White Space

40

 They didn't stop for anything. Yemon ordered Jaleel to lead, not taking any chances with the caves anymore. He now fully understood just how dangerous the place was. After about two rooms in, a tiny flurry of claws and tendrils dropped in their way, a cat-sized explosion of extraterrestrial life and movement. Wherever it had come from, whatever it wanted, it had absolutely no time to act upon any of the alien urges driving it as Jaleel kicked it across the room without as much as breaking his stride, only uttering a quick "Motherfucker" under his nose. Reaching the end of the cave system and seeing their submarine lit up like a Christmas tree was a relief almost indescribable in its effect on Yemon's mind. They were almost out of here, they were almost safe.

 "Wait!" he said as soon as he saw Jaleel climbing on the submarine.

 "What now?" Jaleel asked, turning back to face Yemon, not even trying to mask his annoyance.

 "The black and brown shit." Yemon pointed a finger at his abdomen, the bright white plastic-like material of the chest plate almost entirely covered in the dark sludge.

 "What do you want to do about it then?" Jaleel was clutching at the release lever on the front of the submarine.

 "Look, Cob was infected with something. I think. We cannot risk getting it back with us."

 "Can we do it inside?"

 "We need to take the suits off. I can't risk contaminating the sub. Just... Just take it off."

 "Are you fucking serious?"

"Look, there's hardly any radiation in here. The temperatures are fine. Only about negative 24 degrees Celsius. You said yourself that the air pressure is... Well, it's good enough. We can make it work."

 "And what if... What if the fucking thing comes back?" Jaleel pointed at the dark end of the tunnel with his gun.

 "We have to take our chances." Yemon said, steeling his resolve. "I'm giving you an order."

 "Do you even hear yourself? I'm getting in." he pointed the rifle at Yemon.

 "What do you want to do? Shoot me? Is that it?" he said, making a point of not putting his hands up. He took a careful step forward. "Take the suit off and get inside." He desperately tried to force a calm tone on himself. He didn't relent as Jaleel jumped off the front of the submarine, coming closer, practically shoving the gun in his face. "I don't want to do this. Please. Let's not do this. Everything will be fine."

As soon as Yemon said the words, strange static filled his helmet and by the looks of things, Jaleel was hearing the same thing, too. It was quickly becoming deafening inside the confines of the dimly lit bowl over his head, but Yemon took one last step forward. Jaleel, clutching the outside of his helmet, staggered one step back, catching himself on the sleek, metallic body of the Megalodon. Then a white flash swept across Yemon's field of vision, tackling Jaleel to the ground. Two tentacles started pecking away at his visor while the sharp claws tore at his suit. He was desperately trying to reach the gun that had slipped away from him, just out of reach, tucked under the submarine.

 There was no time. Yemon knew he had to do something. He had to save Jaleel. Even if he was right, even if he couldn't save everyone, he had to save him. Even if he couldn't accomplish anything else in this godforsaken place. He had to try. He reached into the side pocket for the round object he had found in Alpha team's sub. Although he knew what it was and that there was almost no way it could further the situation, he felt needed to try something. He couldn't just get the thing off Jaleel with his bare hands, not anymore. It was so much more robust, so much more horrifying than when he'd first seen it.

Unfortunately, the small grenade was an EMP charge, designed for the electronic warfare of the modern times. It created a sudden electromagnetic pulse basically killed everything electronic. Apart from that, it made a flash and a bang. It would have to do. It was definitely better than nothing. If nothing else, it could at least provide some third-degree burns. He could only hope that these things can feel pain. The only problem now was that the EMP grenade, although it might not harm the creature meaningfully, would almost certainly fry their submarine and their suits.

 Still holding the grenade, he gathered all his strength, feeling the aches and pains flare up in his body once again. He took a deep breath and let his muscles do their thing. He knew he had only one shot at this. If he missed, if he wasn't fast enough, they'd both die. He run right into the creature, hitting it with all he had. This finally sent it flying forward, towards the water. Once the creature was off Jaleel, he dropped on the floor and while he was still sliding forward on the smooth surface, he released the grenade from his hand, removing his thumb from the safety switch he had kept pressing until then.

 The tiny orb exploded into pure light mid-air. The creature had hardly even hit the ground when it went off, but Yemon knew better than to wait for it to spring back up. He rolled toward the submarine and picked up the rifle, tucking it into his shoulder while lying on his belly. He was ready to fire. But there was no need. The creature remained motionless after the flash. He stood up and carefully approached the body that was oozing brown liquid through its very skin; the sludge coming out from between the thick armored plates and the mouth on its belly.

 He turned around and hurried to Jaleel, who was lying in a terribly damaged suit, clinging on to dear life.

 "Are you alright?" he asked.

 "I'm fine." Jaleel wheezed, and cracked through a damaged visor. "The suit broke, so I got to take it off. Are you happy now?"