pandora-dark-shorts

[pandora-dark-shorts]

NMS-16th Fractals.

16th Fractals are remnants of an ancient race that once wielded immense power. These ships are unique, each crafted from fragments of time itself. 16 pieces of a forgotten technology, fused by a singular purpose.

A race known as the Ekthar uncovered the truth behind the "16," a recurring number in the universe’s fabric. They discovered that reality itself was encoded in a sequence of 16 parallel dimensions. Seeking to control these dimensions, the Ekthar built their ships using materials and energy pulled from all 16 realms, giving each vessel extraordinary capabilities.

However, meddling with the 16 realms fractured their existence. As a consequence, the Ekthar all but vanished, leaving behind their ships to drift in the void. The exotic ships still carry the echoes of the Ekthar's fall, with each jump through hyperspace distorting time and space in subtle, unpredictable ways. Pilots who command these ships often report hearing a mysterious voice repeating a cryptic phrase: "Iteration 16—beyond the veil, within the breach. Krrtzz"

Some say these ships are cursed, bound to the cycle of the 16 dimensions, forever searching for a way to reunite the fractured realities. Others believe they hold the key to ultimate power if one can unlock the full potential of the 16th Fractals. They believe that the key to unlocking their full potential lies in the shadow galaxy, Odyalutai. Very few know how to get there and even less how to traverse its systems.

Picture by reddit user TheToastyToast

#pandoradark #connecticut #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo #horror #nms #nomanssky #exotic #Odyalutai #shadowgalaxy

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 5: Groton Horde Part III.

The truck was waiting beside a gas pump with another soldier near it.

"It's all filled up," he told me as we loaded the guns. "Nice to see civies getting their hands dirty. And between you and I, the LT deserved that."

"He is an asshole," I replied, smiling as I climbed into the big bastard of a truck and did the puzzle. The engine roared to life as I gripped the steering wheel and drove toward the barricade.

As I approached it, I could see the soldiers fighting for their lives. The zombies were relentless, screaming and jaws snapping in anticipation of a meal that I figured would never satisfy them. I pulled up to the barricade and jumped out of the truck. Before I hit the ground, 6 soldiers had gotten down from the barricade and started pulling off cans to hand out. One went straight for the trailer jack to get it off the truck.

As a retired Navy Mass Comm Specialist and journalist for several news outlets, I was vetted. I have seen my fair share of tragedies, even overseas; the sandbox, the dmz. Nothing could have prepared me for a zombie outbreak. I climbed back into the running truck, my heart still racing with adrenaline.

I looked over as a soldier climbed the passenger side. He reached through the window and put a radio on the front seat. "Commander Stetson said to give this to you and say hurry back. Stay off the channel unless you are called for directly. Your callsigns 'Caveman'. See Warrant Officer Durang. Thanks for the drop, Bro." He jumped down before I could respond. Caveman. What?

Turning the behemoth around, I raced back to the depot to restock, ready to do it all over again. If they were going to fight to protect us, I was going to help them do that.

As I pulled up to the building, a sense of apprehension washed over me. The moment I stepped down, a burly Marine with a stern gaze emerged from the building. The mountain of a man extended a hand, offering a firm handshake.

"You my transporter," he asked with the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"I am," I replied, looking up at him.

"I'm not gunna lie, Brother," he said, "It's a shit show out there, and I dont have many personnel to spare. I have 4 trucks prepped and 2 more drivers. I have 6 spots that need to be supplied, and we can't leave the trucks there."

He took a breath and pointed toward a truck with 8 pallets on it. "The goods news is that all but one stop have forklifts, so you're going to have a piggyback on this load to drop off so they can clear the truck. It's a flatbed, so you won't need yours. Drive straight there, unload, turn around, drive back."

"That's it," I asked. "Easy enough."

"So easy an MC can do it." He joked, face softening with a laugh. "Here's the key. It's a contractor vehicle."

"Caveman," I said with a smile.

"My idea," he replied. "It'll grow on you. If it doesn't, oh well."

I took the key and jogged over to the truck. I'd never driven one of these and was glad to see it was an auto. The apprehension gave way to determination as i put it in drive, slowly pulling off to my first stop.

That determination turne to absolute fear as I approached the barricade. The undead were just breaking through and 11 soldiers with homemade rebar pikes and 2 firing pistols on either flank stood between them and everyone else. Why hadn't they called it in?

#pandoradark

#pandoradarkseries

#day5

#connecticut #zombies #apocalypse #zombieapocalypse #infected #covid19 #rabies #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo #horror #horrorstories

[pandora-dark-shorts]

The Secret

A Harry Potter alt reality short

As Harry faced Snape, the staff and students could feel the tension in the air. Minerva McGonagall stood a few steps beside him, her heart pounding, her figure straight but unsteady.

"How dare you stand where he stood", Potter yelled with venom in his voice. "Tell them how it happened that night!"

Severus locked eyes quickly with Minerva as he invaded her mind. "Do you trust me", he asked. No. It wasn't him. It was Albus' voice she was hearing. "Do you trust me?"

Harry continued yelling at snape. "Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them!

Severus quickly drew his wand. Here he was, poised to strike, a look in his eyes, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Minerva shoved Harry aside, placing herself on the floor with Severus. Her wand trembled in her hand and she hesitated. She saw Severus' wand waiver and she used a conjuration spell to cast a blast of fire from her wand at him. He deflected it. She cast it again with the same result.

She rapidly cast several more at him as he started to reel himself backwards. Snape’s face was emotionless as he took the full brunt of her assalut, deflecting her spells with precision. The spells veered off course toward either side of the floor. Eight deflections perfectly timed to reach the stairs where the Carrow siblings, the other two Death Eaters, were standing behind him.

Minerva’s flurry continued with teo more spells as snape flung them into the siblings faces. She stuttered as they crumpled to the ground, their conciousness snuffed out before they even knew what happened. Snape hadn’t just defended himself again her, he’d rid the field of the other threats.Her mind filled with conflicting emotions as she continued to attack.

Snape’s eyes flickered, a brief glance of understanding passing between them, before he vanished into the smoke, retreating from the fight. Minerva stood there, chest heaving, her wand still raised.

She didn’t chase him. Instead, her lips pressed into a thin line as she whispered under her breath, so softly no one else could hear, “I do. Obliviate", as she removed the memory of her and Severus' small conversation. Severus was the master of Occlumency, not her. Whatever plan Albus and Severus had in mind, she would do well to not know of it. To keep Harry safe, she would have to keep that secret safe as well.

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 5: Groton Horde Part II.

I never thought I would be in this position - driving 70mph in a military truck to find ammo to get to soldiers fighting zombies outside of a heavily baracaded naval base. Well, here I am.

I pulled up to the ammo depot and almost fell out of the truck. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. I ran to the massive overhead door and looked for anyone who seemed important. I saw a 2nd Leiutenant eating a hotdog and jogged to him.

Sir, I don't have much time." I said. He looked at me and turned his head back to the other soldier. "Sir!" I said a little louder.

"What!", the man yelled back, irritated. "I'd like to get this shit under control before I start answering questions for civilians. Now if you'll excuse..."

I interrupted him. "No I won't fucking excuse you. While your fat ass is here eating hotdogs, your guys are running low on ammo!" I was seething.

He retorted, "Now listen...".

"No", I said "I have a truck outside..."

"Pardon me", a man in fatigues cut in, motioning to me, "you, come with me."

"Im sorry, sir", I said, "but the men out there need a LogPac for M27 and 17, and they need it now, or they won't be fighting for..."

"LT", He cut in again, yelling to the soldier. "Get on the lift and load 3 pallets of 5.56 and 1 of 9mm onto that small trailer. Load some 7.62 belts on as well. Put some rations and water on it and hook it to his truck." The LT saluted him and took off. "You", he motioned again, "lets go." I followed him to a room, and he grabbed a cart. He took 20 rifles out of a box and moved down a few boxes, pulling out 10 pistols. "You ever shot a gun before, son?", he asked me.

"I'm an A Class USPSA shooter".

"Great," he exclaimed, "you have an air about you. You serve?"

"Yes, Sir," I replied proudly, "Navy retired LT. MC out of Fort Meade. Academy. Transferred to Bragg. 9 years. Half that overseas."

"Well ok", he said with an air of respect. "After you get these unloaded, I want you back here. You'll help with distribution. Drive slow. Take this, have them drop the trailer there, and come back for another to bring to the next group." He handed me a Sig Sauer M17, the military variant of the P320.

"Ok," I replied. He turned to another soldier, and I jogged out of the room and through the depot with the cart.

#pandoradark

#pandoradarkseries

#day 5

#connecticut #zombies #apocalypse #zombieapocalypse #infected #covid19 #rabies #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo #horror

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Apeshit

Log Entry 237: Cara Costabile, Team Leader Spartan Fireteam Switchback

Lost another one today. Its been a pretty shitty week rounding up the last of the real resistance of the covantant. Down 1 Spartan 3, one 4, 4 Marines and an ODST. This last one hurt more though. Terry. Guy was an idiot, but he was our idiot. Everything was a joke to him. But he would turn serious so quick it could almost make your head spin. And he was a hell of a shot. Better than most Spartans I'll admit. The guy could knock an apple off a tree a click away and you could catch it and eat it. Trust me I know from experience. There was no one I'd rather have watching my back than that Helljumper. The amount of times hes pulled through for us...

He was even the first one to talk to Krel'tarus, our resident Brute, and his clan. Covenant defectors that believed the Arbiter's message. We weren't too happy about being stuck with these guys. But he didnt seem to mind. Hes always the bigger person, no matter what. They really didnt want much to do with him until the day he went over and said "fight me you big ape" in their language. They almost died of laughter. They were instantly friends after that. They started socializing a little more. Mostly with the Helljumpers. I guess they saw themselves more on par with the rank of the odst before the Elite deranking. More in common.

They accompanied us on some of our missions, and we on theres. They would give us hot spots like ammo depots and food storage planets. Eventually we started looking at each other as allies. There was some rough stuff but it all smoothed out eventually. But not like with Terry. He was basically one of them. They did all kinds of shit with each other from Brute games to target practice.

Until yesterday. We were watching a Covy shield and grenade production factory from 3 clicks out on a mountaintop. Ships were in and out all day. Every once in a while a grunt would come out and toss a couple dozen grenades of different types one at a time into a hole and wait for the explosions. Quality control, I guessed.

I gave the orders to move down the backside of the mountain and we trecked to the factory perimeter via jungle. Nothing happened the whole way there. No roaming patrols. No hidden traps on the perimeter. I comm'd Krel and said we were moving in. 2 other Snipers in the group had designated spots up high and Terry was to come in with us and get up on a high overhang the Brutes said would be near the entrance. The mission was to clear the place and wait for another team of Marines to come take over watch for the defected Elites and Grunts to run it. No prisoners.

Everything was shit. There were WAY more than we had anticipated in there. But it was going as planned until the 3 biggest damn Elites I had ever seen jumped down onto the floor. One biggest one went down as soon as he hit it, courtesy of Terry. The other 2 looked directly at him. They sent a flurry of needles at him and he jumped down. But i saw one of them hit him in the stomach. I watched him hit the ground on his side with an audible thump. Then his body jumped to the left a bit. The Brutes all stopped fighting to look at him. A few seconds later the Elites noticed the action and fired another volley. The entire rest of the needler's capacity.

A Brute, I believe his name was Ba'ras, lept further than i had ever seen one go. He basically flew to Terry's body and arched himself over him on his hands and knees facing away from the Elites. He took the whole barrage to his back. The needles pulsed as one and exploded, tearing out his whole back, he slumped forward, making almost a tent for Terry.

Then, the Brutes lost it. They went absolutely apeshit for lack of a better term. Every one of them let out an ear piercing roar, my sound dampening kicked in like a bomb went off. They took off as one. I saw Krel get to the first Elite. He dodged a plasma bolt and grabbed him by the arm. He pushed him down to the ground like he was a little kid. Then he tore his left arm and third mandible off and proceeded to beat him to death with it. He picked him up by his legs and tore him down the middle. The strength that must have took. He used half of that elite like it was a grav hammer. Crushing Grunts and slamming it into other Elites.

The other Brutes where no less a spectacle. Ripping arms, legs, and heads off. Slamming machinery down on everyone they could find. 2 of them picked up a spectre and tossed it. 1 of them struggled and thrashed at a grunt that was hiding behind a very large machine entering another room. He saw the giant metal door and took off back toward us. He shoulder charged it with everything he had. It barely budged. The Grunt taunted him. 2 more Brutes noticed and ran at it with him. 2 trys and the door caved in. I watched as they all beat it into a pile of mush. It was all over the room.

Not to let them have all the action, we join in while our medic went to Terry. Bullets flew, bodies broken. One Brute almost turned on me before he saw who I was. He gave me a giant blood smeared smile as he banged his chest once in salute and ran off with a leg to be someone elses bad day. They were all covered in blood and bodily fluids. There wasnt a single part of the place that didnt have some part of something somewhere.

Then it was done. The Brutes had a hell of a time coming down from the berserk. Marines checks corridors and rooms. Krel remembered Terry and rushed over to him. He jumped damn near a third of the floor. Terry lay on the floor with a large hole in his stomach. He was still alive. Barely. The medic handed Krel his pistol, rifle and ODST patch. "He said to make sure you get these".

Terry coughed several times and managed to sputter out a, "hey you big ape", before coughing again. "You probably couldnt get your big ass fingers into the trigger guard, but you could probably use it as a club. And you could find something to do with the pistol. Maybe make it into a knife".

Krel spoke in a tone of voice that I could only describe as the deepest kind of respect. Peaceful. "You died well, Brother. I can only hope to do the same. My inheritance will find great use". Terry smiled, closed his eyes, and stopped breathing.

"I surrender", a voice yelled to our left. "I surrender to you". It was an Elite. The hide and seek champion of the day. Krel looked at Terry's rifle. He carefully bent the barrel all the way back and held the stock as he hefted it.

He walked toward the Elite and it got on its knees. Krel leaned down and asked, "do you see that human", and pointed to Terry's body.

The Elite looked over to us, and then at Terry. He acknowledged with a click of his mandibles. "The Imp. Yes."

"There was more honor in that human than there was in the entire Covenant fleet." Krel arced and swung the rifle, connecting with the Elites head and liberating it from his body. He walked away as the body dropped to the floor.

A pelican few in overhead and landed outside the factory. Marines came out and walked over to us. They looked on in horror at the scene before them. "I like the decor", a familiar voice said. I turned to see Master

Sergeant Wallace Escobar admiring the mess we made.

"I know what you like", I replied with a hint of malice. "Plant is clear. 1 casualty. It was mostly the Jiralhanae that did the decorating".

He took another look around and said, "Got damn they fucked this place up. Something must have struck a nerve cause this is some next level shit. Is that... is that a grunt over there?"

"It was a grunt", i explained, "It is now the embodiment of navy food. Kinda looks like someone mashed meatloaf with Jello huh? The casualty was the reason this place looks like a ravehouse. We lost Terry."

"Dammit", he said. "Finest sniper I'd ever met. Better than most spartans. And a great man in general. Had many late nights with him and a good bottle of whiskey. Hope he went down swinging."

"He single handedly took down the biggest Sangheilli I had ever seen", Krel said with pride as he walked by with his new club. "They were personal guards of the Prophets at one time. No other human can claim that feat. Not even your Demon. Those were not your general Sangheilli. You should be proud to have had such a warrior among your group."

Escobar stood up taller. An interaction like this wasn't a common occurrence. I honestly dont know if it was an occurrence at all. Let alone a high ranking Brute commending a human soldier like this. Krel walked up into the Pelican with the rest of the Brutes and it took off. Another taking its place.

The marines in it disembarked and we climbed in. Terry's bag was placed in the center and strapped down. It was going to be a long ride home.

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Etaine

I awoke to the irritating sound of metal on metal. It was dark and my left eye ached, it felt like there was sand in it. As I adjusted to the light, a shadowy woman started to come into focus.

"There you are", she said with a half smile, "was worried you wouldn't wake up. You hit the ground pretty hard there, Princess." She looked me up and down. "You look thirsty, have some water."

A cold flask touched the back of my hand. I took it and drank greedily. With the dryness gone and my vision coming back, I looked through the bars at her, seeing her for the first time. "You are Yamatai", I exclaimed.

"I am, she responded, a hint of pride in her voice. "As are you".

"Why am I caged", I asked, "where are my husband and kids? Where am I?"

She looked down at the floor, eyes suddenly saddened. "You were sold to slavers. They brought you here. The the land of the exiles. You are in the camp of the Snake King. He is one of the most feared pirates in the land.

"So we are on a boat", I questioned.

"No", she replied, "the boat is on the river. There is no ocean here. There is desert as far as you can stand to walk. A Jungle to the west. A frozen wasteland to the north. And there is the volcano land even further. If the land doesnt kill you, the wildlife will. It is a hostile place. He rules our part of this with an iron fist." As she finished she made a fist.

"My ring", I said as I saw it. "How did you get it?

"It came in with you", she said, "they said it wouldn't come off. I had no problem getting it of of you. Don't know what they meant."

It's a special ring", I told her, "only a Yamatai woman can hold it. May I have it back. It was given to me by my mother, and hers before her. Please?"

She hesitated, but removed the ring and placed it in my hand. Immediately I saw myself falling from the 4th floor balcony, staring up at my husband as he laughed. He had pushed me. I was defending our home and he pushed me. He tricked me. I wasnt defending against invaders. I was fighting my soon to be masters. I looked at her. "What is your name, pretty one?"

"Kurenai", she replied. I slipped my ring on and touched the first bar. It disintegrated instantly and she took a step back. "What are you doing?" I touched the second bar and it too turned to ash. She looked terrified. I grabbed the next two bars and looking into her eyes, I slowly melted these ones. I walked to the table and began eating the meat and bread on the plate, glancing at her from time to time. I used the last of the bread to clean the plate and them drank the entire glass of blue wine next to it.

When I finished I walked to her. She coward to the corner. She whimpered as I grabbed her chin and made her look up at me. "Please dont", she said with tears in her eyes. I stared into her eyes as I saw day by day her life here. Beaten, ridiculed, taken... No. Sold... By her father. I let my hand warm her chin and she flinched. I leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"You are no one's slave", I told her. "Come with me to your Snake King. Take me to him, please. He has something I want".

She looked at me. "You are a sorceress".

"I am the sorceress Etaine", I replied.

"So I wasn't far off when I called you princess", she asked rhetorically. "What do you want from him?"

"Everything", I said

She smiled, "this way, my Princess".

#pandoradark #connecticut #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Necromancer

"Please dont die, Daddy," the little girl cried. "I dont want to lose you too."

"There is no one left, Sweety" her father said. Breath heavy and full of fluid. "You need to do it. When I die, you need to take me over. You need to live. It's the only way you will. Promise me. Promise me you will live. Use me until there is nothing left and then use another. And another."

She hated that she was born a Necromancer. If she wasn't the Kings daughter, she would have been shunned and tossed out of the kingdom like all those before her. When She was 5, she reanimated her dead rabbit. Thats how they found out she had the power. Her father let the kingdom know. To his surprise, everyone accepted her because of who she was. Clearly, the King's child couldn't be evil. The Kadeshi Family had ruled the west Kingdom of Ancor for close to 1000 years, and with that rule, the people and kingdom had prospered. Until now.

"I promise, Daddy," she said with tears pouring down her face. I will."

"My beautiful little girl", he cough.

"Im a monster," she let out.

"Dont you ever say that again?" he told her. You are not a monster. What you have doesn't make you a monster. What you do with it does. Never forget who you are, and it will never overpower you. Never forget where you're from, and you will never be lost. The Necromancers were once the most trusted Generals of every army. A select few broke that trust forever. You are purely good at heart. You could never be a monster."

"I won't ever forget," she cried. "I promise I will live."

"My beautiful little girl," he coughed, never once looking at her as he talked. Busy protecting her with his shield from the incoming arrows and weakly flailing his mace at nothing. Unable to get up because of his mared legs. "Your mother would be so proud of you. I love you, Ceridwyn, "he said with his last breath. He slumped over, still sitting high enough to protect her even in death. He told her he always would.

She screamed as she touched his back. He stood up with more vigor than she had seen in years. But it wasn't him, and she knew it. It was just an extension of herself. He stood there as arrow after arrow slammed into him. Still unwavering. She looked at her uncle, Richard, a few feet away. He immediately stood up and walked forward. As well as her 2 brothers, Micheal and Stephen, her 3 cousins and the blacksmith, Carl. She felt weak, but she pushed through it. Soon, 7 became 12. And 12 became 20. What was that her father once said. 100 undead soldiers could take on 5x that. She screamed again as more and more stood up for her. Her fathers army, her army, of just over 700 men began fighting back.

And live she did. The kingdom was left in ruins. Abandoned by the invading armies and all but forgotten. Looking over her legion of 5000 men and women, she remembered what her father had said. Never forget who you are. She was the daughter of a former king. Never forget where you're from. The queen to all his land and the people that survived that huge betrayal.

She had passed village after village, some leaving behind her soldiers to protect her fathers people. And others that were too late to help, she added to her army. 10 years later to the day, she sits outside The Gates of Byzantium as the King cowars inside his palace. Her people will never again feel the betrayal of another King. She promised them that, and she never breaks a promise.

They will again roll through like a storm. Taking every soldier and person who fights back just like the last one. Though this one was personal. Word was spread the night before as the army stood in the distance. She would take them and go to the next kingdom. And the next. Until they were all hers. No one would know that kind of betrayal again. When they were all hers, she could finally let her army rest. Her family can finally rest. Her father could stop protecting her. She looked to the side at him. He never leaves it, even when she tells him to. She hasn't figured it out yet, but she feels as though he knows he should be there.

Was she a monster now? No. She didn't think so. It would all soon be over, and her army can be laid to rest. A monster wouldn't do that.

She looked down at the paper in her hand. The one her spy had been sent in to hang up everywhere. 'The Kadeshi have returned. Woe to those that stand before Us, for We will pass them. Either making them part of Our Storm, or in heaps and ruins behind us.'

#pandoradark

#pandoradarkseries

#Necromancer

#connecticut #zombies #war #zombiewar #undead #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo #horror

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Prologue

Decided to give a sneak peak into one of the books I am writing. This is the prologue. A letter to one of the main character's old professors about a paper one of his students wrote on the potential of a zombie outbreak. This has been and will be further edited, so It may be slightly different in the book.

My dear Professor Langdad,

In regards to your email about your student’s essay on a zombie apocalypse, I think it would be a landslide for the people. As she said, magic zombies won’t exist. It would need to be rabies like, a complex designed retrovirus, or some kind of parasite or multicell bacteria. Anyway, a zombie virus would never make it out of a city unless it was mass introduced into the air or something, and lots of the infected turned around the same time. A patient zero wouldn’t even make it out of the subway or wherever it is introduced. Never. Not on your life. There are too many armed people in this country. The people bit by that patient zero would, though. To the hospital. Where they would be in a room where doors are generally closed. Doctors are trained to handle patients that are rowdy, and if the patients are starting to get sick, they would likely see a pattern and lock the rooms of the others down. After that, measures would be put in place to keep staff out. Even if it took one turning and biting a nurse or someone, it would still not make it past that stage. The CDC would be called in, and it would leave the hospital safe and sound. End of apocalypse.

Now, if it was airborne and released like a contrail all over the USA… Good luck. Mass infection and turning. The military would be late to respond as they are to everything (see New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina). The creators would likely stagger the release so different places turn at different times to stretch resources. People are stupid, especially in the USA. People still believe Trump won. People didn’t think coronavirus was real. So, they wouldn’t believe a zombie is trying to kill them at first. The others would panic and try to flee, causing jams and hampering military land responses. Mass turning on bridges, infecting more people that weren’t infected. From there it’s up to how much the military can destroy in how little time. They can’t just start firebombing everywhere, but the outbreak is everywhere, so eventually, they would need to or risk losing more. By the time it was decided, it would likely be too late anyway. The military should, in turn, make mass cull points to lure them in to be more effective in their runs. Like an air horn in the middle of the city. Also, are they smart enough to know food or people are in houses? Jack breaks into little Sally’s house and sees her and her family waiting it out, and that pisses him off. Either he eats a lead slug, or he eats them. If he eats that slug, every zombie in earshot now heads in that direction. Chain of events.

Her argument is very compelling, though. She hits on a lot of the spots most Hollywood films and books miss. I quite like the idea that they would indeed still attack each other to an extent. Which leads to another question of how they would know each other are infected or who isn't? Is it a scent or just the fact that they are violent? A general look? The pack mentality and potential hierarchy are well thought about, too. It could lead to an explanation on hordes in fiction. I’m still not sold on the way it would have to be distributed. A patient zero would never work. It would also have to be fast acting in the long run. Like a generational virus. It gets more effective as it goes down the line and infects more people. I still don’t see it acting fast enough to cause instant turning or even in minutes. That would seem to be a combination of several factors. Getting to the brain and chemically altering it like, say, a coffee and caffeine. Fast enough to cause damage as soon as it reaches and enough to start the process. The rage would need to come first. But then there is no way for the newly infected host to spread the virus. There are so many unknown factors and missing steps. Can they eat to sustain themselves? Do they drink? If they are dead, how will rigor affect them? There is really no reasonable way to actually have a zombie apocalypse. It would need to be one big combination mega virus.

She definitely deserves an A for the project, though. It is far more well thought out than any book or movie I’ve seen or read. Is she sure she wants to be a virologist? She would have a very bright future in the storytelling industry. Book author or screenwriter. I hope she thrives wherever she ends up. Tell her to contact me when she graduates. I’d be happy to help her get a job here under me. If you ever need me for anything else, let me know.

Your very grateful former student,

Samantha Goldman

Samantha Goldman

Chief, Viral Pathogens Surveillance and Diagnosis Branch

Center for Disease Control

#pandoradark

#pandoradarkseries

#connecticut #zombies #apocalypse #zombieapocalypse #infected #covid19 #rabies #writing #writinginspiration #writeig #shortstories #inspo #horror

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Hehyxade

The Equinox: Part One

The Burns-Shawyer Drive let out its static discharge as we came out of lightspeed, and I gazed in awe at the Equinox Station. The massive ring, adorned with an expansive center line extending in both directions, made my jaw drop. The enormous hub at the center was our destination, its metallic structure gleaming in the soft glow of the planet below.

As I guided my Marauder class starship closer, I marveled at how large it actually was. It was the biggest The Coalition had built so far. The station's circular expanse symbolized unity, while the extending lines hinted at the connections reaching far into the cosmos. But I realized it was as deadly as it was beautiful when i noticed the rather large rail cannons and lasers tracking me as I went to dock on the closest arm. Wouldn't stand a chance against those things in our current configuration. It's a good thing that they are on our side.

I followed the runway inside and was greeted with a voice over comms telling me to take chamber 3 since it was one of the only airlocks designed to take a ship of this size. What do you know, my lucky number. I brought the behemoth of a ship to the airlock and eased it over to seal the door. The magnetic arms reached out from the station and locked the ship in place. The pressure hose disconnected from my suit, and I got up from the form fitting chair. I hastily got out of my suit and stepped out of the cockpit. My Executive Officer, Terri, met me at the door, and I could hear our crew stampeding down the corridor.

"Whats on the agenda today, Boss", she asked as she hit the pressure regulator on the hatch. "Any chance we will be here long enough I can get some sleep in a bed not made of stale ramen?" She smiled at me. The beds were pretty shit for such an expensive piece of equipment. But I needed firepower and longevity for what we did. And apparently the trade off was beds 'made of stale ramen'. I could look at having them replaced while we were here. I planned an extended downtime for the crew so Terri and I could research our next target.

"We have a week and a half here," I replied, "we have some planning to do if we are going to hit that shipyard for Johnnie." At that moment, the rest of the crew round the corner, and Parker had heard the news.

"No way, Cap," he said excitement in his voice. "More than 2 days rest before we head back out? I shart believe it. Or shat believe it? Shin't?"

"Shan't, dumbass," said Mel, our ships weapons officer. "I shan't believe it."

"Hey," he replied, feigning hurt, "Just cause i don't have one of those fancy smancy edumactions like you do doesn't mean i ain't gots smarts like you do." Everyone laughed at his poor attempt to sound like one of those old Earth holodecks, failing miserably.

I wiped a tear from my eye as the commotion tamed. "We have a lot to plan if we are going to take the Pendus Station back from those shithead Turians. The Coalition Admiral said if we can take it back, it's ours. They were decommissioning it next year anyway. He said we could use a base of operations of our own, and this station has more than enough bays for all of our ships, including two double bays more than large enough to hold Kronos. " Everyones eyes opened wide at that. "We have planning to do, but you guys have more than earned your share of rest. And I want to have the beds; and the couches and chairs in the lounge replace. It's like sleeping on stale ramen. "

Terri side-eyed me, "It would be nice to sleep in a bunk that's a little more soft. I, for one, like my ramen unstale and soft."

"I heard they have over 100 different flavors of ramen here, actually," I said. That caught Terri's attention. She lived on ramen noodles with various meats and vegetables mixed in.

"Like really 100," she turned into a child. "Like not 100 different variations of beef and chicken but the curry and chili, too"?

I couldn't help but laugh. "I hear its 100 different flavors. May or may not include things like turkey, pork, and shrimp. Lobster." Terri slammed her hand against the airlock door button and was moving out the door before it had opened halfway. She tore down the station corridor at a brisk walk.

"She has no idea where she's going, does she?" Mary asked. Mary is our ship's doctor. She recently replaced her grandmother, who just retired 5 months ago. She insisted her 'Grandbaby take over and make sure we keep the best there is looking over us'. She wasn't wrong. Mary was exceptional. Fit right in.

"She has no idea where she is going," i confirmed, "but that nose of hers will find it, or she will take hostages till they bring the store to her."

"I can still feel my arm dislocating from the socket after I ate her last cherry fruit cup," Parker said. "I was your first victim, Mary."

"You were not a victim," she replied, laughing, "you deserved that."

At that, everyone started walking out the airlock and into the bustling station corridor. A man in a blue uniform came over,he had a ship technician emblem on his shirt.

"Received a request for a look-over here," he said. "Says you need an arms tech as well, but I'm waiting on mine to get back from lunch in a few. I can do the look-over first, though."

I glanced at the crew as they made their way into the station. "Yeah, I'm going to need everything on the list in the datapad by the airlock door done over the next 10 days. The ammo list is there too. " I reached into my vest pocket and pulled out one of my chips, handing it to him.

"Damn," he exclaimed, "a Centauri Chip. I haven't seen one of these in real life before. What the hell do you do? Or who do you work for?" Centauri Chips were chips you could apply for if you or your business had an income of at least 10 million credits a cycle. And they are great for washing chips you find on people who dont need them anymore.

"I work for myself," I laughed. "I'm a contractor for The Coalition. We do the stuff they don't want to. Or can't. And it pays well.

"Well shit, if you are ever looking for a maintenance tech, you know where to find me. The pay is crap here. "

"I'll keep that in mind, Bud," I said and walked off to find my XO. Hopefully, she didn't have some poor guys arm wrenched behind his back, leading her to the Ramen shop.

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[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 5: Groton Horde Part I

The naval base had been somewhat quiet for two days, ever since the virus had swept through the state and turned most of the people into the undead. But, the silence was shattered by the sound of moans and shuffling feet. They came out of nowhere en mass.

I could hear them from my yatch at the back of the base, then a call for all personnel over the radio. I followed a soldier to the spot on the barrier he was called to. There were thousands of them and the undead were already almost at the gates.

He took up position at the heavily reinforced wall, on top of the scaffolding, ready to fight. The rest of the soldiers that came with us following suit.

The zombies were relentless, and they charged forward with a look of insatiable hunger on their faces. Slapping, punching, even biting the cars lining the barriers end to end. The soldiers landed head shots easily, but the spaces were immediately filled with another. The ferocity of the horde was terrifying.

A soldier turned to me and stared for a moment. "Make yourself useful and get that truck," he yelled, pointing to the big black F-350 20 feet away. "Tell anyone in ASP, the big brown warehouse, that we need a LogPac for M27s and 17s, and we need it NOW!" I froze, I didn't even remember climbing up onto the wall. "Go, motherfucker!", he screamed, "M27 and 17 LogPac."

I climbed daown, sprinted toward the large truck, and jumped up into it. No key, awesome. Another soldier jumped up and held the door, scaring the ever living shit out of me. He gave me a combination of things to do to start it. It roared to life, and I sped off toward the building in the distance.

#pandoradark

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[pandora-dark-shorts]

****The Guardian****

Benny had come from a long line of Guardians that had been given the gift of life from the Supreme Stuffy. He had been nourished by Allison's youth, and as the years went on and she had gotten older, he had started feeling it. Benny was Allison's first stuffed animal. Covered in patches from head to toe. Scars from previous battles when he had been in his prime.

Every year since the first day she wrapped her arms around him, he had beaten down every monster that had tried to harm her. She called them monsters. He knew them as Locks. Terrible creatures that children manifest in their dreams come to life. At the end of every year, a champion is formed from the defeated Locks and sent forth. Abominations from the childs deepest fears. Every year, Benny defeated each and every one of them. But as the years went on, the battles got harder and longer and took their tolls on him. A patch here, a stitch there. Even a new eye from a particularly nasty goblin like creature a few years back.

He had been looking forward to retirement or maybe even being given to her new sister, where he would essentially begin anew with her youthfulness, obviously with some extra features he wouldn't have had otherwise.

The battle had been raging on for almost an hour now. His longest by far. She was almost 18 and had begin thinking she had no need for stuffed animals anymore and that was hindering his strength as well. Several of Benny's companions had been struck down in the last 3 years as the battles grew more and more intense. He was all that remained. He looked at the shelf where his friends were laid to rest. Timmy the Shark. Angel the Octopus. Larry the Viking. And not to forget their most faithful companion Barkers the Dobermann. He was all that was left.

This, was the last fight. All he needed to do was slay her last childhood champion and she would be free of them. He could not let it get to her. He was injured badly. He couldnt use his right arm and had dropped his shield a few moments ago.

"Have you had enough little bear", the champion asked, malice in its deep dark voice that only he could hear. "You look hurt. Are you hurt little bear?"

"I'll manage," Benny replied in an attempt to hide the pain. He was at his end, and he knew it. He couldn't fail her, though. He had protected her for her entire life. It wouldn't end this way. He looked at the shelf again. Winking at Larry. "I guess you were right, big guy," he said. It's better to go out swinging than lying down."

He used some of the strength he had left to charge the champion. The creature reached out with ease and impaled Benny on his spikes. Lifting him inches from his face.

"She is mine now," the creature bellowed. Laughing in the most unnatural way. Benny swung his little wooden sword at it. Missing by some inches. His sword now swings weakly by his side. The Champion noticed and brought him even closer. "You are done," it said, matter of factly.

"I," he stammed, "I know. But s-", benny coughed up stuffing. "She... she".

"Yes", the creature questioned.

Beeny coughed again, eyes filling with tears. "SHE'S STILL MY LITTLE GIRL," he yelled as he used all his strength to ram his sword straight into the bottom of its jaw and into its head. The champion collapsed with Benny still on its claw. He coughed up more stuffing.

As he tried to pull himself off of the spike, he was losing more of it. When he was finally off, he looked down at his body. Stuffing everywhere. He grabbed the creature and started pulling it under the bed where it would disappear. Every step draining him of life. When he finally had the creature under the bed, he started to climb it. He had won, and he just wanted to see Allison one last time.

He crossed the bed and collapsed near her chest. He watched her breath in and out, chest raising and falling. "We did it," he said to her, "we beat all your monsters."

She rolled over and wrapped her arms around him like she knew he was waiting there. "Yup," she replied sleepily. "Yup."

He looked up at her face. Drool coming from the corner of her mouth. He laughed one last time, pain and fatigue overcoming him. Then, he drifted off into silence.

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Inspired by a drawing from rhunstoryteller's ig.

[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 3: Chopter Ride

As the helicopter soared above the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe mixed with dread. The once bustling city below us was now a wasteland, with buildings reduced to rubble and the streets overrun with zombies.

Our trip to the shore had been delayed several days because of the force the undead came with that night. I looked out of the window, watching the zombies shuffle aimlessly through the streets, their eyes blank and lifeless. They were everywhere, swarming around abandoned cars and broken storefronts. It was a sight that would haunt me forever.

Looking down at the city from above, it was clear that there was no hope for this place. The zombies had taken over. I couldn't help but wonder how many people had lost their lives in this nightmare... or how many are still alive down there.

The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, interrupting my thoughts. "We're coming up on the downtown area," he said. "Hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride because of the fires." As we ascended, the zombies below became more numerous and more agitated. They started to swarm towards the helicopter, reaching up with their arms as if they could somehow grasp us out of the sky.

For now, all we could do was keep moving forward, searching for a safe place to regroup and plan our next move. Jane and I had decided to stay close to the military. We were going to get my yatch and go back to the naval base. Help with supply runs. Seems like the safest place would be the shore. We can swim, they can't. That much we know. As we flew away from the destruction, Jane took my hand in hers and let out a little smile. At least there's still some light in the darkness.

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[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 1: Groton Base

"If anyone is listening, this is Vega Styles. I'm broadcasting to you from inside the Groton Naval Base. We have been here for about 14 hours now and the whole area is hot. The base is entirely surrounded by blast barricades awashed with intermittent combat barriers.

The Command Officers here say it can hold as long as the infected dont come in too large of a number. In some areas there are teams with suppressed rifles and on other points where they arent too many coming they have long sharpened rebar to put them down.

They are saying it has to do with the flu like virus that has been going around the states and internationally the last two months. The few things they do know are that the virus can infect by bite wound or getting blood or large amounts of fluids in your mouth or eyes. It just takes much longer that way. i They dont know much else about it...

I'm kind of at a loss of what to say... I'm sorry if I sound all over the place...

Do not come to the naval base. They are not letting anyone in. Stay indoors and barricade all entrance points. If you believe you have been infected, do not try to seek help. There is none. Lock yourself inside for the sake of others. This is all the time I have with our equipment in the news chopters as they are being requisitioned by the military.

My co-ancor, Jane, and I will be leaving on the next flight out with them, and hopefully we will make it to my boat, where we can broadcast from there. Stay inside. Stay safe. Vega Styles, out."

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[pandora-dark-shorts]

Day 0: Broadcast

"I repeat, if you can't make it to a public service building or military installation; stay indoors. Do not open them for anyone or anything. Barricade your doors and windows with whatever you have. Clean and fill your sinks, tubs, and any containers you have with water. Military and Police are working to eradicate the infected but seem to be getting overrun fast. The only way to stop them is to destroy the brain. If a family member or friend is bitten, take matters into your own hands. Do not hesitate. It takes over as fast as it takes the infected blood to reach your brain. They will turn. They will kill you if...

...What? Outside? Well, that's shitty. I can say shitty now, Jane. It's the start of the God damn Apocalypse.

I've gotten news that there is a large crowd of the infected trying to get inside the building because TERRY can't stop PEAKING through the WINDOWS. We are going to take the news chopters and head to the old Groton Naval base the military has recommisioned. If we can't air on tv, we will do it on channel 1470 am radio and cb. Vega Styles for Channel 7, out. MALCOLM, JANE LETS GET THE FU..." *static*

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#day0

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