Page 14 of Kryxis

“So you can watch like last time?” Lex said.

Phen’s antenna flicked. “Yes.”

Lex shook their head. “You’re so morbid.”

“If they do, we can record it and show it to the heads so they know we couldn’t complete our run,” Tom suggested.

“We will complete it,” Dani said. Her gaze drifted over to the stairs which led to the control room. “Just keep close.”

They marched upstairs and crowded into the control room. From there, Dani pulled up the cameras along the ship.

The men were circling the area, their nets now placed in various spots around the perimeter. They had their guns relaxed at first, until one of them signaled to the others and aimed his weapon into the dark.

“There!” Phen pointed.

Dani saw it. Something big lurked in the corner of the screen in the dark, only seen sparingly by the light of gunfire that now went off like fireworks. Whatever the thing was, it crawled down the side of a wall with long, spindly legs.

The soldiers backed up as if the creature might be coming toward them. The crew drew closer to the screen, waiting to see, listening to the gunfire outside.

There was a loud clicking noise followed by a low groan. The screen went gray then black.

The lights flickered above them. Then everything went dark.

Someone gasped beside her. “What the fuck?”

Dani turned her suit lights on. The others did the same, barely piercing the darkness with dull white light.

“Everyone okay?” she called.

“Yes,” they answered.

Tom directed his light to the door. “The ship’s power just went down…”

“What do you think could have caused that?” said Myrell.

“Don’t know…” said Tom.

“Could be a fuse, right, Morse?” Dani asked.

Morse, who had the most mechanical expertise of the crew, seemed to consider it. “Maybe,” he mumbled. “Could be many things.” He sniffed toward the door, and she saw the hairs on his head stand on end. “It could be a power supply or the connectors. Would have to go down to the engine room to see…”

Dani stared at the blackness beyond the door.

“I’ll go,” she said even as her heart hammered in her chest.

“Not alone,” Myrell said.

“Morse will come with me to show me what the problem might be. But I want the rest of you to stay together.” She checked that she still had her stunner at her side. “Stay in here and lock the door. Bar it if you have to.”

Morse followed her reluctantly out. She heard the door shut and lock into place behind them. Gunfire continued to ring out beyond the ship walls as they cautiously made their way below deck, her garometer crackling softly the farther they went.

Bugs. Just bugs.

They made it down and turned for the engine room. At the door, they paused. It was open halfway.

Someone just forgot to close it all the way, that’s all.

Not sure if this was the logical part of her brain talking or the delusional one, she unlatched her stunner from her belt and gripped it tight.

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