Starland

Arrive

SPACE ENTRANCE- HAWTHORNE

The moment my special ops team Silver Control arrive on the space station a humanoid bot with evil red eyes speeds towards us. It's cold gaze locked on our team. It's gaze locked upon us as it paces faster towards us. Without hesitation I raise my gun shooting plasma energy at it. Immediately metal begins melting and the robot drops to the floor. I hear laughter from young guys coming from the entrance.

"What's so funny?" asks Lieutenant Cooper.

"Oh, just a little joke we played on you guys." A young voyager, on the space station team replies. He walks over to our team, a mischievous glint in his eye. "We created a doomanator bot, just for fun. We thought we'd see how you guys would handle it."

I shove him against the wall, "You could have seriously hurt someone!"

Lieutenant Cooper, very orderly, her hair slicked back, her suit fits perfectly. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

A soft spoken voice says, "How about I welcome you guys instead."

A goddess with soft curly hair, brown eyes, curvy shaped flowery scent, a blouse with flowers under her lab coat. I shake my head. Let's pull it together Hawthorne you have a mission. I would have knocked Declan out if I wasn't captain and had to set an example. This young asshole. He was a baby had no idea what real war or field work looked like. I don't time to argue with a baby. I had a mission to complete. 

The room is decorated with display like common area furniture, and some circular lunch tables. I look around to the kitchen, but no one is in there.

"I can make you something if you're hungry." Says the soft voice.

I feel my face lite up. I smirk while nodding.

"I'm Aria by the way."

My team follows me and her team follows as well. She says she recently baked some rolls, some mash potatoes, and corn, no meat not the best meal, but I was hungry. I take a bite of the soft, moist buttered bread.

Suddenly, the alarms begin to blare: ERROR SHIP MALFUNCTION.

The team scrambles to their feet, unsure of what was happening.

Seriously. I have to put down my delicious roll. As my team looks directly at me. I stand up exhaling frustration. I ask, "What the hell is going on?"

My team and I look at Aria and this baby Declan who have been on this station for months. I look at both of them, "Well..." I make an aggressive step towards Declan. He's startles and backs up. "Seriously. What is it?" I ask.

Lt. Cooper looks at him, "I'd just answer the Captain. She can get impatient."

I grab him and slam his head on the table. He talks, "Ok. It's a thing. Some....a specimen..." His face begins to redden, drool runs out his mouth. "That's all I know."

The ship lights flicker, a thud, the ship shakes, a loud bump echoing.

Aria intervenes, "We really should get moving."

I release him as he falls to the floor gasping for breath.

Lydia, a journalist who writes for the alien times, her hands shaken, her voice cracks as she suggests, "Maybe we should go back."

Lt. Cooper and I look back at the door. Then we both look at Captain Will.

"When we complete the mission." I decide.

Lydia gestures her hands with uncertainty, "We don't even know where to start."

My team and I look directly at Aria. She seems puzzled by the looks. "We can go to the west wing. That's where there are pods, and.... the experimentation that's where the core and power is." She suggests.

Will asks, "Y'all kept everything in one side of the station?"

I ask her, "Can you take us to it?"

She blushes, "Yes." On her wristband blue light emits a blueprint map of the ship.

Lydia glimpses at the map, "the journey is so long to the west wing."

"Just keep it pushing." I say waiting for Aria to lead.

Aria rubs her neck and tells Lydia, "It's do-able."

Will says, "You want a good story right?"

I walk beside this scientist girl leading the way. I wonder how much does she know. Focus Captain. I get aware and alert of my surroundings as usual. Don't let a girl distract you.

Aria's eyes meet mine, "I need to get a key card from the lab. the manual power."

Will asks, "Think we can survive getting to the power without that thing attacking us."