An Insidious Encounter
It couldn’t have been less than 30 degrees celsius in the desert, yet the sun still scorched the golden sand dunes below it. The high noon rays of light reflected against the sand, giving off a mirror-like effect and illuminating the desert in a white haze. I gazed into the pastel blue horizon, sand dunes and scarce amounts of fauna stretched out for miles. Waves and contours in the sand ebbed perfectly into the sand, the dark silhouette of the colonies painted onto the horizon. A sigh escaped from my mouth and I turned to my objective.
I reached towards the leather goggles on my eyes, pulling them back from my eyes onto my forehead, leaving a mask of light brown across my eyes. I fell to my knees on the corroded iron plates and placed my head on the cold iron. Knocking my hand against it with my ears held next to the hood. Listening for the most hollow points, knock after knock I found nothing. I moved further upward on the expansive hood of the ship, more towards its center, I knocked again and again. Finally, a hollow knock echoed inside. I listened closely for a near silent droning hum, what I heard made a smile run across my mouth, I jolted upward and slid down the side of the hood, leaping off the edge onto the ground a few meters off the ground with its slant. I rolled atop the sand and ran towards the bag left on the side of the ship. I grabbed it and immediately threw it upwards onto the hood, using the broken railing and ladder, I leaped forwards back to where I was. As I flew upwards, my bag slid down towards me. Catching it by the skin of my teeth, I flung it upwards with my left hand.
As I finished my climb, I grabbed the bag once more, reaching into for a certain tool. Metal clanged against each other as I sifted through the mess of torn cloth and scrap metal. Empty canisters, dull blades, anything unwanted or needed was in there. I grasped the gun-shaped object firmly, pulling its heavy weight from my bag. The laser torch, man’s best friend. A gun-like torch that shot ionized particles of light in a high-pressure beam, easy to use, easy to carry. Basically a pistol with a large clip and a narrow nozzle. A quick load up and a flip of a switch and it was ready. Slowly I pulled the trigger, a lime green beam shot out, humming as it cut through the rusted iron. Like a snail, I inched forward the torch, making sure not to cut through too much that it would damage the inside. After a few minutes, I managed to round a hole small enough to fit my arm with being cut. Carefully I pushed against the top of the cut and gripped onto the lip that was made. With a flick of the wrist, I tossed it in the reaches of the desert.
I snaked my hand into the hole, past the broken wiring and rusted piping, feeling my way towards the Solar-conversion node deep within the ship's main engine. Easy to feel for, its shape unique to the rest of the machinery and wiring inside, a large cylindrical mass between a square like drive connector, that linked to the rest of the engine, and a twist handle, both ends linked to the main mass by a grip with four square teeth. The usual set was colored in a dark metallic gray, with a fine engraving going down across the sides.
A single SC node could power several small attack jets or a large freight ship. Very valuable to scrap collectors, and mercenaries looking to boost their artillery. My hand finally slipped past the handle, I recoiled onto it and twisted. With a dull chink and a sharp hiss, I knew the node was locked in place, and that it was letting out some of the coolants it needed. I spat out a swear, and carefully twisted it back into place. The hissing stopped, but not after releasing what seemed like a pint of coolant. I had forgotten, a rare fine such as this needed a nimble touch. The trick is it not set off the anti-theft failsafe by pressing down hard enough that it thinks it's being readjusted. Then quickly snapping it in the other direction before twisting again.
A few clicks then the ceasing of the electric hum of the ship signaled my conquest, I pulled the oversized battery from its socket, careful not to scrape it against any overbearing machinery. A success. I pulled the node into both my hands and grasped it firmly, careful not to let it fall. A quick inspection, my eyes dotted around its surface, scanning for any imperfections. The node had thin dots riddled across its body, a navy blue light poured from them. The lights rippled like ocean water against the beating sun, like an ocean trapped inside a box. But nothing out of the ordinary. I pulled the dirty brown bag from my side and carefully placed the node inside, next to all the other scrap metal I had scavenged from ships.
I moved the bag to the side again, leaving it to further pillage from the behemoth of a ship I was currently thieving from. I propelled my hands back inside the engine, no longer careful of the hazards or broken wires that lay deep within it. I rummaged for anything useful and came up empty, only a few more valuable pieces of iron and computer drives. Nothing of true value, I was disappointed, but not disheartened.
As I pulled myself out from the engine, I was greeted by a setting sun. I could have sworn it was before noon when I started.
Another day spent scraping, another day I can eat. I gazed onto the orange sunset, flecks of scarlet and yellow blended into the horizon. The burning orange at the center of it cascaded and faded into the southern horizon, blissfully eroding into a soft navy blue with bright dots scattered here and there. The dots filled the sky one by one, slowly heralding the twin moons arrival. The largest, Ceren, was a white obelisk in a black sea filled with light. Its light shined brightest and farthest, reaching into even the darkest of corners, yet soft still compared to the harsh gaze of the colossal sun.
The smallest of the twins which orbited its sister dubbed Hydra, emitted a quiet navy blue light, due to its corrosive atmosphere. The hydrogen in its atmosphere mixed with sulfur, the UV light, and radiation that bounced off its surface was reflected back in a hazy blue light. Not bright enough to illuminate its planet, but acted as a contrast to Ceren in both color and size.
A strong breeze pushed me slightly, my clothes began to bellow. A suspicous wind pushed me to pull out my scope from my pocket and hold it to my eye. A dust cloud headed my way. Great. It's too close now to try and run, and my Drifter isn’t close enough to run to. By the time it would take me to run a thousand meters, I would be chewed to bits by the sand and debris.
I gave out a heavy sigh, annoyed by the matter at hand. There wasn’t anything left inside the engine that I needed or wanted, but metal I could have torn off from here would have made great scrap. I started to think of what I needed to do to get out of this mess. I knew the T-80 freight ship model came with a backup generator, so closing the main hatch and back gate wouldn’t be a problem. The only problem is air, I noticed there was no proper air filter or an nitrogen generator working inside, and any chance of there being an oxygen tank was little thanks to whoever was flying this thing. I shrugged and decided to test out my luck. I was bound to find something in there, even if it was something small.
I lightly tossed my belongings to the sand below and hopped off myself, the drop was farther than I had expected so I quickly fell into a roll. A quick dust off and I was off, the hatch leading to the main cargo bay was open but the door leading to the cockpit was locked. Then wind picked up and the sky began to blacken in sand, rolls of thunder and lightning blasted in the distance. I needed to get inside and close the hatch before I started looking for anything else, I tried the door, locked, I pushed against it, nothing. Something must be blocking it on the other side, this door seemed eroded and easily breakable, so it should have open with a few rams.
I gripped my left wrist and battered myself against the door several times. Nothing but a bruised shoulder. A kick out of frustration slammed against it knocked something on the other side, a few wooden clangs and metallic slide. Something definitely was blocking the way, that means whoever was flying, didn’t want anyone to get in.
I was starting to run out of time, metal clicks began to rapidly knock the ship. Sand had begun to beat the outside, not much longer until the storm was in a full blast and the ship is bombarded with sand and flying chunks of metal. I frantically tossed my head and thought of any way inside, I slammed my body once again with the other shoulder to no avail. But a few clicks from above caught my attention, a ladder led upward inside it, but it was too rusted for use.
I tried my luck and planted my foot upon the sturdiest ring and burst up, grappling onto the edge of the floor and pulled myself up. Launching up, the ring broke with a snap, falling piercing itself into the sand below. No easy feat but I made it. I searched around and saw the green keycard lying amidst a pile of what looked like molded clothes and cans. I rushed to pick it but fell flat on my forehead against the iron railing of the bed, the winds had picked up and the amount of sand hitting the ship was no more destructive than before, pushing the ship almost onto its side. The card had slid underneath a bed, almost onto the wall, caught by a loose thread of carpet. I pounced and grabbed the card, clutching it tightly. I threw my body onto it’s back. I tilted my neck upwards, my eyes peered through the window. A wave of darkness sped towards me, nothing in its way. My head thrust up, my legs pushed forward. The card in my hand, I dove into the small opening with the ladder. My feet planted against one of the railings, yet it broke under the weight and my head came crashing onto the floor.
Pain blistered across my head, my vision went red. I painfully stood up and crept to the door, a quick swipe and I was in. the door no unlocked I burst in full force. Immediately I notice the glowing red, backup generator switch on the side of the entrance and reach for it. A flip. The blaring of the siren echoed through my eardrums. The door began to ache closed and the wind stagnated. The cargo bay that was filling up with wind and sand now lay dormant and silent. The hatch had closed.
I pulled into the cockpit, now with any source of light, complete darkness surrounded me, save for some of the control panels basic functions. I notice the empty pilot’s seat and fall bottoms first. I breathed heavily and sighed. “That was unexpected.” I muttered. It took me only a moment to notice the red glare of the oxygen low sign. I let out a loud groan and pulled myself forward. I opened the compartment beneath the controls.
An unused first aid kit. Equipped with bandages, rubbing alcohol, and an unused mini oxygen tank, good for single person use for one night. How lucky. It took me a moment to feel the dripping blood from both the front and back of my head. After dressing them I pulled the tank close and held the clear mask to my face. Deep breaths and calm thoughts, I drowned out the battering of the ship and tried to focus on sleep. It wasn’t long before I felt heavy eyes and peered into backs of my eyelids.
My rest was cut short when the ship yet again budged yet another few inches on its side, with sand beginning to pile underneath it. So much for making this my place of stay for a while, I tried to get comfortable again in the pilot’s chair. Tossing and turning, aching and itching atop the ripped seat, exposing its innards. I hopped out to find a cover and almost tripped over the air tube, I managed to catch myself on the control panel which lit up almost upon contact, illuminating the cockpit.
Documents, files, images blared to the front of the main LED screen on a black background with a gold trim. Soon after the mess of files appeared a list of files took front stage, a folder titled “Case files: VL 1070”. A twitch of curiosity pushed my hand forward so slightly in front of me, but common sense stayed my hand. I had no reason to look at these files other than pure curiosity, but that curiosity hasn’t led me wrong yet. Curiosity outweighed common sense, my index finger almost slammed into the screen with hesitant conviction. A quick load and a video file appear in front of me, it’s colored in black with a bright gold trim, golden words fade into the screen before quickly switching out with the intended message.
Static fades out to a fuzzy picture of a man in a white jumpsuit unzipped to show a black tee. His clothes are tattered and blood stained with spots of a dark greenish color strained throughout his suit. Gasoline maybe? His face is bruised and bloodied, along with his arms, his right reaching out towards the camera for support, his left covering what seemed to be a very deep wound in his lungs, although no blood appeared present. There isn’t anything notable about him, his face and body are average and aren’t memorable at all. The only thing worth noting is the scar stretching across his left eye into his upper lip, his hair is a shaggy mess pulled itself thinly across his entire face.
The video begins to play after an amount of buffering, it begins with the man sobbing, snot and tears melded into one at the bottom of his face. Wheezing and calling for his mother every few seconds. The man continues to sob for almost an entire minute before speaking.
“T-this is it. I-I’m gonna’ die!” He sobs. An invisible man in the background calls for him.
“Teddy!” He shouts. “Use that thing right or we’re both gon’ die!” Teddy continues to wheeze heavily before inhaling deeply, catching his breath.
“T-this is the M2-industrial freighter DARLA, My name is Teddy Sikes, I-I’m the lead engineer and captain of this vessel.”
“Damn it, Teddy! Get it o’er with and film the damn thing!” The blasts and volley of bullets mess with the videos picture and audio, it's clear that the noise shocked teddy, but what he says next blurs into obscurity.
“...’ing has happened and one of the one of the crew turned into this thing! It's killed one of us already and it's coming for me next! Help!” What seemed to be the man from before pushes teddy out of the chair and hovers over it. His breath heavy but a smile on his face.
“This thing is some kind of mutant! It got o’er on our mate and just ripped his bones out! We pro’ly ain’t gon’ make it but, tell those Sker at Civix Inc they can suck my-” Teddy let out a sharp cry, at one point the door must have been locked, the creature blasted through it with the force of a canon, the door flew and hit Teddy on the floor, knocking him unconscious. The quality of the picture got much worse, now nothing but a fuzzy mess of inhuman screams, gun volley, and the metallic footsteps, clearly not of human origin. Although the quality was terrible, I could still make out a few details. The other man, much bigger than Teddy flew to the side of the room and reached an orangish lever next to the backup generator switch. With what seemed four tentacles with knives on each end coming from its back, the creature skewered the poor man with two of its spears. I grimaced at the sight, yet my eyes remained glued.
A shrill scream burst out as the quality dropped even further, bits of the screen turned pure black, and bits of the image remained frozen. All that could be made out was the creature’s eyes at the end of the video. Pure black with what seemed to be small red dots pierced throughout what should have its whites.
“What?” The video froze, I bombarded my fingers onto the screen to see if anything could resume it, but the screen itself seemed frozen as well. “No!” I let out a disgruntled sigh, it dawned on me what had happened. I took out too much wiring inside the ship's engine and must have taken out something needed for the video to play. I didn’t want to take the time to go back out and fix the damn thing, so I slumped back into the chair and let myself drift into sleep. Before long, the emergency lights dulled to conserve what little power the ship had. The quiet hum of machinery lulled me to an uncomfortable, yet oddly satisfying slumber.
I woke to a silent room, the morning sun's rays shining through the window panels. I groaned through the mask and rubbed my eyes, clearing them of any crust and letting them adjust to the morning sun. I grabbed the air tank at my feet and checked how much was left, the red needle inside landed just at the red mark. I took off the mask and took a deep breath, letting the scant amount of air fill my lungs. I headed for the door, immediately i notice the stench and mess of blood clearly against the walls and door.
What seemed like claw marks pervaded the entire inside of the ship, i remembered the video from last night and began a search for the bodies, or at least what was left of them. I recalled where the larger man was killed, next to the cargo hatch switch but nothing but blood was there. I touched the blood stained iron, the blood, oddly enough, was completely dry and cold to the touch. The gun he was carrying was missing as well, where could they have gone? I turned and looked around the cockpit, neither of their bodies were there yet the room was a pure mess, something must of have happened to their bodies. Maybe they were thrown out of the ship when-. A quick thought entered my mind, and i realised what happened to the bodies, they were thrown out of the ship when the cargo door opened. That’s what must have caused the ship to crash on this planet, they were sucked into space when the door opened, along with whatever that monster was. Without anyone to guide the ship, it crash landed on the nearest planet. Just my luck finding a cursed ship like this, nothing good ever comes from anything with a backstory, so I’ll erase the coordinates and let this thing disappear into obscurity, along with whatever bad energy it brought with it.
ns3.16.75.169da2
