Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.

The command that ripped from Sunshine's throat was obeyed faithfully without asking any questions. And this was because she was also running, racing like the devil was on her tail.

"Faster!" Major Elio urged those that were slowing down.

Out of fear, they kept looking back, waiting to see something pouncing out of the shadows like an invisible hand.

Their hearts were pounding louder than a helicopter rotor slicing through fog. Military boots slammed against the snow dusted ground, no one cared about what they stepped on. The night became a blur of heavy breaths.

One man stumbled, falling to the ground. Terror had gnawed at him so much that he started screaming and slapping at the air like something was attacking him.

For a moment, it looked like the others might stop, but survival instincts overrode pity. A few faces hardened, jaws clenched, with their eyes forward. They didn't dare to look back.

Sunshine was not one of those that didn't stop. Much as she wanted to escape, she held some responsibility for the people she had brought outside. So, she turned around, willing to go back for him.

"Get up! Move!" Hadrian's voice cut through the chaos. He turned around and, hauled the man to his feet with one strong arm.

Then, he shoved him forward.

Sunshine let everyone go ahead of her, sweeping snow upwards with all the strength she could muster.

Further ahead, Sheldon, with one hand clung desperately to the broad back of the soldier carrying him.

He squirmed like a worm in frustration. "Faster! Run faster, damn you!" He barked commands like a boss, voice shrill with fear. His one good arm beat against the man's shoulder like a drum of desperation.

When the soldier hesitated and looked back at the rest to see how they were progressing, Sheldon's voice became venom. "Do not stop for anything or anyone! If there is a man down, leave him! It's better he dies than me! Or do you want me to tell Jon to expel you from the base?"

The words stung but the man did not respond. He looked ahead after noticing that Sunshine and Major Elio had them covered at the back.

Not everyone was desperate to survive alone. Some men helped the slower comrades, even as Sheldon continued to scream and curse for selfish survival. His shrill voice only faded when they started to see signs of safety, reaching the entrance to the tunnel.

"We are here!" Sheldon said weakly. Impatience stepped in then because the entrance was closed. Fury seeped through him as he had to wait for Sunshine to open the door.

It struck him that safety was still eluding him because he was outside.

More people reached, sighing as the running stopped. They could all see the vault door at last; it's tiny light blinking faintly. Hope surged through their exhausted bodies.

"Make way." Sunshine shouted, skidding to the front, she tore off her glove and pressed her finger on the panel. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst from her ribs. Sweat slid down her temples despite the freezing cold.

However, the door did not open immediately as she expected. It remained closed and sent a warning that two more failed tries would require her to try again after thirty minutes.

"No,no,no..." She whispered, panic clawing up her throat.

Sheldon's voice shrieked over the din. "What is taking so long!"

The team pressed closer, fear thick in the air.

Sunshine's fingers trembled, she wiped the finger quickly across her jacket, breath catching, and slammed it against the scanner again.

"Yes!" Some people said when the light blinked green and the door swung open like the gates of heaven.

"Inside, move!" Sunshine bellowed.

She did not need to repeat it twice. They poured through like a tide, men stumbling, dragging each other, lungs burning. Two stragglers were slower, legs heavy with exhaustion.

Their faces were pale, and bodies were beginning to fail them.

"Lock it!" Sheldon screamed with all the energy left in him

"NO!" Sunshine's voice snapped like a whip; the look she threw Sheldon froze him. It was pure disdain.

Hadrian hissed and rushed out to help the men get inside. He was not the only one that hurried to help, after all, the sooner everyone was inside, the sooner the door would be closed. A closed door meant safety for everyone.

While others did not go, their faces darkened at Sheldon's cruelty, disgust rippling in their glares. If he had been left to run on his own, he would not have survived ten steps and yet he wanted others to be left behind!

He was the one that pissed off the watcher and delayed them because he had to be treated. A few made a mental note that if they survived, they would never agree to go on a mission with Sheldon.

The last people stumbled through, and the door was slammed shut with a final clang that echoed in their bones.

Silence followed.

A few people collapsed in the tunnel; their legs could not hold them up anymore. One man passed out completely.

Heavy breath filled the chamber, some checked their boots, noticing that some had been ripped. But they didn't care. Like they had all day, they sat on the ground and leaned against the walls or vehicles.

The ones that were still standing had their hands clutching knees, sheens of sweat coated their skin.

While someone vomited, another sobbed silently. Whether it was out of joy for surviving or the loss of the two that had died, was unknown.

The strong ones were sitting or hunching, they were passing out drinks and coconut bean seeds.

Hadrian swallowed the water in his mouth, then he turned curious eyes towards Sunshine. "Why....why did you tell us to run?" His voice carried the question in everyone's heart.

Glances shifted, confusion knotting brows. They had run, blindly, desperately, but none of them could say exactly from what.

But they all recalled the moment when the running started.

"Was it because of that skin like thing we saw? I am sure that was the skin of a snake but in this apocalypse who knows." Nala said.

"You think a snake or something the size of that skin is out there?" Another added.

"Are we going to hunt for it like we have done the beetle colony?" Lucy asked.

Sunshine's chest rose and fell, breath ragged. Her eyes darkened, hiding what she suspected, what she feared. "The forest is always full of dangers. I just sensed that there was something dangerous close by. I commend you on a job well done.

Everyone here will be rewarded heavily but you better not go out there and spread baseless rumors." She warned, and that was the end of that discussion. "Let's move."

They entered the trucks; engines came to life. The ride back was silent save for the occasional coughs and groans of the wounded. Not a single victorious chant was made.

At the fortress, signals had already alerted the command center the moment the door opened. Warren's voice crackled orders through the line, directing all first responders to the entrance of the tunnel.

Cameras tracked the progress of the vehicles as they approached.

When the trucks finally emerged, the waiting crowd surged forward. Medics rushed to the wounded with practiced urgency. Stretchers clattered, voices barked orders, hands lifted limp bodies.

All of them were heading to the detoxification room, not medic bay first, like Sheldon was screaming.

Sunshine's gaze swept through the crowd, her husband was not there, it was not like him. A knot of unease tied in her stomach. Something was wrong.