CAPTAINS
LOG
STAR DATE 837.8783.212
PHIL WOKE ME UP FROM HYPERSLEEP BECAUSE HE NEEDED MY INPUT ON SOMETHING HE PICKED UP. SOMETHING HE COULDN'T WRAP HIS MIGHTY MIND AROUND. IT WAS MUSIC. WHO WOULD BE BROADCASTING DEMONIC LULLABYS THIS FAR OUT?
WE CHARTED A COURSE HEADING FOR THE TRANSMISSION'S ORIGIN AND FOUND IT IN (RELATIVELY) SHORT ORDER. IT CAME PRECISELY FROM A MASSIVE CRATER ON A DEAD MOON OF A DEAD PLANET. FOUND NOTHING TERRIBLY INTERESTING SO FAR SO I DECIDED TO LAND IN THE CRATER AND GO FOR A LITTLE WALKABOUT OUTSIDE.
HOWEVER, WHILE I WAS SUITING UP THE GROUND BENEATH US DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND COLLAPSE AND NOW MY SHIP IS AT THE BOTTOM OF AN UNDERGROUND OCEAN.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE ENGINES CEASED OBEYING ORDERS SINCE THE TIME OF IMPACT WITH WATER AND NOW I'M STUCK DECIDING WHAT TO DO. CAN I GO OUTSIDE? WILL THE SUIT
The terminal flickered off and he was left to ponder his reflection in the monitor. "Reflection"? Where's the light coming from?
From the foot-deep pool of glowing light purple liquid standing vertical with the wall on his right.
It took a while to sink in what he was seeing. Is he dreaming? Is he dead? What kind of science-fantasy junk is this?
It took an even longer while to decide on a reaction. He chose with near heedless optimism and approached the water's surface. To test the liquid, he took off his shirt and threw half of it inside the pool. As he withdrew it again, no extraordinary reactions occurred.
It didn't appear to be corrosive. But it could be poisonous. He placed an arm inside his Hazard Suit and proceeded to do the unthinkable -- he inserted said arm into the pool.
Immediately he saw visible pulses of energy coursing through the submerged part of his limb and recoiled in shock and surprise.
What the hell was THAT?
The pool didn't wait for him to figure it out. It began to bubble and froth and advance on him. Seeing this, he ran for the door and hit the touchpad expecting to escape the room, but he was wrong. The door wouldn't open.
With mounting desparation, he attempted to pry the door open with his bare hands, but found that titanium can be very determined.
Before he knew it, the pool was back in his face, a mere foot away. He gasped his last breath and held it as the liquid swallowed him.
...
He held it.
Held it some more.
"This isn't painful yet. Thank god."
"Had to ask for it, didn't I?" His lungs bagan to sing their song, slowly building up to the torturous crescendo.
Getting louder.
Louder!
LOUDER!
LOUDER!
"JESUS FUCK ME CHRIST, I CANT--"
He gave up and inhaled. The liquid forced it's way down his throat, raping him in a way he never felt before. "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!"
But it was.
An experience he never wanted. Curiosity killed the cat.
So they say.
Meanwhile, this cat opened it's eyes again and wondered why he was still alive and conscious.