Kris and Kami Enter the City
Moment
You dream of a city on the ocean floor.
A vast dome encloses the city. The engineering of the dome and the architecture of the buildings seem dated, reflecting technology and aesthetics at least decades old. The dome is around a mile in diameter and half as tall. The transparent panes are partly coated in algae and the buildings are only sporadically lit, so details are hard to discern. It's either night or far too deep for any sunlight.
A giant robot crab approaches. Its main body is composed of large cubes. It travels by long, floating leaps. It halts near the dome in a cloud of silt. A small boarding pod detaches from the crab and glides towards a large airlock at the dome's perimeter. It bypasses the cargo lock. It approaches a smaller maintenance lock and holds in place. It's almost invisible in the watery gloom.
The view moves within the pod. The technology is dated and looks well-worn. Yet it is also carefully maintained. Two young women are getting ready. They wear roughspun clothing and leather armor, both in hand-painted camouflage in black, gray, and navy. They double check equipment harnesses, pouches, holsters, and sheathes. The women look related. Both have dark hair braided tight to their scalp and dark skin.
As she preps, the older woman says, "We're on a mission, Kami. So you're not my sister here, you're my apprentice. Remember your training. Step in my steps. Don't argue."
The younger woman frowns as she adjusts a thigh strap. "Yes, Kris. I mean, yes ma'am."
Kris looks over Kami's gear and nods in satisfaction. "Always remember that zeds aren't people. Not anymore. Strike to kill. Momma D hates the unbreathing."
"Momma D hates the unbreathing." Kami checks the safety on a semiautomatic handgun. She carefully racks the slide and chambers a round, then returns it to a hip holster.
Kris checks the edge of her combat knife. "What are Rules One and Two?"
Kami's tone is a mix of habit and hatred. "Rule One: They must not reach land. Rule Two: They must not come onboard. Rule Three…" A moment of hesitation. "There is no cure, so death is a mercy."
A flicker of sympathy crosses Kris' face, but she suppresses it. Decisively: "Death is a mercy. That means even me. If the worst happens…"
The radio squawks quietly with a male voice. "OK, pod team. Scans show minimal movement near this dock. Decoys are in position. Is your team ready? Over."
Kris studies Kami, then presses a button on the radio. "Affirmative, Dag. My team is ready. Trigger the decoys. Over."
"Decoys… are live. Walk soft, Kris. Over."
"Decoys are live: roger. We're going dark. Pod team out." Kris switches off the radio.
Kris and Kami work the controls to slowly dock the pod with the maintenance lock. There is a quiet, final clang that causes them to wince and wait. After a long moment of stillness, they continue. Kris cycles the hatch, and they stalk silently into the dimly-lit cargo bay. There is a zombie in a tattered jumpsuit slowly shuffling towards the main corridor, where a distant, rhythmic clang echoes. Apparently something is loudly banging on a different, distant airlock.
Kris moves with speed and precision. She covers the zed's mouth with one hand. With her other hand, she jams a knife up through his jaw into his brain. Then she silently guides the motionless body to the deck. Meanwhile, Kami covers her with a crossbow. Kris cleans her blade on her victim's jumpsuit and rises. The women move out.
