Alien - Pandemonium

Chapter Seven

As Charlie pressed on, she eventually stumbled upon Section Four of the Pandemonium Station. To her relief, this section appeared to be relatively intact and functional, with most of the lights illuminating her path. It didn't take long for her to realise that Section Four was predominantly manned by synthetics, and she soon encountered none other than Carter, who was in the midst of attempting to access the MOTHER mainframe.

"Charlie?" Carter's voice echoed through the corridor, drawing her attention.

Relief flooded through her as she approached him. "Thank goodness, Carter. This place is like a labyrinth."

Carter approached Charlie, concern etched into his features. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

She nodded, though the strain in her expression betrayed her calm facade. "I am now."

Carter studied her closely, his brow furrowing with worry. "Where are the others?"

Taking a seat nearby, Charlie ran a trembling hand through her hair. "We got separated during the blast," she explained, her voice tight with tension. "The roof collapsed, and I tried to find my way back to the group. Instead, I stumbled upon an access hatch, and here I am. It's chaos up there, Carter. People are fighting like animals."

Carter's eyes widened in disbelief. "I don't understand."

With a heavy sigh, Charlie leaned back in the seat. "I think something terrible has happened here," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I found a body—someone or something had taken a large portion of her skull. And there are patrols up there, talking about something else on this station."

"Charlie, I'm not following-"

"Carter, can you help me reunite with the others? We need to get off this station now!"

Carter regarded Charlie with a furrowed brow, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and confusion. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded solemnly.

"Alright, let's find them," he said, his voice firm with resolve. "But we need to be cautious. Whatever's happening here, it's not safe."

Charlie nodded in agreement, grateful for his support. Together, they set out to navigate the labyrinthine corridors of Section Four, their senses heightened as they searched for any sign of their missing crew mates.

As they traversed the spacious area, Charlie's gaze swept across the room, taking in the abandoned atmosphere. The administration desk stood prominently in the centre, its surface cluttered with scattered papers and abandoned tools. A droid, once a beacon of assistance, now lay dormant, its metal frame slouched in the chair. Charlie couldn't help but pause, her eyes lingering on the lifeless figure, while Carter pressed forward, his attention focused ahead.

In one corner, a short flight of stairs formed an L-shaped ascent, leading to an upper level. Carter and Charlie approached the staircase cautiously, their footsteps echoing softly in the silence of the room. With a shared glance, they ascended the stairs, their movements deliberate as they reached the door at the top, which stood slightly ajar, inviting yet foreboding.

With cautious steps, Charlie and Carter entered the room, their senses on high alert. Suddenly, Carter's swift reaction saved them as he pushed Charlie aside, narrowly avoiding the swing of a large crowbar. The metal weapon missed its mark, crashing against the wall with a resounding clang. Startled, Charlie stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock as she stared up at their would-be attacker.

"What the fuck!?" Charlie exclaimed, her voice echoing through the tense silence of the room.

"Shhhhh," the man hissed, clapping a hand over Charlie's mouth. "Not so loud!"