Chapter XXIII

January 3rd-9:21am

The rest of the night was still uneventful. Other than Krystal and I's brief run in, things were quiet. Lee was the first one up, once he spotted me, he walked up to me and say down.

"Hey." I said, watching the last of the sun rise.

"Hey, how's it goin'?" He asked cheerfully.

"Good I guess."

"That's good, oh yeah. Stephanie..." He began to say.

"Hm?"

"What did you have to say to me yesterday morning?" He asked.

I had began to ask him something before April walked out.

"How...are you...so happy in times of dispair..?" I asked.

He chuckled before finally giving me his answered.

"You just have to fin the good in some people and they give you an uplift." He replied, putting his arm around me.

I felt my cheeks flush slightly, but nonetheless, I rested on his shoulder.

After about ten seconds, I fell asleep. I awoke when April prance out of her pod.

"Morning you two." She said, giving Lee a smirk.

"Hello, April." Lee replied, sitting up a little straighter.

We chatted idly for about ten minutes before Jason and Krystal walked out of their crashed escape pods. After we had eaten what little food we had, Jason briefed us on what we had to do today.

"We're headed to that comms tower." He said. "With any luck, we can contact any frigates in the area or better yet earth."

We all have him a stern look. Even Krystal, even though she had her helmet on.

"Any questions?"

We were all ready to get off of Venus ASAP.

"Good! Now let's move out!" Jason said, picking up his military backpack.

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Chapter XXIV

January 3rd-12:12pm

The long walk to the center of the colony finally came to an end. Finally, as we were about to open the front doors, the giant worm we face from the other day burrowed from under the ground.

"Holy SHIT!" I yelled.

"THAT THING'S BACK!" Lee yelled.

We all ran inside the building, hoping to elude the humongous worm-like creature. As I ran into the building, I turned to slam the door until I saw Krystal staring at me.

"Why are you standing there?!" CMON!" I yelled. Fearing that the worm may eat her.

She took off her helmet and tossed it to me.

"Go...I'll buy you guys some time." She said.

"What? We're not leaving you Krystal!" Lee yelled.

"Yeah! We-" April said before she was cut off.

"GO!!! NOW!!!" Krystal said in a louder voice than I'd every heard her speak.

"...C'mon guys..." Jason said with a heavy heart. "Krystal. You BETTER come back. That's and order!" He said. "C'mon guys!" He said as he ran to an elevator.

I began to run, but I turned back to glance at Krystal, who had her sniper rifle out and prepared to face the giant worm. She was doomed...the last sight I saw of Krystal before I turned around again was her running toward the worm.

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Chapter XXV

January 3rd-12:20pm

Jason, Lee, April and I ran toward the elevators that awaited us so we could take them to the top floor. Jason pushed the "up" button on the elevator.

"I can't believe Krystal did that..." Lee said.

"Yeah...she was so...so to herself." April started. "I wish we could've gotten to know more about her.

"Guys! Stop!" Jason said in a loud voice. "She's coming back! I know she is!"

This caused us all to stare at the floor, I took my helmet off an put it in my back pack. I then took Krystal's helmet out, looked at it, and put it on my head. Then, the elevator arrived.

As the doors screeched open, a bug-like creature was in it, it looked at us and hissed. Before any of us had time to react, it lunged out at April, stabbing her several times in the chest with it's pincers.

Suddenly, Lee jumped on the bug's back, yelling for Jason and I to run in the elevator.

"GO!" He said as he struggled to hold on.

Jason pulled my arm into the elevator and pushed the button labeled "34". The last sight I saw before the doors of the elevator closed, was of Lee pulling out his knife. I fell back on the elevator floor.

"Oh God..." I muttered over and over.

Jason kneeled next to me and said:

"Get a grip Steph! We're gonna make it outta here! And Krystal and Lee are coming with us!"

This made me stop what I was saying, I looked at him, teary eyed, but he couldn't see my tears because of Krystal's helmet that I had on.

"What about April?!" I whinned.

All her could do was look at the floor. He extended an hand to me. As I grabbed it and was hoisted to my feet, he said:

"Let's go."

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Chapter XXVI

January 3rd-12:31pm

As Jason and I reached the 34th floor, we ran out, weapons aimed in all directions.

"Clear." I said, finally grabbing a hold of myself.

Jason ran over to a computer console and began typing in commands.

"Watch my back." He ordered.

"Gotcha."

Suddenly, there were sounds of hissing coming from all around us. As I looked around, I noticed several buggers emerging from the holes in the walls and ceiling around us!

"Shit..." I muttered. "Jason! We have company!"

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T/C:

Man! Was that chapter fun to write!

The story is coming to a wrap up guys!

It's time to find out what's going to happen to Graceful squad, as well as the rest of Stephanie's team!

There are only two parts left! (Including the epilogue)

This book is so awesome! I really appreciate the reads that I got on the book guys!

Anyways, I'm gone! The next part will be up soon. Time to see more about this commander Nicolai.

-ProCrow