“A goodbye party,” Felicia said, standing beside Fi and drifting her finger toward the trigger of her rifle. “How courteous.”
“Surely you didn’t really think that you’d make it out alive. When an execution is cut short, the guy in charge finds out about it pretty quick,” Nelson said, walking forward. “I’ll give you one last chance: drop your weapons and we’ll let a few of you live.”
“Screw you. We’re leaving and it sounds like you have bigger problems,” Trika said, scoffing. The ship lurched again, but everyone kept their footing.
Naos fired, leading to a wave of incoming lasers. Trika dove to the floor and fired several shots before she reached it. Red and blue lasers further coated the red corridor, leaving burns in every direction. One bolt hit Trika’s shoulder, but she kept firing.
Felicia rolled out of the way of several shots, using her rifle to send three simultaneous bolts toward the soldiers. Two made contact. Naos stood above her, ducking from lasers that danced around him. He hit the foremost soldier with a few bolts, but the soldier didn’t fall yet.
“If we don’t hurry, they’ll lock this entire ship down,” Felicia said, shouting above the wailing alarm.
Trika felt her ears vibrate and hissed, trying to ignore it. Sensory overload wanted to overtake her, but she’d rather die than go back into one of those cells. She let the colors before her blend together and she fired at the foremost soldier, finishing him off.
“Aim for the other soldiers! We’ll finish last!” Naos said, turning his attention to the next foremost soldier. Two shots hit his stomach and he doubled over, but Fi hopped in front of him.
Nelson stormed ahead of the soldiers, firing his heavy rifle. One shot hit Viktor’s arm and it went limp. Trika scrambled onto her feet, giving off some cover fire and allowing Viktor time to recover. Nelson kept his approach.
A rumble knocked one of Trika’s feet off the ground, but she pressed her other heel further into the steel. The rumbling increased and Nelson stopped his approach, glancing back. Trika thrust her rifle forward and aimed at the man. She saw this distraction as a chance.
Before she could take that chance, the floor beneath the three soldiers tore open. A giant, gray beast climbed through the hole and swung its large, clawed hand at two of the soldiers. The claws ripped through their armor and went straight through their chests. Nelson and the other soldier whirled around, while the crew backed away.
Trika panted, gazing at this… thing. Its long mouth reached down and tore through the next soldier. Blood splattered around the monster and the creature let out a hideous roar. Trika had never seen this species. She didn’t even know if she should consider it a species. She didn’t know anything.
“What is that?!” she said, raising her voice as high as it could go.
“What in the…” Nelson said, firing at the creature. It turned and roared again as the bolts pierced its skin.
Trika glanced to the rest of the crew to see wide eyes and hanging jaws. They all opened fire and the creature did nothing to avoid the lasers. It screamed again, jumping and tearing through the light bulb in the ceiling. The light exploded and the creature ripped through the steel above with ease, jumping through the new hole.
The rest of the lights flickered and the ship lurched once again. The alarm stopped.
Trika’s eyes darted among Fi, Naos and Viktor. “What was that?!”
“Chief Bosnan’s newest soldiers,” Felicia said, sauntering forward and taking the lead. She put her rifle at her side.
Nelson spun around, breathless. He pointed his rifle at Felicia. “Wh-Whatever that was, all of you are still criminals and I—”
Felicia used her right hook to send him to the floor. Nelson’s head slammed into the steel and his eyes shut. The rest of the crew stepped over him and the new hole in the corridor while Felicia opened the elevator door. Everyone proceeded inside, but Trika turned and looked at the mess behind them. Hanging wires, destroyed floors and ceilings, dead bodies.
Well, the dead bodies part didn’t seem new, but the other stuff did. How did they get caught up in all this?
“I agree with Miss Malone’s assessment. That creature did not look like any known species and its skin looked genetically engineered. As the lasers burned it, I noticed how unnatural it looked,” Viktor said, standing in the back of the elevator. “That was no soldier. That creature was feral.”
Fi crossed her arms and stared forward. “There are likely more and they are responsible for the noises that we are hearing. Anziar said that he was about to create chaos and, with the help of Chief Bosnan, he has done that. This ship has probably been overrun.”
Naos sighed, hovering near the elevator controls. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “Okay, okay. If that is true, it’d be a risk to go to the hangar blind. We should try to make it to the bridge and check the status of the rest of the ship. Maybe we can even make contact with the Killer.”
“Shouldn’t we just get out of here?!” Trika said, throwing her hands up.
Naos leaned his head against the wall, staring at the controls. “If we go to the hangar and find that all the shuttles there have been destroyed by these animals, it’ll be for nothing. We can check everything on the bridge.”
“I must find Chief Bosnan,” Felicia said, narrowing her eyes at the crew. “Perhaps he can calm his soldiers upon my… suggestion.”
“We are not going to find your psycho—” Trika said, raising her fist.
“I need to find Anziar and bring Talek back,” Fi said, holding up a finger toward Trika. “The bridge should be the center-point of the ship. We can locate everyone from there.”
Trika groaned. She couldn’t justify leaving Talek behind, whatever had come over him. If they could save him, they needed to.
Naos hit a few buttons and the elevator began moving, shaking as it ascended the shaft. The ship lurched again and Trika nearly hit the wall. As the elevator shot up, Trika heard more crashes and cries. She couldn’t see anything outside of this small box, but the rest of the massive place sounded like chaos.
“I knew that Chief Bosnan’s aspirations were dangerous,” Viktor said. The elevator light flickered. “It is impossible for one mortal man to truly create and maintain life. I fear that these creatures may be uncontrollable.”
“If that is true, Dr. Atkins,” Felicia said, tilting her head and staring at the elevator door. She showed no emotion. “The fun has only just begun.”
18
Felicia stepped out of the elevator first, taking in the command deck. Wires hung from the ceilings and wide, metal panels covered the floor. Blood draped the walls and silver bodies littered the parts of the floor that the panels didn’t cover. She heard the echoes of crashes and shrieks, but for the most part, they died out.
Felicia walked forward, ignoring the carnage. Chief Bosnan had not entirely held up their agreement. She would find him and deal with him, no matter what Sora’s underlings said.
“Gah, this is disgusting,” Trika said, stepping over one of the first bodies. “Even by our standards.”
“How far is the bridge?” Fi said, passing Naos and catching up to Felicia. Felicia didn’t know her name before she heard the others shout for her in the cell block, but she could tell that Fi had determination. That seemed useful to Felicia right now.
“Not far, just a couple halls away, I think,” Naos said, sticking close to the front of the line.
“These men were brutalized,” Viktor said. Felicia looked back to see the scientist bumping into a severed arm. He shuddered and continued. “I imagine that the shock factor gave those creatures an advantage over the Queen’s elite army, but the fact that they are capable of this is disturbing—”
Everything went black. Felicia froze and held her hand out behind her, stopping Fi’s advance. Felicia didn’t hear anything clatter or crash. She didn’t even hear the hint of a scream or cry for help from the other floors. Total silence fell over the Bombard. She
felt like the creatures had blinded and deafened them within a few seconds.
The flagship lurched again, but this time, the lurch had more power than before. She slid to the right, hitting the remnants of the wall. Felicia didn’t only feel the lurch. It resounded throughout the ship, sending out the screech of moving metal.
Then it stopped. Silence regained dominance.
“What now?!” Trika said. Her shrill voice cut through the air.
“Hush,” Felicia said, lowering her voice. “They still live, even if the ship doesn’t.”
“If they’ve cut the power, it won’t be long before we lose oxygen and gravity,” Viktor said. “Naos, we don’t have much time if we want to make it to the bridge.”
“Will that help us no—” Fi started.
A hum cut off her statement. The hum echoed and the floor vibrated. Dim, yellow lights appeared along the floor of the corridor, restoring some of Felicia’s vision. Shadows still covered much of the corridor, but she could see enough to keep moving. She marched ahead.
“That’s the emergency power,” Naos said, running in front of Felicia. “It should keep any critical systems alive. I don’t know how long it’ll last.”
They proceeded, running through the next door. After Felicia entered the next area, she noticed that it looked identical to what they had just left. A long, destroyed corridor with a handful of corpses. A few doors lined the two walls, but Naos didn’t pay any attention, continuing straight.
Felicia followed, but paused upon passing the middle door to the right. She heard a distant tapping.
The others continued their run, but Felicia pressed her head to the door. The tapping grew louder. Two more seconds passed and it grew louder. It drew closer to the door. It sounded like footsteps, but not the massive footsteps of the creatures. Only the hurried footsteps of an individual.
Felicia backed away from the door and positioned herself directly in front of it.
“Miss Malone,” Viktor said, stopping at the door that led to the next corridor. “What is wrong?”
Felicia held up a finger. The tapping loudened again.
Trika yanked Viktor forward. “Come on! She’s not worth it.”
Felicia faced the door. The tapping reached its peak volume and stopped. The door lifted, revealing Chief Bosnan. Cuts lined his arms and he panted. His feet positioned themselves to sprint, but he froze when he spotted Felicia. His face regained its normal composure.
“Long time no see,” Felicia said, giving him a blank stare. “Someone has been quite busy since he began taking the orders of an unknown interloper.”
“Miss Malone…” Bosnan said, gulping.
She held up her left hand and he closed his mouth. “I thought we were partners.”
“I did what was necessary, Miss Malone, for my cause and my people,” Bosnan said, folding his hands behind his back once again. “I have created a masterpiece, just as you suggested. Soldiers that do not just match the Queen’s army but have superiority.”
“These are not soldiers, Bosnan. I have seen them and they are monsters that still leave us trapped on this vessel.”
“That man betrayed me, Miss Malone. He took the creations for himself and set them loose,” Bosnan said. He tried to move past Felicia, but she blocked his path. A roar came from the next corridor, followed by gunfire. Bosnan looked in that direction. “I can still regain control of them. They’re mine. If you let me pass, I will regain control and s—”
Felicia growled and seized Bosnan by the neck. She squeezed and crushed his veins. He let out a sudden gasp. “You were a fool to listen to him. I offered you a reasonable partnership and you forsook that for a whim. You appear logical and wise, but your aspirations weaken and blind you.”
Bosnan touched Felicia’s hand, but it slipped away as he choked. She jabbed her index finger in front of his eyes and hissed. “We shook hands on a deal. I sacrificed people for that clay on Wantim. You will get the army that you promised me. Are we clear?”
She released him and he staggered backward. He grasped his neck and scowled. “Yes, Miss Malone.”
Another roar echoed from the next hall. Lasers continued to bounce around the area. Felicia turned and beckoned for Bosnan to follow. “Then come. We have much to accomplish.”
Felicia charged into the next corridor. Trika, Fi, Naos and Viktor darted in every direction, firing at the beast who blocked their way and swung its claws at them. One claw tore the back of Trika’s shirt, sending her to the floor with a yell. Lasers burned into its skin but it remained standing.
“Why are you just standing there?!” Trika said, looking at Felicia as she stood. “Shoot!”
“Enough!” Felicia said, raising her voice. Viktor and Fi jumped out of the way of another stab from the creature. Felicia looked at her partner. “Do it, Bosnan. Bring them to heel.”
“Felicia, no!” Naos said, shooting again and ducking. “This thing’s obviously going to kill us if we give it any sort of chance!”
Bosnan strolled forward, passing the crew. The creature paused, taken off-guard by Bosnan’s calm demeanor and approach. The gunfire ceased and Bosnan cleared his throat. “They know my voice from their brief time in the laboratory. They will obey me.”
“Chief Bosnan, I will shoot you if you do not step out of the way,” Fi said, still aiming her rifle. “Move now.”
“Hold your fire,” Felicia said, walking to Fi’s side.
Trika growled. “You are not running things he—”
“Chief Bosnan, this is illogical! I warned you that this harnessing of life was not possible!” Viktor said, reaching for Bosnan. Bosnan shrugged his hand away.
“My creations, my soldiers, listen to me!” Bosnan shouted. His voice boomed throughout the corridor and did attract the creature’s attention. Its large eyes zoomed in on Bosnan. “You are my pride, my vengeance and my justice! You will satisfy your craving for blood, but not in this manner!”
Felicia narrowed her eyes, listening to the tired breaths of the crew. Again, silence fell over the room. The creature cocked its head backward and twisted in multiple directions.
“I, your creator and leader, order you to stand down and step aside!” Bosnan said, raising his voice another octave.
“Is this possible?” Trika said, looking at Viktor.
“Possible, but with their violent nature, it is—”
The creature threw its head forward and roared, swiping at Bosnan. He fell backward and the crew opened fire. Felicia raised her own rifle and joined them. She refused to accept these creatures as her army, no matter how blind Bosnan had grown. Everyone kept firing, hammering the creature with red and blue lasers. It screamed.
“—Unlikely!” Viktor said, firing his pistol.
“I have a clear shot of its face,” Fi said, launching forward and firing. Two large, blue orbs left her rifle and hit the creature’s eyes. It cried out again and flailed its arms, nearly hitting Naos. The rest of them continued to apply pressure.
The blue orbs exploded and the creature’s face crumbled. The body hit the floor, which quaked with the impact. Felicia’s knees buckled.
“My soldier,” Bosnan said, stumbling forward and leaning down. He caressed the carcass and glared at Fi. “If you had subdued it, perhaps I could have deciphered how to control it.”
“You had your chance,” Fi said, walking past the dead brute.
“As I told you, Chief Bosnan,” Felicia said, marching forward. A large set of metal, wide double doors lied ahead. “Monsters.”
Three silver bodies laid in front of the doors. Felicia assumed that the maroon liquid on the doors belonged to them. Trika leaned down and grabbed a grenade off one’s belt, putting it on her own. She shrugged at the others. “We need all the firepower we can get.”
“This is the bridge,” Naos said, reaching the electronic panel that sat to the right of the doors. “You think there’s any of those things inside?”
“If there were, I suspect we would have
heard their battle cries,” Viktor said, standing at the back of the group. A disgruntled Bosnan hovered behind him.
“Regardless, this is our destination,” Fi said, taking the lead again. She nodded at Naos. “Open it.”
Felicia heard the unlocking clicks inside the doors and watched them break apart. She stepped forward and even before entering the bridge, she spotted the destruction. Broken computers and bodies of workers filled the extensive, round room. Shadows covered the sides of the bridge, but Felicia noticed the lone, narrow panel in the center that spanned to the wide viewport. A space sat beneath the panel on both sides and smoke rose from each. Felicia saw a few blinking lights underneath the smoke, but most computers had ceased operation.
The heat hit Felicia once they entered the room. Naos exhaled, looking from his right to his left. “Uh, I’ll try one of the computers on the wall. I think I see a screen.”
“Impressive.”
That voice did not come from their group. Felicia snapped to the left and saw a looming, dark figure walk out of the shadows. The emergency lights illuminated Anziar’s face as he stepped into the middle of the room. Fi retained her position at the front of the group, leaning toward him.
He grinned. “Unfortunately, your journey must end here.”
“This is insane,” Scout said, pulling back her helmet. Sora watched her eyes peer through the viewport. “How?”
Sora crossed his arms, examining the Bombard through the clunky helmet of his spacesuit. The Killer had only just exited hyperspace, but it didn’t take much time to determine that something had happened. The ship drifted in space, not on any path. Most of the flagship looked dark. Random bursts of electricity illuminated some parts of the bulky ship’s exterior, but the electricity demonstrated the malfunctions. Turrets still lined the Bombard, but other than that, Sora saw nothing notable. Even the four, huge engines in the rear did not display any sign of activity.
“Scan shows most of ship is completely offline,” Chok said, reading a screen on the main console. He shook his head. “Only critical systems remain active.”
Survival, Dark Times Page 25
