ISS Artemis 24 docked to Elli's Chance System 612-744 (Chief Engineer Supplement)
Date 1184-265 Imperial Standard
Time Concurrent
Vrain had checked the emergency power supply to the lift and found it was near fully charged; they would not have to climb through the maintenance ways down to the lower deck. He watched the commander and pilot Val as the door closed before descending. Poor kid is terrified, he thought.
He turned his attention to the youngest member of the crew. Mel was too street tough to let her feeling show as Val did.
"How are you holding up Mel?"
"Fine boss," she answered, "just another walk in a hydroponic park."
"You remember to keep the safety on that SMG, right?"
Mel turned just enough so he could see her roll her eyes. It was actually more of a response that he expected. She turned back to the doors but instead of resuming her effort to stare a hole in the door she rubbed her eyes.
"No really, are you ok?"
"'m fine."
"Mel," he lowered his voice an octave, "I need to know the person at my back is good to go or we head back up now.'
"It's just a head ache. No big deal."
"Girl stuff?"
"No," she snapped, then continued softer, "It started as we came aboard this tub and is a little worse now. Your back is covered."
Vrain watched until they stopped on the first deck, "Alright, but you check in if it is affecting you."
Mel grunted and lifted her weapon to a ready position as the doors opened. Light was poor so they each turned on the weapon mounted lights, bathing the area in 200 lumens.
"Wow," Mel exclaimed.
Instead of the large cargo bay they should have looked into the area had been built into what appeared to be a series of self contained laboratories. Just forward of the lift a set of stairs led up to a deck which should have been the upper part of the bay. Swinging their lights aft the corridor ended in a standard hatch which should give access to the rear cargo bay and then engineering. A dark area on the deck and bulkhead gave indication of a small fire in the recent past.
"Boss, in the scorch mark there, is that," Mel's voice trailed off.
"Bones," Vrain finished the thought. "Could be, hard to tell from here. Let's just stand a moment and get a feel for this girl. I will watch aft, you take forward. Remember you are loaded with electro rounds, they are not pleasant but won't kill anyone so if you are not sure, shoot it first."
They stood that way for several minutes back to back, one foot each in the lift, one outside watching and listening. "Anything Mel?"
"Quiet as a verdorie tomb."
"You are too young to say things like that."
"Optiefen"
"What's that?"
"Nothing boss, what's the plan?"
Vrain thought for a moment then nodded to the stairs, "I want to take a look up there, make sure nothing hungry is sleeping and about to wake up looking for walking breakfast rations. I'll go first."
The two engineers quietly ascended the stairs and were surprised again at the top. The upper level had a corridor down the center with doors on both sides.
"What do you suppose this is," Mel asked. "Quarters?"
"Can't say so let's look," Vrain answered. "We'll take that first door on the right there."
They moved up and examined the door. A name plate told them it was 'Emile Naviy:Biochemistry'
"Looks like quick build quarters," Vrain observed, "not a pressurized door or even powered." He gave it a tug, "Hmpf, locked."
Mel stepped up and bumped him aside. She produced a six inch blade from somewhere on her gear and inserted it along the door crack. A quick wiggle and twist produced the sound of something snapping inside.
"No it's not," she said as the blade vanished again.
Vrain bit his lip, holding back a comment and nodded. "Should be safe, take a look but don't disturb anything.
Mel stepped inside to find it was both quarters and an office. On the personal side was the usual bunk and entertainment paraphernalia although no fresher facilities. They must be shared on this level she realized. A clothing rack held utility clothing, lab coats and a personalized vacc suit at the end. Several holo cubes and other personal mementos rounded out the inventory.
Turning to the desk she noticed several data pads, a hand comp and full sized high end computer. She activated a pad, finding it open to notes about an experiment, something to do with complex molecules.
"What are you finding," Vrain asked from the door way.
"Not much. One of the scientists lived here, traveled light looks like. He has some notes about what he was doing but I would have to sit down and study a bunch to figure out what it is about."
"Don't worry about that. See if there is anything that tells about their escaped specimens."
Their predicament quickly came back to Mel. She turned on the remaining pads and the computer. The pads each seemed to be devoted to different experiments but were in process notes so did not have any overview she could understand.
The computer was open to a report Emile was preparing for a staff briefing. He planned to discuss the opportunities presented by 'Mailable self-restructuring semi-organic complex molecule chains' and 'molecular revivification within a bio-electric matrix' whatever the helle that meant.
"Lots of brain kakka here boss. Want me to grab any?"
"No, let's get on to engineering. Commander Ishyn will want us to check in soon."
As Mel turned she spotted a specimen jar that appeared to be filled with dirt and a data cube sat on the lid. She picked it up and shook it but it seemed to be inert. She looked the the computer port to check what the cube had when Vrain called again.
"Let's move young one."
On impulse she pocketed both items.
"Sorry, thought I saw something interesting but it wasn't."
Vrain looks up and down the corridor, "'s Ok, this ship gives me the shivers. It is alive and dead at the same time."
"Ahh!" Mel called out grabbing her head.
"What's wrong?"
"My head, it was a sudden stab of pain."
"I think we should get you back and let the autodoc check you. This ship may even have something in its med bay."
"No, I'm better now. It throbs some but I can handle it."
The communicator cut off any reply Vrain may have had.
"Vrain, Mel," Ishyn was shouting, "where are you? Are you alright?"
"We are in an office area that was built into the cargo bay," Vrain answered, "I'm good but Mel says her head hurts."
"Was she injured?"
"No sir just..."
"Never mind then," Ishyn cut him off, "Drop what you are doing and didi mau back to the crew area. We will wait and cover you there."
Vrain became alarmed, "What is wrong sir? Are you in trouble?"
"No time to talk. Run, we are evacuating. Talk later, get off this ship now."
Vrain was following Mel at a run down the stairs, "On the way, meet you at the crew lounge, aye, aye."
Mel, being the quicker, had reached the lift and had taken a knee, covering down the hall towards the rear cargo bay. Vrain ran into the lift and pressed the manual button for the top deck. Mel stood but paused, looking down the corridor.
"Vrain, do you," she began.
"No time," he reached and pulled her in, letting the doors closed. As the lift rose he asked, "Did you see something."
Mel rubbed her eyes and temples again, "I don't think so. Head is affecting my eyes a little."
He gave the shoulder a supporting squeeze, "We will look you over on Artemis, don't worry."