Scout kept running, but the scrapes to her right turned into another rip. Another creature hustled through the wall, ramming into Scout and Sora. Both cried out as they dropped their weapons.
Her face hit the steel first, reopening the wound in her chin. She winced. It felt worse this time than it had on Adli or Con. Her arms went limp, reliving the pain from Bettina’s slashes. She couldn’t see much, but she heard more gunfire mixed with battle cries from the creatures. She lifted her head and saw Sora roll to the right, grabbing his rifle and barely missing the second creature’s claw.
Someone yanked her off the ground. She looked back to see Naos’ face barely above her own. “I’ve got you.”
“Help Sora,” Scout said, gasping and picking up her pistol. She fired at the second creature. Naos released her and did the same.
Sora scrambled backward while the creature struck his leg. He screamed, but before the creature could attack again, two of Scout’s shots made contact with its head. It spun around, agitated and hurt.
Selas appeared to Scout’s left, marching forward and firing at the second creature. Sora stood up and fired from behind. Scout looked back, hearing another roar from the first creature. Kossk stabbed the creature’s shoulder. He pulled the spear out and prepared to make another attack, but the creature’s right claw sunk into Kossk’s arm. Kossk fell backward and his spear clattered to the ground.
“Kossk!” Trika said, wobbling next to Natalia. She fired at the creature and only one shot hit. “Someone get him!”
Kossk crawled on his knees, grabbing his spear. He glanced at Trika and pointed to her belt. “Your mind—”
The creature’s left claw punctured Kossk’s side. He hissed and clenched his own claws together, while two successful shots from Fi distracted the creature. Kossk held up his finger and shook, pointing at Trika’s belt. “Your mind… should remember the prison…”
“What?!” Trika said, firing again. She missed.
“Remember… our bodies’ escape…”
Felicia scurried back, following Kossk’s finger to Trika’s belt. Fi rushed to Kossk’s side, removing her own sword and slashing at the creature. She twirled the sword with one hand and lifted Kossk with the other. Kossk still pointed at Trika’s belt.
Trika looked down, eyes widening. She ripped a grenade off her belt and held it up. “I-I don’t think I can throw it, Kossk! I can barely hold a gun—”
“Give it to me!” Felicia said, holding her hand out. “I’ll do it. It’ll take out both!”
Trika hesitated, pulling away. “I…”
“Do it!” Felicia said, reaching further. “We don’t have a choice!”
Kossk and Fi staggered forward, while Trika handed the grenade to Felicia. Viktor stopped firing to run to Natalia and Trika, guiding them forward alongside Kossk and Fi. Scout turned around to see Selas, Naos and Sora still battling the other creature. It looked weak but continued to swipe at the three.
“Everyone go!” Felicia said, booming.
“Miss Malone—” Bosnan said, darting out from whatever wall he had clung to. “I implore you—”
“Go!”
He ran, catching up with the others. Scout sprinted again, ducking as she neared the second creature. She reached Naos and shoved him. “Go around it! Hurry!”
Naos didn’t question her, running past the creature as it slammed its hand into the wall. Sora and Selas noticed the crew’s pattern and did the same. All fired at the second creature, using the array of lasers to throw it off. As all of them made it past, Scout looked back at Felicia. She hovered behind them.
Finally, she tossed the grenade between the two creatures. She thrust her hands forward and ran, diving toward the rest of the crew.
Scout fell against the wall when orange and red encompassed the other half of the corridor. The heat caused her throat to tighten, and for a second, the explosion blinded her. However, as seconds continued to pass, the orange and red vanished. Traces of slim gray lines took the place of the orange and red burst.
She saw two charred carcasses between the smoke. Scout regained her footing and blew the air out of her chest. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bosnan’s hanging jaw. His despondent eyes.
“We’re losing mobility,” Sora said, pointing to Kossk, Trika and Natalia. Fi still clung to Kossk, while Viktor stuck close to Natalia and Trika. Sora walked forward but kept his eye on the rest of the crew. “Be prepared to give them backup. We’re not losing anyone. Naos, how close are we?”
“The entrance to the hangar should be in the next hall.”
Sora ran, shoving the dangling wires out of the way. He jumped over the next beam. Scout followed, kicking scraps of metal out of her own path. As soon as their running picked up, Scout heard crashes from above. The crashes turned into thuds.
“Keep going!” Sora said, rushing through the next doorway. “We’re almost there!”
The ceiling shook. Several remaining panels fell, nearly hitting Selas and Felicia. Scout threw her shoulders back, trying to ignore the growing pain. Her injuries didn’t like all this action. Her arms burned, while her chin stung. Her breathing quickened. Meanwhile, the thudding turned into an echoing boom.
“When Anziar gave them orders, I believe he created a hive mind, Sora. They all have the same commands and function as one, so when a few are hurt, the rest realize it,” Selas said, reaching the side of his captain. He frowned, looking at the ceiling. “Soon, the rest will be upon us.”
Sora coughed, staring at the large, shining double doors that now sat feet away. The only shining objects that Scout saw on this haunted ship. “Then let’s get these open.”
The booms above stopped, but a crash took their place. Scout looked back to see panels and wires flying to the floor. Two creatures fell from the ceiling, spotting the crew and stomping forward. Only thirty feet stood between them and the crew.
“Get our injured inside first!” Sora said, wheezing. Scout heard the swoosh of two opening doors.
She raised her pistol and fired, feeling the squeeze of her chest. She couldn’t indulge the pain. She lifted her finger and pressed it again, sending rapid bolts toward the creatures. Naos, Felicia and Selas joined her, while Bosnan lingered to the side. She looked over her shoulder to see Viktor ushering Natalia and Trika through the new opening. Fi escorted Kossk, but he paused and held up his spear, gazing at Scout. He threw it toward her.
“Let your mind realize how to use this, child.”
She reached her right hand up and caught it, before yelling and recoiling. All of her arm muscles twisted and burned, refusing to allow any more effort. Then, her legs trembled. She felt like the back of her leg exploded, even worse than when Bettina stabbed it. Scout fell to her knees, dropping the pistol but grasping the spear. She yelled again.
“Scout!” Naos said, scrambling to her. He extended his hand. “Don’t worry, we’ll—”
“Naos!” Selas shouted.
Naos’ body went flying and one of the creatures replaced him in Scout’s line of sight. She shuddered, pulling her head up to see Naos hit the wall and slump to the ground. Selas and Felicia dove out of the way, avoiding the advances of the second creature. Lasers overwhelmed Scout’s ears.
A claw tore into her left ankle. Scout flashed back to Con. She remembered the burns in her back. The sensation of falling through the air and hitting metal.
The lasers grew quieter, but not because they stopped. Scout’s ears blocked them out. The back of her head hit metal as the creature shoved it down. She gazed at the monster, struggling to retain clear vision. It loomed over her. Even a bloodthirsty brute wanted to savor its kill.
Just like Bettina. The creature morphed into Scout’s mentor. Scout heard the howl of the wind and felt the clay on her back. Bettina overshadowed her and breathed down on her. The warm breath of the creature tickled Scout’s neck, but she only felt Bettina’s breath.
A claw struck her left arm, but she only felt Bettina’s sword. She heard
Bettina declaring her plans to execute Naos. Her plans to kill everyone that helped Scout.
Scout ground her teeth together, feeling the sting in her eyes. She hated Bettina. She did this. She brought Scout to this point. Scout jabbed the spear upward, trying to stab the monarch. She missed, but she jabbed again. Then again.
She could use her anger to kill this creature. She’d use her own thirst for blood. Scout swung the spear, but the creature dodged again. Scout pulled it to the right, nicking the creature’s soldier. The creature’s right claw struck her side and she yelled. Scout’s arms wanted to go limp again, but her mind refused the request. She wanted revenge.
Scout saw Bettina and aimed for her chest, but she moved. Scout aimed for her neck, but she moved again. The creature dodged every attack and stabbed Scout’s other side. She screamed again and felt hot tears graze her cheeks. Scout fought for revenge, but she never got it. Every time she tried to take revenge, it never held on for long. She got cornered on Con. She couldn’t shoot Sora on Puntan. She lost Bosnan on Adli. Bettina defeated her on Wantim.
Scout turned her cheek to the left, refusing to look at Bettina or this creature any longer. As a tear tapped the steel beneath her, she saw Naos against the wall. He struggled to get on his feet while Selas and Felicia fought the other creature nearby. That monster could kill them. It could kill the people inside the hangar. It could kill Naos. Scout felt the net between her fingers as she pulled it off him. She remembered freezing when she saw him at the landing pad.
Maybe she couldn’t fight for revenge right now, but she could fight for Naos. She could fight for this crew.
Scout’s head snapped toward the creature. The creature lowered its claw, going in for another strike, but Scout raised the spear and tossed it forward. The spear split the creature’s face, diving into the weak skin and ripping through the muscles underneath. The creature toppled over before Scout jumped to her feet, ignoring the painful sensation beneath her arms, legs and sides. She removed the spear from the corpse and ran for Naos.
She reached his side, grabbing his arm and pulling him onto both his feet. “Let’s blow this place, Blondie.”
Naos nodded, lifting his gun and firing at the other creature. Felicia fired several bolts that ripped into its eyes and it flailed its claws in response. Scout and Naos jumped backward, avoiding the flying hands. One claw caught Felicia, but she shoved it away and continued forward. Selas sent one last blue orb into the creature’s skull.
Scout turned and ran for the doorway, where Sora and Viktor stood. She heard more thuds from the ceiling, the walls and the floor. She darted for the hangar and Naos stuck to her side. Selas, Felicia and Bosnan followed close behind.
“You were right. Maybe my hurt does consume me sometimes,” Scout said, coughing. Her chest tightened. “I do want to hurt Bettina, but you still don’t get it. She decided to kill me because of our friendship, Blondie. Because I looked out for you. I care about revenge, but I care about you more.”
Naos furrowed his eyebrows and blinked. “Wha—”
Scout rushed through the doorway, leaving the thuds and crashes behind. “Trust me. Trust me on that.”
20
Three more creatures entered the corridor, standing fifty feet away from the crew. Two dropped from the ceiling and one came from the right wall. Sora fired several shots in their direction, ushering Selas and Felicia into the hangar. Bosnan stumbled behind them, approaching the doors.
“Naos!” Sora said, reaching for the teen who had just entered. Naos and Scout both stopped a few feet away. “Can you unlock the hangar?”
The main hangar remained fully intact, unlike the rest of the Bombard. Several shuttles sat in the wide, open room and most of the crew stood in the center of the gray hangar, waiting for the arrival of the Killer. A huge, black, metal door blocked the freighter’s path, but a control panel sat to Sora’s right. Naos had referred to it on the bridge.
“Y-Yeah, I’m on it,” Naos said, limping toward the panel. Sora heard keys click together.
He pulled his comm off his belt and activated it, keying in the ship’s frequency. “Chok, bring the ship to the main hangar. We’ll have it open in minutes.”
“Yes, Captain,” Chok said. Sora heard the faint roar of the Killer’s engines over the comm.
Sora put the comm back onto his belt and turned toward their newest roaring foes. They rushed for the crew as Bosnan hovered near the doorway. Sora motioned to a wall panel to the left that sat next to a ventilation shaft. “Viktor, once Bosnan is through, shut the door and seal it. Maybe that will hold them off while we board the ship.”
Sora wheezed and grabbed his chest. The pain of his wound started out numb when they left the Killer, but the pain grew more excruciating during this journey throughout the Bombard. As he inhaled, his ribs ached. He only had to hang on for a few more minutes.
Bosnan stopped in the doorway. He looked at Felicia, who stood behind Sora. Bosnan wrung his hands together.
“Bosnan!” Sora said, reaching forward. The creatures stampeded in the background.
“Miss Malone, don’t allow this crew to do this,” Bosnan said, pulling back from Sora. He focused on Felicia. “This… this could be the army that I promised. Six beautiful subjects remain and they could destroy the Queen!”
“The time for that has passed, Bosnan,” Felicia said, scowling. “Step aside!”
“Chief Bosnan, you are brilliant,” Viktor said, hovering over the wall panel. “Do not let your mind go to waste on these creatures. You do not need to perish because of them.”
Bosnan didn’t budge. Behind him, more panels fell from the ceiling. Small explosions occurred as wires came loose and electricity buzzed. “They could be so much more, Miss Malone. They’ve proven that!”
The creatures gained more ground. Only ten feet remained between them and Bosnan.
“They’re mine!” Bosnan said, looking at Felicia, Sora and Viktor. “They are the legacy of Catalan!”
“Then die with them!” Felicia said, rushing to the wall panel. “Dr. Atkins, close the door!”
Sweat dripped down Sora’s forehead, looking between Viktor and Bosnan. In the background, the creatures closed the gap, roaring. They extended their claws. One creature took the lead, reaching forward. Only five feet remained.
Sora looked at his first mate. “Viktor, do it.”
Viktor hit the button and Sora heard the click of locks and the swoosh of air as the doors closed. Bosnan remained in the doorway, but Viktor jumped forward and wrapped his arms around the scientist, yanking him into the hangar. The lead creature’s claw penetrated Viktor’s back and came out of his chest as the doors slammed shut, catching the claw inside and ripping it away from the creature on the other end.
Blood fell out of Viktor’s mouth. He released Bosnan, who stumbled away, but Viktor collapsed. Screams filled the hangar, but not the screams of any creatures or any destruction. Screams of the crew. Sora’s screams.
Sora fell to his feet, crawling to Viktor’s side. He pulled him off the floor and cradled him, staring at the thick claw in his chest. “Hang on, Viktor! Hang in there!”
Viktor choked and reached up. Blood dripped down his chin. “Cap-Captain…”
Scout scrambled to Sora’s side, putting her hand over the wound. “Vik-Viktor, it’ll be okay, it’ll be okay. We’re home free, man, Chok will be in here any second.”
She pressed down on the chest wound, but the blood didn’t stop. It only flowed over her hand. She looked at Sora, gulping. He saw her eyes grow red. “Naos, get that hangar open!”
“Almost there!”
Sora heard the furious scratches of the creatures but didn’t bother to pay attention. He propped up his old friend and brushed some of the blood off of his white suit. “Viktor, you haven’t wavered this whole time. Don’t start now.”
Natalia appeared beside Sora. He didn’t even hear her approaching. She trembled, putting a hand on Viktor’s arm. “He, um, he… he’s ri
ght, Viktor. You-you sacrificed yourself for me on Wantim. You’ve… been a team player at every point. You…”
She stopped. Viktor’s eyes started to glaze over, but he glanced at each of them. “Couldn’t… let… them… kill… him. Unethical… those creatures… had to preserve…”
Sora closed his eyes, releasing the tears. They covered his cheeks. “I… I know. We know.”
Viktor held his hand up and it shook for a few seconds. It didn’t look like the shake of fear that it had when it held that pistol in the spice mine on Bolton. This only came from physical weakness, not from fear. Viktor finally rested on Sora’s chest. His touch felt light, but he had enough strength to hold it there. His eyes settled on Sora. “I… had doubts, but this… everything… was a worthy….”
Sora touched his hand, just like in the mine. So did Scout and Natalia. Selas crouched down on Sora’s other side, putting one hand on Sora’s back and the other on Viktor’s hand. Selas smiled at the scientist. “You’ve fought long and hard, Viktor. You’re one of us. Always will be.”
Viktor spit out blood, but no one moved. Viktor’s eyes still rested on Sora and his hand patted Sora’s chest. Sora sniffed, watching his tears collide with Viktor’s fingers. Everyone kept a tight hold of Viktor’s hand. He coughed again, releasing more blood. One tear dripped from each of his eyes.
“Thank… thank you… for letting me… c-call you…”
He relaxed his head in Sora’s arms. “…Captain.”
His eyes froze and he didn’t move. Sora looked at Scout, Natalia and Selas. Scout and Natalia had wet cheeks, while Selas had misty eyes. Sora heard tearing metal on the other side of the door. He closed his eyes. He felt no sensation. He felt numb.
“They’re still here… can you…”
“I’ve got him, Sora,” Selas said, removing his body from Sora’s arms and standing. He walked toward the rest of the crew.
As soon as Sora stood, the numbness faded and his legs wobbled. Both his chest and his stomach hurt. He looked at Chief Bosnan, who folded his hands behind his back a short distance away. “I hope you are grateful, Chief Bosnan. Thanks to you, my first mate is dead.”
Survival, Dark Times Page 28
