Resting one of the Cafeteria tables was the Pavlovas, almost begging to be eaten. The group had come to a vote that they wouldn't eat dessert until they found out who or what was responsible for the deaths of Scottie and Sal. Rachel stared at the treats the most and did her best to restrain trying to take one of the tiny treats.
She was restless, but so was the rest of the crew. It had been thirty minutes since the oxygen systems were restored and Dr. Max had not come back since then. The remaining crew continued to play their games, stewing under the pressure.
Another thirty minutes passed, then an hour, another hour. Charlie had gotten out the Jacks and Ball; Rachel and Dr. Rodman were doing a cats cradle while Eleanor, Tommy, and the Captain were trying to play Kill Dr. Lucky but none of them could even complete the game.
Alice was pacing by the large bay window of the Cafeteria, arms crossed and completely unsatisfied.
"What the hell is taking Dr. Max so long?!"
"Science takes a long time…" The captain replied.
"It shouldn't take that long!" Louise replied as she got a new glass of Don Dew.
"Maybe we should go check on him?" Sam asked.
"I second that" Alice added.
"As Captain, I disagree." Gary spoke.
"And I agree with the Captain." Tommy added.
"That makes two to two." said Rachel.
"I think we should go!" Spoke Louise.
"Me too!" Charlie added as he picked up his final jack.
"I don't think so." Spoke Eleanor.
"And I think we should give the doctor a little more time." Dr. Rodman added.
"So that's…" Rachel sighed as she finished counting on her fingers "Four to four, an even split. Who has the deciding vote?"
"You do Rachel." Tommy answered "You determine whether or not we check on Dr. Max."
She looked at the group of those against her. They all looked at her in frustration, as if they were going to shun her for disobedience. Dr. Rodman was the only exception, as he seemed uncertain about his decision. The group for her looked at Rachel pleadingly, worried about the good scientist and willing to risk finding out the truth.
"Since I have the final vote…we should go check. Better safe and sorry."
The captain groaned "Alright, lets go. It's not like it's gonna waste more time on this ship."
"Quit whining!" Alice remarked "It'd be a good bit of exercise for all of us."
Everyone got up from their seat and began walking through weapons to go to O2.
-[+]-
"The results of my findings are terrifying." Dr. Max began as the crew listened intently.
"We have come in contact with something so dangerous that it not only takes over one's body but manipulates their biological structure so that they can become a deadly beast. Whatever we came in contact with, what ever has infected us, it has dominated the biological structure so much that the host works to sustain the needs of the parasite but without killing the host. When mixing a sample of Sal's pre-mortem blood with his post-mortem blood and looking under a microscope, the post-mortem blood began absorbing and working to control the cells. The same happened with Scottie's blood in the same experiment. I worry if I've come in contact with this creature, and I'm preparing to take out some of my own blood for a new test. If my blood is taken over, I will know that I am safe. If not, I will know that I am monstrous but something tells me that I am no creature.
It's strange however that those that died were beasts before anyone else knew it, but even I suspected at some point that the two victims were not themselves. Maybe their deaths were necessary in preserving the safety of the ship."
"That's preposterous!" Tommy shouted "Why kill someone you suspect without any evidence?!"
"I don't know why anyone could guess or detect an evil presence in another, but whoever killed Scottie and Sal must have subconsciously known that they were not themselves. I am about to draw my own blood for the test."
The crew hung their heads as Dr. Rodman stopped the recording that Dr. Max made.
"Whatever beast Dr. Max was talking about," Henry began "It obviously got him."
On the floor of the oxygen chamber was what was left of Dr. Max. He has become half the man he had used to be as he had been bifurcated at the torso. Blood and stomach acid had spilled onto the floor as his lime green suit was slashed open. His glasses were on the floor and had been stepped on.
Sam and Charlie had left together to grab a new body bag while Rachel and Tommy mopped the floor.
"Someone should have been with him…" Louise spoke.
"Well no one thought of it earlier" the Captain replied.
"I should have been with him" Henry added "I'm just as good as a scientist as he is."
Charlie and Sam returned with the body bag and placed Dr. Max's legs into it.
"At least Dr. Max is half as heavy as Scottie and Sal were!" Eleanor commented.
Charlie and Sam glared at Eleanor before taking what was left of Dr. Max to the Medbay.
"I don't trust Eleanor" Sam told Charlie "He could have killed Dr. Max while she went to help during the oxygen leak."
"But what about the Captain? She was with him!"
"They must have been in cahoots. But we can't guarantee that it wasn't anyone else!"
"Who do you think it could have been?"
Sam and Charlie then placed Dr. Max's legs on a medical bed.
"If there's anyone I believe it could have been to do it to everyone, it's Dr. Rodman."
"Dr. Rodman? Why him?!"
"He left the Cafeteria before Sal died and could have easily caused the explosion in Security. He could have also gone and killed Dr. Max during the blackout."
"I understand." Charlie replied "Something about me doesn't trust him anymore, but I can't put my finger on it!"
"Whatever it is, just keep it to yourself alright Charlie?"
The navigator nodded and when they were about to leave, an announcement came on the PA.
"This is the Captain speaking. Everyone to the Cafeteria immediately. We are going to put a stop to this once and for all."
Charlie and Sam sighed as they went to sit at the middle table in the Cafeteria. The rest of the remaining crew sat and everyone glanced at each other in suspicion.
The Captain then stood from his seat "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a killer on the ship. Not only do they kill others much like how one sees in a murder mystery but they are also are a creature of a dangerous nature."
Everyone looked at each other nervously as the Captain spoke.
"Before Sal, Scottie, and Max died… several people were out of view and might have taken the opportunity to kill their crew-mates. Because of this, I suggest we spill our beans and if anyone's story seems inconsistent or questionable… we remove them from the ship."
Rachel gulped, Charlie shook, Dr. Rodman sighed while Alice stood and slammed the table.
"Remove them from the ship?!" Alice shouted "How can you suggest such a thing?! What if we end up ejecting an innocent life from this ship, huh?!"
"E-E-E-Exactly!" Charlie stammered "Do we want to risk such an outcome?"
"Charlie's right" Sam spoke "Everyone here is on edge after the deaths of the crew. Everyone's bound to be sus of someone."
"Sus?" Rachel asked.
"Short for suspicious" Sam clarified "Short words are better transmitted over military radio."
"Well I'd rather take action on this ship than let some enemy that looks like a friend take my life!" Tommy shouted "I'm up for ejecting someone."
"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Dr. Rodman spoke "I think it's best if we consider this democratically. How about we vote whether or not we should eject someone despite the fact they may not be an infiltrator. If yes, we'll then discuss where we were before Sal's death up to Max's…"
"Well I vote against ejection!" Alice said with a determined pout.
"I'm with Alice!" Charlie spoke as he stood next to her.
"Well I'm for ejection" the captain responded "Who's with me?"
"I am captain!" Eleanor said with a determined smile. She was then followed by Tommy, then Dr. Rodman.
Sam and Louise walked over to Alice, leaving only Rachel to choose. Again.
"C'mon Rachel!" Louise pleaded "What if you get voted off?!"
Rachel began stepping forward to Alice's group, but then she turned to Dr. Rodman.
"Rachel…just do what you think is right. Go with your gut."
The cadet hung her head and sighed. Her boss Tommy was with Alice but she didn't feel comfortable having half the crew against her in either case. If one of them had the imposter among them, she would probably be a target.
Yet something drew her to Dr. Rodman. Despite his silence and introverted-ness, he seemed safe and those he was with made her feel safe too because of him.
She stepped forward, joining the captain's group. Alice scowled, loathing the fact that her limited authority was not being recognized for the umpteenth time.
Everyone sat back down and the captain pulled out his tablet.
"Alright, Sal was last seen by everyone around the time Charlie and Scottie had their fight…" The captain spoke.
"Giving Charlie plenty of motive to try to kill Scottie" Tommy remarked.
"I didn't kill Scottie!" Charlie shouted.
"Gentlemen, please!" Rachel pleaded.
"Yes sirs, lets go chromatically to remember who was where after Sal left." the captain replied. "Rachel, where were you before we found Sal dead?"
Rachel scratched her head "I…don't think I left the cafeteria at all…"
"Ok then" the captain spoke "Louise?"
"I went to scan my card in Admin and came right back!" She answered with a smile.
"Admin is across from the kitchen" Tommy remarked "You could have killed Sal on the way back."
"But how could have she also sabotaged the security room?" Charlie wondered "It's a long way to get there…"
"Let's just stick to our alibis for now everyone" the captain spoke "Dr. Rodman?"
"I went to the Medbay to check on the analyzer".
"And you could have planted the explosive in Security and then killed Sal by taking a different door into the cafeteria!" Louise rationalized.
"But does anyone remember whether or not Henry came back through the same door he left in?" Eleanor asked.
Everyone became quiet again with their attentions turning back to the captain.
"As for me, I remained in the Cafeteria. Alice?"
"I did the same as you did, captain" Alice replied with a sneer.
"Ok Alice" the captain responded with a sigh "Max is dead so we can't ask him."
"He stayed here." Louise remembered.
"Ah, right. And Sam?"
"I went to the bathroom in our quarters before we found Sal dead. I went the opposite direction from the kitchen so I couldn't have killed him."
"But you may have put the explosive in security." Eleanor spoke with a glare.
"Don't go accusing me because your best friend is dead!"
"Ladies!" the captain shouted "let's not fight here right now. Scottie would be next but she's also gone…Charlie?"
"I remained here after the f-fight…" Charlie replied.
"And I was still here too." Eleanor chimed in."
"And Sal's dead," Tommy spoke "while I remained here."
"Right then…" the captain spoke "that means that Henry, Louise, and Sam had left the cafeteria before Sal died."
Louise looked around nervously while Sam glared at a frowning Henry. A cold silence blanketed the remaining crew, each of them wondering who would be the first to make an accusation or build a defense.
"I think Henry is sus…" Charlie spoke.
"Henry?!" Eleanor shouted "Why Henry?!"
"Well if Sam went to the bathroom, she should have passed the lab." Charlie argued before turning to Sam "Did you see Henry in the lab when you went to take care of business?"
Sam scratched her chin but then shook her head "No, I didn't see him."
"Well I must have been out of view then." Henry countered "I could have been checking on the dead bodies after looking at the analyzer."
"Or you could have used the opportunity to plant the explosive in Security before killing Sal!" spoke Alice.
"And you know how to use the sterilizer!" Louise shouted "You could have killed Sal and then cleaned the weapons in that device before putting them away!"
"Exactly!" Sam added "And you would know what vein to slit to make Sal bleed out."
Sam, Alice, Louise and Charlie all stared at Henry who was shaking slightly.
"You may have a point there, but I have a point myself."
"And that is?" Alice asked sternly.
"Louise knows how to work the sterilizer too… she's a nurse and uses the device like I do."
"Precisely!" Tommy stated "I don't know how to operate it; only Sal, Louise, and Henry would know."
"I agree with Tommy" the captain spoke "And Louise went directly towards where the kitchen was to go kill Sal."
"But how could I have planted the bomb in Security?" Louise asked.
"You could have killed Sal, then walked to security." said Eleanor.
"It's Henry!" Louise shouted.
"It could have been you!" Rachel retorted.
"Enough everyone…" the captain spoke as he fiddled with his tablet "We've heard each other's stories and I think we have a good idea of what we think about each other."
Gary then showed the tablet to everyone. It was a three by three grid with every remaining crew member's color on it.
"This is how we'll vote. First, you press your color; second, you will see red and pink; you will then touch the color of who you want to vote off."
Captain Gary looked at the pad and pressed his color and his vote. He passed it to Alice, the two glaring at each other before they handed off. Dr. Rodman quietly voted for his, then Sam, Tommy, Louise, Rachel, then Eleanor.
Once Charlie was handed it, the captain spoke up again.
"Once he picks his vote, we'll find out who we have voted off."
Charlie nervously looked at the crew. Louise looked pleadingly at Charlie while Henry just hung his head. He made his vote, and the results appeared on the tablet. Quietly and breathing heavily, he turned the tablet towards the rest of the crew.
VOTE TO ELIMINATE
CHIEF PHYSICIAN HENRY McKIDD RODMAN: 4 VOTES
SECOND PHYSICIAN LOUISE PRONG: 5 VOTES
"NO!" Louise shouted as she fell to the floor.
"I'm s-sorry Louise!" Charlie replied.
"Damn it Charlie!" Alice yelled "Who did you vote for?!"
"I-I voted for Henry!" he replied "My vote wouldn't have mattered!"
"Well who voted for who then?!" Alice replied.
"It's more like three to four…" Henry spoke "As neither I nor Louise would vote for ourselves."
"Well who voted for who then?!" Sam demanded.
The captain shook his head "I won't tell, it's not right to blame the others for their suspicions."
"I want a revote!" Alice shouted.
"You're not captain" Gary replied as he put the tablet away. "Tommy? Eleanor? Restrain Louise."
"NO!" Louise shouted as she tried to flee the cafeteria, but Rachel jumped on to her and brought her to the ground.
"PLEASE!" she teared "WHO KILLED MAX?! I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT!"
"But then who killed Sal and Scottie?!" Gary asked.
As she tried to squirm away, Henry pulled out a syringe and stuck it into Louise's shoulder. Her struggling slowed as the pink uniformed crew-mate fell unconscious.
Rachel sighed as she got off the nurse and watched her get picked up by Eleanor.
"Did that kill her?" Charlie asked.
Dr. Rodman shook his head "No, but it was a very intense sedative."
"So… she should die before she wakes up…" Rachel said as she tugged at her collar.
As everyone caught their breaths, Henry took out an empty syringe and drew some blood out of her artery.
"Well now that she's out cold," Alice began "how are we getting her off the ship?"
"The garbage airlock in Storage." The captain replied "It's similar to how space funerals are done if a fallen crew-member requests it."
With a sigh, Tommy picked up Louise's body and slumped her over his shoulder as the remaining crew members made their way to Storage.
The garbage airlock was by the starboard wall of the Skeld. It was a little bit bigger than a clothes dryer. Tommy clumsily put Louise's limp body into the chamber.
"I still think we should vote off Henry…" Sam spoke as the door was closed.
"Me too…" Charlie added "And Henry is quite strong and controls the sedatives. How are we gonna bring him here if he does get voted out?"
"Mark my words you two…" Henry coldly began "If someone else dies and I do happen to be voted off…I assure you that I will face my doom with dignity."
Charlie and Sam looked in different directions as the door was locked.
"How long can a body in an IA suit survive in space?" Eleanor asked.
Henry scratched his chin "Well there are those who have been in accidents and then recovered that have lasted twelve hours, and those who have found to have died within three hours of disconnection due to their panicked states."
"What's the average?" Rachel wondered.
"If I had to guess… six hours." Henry answered.
Rachel then pulled out her tablet and started a timer for six hours.
"Does anyone have anything to say before we send Louise into space?" The captain asked.
"I do" Rachel spoke as she walked up to the disposal. She closed her eyes and laced her fingers as if she was about to pray.
"Through the great goodness of whatever powers there be that control the universe, may they pardon Louise for whatever sins have been committed by her. And if we are wrong about our decision, may those powers pardon us for our mis-judgement."
Rachel unlaced her hands as she stepped away from the airlock. Gary then sighed and lifted up the cover that would activate the airlock. Closing his eyes, he slammed on the button and the doors space-side flew open and sent Louise's body out into the vacuum of space to meet her uncertain fate.
Henry watched his nurse vanish into the blackness while Charlie tried not to cry. Sam and Alice turned their backs to the window. Eleanor simply sighed.
"Alright everyone," the captain spoke "Back to your duties."
Everyone slowly walked away in different directions. Rachel walked with Tommy to the engines. Charlie, Sam and Alice made their way to the cafeteria. Eleanor, Gary and Henry made their way to Navigation where the Helm was.
"Do you really mean that you'd go quietly if we voted you off?" Eleanor asked.
Henry nodded "I mean it. What would be the point of struggling as I'd be outnumbered."
"Well it's very honorable of you to do so if you were voted off."
While Eleanor and Gary entered Navigation, Henry made his way to where Dr. Max died.
"What are you doing Henry?" Gary asked.
"I'm going to finish what Max started. We've got a new dead body on this ship and I want to find out if there is going to be any more of them."
Gary sighed and let Henry leave. The doctor passed through weapons and then entered the Cafeteria where Sam, Charlie and Alice all glared at him. No one said a word as he walked through, and the trio continued their conversation once the doctor left.
"I don't trust him…" Sam spoke "It's like when I was at bootcamp. The lonely ones were often working on something nasty to hurt their fellow soldiers."
"But if we antagonize him, it would make him more likely to attack us, right?" Charlie wondered.
"That may be true" Alice began "but maybe if we goad him into biting it'd be easier for us to convince the rest to boot him off the ship."
Sam scratched her head as Charlie fiddled his fingers.
"I got it" Charlie spoke "We frame him."
"Frame him?" Sam asked.
"Yep. We pin an act of sabotage on him and then turn everyone else against him."
"But what about the captain?" Alice asked "Tommy, Rachel, or Eleanor? What if they don't trust our story?"
"That's right!" Sam spoke "I voted for Henry when we first voted."
"Same here" Alice added. "If the vote was four to five with Louise not voting for herself, that means that everyone else voted for Louise. We were out numbered."
"And it's even numbered…" Charlie spoke "What would a tie do?"
"Probably no one getting voted off…" Alice spoke "If we wanted to have bargaining power…someone else would have to die."
The three sighed as their plans bounced around their heads as Eleanor and Gary sat in Navigation.
"Maybe I was wrong with voting off Louise…" Gary spoke as he sipped some Don Dew.
"Why do you say that? I voted her off too because I didn't trust her…"
"Because Louise being responsible for all three deaths doesn't make sense and something tells me that Louise would have never killed Max. And the logistics of her killing him doesn't make sense."
"Captain," Eleanor spoke "You and I were the only ones who saw Max before he was murdered in that gruesome way. The other two deaths were simple murders and this third death was incongruous with the first two."
"Maybe…just maybe…there's some sort of beast on this ship that we don't know about."
"A monster?" Eleanor asked.
The captain nodded "Something that could cleave a person in half and eat them without a stain of evidence on their body."
Eleanor sighed as she leaned back in her chair "That may be the case…but we won't be sure if we did the right thing until we get to Polus."
The captain nodded and the two just watched the stars pass by as The Skeld flew through space.
Everyone that was left was on edge. Did they eliminate the imposter on the ship or did they eject an innocent crewmate that had been caught up in the emotional stress?
The truth of the matter would turn out to be much much worse.
