Mimicry

Chapter 16 - Efference

With the wind howling around them and the wreckage of their potential escape route littered around their feet, they grimaced at the prospect of taking the fight to the enemy. They were trapped on the frozen island with an entity that had assimilated their friends and left a trail of destruction in its wake. The weight of their situation pressed down on them, threatening to consume them. But they were survivors; they had come too far and lost too much to give in now.

In the harsh, flickering light of the shed, they huddled together, their breath creating wispy clouds in the chilly air. Each of them wore a hardened expression of determination - the kind that only came from facing death and choosing to fight.

"We need a plan," Essie began, her voice steely against the chilling wind. Her eyes were clear and resolute, a stark contrast to the fear that had gripped her just moments ago. She gestured towards the wreckage. "We can't escape, but we can defend. We need to prepare for when... when that thing comes back."

"But how?" Ceriann interjected, her voice fraught with desperation. "We can't just hope that the ethanol solution will work again. And even if it does, we need a way to apply it. We don't even know if it can be killed, not for certain."

"We need something stronger," Essie said, her voice firm and steady. "We need something that can burn."

Kate immediately caught on. "The ethylene earlier, all that ethanol... we could make Molotov cocktails. They're crude but effective. The chemistry lab should have all the supplies we need."

"Okay, we arm ourselves, and then what?" Ceriann asked, her face pale but resolute. "We can't just wait for it to come to us."

Essie nodded, her gaze distant as she considered their next move. "We need to draw it out. Find it and force it into the open. There's one place that we haven't checked yet... The generator room."

Ceriann and Kate exchanged a glance. The generator room was the most isolated part of the base. It made the most sense, allowing Josh to effectuate whatever plans needed in the sanctity of the metallic confines. The hum of the machinery and the rhythmic chugging of the generators would drown out any suspicious noise.

The generator room, with its maze-like structure of massive machinery and control panels, would be an advantageous spot for the alien. But it was also its Achilles' heel. The fuel for the generators, if ignited, could cause a catastrophic explosion, giving the crew just about enough time to escape before the zenith of its explosive potential.

They fell silent, each of them considering the plan. It was risky, and the thought of facing the creature again was terrifying, but they were running out of options. With the ethylene bombs and a solid plan, they felt a glimmer of hope. Despite the fear gnawing at their hearts, they were resolved to put an end to this, once and for all.

With a newfound determination, they set to work in the common room. The icy winds outside became background noise as they gathered the necessary supplies from the ruined labs. The ethylene bombs were simple to make, and within a short time, they were armed and ready to face whatever lay ahead. Once the last bomb was crafted, the common room fell into an uneasy silence. The gravity of what they were about to do hung heavily in the air.

It was Kate who broke the silence. "We need to activate the Guimarães protocol." Her voice was steady, yet held a grave undertone. Essie nodded, flicking her gaze to the hefty red button encased in a protective glass box hidden behind a computer panel, a dreadful symbol of their last resort. The protocol would level the base in an hour, a fail-safe in case of absolute catastrophe. The enormity of the action was not lost on them. Once it was initiated, there would be no turning back.

With a deep breath, Kate stepped forward, lifting the protective casing. She hesitated for a moment, looking back at Essie and Ceriann. Their nods of confirmation were all she needed. She hovered her hand over the button, and pressed down.