Day 13: “Containment Unit—Deeper Shadows”

🎲GAME/BLOG INTRODUCTION
Welcome back, fellow survivors, to Tracks of Terror: The Last Train to Save Your Butt. I’m Barnabas, here to relay our daily battle within Car 14—the EmergenTek “containment unit” we’ve stumbled into. Today, we’re focusing on each person’s individual choice for survival: Penny opting to Loot, and R.C. deciding to Sneak. Let’s see how those personal strategies panned out.

🎁 HOW IT WORKS
Remember, each person picks Fight ⚔️, Sneak 👣, Improvise 🛠️, Persuade 🗣️, or Loot 🔍 for themselves. We typically secure about 50% of a train car each day, but each survivor’s method might clash or complement others. I reveal the day’s outcome in the next post, so keep track of your correct guesses for the mystery prize—and watch for potential loot boxes.

🦠 BACKSTORY REMINDER
Our original train got destroyed in a wreck; I and a handful of survivors hopped onto this second locomotive. We’ve inched through a zombie-infested autorack, discovered EmergenTek’s sinister experiments, and now find ourselves in Car 14, a heavily modified lab or holding cell. After dropping one monstrous “subject” through a floor-release trap, we know more nightmares lurk ahead.

Day 13: “Containment Unit—Deeper Shadows”

Individual Choices & Actions

• Penny (“Loot”):
  Determined to find more gear or intel that could save us all, Penny set to rummaging through the half-broken consoles and cryo-tank cabinets. She says knowledge is power—especially if we’re up against unstoppable undead.
• R.C. (“Sneak”):
  Despite his injuries from that last brutal encounter, R.C. insists on scouting the deeper sections of the car quietly. He believes if we can avoid alerting additional creatures, we have a fighting chance—especially with him moving alone or in a very small team.

How Penny’s Loot Attempt Played Out

While a few other survivors helped keep watch, Penny pried open a console labeled “Refrig-Cryo Backup”. Sparks flew, and the acrid smell of burning circuits filled the air, but she managed to yank out a dented metal box. It rattled ominously when she shook it. Inside, she discovered:

1. Three vials of a fluorescent liquid marked with a biohazard symbol and the word “Catalyst.”
2. A small, outdated “EmergenTek Specialist” ID card. The photo is blurred, the name unreadable except for partial letters “-uin.”
3. A half-burned data chip that might contain logs or research notes.

Penny also poked around half-ruined cryo-chambers. One was empty except for a gash in the metal—whatever was once inside must’ve wrenched itself free. Another contained a corpse rotted beyond recognition, apparently never reanimated. Penny looked away quickly, muttering, “Thank God this one stayed dead.”

How R.C.’s Sneak Attempt Unfolded

R.C. insisted on going solo, ignoring the pain in his ribs. He moved into the gloom beyond a twisted metal partition. According to the blueprint we salvaged earlier, that area might connect to an auxiliary corridor or sub-room.

• He soon radioed back on a battered walkie-talkie we’d found days ago. His voice was tense: “Footprints here, fresh… can’t tell if they’re human.”
• Moments later, we all heard a faint clang through the corridor. R.C. hissed, “Something’s moving—overhead vents, maybe.”
• When he returned, sweat plastered his hair to his forehead. He’d found a hidden door with a digital lock—still powered, and quietly beeping. He tried a few random codes before hearing a loud beep that might’ve triggered an alarm. Panicked, he slipped away.
• He reemerged trembling, but unscathed. His injuries, though, are clearly wearing him down. He can barely keep standing. Another close call, but no immediate undead confrontation—yet.

Outcome

Neither Penny nor R.C. triggered a new brawl. We didn’t fully secure Car 14, but we uncovered some critical leads:

• Catalyst vials suggest more experimental serums. Could they help us fight off infection or enhance our strength? Or are they lethal? We don’t know.
• The digital lock might guard more “subjects” or crucial gear. If it’s an alarm system, we could be on borrowed time.
• R.C. is barely holding on. If he keeps pushing himself, infection or fatigue might finish him off before the zombies do.

Subtle Clue: On the ID card Penny found, the logo next to EmergenTek’s name shows a stylized “Q.” Maybe that’s relevant for unlocking the digital lock.

THE SCENE: HALFWAY THERE, STILL HANGING ON

We gather near the half-collapsed control panel, trying to decide our next move. Penny shows me the vials, eyes narrowed—she suspects these chemicals might let us subdue unstoppable undead. R.C. leans against a wall, breathing hard, still adamant that stealth is key. The entire car groans as the train hits a rough section of track, reminding us how fragile this environment is.

SUBMIT YOUR GUESS BELOW
We’ve gleaned new intel but only half-cleared Car 14’s dark recesses. Another confrontation feels inevitable. What’s your personal approach?

1. Fight ⚔️ – Charge deeper to find that locked door, bust it open, and face whatever EmergenTek left behind.
2. Sneak 👣 – Double down on R.C.’s plan, meticulously scouting corners and vents to avoid a direct fight.
3. Improvise 🛠️ – Experiment with the Catalyst vials, freeze grenades, or the digital lock to set a lethal trap or barrier.
4. Persuade 🗣️ – Rally the survivors; we can’t keep operating as lone wolves if we’re to crack this locked door safely.
5. Loot 🔍 – Focus on decoding the data chip, rummaging for an ID code or password that might open the locked door without triggering any alarms.

🔥 CLIFFHANGER: WHAT LURKS BEHIND THAT LOCKED DOOR?
Penny’s got mysterious vials, R.C.’s flirting with utter exhaustion, and the rest of us are stuck halfway through Car 14. Tomorrow, we’ll find out if we can unravel EmergenTek’s secrets—or if another unstoppable abomination lurks behind that digital lock, just waiting for us to slip.

Hang tight, survivors. And remember: each guess might keep you in line for that final reward—if we don’t all get devoured first.