The Steel Jungle [Part 1]

[ThatFunkyBunch 2818]

Three days passed by the time the threshold of the jungle had been breached. A unit six strong forsook the carrier of flat treads in the sand. Covering the hulking metal vehicle with a  red and brown tarp to obscure it from sight. They traveled from a city of red mud and reflective alloy, from childhood, they had been told this alloy was used to cast off heat from within. Carrying with them kinetic weaponry with as few mechanical parts as possible. The uniform consisted of a synthetic silk alloy that appeared hard and unyielding. Yet under further scrutiny bent and contorted as the wearer did. Colored a strange miasma of greens, and yellows, covering most of the body. Their helms featured an oval visor, a small antenna protruding from the left of this helm. Their traveling packs are made of the same material. Fixed with buckles and clamps within and outside to avoid unnecessary noise during movement. 

 

Five days passed, carrying them into the harsh yet colorful wilderness. Trees lurch overhead, casting them in near-constant darkness. Trunks were wider than the buildings the unit had grown up around. Taller than the dunes of the red sea they called home. Most unlike the red sands, filled with water and life. Frogs as large as one's hand leaped away from their approach. Reptiles with long snouts and webbed fingers varied in size. Giving only passing hisses when they dare encroach. 

 

From vibrant blues, yellows, reds, pinks, and various shades of green. Plant life ruled where the sun was able to pierce the canopy far above. Which was notley along the streams and ponds encountered in their journey.  Fungi grew where sunlight failed to reach. Though it appeared carnivorous and even cancerous on the surface of rocks and trees. Eating away slowly at the materials, adding them as a part of their collective mass. The unit made clear to away from any path that might lead them closer to such fungi. For in their largest clusters,  they littered dark patches of the jungle. Where two species grew, one wide and red like a bowl. From its hollow red, red veins grew outward and onto the decaying forms of animals unlucky to cross its path. Its partner was a deep blue and green. Constantly vomiting yellow spurs into the air, which had been observed pacifying creatures with a respiratory system. As a boar had been observed, still alive but laying on its side. As the red veins grew into the body and slowly turned flesh to a mush of pink ichor. 

 

Eight days passed, and the unit met locals of the area. Dressed in the fiber of the forest and crude iron. They had known of large populations of humans deeper in the jungles, as trade on its border was rather common. They lived in towering cities over the trees and ventured down to gather minerals and food, and tend to crops. They were by no means an archaic civilization. Using firearms and similar ordinance to defend themselves. Though, unlike the unit of six, these firearms operated on powders compared to their magnetic weaponry. After being given a map in exchange for one of their filtering canteen, the unit set off once more. 

 

That night they had gathered around the flame of their campfire. Pouring over the contents of the map on a flat rock with flashlights and markers. The task set for them was to explore an ancient research station in the jungle. Their collective society has discovered through excavation in the sands, a bunker of flawless stone and metal alloy that showed no sign of decay. Within they had discovered several terminals, an armory of the same synthetic armor they adorned now. The locations of several more of these bunkers, and mines that dated back nearly a thousand years. Soon an industrial revolution had made way. Ignoring the skeletons of passed humans in each they found. 

 

It was from a location not far from the jungle that the discovery of a site known only in the record as Facility: H.B.C -sercbw&a:0078 was discovered. In most of these underground complexes, logs were hard to restore. Either due to solar flares or other disrupting factors to their systems. A unit of six was selected and sent out ahead of a larger convoy to explore and document the area around the supposed research station. 

The map which was now being discerned on the rock confirmed the existence of the complex. It was shown as a towering pyramid structure shaded by a firm grey. Surrounded by nothing, the map suggested a good thirty-hard radius of the complex was nothing but flat grass. The dimensions of the building were unknown, though the locals claimed it towered up to the trees. When questioned if any had entered this complex, the locals expressed it was impossible. It had no visible doors or windows. Any attempt to climb it revealed no viable entry point. 

They bickered among themselves over the best approach. By river would keep them from any of the aggressive flora that had been documented. Though added an estimated three-day journey, which dug into rations more than collectively enjoyed. By the next morning, they decided to continue down the river and catch what fish they could to avoid cutting into the share of packaged food. 

Ten days passed, arriving at the site of the complex a day earlier than expected. The river came to a sudden halt, by which it was fed into a metallic wide grate secured in the ground by smooth stone. Much like the bunkers in the desert, it had seemed untouched to time. The metal showed no sign of rusting, and the stone, no sign of erosion. The grass that surrounded the complex was perfect. Only three inches tall, nothing but itself grew. It displayed no signs of care, that no one had tended to it. Yet it remained still and unyielding. Flora from the jungle suddenly stopped, roots coiled back on themselves and away from the grass.  The sun shined down clearly on the black reflective material that made the complex. It stood in the shape of a harvested crystal almost, far less a pyramid save for a pointed top. Its base jutted out from the ground at a sharp ninety-degree angle, before steadily turning in to form the spike at its height. It loomed over the local trees, which had progressively gotten smaller near the structure. 

The unit spent the remainder of the day studying the exterior. Attempts to take samples of what comprised it proved impossible. Nothing they did left even a hint of damage to its integrity. Lacking equipment to study the phenomenon which was the unchanging blades of grass. They settled for the evening, to resume work when morning came. 

Elven days passed, and progress had been made.  Establishing communication to the convoy still in the desert, early when the sun barely broke the trees. The conversation lasted at most twenty minutes, a brief explanation of the complex and its nature. Followed by the promise of new equipment delivered via rocket. It was near the evening when the rocket landed in the clearing, sending a cloud of dirt upon impact. At this time, the unit broke up into three small groups based on their function. They traveled with a medic, a geologist, two marines, a technician (He never specified what of.), and what the rest only knew as a 'scientist'. Which did not do the sixth member of the unit justice for their role in the operation. 

The technician began to dismantle the rocket. Its contents were covered in a white foam that required force to break them free. Guessed to be designed for the impact of the ground. He took out a sliver tube that was cold to the touch, lined with three vials of liquid coolant. Its surface held a layer of frost even in the evening sun. Followed by a metallic cylinder that hosted one dial and a switch. When activated, hot plasma ignited forth akin to an archaic flare. Which was expanded or thinned by the dial. Instructions followed with the tube. Within the tube was a small computer chip, which was to be placed within the hand, between the thumb and index finger. Stated to be powered by the body's natural bioelectricity. When placed upon the complex, leaders of the convoy expressed it should bear a reaction or even reveal passage inside. 

One of the Marines volunteered to have the chip placed within. After a quick cut along the skin, the top layer was peeled back and the small device was placed within before being sealed by the medic with a quick foam spray designed to keep small cuts closed and safe from infection. 
 

Around half an hour was spent circling the structure, the marine put an outstretched palm on every inch of surface he could reach to no avail. From here, he began to walk the grounds around the complex in a wide circle. After the second or third circle from the building, he gave a shout. By the time everyone had gathered around, a section of grass had retreated into the ground. Revealing a descending ramp wide enough to fit what they speculated was for vehicles. One by one they filtered in, holding their kinetic rifles idle. The technician took the lead to a clear door, kneeling down at eye level with a numeric pad. Everyone else remained behind as a hole was created by the plasma device retrieved from the rocket. Allowing its face to be removed and exposing wiring beneath. 

Little to no conversation had been held by the unit in their travels, either too impersonal or simply poor with social skills to express themselves beyond direct concerns of noting wildlife, and the terrain. Now at the gate of their prize, murmurs began to rise. "Should we be expecting any hostility inside, like, has any of the bunkers had any latent security measures?" Asked a concerned geologist. 

"My understandin is that a few of the bunkers had automated turrets, some that function. Most seemed unresponsive. I'll go with a hard, perhaps." Responded the technician, who had an arm deep within the wall now. 

"What are you doing?" The 'scientist' asked, stepping forward now to leer over. The technician responded with a grunt. Wrapping his fingers around a handle. "A hunch, now lot o' the time, maintenance will have easier ways to get in, in case wirin is fried or something is unresponsive." He slowly rose, with his arm and Turned the handle he had found. Creaking sounds rang out from within the walls. "Now I'm guessin we can pry the door apart." Removing his arm fully, and returning to the group huddle. 

With effort, each part of the sliding door was shoved open. One by one they filtered into the room beyond. A ramp carried them up into a circular room. With four elevators positioned the same as the cardinal directions of a compass. Trucks made of the same materials as the exterior of the complex lined the sides of the room. Flatbeds filled with green crates that were held down by worn orange straps. The first sign of the decay of time was these fabric straps. The rest remain pristine, unyielding to the decay of gravity or oxidation of metals. 

As the Marine with the small chip stepped closer to the center of the room, the smooth floor glowed in a circle of light before it faded. Breakers large enough to be heard flipped on their own, and the electric hum of lights illuminated the darkness. The ceiling above them had an open hole that revealed the interior of the complex was a fast network of walkways and suspended cubes. All shared the same ivory hue as the rest of the building, blue stained glass acted as guards for each of the walkways. It resembled a strange hive, chaotic, connected all over. One could seamlessly reach one end by any one of the pathways far overhead. 

Beneath the same Marine's feet, a green line appeared. Which moved with an arrow to lead him towards one of the walls where a line of monitors hung from the wall, angled up to face whoever stood at them. When within two feet of the monitor, the silhouette of a hand. Which was soon covered by Marine's own hand. The screen beneath flashed a bright blue, and his hand was removed. Words appeared for a few moments. Long enough to be read as 'The Human Biotics Corporation, welcomes you back Howard Che Lamort.' 

Everyone gathered now at the monitor, which displayed a clear menu of several options. 'Clock in. Clock Out. Contact Management.' Though this was disrupted by a sudden message on the screen, accompanied by an electronic voice from the device which resembled a woman. 'Hello, our records show that you, Howard Che Lamort are more than 11430000 hours late for your shift. If our records did not register as the only remaining janitor alive on staff. You would be terminated and your family's rations taken. There is much work to be done. Thank you, the H.B.C appreciates your continued loyalty.' 

Silence washed over the unit. And the anointed 'scientist' was the first to break it. "That's over a thousand years."