Alien - Pandemonium

Chapter Fifteen

Charlie clung desperately to the tether, her gloved hands gripping it with all her strength as she dangled in the vast expanse of space. The violent ejection from the airlock had sent her hurtling into the void, her screams drowned out by the confines of her suit. With each rotation of the spiralling module, she felt herself being tossed about like a rag doll, her body buffeted by the weightless environment. Despite the chaos and disorientation, Charlie fought to maintain her grip on the tether, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to steady herself. The cold emptiness of space surrounded her, a stark reminder of her perilous situation. But amidst the darkness, she clung to hope, determined to survive against the odds. With every ounce of determination, she held on, bracing herself for whatever challenges lay ahead in the unforgiving expanse of the cosmos.

With the module's wild spinning propelling her sideways towards the station, Charlie's heart raced with adrenaline-fuelled urgency. With a deep breath, she made a split-second decision and released herself from the tether, her body hurtling through the vacuum of space like a projectile. As she soared towards the looming silhouette of the station, her eyes widened in determination, her limbs flailing as she fought against the inertia. The motion of the spinning module sent her hurtling towards the station with dizzying speed, the rush of air whipping past her suit as she hurtled through the void. With each passing moment, she drew closer to the station's metallic hull, her pulse pounding in her ears as she focused all her energy on reaching her destination. Despite the overwhelming chaos of her trajectory, she remained steadfast in her resolve, her determination unwavering as she fought against the formidable forces of inertia and momentum.

With a final burst of effort, Charlie reached out towards the station, her fingers grasping desperately for purchase on its surface. In a heart-stopping moment, she collided with the hull, her body slamming against the metal with a resounding thud. But even as pain shot through her, she refused to relent, her grip tightening as she pulled herself closer to safety. With sheer determination, she clawed her way along the station's exterior, inch by inch, until she finally reached the safety of its airlock, her heart racing with the exhilaration of her narrow escape.

Holding onto the various pipes and ladders that were lining the hull of the bottom of the station, Charlie cried out as she struggled to pull herself up and find a way in. Each deck had an airlock, she'd find a way in. She looked over her shoulder and saw the medical module in the distance, suddenly a bright blinding light pierced the module before it exploded. She smirked then turned back and began slowly pulling herself up the hull.

In the midst of the chaos and the deafening roar of alarms, Charlie's desperate plea cut through the cacophony like a beacon of hope. "Fuck, Carter! Please, tell me you can hear me!" Her voice echoed through the intercom system, raw with fear and urgency.

For a moment, there was nothing but static, the crackling and gargling of the intercom adding to the sense of disorientation. Charlie's ears rang with the overwhelming noise, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for a response.

Then, finally, the mechanical sound of Carter's voice broke through the chaos. "Charlie, I hear you!" His words offered a glimmer of reassurance in the midst of the turmoil, a lifeline of connection in the darkness of space.

"Oh god, thank god. I need help!" Charlie's voice crackled with relief and desperation as she spoke into the intercom.

Carter's voice sounded concerned and urgent. "Where are you?"

"I'm outside the station, I'm trying to find an airlock," she pleaded, her words rushed and breathless. "Carter, Doctor Yanagihara was the one who unleashed this all on the station!"

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line as Carter processed her revelation.

Charlie's fingers tightened around the rungs of the ladder as she climbed, her muscles straining with effort. She squinted against the blinding glare of the nearby airlock's light, determination driving her forward despite the chaos and danger surrounding her.