《Deep Space Combat School: Nexus》Chapter 23: Lone Mission
Advertisement
Victor ran fast to the air lock nearest to the pod and prayed that there was no hindrance to him getting in. He opened one of the special glass lockers housing the spacesuits and was speedily shoving himself into one when he realized that someone was watching. It was Fumio and Miguel. Miguel had his arms crossed.
"Hey guys," Victor said, nervously.
"We saw you running through the halls toward the air lock and figured something was up. So. What's up?"
"I'm going out for a space walk --" Victor began, but Miguel rasied an impatient hand.
"Save the bullshit, Vance. I know when someone is lying to me.What are you really up to?"
Victor shrugged and explained what he found on his comm dive.
"You mean the answer to getting to the other side of the station was in the surface folders?" said Fumio. "Even T.J. had to dive a layer or two down to find the good stuff."
"Hidden in plain sight. It's incredible that no one's found it before," Miguel said.
Fumio shrugged. "I perused those folders, myself. I must've missed it," he said. His expression showed a nearly imperceptible bit of frustration.
Miguel stepped between where Victor was dressing and the air lock. "You're not going alone, Victor. We'll get Lucas and go together."
"No. time. I programmed it to leave in twenty minutes. That should be down to a little over five with the time it took to get down here and this conversation."
Victor began dressing again. If the transport left he didn't know how long it would take to come back, or even if he could bring it back from this side. Miguel and Fumio got into space suits. Victor thought about closing the air lock behind him, but thought better of it. There were the people that had saved his life, after all. He wasn't exactly sure he was doing them any favors by allowing them to come along, however.
Advertisement
"All set Vic," Miguel said over the space suit comm. Fumio agreed with a thumbs up. Victor pressed the airlock release, and the boys climbed onto the surface of the station.
When Victor got atop the side of Nexus, he did a full three-hundred and sixty spin to spot the transport.
"Uh. Are you certain of what you saw Victor?" Fumio asked.
"It was....here...." Victor said, his magnetic boots clomping around as he did another spin.
"It could've been some sort of trick, right? Or maybe footage? The thing might exist, but activating it might take more than a surface level folder," Miguel said. Victor sighed, frustrated. Hadn't they learned to believe him yet?
Then again, if he kept this up it might occur to one of them that he was losing his mind. It was beginning to occur to him.
"Let's go back inside, Victor. You can show us on the holo table," Fumio said.
Back in the Information Room Victor browsed the folders and subfolders, desperately trying to retrace his steps. The worst thing that could happen at this moment was him not finding the folder again. Then he really would appear crazy. Fortunately, after about a half hour of progressively more frustrated searching Victor found the folder.
"Hmm. External Auxiliary Systems. I thought I perused this folder," Fumio said.
"Looks like Vic is catching up to you in the tech department," Miguel gave Victor a strong pat on the back. "Well done, Victor."
Fumio folded his arms in what could almost be considered a pout.
Victor opened the folder and then opened the Auxiliary Module folder. Inside, he opened up the form boxes in which he had entered information previously. Fumio leaned forward, his annoyance at having missed something obvious surpassed by his curiosity.
Advertisement
"This 'Side' entry box, You changed it to B from A, or was it empty?" Fumio asked. Victor nodded. Then the full implications of the question hit him like a lightning bolt.
"It was on 'B' when I opened the input boxes. That means that it is currently on whichever side is 'B'," he said, understanding.
"So the transport is on it's way to our side form the girl's side?" Miguel asked.
"I think so," Fumio said. "If Dixon is here as Victor claims, then this is possibly how he is getting from one side of the station to another."
"Question is, how long is the transport going to take to get back to us?" Miguel added.
Fumio shook his head. "Hard to tell. We should try checking at regular intervals. For now, we should get some rest while we can. I'll go find Lucas and fill him in on everything that's happened and take first shift at the airlock."
Victor wanted to offer to take the first shift, but realized that Fumio was right. It was better to inform Lucas and get rest while they could.
In the dorms it took Victor a while to drift off to sleep. His thoughts were haunted by Dixon and the unsuspecting girls on the other side. What if he got impatient? But Victor knew Dixon wouldn't. At the moment Dixon seemed to want one thing: making him suffer. And it was clear he wanted to take his time.
After an hour Victor finally drifted off into a restless sleep. In his dreams, chiming lights pulsed and rang. Sometimes he understood these as words.
"Vance, one called Victor. You do not carry our warning into your waking cycle...... please.......mouth of......... torn apart..."
Victor was shaken awake and nearly screamed.
"Vic, chill out, buddy," said Miguel, whispering so as not to wake others. "It's your shift. You okay?"
Victor nodded as he got out of bed and dressed. "Yeah. Thanks, Miguel. Get some rest."
Victor stood outside the airlock, yawning. He was watching the vid screen and hoping he had chosen the appropiate airlock to watch when the transport orb came into view and clicked into place outside the airlock. It was time to go wake everyone.
Before he could dash away, he could see a prompt pop up on the vid screen. It read: Transport Arrived. Transport Departure: 00:07:00. Transport Allowances left for week: 1.
Victor stopped in his tracks. Was the transport leaving automatically in seven minutes? What was meant by 'Transport Allowances'? He dashed for the glass locker and jumped into a space suit as fast as he could. It seemed he just wasn't meant to have help on his mission to the other side. Of course, there was a scheming A.I. and sociopathic killer who could have planned this, but Victor tried not to think too hard about it. According to the screen he didn't have a choice. If there was only one Allowance left, it would only be enough for his return after he....took care of Dixon. Victor paused for a half second before realizing exactly what it was that he would have to do to stop Dixon from hurting anyone. He steeled himself to do whatever it took, stepped into the airlock, and punched the release button hard.
Advertisement
- In Serial6 Chapters
Waking Up
The story of Larin the Builder in the aftermath of Awakening This short story is the epilogue of Awakening, the first book of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate series. This epilogue is a great follow-up to the novel, a bonus story that adds extra layers between books without being necessary to the main storyline.Waking Up follows the story of Larin, who is alive but unconscious after her ordeal in the Nine Hells. She awakens in A'lara City a few days later and recuperates under the steadfast care of her repentant friend Jorn.As she reacclimates to her waking state, Larin struggles with her gruesome memories of the Hells and her decision to conceal them from Jorn. This story answers the question, Is Larin all right? with a resounding yes, and some storms on the horizon.It also raises the question, What happened to her down there? and includes an excerpt from the sister story Falling Down, about Larin's ordeal in the Nine Hells. Praise for Waking Up and Falling Down: Loved it. The difference between the two stories is great!The difference between Waking Up and Falling Down is astounding. So much light and love in the first story. You feel safe reading it. Healing.The second, so much darkness, pain and despair. The choice of vocabulary is awesome and makes an impact.And this set of short stories ties the two books together so well.-- Dana V. of Texas ★★★★★
8 102 - In Serial47 Chapters
Children of Eden
In the 142 years since its founding, the village of Prospera has existed as a paradise. Four of the children of Prospera: Hannah, Miranda, Kevin and Lisa, begin to suspect that there's more to Prospera's perfection than meets the eye and set out to learn the truth. What they discover places them in mortal danger and the children decide that their only option is to flee Prospera for the outside world, a journey that will reveal to them even more frightening truths about Prospera and its relationship with the outside world.
8 94 - In Serial9 Chapters
The Zephyrus
Eleanor is the captain of a pirate ship with a well-run crew. That is until she meets an unlikely creature on the open water. After one fateful night she becomes thrusted into a world of mythical creatures and dangerous transformations, and must fight those around her to get back to her waiting ship.
8 132 - In Serial33 Chapters
Mindshifter: The Mind War
Most of the Malkene world is shrouded in fog which transforms everything. Remaining humans are forced to live in a few isolated areas. War against mind-snatchers on the east will affect peaceful west. Time for changes has come, the decision is in thehands of the group of volunteers. On their path they will interact with many forces including Gods. To reach the truth and victory they will have to lose everything and battle utter hopelessness. From this different kind of mind war strongest one will emerge as a mindshifter. All mysteries will be revealed to him. Only one question is left without answer: when mankind's everlasting hunger for power is finally saturated, is there any humanity left?
8 106 - In Serial49 Chapters
Addicted To The Feeling
Colby is addicted to drugs, very depressed and is anti-social. He is so addicted to the point where he wants to end it all. He thinks he's not good enough and that everyone hates him. Until he meets Y/N, in which she will help him recover. Everything goes well until she gets a call....(This story contains screenshots of fake convos and IG posts. But i stopped doing them, sorry.) #7 on colbybrockfanfiction #4 on colbybrock#1 on jakewebber
8 153 - In Serial15 Chapters
lightning - jonah marais
"storms used to scare me, but from now on all i'll be able to think of is you. they're never gonna scare me again."*COMPLETED 12/2/19*
8 141

