Chapter 17: Gallo

Gallo felt like a new man. He had missed himself. He was back now and he had a lot of work to do. Seating himself at the security terminal humming to himself, he quickly found the other files he had hidden away within the system's files. He knew what they were and what control they gave him. With his memory fully restored, he was unstoppable.

There were several files but there were only two that gave him much more control of the ship than the rest. The first of the files were the Last Resort Codes that he had stolen from the dead Captain. These codes were only to be used in times of a mutiny. It allowed the Captain to have full access over all firewalls and doors as well as full control over the security cameras. It also gave the Captain control of all the cryopods. He typed in the codes and immediately, back up power switched on bringing all of the ship's cameras and doors to life. Unfortunately, the bridge door was still locked even after these codes were input. He was going to have to wait until after the reactor was reset.

No problem.

The second file was Emergency Override Codes for the computer systems on board. These codes would trigger the ship's reaction to whatever emergency could occur. By triggering fake emergencies, it allowed him to gain control the life support systems of each area manually. He could pressurized a room or he could cause a vacuums in case of large unnatural fires. It also allowed him to control the oxygen levels, the sprinkler systems, the lights and the emergency hatches. He could close and seal rooms off as if there were a hull breach. As he entered these codes a red alarm light flashed on screen. He had disabled the audible alarm for the rest of the ship so he was safe from alerting anyone to his treachery.

Ah the rush, that feeling of total power. Gallo knew their lives were in his hands now and the emotions ripping through his body were intense, nearly orgasmic. They were little flies in his web of deception, his spun world of woe.

Gallo began to receive warnings of the reactor's shutdown. These he ignored. He knew the it was imperative that Bower be allowed to reset it. He already planned to shut out the hunters as best he could to allowed Bower a straight shot at the reactor terminal. He knew there would be a few stragglers but the majority of the hunters would be held at bay.

"Corporal Bower," he said aloud. No one could hear him, but he didn't care. They would all become aware of him soon enough. "I have decided to bless your mission. See how I can change the outlook of our future. Witness my power, my insight and my benevolence." Gallo shuddered with pleasure.

Using the security cameras to guide him, he began to shut large bay doors and smaller personnel doors to limit access to the reactor room. He also used the ship's schematics to seal all of the maintenance hatches, air vents and crawlspaces. Bower now had a single way to get into the reactor room. Once he was inside, he could reset the reactor without interruption except for any hunters that managed to follow him which was improbable. This funneling of security gave Bower a far better chance than possibly being ambushed from all sides and at any time during his approach to the terminal. So far, everything looked good.

"I have given unto you, a better chance." Gallo announced. "I have blessed your path. When we finally meet face to face, you will show me the proper respect. You will worship me, you will love me and you will fear me." He chuckled to himself. He felt so alive.

Gallo began pouring over the schematics and the camera shots that covered the path that Bower was going to take to enter the reactor room. He made sure that there were no blocked passages and no locked doors on any of the levels Bower would be traveling through. He wanted to make sure that nothing was going to get in his way. He must be allowed to reset the reactor at all costs. Everything looked good. Everything was ready. Perfect.

"You have free reign in the world I have created for you," Gallo said aloud to himself, "You may go anywhere on board except for the bridge. The bridge is mine to command; You may not enter there. This is your forbidden fruit."

He wanted to watch Bower's progression. He wished to see how far Bower had come.

Using the security cameras, he pinpointed Bower's location and watched the small group moving through the darkness. So Bower had found friends to help him. Good. This increased the chances of success within the reactor room. It also gave Gallo more subjects to reign over.

Leland.

When Gallo saw that he had managed to come into contact with the infidel Leland, Gallo's smug smile vanished. He had been compromised. He had no doubts that Leland had told them of their history. They knew the truth to Payton being a fake. Gallo had killed the real Payton, fed his body to the hunters and had assumed Payton's identity.

He stood up from the station and began pacing back and forth before the security terminal, worrying.

Back when he had been nursed by Leland, he wasn't sure if he was going to pull through. A man teetering on the threshold of death is prone to confess things and to admit to actions that normally he would never admit to. He had blabbed all of his plans, confessed all of his sins to the infidel Leland because he thought he wasn't going to make it.

After Gallo was sure he was strong enough, he had attempted to kill and silence the infidel forever but his plan had been thwarted.

Leland had been caring for him in the storage tank. He would climb down from the platform overhead to deliver food and water, to change Gallo's bandages and to administer medications.

Gallo had been watching his movements closely for several days. He drank the antibiotic liquid for infection and the ibuprofen pill with some water for the fever. "Thank you." He had told him.

The dark man had smiled at him and said something meaning to be funny, at which Gallo pretended to laugh.

"You should be on your feet soon." Leland told him in that annoying gravelly voice. "Maybe start off slow like just taking a short walk around the room. I'll help you."

"You've done so much for me already," Gallo lied. "Maybe if I had something to lean on like a cane or a crutch, I could walk myself. I don't want you doing anything more for me. You've done too much already." He tried to sound gracious, but was afraid perhaps his impatience had been revealed.

Leland hadn't noticed. "Sure," he agreed. He had dug up a heavy steel pipe that was flat and round on the top. "This should help you. You can use it like a cane or a crutch."

He had been so pathetically sincere, Gallo remembered with revulsion. So eager to help, so happy to be useful, a complete waste of human flesh.

After Leland handed over the cane did Gallo attack. He had struck Leland over the head with the weapon, sending the dark man sprawling to the floor.

"What the fuck, man?" Leland shouted. He was holding his bleeding head. "I helped you. I saved your life. What the fuck?"

"You've been a good subject, Leland, but I'm afraid you know too much."

"What?"

"I've told you my plans. I've told you the truth. You know everything so you must die."

"Bullshit."

"This is my judgment. It must be so."

"What the hell are you talking about, man?" Leland had been crawling away from him. At the time, Gallo thought it was just a desperate and feeble attempt to get away. He fell for Leland's trap.

"I am the God of this ship, the supreme commander do you understand?" Gallo told him.

"Go fuck yourself."

As he had slowly followed Leland, he continued to explain why he had to die. He was so engrossed in his speech that he had failed to notice what was overhead. Leland had shrewdly lured him beneath a suspended net. He had cut the rope and the net fell on top of Gallo.

"I curse you!" Gallo had screamed at him as Leland opened the hatch. Struggling to free himself for the heavy net, he was helpless. "I'll cut you to pieces! I'll rip out your eyes and piss in your sockets!"

"Like I said," Leland growled at him, glaring, "Go fuck yourself." The dark man had then kicked him down the stairs and locked the hatch behind him.

Gallo felt the hatred beginning to boil. He had placed a curse upon Leland, so he must suffer. He stood watching the monitor, trembling with fury. His jaw ached from clenching, his forearms burned from clenched fists. The hunger for destruction was filling him up.

He didn't want to lose control of himself, not yet. He needed to be focused, he had to make sure everything went according to plan. Going into a destructive rampage could jeopardize Bower's mission. Leland would pay for his treachery, he just had to be patient. Gallo turned from the monitor, breathing in deeply and thinking soothing thoughts. After a few minutes of calming, he sat back down at the terminal and relocated the small party.

There was an Asian man in the group that he didn't recognize. He looked fierce and strong. He was a suitable warrior to help protect Bower during this endeavor. The fact that he was out in front of the party and the rest followed behind showed a dominance of combat skill. Bower was probably the brains and this man was the brawn.

After the fierce man was the woman. Good lord. What a woman! Gallo was immediately enchanted by her strength, the confidence with which she moved but also the delicate feminine profile and lovely face. He saw her weapons and her scars from battle. How could she have survived so long? She must be a deadly combatant to have endured through the hunting.

Gallo was aware that he was staring at her but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She was perfect. She was both deadly and beautiful like a bird of prey or a carnivorous flower. Her eyes were were breath-taking. The tone of her skin, the curve of her mouth, the shape of her hips was enough to get him to zoom the camera in to watch only her.

"You are the most wonderful, stunning woman I have ever seen." He said aloud. "I think I shall spare your life."

The group had stopped moving and they had hunkered down low, perhaps listening for hunters.

He watched her as she studied her surroundings. The dark hair, the blue eyes reminded Gallo of the Commander he had killed off long ago. This was his second chance, "You are everything that I need. I wonder what your name is, my pet. Ah. It's no matter. I will rescue you from this rabble, give you a name and you will love me for it."

She was staring directly at the camera now. The Asian man in front of the group had noticed the camera's slight movements as Gallo panned to keep the woman in frame. No matter. They still had to reset the reactor, so he had plenty of time to study the gorgeous creature.

"Yes, you will love me more than you have ever loved another man, my pet," He decided.

The woman was glaring at the camera.

"You will be my queen."