> Negative Atmosphere > by DATONETWIxDASHFAN > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Falling into Nightmares > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, When nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. Then the traveler in the dark, Thanks you for your tiny spark, He could not see which way to go If you did not twinkle so. In the dark blue sky you keep, And often thro' my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye, Till the sun is in the sky. 'Tis your bright and tiny spark, Lights the traveler in the dark, Tho' I know not what you are, T-Twinkle, t-twinkle....little ....s-star. Soft crying could be heard as the screen static started to clear up, showing a young pink hair and yellow skin female in a doctor uniform, her hair was a mess, her clothes look damage and covered in dried blood. The female was crying at the screen, her hand was shaking, her voice was cracking "Sorry A-Aaira, I know you hate it when I s-sing a l-lullaby, b-but it helps c-calm me down...you always h-help calm me down, s-so I just thought that I send y-you this, to calm my self down more..." her voice was starting to crack, but the message continues, "Aaira, I wish I c-could talk to you. I'm s-sorry. It's falling apart here, I can't believe what's happening(static)it's a nightmare here...Aaira, please...(static) come for m-me..." the message suddenly cuts off as static filled the hologram screen as a purple power armor glove tried to touch the screen but the screen turned off. "Darling, how many times have you watched that video? You really worried about Faye, huh?" asked Rhea, as she was piloting their repair shuttle through the wormhole, as they were following the SEC security shuttle Lightstar. "Too many times." replied Aaira as she turned to her friend and crew mate of the "Repairing is Magic" repair ship. "Well, we're almost to the Equestria Runner, maybe she's fine? She's a smart cookie." suggested Rhea, hoping that their good friend is safe. "What kind of cookie!? I love cookies!" Poppy spoke up, as she turned away from the ships map screen to stare at her best friends in the world. "It's a expression, Poppy." answered Aaira, shaking her purple head as her best friend is acting like a child, yet again. "Aaira is right, Poppy, you should know what that means." replied Rhea, giving a playful smile to her other friend, as she looked back at the control panels and the front window. "You two are no fun." pouted Poppy as she crossed her arms and looked out the front window. Suddenly, the main screen of the bridge pop up with a video screen of a light blue skin woman, wearing a vest jacket with a worker shirt under it and baggy cargo pants. She also had a SEC logo on her arm, "Don't worry, we're almost there. You'll be to look her up once we're onboard. Sounds like you two have a of history together?" "We're very close." replied Aaira, looking down at her hands, blushing, as the lady smiled. "That's nice, I wish I have a lover...I'm a little jealous." replied the lady, blushing, her long blue hair moving around. "Computer Specialist Beatrix, can you not use the shuttle's coms, to talk to the repair crew and about their love life? It's highly unprofessional and I do not want my team to be distracted, when we get there." spoke Chief Security Officer, a young man with yellow skin and his blue hair covering one of his eyes, while wearing a SEC security suit, as he spun Beatrix around in her chair, facing him. "Oh, sorry, boss man. It was a professional conversation, honest and besides, who doesn't like a little gossip?" explained Beatrix, standing up, putting her hands on her hips. "It's Chief Security Officer Sheen Sentinel to you, Beatrix. I'll have to report this to your higher-ups." replied Chief Security Sentinel as Beatrix rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir, Mr. Sentinel." replied Beatrix sarcastically as she sat back down, soon the screen shot to Sentinel face. "We should be exiting the wormhole in a few minutes. I wish to thank you for supporting the Satakal Extraction Corporation in this repair mission. Your efforts won't be forgotten." spoke Sentinel, giving a small nod as Beatrix gave a middle finger to him. "Yeah well, we're really not doing this for the SEC, we're doing this for our friend." replied Rhea, turning on the main camera as Beatrix and Sentinel saw the three woman crew of the "Repairing is Magic". "So you three are the "Repairing is Magic" repair team that left the company over a year ago?" asked Sentinel, staring at the three woman, looking for a reaction. "That's right, and you're the guy that's making sure we're not doing anything 'sus' or you will report this to the higher-ups and sue us." replied Aaira, giving a smug look, knowing that the company has a habit of blackmail and suing it's workers. "Don't worry, we don't sue repair crews or any crew that's not on a planet cracking mission." replied Sentinel, giving a smug smile back at the three. "Yeah, sure." replied Rhea, not believing a word. "AMONG US!" shouted Poppy "SUS LIKE THAT OLD GAME!" "I'm gonna need a migraine pill..." replied Beatrix, rubbing her forehead as she could already feel a headache coming with this one. "I'll give you a full bottle if you take her." smiled Rhea, giving a thumbs up. "No thanks." replied Beatrix, giving a nervous laugh, shaking her hands and head, as Sentinel raised an eyebrow. "So, how far are we?" asked Aaira, trying to get everyone back on track, as the conversation was getting awkward. "Speaking the devil." said Sentinel as his and the repair shuttle, exited out of the wormhole and flying towards a planetary debris, as the planet was crack apart by the SEC Equestria Runner "All right everyone, we're here. Syncing our orbit now." "All this trouble over that chuck of rock..." muttered Beatrix, seeing the cracked apart planet, as the planet was a giant sphere, but had a chunk missing, like someone blasted a piece off. "Deep space mining is a lucrative business Ms. Rodriguez. Sector 982 and its planet; code name MAG1C is a gold mine, according to prospector's reports. Boys, where is she?" asked Sentinel as he turned to his five men, they are the security unit as they're wearing the same suit as Sentinel but one was the pilot of the ship, as they all had helmets on. The pilot pointed to a large rock, as they all saw it. "There she is. We have visual contact." As the shuttles got closer to the large rock, everyone could see a longest and largest planetary cracking ship in man kind history. "So, that's the Equestria Runner...meh I seen bigger." smirk Beatrix, as she was spinning her chair. "I bet you have!' joked Poppy as Aaira and Rhea laughed, while Beatrix had a confused look, then got it and was blushing. "Not like that, Poppy." sighed Beatrix, embarrassed by Poppy's joke. Sentinel sighed and started to speak, "Equestria Runner, the biggest Planetcracker in her class and it looks like they already popped the cork on the planet." Aaira noticed something and stood up from her chair and quickly hang over Rhea seat and spoke "Wait, something wrong here. Why is it all dark? I don't see any running lights." "Maybe she's saving power." replied Beatrix, as she was leaning back in her chair, not seeing anything wrong with it. "Darling, spaceships aren't like computers or phones, they use lights and other stuff to show if the ship is functioning or not. It's like a heartbeat. If the light is not on, that means the ship isn't functioning and might be in the red." Poppy joined in and said "Maybe it could be a power surge? Or a solar flare could have hit it and damage the ship's systems? There's lots of reasons why a ship might have no lights." "No, It doesn't look like it, if there was a blackout, the backup generator should have kicked in and brought the lights back on. No, something wrong here." explained Aaira as she scanned the ship with her eyes, looking for any clues. "Whatever it is, it's why you three are here. You're here to fix her and we're here to make sure you are protected and find out what happened here. All right, team. Stay sharp and be alert. Something's not right here and I want to know what happened to this ship. I don't want any surprises. Understood?" "YES SIR!" said the security team at the same time. "Good, Johnny, take us in closer and hail them. Maybe the bridge crew are working on the light problem." "Aye aye, captain." said the pilot, as he guided the shuttle towards the planet cracker, while repair crew followed close behind and soon they were almost next to the giant ship. "Equestria Runner, this is SEC shuttle Lightstar and RIM shuttle Spark, this is the emergency freelancer maintenance + SEC security teams. We're responding to your distress call. Come in, Runner." said the pilot on the main coms channel, as he hailed the ship but nothing. "Equestria Runner, we know you're damaged. We're here to help, respond." repeated Sentinel, hoping to get a response, but the silence was deafening. "Try boosting the signal if their power is low." said Beatrix as she was finally showing why she was a computer specialist and not just a normal worker. "Equestria Runner, respond." said the pilot, but still nothing. "It's not the coms, we're picking up their frequency. It's like they're not answering or can't answer." explained Beatrix, as the pilot and the other security man checked the screens. "Damn it, all right, let's head over to the nearest docking bay and-" Sentinel was suddenly cut off as both shuttles started to hear something on the coms. "What?" said Poppy all confused as she tried to fix the signal but it was fine. It was like they were hearing weird noise. "The hell is that? Sounds like a animal?" said Aaira, not liking what she was hearing. "Could be a busted array? Sounds like they're having problems with their encoder, explaining the weird noise we're hearing. Get me and the three stooges down there and we'll fix it. Maybe forty eight hours max." explained Beatrix, as Rhea turned to her on the screen and glared, as Poppy did curly trademark laugh and Aaira had a confused look. "The three stooges?" asked Aaira. "Yes, why call us the three stooges?" "It's because you three are idiots and act like them, but at least they were funny." "Why I never!? We're not idiots! Where is this coming from!?" shouted Rhea, as she glared at Beatrix, who gave a smug look. "You three didn't the spot the problem with the array and you three are called engineers? Idiots pfft." "We didn't have enough information, that's why and-" said Rhea but she was cut off by Poppy as she was doing a Curly voice. "Who you callin' idiots, you big palooka!? Why, I oughta-" Poppy was going to say more, but Rhea step in. "Quiet you, don't you see we're talking here." said Rhea as she slap Poppy away, while Poppy was doing Curly noises. Aaira sat back down and put her hands on her face, as she was very embarrassed by her friends/coworkers. "Quiet all of you! Johnny, take us in. Rhea, follow us in, got it?" said Sentinel, as Aaira and her friends heard a "YES SIR!" over the coms. "Let's get this over with." said Beatrix as the shuttles moved in and went towards the main docking bay. Soon, both shuttles gravity tethers were engaged and started to do automatic docking with Equestria Runner docking bay, until something happened, both shuttles had a small shock, as the power surged for a few seconds and stopped. "What the hell was that!?" shouted Rhea, not expecting that. "What happen?" said Poppy, not sure what just happened. Suddenly, both shuttles were off track in docking with the docking bay. "What's going on? Where's the automatic docking!?" shouted Aaira, not liking this. "Something wrong with the docking control? Maybe the ship is having a power surge too? Were coming in hot! activating blast shields and switching over to manual mode! You guys better do the same! QUICK!" shouted Rhea to the Lightstar shuttle pilot, who nodded and switched the mode to manual and the shuttles main cockpit screen had its blast doors lock down, while the RIM team did the same. "Manual mode engage. Preparing for emergency docking." said both Johnny and Rhea at the same time, as both shuttles were badly flying to the docking bay. "Girls, buckle up! We're not gonna make it, we're gonna crash into the hull!" said Aaira, grabbing her seat, while Poppy and Rhea were getting ready to feel the impact. "Hold on!" shouted Sentinel and Johnny at the same time, as both shuttles were closing the distance but they were getting closer to the wall, then suddenly, the gravity tether had an electrical surge, which made it's connection with the Equestria Runner and sent the shuttles flying away from the hull of the ship and back on track into the docking bay but bumping into each other and spinning out of control. "HANG ON!" shouted Johnny and Rhea, as both shuttles collided and spun out, as everyone was holding their seats for dear life. "SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT! THIS IS IT, THIS IS HOW I DIE, GETTING CRASH BY A FREAKING SPACESHIP AND BEEN HURLED INTO THE OUTER RIM!" shouted Beatrix, not believing this is how she would die. "JUST KEEP CALM AND FOCUS ON BREATHING, DON'T PANIC!" shouted Aaira, who was trying her best to not lose her mind but she was terrified too. "THIS IS A BAD IDEA! WE'RE GONNA DIE!" screamed Poppy, as she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Both shuttles were still spinning out of control and both ships hit each other again and doing heavy damage to each other but were starting to slow down, then both shuttles collided into the docking area and dragging on the track until the momentum came to a stop. Both shuttles were sitting in the middle of the docking bay, not moving. "THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! WE'RE ALIVE!" shouted Poppy as she was screaming at the top of her lungs, while Rhea was breathing hard, while Aaira and Beatrix were just in shock. "Is...everyone alright?" asked Aaira, who was shaking, as she was trying to keep it together, while Rhea was crying. "We...almost died...oh my god..." cried Rhea, as Poppy and Aaira held her, as she was crying. "Holy shit..." whispered Beatrix, as she could sparks and smoking all around her. "Johnny, report! Rhea report as well on your shuttle." said Sentinel over the coms. "Not getting any readings from the port boosters and we lost autopilot, sir. Gonna be a while to fix." replied Johnny, while Rhea reported the same thing on her shuttle. "...okay, let's get out there and see if flight deck can help with the repairs. Coms are down but no doubt saw us coming in." "Aye aye, sir." "You three, you okay?" "Yeah...we're alive..." replied Poppy, still not believing it. "Good, get ready, we're moving out now." ordered Sentinel as he turned off the screen. Aaira stood up from her seat and picked up her helmet with a large visor on it. Rhea and Poppy did the same but Rhea walked over to Aaira and held her wrist up and opened a control on it. "Okay darling, I'm syncing our and their HULL suits with the ship. Looking good, all green, no reds....there, we're done." said Rhea, who smiled, as she turned off the screen and put her helmet on and grabbed her tools. "Ready girls?" said Aaira, putting her helmet on, as Poppy had her toolbox, as she nodded and her helmet on as well "Then let's move out, we got a ship to fix and find Faye." Aaira, Poppy and Rhea headed out and the RIM shuttle hatch door opened, revealing the Lightstar shuttle hatch door opening. Everyone finally met up and looked at the damage of their shuttles. Soon, Aaira and her friends noticed the boosters weren't damage but completely gone, as they were torn off. Aaira looked closer and felt like something was off, like was there slash marks where the boosters were? "Great, we're still paying off the RiM shuttle...why must space be expensive?" whispered Rhea, looking at the damage. "Don't worry about it, we'll cover the damages, since you're helping us out. Now let's move out, the sooner we're done, the sooner we'll go home." replied Sentinel, as everyone got ready and left the docking bay, with Aaira and her crew following them. Soon, everyone could hear the automatic computer greeting. "Welcome back aboard the SEC Equestria Runner." said the voice as it soon started to go into the ship's history, the group was outside the lobby door and noticed the power was down. Sentinel ordered Aaira and her friends to hack open the door. "The door seems still be working, just lock. Give me a second." answered Aaira as she opened her computer wrist screen and started to unlock the door. "I hope there's a reason why this place is dark and quiet?" said Rhea, not liking it. "You and me both, girl." replied Poppy. "There, door unlocked. Let's move in." said Aaira, as the door opened and everyone could see nothing but darkness. Soon, the lights flicker on and everyone could see how trash the lobby area was. "Looks like everyone tried to get of here. What the hell is going on?" said Johnny, pointing his gun around the trashed room and not seeing no one. Sentinel looked around as well and spoke "...There should be a security detail here." "Looks like they're on a coffee break? Joking by the way." said Beatrix, as she walked over to a com phone and using it but putting it back "I can't pick up any broadcasts. What's going?" "There! The security console is still working. Poppy, log in and see what you can find. Beatrix, get that door that leads to the elevator room back online." ordered Sentinel as he and Beatrix walked over to the doors, while his men was looking around with their pulse guns at the ready. "What? Power's dead you idiot. I can't." replied Beatrix. "Then re-route the damn power!" "How the hell am I suppose to do that!? You expect me to wave a magic wand and say THE GREAT AND POWERFUL BEATRIX!?" "You're a systems analyst, so analyze!" As the two were fighting, Aaira and her friends looked into the security room window as they could see the pure dark room and only source of light was the console. "I'm not going in there! This is clearly where a monster will attack the person that goes in there!" shouted Poppy with great fear. "Stop being a scary cat. There's nothing in there." said Rhea as she was stepping far away from the door, which Poppy noticed. "Oh so you're scared too! Hah! You're a chicken as well!" "Am not, I just don't want to go into a dark room is all!" "Then why are you moving away from the door even more?" "...because..." "Because?" "...just because!" "Scary cat!" yelled Poppy as she was doing cat ears with her hands "BIG SCARY CAT!" "Quiet the two of you!" shouted Aaira as she bop both girls helmets off. "Hey! What's that for!?" shouted Poppy in a Curly voice and picking her helmet back up, while Rhea glared at Aaira and getting her helmet from the ground. "You're both embarrassing yourself and making fools of yourselves, so act your age!" "So what!? I'm not going in there, until I'm ready!" replied Poppy. Aaira took out a power wrench and held it as she crossed her arms "Ready now?" "...I'm ready now!" said Poppy, who gulped as she slowly walked inside, while Aaira followed her but Rhea slowly tip toe away but Aaira pulled her ear and forced her in. Johnny and his team mates looked at each and laughing while he said "Wow, they're really like the three stooges." Inside the room, Poppy started to press some buttons on the console screen, while the other girls were looking over her shoulder. Soon, the ship status screen appeared on the lobby screen, showing the damage that ship had. "Wow, poor old lady! She's taken a lot of damage!" said Poppy "Tram system's offline too. Getting around is going to be difficult." chimed in Aaira, as she looked at the console closer but notice something on the side of the console. She crouch down and noticed a slash mark on the side of the console. Wasn't deep, so it didn't damage the insides. That's when the lights went out and suddenly, a warning noise was going off as red warning lights were going off, Aaira quickly stood up and noticed the door behind them closed shut and went into lockdown. "What the hell was that?" shouted Beatrix, as she stop working on opening the door. "Automatic quarantine!? Why is it happening!?" said Aaira as she moved Poppy out of the way and going through the console "Poppy, did you touch something!?" "What?! No! Why are you accusing me!?" "Then what the hell is going on, huh?!" shouted Rhea As Aaira was checking the screen, everyone could hear a noise that was slowly being louder than the warning noises. One of the security soldier was walking to the window and knocking on it, trying to get Aaira and others to notice him. "Hey! What's going in th-" Rhea heard the soldier weird yell and turned and screamed as she saw blood on the window. Aaira and everyone turned to the screaming and seeing what happened. The soldier was standing there, not moving, while blood was dripping out of his mouth, as a long curve blade was sticking out, as the blade went right through the back of his head. He was clearly still alive as he tried to talk but he didn't last long as a large black twist flesh hand reached over his head and the blade was pulled out, killing the soldier. Everyone was just looking at the soldier body, as he fell onto the floor and his killer revealed itself as it landed on top of the body. They could see the humanoid was a twisted flesh of a person but it was pure black and one their arms was a huge long blade and spikes were covering its shoulders, chest and legs. It had a mutated face, as two long sharp teeth is bursting out of its mouth. "Oh god...what is that...?" whispered Rhea, as everyone was in shock and fear. "Get away from the window." ordered Aaira, as Rhea hurried over to Aaira and hid behind her. The thing was just standing there, almost like studying the group. "OH FUCK THIS!" shouted a soldier as he took aim with his pulse rifle but another one landed in front of him and quickly slash his arms, cutting it off. He screamed as he was bleeding to death, while the thing stabbed him in the head. "HOLY SHIT, WHAT IS THAT THING!?" shouted a soldier, shooting at the two things, as everyone else was shooting too. Soon, more started to leap down from above, as they were coming from the vents. Soon, the warning lights started to bug out and started to flicker fast, making everything into a slide show, as the monsters started to run towards the remain soldiers. "I don't know, but they're strong and fast! Don't stop shooting!" replied Sentinel, shooting his pulse rifle at one. "Aaira! Help us!" cried Rhea, as both Rhea and Poppy was hiding behind her, holding each other. Aaira watched as the 'things' swarmed two of the soldiers and starting to stabbed them to death. "OH MY GOD! THE DOOR IS OPEN! LET'S FUCKING GO!" screamed Beatrix as she ran for her life, while Johnny followed her. "GET OUT OF THERE YOU THREE! RUN!" ordered Sentinel, as he shot the creatures, while he was heading to the exit and finally running for his life as the creatures followed them. Aaira was thinking hard, she knew those things were dangerous, and her and her friends will die if they tried to fight them, they weren't armed but would it even matter? She seen the pulse rifle do nothing to those things. She could hear Poppy and Rhea's loud sobbing, they're scared and wanted to go home. Soon, few of the remaining creatures that didn't run after the remaining security, quickly turned their sight on them and quickly leap through the glass window. "Let's get the fuck out of here." said Aaira, as the three ran towards the back door of the room and running into the hallway. "Aaira, are we going to die?!" said Poppy, almost tripping but Rhea caught her and they kept on running. "I won't let that happen! We need to find Faye and getting off this fucking ship!" said Aaira, as they kept on running. "Where are we going?" asked Rhea, while she was breathing heavy, while Poppy was gasping for air. "Faye's might be in the medical wing. We head there first! Look out!" shouted Aaira as she was tackled down by one of the creature and was pinning her down. "AAIRA!" shouted the two girls as they saw their friend was in trouble. Aaira was pushing the things face back as she was struggling to keep the creature away from biting and could quickly see more heading their way. "RUN! RUN YOU IDIOTS! I'LL BE FINE!" shouted Aaira as she was trying to get the thing off of her, while the creature was trying to stab her with its bladed arm. "But what if-" started Poppy. "JUST GO!" Poppy grabbed Rhea's hand and ran down the hall, crying her eyes out and yelling out for Aaira but another creature got between the two and tried to attack them but Poppy tossed her tool box at the creature, making it stagger and falling down. Rhea took her chance and ran down a left hallway and few pop out and chasing her. Poppy went right and the one she stagger was back on its feet and chasing her. Soon more joined in as they pop out of that hallway vents. "FUCK!" shouted Aaira as she saw what happened to the girls and finally kick the bastard off of her and she ran to the cross section and could see more creatures coming the way that the girls headed to. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" cursed Aaira, as she ran straight ahead and turning back and seeing tons of the creatures running towards her and jumping onto the walls. She took the left hallway and running, hearing the creatures behind her, not far. She ran and ran, soon she was entering a small open area and could see a elevator and quickly slammed her palm on the screen, over and over as she could see the creatures in the hallways were almost on her. "OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, PLEEEASE!!!" begged Aaira, as the doors opened and quickly got inside and hitting the button to close the doors, which it did. "Thank god!" Soon, the creatures jumped into the room and slamming against the elevator doors. Aaira stepped back as the things were banging on the doors, trying to get her but soon they stopped. It became quite. "They...they left...?" The creature's bladed arms quickly stab through the metal door and were reaching out for her. "Oh fuck me!" Soon, the elevator was going down and while the creature's arms were still reach out for her, wanting to stab her like crazy. A small one slowly pushed opened the door, enough to enter it partly way before the elevator slam shut on the small creature's head and crushing it's skull. Aaira could hear the thing's screams and could feel the elevator move downward, heading to whatever what was below...until the elevator started to pick up speed and the lights were flicking. "Oh god! Oh no! Come on, slow down, SLOW DOWN, DAMN IT!" shouted Aaira, as she was pressing every button but the elevator was still speeding up and the lights finally went out. Aaira could hear the gears of the elevator scraping the sides of the walls. Her body started to float upwards, as gravity was kicking in and soon she was free falling in the elevator. She knew she was going to crash. "I'M FUCKED! I'M FUCKED, I'M FUCKED, I'M SO FUCKING FUCKED!!" screamed Aaira, covering her face and then everything became quiet...until she heard a voice, a voice singing. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky." Aaira knows that voice, it was Faye's voice but before she could call out, she could see ton of red glowing eyes appearing all around her. Aaira quickly felt all the creatures grabbing her and started to stab her like crazy while Faye continued with her lullaby. "When the blazing sun is gone, When nothing shines upon..." Aaira could feel her body being torn apart, her blood splatter everywhere. The creatures were ripping her apart, eating her alive, as the lights were flicking, revealing it all to her. Seeing her insides being toss to the walls, her legs ripped off, her head cut off and thrown away. Faye continued to sing as she stood there and watching it all, while the creatures were feasting and devouring their meal. Aaira look at her with tears in her eyes, begging for Faye to save her, but all her lover did was continue her song, with a smile on her face, as her eyes started to bleed. She lower herself to her and held Aaira bloody cheeks. "...Then you show your little light!" finished Aaira as she opened her mouth and a orange static glowed blasted Aaira's head. "FAYE!" screamed Aaira as she shot up from the elevator floor but quickly returning to it, as her body was hurting over, feeling her blood pumping all over her. "Oh...my head..." whispered Aaira as she touched her helmet, as her head was still sore. She looked around and could see the elevator crashed into the lowest floor and it looked like a worker lobby room. She checked her suit and could see some damage on it but nothing too bad to worry about. Her suit must of had saved her life from the fall. She checked her helmet's screen and could see the damage level was yellow and the oxygen was at 100%, so the O2 system wasn't damage. "That's good. That's really good. I can still do space walks if I need too." said Aaira as she laid there, not wanting to get up. She didn't want to. "No. No, you need to keep going. You need to find the others and finding Faye." Aaira telling herself, as she slowly pushed herself up and walked out of the elevator and into the lobby room. She looked around and could see something written on the wall to the side and seeing a dead body, as the poor soul blasted his throat off with a horn cutter, which was in his hands. He was the one who left the message on the wall. "Cut off their limbs?" whispered Aaira, not understand what it meant, until she started to think about it "...can't kill them...without blasting their limbs off. That will explain why the soldiers guns had no effect!" Aaira was starting to understand what was happening, and that the people were turning into these things, like zombies and that their limbs were the only weakness. She bent down and took the purple horn cutter from the dead body. "A 211-U horn cutter, huh? Delivers a cohesive pulse-stream, or "bolt", of ionized plasma when fired. This can do!" smiled Aaira as she pointed the cutter, which three white star dots appeared out of the device. She press a button the on handle and the cutter went horizontally. She smiled harder and checked the plasma energy cartridges and could see it was only fired once. She turned to the body and checked it for more cartridges. "Come on, come on, where is it? Where are they?" muttered Aaira, as she was looking through the pockets, as she was feeling something was behind her. She could feel the hair on her neck standing, as she turned around and nothing was there. She shrugged it off and continue her search. "Oh thank god, found one." smiled Aaira as she took the plasma cartridge and place it into her suit supply belt and it slid in, showing her how much she has in her visor screen. "Ten and nine in the chamber. Hope I find more!" Suddenly, the door leading out of the room started to bang hard and Aaira soon heard a female voice behind the doors. She quickly ran over and as she heard the woman screaming for her life and begging someone to open the doors. "Hold on! Damn thing is locked!" cursed Aaira, as the woman was pleading to her to open the door. Aaira noticed the exposed wires on the wall next to locked door and she took aim and fired. The door unlocked and she ran to it and opened it, only to see the poor teal skin worker getting jumped on by the those "slashers" and ripping the girl apart. Aaira couldn't watch as she tried to slammed the door shut but the creature noticed her and leap at her but Aaira dodged roll and the slasher fell and tried to get back up but Aaira quickly put the advice to work and shot the limbs of the slasher. She noticed it screamed in pain as it tried to get back up but could only crawl. She aimed at its head and blasted its brains out but it was still moving and somehow knowing where Aaira was and tried to reach her. "What the hell?! How are you still moving!?" Aaira fired another shot, blasting its arm off and the creature was still moving. "WHAT THE FUCK!?" She fired the final blast, blasting its other arm off, which finally killed the thing. "Christ! Five shots left!" said Aaira as she lower the cutter down and turned to the poor girl, who was still alive and bleeding to death as her body was cut into pieces. Aaira couldn't do anything to save her but... "Four shots left..." A shot could be heard from the hallway and Aaira walked out of the area where the shot was fired and she followed the signs that pointed to the tram control room. The hallways were smoking and hardly lit up and it was eerily quite. Aaira continued on, checking her surrounding and looking through the vents, not sure if the things were crawling around in the vents in this area. She was alone, and scared, but she wasn't going to let it get to her. Too bad she didn't noticed one running behind a destroyed hallway. She moving on, still looking around her surroundings and heading up and down the endless hallways, until she finally reached the tram control room and enter it. She could see the control room computers and blood everywhere, along with slash marks. As she got closer to the working console, her helmet showed a loud static video screen, causing her to jump in fear. "Faye...? Is that you...?" asked Aaira, as the static slowly started to disappear and could see someone face. "Aaira? Aaira! Thank god, you made it!" said Beatrix as her face came on the screen. "Beatrix, oh thank god!" Suddenly someone took the recording device and it was Sentinel as his face came into view. "Aaira, we ran more into those things. Are you okay? Where are your crew?" asked Sentinel, as he could see Aaira was alone. "I'm fine, thanks. Poppy and Rhea...I don't know, they ran off into different directions as we were being chased...I hope they made it out." said Aaira, sadly. "What the fuck were those "things"? The fucking crew!?" shout Johnny as he could be heard in the background, causing Beatrix and Sentinel to look at each other. "Son, keep your voice down. Whatever they are, they're not human anymore. Aaira, it seems half the doors on the ship are in locked down because of the quarantine. We need to head to the bridge but first, we need you to repair the tram system!" ordered Sentinel. "Yeah, I saw the system is offline but I can get it working, no problem. Might need to head somewhere to get the parts to fix it." said Aaira as she began checking the tram system console, looking where the damage is and where to find the parts. "Be careful, Aaira." "ARE YOU CRAZY!? YOU'RE LETTING HER GO ALINE WITHOUT A WEAPON!?" shouted Beatrix as her and Sentinel started fighting over letting Aaira go alone without a weapon but stopped as Aaira told them she found a weapon, a horn cutter and explained them to blast off the limbs. "Shooting off the limbs? Got it, thanks for the info. Johnny, you heard that?" asked Sentinel. "Yes sir, shooting their arms and legs off, got it. But why not their heads, though?" asked Johnny. "Doesn't work. Tried it." replied Aaira, as she unlocked the door in the room. "Gotcha." "So, what's the damage on the tram console?" asked Sentinel. "Data board is fry but checking here, there should be a spare in the maintenance bay annnnnnnd there's also a broken tram blocking the tunnel that needs to be removed for repairs. You guys can't reach it from your side but I can. Hang tight, I'll be back as fast as I can." replied Aaira as she left the control room and heading to the maintenance bay, while the group were in the tram station on across from her. "Aaira, if you fix the tram and get us to the bridge, I'll check the personnel files. I'll help you find Faye, I promise." said Sentinel, as he cut the feed. "Thank you." said Aaira, softly as she headed off to the maintenance bay. She entered another hallway and like before, there was smoke and lights flickering on and off but this time, she could see luggage's scatter about. People clearly tried to escape to the tram but was killed, as she could see more slash marks and blood. She ran down the hall and could it turns left and stopped as she saw a shadowy figure turn a corner. Aaira raised her horn cutter and walked forward and turn the corner. "Hello?" Nothing but a dead slasher. "Okay. Keep going, keep going." Aaira continued and was about to pass the dead slasher body when it quickly got back up and grabbed Aaira and tried to bite her shoulder but her suit armor blocked its sharp teeth. "What the hell!?" cried Aaira as she struggled with the slasher, trying to break free but the damn thing was strong, very strong. "Die, damn it! Die! Die! Die! DIE!" screamed Aaira as she started kicking and hitting the creature in the chest, which started to break. "Just...DIE ALREADY!" yelled Aaira as she broke free and blast the creatures arm and leg off, causing it to scream and try to attack her but Aaira quickly shot it in the leg and its knee exploded, killing it for good. "Oh god...oh god, I almost died." breathed Aaira as she tried to catch her breath and reloading her cutter. "Holy fuck, I can't believe that happen. Fuckers play dead!? They're smart!?" After catching her breath, Aaira started to move on, checking her sides and the ceiling, making sure those things didn't sneak up on her and killed her. She walked further and saw the door leading into the maintenance bay was broken and could hear faint hissing sounds and the sound of something banging ahead of her. Aaira didn't like the sounds and wanted to leave but she needed to get that spare part for the tram. She looked around her surrounding and spotted a small vent. She walked over and kicked the cover off and could see a dark vent, leading to the maintenance bay. Aaira didn't want to go in there, in the vents, where the things could be crawling but she has no choice. "Fuck it." sighed Aaira as she entered the vent, crawling her way down. She could hear the sound of the banging louder and louder and could see a light shining through a vent cover. She quickly stopped and could see the banging was a slasher was trying to get through a barricade but could only hit the wall. Aaira could see a toolbox was next to the vent and inside was more cartridges for the cutter gun. She counted at least four. She smiled and quickly took the cartridges and quietly slide them into her belt. The banging got louder and louder, as the creature was smashing itself against the man made barricade. Aaira slowly moved on, until she felt it was safe to exit the vents. She kicked a vent cover off and crawl out but only to scream as she saw a figure fall in front of her. She stumble backwards and tried to aim but noticed the figure was just a dead worker, as his face was eaten and his neck was cut open. "God, they really are like zombies..." muttered Aaira as she got up and looked around and could see the maintenance bay much closer now. She kept going but soon found herself in the tram's tunnel system and could see the damaged tram that was blocking the path above her, as it wasn't too far from her. She could see damage on it, clearly it was attacked by something. "That's the one that needs to be removed? Better hurry then!" Aaira ran across the tunnel, until she noticed the lights going off, one by one, until she was in the darkness again. The only light source was her helmet. She turned around and could hear a very loud monster like scream, causing her to aim her cutter and searching the darkness. "The hell was that...?" whispered Aaira, as she couldn't see a damn thing. Her helmet couldn't even detect anything. "Hello!?" Suddenly she could hear a loud banging noise. It was getting louder and louder, almost like it was on top of her. "Show yourself!" yelled Aaira, as she started blasting away at the walls and ceiling, hoping to kill the damn thing. "Come out, you bastard!" Aaira suddenly felt a chill down her spine, as she slowly turned around and could see a five yellow orb looking shack eyes within the darkness, it was staring at her. "Oh god...!" cried Aaira as she turned around and was about to run when she saw Faye, standing in the darkness. "F-faye? Oh my god, Faye! Thank god, you're alright!" Aaira ran up to her girlfriend but as she got close, she could hear the banging noise getting much louder with each step. "Aaira..." spoke Faye as Aaira reach out to her but only for the lights to return and Aaira could see she running into a broken automatic door, that was closing and opening super quick, that if she walk into it, she would been cut to piece. It was also the source of the banging. She looked around couldn't the five eyes monster anywhere. "What the...how...?" She turned to look for Faye, who was no where to be seen. "F-Faye...?" The door was still broken and slamming up and down, making the annoying sound. She noticed a cut off hand was near the door and that's when she noticed a dead engineer on the other side. Looks like his arm was cut and went into shock and died. Aaira looked at the wrist and noticed a device on it and quickly noticed it was a stasis module. She unhook it from the dead wrist and placed it on her own wrist and activated it. "If I remember correctly, these can slow down time on any object that I shoot at and allow me to walk past dangerous areas. But the battery power is low so I got only one chance to use this." said Aaira, as she checked the module and saw that its was on 10% power. "Well, it'll have to do." She aimed her wrist at the door and shot it, causing the door to slow down but she knew she didn't had time, so she hurry through the door just it started to move fast again. "Close one..." breathed Aaira as she looked around the area and noticed she was in another hallway "Always a fucking hallway...okay, now where am I?" Aaira looked around and could see the sign pointed the direction to the maintenance bay, so she followed it and could see a elevator, leading up to the maintenance bay. She entered and press the button. "Hope it still works. Come on, come on, come on, COME ON!" The elevator finally reached her and the doors open and Aaira could see a dead engineer in a pool of blood, with a battery for the stasis and a plasma cartridge but this cartridge was bigger and powerful looking. "This looks like cartridge for the cutter but it's too big...maybe it's for a larger model? Too big to carry, better leave it. Battery is fine though, I'll take it." She picked the battery up and attached it in the module. The device battery was now 82% "Much better." She got out of the elevator and headed for the maintenance bay and soon found herself in it. There, she could see the machine that removes the tram from the tracks. She could also see the damage tram, as it was waiting to be removed. "There, all I got to do is activate the auto loader and clear it." Aaira walked down the catwalk and could hear something moving behind her. She turned around but saw nothing. "Probably the air circulation system, or..." She was interrupted by the sound of vent covers breaking. "What the fuck!?" Aaira could see the air vents in the room being busted open and three slashers came out of the vents, heading straight towards her. "Oh shit!" cried Aaira as she fired a plasma bolt, blasting off one of the slashers arm and she could see a second was jumping towards her and she quickly shot its leg and could see the third one was already close to her, ready to strike. She quickly aimed her wrist and fired, slowing the slasher down, allowing her to punch it in the face and kick it away. "FUCK YOU!" cursed Aaira as she blasted all its limbs off, killing the monster. "Two more to go." Aaira could see the remaining two, the first one was stepping over its friend, which couldn't stand and tried to crawl towards her. Aaira fired two shots, killing the first one by shooting off its blade arms and she moved to the side as the slasher dead body came falling down near her. "Now for you." said Aaira as the last one was still trying to reach her. She aimed and pulled the trigger but nothing happened, she was out of ammo and needed to reload. "Oh come on!" shouted Aaira as she could see the slasher was nearly reach her and could see its face was much worse looking than the others. Aaira quickly tried to reload but the slasher got on top of her, making her drop the gun and it was trying to bite her. "Fuck, get off of me!" cried Aaira, as she pushed and punched the slasher in the face and could see it wasn't affected, only annoyed. It tried to stab her but she somehow was able to catch the thick blade with her hand. She could it was indeed bone like she thought it was. It tried to stab her with its other blade arm but that too, was caught. Aaira gritted her teeth, trying to keep the blades away from her face. The slasher was strong but she was stronger and was slowly pushing the blade away. "I'm...going...to...END YOU!" Aaira pushed the slasher off of while still holding its blades and slammed its body into the metal floor. It tried to get up but was unable to, due Aaira keeping the arms up. "DIE!" screamed Aaira as she curb stomp the slasher head, causing its head to crack open and explode. Its body stopped moving but she kept going and stomped its body over and over and over. She kept on going, until the slasher body was a bloody mess, unrecognizable. "YOU FUCKERS ALMOST KILLED ME! YOU FUCKING BASTARDS, TRY AND TAKE ME NOW, WHEN I'M RIGHT FUCKING HERE, LETS SEE YOU FUCKING TRY! LETS FUCKING GO, LETS FUCKING GO RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW! BRING IT, YOU BITCHES!" Aaira kept on going, she couldn't stop herself from screaming and the anger inside her was building and building but no new slasher ever came. Only silence. "F-fuck, oh fuck..." gasped Aaira, as she finally calmed down and the adrenaline rush was wearing off. "I-I'm fine, I'm okay. I'm okay." Aaira let go of the blade arms and the slasher body was twitching and could see the body was still moving. "Oh for fuck shakes." muttered Aaira, as she stomp off its limbs, causing its body stopped moving. "Fucking, finally." Aaira got back up and grabbed the cutter gun and reloaded the weapon. She looked around the maintenance bay and realize she wasn't in the bay itself yet but the tram loader bay. She hurry over to the console and turned it on. Left loader crane grabbed the damage tram but the right didn't, as the screen showed it was damage. "Really!? The damn loader broken too?" Aaira walked over to the broken loader and could see a part of it was missing, as a metal piece was ripped off. "What the hell did this...?" She looked inside and scanned how damage it was and noticed a part for the claw that allows it to keep it clamp down, was damage. "Damn it, no wonder why the loader is not working, the claw can't clamp down. Maybe if I use stasis on it? Yeah, that should work. Aaira hurry back over to the console and turned the right crane on and quickly ran to the side and aimed at the claw, as it reach out and grabbed the tram. That's when she fired her stasis and did a fist bump as the claw locked in place and cranes pulled the tram inside the loader bay and lower it away, finally clearing the tracks. Loud hologram static screen appeared in front of Aaira face, causing her to jump again. "FUCK! WHY IS THE VIDEO FEED DOING THAT!? DAMN IT!" shouted Aaira as she removed her helmet and sat on the floor and checking if her helmet is damage as she opened a panel. She was also looking at the video feed and could see Beatrix. "Good job, the tram system is free from-? What's up with you? You okay?" asked Beatrix, noticing Aaira's hair was a bit messy. "I-I'm fine! I got into a fight with those things and barely made it! They fucking play dead by the way and fucker attacked me. If you see one on the ground, keep fucking shooting!" "O-okay, good to know." replied Beatrix. "Yeah, so how is everything over there?" asked Aaira. "Still same, still lock out of the systems and..." began Beatrix, as the hologram glitch out and just the audio was coming from her helmet now. "Shit. God damn, stupid piece of shit." "You okay? Hey, Aaira, I lost video feed. Aaira? Hello?" "It's the damn helmet. It's not damage, the feed is just fucking with me." said Aaira. "Oh, well, don't fuck with it right now. Just focus on getting that new tram back on the tracks! Get back to the control room...and hurry, we hear them in the walls..." "Okay, fine, I'm on my way back. By the way, have you heard anything from Faye or my friends?" "...no." The video feed came back online, showing Beatrix face again. "Hey, look, I need to go, so...good luck." said Beatrix as the video feed turned off. "Alright, thanks for your fucking support, asshole." muttered Aaira, as she put her helmet back on and was about to leave when another slasher jumped down near her. "SHIT!" yelled Aaira as she was caught by surprise and was hit by the slasher and fell onto the catwalk. "Not fucking again!" Aaira could see the slasher was charging at her while on all fours and she kicked the monster away and got up. She quickly noticed something was on its belt, a huge cutter looking gun. "Hello, what's this?" asked Aaira as she grabbed and pulled it away from the slasher damage belt and quickly step back as the slasher stood up and roared at her "Oh fuck off." said Aaira as she aimed her her weapon and fire a line laser at the slasher, cutting it in half but still alive. She fired it again, this time slicing the upper body in half, finally killing it. "And stay down." Aaira looked over the large cutter gun and realize what it is. "IM-822 Handheld ALIC0RN ore cutter line. Never saw one in action before. Used by miners to cut harder minerals. This baby will help. Hmmm, three shots left but the large cartridge I saw before could be for this tool. Better pick that up after I get that data board from the maintenance bay. Okay, better go." She placed the closed cutter into her belt and feeling the weight on her body. "Wow, it's heavy. It will slow me down. If only I had better HULL suit, like the elite one, carrying this tool around will be a breeze...man, I should had listen to Rhea and upgraded my suit. Oh well." She turned and ran out of the room and hurried to the maintenance bay, that was under the loader bay, and quickly entered the room and was surprised to see everything...all fucked up. Broken trams hanging about, catwalks covered in blood and bodies, tools and boxes everywhere, a huge hole in the wall and an even larger one, which had dried blood under it. "Oh wow, this place is a mess...how the fuck am I suppose to find the data board in here!?" She looked around the large and wide room and could see a storage room up above her. "Hmmm, maybe they keep the spare parts in there. Alright, let's get climbing." She walked around the large room and could see the ladder was gone and the platform was out of reach, so she had to look for another way. Which was climbing on the trams that were hanging in the middle of the room, as each tram lead higher to the top platform. "Great, climbing on unstable trams, no problem." Aaira began to climb the first tram and could see that it was stable, which is a good thing. She reach the next tram by jumping on the doorway and began to climb the second tram, which was a bit unstable and the final third one was the damage one she put away. "Okay, last one. Hope this doesn't fall." She began to climb the final tram and could feel the tram shaking. "Whoa, easy, easy. Don't fall. Come on, you can do this. Alright, almost there." Aaira reach the top platform and jumped over the gap and could see a body, which was an engineer, as she tried to get inside the storage room but wasn't lucky, as her lower half was gone and her upper half was on the wall and next to the door, which for once, wasn't lock. "Poor woman. Better get the data board and go or I'll end up like her." Aaira enter the large and very wide room, which was filled with crates and tools. "Alright, data board, where are you?" She could see a lot of dead bodies and was surprised not to see any more of the slashers but knew they could be hiding and waiting for her. She soon the board on a work desk. "There it is." She grabbed it and was surprised by the size of the board, which was larger than she was expecting. "Jesus, this thing is big." Aaira place the board into her belt hook, which had the space to fit it. She turned around and was about to leave when a loud screech sound was made, making her freeze. "Oh please don't tell me you guys are back. Please don't." Aaira could see shadow movements outside, as the door didn't close. "Fuck." Aaira walked over to the door and tried to shut it but a slasher appeared, stopping the door from closing. "Get the fuck out of here!" yelled Aaira as she kicked the slasher through the door but was she was pulled out by it and both landed on each other. "GET OFF OF ME, YOU FUCKER!" cried Aaira, as she was on her back and the slasher was on top, trying to stab her. She pushed and punched the monster as hard as she could and finally kicked it off and it fell into the storage room. Aaira quickly got up and notice there was shit ton of slasher everywhere and on every level of the room. "Fuck, FUCK! How the fuck did they get in here!? There's so fucking many!" Aaira made a dash for it and jumped back on the tram roof, while avoiding the slasher blades. She could see some were coming from the holes on the walls and ceiling, which is why she didn't see them before. "SHIT, FUCK, SHIT!" Aaira could see some slasher joining her on the tram roof, which started to make it swing and chains started to buckle over all the weight. She was trying to stand and trying to jump to the second tram below her but couldn't find a good time to do it. The slasher were too close and she was afraid to lose balance and fall. "Come on, come on. I need to time this." The slasher were getting closer and the tram was swinging a lot, making it harder for her to jump. "I can't fucking do this, I'll get hit and killed." She quickly grabbed the line cutter and aim it at the chain holding the tram and fired. "Shit, SHIT! Please work, please work." The cutter fired and the beam cut the chain and the tram was free falling and slammed hard onto the lower catwalk where the exit was, as she timed it right when the tram was swinging to the far left. Aaira jumped before they crash and rolled on the floor and quickly ran for it, as she could hear the slashers chasing her. She ran back the way she came and entered the elevator and closed it and the slashers were slamming their blades onto the door but the elevator started to go down. "Oh man, oh man. Oh god. Oh shit, shit, shit." panted Aaira as she was breathing heavily. She was sweating and could see the line cutter was low on ammo and reloaded it. Soon, she was on the floor which leads to the tram system tunnel. She ran to until she was back with the broke door and slow time on it and finally back in the tunnel system. She was hurrying through the tunnel but like like before, the lights turned off, leaving her alone in the darkness. "Fuck! Why are the lights turning off!?" She kept running in the darkness, hoping to see the door that she came in the first time but she felt something behind her. Something was following her and she could hear a voice...she looked back and saw large five yellows eyes from before and she quickly ran faster. "What the fuck is that?" Aaira reached the part of the tunnel where the door was and book it towards it. Soon, the lights turned on and she turned around and didn't see the creature but she didn't see it anymore, there was nothing there. She ran the way back, back through the vent and finally back into the tram control room and quickly replacing the damage data board with the new one. She turned the tram system and seeing everything was back online and a tram was heading its way here. As she did show, the shutters from the windows opened, revealing Sentinel, Beatrix and Johnny, as he finally removed his helmet, revealing his green skin and his bald head. All three noticed her and waved at her but the tram blocked each other view as it arrived, soon, Aaira was once again spooked as the video feed came to life in front of her. "Good work, we're onboard and heading to the bridge. Better follow us as soon as you can." ordered Sentinel but turned the cam to Beatrix, as she was checking something on the tram computer screen "What's wrong?" "The quarantine just lifted..." said Beatrix. "Means whatever was in the bay lounge is fucking gone. Should be safe now," replied Johnny as he was still outside the tram. "That's great to hear. Aaira, head back to the shuttles and try fixing them. Johnny, go protect her, we can't lose her." said Sentinel as he walked to the tram doors. "Right, sure thing." said Johnny, as he took off. "Alright Aaira, after we find out what happened in the bridge data banks, we'll come back and getting off this ship." said Sentinel as the tram doors shut and started to take off. "What!? No, I need to find Faye and my friends!" yelled Aaira as she couldn't believe it. "We will find them, just fix the shuttles and get them online. After we leave, I'll have SEC send a team to search the ship for your missing people and bring them back. Okay?" asked Sentinel. Aaira took off her helmet and glared at the screen that was coming from the helmet. "No! The could die before another team can come here! I'm not going to wait around and let them die!" "Aaira, look, we-" "Fuck you and the SEC, I'm finding my girls and getting them the fuck out of here and you won't stop me!" yelled Aaira. "Aaira, listen, if we lose you, we're not leaving the ship. Your friends and girlfriend are important to us as well and you are to. Just...fix the shuttles and we'll look for them, deal?" "You better fucking hurry." said Aaira. "Alright. Stay alive, Aaira." Sentinel turned the cam off and Aaira sighed. "What a bunch of assholes." Aaira put her helmet back on and took off back the way she came and finally reaching the lobby area for the workers. The elevator wasn't gonna work anymore, since it crashed. She needed to get back to the visitor lobby area. So she push opened the hatch of the elevator and started to climb up the shaft, using the cables and soon, she reach the floor where her and the girls was running in. She slowly scanned the area and slowly got out, as she was trying to find the missing slashers from before. But the coast was clear and she hurry her way to the lobby and seeing the dead security soldiers still here. She quickly exited the lobby and could see Johnny talking to someone in his shuttle. "Hello?" Johnny looked and could see Aaira. "Hey! AAIRA!" shouted Johnny. "Aaira!?" said familiar voice, before Rhea pop her head out of the shuttle. "Rhea!?" "Oh god! Aaira darling, thank goodness your okay!" shouted Rhea as she jumped out of the shuttle and ran to Aaira, as she hug her tightly. "Rhea, you okay? You hurt?" asked Aaira as she took off her helmet. "I'm fine. I was so worried about you. You had me scared to death. I thought you were dead after you told us to run! I was able to hide and escape those monsters! I headed back here to get a weapon when Johnny here showed up, telling me you were okay. God, Aaira, I'm so glad your okay. Oh, Aaira, I love you so much." "I love you too, Rhea but where is Poppy?" "I don't know..." said Rhea. "She did ran the other way...shit!" replied Aaira, rubbing her eyes, as she was tired. "What should we do?" asked Rhea. "I think we should go find her but the shuttles need fixing. If we had Poppy, this be done faster..." explained Aaira as she was looking over of the damage on the shuttles. "We have to make due with just us two for now. Let me get my toolbox from the lobby." said Rhea as she walked pass Aaira. "I'll check on the shuttle systems for any more damage, just call me of you see anything." said Johnny as he entered the Lightstar and sat in the pilot seat. Aaira was about to head over to the her shuttle but noticed that Rhea was just standing outside of the doors, which lead inside to the lobby, like she was staring into space. "Rhea, what's wrong?" Aaira walked to her and noticed Rhea was scare as she was crying. "It's them, the ones from the ship." Aaira didn't understand until she turn and could see the bodies and realize what was wrong. "Hey, look at me. I'm here. Just look at me as we head to the room and get your tools, okay. Just look into my eyes and hold my hand. We'll do this together." Rhea nodded and the two did just that. They walk slowly through the lobby, trying not to look at the dead bodies but Rhea couldn't help it. It was haunting her and Aaira knew this. Once they got to the room, Rhea got her toolbox and exited the lobby by doing the same thing. As they were heading back. Rhea screamed as she saw slashers and new monster crawling on the walls. The new one looked like a human woman but her legs looked like they were fused together and at the end of it, was a boney blade, which was made up by their leg bones. Rest of her body looked like the slashers. The monsters quickly jumped off the walls and quickly entered the Lightstar. "SHIT! JOHNNY! JOHNNY!" screamed Aaira as she ran, putting on her helmet, shouted and waved at him but he was still looking at the computer screen but he soon noticed the monsters and tried to use his pulse rifle but the snake creature stabbed him through the chest "NO!" "AAAAAHHH!" cried Rhea, as she dropped her toolbox and fell to the ground. Soon, both girls watched as Johnny was being swarm but rising his weapon and firing what seems to be a grenade and blowing up the engine of the Lightstar, causing it to blow up and soon, blowing up the RiM shuttle along with it. Aaira was blown away by the blast and fell near Rhea, as she quickly grabbed her and started to drag her away, as the docking bay was catching on fire and knowing the fire system will lock down the bay and be trap with the monsters. As she pulled Aaira into the lobby, the doors shut and went into lock down mode. "Shit!" said Aaira as she was still on the floor and Rhea laying next to her. "Oh god, Oh god. I can't do this. I can't. Please, Aaira, make it stop." cried Rhea. Soon, a video feed appeared in front of Aaira face, it was Sentinel as he walked over to the screen as Beatrix was in the chair, as she was the one who called. "What the hell happened? Docking bay hanger went into lockdown." "There was monsters in the docking bay, they swarm the shuttle and Johnny died. He shot a grenade into the shuttle engine. Both shuttles are gone! We were lucky to survive." "Dammit...wait, we?" asked Sentinel. Aaira turned her head away from Rhea, as the video feed revealed her, while she was crying softly. "Oh my god, Rhea!" said Beatrix. "You found her? Good to hear..." replied Sentinel. "What now big shot!? We lost our fucking rides off this death trap!" shouted Beatrix, as she was upset, as she stood up and turned to him. "Just let me think!...Can you access the command computer!?" Beatrix returned to the computer and starting checking but pound the keyboard "Nope, there's an executive lockdown of all primary systems. Without the captain's authorization. I can't access them." "Where's the captain?" Beatrix did a quick search and sighed as she found the captain whereabouts "Found her. Captain Selena Lunar...location...medlab. Status, fucking dead." "How?" asked Sentinel. "Oh let me look into the fucking primary systems, oh right, I fucking can't! DUMB NUTS!" yelled Beatrix, as she was very annoyed and angry. "Hey, you two need to calm down." said Aaira "If the captain is still wearing her HULL suit, I can get her authorization codes. I can give you the codes to get in the systems." "Wait, you going? Why? Let dumb nuts do it." asked Beatrix "No, he's to protect to you since Johnny just died. Plus, it's the medbay! Faye might there, along with Poppy. If she escape like Rhea did, she be looking for Faye as well and the medbay is the best place to look." explained Aaira as she stood up and dust herself off. "Fine...but hurry." replied Beatrix, as she sat back down. "I'll send the tram back. What about her?" asked Sentinel as he was clearly talking about Rhea "She'll slow you down." "Sentinel, I'm not leaving Rhea behind!" "I didn't say leave her, but she'll be safer with us, in the bridge." Aaira was fighting with herself, as she didn't trust him but he was right, Rhea will slow her down. Plus, it wasn't good idea to leave her alone and Rhea can help them. "Fine...okay, Rhea. Come with me. Let's head to tram station." "But Aaira..." replied Rhea. "She has a point, Rhea." said Beatrix. "Rhea, listen to me. Trust me, okay?" Rhea slowly got up, nodded and the two made their way to the tram station and waited for it. Both sat down in the chairs and Rhea sat few inches from Aaira, who took off her helmet. But was surprised when Aaira put her arm around her and pulling her into her shoulder. Rhea could feel her head being stroke as Aaira was just telling her it be okay. Aaira soon could feel something on her left cheek and noticed Rhea kissing her. "W-What!? R-Rhea!?" said Aaira as she was blushing and confused. "Thank you, Aaira and I'm sorry...I...I just wanted to do that for a long time...and I was scare I was never going to see you again and...I'm just...so scared and confused." said Rhea, as she was starting to cry again. Aaira held her tightly, as she tried to comfort her. "...I know you and Faye are dating...Sorry..." "It's okay, Rhea." said Aaira, not sure how to feel or say about the kiss. The tram came and Aaira helped Rhea inside. "Okay, I'll see you soon." said Aaira. "Just come back with the others and yourself!" replied Rhea Aaira put her helmet back on and the tram left the station and taking Rhea to the bridge. "I'll stay in contact with Beatrix and Sentinel, if I find Faye and Poppy, I'll tell you right away." said Aaira, as the video feed was showing a worry Rhea. "OKay..." whispered Rhea as she kiss the screen but quickly realize what she did 'Sorry..." The video feed turned off and Aaira was alone again. She went back and sat down, as se waited for the tram to return. She touched helmet cheek and turned red. Did Rhea really loved her or was it because what's going on this damn ship. She never felt like this, sure, she loved Faye and won't ever cheat on her but she started to wonder about Rhea, was there any point in their friendship that showed her, that she loved her? Sure, there was the times, where the three would go out for drinks, hang out at Rhea's place and watch movies or play games. She remembered how Rhea would fall asleep on her and Poppy had to carry her to her bed. There was a few moments, where Rhea would just hug her, for no reason and say thank you, even though Aaira would say what for. The tram arrived and Aaira entered, sitting back down and waiting for the doors to close. But something caught her eye, a white boot was sticking out from the darkest corner of the tram. She got up and slowly walked towards it. She was shaking, scared that it was another monster. "Then the traveler in the dark thanks you for your tiny spark..." "Faye? Is that you?" whispered Aaira as the tram tunnel lights went dark, leaving only her helmet lights as the only light source in the darkness. "How could he see where to go if you did not twinkle so?" "Faye!" "Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what..." "FAYE, ANSWER ME!...SHIT!" She quickly step out of the darkness and pushing Aaira to the other end of the tram cart and revealing her badly wounded face, as she was blasting out orange static lights. "YOU ARE!" Within the darkness, the only light was Aaira purple helmet light. It soon was eaten away by the darkness...leaving behind a orange glow in its place End of Chapter 1.