Chapter 4. Attack

It was the 24th of December. The whole outpost was busy preparing for Christmas Eve. T'hezdra and Amy painted a Christmas Tree with washable paint on the wall of the mess hall.

„Well, it's my first Christmas ever." - said the Skinnie.

„Too bad there's no snow here. But it's my first X-mas on the Moon." Responded Amy.

The day went quickly by and they had a gorgeous dinner together. Everybody was there. Everything seemed so normal and quiet.

After a few hours of talking they went to bed.

… Then Amy heard it. The incredible quiet stillness in the middle of the night. Just like before the storm. She thought. Suddenly she felt a strange tingling in her head. It forced her to open the door.

„Carl? What are ya…" But she was cut off by Jenkins, who put his hand on Amy's mouth.

„Shh! Go and wake the others! The bugs are here!"

Her eyes were like a pair of question marks.

„I said go!"

A metallic screech broke Carl's whisper. Amy knew it was a bug, only bugs make such a noise. She hurried to T'hezdra, then to Sparco and finally to Wheeler.

„Don't say a word!" She warned them. „ The bugs are here!"

„Tell me, you're crazy and imagining things!"

„No, it's true Pvt. Woodridge. You hear those screeches? What do you think those are?"

„The psychic's right, there are bugs everywhere!" Yelled Cpl. Falange, who just ran into the room.

Then everything happened so fast:

The bugs broke through the walls. The swarm captured the scared personell while they were running to the mess hall.

Thousands of warriors ran after them.

Maj. Garret tripped and a warrior stabbed her through her lungs.Her horrible screem filled the corridor. Wheeler turned back to help her. When he realised the Major was dead warriors encircled him. He tried to escape, but a bug bit him in two.

The next to fall was Carl Feders from Intel. The once so brave Colonel fell to his knees, bagging for mercy, but mercy is an unknown word for the Arachnids. 3 warriors jumped at him. Blood covered the floor.

Suddently the lights went out. The panic reached it's top.

Amy saw Carl, who tried to stop the bugrush. She saw as the bugs collapsed at Jenkins' legs, but there were too much of them for one psychic. Amy decided to save Carl. She ran over to him, grabbed him buy the hands and dragged him as fast as she could to the mess hall. No bugs attacked them, Carl kept them at distance.

As they fell into the mess hall, Sparco sealed the door that connected the left part of the base to the new parts.

No bullets were shot. They could hear the screeming of those, who were left behind and the screeching of the Arachnids. Amy held Sparco tight, plugging her ears with her hands. Tears were running down her cheeks.

Carl suffered in great pain, since psychics can sence death. He felt everybody's pain, not just his. He grabbed his head in his hands.

Suddently it was over. The silence covered them like snow covers the land. It was even more terrifying. Amy pulled her fingers out of her ears.

„Carl!" She broke free from Sparco's hands.

„What are ya doin'?"

„Can't you see he's suffering?" Amy ran over to Jenkins, who wasstill curled up in pain.

„Carl! Carl, it's over! Carl, please, respond!"

He stood up and looked at the survivors with tears in his eyes.

„I tried to warn you, but you were all too clever! Was it worth not listening to me?"

His voice broke off in sobs. He was standing like a fallen guardian, all broken inside, and shaking of the pain on the outside. Dr. da Ponte walked up to him, but just then Amy wrapped her arms around him. Carl was broken. He didn't even made a move, just closed his eyes. But this couldn't stop his tears from falling. He cried quitely, not a sob was heard, just the tears were running down his cheeks.

The silence in the mess hall was awkward. One could even hear the others heartbeat. And darkness covered them, like a shell.