Hours passed in the barren wasteland. Minutes felt like years. An endless deluge of sweat poured over my body. My clothes were no longer damp, but soaked, and fastened to my skin. There was a distinct change with every rest stop and I found myself envying the others for the relief it offered them. Stopping centered my mind on the torture of my secret and allowed previously unknown aches to set their course.

Though the overcast sky faded to black, the clouds clung to the day’s heat, as if an oven. Even when the cooler air crept in, it eluded me. The suit which guarded my life also served to shield me from the winds soothing touch. I wished I could feel the breeze whip past my face, yet the only time this ever occurred was near the ventilation fans of 87C. I’d never felt a natural wind. The only ones who had also embraced death, as all here is toxic. The wasteland teaches humility and I remained grateful for the little things.

Though my feet were cracked and sore, our last rest revitalized a fraction of my lost energy. Finally, the cool night air began to take effect. This proved a catalyst for sleep, which freed my mind; if only to dream I was elsewhere. This natural remedy lasted a whole ten minutes and I couldn’t say if I actually dreamed.

Ah, but to sleep . . . to be at peace in the Dead Zone seemed such a contradiction to me. This place is so full of turmoil and the bleak remembrance of death, yet for a short while I defied it. I slept outside as pre-holocaust’s once had. I believe they called it . . . camping. I think if they’d known how soon it would all end, they would’ve done so more often. Who knows the value of a thing before it’s gone?

}||”:::[O]

I snapped out of a daze with eyes glazed over. I noticed a parade of blinking lights nearing me in perfect sequence. One by one they flickered as each suits internal battery momentarily lost power. This was no random occurrence, but neither was it a malfunction. A signal was coming down the line, which manifested as morse code, which we’d all been required to learn from a young age.

Apparently radio silence was a must in this mission. Our stealth would’ve been complete if we’d deactivated our floodlights, but aside from the nasty side effect of death, lost and scattered felt decidedly like mission failure. The signal told me we were near our destination. I returned it so Spider knew I received it. This prompted many more signals advising me of our current situation. This was mostly information I already knew, but some was new to me, due the distance between us. By the sound of it the size of the ship was enormous and definitely not what we expected to find.

Half an hour later I, too, could see the silhouette of a large object standing in the desert, as if a mountain unmarked on any map. Being shortly after midnight, I only made out this much thanks to the large blank area where the stars failed to shine. The night revealed nothing else, aside from our own floodlights which served to fade this view even further.

Upon the final signal, I checked my trix level. When prompted the numbers lit up brightly. I was down to 111.43 on my second tank and though my reserve was still full, I knew I was right. This was a one-way trip. Our only chance of returning to 87C was the discovery of extra tanks aboard the ship looming on the horizon. Spider’s classified reports guaranteed this, which was the premise for our return. My concern centered on the Saurid plague, but I can’t really say why anyone else had cause to worry. It was beyond obvious this mysterious cargo proved far more valuable than our sorry asses, but we were the mules assigned to return it. Moonbase wanted this cargo, so by proxy, our survival mattered. Right?

This may be forced labor but we were professionals and knew the limit of our triexelyne supply. I checked my watch and did the math to verify this conclusion. I saw we’d been gone at least 13 hours, plus eight 15 minute rest stops. Who didn’t know we carried two eight hour tanks and a one hour spare. How can I say it must have slipped my mind? Past a general lack of trust in our “employers”, we somehow all knew there would be no going back, but then none of us asked why. Perhaps none of us cared. Not that we were suicidal, but with our feast at base we all knew something was up. We all wanted some form of escape from 87C. That was the hope. I doubt any of us cherished the idea of a prolonged stay in the Dead Zone.

Our only hope was in this heap of trash. If I’d remembered correctly its name was Dark Omen. Hell, that much I could’ve guessed; the name fit like a glove. Still, I was curious. Landers of normal design are smaller ships. This one was huge! By far the biggest lander I’d ever seen. Either Moonbase got something wrong or we’d found the wrong ship. If so it might not have triexelyne! This feeling weighed down upon me all the more the closer we became. I still couldn’t make out more than a few faint lines of the ship’s contour, but it grew dramatically since my distant glimpse. I must’ve misjudged my original assessment, because Dark Omen appeared to be the size of a cruiser! Something of this size must have trix, but I knew size was no guarantee. Either way, this was it. The sand-swept dunes held no more secrets, nor hope of salvation.

From the start, I thought finding the cargo would be the easiest part; after all it was just a lander. Turns out it’s slightly larger. Aboard a derelict vessel of this size, could we really count on the ghosts trapped within to kindly gather all we required at the entrance? More likely a search was in store, but I no longer cared about the cargo. Survival came first. Hell, maybe we’d get lucky and find the lander on our blind side, directly behind the larger ship. It was at least a possibility. It would, surely, be dwarfed and hard to find. Or . . . maybe one of the landers inside the ship is called Dark Omen! Fuck! I keep kidding myself! This was getting more insane by the minute!

Before I could conjure any more wild theories, another signal came down the line. This one was simply three flashes, each with a five second interval. The code meant Spider reached the hull. I returned the signal and thought about that. From my vantage point the ship was about twenty stories high! From Spider’s it must’ve been a fucking skyscraper! I normally wouldn’t know about that here in the Dead Zone, but I’ve seen pictures of the ones on Moonbase. This ship, definitely, wasn’t meant to land on a gravity hog, like Earth. The size was typical of a cruiser, I guess, but I’ve never seen one so close! Hell, in low orbit they appear to be half the size of the Moon. How the hell do we get aboard the thing!? The nearest hatch is probably fifty feet high!

I reached the hull twenty minutes later. I was awe-struck by the ship’s pure magnitude! I . . . I was right. It was a skyscraper! Sand dunes crawled up the side of the hull like a mountain. The ship must’ve been here for eons. The desert had long since claimed it, but couldn’t hope to cover it. That would take millennia, if ever.

I soon found myself following the crowd up the mountain, just to touch the beautiful black hull. The sand slipped from under my feet, causing dozens of small avalanches, and seriously inhibiting my progress. I sank in too far, as did we all. Sand was never made to climb and the mountain was ten times our height, yet we fought on. Somehow we all knew that to touch the hull would be a spiritual experience like none other. It was literally, our savior. Without it, we’d all surely perish.

}||”:::[O]

It was during this frenzy that I dropped the wooden sign. Many days would pass before I’d realize it was gone. It was just as well. The events that followed soon reminded me of what was truly important.

}||”:::[O]

Slowly, reluctantly, we all gave in to the impossible challenge. Spider and Grant were waiting for us at the bottom. Apparently, they’d been trying to get us down the entire time, but we’d thought of nothing else. Until now, that is. One by one the lights inside our helmets turned red and began to beep. Fear suddenly seeped into our bones as we realized what it meant. Everyone’s trix level had dropped to a mere ‘50’! In our panic, we all double checked to make absolutely certain. Sure enough, it matched!

We were Dead Zone professionals, but safety protocol never allowed us to get this low before. I knew what a ‘red light’ meant from all the suits’ manuals, but personally, I’d never seen my own red light flash or heard that horrible beeping, which reminded me so much of a dying heartbeat. We all knew the beeping would only sound for the number of units remaining. It would do so in quick succession at every ten unit interval. It would eventually stop altogether and then we’d all be faced with a horrific choice: keep our helmets on and suffocate to death, or remove it and breathe the toxic air.

If we took off our helmets we’d feel fine for the first ten or fifteen minutes, until the symptoms set in. It was like a quickly spreading poison; it was like the Saurids. Perhaps one could survive up to five minutes of exposure to such potent radiation and still be saved, but there was no record of it. So we’d live for a while, but only in anticipation of death. Needless to say, we panicked and broke radio silence, but I believe we’d already done that trying to touch the hull. How fleeting is order when under such duress.

Spider tried to restore this order. “Everyone . . . everyone, we have 150 units of triexelyne, not, I repeat, not 50! Everyone has a 100 unit reserve tank!”

He spoke to us slowly, as if we were all children too excited in the playroom. It was fitting, somehow. Eventually, we got the message and calmed down. He told us to stand still, as it was still very dark outside. If anyone ran away they’d quicken their death.

Grant signaled to a long rickety staircase and spoke. “It’s our way in, folks, let’s start heading towards it . . . slowly. Everyone try to stay calm. If we get excited we’ll use up our units twice as fast. Keep a close eye on your levels and switch the valve to your emergency tank when you get down to 25 units. If you have trouble, flash your lights and someone will help you.”

I loathed being placated, as if a child, but I suppose I deserved it. It was likely we all did. We all tried to regain our composure, and hence our dignity. We obeyed and headed towards the staircase. Though, I don’t think any of us could really see it. We probably could’ve made out a faint silhouette resembling a staircase had we the time to stand still and focus on it. None of us did, however. We all just headed in the direction in which Grant pointed, and pretended we could see it. Even Spider seemed oblivious to it. How Grant even knew of its existence, we couldn’t guess.

As the staircase came into better view, I found my height estimate remarkably accurate. It seemed old-fashioned, but so was the ship. I wasn’t at all certain of the stability of something so antique and weathered. Surely, it must’ve endured countless thrashing hurricanes, not to mention the deteriorating nature of heat vs. cold on a daily basis.

Soon my trix level read 27; too soon! Grant was right. I’d exhausted myself and eaten up my air twice as fast. I reached behind my back to change it when I heard the whump. Before I could turn around I heard the moaning. “Uh . . . uuhhhhh . . . g . . . go on.”

Bruce! He’d collapsed!

Bruce was only 16 years old; the newest member of our team. He wasn’t used to the incredible strain we go through out here. Come to think of it, it’s amazing he’d made it this far. I’m a veteran and having serious trouble with the weight and pain.

I was no longer in the rear, so Teknet and Monkey went back to help Bruce. Each held an arm and tried to move forward. It was a slow process.

I turned back toward the staircase and continued my trek. Five minutes later I was much closer, only fifteen or twenty feet away. Then I noticed how labored my breathing became. My level! Bruce! I’d forgotten to switch my valve!

Quickly, I checked it and saw a horrifying 8. Before I could change it the chaos began. Bruce’s fatigue set in motion a domino effect, as I wasn’t alone in succumbing to the distraction! I heard the gasping and soon added my own, but I had to concentrate. I slowly reached back and fumbled with the first of three switches and a valve.

It was necessary to flick the switches before the valve or your ‘trix’ tank would be transferred to nothing . . . meaning the outside air!

Click! Safety switch! . . . 6 . . . Selrahc

This first switch removed the cover panel for the other two switches.

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 5 . . . Selrahc

The moaning grew to screams as someone accidentally switched the valve first! Concentrate!

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 3 . . . Selrahc

I could hear the tension building.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Selrahc

I turned to see what I could do and was met with terror! Bruce fell unconscious!

Teknet and Monkey both forgot to switch valves and couldn’t while helping Bruce.

Greg switched the valve first. He inhaled the outside air all the faster in his panic. Tracy already switched over at 25, but was knocked down when Greg went crazy. She seemed unconscious!

Both Spider and Grant followed their own instructions to the letter and were helping Sarah and Zed with their valves.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Sarah

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Zed

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Bruce

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 0 . . . Monkey

Sarah and Zed were all right, but, in his haste, Monkey copied Greg’s fatal mistake after he successfully switched Bruce’s valves. It might’ve already been too late for Bruce, but either way he remained unconscious.

In his mania, Greg punched Thexter in the visor and the resulting crack sent a steady wisp of toxic air into his face.

I quickly turned to the fallen body of Candice.

She’d already flicked her Safety and Air-in switches.

Click! Air-out! . . . 2 . . . Candice

Regrettably, both Spider and Grant leveled their standard issue taser rifles on Greg.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Candice

Candice was groggy, but would be all right.

Zzsssttttt! . . . Outraged, with an open gash in the left arm of his suit, Greg charged towards Spider.

Zzsssttttt! . . . Grant blew Greg’s head to a bloody mess.

Gllrrk! . . . 0 . . . Teknet

Teknet failed to switch anything in time and was suffocating!

With tears streaming down his face, Monkey worked on Teknet’s switches.

Click! Safety switch! . . . 0 . . . Teknet

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 0 . . . Teknet

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 0 . . . Teknet

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Teknet

Teknet fell unconscious, regardless of the triexelyne flow, which would fortunately expire slower minus the panic infecting everyone else.

Geomon, Talhim and Sands had all switched over at 25, but were frozen in place, stunned by the mayhem.

Monkey begged to be shot.

Spider checked on Bruce to find he’d already died after choking on his own vomit.

Thexter screamed through his cracked visor, but headed towards the staircase and began climbing.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 94 . . . Disconnection . . . Bruce

Spider put down his taser rifle, cut off the ‘trix’ supply to Bruce’s emergency tank and removed it as a spare.

Grant chased Thexter up the staircase.

Zzsssttttt! . . . Monkey picked up Spider’s taser rifle and blew his own brains out.

Spider dropped to his knees beside Monkey and cried.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Disconnection . . . Greg

I headed over to Greg’s corpse and removed his emergency tank.

Tracy began to wake up.

Partially up the staircase, Grant reached Thexter and tried to reason with him to help everyone else while he still felt healthy.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Disconnection . . . Monkey

Spider slowly removed the emergency tank from Monkey’s corpse.

Tracy stood up and joined Geomon, Talhim and Sands in stunned silence.

Sarah and Zed checked on Teknet to find he was still alive, though unconscious.

I walked over to help Spider.

Thexter didn’t listen until Grant aimed his taser rifle at him and then reluctantly decided to help.

}||”:::[O]

Dead: Greg, Bruce, Monkey

Dying: Thexter

Unconscious: Teknet

Spare emergency tanks: one . . . 100; one . . . 100; one . . . 94

}||”:::[O]

I wanted to stop, to cry, anything but go on. This fucked up mission already cost three lives, soon to be four, but we weren’t through it yet. I pulled myself together to help Spider, as we headed towards the staircase. I had one spare emergency tank and Spider had two, but soon Candice joined us and Spider handed her one.

I saw Tracy, Geomon, Talhim and Sands far in front of us. They walked like zombies. If I could’ve seen their faces, I knew I’d see the personification of death. Surely, they were pale white with fear.

Behind us Sarah and Zed carried an unconscious Teknet; the same way Teknet and Monkey carried Bruce earlier. Teknet still might not make it, but he had to! We’d lost too many people already!

Grant and Thexter reached the outer hatch. They’d almost gotten it, but Thexter was showing signs of serious fatigue. I felt sick to my stomach; I was watching a dead man in his final minutes.

Spider, Candice and I hung back to help with Teknet. When we reached him, Spider and I handed Candice our tanks and each grabbed one of Teknet’s legs.

The whole ordeal took only five or ten minutes, but was terrifying. I glanced at my ‘trix’ level and hoped for a high number. It read ‘63’ and my heart sank. I knew everyone else must’ve been in a similar situation and the fight over our three spares would prove another vicious battle.

However, I also knew those who’d transferred over at 25 would be the lowest now. They were: Spider, Grant, Tracy, Geomon, Talhim, Sands and Thexter, though, much as it pains me, Thexter doesn’t really matter anymore.

The only one of these people nearby was Spider. I didn’t want to start another panic so I casually signaled Spider’s attention and motioned towards my trix meter. It worked, everyone in our small group noticed it, but it wasn’t easy while carrying Teknet.

Spider did his best and eventually saw his level. I saw it too. It read 16. Spider’s tear-stained eyes bulged and he gave me a nod in thanks. He knew what to do. He had to transfer back to his original tank at about 5 to conserve as much triexelyne as possible. That wasn’t a problem for Spider. Though, it might be difficult to get the four zombies in front of us to comply as well. In their crazed condition they were all wild cards. After Spider tells them they might do nothing, start crying, go crazy, try to steal the three tanks from Candice or they might actually switch back.

Chances were we’d get all of these results at the same time, causing even more deaths. Fortunately though, Grant never ceased work on the outer hatch. Thexter couldn’t help anymore, he was falling apart too fast. Both Spider and I prayed Grant would get it open before Spider had to inform the zombies.

Then came the delay, as Grant was merciful to Thexter and put a nice clean hole through his head. We were all stunned, but knew it was coming. It’s a delay, but it also saves some triexelyne. Thexter transferred at 25 and should still have at least that much on his reserve.

The zombies were heading up the stairs as I started to worry about Grant. If anything happened he’d be the first one attacked and something was going to happen. This became obvious when Grant delayed even further to disconnect and remove Thexter’s two tanks. Both Spider and I wanted to scream at Grant to continue on the hatch, but if we did everyone would know.

Spider glanced again at his trix level. It read 6. Time’s up. We all kept carrying Teknet while Candice fumbled with his switches. It proved a difficult task while carrying three reserve tanks but, we didn’t have time to stop. We were almost to the staircase.

We made sure Candice knew how to transfer back, the order goes: air-in, air-out, safety switch and valve.

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 5 . . . Spider

I could see Spider getting ready to speak.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 4 . . . Spider

“Grant! Transfer back! And help the two closest to you on the stairs! We’ll help the other two from behind!”

Click! Safety switch! . . . 3 . . . Spider

Grant looked down at Spider and suddenly remembered he was almost out of triexelyne again. He immediately stopped working on the door and reached behind himself.

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 4 . . . Grant

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 25 . . . Spider

Spider made it! Candice immediately put down the emergency tanks, and ran to help the last in line up the stairs, Tracy.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 3 . . . Grant

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 3 . . . Tracy

All four of the zombies were oblivious, thanks to Spider’s ingenious idea of not talking directly to them. Grant knew what to do and could help from one end while Candice helped from the other. I wish we could have done more, but the staircase was just too narrow to let more than one person by at a time.

Click! Safety switch! . . . 2 . . . Grant

Suddenly Tracy broke out of her daze and understood what Candice was doing. Tracy quickly began working on Sands.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 2 . . . Tracy

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 2 . . . Sands

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 25 . . . Grant

Grant made it! He then hurried down the stairs to Geomon. It proved to be a difficult task, since Geomon was too dazed and confused to turn around.

Click! Safety switch! . . . 1 . . . Tracy

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 1 . . . Sands

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 1 . . . Geomon

Gllrrk! Simultaneously Talhim, Geomon and Sands all began choking and grasped their throats! It was obvious Talhim wouldn’t make it, but I still had hope for Geomon and Sands.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 25 . . . Tracy

Click! Safety switch! . . . 0 . . . Sands

Suddenly I realized the rest of us were now critically low. Sarah, Zed, Candice, Teknet and I. We weren’t going to be able to save Teknet.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 25 . . . Sands

Sands made it, but was still holding his throat while recovering.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 0 . . . Geomon

I yelled, “Everyone, put Teknet down! Now! Grant! Geomon isn’t going to make it! Let him go and throw me the two tanks at the top!”

Suddenly Sands was revived, but the shock of choking had driven him mad! He shoved Tracy backwards, and with her Candice.

Geomon and Talhim were both choking to death and began to struggle. Talhim began attacking Geomon. Grant could no longer control Geomon and tried to get away, but Geomon grabbed hold of Grant!

Everyone complied and put Teknet down. I quickly handed an emergency tank to Sarah and then one to Zed.

I would have given one to Candice, but she was falling.

Spider grabbed hold of Candice, slowing both her and Tracy. I tried to help Spider, but was still handing out tanks.

Spider, Candice, Tracy, and Sands all fell backwards, but thanks to Spider the fall was soft enough to not rupture anyone’s suits.

Click! Tube connect! . . . 8 . . . Sarah

Click! Tube connect! . . . 7 . . . Zed

A fifth step was involved for a detached tank, and thankfully Sarah and Zed knew this.

Grant was stronger than Geomon and would have thrown him over the rail, but couldn’t with Talhim hanging on.

I reached down and picked up Spider’s taser rifle. I aimed as best I could and shot Talhim in the arm. He was in agony, but couldn’t scream until just now, after I’d created a new airflow with the tear in his suit.

After Talhim was shot he released Geomon. Grant used the opportunity to toss Geomon over the rail. Geomon may have choked to death before he hit, but we’d never know. Either way he was dead after the impact and rolled down the sandy mountain like a rag doll.

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 7 . . . Sarah

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 6 . . . Zed

Grant quickly headed back to the top, grabbed the two tanks and tossed them just shy of me. The sand cushioned their fall, just as I’d hoped.

Talhim could breathe now, but was furious for being shot. The closest person was Grant, so he headed toward him with hatred in his eyes.

Sands was still confused and angry, but his mind slowly cleared. He stopped attacking Tracy.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 6 . . . Sarah

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 5 . . . Zed

Sands, Tracy, Candice and Spider began to stand up.

After throwing down the two tanks Grant picked up his taser rifle and shot Talhim in the leg and after he’d fallen Grant shot him again in the head. Grant properly avoiding the trix tank, which had the potential to explode if shot. He then returned to working on the outer hatch. Adrenaline had taken over and sorrow had no place . . . yet.

Click! Safety switch! . . . 5 . . . Sarah

Click! Safety switch! . . . 4 . . . Zed

I quickly handed Spider Bruce’s 94 unit tank and pointed at Candice. He got the idea.

Then I quickly picked up Thexter’s 25 unit reserve tank

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Sarah

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 100 . . . Zed

Both Sarah and Zed had made it!

Click! Tube connect! . . . 3 . . . Candice

Click! Tube connect! . . . 3 . . . Selrahc

After Sands came around, the guilt of what he’d done seeped in. He didn’t have time to dwell on it, though, as Tracy forced him to go up the stairs. Tracy followed. They both climbed over Talhim’s corpse.

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 2 . . . Candice

Click! Air-in switch! . . . 2 . . . Selrahc

Grant finally gained access to the inner hatch, after the outer slid partially open.

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 1 . . . Candice

Click! Air-out switch! . . . 1 . . . Selrahc

Then Teknet died a peaceful death.

Tracy and Sands arrived at the top and helped Grant get the outer hatch all the way open.

Click! Safety switch! . . . 0 . . . Candice

Click! Safety switch! . . . 0 . . . Selrahc

Gllrrk! Both Candice and I began to choke!

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 94 . . . Candice

Candice made it! I continued to choke, but Sarah took over with my switches.

Shnnkk! Valve! . . . 25 . . . Selrahc

I made it! Both me and Candice took a second to recover.

Spider grabbed the final 25 unit tank from Thexter.

Candice began up the stairs, followed by Spider, Sarah, Zed and I. All of us climbed over Talhim’s corpse.

By now Spider, Grant, Tracy and Sands were critical again, but there was only one more tank and it only had a level of 25. Geomon had some trix reserves, but backtracking was not an option. Teknet did too, but he’d also been left behind after dying.

All eight of us filed into the decontamination chamber.

Sarah, Zed and Candice worked to get the outer hatch shut while everyone else rested.

}||”:::[O]

Dead: Greg, Bruce, Monkey, Thexter, Geomon, Talhim, Teknet

Survived: Spider, Grant, Tracy, Sands, Candice, Sarah, Zed and I

Spare emergency tanks: one . . . 25

}||”:::[O]

There wasn’t any time for rest. There wasn’t time for anything. As soon as the outer hatch cycled shut an unknown force shook the cruiser violently. I remembered how the vibrations used to knock me to my knees when a tornado passed over 87C. I instantly thought we’d been caught in one.

It would’ve required an unparalleled ferocity to shake a craft this size so violently. If years of abuse hadn’t budged Dark Omen from its shallow grave, then how!? Why!? Surely we would’ve seen it coming! A storm of such magnitude would’ve torn us away from the toxic sand long before we’d reached the staircase!

The second quake threw me off my feet, and if anything, was stronger! Could god have conceived such a plan to coincide an earthquake with a storm!? Nothing else could’ve explained it!

Upon entering through the outer hatch I noticed the staircase was securely bolted to the hull. Now, however, I could hear metal scraping against metal. For a moment I was terrified the outer hatch might be compromised and, once again, expose us all to the death outside.

I was relieved when the thrashing stopped and the staircase fell away from its moorings, but when the violence continued I saw fear on every face. When Spider’s breathing became heavy I was sure we’d been condemned to relive this death! Grant, too, saw Spider and lunged for the decompression controls, but another jolt threw him to the wall. Grant was breathing harder and I saw his usual calmness slip away.

He stared at me and spoke in a whisper. “six . . . cough . . . one, eigh . . . , two . . .”

I saw the keypad and understood.

After I punched in the numbers I hit the enter key. Suddenly lights flashed and an ear piercing siren came to life. A series of blue lasers descended upon us as the radioactive air filtered out. Soon a cloud of hazy triexelyne flooded the room. Grant tore off his helmet and . . . breathed. Soon we all joined him. The slight odor of fresh triexelyne was a familiar scent, but this time it smelled like heaven must, if it too had a scent. Even the heavy odor of sweat and feces couldn’t drown it out.

For better or worse, we were soon overjoyed by the scent and experienced a slight intoxication, temporarily easing our aching bodies. My brain barely registered that the violence leveled out into an easy rumble, but soon I understood . . . we were in low orbit and heading to open space. It was just an educated guess, but it made sense. I don’t know how I could’ve known. I’d never been off-planet in my life, but somehow I was sure of it.

I was . . . free. I was free!

My joy increased ten-fold. It went beyond anything I’d ever experienced before. As I leaned back, my eyes glazed over and I inhaled deeply.

I was unaware of my surroundings. Even the recent deaths hadn’t fazed me, which is something I’d regret later on with wave after wave of guilt. For now, I was in heaven and literally beyond cloud nine as Dark Omen soared through the ionosphere and into the blackness of space.