Cliff smiled to himself as he put down his work for the night.

He couldn't wait to get back to shore. He could continue with his lessons, plus, he grinned to himself, he could bring Kate along. He liked giving her 'lessons' and was thankful he was posted to check out the navigating system on the ship; It meant he could spend more time with her. She was so close to him, far closer than he ever imagined getting to the golden girl of ADFA. Up close she was more beautiful than you could ever imagine.

The night air was cold against his skin and he gulped down his coffee. He swore he heard a noise, a muted footstep of some sort, but he chose to ignore it. Until everything went out of control.

The axe swung at him, ripping into to shoulder. The metal blazed madly, the blood burning like a wildfire. He tore himself from the chair, panic striking him like a bullet. The monster leered at him, his bloodshot eyes laughing cruelly. The axe swung again, tearing through the air and only missing him by a heartbeat. The monster lunged, the axe smashing by his feet as he gripped at the man's throat. All the moves Cliff had ever learnt poured out of his head as quickly as the blood from his arm. But he wouldn't give up. He couldn't give up. Not Cliff. For a brief second the fingers at his throat loosened, giving him just enough time to strike the monster hard in the stomach.

The monster coughed and splattered, rage boiling on his face. Cliff jumped, ramming a boot into the monster's face. He smashed against the window with a piercing smash and Cliff had just enough time to gather his breath before he ripped the Monster from the wall and pinned him down to the floor, slamming his bleeding first into the back of his head.

"Cliff!!" yelled the worried voice from behind him. He turned his throbbing head and smiled. The three navy personnel came into the room, guns pointed in the air. "Kate" he murmured, pulling himself to his feet.

Buffer and 2Dad's went over to the body of the monster, aiming their guns down as they stared.

"What happened?!" Kate asked, concern heavy in her voice.

Cliff smiled, wiping the blood from his nose

"I survived."