Alien - Pandemonium

Chapter Ten

Charlie, Carter, and the man descended the stairwell cautiously, their footsteps muffled against the metal steps. As they reached the bottom and rounded the L-shaped landing, they were met with a chilling sight. Blood spatters painted the walls and floor, mingling with drag marks that led deeper into the darkness. Charlie's brow furrowed in confusion as she observed the scene, trying to piece together what had unfolded here.

"It looks like a massacre," Carter whispered, his voice barely audible above the eerie silence of the corridor.

The man nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "We need to move quickly. It could still be nearby."

With a shared sense of apprehension, they pressed forward, determined to uncover the truth behind the horrifying scene before them.

Navigating cautiously around the pool of blood, Charlie felt a shiver run down her spine as she tried to avoid looking at the grisly scene for too long. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, making her stomach churn. Just as she felt her footing falter, Carter's firm grip on her arm steadied her, and she offered him a silent nod of gratitude before they pressed forward.

Sliding along the wall, they moved with deliberate care, mindful of the unlocked doorways that dotted the corridor. Each door posed a potential risk, the sound of the motor engaging could easily alert the creature lurking in the shadows. They couldn't afford to take any chances, their senses heightened as they strained to detect any hint of danger lurking in the darkness.

"Hey, what's your name?" Charlie asked quietly.

Charlie's voice cut through the tense silence as they cautiously made their way through the corridor. The question lingered in the air, a brief moment of respite amidst the looming threat surrounding them. The man glanced back at her, his expression a mixture of uncertainty and weariness.

"Call me Jack," he replied in a hushed tone, his eyes darting between Charlie and Carter. "Jack Collins."

"I'm Charlie" she replied.

"Nice to meet you, Charlie," Jack responded with a faint nod, his voice barely above a whisper. The darkness seemed to swallow their words as they pressed on, navigating the dimly lit corridors with caution. "Now, can we survive and not fucking die?"

Turning the corner, Charlie and Jack entered what appeared to be a vast chamber filled with robotic figures and equipment. The synthetic Working Joes of the Pandemonium stood at attention, their LED eyes glowing dimly in the subdued light. Charlie's gaze was drawn to the replica of the station in the centre of the room, illuminated by a projected light that revealed intricate details.

Jack pointed out their current location on the replica, indicating that they were near the core of the ship. He explained that they needed to ascend to a higher deck, but the stairwells and lifts had been destroyed in an explosion.

"Can't we use access vents?" Charlie suggested.

Jack considered her idea before shrugging. "We could, but I have a feeling that this creature uses the vents and darkness to its advantage. We'd need to flush out the vents before we attempt to go through."

"Any idea how?" Charlie inquired.

"If we can access a terminal, we can trigger the decontamination procedure to see if that pushes anything out," Jack replied, his voice barely above a whisper in the eerie silence of the chamber.

The Working Joes moved methodically around the room, their movements precise and mechanical. Carter observed them with a mixture of curiosity and caution before turning back to Charlie and Jack.