The Seventh | A Dark Matter Fanfiction | Two (Portia Lin)

Chapter 31

Vons pointed at the screen as Cain and Wexler walked into the bridge. "The ship was going through some kind of self-diagnostic when this came up. Something to do with the FTL drive but I can't..."

Wexler pushed him aside. "Here, let me see."

He leaned over the sub console, typing commands rapidly. The screen flickered with complex data streams.

Vons crossed his arms, watching intently. "You understand all that?"

Wexler continued working, a furrow forming on his brow. "Of course." The more he worked, the more his confidence wavered. "Well, maybe not all of it."

Cain paced anxiously. "If the FTL drive is offline, we can't jump. If we can't jump, we are screwed."

Tash looked out the viewport, her face tense. "The Volkov-Rusi will be here soon. Maybe they can help us"

Cain's frustration was evident. "Or maybe they'll just take the device, keep the payment, and leave us stranded. We can't trust them."

"We could re-activate the Android." Vons suggested.

Wexler shook his head, "It's too dangerous."

Tash interjected, her voice steady but urgent. "What about the hostages? Maybe one of them can help."

<>

Five sat back in the chair, her expression a mixture of determination and resignation. "You know," she began, her voice steady but laced with irony, "the Android once told me that when all this caught up with us, I'd be the lucky one, because I wasn't one of the original crew. It's kinda funny how it turned out to be the exact opposite."

One looked at her, his jaw set. "Hey, I'm just gonna tell them I'm not the real Jace Corso. That'll make them back off."

Five shook her head, her eyes darkening with doubt. "You'll never convince them."

"I have the DNA scan. I'll make them believe me," One insisted, his voice firm.

"And what good would that do? Then you'll just be expendable too." five countered, her voice tinged with frustration and worry.

"I'm not just gonna sit here and let them hurt you," One argued, his determination unwavering.

"I'd rather that than you sacrifice yourself for no reason," Five replied, her voice breaking slightly. "Please, please, just when they get back, keep your mouth shut."

One shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with admiration and sorrow. "Sorry, I can't do it. You know you may not be one of the original crew, and technically I'm not either, but you're definitely one of the bravest people on this ship."

Before Five could respond, the mess hall door slid open with a hiss, and Wexler strode in, "You're in luck, kid. Looks like you got a chance to prove you're not so expendable after all."

<>

Three snapped his fingers in front of Four's sleeping face, trying to rouse him. . "Seriously, how can he be sleeping at a time like this? Hey."

But Four remained undisturbed, his breathing steady and calm.

Six glanced over, his tone even. "He's conserving oxygen. You should be happy. There's only so much in here."

"There's nothing we can be doing right now anyways," Six continued. "To him, it's an efficient use of time."

Three scoffed. "Sure, if you're a robot."

"He feels things the same as you. He just doesn't show it." Six looked at Three, noting the tension in his stance. "What happened to Two hit you pretty hard, huh?"