the security bots and AI could easily detect their presence if they weren’t careful.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the cabin nestled in a clearing surrounded by dense black mold. The small structure appeared humble yet inviting, a stark contrast to the cold, mechanized walls of the capital. As they approached cautiously, they could see signs of life—smoke wafting from the chimney and faint sounds of movement within.

Kriege and Ana exchanged hopeful glances, their hearts racing at the prospect of finding another survivor. They knocked on the door, and after a brief moment, it creaked open to reveal an older man with a weathered face and piercing eyes that seemed to hold the weight of countless stories. He welcomed them inside, his demeanor both cautious and warm, understanding the hardships they had endured.

As they settled in and shared their stories, the man—whose name was revealed to be Elias—explained that he had managed to survive by relying on his wits and knowledge of the land. He spoke of the dangers outside the cabin, the relentless security systems that patrolled the capital, and the oppressive atmosphere that had turned neighbors into enemies.

With Elias’s guidance and the map they had found, Kriege and Ana began to formulate a plan. They were determined not just to survive but to reclaim their place in a world that had been torn apart. Together, the three of them would navigate the complexities of a changing landscape, forging new alliances and uncovering hidden truths about the chaos that had engulfed their lives.

In the safety of the cabin, Kriege and Ana found not only shelter but also a renewed sense of purpose, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead in their quest for survival and redemption.

THE ROTting BUTCHER

Kriege awoke abruptly, his heart pounding as he jolted out of the sleep-induced fog. His eyes darted around the cabin, scanning for any sign of the safety he had only just started to feel. But his gaze was drawn to a horrific sight that would forever be etched in his memory: Elias, the man who had given them refuge, was lying lifeless on the floor, his head grotesquely severed from his body. A pool of blood spread out from the decapitated corpse, its color unmistakably purple. The realization struck him with a chill — this was no ordinary murder.

Kriege's body tensed, his survival instincts kicking in as he scanned the room. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The trail of purple blood was unmistakable, leading away from Elias's body and toward the door. Without a second thought, Krieg followed the bloody path, his pulse quickening as a sense of dread began to settle in his gut.

The blood trail led him to the entrance of the sewer system beneath the cabin. The distant sound of Ana’s screams echoed through the walls, a shrill cry that cut through the silence and fueled his panic. His feet moved faster, but the thought that time was slipping away gnawed at him. His breath was shallow as he plunged deeper into the murky darkness of the tunnels.

But what awaited Kriege was far worse than he had anticipated. As he ventured further into the sewers, the air grew thick with the smell of decay and rot. The narrow passages soon turned into a labyrinth — a maze filled with deadly traps. Kriege had no choice but to move carefully, his eyes scanning the environment for signs of danger, all the while desperately trying to follow the faint sounds of Ana’s screams.

Suddenly, he heard movement — the unmistakable clatter of footsteps in the distance. As he rounded a corner, a hulking figure lunged toward him. The Butcher, a savage, masked killer, raised a massive cleaver, aiming to slice Kriege in two. Kriege’s heart raced, but his mind remained sharp. He ducked under the cleaver’s swing, narrowly avoiding the blow. His reflexes were honed by years of survival, and he quickly took note of the traps set in the area.

Utilizing his surroundings, Kriege managed to outwit the Butcher, using the maze’s complexity to his advantage. The killer’s movements grew more frantic. Still breathing heavily, Kriege stumbled into a small room. At its center sat a communication console, a faint glimmer of hope that he could use to track down the deranged murderer and help Ana. His fingers shook as he activated the console, his heart pounding in his chest. But the console flickered, displaying strange, garbled transmissions before finally displaying a terrifying sight: scattered across the walls and ceilings of the sewer were body parts, grotesquely decorated, a macabre art created by the killer. The gruesome scene was enough to make Kriege’s stomach churn.

The sight wasn’t the only horror he encountered — black ooze began pouring from the walls, slithering through the sewer in unnatural patterns, as if the very tunnels had become sentient. Kriege’s stomach turned with disgust and fear, but he pushed on, determined to find Ana and bring an end to the chaos that had engulfed their world.

As he navigated through the maze, avoiding more traps, Kriege’s resolve was tested with every step. Finally, he came face-to-face with the butcher, hiding in the shadows, just as Kriege had hoped. In a final act of cunning, Kriege set a trap of his own, catching the Butcher off guard. The killer stumbled into the snare, but before Kriege could strike, the trap snapped shut killing the Butcher.

To his horror, the masked killer collapsed and revealed something far more terrifying than he could have ever imagined, the man beneath the mask wasn’t human at all. A mutilated, twisted Elphven, now left deformed and unrecognizable, was lurking in the shadows. The creature’s eyes were cold and calculating, and its movements were eerily methodical as it continued to collect body parts from the victims scattered throughout the sewers.

Through the haze, Kriege managed to grab Ana’s communicator, the last trace of hope in his hand. The Elphven’s mocking laughter echoed in the sewers as Kriege used the device to trace Ana’s location. With the strength he had left, he made his way deeper into the sewer system, determined to find Ana and get to the heart of the capital.

The Capital

Kriege’s heart pounded in his chest as he finally breached the surface of the capital city, the place he had imagined as a sanctuary for him and Ana. However, the sight that met his eyes was nothing like he had hoped. Instead of a thriving metropolis, he was greeted by a city engulfed in chaos and decay. The streets were littered with debris, the once-proud buildings now crumbling and abandoned. Worst of all, hordes of zombies lurked in every corner, their grotesque forms shambling aimlessly, driven only by the insatiable hunger for flesh.

The capital city, once considered a beacon of civilization, now stood as a grim reminder of the apocalypse that had swept through Odessa. Kriege felt a deep sense of disappointment and fear settle in his stomach as he took in the ruined landscape. This was not the safe haven.

Kriege pushed forward, determined to find Ana. He still had the beacon on his communicator, a signal that he hoped would guide him to her. Every step he took felt heavier than the last as he moved through the streets, doing his best to stay out of sight. His eyes darted around, always alert to the horde of zombies that seemed to be everywhere. He couldn’t afford to make a sound; he had learned the hard way that any noise could draw them in.

In his attempt to get closer to the beacon’s signal, Krieg’s heart skipped a beat when he accidentally knocked over a tin can lying on the ground. The clattering sound was deafening in the stillness of the ruined city, and in that instant, Kriege knew he had made a grave mistake. The zombies’ attention shifted, their decayed heads snapping toward the noise, their hollow eyes focused solely on the source of the sound.

The horde began to stir, then surge forward with terrifying speed. Kriege’s mind raced as panic seized him. He had no choice but to run. He sprinted down the street, the sound of the zombies’ heavy footsteps gaining on him with every second. His legs burned as he pushed his body to its limits, desperate to escape the relentless pursuit of the undead.

As Kriege dashed forward, he caught sight of a tower in the distance. A figure stood on the rooftop, silhouetted against the dim sky. Without thinking, Kriege altered his course and sprinted toward the base of the building, hoping that whoever was up there could offer some help or at least a safe refuge.

He reached the building and began climbing the fire escape, adrenaline flooding his system as he scrambled up the metal rungs. The sound of the zombies was still close, but with each step up, Kriege felt his hope rise. When he reached the rooftop, he thought he might have found salvation, but fate had other plans.

In a sudden, unexpected twist, Kriege misstepped. His foot caught on the edge of a hidden trap door, and before he could react, he fell through it, landing hard on the floor below. His body crashed into the dark, unfamiliar space, and a blinding pain shot through his limbs. The sound of his fall echoed loudly, and in an instant, the world around him seemed to close in.

Surrounded by the putrid smell of death and decay, Kriege found himself in a small, dark room with dead zombies littered across the floor. He tried to struggle, pushing himself against the trap door, but it was no use. His efforts to free himself were futile as he realized he was trapped in a claustrophobic cage surrounded by the horrors of the undead.

From the shadows, a voice cut through the silence.

"Shut up," a man hissed, his tone cold and commanding.

Kriege froze. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned off his communicator, realizing that the slightest noise could betray his presence. His body went still, not daring to move or breathe too heavily as the sounds of the horde shambled by. Through the cracks in the door, he could hear the mindless shuffle of the zombies, their moans growing fainter as they passed by.

The man who had spoken didn’t make a move, and Kriege stayed completely silent, barely daring to blink. The tension in the room was unbearable, and every moment that passed felt like an eternity. He could only hope that the horde would pass by and that whoever the man was, he would reveal himself once it was safe.

As Kriege lay motionless in the trap, weighed down by the barbed wire and the decaying bodies of zombies that clung to him, he struggled to gather his strength. Every breath was painful, the sharp metal digging into his skin, and the dead weight of the zombies around him adding to his suffering. His vision blurred, but his will to survive remained unbroken. He had to get up, had to find Ana. But the weight was too much, and for a moment, it seemed like he might just succumb to the trap that had caught him.

Just as he thought he might lose consciousness, the man emerged from the shadows. The man moved with purpose, his face obscured by darkness but his presence unmistakable. He walked toward Kriege and with a swift motion, pulled a lever that sent Kriege tumbling out of the cage, the barbed wire cutting into his skin as he fell. Kriege let out a groan of pain but managed to push himself up on trembling arms, trying to ignore the agony that coursed through him.

The man stood over him, skeptical and wary, eyeing Kriege with suspicion. "What is your purpose here? Are you trying to kill us?" he asked, his voice hard and cautious, as though he had seen far too many who were nothing more than threats.

Kriege growled through the pain, trying not to show fear as he slowly managed to sit up. His gaze hardened, meeting the man’s eyes. “I’m looking for Ana,” he spat, his voice rough, raw from the strain.

The man’s expression shifted in surprise, and for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of recognition. He quickly knelt down, working with skill to untangle Kriege from the trap. “So you're Kriege," the man said. "Ana said you were out there somewhere."

Kriege grunted as he finally freed himself from the trap, the relief momentarily overshadowed by the still-persistent pain in his body. He took a shaky step forward, his legs unsteady from the ordeal. He looked at the man, who was already moving ahead, as if to ensure Kriege’s survival.

"I’m Dominik," the man continued. "She’s right over the next building. She assimilated herself with us pretty fast. She’s pretty useful."

Kriege nodded, following Dominik as they made their way through the maze of buildings. Dominik led him up to the rooftop of the next structure, and Kriege immediately spotted Ana, standing in the distance. Their eyes met, and in that moment, all the fear and confusion of the past days faded. Ana’s face lit up, her eyes wide with relief. Without hesitation, she crossed the room and rushed to Kriege, throwing her arms around him in an embrace.

“I knew you’d make it! I knew you were out there!” Ana exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. The relief in her words was evident, and for a brief moment, Kriege allowed himself to bask in the warmth of her embrace.

Ana pulled back slightly, still grinning. “We can finally get off this planet! We’ve got a way out!”

Kriege looked at her, uncertain but hopeful. “What do you mean? How?”

Ana led him over to a small, makeshift station. A radio signal flickered on the screen, and she quickly tapped it, showing him the data. “I found this signal,” she explained. “It’s a U.S.P.M. S.O.S. beacon. I deciphered it—these are the coordinates for a crash site. It’s our way out.”

Kriege stood there, his mind racing. The notion of leaving the planet seemed almost too good to be true, but the beacon’s signal didn’t lie. A part of him was unsure—this could be another trap, another false hope. Yet, the reality of the situation was hard to ignore: the opportunity was there, a potential escape from the hellish existence they had been living.

“I’m not sure…” Kriege murmured, his voice tinged with doubt. “Are we ready to trust it? To go after it?”

Ana’s face softened, her expression resolute. “We don’t have a choice. It’s our best shot. And the others... they’re ready too. We can do this together.”

Kriege nodded, knowing deep down that Ana was right. They had already survived so much, and if there was even a small chance to escape, he couldn’t pass it up. With Dominik and the other survivors, they would set out on the dangerous journey to the crash site, hoping the beacon would lead them to safety and freedom.

He turned to Ana, his resolve hardening. “Let’s do it.”

And so, together with the survivors who had fought just as hard as they had, Kriege and Ana began to prepare for the journey ahead. The path was uncertain, and fraught with danger, but it was their only chance. The beacon on the radio flickered one last time as if urging them forward into the unknown—into the hope of a new beginning.

Last Hope

The survivors stood together, their eyes fixed on the horizon, where a faint outline of twisted metal and smoldering debris stood stark against the gloomy sky. The beacon that had led them here pulsed with a faint, steady light, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. Kriege’s voice broke the silence, his words heavy with a sense of grim determination.

“The beacon leads here,” he said, his gaze narrowing as he looked at the wreckage of the starship, its broken form scattered across the wasteland. The survivors, exhausted and weary from the journey, gazed at the crash site in stunned silence. None of them knew where or how the starship had come from, but one thing was certain—it was their only chance for survival.

The starship’s wreckage was surrounded by the infected, zombies that moved in unison, their lifeless bodies groaning as they shuffled mindlessly across the land. Kriege felt a chill run down his spine, but he knew they had no choice. The group had to make their way into the ship, no matter the danger.

With grim determination, the survivors moved forward, careful to stay out of sight and avoid drawing attention. The closer they got to the ship, the more overwhelming the stench of death and decay became. The wreckage was a graveyard, and inside, it felt like the very walls themselves whispered of the horrors that had occurred within.

Once inside, Dominik quickly moved to the ship’s control panel, hoping to activate the beacon and get some answers. But after several attempts, the harsh reality hit them—there was no power. The systems had failed, and the ship was effectively dead. Dominik turned to the group, frustration painted across his face. It was Kriege who, without hesitation, volunteered to find the power.

Kriege moved quickly through the darkened corridors, his mind focused on the task at hand. The air inside the ship was thick with decay and the unmistakable presence of the infected. He could hear their groans echoing through the walls, a chilling reminder that the starship had not been abandoned by accident. Something had gone wrong.

As he made his way deeper into the ship, Kriege stumbled upon disturbing writing on the walls—symbols, scratched hastily, as if someone had left a message in desperation. His eyes scanned the cryptic markings, but there was no time to investigate further. The survivors depended on him to get the power back on.

After what seemed like an eternity of searching, Kriege finally found the engine room, a cavernous space filled with broken machinery and rusting parts. There was little left of the original ship’s systems, but Kriege’s skill and resourcefulness had kept him alive long enough to know how to work with damaged equipment. After fiddling with the control panel, he managed to get two hydrogen engines running. The hum of the engines sparked a glimmer of hope in his chest, but it was also the sound of danger. The noise from the engines attracted the attention of the infected, who began to flood the corridors of the ship.

Kriege cursed under his breath, moving quickly to the next task. He had no time to waste, and the ship’s haunting atmosphere seemed to close in on him, as though the very walls were alive with the whispers of those who had perished inside.

Back in the main room, Ana called out to Kriege, urging him to gather any medical supplies he could find. She was always thinking ahead, focused on the survival of the group even in the face of so much destruction. Kriege nodded, moving swiftly toward the medical bay.

As he grabbed a few urgent gels and supplies, the sound of the beacon coming to life reached his ears. The survivors were relieved, but the triumph was short-lived. The beacon’s signal, once a hope for escape, was now a siren call that drew the infected like moths to a flame. The horde began to swarm around the ship, drawn to the signal that would lead them to the survivors' location.

“Get ready to defend the area!” Kriege shouted, rushing back to join the group. The survivors quickly scrambled into defensive positions, their weapons ready, but they were vastly outnumbered. The noise of the infected grew louder, closer, and Kriege knew they had to act fast.

But then, a glimmer of hope appeared—a nearby ship, untouched and functional. Kriege’s heart raced as he sprinted toward the repair room, where a plasma cannon lay dormant. The cannon was their best chance at holding off the horde long enough to make a break for the escape ship. He quickly moved the cannon into position, using the internal chassis transit system to transport it to the best vantage point.

Kriege stood resolutely behind the plasma cannon, his every muscle aching from the strain of continuous fire. The horde of infected, a relentless tide of undead creatures, surged forward, undeterred by the carnage left in their wake. The cannon’s plasma bursts cut through their ranks, incinerating zombie after zombie in a fiery explosion, but the numbers seemed endless, and with every shot, the cannon began to falter. Still, Kriege didn't stop. The survivors were relying on him; he was their last line of defense.

The distant sound of a dropship’s engines roared in the air, and Kriege’s heart leapt. A glimmer of hope had arrived, but as the horde grew closer, his fight became more desperate. The survivors, one by one, made their way to the dropship, escaping the battlefield with only the slightest hesitation. The door opened to them, and Ana was among the last to board, her eyes filled with both relief and fear. She turned to Kriege with a strained smile, but her voice trembled with urgency.

“Hurry, Kriege!” Ana screamed. "Get on the ship!"

Kriege, drenched in sweat and blood, kept firing the plasma cannon with a fierce determination. But he knew his time was running out. The cannon, worn out from overuse, suddenly sparked, and with a final, deafening explosion, it shattered. The force sent Kriege flying backward, his body crashing against the rubble as flames and debris erupted around him. Pain seared through his body, and he grimaced, feeling the third-degree burns on his arm.

But Kriege pushed through the pain, his mind only focused on reaching the ship. He scrambled to his feet, his injured arm hanging limply at his side, and staggered toward the dropship, which had started its engines and was preparing to launch.

Ana’s voice screamed from the ship, “Hurry, Kriege!” But as he neared the entrance, the doors began to close, sealing off the only escape. Kriege ran faster, his legs screaming with exhaustion, but it was no use. The door shut with a loud hiss, leaving him on the outside.

Kriege's heart sank as he stood there, the cold reality of the situation crashing down on him. He banged his fist against the door with his good arm, desperate, a broken cry escaping his throat. The last remnants of hope evaporated as he whimpered in disbelief, his eyes locked on the escaping ship. It was leaving him behind. He was alone.

His grief and fear threatened to consume him, but in the midst of his deranged despair, his survival instincts kicked in. Kriege snapped out of his breakdown, hearing the faint sound of movement among the rubble. He turned, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw a small girl, hiding in the debris, her eyes wide with terror.

Without hesitation, Kriege rushed toward her, his pain momentarily forgotten as he reached down and scooped her into his arms. She was light, her small form trembling in his grasp. “I won’t leave you here,” Kriege whispered through gritted teeth, his voice shaky but resolute.

But as he turned to run, two infected figures lunged from the shadows, their jaws snapping hungrily. They sank their teeth into his shoulder, the pain radiating through his body like a firestorm. Kriege gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious, and with one last surge of energy, he managed to break free from their grasp. He stumbled forward, the weight of the girl still in his arms, fighting against the agony that burned through him.

The sound of the drop ship’s engines echoed in the distance, but Kriege knew he couldn’t outrun the infected and the blast radius of the ship’s launch. He ran as far as he could, his breath ragged and his legs weak, the girl clinging to him as if her life depended on it—because, at that moment, it did.

Kriege pushed himself harder, trying to outrun the blast, but his body was exhausted. The wounds from the zombies, his burns, and the endless strain of the battle took their toll on him. His legs gave out beneath him, and as the distant sound of the dropship’s engines faded into the background, so too did Kriege. His body collapsed in the desolate landscape, the girl still clutched tightly in his arms.