Chapter Ten: Evacuate Immediately!
Isaac arrived back at the Bridge without too much more difficulty. Kyne was waiting for him, dressed in a Trauma RIG, made for Medical personnel who might be needed in vacuum or zero-gravity areas. He also had a plasma cutter with him.
"You ready?" Isaac asked. Dr. Kyne nodded as he pulled the helmet on and sealed it.
"Lead the way, Mr. Clarke," Kyne replied. With that, they headed to the tram and to the Crew Deck. They arrived in short order.
"Kendra, we're here," said Isaac as he and Kyne stepped off onto the tram station for the Crew Deck.
"I hear you, but your signal's cutting in and out. Something's interfering with the signal," said Kendra.
"Likely more of that resin stuff. It seems to interfere with radio signals. And it's spreading," said Isaac.
"Yes, our preliminary studies of samples indicated it was not entirely organic, at least as we know it. The biology and chemistry of the Xenomorphs is unlike anything we have ever encountered," said Kyne as he looked around where he stood next to Isaac.
"Most of the Crew Deck is locked down. Looks like they knew you were coming," said Kendra.
"I've got Mercer's RIG and codes," said Isaac.
"And I have access as Chief Science Officer. We should be able to get to the shuttle," Kyne added.
"How long do you think it will take for you to install the singularity core?" Kendra asked Isaac.
"Not long . . . if nobody tries to stop me," Isaac replied.
"All right. Be careful, you two. I'm sure they've laid at least one trap for you, likely more," Kendra warned.
"And that's not counting the aliens. All right, we're heading in. Wish us luck," said Isaac, turned to Kyne. The doctor nodded and the two men opened the door to the Common Area. It was dark, lights out and some sparking. A few sparse lights were still on. More candles and lanterns lit the gloom, highlighting more scrawls of the aliens surrounding the lights. Isaac kept his flamethrower up and ready. Even from where he was, Isaac could see signs of fighting. "They hit this place hard," he observed, and Kyne nodded.
"Yes. They sensed prey clustered here, and made a concerted effort to breach our meager defenses," said Kyne as they walked past some bloodstains.
"Yeah, they're smart. The one on the Valor even learned to use scrap as a shield when we tried to Stasis it," said Isaac. Kyne looked at him.
"Yes, we never were entirely sure about their intelligence level, but they certainly are not dumb beasts," Kyne retorted. Isaac saw scrawls everywhere, some in blood. Some were saying "It's time", others talking about "Dark angels". All of it creeped Isaac out. Isaac checked the door to the Central Nexus. The door was inoperable, not even a hologram glowing. Isaac had a look.
"Huh, looks like someone pulled out the circuits and smashed the connectors. We'll have to find another way around," said Isaac. Kyne nodded.
"Yes, that was back when people were barricading themselves into any place they thought they would be safe. Some people disabled doors or other systems, thinking it would keep the Xenomorphs out until help could come," Kyne explained. Isaac looked at the damage.
"Well, we're not getting in, either," mused the engineer as they looked for another route.
"I do believe there were sealed maintenance hatches in another area, if I recall," said Kyne. Isaac nodded, and checked his ion torch. He had plenty of fuel.
"Yeah, we'll likely need them to get past some of the barricades." Isaac just hoped they would be the only thing moving around inside the maintenance tunnels.
Isaac and Kyne headed through the nearby door, ended up in a hallway that had seen serious fighting. There was plenty of bloodstains, not many acid holes. Some hastily-made barricades from crates and whatever else they could find had been broken. Isaac's head was on a swivel as he checked around. Wires sparked, some panels of walls were torn off or shredded by claws, but no signs of access hatches. He also noticed the lights were destroyed in the area as well. Isaac and Kyne headed to the locker rooms and showers for the Z-Ball court first. They opened the doors, and Isaac couldn't help recoiling slightly.
Several people were dead, piled up in a corner of the shower. What made Isaac recoil wasn't death, as he had seen his fair share of it. It was the fact the people had clearly been shot, some stabbed. The worst, was it looked like they hadn't been dead long. Some of the blood was still liquid, not yet congealed or clotted. The two men were silent, no words needed. They then entered the locker room in front of the Zero-G Gym. They took the lift up to the second level. There was more scenes of carnage, blood, signs of fighting. However, Isaac gave a soft sigh of relief as he saw a maintenance hatch. He brought out the ion torch, snapped out the shield screen, and began to cut the heavy hatch open. Kyne helped him to lift the heavy hatch cover off and set it down without making a huge racket, and then climbed inside. Isaac led with his flamethrower, checking to make sure it was clear. He shined his light up and down, then motioned for Kyne to come in. "You'll need to direct me," said Isaac. Kyne looked around.
"It's a little different here in these tunnels, but the shuttle will be on the bottom floor of the crew deck," said Kyne. Isaac looked left, then right, getting his bearings. They headed to the right. Thankfully, engraved in the metal in front of the hatches were letters where they let out into. They came to a ladder down, and Isaac was leery, but they had little choice. He climbed down, Kyne behind him. On a lower level, they followed the tunnel until they found a hatch labeled "Mess Hall". Isaac pulled and turned the handle, grunting as he pushed the hatch open. They came out into the lower half of the Mess Hall. Isaac glanced around, and climbed up, motioning for Kyne to follow. He glanced around as Kyne exited the hatch and then closed it so as to not alert anyone.
The area was damaged, more evidence of clear fighting, but Isaac couldn't tell if it was with the aliens, or Mercer's crazy cult. Tables were overturned, and the far window had been smashed and the emergency shutters sealed the hull breach. They glanced around, Isaac making sure to check the ceilings and walls as well, as the Xenomorphs had more than once laid such traps by staying just out of sight. "I think the coast is clear," said Kyne. Isaac nodded and they headed over to the lift and took it up to the upper level. Wires and conduits hung down from where the aliens had broken through the ceiling, likely from small accessways they were able to squeeze into. There was more evidence of fighting. He could see some acid holes and evidence people fought back. They made their was through and down the access hall to the Central Nexus. A large glass wall separated the area into two halves, but the glass was long ago shattered. Here, the signs of fighting were huge, and it looked like it had been a last stand for many. Bloodstains, acid holes, claw marks, broken and bent supports and metal. Isaac glanced up, and could see vents torn open, high up, some with blood trails leading up into them. Isaac kept his flamethrower up as they ventured in. Both of them kept their wits about them, eyes darting to every shadow, of which there were many due to the fact most of the lights had been broken, most likely in the fighting. Kyne scanned his RIG on the security terminal, but it buzzed.
"Access denied," the computer replied.
"What?" Kyne said, surprised. Isaac came forward and scanned Mercer's RIG.
"Access denied," the computer repeated.
"What the hell? Even Mercer's RIG won't access it?" Isaac asked.
"Not for you two heretics it won't," said a male voice. They whirled, and several people stood on the other side of the room. Some were armed with plasma saws and other tools. One man had a plasma cutter. Isaac was about to raise his weapon, but Kyne stopped him, stepping forward.
"Listen to me! It doesn't have to be like this! We can all get out of here and survive! We can bring back help!" Kyne pleaded. The man who addressed them, a man with greasy black hair in a gray tank top, grinned at them.
"We must help the angels," said the man.
"We can't let you stand in the way," said another.
"Kyne, get back," Isaac warned, the doctor slowly backing up. Isaac saw the man with the plasma cutter being to raise his weapon, and fired first with the Pulse Rifle, blowing the man's right arm off. "Run for it!" Isaac yelled as they dashed back to the door they had come from. The cultists charged, one man raising an axe as he dashed at them.
"For the angels!" he screamed. Isaac had no choice, shooting the man in the head. The body toppled to the ground. As they opened the door, they heard the wet sound of ribs cracking. They turned, and heard a screech as the chest of the dead man broke open loudly, the new Xenomorph screeching as it was born. Isaac blasted it, to the screams of anger of the cultists. Isaac and Kyne fled down the halls, hearing them open the doors and running after them. They dashed down the halls and around the corner, finding an elevator down to the Standard Quarters. Isaac punched it, shot a few of the crazies and pressed the button. The doors closed and took them down to the Standard Quarters, where the normal workers of the Ishimura stayed. Isaac reloaded his rifle and Kyne did the same with his plasma cutter.
"Jesus, these people are fucking nuts," Isaac commented. Kyne nodded.
"I hadn't realized what Mercer was doing until it was too late. Even then, I thought most of them would have been killed by the Xenomorphs by now," Kyne replied.
"Worse, Mercer wanted to take them back to Earth. Bet his bunch of crazies want to do the same," said Isaac.
"All the more reason for us to get to the shuttle, and make sure they can't," the doctor replied. Isaac nodded as the elevator stopped and they raised their weapons as the doors opened. There was nothing, but they were ready, all the same.
"So, any ideas what now?" Isaac asked.
"Mercer had personal quarters in the Deluxe Quarters area. If there's any way to override his lockdown, it will be in there," said Kyne.
"Only trouble is getting there," said Isaac. He glanced around. "And I haven't seen any adult aliens around, but I'll bet they're here, skulking around." Kyne nodded.
"Yes, most likely. And if some of the people here were implanted, it doesn't bode well." They kept their weapons up and ready, just in case. They headed down the hall, and found the Standard Quarters door had been blocked, a barricade of hastily-made struts, panels and other parts that had not done the defenders any good. The panels had been peeled open like a tin can. Isaac could see alien claw marks in the metal, some torn by sheer brute force. Isaac had to duck underneath, Kyne following. They kept their weapons ready as Isaac opened the door.
Crew quarters were small, just a bed with a panel to seal it off when wanting privacy. The long hall was lined with them. Isaac could see some had been torn open, some had bloodstains. Isaac and Kyne slowly and warily stepped into the dark, eerie area. The lights were out, but when Isaac turned his light up to see, he was surprised to see claw marks around the smashed light fixture.
"Kyne, am I seeing things, or . . . does it look like . . ." Isaac trailed off, almost not wanting to voice the implication. Kyne sighed and nodded.
"They did, indeed, display the intelligence to destroy light sources. They may not have eyes, but they seem to be aware of light, and that darkness is an ally to them. Whether or not that is instinctual, or from genuine intelligence, I cannot say," Kyne stated, but Isaac could sense the fear in his voice as well.
"Did you ever figure out how these things see?" Isaac asked as they warily ventured in.
"No. I have some theories, but nothing concrete," Kyne replied.
"Well, what was your best guess?" Isaac asked as he saw where someone had been dragged into a vent, the blood around it suggesting they may not have been in one piece when it happened.
"My best and most educated guess was electroreception," said Kyne. Isaac glanced back at him. "That they sense the bioelectrical field generated by living organisms. Our nerves being the most obvious target," he clarified. Isaac frowned and thought. That would make a lot of sense, and why they seemed able to home in on wherever he or other survivors were, regardless of distance, atmosphere or darkness.
They paused when they saw markings on the floor, more of the scribbles that seemed to revere the creatures. Candles and lanterns glowed softly. Isaac carefully came closer, saw a body in one of the beds. The chest was torn open from the inside, and Isaac shivered. That these people would willingly offer themselves to these things was beyond comprehension. It further showed the depths of insanity Mercer had driven these people to. Isaac was more and more glad the not-so-good doctor had met a painful end at the claws of his beloved "angels".
"There's gotta be another maintenance hatch, somewhere," said Isaac. Kyne looked around.
"I believe so, but," he stopped when they heard something. A soft scrabbling. Isaac tilted his head, Kyne was on edge as well.
Something suddenly moved. Isaac whirled and discharged his flame as one of the spider-creatures leaped at them. Kyne dove out of the way and so did Isaac, who gave it another blast as it flopped and writhed on the floor.
"Shit!" Isaac swore, looking around frantically. Kyne got up and regrouped with him. They looked around, and Kyne pointed.
"There! There's the other hatch," he exclaimed. Isaac got out his ion torch and hurried to open the hatch cover, Kyne watching for any more ambushes. Isaac pulled the cover off and opened the inner hatch. Kyne followed him in as quick as he could. "We'll need to hurry. Now that we know the parasites are actively roaming the Ishimura looking for hosts, and the others are looking for us, it's imperative we get the shuttle as soon as possible," Kyne stated as they made their way back into the maintenance tunnels, moving along in a crouch.
"Yeah. Let's override that lockdown and get the hell out of here," Isaac agreed. Not long after that, they heard scrabbling in the tunnel. Isaac shined his light forward and back, trying not to panic. They saw nothing, but every hair was on end under their suits, knowing they were not alone. They made it to a ladder without incident, and Isaac climbed first.
Isaac peeked his head up, and almost had a heart attack when a spider-creature leaped at his face. Isaac screamed as he fired the flamethrower. The creature, now a flaming ball, collided with the back of the tunnel and fell by Kyne, who ducked to the side on the ladder as it fell down to the previous level. "Move!" Isaac ordered. Kyne hurried to follow him, Isaac checking the lettering. After several more twists and turns, Isaac found the right way. He pulled and twisted the handle, and opened the hatch with a creak. Isaac peeked his head out, and they were in another bunk room. This one with far more room and larger bed. The Deluxe Quarters, where those higher in rank than common miners and workers slept. Isaac kept his flamethrower ready, glanced around. He motioned for Kyne to follow, helping him up as they left the hatch. Isaac looked around. This area had been barricaded as well, and a little better. Not that it did the defenders much good. A woman in an Officer's Uniform laid against a wall, handgun still in her hand, side of her head blown away and the walls painted with blood, bits of skull and brain matter. Several other people had ended their own lives as well. It looked like the aliens had been about to breach the barriers as well. At least they went out like human beings, not brainwashed zealots and crazies like the cultists. They hardly had to cut anything in order to leave. They came out into the hub corridor. Kyne looked around, and saw the right door, just down to their right.
"There. That's Guest Consultant Quarters, where Mercer was staying," said Kyne. Isaac kept his flamethrower ready, both staying low as they made their way through the damaged corridors. More wires sparked from where they hung from a heavily damaged ceiling, and a large acid hole in the middle of the hall they nearly needed to hop over. They stopped in front of the door, and Isaac used Mercer's RIG on the locked door.
"Clearance confirmed. Welcome back, Dr. Mercer," said the computer as the door slid open. Isaac breathed a small sigh of relief as they made their way inside. Isaac was not too surprised at the various notes and specimens that dominated the walls. Samples of the spider-creatures, tissue and organ samples from former hosts, x-rays, tons of data.
"My god," Kyne said, horror in his voice. Isaac nodded, chilled when he saw still pictures of White's dog in the Chemical Lab, being attacked by one of the spider-creatures. Isaac looked around at the screens and consoles, but found nothing. He checked some lockers, again, nothing. He turned, and there was another door, down a hall. Doubtless Mercer's bedroom. Isaac readied his weapon, headed down, Kyne with him. They opened the door, and while there were more specimens, nothing attacked them. Isaac turned to his left, and on a desk, was the keycard they sought. He smiled under his helmet.
"Got it," said Isaac. He turned, and found Kyne looking at a console.
"Mr. Clarke, there's a message here," said Kyne as he turned to look at him. "From Dr. Brennan." Isaac gasped.
"What?!" Isaac said as he hurried over and pressed the hologram.
"Log retrieved," the computer confirmed, and a video opened in a hologram.
Nicole's face looked exactly like in the message he had received, but here it was far more clear, no static or distortion. She was clearly in one of the rooms in Medical. She set the camera up, sat down in the chair and sighed. She looked dirty, haggard and tired. Now that he could see her more clearly, she looked like she had been through hell. He now knew, she had.
"Isaac, it's me. I . . . wish I could talk to you. I'm . . . so sorry. About everything. It's all falling apart here. I still can't believe what's going on. Isaac, if you get this, I need you to know what happened here." She stopped, sighed, and collected herself. "Isaac,they found something, on the planet. An alien lifeform. It's extremely deadly and aggressive. The colony's gone dark, and so has most of the Ishimura. Isaac, if you get this, do not come after me." Isaac gasped as he finally heard the full message. She looked at the screen. "I loved you. I always loved you. I want you to know that. And I'm so sorry, for everything. That stupid fight we got into, that argument with your mom. I'm so sorry for it, all of it." Nicole sniffed as she held up a syringe. "I've seen what they do, what happens to those they capture alive. It's horrible." Isaac gasped as he touched the hologram. She smiled sadly at him. "I want you to know, I didn't suffer. I just . . . went to sleep." She was weeping now, and so was Isaac. "But, no matter what happens, Isaac, you can't let them get back to Earth. Please. Sweetbeet, don't let them . . ." she said, using her pet name for him as she pushed the needle into her arm and pushed the plunger.
"I . . . I won't, Niccy," Isaac wept as Nicole slumped in the chair, her RIG sounding a flatline tone as Isaac fell to his knees and wept. Kyne placed a gentle hand on Isaac's back.
"I . . . know what it's like to lose a loved one . . ." Kyne said shakily. Isaac shook for a few moments, before he stood up, looking at the final image of his girlfriend, before the message cut off. Isaac swallowed the lump in his throat. He glanced back at Kyne, who had taken off his helmet, smiled through his own tears. "At least you had the blessing of a final goodbye," said Kyne sadly. Isaac huffed softly, nodding. Isaac nodded harshly, checked his flamethrower, and straightened.
"Yeah. And we owe it to everyone these bugs killed to make sure they don't get out of here," said Issac, a new fire burning inside. Kyne smiled grimly and nodded, putting his helmet back on.
With that, the two men exited and headed back for the Central Nexus. Isaac had the feeling of being watched, whirled. That was when the vents burst open from the sides. Isaac growled and flamed the aliens before they fully left the vents, his anger and rage coming out along with the flames. Kyne fired at the creatures as well as they fled. However, not too much to Isaac's surprise, more aliens poured out of the vents behind them as the doors closed. They dashed for the door, opened it, headed out and took the lift down quickly. They ran for the doors, Isaac slid the keycard, and the door beeped and opened. They heard yelling, turned to see some of the cultists come charging in at the same time Xenomorphs poured out of broken vents above. Isaac fired as Kyne got through the door, then slammed it closed, then Isaac used the torch to weld it shut. He heard pounding on the door, not sure whether it was the cultists or the aliens. He welded the other door shut as well, and the two vents nearby. "That should buy us some time," said Isaac as he and Kyne ran into the shuttle bay. Sure enough, an executive shuttle sat there in the bay. Isaac ran around, Kyne following. He dashed up to the doors of the shuttle, scanning Mercer's RIG. The doors hummed and opened. Isaac rushed in with Kyne, pressed his hand to the hologram in the wall, which opened. Isaac pulled the singularity core out with shaking hands, slid it into the couplers, and it slid back into the wall, the shuttle humming. Isaac's heart was pounding.
"Singularity core replaced. Test-fire shuttle engines to complete hardware installation," the computer chimed. That was when Isaac heard the sound of a welder. His head snapped up, and he could see sparks in the hall beyond.
"Fuck!" yelled Isaac. He looked around. "Kyne, you stay in here while I test-fire the engines. We might need a hot takeoff!" said Isaac, rushing from the shuttle before Kyne could argue.
"Mr. Clarke, wait!" Kyne called.
"Close the doors!" Isaac yelled as he ran out, just as the cultists cut open the door and rushed in.
"There's the infidel!" one yelled.
"Angel killer!" yelled another.
"Yeah, here I am! Come and get me, ya fucks!" Isaac yelled back, running for the back of the hangar. The cultists followed, along with Xenomorphs, who were now pouring in from everywhere. Isaac rounded the back of the shuttle as no less than five aliens leaped down. Isaac cleared the way with his flamethrower, then whirled and discharged his Stasis module, enveloping the cultists and aliens in a blue glow. Isaac dashed for the Shuttle Bay Controls booth, rushed in and hit the button. The shuttle engines ignited in a blast of intense heat and fire, the whole bay lighting up. Xenomorphs scrambled away, but those and the cultists who were stuck in Stasis behind were reduced to ashes in a literal second. Isaac cheered and pumped his fist. "You're done, you sons of bitches!" Isaac yelled. That was when more Xenomorphs charged in, and he could heard yelling of more cultists.
"Mr. Clarke, the bay is full of them!" Kyne messaged on the radio. Isaac looked, saw the emergency release, and grinned darkly.
"Doc, buckle up! I'm blowing the hatches!" said Isaac, giving hardly a second before he threw the lever, alarms sounding as the large shuttle bay doors opened and the atmosphere was vented out into space, along with the aliens and cultists.
"Mr. Clarke, hurry!" Dr. Kyne yelled through the radio.
"No, you head over to Flight Deck. Tell Kendra I'm alive, and I'll meet you there!" Kyne was silent for a moment.
"Very well. Stay alive . . . for Nicole's sake," said Kyne as the shuttle left. Isaac watched without word as the shuttle left.
Isaac made his way out into the bay, the doors still open. He hurried back through the Central Nexus, now devoid of any life, due to the cultists cutting through the doors. Isaac was still wary, knowing the Xenomorphs were not affected by vacuum. Isaac made it back to the tram and headed for the Flight Deck, tapping his Rig and contacting Kendra as the tram departed.
"Kendra, it's Isaac. You there?" her face appeared.
"Yes, I'm here. What happened with the shuttle?" she asked.
"Fine. Had to blow a few bugs of various kinds out into space, though. Kyne's piloting the shuttle right now." Kendra sighed with visible relief.
"Not a moment too soon. I'm seeing more and more alerts. The Ishimura's damage is increasing. I don't think she can take much more," Kendra replied.
"All the more reason for us to get the hell out of here. Kyne? You there?" Isaac asked.
"Standing by, Mr. Clarke," Kyne replied.
"Kyne? Your flight path should take you past airlock nineteen. I can get there from the Computer Core," said Kendra.
"I'll be there, Ms. Daniels," Kyne replied.
"Can you make it to the airlock alone?" Isaac asked, worried.
"No movement on the cameras . . . I'll just run for it. Wish me luck," she said and cut the line. Isaac gave a soft sigh, only able to hope for the best. He sighed softly reloaded his flamethrower and readied himself.
"Now arriving at Flight Deck," said the computer as the tram rumbled to a halt. Isaac was ready as the door of the tram opened. He warily stepped out, looking up, and around first. He saw nothing. He warily moved out onto the platform, then headed for the elevator. Isaac took the elevator up to the Flight Lounge, at the same time every nerve tingling and on edge, but also ready to wilt at a moment's notice. He fought to keep his mind on the here and now, and not in the past, not on things that he knew would wreck him. He had two lives depending on him. He couldn't fall to pieces just yet.
The doors opened, and Isaac had his flamethrower ready and aimed. Nothing came out to challenge him, but he was wary. He knew better than anybody how the Xenomorphs were masters of ambush. He sidled along walls, stayed well away from vents or holes large enough to get a human head through, weapon always ready.
"Warning. Structural integrity compromised," the Ishimura computer warned as he opened the door into the Flight Lounge. He was greeted by the sight of where he and the others had entered into this nightmare, what felt like a lifetime ago. He could still see bullet holes where Hammond had shot at the aliens, the acid hole where their blood had burned through Johnston and through several decks below, he could even see where Chen had been dragged away through the vents to a more horrible fate.
Isaac shoved the thoughts to the back of his mind as he pushed forward, entering the Security Check-In station.
"Mr. Clarke? Are you there?" asked Kyne. Isaac gave a soft sigh of relief.
"Yeah, I'm here. What about Kendra?"
"Just fine, Isaac. I'm on the shuttle with Kyne," she said, sounding relieved, and Isaac was as well.
"We're coming in to land. We'll meet you on Runway Two, and . . . wait a minute," said Kyne. Isaac tensed anew.
"What? What's wrong?" Isaac asked, worry creeping into him anew. Kyne typed. Suddenly, Kyne's face appeared in a RIGLINK video window.
"Mr. Clarke! I just checked the video of the cargo hold of the shuttle!" said Kyne.
"What's wrong?" Isaac asked.
"See for yourselves," said Kyne and put the image up. Isaac felt ice in his gut when it displayed the cargo hold of the shuttle. Familiar, oval shapes with roots and fleshy petals rested.
"There's alien eggs on the shuttle?!" Isaac almost screamed in shock.
"What?!" Kendra shrieked.
"Mercer and his cult must've put them on, to bring them back to Earth," said Isaac. Kendra looked at Kyne in the video.
"Is the cargo bay secure?" she asked quickly. Kyne nodded.
"Thankfully," replied the doctor. Isaac was fighting new panic.
"Okay. Kyne, I'll meet you on the runway. I'll get on, we blow the cargo over Aegis VII, and the eggs will burn up in the atmosphere," said Isaac as he rushed for the door, which began to cycle.
"Good idea. We're just coming in to land," said Kyne. Isaac could hear the doors opening as the shuttle came in and landed. He had just opened the door when the ramp of the shuttle extended and Kyne rushed down, waving to him. "Mr. Clarke! Isaac, over here!" he called. Isaac headed over.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed. Kyne's stomach exploded in a shower of blood. Isaac gasped as Kyne collapsed.
"No! Kyne!" Isaac yelled. To his shock, the shuttle engines ignited and it lifted up and turned. Isaac helped Kyne to sit up, blood running from his nose and mouth. He watched as the shuttle took off, a video screen appearing, the face of Kendra appearing.
"Sorry, Isaac. I couldn't let him do it," she stated simply. Isaac felt ice chill him.
"W-what?" Isaac said shakily as he gave Kyne an injection of Somatic Gel. It did little. "Kendra . . . why?" Isaac asked. She glanced sidelong at him as she piloted the shuttle.
"Just doing my job," she replied.
"What do you mean? Who are you?" he asked. Her eyes flicked to him again.
"Well, you saved me, several times, so I guess I owe you that much. I work for Earthgov, and I'm here cleaning up a very old mess. I told you and Hammond that Aegis VII was off limits." It began to click in Isaac's mind.
"You . . . you knew," he breathed. She glanced at him.
"Some, not much. Couple hundred years ago, they intercepted a transmission of unknown origin. From Aegis VII. You heard it, when we first approached the Ishimura," said Kendra, and Isaac remembered that strange sound, that wail.
"And they found that alien ship," said Isaac. She nodded.
"Turns out, what they thought was a distress signal, was actually a warning," she stated ominously, and Isaac felt a shiver at that. "And you've seen why. The ultimate weapon," she stated, and Isaac almost lost it.
"What?! Are you crazy?! You've seen what they do! You've seen it yourself!" Kendra nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Yes, and that's why I'm here. My orders were 'Investigate lifeform, bring back specimen for analysis. All other considerations secondary. Crew expendable'." Isaac growled, grinding his teeth.
"You . . . you knew! You fucking knew Nicole was dead this whole time!" he screamed, anger and rage welling up in him.
"Sorry, Isaac. Wasn't my call. Was just the luck of the draw," she replied without emotion.
"Kendra, you've seen what they can do! How smart they are! They're not just dumb animals!" he argued.
"We're better equipped and prepared now. We can deal with a few bugs . . . even smart ones," she replied, a bit of a smirk playing on her face. "Don't worry, they'll bury the rest, nice and clean. And, for what it's worth, we made a hell of a team. You're a really resourceful guy. You'll find another way off the Ishimura." With that, she cut off the feed. Isaac was shaking, both with anger, sorrow, and fear.
"Mr. . . Clarke," Kyne coughed up a glob of blood. He raised his hand, and held something up.
"A shuttle remote," said Isaac. Kyne gave a weak smile.
"Please . . . don't let them . . . get off this world," Kyne gasped. Isaac took the remote.
"I won't. I promise," said Isaac, holding his hand. Kyne smiled as his eyes sagged closed.
"Amelia . . ." Kyne breathed. His RIG sounded a flatline tone, and he was gone. Isaac huffed as he stood up, pressed the button on the remote.
"Recalling shuttle USG-09. Prepping remote docking procedures," said the Ishimura, and Isaac grinned darkly, Pulse Rifle ready. He wasn't too surprised when his radio chirped.
"Dammit, Isaac! You don't know what you're doing!" Kendra yelled.
"The fuck I don't! I'm doing the smart thing! You and Earthgov aren't getting your hands on these killers. I'll make sure of that!" he snarled back.
"You fucking kidding me?! Shit!" she swore.
"Warning. Escape pod launched detected from shuttle USG-09," the Ishimura computer confirmed. Isaac swore. Then again, the only place she could go was a planet now full of aliens. He inwardly grinned at the thought. The shuttle came in to land once more, the hangar doors opening and the shuttle returning to land, ramp extending. Isaac laid Kyne down and crossed his hands, the last act of kindness he could give.
"Thank you, Kyne. I'll make sure they don't get back to Earth," Isaac said as he turned and boarded the shuttle. He walked past the launched escape pod, sat down in the pilot seat. He typed in commands, took the controls, and the shuttle once more launched. He flew out from the Ishimura, turned the shuttle, and faced Aegis VII. The source of the plague. He tapped a button, looked at the cargo of alien eggs. He frowned, pressed another button as he headed towards the planet.
"Warning. Cargo bay doors open. Cargo compartment purged," the computer confirmed, and Isaac smiled inwardly as he saw the eggs vanish and begin to plummet down to the planet far below. He typed another command, closing the shuttle cargo doors. He hovered for a few moments, considering his next action, then began a descent to the planet below, the shuttle gently inclining as he set the flight path for the colony.
Isaac had just flown under a large asteroid, when the ship rocked with an explosion to the rear.
"What the?!" Isaac yelped.
"Warning. Starboard booster unresponsive," the computer alerted him as the shuttle began to rock and spin dangerously.
"Oh, fuck!" he swore as he dove towards the planet.
