After a short time, jmj3000 feels the elevator stop and the movement of air as the doors open. As he is carried, he catches glimpses of blueish hallways with large ducts at the ceiling and drains in the floor before he is carried through an airlock-like chamber into a frigid room. The commander says something to his troops, then presses a button which opens a two-foot-square panel on the stainless steel wall, from which a seven-foot-long slab slides out. The grunts place jmj3000's body on the slab, which is then retracted when the commander pushes a second button. As it locks back in place, the panel closes.
A moment later, jmj3000 can hear the aliens leaving the room. Shortly after, the lights turn out.
theamatuer fashions a simple tripwire from a pair of shoelaces, placing it across the doorway. Improvising, he grabs several cups from the kitchen and wedges pairs of knifes business end up in each of them. After placing them about a meter behind the tripwire, he stands back to admire his urban Punji sticks. He then retreats to the kitchen, using a small mirror to watch the front door from around the corner.
JDGA carefully extricates himself from the pile of boxes and combs the rest of the closet. He finds nothing but some old clothing.
Katty Bard checks the exterior windows of the apartment, trying to find another way out. She finds an old fire escape outside. Grabbing a chair, she breaks the glass and climbs out onto the metal staircase. Katty Bard barely takes a step before the rusted bolts give way, and the staircase separates from the wall and tumbles to the ground. She manages to grab onto the windowsill, but there are no footholds for her feet on the smooth brick wall.
Back in the apartment hallway, the first alien barges through the unlocked door with the other two in tow. Its leading foot catches on the tripwire, and it falls forward onto the steak knives. Several pierce through its clothing and skin, puncturing its internal organs. It bleeds out within seconds, letting its rifle fall to the ground. The other two scream in dismay and begin raking the apartment with un-aimed fire. theamatuer lies low in the kitchen, safe from the frenzied shooting. JDGA and Katty Bard, down the hall, are unaffected.
Mist7676 tumbles off the bucking mecha for her pistol and picks it up. Above her, the mecha continues to spin, its back hatch flapping wildly. She rolls across the ground away from it, sits up on one knee, and takes careful aim. Her first two shots glance harmlessly off the back of the machine. The third strikes the alien in the left shoulder; the mecha spasms, the left arm dangling loosely and the tail thrashing. Mist7676 takes advantage of its plight to stand, preparing to take more shots at the alien.