Arachnids on an ACPB, part 10
*64 hours from port.*
Lugging his tank of Spidacide behind him, ET warily headed back to the galley while everyone else ran up to the bridge. He had a feeling the only way he was going to get back on Bomber's good side would be to clear the galley of spiders.
But when he got there, he was dismayed to find only a few dozen left. They had finished their meals and redispersed themselves around the ship. Grumbling to himself, he unhooked the nozzle of his Spidacide tank, and quickly polished off all the spiders in sight.
***
"The moment has come. We have to accept the possibility that we are now the only ones alive on the ship."
Spider and Dan nodded seriously, and RO continued.
"The spiders are a real and dangerous threat. We have to assume that the ship is ours, and that survival now rests solely in our hands."
They nodded again. RO punched one fisted hand into the other.
"Right. Are you ready to fight for your life, for your ship, and for your species?"
They shook their heads sadly. For a moment, RO looked perplexed, and then he shrugged.
"Okay then. That's a valid argument, too."
"I'm still hungry," Dan whined. Spider nodded.
"Yeah, it's been a while. You don't reckon we should risk it?"
RO considered. "Maybe. If we move fast, arm ourselves as best we can, and follow an in-out tactical procedure, it might just work."
"That should be fine," Dan agreed. "I'll stay here. Because, you know, you need someone to guard the fort."
RO narrowed his eyes, and turned to Spider. "He has a point. It's up to you, mate."
Spider glared. "So if it's not Dan, why does that automatically mean it's me?"
"Because," RO snapped, "I'm higher ranked than you are. And I say you go."
For a few moments, there was silence, and the air crackled with tension, as the two men sized one another up. Then, at some unspoken single, both held out their balled fists.
"On three," Spider growled, and RO nodded. They moved their hands up and down three time, then splayed their fingers.
"Oh yeah, scissors beats paper!" Spider whooped. "Up to you Robbie."
"It's Robert." The retort had become habit, and RO said it without thinking. Dan and Spider just stared at him. Suddenly his face paled, as he realised what Spider's words meant. "Right, um, okay. You two be careful. Don't let anyone in. Especially not the spiders."
RO cautiously made his way to the door, and began to turn the handle. For a moment, he paused, and looked back at the nervous faces behind him.
"If something happens to me out there... good luck and Godspeed."
***
The corridors were deserted. RO carefully passed through the engine room, shuddering at the spider fragments stuck to the walls around him. The eerie stillness caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise, and he slapped at them. Their motion felt like the touch of several hairy legs, crawling round around his neck...
He made his way upstairs, moving slowly but surely towards the galley. His heart was racing. His palms were sweaty. But he was nearly there.
Bracing himself for the sight of spiders (possibly swarming over poor Bomber, who would have fought them to the end) RO rounded the corner. His jaw dropped open with fear and shock. It was indescribable. A horror that couldn't possibly be from this planet. A monster so strange and primitive he wasn't sure he'd ever get the image out of his head.
ET, wearing the stupidest outfit RO had ever seen. And, considering it was ET, that was pretty stupid.
"Hey RO, finally come to join the party?" ET asked, pulling off his gas mask.
"What... are you..."
ET patted the tank strapped to his back. "Spidacide, mate. It's very effective. Turns the bastards into bubbly piles of goo."
"Okay. I'm just going to..."
RO inched towards the ratpacks lying on the bench. Whoever had been fetching them earlier must have been attacked by spiders before they could take them to austere. He felt a moment of pity for whoever it was, but then remembered the "fast in-out", and reached out to grab them.
"Uh, RO... don't move."
Grabbing the food, RO dashed for the door. A second later, he realised the meaning behind ET's warning. Between two of the bags was a very large, reasonably angry Stripy.
There was time for a quick shriek, then RO dropped the ratpacks and ran. It was too late. The Stripy had scuttled forward onto his hand, and was now climbing up his arm.
"RO, don't move!" ET called, quickly aiming the tank of Spidacide at him.
Feeling hairy legs making their way up towards his neck, RO dropped what he was holding and bolted for the nearest exit.
***
"Everything appears to be under control,"Charge announced, grinning. Relieved smiles broke over the faces of the assembled crew, and a few clapped.
"We just aim for port and hope they don't have time to regroup," the CO said grimly.
"Spider!" called Kate, pointing at the controls. Boblet had come down again.
"Get her!" Swain shouted, and Bomber quickly whipped her Spidacide nozzle towards the arachnid.
"Bomber, no!" Nav shouted, jumping forward to push the Boblet out of the way. The spray of Spidacide hit the control panel behind them, and the ship responded to the instruction with a sudden, sharp turn.
***
RO struggled with the closed hatch for a moment, before emerging onto the deck, slapping at his arms and neck, while the Stripy desperately tried to navigate around the blows. ET rushed up behind him, aiming at the spider, but he couldn't get a clear shot.
Shrugging, he aimed in the general direction of RO's back, and fired. RO staggered forwards at the impact, stopping himself next to the railing. Something smelt suspiciously like soy sauce, and he turned around to glare at ET, the Stripy momentarily forgotten.
"I got the bastard," ET said with a grin, waiting for the expected praise and thanks.
"What is in that?" RO spluttered, wiping at the back of his neck, anxiously feeling for anything spider-shaped.
ET proudly began to detail the recipe, when the ship suddenly turned, hard and sharp, to the right. Already off balance, RO staggered backwards, hit the railing, and then kept falling – over the top of the railing.
And into the water.