Alien - Pandemonium

Chapter One

April 10th, 2123

USCSS Grafton

The dimly lit cabin of the USCSS Grafton served as the backdrop for Charlie's somber monologue, the camera capturing every nuance of her expression with meticulous precision. As she spoke, her words hung heavy in the air, a poignant reflection of the desolation that permeated the vast expanse of space.

"Space is...well, space is fucked," Charlie murmured, her voice tinged with a sense of resignation as she gazed into the lens with a haunted look in her eyes. Slowly, she retreated from the camera, her movements sluggish and deliberate, until she found solace against the cold metal wall of her cabin.

Running a trembling hand through her disheveled hair, Charlie let out a weary sigh, her breath hitching in the stillness of the room. "I've been aboard the Grafton for...four months now," she continued, her voice betraying a hint of exhaustion. "I awoke from hypersleep just yesterday, as we approached the Zeta II Reticuli system. They told us we're here to retrieve something from a nearby station, but what exactly it is...they're keeping that information from us."

As she spoke, a sense of unease settled over the cabin, casting a pall of uncertainty over the crew's mission. In the cold emptiness of space, secrets lurked in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered—a truth that Charlie knew all too well. And as she stared into the camera, her gaze haunted by the spectre of the unknown, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were hurtling towards something far more sinister than they could ever imagine.

"We've been hearing rumours that this sector is where the Nostromo disappeared," Charlie mused, her voice tinged with a mix of speculation and apprehension. "Maybe we're here to retrieve the flight recorder—if it was picked up nearby—or perhaps we're meant to retrieve it ourselves and bring it back to Earth." A bitter edge crept into her tone as she continued, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "God, if that's the case, I better damn well get a reward," she muttered, her words laced with resentment. "Hypersleep messes with the body, and I'm not about to let the company subject me to it for their own gain."

Charlie's gaze flickered to the side as she heard footsteps pass by her doorway, her expression tight with annoyance. Her door was firmly closed and locked from the inside—an essential precaution against the incessant interruptions caused by the ship's overly sensitive automated door system. Fed up with the constant opening and shutting whenever someone walked by, most crew members had taken to securing their doors whenever they retreated to the privacy of their quarters. It was a small inconvenience, but one that offered a semblance of respite in the otherwise chaotic and unpredictable environment of the Grafton.

As Charlie turned back to face the camera, her features softened with a mixture of concern and empathy. "I've been reading the reports on the Nostromo, and what the company received...sounds like something pretty fucked up happened onboard," she began, her voice tinged with a sense of unease. "It's terrifying, really. They had to eject the lifeboat, and then the Nostromo—well, they think it was detonated like a nuclear bomb. Whatever was onboard was completely destroyed. There were no survivors." Her gaze grew distant as she continued, her mind drifting to the haunting details of the tragedy. "I know that someone on that ship had a little girl back on Earth," she explained solemnly. "Apparently, she's been present at every hearing, every meeting, every investigation about that ship. It's heartbreaking to think about what she must be going through, waiting for answers that may never come. But it's a stark reminder of the human cost of these missions, of the lives left shattered in the wake of corporate ambition."

Charlie's eyes darted to the flashing red light, its frenetic pace signalling that time was running out for her recording. With a sense of urgency, she knew she had only moments left to convey her message. "I don't have much time," she murmured, her voice tinged with urgency. "But to my family, I love you all and I'll see you when I return." A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she added, "And to Rebecca, stay out of my closet." Her laughter bubbled up, a brief respite from the gravity of the situation, before she blew them a kiss. With a sense of finality, the recording ended abruptly, whisked away into the depths of space, carrying Charlie's words and emotions to their intended recipients.