Dead Space (Another path)

(I do not own the title DEAD SPACE is owned by Viseral games. I do not own it.) A story of another Nercomorph outbreak.

Dead Space: Another path

The Untold story of the Svet 3, her colony and The Spartan. All lost, gone and forgotten. The year…2507…

Aaron: It was you, wasn’t it? From the start. It wasn’t bad luck…the force fields, and air lock…you did it all.

???: What’s surprising is that it took you this long to figure it out. Oh well (picks up and activates Ripper.) Your times run out. You won’t be one of the few who transcends death.

??? Pushed the secondary fire button of the Ripper, shooting a spinning blade towards Aaron.

Chapter 1: The assignment.

2 days earlier.

T.V. announcer: Good morning to the colony of Svet 3. It’s another beautiful day on the planet. Some news for you right now; a bizarre cave in, in tunnel thirty three left four miners trapped underground for at least three hours last night. One of the miners were quoted saying: “As we get closer and closer to our “object of interest” these damn tremors keep appearing. If we have another incident like today, I’m pulling my team out and we’re leaving this contract alone. No amount of money is worth a life.” However, local Unitologist disagree. They say that: “Whatever this “object of interest” is, is more important than anyone on Svet 3’s life. If the Unitologist had it their way, everyone would be down in those mines digging.” Obviously there is a large scale debate now. The State, not wanting to lose the miners. The Church, wanting to find the object for spiritual reasons and the miners in the middle, wanting what any miners’ would want, to get the hell out of dodge. Coming up in the next half---- (T.V. shuts off.)

Aaron: Boring…as usual.

Skyler: Let’s go. We’ll be late for class.

Aaron: Since when do you care?

Skyler: Since I feel like graduating this year. Let’s go!

The two rushed out of Skyler’s apartment, and ran to their high school. Skyler getting there long before Aaron. Skyler waited for Aaron to finally catch up and the two walked into the main building. Their school had four buildings to it. They were on their way up to the second of the three floors of the main building…

Aaron: (Shushes quietly.) Here he comes.

The two stood still and watched as a boy with dark brown curly hair walked by. As he walked by, he gave them both glares that sent shivers up their spines.

Skyler: Who the hell is that kid?

Aaron: Don’t know, and really I don’t care. If we don’t get going we’ll be late to-(bell rings.)

Mr. Ferrell: Aaron, Skyler, late again I see. So what was it this time? Air leak? You tripped and somehow your backpack got hooked on a truck?

Aaron: Got caught up watching that news report of the cave in. And that really emo looking kid walked past us in the hall…

Mr. Ferrell: Oh that kid? Ok I’ll let it slide today, because he scares me too. Ok, today we will be talking about the history of the State, and Unitology.

A girl behind Aaron raises her hand

Mr. Ferrell: Yes?

Leslie: Can I be excused from this lesson please?

Mr. Ferrell: Leslie, I understand you’re a Christian, however; we aren’t on Earth at the moment and the main religion out here is Unitology. Sorry, but you’re going to have to suffer as much as the rest of the class, but less than me. Cause I’ve been teaching this…twice a year…for the last 7 years. (Trails off, muttering to himself.)

Skyler: Mr. Ferrell!

Mr. Ferrell: Huh? Oh yes the lesson. Now then, Unitology, started by its founder Altman in the year---

An hour later…

Mr. Ferrell: Ok then, with the last few minutes of class coming down, let’s talk about our Unitology project. I realize you’ve only had one day of notes on the subject. However, I put up a list of pairings next to the door. There is no switching your partner. And no doing your own project. You either pass, or fail together. You have a week to research, and make a presentation for the class. (Bell rings) have a good day.

Everyone crowded around the postings.

Skyler: I got someone named Sebastion…

Sebastion: That’s me. I look forward to working with you. (Walks away.)

Skyler: Creepy. Who did you get?

Aaron: (disappointedly) Leslie.

Leslie: Yeah. And I’m just thrilled about that.

Aaron: Oh, couldn’t sense the sarcasm.

Leslie: Oh well. I’ve been meaning to drop one of my grades anyways. (Walks away)

Aaron: want to switch?

Mr. Ferrell: You could, but I’d fail you. I paired you four up specifically. You two need to talk to other people other than each other once in a while.

Later in the day, the two chose to go to a nearby mini-mart for lunch.

Aaron: Mr. Ferrell is out to get us. You know that right?

Skyler: Yeah. Well, at least your partner is just as much of a shut in as you. My guy is a raging sociopath.

As the two talked. Leslie and Sebastion walked in the mini mart.

Leslie: Hey. Look, sorry about earlier. I don’t take too kindly to Unis.

Aaron: I’m not a Uni. I can’t stand them actually.

Skyler: Yeah. Same here.

Sebastion: Looks like we’re all in agreement then. So…how about we do some research after school?

Aaron: Can’t today. I got something…tomorrow?

Leslie: I’m free.

Skyler: Yeah. Same.

Sebastion: Tomorrow it is then.

In the distance, the bell for lunch to end rang. The four sprinted out of the mini-mart, back to school. The rest of the school day, was wasted. The final bell rang, and the classes were released. Skyler and the others went home. Aaron stayed back at the school. He walked by himself to the school’s firing range. In the firing range was one other person aside from Aaron.

Mr. Armstrong: Ready for today’s lesson?

Aaron: Guess.

Mr. Armstrong: Today; we’re going over how to harness the power, of the force gun. Are you aware of the force gun’s primary, and secondary fire?

Aaron: Yes sir. The primary fire; shoots a large burst of energy in a short, yet wide area directly in front of the gun. The secondary; shoots energy, that has been compressed into a beam like blast wave. This mode is better for pinpoint aiming. Of course, there are dangers with both. The primary fire has the power to crush a living creature’s bones and organs upon impact with the general blast wave. The secondary, can blow a hole through a living creature…with little to no time for the person being hit to feel pain. Power nodes can be used to upgrade the width, distance, and power of the blast wave, and the size and range of the beam. As well as the amount of ammo it can hold before needed to be reloaded.

Mr. Armstrong: Impressive. You’ve done your homework I see. Well then, you know what you’re talking about (hands Aaron a force gun) let’s see if the swords as powerful as the pin.

An hour later, Aaron finished his target practice and returned home, to find an empty house. Meanwhile, Skyler was dealing with his little sister, alone. Leslie was also alone. As was Sebastion. It seemed every worker on Svet 3’s colony, wasn’t home. The next day, during Mr. Ferrell’s study hall;

Aaron: For once, it was quiet at my house. My uncle wasn’t blasting music.

Skyler: Your mom and Uncle weren’t home? Weird…my parents left a little after I came home.

Sebastion and Leslie walk up.

Leslie: Yeah. My mom and step dad weren’t there last night either.

Sebastion: Nope…not mine.

Two of Leslie’s friends, Rian (girl) and Ryan (boy) walked up.

Ryan: Didn’t you guys hear? They found some kind of monolith, or relic in the recent dig site. All workers, miners and otherwise were called to some meeting about it. My dad’s the crew chief of the 12^th P-SEC unit. They were called in because a riot broke out between the miners and some Unitologist.

Rian: Yeah. I guess it’s being broadcasted today around noon.

Skyler: Hmm…what time did they uncover the relic thing?

Ryan: Around….5 or so last night. Why?

Skyler: Oh no reason. Just wondering.

Rian and Ryan walked away, to continue working on their project.

Skyler: (Whispering) I didn’t want to say it to him, because his dad’s with P-SEC. Last night, I was monitoring some of the planet’s electromagnetic wavelengths. Around five, there was a major spike. Plus, there was the addition of some…unknown frequency. I don’t know what it is. I’ll have to do some more research, but I’m getting a bad feeling about that relic.

Aaron: Hmm…it’s probably nothing. Um, that actually does remind me though; we should head to the colony on Luna IV after school today.

Leslie: Luna IV? That’s a major Unitologist colony. It’s nothing but a waste of time and money to have it standing.

Aaron: They have as much of a right to do their own religion as you do. Anyway, my Uncle says we can borrow his ship if anyone wants to go for some research.

Leslie: You can pilot?

Aaron: Small crafts. To an extent. Enough to get us to Luna IV. Anyone want to go? Or do I have to deal with the Unis alone?

Skyler: I’ll go.

Leslie: Might as well.

Sebastion: You’re my partner Skyler; you go, I go.

Aaron: Ok then. It’s decided. Meet at dock 14 about an hour or so after school ends. We’ll head out then.

The final bell of the day rang several hours later. Everyone ran home, and collected the papers they needed to use for their project. They all met at dock 14 around 5:00PM. They boarded the small civilian craft that was docked there.

Sebastion: So…good thing one of knows how to fly huh? You…do know how to fly right?

Aaron: Like I said; these small crafts; yes. Larger ones; no. So, everyone ready?

Others: Yeah.

Aaron: Ok then. Here we go.

End Chapter 1.

Chapter 2: The Downfall of Svet 3.

The small ship’s thrusters fired up. They started as a low humming sound, and grew into a deafening roar. The craft hovered into the air, and its wings unfolded. Aaron brought the ship away from the docking station, and, and hit the ships throttle. The small ship quickly flew away, leaving Svet 3, and was on its way to Luna IV.

Aaron: Ok, at this speed; we should reach Luna IV in about…two or three hours. Depending on if the after burners don’t crap out again.

Leslie: Again?

Aaron: Yeah. I said he had a ship. Not that it worked 100% of the time.

Skyler: If the after burners go out; we’ll just slow down. Don’t panic.

Sebastion: Yeah, but if the after burners are jumped while the ships active; there’s the possibility of activating the ships warp drive.

Aaron: Warp drives just about shot. We wouldn’t warp more than a galaxy away. Don’t panic. Just sit back and enjoy the ride to the nut house of our galaxy.

The small ship flew along. After about two hours, a planet came into view. On its surface, a large city was visible. As the ship neared it…

Computerized voice: Warning, AA turrets locked on.

Aaron: S**t. (Types on keypad.) This is civilian craft 107687. Requesting permission to land in Luna IV colony.

Man over com: Understood. We’ve sent some patrol craft to escort you to landing platform nine. When the hatch opens, walk out of the craft and have your hands above your head or we will shoot.

Two other craft quickly approached the smaller ship. They flew directly in front of and behind of the ship, and forced them to land on platform nine. The hatch opened, and the four occupants exited the ship, with their hands in the air.

Officer: What exactly are you doing here?

Aaron: We’re students from Svet 3 high. We’re doing a project on Unitology, and we figured; what better way to learn about it, than to visit an actual Unitologist colony?

Guard: Oh, we thought you were….well, never mind that. Please, let me show you around.

The other armed guards dispersed, and the one remaining one began to show the small group around the colony’s hanger.

Guard: Well, as you may have heard; this colony was established exactly twenty-three years ago last week. It started as more of a small settlement for Unitologist who could no longer co-exists with the non-believers. Soon after an auto-atmosphere system was created, people began… “Flocking” here. As the days went on, it became apparent that this was the only place in the Black Galaxy that was a safe area for Unitologist to live freely. After Svet 3 was established however, we began getting death threats from non-believers. And our base was threatened, almost daily. Surprisingly, the State granted us protection, so long as we did not retaliate against those who wished to harm us. This station continues into the ground for about a mile. We have most of, if not all of our gatherings underground. Unitology was established by Altman. A digger up until he, and his dig team found…it.

Aaron: It?

Guard: It…was the marker. An ancient stone, long since left by what we believe were the original humans. A race of advanced humans, who died off, and left us…the…least significant of their species to rot away on Earth. Altman knew that the marker was the only way to help humans into the next evolutionary stage of our race.

Leslie: What happened to the Marker?

Guard: The state believed it was a message from aliens. So they took it, and condemned Altman to death.

Sebastion: Hence the hate war between the State and Unitologist.

Guard: Exactly.

The guard was about to say something, but his speaker began to make a static sound. The guard’s eyes widened.

Guard: I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave immediately.

The guard rushed the group back to their ship. Aaron quickly readied the engines, and launched the ship. As they flew away, they saw all of the docking bays shutting down and locking. The ship flew on, back towards Svet 3.

Leslie: That was weird…what was that about?

Aaron: Not sure.

Sebastion: Not really too concerned. Those guys are just…yeah, they’re just weird.

Aaron: Sky?

Skyler was asleep in his chair. As they flew on, they were near one of Svet’s moons.

Aaron: This is civilian craft 107687, requesting permission to dock in civilian docking station four. (Static) I repeat; this is civilian craft 107687, requesting permission to dock in civilian station four.

The speaker had nothing but static coming through it.

Leslie: Try to pull up an image.

Aaron began to mess with some settings. A small screen came up, with nothing but “snow” on the monitor.

Aaron: That accomplished nothing of use.

The ship flew around Svet’s third moon, and what the group saw shocked them. Svet 3 three was covered with scattered fires and was surrounded by the debris from destroyed parts of the station. The small ship docked at an open docking station. The group got out of the ship, and ran into the main colony area. As the large bulk doors that connected the main colony to the docking station opened, a man’s body with an axe lodged in its back fell to the ground. Leslie screamed at the sight. Another man hobbled into view from behind one of the doors. He grabbed the axe, and dislodged it from the dead man’s back.

Deranged man: Well, well. Look what I found. You guys haven’t given your bodies up for sacrifice yet. They need our bodies, and if you don’t give them up willingly, I’ll force you to give them up.

The man drew the axe back and motioned to bring it down on Sebastion’s head. Before he could, a shot rang out from a Plasma Cutter. The axe wielding man’s hands were cut off from the rest of his arms. He howled in pain and turned around to see who the shooter was. Another shot rang out. The man’s torso separated from his lower half and he fell to the ground in two pieces. Mr. Armstrong walked around the corner of the door.

Mr. Armstrong: Kids, what the hell are you doing? You know you shouldn’t be out right now. The colony’s not a safe place to wander around aimlessly anymore.

Aaron: Mr. Armstrong, what are you talking about? We haven’t been here all day.

Mr. Armstrong: Really? Where have you been?

Leslie: Luna IV…

Mr. Armstrong: Luna…IV…

Just then, there was an explosion nearby.

Aaron: That was the secondary fire of the Line Gun.

Mr. Armstrong: Why did you need me to teach you again?

Aaron: Hone my skills I suppose. Let’s move.

The group plus Mr. Armstrong ran into a nearby building. Once inside, they locked the doors behind them, and sealed up any entrances. They all sat down to plan.

Leslie: What’s going on?

Mr. Armstrong: That’s right; you all said you were on Luna IV. Well, I suppose it all started during the press conference. The State rep for this galaxy and the rep for the Unitologist for this galaxy met in the square. This is where they announced their plans for the artifact, or what we now are calling The Marker. A man from the dig team that uncovered The Marker came to the square and shot both reps. He then went on a short killing rampage, which lasted until a P-SEC unit killed him. The Unitologist rep was killed. And the President of the state was badly injured. The local Unis believed that this was intentionally done to try and bring down their religion and their “control” of the system. A small riot broke out. P-SEC would have stopped it, but they were dealing with a bigger problem. More people were beginning to show up in the square, each brandishing a weapon of some nature. P-SEC shot and killed a good number of these people, but it was useless. Whatever was driving these people insane was doing the same thing to the people in the riot. P-SEC left quickly from the scene. Things quickly fell apart from there. It was like they let out all of the people who were locked up in the nut house. People were killing each other left and right. What’s weird; is that the people, who seemed to be affected by this, had no fear. No reasoning. And no sense of honor. They killed everyone. Men, women, children, elderly…it was a horrible sight. To make matters worse, the ship known as The Spartan appeared.

Leslie: A state ship showed up? How is that a bad thing?

Mr. Armstrong: It’s not, until you hear that; contact with the ship ceased after a few escape pods and civilian ships were docked there. I fear that whatever caused the panic here; may have made it to The Spartan. I was on my way here to salvage a ship. As fate would have it, I met you kids instead. So then…does your ship happen to still work?

Aaron: Yeah. Come on.

Together with Mr. Armstrong, the group turned back to head to the docking station. When the door to the docking station opened however; a man stood there, his back to the ship. He had a Plasma saw, and a Ripper (a gun that fires rapidly spinning saw blades, that can be controlled if wanted.) on his person. Around his belt, several severed heads, all recently obtained by the amount of blood dripping from them. His face and forearms were covered in blood, but an unmistakable pattern of blood was noticeable…they were war patterns of ancient humans.

Mr. Armstrong: Hold on. I never thought I’d see you here. Of all people, I never took you for a killer Ferrell.

Mr. Ferrell: Yeah well, you know what they say; we all go a little mad.

Mr. Ferrell reached into the ship, and pulled out a tied up person by the hair. He put his hand around the back of the person’s neck, and moved the person in front of him. He grabbed his Ripper, and activated it, so that the blade began to spin rapidly.

Mr. Ferrell: So then (mockingly) Mr. Armstrong; Let’s see what Svet 3’s most gifted weapons handler can do. You can handle weapons just fine. But you only practice with nonmoving targets. Do you know what it’s like to take a human life? Huh!? Do you!?! Well I’ll tell you something Mr. Armstrong; IT’S F*****G AMAZING!

Mr. Ferrell fired the ripper’s secondary feature; a fast, rapidly spinning saw blade in a straight line, unfortunately, it sliced through the captive person, killing them instantly. It was aimed directly at Mr. Armstrong’s head. Mr. Armstrong moved his head to the left slightly, dodging the blade by mere inches. Mr. Armstrong drew his Plasma Cutter and fired it at Mr. Ferrell, who dodged it. Mr. Ferrell fired the Ripper’s main function, a rapidly spinning blade that was attached to the Ripper by an electromagnetic tether. As Mr. Ferrell ran, he swung the blade around Mr. Armstrong and the group. Mr. Armstrong shot the blade, rendering it useless.

Mr. Armstrong: Listen, you kids go on without me. (Takes bag off his back and places it on the ground.) I have to chase down that lunatic.

Aaron: We’re not leaving you here.

Skyler: How is it that neither us, nor the narrator type person realized he was holding a bag?

Sebastion: It’s a fan fiction story…just go with it.

Mr. Armstrong: Stick to the script idiots. It’s fine guys; just go. You’ll find plenty of ammo and a weapon for each of you in there. I didn’t bring them for you four, but I never leave home without my four classics.

Aaron: Two plasma Cutters, A line gun, a Ripper, and a Corer?

Mr. Armstrong: You know it. Anyways, with him still here, that means I can just take his shuttle up to The Spartan. Get going before he gets the balls to come back. Now go.

With that, Mr. Armstrong gave chase to Mr. Ferrell. The group took the bag into the ship, and took off. Leaving Mr. Armstrong alone with a base filled with raving lunatics.

End chapter 2.

Chapter 3: Aboard the Spartan.

The small ship left Svet 3’s atmosphere, and made its way to the large ship that was hovering just above the planet. As they approached.

Sebastion: This is civilian craft…uh…whatever, look we need to take refuge on the ship. We’re all citizens of the colony.

The transmission wasn’t understandable. So Aaron continued on. Just then, his ships targeting sensors went haywire. They started beeping continuously, indicating that the ship was being fired upon.

Aaron: Oh come on! Forget it, we aren’t turning around Spartan, everyone brace yourselves!

Aaron punched the ship’s throttle, a gained speed towards the Spartan. The large ship began launching missiles towards the small craft. Aaron swerved the ship in several directions to avoid the missiles. As they got near the ship, the docking bay doors began to close. The missiles had given up, and were no longer firing. Aaron began his final run to the docking bay.

Sebastion: You realize if you don’t make it we’re going to die, right?

Aaron: Yeah, I do. So, if you have a god, pray to them now.

The ship drew closer to the docking bay doors. The doors grew closer to shutting. Just before the doors closed, the ship made it through safely. Aaron landed the ship, and waited for the signal that the docking bay was re pressurized. Once the alarm sounded, Aaron opened the ship doors, and everyone stepped off the ship. Everyone stretched, and looked around. Aaron ran over to a nearby door, and looked at a map of the ship that was there. They were on the lower deck. The bridge was on the upper most level. As he studied the map, the door next to him lit up, and showed the door was locked. The light suddenly flashing on scared him, but he quickly calmed himself. He walked over, and opened a panel nearby.

Aaron: Sebastion! Are you a computer guy?

Sebastion: Yeah, why?

Aaron: This door takes us to Med Bay.

Skyler: And that helps us…how?

Aaron: The med bay has an elevator that takes us directly to the Bridge. In case the captain or one of the bridge crew members is injured.

Leslie: Aaron, before you get all…leader like, think; they were firing at us. If someone is up there they’ll most likely take us prisoners.

Skyler: If someone is up there…something’s wrong.

While the others talked, Sebastion walked over to the panel that Aaron had point out a few moments before. He opened it up, and began to mess with the wires within. After a few moments of tinkering with the wires within the panel, the main hanger lights switched on, but the door to the Med Bay, remained shut and locked.

Sebastion: That didn’t appear to be the door’s control or power panel.

Leslie: Now what?

Sebastion: *Shudders* Well…whatever we do, we don’t go to the med lab.

Skyler: Why?

Sebastion: Look.

Sebastion pointed to the Med Bay door. All around the doorway were scratches. Gashes in the metal doorframes. All on the floor and the walls around the door were blood splatters.

Leslie: Oh my god. Are those…weapon marks?

Skyler: Plasma saw maybe?

Aaron: Nope. Not likely. A plasma saw is just that…plasma. Pieces of flesh and bone wouldn’t be able to stick to it. But look at these mark; they have blood, flesh, and bone fragments in them. Whatever caused these…was using some form of organic blade. Really powerful, medium size and it’s not able to control it very well.

Leslie: Like it’s just kind of…throwing it around aimlessly?

Aaron: That’s a little more than a guess it seems. What do you-?

Aaron looked to where Leslie was staring in horror. Near an open door to a fire extinguisher store room, a body came hobbling out of it. The body was deformed. Its skin was torn in several places, and appeared to be rotting. The abdomen was ripped open, and small arm like appendages were coming out of the open wound. The palms of the hands had large spear like claws coming out of them. The jaw was missing from the body, and large sharp teeth replaced it. The body was wandering around the shuttle bay doors, when it noticed the group. It tilted its head back slightly, roared, and broke into a full sprint towards the group. Aaron readied his Plasma cutter, and aimed. As the creature moved closer, Aaron fired at it several times. The first two shots hit the ground in front of it. Aaron aimed higher and fired again. This shot sliced the arm of the creature off. Despite this, it continued on, completely unaffected by the fact its arm had just been removed. It began slashing wildly at the air. Just before it reached Aaron, a beam shot through it, appearing to kill it. Aaron looked, and the shot was coming from the Corer that Skyler had. Skyler tried to keep the beam steady, but eventually fell backwards. The beam ceased firing, and the creature’s body fell to the ground, dead. Aaron laughed and walked over to help Skyler up.

Aaron: Corer has a major kick to it huh?

Skyler: Damn. That; was a serious recoil. What the hell?

Aaron: Maybe you’ll like this instead.

He handed Skyler the Plasma Cutter, and took the Corer for himself. As Aaron showed Skyler how to use its primary and secondary fire, there were several loud bangs from the Med Bay’s door. These were also loud scrapping sounds from the other side of the door as well.

Aaron: Look, at the claws. Those are about the right size to create the marks on the doors. But…what the hell are they?

A holo image. (Holographic image) suddenly appeared from the Med Bay door’s control panel.

Unknown voice: If you want to know that, I suggest you don’t stay too long, and don’t go through that door. Listen, directly across from the Med Bay, is a door that’ll take you to a corridor. The third door on the left in that corridor is a way to the D deck mess hall. However, there are a few survivors in the room all the way down the corridor. You don’t have to rescue them, and I wouldn’t suggest it, seeing as how there is a large mass of those things outside the door. But you could use the extra fire power. Your choice. Either way, it won’t be easy getting here. Good luck. Oh, and the doors in and out of the rooms all over the ship are locked and monitored, so I won’t unlock the doors until all of those things are killed in each room. Think of it like a game.

Skyler: Considering that these things are most likely the b******s that killed the crew of this ship, this won’t be a fun f*****g game.

The four grabbed their weapons, and ran to the now unlocked door across the shuttle bay. The Med Bay door collapsed in, and the shuttle bay filled with those creatures. Dozens of them. The four ran through the open doorway that the voice had unlocked. The door shut, and locked behind them. Behind them the banging and scrapping at the door. Ahead of them, the distant roars of more of those creatures grew steadily louder. Before they could take a few steps away from the door, an even louder roar erupted from behind them. The holo image from the shuttle bay appeared on a nearby panel.

Unknown voice:  I suggest you get as far away from here as possible. Otherwise, you will die.

They all glanced back at the door, and quickly turned and ran down the corridor.

End Chapter 3.

Chapter 4: To the bridge…

The group ran down the corridor, as fast as they could. They came up to the door the voice had told them about that led to the D deck mess hall. As they stood at the door, they heard the sounds of creatures yelling down the corridor.

Leslie: We have to help them.

Sebastion: To hell with that.

Leslie: They’re humans too.

Skyler: Yeah, ones that locked themselves in a f*****g room.

Leslie: Fine. You guys go in there; me and Aaron will go and rescue them.

Aaron: We will?

Leslie glared at him, sending a chill up his spine. The two checked if their weapons were loaded, and preceded down the hall. The others exchanged some looks, and chased after the two. Down the hall, the corridor made a left turn. Aaron stood with his back on the corner. He barely moved his head around the corner, when he turned back he was pale white, and had started sweating. He quickly moved away from the turn, and sat on the ground. The others looked at him, confused. Skyler made the gesture asking how many there were. Aaron slowly counted up to about twelve or thirteen. The others grew afraid, but they couldn’t panic. If just the corridor was like this, the rest of the ship must have been worse. They all readied their weapons, and rounded the corner. The creatures turned towards them, and began to sprint after them. They all opened fire on the creatures. Aaron had to wait, and chose to sit the fight out. As powerful as the Corer was, it had one downfall…it had only six shots. Sebastion had the Ripper, and was using it to slice through the creatures’ legs. This didn’t stop them, for they continued to crawl towards them. Leslie and Skyler continued to shoot the creatures in the backs as they crawled closer.

Aaron: Guys…shoot…shoot them in the head!

Skyler: What?!

Aaron grabbed Skyler’s gun and aimed at one of the creature’s head, and fired. On impact, the creature fell to the ground, dead. The others just walked over it, as if it were a rug. Reluctantly, Skyler and Leslie began to shoot the creatures’ heads. One by one, the bodies fell to the ground. When it was all over; the corer had five shots left. Leslie and Skyler had 43 shots apiece. And the ripper had had fourteen blades left.

Aaron: Well that….that wasn’t fun.

Leslie: That’s an understatement.

Skyler: Yeah…hey, I hear people behind this door.

Skyler knocked on the door and called out. The door slowly opened. Four people walked out of the room. Ryan and Rian were two of them.

Leslie: Rian!

Rian: Leslie!

The two hugged each other and started talking. Skyler waved at one of the other survivors who had a weapon.

Skyler: What’s that gun?

Aaron: That’s… a javelin gun. Pretty much just shoots large spears. How many shots?

Man: On me I have five. There are a few more in the corner. I can’t carry many more though.

Aaron: Skyler you carry those. Let’s go everyone. We’re heading to the bridge.

With the extra four people, everyone moved through the corridor, back to the mess hall door. They opened it and ran inside.

Aaron: Clear left.

Skyler: Clear right.

Man: Room’s clear.

Everyone slowly walked in. To no surprise, the room was covered in blood. A man sat in the corner, terrified.

Man: Sir, are you ok? What’s your name?

Justin: Justin: J-J-Justin. I’m an engineer on this ship. My crew…their dead. All dead.

Man: Do you know your way to the bridge?

Justin: Yeah. Through that doorway. You can’t go through though. Something’s there…blocking the doorway.

Aaron and the other slowly walked over. There was nothing at or near the doorway. There was a hallway that lead to a door. The voice appeared from a nearby com link.

Voice: I don’t understand what he’s talking about. I don’t see anything. I’ll unlock the door.

The man started laughing manically. The other person that had been rescued walked down the hall. There was nothing but some kind of fleshy planet type stuff growing on the walls and floor. The deranged man was lead at gunpoint by the man with the javelin gun. Skyler looked around and saw a large bulb like object on the wall start to move. He shoved everyone backwards. The girl ahead of him wasn’t so lucky. The bulb shot a small pod out. The pod hit the ground at the girl’s feet. The pod exploded, killing the girl in the explosion. When everyone looked back, there was no evidence aside from blood that there had only seconds ago been a person there. The man with the Javelin shot a spear at the bulb. It pierced through it, but it still continued to move. He looked around and saw a body. He came up with an idea.

Man: Anyone have a telekinesis module?

Skyler slowly raised his hand.

Skyler: It’s sort of banged up; I got it from one of those bodies. Why?

Man: I have an idea. Pick up that body there, and move it in front of the…thing. Trust me.

Skyler reluctantly picked up the body using telekinesis and threw it in front of the large blub. It shot out a small pod again; this time however, the man caught it with his telekinesis and threw it back at the bulb. The pod exploded, sending what seemed to be blood everywhere. With the way now clear, the door at the end of the small hall unlocked. The voice came back over the com.

Voice: Huh, so these ones with the claws aren’t the only ones. I have some good news for you. The crash in the docking bay appears to be attracting the attention of the creatures all over the ship.

Man with Javelin gun: What were you going to say about those things?

Voice: Oh yes. You see; there have been a number of these things I’ve seen throughout the ship. There is one that is particularly nasty that has been on your tail for a while. It’s trying to find you in the docking bay. These things aren’t smart, but they appear to grow in intelligence when in large groups. It won’t be long before they figure out you aren’t in the docking bay. From the door, take a left. Then take a right down the third hallway. I’ll unlock the door to the elevator.

Skyler: Let’s go.

The group slowly shuffled down the hallway. Not wanting to attract attention. They heard someone crying nearby. Down the first hallway they came to, a man was on the ground crying. Someone wearing a P-SEC uniform walked cautiously up to them. Ryan was happy to see a P-SEC officer, until he realized they were already dead. The crying man grabbed the officer, and began spewing a blood red liquid on the officer’s helmet. The helmet began to melt away. The group, horrified, walked away quickly.

Ryan: I bet my dad’s here somewhere.

Rian: It seems like there are still survivors all over the place.

Man with javelin gun: Yes. According to the ship staff log, all but twenty….err….fifteen crew members are dead. Plus at least another ten extras.

Aaron: Twenty five of us….against an army of the dead. Not good odds.

Leslie: The dead Aaron? Really?

Aaron: They take shots to the body and don’t die. What would you call them?

Man with Javelin gun: Well, I’d call them “deranged.”

Sebastion: Who are you anyways? Can we get a name?

Austin: Oh, right. I’m Austin.

Rian: (slightly echoing) Hey, you guys coming?

They all made it to the elevator door. As they piled in, a man’s scream came from down the hall. A man in a digger suit (thick armor with three lines as a visor in its helmet.) came running down the hall. Behind him, another man, with no suit. The man without a suit had a small, greyish colored creature on his head. Whatever it was, had long claws, and was biting his neck. The man without a suit fell to the ground. A large mob (twenty-five to thirty) of the same grey creatures ran around the corner, and attacked the downed man. Several of them left him, and ran at the man with the suit. The elevator doors began to close. Skyler and Austin tried to force the door open, but it was in vain. The man was able to get his arm in the elevator, but the door slammed shut on his arm. The elevator began to rise. Through the little crack in the door, the group was able to make out the image of the man in the suit being attacked. As the elevator rose, it reached the top of the hallway’s roof. In a blink of an eye, the door was closed. The screams of pain from the man began to fade. And a disembodied arm was in the elevator with the group. The com came on.

Voice: That was fun.

Sebastion: Huh. That actually was.

Skyler: Sebastion shut up. If I ever find you, I’m going to kick your a*s.

Voice: Well then, you’ll be happy to know that’ll be soon. You just have to make it past the security checkpoint.

Rian: Security checkpoint? Like…that P-SEC sets up?

Voice: Right. Austin was only partly right. There are well more than twenty five of you on this ship. There are over a hundred survivors. And the security checkpoint is impenetrable.

Aaron: Sweet. Things are finally looking up.

Just as the elevator opened, the lights on the ship flickered. When they finally stopped, the group in the elevator was covered in laser sights.

Officer: Halt! Are any of you injured?

Leslie: No.

Officer: Do you have any weapons?

Aaron: Open your damn eyes man. Yes.

Officer: Sights down.

The other officers dropped their weapons to their sides.

Man: Well, since you guys just got here, we’re putting you up first.

Skyler: Excuse me?

Man: Somehow those things are outside the ship, and messing with the wiring for this section of the ship. We need you to go out there and fix it. We only have three suits. And one is a bigger suit, so big dude with the Corer? You’re going.

Aaron: Great. That’s just great.

Skyler and Rian were the other two who were chosen to go. Ryan and the head officer were talking about something. They kept looking over at Skyler, Leslie, Aaron and Sebastion.

Aaron: Well, I’m ready.

Skyler: Yeah same here.

Rian: Yep.

The three moved into an air lock. As they were waiting….

Ryan: Hmm? Wait, wait, my suit has a tear in it!

The guards went to open the door, but the airlock door suddenly unlocked, and burst open. The three were sucked out into space. Skyler and Aaron grabbed onto a small ladder that lead to the air lock. Ryan kept floating away. His RIG’s health bar was no longer lit. Indicating he had flat lined. Aaron and Skyler were messing with their suits, and finally found the magnetic boot option on their suits. Aaron touched his helmet’s side, to activate his headset. As his radio came on, he could hear Rian yelling in the background.

Aaron: Uh…Ryan’s, Ryan’s dead.

Man: Yes. We know. Your job stands. Walk a few yards towards the rear of the ship, and you should come up to some, most likely exposed wires.

Aaron: I see them. And…what the hell is that? Skyler, you seeing this?

Skyler: Wish I wasn’t.

Some of the creatures with the large spear like claws were slowly running towards them.

Skyler: They can’t stay on the ground too well. I have an idea to save some ammo.

Aaron: Kick them?

Skyler: You know it.

One of the creatures lightly jumped at Skyler. Using his gun, he hit it in the head. The low gravity sent it slowly flying in the opposite direction. He and Aaron repeated this several times, until all of the creatures were gone. They found the panel that had been ripped open. They replaced the two wires that had been destroyed. They returned to the air lock. Once the room was pressurized they removed their suits.

Man: Well, that was quick.

Rian: Where’s Ryan? He’s with you right?

Man: For the last time girl, he’s dead. He flew out into the airless vacuum of space with a torn suit. He flat lined in seconds.

Aaron: A little harsh man.

Man: Regardless. There’s someone who wants to meet you kids.

The group walked through the security checkpoint. They walked through a large door, and into a room full of people running around. An explosion from somewhere on the ship shook the entire ship violently.

Man: Ah, so nice to meet the only group to successfully make it here. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Capitan Boomhower. You may call me Chad. Welcome to the bridge.

End chapter 4

Chapter 5: a traitor amongst us.

Chad gave the group a quick tour of the bridge. On one of the screens, the number of people and their RIG status was shown. The count showed one hundred and thirty four.

Aaron: Ok Chad, what’s your plan to get these things off the ship?

Chad: No plan. We need to wait for another ship to come. It’ll pick up the Marker from the planet, return it to Earth, and then come back for us.

Aaron: That’ll take too long!

Chad: I am aware. The Marker is more important though. It is what created us. And can and will help humans transcend death. Your ship you brought here is out too.

Skyler: What do you mean?

Chad pressed a button on his chair, and it brought up an image of the docking bay they had landed in. A large creature picked up their ship, and tossed it at the bulk head doors. The ship exploded. The smaller creatures and the larger one all spread out, leaving the hanger.

Aaron: I didn’t feel the explosion.

Chad: It was the shaking from the last chapter, right before you came here to meet me.

 Skyler: back to the problem at hand, why can’t that ship rescue all of us and that stupid marker?

Chad stopped smiling like he had been, and glared at Skyler.

Chad: Don’t you dare call the holy artifact stupid you useless toad. The holy artifact will be delivered to the church, and they will bring humans into the universal awakening. We must give our bodies, our fears, and our single, individual thoughts to the great makers, and ascend. We will transcend death today.

Rian: Am I the only one who thinks this guy is completely insane?

Aaron: Sebastion? Sebastion!? Where the hell did he go?

Chad: Your friend may have wandered back into the hands of those who have already ascended.

Sebastion: I’m right here.

Rian: Where were you?

Sebastion: looking for some extra ammo. None.

Suddenly, the whole ship shook violently. A small screen appeared on the Capitan’s chair.

Chad: Go ahead.

Officer: We have a problem; whatever just happened, it tripped the shield generators and the stasis fields we had in place. Those things are coming!

The screen turned to static, but the sound was still playing. There was gunfire and yelling, which quickly turned to screaming. Everyone in the bridge stood and listened. Austin grabbed the group’s attention, and slowly led them to a vent. One by one, they all filed into the vent. Aaron was the last in. He crawled in backwards so he could shut the vent behind him. As he shut it, the door to the bridge was busted down, and the room flooded with those creatures. Varying in size. Not wanting to waste time, he slowly crawled backwards. He felt something grab his leg, and pull him backwards. It was Skyler.

Aaron: Surprised you can move me. Well…now what?

Ship: Unauthorized dock in docking bay five, deck B.

Sebastion: That’s just below us.

Aaron: I say we steal their ship, fill it with as much syphoned fuel as we can and get the hell out of here. We can just travel as far as we can.

Austin: What if the person is insane?

Aaron: We have a Ripper, Javelin gun, two plasma cutters, and a Corer. I’d like to see them try and stop us.

Skyler: I saw a brief layout of the ship in the bridge. There should be an elevator nearby.

Following Skyler, they walked down the hall. They came to an elevator. Austin pressed the button to bring the elevator up. The other four stood back and took a second to take everything that had happened in. As the elevator opened, Austin stopped. A claw shot out of the right side of his upper back. On the elevator, a creature with large claws stood. However, it was much fatter than the others.

Austin: Oh Hell no. I’m not dying here you son of a b***h!

Skyler and Leslie fired several shots around Austin, and into the creature. Using his Ripper, Sebastion cut the creature’s arm off, allowing Austin to back away. Aaron grabbed the Javelin gun and shot a rod into the creature’s head. He shot another one into a nearby terminal. The electricity jumped from the javelin to the one in the creatures head. The creature twitched violently, and then dropped to the ground.

Austin: B*****d. I didn’t think I’d die this early.

Leslie: You won’t die. We have to leave the claw in, so you don’t bleed too much. Come on, onto the elevator.

Skyler and Aaron pulled the creature out of the elevator and got in with the others. Upon arriving at the B level…

Sebastion: Ever get the feeling your being watched?

As they walked out of the elevator, Rian hit the up button from inside the elevator. The door shut, just as a small grey creature dropped down into the elevator.

Rian: I saw it there when we got on. I just didn’t want to alarm anyone.

Aaron: Ok, now where?

Skyler: Right through those doors.

They walked towards some doors marker Hanger B. They opened them and ran in, guns ready. No one was in the hanger that they could see. They saw the ship that docked.

Aaron: I think I’ve seen this ship before.

???: Indeed you have Aaron. You know…

Mr. Ferrell walked out from around the other side of the ship.

Mr. Ferrell: You always were my least favorite student.

Mr. Armstrong: Well, now we can try administrative punishment.

Aaron: You too?

Mr. Armstrong: Well as it turns out, Mr. Ferrell was right. Killing people is such a great thing. What do you say Mr. Ferrell? Want to take care of your old students? Mr. Ferrell? What? When did….

Mr. Ferrell had a Javelin stuck through his chest. Austin stood there with his gun aimed at Mr. Armstrong, while the others readied the ship. Aaron set his Corer down, and ran into the ship. Sebastion walked in after him.

Aaron; Ok, fuel is full. Weapons...weapons? A ship equipped with weapons on a teacher’s salary? Here I thought he spent it all on anti-depressants. Ok, we’re ready.

The door to the ship closed and sealed shut. Sebastion stood there, staring at Aaron.

Sebastion: it didn’t have to end this way. You guys should have died a long time ago. Yours bodies should already have changed. No matter. I can do it now, and watch as you all evolve to the next stage.

Aaron: Sebastion what the hell are you talking about?

Sebastion: They resisted it. They all did. The change. Everyone wanted it. Most just didn’t realize it. So they needed a push. Ryan wasn’t worthy. He knew about me. That I am a Unitologist from birth. So…I had to kill him. And then all of those poor people, trapped behind a shield of fear. I had to take it down to help them all ascend.

Aaron: It was you, wasn’t it? From the start. It wasn’t bad luck…the force fields, and air lock…you did it all.

Sebastion: What’s surprising is that it took you this long to figure it out. Oh well (picks up and activates Ripper.) Your times run out. You won’t be one of the few who transcends death.

Sebastion Pushed the secondary fire button of the Ripper, shooting a spinning blade towards Aaron. Just before the blade hit, a beam of light shot through the side of the ship and hit the blade, melting it. The beam burned through the side of the ship and moved towards Sebastion, cutting him in half. The door to the small ship fell open. Skyler stood there with the Corer. Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Ferrell’s bodies were lying on the ground near the ship. Austin had a single javelin left.

Aaron: well then. We’re done. There’s no hope left.

Austin: Well, not for you kids. I’m taking the easy way out.

Austin aimed the Javelin gun at himself and fired.

Aaron: What the hell man!?

Skyler: When you think of the alternative, it’s a good idea.

Aaron: Yeah.

A pounding sound from the bay doors startled the four survivors. They ran to the bulk head doors and turned around. The bay was being overrun by the creatures. Out of fear, they had left their weapons near the ship. And the Corer was dead.

Skyler: Figures this is the end.

Rian: I finally get a turn to talk! Of course I’m about to die.

Leslie: Well. We had a good run.

The four of them closed their eyes, and waited for the end. Suddenly, gun shots rang out. The mob of creatures turned their attention to a nearby doorway. Several armed guards were there. They piled out of the doorway, and continued to fire into the crowd. Four more guard ran up, and grabbed the survivors, and lead them down the hall. They put into an escape pod, and launched with pre-determined coordinates. Through the window, they could see another ship approaching.

Skyler: We’re going to live.

Rian: I still miss Ryan.

Leslie: He’s in a better place now.

Aaron: This ship…must be the one they sent to get the Marker.

Skyler: No, that ship is there.

The ship they were flying towards was firing at another, smaller ship that was slowly raising a small object into its hanger. The smaller ship exploded, and the Marker was last seen dropping down to the planet below. The escape pod docked at the new ship safely.

One month later.

Aaron: Where are we going again?

Rian: to visit my Uncle on his ship.

Skyler: How are you related to this guy exactly?

Rian: he’s my mom’s brother so he has a different last name. That’s probably why you don’t think we’re related.

Leslie: What does he do?

Rian: He’s an engineer. On a planetcracker vessel.

Aaron: Sweet. What’s the name of the ship?

Rian: The Ishimura.

Skyler: I heard of that one. It’s docked above Agies 3. What’s your uncle’s name?

Rian: Isaac. Isaac Clarke.

End…

Author's Note

Ignore grammer