The sub surfaces back into the research station, it locks into place as the mechanism finishes, and the four of them step out into the facility. Clair and Kit instantly realize something is wrong, the crew that is supposed to be up here is gone, and moreover, the entire facility seems to be in disarray. Brock and Charlie exchange glances taking off their water-soaked gear, Brock clears his throat and speaks up,

"I'm guessing this isn't how the place usually looks?" He asks

"Guess the janitors went on strike," Kit says and Charlie walks over to a crate and covers her mouth looking inside.

"I don't think so," She says while pointing down at the crate

Clair runs over and looks inside, seeing a contorted janitor shoved into the crate. Clair gags and backs up. The others gather around and Brock leans in closer inspecting the injuries.

"Clair..." he says and then looks over at Clair before continuing,

"Oh not you Clair, Other Clair...maybe we should just call her the Stranger still," Brock says and Clair nods in agreement. They continue to walk through the facility noticing more dead bodies and destruction.

Brock frowns and turns to Clair,

"Do you not have any weapons here?" He asks and Clair shakes her head

"No, it's just a research station we're not soldiers, the most we would have is a flare gun." She grimaces looking at the bodies they pass, Brock nods as they continue to follow the trail of bodies, coming into the large conference room from before they see a rift in the center of the room and Brock sighs,

"Looks like Dr. Lillian came through here," Brock says

"No shit" Kit says and Brock shoots them a glare, they respond with a smile.

"Let's go through," Brock says, and although hesitant the others agree following behind him. The air fizzles and their surroundings shift to a forest, the sun setting on the horizon and a road just a ways up. The rift closes behind them and they look around,

"Where the hell are we?" Charlie asks and pulls out her phone which doesn't seem to turn on, Brock looks over and sighs,

"Different realities different wavelengths" He looks over to Clair and Kit, they pull out their phones and Kit shakes their head,

"Water killed it" they sigh and surprisingly Clair's phone boots up.

"Where are we?" Brock asks

"North Dakota" Clair responds

"Aww, I like Dakotah," Kit says smiling

"Good for you" Brock responds

A truck approaches, and Brock waves his hands, causing the truck to slow down. An older man with a worn cap looks out, first at Brock and Charlie, then at Clair and Kit.

"Y'all with the government? Looks like soldiers and scientists to me" he says skeptically and Brock shakes his head,

"No sir, not with the government, we-" Brock starts but the man cuts him off opening the doors,

"Then get the hell in here, don't ya know there's a damn apocalypse going on?" he responds, Brock gets in the front seat and the others climb into the back.

Charlie sits behind the driver, Kit reluctantly sits in the middle, and Clair sits behind Brock. Clair buckles and leans forwards,

"What do you mean apocalypse?" Clair asks nervously

"The hell you been living for the past week?" the man responds

"Week?" The four ask in unison and the man raises an eyebrow starting to drive

Clair leans back and thinks, If Lillian escaped the rift minutes before they did, how could this be going on a week? They've only been down for a few days, she remembers clearly the mission started March 4th so if time was moving correctly it should be March 7th,

"Do you have a newspaper, sir?" Clair asks and the man nods handing back a paper,

"The name is Ethan by the way," Ethan says and Clair nods while reading the newspaper, Brock asks about details of where they're going but Clair is too focused on the newspaper.

"CREATURES STILL ON THE LOOSE! HIDE AND ARM YOURSELVES" The newspaper reads and above it the date: March 7th, 2034 she continues to read.

"It's been officially one week now since the monsters have been unleashed into our world, reports say these creatures are amalgamations of human and animal traits. The government still has no answer to what they may be, and other than their Public Service Announcements they are offering no leads. Furthermore, the president hasn't been out of her office since the creatures were sighted. Up until now, our government has suppressed all media on these things but they can't stop the truth!" Clair stops reading and hands it over to Charlie and Kit both having similar reactions.

"But if this is true, the government sent us down to the trench when they knew creatures were already running around," Kit says and Clair interjects

"But it also means Lillian was already sending creatures here before we even descended," Clair says.

"Wait, so someone named Lillian started this? It wouldn't happen to be Lillian Starweld would it?" Ethan asks as Charlie hands the paper to Brock and Brock starts to read.

"Yeah actually that's her name" Charlie responds leaning in

"She was just on the radio today actually, a government broadcast telling us to all remain calm and listen to the PSA tonight, at my cabin I got a satellite we can tune into," Ethan says and the others nod, after a bit of time Ethan pulls up to his cabin and escorts them in and looking at Brock and Charlie before handing them both a rifle.

"Look I know we just met, but I reckon you coulda killed me and stole my truck back when we met. So hold onto these, as far as I'm concerned y'all are the only ones I can trust." Ethan nods to them and turns the television on waiting for the broadcast.

About ten minutes later the images spark to life and two people sit in front of the camera,

The president, a woman with long black hair and very tired eyes, and Dr. Lillian. Dr Lillian clears her throat and begins speaking,
"My fellow Americans you may not know me, but I was the one over the radio, Dr. Lillian Starweld and it is my solemn duty to declare this country and president unfit for guidance and management in these trying times." Dr. Lillian then pulls out a revolver and aims it at the president's head who still seems unfazed and tired. Dr. Lillian smiles and addresses the camera,

"Now then." She fires the gun as the president collapses and Ethan gasps and backs up.

Dr. Lillian steps up and walks up to the cameras, the lights in her room flickering as the Stranger appears by her side, seemingly dormant. Dr. Lillian smiles and looks right into the lenses of the camera.

"Better start running Clair, you and your worthless group. Oh and Father if you happen to be listening, I have opened our gateway, make your way to the surface." The feed cuts off and they all stand there completely stunned and unaware of what to do next.