Alien - Pandemonium

Chapter Six

Charlie hurried back into the lobby, her breath coming in short gasps as she scanned her surroundings. Her eyes fell on the barricaded doorway to the right, where heavy objects had been stacked in front of it, making it impossible to pass through. She clenched her jaw in frustration, realising that her path was once again blocked. With a sigh, she turned her attention to the other exits, determined to find a way to regroup with her crew mates. Charlie retraced her steps, her gaze fixed on the locked door opposite the airlock. She hoped to find a terminal nearby to regain control and access the locked areas.

The lobby was eerily silent as she moved cautiously, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. The spotlight in the hallway ahead served as her guide, its beam casting long shadows that stretched along the corridor, creating an illusion of greater size and presence.

Her hand trembled as she approached the keypad, her heart pounding in her chest. Each unsuccessful attempt elicited a flash of red light, heightening her frustration. With gritted teeth, she slammed her fist against the unyielding door, cursing softly under her breath. Just then, voices echoed down the hallway, sending a jolt of panic through her. She quickly retreated into the alcove beside the locked door, pressing her back against the wall as she listened intently.

"Stay alert," a voice whispered in the distance. "That ship might be our only way out of this hellhole."

The voice belonged to a man, his tone laced with anger and desperation. His footsteps echoed loudly as he passed by the open doorway at the end of the hallway, his heavy breathing indicating his heightened emotions. Charlie held her breath, her heart pounding in her ears as she prayed he wouldn't glance in her direction. She remained hidden in the shadows, her body tense with anticipation until the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.

Charlie muttered a curse under her breath, her mind racing with thoughts of who those voices belonged to and what they were planning. With a determined look in her eyes, she made her way to the door across from her, her movements cautious yet purposeful. Upon entering the airlock chamber, she scanned the room, her eyes darting around in search of any tools or equipment that could aid her in gaining access to the locked door. Charlie approached the lockers lining the walls of the airlock chamber, her hands reaching out to tug at the handles of each one. With a sense of urgency, she opened each locker, her eyes scanning the contents inside. Among the standard equipment stored in the lockers, she found a small toolkit, a handheld plasma cutter, and a flashlight. Grasping the tools tightly, she closed the lockers behind her, the sense of anticipation growing as she prepared to confront whatever lay beyond the locked door.

"John Edwards. Maintenance," Charlie murmured, reading the label on the locker. She couldn't help but chuckle softly to herself. With a shrug, she tucked the plasma cutter into her belt, grateful for the unexpected find. "Thank god for the maintenance guy".

Charlie cautiously exited the room, her eyes darting in both directions down the dimly lit hallway. Seeing no immediate threat, she hurried across to the locked door. Running her fingers over the surface, she scanned for any abnormalities. A slightly raised panel caught her attention. With a determined nod, she unhooked the plasma cutter from her belt and activated it. Squinting her eyes against the glare, she carefully positioned the cutter against the panel and activated it, the sharp crackling of the plasma slicing through metal filling the air.

With precise movements, Charlie guides the plasma cutter along the edges of the panel, the intense heat slicing effortlessly through the metal. As the last section is cut, the panel folds away from the wall, clattering to the floor. Inside, she spots an emergency override lever and quickly reaches for it. With a firm grip, she yanks the lever down, activating the emergency release mechanism. The red indicator light flashes momentarily before switching to green, accompanied by a faint hiss as the door unlocks. Charlie wastes no time sliding into the room, hitting the lock button as the door slides down and seals shut with a reassuring click.